Chapter 393

Pei Si and Cao Cixiu walked behind them, unhurried, even beginning to appreciate the scenery along the way.

Translation: Pei Si and Cao Cixiu walked behind them, neither hurried nor slow, even enjoying the scenery along the way.

Check: neither hurried nor slow, and even began to appreciate the scenery along the way. We'll keep concise.

They arrived at the heavenly palace and were invited to sit in the side hall.

Translation: They arrived at the Heavenly Palace and were invited to sit in the side chamber.

Pei Si watched Mu Yanzhi and Gu Rongjin enter the inner chambers, curled his lips in a smile, and followed the guiding disciple to the side hall to wait.

Translation: Pei Si watched Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin enter the sleeping quarters, smiled slightly, and followed the guiding disciple to the side chamber to wait.

After Mu Yanzhi entered the inner chambers and saw Qilin standing there as if nothing was wrong, waiting for them, she finally let out a genuine sigh of relief.

Translation: After Mu Yuanzhi entered the sleeping quarters, seeing Qilin standing there as if nothing had happened, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Indeed, it was exactly as Rongjin had guessed.

Translation: Indeed, it was exactly as Gu Rongjin had guessed.

"I told you, little Yanzhi, this kid is definitely fine!" Gu Rongjin laughed.

Translation: "I told you, little Yuanzhi, this kid is definitely fine!" Gu Rongjin laughed.

Qilin looked at Gu Rongjin admiringly: "You actually guessed that?"

Translation: Qilin looked at Gu Rongjin admiringly: "You actually guessed that?"

"Don't underestimate your master, kid." Gu Rongjin glanced around, then asked Qilin: "Have you rearranged the defenses in this heavenly palace?"

Translation: "Don't underestimate your master, kid." Gu Rongjin glanced around, then asked Qilin: "Have you redeployed defenses in this Heavenly Palace?"

Although it looks the same as before on the surface, his feeling is different; this feeling isn't just a few more hidden sentries, but…

Translation: Although it looks the same as before, his feeling is different; this feeling isn't just a few more hidden posts, but…

Qilin nodded: "That's right, Yuan Yan set up a new maze formation, and you noticed it—impressive."

Translation: Qilin nodded: "Exactly, Yuan Yan set up a new illusion formation, and you noticed it—impressive."

Mu Yanzhi: "So we can now speak freely, right?"

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi: "So we can now speak freely, right?"

We don't need to hold back, do we?

Translation: No need to hold back, right?

Qilin: "Yes, Yuan Yan suspects there's a spy inside Xuechen Valley; otherwise it might be an unconventional surveillance method. It's better to use non-humans to achieve omnipresent eavesdropping."

Translation: Qilin: "Yes, Yuan Yan suspects there's a spy inside Juechen Valley; otherwise it might be an unconventional surveillance method. Better to use non‑humans to achieve omnipresent eavesdropping."

Upon hearing this, Mu Yanzhi looked at Gu Rongjin with eyes full of admiration: "Just as you thought."

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi looked at Gu Rongjin upon hearing this, eyes full of admiration: "Just as you thought."

Gu Rongjin was pleased, he raised his eyebrows at Mu Yanzhi: "Your husband is naturally exceptionally clever!"

Translation: Gu Rongjin was pleased, he raised his eyebrows at Mu Yuanzhi: "Your husband is naturally exceptionally clever!"

Qilin was speechless; his senior sister really is like a lover's eye making Xi Shi out of anything—what's there to admire? Even a donkey could figure it out, yet he doesn't admire the donkey.

Translation: Qilin was speechless; the senior sister really is a beauty in the lover's eye—what's there to admire? Even a donkey could guess that, yet he doesn't admire donkeys.

"Ahem, getting back to the point, so I'm going to release the mist now to confuse the eavesdroppers' thoughts; otherwise the secret of the fifteenth of each month might be discovered." Qilin said.

Translation: "Ahem, back to the point, so I will now release the mist to disturb the eavesdroppers' thoughts; otherwise the secret of the fifteenth of each month might be discovered." Qilin said.

"That makes sense; I guessed you'd think that way, little Qilin, your little head has gotten much smarter." Gu Rongjin laughed.

Translation: "Quite reasonable; I guessed you'd think that, little Qilin—your little head has gotten much smarter." Gu Rongjin laughed.

Qilin rolled his eyes: "I've always been smart, okay?"

Translation: Qilin rolled his eyes: "I've always been smart, okay?"

Mu Yanzhi: "And... what about Pei Si and the others? He seems to have guessed that you have a physical problem, but I don't know how much he knows or to what extent."

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi: "Then… what about Pei Si and the others? He seems to have guessed that you have a physical problem, but I don't know how much he knows or to what extent."

"I haven't figured out whether Pei Si is friend or foe; he helped Xuechen Valley and also helped us escape from the back mountain—just those two points should be enough for us to trust them, but we're clearly allied with Pei Di, who is the third prince and a strong contender for the heir apparent." Qilin said, gritting his teeth in turmoil.

Translation: "I haven't figured out whether Pei Si is friend or foe; he helped Juechen Valley and also helped us come out of Back Mountain—just those two points should be enough for us to trust them. But we are clearly allied with Pei Di, who is the Third Prince and a strong contender for the heir apparent." Qilin said, gritting his teeth.

Gu Rongjin: "Let's first hear what he actually wants to do. Qilin, pretend to be sick for now, and be sharp when you go out later."

Translation: Gu Rongjin: "First let's hear what he actually wants to do. Qilin, pretend to be sick for now, and be sharp when you go out later."

Qilin nodded: "Okay, let's do that for now."

Translation: Qilin nodded: "Alright, let's do that."

Their group arrived at the side hall, with Qilin looking frail and needing Gu Rongjin's support.

Translation: Their group arrived at the side chamber; Qilin looked frail and needed Gu Rongjin to support him.

This task was originally supposed to be done by senior sister Mu Yanzhi, but someone was just too jealous, so they took it upon themselves.

Translation: Originally this task was to be done by senior sister Mu Yuanzhi, but someone simply loved eating jealousy too much and took it upon himself.

"Look how much your master cares for you." Gu Rongjin whispered.

Translation: "Look how much your master cares for you." Gu Rongjin whispered.

Qilin: "Thank you."

Translation: Qilin: "Thank you."

Seeing them arrive, Pei Si didn't get up; he just nodded, and Cao Cixiu behind him also nodded.

Translation: Seeing them arrive, Pei Si did not rise; he merely nodded, and Cao Cixiu behind him also nodded.

Qilin suddenly coughed a few times, appearing weak and fatigued, yet he forced himself to put on the air of the valley master.

Translation: Qilin coughed violently a few times, looking weak and fatigued, yet he forced himself to put on the aura of the Valley Master.

He pulled it off quite well! He praised his own acting in his heart.

Translation: Nailed it! He praised his own acting in his heart.

Pei Si sized up Qilin, concerned, and asked: "Valley Master, are you ill? Were you affected back in the rear mountain?"

Translation: Pei Si sized up Qilin, concerned: "Valley Master, are you ill? Did something happen back in Back Mountain?"

"It's an old ailment, not because of the back mountain." Qilin, unwilling to discuss further, emphasized the three words "old ailment" to confuse people and prevent them from being certain that he has problems every fifteenth of the month.

Translation: "Just an old ailment, not related to Back Mountain." Qilin, unwilling to discuss further, stressed the three words "old ailment" to confuse listeners, so they wouldn't be certain he has trouble every fifteenth.

Upon hearing this, Pei Si's expression turned puzzled: "The Valley Master and the princess are both skilled in medicine and poison, yet you have an illness that even you can't handle; you should take better care of yourself."

Translation: Pei Si heard this, expression doubtful: "Valley Master and Princess are both skilled at medicine and poison, yet you have an ailment even you can't handle—you should take better care of yourself."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness; it's fine, just that my stamina is a bit lower than usual." The seated Qilin said, "Your Highness sent someone early this morning to find me, saying you wanted to discuss important matters with my senior sister and the others—what exactly is it?"

Translation: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness; it's fine, just my stamina is a bit weaker than usual." The seated Qilin said, "Your Highness sent someone early this morning to find me, saying they wanted to discuss important matters with my senior sister and the others—what exactly is it?"

The mist has been released for a while; it's time to get to the main topic.

Translation: The mist had been released for a while; it's time to get to the main topic.

Pei Si's gaze swept over them, and he got straight to the point: "I know you're on guard because of Pei Di, but you might set aside these worldly prejudices—why do you definitely think I'll compete with my brother for the heir apparent position? I'm neither virtuous nor senior; I was never the primary candidate for heir apparent, right?"

Translation: Pei Si's gaze swept over them, and he got straight to the point: "This Prince knows you're on guard because of Pei Di, but you might set aside this worldly prejudice—why do you insist I'm competing with my brother for the heir apparent position? I am neither virtuous nor senior; I was never the primary contender for heir apparent, right?"

Mu Yanzhi thought to herself that he also knows he's not virtuous.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi thought to herself that he also knows he lacks virtue.

Which virtuous prince would secretly raise thousands of dead warriors?

Translation: Which virtuous prince would secretly raise thousands of dead warriors?

Although it's no longer a secret now.

Translation: Although it's no longer a secret now.

Gu Rongjin: "Your Highness certainly has deep self-awareness."

Translation: Gu Rongjin: "Your Highness, you are quite self‑aware."

"Since you want to be friends with us, you naturally shouldn't hide anything."

Translation: "Since you want to befriend us, you naturally shouldn't conceal anything."

Qilin thought to himself: "Then why have you been pretending all this time?"

Translation: Qilin thought: "Then why have you been pretending all this time?"

Normally he would have retorted quickly, but now he has to maintain his identity as Valley Master, so even if the words reach his lips he must swallow them.

Translation: "Normally he'd have retorted right away, but now he must hold his Valley Master identity and swallow his words."

Pei Si continued: "So don't reject me from afar just because of Pei Di; whether it's the imperial tomb incident or Xuechen Valley, I've helped you repeatedly. If you still doubt me, I ask you: isn't exposing my thousands of dead warriors not fatal for me? Why would I go to such lengths to save the father emperor and my brother?"

Translation: Pei Si continued: "So don't reject me over Pei Di; whether it's the imperial mausoleum incident or Juechen Valley, I've helped you repeatedly. If you still doubt, ask yourselves: exposing my thousands of dead warriors isn't fatal for me, is it? Why would I go to such lengths to save Father Emperor and my brother?"

He made perfect sense; they couldn't refute him.

Translation: He spoke quite reasonably; they couldn't refute him.

Indeed, the secretly raised dead warriors have been exposed like that, equivalent to laying bare one's trump cards.

Translation: Indeed, the secretly raised dead warriors have been exposed like that, amounting to laying bare one's trump cards.

But Mu Yanzhi thought again: the new emperor is still the emperor; the throne must be passed down. If it were overturned, according to the ancestors' rules, he would never be eligible to inherit the throne anyway—perhaps he had no choice but to expose himself.

Translation: But Mu Yuanzhi thought again: the new emperor is still the emperor; the throne must be passed down. If it were overturned, according to the ancestors' rules, he could never inherit the throne anyway—perhaps he had no choice but to expose himself.

All along the way, she has experienced too much, with constant conspiracies and schemes around her, forcing her to think more.

Translation: All along the way, she has endured too much, with constant conspiracies open and secret, forcing her to think more.

Moreover, Pei Si's sincere-sounding manner actually made her more suspicious; this person doesn't look like someone who would lay bare his heart.

Translation: Moreover, Pei Si's sincere‑sounding demeanor only increased her suspicion; this person hardly seems the type to lay bare his heart.

Of course, all this might just be her overthinking.

Translation: Of course, all this might just be her overthinking.

Mu Yanzhi secretly exchanged glances with Gu Rongjin and Qilin; they seemed to share her lingering skepticism, waiting to see what Pei Si would say next.

Translation: Mu Yuanzhi secretly exchanged glances with Gu Rongjin and Qilin; they seemed to share her lingering skepticism, waiting to see what Pei Si would say next.

Pei Si's passionate speech elicited no response, leaving an inevitable hint of awkwardness in the air.

Translation: Pei Si's impassioned speech elicited no response, leaving an inevitable hint of awkwardness in the air.

He let out a barely perceptible sigh, then continued: "Fine, since you still don't believe me, I'll have to keep showing goodwill. Ah Ci, you tell them."

Translation: He let out a barely perceptible sigh, then said: "Fine, since you still don't believe me, This Prince will have to keep showing goodwill. A Ci, you tell them."

After saying that, he drank tea by himself.

Translation: After saying that, he drank tea by himself.

Having received the order, Cao Cixiu finally spoke: "After we parted in the back mountain that day, I went alone to investigate, I searched the entire back mountain, and finally my efforts paid off—I uncovered the key to the miasma!"

Translation: Cao Cixiu, having received the order, finally spoke: "After we split up in Back Mountain that day, I went alone to investigate; I searched the entire Back Mountain, and at last my efforts paid off—I uncovered the key to the miasma!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze toward him.

Translation: Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to him.

They had been waiting for this.

Translation: They had been waiting for this.

Has Cao Cixiu truly already understood the root of the miasma of Juechen Valley from the plants and animals?