Chapter 438: Huangli State Also Came

Chief Eunuch: "His Majesty means for this old servant to first come and inform the Princess and Prince Consort, then after you've rested and entered the palace to see His Majesty, also summon that young master together."

Mu Yuanzhi: "No need to rest; trouble you, sir, go back and report to His Majesty, saying we'll enter the palace shortly."

With such a big matter, how could she possibly rest at home?

The Chief Eunuch showed understanding, he nodded: "This old servant will go back and report now."

After he left, Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin changed clothes and entered the palace.

"Little Yuanzhi, what do you think?"

Sitting in the carriage entering the palace, Gu Rongjin asked Mu Yuanzhi.

"I don't believe it." Mu Yuanzhi said, "My intuition tells me I shouldn't believe it."

"I also think this matter is especially suspicious, but back then I was too young, and everything was in chaos; I really can't recall many details."

The most crucial Grand General and his wife both died for the country, making the events of that year extremely hard to sort out.

"Let's see that person first, then talk." Mu Yuanzhi felt vexed, lifted the carriage curtain to breathe fresh air.

She inadvertently glanced at a manor, outside which two guards dressed in Huangli State attire were stationed; feeling curious, she looked again and saw the plaque on the manor inscribed with the three characters "Liaoling Hall".

Mu Yuanzhi recalled that this Liaoling Hall was one of the places that usually received feudal lords from their fiefs; after the new emperor ascended the throne, the various feudal lords no longer stationed in their fiefs and all returned to the capital, so this place gradually became uninhabited.

How come there are suddenly two Huangli State guards outside?

"What are you staring at so intently?" the puzzled Gu Rongjin asked.

"Could it be that another foreign envoy has recently entered the capital?" Mu Yuanzhi asked helplessly.

"Maybe; I don't know what's happening in the capital either." He was wholly focused on Juechen Valley, with no time to attend to capital affairs.

Until the carriage went far enough that the Liaoling Hall was out of sight, Mu Yuanzhi then lowered the curtain and said: "I saw two Huangli State guards guarding the gate of Liaoling Hall."

"Huangli State? How did they come? These days aren't particularly special..." Gu Rongjin couldn't figure it out, "but what we should be concerned about now isn't the affairs of Huangli State."

"Indeed." Just thinking about that brother who suddenly appeared, Mu Yuanzhi felt annoyed.

The carriage soon reached the imperial palace; they got off the carriage, switched to a palace sedan, and all the way arrived at Xuanshi Hall.

The new emperor had been waiting for them early; seeing them arrive, he put down the memorial in his hand, smiled and waved: "You two loyal officials have labored on your journey; please take a seat quickly."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

They sat down, and the new emperor went straight to the point: "I originally wanted to hear about your interesting tales and adventures in Juechen Valley, but now there is a more urgent matter, which I presume you also know about—concerning the orphan of the Grand General."

He said while looking at Mu Yuanzhi: "What does the Princess think?"

"Your Majesty, I think we should first meet that young master before saying anything."

Gu Rongjin nodded at the side.

"Hmm, you're right; I also summoned him to the palace to see His Majesty, he should arrive soon." The new emperor said: "I have arranged for him to stay at Liaoling Hall first."

Liaoling Hall?!

"Your Majesty, but I saw two Huangli State guards at the gate of Liaoling Hall?" Mu Yuanzhi didn't quite understand.

"It's like this; explaining this will take a while."

The new emperor then began to explain at length.

As it turns out, this suddenly appearing orphan wandered and ended up in Huangli State, grew up there, and now, relying on the connection with the Grand Princess of Huangli State, has been able to return to the Great Zhou.

As for the Grand Princess of Huangli State, that's another story; the former princes and heirs of Huangli State fought among themselves, resulting in the powerful minister Yelu family wiping them out in one sweep; now it is the world of the new Yelu dynasty, and Huangli State has undergone earth-shaking changes.

Mu Yuanzhi thought to herself, no wonder a Huangli State envoy would come to the capital at this time; it turns out they have already changed dynasties there.

It's also normal; backup heirs are always oddballs, and the royal family ought to shift positions, or else Huangli State would sooner or later collapse.

Just as she was thinking, a palace servant came to report, saying Master Mu had arrived.

Mu Yuanzhi looked toward the so-called Master Mu slowly approaching from outside the hall doors, seeing a young man in white robes striding with head held high and shoulders broad; he tried to appear dignified and graceful, but whether from nervousness or having grown up in the countryside, he differed from ordinary young masters, lacking the innate aristocratic air, seeming somewhat timid inside.

Upon drawing nearer, Mu Yuanzhi finally saw the man's face clearly; he was not strikingly handsome, just a bit better than ordinary looks, a visage hard to pick out in a crowd.

Does he really resemble his father a bit?

Mu Yuanzhi had seen her father's portrait, majestic and handsome, not the appearance of a common passerby.

If forced to say, perhaps only the eyebrows and eyes are of a similar type, but clearly his father's brows and eyes are far more handsome!

Mu Yuanzhi silently shook her head, how could this person possibly be her brother?

She and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance; Gu Rongjin thought the same in his heart.

Too ordinary a appearance! Too ordinary a demeanor!

How could he possibly be his brother-in-law?

Those who say he resembles his father-in-law a bit are just, after looking at the relics, forcing themselves to find some similarity.

Anyway, he looks nothing like it; he has seen the real person, and the real person is far more handsome than the portrait!

While they were sizing him up, he was also sizing them up, though his brows and eyes showed excitement and agitation; he hastily paid his respects to the new emperor, then eagerly walked up to Mu Yuanzhi's side.

"Sister, seeing you is truly wonderful! I have finally found the only relative I have in this world!" The man who said his name was Mu Mengcheng opened his mouth assuming the role of elder brother, eyes brimming with hot tears, voice choking.

Mu Yuanzhi, however, gave a light, polite smile: "This young master claims to be my brother, but this is too sudden; I really……"

"Don't rush, Master Mu!" Gu Rongjin interjected on behalf of his wife: "You say you are my brother-in-law, the son of the Grand General—this is no small matter; we ought to get to the bottom of things, isn't that an accounting for both of us and for the world?"

"Brother-in-law speaks rightly." Mu Mengcheng nodded, withdrawing his fervent gaze, but his eyes still occasionally lingered on Mu Yuanzhi with reluctance, as if truly feeling a myriad of emotions for a long-lost sister.

Gu Rongjin: ……

Well, let him have a small advantage for now; also we can't speak too absolutely.

"Master Mu, may I have a look at your Three Fish Jade Pendant?" Mu Yuanzhi asked Mu Mengcheng.

Mu Mengcheng nodded repeatedly, took out the imperial-bestowed Three Fish Jade Pendant: "Here."

Mu Yuanzhi took it and examined it closely; it was indeed an imperial-bestowed item.

"Where did you obtain this jade pendant, young master?" Mu Yuanzhi asked again.

"Since I can remember, it has been my personal possession; only later did I learn it was my father's keepsake."