Chapter 457: The Eighth Day Has Arrived, Recognizing Ancestors and Returning to the Clan

Gu Rongjin finished mocking, not caring about Mu Mingcheng's reaction, and pulled Mu Yuanzhi away.

They returned to the bedroom, and Gu Rongjin then asked Mu Yuanzhi: "How is it?"

Mu Yuanzhi shook her head. "No solution. Simā said it might be the drug's effect; anyway, it's not something like mental hypnosis."

"The clue is broken again; we keep looking." Gu Rongjin originally didn't hold much hope either.

Since Mu Mingcheng dared to release Xixi, he must be very confident they have no solution.

"We can only do this."

Days passed quickly, and the eighth day is coming up soon.

Officials up and down the court, all the clan nobles, the congratulatory gifts they sent filled the Grand General Manor's storeroom; taking inventory would take a long time, and the servants were swamped.

The manor also needed to start preparations; the eldest son's ancestral recognition ceremony required not only a grand banquet at home but also a visit to the Accompanying Burial Mausoleum to offer sacrifices to ancestors.

Going to the Accompanying Burial Mausoleum naturally involves the Imperial Mausoleum; nothing can be done carelessly.

Mu Yuanzhi gazed at the festive Grand General Manor, feeling a bit ironic.

Who would have thought that the freshly repaired Grand General Manor's first big happy event would actually be a "funeral conducted with joy"!

"Mom, is that person really going to become our uncle?" Mu Yumo tugged at her mother's hand.

Gu Yutong scowled: "I don't like him! He's just like those fake uncles—annoying!"

"Nothing is settled yet; there will be a turnaround." Mu Yuanzhi believed.

Since her rebirth, although she often faced danger, she had always come out unscathed; this time would surely be no exception.

"But there are still two days until the eighth!" Mu Yumo's brows furrowed into a tiny three‑line shape.

"As long as we stay optimistic, good luck will come!" Gu Rongjin walked over and rubbed the heads of the two little beans.

"Dad!"

"Dad, where did you go?"

"I just came back from court, and without stopping I rushed back to see your mother and you two!"

Gu Rongjin hugged Gu Yutong briefly and sighed: "She's gotten heavier again!"

"Dad, you can't say a girl is heavy!" Gu Yutong protested.

"Haha, how old are you? Where did you learn that?" Gu Rongjin set down his daughter, picked up his son, and said: "Look at this—hm, he's heavy too!"

Gu Yutong huffed: "I'm smart! I taught myself!"

Mu Yumo: "I'm different! Dad says my weight is praise! A real man should be full of strength, steady as a rock!"

"Who said you have to be heavy to have strength?"

"If you're not heavy, where does strength come from?"

The two siblings started arguing again, and Mu Yuanzhi helplessly said: "Alright, alright, you two, it's time to go practice."

The little beans finally stopped bickering and went to the rear courtyard to train.

"Any progress outside?" After the two little ones left, Mu Yuanzhi asked Gu Rongjin.

Gu Rongjin shook his head. "Since that day, Fanghua has also disappeared; I've sneaked in several times but never saw her on the top floor."

"The day after tomorrow is the eighth; by then Mu Mingcheng will officially perform the ancestral recognition ceremony..."

"There's still room." Gu Rongjin crossed his arms. "Too bad Miss Xixi still hasn't remembered anything—what do you think is wrong with that blood?"

"I've thought about it for two months and still can't figure it out..." Mu Yuanzhi said helplessly.

"I'm hungry; is there anything to eat, wife?"

Not being able to figure it out is also unavoidable.

I don't know if it's because I've been using my brain a lot lately, but Gu Rongjin feels he's been eating quite a bit recently.

"The small kitchen has nothing left; let's check the big kitchen." Mu Yuanzhi said.

The two arrived at the grand kitchen, where several matrons were busily preparing lunch, slaughtering chickens and sheep, swamped with work.

"Princess and Prince Consort, how did you come here? Watch out for the dirt!"

"The kitchen fumes are too thick; Princess, you should stay outside. What would you like to eat? I'll bring it out for you, old servant."

"I..."

Mu Yuanzhi was about to say something when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a matron pour the blood from two slaughtered chickens into a bowl, and suddenly a idea struck her!

"Auntie Zhang, are these two chickens related?"

"Huh?" Zhang Mama blinked, then laughed: "I don't know that either way—one was bought at the market, the other is a gift from Prefect of Jingzhao Zhang's household; I can't guarantee they're related."

So that means nine-tenths are strange chickens?

If even unrelated chickens' blood can mix, then what about people? Could it be that some people's blood can mix with anyone's?!

Mu Yuanzhi had a sudden brainwave.

She pulled Gu Rongjin aside and told him her idea.

Although blood‑drop kinship testing has endured as an authority through the ages, having been verified many times, ordinary people's blood indeed hardly mixes; but what if someone's blood were exceptionally rare?

"Your idea makes perfect sense!" Gu Rongjin agreed. "In this vast world, anything is possible—Mu Mingcheng's blood could very well be special enough to mix with anyone's, which would explain why he dared to do a blood‑drop test with you!"

Because no matter who, the result ends up the same.

"That day Xixi and Mu Mingcheng were both injured; when their blood dripped onto the ground it accidentally mixed, and Xixi discovered that secret, which is why Mu Mingcheng seized her!"

"No delay—let's test it right away!" Gu Rongjin smiled, curling his lip.

Mu Yuanzhi, however, said: "Wait, now that Mu Mingcheng has been through that incident, he'll surely be extra careful; we'd better just wait until the day after tomorrow's eighth, when he lets his guard down."

"But after all, this is just our guess—should we really wait until the eighth without verifying first?" Gu Rongjin asked anxiously.

"Wait until the eighth to test, then expose him publicly once we're done!" Mu Yuanzhi said confidently.

Gu Rongjin thought for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, I'll follow your lead."

By the time the eighth day arrives, Mu Mingcheng will surely feel his ancestral recognition is a done deal, making it very likely he'll relax his guard.

The day after tomorrow arrived quickly.

That day, the Grand General's mansion was very lively, with guests coming and going, nearly wearing out the threshold.

Everyone was busy to the point of chaos; Mu Mingcheng wore a festive red outfit, and those who didn't know thought he was going to be a groom today.

"When one encounters happy events, the spirit feels great, young master!"

"Congratulations! The Grand General, in heaven, surely feels doubly comforted!"

These young masters had never met Mu Mingcheng before, yet they acted like old friends of many years, asking about his well-being and chatting warmly as soon as they met, very familiar.

Mu Mingcheng was also very enthusiastic, chatting and laughing with them; surrounded in the center, he seemed like a natural-born favored son of heaven, full of vigor.

Yelu Kebao Ge watched from afar, extremely relieved, she walked over and said: "Mingcheng!"

"Grand Princess! You've come!" Mu Mingcheng instantly felt as if another layer of light had been plated onto his body.

Those young masters, upon seeing the Grand Princess of the Glorious and Severe State, all came over to curry favor.