Chapter 458: They guessed right!

The bustling Grand General's mansion was filled with civil and military officials and imperial clan members, naturally also including those few Pei princes.

When Mu Mingcheng saw Pei Shangling and Pei Shangjue come in one after another, he was puzzled and went over to ask Mu Yuanzhi, "You don't like them much, do you? Why invite them over?"

"Whether you dislike one or two of them makes no difference, right, brother?" Mu Yuanzhi laughed and countered.

Mu Mingcheng's smile stiffened slightly; he tried not to show his displeasure, keeping the same smile as the spring breeze, and nodded, saying, "You're right, sister."

"What's more, His Majesty, the Empress, and the Grand Empress Dowager will be here today; a few extra people are just clowns." Mu Yuanzhi said, staring at Mu Mingcheng and breaking into a smile when she said "clowns."

Mu Mingcheng kept his smile and said, "Brother, I must take my leave first; I still need to greet the guests."

"Azhi!"

Before Mu Mingcheng had gone far, Pei Shangling came over, gave him a rude glance, then switched to a fawning expression when facing Mu Yuanzhi.

He whispered, "It's already the eighth; Mu Mingcheng is about to succeed! Azhi, should I intervene?"

"You want to beat him up? Then what? Make it easy for him to play the victim?" Mu Yuanzhi rolled her eyes speechlessly.

Pei Shangling, always impulsive, deflated like a punctured balloon at Mu Yuanzhi's words.

It seems he indeed had that plan just now.

"Otherwise, should I just watch him become your brother?"

"He can't even do it—how could some unknown impostor manage it?!"

"Just don't cause trouble, and I'll thank you." Mu Yuanzhi ignored him and turned to leave.

"I won't cause trouble, Azhi. Tell me your plan," Pei Shangling said, following her closely.

Not far away, Mu Mingcheng watched their retreating backs, his eyes narrowing.

Not only did Pei Shangling follow Mu Yuanzhi like a shadow, but Pei Shangnian and Pei Shanghua did too; they shared the same thoughts, yet they weren't even nominal brothers of Azhi—so why could this outsider?

Even if Azhi ignored that person, it still wouldn't do!

Pei Shangjue, however, wasn't tailing them like a fly; from afar, he watched Mu Yuanzhi's every move.

After all, something is bound to happen on a day like today.

Qi Shihuai arrived late, seeming somewhat fatigued, not his usual relaxed self; behind him, Qi Shian appeared to have had a falling out with his brother, and the two siblings ignored each other the whole way.

After arriving at the Grand General's mansion, Qi Shian took the opportunity to slip away unseen; by the time Qi Shihuai turned around and noticed his sister was missing, it was too late—no trace of her remained.

"What are you looking for, Old Qi?" Gu Rongjin appeared behind Qi Shihuai out of nowhere.

"Don't scare people."

"Could this even scare General Qi? Really? It seems General Qi is truly getting old." Gu Rongjin began counting on his fingers, "How old are you? Forty, right?"

"Get lost!"

"What's with you, also having age anxiety? You weren't like this before."

"Cut the crap here—have you found a method? It's already this time; the decision will be made soon." Qi Shihuai asked mockingly.

"How do you know I came to you for this?"

"Oh? What do you want me to do?"

"Like this..." Gu Rongjin whispered a plan into Qi Shihuai's ear.

"Are you mistaken? Want me to take the blame for you?" Qi Shihuai snorted.

"What, he's harassing your sister, and you don't want to seize the chance for revenge?"

"Is that seizing the chance? You just want me to take the blame!"

"Otherwise, should I just go beat up my brother-in-law for no reason?"

"You could do it secretly."

"No, that's too wasteful of time, and he's surely on guard."

"What's in it for me?"

"What's our relationship? Why are you quibbling over this?"

"What relationship? Is there even one?"

"You really are asking for a beating—go on, state your terms, anything goes!"

"Lend me that pillow." Qi Shihuai said with a laugh.

"You mean the Wandering Dream Immortal Pillow?"

"Yes."

"Fine, but if you see something that gives you an unforgettable nightmare, don't blame your brother for not warning you." Gu Rongjin readily agreed.

"Deal, let's go."

Gu Rongjin waited for the right moment, then blocked Mu Mingcheng at the outhouse when he went to change clothes.

"Young Master Mu! Long time no see!"

Qi Shihuai appeared first before Mu Mingcheng, arms crossed, smiling brightly, yet a cold glint was evident in his eyes.

"General Qi." Mu Mingcheng stared in surprise, then returned a polite salute.

"So polite? It makes me hesitant to strike." Qi Shihuai said, drawing the sword at his waist.

Mu Mingcheng stumbled back a step, stammering, "General—General Qi, what is this?"

"What do you mean? You, a toad, dare harass my sister—you're asking for death!" Qi Shihuai brandished his sword and glared at Mu Mingcheng.

"No! Help!"

Panicking, Mu Mingcheng yelled and ran about aimlessly.

"Run?!"

Qi Shihuai pressed the attack.

The nearby servants and garrison troops had been dispatched by Gu Rongjin; separated by the courtyard, Mu Mingcheng's cries could hardly reach the outside.

"General Qi, please calm down! You must have misunderstood something—swords have no eyes!" Mu Mingcheng desperately dodged Qi Shihuai's sword swings, in a sorry state.

"You're a martial artist, right? Pretending you don't know kung fu?" Qi Shihuai could have killed him with a single sword thrust—let alone a mere cut—but he's gotten addicted to this, thinking this person is really good at pretending.

"I, a gentleman, use words, not hands—General Qi, put down your weapon first!" Mu Mingcheng looked like he wanted to settle things peacefully.

"This general is a martial man, not a gentleman."

Qi Shihuai narrowed his eyes, and the sharp blade sliced Mu Mingcheng's arm; he deliberately targeted the spot where Mu Mingcheng had been wounded before, reopening the old wound with a nasty gash.

Mu Mingcheng cried out in pain, and blood instantly flowed from his arm.

As soon as he saw his own blood on the ground, Mu Mingcheng became tense.

Qi Shihuai seized the moment, also let his own blood flow; without changing expression, he sliced his finger with a sword, and his blood dropped onto Mu Mingcheng's earlier blood, the two drops merging together.

"Hah, just as I thought!"

"They guessed right!"

"I—I wonder if I'm related to General Qi?" Mu Mingcheng panicked for a moment inside, but his expression didn't change.

"Even at a time like this, you stay calm under pressure—interesting."

Qi Shihuai grinned like a villain, holding his blood-dripping sword with a narrowed-eye smile.

Just then, he suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his back, turned around swiftly, and a cold light flashed before his eyes.

"I thought I heard someone shout for help just now?"

"Ah? You must have misheard—how could anyone be shouting for help?"

"It sounded like it came from the neighboring courtyard?"