Chapter 466: I utterly despise pretentious women

"Are you still waiting for dinner?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"No, I might come back quite late." Gu Rongjin said.

"Okay."

Mu Yuanzhi bade farewell to Gu Rongjin, then went to the Qi General's Manor to look for Qi Shi'an.

The Manor of the Rebellion-Suppressing General is a bit distant from Xuanwu Lake; Qi Shi'huai likes quiet and dislikes bustling places, so the manor granted to him by the former Deposed Emperor is relatively remote, almost reaching the suburbs.

Mu Yuanzhi was not acquainted with Qi Shi'an, so she formally presented a visiting card.

Fortunately, Qi Shi'an was also at home today, and he quickly let her in.

This was still Mu Yuanzhi's first visit to the Manor of the Rebellion-Suppressing General; like the Grand General's residence, it was large but not overly luxurious, with very simple decor.

"The young lady is waiting for the Princess in the front courtyard," the guiding old steward said respectfully.

"Thank you for the trouble."

"The Princess is too polite."

Soon, Mu Yuanzhi saw a person sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard; it must be Qi Shi'an.

"The young lady is waiting for the Princess, Your Highness; I'll take my leave first," the old steward said again respectfully.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded and walked over herself.

Upon seeing Mu Yuanzhi arrive, Qi Shi'an called out loudly: "Princess, come over and sit."

Mu Yuanzhi sat opposite Qi Shi'an; on the stone table were several plates of delicate pastries and a pot of steaming hot tea.

Seeing Mu Yuanzhi sit down, Qi Shi'an then poured her tea.

The fragrant aroma made one feel refreshed and delighted, as the rising steam drifted away.

"One doesn't visit the Three Treasures Hall without cause; it's rare that the Princess would personally come calling." Qi Shi'an smiled at Mu Yuanzhi, "What matter could it be that even you can't settle, requiring you to come to me instead of my brother?"

"To be frank, I came to ask Miss Qi whether you know if your elder brother once had a close female confidante?" Mu Yuanzhi first speculated.

Qi Shi'an burst out laughing, leaning forward and backward in an exaggerated manner.

Mu Yuanzhi wondered if she had said something really funny.

"You mean my brother? A close female confidante?" Qi Shi'an laughed, somewhat uncomfortably, "He actually has such rumors? Now the gossip says he likes men? Now they start believing he likes women?"

"You don't know?"

"Impossible!" Qi Shi'an declared firmly, "He's the sort of person whom even I, his sister, can't get a response from; he's completely uninterested in women—how could he have a close female confidante? Otherwise, why do people love to whisper behind his back that he's cut his sleeve?"

This is indeed the typical reaction; Mu Yuanzhi saw that Qi Shi'an's response didn't seem like she was hiding anything.

"May I ask who exactly is spreading the rumor about this close female confidante?" Qi Shi'an looked at Mu Yuanzhi very curiously.

"Actually, it was my husband who discovered it; your elder brother pays great attention to that wanted criminal named Fanghua—just mentioning her changes his entire demeanor."

Seeing no trace of joking on Mu Yuanzhi's earnest face, Qi Shi'an also became serious, "Really?"

If it were someone else, it might be forgivable, but Gu Rongjin has been a longtime friend of her brother; he would never spout nonsense.

Mu Yuanzhi nodded solemnly: "Indeed, Miss Qi, have you recalled anything?"

Qi Shi'an strained to remember; she thought for a long time, almost going back to when she first gained memory, reviewing her recollections.

Mu Yuanzhi was not in a hurry, waiting for her to think.

After a long while, Qi Shi'an finally shook her head, "I have no impression that my brother ever had a woman who drew attention around him; if forced to say, you would be more fitting."

"……" Mu Yuanzhi cleared her throat, deciding to bypass that strange metaphor, "So you're saying even you, Miss Qi, don't know."

"How could he suddenly get involved with a wanted criminal out of the blue? Could it be that he's grown old, his mind deteriorated, and he's taken a fancy to a bad woman?!" Qi Shi'an slammed the table.

"She despises pretentious women the most in her life!"

"Don't get agitated first; this is also just Gu Rongjin's wild guess, possibly not the truth." Mu Yuanzhi said.

"Come on, how long have they known each other? You still don't know his character? For Gu Rongjin to suspect him like this, and for you to personally come ask me, there must be something fishy!" Qi Shi'an pounded the table again, "I need to give him a thorough interrogation!"

Mu Yuanzhi hadn't expected this outcome; she hoped the two siblings wouldn't fall out too badly, otherwise she would feel somewhat guilty.

But at least now there is another direction.

After finishing this cup of tea and wine, Mu Yuanzhi took her leave; Qi Shi'an had this matter on her mind and did not detain her.

Returning to the Grand General's Manor, now without Zhang Mengcheng present, the residence regained its tranquility, and the air became clear.

The servants in the manor were still privately discussing the matter of the false young master, lamenting that they had been blind, mistaking a wicked person for a good one, and wondering why the masters were aloof toward others—it turned out the masters had long discerned genuine from counterfeit with keen eyes!

Gu Rongjin did not return for dinner today; Mu Yuanzhi and the two children finished their meal, checked their homework, then let them rest, and went to sleep when the time came.

Roughly when it was almost time to sleep, Gu Rongjin returned, having found nothing.

"How about your side? What did Qi Shi'an say?" Gu Rongjin asked.

Mu Yuanzhi: "She knows nothing at all—not even about Fanghua; she doesn't even know when her brother became involved with a woman, initially thinking it was just a rumor."

"That's not surprising either, since I don't know either." Gu Rongjin said, smiling: "However, Qi Shi'an's temperament will surely cause a big scene with her brother; perhaps she'll actually uncover some clues."

Mu Yuanzhi: "Has the Imperial Court of Justice not yet passed judgment on Zhang Mengcheng and them?"

"We're waiting to capture Fanghua; but it's just a routine wait, the impact isn't great, and whatever the verdict should be, it will be as it should." Gu Rongjin said, frowning, "Strangely, Fanghua seems to have no intention of rescuing Andeluò at all, or perhaps the timing hasn't arrived."

"Perhaps Andeluò has already become a sacrificial pawn."

"Not ruled out."

"How could we get them to disclose how Xixi's memories were restored?"

"I think it's hard; I have a premonition that this matter is certainly related to Fanghua—Zhang Mengcheng and Li Pozi and the like are just clueless little shrimps and crabs."

"What you say makes sense."

"However, it's fine to just forget those bad memories; it's not a big deal." Gu Rongjin said.

"That's the reasoning, but I myself have a blank spot in my memory, which always feels a bit odd." If it were her own situation, she would think that way.

"However, it's also possible that Xixi herself doesn't mind, who knows."

Mu Yuanzhi: "What about the Grand Princess? Has Yelu Kebao Ge returned to Huangli State?"

The news I got is that she'll be leaving in a few days, and she's already said goodbye to His Majesty. Gu Rongjin said.

She has completely given up on Zhang Mingcheng, right? If not, her brain really isn't working well.

They're all leaving, right?