Chapter 52: You suggested to His Majesty that I go for a marriage alliance, didn't you?

Xiao Yunzi made an inviting gesture: "Fourth Prince, take your leave."

Pei Shangling flung her cup down and left, declaring she would not set foot here again even if carried in an eight-person sedan.

Better she not come—who cares! Xiao Nianzi swept the air where Pei Shangling had left with a broom, clearing away bad luck.

Thanks to the Grand Empress Dowager personally intervening to vent anger for Mu Yuanzhi, Weiyang Palace finally regained long-lost peace; no one dared disturb it casually, and no one dared to withhold the various monthly rations sent here.

Hongdou couldn't help but fantasize that life in Weiyang Palace would improve, and surely no one would dare bully the master from now on?

Mu Yuanzhi, however, never dared to dream such a thing; each step she took felt like walking on thin ice, and a slight misstep would mean eternal ruin.

If she could leave the palace gates early, she could catch her breath, but the emperor's bestowed marriage was merely verbal, far from being on the agenda, while Prince Pingnan repeatedly sent memorials urging it.

Speaking of which, she hadn't seen Gu Rongjin in a long time since that day, and still hadn't thanked him in person.

"Linglong, any news about Master Gu lately?" Mu Yuanzhi, after finishing her morning medicinal bath, asked the maid Linglong who helped her dress.

"……" Linglong wanted to speak but held back, biting her lip, unsure what to say.

"What news could there be? He just goes to the Joyful Red Pavilion every day!" Hongdou snorted.

Even if she knew Gu Rongjin didn't go to the Joyful Red Pavilion to drink flower wine, he is the master's future husband; going to such a place every day needlessly invites others to mock the master.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't mind; when she agreed to this marriage, she had expected the gossip wouldn't stop, and actually she wanted to know what he was really hiding.

"However, there's news about the Third and Fifth Princes: they've returned from their mission and should be arriving at the capital soon." Linglong said.

Mu Yuanzhi gave an uninterested hum.

These two royal brothers of hers have neither wit nor temper; they're like wallgrass, leaning one moment toward Pei Yunxi, the next toward her, believing whatever anyone says.

She neither dislikes them nor will she ever like them as she once did.

"The weather's so nice, Linglong, Hongdou—let's go outside for a walk." Mu Yuanzhi suddenly said on a whim.

"The master finally feels like going out for a walk today; I suppose her health has mostly recovered!" Hongdou happily said.

"Isn't that right? The master's complexion has been wonderful these past two days!" Linglong said.

Mu Yuanzhi looked at the bronze mirror; her complexion was indeed much rosier, but there was still a very noticeable scar on her forehead, which at least needed her special scar-removing ointment applied for another month and a half to fade back to normal.

"Master, how about I paint a plum blossom to cover it?" Hongdou suggested.

She had learned it, and she paints it very well!

"No need, this is fine." Although Mu Yuanzhi loved beauty, she also felt it wasn't necessary to waste such time.

It's just a walk, not a big deal.

Hongdou nodded, thinking even if the master had a scar on her forehead, she could still beat everyone else!

Spring warm, flowers blooming, the sunlight just right, Mu Yuanzhi leisurely walked along a little-used path, basking in the sun.

Suddenly, a grating voice called out: "Mu Yuanzhi!"

It had been a long time since she'd heard such an annoying voice; Mu Yuanzhi reacted a moment before realizing whose voice it was—Princess Lanting!

"Mu Yuanzhi! This princess thought you were hiding in Weiyang Palace, afraid to show yourself!" Princess Lanting came over aggressively.

Hongdou and Linglong immediately stepped forward guardedly to block Mu Yuanzhi.

"Master, I almost forgot to tell you something: His Majesty has ordered Princess Lanting to go to Huangli State for a marriage alliance." Hongdou suddenly remembered and whispered to Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi understood; perhaps this was exactly why Huangli State had agreed to return her parents' coffins.

Throughout history, those sent for marriage alliances were basically imperial clan women; princesses didn't have to go, and the emperor was reluctant to send them; but among the current imperial clan women, only Princess Lanting is of an age suitable for such a marriage.

"Congratulations, Princess Lanting, on being promoted to princess and marrying the Crown Prince of Huangli State; you will become the mother of a nation, most exalted!" Mu Yuanzhi laughed.

"Pah! Why don't you go to that damned place yourself!" Princess Lanting's eyes almost bled with hatred; she ignored the attendants' attempts to stop her, rolling up her sleeves as if to settle accounts with Mu Yuanzhi.

Although Huangli State is a great power, its prosperity cannot compare to theirs; I hear its customs are fierce and it has many shocking bad practices, such as women after marriage still having the system where a father's death is succeeded by his son, and an elder brother's death by his younger brother!

Even without those, sending her to marry so far away would have her calling to heaven and earth with no answer; her whole life would be ruined!

"Mu Yuanzhi, stop pretending here—wasn't it you who suggested to His Majesty that I go for a marriage alliance? Your heart is vicious! But just because I like Xiao Yichen, you want to exterminate me!" Princess Lanting said.

Mu Yuanzhi only then realized Princess Lanting liked Xiao Yichen; no wonder she always found fault with her—now it makes sense.

"Why do you think it was me who suggested that? Just imagination?" she sneered coldly.

"If not you, then who? You had me go for a marriage alliance to exchange for your parents' coffins—any fool could figure that out!" Princess Lanting pointed at Mu Yuanzhi.

"And why do you think Father Emperor would listen to me now?" Mu Yuanzhi countered.

Princess Lanting was momentarily speechless, then stunned before resuming her tirade: "If not you, then who? Who would bear such a grudge against me!"

"Shall I remind you whose fiancé the Grand Secretary Xiao is?" This so stupid, even if she went to Huangli State she wouldn't know how many days she'd survive.

Mu Yuanzhi was sincerely reminding Princess Lanting; as for whether that fool believes it, that's up to her.

"Stop stirring up trouble! Yunxi is already Xiao Yichen's fiancée; why would she still care about you? It's clearly just your jealousy, eliminating a rival in love!"

"I already know your kind of brain won't think: first, I no longer like Xiao Yichen; second, it was Yunxi who hinted that this was your doing, right."

Princess Lanting choked again; after thinking, it seemed Yunxi had indeed hinted at that before.

But can one think that Mu Yuanzhi is not ordinary? It only proves that Mu Yuanzhi is indeed so petty, making others think the same as her.

She snorted with a laugh: "You don't like Xiao Yichen? Who would believe that if you said it? Mu Yuanzhi, shall I remind you of those feats where you threw yourself at Xiao Yichen?"

Not far away, Xiao Yichen, hearing someone loudly discussing him, stopped in his tracks; he had come out of Xuanshi Hall, not knowing why he had wandered here, clearly not the usual route out of the palace.

No one knew Xiao Yichen was behind the fake mountain; Mu Yuanzhi calmly said: "That was in the past; do you see me now actively seeking Xiao Yichen?"