Chapter 53: The Ultimate Villain

"You're just playing hard to get!" the Lanting Princess snorted coldly.

Xiao Yichen once also deeply believed that.

But now…

He recalled that even though she had been severely wounded that day and he had poured so much inner energy into her, she showed not a trace of emotion—just a perfunctory "thank you," and between the lines she remained as aloof as ever.

At that moment, Xiao Yichen felt, as if struck to the heart, that she no longer had any feeling for him.

She had truly given up on him.

Just thinking about it, the feeling of resentment instantly overwhelmed Xiao Yichen.

Mu Yuanzhi knew that saying more to someone like the Lanting Princess was pointless; anyway, she was going to be married off, and they probably wouldn't meet again, so let her have her way.

"Let's go, Hongdou, Linglong."

"You think you can leave? I, the Princess, have come today to settle scores with you!" the Lanting Princess naturally wouldn't let Mu Yuanzhi off easily.

"Heh, how do you want to settle it?" Mu Yuanzhi asked curiously, crossing her arms.

That question left the Lanting Princess speechless; she rushed headlong into the imperial palace, intent only on settling scores with Mu Yuanzhi, without even thinking how to do so.

"Because you're wasting time here with your own fantasies; if I were you, I'd think seriously about what to do next."

"What else can I do? His Majesty ordered me to go through a marriage alliance—I can't very well refuse!"

"That's your affair; it has nothing to do with me."

"You! Mu Yuanzhi!" the Lanting Princess, unable to contain her anger, lunged at Mu Yuanzhi—then suddenly noticed the conspicuous scar on Mu Yuanzhi's forehead, recalled how Consort De had lost control of the Six Palaces and been beaten, and instantly withdrew her hand.

But then she thought, she's about to be married off—what is there to fear?

Thinking that, the Lanting Princess raised her hand.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared before her; upon looking closely, it was Xiao Yichen!

How could he be here?

The Lanting Princess panicked instantly.

Oh no—did he just see her being unreasonable and ready to strike?

The Lanting Princess quickly glanced at Xiao Yichen's expression, finding it blank—she couldn't tell whether he was angry or not.

But how could he be standing in front of Mu Yuanzhi?!

This realization made the Lanting Princess's heart quickly turn sour.

She had heard from Yunxi that he had transferred a great deal of his inner energy to Mu Yuanzhi!

Even if he's a good person, isn't he supposed to dislike Mu Yuanzhi?

The Lanting Princess's mind was in a tangle, but what she most wanted to ask was—

"I'm about to be married off, Senior Minister Xiao—do you have anything you want to say to me?" the Lanting Princess had never felt her heart race like this before.

Some things, if not said now, will be too late.

She no longer cared whether Mu Yuanzhi or anyone else was present; she just wanted to hear his words.

Xiao Yichen remained as indifferent as ever, his expression and gaze unchanged, saying, "Take care."

"Take care?"

"Take care……"

"Gone……"

The Lanting Princess felt her heart turn cold; she gave a self-mocking smile, then a weak smile at him, said nothing, and fled in embarrassment.

As she left, Mu Yuanzhi also prepared to go.

Xiao Yichen couldn't help but say, "You won't even greet me?"

He had clearly saved her!

Is her heart made of stone, impossible to warm?

Xiao Yichen didn't know that Mu Yuanzhi had once asked herself the same question in her heart.

But Mu Yuanzhi no longer needs to warm that iron-heart of hers.

"Greetings, Senior Minister Xiao." Mu Yuanzhi greeted him politely.

Xiao Yichen's breathing noticeably deepened—a sign he was angry, which Mu Yuanzhi knew too well.

What's there to be angry about?

Didn't he used to treat her just as coldly, yet now he can't stand it when it's his turn?

He may have saved her, but so what? Compared to what he did to her in his previous life, even if he died she'd only clap!

Hongdou and Linglong stood left and right, pressing close to Mu Yuanzhi to protect their mistress; they both knew that when this Senior Minister Xiao grew angry, it was truly terrifying.

In fact, they didn't understand why, even though Senior Minister Xiao had saved their mistress, she remained so cold; they had thought their feelings would warm and that the mistress would reaccept him, but reality proved them wrong.

The mistress said she wouldn't look back—and she truly didn't.

"Do you really like Gu Rongjin that much?" Xiao Yichen asked in a cold voice.

He couldn't fathom what she saw in Gu Rongjin, or why she had become obsessed like that.

She had always disliked Gu Rongjin since childhood—what could make her, after taking a liking to someone like him, still like Gu Rongjin?

Mu Yuanzhi curled her lips and smiled: "Yes."

Since liking Gu Rongjin would annoy him greatly, she didn't mind provoking him a few more times—best if it drove him mad!

Mu Yuanzhi's brief reply angered Xiao Yichen, and his aura visibly turned cold.

Xiao Yichen stepped forward, Mu Yuanzhi instinctively stepped back, and the two maids trembled with fear, ready to call for help.

But this place is remote—could any guards happen to pass by?

However, when Xiao Yichen's gaze fell on the scar on Mu Yuanzhi's forehead, his heart clenched; he struggled to quell his rising anger and told Mu Yuanzhi, "I have something to say to you alone—have them step back first."

"If you have something to say, just say it." Mu Yuanzhi wasn't that foolish; she dismissed Hongdou and Linglong, who were of no use to her and only brought harm.

Xiao Yichen's icy gaze swept over the two maids; they couldn't help but be frightened, but being scared didn't mean they would retreat—retreat was impossible!

Forget it, it's no harm if they hear it, Xiao Yichen thought.

"I have already fully grasped Gu Rongjin's criminal evidence; if you're smart, you'd better stay away from him." Xiao Yichen's pupils flashed sharply, his eyes scheming, as if he could already personally send Gu Rongjin to the guillotine.

Mu Yuanzhi's eyes flickered with a hint of doubt, but quickly returned to calm, she smiled and said: "Prime Minister Xiao, if you truly have the evidence, you should go arrest people now instead of showing off your eloquence here."

What's the point of always telling her this?

"You don't believe me?" Xiao Yichen's expression turned stern.

Mu Yuanzhi: "I only trust Brother Rongjin."

Her words were like a thorn, piercing Xiao Yichen's heart.

If it had been before, he would have thought she was deliberately provoking him, but now he believes she is speaking sincerely!

She would no longer call him Brother Chen, but instead call someone else Brother Rongjin.

"Do you really want to marry him? Whether he's a pleasure-seeking playboy who frequents brothels or a murderous, arsonous extreme villain?!" Xiao Yichen's eyes flashed with chilling light.

Mu Yuanzhi's brows furrowed, her face turned cold: "In my eyes, the true extreme villain is someone else."

She lifted her face and gave him a mocking smile.

Mu Yuanzhi's expression and actions were undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire; Xiao Yichen's jawline tightened, the anger in his chest surged straight to the top of his head.

Even an idiot could tell who she was referring to with that look!

What has he done that in his eyes makes him an extreme villain?!