Chapter 87: with translation of chapter title

The emperor narrowed his eyes at Mu Yuanzhi for a while, then waved his hand somewhat angrily: "Fine, since that's the case, the engagement remains as before—go back first."

"Yes." Mu Yuanzhi rose, performed the full rites, and withdrew.

Even if the emperor grew angrier, he could only stay angry; she truly knew nothing, except for this family letter.

As Mu Yuanzhi emerged from Xuanshi Hall, Pei Shangyan hurried up to her: "Little sister Zhi, what did Father Emperor say to you? Has the engagement been dissolved?"

"The engagement remains as before." Mu Yuanzhi did not pause her steps.

"What?!" Pei Shangyan panicked the moment he heard it.

Is there any room left now?

"Little sister Zhi, you're too stubborn; you don't need to drag yourself down for Gu Rongjin!"

Seeing that Mu Yuanzhi had no intention of stopping to listen to him, Pei Shangyan couldn't help grabbing her hand: "Who you marry is fine, but why insist on hitting a south wall by marrying Gu Rongjin?!"

His voice was not low, and Xiao Yichen, who had just entered the palace and hurried here, heard it clearly.

Xiao Yichen stopped and looked at Mu Yuanzhi, his eyes complex.

What kind of spell did Gu Rongjin cast on her to make her so faithful?!

"No, because I simply like Elder Brother Rongjin!" Mu Yuanzhi shook off Pei Shangyan's hand, and only then, as she turned, did she notice Xiao Yichen ahead.

"The consort and the heir of the Gu household are truly loving." Xiao Yichen's words hid ice and carried thorns.

"Not as loving as Princess Yunxi and the Prince Consort." Mu Yuanzhi curled her lip in a sharp sneer, she didn't spare him another glance, and didn't want to stay a moment longer.

Soon others will come to search the palace; she must return.

"I hope next year I won't have to make offerings at your grave." Xiao Yichen's face was already grim beyond compare, and his words were unusually sharp.

He indeed would not make offerings at her grave.

Mu Yuanzhi snorted coldly in her heart, for she didn't even have a grave mound.

Her steps stirred the wind; she didn't even glance at Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen's jawline tightened, his whole aura turned cold, his hand gripping his sword trembled with force; he very much wanted to draw his sword to block her path, but reason ultimately prevailed.

Just how far must things go before Mu Yuanzhi will abandon Gu Rongjin?

Does she truly wish to die together with Gu Rongjin?

Pei Shangyan hadn't heard their exchange; he stepped forward and asked Xiao Yichen: "How is it? Have any other feudal lords responded to the Prince of Pingnan?"

Xiao Yichen shook his head; he was thinking of other matters and said nothing.

He was always taciturn, and Pei Shangyan didn't notice his distraction; he nodded, then let out a full breath of relief.

Thus the crisis was completely resolved; although the General Who Suppresses Rebellion returning to the capital with a hundred thousand troops to report duty was enough to resist the feudal lords of the Windborne Remnants, he still did not wish to see the state disturbed, even slightly, and wanted to nip it in the bud.

Pei Shangyan added: "No, I still can't just watch her walk into a fire pit; as long as they haven't completed the wedding ceremony, there's still a chance."

Upon hearing the words "wedding ceremony," Xiao Yichen finally came to his senses, he looked at Pei Shangyan with a serious tone: "She can only marry me."

Pei Shangyan, however, shook his head, disagreeing: "No, Little Sister Zhi won't agree, and Father Emperor won't either."

After what happened last time, bringing this up again is no longer appropriate.

"If she doesn't marry me, who else could she marry?"

Xiao Yichen indeed has the standing to say such words; he is a capable young minister of the empire, unmatched among the world's youthful talents.

"I happen to have another candidate." Pei Shangyan, lost in his own world, completely failed to catch the meaning in Xiao Yichen's words, thinking the other was merely asking a simple question.

"Who?" Xiao Yichen's tone grew colder by a few degrees.

"The General Who Suppresses Rebellion, Qi Shihuai!" Pei Shangyan said this, his eyebrows flying with excitement.

He had actually overlooked this person all along, preferring to wrong Little Sister Zhi into becoming a concubine, which even made the two siblings unhappy; upon reflection, it really wasn't worth it.

Xiao Yichen's eyes instantly veiled with a thin mist as he coldly said: "Qi Shihuai is a full generation older than Mu Yuanzhi—sixteen years."

That's old enough to be Mu Yuanzhi's father.

"Being older isn't a problem." That used to be something he would consider; now the most important thing is to rescue Mu Yuanzhi from her suffering.

Although Qi Shihuai is somewhat older in age, he is also a general who achieved fame and success in his youth, ennobled as "Seal the Wolf, Inhabit the Xu," his exploits unmatched, surpassing even the Grand General, and he is the empire's new mainstay.

Xiao Yichen sneered: "The General Who Suppresses Rebellion is this old and still unwed, with no concubines or bedmaids in his household—who knows if he has a cut-sleeve preference?"

"..." Pei Shangyan choked a little, then laughed helplessly: "You know him inside out."

"Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy is enough," Xiao Yichen certainly wouldn't say that; he gave a noncommittal response: "In short, he surely has a problem."

"I will naturally investigate thoroughly." After saying that, Pei Shangyan added: "But even so, what then? Marrying Qi Shihuai and living as a widow is still better than marrying Gu Rongjin, even if it costs one's life."

Xiao Yichen said coldly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, think thrice—this is a lifelong matter; are you sure about living as a widow?"

"Don't worry, it's still premature to speak of it all; I will investigate on my own." Pei Shangyan said this and then left; he now needed to find out!

Xiao Yichen sat alone, seething with frustration—indeed, not a single person is reliable!

Mu Yuanzhi returned to Weiyang Palace; Pei Shangling was no longer there, not knowing whether someone had come to loosen his bonds or drag him away, and she felt unwilling as well.

The one leading the palace search was Pei Shangjue; the imperial guards under his command were far gentler than last time's Pei Shangling—at least they didn't fling her belongings everywhere, merely rummaging through chests and cabinets, which was inevitable.

"You're disobedient; the Crown Prince and the Fourth Brother are both furious." Pei Shangjue walked over and said to Mu Yuanzhi.

Hah, do they need a reason to be angry? Obedience? What a joke—what do you think you are?!

"If you're going to spout nonsense, get lost; I'm not in the mood to listen." Mu Yuanzhi said, arms crossed, giving the imperial guards searching the palace a cold stare.

"I know why you want to marry Gu Rongjin; marrying Qi Shihuai would be the same, even better." When he arrived, Pei Shangjue met Pei Shangyan, they exchanged a few words, and he thought it quite feasible.

Mu Yuanzhi looked at Pei Shangjue amusedly: "Did you ask whether they agree?"

It's just the same pile of crap!

"No need to ask; Father Emperor can simply issue an edict."

"Why would Father Emperor issue such an edict?" Has he lost his mind?

Qi Shihuai holds military authority; how could the emperor possibly marry her to him? For the emperor, Qi Shihuai staying unwed and not forming factions is simply perfect.

Pei Shangjue: "Actually, Father Emperor still cares deeply for you; he also doesn't want you to marry Gu Rongjin."

Mu Yuanzhi didn't speak; she didn't want to discuss such an obvious stupid problem.

If you don't like Qi Shihuai, you have other options, such as the National Teacher.