Chapter 91

Just as he hesitated, Qi Shihuai had already left.

Pei Shangling was extremely irritable; he felt that recently nothing had gone smoothly—why was he so annoyed? When did it start?

It seemed to have started after his little sister returned to the palace.

Yes, it felt like one annoying thing after another, never letting up.

Stop, stop, stop! Thinking this way always feels like it's because of his little sister—can't think like that!

Pei Shangling suddenly recalled Pei Shangyan's dream-wandering pillow.

The ancient books say this pillow is extremely mysterious; one can see the fairy realm, past and future, this life and previous lives—perhaps after a nap one could glimpse the heavenly secret.

But last time the Crown Prince slept on it, the effect was too strong—nightmares clung to him, and he needed someone to slap him awake.

After thinking it over, Pei Shangling still decided to go to the Eastern Palace to borrow this pillow.

Maybe it's because the Crown Prince's spirit is too fragile? He's not like that!

After borrowing the pillow from the Eastern Palace and returning, Pei Shangling passed by Xuanshi Hall, saw Pei Shangjue coming out, noticed his worried look, and guessed he must have failed.

"Brother Jue, you also know that a ruler's words are not jokes; just with your mouth it's hard to make him change—how did you say it?" Pei Shangling chattered on, but Pei Shangjue acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing to ponder.

Pei Shangling knew his second older brother disliked speaking, so he had learned to guess his thoughts, but today he simply couldn't figure it out—what reason could he use to tell the Father Emperor?

But never mind; it wouldn't work anyway.

"Let's think of another method." Pei Shangling had a brainwave: "Why not let the uncooked rice become cooked rice? Then no matter who tries to stop it, they won't be able to!"

He didn't know that earlier, Pei Shangyan and Xiao Yichen had jointly come up with the same plan.

Pei Shangjue lifted his eyes to look at Pei Shangling, his gaze undulating.

"You don't have to stare at me like that if you disagree—I'm just saying it." Pei Shangling hastily corrected himself.

Pei Shangjue: "I said letting Mu Yuanzhi marry Qi Shihuai could more effectively draw out Gu Rongjin."

After all, if left alone, the bride will still enter the door—how could Gu Rongjin possibly appear? Of course, the premise is that Gu Rongjin loves Mu Yuanzhi enough to be unwilling to see her marry someone else.

But would anyone really sacrifice their life for someone else?

He still didn't know whether it would happen, because the Father Emperor hadn't agreed.

"This is good, but why won't the Father Emperor agree?" Pei Shangling puzzled, he really felt it would work!

Anyway, even if they fail to draw him out, Mu Yuanzhi could simply avoid marrying Gu Rongjin and smoothly enter the Qi household—either way, they'd profit.

Pei Shangjue furrowed his brows: "He said unless Mu Yuanzhi personally brings it up."

"It sounds almost like the Father Emperor is sulking." Pei Shangling was stunned by his own assumption.

Pei Shangjue neither affirmed nor denied: "So I'm thinking about how to persuade her."

"Her? You mean Mu Yuanzhi?" Pei Shangling scoffed, "She's impervious to persuasion, as if she'd been poisoned by Gu Rongjin's gu!"

As Pei Shangling spoke, he suddenly gave a sly smile: "I actually have a good idea!"

Pei Shangjue raised his eyebrows: "What method?"

"However, the groom still has to be Xiao Yichen."

Pei Shangjue pursed his lips: "How so?"

"I only have a way." Pei Shangling gave an inscrutable smile.

Soon, the wedding day arrived; the two princesses married, double joy, the wedding ceremony was held at the Altar to Earth, a proposal made by Pei Shangling to the Son of Heaven.

That morning at dawn, Mu Yuanzhi rose to wash and dress; though it should have been a joyous day, the Weiyang Palace was shrouded in sorrowful gloom.

Hongdou sighed: "The Young Master Jin still hasn't shown a trace."

"Seeing him isn't necessarily a good thing." He might be thrown into prison on the spot.

Xiao Yunzi: "You two, on this joyous day, can't you say something nice?"

"Exactly, don't make the master unhappy!" Xiao Nianzi gave them a sideways glance.

Hongdou slapped her own mouth: "It's my fault, master, please don't mind; the Young Master will surely return safe and sound."

"Exactly, exactly, maybe he'll show up when we bow!" Linglong forced herself to perk up.

The two maids, fumbling about, began to apply Mu Yuanzhi's bridal makeup.

Mu Yuanzhi sat before the bronze mirror, somewhat dazed.

She was about to marry.

Watching her makeup grow heavier in the bronze mirror, Mu Yuanzhi never really felt that she was about to marry.

She suddenly recalled the day of the trial wedding attire, Gu Rongjin's words to her, saying to just treat it as if they were already married.

Mu Yuanzhi unconsciously showed a smile, only then realizing she was smiling.

Mu Zhiyan didn't know, but perhaps marrying him might be her best home.

Seeing Mu Zhiyan smile, a few palace servants felt a little relieved, yet they still couldn't put their minds at ease, for the fate of the Prince Pingnan's residence this time was uncertain.

Actually I need to re-check the original lines: The user provided lines 46-60. Let's copy them:

Mu Zhiyan unconsciously broke into a smile, only later realizing she was smiling.

Could it be that she truly desires to marry him?

Mu Zhiyan didn't know, but perhaps marrying him might be her best home.

Seeing Mu Zhiyan smile, a few palace servants felt a little relieved, yet they still couldn't put their minds at ease, for the fate of the Prince Pingnan's residence this time was uncertain.

Seeing Mu Yuanzhi smile, a few palace attendants felt somewhat relieved, but still couldn't put their minds at ease, after all the Pingnan Wangfu's fortune this time was unpredictable.

Outside, gongs and drums blared, but the wedding procession was heading toward Changle Palace.

Outside, gongs and drums thundered, yet the wedding procession was heading toward Changle Palace.

Xiao Yichen was dressed head to toe in bright red wedding attire, riding a spirited horse with his head held high; ahead and behind him marched the joyous wedding procession, yet he sat on his horse with a grim expression, looking nothing like a groom coming to fetch his bride—more like someone in mourning.

Xiao Yichen wore a full set of bright red wedding robes, riding a fine horse with head held high; before and after him were the wedding procession playing joyful music, full of festive cheer, yet he sat on the horse with a solemn face, not at all like a groom coming to fetch the bride, but rather like someone in mourning.

A wedding procession naturally includes high-ranking officials; upon seeing Xiao Yichen's expression—as if everyone owed him thousands of taels—they found it odd, as he looked nothing like a groom about to wed, but more like someone heading to war.

The wedding procession inevitably included high-ranking officials; seeing Xiao Yichen's expression, as if others owed him thousands of taels, they all found it strange, looking as if it had nothing to do with a wedding, but rather like going to war.

"Perhaps it's because of Young Master Jin? Isn't it said that Young Master Jin fled to avoid punishment?"

"Then why does Princess Mu Yuanzhi still want to marry Young Master Jin?"

The Prince Pingnan's mansion doesn't even have a wedding procession; I heard the Prince Pingnan has been placed under house arrest by the emperor.

"The Pingnan Wangfu doesn't even have a wedding procession; I heard the Prince of Pingnan has been placed under house arrest by the Emperor!"

The clamor of those people reached Mu Yuanzhi's ears, but she pretended not to hear—until a pair of intricate, splendid red boots stopped before her.

For a moment she thought Gu Rongjin had returned.

But she soon realized it wasn't him—there was no trace of his scent.

Instead, it was an irritating scent.

It was Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen, having dismounted and stepped before Mu Yuanzhi, stared blankly at her in her red wedding gown; inexplicably, he reached out to lift her red veil—

Everyone gasped.

What is Grand Secretary Xiao doing?!

Xiao Yichen clung to the red veil, staring blankly at Mu Yuanzhi as if his soul had left his body.

She was stunning—more beautiful than the day she tried on her wedding attire, radiant like the proud sun, dazzling and breathtaking, so that he could not tear his gaze away.

Such a beautiful bride ought to have been his.

Mu Yuanzhi's startled gaze snapped back to normal, and resentment began to rise.

"Grand Secretary, this is Princess Zhiyan, not Princess Yunxi!" the wedding attendant nearly fainted from fright.

Even Princess Yunxi shouldn't be lifting the red veil at this moment!