Chapter 95

Who's there?

The sky was dim; even with lanterns, it was hard to see clearly who had come in a moment.

This is the Prince Consort's residence, with strict guards; there shouldn't be any outsiders.

Then this person can only be Xiao Yichen!

On the night of the bridal chamber, what is Xiao Yichen doing here, not in his own courtyard, embracing a beauty?

But regardless of whether it was Xiao Yichen, Mu Yuanzhi had no intention of dealing with him; she turned and left, heading back to her new room.

"You're just leaving like that?" Xiao Yichen's unwilling voice came from behind the lantern.

Sure enough, it was him!

Mu Yuanzhi turned back; Xiao Yichen, dressed in a groom's robe, stepped out from the shadows, his face cold, looking nothing like a newlywed groom—in her eyes, he was nothing but a red demon.

"Prime Minister Xiao, not returning to the bridal chamber—your beauty will be kept waiting." Mu Yuanzhi mocked.

"Do you really think I want to marry Pei Yunxi?" Xiao Yichen asked coldly.

Mu Yuanzhi scoffed: "It's you who wants to marry; you can marry whoever you wish, it's none of my business. Farewell."

She had just turned when Xiao Yichen flashed to block her path, staring at her, word by word: "What if I say I want to marry you?"

If he had said that to her in a past life, she would die without regret.

But now, hearing it stirred no ripple in her; she even wanted to laugh.

Want to marry her? Is she something he can discard or take as he pleases? Isn't he taking himself too seriously, Xiao Yichen!

"You're overthinking it." Mu Yuanzhi gave him a bright smile: "I've already married Gu Rongjin."

In one instant, Xiao Yichen was dazed by her moving smile; the next, her words made him furious, he stepped forward and seized her wrist, the air between them thick with aggression.

Mu Yuanzhi instantly became alert; she shook her hand but couldn't free it from Xiao Yichen's grip, angrily saying: "Xiao Yichen, this is the princess's residence—do you dare cause trouble?"

"Cause trouble?" A spark of guile ignited in Xiao Yichen's deep eyes, his voice dangerous: "Whatever I do to my people cannot be called troublemaking."

"Who are your people? You're sick!" Mu Yuanzhi glared at Xiao Yichen wickedly, her phoenix eyes blazing with anger.

Pei Yunxi is just in the neighboring courtyard—he's gone mad!

In Xiao Yichen's view, she was merely bluffing, with no intimidation at all.

He jerked her closer, the scent of Mu Yuanzhi making him more intoxicated; his eyes misty, he fixed his gaze on her, voice low and husky as he coaxed: "Yuanzhi, you like me, don't you? We were meant to be husband and wife."

Let all mistakes return to the right path.

She ought to be his.

Mu Yuanzhi felt only disgust: "Someone, come!"

Yet her loud shout summoned no guards or servants; only the howling wind answered her.

What's going on? Where are the people?

"Stop shouting, no one will come." Xiao Yichen forcefully pulled Mu Yuanzhi into his arms, treating her feeble struggle as amusement.

Did Xiao Yichen, that scoundrel, send everyone away? Impossible—would the princess's staff obey him so readily? Or did he drug them all into unconsciousness?

Pei Shangling's face flashed through Mu Yuanzhi's mind.

Pei Shangling has been acting strangely today—could he be in league with Xiao Yichen?

It must be! Pei Shangling and Pei Shangyan are both despicable scoundrels! Beasts!

Mu Yuanzhi cursed inwardly, her mind racing for an escape; her hidden weapon was tucked in her left sleeve, but Xiao Yichen had seized her wrist, rendering it unusable…

Just as she was distracted, Xiao Yichen leaned in and kissed her!

Something exploded with a boom in Mu Yuanzhi's mind.

That scoundrel Xiao Yichen actually dared to kiss her!

Just as Mu Yuanzhi was about to bite down hard, a strong force yanked her away, and before she could react she found herself in another comforting embrace.

Mu Yuanzhi looked up in surprise—it was the face she had longed for day and night.

Gu Rongjin rushed in wearing white, amid this sea of red, not at all out of place; instead, he illuminated the heavens and earth.

Mu Yuanzhi's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably, and she tightened her grip on his robes.

After not seeing each other for days, he had grown thin.

"Are you alright, little Yuanzhi?" Gu Rongjin asked, heart aching, his eyes full of pity.

At this moment, myriad feelings surged in Mu Yuanzhi's depths; recalling recent events, all stemming from his unannounced departure, anger flared instantly: "You dare show up again?!"

"Why wouldn't I dare? Today is our wedding day!" Gu Rongjin said matter-of-factly, gazing at Mu Yuanzhi, his head adorned with pearls and jade, radiant, the lovely bride stunningly beautiful.

Yet when his gaze fell upon her lips, moist and glistening from being kissed, his eyes darkened instantly.

This is his bride!

"Xiao Yichen, you actually dare to covet this prince's bride!" Gu Rongjin glared at Xiao Yichen, his eyes naked with killing intent.

Xiao Yichen, still unsatisfied, curled his lip coldly: "Are you here to die for yourself, Gu Rongjin?"

The sight of Gu Rongjin embracing Mu Yuanzhi stabbed his eyes with pain; he wished he could immediately seize Gu Rongjin and throw him into prison!

"Just you?" Gu Rongjin's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile: "I fear you won't last three moves under my hand."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Yichen's aura shifted abruptly, the surrounding air instantly solidifying.

The two faced off, ready to erupt at any moment.

Gu Rongjin, however, smiled: "But a gentleman settles things with words, not hands; today is my wedding day, and I do not wish to see blood."

He had barely finished when a coquettish voice rang out: "Brother Chen, why are you in Sister Yuanzhi's courtyard?!"

Pei Yunxi pinched the hem of her bridal robe, trotting over, her tone thick with undisguised grievance.

Why doesn't Brother Chen come to her courtyard, but instead comes to Yuanzhi's—does he just can't let go of Yuanzhi? Today is their wedding day! She is his lawful bride!

As Pei Yunxi caught sight of Gu Rongjin in her peripheral vision, she inexplicably sighed in relief; with Gu Rongjin present, Yuanzhi surely wouldn't brazenly seduce her Brother Chen, right!

Xiao Yichen had never been so annoyed by Pei Yunxi's appearance as he is now; she is already his wife—how can she still be unsatisfied?

Do you really have to be so controlling of heaven and earth?

"How come, Chen-gege, you're not speaking? Don't you know how to explain to your beauty?" Gu Rongjin asked mockingly.

With Pei Yunxi here, why would we need him to act?

Xiao Yichen coldly shot Gu Rongjin a glance; the three words 'Chen-gege' from Gu Rongjin's mouth successfully disgusted him utterly, and hearing them again would give him goosebumps.

Pei Yunxi's bright, glistening eyes stared at Xiao Yichen, wronged and pitiful, waiting for his explanation; to her, everyone else was irrelevant.

"Yunxi, go back first; I need to apprehend the imperial wanted criminal!" Xiao Yichen said this without even looking at Pei Yunxi.