Chapter 99

Just now His Majesty was still intent on wiping out all the vassal kings in one fell swoop—how could he possibly pardon Gu Rongjin? And even lift the martial law at Pingnan Wangfu?

Xiao Yichen had ten thousand questions in his mind; he glared at Gu Rongjin displeasedly and entered Xuanshi Hall without reporting.

Gu Rongjin couldn't be bothered with Xiao Yichen and went to the Princess's residence.

At that moment in the Princess's residence, Qilin blocked Pei Yunxi outside Mu Yuanzhi's courtyard, not letting her in.

Pei Yunxi sat outside, waiting, using her old shameless trick.

"Can't you stop sitting here and getting in the way? How thick-skinned are you? My senior sister doesn't want to see you!" Qilin ground his teeth.

"You commoner, daring to speak to the Princess like that!" Xueer seethed with righteous indignation.

"Go tell His Majesty the Emperor then." Qilin shrugged.

"You!" Xueer fumed, knowing Qilin's martial arts were superb—none of the Princess's residence guards combined could match him, much less subdue him.

They also wouldn't bother the Emperor over such a trifle; this isn't the imperial palace, and no outsider would hear even if they made a huge fuss.

"I just wanted to chat with my older sister—why won't she see me?" Pei Yunxi wiped away her sudden tears with her sleeve.

She wanted to cry so the other people in the Princess's residence would see; it would surely be useful—when Father Emperor asked, Mu Yuanzhi would have one more charge against her.

"I thought who was bringing bad luck early this morning—turns out it's Princess Yunxi." Gu Rongjin led a group of Pingnan Wangfu servants inside.

"Master!" Qilin happily rushed over upon seeing Gu Rongjin.

"How's your madam?" Gu Rongjin asked with a smile.

"The madam is inside… pah, the senior sister is inside—don't you dare call my senior sister old!"

"Gu Rongjin?" Pei Yunxi didn't have time to dwell on his earlier sarcasm; her tears instantly retracted.

In broad daylight, he dares to come? And he even brings a crowd?

"Someone come! Capture the imperial court's wanted criminal!" Pei Yunxi shouted at the top of her lungs.

Even if nobody here is a match for Gu Rongjin, she'll shout so the whole street knows that fugitive Gu Rongjin has returned! Once the imperial guards arrive, they'll surely capture him.

"Even if you are the Princess, slandering the Prince is still a crime." Gu Rongjin's face sank instantly.

Pei Yunxi immediately shut her mouth, trembling as she stepped back: "You… you don't come over!"

"What's wrong with you? Thinking you're some hotshot, I, the Prince, have zero interest in someone like you." Gu Rongjin snapped coldly.

"Gu Rongjin?" Upon hearing the commotion, Mu Yuanzhi came out from inside, seeing Gu Rongjin and staring in astonishment.

How did he come again? He's got a death wish!

"You should call me your husband, or at least Brother Rongjin." Gu Rongjin stepped forward, took Mu Yuanzhi's hand, and said, "As your husband, I've come to take you home."

"Home?" That word feels too foreign.

Is Pingnan Wangfu really her home? Can a temporary lodging be called home?

But it's still a hundred times better than here.

"But haven't you been wanted by the imperial court?" Although the warrant hasn't been issued, it's practically the same.

"No, everything's been settled. I'll tell you later—pack up your things, let's go."

"You lot!" Pei Yunxi, unwilling to be left aside, called out to Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin: "Since Prince Jin has returned, older sister, please stop clinging to my husband, okay?"

She feared she wouldn't get a chance to speak, so she said it right here, in front of everyone.

Pei Yunxi looked utterly wronged and resigned, eyes brimming with tears.

"If you're sick, go get treatment." Mu Yuanzhi turned and sneered at Pei Yunxi: "Is it my fault your husband hasn't consummated the marriage with you?"

Pei Yunxi is shameless—then I won't give her any face either.

I never expected Mu Yuanzhi to say such things aloud; Pei Yunxi's face instantly went white, then burned with pain, she clenched her lips and stared at Mu Yuanzhi resentfully, without hiding it.

How could Mu Yuanzhi know that?

Pei Yunxi was puzzled—yesterday Chen-gege didn't touch her because he was injured; surely that's why he stayed up all night reading.

"Chen-gege is hurt…"

"I don't care; if that's what you think, please stop bothering me—I have zero interest in your marital life."

After saying that, Mu Yuanzhi briskly walked back to her room to pack; Gu Rongjin ignored Pei Yunxi entirely, and Qilin followed along.

In the vast courtyard, only Pei Yunxi remained standing there.

"Master, they're going too far!" Xueer seethed with indignation.

How could they possibly blurt out such a private matter of a young lady? Where would the master put her face? Now everyone in the Princess's residence will know!

Xueer was comforting Pei Yunxi when, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a figure and exclaimed delightedly: "Master, the Prince Consort has come!"

The Prince Consort she referred to naturally meant Xiao Yichen.

Pei Yunxi sniffed, eyes glistening with tears as she turned: "Chen-gege."

"I'm looking for Yuanzhi." Xiao Yichen said only that, then turned and went inside without looking back.

"Chen-gege!" Pei Yunxi grabbed Xiao Yichen's waist, sobbing: "You are my husband, why do you always care so much about Mu Yuanzhi?!"

She was unwilling! She was already his wife, why didn't he have her in his eyes?

Xiao Yichen, who had no choice but to stop, still softened his heart; he took Pei Yunxi's hand to comfort her: "Don't think too much, you will always be my principal wife."

"Then could you not go look for older sister?" Pei Yunxi pleaded humbly.

"I have something to do with her; be good and wait for me in the courtyard, I'll come find you later." Xiao Yichen gently took his hand away from Pei Yunxi.

Pei Yunxi heard him say he would come find her later, relaxed her grip, and let Xiao Yichen take her hand away.

His tenderness made her intoxicated, made her at a loss, and she just let go; it was clear he went inside to look for Mu Yuanzhi, and her jealousy flared again.

But Mu Yuanzhi had already married Gu Rongjin; there was no way she could ever marry Chen-gege again!

But Mu Yuanzhi would still pester Chen-gege…… Mu Yuanzhi deserves to die! If she were dead, she wouldn't be in the way!

The resentment in Pei Yunxi's eyes deepened.

Mu Yuanzhi's weak point is that little imp called Qilin; perhaps we can strike at him.

She knew that Ling older brother really disliked that little brat.

Pei Yunxi curled her lips in a cold smile.

"Xueer, come on, let's go find the Fourth Prince."

"Isn't the master going back to wait for the Prince Consort?"

Pei Yunxi said angrily: "What's wrong with him making me wait? Every time it's me waiting for him."

She also really wanted to try the feeling of being waited for.

At that moment, Mu Yuanzhi was tidying up in her room, while Xiao Yichen was blocked outside by Xiao Nianzi and Xiao Yunzi—of course mainly by the Qilin; otherwise those two wouldn't be a match for Xiao Yichen.

Mu Yuanzhi didn't have much stuff; a quick tidy-up would do, and everything was in Weiyang Palace.

"Yuanzhi!"