Volume One, Chapter 11: From Now On, I Will Keep My Distance from Brother Chen

"Is Brother Ling not going?"

"No, I don't want to go."

Unless Mu Yuanzhi apologized to him, she shouldn't expect him to pay her any mind.

"Oh, then I shall go alone."

Better that she didn't go.

Pei Yunxi, accompanied by her maid Xue'er, arrived at the rarely visited Weiyang Palace. As she walked, she scrutinized her surroundings carefully. The desolate palace hadn't changed much; it was simply cleaner, and a few withered trees had been replaced by new ones. It could not compare to the Changle Palace where she resided.

"Princess Yunxi, our mistress has retired for the rest. Perhaps you should return another day."

Hongdou, who had gone inside to announce her, returned shortly after.

Looking at the gaudily dressed Pei Yunxi, Hongdou couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation, especially recalling that the clothes sent by the Imperial Household Department were all outdated styles.

It was infuriating—her mistress once possessed so many beautiful garments, but when they moved to this palace, the department claimed they were lost in transit and faced no repercussions. It was obvious it had been done on purpose!

Pei Yunxi was not deterred. "I will go in and wait for Sister Yuanzhi to wake up."

Lifting her pink embroidered silk gauze skirt, she stepped onto the stone stairs.

"My mistress said she is very tired today and is not seeing anyone," Hongdou said, blocking Pei Yunxi's path.

"I won't be at ease until I see with my own eyes that Sister Yuanzhi is safe and sound. Since you have instructions not to let me in, I shall wait here for her to wake up," Pei Yunxi said, sitting directly on the stone steps.

Xue'er glared at Hongdou with dissatisfaction and muttered, "The wind is so strong here, Princess, please be careful not to catch a cold."

Pei Yunxi shook her head. "I am fine. I am worried about my sister; I would be restless even if I went back."

"The Princess is truly kind-hearted."

Hongdou clicked her tongue inwardly and hurried inside to inform Mu Yuanzhi.

Mu Yuanzhi was busy writing out a medical prescription. In her previous life, she had developed a deep-seated illness in the Yongxiang alley, so she focused on researching decoctions to dispel cold and dampness. Combined with her acupuncture, she believed she could fully recover from this early onset of cold-evil invasion.

Hearing Hongdou's report, Mu Yuanzhi set down her brush and rubbed her temples with a hint of fatigue. "Let her in."

It would save her from making a scene.

"Yes."

Hongdou went out to comply, and soon Pei Yunxi followed her inside. She swept a gaze around the room without leaving a trace.

As expected, there was nothing of value, save for a few extra charcoal braziers. It seemed the Empress Dowager did not care much for Mu Yuanzhi, either.

Pei Yunxi felt relieved.

She watched Mu Yuanzhi sitting there, sickly and weary. On the hand supporting her face, the scar was visibly much fainter than before. Pei Yunxi’s gaze shifted to the golden sore ointment on the desk, and her eyes flickered.

She had seen that blue-capped ointment at Xiao Yichen’s residence and had specifically asked about it; it was exclusive to the Chief Minister’s estate.

Did Brother Chen send this?

A bitter taste rose in Pei Yunxi's heart. She collected her thoughts and smiled at Mu Yuanzhi. "Sister, you’ve woken up so quickly? Are you feeling much better?"

She took the box containing the thousand-year-old ginseng from Xue'er and opened it as if presenting a treasure. "I heard you fell into the water and was so worried that I immediately brought you the thousand-year-old ginseng that the Emperor bestowed upon me."

Mu Yuanzhi glanced at Pei Yunxi indifferently. "Leave it there."

Her voice was soft, laced with an impatient chill.

Pei Yunxi set down the brocade box and brazenly picked up the ointment from the desk. "Sister, you must apply this ointment diligently to those scars. Did Brother Chen send this bottle?"

She asked as if it were a casual remark, though her heart was pounding erratically.

Mu Yuanzhi retracted her hand into her sleeve and offered a faint, mocking smile. "Indeed. Why is my little sister so concerned about her future brother-in-law?"

Pei Yunxi instantly looked as if she had suffered a grave injustice. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she waved her hands in a frantic, soft-spoken rush. "No, Sister Yuanzhi, please don't misunderstand. I only..."

She couldn't finish her sentence. Standing there with reddened eyes and a flustered expression, anyone who saw her would surely assume Mu Yuanzhi was bullying her again.

Pei Yunxi was always like this—starting a conversation only to end up on the verge of tears, making everyone inclined to favor her.

In the past, Mu Yuanzhi had believed Pei Yunxi was a timid and fragile girl. When Pei Yunxi first arrived at the palace, Mu Yuanzhi had sincerely wanted to be her good sister, never imagining that this was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and that she herself was the foolish lamb to be devoured and left with no place to be buried.

"Only what?" Mu Yuanzhi looked up, her gaze icy as she stared at Pei Yunxi.

Pei Yunxi burst into tears, wiped them away with her sleeve in a pitiful manner, and sobbed, "I'm sorry, if Sister doesn't like it, I will keep my distance from Brother Chen in the future."

She spoke of keeping distance, yet she still called him "Brother Chen"? How laughable!

"I haven't said a thing. Why is my little sister crying?" Mu Yuanzhi’s eyes drifted to the bronze bell tied to Pei Yunxi's hair, a mocking glint in her gaze. "Or perhaps I should give you another gift to make amends?"

Pei Yunxi shook her head. She touched the bell on her head and said, "I like the bell you gave me very much. Even though Brother Ling said he would give me a better one, I still prefer the one you gave me."

*Who asked you?* Mu Yuanzhi was rendered speechless by Pei Yunxi’s clumsy attempt at showing off.

"You’ve seen me, and you’ve seen everything you wanted to see. If there is nothing else, you may go back." Mu Yuanzhi did not want to continue dealing with this "white lotus," especially since she was already irritated by being ill.

"There is also a bowl of medicinal porridge that I brewed myself. Sister, remember to drink it while it's hot." Pei Yunxi sniffled, her voice still trembling with tears, and hurriedly gestured for Xue'er to open the food container.

Before Mu Yuanzhi could even respond, Pei Yunxi wiped her tears and fled in a panic. If their brothers saw this now, they would surely, without rhyme or reason, assume Mu Yuanzhi had bullied their little sister and would come seeking justice for her.

Once the jinx was gone, Mu Yuanzhi felt the air clear. She told Xiao Nianzi to take the medicinal porridge and feed it to the pigs so as not to waste the food.

As for the ginseng, she might as well keep it; it would be useful for her medicine.

Mu Yuanzhi handed the prescription to Hongdou and sent her to the Imperial Hospital. She used to have all kinds of precious herbs in Changle Palace, but now they belonged to Pei Yunxi. She would have to work hard for anything she needed now; the Imperial Hospital would no longer cater to her every whim as they once had.

The bit of sleepiness she had felt was ruined by Pei Yunxi. Mu Yuanzhi decided not to sleep and instead took out her blueprints to continue researching new hidden weapons. Fortunately, she had kept these important items with her, allowing them to follow her to Weiyang Palace.

She was engrossed in her research when her maids, initially afraid to disturb her, watched as Linglong grew more curious about the patterns Mu Yuanzhi was drawing. She couldn't help but ask, "Mistress, is that a jade hairpin you are drawing?"

Mu Yuanzhi paused, realizing she had been lost in thought and had unconsciously drawn the jade hairpin she had vaguely seen while drowning.

Who exactly was it that saved her from the pond?

"Linglong, do you know who pulled me out of the water?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

Linglong replied without hesitation, "Was it not His Highness the Crown Prince?"