Volume One, Chapter 15: What Are You Doing Holding the Future Crown Princess of This Young Lord?
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Mu Yuanzhi glanced at the anxious Prince of Pingnan. The prince was already looking at her with the benevolent fondness of a father gazing upon his future daughter-in-law.
He clearly did not mind that she was a discarded daughter.
Since the Prince of Pingnan’s words were not without reason, the emperor was delighted.
Only now did His Majesty remember to ask Mu Yuanzhi’s opinion. “Yuanzhi, what do you think?”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Mu Yuanzhi—everyone except Xiao Yichen, whose hand continued to turn the cup restlessly.
Pei Shangyan could not say how he hoped Mu Yuanzhi would answer. He had never anticipated matters turning out this way. If not for his little sister losing her head over concern for him… He could only blame himself for never having taught her how to recognize a good man.
At that moment, Pei Shangling was already thinking about how to deal with Mu Yuanzhi after she refused. He knew she detested Gu Rongjin and would never agree. She was bound to make a great scene. If she insisted that his little sister marry him, he would certainly not let her off!
Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, Mu Yuanzhi rose and gave a slight curtsy. Indifferent, she said, “I shall abide by Father’s decision.”
What?!
No one had expected that answer. Everyone knew Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin were at odds. Even setting that aside, what noble young lady would willingly marry a spoiled heir? And Mu Yuanzhi, pampered, willful, and headstrong as she was—could being confined in the Palace’s Long Lane have damaged her mind?
Gu Rongjin, one of the parties involved, wondered the same. He even felt like touching Mu Yuanzhi’s forehead to see whether she had a fever.
She actually had no objection? Could she be planning to poison him in secret?
Gu Rongjin cast a sidelong glance at Mu Yuanzhi.
There was no venom in her eyes either!
The Prince of Pingnan happily clapped his hands. “Excellent! Excellent! Since Her Highness has agreed, then it is settled. Your Majesty, what do you think?”
The Princess of Pingnan, seated nearby, was smiling from ear to ear as well. She hoped that once her son married, his disposition would change and he would finally settle down instead of behaving irresponsibly all day long.
“Has no one thought to ask me?” Gu Rongjin’s peerlessly handsome face fell.
“You insolent brat, be quiet!” The Prince of Pingnan wished he could stuff that irritating mouth shut.
Pointing at Gu Rongjin, the emperor laughed. “My daughter is willing to marry you, and you still dare complain?”
“Princess Yuanzhi is peerlessly beautiful and richly gifted. It is I who am marrying above my station.”
Gu Rongjin was merely stating a fact, while also reminding everyone that the notorious, willful princess had once upheld the empire’s safety with nothing but her own two hands.
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The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly grew strange. The emperor seemed not to notice and spoke up, breaking the stagnant silence. “Since that is settled, so be it. Today brings two great joys. I shall toast you all!”
At some point, the cup in Xiao Yichen’s hand had been set down. When he reached for it again, he found it strangely heavy, and even raising it seemed to take half a beat longer than usual.
He should have been happy to be rid of Mu Yuanzhi. Why, then, did he feel as though he had lost something?
Could habit truly be such a terrifying thing?
For all these years, he had grown accustomed to her chattering and making trouble at his side. Now that she had suddenly stopped pestering him, he found himself unable to adjust.
Xiao Yichen tried to look past the arm raised in front of him with the toast, only to discover that Mu Yuanzhi’s gaze was once again fixed on Gu Rongjin. Could she truly have fallen for Gu Rongjin?
Her taste had certainly declined.
Mu Yuanzhi noticed Xiao Yichen staring at her. She could not understand what was so fascinating about her. She had already granted him his wish and brought him together with Pei Yunxi. What more did he want?
He was utterly nauseating.
“Father.” Mu Yuanzhi rose once more. “I feel somewhat unwell and would like to take my leave first.”
The emperor nodded. “If you are unwell, return to your chambers and rest early.”
Seeing this, the Prince of Pingnan crossed in front of the Imperial Preceptor and urged Gu Rongjin, “What are you waiting for? Go after her!”
He had never seen anyone so dense.
Gu Rongjin had no choice but to leave as well. He had originally intended to catch up with Mu Yuanzhi and tease her a little, but he had barely stepped beyond the palace hall when a shadow suddenly sprang down before him.
“My lord!”
“What is it?” Gu Rongjin’s habitual frivolous smile vanished, replaced by a sharp and profound gaze.
The newcomer bent down and whispered several words into his ear. Gu Rongjin curved his lips in a cool smile.
“Well done. Come—we shall draw in the net.”
The man who merged into the night radiated a deadly allure and danger, like an abyss.
At that moment, an anxious figure hurried out of the hall and strode away. Gu Rongjin recognized him as Xiao Yichen. Judging by the direction he had taken, he was likely pursuing Mu Yuanzhi.
Gu Rongjin said to the messenger, “Go on ahead. This prince will follow shortly.”
The man still wanted to warn him that the situation was urgent, but when his eyes met the imposing force in Gu Rongjin’s gaze, he hastily lowered his head, acknowledged the order, and withdrew.
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The family banquet had been held at Shanglin苑, some distance from the imperial palace. Mu Yuanzhi was resting with her eyes closed inside the carriage when the curtain was abruptly swept aside from outside, and an unwelcome guest leapt in.
Xiao Yichen.
The carriage had been proceeding smoothly, but his sudden intrusion startled the horse. The flustered coachman nearly lost control of the white steed, and the entire carriage lurched violently several times. Mu Yuanzhi lost her balance, her head pitching backward toward the carriage wall—
At the critical moment, Xiao Yichen raised a hand to shield her, preventing the back of her head from striking the wall.
“Xiao Yichen, are you insane?”
Mu Yuanzhi glared furiously at the culprit.
It was the first time he had ever heard her curse him like that, and astonishment was impossible to conceal from Xiao Yichen’s eyes. Remembering the radiant smile she had just given Gu Rongjin, his gaze darkened.
When had she begun to find him so intolerable, while treating Gu Rongjin with such gentleness?
She had carried this quarrel with him on for far too long.
For his sake, she had even agreed to marry Gu Rongjin. It was utterly absurd!
“Have you had enough?” Xiao Yichen demanded coldly, his anger tightly suppressed.
Mu Yuanzhi was so infuriated that she nearly laughed. “Chief Minister Xiao, are you unwell? You forcibly stopped my carriage and nearly got me hurt, and now you ask whether I have had enough?”
The instant she finished speaking, the carriage jolted again. Mu Yuanzhi lost her balance and pitched forward, crashing into Xiao Yichen’s arms.
The familiar embrace came too suddenly. Memories buried deep within her mind surged forth, and for a moment Mu Yuanzhi could no longer distinguish her past life from the present.
That chest she had once cherished beyond words, believing it would be the warm harbor of her whole life, sheltering her from every storm—had become her grave instead. He had held her in his arms and killed her.
Uncontrollable terror swept over her. Mu Yuanzhi struggled desperately, pushing against the nightmare that held her captive.
“Stop struggling. The carriage has not steadied yet—you will be hurt.” Xiao Yichen held her tightly, his low voice falling beside her ear with unquestionable authority.
The magnetic murmur at her ear only intensified Mu Yuanzhi’s panic, and she could not help trembling.
Xiao Yichen, however, noticed nothing. He was too busy shouting at the coachman.
Suddenly, the jolting carriage braked and came to a halt. A head appeared through the window.
“Chief Minister Xiao, why are you holding my future wife?”
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