Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Becoming His Concubine Through Marriage

Thinking of Gu Rongjin, Mu Yuanzhi’s lips curled into a smile.

She had been quite rude to him since childhood and never understood why he would show her any kindness.

Mu Yuanzhi picked up the jade hairpin draft that had been pressed underneath.

Was he really the one who saved her in the pond?

“Master!” Xiao Nianzi rushed in. “Second Prince sent someone to urge you. He says the elite arrows in the military camp are running low.”

Mu Yuanzhi scoffed. So he finally remembered her?

The elite arrows in the camp were improved by her; they concealed explosives inside, exquisitely crafted.

“Tell him I can’t casually enter the Ministry of Works now. If he wants them, let the Ministry make them for him,” Mu Yuanzhi waved her hand dismissively.

“Yes, understood!”

When Xiao Nianzi returned, he was followed by a covert guard from the Second Prince’s entourage. The guard bowed respectfully to Mu Yuanzhi. “Princess, the Second Prince means that the people at the Ministry of Works are clumsy and simply can’t manufacture them properly.”

Now they realize they can’t make them? Mu Yuanzhi chuckled.

Wasn’t it better before, when she was ordered never to set foot in the Ministry of Works again, to prevent her hidden weapons from hurting the poor little princess?

They thought having her blueprints meant they could rest easy?

Mu Yuanzhi lazily glanced at the guard and shrugged. “I don’t have the materials, and I can’t enter the Ministry, so there’s nothing I can do.”

The guard was slightly surprised, apparently not expecting Mu Yuanzhi to flatly refuse. He had thought this headstrong princess was merely posturing since she had always complied with the Second Prince’s requests in the past. Not just arrows — whether swords, guns, or cannons — if the Second Prince desired them, she would work day and night without eating or sleeping to produce them.

Even a simple “thank you” from the Second Prince could make her happy for days, bragging to everyone that the usually aloof Second Prince spoke more to her than anyone else.

The guard frowned, pondering for a moment before finally cupping his hands. “I will report to the Second Prince and not disturb Princess further.”

As the guard left, Xiao Yunzi entered. “Master, the Crown Prince has arrived.”

One after another, how tiresome!

Yet Mu Yuanzhi was somewhat surprised that Xiao Yunzi had stopped Pei Shangyan from entering directly.

This usually inconspicuous servant was now the most dependable in her palace. Still, she dared not be careless, since all four of them had once served Pei Shangling.

“Well done, Xiao Yunzi. Keep it up — don’t let just anyone in,” Mu Yuanzhi praised.

Xiao Nianzi lowered his head guiltily, thinking, “It’s always been like this. I have followed the Fourth Prince many times to the old Chang Le Palace. If anyone slighted the princes, the Master would be furious and scold her palace servants.”

Praised, Xiao Yunzi nodded quietly and asked, “Master, do you wish to see him?”

“No.”

Before she finished, a louder voice rang out: “Sister Zhi!”

Mu Yuanzhi sighed helplessly. If the heir apparent was going to barge in, there was nothing she could do.

“I’m resting now. Crown Prince, if you’re free, come again tomorrow,” she said.

Pei Shangyan glanced at the desk piled with blueprints — how did this look like someone about to rest?

Why did Sister Zhi always avoid seeing him?

“Everyone, please leave,” Pei Shangyan waved off the servants lingering there.

The two timid maids dared not disobey, casting worried glances at Mu Yuanzhi before retreating. Xiao Nianzi and Xiao Yunzi exchanged looks but hesitated. Pei Shangyan’s temper flared: “What’s wrong? Can’t I even give you orders now?”

Mu Yuanzhi didn’t want to trouble her servants. She nodded at them, and the two young eunuchs bowed their heads and withdrew.

Unable to bear Mu Yuanzhi’s indifferent attitude, Pei Shangyan couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Zhi, is it because of what happened at the Imperial Observatory that you don’t want to see me? I was worried you might be possessed by evil spirits and acted rashly. That deceitful junior supervisor—I’ve already demoted him.”

“That junior supervisor was indeed at fault, but Crown Prince, were you blameless?” Mu Yuanzhi retorted with a smile.

Was he trying to take credit?

“I was wrong. I’ve apologized to you. Will you forgive your brother just this once?” Pei Shangyan stepped forward, attempting to take Mu Yuanzhi’s hand.

She deftly dodged. “I’m really tired. Crown Prince, please leave.”

He pushed her into deep waters nearly drowning her, and now a mere light apology was supposed to erase it?

Was her life really that cheap?

If you can’t provoke me, at least I can avoid you!

Pei Shangyan’s handsome face twisted with conflicted worry. “Sister Zhi, even if you’re sulking with us, you can’t agree to marry Gu Rongjin. Don’t you know that just half an hour ago, I saw him go to the Red Lotus Pavilion?”

If Sister Zhi married him, who knew how much she would suffer.

“I know. He told me,” Mu Yuanzhi replied expressionlessly.

Her words abruptly silenced Pei Shangyan. Was she really so willful just to spite them?

Pei Shangyan felt powerless. “You cannot marry him. You’ll regret it for life if you act on impulse!”

“Is that so? Then Crown Prince, in your opinion, who should I marry?”

Pei Shangyan sighed and revealed the decision he had pondered for a long time. “Sister Zhi, I know you love Xiao Yichen. If you would marry him as a concubine, he...”

“Pei Shangyan! You want me to marry Xiao Yichen as a concubine? Is that your so-called ‘decision I won’t regret for life’?” Mu Yuanzhi truly underestimated Pei Shangyan’s limits.

When they were children, he said she would choose her husband from the best men in the world; now he wanted her to be someone’s concubine!

To be a concubine to Xiao Yichen and serve the legitimate wife, Pei Yunxi—was she some kind of lowly person?

“Sister Zhi, please don’t be angry. Sister Xiao is your sister. She is kind and easy to get along with. Don’t generalize by comparing their relationship to the usual tension between a principal wife and concubine,” Pei Shangyan tried to reason with her.

Mu Yuanzhi laughed scornfully. “Does Sister Xiao and Xiao Yichen know about your ‘wonderful arrangement’?”

“I will persuade them,” Pei Shangyan said hastily, mistakenly thinking Mu Yuanzhi was moved.

“If you like it so much, you go be his concubine yourself!” Mu Yuanzhi turned and ordered the palace servants outside, “Send the guest away!”

Her blatant mockery and disdain inflamed Pei Shangyan’s temper; after all, he was the heir apparent, second only to the emperor.

His chest heaving violently, he finally swept his sleeve and left.

Yet just as he stepped out of the palace, he hesitated.

Pei Shangyan gazed confusedly at the starry sky, recalling the days when he and Mu Yuanzhi lay on the grass counting stars. They had been so close then—how had it come to this?

Like strangers who could hardly exchange a word without offense. No, they were enemies. After just a few words, Sister Zhi would angrily send him away.

Finally, Pei Shangyan left in a daze.

Outside Weiyang Palace, after escorting Pei Yunxi home, Xiao Yichen noticed Pei Shangyan’s distracted state and asked, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“Yichen, we have known each other for many years. There are things I’m not afraid to tell you. I want to entrust my beloved sisters to you. Even if Sister Zhi must be a concubine, it’s acceptable.”

“How did she respond when you said that?” Xiao Yichen asked, his heart stirred.