Volume One, Chapter 20: I Will Never Let Mu Yuanzhi Marry a Man Like That

“Here!”

The thunderous response startled the few servants in Weiyang Palace so much that their legs went weak, nearly causing them to lose their footing.

“Who dares!” Mu Yuanzhi’s spirit soared, matching Pei Shangling’s arrogance without faltering.

For a moment, the imperial guards did not dare to make a move; they exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to act.

They had never seen Princess Yuanzhi display such formidable presence!

Pei Shangling gritted his teeth, seething, “You have quite the audacity, Mu Yuanzhi.”

He waved his hand forcefully, “Seize her! I will go to Father and petition for an order!”

Mu Yuanzhi’s chest heaved heavily from nervousness and anger.

She had felt this way before as a child, but then it was because Pei Shangling had confronted a band of fierce brigands for her sake.

They had sneaked out of the palace, only to be stopped by mountain bandits attempting robbery. She was nearly abducted, but the ten-year-old Pei Shangling charged forward wielding two swords heavier than himself. He fought with such madness that the bandits were driven away in fear.

At that moment, she thought of her spirit brother as her hero. Unfortunately, her hero had died when she was sixteen.

That man was no longer her spirit brother.

The commander of the imperial guards, seeing that none of his men dared to act, stepped forward to take the order.

“Princess Yuanzhi, this subordinate apologizes!”

With remarkable skill, he swiftly cuffed Mu Yuanzhi’s hands behind her back. She struggled in vain and could only endure the humiliation as she was restrained.

Scenes from Yongxiang flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern: insults, oppression, whipping... She seemed to see Xiao Yichen approaching with a small knife, cutting into her again and again, slowly dismembering her until death.

Mu Yuanzhi closed her eyes as those nightmare images filled her mind, refusing to fade no matter what.

“Impudent! Who gave you the courage to bully the princess!”

Amidst the waves of sorrow, a clear and lofty voice rang out, like a piece of driftwood reaching the drowning Mu Yuanzhi, or like sunlight enveloping her, warm and reassuring.

She opened her eyes to see Gu Rongjin’s face shining like the stars.

Gu Rongjin strode forward arrogantly. Pei Shangling had no idea where Gu Rongjin found the nerve to be so defiant before him—until he noticed Madame Zhang accompanying him.

Why was Madame Zhang here?!

Though Pei Shangling seldom saw Madame Zhang, her stern, unsmiling face left a deep impression. She had served the Grand Empress Dowager for decades and looked down on princes with disdain, which infuriated him without any means to retaliate.

Because the Grand Empress Dowager had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, Madame Zhang’s presence was tantamount to the Empress Dowager herself appearing. Everyone politely cleared a path.

The imperial guard commander holding Mu Yuanzhi suddenly released her hands at some unknown moment, breaking into a sweat.

“You dare touch my man? If you want to be reassigned to guard the gates, just say so!” Gu Rongjin shot a glare at the commander before turning to Mu Yuanzhi with a comforting smile, “Madam, don’t be afraid. Your husband has arrived.”

“Shut up!”

With so many around, he truly had no shame!

Mu Yuanzhi’s heart, stirred by his words, was instantly crushed.

“I brought reinforcements for you. Why are you scolding me?” Gu Rongjin pouted, reaching out to pull Mu Yuanzhi.

She naturally refused, “Don’t call me ‘Madam’ in front of all these people!”

“Fine, I’ll call you that in private,” Gu Rongjin said in an accommodating tone.

Xiao Yichen’s deep eyes darkened as they fell on the two tugging and pulling each other.

Pei Shangling shot them a sharp glance before asking Madame Zhang, “May I ask the reason for your visit, Madame?”

Madame Zhang smiled politely, “Your Highness, the Grand Empress Dowager is unwell. Hearing that Princess Yuanzhi is knowledgeable in medicine, she thought to have her attend to her illness.”

“The Grand Empress Dowager is seriously ill. All imperial physicians should be summoned to her immediately. This cannot be taken lightly!” Pei Shangling said firmly.

Pei Yunxi quickly nodded, “I’ll also go see Great-Grandmother. I know massage, and Father says it helps with his head condition.”

“Yes, the little sister is quite skilled...”

“No need,” Madame Zhang interrupted the two, “The Grand Empress Dowager only wishes to see Princess Yuanzhi. Others should not disturb her.”

She cast a pointed glance at Pei Yunxi when she said this.

Pei Yunxi’s face instantly turned pale. Pei Shangling wanted nothing more than to slap the old servant. How dare she!

“Madame Zhang, who are you calling ‘others’?” Pei Shangling’s temper flared.

She was merely a servant, yet dared to show such insolence to her master?!

Mu Yuanzhi chuckled softly, “Madame Zhang didn’t say anyone. Brother Ling, who are you imagining? Do you also think that person is ‘others’?”

“You!” Pei Shangling inhaled deeply.

Madame Zhang replied calmly, “This old servant must report back. I will take Princess Yuanzhi away first.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, with Mu Yuanzhi naturally following and striding away confidently.

The servants in Weiyang Palace finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the Grand Empress Dowager was on her side!

“Wait!”

Gu Rongjin suddenly spoke up. “Today caused such a commotion in Weiyang Palace, yet gained nothing. It all rests on Princess Yunxi’s word. Won’t that make everyone in the harem live in fear? Today I say I saw an assassin, tomorrow someone else says the same—what then?”

Pei Shangling could not tolerate anyone maligning Pei Yunxi, “My little sister means well. What does Lord Jin intend?”

“Princess Yunxi only worries about her sister’s safety,” Xiao Yichen also quickly defended her.

Mu Yuanzhi, still nearby, inwardly smiled. Gu Rongjin hadn’t even spoken much, yet the others were already so agitated.

Just hearing Pei Shangling and Xiao Yichen’s voices annoyed her; she walked faster than Madame Zhang.

“It’s nothing, just talking. I’m merely a prince of no consequence; no need to concern yourselves with me,” Gu Rongjin said, leisurely waving his fan as he walked away. Passing Xiao Yichen, he stopped and teased in a melodious voice, “This case will likely cost the cabinet dearly—no, it’s more like losing both wife and troops, a double loss.”

Anyone with eyes would know who “this wife” referred to.

Xiao Yichen stared at Gu Rongjin, his dark eyes heavy. He lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear, “Lord Jin, so confident—aren’t you afraid Princess Yuanzhi will discover your unsavory secrets?”

A flicker of murderous intent flashed in Gu Rongjin’s eyes before vanishing. “I advise you to watch your words.”

“You’re the one who’s nervous,” Xiao Yichen smiled, as if he had thoroughly seen through Gu Rongjin and held the upper hand.

“What nervousness? Even Prime Minister Xiao is well connected, yet my wife pays you no mind,” Gu Rongjin said, tapping his closed fan against Xiao Yichen’s suddenly stiffened face.

Xiao Yichen fixed his gaze on Gu Rongjin’s smug retreating figure, his thoughts drifting back to the night before.

Following the distress flare’s location, he arrived at the Ministry of Justice minister’s mansion engulfed in flames. Amidst the inferno, he saw a group of people, but the fire was too intense. Before he could get a clear look, they vanished in an instant.

At the center of the group was a figure like a hellish demon, with bloodthirsty eyes that haunted him.

Xiao Yichen clenched his fists. If that person truly was Gu Rongjin, he would never allow Mu Yuanzhi to marry such a man!