It was Gu Rongjin!
Gu Rongjin released his grip, allowing a breathless Mu Yuanzhi to break free from his arms.
Saving the situation with such skill would be impossible without a deep foundation in martial arts. How could Gu Rongjin—known as the Capital's number one fop, a man useless in both literature and combat—have pulled that off?
It wasn't just Mu Yuanzhi who was puzzled; everyone present was stunned, and for a moment, the scene fell into an eerie silence.
"Hahaha, I never imagined that drinking a little wine would actually enhance my internal energy. Is this the legendary Drunken Fist?" Gu Rongjin flashed his usual frivolous smile, looking quite pleased with himself.
As soon as he spoke, the others withdrew their gazes, dismissing the incident. They had briefly wondered if the Heir of Prince Pingnan was a man hiding his true potential, but they now assumed it was merely a stroke of luck.
The atmosphere soon warmed up again.
"Oh, give it a rest. It was clearly just dumb luck!" Pei Shangling said with a look of disdain.
"You're just jealous." Gu Rongjin snapped open his paper fan and began to fan himself elegantly. "How could such a vulgar word as 'luck' pass through your noble lips, Your Highness?"
As he spoke, he folded his fan and reached out to tilt Mu Yuanzhi’s chin. "Wouldn't you agree, little Mu Yuanzhi?"
Mu Yuanzhi swatted the fan away. However, she didn't get angry; instead, she offered a grateful smile. "Thank you for your help, Brother Rongjin."
Gu Rongjin blinked, then blinked again, his eyes filled with disbelief. He even stuttered, "Y-you, what did you call me?"
Whenever this girl saw him in the past, she always looked at him with such disgust that it seemed she wanted to kick him into a trash heap. Had she bumped her head today? Why was she calling him "brother"?
He still remembered when he was a child, visiting the palace and trying to get her to play kickball. He had tried to bribe her into calling him brother, but not only did the girl refuse, she had snatched his ball and pelted him with it, leaving him to slink away in disgrace.
Since then, they had been at each other's throats almost every time they met. To hear her call him "Brother Rongjin"—and not in a sarcastic tone—was truly bizarre.
"I won't say it a second time." Mu Yuanzhi let out a proud huff and turned to walk away.
Perhaps because they had never known how to get along since childhood, receiving his kindness left her feeling somewhat unsettled.
"I didn't hear you clearly! Say it again!" Gu Rongjin chased after her with the thickest of skins.
Neither of them noticed that the expressions on Pei Shangyan and Pei Shangling’s faces had shifted.
Since when had Mu Yuanzhi become so close to Gu Rongjin?
Didn't she despise fops like him who lacked all self-discipline?
And she even called him "Brother Rongjin"!
The charming, delicate air she had just inadvertently displayed—how long had it been since he had last seen that? It felt like a memory from a past life.
Pei Shangling lost his composure first. He stepped up and grabbed Gu Rongjin. "My little sister is not some loose woman from the Yihong House. Keep your distance from her!"
"Isn't your little sister Pei Yunxi? I wasn't anywhere near her!" Gu Rongjin asked, looking genuinely confused.
Pei Shangling was left speechless. He had been so agitated that he had let the words "little sister" slip out; he was truly being driven mad by the two of them.
In the moment he hesitated, Gu Rongjin slipped away and sat down right next to his sister with no sense of shame at all.
"Little Mu Yuanzhi, would you like it if Brother Rongjin sat next to you?"
Gu Rongjin was the type to take an inch and demand a mile. He considered himself a master of romance, claiming to have picked ten thousand flowers in his time.
"Sure," Mu Yuanzhi replied without refusal.
If Gu Rongjin was sitting next to her, it meant one fewer annoying person could sit there. Why not?
In her past life, she had loathed Gu Rongjin because she admired strength and viewed him as an incorrigible, unlearned fool. She felt he was nowhere near as impressive as her brothers, who were skilled in both letters and arms. Yet, in the end, it was Gu Rongjin who had never once harmed her, even offering his help time and again. She simply hadn't been able to swallow her pride and accept it.
Her peripheral vision swept over him, and she felt as if he were missing some kind of accessory.
"Do you usually wear a jade hairpin?"
"Hmm?" Gu Rongjin sat in a relaxed posture, his chin resting on his hand as he answered lazily. "I suppose so. Why? Are you that interested in me?"
Mu Yuanzhi’s lips twitched; she barely managed to suppress an eye roll.
Was it or wasn't it? What kind of answer was "I suppose so"?
Mu Yuanzhi couldn't help but steal another glance at him.
Was it him?
The embrace from earlier had felt strangely familiar...
But she remembered that Gu Rongjin couldn't swim.
Unless, of course, he was hiding something.
Reflecting on the terrifying scene from moments ago, her suspicions deepened. Gu Rongjin was definitely capable of martial arts, and his skill likely wasn't poor. He might not be as simple as he appeared on the surface.
"Why are you peeking at me? If you want to look, do it openly. Come, come, Brother Rongjin will let you look."
"Shut your mouth!"
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Everyone stood up and bowed, welcoming the Emperor.
Two figures appeared before the crowd first. Beside the Emperor walked Pei Yunxi, dressed in a green silk gown. She wore a sweet smile, her bright eyes sweeping over the guests as if greeting each one individually, appearing both gentle and charming.
She walked alongside the Emperor, and when they took their seats, she sat right next to him, with Imperial Noble Consort De on his other side.
That position used to belong to Mu Yuanzhi. The only reason she had been raised under the care of Imperial Noble Consort De was that the Consort was the Emperor's favorite. With the Empress having passed away long ago and the Emperor refusing to appoint a new one, the Consort managed the inner palace, effectively holding the position of Empress.
Only those highly favored could sit by the Emperor's side. Now, Mu Yuanzhi could only sit far away. She had experienced this disparity countless times in her previous life; she had finally grown accustomed to it.
"Where is the Second Prince? Why isn't he here?" The Emperor scanned the room, noticing an empty seat.
"Father, Second Brother said he was feeling unwell and couldn't make it," Pei Yunxi said with a smile. She glanced at Mu Yuanzhi, an unconcealed look of triumph in her eyes.
Everyone knew the Second Prince was a recluse who preferred the life of a soldier in the barracks to social gatherings. In the past, only Mu Yuanzhi had been able to earn his concern, but now, even that position had been taken over by Pei Yunxi.
Since leaving Yongxiang, Mu Yuanzhi hadn't even seen her second brother once.
The Emperor huffed with dissatisfaction. "You're the only one who speaks for him. He isn't unwell—he just didn't want to come, did he?"
"No, Second Brother even asked me to apologize to Father on his behalf."
Pei Yunxi spoke with a coy, coaxing tone that kept the Emperor smiling. The lively atmosphere of the party continued, and everyone heaped praise on the little Princess for knowing how to please the Emperor.
Mu Yuanzhi seemed to exist within her own barrier, the commotion having nothing to do with her. She simply kept her head down and ate. If it weren't for Gu Rongjin sitting next to her and constantly trying to tease her into conversation, she could have spent the entire night without saying a word.
"Little Mu Yuanzhi, the way you eat is just like a cat."
"Little Mu Yuanzhi, you haven't scolded me for a whole hour now."
"Little Mu Yuanzhi..."
"Can you just shut your mouth for a moment!" Mu Yuanzhi could truly take no more.