Mu Yuanzhi glanced at the Princess Consort of Pingnan, who was already looking at her with the affectionate gaze of a future mother-in-law.
At least he did not mind that she was a discarded daughter.
Since the words of the Princess Consort of Pingnan made complete sense, the Emperor was greatly pleased.
Whether he had just remembered to ask Mu Yuanzhi or whatever the reason, the Emperor finally sought her opinion at that moment: "Yuanzhi, what is your view?"
Everyone turned their gaze toward Mu Yuanzhi, save for Xiao Yichen, whose fingers continuously twirled the cup he held.
Pei Shangyan could not quite tell how he wanted Mu Yuanzhi to answer; this turn of events was beyond his anticipation, and if not for his younger sister's panic clouding her judgment... he blamed himself for failing to teach his sister how to recognize a good man.
At that moment, Pei Shangling was pondering how to respond once Mu Yuanzhi refused. She knew how much Mu Yuanzhi detested Gu Rongjin and was certain she would never agree, throwing a massive tantrum instead. If she dared make a fuss demanding that his sister marry him, he would certainly give her no peace!
Under the gaze of all present, Mu Yuanzhi stood up, offered a slight bow, and said indifferently, "I defer entirely to Your Majesty's judgment."
What?!
Everyone was caught completely off guard. Everyone knew that Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin were at odds; to take a step back, no noble lady would ever wish to marry a wastrel, let alone one as pampered, arrogant, and willful as Mu Yuanzhi. Had her brain broken during her stint in Yongxiang?
Gu Rongjin, one of the parties involved, suspected the exact same thing. He even wanted to touch Mu Yuanzhi's forehead to check if she had a fever.
She actually had no objections? Could she be planning to quietly poison him to death?
Gu Rongjin glanced sideways at Mu Yuanzhi.
There was no malice in her eyes!
The Princess Consort of Pingnan clapped her hands in delight: "Good! Excellent! Since Her Royal Highness the Princess has agreed, then it is settled. What does Your Majesty think?"
Beside him, the Princess Consort of Pingnan was beaming from ear to ear, hoping that once her son was married, his personality would finally change and he would settle down properly instead of fooling around all day.
"Did anyone bother to ask me?" Gu Rongjin's peerlessly handsome face fell.
"Shut up, you brat!" The Princess Consort of Pingnan desperately wished she could plug Gu Rongjin's infuriating mouth!
The Emperor pointed at Gu Rongjin and laughed: "My daughter is willing to marry you, and yet you dare to complain?"
"Sister Zhi is of peerless beauty and extraordinary talent; it is I who am marrying above my station."
What Gu Rongjin said was the truth, and it served to remind everyone that this notorious and willful princess had once, with her bare hands, propped up a barrier to protect the empire.
The atmosphere at the banquet abruptly turned somewhat bizarre. The Emperor seemed entirely oblivious, breaking the stagnant air by saying: "Since that is the case, it is settled. Today is truly a double blessing; let me propose a toast to you all!"
Xiao Yichen had set down his cup at some point, and when he reached for it again, he inexplicably found it heavy, his lifting motion delayed by a fraction of a second.
Clearly, now that he was rid of Mu Yuanzhi, he ought to be happy. Why, then, was there such a lingering sense of loss?
Could habit be such a terrifying thing?
For so many years, he had grown accustomed to her fussing and making a nuisance of herself by his side. Now that she suddenly stopped pestering him, he actually felt unsettled.
Xiao Yichen tried to peer past the arm of the person raising a toast in front of him to look at Mu Yuanzhi, only to discover that her gaze was once again fixed on Gu Rongjin. Could she truly have had a change of heart and fallen for Gu Rongjin?
What a drastic downgrade in her tastes!
Mu Yuanzhi sensed that Xiao Yichen kept staring at her. She could not fathom what he found so interesting to look at—she had already granted him and Pei Yunxi their wish, what more could he possibly want?
He was utterly repulsive!
"Father." Mu Yuanzhi rose once more. "This child is feeling somewhat unwell and wishes to take her leave first."
The Emperor nodded: "Since you are unwell, go back to your chambers to rest early."
Seeing this, the Princess Consort of Pingnan bypassed the Grand Preceptor and urged Gu Rongjin: "What are you standing there stunned for? Go after her!"
He had never seen anyone so foolish!
With no other choice, Gu Rongjin left as well. He originally intended to catch up with Mu Yuanzhi and tease her a little, but no sooner had he stepped out of the hall doors than a dark figure darted down: "Young Prince!"
"What is it?" Gu Rongjin cast off the habitual frivolous smile that hung upon his face, his gaze turning sharp and profound.
The newcomer leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear. Gu Rongjin coolly curved his lips: "Well done. Let's go, it is time to close the net."
Melding into the night, the man radiated a fatal allure and danger, much like a fathomless abyss.
At that moment, an anxious figure hurried out from the hall and strode off at a fast pace. Gu Rongjin recognized Xiao Yichen and, judging by the direction he was heading, he must have been chasing after Mu Yuanzhi.
Gu Rongjin told the newcomer, "You go on ahead, this Young Prince will be right behind."
The newcomer wanted to urge him that the situation was urgent, but upon meeting Gu Rongjin's overbearing gaze, he hastily lowered his head in assent and retreated.
*
The family banquet was held in Shanglin Park, some distance away from the Imperial Palace. Mu Yuanzhi was sitting inside the carriage with her eyes closed in repose when the curtain was pulled back without warning from the outside, and an uninvited guest leaped aboard—Xiao Yichen!
Because Xiao Yichen had forced his way aboard, the carriage, which had been moving smoothly, startled the horses. The flustered driver barely managed to keep the white horse steady, causing the entire carriage to sway violently several times. Losing her footing, Mu Yuanzhi fell backward, her head striking downward heavily—
At the very last split second, Xiao Yichen reached out to shield her, preventing the back of her head from slamming against the wooden wall of the carriage.
"Xiao Yichen, have you lost your mind?"
Mu Yuanzhi glared furiously at the culprit.
Hearing Mu Yuanzhi curse him like this for the first time, Xiao Yichen could not conceal the astonishment in his eyes. Coupled with the memory of how brightly she had smiled at Gu Rongjin moments before, his gaze darkened a fraction.
Since when had she grown so impatient with him, yet remained pleasant and amiable toward Gu Rongjin?
Her fit of pique with him had lasted far too long this time.
Because of this, she had even agreed to marry Gu Rongjin—it was simply absurd!
"Have you caused enough trouble?" suppressing his anger, Xiao Yichen asked in a cold, reproachful tone.
Mu Yuanzhi was almost laughed to anger by him: "Grand Secretary Xiao, are you out of your mind? You were the one who forcefully blocked my carriage and almost got me hurt, and now you ask me if I've caused enough trouble?"
No sooner had she finished cursing than the carriage gave another jolt. Losing her balance, Mu Yuanzhi lurched forward and crashed straight into Xiao Yichen's arms!
The familiar embrace felt far too sudden. Memories deeply buried in her mind came flooding back, leaving Mu Yuanzhi too dazed to distinguish between her past and present lives. The chest that had once given her such attachment—a chest she once believed would be her warm haven for life to shield her from wind and rain—had instead become her graveyard, where he had held her as he killed her...
An irrepressible wave of terror washed over her, and Mu Yuanzhi struggled with all her might to push away her nightmare!
"Stop struggling, the carriage hasn't steadied yet, you'll get hurt!" Xiao Yichen pulled Mu Yuanzhi tightly into his embrace, his low voice landing beside her ear with unquestionable firmness.
The magnetic whisper beside her ear only accelerated the panic within Mu Yuanzhi's heart, and she could not help trembling slightly.
Yet Xiao Yichen paid no attention whatsoever, entirely preoccupied with barking orders at the driver.
Suddenly, the jolting carriage came to a sharp halt, and a head poked in through the carriage window: "Grand Secretary Xiao, what are you doing holding this Young Prince's future Princess Consort?"