Mu Yuanzhi actually avoided him as if he were carrying the plague!
"Fourth brother, why are you so angry? You'll make our little sister misunderstand and think you didn't want to give her that bell!" Pei Shangyan noticed Pei Yunxi’s face was deathly pale and she looked awkwardly distressed; he blocked Pei Shangling’s path as he was about to chase after Mu Yuanzhi.
Pei Shangling’s eyes were still bloodshot. "That’s not what I meant."
Pei Shangyan patted Pei Shangling on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down.
Pei Shangling clenched his fists unconsciously, grinding his teeth as he said, "If our little sister likes it, I can get her a better one. But Mu Yuanzhi—she actually humiliated me like that!" She didn't even offer an explanation!
At the thought of this, Pei Shangling’s fury hit the roof. It was absolutely infuriating!
Once Pei Yunxi heard Pei Shangling’s words, her heart settled. Appearing very sensible, she said, "Perhaps Sister Zhi was just feeling petty. Once she cools off in a couple of days, I’ll return the bell to her. It’s such a precious and meaningful item, it wouldn't be right for me to keep it."
"Keep it." Pei Shangling’s eyes were still glued to Mu Yuanzhi’s retreating figure. He was trembling with rage, and he flicked his sleeve and turned away, his back radiating a gloomy, ferocious aura that warned others to stay away.
"Don't take it to heart, little sister. Your fourth brother isn't targeting you; he just has a bad temper."
"Mm, I won't."
Pei Yunxi had never seen Pei Shangling so angry. She was absent-mindedly pondering this until the recognition ceremony concluded, and she suddenly realized that the Emperor hadn't mentioned the marriage arrangement at all.
He had clearly promised her that during today’s ceremony, the betrothal would be transferred to her!
"Crown Prince brother!"
Pei Shangyan, who had his back to Pei Yunxi, thought for a split second that Mu Yuanzhi was calling him. Realizing it was Pei Yunxi, he felt a strange sense of disappointment, though he didn't even notice it himself.
Pei Yunxi hesitated to speak. She glanced shyly at Xiao Yichen, who stood not far away, and didn't know where to put her hands or feet.
Seeing this, Pei Shangyan immediately knew what she wanted to ask. He affectionately patted her head. "The Emperor must be waiting for a better day to bring up the subject of switching the betrothal. I know you like Xiao Yichen, and it just so happens that Xiao Yichen doesn't like Sister Zhi. The Emperor will surely grant your wish."
Although the matter of the cloak wasn't a major issue, switching the marriage engagement at such a critical juncture might reflect poorly on her reputation; that was likely why the Emperor was exercising caution.
"Mm, I understand. I will listen to Father and you, Crown Prince brother," Pei Yunxi said, lowering her head with a faint smile.
*
"His Majesty has said that everything for the Princess remains exactly as it was before," the head eunuch leading the way said with a smile.
Exactly as before?
Mu Yuanzhi looked up and surveyed this unfamiliar palace—Weiyang Palace.
She would never be able to go back to the way things were.
Her former palace was named Changle Palace, a name signifying "eternal happiness without end"—the most beautiful blessing in ancient Chinese.
That palace, built specifically for her, was filled with plum blossoms planted by her brothers’ own hands. The walls were plastered with precious Sichuan pepper to keep out the cold. In winter, the entire front courtyard was a warm, beautiful blend of pink and white.
However, just because Pei Yunxi said it was beautiful and wanted to live there, her palace had changed hands.
The Emperor had her moved to the only vacant old palace, hung a temporary plaque reading "Weiyang Palace" on it, and claimed that having both "Changle" and "Weiyang" made for an auspicious combination.
It was night and day compared to the original!
In her previous life, she naturally refused, and after making a scene for a long time, the Emperor grew angry and threw her into the haunted Abandoned Palace, warning that if she continued to stir up trouble, he would lock her in the Yongxiang.
Mu Yuanzhi pulled her thoughts back and stepped into the palace gate, her face devoid of expression. A musty, damp odor hit her nostrils.
The head eunuch’s smile turned awkward as he chuckled, "With the recognition ceremony today, I've been so busy I’ve lost my head. I’ll have people come clean this up right away, and a group of new servants will be sent to serve you later, Princess."
"It is of no consequence," Mu Yuanzhi said simply, offering no rebuke.
From this day forward, there would only be more neglect.
"You are most gracious, Princess!" The head eunuch’s smile remained unchanged. "Please, rest in your chambers. Later, a physician from the Imperial Hospital will come to take your pulse, and daily necessities will be delivered to you as well. Please set your mind at ease, Princess."
"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch."
"You are too kind, Princess. If you have no other orders, I must head over to the little Princess’s Changle Palace." At the mention of Changle Palace, his smile became noticeably more genuine.
The head eunuch looked as though he couldn't wait to leave and didn't want to stay for even another second; Mu Yuanzhi pretended not to see it.
Even the old servants who had watched her grow up favored Pei Yunxi.
"Cough..." Her prisoner uniform was far too thin. Mu Yuanzhi was reaching her limit and hurried back to her inner chambers.
No one had lived in this palace for a long time. The bed was cold, the room was cold, and the vast Weiyang Palace was utterly desolate.
She dragged her exhausted, heavy body to the small kitchen, hoping to boil a bowl of ginger soup, but she couldn't find any ginger, nor could she find a stove or coal for heating. Mu Yuanzhi didn't know how long she had spent in that silent chill before sounds finally came from outside.
The new servants had arrived—four of them in total, two eunuchs and two maids.
In the past, Mu Yuanzhi had more than that just in personal attendants.
"This servant, Linglong, pays her respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess."
"This servant, Hongdou, pays her respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess."
The two young-looking eunuchs also reported their names one after another: Xiaoyunzi and Xiaonianzi.
Mu Yuanzhi recognized them; they were all from her fourth brother’s palace. Could it be that he had sent them to monitor her?
"Very well," Mu Yuanzhi nodded calmly. "You may go about your duties."
"As you command!" They replied in unison and bowed as they withdrew.
Mu Yuanzhi waited for a long time, but the physician did not arrive. She sent someone to ask.
Hongdou returned, hanging her head and looking hesitant. Seeing her return alone, Mu Yuanzhi frowned. "If you have something to say, speak."
Hongdou gathered the courage to look up. "Answering the Princess, the little Princess seems to have caught a cold. His Majesty has dispatched all the physicians from the Imperial Hospital to Changle Palace. I fear... I fear they will not be able to come here for some time."
They needed the entire Imperial Hospital for a cold? Mu Yuanzhi sneered inwardly. She suspected this "good" sister of hers had intentionally diverted all the physicians so they wouldn't treat her wounds.
With no other choice, she possessed a modest understanding of medicine.
Mu Yuanzhi took paper and brush and wrote out two prescriptions—one to dispel cold and warm the stomach, the other to treat her external wounds—and told Hongdou to go to the Imperial Hospital to have them filled.
"While you're there, urge the Imperial Household Department. Tell them Weiyang Palace is out of coal, and the Princess is about to die," Mu Yuanzhi instructed.
After hearing this, Hongdou glanced quickly at Mu Yuanzhi. She truly looked sickly, and the startling bloodstains were enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
"This servant will go at once!" Hongdou curtsied and hurried away.
Mu Yuanzhi looked up at the equally cold moon. It reminded her that today was the Lantern Festival. In previous years, she would have been celebrating happily with her father and brothers. Now, she was left alone, facing the moon in solitude.
*Bang—!*
A heavy, unusual thud echoed from the backyard. Mu Yuanzhi became instantly vigilant.