The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 103

Chapter 103 Man’s Mind
Ever since King Yan’s assassination, the imperial court had been filled with rain. Normally speaking, the Seventh Emperor should have been listening to the court at the beginning of the year, but it dragged on and on until the Lantern Festival in the blink of an eye.

Although the situation was tense, on the day of the Lantern Festival, the lanterns hanging all over the street and the lively atmosphere of the festival rarely concealed the turbulent undercurrents below. At least, on the surface, it looked like a peaceful and prosperous era.

The capital’s Lantern Festival held a temple fair every year, and the entire capital was brightly lit. There were all kinds of lights hanging beside the two people in the street. The peddlers’ cries rose and fell one after another, and men and women were seen walking in the streets everywhere. Among them, there were some noble girls in the capital.

Xiao Xiwei originally did not want to go out, but Zi Yan had softly ground her into a bubble. Zi Yan said that the fourth young miss had never seen a temple fair. Xiao Xiwei thought about it for a moment and finally went out.

Xiao Xichun was still reserved at the beginning, afraid that others would look at her or meet her. He was very nervous along the way, but seeing that the men and women on the street were laughing happily, the people beside him did not point at her as she imagined. Only then did a tense heart relax.

The three of them followed the crowd, surrounded by a few women and girls.

The street was filled with peddlers’ cries, and all kinds of lanterns and palace lanterns were hanging on both sides. It was truly dazzling to see them.

Suddenly, Xiao Xichun stopped abruptly and stared straight ahead.

Xiao Xi was slightly stunned. He followed Xiao Xichun’s gaze and saw that Chu Muzhi, who had just been crowned King of Qin, was eating while holding a bunch of sugar gourds in his hand. He was very relaxed. At this time, Chu Muzhi also saw Xiao Xiwei and Xiao Xichun. He grinned and hurriedly walked towards the two of them, “Seventh sister-in-law, what a coincidence.”

Normally, it would be fine. Today, Xiao Xiwei also shouted in front of Xi Chun. Xiao Xiwei really wanted to sew Chu Muzhi’s mouth with a needle.

“Your Highness.” Xiao Xichun blessed himself and shouted in a low voice.

“Seventh sister-in-law, look at you, why are you so formal!” Chu Muzhi smiled and looked at Xiao Xichun, then raised his eyebrows. “You shouted at me like this, aren’t you jealous of the candied gourd in my hand?”

“Ah, no … no …” Xiao Xichun did not think that the topic would change to the grain gourd. He hurriedly shook his head and waved his hand to deny it.

“But I’ve already eaten this candied gourd. How about I take you there to buy it?” Chu Muzhi grinned, revealing his white teeth.

Xiao Xichun was stunned by his smile. Before he could regain his senses, he had already pulled him away.

Seeing that his master had been dragged away, the girls Xiao Xichun brought wanted to chase after him, but because Second Miss was still present, they did not dare to leave without permission. They could only watch helplessly as their master disappeared in the blink of an eye.

“Young miss, look at the eighth prince’s appearance. Could it be that he has taken a fancy to fourth young miss?” Bi Yun whispered to Xiao Xiwei’s ear.

Xiao Xiwei knitted his eyebrows and did not say anything.

She remembered that in her previous life, the eighth prince, Chu Muzhi, was not as trusted and relied on by Chu Xizhi as he was in her current life. In her previous life, he had always been a lazy and sickly prince with a look of indifference, but in the end, he suddenly died of smallpox.

“Miss, there are so many people, why don’t we go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion? I heard that the snacks of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion can be said to be the best in the capital.” Zi Yan suddenly said.

Xiao Xiwei turned to look at Zi Yan and didn’t say anything.

Xiao Xiwei did not say anything, but Bi Yun, who was at the side, could no longer sit still when he heard the words “Drunken Immortal Building”. He hurriedly answered, “Yes! Miss, let’s go to the Drunken Immortal Building! Let’s open an elegant room upstairs and eat some snacks while looking at the lights from below.”

“The Drunken Immortal Pavilion is so lively today, I’m afraid it’s already packed with people. Not to mention the private room, I’m afraid there isn’t even a place to stand anymore.” Xiao Xiwei said indifferently.

Hearing this, Bi Yun’s eyes immediately collapsed.

“No way! Actually …” As soon as Zi Yan spoke, he suddenly realized that something was wrong. He quickly shut his mouth and smiled at Xiao Xi embarrassedly. “Miss, you lied to me again.”

First, Zi Yan urged her to go out. Then, Chu Muzhi appeared and said something inexplicable to take Xichun away. Now, Zi Yan mentioned the Drunken Immortal Building. She didn’t even need to think about it to know who was behind it.

However, the injuries on his body had not healed yet, and it was another thorn in the crown prince’s side. Wouldn’t he be afraid of an accident if he rushed out of the palace like this?

Xiao Xi sighed, “What are you looking at me for? Why aren’t you leading the way?”

When Zi Yan heard this, she immediately smiled happily, “Yes. Miss, this way, please.”

In front of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, there was already a waiter waiting there.

Seeing Xiao Xiwei hurriedly greet him with a smile, he led him through the side door and finally led her to the elegant room on the second floor. “Second Miss Xiao, please enter.”

Zi Yan, Bi Yun, and a few other ladies who had come with them were all arranged in an elegant room next door. The refreshments and tea inside were all prepared. Bi Yun also roughly guessed who arranged it, so she smiled at Xiao Xi and led everyone into the room with Zi Yan.

Xiao Xi pursed her lips slightly and finally pushed open the door and walked in.

Incense was faintly lit in the private room. Amidst the smoke, Chu Xi was sitting on the couch in a dark purple cloud-patterned brocade robe. She was holding the tea in her hand and looking at the white-clothed man in front of her happily.

Hearing the sound, Chu Xizhi and the man simultaneously turned their faces.

“Coming.” Chu Xizhi smiled and put down his teacup. He stood up and walked in front of Xiao Xiwei. He raised his hand and intimately brushed the strands of hair beside her ears.

Xiao Xi frowned slightly, “Aren’t you afraid that something will happen when you leave the palace at this time?”

The corner of Chu Xizhi’s lips curled up, “Are you worried about me?”

Xiao Xiwei knitted his eyebrows and did not answer.

Chu Xizhi pursed the corners of his lips and stepped aside. He looked at the young master in white behind him with a smile and said, “Oh right, I forgot to introduce him to you. This is young master Chen.”

Young Master Chen …

Xiao Xi raised her eyes slightly to look at the white-clothed man.

Although it was only a simple white robe, Xiao Xiwei could tell that the cloth was the famous Cloud Silk. The man’s appearance was somewhat similar to that of the Jiang Clan.

“Cousin.” The white-haired man looked at Xiao Xiwei with a hearty smile on his face.

This cousin just happened to verify Xiao Xiwei’s conjecture.

Xiao Xiwei was delighted, “Are you … Cousin Mubai?”

His uncle had three sons, only his eldest cousin was about the same age as the person in front of him.

Chen Mubai smiled, “Yes.”

“Cousin, when did you arrive in the capital? Why don’t I know?” Xiao Xiwei excitedly reached out and held onto Chen Mubai’s hand.

Chu Xizhi’s eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the hands that the two of them were shaking.

Royal Brother, look when you arrange for Royal Sister-in-law to meet someone else. It must be cousin brother and cousin who are thousands of miles away. How difficult!

Chu Muzhi’s ear-piercing voice sounded in his ears again.

Actually, Xiao Xiwei could not be blamed for being so excited. She had never been to Jiangnan since she was born. Even her own uncle had only seen her two or three times. Her mother had left early, but her uncle had never forgotten her niece. Not only had she bought a shop for her in the capital, but every year on her birthday, she did not forget to send someone to the capital to give her a birthday present. In her heart, her uncle even kissed her father.

Seemingly sensing Chu Xizhi’s expression, Chen Mubai smiled and drew out his hand without a trace. He gestured towards his chest and said with a smile, “When I last saw my cousin, she was only this tall. In the blink of an eye, she was already so big.”

Xiao Xiwei pursed his lips and smiled, not answering.

Actually, the last time I saw Chen Mubai was when Xiao Xiwei was ten years old.

In the south, regardless of whether it was a man or woman’s tenth birthday, it was a joyous occasion. Therefore, that year, Uncle brought Big Cousin Chen Mubai to personally come from Jiangnan to celebrate her birthday. Who would have thought that Father would quarrel in front of her and Big Cousin. In the end, Uncle brought Big Cousin back to Jiangnan without even having dinner. Before leaving, she hid behind the pillar and watched her uncle cry. His uncle walked over and hugged her, but in the end, he left without saying anything.

“Cousin, your father has read your letter.” Chen Mubai whispered.

Xiao Xiwei turned to look at Chu Xi and whispered, “Is that so?”

She suddenly knew that he was her eldest cousin, so she forgot about him when she was happy. Now that he thought about it, his eldest cousin suddenly appeared here and was still playing chess with Chu Xizhi. Without thinking, Chu Xizhi knew that she had written to her uncle. However, why did Chen Mubai not look for her first, but instead look for Chu Xizhi first?

Chu Xizhi raised his eyebrows as if he hadn’t seen Xiao Xiwei. “Shall I go and see if the snacks are ready? You guys talk first.” After saying that, he opened the door and walked out.

Seeing Chu Xizhi’s expression, Chen Mubai smiled. “Now, it seems that father’s worry is unnecessary. His Highness Prince King Yan is sincere towards you.”

“What?”

“Don’t you know, cousin? His Highness the Swallow King refused our help.”

Xiao Xiwei knitted her brows, and her right hand did not feel like it was tightly clenched. “How could it be?”

No one would refuse his father’s offer. He had to admit that Swallow King Chu Xi had made him look at him with new eyes.

Actually, when Xiao Xi gave Xiao Xiuwei a book to his father, his father received a letter and thought about it for a long time. Although the Chen Clan’s inheritance was in Jiangnan, they had set up quite a few shops in the capital for Xi Wei over the years and were constantly paying attention to the news of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. Although the conditions in Xi Wei’s letter were very tempting, for the current wealth of the Chen Clan, there was really no need to get involved in the competition for the throne. However, his father didn’t want to disappoint Xi Wei, so he asked him to personally come to the capital. Regardless of whether or not this letter was secretly written by Xi Wei, it was worth one million taels. This was the money that Father could take out. Half of the Chen family’s fortune. Regardless of success or failure, the Chen Clan was no longer involved in the struggle between the princes. This was the only thing that his father could do for Xi Wei. However, neither his father nor he had expected that the Swallow King would actually reject him.

One million taels of silver.

He didn’t even blink an eyebrow.

“Perhaps I did something unnecessary.” Xiao Xi lowered her eyes slightly and said with a faint sense of loss.

He was so powerful that he set up such a trap and set everyone up. There was no need for her help.

“Cousin, it’s not that you’re unnecessary. It’s that His Highness King Yan doesn’t want you to think that he married you for the Chen Clan’s money.” Chen Mubai smiled. “It’s said that women’s thoughts are hard to guess, but in fact, men’s thoughts are hard to understand.”

Xiao Xiwei looked up at Chen Mubai.

“After receiving your letter, Father was so worried that he couldn’t sleep every day. He was afraid that others would take advantage of you. But now, Father can finally rest assured.”

“Cousin.”

“Alright. I know that the capital has been in a tense situation recently. It’s not appropriate for me to stay in the capital as such. You must be careful. However, I believe His Highness Prince King Yan will protect you thoroughly.” Chen Mubai smiled.

Xiao Xiwei pursed the corners of his lips and nodded with a smile.

“Then I’ll leave first. Cousin, if you have the chance, you and Xi Yang can come to Su City for a walk. Father has been thinking about you all the time, but you are too old to come and see you from afar.”

“Alright, I know. If I have the chance, I will definitely come to Su City with my brother to see my uncle.”

“Cousin, the Chen Clan’s promise to you is still there. As long as you need it, you can do it at any time.” Chen Mubai looked at Xiao Xi and explained with a smile.

“Thank you, cousin.” Xiao Xi smiled and blessed her body as she watched Chen Mubai walk out.