Chapter Seventeen: Where Did My People Go?
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yuanbo's eyes. This hypocrite had clearly come here on purpose to follow his master!
Xiao Yuanbo dislikes the hypocritical and seemingly kind Mu Yuan, but Li Bao'er is hopelessly in love.
No matter how much he tried to persuade him over the years, this man just couldn't let go of Mu Yuan.
What else is there to say?
She will die if she leaves Mu Yuan.
Sigh, Li Bao'er is good in every way—smart, beautiful—but her judgment of men is absolutely terrible.
I really don't understand what's so likable about this hypocritical third prince.
His only decent appearance was not as good as that of the ferocious Prince Jing.
Li Bao'er's fingertips curled slightly, but her face remained expressionless. She simply gave a slight curtsy and said, "Third Prince."
Her aloof demeanor caused Mu Yuan's eyes to darken slightly.
Mu Yuan stepped forward and asked with concern, "I heard you're not feeling well, why are you still out walking around?" As he spoke, he reached out to help her up.
"No need for Your Highness to worry." Li Bao'er took a half step back imperceptibly, then suddenly coughed violently, leaving small spots of scarlet blood on her handkerchief.
Mu Yuan's expression changed drastically: "Bao'er!"
"Miss!" Linglong hurriedly supported her mistress, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Ha, sickly fellow," Li Yan said gloatingly from the side.
Actually, the blood he coughed up was nothing other than blood that had accumulated in his chest from a previous injury.
Upon seeing Mu Yuan trying to approach her, Li Bao'er became so nervous that she coughed up blood.
It could be considered a good deed that Mu Yuan did unintentionally.
Li Bao'er weakly waved her hand, but when she looked up, she smiled slightly at Li Yan: "Sister, you just said that I was having an affair, which is so disrespectful to the Third Prince. Do you know your crime?"
Li Yan's face instantly turned ashen.
Mu Yuan frowned, then looked at the person standing to the side: "What did you just say?"
He remembered his half-sister, Li Bao'er, who was foolish and ordinary, but liked to linger around him, which was annoying.
"I...I was just talking nonsense, I hope Your Highness will forgive me this time," Li Yan panicked.
Li Bao'er suddenly interrupted softly, "Your Highness, my sister is young, and it's common for her to speak without thinking. Just..."
Li Yan was overjoyed. She knew that Li Bao'er wouldn't dare to tease her outside, otherwise she would be in for a beating when they returned to the manor.
Li Bao'er continued quietly, "Let's just punish her by keeping her at home for a week, thus avoiding the punishment of slapping her. After all, my sister is not very good-looking, and it wouldn't be good if she were disfigured again."
"Pfft," Xiao Yuanbo couldn't help but laugh. His master's mouth was as sharp as ever.
The noble ladies watching the spectacle couldn't help but whisper and laugh.
The last three words were barely audible, yet they sent a shiver down Li Yan's spine. She wanted Li Bao'er dead!
How dare they humiliate her like that in public!
Mu Yuan's eyes were dark and unfathomable.
He stared at Li Bao'er's pale yet stubborn face and suddenly realized that this girl, who had once been so obedient to him, seemed to have changed in some way.
"If that's the case, then so be it." Mu Yuan glanced at Li Yan casually, his gaze as disdainful as if he were looking at an ant.
“Miss Li Er has disrespected her elder sister and spread rumors in public. She is hereby confined to her quarters for seven days to reflect on her actions.”
That gaze was like a poisoned knife, piercing deeply into Li Yan's heart.
She gripped the fan tightly, her knuckles turning white. Why? Why could this sickly man always get everything so easily?
Because of her status as the legitimate daughter, even the Third Prince treats her differently now.
No matter how unwilling Li Yan was, she could only swallow her anger; she couldn't afford to offend the Third Prince.
"This humble woman accepts the punishment." She gritted her teeth and bowed.
Mu Yuan had already turned his head, his gaze gently enveloping Li Bao'er.
Mu Yuan seemed very unhappy that his meeting with Li Bao'er was being interfered with by other matters. Today, his scouts reported that Li Bao'er had gone out for the first time since returning home safely.
He knew that Li Bao'er must have suffered at the hands of his elder brother for stealing the military tally. Even though he didn't like Li Bao'er, he wouldn't let this useful pawn fall away from his side.
"Baby, Minghui Restaurant has a new chef from Jiangnan. Would you like to come with me to try it?"
Li Bao'er was inwardly resistant to Mu Yuan's physical contact with her; this seemingly innocent but actually cunning man was simply afraid she would run away.
Unfortunately, she had made a foolish mistake in the past, mistaking him for someone else. Her target was not him at all, so Mu Yuan was no longer of any value to her.
Li Bao'er has always been bold in love and hate. She was born into this world through a second birth, which makes her even more connected with people.
She will treat those who are good to her with sincerity, but she will not hold a grudge against ungrateful wretches.
"Your Highness is very kind, but the doctor has advised me to rest."
When he looked up, the bruise on his neck was just the right spot to be revealed; it was from a fall in the mass grave when he was stealing the tiger tally for him.
Mu Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.
He certainly understood what these injuries meant; his elder brother's methods were far more ruthless than he had imagined.
But ultimately, the Emperor treated Bao'er differently; otherwise, anyone else would have been dead long ago.
But this special status shouldn't become a bargaining chip for her to defy herself!
When had Mu Yuan ever been rejected like this? His heart sank, and he said unhappily, "Li Bao'er, that's enough of your fuss."
Li Bao'er sneered, "Third Prince, what makes you say that? I am unwell and should not keep the appointment."
"Does Your Highness perhaps consider injuries and illnesses to be mere affectation?"
The guests held their breath.
No one has ever dared to defy the Third Prince like this before, right here at the foot of the imperial city.
Wasn't Li Bao'er the one who adored the Third Prince the most before?
What's going on today?
Mu Yuan's knuckles cracked.
He suddenly took a step closer, his presence overwhelming, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Li Bao'er, I hate aggressive women the most. I advise you to stop now."
"Third Prince, you overestimate yourself," Li Bao'er said with a cold smile and a low voice.
Everyone present, including Linglong and Xiao Yuanbo, couldn't believe that Li Bao'er had actually rejected Mu Yuan in public.
Xiao Yuanbo almost couldn't help but applaud on the spot, then nudged Linglong and whispered, "How did Master change his gender?"
Since the young lady's marriage hadn't been announced yet, Linglong could only keep it a secret: "It's because the young lady has finally opened her eyes."
"Yes, I agree with you on that. You've truly broadened your horizons."
But Linglong felt that there was something strange about that sentence.
Mu Yuan then truly realized that Li Bao'er was different from before.
It seems she really suffered a lot at her brother's place this time, which made her resent her.
Li Yan looked at Li Bao'er with an expression as if she were looking at a monster. Although the emperor had bestowed the marriage yesterday, Li Yan knew that this was just Li Bao'er's scheme.
She didn't believe that Li Bao'er would really give up Mu Yuan and willingly marry that fierce and evil Prince Jing.
Was the scene that Lai Po-yee performed today just like the one in the storybook where she feigned reluctance?
Mu Yuan was now completely enraged. Regardless of where they were, he grabbed Li Bao'er's wrist.
At that moment, a lazy voice came from the doorway, startling Mu Yuan so much that he froze.
"Third brother."
Stepping into Juxiang Pavilion in black python-patterned boots, Mu Cenlin leaned against the doorframe, toying with a jade pendant between his fingers: "Where do you intend to take my queen?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com