Perhaps because she was sitting in the carriage, Mu Yunjin slept very lightly. She opened her eyes and sat up as soon as she sensed the carriage stopping.

“We’ve arrived,” came Chu Li’s calm voice from the side.

Mu Yunjin nodded slightly, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped out. She discovered that it was still dark, and the carriage had stopped in a courtyard.

“Where is this?” Mu Yunjin looked around, but couldn’t make out much in the darkness.

“River Moon City,” Chu Li replied.

Mu Yunjin made a sound of acknowledgment, then watched as Chu Li took the jade pendant from his sleeve. A white light illuminated the entire courtyard.

Mu Yunjin looked at the dazzling light, slightly furrowing her brows. She couldn’t help but recall the first time she saw this jade pendant, on the day Aunt Su drowned.

But that night when the pendant had fallen by the lotus pond, it was also deep in the night, yet it hadn’t emitted such bright light.

How peculiar.

…

…

“The room to the east is vacant. You’ll stay there for these few days,” Chu Li pointed to a side room on the east.

Mu Yunjin nodded. “Alright.”

“There are still a few hours before dawn. You should rest first. Tomorrow morning, this prince will have Ding Xian call for you.” After speaking, Chu Li headed toward the western wing.

Mu Yunjin pushed open the door to the eastern wing. After lighting a candle, she picked up the candlestick and looked at the furnishings around her.

The layout of this room was simple and elegant, but it contained all the necessary items.

She touched the table and found no dust on her hand, indicating that someone regularly cleaned the place. Mu Yunjin smiled slightly, arranged the clothes she had brought, and then lay down on the bed.

……

The next day, Mu Yunjin felt as if she had just fallen asleep when there was a knock at the door, and Ding Xian’s voice came from outside. “Prince’s Consort, it’s time to get up.”

Mu Yunjin opened her eyes, yawned, and said drowsily, “I know.”

She then got up to change her clothes. When Mu Yunjin finished dressing and sat at the table, she was momentarily stunned.

There was no dressing table in this room, and she had left in a hurry without bringing any rouge or powder. The only hair ornaments she had were those from the previous night.

But now her hair bun was messy from sleep, and she didn’t know how to arrange it herself.

With this thought, Mu Yunjin sighed regretfully. She should have brought Zixiang along. Now, being accustomed to being served by others, she couldn’t even take care of herself without Zixiang.

After a while, when Ding Xian knocked on the door again, Mu Yunjin opened it.

“Prince…” Ding Xian looked at Mu Yunjin standing at the door and was momentarily speechless, the words caught in his throat. He turned to look at Chu Li.

Chu Li, dressed in white, was standing in the courtyard. Catching a glimpse of a figure to the side, he turned to look, and a flash of amazement appeared in his eyes.

Mu Yunjin had no makeup on her face, appearing completely natural. Her black hair was simply tied into a ponytail with a ribbon. She wore simple, plain clothes, with the skirt reaching only to her calves, and a pair of high-top boots. Her entire appearance was very light and capable.

She looked even more attractive than when she wore elaborate makeup.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Mu Yunjin thought Chu Li found her unattractive, so she flattened her mouth. “I forgot to bring Zixiang when we left. You can’t expect Guard Ding to help me with makeup and hair, can you?”

Ding Xian coughed, smiling awkwardly. “I’m good at fighting and killing, but for hair and makeup, we’d better invite Miss Zixiang.”

“It looks very good,” Chu Li said, slightly curling the corner of his lips.

Hearing Chu Li’s compliment, Mu Yunjin didn’t even notice the blush that rose to her face. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Chu Li. “The Sixth Prince truly has good taste.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin remembered to observe the courtyard.

When they arrived last night, due to the darkness, it appeared to be just a small yard. Now, after looking carefully, she discovered that there was a passage behind it, and looking through, there were many more sections inside.

“Let’s go,” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, then walked toward the main gate.

Outside the courtyard, they saw a large area of small alleys. Mu Yunjin walked beside Chu Li, frequently looking around at the novel surroundings.

“Remember, here, do not reveal our identities. We are just ordinary merchants,” Chu Li said, turning to remind Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin nodded to show she understood.

Soon after passing through this area of alleys, Chu Li led Mu Yunjin to the main street of River Moon City.

At this time, the day had just dawned, it was still early, and there weren’t many people on the main street. Only some breakfast vendors and women going out to buy vegetables were walking on the road.

Mu Yunjin hadn’t walked far when she smelled the delicious aroma coming from the roadside. Just as she was about to buy some sweet cakes and buns to try, Chu Li entered a restaurant.

In a private room of the restaurant:

“Sir, what would you like?” A waiter approached enthusiastically, holding a menu.

“Bring us all your best breakfast items,” Ding Xian spoke for Chu Li.

The waiter smiled upon hearing this and immediately walked away.

Soon, the table was filled with exquisite breakfast items. The pastries and congee were all present, but Mu Yunjin was unenthusiastic, still thinking about the sweet cakes she had seen by the roadside earlier.

“You eat first, I’ll go out for a moment. I’ll be right back,” Mu Yunjin said, then ran out.

Chu Li looked up at Mu Yunjin, shaking his head helplessly.

After leaving the restaurant, Mu Yunjin ran to the small stall selling sweet cakes. Looking at the honey-coated sweet cakes, Mu Yunjin pursed her lips. “Boss, I want five.”

“Alright!” The vendor immediately took out a piece of oiled paper and wrapped five sweet cakes for Mu Yunjin. “They just came out of the oven, still hot.”

After paying, Mu Yunjin took the oiled paper, picked up one sweet cake, and began eating with delight.

Upon returning to the restaurant, before entering the private room, Mu Yunjin had already finished one sweet cake. She then folded up the remaining ones, stuffed them into her bosom, and walked in.

In the private room, the master and servant were leisurely enjoying breakfast.

Mu Yunjin walked over, sat down, and pretended to scoop herself a bowl of congee. Just as she was about to eat with a spoon, a mocking voice came from the side.

“You haven’t wiped the crumbs from your mouth.”

Hearing Chu Li’s teasing, Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, carelessly wiped her mouth with her hand, and then twisted the corner of her mouth at Chu Li.

“Prince’s Consort, dressed like this today, you look every bit like a female warrior,” Ding Xian smiled at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows slightly, cupping her hands. “Would Guard Ding like to teach me a few moves?”

“That, I’ll leave to His Highness.”

……

After leaving the restaurant, the streets gradually became more crowded.

Mu Yunjin continued to follow beside Chu Li, not knowing exactly where he was going, but fearing that he might find it troublesome to have brought her along, she didn’t ask.

The summer sun was scorching. After walking along the street for about half an hour, the three gradually reached the outskirts of the city, finally stopping at the foot of a mountain.

“You want to climb the mountain?” Mu Yunjin sighed, looking up at the mountain. In this weather, wouldn’t one faint from the heat?

“Are you coming or not?” Chu Li naturally noticed that Mu Yunjin was somewhat afraid of the heat, and looked up at her.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips but ultimately nodded. “Of course I’m coming.”

“Mm.”

Chu Li and Ding Xian walked in front, heading toward the mountain path. Mu Yunjin followed behind, but as she stepped onto the mountain path, she sensed passing through a peculiar current of air.

She paused, looked back, and then, taking advantage of Chu Li not noticing, reached out to touch behind her again. Indeed, she felt that current of air again.

Could this mountain have been set with mystical arts?

With this thought, Mu Yunjin slightly pursed her lips and caught up with Chu Li.

Up the mountain, Mu Yunjin occasionally observed the mountain, but most of her thoughts were on Chu Li ahead of her.

So mysterious.

A moment later, walking along the mountainside, Chu Li turned, pushed aside some weeds, and entered a pitch-black cave.

Mu Yunjin looked at this scene with curiosity and immediately ran in to follow.

Upon entering the cave, waves of coolness came over her.

After entering the cave, Chu Li held the jade pendant, illuminating the path inside the cave, and then walked down the steps, his steps light and gentle.

Soon, Chu Li stopped at a place that looked like a pond.

Mu Yunjin also stopped and looked at the pond. At a glance, there were many lotus leaves floating on the pond, but not a single flower was blooming on any of them.

“What is this?” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but ask.

“Black lotus,” Chu Li said softly.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin frowned slightly. “Black lotuses?”

“Yes,” Chu Li nodded.

Mu Yunjin frowned and couldn’t help but squat down to observe these black lotuses more closely. It was said that white lotuses symbolize purity, while black lotuses symbolize darkness.

Why was Chu Li growing so many black lotuses here?

“Your Highness, that Taoist once said that black lotuses need to be cultivated for a full three years before they bloom. There are still a hundred days left. I wonder if these black lotuses will truly bloom,” Ding Xian said from the side.

“What’s so magical about these black lotuses? Why do they need to wait three years to bloom?” Mu Yunjin tilted her head to look at Chu Li.

Hearing this, Chu Li spoke slowly, his tone light, “Because they are magical, they need a full three years.”

“…” Mu Yunjin was speechless. She wanted to retort, “Is there any difference between what you said and saying nothing at all?”

Though she thought this, she was genuinely curious about the black lotuses growing in this cave. Could they be related to what Chu Li had been searching for all along?

This person had too many secrets.

……

After leaving the cave, Ding Xian stepped forward to Chu Li’s side and asked, “Now, shall we go see the old Taoist?”

Chu Li paused, looked at Mu Yunjin, with some contemplation in his eyes.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin knew that Chu Li might not want to bring her along, so she tactfully spoke up, “You go ahead. I saw many interesting things on the street earlier, and I can explore on my own.”

“Also, I remember the way back,” Mu Yunjin added.

Hearing this, Chu Li pursed his lips, then nodded slightly. “Then be careful on your own. If anything happens, call for the hidden guards.”

“Mm,” Mu Yunjin smiled slightly.

After reaching an agreement, Chu Li and Ding Xian leaped up, using their lightness skill to fly away from this place. In the blink of an eye, their figures disappeared from Mu Yunjin’s sight.