When Taoist Wind Xuan immediately asked about the Xuanling True Scripture, Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and looked elsewhere, “I haven’t learned that.”

“Nonsense!” Taoist Wind Xuan exclaimed excitedly, glaring at Mu Yunjin. Yesterday, the energy-gathering method you used here was exactly from the Xuanling True Scripture. Your excuse might fool others, but don’t try to deceive me.”

“Tell me, how exactly did you learn it?!”

Mu Yunjin sighed slightly, irritated by Taoist Wind Xuan’s excited and questioning tone. She couldn’t help but retort, “I learned it from reading a book, how else would I learn it?”

“Reading a book?” Hearing this, Taoist Wind Xuan stood up, approached Mu Yunjin, and asked urgently, “Has that true scripture reappeared in the world?”

“Old man, you seem very familiar with this scripture?” Mu Yunjin evaded Taoist Wind Xuan’s question, teasing him with a slight curl of her lips as she glanced at him.

Hearing this, Taoist Wind Xuan sighed heavily, “This scripture has been circulating for a long time. About a dozen years ago, it was accidentally obtained by Empty Liberation and remained with him. Over the years, many in the martial world coveted this scripture and repeatedly tried to challenge the Water Cloud Temple, but all ended in failure. Later, after Empty Liberation’s passing, no one knew the whereabouts of the scripture, and the matter was forgotten…”

“But you, where exactly did you get it from?”

Mu Yunjin crossed her arms, pouted, and, realizing there was nothing to hide, told Taoist Wind Xuan about how she had seized the scripture from Wen Yuan and Ming Yuan.

…

…

“I just casually flipped through that scripture. Later, Chu Li said it wasn’t something good, so I threw it into the furnace in the mansion and burned it,” Mu Yunjin said.

Of course, she didn’t tell Taoist Wind Xuan about drawing the diagrams from the Xuanling True Scripture onto her cloak. After all, she wasn’t familiar with this old man yet – knowing his face didn’t mean knowing his heart.

When Taoist Wind Xuan heard that Mu Yunjin had burned the scripture, his expression improved somewhat. After a while, his face darkened again, “You’re saying you casually flipped through it and remembered the techniques inside?”

Hearing the deeper meaning in these words, Mu Yunjin pouted, “Of course it’s not that exaggerated!”

“Hahaha, I thought so. A dead girl like you, how could you have such ability?” Taoist Wind Xuan put away his serious expression and replaced it with a smile.

Mu Yunjin glared at Taoist Wind Xuan, “Weren’t you going to teach me the formation-breaking technique?”

“Yes, first sit down and gather your energy. Let me see what level your martial arts foundation has reached.”

“If you don’t disappoint me, I’ll accept you as my successor disciple and impart my lifetime of skills to you, so that this old Taoist will have someone to carry on my legacy…”

Mu Yunjin was startled. She glanced sideways at Taoist Wind Xuan and saw his expression was somewhat miserable, with unmistakable loneliness in his eyes.

This old man was truly strange.

…

“Discard distracting thoughts, sink your energy to the dantian, connect your heart and meridians as one, and concentrate your true energy.”

Mu Yunjin sat cross-legged on the ground. In front of her, Taoist Wind Xuan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, muttering while constantly watching her.

Mu Yunjin tried to follow Taoist Wind Xuan’s instructions, but whether due to distracting thoughts or something else, she felt energy in her body jumping up and down, preventing her from concentrating on it.

After who knows how long, Taoist Wind Xuan seemed to notice Mu Yunjin’s inability to focus. His expression sank, “Let’s end here for today. Since you cannot concentrate, I won’t force you.”

“I…” Mu Yunjin was speechless, unable to find words to argue.

She sat up and looked at Taoist Wind Xuan, “Then I’ll go back first and think about it more.”

“Mm, go ahead.” Taoist Wind Xuan didn’t even lift his eyelids.

After leaving the grass hut, Mu Yunjin looked around and walked back the way she had come. After walking for a while, she saw a black wooden carriage parked there.

“Princess Consort, you’re back so soon?” Ding Xian, sitting outside the carriage, was surprised. Calculating the time, it had only been a little over an hour.

“I couldn’t learn it. The old man told me to go back and figure it out myself,” Mu Yunjin said indifferently, lifting the curtain and sitting inside the carriage.

Ding Xian was startled again but didn’t say much, driving the carriage away.

On the way back, Mu Yunjin leaned against the carriage, closed her eyes, and tried to calm herself down, reviewing Taoist Wind Xuan’s words in her mind.

“Princess Consort, we’ve arrived!” After some time, the carriage stopped, and Ding Xian’s voice came from outside.

Mu Yunjin responded with a sound of acknowledgment and got out of the carriage. It had stopped at the entrance of Green Shade.

Mu Yunjin entered without looking up.

At the same time, at the entrance of the Flower Moon Tower diagonally across, Li Niang, who was standing at the door greeting guests, glimpsed the familiar profile at the entrance of Green Shade. The smile on her face instantly froze…

…

Mu Yunjin arrived at the private room on the second floor. Upon opening the door, she saw Chu Li sitting inside, drinking tea.

Mu Yunjin walked in, sat down, and drank three cups of tea in succession before stopping, breathing slightly heavily.

“Why are you drinking so hurriedly?” Chu Li frowned slightly, seeing her struggling.

“It’s too hot outside.” Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, reaching for a piece of pastry and nibbling at it idly.

Seeing her like this and checking the time, Chu Li understood somewhat and didn’t ask how her studies went today.

Chu Li didn’t ask, but Mu Yunjin spoke up herself, “What should I do? I feel like I can’t learn that formation-breaking technique…”

“Don’t rush.” Chu Li rarely saw Mu Yunjin admit she couldn’t do something, and he couldn’t help but curl his lips slightly.

“That old man seems to have some skills.” Mu Yunjin swallowed the half-piece of pastry in her hand in one gulp, speaking indistinctly while chewing.

As they were talking, someone gently knocked on the door outside, and Ding Xian’s voice came through.

“Come in.”

The door of the private room was pushed open, and a young maidservant entered with Ding Xian.

The young maid approached Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, then bowed, “This servant Tao Huai pays respects to the Sixth Prince and the Sixth Prince’s Consort.”

“At ease,” Chu Li said indifferently.

“This servant has been sent by the City Lord to invite the Sixth Prince and his Consort to dine at the City Lord’s mansion tonight,” Tao Huai said.

Hearing that Qu Xinyao had invited them to dine, Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised. While she was pondering, Chu Li had already accepted the invitation.

After Tao Huai left, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li, “Isn’t that Qu Xinyao quite unfriendly? Why would she invite us to dinner? Could it be a trap?”

“It won’t be,” Chu Li said with certainty.

Mu Yunjin gave him a curious look, “Could it be that Qu Xinyao also needs your help with something?”

Chu Li shook his head.

…

At nightfall, Chu Li and Mu Yunjin appeared outside the Qu mansion. After getting out of the carriage, Mu Yunjin looked at the already dark sky, then at the lantern already prepared in Ding Xian’s hand, frowning slightly.

“Ding Xian, put away the lantern. It’s bright everywhere here. You carrying a lantern might arouse suspicion,” Mu Yunjin said.

Ding Xian was surprised and looked to Chu Li, who nodded.

As they stepped onto the stairs of the Qu mansion’s main gate, Mu Yunjin moved closer to Chu Li and whispered, “You should walk slowly. If anything happens, I’ll protect you!”

When she said the words “protect you,” Mu Yunjin gave Chu Li a smug and mischievous look, instantly dispelling the… tenderness that had momentarily passed between them.

Chu Li’s brows furrowed slightly, seeming somewhat displeased, “This prince’s legs are not broken.”

“But you’re blind…”

Mu Yunjin blurted out instinctively. When she realized what she’d said, she immediately covered her mouth in fright and looked cautiously at Chu Li.

Chu Li’s face was grim at this moment. When he caught Mu Yunjin’s glance, he snorted lightly, flicked his sleeve, and quickened his pace, walking ahead.

“Hey, wait!” Mu Yunjin hurried to catch up.

Walking behind the two, Ding Xian watched this scene and shook his head in amazement. In the past, his master had always kept his emotions hidden, but now it was different – whether he was happy or not was all displayed on his face.

This Third Miss Mu had some ability.

Entering the front hall, Qu Xinyao, as usual, was dressed in red, looking very gorgeous. When she saw Chu Li and Mu Yunjin entering one after another, she didn’t hold back her smile.

Mu Yunjin, walking behind Chu Li, caught sight of Qu Xinyao as she entered and immediately noticed the white jade plum blossom hairpin in her hair.

Wasn’t that the one she had thrown away?

Could it be…

She had retrieved it…

Mu Yunjin’s mouth twitched. She nodded to Qu Xinyao as a greeting.

At the dining table.

“Today I’m honored that the Sixth Prince and his Consort have graced my mansion for dinner. Are you satisfied with these dishes?” Qu Xinyao looked at the two.

Chu Li nodded indifferently. His left hand, placed under the table, gently tugged at Mu Yunjin’s clothes beside him.

Mu Yunjin, who was eating, was suddenly tugged by Chu Li. She frowned slightly and looked at Chu Li, who had a calm expression and was looking elsewhere.

Mu Yunjin was startled, then seemed to understand. She smiled politely at Qu Xinyao, “City Lord Qu, you’ve gone to too much trouble. We two are disturbing you.”

Qu Xinyao smiled slightly, “Then please eat more. Tao Huai, quickly pour wine for the Sixth Prince and his Consort.”

“Yes, my lord.”

After the wine was poured, Qu Xinyao raised her cup, took a sip, and then looked at Chu Li, “Sixth Prince, since you’re here today, could you tell Xinyao some things about Xu Heyu?”

Hearing it was related to Xu Heyu, the gossip spirit within Mu Yunjin ignited again.

“What do you want to know?” Chu Li glanced indifferently at Qu Xinyao.

“You know, for so many years, he has been avoiding me, unwilling to see me, yet occasionally sending gifts to please me. I want to know why he’s doing this,” Qu Xinyao said, reaching up to touch the white jade plum blossom hairpin in her hair.

“For that, it might be more appropriate for you to ask him directly,” Chu Li said.

Hearing this, Qu Xinyao scoffed lightly, a hint of desolation flashing in her eyes, “If I could see him, why would I be asking you?”

“Forget it, let’s not talk about that heartless man anymore.”

With those words, Qu Xinyao suddenly turned her gaze to Mu Yunjin and smiled gracefully, “Sixth Prince’s Consort, remember to hold tight to the man beside you. In this world, there are as many good people as there are scoundrels. Don’t let those scoundrels take advantage.”

“Oh, the scoundrel I’m referring to seems to have the surname Qin…”