Mu Yunjin thanked Granny Ye several more times. After Ding Xian escorted Granny Ye out, Mu Yunjin picked up the basket of vegetables and looked at Chu Li with a smile. “Now we have ingredients, who’s going to cook?”

Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, his look seeming to say, “Do you even need to ask?”

“I’ll give it a try,” Mu Yunjin grumbled, carrying the basket toward the small kitchen.

Chu Li sat where he was, watching her retreating figure, and shook his head with a smile.

……

After leaving the Qing Mansion, Granny Ye walked to a corner nearby. Her previously hunched back straightened, and her steps became much lighter.

“Young Mistress.”

The lady in blue stood at the end of the corner. Seeing Granny Ye approach, she walked over. “Granny, how did it go? Did you discover anything?”

Granny Ye shook her head. “She’s surrounded by many hidden guards, and Prince Ning is not someone to be underestimated. I couldn’t obtain any of her blood.”

…

…

“Then forget it. We’ll talk about it in a few days.” The lady in blue sighed dejectedly.

“Young Mistress, we’ve endured for so many years. What’s one more moment?” Granny Ye consoled.

The lady in blue nodded and said nothing more.

In the small kitchen of the Qing Mansion, Mu Yunjin was washing the vegetables Granny Ye had brought when her finger was suddenly pricked, causing a few drops of blood to flow.

Mu Yunjin lifted the vegetable leaf and realized she couldn’t name this vegetable. It had thorns at the root, and if one wasn’t careful, they could easily prick a finger.

After washing the vegetables, the place where her finger had been pricked had already healed. Mu Yunjin looked at the vegetables and the stove equipment before her, feeling overwhelmed, and walked out.

When she reached the front hall, Mu Yunjin leaned against the doorframe and blinked at Chu Li, who was sitting inside drinking tea. “Chu Li, I think we should eat out.”

Hearing her voice, Chu Li looked up at Mu Yunjin, his eyes filled with amusement, and nodded slightly. “Alright.”

The two went out again, heading toward the Green Shade restaurant.

After being seated in a private room at Green Shade, Mu Yunjin ordered several meat dishes at once. She had recently suffered injuries and broken bones, so she needed to nourish her body well.

The waiter happily walked away after Mu Yunjin finished ordering.

Having ordered, Mu Yunjin sat by the window, resting her chin on her hand. She watched the crowds passing below, and when she spotted a figure in blue passing by, she couldn’t help but call out.

“Lady in blue…” After calling out, she immediately regretted it. She had only met the lady in blue once at the silk shop; why was she now calling out so familiarly?

The lady in blue heard Mu Yunjin’s voice and paused, looking up to see Mu Yunjin smiling and waving at her. A smile spread across her lips. “Hello, Miss.”

Mu Yunjin tugged at the corners of her mouth. She had wanted to invite the lady in blue to join them, but considering Chu Li’s presence, she could only nod stiffly to the lady in blue before withdrawing back inside the window.

Below, the lady in blue lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly.

During the meal, Mu Yunjin frequently helped Chu Li by picking up food for him. Before long, the small bowl in front of Chu Li was piled high like a small mountain.

“Mu Yunjin, I can serve myself,” Chu Li said helplessly.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s lips curled slightly, and she raised her eyebrows. “Just eat more.”

When she had ordered earlier, she had selected the most expensive dishes at the Green Shade restaurant. The meal would cost quite a bit, so if she didn’t persuade Chu Li to eat more now, it wouldn’t be worth it if this scheming man made her pay later.

Chu Li eyed Mu Yunjin, seeing the mischievous gleam in her eyes, and knew she was up to something. He raised an eyebrow slightly but didn’t expose her thoughts.

This foolish woman! Everything he had now, she could have with just a crook of her finger. Why bother with such trivial matters?

……

Night.

“Why did you come here? Is the room next door uncomfortable?” Mu Yunjin, who had just finished bathing and was lying in bed, sat up in surprise when she saw Chu Li walk in carrying a pillow.

Chu Li threw his pillow onto Mu Yunjin’s bed, pushed her body over, and lay down on the other side.

“Mm, it’s uncomfortable,” Chu Li answered Mu Yunjin’s question lazily.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, intending to get up and check what was wrong with his room, but Chu Li held her by the waist and pulled her back down onto the bed, his handsome face gradually drawing closer to hers.

A warm and familiar breath came from her neck, making Mu Yunjin feel ticklish. Her heart inexplicably began to race, and she shifted her body further into the bed.

Chu Li’s arm around her waist never moved away. Now he held her body still, not allowing her to move an inch, his gaze fixed steadily on Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin felt uneasy under his stare and couldn’t help but scratch her face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s been a while. Have you considered it?” Chu Li cupped her face, his expression extremely serious.

Considered…

Mu Yunjin was startled, suddenly remembering what someone had said to her one night in Qingzhou. She had almost completely forgotten about it, but he still remembered.

After a moment, Mu Yunjin smiled at Chu Li with a hint of playfulness. “When you initially insisted on marrying me, didn’t you say we would each take what we needed? Have you now developed genuine feelings for me?”

Hearing this, Chu Li laughed softly and raised his eyebrows. “It seems I’m not the only one developing feelings.”

“Get lost,” Mu Yunjin reacted, punching Chu Li’s chest, and mumbled, “Do you even know how to confess properly?!”

“I have no experience. Why don’t you teach this Prince?” Chu Li asked gently.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin became animated. She sat up, coughed a few times, cleared her throat, and said, “When confessing to a girl, it’s best to prepare a candlelit dinner, filled with fresh flowers and candles, and then say some moving and sweet words of love. That’s what I call a sincere confession.”

“You just bluntly ask me a question, and I’m supposed to be with you? Isn’t that too easy for you?” Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes to look at Chu Li.

Chu Li didn’t understand what she meant by a “candlelit dinner,” so he also sat up, slightly furrowing his brow. “The scene you describe seems more suitable for the wedding night.”

“Get out!” Mu Yunjin threw a pillow at him, then gathered the hair hanging on her shoulders and changed the subject. “Since you’re not prepared this time, let’s try a different approach.”

“What approach?” Chu Li looked somewhat amused at the woman before him, who had suddenly become coy.

“Hmm, I haven’t thought about it yet. Let’s discuss it in a few days.” Mu Yunjin smiled, pressing her lips together. It was rare to have an opportunity to tease Chu Li, so how could she not drag it out a bit longer?

Chu Li’s face darkened.

Mu Yunjin was satisfied seeing Chu Li’s reaction. She blew out the candle, lay back down, covered herself with the blanket, and looked at the person beside her through the dim moonlight.

Chu Li also lay down. Before Mu Yunjin could react, he flipped over and pressed her beneath him, his cool lips accurately finding Mu Yunjin’s pink ones.

Mu Yunjin frowned slightly, feeling the intertwining of their lips. She secretly wondered how Chu Li, who supposedly couldn’t see in the dark, could still…

“Pay attention,” Chu Li moved away from her lips for a moment, then covered them heavily again, continuing to savor the fresh sweetness from her lips.

Mu Yunjin was completely defeated by this man. Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she wrapped her arms around Chu Li’s neck, responding to his incredibly gentle kiss.

After a thoroughly passionate kiss, Mu Yunjin breathed heavily and whispered in Chu Li’s ear, “Chu Li, I agree with your words.”

Not bad.

Let’s be together then.

Chu Li’s expression warmed, and he embraced her, seemingly in a good mood. His words carried a hint of a smile, “Good.”

“Just a ‘good’?” Mu Yunjin frowned.

“Go to sleep.” Chu Li held her in his arms, his chin resting on her forehead, and closed his eyes contentedly.

This time it was Mu Yunjin’s turn to darken her face…

Why was Chu Li’s reaction so subdued? Shouldn’t he be like in those TV dramas, holding her and making a ton of grand promises?

Thinking about it, Mu Yunjin sighed and put her arms around Chu Li’s waist. Someone who could say a lot of sweet words wouldn’t be Chu Li anymore!

Well, this would have to do!

……

The next day, when Mu Yunjin woke up, she was alone in the room.

Looking around, Mu Yunjin stared at the ceiling for a while, then slapped her face, unable to distinguish whether last night was real or if she had been dreaming.

But seeing the extra pillow beside her, she realized everything had been real.

After getting dressed and walking out, Song Chun approached her again. Seeing Song Chun, Mu Yunjin teased with a smile, “It must be hard for you to follow me every day.”

Song Chun smiled. “It’s what I should do.”

“Where did Chu Li go again?” Mu Yunjin looked at Song Chun.

“He went to the City Lord’s mansion early in the morning. Before leaving, he instructed that if the Princess woke up, she could find him at the City Lord’s mansion,” Song Chun said.

Mu Yunjin nodded, stretched lazily, and walked out of the Qing Mansion, planning to have breakfast on the street before going to the City Lord’s mansion.

These past few days in the Qing Mansion, she had been surrounded by a group of men, and none of them could cook.

“Boss, one bowl of beef noodles.” Mu Yunjin had just left when she was attracted by the aroma from a beef noodle shop a few steps away.

Sitting at the small stall, Mu Yunjin eagerly waited for her beef noodles to be served.

“Excuse me, may I sit here?” A familiar voice came from beside her.

When Mu Yunjin turned to look, she saw the lady in blue standing at her table, smiling with a hint of apology as she pointed at the surroundings.

Following her gesture, Mu Yunjin realized that all the surrounding seats were occupied. She nodded at the lady in blue with a smile. “Of course you can sit here.”

“Thank you, Miss.” The lady in blue sat down.

The beef noodles were soon served. Mu Yunjin lowered her head to eat, completely unaware that the lady in blue’s gaze had been fixed on her the entire time.

“The other day at the silk shop, I heard your husband call you Yunjin?” The lady in blue carefully spoke up, afraid of disturbing Mu Yunjin’s meal.

Mu Yunjin looked up at the lady in blue and nodded. “Yes, Yunjin.”

“It’s a beautiful name. Judging by your appearance, you must be around fourteen years old. How are you already married?” The lady in blue teased with a smile.

“Not at all, I’ve already had my coming-of-age ceremony a few months ago.” Mu Yunjin felt somewhat embarrassed by the compliment.

Hearing this, the lady in blue pressed her lips together, trying her best not to show any emotional distress, and lowered her head to eat a few mouthfuls of beef noodles with little appetite.