Mu Yunjin pouted and irritably reached out to hit Chu Li, but her body was so weak that when her punch landed, it felt as soft as cotton and had no effect on him.

Chu Li took the opportunity to grasp her hand, holding it in his palm. When his gaze drifted to certain parts of her body, he couldn’t help but feel his mind waver.

Mu Yunjin stared at Chu Li’s hand and noticed several bloody wounds on it. Frowning, she thought back and vaguely remembered that he had injured himself when breaking the ice for her in the ice cave.

This fool—his hands were wounded, yet he was still sitting with her in the hot spring pool. Wasn’t he afraid of infection?

A sudden knock on the door interrupted—

“Your Highness, has the Princess awakened?” Qingmeng’s voice sounded from outside.

Hearing this, both Chu Li and Mu Yunjin withdrew from their thoughts and responded faintly.

“Then please bring the Princess back to her room. I have prepared medicine for her and will bring it now.” After speaking, Qingmeng walked away.

Mu Yunjin had been wanting to leave the hot spring pool for some time. The water was already warm, and after adding the unknown herbs, she felt as if her entire body was on fire.

…

…

Instinctively trying to push herself up to stand, she found that she had no strength at all. She had no choice but to stretch out her arms toward Chu Li, who was already standing—

“It’s too hot here, carry me out quickly!”

Her tender and soft voice made Chu Li’s heart tingle with both numbness and itchiness. He bent down and lifted her from the pool. Seeing her obediently wrap her arms around his neck and rest her head against his chest, Chu Li realized for the first time that when she was ill, she became so docile and pitiable.

This woman—he had been poisoned by her.

A poison he would never be able to cure in this lifetime.

After drying her body and changing her into clean clothes, Chu Li took her to the room and gently placed her on the bed, covering her with a brocade quilt from the side.

Mu Yunjin was still feeling hot. When she saw Chu Li covering her with the quilt, she instinctively reached out to push it away. After catching a sharp glance from Chu Li, she put on an innocent expression and obediently kept herself covered.

“Your clothes are all wet. Go change first, don’t catch a cold yourself.” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li’s soaked garments and curved her lips at him.

Chu Li stared at Mu Yunjin for a moment, a warmth spreading in his heart. He nodded and walked to the cabinet to change his clothes.

Mu Yunjin propped up her head, admiring Chu Li as he changed his clothes. He had seen her completely naked earlier, so now it was her turn to appreciate him.

Just as she was happily thinking this, footsteps were heard outside the room. Upon hearing them, Chu Li, who had only changed half of his clothes, took the clean garments and went into the small chamber of the hot spring pool.

Damn…

Cheater!

Mu Yunjin cursed silently in her heart.

The knock on the door sounded again. Mu Yunjin knew it was Qingmeng and told her to come in.

Qingmeng was holding a bowl of medicine. Walking to Mu Yunjin’s side, she smiled at her. “Is the Princess still feeling uncomfortable?”

As she spoke, Qingmeng had already reached out to feel Mu Yunjin’s pulse.

“Much better, just feeling weak.” Mu Yunjin leaned against the headboard, looking up at Qingmeng.

“Yes, your pulse is normal, and the cold energy in your body has mostly dissipated!” Qingmeng placed Mu Yunjin’s hand back under the quilt and continued, “You’ve been ill for several days without eating. It’s normal to feel weak. After you drink this medicine, I’ll have the kitchen prepare some light food for you.”

As Qingmeng finished speaking, Chu Li, now changed into fresh clothes, walked out of the small chamber.

He had heard the conversation between Qingmeng and Mu Yunjin from inside and, knowing that the cold energy had dissipated, felt a tightly wound nerve finally relax completely.

Walking to her bedside, he picked up the medicine bowl, scooped up a spoonful of medicine, gently blew on it, and held it to Mu Yunjin’s lips. “Drink your medicine first.”

“Sister Qingmeng, could you check his hands? He has wounds, and he soaked in the hot spring for a long time. I don’t know if there will be any negative effects.” Mu Yunjin pointed at Chu Li’s hands and looked toward Qingmeng, her eyes revealing concern.

Seeing this, Qingmeng pressed her lips together and smiled. “Don’t worry, the herbs in the hot spring pool can also help heal wounds.”

With those words, Qingmeng walked out.

Chu Li had seen the urgency and concern in Mu Yunjin’s eyes, and an undisguised feeling of happiness crept into his heart.

Mu Yunjin obediently drank a sip of medicine. When Chu Li brought the second spoonful, she spoke softly, “By the way, why did you bring me back here? Where are the others?”

“I don’t know. This prince didn’t care about them.” Chu Li replied, bringing the spoonful of medicine closer.

Mu Yunjin nodded and lowered her head to take another sip of medicine.

After finishing the bowl of medicine, Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and lazily leaned against the headboard.

“Was it bitter?” Chu Li was surprised to see her so obediently finish a bowl of medicine. In the past, when she had caught a cold, getting her to drink medicine was like asking for her life. She would often drink half and secretly pour away the rest, or simply pour it all away.

“I couldn’t taste anything.” Mu Yunjin licked her lips again. Having not eaten for days, she felt as if her mouth could taste nothing at all. After drinking a bowl of medicine, she was even strangely feeling like she hadn’t had enough!

Chu Li laughed and put the medicine bowl aside.

At this moment, a knock on the door sounded again—

“Come in,” Chu Li said.

The person who entered was Zixiang, carrying a tray with several steaming dishes. Behind her, several maids also entered, similarly carrying trays.

Zixiang approached Mu Yunjin and placed the tray on a nearby table. When she looked at Mu Yunjin, her eyes suddenly reddened. “Miss, you’ve finally returned. This servant hasn’t seen you for so long…”

“Why are you crying and wailing all day long, aren’t you embarrassed?” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows. Catching sight of the food on the tray from the corner of her eye, her stomach growled shamelessly.

Mu Yunjin blushed slightly.

Zixiang smiled faintly, intending to stay and serve Mu Yunjin her meal. But seeing that Chu Li had already picked up a small bowl, she perceptively said to Mu Yunjin, “Then this servant will take her leave first.”

“Your Highness, your meal has also been brought.”

With those words, Zixiang walked out.

…

“Quickly, give me the bowl. I’ll eat by myself!” When Mu Yunjin saw the chicken shred porridge in the bowl, she felt as if she could barely control her saliva from flowing down.

Indeed, she couldn’t handle hunger—it was too torturous!

Seeing her anxious appearance, Chu Li’s eyes held a faint smile. He reached out and brought the bowl in front of her, handing it to her.

Mu Yunjin took it, picked up the spoon, and began eating large mouthfuls…

“Another bowl.”

“Mm.”

“I still feel a bit hungry…”

“Here you go.”

“Phew, I finally feel alive again…”

…

After finishing her meal, Mu Yunjin sprawled on the bed, contentedly patting her stomach.

“Cover yourself with the quilt.” A warning voice came from the side.

Mu Yunjin turned over and curled up under the quilt. She felt a bit sleepy, but because she had eaten too much, she could only stare at the ceiling.

After emptying her thoughts for a moment, she recalled the scene of entering the ice cave that day.

Qiuye…

Thinking of him, Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, a heavy killing intent appearing in them. If they dared to scheme against her like this, they should be prepared to face the consequences!

Sooner or later, she would also make those people taste the feeling of dying while encased in ice.

In a moment, Mu Yunjin turned over, her back to Chu Li, and gently placed her hand over her heart. Her brows furrowed slightly.

The Divine Mandate—this thing inside her body was like a time bomb for her, capable of destroying her at any moment.

Too many people in the world knew the legend of the Divine Mandate, and so many people in the ice cave now knew that the Divine Mandate was in her body. Her future days would likely not be peaceful.

As Mu Yunjin was pondering this, a pair of arms enveloped her body. When she turned around, Chu Li had already lain down beside her, holding her waist, his eyes closed, a trace of weariness between his brows.

Feeling Mu Yunjin looking at him, Chu Li reached out and pressed her against his chest. “Sleep.”

Mu Yunjin buried herself in Chu Li’s embrace. Initially, without much sleepiness, the familiar and warm embrace gradually calmed her heart. She closed her eyes and slowly fell asleep.

…

Nightfall, on the streets of Diehua City.

“Wanyue, at this critical moment, don’t do anything foolish!” Imperial Tutor An looked at Imperial Consort Rong with a helpless expression as she hurriedly moved toward Prince Ning’s mansion. He reached out and grabbed her arm.

Imperial Consort Rong wouldn’t listen to a word. She glared at Imperial Tutor An. “Did you know all along that the Divine Mandate was inside Mu Yunjin’s body?”

Imperial Tutor An didn’t answer.

“Have you gone mad? How could you hide such an important matter from me? You know I’ve been searching for the Divine Mandate for many years. If I hadn’t discovered it in the ice cave, you would probably have kept me running in circles for the rest of my life!” Imperial Consort Rong was furious, her heart filled with resentment. The person she had trusted so much for so many years had been treating her like a fool all along.

Upon hearing this, Imperial Tutor An released her arm. “Now that you know the Divine Mandate is inside Mu’er’s body, what do you intend to do?”

“Of course…” Imperial Consort Rong was about to blurt out that she wanted to extract it from her body, but halfway through, the words caught in her throat.

Yes, it was inside her body.

How to extract it…

“Kong Shi, you must have a way, don’t you? You’ve also seen that the Canghua Continent is now in chaos. If I don’t make some preparations for Li’er, soon, very soon…” Imperial Consort Rong didn’t know how to continue. Her gaze fixed blankly on Imperial Tutor An, hoping he would understand her.

“Wanyue, this is Heaven’s will. Don’t go against it! You should have seen clearly how Chu Li treated Mu’er in the ice cave! If you insist on targeting the Divine Mandate inside Mu’er’s body, I fear that when Chu Li learns of this, he will not hesitate to ‘sacrifice personal relationships for righteousness’!”

Imperial Tutor An’s words, especially the phrase “sacrifice personal relationships for righteousness,” made Imperial Consort Rong retreat a few steps dejectedly. Finally, her legs weakened, and she collapsed to the ground.

Yes, how could she not see Chu Li’s deep affection for Mu Yunjin…

But Chu Li shouldn’t be someone who would become entangled in romantic sentiment. The Divine Mandate, such a powerful Divine Mandate—how could she bear to give it up?

On second thought, Imperial Consort Rong remembered something else and looked up at Imperial Tutor An. “So many people in the ice cave now know that the Divine Mandate is inside Mu Yunjin’s body. Even if I don’t take it, others will try to, and Mu Yunjin’s days will still be far from peaceful.”

“Kong Shi, you’d better help me think of a way, a way that benefits everyone…”