Upon seeing Chu Li and then looking at Yun Guangyao, who was comforting the young master, Ding Xian suddenly lowered his eyes, clenching his fists as he struggled to suppress his laughter, afraid he might burst out laughing.

“Ahem…” Finally, Chu Li couldn’t hold back and lightly coughed, reminding Yun Guangyao of his presence.

After hearing this, the smile on Yun Guangyao’s face stiffened with embarrassment. He then gave a dry laugh. “Your son turned out quite well, very well-behaved.”

“When did you arrive?” Chu Li glanced at Yun Guangyao and stepped into the pavilion.

“Just arrived not long ago,” Yun Guangyao replied awkwardly.

He immediately added, “Originally, I came to attend the Ninth Princess’s wedding. Who would have thought that upon reaching Diehua City, I would hear about the wedding’s cancellation? Sigh, I wonder if your Western Yuan is deliberately tormenting this old man.”

“Yunjin has been injured, and this Prince needs to take care of her these days, with no time to look after little Mu’er. Why don’t you stay at the mansion for a few days? Firstly, to rest well, and secondly, to help this Prince look after his son for a few days. What do you think?” Though phrased as a question, Chu Li’s expression was serene, his tone even.

Upon hearing this, Yun Guangyao was taken aback, furrowing his brows. “What are you saying? I, as the sovereign of a country, am babysitting your child here? Wouldn’t people laugh their teeth off if they heard about this?”

“Then never mind…” Chu Li spoke softly.

…

…

“However…” Yun Guangyao changed his tone, his expression appearing somewhat troubled as he sighed. “Since you have no time to take care of this child, I will reluctantly help look after him a bit. But just this once, not to be repeated, after all, my status is what it is.”

The corner of Chu Li’s lips curved into a faint smile. Without saying anything more, he turned and left.

After Chu Li’s figure disappeared outside the pavilion, Yun Guangyao’s previously serious and tense expression instantly softened. A smile spread across his face. “Oh, my precious little grandson…”

This time, Ding Xian’s forehead veins throbbed. The sovereign of Southern Courtyard changed his expression so quickly—surely he must have come to Western Yuan specifically for the young master…

…

“You say the sovereign of Southern Courtyard has arrived?” In the room, Mu Yunjin lay on the bed, appearing lazy and neither fully awake nor asleep, with her eyes closed as she listened to Chu Li beside her.

Chu Li sat at the edge of Mu Yunjin’s bed, one hand gently massaging her waist as he calmly answered her. “Yes, he’s in the garden outside.”

“Then why aren’t you entertaining him? Isn’t it inappropriate to leave a sovereign just waiting outside?” Mu Yunjin raised her eyelids and turned to look at Chu Li.

Hearing this, Chu Li chuckled, unconcerned. “No need to bother, he didn’t come for us.”

“Hmm? Then for whom?” Mu Yunjin didn’t immediately understand.

“Our son,” Chu Li smiled at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, then curved her lips into a slight smile. “So he came for his grandson.”

“Mm,” Chu Li nodded slightly, his gaze lowering to Mu Yunjin’s profile, his eyes growing increasingly gentle. “For the next few days, focus on healing. After your wounds are better, this Prince will take you somewhere.”

“Where?” Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened, and she almost sat up in bed.

Seeing her excited state, Chu Li reached out and lightly tapped Mu Yunjin’s head. “Be good and heal first. If your waist injury flares up again, you’ll never leave this room for the rest of your life.”

“Chu Li, you’re threatening me…” Mu Yunjin’s face suddenly fell.

Chu Li smiled. “Yes, that’s a threat.”

As the two were chatting and bantering, someone gently knocked on the door, and Song Chun’s voice came from outside. “Your Highness, there’s a pigeon message from Huang Yan.”

“Come in,” Chu Li said.

Song Chun pushed open the door and entered, handing a small rolled-up note to Chu Li.

Chu Li took the note, unrolled it, glanced at its contents, then looked at Mu Yunjin beside him before passing the note to her.

Mu Yunjin looked at the note, her eyes revealing surprise and astonishment. “Is Huang Yan joking with us?”

“It doesn’t seem so,” Chu Li took back the note, his eyes showing some depth.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, processing the content of the note. Huang Yan wanted to transform himself into a snake spirit so he could be with Hua Ying, who was also a snake spirit, forever.

“His idea sounds feasible, but becoming a beast spirit isn’t something that happens just because you want it to,” Mu Yunjin sighed.

“What? Huang Yan wants to turn himself into a snake spirit?” Song Chun, who was standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

What mischief was Huang Yan up to? How could he even think of such a thing? If he became a snake spirit, wouldn’t he also have a half-human, half-beast body?

As Song Chun thought about this, he imagined Huang Yan transforming into a five-step snake spirit and couldn’t help but shudder, goosebumps rising all over his body.

But then again, he thought, for Huang Yan to make such a decision to be with his beloved was not unreasonable. After all, Hua Ying was willing to give up her beast spirit form to become an ordinary woman for him.

So conversely, Huang Yan was naturally willing to become a beast spirit to accompany Hua Ying.

How wonderful.

“Cold Yuan once administered a slow-acting poison to the disciples of Phoenix Feather Pavilion, turning them into beast spirits. Besides this method, are there other ways to become a beast spirit?” Chu Li asked Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin frowned and shook her head. “I haven’t researched this. However, the library at Phoenix Feather Pavilion might have records. Why don’t you take me to Phoenix Feather Pavilion now?”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s expression darkened slightly. Ignoring Mu Yunjin, he looked towards Song Chun. “Reply to Huang Yan, tell him to wait ten more days.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Song Chun listened and then turned to leave.

After Song Chun left, Chu Li’s hand returned to Mu Yunjin’s back. “This Prince said, until you are healed, you are not allowed to go anywhere.”

Mu Yunjin pouted, lying on the pillow with her eyes closed, pretending to doze.

…

For three consecutive days, Mu Yunjin was confined to her room. Sometimes when she wanted to go out to the courtyard, she was stopped.

Fortunately, with gossip-loving Nanny Shen around, although Mu Yunjin hadn’t stepped out of her room, she was always the first to know what was happening outside.

“Nanny, where is little Mu’er?” Mu Yunjin hadn’t seen little Mu’er all morning. Now, as Nanny Shen brought her lunch, she stretched her neck to look outside.

“The young master has been with the Southern Courtyard sovereign these few days. Sometimes when this servant wants to bring him over, the Southern Courtyard sovereign won’t allow it,” Nanny Shen said, her tone carrying a hint of complaint.

Mu Yunjin sighed, feeling helpless. She sat up in bed and began to eat her meal slowly.

“But come to think of it, our mansion has only one young master, so naturally everyone dotes on him fiercely, all eager to hold and play with him. Imagine if, after some time, the Princess and His Highness add one or two more young masters or young ladies, that would be even better! The mansion would be livelier!” Nanny Shen couldn’t help but laugh as she thought about it.

Mu Yunjin’s brow twitched a few times. So this was the beginning of pressure to have more children…

“What has Qingyuan been doing these days?” Mu Yunjin changed the subject, mentioning Chu Qingyuan.

“This servant heard that the Ninth Princess went traveling, though I don’t know exactly where. Anyway, this hasn’t been announced publicly. Most people still think the Ninth Princess is in the palace,” Nanny Shen said.

Mu Yunjin nodded, not saying much more.

“There’s another interesting matter!” Nanny Shen opened up the conversation, moving her chair closer to Mu Yunjin to speak more quietly. “This servant also heard that General Qin resigned from his position this morning during the court session.”

“Oh? That happened…” Mu Yunjin’s hand holding the chopsticks paused, and upon hearing this news, she felt quite emotional.

She thought back to when she first crossed over, how glorious the entire Qin family had been. Now that the people were gone, even Qin Munan couldn’t hold on.

The glory of the Qin family was destined to become just a legend.

“In this servant’s view, General Qin’s decision is correct. Rather than enduring disdainful glances at court, it’s better to live freely on one’s own. Out of sight, out of mind,” Nanny Shen said.

Mu Yunjin tugged at the corner of her mouth and continued eating.

“Does the Princess want to hear about the matters in the imperial harem? This servant has many more pieces of news that haven’t been shared with you yet!” Nanny Shen smiled at Mu Yunjin. She was just like this; once she started chatting, she couldn’t stop.

“You even know about the affairs of the imperial harem?” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows.

Nanny Shen’s face reddened, and she laughed self-deprecatingly. “This servant has a lot of free time, so sometimes I visit the palace, and it’s those old nannies who tell me these things.”

“Then tell me about it.” Mu Yunjin was quite bored at the moment. Chu Li had been gone all morning and hadn’t returned yet.

Nanny Shen immediately spoke in a low voice. “This servant heard that the Emperor hasn’t visited the imperial harem for a long time. He pays no attention to the imperial consorts, including the Empress.”

“Hmm…” Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded meaningfully, not commenting on the matter.

“This has worried the Empress Dowager greatly. Emperor Ximing and Empress Dowager Rui were recently poisoned to death, and now the Emperor doesn’t visit the harem and has no heirs. If this continues, Western Yuan might…” Nanny Shen stopped halfway through her sentence.

Look at her, falling into her old habit again! Every time she got excited, she couldn’t help but blurt out things she shouldn’t say!

She would die from this mouth of hers one day!

Mu Yunjin put down her chopsticks, took a silk handkerchief, and wiped her mouth. Her eyes flashed with a hint of a smile. “Don’t worry, Nanny. Emperor Ximing left behind quite a few princes. Some of them will surely grow up to achieve something.”

“Ah, yes, it’s just that the current Emperor’s behavior is puzzling!” Nanny Shen sighed.

“Perhaps he’s also searching for his one true love,” Mu Yunjin said lightly, suddenly realizing that life wasn’t easy for anyone.

Seemingly glorious on the surface, but who could know the heartache and bitterness behind it all?

“This old servant is too old and doesn’t understand you young people anymore. These days, everyone is more passionate than the last. Such emotions are truly precious,” Nanny Shen remarked.

Mu Yunjin smiled without speaking. At this moment, her mind was filled with images of Chu Li’s gentle gaze.

Having someone constantly by your side was indeed a tremendously precious and cherished thing.