After Mu Yunjin briefly explained to State Preceptor An about what had happened in North Ming Kingdom and chatted for a while, they saw Yun Lianqing and Bai Qinghuan walking side by side out of the city gate of Lonely Mountain City.

Upon seeing Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, Yun Lianqing hurried forward, reacting just like State Preceptor An moments ago. “Where have you two been gallivanting?”

“Where are you going?” Mu Yunjin avoided Yun Lianqing’s question.

“Miss Bai has been caring for the villagers here for days without sleep. This Crown Prince wants to take her to the guest house to rest for a while,” Yun Lianqing said, glancing at Bai Qinghuan beside him.

Bai Qinghuan wasn’t wearing her veil at the moment. When Yun Lianqing mentioned her, she smiled slightly at Mu Yunjin in acknowledgment.

“You should go quickly then.” Mu Yunjin was afraid Yun Lianqing would ask more questions, so she hurriedly sent him away.

Yun Lianqing nodded. “Then this Crown Prince will take Miss Bai first, and come find you later to talk in detail.”

“…” Mu Yunjin pouted.

After Yun Lianqing left with Bai Qinghuan, State Preceptor An said to Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, “The plague situation in Lonely Mountain City is under control, and there’s nothing left for us to do here. Let’s return to the royal city to deal with Chu Qing’s matter.”

Chu Li and Mu Yunjin nodded in agreement.

Upon returning to the royal city, they found Huang Yan and Hua Ying had been waiting at the State Preceptor’s Mansion for a long time.

“Your Highness, Chu Qing is in the dungeon. Should we go see him now to prevent any unexpected issues?” Huang Yan stepped forward and said.

After a pause, Huang Yan asked another question. “How is Rong Min doing?”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s eyes flashed slightly as he slowly spoke. “Rong Min has committed suicide in the North Ming Kingdom’s dungeon.”

“Suicide? He seems quite accepting of death,” Huang Yan pouted. He had thought that given Rong Min’s temperament, he would only stop when killed by His Highness or the Princess.

“Because I asked him whether he wanted to do it himself or have me do it personally. After thinking, he chose to do it himself.” Chu Li curved his lips into a smile, speaking with considerable interest.

Huang Yan raised an eyebrow. “I wonder if this approach will work on Chu Qing.”

“Let’s go to the dungeon,” Chu Li said, then looked at Mu Yunjin. “I’m going to take care of something.”

Mu Yunjin nodded.

After Chu Li and Huang Yan left, Hua Ying approached Mu Yunjin, her eyes revealing amusement. “Master, the medicine shop owner’s wife was right. When I went to Qingzhou, I found quite a lot of wild Heshan Lotus.”

“That’s what they call a lucky coincidence. If we couldn’t find the Heshan Lotus, dealing with Chu Qing and Rong Min would have required a lot more effort,” Mu Yunjin sighed softly.

“Yes, exactly,” Hua Ying agreed.

State Preceptor An took a sip of tea and looked at the two women in front of him. “If you two have nothing to do, why not go out for a stroll? Just hearing the words ‘Heshan Lotus’ makes my head ache now.”

“We’re unfamiliar with Nanting Kingdom. If we’re going out, you should lead the way,” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows teasingly.

“You’re too much for me. These old bones of mine have been working for several days. I need to catch up on sleep,” State Preceptor An said with a yawn, about to head to the back garden.

At this moment, a guard hurriedly ran in from outside, bowed slightly to State Preceptor An, and said, “State Preceptor, there’s a woman outside making a commotion, insisting on seeing you.”

“What woman?” State Preceptor An asked.

“This subordinate doesn’t know, but the woman claims to be the daughter of a disaster victim from Lonely Mountain City. She says the State Preceptor saved her mother, so she specifically came to pay her respects,” the guard said.

State Preceptor An frowned. “Tell her I appreciate the sentiment, but ask her to go back.”

“This subordinate said that at first, but the woman still insists on seeing the State Preceptor. Now, quite a crowd of citizens has gathered outside to watch,” the guard said helplessly.

Mu Yunjin, sitting nearby and listening, couldn’t help but recall the marriage divination that the old monk at Jinghua Temple had cast for State Preceptor An. She suppressed a smile and said, “Since she wants to see you, just let her see you. Otherwise, if the citizens outside learn about the plague in Lonely Mountain City, they’ll be too scared to go out.”

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, State Preceptor An found some reason in them. He frowned slightly and said, “Let her in.”

Mu Yunjin’s smile deepened. Could this be the one with the fluttering heart?

The guard nodded and hurried out.

Shortly after, a woman wearing a light yellow gauze dress entered, carrying several large packages. She had delicate features and appeared to be only in her twenties.

Seeing State Preceptor An, the woman immediately knelt. “This commoner pays her respects to the State Preceptor.”

“Please rise,” State Preceptor An said with slight resignation.

The woman didn’t stand up but raised her head to look at State Preceptor An. “This commoner usually lives in the royal city. It was only this morning when I returned to Lonely Mountain City that I heard from my mother about how, a few days ago when she was seriously ill with the plague, the State Preceptor, unafraid of the disease, carried her out of the house to find the female divine doctor who had come to the village. That’s what saved my mother’s life.”

“My mother instructed me to personally thank the State Preceptor when I returned to the royal city. These are pastries I made myself. If the State Preceptor doesn’t mind, please accept them.” After speaking, the woman raised several large packages and offered them to State Preceptor An.

Seeing this, State Preceptor An looked somewhat helpless but still reached out to accept these things. Since they were pastries, he would accept them to avoid the awkward situation of her insisting he take them.

He didn’t like such back-and-forth scenarios.

“Thank you, then,” State Preceptor An said, putting the pastries on a nearby table.

The woman’s face immediately brightened with a smile. She stared at State Preceptor An for a moment, then a hint of shyness appeared on her face. “This commoner has lived in the royal city for over a year. Although I’ve often heard of the State Preceptor’s reputation, today is the first time I’ve seen him in person. Indeed, he’s just as the rumors say.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin silently exchanged glances with Hua Ying, both with smiles containing a hint of springtime feelings.

“Mm, if there’s nothing else, you should go back now. I’m feeling a bit tired today and need to rest first. After all, I’m getting on in years, and my health isn’t what it used to be,” State Preceptor An said, feigning a few coughs.

The woman didn’t want to leave so soon, but after State Preceptor An’s words, she couldn’t say anything more. She could only nod and say, “Then this commoner will visit the State Preceptor another day.”

“No—”

State Preceptor An was about to say “that won’t be necessary,” when Hua Ying, who usually didn’t talk much, spoke up with obvious curiosity. “Miss, what’s your name?”

“This commoner’s name is Yu Chun,” the woman replied.

“Are you married?” Mu Yunjin followed up.

Yu Chun shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Oh? Why is that? Given your lovely appearance, you must have had many suitors. How is it you haven’t married?” Mu Yunjin asked curiously.

“When this commoner was younger, having read books for a few years, I looked down on the men in the village. Later, after passing the marriageable age, my family pressured me urgently. I hardened my heart and moved to the royal city—out of sight, out of mind,” Yu Chun spoke of her past with a somewhat sheepish smile.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin smiled deeply. “Not bad, quite strong-willed.”

“Strong-willed?” Yu Chun hadn’t expected Mu Yunjin’s words. Her eyes brightened as if she’d found a kindred spirit. “You’re the first person to agree with my thinking.”

“Ahem…” State Preceptor An coughed again.

The hall immediately fell silent. Hearing State Preceptor An’s cough, Yu Chun pursed her lips slightly, bowed to him, and said, “This commoner will take her leave now.”

After saying this, she smiled at Mu Yunjin and Hua Ying, then walked out.

After Yu Chun left, Mu Yunjin sat with her legs crossed and smiled at State Preceptor An. “This young lady is quite good. She didn’t just marry anyone because she reached a certain age. She lives for herself, which is admirable.”

“Hmph, don’t try to play matchmaker for me. I’m old enough to be her father. If word got out, wouldn’t people criticize me for being an old ox eating tender grass?” State Preceptor An snorted, stood up, and walked inside.

Behind him, Mu Yunjin and Hua Ying burst into laughter.

After State Preceptor An went to his room to rest, Mu Yunjin and Hua Ying had nothing to do, so they decided to follow State Preceptor An’s earlier suggestion and go out for a stroll.

Leaving the State Preceptor’s Mansion, on their way to the market, Mu Yunjin caught sight of Yu Chun.

Yu Chun was standing in a corner not far from the State Preceptor’s Mansion, leaning against the wall corner, head lowered, lost in thought.

“Yu Chun,” Mu Yunjin called out to her.

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s voice, Yu Chun looked up, ran over with some delight, and said, “Greetings, greetings…”

Yu Chun, seeing that Mu Yunjin was a friend of the State Preceptor, clearly assumed she must be either wealthy or noble. She wanted to bow but didn’t know how to address her properly.

“No need for formalities. What are you doing here?” Mu Yunjin looked at Yu Chun.

“I…”

Yu Chun hesitated, and seeing Mu Yunjin watching her, she paused before saying, “I saw the State Preceptor coughing just now, and it reminded me of a folk remedy my mother used to give me when I coughed as a child. I was trying to recall the prescription, which might help with the State Preceptor’s cough.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin silently marveled at how this woman was truly as pure as her name suggested.

The State Preceptor’s cough was merely a pretense, yet this woman had taken it to heart and was thinking of a folk remedy for him.

Could it be as the old monk had said—love at first sight?

“Ah, I remember the remedy now!” Yu Chun suddenly recalled the folk remedy and excitedly grabbed Mu Yunjin’s arm. “I’ll give you the prescription. Could you help me give it to the State Preceptor? I’ve already disturbed him once, and I’d be embarrassed to bother him again.”

Mu Yunjin certainly wouldn’t refuse Yu Chun. If she truly was State Preceptor An’s destined match, she would naturally do her best to help bring them together.

“Alright, give me the prescription, and I’ll remember it,” Mu Yunjin said.

Yu Chun nodded.

After giving the prescription, Yu Chun prepared to leave. Before leaving, she asked Mu Yunjin to remind State Preceptor An, “The weather is hot, and those pastries can spoil if left too long. Please tell the State Preceptor to eat them soon. But if he doesn’t like them, that’s fine too. After all, the State Preceptor has seen many fine things, and my humble offerings can hardly be called exquisite or delicious.”

With that, Yu Chun walked into the alley.

Watching Yu Chun’s retreating figure, Mu Yunjin looked at Hua Ying beside her. “Look what a good young lady she is.”

“Yes, she certainly has a kind heart. But this is her first meeting with the State Preceptor today. She probably doesn’t have those kinds of thoughts yet. Perhaps if someone else had saved her mother, she would treat them the same way,” Hua Ying said.

“Anyway, we have nothing to do recently, so why not stay in Nanting Kingdom for a few more days and see? By the way, where has Qiqi gone?” Mu Yunjin suddenly thought of Qiqi.

Hua Ying smiled lightly and continued walking forward with Mu Yunjin. “She can’t sit still. She went to play elsewhere with Lei Yan. Now that she’s free from her beast spirit form, her life is much more comfortable than before.”