The people Imperial Preceptor An had sent to investigate the Xu father and son returned quickly with their findings.

“Sir, since that event ended, Xu Liangjiu has been constantly claiming to be your sworn brother. Through this, he has curried favor with many minor officials. With their connections, he has secured numerous large business deals. Now, his business has expanded to other cities, and he has even opened underground banks and brothels.”

“As for this Xu Jin, relying on his father’s supposed relationship with you, he struts around the entire imperial city doing all manner of evil deeds. He has forcibly taken many common women, and many civilians dare not speak out about their grievances.”

After speaking, the guard captain brought out several account books from the Xu family and handed them to Imperial Preceptor An.

“Outrageous! How dare they do such things using this Imperial Preceptor’s name!” Imperial Preceptor An frowned, then glanced at the guard captain. “How long have they been using my name?”

“For about half a year,” the guard captain replied.

Hearing this, Imperial Preceptor An sighed. For the past half year, he had been traveling back and forth between the Western Yuan Kingdom and the South Courtyard Kingdom; no wonder he was unaware of this matter.

“Then, how should we deal with the Xu father and son?” the guard captain asked.

“Bind them and hang them at the market entrance for seven days. After seven days, behead them as a public example!” As Imperial Preceptor An finished speaking, he waved his sleeve and left.

…

…

Though he appeared easygoing and approachable, he wasn’t someone anyone could step on to rise in status.

…

Mu Yunjin’s group was now playing chess in the garden.

“Hey, you two are in cahoots, not letting me win a single game?” After losing the fourth round, Huang Yan glared at Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.

Huaying gently tugged at Huang Yan’s sleeve, smiling as she said, “It’s because your skills are inferior.”

“Wife, you should be speaking up for me.” Huang Yan looked at Huaying with a pitiful expression.

“Have some tea,” Huaying smiled, lifting a teacup and handing it to Huang Yan.

Huang Yan was quite pleased, taking the cup and sipping the water. “My wife is still the most obedient.”

After speaking, he raised his eyebrows at Chu Li.

“Your Highness, have some fruit,” Mu Yunjin fed a freshly peeled grape to Chu Li’s lips.

Chu Li opened his mouth to eat it, looking at Mu Yunjin. “Huan’er is most considerate.”

After speaking, he returned a meaningful glance to Huang Yan.

The two women silently rolled their eyes, feeling bored by the men’s behavior.

“By the way, we haven’t yet gathered the herbs for that cough remedy Miss Yuchun gave us,” Huaying suddenly remembered.

At her mention, Mu Yunjin also recalled this matter. Although Imperial Preceptor An’s cough was feigned, Yuchun’s good intentions were genuine, so they should still attend to this task.

“Yes, yes, let’s go now,” she said. The two women stood up and walked towards the small kitchen.

Back at the chess table, Chu Li and Huang Yan watched their retreating figures, shaking their heads helplessly.

Women, always most enthusiastic about such matters.

Huaying, being sensitive to medicinal herbs, quickly found all the ingredients and began brewing the medicine. Mu Yunjin assisted her, and after the medicine was ready, they brought it to Imperial Preceptor An.

Imperial Preceptor An was resting in his room at this time. Whether it was because he had been angered today or had caught a chill, faint coughing sounds could be heard from outside his room.

After Mu Yunjin and Huaying arrived at Imperial Preceptor An’s door, they deliberately slowed their steps and didn’t knock or speak. Before long, a stern voice came from inside, “Who’s at the door?!”

“It’s me and Huaying,” Mu Yunjin said, seeing that he wasn’t asleep, and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Imperial Preceptor An said.

After opening Imperial Preceptor An’s door, they saw him sitting up in his bed. Seeing the bowl in their hands, he frowned. “What is that?”

“After Huaying and I left the mansion today, Miss Yuchun was waiting outside your gate. She noticed your cough and gave us a folk remedy, asking us to brew it into medicine for you,” Mu Yunjin explained, lifting the medicine and offering it to Imperial Preceptor An.

Imperial Preceptor An, smelling the strong herbal aroma, wrinkled his brow with a look of disgust and was about to push it away when he couldn’t help but cough a few times.

“Things given by random people, and you dare to have me consume them? Aren’t you afraid of poisoning me?” Imperial Preceptor An turned his gaze away, clearly showing no intention of drinking the medicine.

Today, he had been angered by the Xu family, and his mood was extremely poor.

“With me here, you won’t be poisoned,” Huaying quipped playfully, her tone laced with amusement.

“Take it back, I won’t drink it,” Imperial Preceptor An waved his hand and then added, “If I need medicine, I’ll have the imperial physicians from the palace examine me. As for common folk remedies, let’s forget about it.”

Hearing him speak this way, Mu Yunjin naturally wouldn’t force him. She couldn’t help but smile, “It seems you’re truly upset today. Well, rest well then. Excessive anger harms the body; don’t make yourself ill.”

With that, she simply placed the medicine to one side, and together with Huaying, left the room.

After leaving Imperial Preceptor An’s room, Huaying sighed softly, “Master, the age difference between Miss Yuchun and the Imperial Preceptor is too great. She can’t possibly be the destined match mentioned by that old monk, right?”

“That remains to be seen. But that old monk correctly predicted Yun Lianqing and Miss Bai, and now this Miss Yuchun is indeed a woman from the imperial city, just as the old monk said. Perhaps it’s possible.”

“However, let’s leave them to their own devices. It’s not our place to play matchmaker,” Mu Yunjin said.

Huaying nodded, leaving together with Mu Yunjin.

…

At dusk, as Chu Li and Mu Yunjin were preparing to return to the quadrangle courtyard to rest, and Huang Yan and Huaying were also preparing to leave, an attendant from the Crown Prince’s mansion arrived at Imperial Preceptor An’s residence.

“Crown Prince has arranged a banquet at his mansion and has specifically sent me to invite Prince Ning, Princess Consort Ning, Imperial Preceptor, Master Huang, and Madam Huang to attend,” the attendant said.

“Good, no problem,” Huang Yan was quite satisfied with the attendant addressing Huaying as Madam Huang and agreed without hesitation.

Chu Li and Mu Yunjin also nodded slightly, thinking that Yun Lianqing’s invitation at this juncture must have ulterior motives.

A guard from Imperial Preceptor An’s mansion walked in from the back garden at this moment, bowed slightly, and said, “The master is unwell today and will not be going to the Crown Prince’s mansion.”

“Unwell? Is it serious?” the attendant asked.

The guard shook his head, “The master has caught a cold and has already retired to rest.”

The attendant nodded in understanding, then looked towards Chu Li and the others, “Then I shall escort the rest of you to the Crown Prince’s mansion first.”

With that, the attendant bowed and walked out.

Outside Imperial Preceptor An’s mansion, the carriage sent by Yun Lianqing was already waiting. After everyone boarded, they headed towards the Crown Prince’s mansion.

When they arrived at the entrance of the Crown Prince’s mansion, Yun Lianqing was waiting outside.

Seeing them descend from the carriage, his eyes darted about, and he first ran towards Mu Yunjin, “Sister-in-law, sister-in-law…”

“What is it?” Mu Yunjin looked at Yun Lianqing.

“Tonight, I’ve finally managed to invite Miss Bai to dine at my mansion. When we eat later, you must help me,” Yun Lianqing said excitedly, wanting to grab Mu Yunjin’s sleeve but was deterred by a glare from Chu Li, promptly withdrawing his hand.

Mu Yunjin paused her steps and raised an eyebrow, “So you invited us to dinner as an afterthought?”

“No, no, isn’t it just that Miss Bai is also here? There are some questions I can’t ask directly, and you women should be able to communicate better,” Yun Lianqing smiled sheepishly, batting his eyelashes at Mu Yunjin.

“Alright, what questions?” Mu Yunjin looked at Yun Lianqing.

“It’s like this…”

…

Originally, Mu Yunjin had been wondering how Yun Lianqing would arrange a banquet for just a few of them, but upon seeing the enormous round table before her, she couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

This round table appeared to be over four meters in diameter. After she sat down, there was a distance of about three or four people between her and Chu Li beside her.

This meal would be eaten with everyone separated by what felt like an entire galaxy.

What surprised her most was that on top of this round table, there was a small rotating platform. Such tables were common in the modern era, but in this ancient time, it was her first encounter with one.

“This prince’s table is interesting, isn’t it? It was custom-made and sent by Imperial Preceptor,” Yun Lianqing said proudly, seeing Mu Yunjin staring at the table for a long time.

Upon hearing it was from Imperial Preceptor An, Mu Yunjin was no longer surprised.

Now, with everyone present, dishes began to be served on this four-meter-round table, quickly filling it with delicious cuisine, appealing in color, aroma, and taste.

Before eating, Bai Qinghuan removed her veil, revealing a clear and pure face. She sat next to Yun Lianqing, eating the dishes at a leisurely pace.

“Ahem…” After eating for a while, Yun Lianqing coughed once, looking towards Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin paused with her chopsticks in hand, immediately understanding. She put down her chopsticks, took a sip of water, and looked at Bai Qinghuan, “Miss Bai, your successful resolution of the Lone Mountain City epidemic demonstrates your superb medical skills. Have you been studying medicine since childhood?”

“Yes, since I was old enough to remember, I began learning from my father,” Bai Qinghuan smiled slightly at Mu Yunjin.

“You must have been studying for over ten years then. How old are you, Miss Bai?” As Mu Yunjin asked this question, she felt like committing seppuku. How had she agreed to ask these questions for that rascal Yun Lianqing?

It was both gossipy and awkward.

Hearing this question, Bai Qinghuan paused slightly, a smile tugging at her lips, “Eighteen.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, then lowered her gaze, not asking further.

“Ahem…” Across the table, Yun Lianqing coughed again.

Mu Yunjin pretended not to hear, keeping her head down and continuing to eat.

That young rogue Yun Lianqing had asked her to ask three questions: Bai Qinghuan’s age, whether she was betrothed, and whether she had someone she cared for.

After asking the first question, she already felt extremely awkward and simply couldn’t bring herself to ask the remaining two.

Yun Lianqing, seeing that Mu Yunjin had stopped halfway, was nearly driven to desperation. But no matter how he fidgeted like an ant on a hot pan, Mu Yunjin ignored his hints.

“Crown Prince, you’re not so young anymore. How is it that you haven’t brought a Crown Princess into your mansion yet?” Huang Yan, who got along well with Yun Lianqing, seeing that Mu Yunjin had given up, picked up the conversation.

“What’s good about bringing in random women? If this prince doesn’t meet the love of my life, I will not marry,” Yun Lianqing said with a serious face, glancing at Bai Qinghuan after speaking.

Hearing this, Huang Yan nodded in strong agreement, “I never thought that the Crown Prince would be such a romantic person.”

“Naturally,” Yun Lianqing looked at Huang Yan, and after their eyes met, he raised his eyebrows, his eyes revealing praise and excitement.

Huang Yan understood, stroking his chin, “Miss Bai, what about you? Are you betrothed?”