Mu Yunjin was dragged around by Qiqi for an entire day, and they only returned to the courtyard when the sky darkened.

As the two walked on the path back to the courtyard, after passing through a small alley, they saw a figure stealthily moving through the alley in the distance.

The owner of the figure seemed to be seriously injured, tightly wrapped in a large cloak. Their steps were extremely unsteady when walking, needing to rest against the wall after every few steps. Their manner was particularly anxious, constantly looking around.

“That figure, doesn’t it look a bit like Miss Mu from the restaurant earlier today?” Mu Yunjin scrutinized the figure, rubbing her chin, somewhat uncertain.

Qiqi, with her excellent eyesight, also carefully examined the figure’s face after hearing this. “It is that Mu’ai.”

“Looking at her condition, it seems her plan failed.” Mu Yunjin’s tone contained a hint of amusement when mentioning this.

“Yes, probably not only did her plan fail, but she also suffered a serious injury for nothing. Look at her sneaking around like a thief—she doesn’t want anyone to know she’s injured.” Qiqi shook her head helplessly. The Crown Prince had been merciful to let this woman return alive.

Mu Yunjin chuckled and pulled Qiqi to continue on their way back. “Truly, if you don’t court death, you won’t die.”

“Hmm? What does that mean?” Qiqi didn’t quite understand this saying.

…

…

“Just a common expression.” Mu Yunjin curled her lips, her gaze now fixed on a spot ahead. She smiled, “What a coincidence. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.”

Qiqi followed Mu Yunjin’s line of sight and saw Yun Lianqing and Bai Qinghuan walking side by side in the distance. At first glance, the Crown Prince’s left hand seemed to be injured…

“Ha, those people hired by Mu’ai had some skill to injure the Crown Prince,” Qiqi remarked with some feeling.

“Why do I feel like he might have cut himself…” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows, her eyes tinged with interest.

Qiqi was stunned for a moment and frowned. “He wouldn’t be that pathetic, would he?”

“Who knows!”

As the two were chatting, Yun Lianqing and Bai Qinghuan came closer and closer. Yun Lianqing was somewhat surprised to see these two standing in the darkness. “Sister-in-law, Cat Girl, what are you two doing out so late?”

“We’ve been out all day and are heading back to the courtyard. Just happened to run into you.” Mu Yunjin smiled slightly, her gaze passing over Yun Lianqing’s left hand.

Seeing this, Yun Lianqing instinctively retracted his left hand and laughed awkwardly. “Then you should get back quickly. It’s late, and it’s not safe for girls to be outside.”

“Alright, alright, we’ll go first. We won’t disturb you two.” Qiqi covered her mouth with a smile, then left with Mu Yunjin.

Yun Lianqing watched the backs of the two, feeling uneasy. Did those two know something?

No, they shouldn’t, right?

If they knew, that would be too embarrassing.

After seeing Mu Yunjin and Qiqi off, Yun Lianqing turned to look at Bai Qinghuan and said, “Today, you provided free medical treatment in the village all day. Tomorrow, just rest well at the mansion. In a couple of days, I’ll accompany you again to the free clinic, how’s that?”

“After a day of the free clinic, all the medicinal herbs I brought are used up. Tomorrow I want to gather some more herbs. As for you, your arm is injured, so rest well. You don’t need to accompany me to the free clinic.” Bai Qinghuan spoke calmly, her face showing a distant yet polite smile.

What Yun Lianqing disliked most was her calm attitude. She was like this with everyone. How he wished she could treat him differently, even if she scolded him—he would be extremely pleased, at least it would be different from how she treated others.

After the two had walked away, two figures emerged from a corner nearby.

“That fool Mu’ai went to find someone to assassinate the Crown Prince. How extremely stupid.” A female voice came from the corner.

“Young Miss, what should we do now?” Another male voice sounded.

After a pause, the female voice laughed. “What to do? Naturally, we find a way to make this a big issue. You know, attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince is a capital offense. If this gets exposed, not only will Mu’ai be executed, but the entire Mu family will fall as well.”

“But, Young Miss, if this matter is brought to light, it will certainly cause a storm throughout the city. Why should we bring down the Mu family when everything is going well for us?” The male voice asked.

“Hmph, blame it on Mu’ai. She usually relies on being the Prime Minister’s daughter to order me, a Minister’s daughter, around. Who does she think she is?” The female voice revealed her resentment as she spoke.

Hearing this, the man bowed slightly to the woman. “Young Miss, please calm your anger. We’d better think this through carefully. Since it was Young Miss who instigated Mu’ai in this matter, what if she insists it was Young Miss who…”

The man said half of it, dragging out the last syllable without continuing.

“Insist it was me? Hmph, did anyone hear me instigating her to assassinate the Crown Prince? Shao Liu, this matter cannot be delayed. We must strike while the iron is hot. Tonight, you go spread this news throughout the Imperial City. By the time this Young Miss wakes up tomorrow, I want to hear the news of Mu’ai’s downfall.”

After saying this, the woman walked forward a few steps, walking and talking at the same time. “Currently in the court, apart from Prime Minister Mu, my father is the most valued. If the Mu family falls, perhaps the Emperor will promote my father to Prime Minister. I’ll then be the meritorious member of the entire Lin family. I, Lin Meng Wei, will surely secure a good marriage in the future. Even if I can’t enter the Crown Prince’s mansion, perhaps I could enter a Prince’s mansion.”

Accompanied by a low laugh, the two figures walked further away…

…

The next day, when Mu Yunjin woke up, Chu Li had already taken little Mu’er out for a walk. After she woke up, Qiqi rushed into her room in a hurry.

“Master, something big has happened!”

Mu Yunjin, still somewhat drowsy, was startled by Qiqi’s loud voice and shuddered, becoming more awake. “What happened?”

“This morning when I went to the market for breakfast, I saw that Mu’ai, the Prime Minister’s daughter from yesterday, was being bound and taken from a medical shop by several guards and brought into the palace,” Qiqi said excitedly.

Mu Yunjin was slightly stunned. “Bound and taken?”

“Yes, I was puzzled at first, too. Later, while eating breakfast, I heard some civilians chatting. They said someone anonymously submitted a memorial to the Emperor, stating that the Prime Minister’s daughter Mu’ai, because her dream of marrying into the Crown Prince’s mansion was shattered, harbored resentment and hired assassins to harm the Crown Prince.”

“Someone also said that when they passed by the Crown Prince’s mansion this morning, they saw the Crown Prince with his left hand wrapped in bandages, clearly injured. They also claimed that the Crown Prince wasn’t injured yesterday morning, but was injured this morning, which matches the content of the anonymous memorial.”

“Now the Emperor of the Southern Court Country has learned of this matter and is furious. He ordered people to immediately arrest Mu’ai and bring her to the palace for questioning. The Crown Prince, Mu’ai, and Prime Minister Mu are all in the palace now. It’s said that the National Preceptor has also gone there.”

Hearing this news, Mu Yunjin sighed softly. “This was a highly risky matter to begin with. Even if the Crown Prince intended to let it go, once exposed, the Mu family would indeed suffer.”

“However…” After speaking, Mu Yunjin paused and frowned, “Last night when we were returning to the courtyard, there weren’t many people in the market. Yet in this short night, the news has spread so thoroughly. That’s quite impressive.”

“And as for the anonymous memorial submitter, if it were an ordinary civilian wanting to submit a memorial to the Emperor, it would probably take several days of effort.” Mu Yunjin said.

Hearing this, Qiqi moved closer to Mu Yunjin. “Master, are you suggesting that someone did this deliberately?”

“I don’t know, but heaven sees what men do. Mu’ai is going to be in big trouble this time.” Mu Yunjin got up from the bed, picked out some clothes from the wardrobe, and leisurely put them on.

After washing up and leaving the room, Chu Li happened to return with little Mu’er, who had already been lulled to sleep, curled up in Chu Li’s arms, motionless.

“Asleep again, huh.” Mu Yunjin looked at little Mu’er’s sleeping face and pouted. The little fellow was either eating or sleeping.

Chu Li nodded and handed little Mu’er to Ding Xian at the side, then looked at Mu Yunjin and said softly, “Just now, the Crown Prince’s attendant came with a message, asking us to go to the palace.”

“Hmm?” Mu Yunjin didn’t react immediately.

Seeing this, Chu Li glanced at Qiqi beside Mu Yunjin. “Qiqi has probably already told you about the situation. The Crown Prince is asking us to come, probably to discuss countermeasures.”

“Since he previously intended to conceal this matter and protect Miss Mu, it was because he didn’t want any conflict with the Mu family or damage the relationship between ruler and minister. Now that the matter has been brought to light and is known by all the citizens of the city, with so many eyes watching, the Mu family can no longer be protected.” Chu Li said.

Mu Yunjin sighed helplessly. There was no peace anywhere.

…

After entering the Imperial Palace of the Southern Court Country, people sent by Yun Lianqing were already waiting at the palace gate to receive Chu Li and Mu Yunjin. They soon brought the two to a side hall.

“Royal Brother, Sister-in-law, you finally came.” Yun Lianqing saw them and hurriedly walked over.

National Preceptor An sat on the side, drinking tea. Seeing them arrive, he lifted his eyelids. “This young man has been bothering me all morning. It’s good you’re here. I can finally have some peace.”

“What are the Mu family saying now?” Mu Yunjin asked.

“Mu’ai has confessed to the crime, but she insists that she was instigated by Lin Meng Wei, the daughter of the Minister. However, Lin Meng Wei denies this. Now my father is somewhat tired and has ordered people to put Mu’ai in the imperial prison. As for Prime Minister Mu, he has returned to his residence to await orders.” Yun Lianqing said.

Lin Meng Wei…

Hearing this name, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but clench her fingers. The Meng Wei mentioned by Mu’ai in the restaurant yesterday must be this Lin Meng Wei.

“Sigh, that fool Mu’ai! This Crown Prince was already turning a blind eye, yet she still got discovered. She’s truly stupendously stupid!” Yun Lianqing was extremely annoyed, anxiously pacing back and forth in the hall.

“Earlier, after Prime Minister Mu heard Mu’ai’s confession, he kowtowed several times to my father, asking my father to grant him death. Such a loyal minister, yet he gave birth to such a fool!”

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, seeing that the matter had indeed become very serious.

“Actually, regarding this matter, I know some of the truth…”

Mu Yunjin recounted in detail the conversation she and Qiqi had heard in the restaurant yesterday.

“According to what you’re saying, this matter was instigated by Lin Meng Wei?” Yun Lianqing’s eyes darkened, his tone somewhat surprised.