Night fell, and Mu Yunjin stayed in her bedchamber. Zixiang brought her dinner and a pot of brewed flower tea.

“Miss, try this tea first.” Zixiang poured a cup of tea for Mu Yunjin and handed it to her.

Mu Yunjin took the cup, and as she raised it to her lips, she smelled a familiar floral fragrance. “Eh? Isn’t this the flower tea from Shuiyun Temple?”

“Yes, this servant specially sent someone to Shuiyun Temple to inquire, saying that our Princess wanted this tea,” Zixiang replied with a smile.

“How did you know I loved it? I only drank it once at Shuiyun Temple.” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Zixiang smiled, “This servant has been with Miss for so many years, how could I not know Miss’s temperament? That day when I saw Miss drinking this tea at Shuiyun Temple and praising it endlessly, I knew Miss liked it.”

Mu Yunjin took a sip of tea and looked at Zixiang, feeling somewhat fortunate that in this strange world, there was still someone who genuinely cared for her.

After drinking a few sips of tea, Mu Yunjin picked up her chopsticks, and just as she was about to eat, a young maid’s announcement came from outside the door—

“Princess, there’s a maid from the Marquis’s mansion requesting to see you.”

Mu Yunjin paused, raising her eyebrow slightly. A maid from the Marquis’s mansion?

“Zixiang, go outside and check,” Mu Yunjin instructed Zixiang.

Zixiang nodded and immediately ran out.

Shortly after, when Zixiang returned, a young maid followed behind her. It was Cuiyun, Mu Lingzhu’s current personal maid.

“This servant Cuiyun pays respects to the Sixth Prince’s Consort.” Cuiyun entered and immediately knelt on the ground, giving Mu Yunjin a deep bow.

Seeing this, Zixiang walked to Mu Yunjin’s side and whispered in her ear, “Cuiyun was originally a maid responsible for washing clothes in the Marquis’s mansion. After Hongxia was beaten to death last time, Cuiyun was assigned by the Marquis to be the Fourth Miss’s maid.”

Mu Yunjin nodded in understanding and looked at Cuiyun. “It’s so late. What brings you here?”

Cuiyun raised her head, biting her lip, seeming somewhat hesitant. Then she removed the jade bracelet from her wrist and presented it to Mu Yunjin with both hands.

“What does this mean?” Mu Yunjin glanced at the jade bracelet, finding it somewhat familiar.

“Today, after this servant followed the Fourth Miss back to the mansion, the Fourth Miss was mistreated by Prince Rong’s Consort. Later, in her anger, the Fourth Miss ordered this servant to spread rumors in the streets, claiming in the name of Prince Rong’s Consort that the Sixth Prince’s Consort stole Miss Qin’s man. She also told this servant to say that the Qin family was secretly colluding with Prince Rong to claim the throne…”

After speaking, Cuiyun kowtowed heavily to Mu Yunjin again. “This servant is terrified, knowing that if these rumors spread, there will surely be great chaos. Unable to decide for myself, I’ve specifically come to ask the Sixth Prince’s Consort to show me a clear path.”

“This jade bracelet is the reward the Fourth Miss gave to this servant…”

Hearing Cuiyun’s words, Mu Yunjin leaned against her chair, her starry eyes narrowing slightly, with an indescribable meaning.

After a while, Mu Yunjin sighed lightly and spoke languidly, “Speaking of those who don’t know the difference between life and death, Mu Lingzhu claims second place, and it seems no one dares claim first.”

“You may rise now,” Mu Yunjin said to Cuiyun.

Cuiyun nodded and stood up, her eyes red, looking at Mu Yunjin. “This servant recently witnessed Hongxia’s tragic state with my own eyes. I don’t want to follow Hongxia’s path.”

“Go back first. After you return, just say you did as Mu Lingzhu instructed,” Mu Yunjin said softly.

Cuiyun was stunned, a trace of surprise in her eyes.

Mu Lingzhu has just entered the household. These days, the Prince Rong’s Consort must be making things difficult for her in every way. I fear that even Prince Rong’s Consort’s spies are planted in every corner of the prince’s mansion. She doesn’t have the leisure to manage this matter now.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin stood up and walked to a nearby dressing table, selecting a white jade bracelet she rarely wore.

“This is for you.” Mu Yunjin stuffed the white jade bracelet into Cuiyun’s hand.

“This…” Cuiyun looked down at the white jade bracelet, somewhat confused.

Mu Yunjin curled her lips. “You’re a clever person. This is the reward you deserve. As for that jade bracelet in your hand, if Mu Lingzhu sees that you haven’t succeeded, she might ask for it back. I can’t let you make this trip for nothing.”

“This servant thanks the Sixth Prince’s Consort. In the future, this servant will be loyal to the Sixth Prince’s Consort, even unto death.” Cuiyun knelt again, weeping with joy.

“Alright, get up quickly. Our Princess doesn’t eat people. Why do you keep kneeling for everything?” Zixiang gave Cuiyun a hand.

Cuiyun nodded and wiped away her tears. “Thank you, Sister Zixiang.”

After Cuiyun left, Mu Yunjin casually ate a few bites of food, pondering what Cuiyun had just said.

Now it seemed that after dealing with one Su Biqing, thousands more Su Biqings were waiting for her.

The Qin family was a big problem.

The next day, Mu Yunjin deliberately wore a simple dress to go out. Her hair was simply braided into a plait that hung over her shoulder, and she clutched a veil in her hand as she walked toward the back gate of the Prince’s mansion.

Reaching the back gate, Mu Yunjin happened to encounter Chu Li and Ding Xian, who were about to leave.

Glancing at the carriage nearby, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li. “Where are you going?”

Chu Li eyed Mu Yunjin, sizing up her attire and noticing the veil clutched in her hand, his brow furrowed slightly. “And where are you off to?”

“I’m going to stroll around the streets.” Mu Yunjin pouted, then glanced at the black carriage parked to one side. “Are you going on a long journey?”

“Hmm.” Chu Li nodded, without explaining where he was going.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin wasn’t surprised. After the previous two experiences, she had no interest in where Chu Li was going this time.

“Then I wish you a safe journey. I’m leaving now.” Mu Yunjin waved to Chu Li and stepped out of the door, walking toward the market, putting on her veil as she went.

Behind her, Chu Li narrowed his eyes, watching Mu Yunjin’s retreating figure, then smiled faintly, with a hint of helplessness in his smile.

Ding Xian stepped forward and whispered, “Your Highness, everything is ready. Shall we go pick up Miss Qin now?”

“Arrange for someone else to pick her up. We’ll meet in Heyue City.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Mu Yunjin arrived at the market, wandering from one end to the other. Listening to many common people talking about daily matters without hearing the rumors Cuiyun had mentioned yesterday, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Finding a quiet teahouse, Mu Yunjin sat in a private room on the second floor by the window. Outside the window was a small mountain path, and the entire teahouse seemed much quieter than the Mingxiang Teahouse in the center of the market.

Shortly after, when the tea and snacks were served, Mu Yunjin grabbed a handful of melon seeds and absentmindedly cracked them. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a familiar black carriage passing by on the small path outside.

Mu Yunjin stretched her neck, watching the slowly passing carriage. Seeing Ding Xian sitting outside driving the carriage, Chu Li was undoubtedly inside.

After the carriage had gone far, Mu Yunjin sat up, leaned against the window, and looked in the direction where the carriage had disappeared, scratching her head. Thinking carefully, it seemed to be in the direction of Heyue City…

Mu Yunjin watched for a while, and seeing that the small path was sparsely populated, she suddenly felt bored. She wished she had brought Zixiang out with her.

Drinking tea and eating snacks alone didn’t provide much enjoyment.

Just as she was about to leave, another exquisite carriage slowly approached on the small path outside the window. Judging by the exterior structure of the carriage, it was very valuable.

Mu Yunjin’s interest was suddenly piqued, and she stood by the window watching the approaching carriage.

Outside the carriage, a man wearing a sword was driving it. As the carriage approached beneath Mu Yunjin’s window, a gentle breeze blew, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing a delicate and beautiful profile.

Mu Yunjin suddenly frowned, her expression somewhat rigid. After a moment of recovery, seeing that the carriage followed the same path as the black carriage, she laughed coldly in her heart.

Qin Muyue…

Chu Li had taken Qin Muyue out.

On the way back, Mu Yunjin couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Her mind was filled with the image of Qin Muyue’s profile that she had just seen.

She couldn’t help but question the relationship between the two. If Chu Li had feelings for Qin Muyue, why had they not married despite both having passed the age of adulthood?

If there were no feelings, why did he allow Qin Muyue to cling to him every day?

Heyue City, Heyue City…

Mu Yunjin pondered, and suddenly an image of the black lotuses growing in the caves of Heyue City appeared in her mind. Could it be that Qin Muyue was also aware of the existence of these black lotuses?

Then what were these two secretly plotting?

The more Mu Yunjin thought about it, the worse her mood became. By the time she returned to the mansion, it was already past noon.

“Princess, you’re finally back. Where did you go? This servant sent people to look for you all over the streets but couldn’t find you.” Mamma Shen hurriedly came forward.

“What’s the matter?” Mu Yunjin sat down and spoke softly.

Mamma Shen sighed, “Consort Qin sent someone to the mansion, asking you to enter the palace to chat with her and have lunch. But lunchtime has already passed…”

Hearing it was Consort Qin, Mu Yunjin nodded and looked at the time. “I’ll go change my clothes and then enter the palace.”

“Yes, then this servant will first send someone to inform the palace.”

Mu Yunjin returned to her bedchamber and sat at the dressing table, allowing Zixiang to undo the braid she had worn when going out in the morning. From time to time, she sighed, unable to muster any enthusiasm.

“What’s wrong with Miss? Are you unhappy because His Highness went out?” Zixiang looked at Mu Yunjin and smiled.

Hearing Zixiang mention Chu Li, Mu Yunjin let out a heavy sigh. “Don’t mention him to me. It’s upsetting.”

“What happened?” Zixiang was somewhat confused.

“Nothing. Be quick. We need to enter the palace soon.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Half an hour later, the mansion’s carriage stopped at the palace gate. As soon as Mu Yunjin alighted from the carriage, she saw another carriage had also stopped.

From the carriage beside her, Prince Rong’s Consort Qin Shuning, supported by her maid, slowly stepped down.

Mu Yunjin initially wanted to pretend not to see her, but the Prince Rong’s Consort had sharp eyes and spotted Mu Yunjin at once, so she called out, “Little niece-in-law, what a coincidence!”

Hearing her warmly call her niece-in-law, Mu Yunjin couldn’t bring herself to call her aunt-in-law in return. If she were to address the Prince Rong’s Consort that way, wouldn’t she be giving her an advantage?

As she was thinking, the Prince Rong’s Consort had already approached.

“Little niece-in-law, where are you going?” Prince Rong’s Consort looked at Mu Yunjin with a smile.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and looked indifferently at the Prince Rong’s Consort. “To see Consort Qin.”