Ding Xian was stunned. He glanced back at Mu Yunjin, then looked at Chu Li with an expression that asked, “Are you sure?” before reluctantly speaking, “This subordinate believes it may not work.”

“Master Huaiyuan once said she could break through Kongshi’s formation. She has already broken half of it, so perhaps she can break through the remaining half as well,” Chu Li said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Ding Xian felt a chill in his heart. Just as he was about to continue speaking, Mu Yunjin and Zixiang had already walked to their side.

Mu Yunjin glanced at Chu Li and Ding Xian, noticing they seemed to be discussing something. She pursed her lips slightly but didn’t linger, walking toward the bedroom.

After entering the room, Mu Yunjin instinctively walked to the wardrobe. Opening it and seeing that the cloak was still there, she breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in a nearby rocking chair.

Lying in the rocking chair and thinking about recent events, Mu Yunjin sighed wearily.

…

Early the next morning, Mu Yunjin was awakened by Zixiang. After getting up, she allowed Zixiang to arrange her hair. Zixiang held a comb, styling Mu Yunjin’s hair while speaking, “Young Miss, you must be especially careful at today’s lake outing and poetry gathering. The Fifth Princess, the Fourth Young Lady, and Miss Qin will all be there.”

Hearing that all these people would be present, Mu Yunjin was a hundred times unwilling to go. However, remembering what Mamma Shen had said yesterday about representing the Sixth Prince’s household as a female family member, she had no choice but to steel herself and attend.

…

After dressing simply, Mu Yunjin brought Zixiang and left the Prince’s residence.

Sitting in the carriage heading to the outskirts, Zixiang was especially worried. Her small face was wrinkled with concern, and she couldn’t shake an ominous feeling.

A moment later, the carriage stopped at Yingguang Lake in the suburbs.

Mu Yunjin alighted from the carriage and saw an exquisite wooden boat docked by the lake. Nearby, several carriages had already stopped, with many officials’ daughters remaining inside their carriages to avoid the heat.

About a quarter of an hour later, the carriage from the Prince of Rong’s mansion slowly approached.

After the carriage stopped, Mu Lingzhu was first to disembark, assisted by a maid. Once Mu Lingzhu had exited, she stood beside the carriage and extended her hand. The Princess of Rong placed her hand on Mu Lingzhu’s, allowing Mu Lingzhu to help her down from the carriage.

Seeing the Princess of Rong arrive, many others disembarked from their carriages. Observing Mu Lingzhu supporting the Princess of Rong, they exchanged mocking glances and covered their mouths as they snickered.

Under these gazes, Mu Lingzhu kept her eyes downcast, not daring to look up.

In the past, she had been the most favored daughter of Minister Mu’s household and held the title of the First Scholar of Western Yuan. These ladies would have been eager to curry favor with her, nothing like their current mockery.

At that moment, another carriage arrived, and from it stepped Qin Muyue and Chu Qingqiang.

The two walked arm in arm, clearly on very good terms.

After walking a few steps closer, Chu Qingqiang’s gaze drifted over Mu Yunjin with contempt before she curtseyed to the Princess of Rong, “Aunt Princess.”

“Mm, Qingqiang has arrived,” the Princess of Rong looked around. “Since everyone is here, let’s board the boat and enjoy the lake.”

“Yes, Princess of Rong.” All the young ladies paid their respects to the Princess of Rong before proceeding toward the wooden boat one after another.

…

Inside the cabin, everyone sat in order. Maids served refreshments and tea to each person before retreating to the side.

The Princess of Rong sat in the main seat, looked at everyone below, and curved her lips slightly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. This Yingguang Lake is still as beautiful as ever.”

“Auntie, since you find Yingguang Lake so beautiful, you should come out more often in the future. It’s good for your health,” Qin Muyue said, taking a sip of tea while looking at the Princess of Rong.

The Princess of Rong nodded and looked at Qin Muyue with a smile. “This year’s poetry gathering has quite a few newcomers. Even the First Scholar has come to participate. Everyone should be careful.”

As the Princess of Rong finished speaking, she cast a light glance at Mu Lingzhu.

Mu Lingzhu lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together. Facing this woman with her unpredictable temperament, she could only smile at everyone, not daring to say a word.

These past few days at the Prince of Rong’s mansion, she had been tormented terribly.

“Sister-in-law Yunjin, is this your first time participating as well?” Qin Muyue changed the subject, looking at Mu Yunjin, who happened to be sitting across from her.

Mu Yunjin responded with a sound of affirmation.

Seeing this, Chu Qingqiang beside her snorted lightly, her eyes filled with disdain. “This Princess thought that we wouldn’t see the Sixth Prince’s wife at today’s poetry gathering. After all, those who haven’t read much have no courage to come here.”

“Fifth Princess, that statement may not be entirely correct. Lady Mu is, after all, the First Scholar, and the Sixth Prince’s wife is born of the same mother as Lady Mu, so she must have learned something through osmosis,” Yan Lingshang spoke up, glancing lightly at Mu Yunjin.

“Miss Yan makes a good point. It’s this Princess who spoke rashly,” Chu Qingqiang chuckled softly, then shifted the topic. “By the way, Lady Mu, I heard you fainted a few days ago? There are rumors that Aunt Princess mistreated you. Since everyone is here today, perhaps you could explain to prevent misunderstandings about Aunt Princess.”

Mu Lingzhu had been happily listening to Chu Qingqiang and others mock Mu Yunjin, but suddenly found herself the target.

Mistreatment? Wasn’t it precisely this woman Qin Shunian who deliberately mistreated her and caused her to faint?

Chu Qingqiang’s move was truly vicious. In this setting, how could she reveal the truth? She could only swallow her pride along with her broken teeth.

“It’s because Lingzhu has a weak constitution. How could it be that Sister Princess mistreated me? I don’t know who spread such a rumor, but it’s truly inappropriate,” Mu Lingzhu looked at Chu Qingqiang with a smile on her face.

“I knew it. Auntie is such a gentle person, how could she possibly mistreat Sister Lingzhu?” Qin Muyue said.

Hearing this, the Princess of Rong sighed lightly and smiled. “Since it was a misunderstanding, it’s good that we’ve cleared it up. It’s getting late. Let’s begin the poetry competition. Today, we’ll use Yingguang Lake as our theme. Who will start?”

“Let the First Scholar begin,” Qin Muyue suggested.

“Mm, then let my sister start,” the Princess of Rong glanced lightly at Mu Lingzhu beside her.

Mu Lingzhu nodded, pressing her lips together with a trace of pride in her eyes. She must start well, ensuring that none of these ignorant women could match her.

By tomorrow, throughout Diehua City, her reputation as a talent would be restored.

“Green mist rises gently over rippling waves, lake water like a mirror stirred by breeze,” Mu Lingzhu quickly composed, her voice brimming with confidence. She didn’t believe anyone could do better than her.

“The First Scholar truly lives up to her reputation,” an official’s daughter nearby praised.

Hearing this, the Princess of Rong smiled. “Of course. Otherwise, how could the Prince have been so impressed with Lady Mu’s talent that he insisted on marrying her?”

The Princess of Rong’s words instantly turned Mu Lingzhu’s joy to ash.

“Who will go next?” the Princess of Rong asked.

“Let Sister-in-law Yunjin go. Since Sister-in-law Yunjin is participating for the first time this year, we should be courteous to newcomers,” Qin Muyue looked at Mu Yunjin, speaking with a smile.

Those who had been racking their brains trying to respond to Mu Lingzhu’s poem were relieved to hear that Mu Yunjin would go first.

Admittedly, Mu Lingzhu’s literary talent was indeed impeccable.

But Miss Qin asking Mu Yunjin to continue this poem was interesting, since everyone knew Mu Yunjin couldn’t recognize a single character, yet now she was being asked to continue such a difficult poem.

“Very well, then my nephew’s wife can go first,” the Princess of Rong looked at Mu Yunjin. “By the way, we have rules here. If you lose and cannot continue the poem, you must punish yourself with three cups of strong liquor.”

Mu Yunjin sat reclined in her chair with her legs crossed. From the moment she entered until now, how could she not sense that these people were jointly ostracizing her and Mu Lingzhu?

They had Mu Lingzhu start with a poem so that she would have to continue it in this round.

“Sister, you should think carefully,” Mu Lingzhu, who had been proud of composing such a poem, became even more excited seeing Qin Muyue ask Mu Yunjin to continue. Now she would see Mu Yunjin embarrassed today.

Mu Yunjin glanced askance at Mu Lingzhu, wanting to ask if her brain was damaged. Couldn’t she see these people were united against the two of them?

She was truly lacking in sense.

“Sixth Prince’s wife, please continue the poem quickly. Let’s not waste this beautiful scenery and time,” Yan Lingshang said.

Mu Yunjin laughed lightly, her gaze somewhat playful. It was just a poem—did they think all those years she spent learning Tang and Song poetry were for nothing?

Just as she was about to speak, Chu Qingqiang interjected with a laugh, “Since the Sixth Prince’s wife hasn’t thought of anything yet, take some more time. This Princess just heard something interesting and would like to share it first.”

“What is it?” Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to Chu Qingqiang.

“It’s just a rumor. Whether it’s true or not, this Princess doesn’t know. I just hope the Sixth Prince’s wife and Lady Mu won’t be angry after I say it.”

Hearing it would be about herself again, Mu Yunjin dismissively pursed her lips, knowing that nothing good would come from Chu Qingqiang’s mouth.

“A few days ago, this Princess heard some palace maids gossiping. This Princess found it quite amusing. They were joking, saying that Lady Mu’s marriage to the Prince of Rong was instigated by the Sixth Prince’s wife, who encouraged the Sixth Brother to speak with the Prince of Rong. They said that originally, the Tenth Brother had some interest in Lady Mu, but the Prince of Rong Uncle beat him to it.”

“What’s even funnier is that they said the Sixth Prince’s wife did this because Lady Mu had told her since childhood that she liked men older than herself. What is that called… is it father complex?”

“Hahaha, that’s too funny!”

After Chu Qingqiang finished speaking, everyone in the cabin couldn’t help but laugh, including the little maids standing to the side.

Mu Lingzhu was filled with shame and anger, her body trembling uncontrollably. She bit her lip, her eyes reddening with hurt.

Father complex? She never imagined people would talk about her like this behind her back. For a young woman who had just come of age, it was the greatest humiliation.

“Mu Yunjin, so all of this was your scheming behind my back?” Mu Lingzhu stood up angrily, pointing at Mu Yunjin.

Hearing this, everyone looked at the two of them.

Mu Yunjin naturally knew that Mu Lingzhu’s marriage to the Prince of Rong was Qin Muyue’s doing, but now Chu Qingqiang had made the accusation so convincingly that this dirty water had been splashed onto her.

“Sister Lingzhu, a father complex? You’re into that?” The Princess of Rong raised her eyebrows after laughing, looking at Mu Lingzhu mockingly.