Compared to yesterday, Mu Yunjin’s heart was much calmer today. She could feel the method of condensing qi that Daoist Fengxuan had described. After a full day, Mu Yunjin was already able to completely control the true qi within her body.

“Alright, that’s enough for today.” Old Man Fengxuan looked up at the sky outside and said to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin nodded, only now realizing that the sky outside had already darkened. After bidding farewell to Daoist Fengxuan, she started walking back down the path she had come from.

“Wait.” Daoist Fengxuan called out to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Daoist Fengxuan. “What is it?”

“Are you truly determined to rescue Imperial Consort Rong?” Daoist Fengxuan’s words were very soft, his eyes carrying an extremely difficult-to-describe meaning.

“You don’t want me to save her?” Mu Yunjin caught another meaning from Daoist Fengxuan’s words and smiled faintly.

Hearing this, Daoist Fengxuan shook his head and sighed. “That Imperial Consort Rong is no ordinary woman. After being confined at Water Cloud Temple for all these years, who knows how her temperament has been tempered? If she has become extreme, rescuing her would only bring chaos to the world.”

Mu Yunjin was startled, slightly furrowing her brow as she recalled Imperial Consort Rong’s temperament revealed when she handed over the Phoenix Feather Pavilion to her. Indeed, she wasn’t particularly virtuous, but she wasn’t exactly a disaster either.

After a long while, Mu Yunjin laughed lightly. “She was wrongfully imprisoned in the first place. If she comes out after the formation is broken and causes chaos in the world, there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”

“You…” Daoist Fengxuan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. “You truly are a rare specimen in this world.”

“Specimen? Are you complimenting me or insulting me?” Mu Yunjin frowned in displeasure, glaring at Daoist Fengxuan.

Daoist Fengxuan waved his hand at her. “Who’s complimenting you? Hurry and leave, stop being an eyesore here.”

“Tch!” Mu Yunjin made a disapproving sound, then turned and left with light, quick steps.

Not far away, a black xuanwood carriage stood quietly.

“Prince Consort.” Ding Xian saw Mu Yunjin approaching and bowed to her respectfully.

Mu Yunjin nodded, thinking only Ding Xian had come. Without thinking, she jumped into the carriage and lunged toward the direction where she had sat before.

“Ah!”

Having jumped into the carriage, Mu Yunjin suddenly let out a sharp cry. It seemed she hadn’t realized another person was sitting in the carriage. Now her body was tilting, and she couldn’t control herself in time. Her entire person fell into a firm embrace.

The owner of the embrace let out a muffled groan, as if she had hurt him. Then, a teasing voice came from above Mu Yunjin’s head.

“It’s only been a few hours since you’ve seen this prince. Do you need to be so enthusiastic?”

Mu Yunjin’s face reddened, and she immediately pushed Chu Li away, pretending to straighten her clothes and hairpin. “Who told you to sit here for no reason? I thought there was no one in the carriage.”

Seeing her righteous manner, Chu Li chuckled, long accustomed to her behavior. He pulled her to sit down and asked, “Did you gain anything today?”

“Yes, better than yesterday.”

As for gains, it was too early to speak of them, but it was better than yesterday, Mu Yunjin thought secretly.

“By the way, are we going to stay here for a while?” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded slightly and made an affirmative sound.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and didn’t speak anymore. Last night, those black-clothed assassins had failed to kill her. Knowing Chu Qingcang’s nature, she would arrange for other assassins to come.

It seemed she needed to think of another way, too.

When they returned to the entrance of Green Shade, Mu Yunjin got off the carriage and instinctively looked toward the diagonal entrance of Flower Moon Building.

At this moment, Maiden Li was standing at the entrance of Flower Moon Building and met Mu Yunjin’s gaze head-on. When Mu Yunjin made eye contact with her, she gave a provocative smile.

Maiden Li was instantly furious. She bit her lip, stomped her foot, and walked inside.

Mu Yunjin entered Green Shade, her mood remaining excellent. After dinner, just as she was preparing to return to her room to rest, someone arrived outside.

“Miss…” Zixiang, carrying a bundle, appeared at the entrance of Green Shade Inn.

Seeing it was Zixiang, Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised. She looked Zixiang up and down. “Why have you come?”

“The Minister sent this servant to find Miss.” Zixiang bit her lip and glanced around.

Mu Yunjin immediately understood and pulled Zixiang back to her room.

“What happened?” Once inside, Mu Yunjin looked at Zixiang.

“A few days ago, the old general of the Qin family specifically entered the palace to see the Emperor and submitted a petition against the Minister, saying that the Minister was secretly colluding with court officials with ulterior motives. Later, the Emperor summoned several elder officials separately, and those officials admitted that the Minister had indeed given them some benefits…”

“Afterwards, the Emperor was furious and ordered the Minister to temporarily stay at home to reflect on his actions, forbidding him from attending court for the time being.”

“Not only that, but even the eldest young master has been implicated. He has also been temporarily suspended from his duties and confined to the mansion, not allowed to go out.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin was somewhat shocked. Although she knew the Qin family had some small movements behind the scenes, she hadn’t expected their first step to be directly aimed at the Minister’s mansion.

“What does Father say now?” Mu Yunjin asked.

“The Minister secretly sent someone to the mansion to pass a message to this servant, asking me to inform Miss that he is innocent. He has had no private contact with those officials at all. The Emperor is investigating this matter these days, and if the charges are found to be true, the entire Minister’s household may suffer.”

Mu Yunjin folded her arms, quietly listening to Zixiang’s words, with a thoughtful look in her eyes and lips slightly pursed.

“Well played, Qin family. Do they think they can act with impunity in this Western Yuan country?” Mu Yunjin sneered.

She had always lived by the principle of not offending others unless offended first. Now that they were stepping on her head, there was no reason to swallow this insult.

“Miss, what should we do now?” Zixiang asked anxiously.

Mu Yunjin took a deep breath. “Those officials have probably already colluded with the Qin family. It won’t be easy for Father to prove his innocence this time.”

“It seems we need to find someone to help.”

“Ah? Who?”

“Imperial Consort Qin.”

…

Mu Yunjin left her room and walked toward Chu Li’s room. When she reached the door, she knocked gently.

“It’s me.” Mu Yunjin announced herself first.

“Come in.”

Mu Yunjin pushed the door open. After entering Chu Li’s room, she slightly curved her lips. “Um, something has happened at the Minister’s mansion. May I return there first?”

“What matter?” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin, slightly furrowing his brow.

Mu Yunjin told Chu Li everything about the affairs at the mansion in detail, adding at the end, “Although you have a good relationship with Qin Muyue, this matter has crossed my bottom line, and I won’t back down no matter what.”

“Who said this prince has a good relationship with her?” Chu Li frowned, seeming displeased to hear such words from Mu Yunjin’s mouth.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything more. “I need to return to the mansion tomorrow. Can we temporarily set aside the matter of learning to break formations?”

“Hmm.” Chu Li nodded slightly.

Seeing Chu Li nod in agreement, Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised. “You agree?”

“This prince’s agreement doesn’t count for much. Getting your master to agree is what you need to do.” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, his eyes calm.

Mu Yunjin was left speechless.

…

Early the next morning, Mu Yunjin appeared at the door of the thatched cottage.

After entering the cottage, she had expected to see Daoist Fengxuan, but the cottage was empty.

Mu Yunjin waited at the cottage door for nearly an hour before Daoist Fengxuan finally arrived tardily. He was wearing the new clothes that Mu Yunjin had given him yesterday, and new shoes on his feet. His once messy hair seemed to have been carefully washed and combed today.

A complete transformation from his usual unkempt appearance, and as Mu Yunjin looked him over, she could see the resemblance to a transcendent master.

“Well, why did you come so early today, girl?” Daoist Fengxuan glanced at Mu Yunjin, his mood seeming quite good.

Seeing that Daoist Fengxuan looked particularly agreeable, Mu Yunjin forced a smile. “Um, I have something to tell you…”

“Speak.” Daoist Fengxuan entered the cottage.

“I have an urgent matter and need to return to Diefeng City…”

“Not allowed.” Daoist Fengxuan rejected flatly.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, eyes widening, and angrily spoke, “Why wasn’t I allowed?”

“I don’t like people who give up halfway. When I say not allowed, it means not allowed!” Daoist Fengxuan looked askance at Mu Yunjin and snorted.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip. “Hey, this is a matter of life and death. If you don’t let me go back, I might be arrested by imperial guards and beheaded in a few days!”

“Beheaded? You?” Daoist Fengxuan raised an eyebrow.

Mu Yunjin nodded solemnly. “Yes, me!”

“Hahaha, that’s perfect! You disobedient girl, it would be good to behead you early. It would save this old Daoist the trouble.” Daoist Fengxuan laughed heartily.

“Old man, is it appropriate for you to talk like that while wearing the new clothes and shoes I bought?!” Mu Yunjin shouted at Daoist Fengxuan. This old man always had a way of infuriating people.

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Daoist Fengxuan restrained his smile and straightened his clothes. “When you put it that way, you seem to have a point.”

“I’m not joking with you. I need to go back.” Mu Yunjin spoke seriously.

Hearing this, Daoist Fengxuan’s brows sank. “Then I’ll go to Diefeng City with you. The half-month of learning cannot miss a single day!”

“This…”

“Fine.” Mu Yunjin finally agreed.

…

On the way back, the noisy voices of Mu Yunjin and Daoist Fengxuan came from inside the carriage. Beside them, Chu Li closed his eyes to rest, not making a sound.

“So it’s the Qin family. It’s not surprising they would do such things.” After listening to Mu Yunjin’s detailed explanation of why she was returning, Daoist Fengxuan showed no surprise.

“You also look down on the Qin family?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Hearing this, Daoist Fengxuan snorted. “It’s not that I look down on the Qin family, but that I look down on Qiuye, who taught martial arts to those two brats from the Qin family.”

“Eh? Aren’t you both among the three great masters in the world?” When this Daoist Qiuye was mentioned, Mu Yunjin was somewhat curious.

“Tch, that old codger doesn’t deserve it!” Daoist Fengxuan spat. “Don’t think that after so many years, people have forgotten that he was expelled from his master’s school and despised by the jianghu community when he was learning his skills.”

Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened. “There’s such a story?”

“You little brat, why do you need to know so much? Better take care of the head that’s temporarily on your shoulders first!”