The next day, an uninvited guest arrived at the Prince’s mansion.

Mu Lingzhu, having heard that Mu Yunjin had mostly recovered from her fall into the water, came to the Sixth Prince’s mansion early in the morning, clamoring to see Mu Yunjin.

None of the servants in the Prince’s mansion liked this Fourth Miss Mu. After all, their Prince Consort had fallen into the water while saving her, and they hadn’t heard so much as a thank you from this Fourth Miss Mu.

At this moment, Mamma Shen had only arranged for Mu Lingzhu to sit in a side seat in the front hall, informing her that the Prince Consort would come to see her when she woke up.

Mu Lingzhu was furious, seeing that these servants didn’t show any respect to her, the Noble Prince’s Secondary Consort. Though annoyed, she didn’t find it convenient to make a scene.

Looking around at her surroundings, she realized that this Prince’s mansion was also magnificent. Compared to the Noble Prince’s mansion, it was even more luxurious.

She had been so close to becoming the mistress of this place, but it had all gone to that slut Mu Yunjin!

She sat in the front hall for a full two hours, until noon, when she finally saw Mu Yunjin walk into the front hall, rubbing her eyes and swaying.

“Prince Consort is up. Would you like breakfast or lunch?” Mamma Shen immediately went forward to greet her.

Mu Yunjin was still a bit drowsy. At this moment, she was only listening to Mamma Shen and hadn’t noticed there were others in the front hall, so she muttered, “Where’s Chu Li?”

“His Highness went to the palace early this morning. The Emperor summoned him.”

“Alright, I’ll eat first then.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin yawned again.

Mu Lingzhu, sitting to one side, heard Mu Yunjin naturally and casually utter the name “Chu Li,” and immediately felt a surge of sourness and jealousy in her heart.

“Sister…” Mu Lingzhu couldn’t help but call out first.

Hearing the voice from the side, Mu Yunjin paused her steps. When she turned to look, she realized Mu Lingzhu was here.

Cuiyun was standing beside Mu Lingzhu.

“Why are you here?” Mu Yunjin could never muster a good attitude toward Mu Lingzhu.

Mu Lingzhu bit her lip and smiled awkwardly, “Lingzhu has wanted to visit Sister for a long time. Hearing that Sister’s health has improved recently, I came specifically to visit you.”

Mu Yunjin was startled, suddenly remembering that when she went to Xinyao City, she had claimed to be recuperating at home and refused all visitors.

“Just a visit?” Mu Yunjin gave Mu Lingzhu a meaningful look.

Mu Lingzhu paused, shaking her head slightly, looking at the servants standing all around. “There are some things I want to discuss with Sister privately.”

“Fine, then wait here until I finish eating.” Mu Yunjin said, walking toward the dining hall without any intention of inviting Mu Lingzhu to dine with her.

Mu Lingzhu was once again furious. She sat back in her chair, unconsciously stroking her stomach. She had been sitting here since early morning, and no one had even poured her a cup of water.

In the dining hall, Mu Yunjin was eating her meal at a leisurely pace. Beside her, Zixiang couldn’t help but whisper, “Miss, Fourth Miss coming to find you surely means no good!”

“Hmm.” Mu Yunjin nodded in agreement, smiling slightly. “Let’s hear what she wants to do.”

After Mu Yunjin finished eating, another half hour passed.

Leaving the dining hall, Mu Yunjin spoke slowly to Mu Lingzhu, “Follow me.”

Mu Yunjin took Mu Lingzhu to a room in the side hall, dismissing all servants, leaving only the two of them.

“Speak. What’s the matter?” Mu Yunjin got straight to the point.

Mu Lingzhu bit her lip, stood up, and walked in front of Mu Yunjin. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her once-white arms now covered with blue and purple bruises.

“Since I married into the Noble Prince’s mansion, Qin Shuning has been making things difficult for me in every way. She acts cordial to my face, but behind my back, she has never ceased to beat and scold me.”

“Sister, I beg you, I know I wronged you before. Yesterday, I heard you resolved the Minister’s mansion affair. Surely you can also rescue me from this cage, right?”

As she spoke, Mu Lingzhu fell to her knees with a thud.

Hearing that this troublesome matter had found its way to her door again, Mu Yunjin immediately lost patience. “Even a fair judge finds it hard to settle domestic disputes. This is your Noble Prince’s mansion affair, what does it have to do with me?”

“I…” Mu Lingzhu squeezed out a tear. “But I have no way out. Qin Shuning is exceptionally healthy. Now that our Minister’s mansion is safe and the Emperor has punished the Qin family, Qin Shuning will take out her anger on me.”

“Oh?” Mu Yunjin suddenly looked at Mu Lingzhu with curiosity. “Where did that determination of yours go when you were trying every means to eliminate me? Dealing with just one Qin Shuning, how come you’re now completely powerless?”

Mu Yunjin had never been able to give any sympathy to someone like Mu Lingzhu. Seeing her in such a miserable state now, she was doing well not to applaud.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin remained unwilling to help her, Mu Lingzhu raised her eyes, staring at Mu Yunjin, and brought out her final bargaining chip. “If you help me this once, I’ll exchange a secret with you. How about that?”

Mu Lingzhu emerged from the side hall with a radiant face, a far cry from her miserable appearance when she arrived. A smile of pleasure spilled from the corners of her mouth.

After leaving the side hall, Mu Lingzhu walked toward the exit, but at the entrance, she saw Chu Li returning to the mansion.

Seeing Chu Li in a purple brocade robe today, his black hair fastened with a jade crown, his eyes somewhat cold, the whole person exuding an innate nobility, giving people a feeling that he was unapproachable, his imposing presence overwhelming.

Just one glance made Mu Lingzhu’s heart flutter. She bowed slightly to Chu Li, “Lingzhu pays respects to the Sixth Prince His Highness…”

Chu Li, however, seemed not to hear and walked straight past her. Not long after, Mu Lingzhu heard Chu Li’s voice from behind her, “Where is Mu Yunjin?”

Seeing that Chu Li was looking for Mu Yunjin as soon as he returned, Mu Lingzhu couldn’t help but recall how Mu Yunjin had casually uttered “Chu Li” when she woke up.

One asking for the other as soon as she wakes up, one looking for the other as soon as he returns.

The two of them must truly have some feelings for each other…

Thinking of this, Mu Lingzhu walked out of the Sixth Prince’s mansion with a heart full of unwillingness.

Mu Yunjin was still sitting in the side hall, supporting her head with a headache, her mind filled with the so-called secret that Mu Lingzhu had just revealed. She had said—

“Imperial Consort Qin suddenly falling gravely ill is all due to the mother insect poison that Qin Muyue brought from the border. Once afflicted with this poison, there is no cure.”

Mu Yunjin thought of Imperial Consort Qin’s pale and weak appearance on her sickbed yesterday, and recalled how she had been guarding against the Qin family members not long ago. She couldn’t help but find it ironic.

She had been guarding against others everywhere, yet they had directly gone for the root, taking her life.

Although she and Imperial Consort Qin had now fallen out, the Qin family’s move might also threaten Chu Li. If she wanted to stay out of it, her heart would probably not be at peace.

Just as she was thinking, the door to the side hall was opened, and Chu Li walked in.

Mu Yunjin glanced at Chu Li and instinctively wanted to blurt out what Mu Lingzhu had said, but since it concerned Qin Muyue, she hesitated.

“What’s wrong with you?” Chu Li saw her wanting to speak but stopping, and slightly furrowed his brow.

“Nothing. Mu Lingzhu came to thank me for saving her that day.” Mu Yunjin spoke indifferently, stood up, and was about to walk out.

Chu Li nodded slightly. “Daoist Fengxuan is staying in Minglan Pavilion in the mansion. You can go find him at any time to practice the method of breaking formations.”

Hearing about breaking formations, Mu Yunjin’s head started to ache. She pouted and looked at Chu Li. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Chu Li shook his head.

“Then go get something to eat first. I’ll just go check on that old man in Minglan Pavilion.”

After they finished speaking, they went their separate ways.

Arriving at Minglan Pavilion, Mu Yunjin saw Daoist Fengxuan lying on a fake mountain, taking a nap in the courtyard. Seeing this, she couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.

Doesn’t that old man find it uncomfortable…

Looking around, she saw the stone table below was full of food and dishes. Looking back at Daoist Fengxuan on the fake mountain, she thought to herself that he knew how to enjoy himself.

Seeing that Daoist Fengxuan was resting, Mu Yunjin realized there wasn’t much point in staying, and turned to leave.

“You brat, where do you think you’re going?” A displeased voice came from behind.

“Oh, were you pretending to sleep?” Mu Yunjin turned around and pouted.

Daoist Fengxuan snorted, jumped down from the fake mountain, sat at the stone table, took a sip of wine, and started eating with his chopsticks. “Girl, you’re living a comfortable and leisurely life as a Prince Consort.”

“And then?” Mu Yunjin sat down, raising an eyebrow at Daoist Fengxuan.

“And then…” Daoist Fengxuan paused, suddenly straightening his eyes and brows, and shouted at Mu Yunjin, “And then you should be practicing! I’ve been waiting for you all morning, and you haven’t come to practice!”

“With this attitude, you won’t learn it in half a year!”

Mu Yunjin was stunned, rubbing her ears that had been hurt by his loud voice, glaring at the old man Fengxuan. “You old man are strange, more unpredictable than a woman.”

“Stop wasting time, start practicing!”

“Hmm, I know.” Mu Yunjin was reluctant.

Today, just like the first time she practiced, she couldn’t concentrate. Several times, when she was about to gather the Black Lotus Soul within her body, something always seemed to be missing, and it would scatter again.

Over and over, Mu Yunjin herself was getting frustrated.

Indeed, all the annoying people were in Diefeng City. As soon as she returned here, she couldn’t focus peacefully.

At this moment, Mu Yunjin didn’t dare to look at Daoist Fengxuan’s face, guessing that the old man was about to spit fire again.

When Chu Li walked into Minglan Pavilion, he saw this scene: Mu Yunjin with downcast eyes, her hands moving continuously, condensing true qi, yet failing again and again.

With each failure, she would timidly raise her eyes to glance at Daoist Fengxuan.

Daoist Fengxuan stood to the side, his face tense, arms folded, hands tightly clenched into fists, trembling continuously, looking like he was making a great effort to restrain himself.

Seeing this, Chu Li knew what was going on.

Seeing Chu Li arrive, Mu Yunjin seemed to have found a savior and sent a pitiful look in his direction.

Chu Li, meeting this gaze, felt his heart waver. He coughed once, looked around, and said, “This prince needs to take Yunjin to the palace.”

Daoist Fengxuan lifted his eyelids slightly and waved at Chu Li and Mu Yunjin. “Go, go. This girl is an eyesore today.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin felt as if she had received a special pardon, and pulled Chu Li toward the exit.

After leaving Minglan Pavilion, Mu Yunjin let out a long sigh and looked at Chu Li. “What are we going to the palace for?”

“Stupid.” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin, shaking his head helplessly, and walked toward Liquan Pavilion.

Mu Yunjin was stunned, for a moment thinking she had misheard. Did Chu Li say the word “stupid”?

Who was he calling stupid?