Hearing “Water Cloud Temple,” Chu Li hesitated slightly, his eyes flickering, but he said nothing and led her toward the exit of the palace.
Walking along the way, Mu Yunjin’s mind wandered, filled with thoughts of the secret decree Empress Qin had mentioned. She bit her lip and remained silent.
……
After arriving at Water Cloud Temple, Mu Yunjin got off the carriage and hurriedly walked toward the peach grove on the back hill. Arriving at the frontmost peach tree, she broke off a branch, squatted down, and began digging in the soil beneath.
Not far away, Chu Li and Master Huaiyuan observed this scene with solemn expressions. Finally, Master Huaiyuan spoke first, “Fortunately, Your Highness retrieved what was beneath the peach trees beforehand. Otherwise, the situation that would follow… who knows what chaos would ensue.”
Chu Li nodded lightly, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze never leaving Mu Yunjin. “The peach trees were damaged today, this prince will order someone to replace them.”
Master Huaiyuan was startled, then shook his head with a wry smile. “Your Highness, the Sixth Prince, you’ve fallen for it this time.”
Chu Li curled his lips slightly. “I’ve discovered recently that having someone by my side seems not so bad.”
“People are born solitary. Only the affection between two strangers can lead them to walk together until the end,” Master Huaiyuan remarked with profound meaning.
…
…
In the end, he added, “But can you guarantee that she will accompany you to the end?”
Chu Li looked at Master Huaiyuan without speaking, pressing his lips tightly together.
Mu Yunjin dug beneath five or six trees in succession. Under the peach trees, there was nothing but dry soil. Looking back at the mountain full of peach trees, Mu Yunjin felt somewhat deflated and sat down heavily.
Chu Li gradually approached, squatted down, and looked her eye-to-eye. “What are you looking for?”
Mu Yunjin panted slightly, shook her head, and said, “I don’t even know what I’m looking for.”
Hearing this, Chu Li smiled, reached out, and ruffled her hair. “Let the Purple Armor Secret Guards come out to help you search.”
Mu Yunjin was startled, slapped her thigh, and exclaimed, “Right! Why didn’t I think of that?”
After speaking, Mu Yunjin took out a jade whistle and blew it gently. A group of Purple Armor Secret Guards emerged from their concealment around them.
Mu Yunjin gave orders for them to dig up the peach trees and search for anything beneath them.
Moments later, almost all the peach trees on the entire mountain had been destroyed.
Not far away, Master Huaiyuan looked at this scene and sighed, “Amitabha Buddha, what a pity for these peach trees.”
……
After a while, they had searched thoroughly beneath all the peach trees on the mountain but found nothing.
Hearing the report from the Purple Armor Secret Guards, Mu Yunjin could hardly believe it. She got up and inspected one peach tree hole after another.
It wasn’t possible. Why would there be nothing?
Could someone have taken it away earlier?
Mu Yunjin bit her lip, feeling somewhat anxious. She stamped her foot and angrily swept away with her sleeves.
Chu Li, watching her storm off, waved to the Purple Armor Secret Guards still standing in place, and they concealed themselves once again.
Mu Yunjin left the back mountain, her mind preoccupied with the secret decree mentioned by Empress Qin and the mystery beneath the peach trees. As she prepared to return to the palace to see Empress Qin again, she was stopped by Chu Li.
“What are you afraid of?”
The two stood in front of the carriage. Chu Li gripped Mu Yunjin’s shoulder with one hand, straightened her body, and directly met her gaze.
“I…” Mu Yunjin didn’t know how to tell Chu Li; the content of what Empress Qin had said was too cruel.
After thinking, Mu Yunjin curled her lips. “It’s nothing. Let’s return to the mansion first. I’m a bit tired.”
Sitting in the carriage, Mu Yunjin leaned against the compartment, seemingly casually cleaning some dirt from under her nails, but her thoughts had flown far away.
Chu Li continuously observed Mu Yunjin, taking in all her subtle expressions, pressing his thin lips together.
Having known her for so long, he understood a bit about her. With her never-give-up personality, it was better to let her figure things out on her own.
By the time they reached the mansion, after a day of exertion, the sky had darkened somewhat.
Mu Yunjin got off the carriage and hurriedly entered Liquan Pavilion, instructing Zixiang to guard the door and not to let anyone in.
……
In the room, Mu Yunjin activated the Huangyu Chamber spirit signal on her wrist, waiting for Qiqi’s arrival.
After sitting and drinking two cups of tea, a flash of pink spirit light suddenly appeared in the room. Qiqi’s figure appeared in Mu Yunjin’s room. After steadying herself, she took several deep breaths.
“Master, what is so urgent?” Qiqi sat down hurriedly, moving closer to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin poured a cup of water for Qiqi. After watching her drink it, she slowly spoke, “Isn’t your tracking technique exceptional? Can you track down the whereabouts of a secret decree from Empress Qin?”
“This…” Qiqi touched her ear, looking somewhat troubled.
But seeing Mu Yunjin’s expectant face, Qiqi still nodded and smiled, “I’ll try first…”
Mu Yunjin nodded repeatedly.
Qiqi sat cross-legged on the ground, pointed with her finger, and channeled her true energy. Instantly, several streams of pink light flowed from her five fingers, dispersing in various directions.
Mu Yunjin watched this scene without blinking, both excited and worried.
After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the pink light from Qiqi’s fingers disappeared, and she withdrew her true energy. She stood up, frowning as she looked at Mu Yunjin.
“Master, I couldn’t detect anything,” Qiqi said.
Mu Yunjin was stunned and sighed lightly. “Then forget it.”
“Master, don’t worry too much. There are two types of things Qiqi can’t track: one is when the opponent is too powerful, and the other is when the thing simply doesn’t exist,” Qiqi comforted.
“Doesn’t exist?” Mu Yunjin only caught the second part.
Qiqi made a sound of agreement. She had some confidence in her tracking abilities.
Hearing Qiqi’s words, Mu Yunjin’s heart wasn’t as tense anymore. She hoped it was indeed as Qiqi said—that it didn’t exist.
But Empress Qin seemed to have no reason to lie to her.
Mu Yunjin felt like her head was about to explode. She covered her head with her hands, feeling somewhat frantic.
“Master, what exactly has upset you?” Qiqi propped her chin, carefully observing Mu Yunjin.
After a moment, she pointed at Mu Yunjin. “I understand, troubled by love…”
“Get out of here,” Mu Yunjin glared at Qiqi.
Qiqi covered her mouth and laughed. “Alright, since there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first.”
“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded.
Qiqi’s figure instantly disappeared from Mu Yunjin’s room.
After Qiqi left, Mu Yunjin opened the door of the room and walked out. Zixiang was standing in the corridor waiting for her. Seeing her come out, she immediately approached.
“Young Miss, are you hungry? Do you want to eat something first?” Zixiang asked.
Mu Yunjin shook her head and stretched lazily. “Go prepare some hot water. I want to bathe.”
As she mentioned bathing, the door diagonally across also opened. Chu Li had changed clothes, and Ding Xian beside him held a lantern, lighting the way for Chu Li as they walked out.
“Hey, where are you going?” Mu Yunjin asked.
Chu Li paused his steps and looked over at Mu Yunjin. “There’s something I need to take care of.”
Mu Yunjin made a sound of acknowledgment and didn’t pursue it further, walking into her room.
Chu Li watched Mu Yunjin’s retreating figure as she entered the door, his lips curling slightly.
……
Mu Yunjin sat in the bathtub behind the screen. Whether it was because she had bathed in the hot spring pool twice, now looking at this bathtub, she found it displeasing.
At this moment, Zixiang brought a basket of flower petals, preparing to scatter them into the bath for Mu Yunjin, but was stopped by her.
“Young Miss?” Zixiang was puzzled.
“No need for flower petals.” Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, feeling that the fragrance of the petals was particularly irritating to smell now.
Zixiang nodded dumbly and left with the flower petals.
After bathing, Mu Yunjin lay spread-eagled on the bed, occasionally turning over, but no matter how much she tossed and turned, her mind was still occupied with the words “secret decree.”
It had to be said that some people truly wouldn’t let the living rest even when they were about to die.
She also thought of her first meeting with Empress Qin, who had appeared so warm and affectionate, yet her true face turned out to be so frightening.
Indeed, one knows the face but not the heart.
Mu Yunjin took a breath, and gradually drowsiness enveloped her. Just as she was drifting into sleep, someone knocked thunderously on her door.
“Who is it?” Mu Yunjin frowned with displeasure.
“Young Miss, Empress Qin has passed away. Please go to the palace quickly!” Zixiang’s voice called at the door.
Mu Yunjin’s sleepiness vanished instantly. She sat up in bed, feeling at a loss for the first time. Empress Qin was dead? Then would that secret decree be released now?
Mu Yunjin put on her shoes and got out of bed, pulled a plain robe from the wardrobe, not even bothering to arrange her hair. Before leaving, she checked the time.
It was already past midnight.
“Where’s Chu Li?” As soon as she left the room, Mu Yunjin looked at Zixiang.
Zixiang shook her head. “After His Highness left with Ding Xian yesterday, he never returned. The messenger from the palace is still at the gate. Why don’t you go first, Young Miss?”
Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and looked at Zixiang. “I’ll go to the palace alone. You wait here for Chu Li to return. When he comes back, tell him it’s best not to enter the palace.”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
Mu Yunjin hurriedly left. When she reached the front hall, a small eunuch was waiting at the door, and someone had already prepared the carriage for her.
Mu Yunjin got into the carriage and headed for the palace.
Along the way, Mu Yunjin’s heart was suspended high, and her heartbeat accelerated. She tried to calm herself down, but her hands were tightly clasped together.
The carriage stopped at the palace gate.
Mu Yunjin got off the carriage. At the same time, a carriage from the General’s Mansion also stopped. The Prince Rong’s Consort Qin Shuning and Qin Muyue alighted from one carriage, followed by Qin Munan.
Upon seeing these three people, Mu Yunjin quickened her pace toward the palace gate.
From the moment Qin Munan saw Mu Yunjin’s figure, his gaze never left her back, completely unaware that beside him, Qin Muyue was watching this scene with thoughtful eyes.
Everyone was heading to Empress Qin’s bedchamber, so no matter how fast Mu Yunjin walked, those three were always firmly behind her.
“Sister-in-law Yunjin, please slow down.” Qin Muyue caught up from behind, walked to Mu Yunjin’s side, and hooked her arm.
Mu Yunjin impatiently shook off Qin Muyue’s hand, gave her a sidelong glance, and didn’t speak.
But Qin Muyue wasn’t upset. She smiled sweetly and lowered her voice, “Empress Qin wasn’t good to you. She’s dead, so let her be dead. Why are you in such a hurry?”