Mu Yunjin slowed her pace, narrowed her eyes, and turned to look at Qin Muyue. “Then why are you coming so late at night?”

Qin Muyue smiled. “Just coming to watch the excitement.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin couldn’t be bothered to respond and continued walking forward.

The four of them arrived at Empress Qin’s bedchamber almost simultaneously.

As soon as they stepped into Empress Qin’s bedchamber, the sound of wailing came from inside. Outside, palace maids and eunuchs had already begun arranging white silk, making the entire palace exceptionally cold and desolate.

Emperor Ximing and the Empress were just walking out of the bedchamber. The Emperor’s face was solemn; he seemed to have rushed over upon hearing the news, his hair somewhat disheveled.

Mu Yunjin made a slight bow toward Emperor Ximing and the Empress, pressing her lips together, her face not looking too happy either.

Emperor Ximing thought she was concerned about Empress Qin and spoke to Mu Yunjin with rare gentleness. “Mother has always cherished you. Go see her.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, inwardly thinking that this kind of cherishing was something she truly couldn’t bear.

…

…

Mu Yunjin walked inside.

By Empress Qin’s bedside, many consorts and servants were huddled together crying, including Consort Li and Consort Wan, who had previous grievances with Mu Yunjin.

Seeing Mu Yunjin arrive, the two wiped their tears with silk handkerchiefs and moved aside to make room.

Mu Yunjin approached the bedside and looked at the person who had been warning her in her ear just that day. Now, with eyes closed, she lay motionless on the bed, looking peaceful. Mu Yunjin’s thoughts were complex, mostly filled with hatred.

“Oh my, despite Empress Qin’s fondness for the Sixth Prince Consort, how is it that the Sixth Prince Consort is just standing here so stiffly?” Consort Li, having composed herself, looked at Mu Yunjin with disdain.

Mu Yunjin glanced at her, not bothering to respond.

Prince Rong’s Consort and Qin Muyue also entered together at this moment. Upon seeing the scene inside, there was still a faint smile on their faces.

“Aunt, look at this, Empress Qin, truly a person of slim fortune. Usually so robust in health, yet she suddenly passed just like that.” Qin Muyue sighed.

Although many in the room were surprised by Qin Muyue’s disrespectful tone, no one dared to contradict her words.

Prince Rong’s Consort smiled lightly. “Oh, little daughter-in-law, why don’t you show any reaction?”

“Indeed, I just asked the Sixth Prince Consort as well. At least cry a little. Standing here with no reaction at all, it’s truly disheartening,” Consort Li echoed Prince Rong’s Consort’s words.

Mu Yunjin laughed coldly and walked out of the bedchamber.

“Eh? Why did she just leave…”

Walking to the outer hall, Mu Yunjin sat down, folded her arms, and lowered her head, her eyes deep in thought.

“Yunjin…” Qin Munan’s voice sounded from the side.

Mu Yunjin immediately felt a headache coming on. It was not peaceful inside, and it wasn’t peaceful outside either.

“What is it?” Mindful of the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall, Mu Yunjin gave Qin Munan a cold glance.

Qin Munan sat down beside Mu Yunjin. Seeing her unfriendliness, he seemed somewhat used to it. “It’s so late at night, how did you come out alone without even bringing a maid with you?”

Mu Yunjin laughed lightly. “What need is there for such a grand display? I’m here to mourn, not to attend a banquet.”

“Since you lost your memory, you’ve become a completely different person. It’s hard to imagine whether you’ll still retain your current personality after your memory returns.” Qin Munan curled his lips slightly, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at Mu Yunjin.

“Whether I recover or not has nothing to do with you,” Mu Yunjin said dismissively.

Qin Munan’s expression stiffened slightly.

Mu Yunjin glanced at Qin Munan. Having already paid her respects to Empress Qin, she didn’t want to linger here any longer and stood up to leave the hall.

Seeing her leave alone, Qin Munan rose and followed.

Around a corner, Qin Muyue leaned against the wall, having heard everything the two had said. She took a slight breath. Could it be that her brother liked Mu Yunjin?

And what was this about Mu Yunjin losing her memory?

Qin Muyue raised an eyebrow, then a strong smile curved her lips. No wonder the current Mu Yunjin showed none of the rumored timidity or incompetence. It turned out she had lost her memory and changed her personality.

Ha, how interesting.

……

Walking on the path out of the palace, Qin Munan, seeing that Mu Yunjin had been unkind in her tone toward him recently, just followed behind her, escorting her all the way.

Mu Yunjin naturally knew that Qin Munan was following behind, but she kept walking toward the palace gate.

After exiting the palace gate, Mu Yunjin noticed a light shining where the Prince’s Mansion carriages were parked. Following the light, she saw Ding Xian sitting by a carriage, holding a lantern, while Chu Li stood nearby, his gaze fixed on her.

Mu Yunjin was inexplicably delighted. She ran over, grabbed Chu Li’s arm, and her eyes filled with joy. “How come you’re here?”

“Waiting for you.” Chu Li looked down at her, naturally putting his arm around her waist.

Mu Yunjin was already very tired at this moment and leaned into Chu Li’s embrace, speaking lazily, “Do you want to go in and take a look?”

“No,” Chu Li said lightly, his gaze falling on another figure at the palace gate, deep in twilight.

“Mm, then let’s return to the mansion first.” Mu Yunjin left Chu Li’s embrace and entered the carriage.

After the carriage departed, Qin Munan’s eyes were filled with desolation. The intimate scene between Chu Li and Mu Yunjin was completely imprinted in his mind.

Without realizing it, he had lost her.

“Brother…” Qin Muyue’s voice sounded. “What relationship do you have with Third Miss Mu?”

“None of your business.” Qin Munan glanced at Qin Muyue.

Qin Muyue smiled and softened her tone. “Brother, you like Third Miss Mu, and I like Brother Li. Now that they’re together, aren’t we destined to be disappointed?”

“Besides, they’re bound together by an arranged marriage. How could they truly care for each other…”

Hearing this, Qin Munan grew angry. He grabbed Qin Muyue’s wrist in warning. “Don’t do any more unconscionable things. If you continue like this, sooner or later you’ll destroy yourself.”

“Brother, I was just saying. Don’t take it to heart.” Qin Muyue blinked at Qin Munan, speaking pleasingly.

Qin Munan let go of her hand. “Return to the mansion. For the next few days, you are not allowed to see Aunt.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I’ll listen to you.” The two walked toward their mansion’s carriage.

Qin Muyue walked behind, a smile pressing at her lips as she looked at Qin Munan’s back, a plan forming in her heart.

……

When the carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate, Mu Yunjin had already fallen asleep. Chu Li had no choice but to carry her down from the carriage.

After entering Liquan Pavilion, Chu Li lay Mu Yunjin flat on the bed, reached out to touch her face, saw that she was sleeping soundly, tucked her in, and walked out the door. At the door, he instructed Zixiang, “Let her wake up naturally tomorrow. No one is to disturb her.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Zixiang gave a slight bow.

On the other side, after Chu Li returned to his room, candles were lit, and Ding Xian and Huang Yan were standing inside.

“Young Master, everything has been arranged as planned.” Huang Yan smiled proudly, taking out a secret letter from his bosom.

“Just as you predicted, Young Master, Empress Qin had indeed left a final move. Upon receiving your secret message today, this subordinate hurried over and remained hidden in Empress Qin’s bedchamber.”

“Before her death, she kept this thing hidden on her person. After she died, this subordinate searched her thoroughly and finally found this. Then this subordinate quickly forged another one. Sure enough, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Mamma Qu entered, discovered that Empress Qin had died, took this note from her bosom, and walked out with a panicked expression.”

Chu Li took the secret letter and unfolded it. Seeing the content and the seal at the bottom, a dense mist gathered in his clear eyes.

Southern Court Country’s Holy Maiden…

“Fortunately, the content hadn’t been leaked. Otherwise, Madam would likely face significant criticism this time,” Huang Yan said.

Chu Li put away the note and looked at Huang Yan with cold eyes. “Who is Mamma Qu’s contact?”

Huang Yan curled his lips. “Empress Dowager Zheng.”

“Heh…” Chu Li let out a light laugh, his lips pressed into a line. “How hard it must have been for her to cooperate with the person she once hated the most until her death.”

“So, should we do something now?” Huang Yan reminded me from the side.

Hearing this, Chu Li glanced lightly at Huang Yan. “What did you write on the forged note?”

“Ahem.” Huang Yan coughed lightly, his expression somewhat unnatural as he turned his face away. “Nothing much.”

……

On the other side, in Fengming Palace.

“Is Qin Xiangxian deliberately playing with me? That day she begged me for so long, saying she would provide an important secret report after her death, and it’s just this?”

Empress Dowager Zheng crumpled the note in her hand and threw it to the ground.

Beside her, Prince Rong’s Consort picked up the note. Glancing at its content, her brow furrowed slightly. On the note was written a sentence that left one speechless—

“When I have time, I’ll come to have tea with you.”

Prince Rong’s Consort, feeling somewhat creeped out, touched her goosebumps and threw down the note. “That Empress Qin opposed you during her lifetime, Mother. How could you have believed her words?”

Empress Dowager Zheng sighed slightly and patted the table. “I agreed to this only because that old woman personally knelt and begged me. Who would have thought Mamma Qu would deliver such a thing?”

“Empress Qin was peculiar in character. It’s not surprising that she would do such a thing. Fortunately, she’s already dead. From now on, no one will oppose you, Mother,” Prince Rong’s Consort said.

Empress Dowager Zheng curled her lips, took a sip of tea. “Indeed, what use was it to support her son every day? In the end, she was just a person of ill fate.”

“Mother, the reason I came today was actually to discuss a matter with you,” Prince Rong’s Consort looked at Empress Dowager Zheng.

“What matter?”

Prince Rong’s Consort walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down in the space beside Empress Dowager Zheng, holding her hand. “Mother, you’ve said that the Prince is your son. Over the years, he has been exceedingly filial to you, treating you several times better than our current Emperor, right?”

Although Empress Dowager Zheng was old, she understood the true meaning of these words. She gripped Prince Rong’s Consort’s hand. “Shuning, are you thinking…”

“How could your daughter-in-law have such courage?” Then, she whispered in Empress Dowager Zheng’s ear, “This time, Empress Qin’s sudden illness and death were all due to the gu poison that Muyue brought from the border. This type of gu poison works without anyone’s knowledge, and no imperial physician in the palace can detect it. That’s why everyone thinks Empress Qin died of illness.”

“Really?” Empress Dowager Zheng was surprised. All along, she had thought Empress Qin had suddenly fallen gravely ill, not knowing that she had been poisoned by gu.

Prince Rong’s Consort nodded. “Of course it’s true.”

“Mother, you know that the court has not yet established a Crown Prince. If the Emperor were to suddenly fall ill as well, then who would be most suitable to inherit the throne of Western Yuan Country?”