The smile on Rong Jiu’s face dimmed after hearing the words “husband.” “You’re married?”

Mu Yunjin didn’t respond to Rong Jiu. She leaned against the wall, her mind drifting to Chu Li. She wondered what he was doing now and if he was looking for her.

Why hadn’t he found her after all this time?

Mu Yunjin sighed lightly, thinking that since Rong Jiu could provide a place and conditions to treat her internal injuries, she might as well stay here until she recovered.

Once her injuries healed, she would carefully study the Xuanling True Scripture. Then she would settle scores with those who had wronged her, not sparing a single one.

That damned Daoist Qiuye, just wait!

After walking out of Mu Yunjin’s room, Rong Jiu’s expression darkened slightly. Seeing this, Hongling couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you laughing at?” Rong Jiu asked Hongling with displeasure.

“Miss Mu is truly interesting. The other day, when she was unconscious, I washed her body, and the palace mark was still on her arm. Where would she get a husband from?” Hongling said with a smile.

…

…

Hearing this, an unusual light flashed in Rong Jiu’s eyes, and his previously furrowed brows relaxed. “Are you certain?”

Hongling nodded and added, “But since Your Highness showed such emotion about this, have you perhaps developed feelings for this Miss Mu?”

Rong Jiu pressed his lips together, unable to answer.

……

The next day, Mu Yunjin felt the burden on her body lighten considerably. After getting dressed, she wanted to find the jade whistle that Chu Li had given her to summon his hidden guards, but after searching for a while, she couldn’t find it.

Mu Yunjin sighed, figuring she must have lost it accidentally.

When she walked out the door, she met Hongling, who was carrying a bowl of millet porridge toward Mu Yunjin’s room. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, she greeted her.

“Good morning, Miss Mu.” Hongling smiled at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin nodded.

“Miss Mu seems to be recovering well. Please have some porridge first, and later I’ll prepare some medicinal soup for you.” Hongling carried the millet porridge into the room.

Mu Yunjin was slightly taken aback. As she turned around, preparing to enter the room, the main door of the guest house was struck open by a powerful palm strike, creating a tremendous noise.

Hearing the loud sound, Mu Yunjin whipped her head around to look. Her gaze instantly fixed on the purple figure standing at the door, and her eyes immediately lit up with joy, her lips involuntarily breaking into a smile.

Chu Li stood at the entrance of the guest house. He had come here on a slim hope of finding her, but as soon as the door opened, the person standing before him was none other than the woman he had been desperately searching for these past few days!

They both moved forward simultaneously. When Mu Yunjin approached Chu Li, she practically threw herself into his arms. Leaning into his familiar and warm embrace, all the grievances she had suffered in recent days welled up. Mu Yunjin’s eyes reddened, and she pounded Chu Li’s chest with her fist, pouting as she spoke, “You bastard, why did you take so long to come?”

Chu Li held Mu Yunjin tightly in his arms, so forcefully it seemed as if he wanted to meld her into his body. Over the past few days, he had mobilized all his hidden guards and searched the entire West Yuan country without finding the slightest trace of her.

At this moment, seeing her safely nestled in his arms, Chu Li felt as though he could give up everything else, as long as he had her.

Ding Xian and Song Chun stood at the door. Seeing that Mu Yunjin was safe and sound, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. If they hadn’t found Mu Yunjin, His Highness would probably have turned the entire Canghua Continent upside down looking for her.

Chu Li seemed to be holding her too tightly, aggravating the wound on her ribs. Mu Yunjin inhaled sharply in pain and placed her hand over her lower abdomen.

Chu Li naturally noticed her discomfort. Seeing her pale face and how she had lost a considerable amount of weight compared to before, with her hand now on her lower abdomen, it was clear she was injured.

Qin Muyue arrived at the guest house with a squad of soldiers. Upon witnessing the scene inside, a vicious look flashed in her eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a smile as she entered.

“While patrolling the area, I heard a commotion here and brought some men to check. I didn’t expect to find Sister-in-law Yunjin,” Qin Muyue spoke enthusiastically. “It’s wonderful that Sister-in-law Yunjin is unharmed, but where have you been these past days?”

Mu Yunjin glanced at Qin Muyue. This pretentious display made her feel sick. Her mind suddenly recalled the revelation of Qin Muyue’s identity as the Phoenix Lady, and her gaze lowered slightly.

At this moment, Rong Jiu, who had observed the scene outside, walked out of the room. His clear eyes swept across everyone present, and he spoke in a melodious voice, “No wonder there was incessant magpie chatter this morning; indeed, distinguished guests have arrived.”

When Chu Li saw Rong Jiu emerge from the room, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and his glassy eyes took on a bloodthirsty coldness. The hand around Mu Yunjin’s waist tightened slightly.

Mu Yunjin also seemed to sense something amiss, and she docilely nestled in Chu Li’s embrace, not making a sound.

“Prince Ning of West Yuan, I’ve long heard of your reputation.” Rong Jiu’s tone remained smooth, with a faint smile hanging at the corners of his lips, though his clear eyes contained not a hint of warmth.

Chu Li’s lips gradually curved upward, and he slowly replied, “Crown Prince of East Lin, it’s been a while.”

“What?” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, looking at Chu Li and then at Rong Jiu. “He’s the Crown Prince of East Lin?”

Chu Li had been somewhat unhappy and annoyed that Mu Yunjin had been with Rong Jiu these past two days, but when this unconscious question escaped her lips, his irritation instantly vanished.

So, she hadn’t known Rong Jiu’s identity.

Rong Jiu, observing the couple leaning against each other, found the sight unbearably jarring. The husband she had mentioned yesterday must be Chu Li.

Mu’er, Mu Yunjin, heh heh.

She wasn’t even willing to reveal her real name to him. With this thought, Rong Jiu’s face darkened.

……

Qin Muyue, looking at Rong Jiu in his snow-white robes, finally understood that the person who had rescued Mu Yunjin that night was Rong Jiu.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin had now entangled herself with someone from East Lin, she exclaimed in astonishment, “Sister-in-law Yunjin, have you been with the Crown Prince of East Lin all these days?”

Qin Muyue’s voice was not low, and almost all the hidden guards Chu Li had brought, as well as the guards Qin Muyue had brought, heard her words.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin laughed lightly, silently thinking that Qin Muyue was truly relentless, seizing every opportunity to stir up trouble.

So she replied calmly, “I was injured while out, and fortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince rescued me. I believe that if you had been the one injured, His Highness would have helped you as well.”

“So that’s how it was.” Qin Muyue, seeing how easily Mu Yunjin deflected the issue, looked somewhat dejected. She wanted to continue, but with Chu Li present, she couldn’t reveal too much lest she provoke his disfavor.

“The rain has stopped in Qingzhou. Should we return to the imperial city?” Mu Yunjin, no longer interested in dealing with others, looked up at Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded.

“Qingzhou has seen sunshine these past few days. I heard it was because of the auspicious phoenix omen brought by Deputy General Qin that this great disaster was averted. It’s truly remarkable,” Hongling, seeing the awkward and tense atmosphere, tried to ease the mood.

Hearing Hongling’s words, Qin Muyue slightly raised her chin with a hint of arrogance. “That matter is over, let’s not mention it anymore. Being able to help the people of Qingzhou, I am also very pleased.”

Pfft…

Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but snicker, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

“What are you laughing at?” Qin Muyue looked at Mu Yunjin with displeasure. Recalling what Qiuye had told her earlier, her eyes held a deeper meaning as she gazed at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin knew clearly that the torrential rain in Qingzhou was due to Qiuye’s spell for rain. As Qiuye’s disciple, Qin Muyue should not be unaware of the true cause of this flood.

Now, with the sun high in the sky over Qingzhou, Qin Muyue had taken all the credit for herself as the Phoenix Lady, making everyone believe that the rain stopped because of the auspicious omen brought by the appearance of the phoenix. It was truly shameless.

“I’m not laughing at anything. It’s just that I didn’t get to see the phoenix appear with my own eyes. If I have the chance, I’d like to see if a phoenix and a pheasant look similar,” Mu Yunjin said with a smirk.

Qin Muyue’s eyes widened. Hearing the low laughter around her, she stepped forward and shouted at Mu Yunjin, “Mu Yunjin, what do you mean?!”

Mu Yunjin shrugged, holding onto Chu Li’s arm with a sweet smile. “I’m tired from standing so long. Can we go back?”

Chu Li grunted in agreement. Seeing her pale face and how she kept holding her abdomen, he bent down and picked her up in his arms, turning to leave.

“Brother Li, we haven’t clarified things yet. How can you just take her away?” Qin Muyue exclaimed angrily. She had just been mocked as a pheasant by Mu Yunjin and couldn’t let it go just like that.

“Deputy General Qin, what is there left to clarify?” Mu Yunjin peeked out from Chu Li’s arms, smiling at Qin Muyue.

Qin Muyue sneered, “The Crown Prince of East Lin appears in West Yuan territory and has spent several days with the Prince Ning’s wife of West Yuan. Don’t you think that requires an explanation?”

“Your Highness, as the esteemed Crown Prince of East Lin, you should have first notified our monarch when coming to West Yuan. How could you come here privately?”

“As a national military leader concerned with the country’s safety, I can’t help but suspect that Your Highness and our Prince Ning’s wife have a secret agreement.”

Mu Yunjin truly admired Qin Muyue’s skill at slinging mud. In just a few sentences, she had cast suspicion of treason on her.

But thankfully, Chu Li was here now. Mu Yunjin remained silent, resting her head against Chu Li’s chest, her gaze lazily falling on Qin Muyue.

She knew that with Chu Li present, this matter was not for her to waste words on.

Indeed, Chu Li’s face grew colder. His frosty eyes swept over Qin Muyue with displeasure, and he spoke impatiently, “If there’s an issue, report it to the royal family. It’s not your place to decide!”

With those words, Chu Li carried Mu Yunjin away.

Behind them, the hidden guards that Chu Li had brought also followed.

Qin Muyue stood in place, angrily stomping her foot, biting her lip so hard she almost drew blood. As she furiously prepared to leave, Hongling quickly stepped forward to block her.

“What do you want?” Qin Muyue glared at Hongling.

Hongling crossed her arms, a smile hanging at the corners of her lips. She took out a secret document from her waist and presented it to Qin Muyue.

“Our Crown Prince was invited by Emperor Ximing to attend a banquet in West Yuan. He was passing through Qingzhou and stayed for a few extra days, that’s all.”

Qin Muyue glanced at the secret document, her expression darkening, and she felt somewhat embarrassed.

“East Lin and West Yuan have always maintained good relations. Deputy General Qin deliberately tried to provoke conflict between the two countries and showed disrespect to our Crown Prince. I wonder how such actions would be dealt with under West Yuan’s laws?”

“I only know that in our East Lin, insubordination is punishable by being dismembered and having nine generations of family exterminated!”