Mu Yunjin looked at the newcomer who appeared to be around thirty years old. She wore a plain blue silk dress, with her hair arranged in an elegant and graceful bun. Her face was gentle and beautiful, lightly powdered, yet still unable to conceal her stunning beauty.

The lady in blue met Mu Yunjin’s gaze and nodded with a faint smile before following the shopkeeper to select fabrics on the other side.

Mu Yunjin turned back to choose silks, though her mind was no longer on the fabrics. She occasionally glanced at the blue figure from the corner of her eye, feeling that this lady seemed strangely familiar.

Nearby, the shopkeeper guided the blue-dressed lady to select fabrics, gradually approaching where Mu Yunjin stood.

“Miss, have you found something you like?” the shopkeeper asked with a smile when she saw Mu Yunjin still staring at several bolts of fabric.

Mu Yunjin started, smiled awkwardly, glanced at the shopkeeper, and casually pointed to several fabrics. “Please wrap these up for me.”

“Miss has excellent taste,” the shopkeeper praised before immediately ordering the shop assistants to prepare the fabrics for Mu Yunjin.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin had purchased her silk, the shopkeeper wanted to establish a rapport for future business. She glanced sideways at the lady in blue and exclaimed in surprise.

“At first glance, you two look quite similar around the eyes. Standing together, people might think you’re sisters!”

…

…

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin and the blue-dressed lady locked eyes again.

The shopkeeper’s words weren’t wrong. From the moment the blue-dressed lady entered, Mu Yunjin had felt a sense of familiarity. Now hearing the shopkeeper’s comment, she realized it was because their appearances were somewhat similar.

After hearing the shopkeeper’s words, the blue-dressed lady bit her lip, looked Mu Yunjin up and down, and her hands couldn’t help but grip her sleeves tightly.

“Miss, what is your name?” the blue-dressed lady asked with a graceful smile, her eyes slightly moist.

After speaking, she felt she had been too abrupt and added with a slight smile, “I apologize for my rudeness.”

“Lady in blue, I am the new owner of the Qing Mansion. I’ve heard Granny Ye mention you before,” Mu Yunjin replied with a faint smile. She was equally curious about this lady who had filled the entire Qing Mansion with flowers and plants.

“I see,” the blue-dressed lady nodded, maintaining a polite smile.

Seeing that these two had this connection, the shopkeeper tried to liven up the atmosphere. “Since you know each other, why not come to my tearoom for a cup of tea?”

“Miss, please don’t think I’m being forward. Lady in blue knows that I have a rather outgoing personality. When I meet congenial people, I always want to get to know them and make friends,” the shopkeeper explained.

Mu Yunjin generally disliked such social interactions and shook her head in refusal. “I’m sorry, but I have some matters to attend to and must return after making my purchases.”

“That’s truly a pity,” the shopkeeper sighed. By now, the shop assistant had prepared the silk and brought it over.

Song Chun stepped forward to take the fabric. Mu Yunjin pulled out a silver note from her bosom and handed it to the shopkeeper, who took it and asked Mu Yunjin to wait while she fetched the change.

Mu Yunjin stood waiting.

The blue-dressed lady’s gaze remained fixed on Mu Yunjin. Just as she was about to speak, a figure in purple entered from outside.

Seeing Chu Li enter, Mu Yunjin walked over with a smile. “What brings you here?”

“Just passing by,” Chu Li smiled faintly.

“Oh? Just passing by, not coming specifically?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Hearing this, Chu Li reached out and pinched Mu Yunjin’s cheek. “Mu Yunjin, are you asking for trouble?”

“Go away, how annoying!” Mu Yunjin pushed Chu Li’s hand away and rubbed her cheek. At that moment, the shopkeeper returned with the change and handed it to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin took the money and said goodbye to the shopkeeper.

After Mu Yunjin left, the blue-dressed lady stood rooted to the spot, her body trembling uncontrollably. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself, but her nose felt sore, and her eyes gradually reddened. Watching Mu Yunjin’s retreating figure, she finally couldn’t hold back as large tears fell from her eyes.

Yunjin, she is Yunjin.

“Lady in blue, what’s wrong?” The shopkeeper was bewildered by the blue-dressed lady’s sudden emotional change.

The blue-dressed lady wiped away her tears and looked at the shopkeeper. “Ruyi, do you think she and I look alike?”

The shopkeeper didn’t understand the question but nodded anyway.

……

On the way back, Mu Yunjin and Chu Li chose to walk back to the Qing Mansion.

“Did you see that woman in blue clothes in the silk shop just now? She’s the original owner of the Qing Mansion,” Mu Yunjin said to Chu Li while playing with a small clay figurine she had bought from a street stall.

Chu Li shook his head. “I didn’t notice.”

“You didn’t notice that? That Lady in blue is quite a beauty. The shopkeeper was sweet-tongued and even said I look very similar to her.” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but smile.

Chu Li paused and looked intently at Mu Yunjin. “Very similar?”

“Yes, I think we do look quite alike, though I might be a bit prettier,” Mu Yunjin raised the corner of her lips, her eyes flashing with mischief.

Chu Li also smiled somewhat, looking at Mu Yunjin with amusement. “Fortunately, you have such a pretty face, otherwise this Prince wouldn’t know what other merits you possess.”

Mu Yunjin glared at Chu Li. “The feeling is mutual.”

The two of them continued walking down the street, teasing and laughing. When they passed a rogue shop, Mu Yunjin stopped and curiously peered inside.

Inside the shop, Qu Xinyao was dressed in a cherry-red brocade dress, adorned as lavishly as usual, though the white jade plum blossom hairpin was missing from her hair.

Beside Qu Xinyao stood Xu Heyu in gray clothes, looking somewhat sickly. Qu Xinyao was continuously trying different rouges, asking for Xu Heyu’s opinion with each one. Xu Heyu just stood beside her, smiling and nodding.

The pair also noticed Mu Yunjin and Chu Li at the door. Qu Xinyao smiled and waved at them.

Mu Yunjin pulled Chu Li inside. As soon as they entered, they heard Qu Xinyao asking Xu Heyu, “Fool, which is better, this peach pink or this peony red?”

“This one is good,” Xu Heyu picked up an apricot-red rouge.

Seeing the color, Qu Xinyao’s eyes showed disdain, but she still put down the other two and took the apricot-red rouge.

“The mansion is also out of eyebrow pencils. Let’s buy some while we’re here. When it comes to drawing eyebrows, I still prefer your skill,” Qu Xinyao stroked her willow-thin eyebrows, her lips curving into a smile.

Mu Yunjin stood to one side, suppressing a smile, and also began to select rouges and powders.

“Princess Ning, how do you think my eyebrows look today?” Qu Xinyao suddenly turned around and asked Mu Yunjin with a bright smile.

Mu Yunjin was startled, looked at Qu Xinyao, then at Xu Heyu beside her, and twisted her lips. “Um, very good.”

“Did you hear that? Even Princess Ning says your work is good.” Qu Xinyao looked at Xu Heyu, then sighed helplessly. “Fool, do you not want to continue drawing my eyebrows?”

“Ahem, Xinyao, stop teasing. Xu Heyu seemed quite helpless, coughed a few times, and his face grew increasingly pale.

After hearing this, Qu Xinyao’s expression darkened, and she threw the apricot-red rouge in her hand, shattering it. “Xu Heyu, what exactly have we been to each other all these years?!”

Mu Yunjin hadn’t expected Qu Xinyao to suddenly lose her temper. She sighed inwardly, thinking that her mood changed faster than turning pages. She shrank back, appearing stunned. So these two weren’t just in an ambiguous relationship but had loved and hated each other for many years.

But what was Xu Heyu’s problem? He had feelings for Qu Xinyao, so why was he being so stubborn about not being with her?

At this moment, Chu Li gently patted Mu Yunjin’s shoulder and mouthed two words: “Let’s go.”

Mu Yunjin immediately understood, put down the items she was selecting, and left with Chu Li.

Just as they stepped out of the rouge shop, they heard more breaking sounds from inside, followed by Qu Xinyao’s sharp cry, “Someone come and escort the City Lord Xu back to Heyue City. He is not allowed to set foot in Xinyao City without my permission!”

After walking a few steps away, Mu Yunjin looked back and saw Xu Heyu walking out of the rouge shop alone, his expression dejected.

“What exactly is going on between those two?” Mu Yunjin asked Chu Li curiously.

Chu Li smiled lightly, his voice soft, “One wants to love but cannot, one does not want to love yet loves deeply.”

“What nonsense, it’s so convoluted.” Mu Yunjin frowned, indicating she couldn’t be bothered with these matters anymore.

When they returned to the Qing Mansion, Mu Yunjin asked Song Chun to organize the fabrics and place them in the carriage, planning to find a tailor to make clothes after returning to Diehua City.

Stepping into the Qing Mansion, Mu Yunjin took a satisfying breath. “This place is truly wonderful. I had always been curious about its owner. Now that I’ve met the lady in blue, I must say her temperament matches the place very well.”

“By the way, when are we returning to Diehua City?” Mu Yunjin entered the front hall, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea.

“In a few days,” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin and replied casually.

Mu Yunjin had no objections to this. “That’s quite good. Today I discovered that this Xinyao City has many interesting and unusual things. Tomorrow I’ll go out to the streets again to look around.”

“Mm,” Chu Li nodded slightly, sat down, and spoke with a hint of teasing in his eyes. “Princess, while you’re thinking about sightseeing, shouldn’t you also solve the food problem?”

Mu Yunjin was startled and looked at Chu Li blankly. “I don’t know how to cook…”

Chu Li raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Mu Yunjin nodded. “Of course it’s true. You, a prince born with a silver spoon, don’t know how to cook. I’m a young lady from an official family, also born with a silver spoon. How could I possibly know?”

“Princess, Granny Ye is requesting to see you outside,” Ding Xian walked in and addressed Mu Yunjin.

Hearing it was Granny Ye, Mu Yunjin immediately instructed Ding Xian, “Let her in.”

Shortly after, Granny Ye walked in with a hunched back. Seeing Mu Yunjin, she smiled. “Miss, these are some vegetables from my garden. In the past, I would always bring some for the lady in blue. Now that she has moved away, and I have met you several times and consider us acquainted, I’ve brought some for you today. I hope you don’t mind.”

Looking at the basket of fruits and vegetables Granny Ye offered, Mu Yunjin rose to accept it and looked gratefully at Granny Ye. “How could I mind? Thank you, Granny.”

“No need for thanks. They were all freshly picked this morning. Miss, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? You can enjoy them while they’re fresh.”