During dinner, although Minister Mu didn’t speak much, everyone could see that his attitude toward Mu Yunjin had indeed softened considerably.

He even casually asked if she had eaten enough after she finished a bowl of rice.

For Minister Mu, who normally didn’t care whether this daughter lived or died, this was already a tremendous change.

Mu Lingzhu sat to the side, eating the meal without tasting it. Her gaze occasionally fell on Mu Yunjin beside her, silently pondering certain matters.

A moment later, her mind couldn’t help but recall the scene when she went to Shihua Pavilion to find Mu Yunjin after Aunt Su had drowned.

At that time, during their conversation, Mu Yunjin showed no timidity at all. Instead, she deliberately revealed the bruises on her neck, implying Aunt Su’s death.

Yes, how could she have forgotten such an important matter?

With this thought, Mu Lingzhu bit her lip, her eyes moving subtly as she silently reasoned that Empress Qin must have instructed this simpleton about certain things. Otherwise, how could this simpleton have changed so dramatically for no reason?

Hmph, did they think Mu Yunjin could successfully become the Sixth Prince’s consort?

…

…

Dream on!

After dinner, everyone dispersed. Mu Yunjin’s newly moved Tinghua Pavilion happened to be on the same path as Mu Lingzhu’s Mingzhu Tower. After walking just a few steps, Mu Yunjin was called by Mu Lingzhu.

“Sister, wait for me.” Mu Lingzhu quickened her pace from behind.

Mu Yunjin slowed down, glancing sideways at Mu Lingzhu walking beside her without saying a word.

“Sister, you’ve just moved into Tinghua Pavilion, which is right on the way to my Mingzhu Tower. Let’s walk together.” Mu Lingzhu smiled and spoke to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin’s gaze emptied, a smile of unclear meaning spreading across her lips. “If little sister has something to say to me, just speak directly.”

Sensing the sudden chill from beside her, Mu Lingzhu realized her earlier suspicions were probably correct.

“Aunt Su’s death that day—it was you, wasn’t it?” Mu Lingzhu came straight to the point, stopping in her tracks, her eyes fixed on Mu Yunjin, unwilling to miss even the slightest change in her expression.

Mu Yunjin also stopped, looking sideways at Mu Lingzhu with a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Yes, it was me.”

“So it was you after all…” Seeing Mu Yunjin admit it, Mu Lingzhu was suddenly filled with anger. “I’m going to report you to Father.”

“Report me?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to Mu Lingzhu’s ear. “Go ahead, report me. While you’re at it, I can also tell Father how you, to become the eldest daughter of the Mu family and marry the Sixth Prince, instructed Aunt Su to come to my Shihua Pavilion in the middle of the night to attack me.”

“The dead cannot testify. What evidence do you have that I ordered Aunt Su to kill you?” Mu Lingzhu sneered, fearlessly meeting Mu Yunjin’s gaze.

Hearing this, the amusement in Mu Yunjin’s eyes grew stronger as her gaze roamed over Mu Lingzhu, making her feel uneasy.

“What happened before Aunt Su died, what she said, what she left behind—do you know all of these things?”

Mu Yunjin’s words caused Mu Lingzhu’s face to turn pale. She instinctively bit her lip, her heart skipping several beats.

Was Mu Yunjin implying she had evidence?

“What did Aunt Su leave behind?” More than what was said, Mu Lingzhu was more concerned about whether Aunt Su had left behind any evidence against her.

Mu Yunjin chuckled lightly, crossing her arms. “As long as you behave yourself, I guarantee that thing will never come to light.”

“Otherwise…”

“If word gets out that the renowned top-talented lady plotted to harm her sister, the entire Minister’s household would likely be ruined. How would your beloved Sixth Prince Chu Li view you then?”

“So, think carefully.”

With these words, Mu Yunjin walked away.

Behind her, Mu Lingzhu’s fingers tightened slightly, her brows furrowed. Her maid, Hong Xia, seeing this situation, whispered, “Miss, so the Third Miss had an ace up her sleeve. What should we do now?”

Mu Lingzhu took a deep breath, turned around, and walked toward Bilo Courtyard.

After taking just a few steps, she stopped again, a vicious gleam flashing in her eyes as she whispered to Hong Xia, “Go, summon Cao Pan for me.”

“Yes, Miss.”

……

As soon as she stepped into Tinghua Pavilion, Zixiang immediately closed the door and curiously asked, “Young Miss, did that Mamma Su leave behind evidence against the Fourth Miss?”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s eyes curved in laughter as she replied with a smile, “That was just my bluff to scare her. Look how frightened she was—her face turned white.”

“She has a guilty conscience. This Mu Lingzhu, at such a young age, has such malicious thoughts. It’s a waste that she’s read so many books, putting her mind to such improper use.”

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Zixiang covered her mouth and laughed, pointing at Mu Yunjin. “Young Miss, you’re becoming more and more mischievous.”

“You flatter me.” Mu Yunjin cupped her hands together in a gesture of modesty.

Zixiang laughed heartily, and the mistress and maid began playfully chasing each other around Tinghua Pavilion.

……

The next day, Mu Yunjin was gently awakened from her sleep by Zixiang. Half-awake, she heard Zixiang say with a downcast expression, “The Fourth Miss is leaving the household today to attend a poetry recitation gathering. She specifically requested permission from the Minister to take Young Miss along, and the Minister agreed.”

Mu Yunjin yawned, full of impatience. “What on earth is a poetry recitation gathering?”

“I don’t know either, but Young Miss should get up quickly. The Fourth Miss’s people just came to notify us. It wouldn’t be good to keep them waiting too long.” As Zixiang spoke, she began helping Mu Yunjin select clothes for going out.

Mu Yunjin nodded. Although she wasn’t particularly interested in the poetry recitation gathering, going out for a stroll wouldn’t be bad.

By the time Mu Yunjin was ready and arrived at the front hall, Mu Lingzhu was already waiting. Seeing Mu Yunjin, she smiled faintly and said, “Thank you for accompanying me today, Sister.”

“It’s nothing,” Mu Yunjin replied with a curved lip, glancing at Mu Lingzhu and catching a hint of unnaturalness in her eyes.

After a pause, Mu Yunjin seemed to understand something. She turned to Zixiang and said, “You should stay in the household today. We just moved to Tinghua Pavilion, so please tidy it up properly. I’ll go to the poetry recitation gathering with my sister.”

Zixiang was startled, somewhat surprised, and was about to speak when she saw Mu Yunjin give her a look. So she closed her mouth and simply nodded.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin wasn’t bringing her maid, Mu Lingzhu’s smile deepened. Pretending to be affectionate, she took Mu Yunjin’s arm and led her out together.

It seemed she had completely forgotten their conversation from the previous night.

In the carriage leaving the household, Mu Lingzhu sat very close to Mu Yunjin. With lowered eyes, she said to Mu Yunjin, “Sister, I’ve been thinking. I was wrong about what happened before. I apologize to you. You’re magnanimous—can you forgive me?”

Mu Yunjin didn’t know how to mock this Mu Lingzhu anymore. How could such a young girl have so many pretenses!

Despite her thoughts, Mu Yunjin still played along with Mu Lingzhu’s act, taking her hand and saying, “We are sisters born of the same parents, with the same blood flowing in our veins. How could I blame you?”

“Thank you, sister, for not holding a grudge.” Mu Lingzhu smiled, giving Mu Yunjin a warm look.

Mu Yunjin nodded and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. The carriage was currently traveling through the center of Diehua City’s market, heading north with no sign of stopping. “Little sister, where is the poetry recitation gathering located?”

“It’s in the Shuixi Pavilion on the outskirts.”

“Alright.” Mu Yunjin’s eyes flickered, and she lowered the curtain.

On the other side, in the Mingxiang Teahouse at the center of the market, two figures were leaning against a second-floor window, their gaze fixed on the sandalwood carriage that had just passed.

“Your Highness, wasn’t that Third Miss Mu in the carriage just now?” Ding Xian, recalling the glimpse when the carriage curtain was lifted, turned to speak to Chu Li beside him, who was dressed in a jade-colored formal robe.

Chu Li’s gaze was also following the departing carriage. Thinking of the familiar face he had just seen, he asked casually, “Where does the north road lead?”

“The north is roughly toward the outskirts, the most remote area of Diehua City,” Ding Xian replied.

Chu Li nodded without saying anything more.

……

Mu Yunjin had been sitting in the carriage for who knows how long before it finally slowed to a stop. Outside, Hong Xia’s voice could be heard scolding the driver:

“You useless thing! How do you do your job? You can’t even recognize a road!”

“Miss Hong Xia, I’m sorry. I just took the wrong small path. I’ll turn back right away,” the driver replied apologetically.

Mu Lingzhu lifted the carriage curtain, frowning as she looked at Hong Xia outside. “What’s going on?”

“Fourth Miss, the driver took a wrong turn, wasting our time,” Hong Xia said, stamping her foot.

Hearing this, Mu Lingzhu turned her head and smiled at Mu Yunjin. “The driver took the wrong path.”

“Then let’s head back, or we’ll be late for your poetry recitation gathering,” Mu Yunjin said with a slight smile, the concealed dagger in her sleeve beginning to stir with anticipation.

The next moment, just as she had expected, the sound of many horse hooves could be heard outside, followed by Hong Xia’s screams.

“Ha ha ha! What good luck today, to intercept such a fine sandalwood carriage. There must be plenty of valuable treasures inside!”

Hearing this rough voice, Mu Lingzhu shrank back in fear, nervously saying to Mu Yunjin, “Sister, it seems we’ve encountered bandits. What should we do?”

Mu Yunjin didn’t even raise an eyelid, silently cursing in her heart: Aren’t these bandits the ones you hired? What are you pretending for?

“This little wench looks pretty good. Let’s take her back to entertain our brothers.” Outside, Hong Xia’s screams and the bandits’ laughter sounded again.

Seeing this situation, Mu Yunjin remained calm, showing no fear whatsoever—in stark contrast to Mu Lingzhu, who was nervously curled up beside her. It was as if the bandits had been arranged by her instead.

Just as she was thinking this, the carriage curtain was suddenly lifted, followed by an exclamation: “Boss, there are two more prime beauties in here!”

“Quick, bring them down for our boss to see.” With that, both Mu Yunjin and Mu Lingzhu were pulled out of the carriage.

Having sat in the carriage for so long, Mu Yunjin’s eyes were momentarily pained by the sudden light as she got out. She rubbed her eyes and, after carefully observing her surroundings, marveled again: This Mu Lingzhu had gone to great lengths, actually hiring more than ten men to deal with her alone.