After Chu Li and Master Huaiyuan left, Mu Yunjin sat at the small table and opened the first page of the scripture. After reading for a while, she gently ground some ink, then took out three writing brushes from the brush holder. Holding them together in her hand, she dipped them in ink and began copying the first line.
After all, Emperor Ximing’s imperial edict only said to copy the scripture three hundred times, but didn’t specify copying them in sequence. By writing three lines at once, she wasn’t defying the imperial order.
Mu Yunjin thought herself brilliantly clever.
This way, she saved herself two hundred copies, and in the remaining days, she could still wander around Water Cloud Temple.
Candles burned all day in the Peaceful Heart Hall. Mu Yunjin bent her head, focusing on copying the scriptures. Before she knew it, the sky outside gradually darkened.
“Knock, knock, knock.” Someone gently knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Mu Yunjin put down her brush and looked up toward the door.
A monk carrying vegetarian food entered, placed the meal before Mu Yunjin, bowed respectfully, then turned to leave.
Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, noticing the darkness outside, and realized night had fallen.
The vast Peaceful Heart Hall now held only her, feeling empty and hollow, facing only a statue of Guanyin. Mu Yunjin found it rather eerie.
She took out a cloth pouch from her waist, removed a silver needle, and tested the food.
After a while, Mu Yunjin examined the needle and, seeing no abnormalities, picked up her chopsticks and began eating.
After a few bites, Mu Yunjin discovered that today’s meal was even more bland than the vegetarian food from Quiet Heart Garden. She pressed her lips together, losing her appetite.
Pushing the food aside, Mu Yunjin continued copying the scripture.
“Dong, dong, dong—”
The sound of a temple bell reached the hall.
Mu Yunjin was startled by the sudden bell sound. She looked around, and when her gaze fell on the Guanyin statue, she felt an inexplicable heaviness in her heart.
Being alone here was truly frightening.
Mu Yunjin thought for a moment, put down her brush again, packed up the scripture, and walked toward the small inner room.
Entering the small room, Mu Yunjin sat down on the bed and wrapped herself in the quilt. Only then did that mysterious sense of fear dissipate somewhat.
Leaning against the pillow, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help wondering if she had grown accustomed to comfortable living recently, causing her courage to diminish so much.
“Dong, dong, dong—” The bell rang again.
Mu Yunjin didn’t understand what the bell signified at this hour, but each time she heard it, her fear deepened.
“Tap, tap, tap.” Faint footsteps could be heard outside the door.
Mu Yunjin clutched the quilt, listening as the barely audible footsteps became increasingly clear before seemingly stopping at the entrance of Peaceful Heart Hall.
Then, Mu Yunjin heard the door of Peaceful Heart Hall being quietly opened and closed, along with footsteps as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.
Mu Yunjin had an ominous feeling. She got out of bed, pressed her body against the wall by the small room’s doorway, gripping her dagger tightly in her palm, listening to the approaching footsteps.
As the footsteps outside drew closer to the small room, a cold flash of light appeared at the doorway, followed by a “crack” sound—the sound of hand joints dislocating.
“Clang—”
Mu Yunjin’s dagger fell to the ground as she clutched her right hand in pain. When she recognized who had come, her eyes blazed with fury, glaring at the intruder.
Chu Li stood in the doorway, glancing at the dagger on the ground, then at Mu Yunjin clutching her arm. He seemed momentarily stunned before coming to his senses.
“You bastard, what are you staring at? Quickly reset my arm!” Mu Yunjin gritted her teeth. Just as her dagger was about to strike, Chu Li had grabbed her arm and yanked so forcefully that it dislocated.
Chu Li frowned slightly, then grasped Mu Yunjin’s right arm, repositioning the dislocated joint.
Fortunately, it was only a dislocation. Had he used a bit more force earlier, her arm might have been torn off completely. This foolish woman.
“Does it hurt?” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin with eyes full of distress.
Mu Yunjin snorted, “Why don’t you try it?”
Seeing that she still had the energy to be angry, Chu Li knew she wasn’t seriously injured. He sighed in relief, bent down to pick up the dagger from the floor, and handed it to her. “What were you trying to do?”
“Murder my husband?”
Mu Yunjin took the dagger, frowning, “Who told you to sneak around in the middle of the night?”
“Why did you suddenly come?” she asked without waiting for Chu Li to answer.
Chu Li smiled faintly, “I was worried you’d be afraid alone here, so I came to keep you company.”
“Who said I was afraid?” Mu Yunjin muttered, though her fear had eased somewhat due to Chu Li’s arrival.
“Then I’ll leave…”
“No!”
…
“Chu Li, us lying together like this, does it count as blasphemy?” Mu Yunjin lay on her side on the small bed, looking up at Chu Li beside her.
This was, after all, a temple, with a Guanyin statue just outside the door. She felt somewhat uneasy.
“It’s fine, I won’t touch you,” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin, gently massaging her arm to help alleviate some of the pain.
“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded, lowering her eyes, feeling drowsy.
“Sleep peacefully.” Chu Li comforted her in a low voice.
Mu Yunjin murmured in agreement, yawned, and soon fell into deep sleep.
After a while, hearing the soft breathing beside him, Chu Li quietly sat up from the bed, carefully repositioned the side-sleeping Mu Yunjin to lie flat, making her more comfortable.
After tucking her in, Chu Li walked out of the small room toward the desk.
Approaching the desk and seeing the three brushes placed there, Chu Li was somewhat surprised. He bent down to sit, examined what she had copied, and then his lips twitched as he shook his head with a smile.
That she could think of such a method was truly remarkable—a mischievous and clever little fox indeed.
But such ugly handwriting would be difficult to imitate.
Chu Li sighed softly, picked up the three brushes, dipped them in ink, opened the scripture beside him, and continued sloppily writing where she had left off.
…
When Mu Yunjin woke the next day, she found herself occupying the entire small bed. Opening her eyes, she instinctively looked around but saw no sign of Chu Li.
Did he sneak away?
Mu Yunjin got out of bed, inwardly scorning him.
After walking out of the small room, the Peaceful Heart Hall remained empty, without another soul.
Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, opened the main door of the hall, and walked outside.
Following her memory, she came to a clear small stream. Mu Yunjin crouched by the stream and lowered her head to wash her face.
After washing, Mu Yunjin returned to Peaceful Heart Hall.
Breakfast had already been brought in—simple rice porridge and pickled vegetables. Having eaten little the night before, Mu Yunjin found the morning porridge much more palatable than yesterday’s bland vegetarian fare.
After breakfast, Mu Yunjin opened the scripture she had been copying yesterday. After flipping through nearly twenty pages, Mu Yunjin scratched her head in surprise—had she written this much yesterday?
Mu Yunjin couldn’t quite remember. She ground some more ink and continued writing.
She had just written two characters when a clamor arose outside the door, followed by Bei Tang Wenfeng’s voice: “This King wishes to see Yunjin. You all wait outside.”
After speaking, the main door of Peaceful Heart Hall was knocked upon. “Yunjin, are you inside?”
Mu Yunjin rolled her eyes and pressed her lips together, ignoring him.
Hearing no response from Mu Yunjin, Bei Tang Wenfeng persisted, “Yunjin, may This King enter?”
“No,” Mu Yunjin replied coldly.
“I see…” Bei Tang Wenfeng’s voice seemed somewhat dejected. “This King has prepared some food for you. I’ll leave it outside the door.”
Mu Yunjin remained unmoved.
After a moment, the doorway fell silent.
Mu Yunjin put down her brush, her previously calm heart growing restless. She took several deep breaths, then rose and walked outside.
Opening the door, she saw a food box placed there. Mu Yunjin glanced at it, then stepped over it, heading toward the back mountain.
Arriving at the back mountain, Mu Yunjin looked at the flowers covering the mountainside, breathed in the fresh air, and then sat cross-legged on the ground.
She had been sitting there for an unknown length of time when Master Huaiyuan’s voice came from behind her, “Does the Princess Consort of Prince Ning have something on her mind?”
“No, I just came out for some fresh air.” Mu Yunjin didn’t even turn her head.
Master Huaiyuan smiled, “This old monk just sent off the Northern Ming King. Before leaving, he gave countless instructions.”
“Ignore him,” Mu Yunjin replied irritably.
“Did Prince Ning stay overnight here yesterday?” Master Huaiyuan asked.
At the mention of Chu Li, Mu Yunjin’s face brightened, “He came last night, but seemed to leave in the middle of the night.”
“Middle of the night?” Master Huaiyuan paused, stroking his head. “But this old monk saw Prince Ning leaving Peaceful Heart Hall at the fifth watch this morning.”
The fifth watch?
Mu Yunjin tilted her head and thought, around six in the morning. Had Chu Li truly stayed all night?
Thinking this, Mu Yunjin’s heart immediately warmed, feeling much better.
Seeing Mu Yunjin’s improved mood, Master Huaiyuan studied her back, speaking with deeper meaning, “Prince Ning harbors profound feelings for you. I hope the Princess Consort treasures this affection and current circumstance.”
“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded. Who said only Chu Li had deep feelings for her? She felt the same toward him.
After chatting idly with Master Huaiyuan for a while, Mu Yunjin, knowing she was here for confinement, did not linger on the back mountain. She bid farewell to Master Huaiyuan and walked back toward Peaceful Heart Hall.
On her way back, she passed by the entrance of the Dark Pavilion. After walking a few steps, a secret voice reached her ears—
“Mu’er.”
…
“What matter brings Imperial Consort Rong to call for me?” Mu Yunjin stood outside the formation with folded arms, addressing the silent darkness around her.
“Mu’er.” Consort Rong’s voice sounded in the darkness. “You are much more fortunate than I was back then.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, “The offenses we committed cannot be compared.”
“Hehehe…” Consort Rong laughed lightly.
“Regarding the Heavenly God’s Command, you already know about it, right?” Consort Rong suddenly mentioned.
Mu Yunjin made an affirmative sound, waiting for her to continue.
“The world outside grows increasingly turbulent. Since you’ve taken over my Phoenix Feather Pavilion, you cannot let this secret pavilion remain idle. From today, you will be responsible for finding the whereabouts of the Heavenly God’s Command to help Li’er.”
Consort Rong’s tone was firm, seemingly allowing no refusal.
“Why?” Although Mu Yunjin knew the reason, she still couldn’t help asking.
“Heaven and earth are stirring, celestial phenomena are unusual. If we don’t act now, it will be too late…” Consort Rong sighed softly.