When Mu Yunjin emerged from the Dark Pavilion, her mood was heavy, with Consort Rong’s every word echoing in her ears.

The Heavenly God’s Command…

Recalling the legend of the Heavenly God’s Command mentioned by the Taoist Feng Xuan, Mu Yunjin felt a tremor of fear.

If this token were to appear in the world, wouldn’t it cause even greater upheaval in heaven and earth?

But Consort Rong’s words just now had also reminded her of something—if this Heavenly God’s Command fell into the wrong hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Returning to Peaceful Heart Hall, Mu Yunjin leaned against the door and activated the Phoenix Feather Pavilion’s spirit signal on her wrist.

Seeing the signal light up, Mu Yunjin returned to the table and continued copying the scripture.

Moments later, a flash of pink light appeared in Peaceful Heart Hall, and Qiqi’s figure materialized. After catching her breath, she spoke to Mu Yunjin, “Master, where have you been all this time? No one in the pavilion could sense your presence.”

“Oh?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, looking at Qiqi. “Wasn’t the spirit signal supposed to light up when I was in danger?”

Qiqi shook her head, “The spirit signal seems to have malfunctioned lately. If you hadn’t actively triggered it just now, we wouldn’t have been able to sense you at all.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded in understanding, though she couldn’t explain this phenomenon.

“Eh? Master, why are you in this temple?” Qiqi looked around, then back at Mu Yunjin, who was copying scripture.

“I’ve been punished with forty-nine days of confinement here,” Mu Yunjin said, lowering her eyes.

Qiqi sat down in front of her and, hearing her words, couldn’t help but giggle, “Master, even you can be punished?”

“Yes, after all, I killed Emperor Ximing’s biological daughter right in front of him.” Speaking of Chu Qingqiang’s death, Mu Yunjin’s mind still felt fuzzy. In her memory, she had killed Chu Qingqiang, but she couldn’t remember how she had done it.

“Ha…” Qiqi exclaimed in surprise, “You killed his daughter, and he only punished you with this?”

Mu Yunjin nodded.

Hearing this, Qiqi stood up and carefully examined the surroundings, appearing cautious.

“What are you doing?” Mu Yunjin looked up.

“I’m afraid there might be a trap here! Master, you must be careful. Don’t end up dying beneath some mechanism in this place.” Qiqi sniffed the air around them.

Mu Yunjin laughed, “Don’t worry, he wouldn’t dare let me die here.”

“You’re so certain?” Qiqi didn’t understand why Mu Yunjin was so confident. She sat back down, “By the way, Master, you activated the spirit signal. Did you need to find me for something?”

At this reminder, Mu Yunjin remembered that she did indeed have something to ask Qiqi, “I want the pavilion’s help in finding something.”

“What thing?” Qiqi blinked, ears perked up to listen.

“The Heavenly God’s Command,” Mu Yunjin said.

Qiqi scratched her head, slightly furrowing her brow, seemingly contemplating something, but after a while, couldn’t recall anything.

“What is this thing?” Qiqi asked.

“A token,” Mu Yunjin answered. “First, arrange for everyone in the pavilion to search for it. Once found, don’t announce it publicly—just inform me, and I’ll come to the pavilion personally to retrieve it.”

Seeing how serious Mu Yunjin was about this, Qiqi naturally understood the importance of the Heavenly God’s Command. She immediately nodded and patted her chest, “Master, you can rest assured.”

“Mm, I trust you to handle this,” Mu Yunjin smiled, reaching out to stroke Qiqi’s cat ears on top of her head.

Qiqi was a cat spirit, half-human and half-cat. The more one looked at her, the cuter she appeared.

“Meow…” Qiqi whimpered coquettishly toward Mu Yunjin, then got up and moved to Mu Yunjin’s side, rubbing her chin against Mu Yunjin’s arm.

“What’s wrong?” Mu Yunjin looked at her.

“I’m hungry, I want fish…”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin reached out and pinched her face, “This is a Buddhist temple! Where would I find fish for you?”

Qiqi pouted, “Then I’ll go eat in the streets of Butterfly Flower City. Flying here at top speed just now has consumed quite a bit of my energy.”

“Here you go,” Mu Yunjin took out her money pouch and tossed it to Qiqi.

“Master is so good to me,” Qiqi cradled the money pouch and ran out the door.

…

As night fell, Mu Yunjin wasn’t sure if Chu Li would come tonight. She bathed early and crawled under the covers before darkness completely fell, seeking a sense of security.

All in all, being alone here at night truly frightened her.

Perhaps because Chu Li wasn’t there, Mu Yunjin lay in bed for a long time. Though somewhat drowsy, she couldn’t completely relax into sleep.

After a while, familiar footsteps approached.

When Chu Li entered the door, he saw Mu Yunjin lying in the small bed, tightly wrapped in the quilt, her entire body curled up.

“Are you cold?” Chu Li sat down beside her bed, feeling the thickness of the quilt.

Mu Yunjin shook her head and reached out to grab Chu Li’s hand, frowning, “Why did you come so late?”

“I was delayed by some matters,” Chu Li held her hand. “Why are your hands so cold?”

Mu Yunjin shifted her body inward, lying on her side, leaving some space for Chu Li. After Chu Li lay down, he reached out and held Mu Yunjin in his arms, “Sleep now.”

“How are things outside now?” Mu Yunjin had no desire to sleep at the moment and just wanted to talk with Chu Li.

“Everything is as before,” Chu Li said calmly.

“Mm, has Minister Mu’s funeral been completed?” Mu Yunjin suddenly thought of Minister Mu, feeling a twinge of sorrow.

Sensing the change in the person in his arms, Chu Li gently patted Mu Yunjin’s back, “He has been buried.”

“Then, what about my brother and the others?” Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes. According to the law, they shouldn’t be allowed to remain in the Minister’s mansion.

“Mu Yunhan has left Butterfly Flower City.”

“As for the others, this Prince has made arrangements for them.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin was stunned and looked at Chu Li in surprise, “My brother left? Then…”

“He divorced Zhuang Yuyan,” Chu Li seemed to know what she wanted to ask and answered in advance.

“Mm.” Hearing this result, Mu Yunjin wasn’t particularly surprised, but she thought of the once large family guarding that mansion.

Now with Minister Mu gone, the entire Mu family had fallen.

It was all her fault.

“Don’t overthink. Go to sleep,” Chu Li saw that she had little desire to sleep today and couldn’t help but urge her.

Mu Yunjin pouted slightly, “Mm.”

After speaking, she counted on her fingers. She had originally thought forty-nine days would pass quickly, but after just two days, she was already struggling to endure.

As she pondered, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

After Mu Yunjin fell asleep, Chu Li, like yesterday, rose from the bed again, walked outside, and sat at the table, examining what Mu Yunjin had copied today.

Seeing that she had only written a short two pages today, Chu Li sighed softly and picked up a brush to help her continue copying.

…

When Mu Yunjin woke up again, Chu Li had already left.

After returning to Peaceful Heart Hall from washing up outside, Mu Yunjin opened the main door wide, wanting to let in some fresh air from outside.

While sitting at the table drinking porridge, two figures entered through the door—Bei Tang Wenfeng and Jiang Qingxue, carrying food boxes, walked in.

Bei Tang Wenfeng had originally come just hoping to see her. When he saw the open door of Peaceful Heart Hall today, he knew that the child Yunjin must have softened her heart and deliberately left the door open.

“Yunjin…”

Hearing the voice above her head, Mu Yunjin didn’t even lift her eyelids and continued drinking her porridge.

“Why eat such a simple breakfast? Imperial Father and your mother have brought you some food.” Bei Tang Wenfeng said as he squatted down, patiently opening the food box and taking out the food items one by one, placing them on the table.

Jiang Qingxue was still likely worried about Mu Yunjin’s attitude toward her. At this moment, she only dared to stand aside, not daring to utter a word, letting Bei Tang Wenfeng handle everything.

She had originally been concerned that Bei Tang Wenfeng, as the sovereign of Northern Ming, would not do such things, but now it seemed she had worried unnecessarily.

At least now, he still appeared to care deeply for this child.

“The King should know that I am being punished with confinement here. Please take this food back,” Mu Yunjin said coldly. Bei Tang Wenfeng’s earlier address as “Imperial Father” felt extremely ironic.

Bei Tang Wenfeng was taken aback, then nodded, “Yes, you’re right.”

“Yunjin, the weather has turned cold now. Water Cloud Temple is a secluded place, several degrees colder than the city. Your mother has sewn two fox fur cloaks for you. Please accept them.” Bei Tang Wenfeng finished speaking and gestured to Jiang Qingxue with his eyes.

Jiang Qingxue immediately opened the package and took out the fox fur cloak, but before she could present it to Mu Yunjin, she heard Mu Yunjin say coolly, “The cloak made by Xuejin is equally warm. I’ve brought it.”

Jiang Qingxue’s hand gripping the cloak tightened slightly, then dropped powerlessly.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin was impenetrable, Bei Tang Wenfeng was momentarily at a loss. He lowered his eyes and sighed heavily.

These past two days, since learning that Yunjin was his daughter, he had ordered all his subordinates to investigate how Yunjin had lived these years in Butterfly Flower City.

But what they discovered…

From childhood, she had been confined to the Picking Flowers Pavilion, not allowed to go out, with no teachers to teach her reading and writing. She was often bullied by the young masters and misses of the household, and even some servants would verbally abuse and beat her. The only impression the city’s residents had of her was that of a timid and cowardly good-for-nothing, with no other impressions whatsoever.

Upon learning this, Bei Tang Wenfeng was shocked for a long time, followed by overwhelming distress and regret.

This was his daughter.

A princess of Northern Ming, who had been stranded outside, suffering such mistreatment for so many years.

His other princesses had been born with silver spoons in their mouths, free from worries about food and clothing, enjoying noble status. In comparison, Yunjin had truly suffered too much.

Now, just thinking about all this, even if Mu Yunjin’s attitude toward him remained cold, he would not feel any anger or resentment. Instead, it deepened his sense of apology to his daughter and his determination to compensate her.

After Mu Yunjin finished her porridge, she placed the bowl aside, automatically treating Bei Tang Wenfeng and Jiang Qingxue in the hall as if they were air. She picked up her brush, preparing to begin copying the scripture.

After turning a few pages, Mu Yunjin frowned, somewhat surprised. She remembered not writing much yesterday, so how had another twenty pages suddenly appeared?

Mu Yunjin pondered this and looked at the copied content several more times. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that although the handwriting was messy and sloppy, it had brush strokes. It looked similar to her handwriting, but it wasn’t written by her hand.

Who had written this?

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, sinking into deep thought…

Bei Tang Wenfeng had been observing Mu Yunjin closely. Seeing her pause after opening the copied scripture, he followed her line of sight, glanced at the content, and suddenly burst into laughter with a “pfft.”