At noon, Mu Yunjin sat on the railing in front of Master Huaiyuan’s meditation courtyard, looking out at the view, taking in the scenery outside Water Cloud Temple.
Mu Yunjin swung her legs, holding a steamed bun that a young monk had just brought her, eating while watching the distance.
“My lady, you should probably put your legs down. These steps are at least two stories high. If you fall from here, my lord will tear down this entire Water Cloud Temple.”
Huang Yan’s teasing voice suddenly sounded from the side.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in her eyes, “Besides tearing down Water Cloud Temple, wouldn’t he also break your bones?”
“My dear lady, I don’t believe I’ve offended you before, have I?” Huang Yan stepped closer, looking in the direction Mu Yunjin was gazing, then gently tugged at her sleeve, “What are you looking at?”
“The scenery,” Mu Yunjin remained seated on the railing.
After a pause, Mu Yunjin turned to look at Huang Yan, “Why are you suddenly here?”
“My lord told me to wait for him here at noon,” Huang Yan raised an eyebrow, his gaze once again glancing at Mu Yunjin’s legs.
Hearing that Chu Li was coming, Mu Yunjin immediately pulled back her legs, got up from the railing, and stood steadily on the ground, twisting her waist slightly, “I got a bit tired sitting for so long.”
Huang Yan snickered, “If you’re afraid of your husband, just say so…”
Mu Yunjin glared at Huang Yan. When she looked back, she saw Chu Li in moon-white ceremonial robes appearing at the bottom of the steps, slowly walking up, his posture elegant and refined.
From the moment he entered Water Cloud Temple, Chu Li had seen a certain woman sitting on the railing, leisurely swinging her legs. Now seeing her obediently standing on the ground, much of his anger dissipated.
“Why are you here?” Mu Yunjin walked over to Chu Li as he approached. He had just left Water Cloud Temple this morning after helping her copy scriptures all night—wasn’t he tired?
Seeing her approach, Chu Li pressed his lips together in displeasure and reached out to pinch her face with some force, “Dare to sit on the railing again?”
“Ouch, you’re making a fuss over nothing,” Mu Yunjin rubbed her face, not angry, and asked again, “Why did you come?”
“To discuss some matters with Master Huaiyuan,” Chu Li replied in a gentle voice, his eyes somewhat deep and distant.
Mu Yunjin nodded, “Then you two go ahead.”
Seeing that she didn’t ask to join, Chu Li nodded slightly, “Then, this Prince will go in first. Behave yourself.”
“Mm,” Mu Yunjin smiled at him.
After Chu Li and Huang Yan entered Master Huaiyuan’s meditation courtyard, a figure appeared from a corner nearby, then cautiously approached Mu Yunjin, crouching low.
“Master…”
Mu Yunjin glanced at the suddenly appearing Qiqi, then looked toward the meditation courtyard before grabbing Qiqi’s wrist and standing in the corner where Qiqi had been hiding.
“Why have you appeared too?” Mu Yunjin spoke very softly.
Seeing Mu Yunjin’s caution, Qiqi initially wanted to say that Chu Li already knew about the Phoenix Feather Pavilion, but after a moment’s hesitation, she decided to address the main issue first.
“After returning to Phoenix Feather Pavilion, I had all subordinates search for the whereabouts of the Heavenly God’s Command. But this morning, when Xiumei returned from outside, she told me that two other forces are also searching for this token.”
“One force is from Western Yuan, and one is from Eastern Lin…”
Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, seemingly very surprised to hear this information from Qiqi’s mouth. She couldn’t help but slightly clench her fist and bite her lip.
“Can you find out which two forces they are?” Mu Yunjin asked.
Qiqi frowned, “It will take some time. Those people are hiding extremely well, without showing any traces.”
“Good, I understand. Tell everyone in the pavilion to be careful as well, and not to expose themselves,” Mu Yunjin instructed, her eyes flashing with clarity.
“Then I’ll leave first,” Qiqi pointed toward the meditation courtyard, speaking in a low voice to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin nodded.
After Qiqi left, Mu Yunjin returned to the steps. At this moment, she could see a large procession of carriages and guards coming from the direction of the city exit.
Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together. Before the carriages approached Water Cloud Temple, she suddenly turned and left.
What was there to see anyway?
…
Returning alone to Peaceful Heart Hall, seeing the person standing at the entrance, Mu Yunjin thought to herself, What day is today?
“Miss Mu,” Hong Ling, seeing Mu Yunjin’s figure approaching, immediately ran forward.
“Why are you here? Aren’t you returning to Eastern Lin today?” Mu Yunjin walked into Peaceful Heart Hall, heading toward the desk, with Hong Ling following behind her.
Hong Ling looked around, smiled while pressing her lips together, “I left the city early and will join His Highness later.”
“Do you need something from me?” Mu Yunjin noticed her smiling and being alone, which suggested she had something to say.
Hong Ling nodded, “I’ve come today with two matters to discuss with Miss Mu.”
“First, on orders from our prince, he asked me to convey a message to Miss Mu: if you ever come to Eastern Lin in the future, you must remember to find him. He truly considers you a friend.” After speaking, Hong Ling felt somewhat regretful for her master. Having cared for her master for so many years, this was the first time she had seen him develop feelings for a woman, yet she was already someone else’s wife.
Thinking of Rong Jiu, Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly. Ever since she went to that unfortunate Qingzhou, she had continuously formed connections with people from the other three kingdoms.
“Alright, I will,” Mu Yunjin agreed to Hong Ling’s words.
Hong Ling beamed with joy, then her expression darkened as she thought of the second point, “The second matter concerns our Eastern Lin’s Second Prince, Rong Min.”
“Rong Min?” Mentioning this person, Mu Yunjin recalled his involvement with Chu Qingqiang.
“Second Prince is currently secretly staying as a guest at the General’s Mansion, having reached some private agreement with the Qin family. Some time ago, when Miss Mu encountered the Crown Prince being pursued by assassins in Qingzhou, those killers were sent by the Second Prince.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin was shocked. After she had discovered the plot between Chu Qingqiang and Rong Min, she had ordered people from Phoenix Feather Pavilion to burn down the Flower Moon Tower and Moon Flower Tower, their means of communication. She wondered if Rong Min knew it was her doing.
If he knew, she would inevitably face more trouble.
“Please, Miss Mu, be very careful of this person,” Hong Ling earnestly warned again. During their time in Western Yuan, they had seen the tense relationship between the Qin and Mu families.
And Mu Yunjin had publicly injured Qin Muyue in the great hall that day. The Qin family, being a military family, would never swallow such an insult.
Second Prince Rong Min had always been full of schemes and was particularly skilled in the art of poison. If he joined forces with the Qin family against Prince Ning’s residence, there would inevitably be a fierce battle.
“I understand,” Mu Yunjin’s heart sank, then she smiled at Hong Ling, “Thank you for the warning. I will be careful.”
Hong Ling nodded and smiled, “Then I’ll take my leave. Take care, Miss Mu.”
“Goodbye,” Mu Yunjin smiled.
After Hong Ling left, Mu Yunjin’s expression darkened as she carefully considered Hong Ling’s words, then stood up and walked back toward the meditation courtyard.
…
At this moment, inside Master Huaiyuan’s meditation courtyard:
“Phoenix Feather Pavilion has also begun to search for the Heavenly God’s Command. I wonder if it was on my lady’s orders,” Huang Yan frowned as he reported to Chu Li.
Chu Li’s expression remained calm, though a chill seeped into his heart. She had still stepped into the abyss after all.
“The other day, she entered the Dark Pavilion,” Master Huaiyuan sighed softly, speaking very quietly, afraid of touching a sensitive chord in Chu Li’s heart.
“The Dark Pavilion? Could it be that Consort Rong told her about the Heavenly God’s Command?” Huang Yan was surprised, then seemed to remember something and added, “It must be so.”
After all, Phoenix Feather Pavilion had once belonged to Consort Rong. Her transferring this secret pavilion to Mu Yunjin meant there had long been a connection between them.
Consort Rong had spent years relentlessly searching for the Heavenly God’s Command. Now trapped in the formation, she would certainly try to find someone to help her search.
Listening to Master Huaiyuan and Huang Yan, Chu Li lowered his gaze to the chessboard before him, his eyes unfocused, lips pressed into a line, with disappointment gradually expanding in his heart.
Was she looking for the Heavenly God’s Command because she agreed with his imperial mother’s words? Did she not believe in his abilities and want to use those death spirits and death soldiers to achieve her desires?
Or perhaps she too had ambitions…
Chu Li didn’t want to think further. His eyes gradually filled with coldness as he frowned, saying nothing.
Sensing the chill and severity emanating from Chu Li, Huang Yan immediately became cautious, not daring to speak carelessly.
Master Huaiyuan fingered his prayer beads and sighed lightly, “Amitabha, this Heavenly God’s Command is merely a legend, its truth unknown, yet it has harmed countless lost souls.”
Just then, someone knocked on the door outside, “Princess Consort of Prince Ning requests an audience.”
Hearing that Mu Yunjin had arrived, the atmosphere in the room became subtle. Master Huaiyuan looked at Chu Li and said languidly, “Let her in.”
When Mu Yunjin entered, she saw Chu Li with a tense face, treating her as if she were air, not even glancing at her. Huang Yan and Master Huaiyuan also looked at her with uncomfortable expressions.
Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but touch her face, “Is there something on my face?”
Huang Yan’s slight head shake was her only answer.
Mu Yunjin sat down to the side and looked at Chu Li again. Chu Li turned to look at her, their eyes meeting. Chu Li’s eyes were filled with coldness, shrouded in mist, full of depth.
“Why… are you looking at me like that…” Mu Yunjin hugged her arms, feeling an inexplicable chill all around.
“Does the Princess Consort have something to discuss?” Master Huaiyuan, seeing the awkward atmosphere, spoke first to break the impasse.
Mu Yunjin had originally wanted to tell Chu Li about Rong Min, but seeing the situation here was not right, guessing that their earlier conversation must have been unpleasant, she didn’t want to add to Chu Li’s troubles.
She forced a smile and stood up again, “Nothing, just came to have a look.”
“You all continue your discussion. I’ll leave first,” Mu Yunjin said, preparing to turn and leave.
“My lady, wait,” Huang Yan called to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin looked at Huang Yan, “What is it?”
“Has my lady been looking for something recently?” Huang Yan said, taking out a lustrous pearl from his sleeve, “I just picked this up on the road. Is it something my lady dropped?”
Mu Yunjin was initially startled by Huang Yan’s words, then upon seeing the unfamiliar pearl, she inexplicably felt relieved and shook her head, “I haven’t lost anything.”
“So it’s not my lady’s…”
“That’s good. If in the future my lady loses something and needs to find it, you can trouble this servant to help you find it. There’s no need to labor yourself…”
Mu Yunjin looked sideways, slightly frowning, not understanding Huang Yan’s meaning, “I understand, but I haven’t lost anything, so there’s nothing to find.”
With those words, Mu Yunjin walked out the door.