After sending the two children away with Song Chun, Mu Yunjin used her lightness kung fu to fly back to the Ning Prince’s Mansion. After landing in the garden, she ran to find Chu Li.

At this time, Chu Li was in his study. Seeing her return, he raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “The people have been brought back and are in the side hall.”

“Finally, a crisis averted,” Mu Yunjin sighed deeply, walking behind Chu Li and bending down to embrace him from behind, deliberately rubbing her face against his.

Chu Li turned his head and kissed her lightly on the lips, then took her hand in his. “Did you expose yourself?”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin immediately shook her head. “No, I was very careful.”

Chu Li chuckled softly. “First, go to the side hall to settle those mother and daughter, then come back and settle me.”

“What kind of settling do you need?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, her lips curved in a smile.

“What do you think?” Chu Li asked in return.

Mu Yunjin giggled a few times, pretending not to understand, and casually ran out the door toward the side hall.

…

…

In the side hall, Luo Ningyu and Mu Xiarou embraced each other, their bodies trembling continuously. They still hadn’t recovered from the fright they’d experienced at the Rong Prince’s Mansion.

When Mu Yunjin pushed open the door, Luo Ningyu immediately pulled Mu Xiarou down to kneel with her, kowtowing on the ground. “This humble woman is useless. Today I have caused great trouble for the Princess Consort. Please forgive us…”

Seeing that Luo Ningyu was truly frightened, Mu Yunjin sighed and bent down to help her up. “Please rise. It was my oversight today. I should have sent people to escort you to Heyue City.”

“What should we, mother and daughter, do now?” Luo Ningyu opened her mouth and asked hoarsely.

Mu Yunjin took a breath and thought carefully. “Heyue City has been discovered by them, so you can’t go there, or they’ll come looking for trouble anytime.”

“Then…” Luo Ningyu hesitated.

“When the Prince and I went to Qingzhou before, we passed a place called Linyindu. The folk customs there are simple, and it’s far from the imperial city. It might be a good place to go,” Mu Yunjin said.

When Luo Ningyu heard “far from the imperial city,” her brow immediately relaxed, and she nodded. “That’s good. We’ll follow the Princess Consort’s arrangements.”

“Will you leave tonight or rest here for the night?” Mu Yunjin asked in a low voice.

“The night is long, and dreams are many. Let’s leave tonight,” Luo Ningyu replied. Today she had met the reportedly virtuous and dignified Rong Princess Consort, and even now, thinking about her made her break out in a cold sweat.

Mu Yunjin made a sound of agreement. “Very well. You can leave by the Prince’s Mansion carriage in a while. This time I will have people escort you to Linyindu.”

“Thank you, Princess Consort. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble for us this time,” Luo Ningyu said, full of gratitude.

Mu Xiarou, standing to the side, sniffled. “Thank you, Third Sister.”

After they had finished talking, Mu Yunjin led the two toward the back gate of the Prince’s Mansion. By this time, Ding Xian had already prepared a carriage. Seeing Mu Yunjin approach, he stepped forward and said in a low voice, “A hundred Purple Armor secret guards have been assigned to escort them. They will arrive safely in Linyindu.”

“I trust Guard Ding to handle matters,” Mu Yunjin said, raising her eyebrows.

After sending Luo Ningyu and Mu Xiarou into the carriage, Mu Yunjin walked toward Liquan Pavilion. As she walked, she felt somewhat uneasy.

……

When she returned to her room, Chu Li was sitting inside waiting for her. Seeing her return, his eyes were filled with amusement. “All settled?”

“Mmm.” Mu Yunjin’s lips curved up as she walked closer to Chu Li. Just as she was about to sit down in the chair next to him, Chu Li grabbed her arm and pulled her gently, bringing her to sit on his lap.

“Have you thought about how to settle me?” Chu Li leaned closer to her, his warm breath falling on Mu Yunjin’s face, making her feel ticklish. She reached up to scratch her face.

Mu Yunjin put her arms around Chu Li’s neck and smiled sweetly. “Whatever the Ning Prince decides.”

“Are you sure?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, but…” Mu Yunjin deliberately drew out her voice, “Before you properly marry me with an eight-bearer bridal sedan, don’t even think about certain things.”

Hearing this, the ardor in Chu Li’s eyes was half extinguished by Mu Yunjin. “How many days until your confinement ends?”

Mu Yunjin counted on her fingers. “Over thirty days.”

“All right…” Chu Li’s tone was full of meaning.

“What? You don’t plan to come for me with an eight-bearer bridal sedan when my confinement ends, do you? We’ve already had one ceremony. How will you explain to everyone this time?” Mu Yunjin asked in surprise.

Chu Li raised his eyebrows. “I’ll do as I please. Who would dare to question?”

“Clap, clap, clap—” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but applaud in admiration.

After some teasing, Zixiang knocked on the door and then brought in the evening meal. Mu Yunjin was about to get up, but Chu Li firmly held her, not letting her rise from his lap.

So when Zixiang entered, she saw Mu Yunjin sitting on Chu Li’s lap, one with an awkward expression, the other extremely calm, looking inseparable.

Zixiang lowered her eyes and smiled, quickly placed the dishes on the table, and then ran out, closing the door firmly behind her.

“Alright, time to eat,” Mu Yunjin said, trying to get up again, but Chu Li’s hand remained firmly around her waist, showing no intention of letting her rise.

“Let’s eat like this,” Chu Li said with a smile in his voice.

Mu Yunjin pouted and looked back at Chu Li. “My Lord Ning Prince, do you need to be this clingy?”

“What if I say yes?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

“Then I’ll… feed you.”

“Sounds good.”

After teasing each other for a while, they finally sat separately and started their evening meal.

……

When Qin Muyue arrived at Anxin Hall in Water Cloud Temple with her entourage, Huang Yan was lying on a hard bed in the small room with his face veiled, his back toward the door.

After hearing the secret report from the Rong Princess Consort, Qin Muyue had come directly to Water Cloud Temple. She refused to believe that Mu Yunjin could escape detection every time.

Now, seeing someone lying on the bed, Qin Muyue narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at the person’s back, feeling that it seemed a bit broader than Mu Yunjin’s.

“Sister-in-law Yunjin…” Qin Muyue said with a smile, looking again at the figure lying there. Although the legs were bent, she could see it was an extremely tall person.

This person was not Mu Yunjin.

Huang Yan, lying on the bed, stiffened his back and spoke in a high-pitched voice, “Don’t disturb my sleep!”

“Sister-in-law Yunjin has quite a temper. Muyue has come especially to see you today. Why don’t you turn around?” Qin Muyue said, moving closer to Huang Yan and leaning down to look at him.

Huang Yan suddenly raised his palm, the force of it sweeping toward Qin Muyue. Qin Muyue couldn’t avoid it in time and stepped back several paces, then angrily said, “Who exactly are you, substituting for Mu Yunjin during her confinement?”

“I am your grand-aunt Yunjin!” Huang Yan turned around and sat on the bed, one leg crossed, his hand resting on his knee, looking rakish.

At this moment, with his face covered by a veil and delicate makeup applied, those behind Qin Muyue who examined his eyes thought he didn’t look much different from Mu Yunjin.

But his build certainly didn’t look like a woman’s.

“Is that so?” Qin Muyue smiled playfully and pulled out an imperial edict, throwing it in front of Huang Yan. “Today I have come by imperial order to conduct a random inspection. So please, Sister-in-law Yunjin, remove your veil and let me see if you are genuine.”

“What if I don’t remove it?” Huang Yan asked in return.

“Disobeying an imperial edict—you know the consequences,” Qin Muyue said, becoming increasingly convinced that Huang Yan was nervous. Today, having heard the news from the Rong Prince’s Mansion, she was certain that Mu Yunjin was not confined here. She had therefore brought over a thousand imperial guards, who were now waiting outside.

Huang Yan laughed coldly and lay down again, propping his head with one hand. “What consequences?”

“I am the Ning Princess Consort of Western Yuan and Princess Jinhua of Northern Ming. Before you mention the imperial edict, first pay your respects to me.” Huang Yan spoke in a shrill voice, suddenly feeling that after being cooped up in this place for so long, he finally had something to relieve the boredom.

This little wretch Qin had previously tricked his master by claiming she was the Phoenix Maiden, causing his master to be pestered by her daily all these years. Now she was making trouble again. He would make her pay.

Qin Muyue was stunned, then sneered, “You haven’t removed your veil. How do I know if you’re the Ning Princess Consort?”

“But if I remove the veil and am indeed the Princess Consort, can I charge you with the crime of disrespect toward a superior?” Huang Yan asked in return.

Qin Muyue was at a loss for words, wondering where Mu Yunjin had found such a capable person. Though she knew he was an impostor, she had the feeling she couldn’t do anything about it.

“I am acting on imperial orders. Princess Consort, please follow the edict first. If you are indeed Sister-in-law Yunjin, Muyue will naturally pay respects to you. But if you are not, the Ministry of Justice’s prison awaits you,” Qin Muyue invoked the edict.

“Sigh.” Huang Yan suddenly sighed and shook his head helplessly. “His Majesty is too much. He ordered me to be confined alone in Anxin Hall, yet every few days he sends idle people to find fault with me.”

“Princess Consort, please…” Qin Muyue said somewhat excitedly.

Hearing this, Huang Yan did move to remove his veil. Just as his hand touched the veil, he paused again. “The imperial edict doesn’t say I have to remove my veil. Let’s make another bet. If I remove it and I am Mu Yunjin, you’ll crawl out of Water Cloud Temple on your knees. How about that?”

“You…” Qin Muyue was so angry she drew her sword. “Don’t be reckless. I am acting on imperial orders!”

Seeing that Qin Muyue had drawn her sword, Huang Yan pretended to be startled and patted his chest. “Do you think I’m scared? That wound in your waist hasn’t fully healed yet, has it?”

Qin Muyue was once again rendered speechless with anger.

“Alright, I’m going to remove my veil now. Remember, if I am Mu Yunjin, you’ll have to crawl out of Water Cloud Temple. There’s no negotiating this,” Huang Yan said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Qin Muyue was about to mention the imperial edict again when Huang Yan spoke coolly, “The edict doesn’t say I can’t make demands…”

“You…”

“Scoundrel!” Qin Muyue couldn’t help but blurt out.

“So, do you still want to see my face? You’ve seen my martial arts skills before. If you don’t want to crawl out yourself, I can make you crawl out in my way!”

“Miss Qin, dare to play with me?” Huang Yan smiled at Qin Muyue, finding it thoroughly amusing to see this little wretch at a loss.

Qin Muyue clenched her fists tightly and met Huang Yan’s gaze. The person before her was not Mu Yunjin. He must be deliberately provoking her with his words. She wouldn’t fall for it!

“Fine, I accept!” In the end, Qin Muyue agreed with confidence.

“Pfft—”