As usual, Qiqi appeared before Mu Yunjin in no time. However, after she arrived, she took several deep breaths, with beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, indicating that she had expended considerable energy.

“Master, you called for me urgently?” Qiqi looked at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin poured a cup of water and handed it to Qiqi. Only after watching her drink the entire cup did she slowly speak, “Do you have some unique secret technique that allows you to reach me so quickly each time?”

Hearing this, Qiqi blinked, “Yes, because every subordinate in the Fengyu Pavilion is half-human and half-beast, we all practice a secret technique that allows us to freely traverse through an invisible space.”

“Is it really that magical?” Although Mu Yunjin had witnessed Qiqi’s ability to come immediately when called, hearing her explain it like this, she couldn’t help but marvel at how extraordinary it was.

Qiqi nodded, “Is Master facing some problem?”

“Chu Li and I want to go to South Court Nation, but we only have one day. I’m afraid we won’t make it in time if we go by horse…” Mu Yunjin frowned.

“I understand!” Qiqi snapped her fingers, raising her eyebrows, “Master wants me to take you there?”

“Is that possible?” Mu Yunjin stared at Qiqi, her eyes filled with expectation.

…

…

Qiqi tilted her head, thinking carefully, and rubbed her chin, “Master, since you and Prince Chu haven’t practiced this secret technique, if I were to take you both alone, I might not be able to sustain it. Why don’t we call Xiumei as well?”

“Good!” Mu Yunjin naturally agreed.

“I’ll go tell Chu Li, and you go call Xiumei,” Mu Yunjin said, then strode out the door.

After leaving, Mu Yunjin walked toward Chu Li’s room, her steps somewhat hesitant. Finally, she gritted her teeth and knocked on Chu Li’s door.

“Come in.”

Mu Yunjin pushed the door open, looked at Chu Li, who had already changed into casual clothes, and pressed her lips together before speaking, “Um, you know about my Fengyu Pavilion, right?”

Although she had never mentioned this secret pavilion to Chu Li before, she felt that with his meticulous mind and the support of his vast intelligence network, he must already know about the Fengyu Pavilion.

“Mm.” Chu Li looked at her and nodded lightly.

“The subordinates of the Fengyu Pavilion know a secret technique for traveling freely through space. They can take us to South Court Nation today,” Mu Yunjin said straightforwardly, without further explanation to Chu Li.

Chu Li was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, “Then let’s go.”

“Mm.”

When they returned to her room, Xiumei had already arrived. Seeing Mu Yunjin and Chu Li enter together, he smoothed his clothes slightly, then looked at Mu Yunjin, “Master, shall we leave now?”

“Yes, now,” Mu Yunjin said.

Qiqi stepped forward and untied a string of pink pearl beads from her waist, which emitted a pink glow. Qiqi tied the pearl beads around Mu Yunjin and Chu Li’s fingers.

Xiumei also handed a similar string of beads to Song Chun and Ding Xian.

“Alright, we can depart now,” Qiqi said, looking at Mu Yunjin after everything was prepared.

Mu Yunjin nodded with a smile, feeling an incredibly thrilling sensation.

“Hehe~” Qiqi revealed her sharp teeth, then a pink-purple light materialized around her figure, flowing down to the pearl beads, enveloping Mu Yunjin and Chu Li.

……

In a flash, Mu Yunjin felt herself rapidly traversing through an unnamed space. Apart from the sound of rushing wind, she could hear nothing else.

The Qiqi before her had somehow transformed from her half-human, half-cat form into a pink-purple spirit cat, with one end of the pearl beads tied around her neck and the other end on Mu Yunjin’s finger.

Gradually, as Qiqi moved with increasing speed and the wind roared in her ears, Mu Yunjin found it difficult to stand steadily.

Suddenly, a pair of hands came from behind and rested on her shoulders, giving her some support and reassurance.

Sensing the familiar presence, Mu Yunjin felt inexplicably comforted. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

“Meow…”

After traveling through this space for about half an hour, Qiqi made a sound, and then light appeared in front of them. Mu Yunjin felt her body break through a barrier.

The piercing sunlight made Mu Yunjin squint uncomfortably. Looking around, she found herself in what appeared to be a rural area.

By now, Qiqi had returned to her half-human, half-cat state and was sitting on the ground, gasping for breath. Nearby, Xiumei, who had arrived later, was equally exhausted.

“Is this South Court Nation?” Mu Yunjin bent down to look at Qiqi.

Qiqi nodded, “The tracking technique led me here. This should be South Court Nation.”

“What an amazing secret technique, truly able to arrive instantly,” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but praise, momentarily forgetting her physical discomfort.

Chu Li frowned, looking at the deserted surroundings, “Let’s leave this place first.”

“Mm.” Everyone nodded simultaneously.

……

Mu Yunjin followed beside Chu Li, who seemed to have been here before, skillfully leading her to a hidden location and into a secret passage.

Ding Xian, already prepared, took out a wooden torch he carried, illuminating the secret passage and walking in front to lead the way.

After a while, when everyone emerged from the secret passage, they were standing in a courtyard house. The main gate was tightly closed, but Mu Yunjin could sense the presence of many secret guards around.

“Master,” a secret guard emerged from the shadows, approached, and bowed to Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded and said calmly, “First settle them in.”

With those words, he took Mu Yunjin’s hand and led her to a room.

Once inside, before Mu Yunjin could even sit down to catch her breath, she couldn’t help but ask Chu Li, “You have subordinates in South Court Nation too?”

“I just stationed some secret guards here,” Chu Li poured a cup of water for Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin took the teacup, noticing that the tea was still hot. She couldn’t help but wonder if Chu Li had already known they would come to South Court Nation, or if he frequently came here on secret business.

She knew nothing about everything behind Chu Li, and he never told her.

Mu Yunjin felt somewhat dejected.

“Should we go to the imperial prison to take a look first?” Mu Yunjin pouted, looking up at Chu Li.

Chu Li checked the time, his eyes profound, “Rest for a while first.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded, following Chu Li’s arrangement, walking to the bed and lying down to rest.

Chu Li walked out the door.

In a side hall, the Grand Defender of South Court Nation, Mo Jinglun, was sitting there, seemingly having waited for Chu Li for a long time. When he saw Chu Li enter, a smile appeared on his serious face.

“Your Highness has arrived.”

Chu Li nodded lightly, sat down, and looked at Mo Jinglun, “How is it?”

“I don’t know if the person who set up the formation is particularly confident in their technique, but there’s no one guarding the imperial prison now. If Your Highness wishes to go immediately, this old man can take you there,” Mo Jinglun said with a smile.

“This matter can’t be rushed,” Chu Li pondered.

Hearing this, Mo Jinglun smiled and nodded, sighing leisurely, “Then I await Your Highness’s command at any time.”

“Mm, you go back first. If there’s anything, I’ll send someone to the Grand Defender’s residence,” Chu Li said calmly.

“Rest assured, this old minister has been working for Your Highness for many years and naturally knows the boundaries. I just wonder, after my appearance in Western Yuan Nation that day led to Minister Mu’s death, would the Princess Consort hold a grudge against me?” Mo Jinglun sighed, thinking of this matter.

That day, the emperor had indeed received a secret report and sent him to the Western Yuan Nation to investigate thoroughly. But at that time, he had already followed Chu Li’s instructions and arranged everything.

Even if those old women had examined Jiang Qingxue’s body, they would have insisted that Jiang Qingxue was pure and had not conceived a child with anyone.

But unexpectedly, Mu Liangzheng came forward and admitted to everything, leading to what followed.

Alas, an unexpected turn.

“You can go back now,” Chu Li said, glancing briefly at Mo Jinglun without saying much else.

Mo Jinglun nodded, rose, and slowly walked out of the side hall.

Since Chu Li had left, Mu Yunjin had been crouching by the door crack, observing the scene outside. Being in a courtyard house, she could see everything outside clearly.

When she glimpsed Mo Jinglun walking out of a room, her brows immediately furrowed, and she bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with disbelief and surprise.

Why would the Grand Defender of South Court Nation be here?

Looking to the side, she saw Ding Xian and Song Chun nod and bow slightly to Mo Jinglun as he approached, clearly showing they were already acquainted.

How much had Chu Li hidden from her…

Mu Yunjin closed the door, lay back on the bed, and any remaining drowsiness completely dissipated. She stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.

After lying there for a while, seeing that Chu Li had not returned, Mu Yunjin activated the spirit beacon to summon Qiqi.

Qiqi was staying next door and quickly pushed the door open.

“Help me find out where the imperial prison is. I want to go now,” Mu Yunjin sat up, her eyes dark.

“Huh? But the Ning Prince hasn’t given any instructions…” Qiqi was surprised.

“We’ll go first by ourselves. I’m not waiting for him,” Mu Yunjin took a deep breath, not knowing if she was being defiant or something else. Ever since seeing Mo Jinglun, Mu Yunjin had felt like she was being useless under Chu Li’s protection.

Since Qiqi only recognized Mu Yunjin as her master, hearing her firm tone, she didn’t ask further. After using her tracking technique to determine the exact location, she handed the pearl beads from her waist to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin took the beads and quickly entered that unnamed space.

……

“Ah—” Halfway through, Qiqi suddenly wailed, her true energy drained, and she fell to the ground with Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin also fell hard. As she was supporting herself to get up, a pair of purple-red, gold-embroidered shoes appeared in front of her. Mu Yunjin’s body trembled as she looked up from the embroidered shoes—

Standing before her was a woman wearing a peony-red brocade dress with a long, trailing hem. Her hair was arranged immaculately, adorned with several golden hairpins. With red lips, she exuded elegance and nobility, but the faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealed her considerable age.

The woman was looking down at her, suddenly giving a cold laugh, her lips curving into a playful smile, her phoenix eyes slightly raised, “Hmph, how bold.”

To the side, Qiqi suddenly lifted her head, carefully scrutinizing the woman, “Who are you, and how can you break my secret technique?”