Mu Yunjin had initially thought that Qiqi had broken through the invisible space due to her failure, but hearing her speak like this now, she couldn’t help but turn her surprised gaze toward the ornately dressed woman before her.

Looking around, Mu Yunjin trembled inexplicably, realizing she was in a grand palace courtyard. Not only was this woman standing before her, but there were also numerous eunuchs and palace maids around.

Was this in the palace of the South Court Nation?

Mu Yunjin immediately stood up steadily. The woman in front of her was about the same height, allowing Mu Yunjin to look her straight in the eye. After carefully examining her, Mu Yunjin felt a deeper meaning in her heart.

Qiqi had said this was a unique secret technique of the Fengyu Pavilion. How could this woman break it?

As if seeing through Mu Yunjin’s thoughts, the woman snickered again, “How naively foolish, rushing to your death. If I hadn’t intercepted you, you would probably already be meeting the King of Hell by now.”

“I”?

Was she a consort?

Mu Yunjin examined her carefully.

…

…

“Since it’s our first meeting, join me for a meal,” the woman smiled gently, changing the subject.

A palace maid nearby, hearing she wanted to dine, immediately came forward to support her, “Consort Yue, please be careful…”

Consort Yue…

Mu Yunjin received another piece of information.

This so-called Consort Yue, before her, whom she had never met, who claimed this was their first meeting—why did Mu Yunjin feel she wasn’t unfamiliar at all?

Having seen her break Qiqi’s secret technique earlier, she must have some ability. Mu Yunjin thought for a moment, then followed behind Consort Yue.

Consort Yue walked into the dining hall of the palace. The dining table was already filled with food, and three sets of bowls and chopsticks had been prepared.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering if she had been rash in coming here.

“Sit,” Consort Yue said with a light sigh after taking the main seat.

Mu Yunjin and Qiqi sat down together.

After they were seated, a small palace maid beside Consort Yue was serving her food. Consort Yue leaned back lazily in her chair and lifted her eyelids toward Mu Yunjin, “Eat. There’s no poison.”

Mu Yunjin still didn’t move.

After the little palace maid had finished serving, Consort Yue gave her a look, and the small palace maid immediately walked out of the dining hall, closing the door behind her.

In the dining hall, only the three of them remained.

“Consort, may I ask who exactly you are?” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but ask, scrutinizing Consort Yue’s features.

Consort Yue was in no rush to answer. She picked up the small bowl in front of her, took a sip of soup, and then finally gave Mu Yunjin a harmless smile, “The soup is good. Try it.”

Mu Yunjin and Qiqi exchanged a glance, finally picked up their chopsticks, and reluctantly ate a few bites.

Consort Yue glanced at them, “Jiang Qingxue is a criminal of the South Court Nation. Why would you risk death to rescue her?”

Seeing that she even knew her purpose, Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together. With this person whose intentions were unknown, how could she rashly reveal her purpose?

“Don’t think that by not speaking, I won’t know. Looking at your appearance, I can tell you’re the daughter she gave birth to, as rumored.” Consort Yue smiled gracefully.

Mu Yunjin remained silent.

After a while, Mu Yunjin raised her eyes to look at Consort Yue, “May I ask if the person who set up the formation is from the South Court Nation?”

“This…”

“His Majesty has arrived—”

Just as Consort Yue was about to answer, an announcement came from outside.

Hearing that the emperor of South Court Nation had arrived, Mu Yunjin silently cursed herself, then stood up, preparing to have Qiqi take her away when Consort Yue swept her sleeve, and the shelves in the dining hall suddenly moved, revealing a small room behind.

Mu Yunjin and Qiqi walked in.

The shelves were slowly closed again, and then from outside came the voice of the South Court Nation emperor, “Beloved Consort, I have come to dine with you.”

“Mm.” Consort Yue nodded, completely disregarding that the meal had already been partially eaten. The South Court Nation emperor beside her didn’t seem angry and ordered additional bowls and chopsticks to be brought.

Mu Yunjin observed the scene outside through the gap. The emperor of South Court Nation was a man of similar age to the emperor of Western Ming, but he looked much kinder in appearance and was quite tall and handsome.

“Qiqi, let’s leave now.” Mu Yunjin watched for a while, then looked at Qiqi in a low voice.

Qiqi shook her head, frowning, “Master, I can’t. I tried earlier, but I can’t use any of my powers here.”

“Where did this old spirit come from?” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but mutter.

The South Court Nation emperor and Consort Yue took a long time to finish their meal. As the sky outside completely darkened, palace maids entered the dining hall to light candles.

Mu Yunjin watched as four palace maids walked in from outside and started lighting candles in the four corners of the room, remarking, “With so many candles, even the blind could see.”

Qiqi covered her mouth and laughed, “Perhaps the emperor is old and his eyesight is failing.”

“I think so too,” Mu Yunjin pouted.

After the torturous dinner ended, the South Court Nation emperor originally wanted to stay overnight with Consort Yue. Consort Yue refused to use physical discomfort as an excuse, and the South Court Nation emperor left reluctantly.

The wooden shelves in front were moved aside.

Mu Yunjin and Qiqi came out, stepping closer to Consort Yue, “It’s getting late. We should take our leave. Thank you for your hospitality today, Consort Yue.”

“Leaving? Didn’t you just want to know who set up the formation?” Consort Yue asked playfully.

“Never mind, I don’t want to know anymore,” Mu Yunjin smiled faintly.

“Hmm…” Consort Yue seemed to find it amusing and let out a light chuckle, “You have considerable skills yourself. You might not necessarily lose to me. Why be so afraid?”

“Afraid of hurting you,” Mu Yunjin said, looking at this woman who seemed both righteous and evil, completely unable to figure her out.

“Such big words,” Consort Yue stood up and walked closer to Mu Yunjin, “Jiang Qingxue is trapped in that formation and will certainly die.”

“Because the person who set the formation is the number one master in the world, the Imperial Preceptor of South Court Nation.”

……

In the end, Consort Yue still let Mu Yunjin and Qiqi leave.

When they returned to the courtyard house, the lights were on. Ding Xian and Song Chun saw Mu Yunjin return, each with a strange expression, but neither approached to speak.

“Where’s Chu Li?” Mu Yunjin asked.

Ding Xian pointed to a room.

Mu Yunjin nodded and walked toward the room. When she reached the door, her steps hesitated, but she finally steeled herself and pushed it open.

Chu Li was sitting in a chair, his expression calm, reading an ancient book.

“I’m back,” Mu Yunjin leaned against the door, not daring to come closer, inexplicably anxious.

“Did you gain anything?” Chu Li asked coolly, putting down the ancient book in his hand, his gaze falling on Mu Yunjin, looking her up and down.

Mu Yunjin had wanted to tell Chu Li that the Imperial Preceptor was the one who set up the formation, but seeing his apparent lack of interest and thinking of the events during the day, she didn’t feel like telling him. So she sat down at the table with a sullen face, poured a cup of water, and took a few sips.

Seeing her cold face, Chu Li felt his temper rising, but didn’t approach to engage with her. He continued pretending to read, but not a single word registered.

Earlier, when he returned to the room and found her gone, his heart skipped a beat. He had ordered a group of secret guards to search for her. This was South Court Nation, and with envoys from Western Yuan recently arrived, how could this woman be so thoughtless as to wander around?

She had frightened him half to death, and now that she was back, she was in a bad mood.

Chu Li grew increasingly angry. He stood up and threw the ancient book onto the chair with a loud “smack,” then walked to the bed and lay down with his back to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin stared at Chu Li’s back, her thoughts complicated.

She wanted to ask about Chu Li’s relationship with Mo Jinglun, wanted to ask why he had stationed secret guards here, and wanted to ask why he couldn’t share these things with her.

He always arranged everything for her, always shouldered so many burdens alone. Mu Yunjin thought, perhaps he meant well, but this way, she felt no honesty, felt she wasn’t getting the whole Chu Li.

Mu Yunjin grew increasingly dejected, resting her head on the table, staring blankly at Chu Li’s back.

Chu Li heard no movement from behind and frowned deeply. This woman usually seemed quite intelligent, but at critical moments, what was going through that silly head of hers?

“Hmph.”

“Hmph.”

In the quiet room, both let out a light snort simultaneously.

Chu Li turned around, meeting Mu Yunjin’s gaze. Mu Yunjin had been staring at Chu Li’s back all along, and when he suddenly turned around, she immediately averted her eyes, picked up her bundle, and walked out.

“Where are you going?” Chu Li frowned and asked.

“To sleep with Qiqi,” Mu Yunjin said without looking back, closing the door with a bang.

Chu Li was furious, “Stupid woman.”

……

Outside the door, the guards who saw Mu Yunjin come out with a bundle looked at each other, privately thinking there must have been a fierce quarrel inside.

“Where is Qiqi staying?” Mu Yunjin coldly looked at Ding Xian.

Ding Xian made a sealing gesture with his lips and then waved his hands, indicating he didn’t know.

At this critical moment, telling her which room Qiqi was in would surely get him killed by his master later. He wasn’t that foolish.

Mu Yunjin glared at Ding Xian, then turned her gaze to Song Chun and took out the jade whistle she carried, “The jade whistle is in my hand. I am your master. Tell me quickly where she is!”

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll destroy this jade whistle, and you won’t be able to protect me from the shadows anymore.”

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s warning, Ding Xian silently mourned for Song Chun, privately thinking it was fortunate he hadn’t been assigned to the secret guard team.

Song Chun was also helpless. Both masters were difficult to deal with.

So he remained still, using his eyes to glance to the right, indicating the direction of a room.

“Thanks.”

Mu Yunjin walked in the direction Song Chun pointed, pushed open a door, and went in.

Outside the door, Ding Xian looked at Song Chun and heaved a heavy sigh, “Song Chun, you’re done for!”

“The Prince now loves to sleep with the Princess Consort. How dare you show her someone else’s room to sleep in? The Prince will surely flay you alive afterward.”

Song Chun rubbed his head with an unconcerned face, “It’s fine. The Princess Consort will protect me.”

Ding Xian was speechless and gave Song Chun a thumbs up.

“Creeak—” came a sound as a tightly closed door was suddenly opened. Chu Li walked out with a tense face, looking toward Ding Xian and Song Chun.

The two were startled and, in perfect unison, pointed to the room Mu Yunjin had just entered.