Chu Li glanced at the sky; it was already approaching dusk.
After leaving the cold pool, Chu Li returned to his room. Once dressed properly, he left his room, preparing to go to Water Cloud Temple.
Ding Xian was waiting at the door for Chu Li. Seeing him come out, he glanced toward the room diagonally opposite. “Shall we bring Wang Fei along?”
“No need.” Chu Li thought that Mu Yunjin was still sleeping and didn’t want to wake her.
After speaking, Chu Li stepped forward, preparing to leave. As he walked past Mu Yunjin’s door, he suddenly heard a call from inside, “Zixiang—”
Chu Li paused in his steps.
Then he saw Zixiang, who had been guarding outside the door, rush inside, urgently asking, “Miss, what’s wrong?”
“I…” Mu Yunjin hesitated, her words showing some embarrassment.
Chu Li frowned and immediately pushed open the door to enter Mu Yunjin’s room. “What’s wrong?”
…
…
Mu Yunjin was sitting on the bed, one hand covering her lower abdomen, her face somewhat helpless. Seeing Chu Li enter, her face turned slightly red.
“It’s nothing, my period has come…”
After speaking, Mu Yunjin shifted her body. In her sleep, she had felt something amiss with her body, a warm flow pouring out. Upon waking, she discovered her monthly affair had arrived and had even stained the bedsheet.
It was truly vexing. The original owner of this body was indeed still a young girl, with such fierce monthly visits…
“Miss, your clothes are stained. Would you like to bathe first?” Zixiang’s sharp eyes noticed that Mu Yunjin’s outer garment had also been stained a bit.
Mu Yunjin looked down, nodded, and then raised her eyes toward Chu Li. “Weren’t you sleeping with me just now? When did you leave?”
“This king needs to visit Water Cloud Temple.” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin pouted, then seemed to think of something and sat up. “Wait for me, I’ll go with you!”
“What are you going there for?” Chu Li frowned at her.
“I…” Mu Yunjin wanted to go to the Dark Pavilion to see if Concubine Rong had returned, but it wasn’t convenient to tell Chu Li this, so she had to make up an excuse. “Since my house arrest has been canceled, I want to go organize my things.”
Chu Li glanced at the bloodstain on her bottom, his eyes showing a teasing smile. “Your body is indisposed. This king will organize everything for you and bring it back.”
“It’s just a period, no big deal. Wait for me a moment; I’ll get ready and come.” Without waiting for Chu Li to speak, Mu Yunjin turned and walked behind the screen.
Chu Li had no choice but to leave the room and wait for Mu Yunjin at the door.
Mu Yunjin quickly got ready. Before leaving her room, she tested the temperature outside and specifically put on the light purple brocade garment that Jiang Qingxue had made for her. After going out, Mu Yunjin felt her entire being was warm and cozy.
In the carriage to Water Cloud Temple, Mu Yunjin had sore legs and rested both on the seat. Chu Li saw this but didn’t rebuke her. Instead, he moved closer to her and reached out to massage her lower abdomen.
Mu Yunjin leaned sideways into Chu Li’s embrace, lazily asking, “Why are you going to Water Cloud Temple so late?”
“Master Huaiyuan has something to discuss.” Chu Li answered frankly.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded, showing no interest in what Master Huaiyuan wanted to tell Chu Li. She yawned, feeling drowsy again.
After some time, the carriage stopped. Mu Yunjin had been half-dozing; when the carriage stopped, she freed herself from Chu Li’s embrace and jumped down from the carriage.
“So reckless.” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, his eyes showing some displeasure.
Mu Yunjin returned a bright smile, waving to Chu Li. “Fine, you go find Master Huaiyuan. I’ll go to Anxin Hall to organize my things.”
“Mm.” Chu Li nodded, originally wanting to have Ding Xian follow her, but Mu Yunjin directly refused.
“I can manage on my own.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin stepped onto the stairs and ran toward Anxin Hall.
Chu Li and Ding Xian walked toward Master Huaiyuan’s meditation courtyard.
Mu Yunjin hadn’t gone far when she stopped. Seeing that Chu Li and Ding Xian had walked away, she changed direction and headed toward the Dark Pavilion.
……
Having visited the Dark Pavilion several times, Mu Yunjin was already familiar with its layout. Arriving at the formation, Mu Yunjin tentatively took a few steps forward but was repelled by the mystical arts set within the formation.
Then, a ghostly and eerie voice sounded around her, “What are you here for?”
In the past, hearing this voice, Mu Yunjin might have shown some respect, but after going to the Southern Court Nation and exposing Rong Wanyue’s tricks, Mu Yunjin didn’t even bother to pretend anymore.
“You’re quick! We just arrived in Western Yuan Nation, and you’re here right after us.” Mu Yunjin spoke mockingly.
“Heh, the secret art of Fengyu Pavilion isn’t exclusive to you.” Concubine Rong let out a light snort, then emerged from the shadows. Her exquisite face wasn’t heavily made up now; on her fresh and plain face, a pair of phoenix eyes still looked sharp.
“Running between Western Yuan Nation and Southern Court Nation, what exactly are you plotting?” Mu Yunjin had her hands behind her back, speaking calmly.
“What this palace is plotting, you should already know from our time in the Southern Court Nation. Mu’er, some things you must think through carefully. Li’er is your husband and this palace’s child. This palace wouldn’t harm him. You should be of one mind with this palace, helping him properly!” Concubine Rong had interacted with Mu Yunjin several times and had figured out her temperament. This girl wouldn’t yield to either soft or hard approaches; her character was quite stubborn.
Seeing Concubine Rong still talking about these things, Mu Yunjin was equally helpless. “Are you underestimating your son so much?”
“It’s not that this palace is underestimating him; this palace is afraid…” Concubine Rong lowered her eyes, biting her lip.
“Where’s the Imperial Tutor? Didn’t he come with you?” Mu Yunjin changed the subject, not wanting to discuss Chu Li with Concubine Rong anymore.
“What would he come for!” Mentioning the Imperial Tutor, Concubine Rong’s attitude wasn’t much better.
But Mu Yunjin was curious; this Imperial Tutor An was equally a person of character, with considerable abilities. How was it that he spent his days revolving around Concubine Rong?
Mu Yunjin started to gossip, looking at Concubine Rong. “What’s your relationship with Imperial Tutor An?”
“Can’t you see what relationship this palace has with him?” Seeing her avoid questions about Chu Li and start talking about irrelevant things, Concubine Rong glared at Mu Yunjin impatiently.
Mu Yunjin curved her lips. “I had misunderstood the relationship between you two, but I don’t know if what you’re saying and what I’m thinking are the same thing.”
Hearing this, Concubine Rong was even more speechless. Originally, she had truly believed what Kong Shi had said—that Mu Yunjin was the Phoenix Star, would help her, and could help Chu Li even more. Now it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Kong Shi had miscalculated this time…
“This palace once saved his life. He wanted to repay the favor, so this palace mentioned that he should serve this palace for his entire life.” Concubine Rong revealed her relationship with Imperial Tutor An.
Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “Then you got a good deal.”
“Besides wanting to confirm whether this palace and Concubine Yue are truly the same person, is there anything else you came for?” Concubine Rong glanced at Mu Yunjin.
“No.” Mu Yunjin indeed wanted to confirm this; now that she had completely confirmed it, there was nothing more to say.
After speaking, without waiting for Concubine Rong to speak, Mu Yunjin turned to leave.
“Mu’er…” Concubine Rong called Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin stopped her steps but didn’t turn around. Then she heard Concubine Rong’s voice slowly sound from behind, “This palace wasn’t lying to you last time. The celestial phenomena are abnormal; the Canghua Continent will not remain peaceful.”
“So please consider this palace’s words carefully.”
……
After leaving the Dark Pavilion, the night wind blew against Mu Yunjin’s body. She reached out to pull her arms closer, her gaze falling on her sleeve cuffs. Looking up, she noticed several hibiscus flowers embroidered with thread of the same color at the cuffs, almost invisible unless examined carefully.
Strangely, Mu Yunjin began to think about Jiang Qingxue, recalling their recent interactions where she had been trying hard to make amends. After thinking for a while, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but soften her heart a bit.
Returning to Anxin Hall, Mu Yunjin went into the small room. All her belongings were still there. After a simple tidying, Mu Yunjin carried her bundle and left.
Walking on the path to the meditation courtyard, Mu Yunjin’s peripheral vision caught a flash of silver light from a certain place. Looking toward the direction of the silver light, she saw it was the thousand-year-old ancient tree.
Seeing this ancient tree, Mu Yunjin’s heart ached again.
It was truly bizarre; what was this ancient tree for? Why did she either lose control of her emotions or feel a pain in her heart whenever she encountered it?
Estimating that Chu Li and Master Huaiyuan would still be talking for a while, Mu Yunjin walked toward the courtyard of the ancient tree.
Soon, Mu Yunjin arrived at the courtyard of the ancient tree. After stepping into the courtyard, the gate behind her automatically closed. Mu Yunjin rubbed her chest, then saw a blurry shadow standing in front of the big tree.
Was this place haunted?
As Mu Yunjin was thinking, the shadow in front suddenly turned around, his gaze falling on her. He grinned at her, “Hi…”
“Damn, it’s you! Pretending to be a ghost and scaring people in the middle of the night!” Mu Yunjin, seeing Imperial Tutor An not far ahead, couldn’t help but glare at him as she stepped closer.
“Didn’t Concubine Rong say you hadn’t come? Why are you here?” Mu Yunjin asked.
Imperial Tutor An raised an eyebrow. “This old man doesn’t need to report everything to her.”
Mu Yunjin pouted and rolled her eyes. “Tsk, I thought you wanted to repay her kindness…”
“You even know about that?” Imperial Tutor An was somewhat embarrassed, his expression a bit stiff.
“Mm-hmm.” Mu Yunjin responded, then dropped her bundle on the ground and walked to the ancient tree, stroking the trunk as she walked around it.
Imperial Tutor An looked at her and spoke with some deeper meaning, “When you encounter this tree, doesn’t your mood become very bad?”
“Not just my mood, my body feels uncomfortable too.” Mu Yunjin responded to Imperial Tutor An, then felt something was amiss and raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that you know what’s suspicious about this tree?”
Imperial Tutor An suddenly laughed lightly. “You believe the words of a street charlatan?”
Hearing the words “street charlatan,” Mu Yunjin knew Imperial Tutor An was mocking her. She crossed her arms with an indifferent expression. “Forget it if you won’t say. It’s just a broken tree anyway.”
“You…” Imperial Tutor An sighed lightly. “Stubborn as a mule.”
“Hmph.” Mu Yunjin picked up her bundle from the ground and slung it over her back. “I’m leaving. You can continue pretending to be profound here. One of these days, I’ll develop some high technology and send you a pair of sunglasses; that way, you’ll look even more like a fortune teller.”
“That would be nice.” Imperial Tutor An agreed, then added, “Seeing as you’re so sincere, I’ll reveal a bit of the heavenly secrets to you.”
Mu Yunjin looked at Imperial Tutor An with a straight face.
Imperial Tutor An smiled faintly. “The heavenly secrets tell me that your past life was extraordinary…”