Imperial Consort Rong’s words brought a moment of complete silence to the ice cave.

Everyone’s gaze, including Mu Yunjin’s own, turned downward to look at her chest after hearing Imperial Consort Rong’s words.

Indeed, a golden light was emanating from her chest.

She also realized it was this golden light that had gradually warmed her body, which had been frozen stiff in the ice cave, allowing her to regain life.

But what Imperial Consort Rong had just called it was—

The Divine Mandate?

That legendary Divine Mandate that could summon the dead and spirit soldiers?

Mu Yunjin frowned, finding it somewhat incredible.

After thinking for a moment, her inquiring gaze fell on Imperial Tutor An beside her. She remembered Imperial Tutor An had once told her that he had used the Divine Mandate to summon her.

…

…

But after she arrived, that Divine Mandate had disappeared.

She clearly remembered how she had mocked Imperial Tutor An at the time, calling him a charlatan…

What did this mean now?

Had the disappeared Divine Mandate been hidden within her body all along?

As Mu Yunjin contemplated this, she slightly parted her lips, her eyes filling with shock.

By now, almost everyone in the ice cave had heard the legend of the Divine Mandate, but since no one had ever seen the actual Divine Mandate, it had always been treated as merely a legend, not taken very seriously.

Now that Imperial Consort Rong was so confidently pointing at the golden light on Mu Yunjin’s chest, identifying it as the Divine Mandate…

Everyone’s minds were filled with different thoughts.

Especially Qiuye and the Qin family members standing at the outer edge of the ice cave—each of their expressions darkened, their eyes revealing profound meaning.

The legendary Divine Mandate had appeared in the world!

Mu Yunjin, the Phoenix Woman, the Divine Mandate…

This woman was truly blessed by heaven!

…

When Chu Li heard the three words “Divine Mandate,” he was momentarily distracted, his dark eyes tinged with a clear light. But he quickly brought his thoughts back, held Mu Yunjin tighter, and walked toward the exit of the ice cave.

Perhaps because the killing intent surrounding Chu Li’s body was too intense, the people blocking the entrance to the ice cave stepped back, making way for him.

As he passed by Qiuye, Chu Li paused his steps, narrowed his eyes, and swept a sharp gaze toward Qiuye—

“Before this prince comes to find you, remember to stay alive.”

With those words, he carried Mu Yunjin outside.

Qiuye, who had been singled out, was slightly stunned. He, who had always remained calm in all situations, actually trembled after hearing Chu Li’s warning.

For a moment, Qiuye felt somewhat self-deprecating. He was truly regressing—he, one of the three greatest masters in the world, had been intimidated by a mere junior!

“Kong Shi, I never thought I would see you again in this lifetime!” Daoist Feng Xuan’s indifferent voice echoed in the ice cave. When he had entered the ice cave earlier, he had immediately spotted Imperial Tutor An. Although he was extremely shocked at the time, most of his attention had been focused on Mu Yunjin.

After hearing Feng Xuan’s words, Qiuye lifted his eyelids and also looked toward Imperial Tutor An.

After a moment, he opened his mouth mockingly, “Heh, interesting, this gets more and more interesting!”

With those words, Qiuye shook his head, waved his hand, and led his group away.

In the instant he turned to leave, the rage that erupted in his eyes almost made him unable to resist flattening the mountain with his palm right then and there.

That witch Mu Yunjin truly had incredible luck!

After Qiuye and his group left, Imperial Tutor An, who had been silent all along, finally looked at Feng Xuan and smiled faintly, “Life as a monk became utterly boring, so I decided to change my identity and continue living differently.”

“Hahaha, then tonight we shall feast on meat and wine, and not leave until we’re drunk!” Feng Xuan patted Imperial Tutor An on the shoulder. He and Imperial Tutor An had maintained a good friendship for many years, and he was pleased to see that Imperial Tutor An was still alive.

Glancing to the side, he caught sight of Imperial Consort Rong, and Daoist Feng Xuan’s smile faded a little. After composing himself, he said, “Let’s leave this godforsaken place first.”

The remaining people nodded.

On the way out of the ice cave, Imperial Consort Rong’s eyes were filled with churning thoughts, her mind completely occupied with the image of the golden light pulsing at Mu Yunjin’s chest.

So, the Divine Mandate she had been searching for so long had been inside this girl all along…

What method should she use to extract the Divine Mandate from Mu Yunjin’s body?

She had been searching for the Divine Mandate for so long; she absolutely would not give up at this point!

…

After leaving the cave, the cold energy in Mu Yunjin’s body had not yet dissipated. When she suddenly came into contact with the outside temperature, her body couldn’t bear it. She tilted her head and fell against Chu Li’s chest, losing consciousness once again.

Chu Li’s lips were tightly pressed together, the dark, gloomy aura around him deepening further.

He surveyed his surroundings with a glance, and in the next second, he made a decision. With a leap, he jumped down the cliff…

Qiuye and the others followed closely behind Chu Li and Mu Yunjin as they exited. They had originally thought that Chu Li would jump to the opposite cliff to leave this place, but unexpectedly, as soon as they came out of the cave, they witnessed Chu Li carrying Mu Yunjin and jumping off the cliff.

Qiuye was greatly alarmed, as was the black-robed Feng Lan beside him, who had been watching with interest. Both of them quickened their pace, came to the edge of the cliff, and looked down…

After looking for a long time, they could see nothing but the clouds and mist surrounding the cliff.

“Feng Lan, you often reside at the foot of Pingfeng Cliff. Can you discern anything?” Qiuye turned to look at the black-robed Feng Lan.

Feng Lan laughed coldly as he withdrew his gaze, “Either the two of them jumped to their deaths, or someone is waiting below to receive Chu Li.”

“Qiuye, having failed to kill that girl this time, the next time will be more difficult than ascending to heaven!”

…

Five hours later, at midnight.

When Chu Li carried Mu Yunjin back to Prince Ning’s mansion, Qingmeng, who had already received the news and was waiting in Liquan Pavilion, immediately came forward. She reached out to grasp Mu Yunjin’s wrist, examining her pulse.

“How is she?” Chu Li frowned, his words carrying a hint of urgency.

After leaving the cave, he had seen her faint. The best course of action would have been to keep her in Northern Ming Country for treatment, but after a moment of hesitation, he had decided to bring her back.

“Cold energy has entered her body and invaded her internal organs. First, bring the Princess to the hot spring pool. I will go prepare some herbs,” Qingmeng said before rushing out.

After a few steps, Qingmeng paused and turned back to add, “When entering the hot spring pool, don’t let the Princess wear any clothes.”

“Mm.” Chu Li nodded.

Chu Li took Mu Yunjin to the hot spring pool in his room. Looking down at her still unconscious form, he reached out and removed her outer garments one by one. After removing the last undergarment, he carefully placed her into the hot spring pool.

In her unconscious state, Mu Yunjin couldn’t maintain a fixed position in the pool. She lay askew, tilting sideways and sinking into the water.

Chu Li’s brows knitted tightly. To prevent her from accidentally choking on the water, he had no choice but to enter the hot spring pool as well, placing his hands on her shoulders to stabilize her body.

Qingmeng soon returned with a large bundle of dried herbs. After throwing all the herbs into the hot spring pool, she said to Chu Li, “These are all cold-dispelling herbs. Combined with the water of the hot spring pool, they can expel some of the cold energy from the Princess’s body. But some cold energy has already entered her heart and lungs. To prevent lingering ailments, Your Highness should transfer some true energy to the Princess.”

“Mm.” Chu Li nodded, his hands on Mu Yunjin’s shoulders already releasing true energy, gradually channeling it into her body.

“Then I will leave first. When the Princess wakes up, I will bring medicine.” With those words, Qingmeng walked out.

The vast hot spring pool was suddenly left with only Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.

In her hazy consciousness, Mu Yunjin felt her body growing warmer and more comfortable. Combined with the herbal fragrance drifting around, it made her entire being succumb to a deep drowsiness, her body falling backward…

Chu Li had been steadying Mu Yunjin’s body all along, continuously transferring true energy to her without daring to relax.

At this moment, the small woman before him suddenly went limp, lazily falling into his embrace. Her face, previously as pale as snow, now showed a hint of flush.

And her previously faint breathing had now transformed into the even breathing of deep sleep.

Chu Li’s heart finally relaxed at this moment as he held Mu Yunjin, slightly closing his eyes.

…

Mu Yunjin was awakened by the heat.

In her drowsy state, she felt as if her entire body was lying in a furnace. Waves of heat surged within her, instinctively making her want to get up and escape.

After moving her body slightly a few times, she realized that something was holding her body in place, preventing her from moving.

“Awake?” A familiar voice sounded from above her head, filled with concern.

Mu Yunjin opened her eyes to a hazy mist of water vapor. After blinking for a long time, she realized that this place seemed very familiar.

Moving her arm slightly, she suddenly discovered that she was lying in a pool of warm water.

“Awake?” The voice from above her head sounded again, asking her a second time.

Mu Yunjin’s head had been a bit dizzy earlier, but after hearing the inquiry for the second time, she became somewhat more alert. She shifted her body and, glimpsing a purple figure from the corner of her eye, realized that she was being held in Chu Li’s arms.

This place before her was indeed the hot spring pool in Chu Li’s room.

She had returned?

“So hot,” Mu Yunjin murmured, lowering her gaze to look at the pool water. Upon discovering that she was not wearing a stitch of clothing, her entire body suddenly trembled, and her mind became blank and short-circuited.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?” Chu Li was startled by her sudden trembling. He held her shoulders and moved around to face her, placing his hand on her forehead.

Mu Yunjin kept her eyes downcast. When she saw that Chu Li was sitting in the pool water fully clothed, her small face reddened even more, and she pouted slightly.

“Where are you uncomfortable?” Seeing her face growing redder, Chu Li reached out and touched her face again. Feeling that her face was burning hot, he stood up, preparing to find Qingmeng.

Mu Yunjin no longer felt any discomfort. As Chu Li was about to stand up, she reached out and grabbed the corner of his garment.

She wanted to speak but moved her lips hesitantly, unable to say what was on her mind.

Chu Li watched her with extreme patience.

After a while, Mu Yunjin frowned, seeming as if she had suffered a great injustice. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s, “Why… are you wearing clothes while I’m not wearing anything… it’s not, not fair…”

Chu Li seemed to be taken aback for a moment.

Mu Yunjin lowered her head, gazing down at her reflection in the pool water, her cheeks so red they seemed about to drip blood…

“Pfft—” Chu Li’s laughter came from above her head.

Following that, Mu Yunjin heard Chu Li’s teasing voice, “Do you want this prince to strip naked and accompany you?”