Wei Hanqiao’s cries immediately attracted a crowd of curious onlookers.

Many had heard that not long ago, Minister Mu had divorced this Second Madam on charges of theft, and had driven her and the Second Young Master out of the household.

Seeing her cursing and making a scene in the street today, the onlookers couldn’t help but wonder if this matter also involved the Third Miss of the Mu family.

On the second floor, Mu Yunjin heard Wei Hanqiao shift the focus of her accusations and sneered. She called down to the Second Madam, “Second Mother, the Sixth Prince can’t manage this mess. If you have grievances, you can certainly report them to the Magistrate. Yunjin will surely come whenever summoned and fully cooperate with the Magistrate’s investigation.”

Below, Wei Hanqiao was stunned by Mu Yunjin’s words. Looking up at that beautifully smiling face, for a moment, it was as if she had never known Mu Yunjin before.

Was this the same useless Third Miss Mu Yunjin from the household?

The words Wei Hanqiao had been about to say stuck in her throat, and she stood frozen in place. That day, she had thought she could successfully use Mu Yunjin to make Su Biqing suffer.

Who knew that this little vixen would turn around and bite her instead?

After being expelled from the household, she had thought that perhaps Mu Yunjin had said those things by coincidence, to protect herself.

…

…

But when Yi Yang woke up, and clearly stated that he had been seriously injured by Mu Yunjin.

At that point, she could no longer remain calm. She had wanted to go to the Minister’s mansion and make a scene, but then she thought that since Mu Yunjin was about to become the Sixth Prince’s consort, publicly denouncing her might not succeed.

So she had been suppressing her anger until today when Hong Xia came to find her.

Originally, she had only wanted to seek justice for herself and damage Mu Yunjin’s reputation, but who knew the girl would show not a trace of fear and even encourage her to report to the officials.

Thinking about this, Wei Hanqiao began to feel anxious, and a terrifying thought occurred to her. Could it be that all these years, Mu Yunjin’s timidity had been entirely an act?

Was this clever and shrewd person the real her?

But why all this? Could it have been at Su Biqing’s instruction? And if so, what was her purpose?

After some thought, Wei Hanqiao could only think of one possibility: Su Biqing had been waiting for this day, using Mu Yunjin’s feigned foolishness to eliminate one by one those in the household who posed a threat to her.

Thinking this, Wei Hanqiao suddenly felt a chill.

Mu Yunjin leaned against the window, watching Wei Hanqiao below with furrowed brows, deep in thought, her expression constantly changing. She knew the Second Madam’s paranoid delusions had started again.

No wonder she could only be a concubine; her mind was truly not quick-witted.

Thinking this, Mu Yunjin picked up a peanut from the table beside her and flicked it down toward Wei Hanqiao. The peanut struck Wei Hanqiao’s knee, causing her to bend her leg in pain.

“Second Mother, today you’ve deliberately damaged my reputation in front of everyone. I will certainly pursue this matter to the end,” Mu Yunjin said with a cold smile, her gaze fixed directly on Wei Hanqiao.

Wei Hanqiao was left speechless again. She thought to herself that she was the one who had been wronged, yet somehow she was being accused instead.

It was truly unjust.

But then, thinking of her pitiful son, Wei Hanqiao’s anger surged. “I damaged your reputation? Then what about you crippling your Second Brother? How do you explain that?”

“Although your Second Brother is a son born of a concubine, he is still your brother. Just because he scolded you a few times, how could you, as his sister, be so cruel as to beat him into disability?”

Speaking of this, Wei Hanqiao wiped away a tear and complained pitifully to an onlooking woman nearby, “My son was just about to reach the age of marriage and having children, but he was cruelly maimed by this poisonous girl, ruining the rest of his life.”

“After ruining him, she even had the gall to say that my son is just a concubine’s child, that the Mu family already has a legitimate eldest son, and that it would never be the turn of a concubine’s son to continue the family line…”

The woman listening to Wei Hanqiao’s complaints couldn’t help but glare up at Mu Yunjin, muttering, “The Third Miss is truly vicious. No wonder her reputation in Diehua City is so terrible. She may be beautiful, but her heart is malicious!”

“Indeed, when I saw the Second Young Master the other day, he had lost so much weight. Truly pitiful.”

“Ah, what a shame.”

As the commoners below commented one after another, Mu Yunjin’s mouth twitched. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a low chuckle from behind her.

Turning around, she saw Chu Li drinking tea, watching with great interest as Mu Yunjin argued with the people below. Meeting Mu Yunjin’s gaze, Chu Li raised an eyebrow slightly, regarding her with amusement.

Mu Yunjin glared at Chu Li, then looked back down at the street and snorted, “Second Mother, couldn’t you make up a more believable lie?”

“How could a weak girl like me harm a full-grown man? Do you think I’m that spirited Miss Qin from the General’s mansion?”

Mu Yunjin mentioned the never-before-seen Qin Muyue, looking down innocently, blinking her eyes.

Mu Yunjin knew that at this moment, her appearance must seem incredibly shameless.

But shameless was fine. For someone like this who had been instigated to come and make trouble, she would be even more shameless than they, infuriating them!

Mu Yunjin’s words silenced the commoners below who had been criticizing her…

Yes, the Third Miss was a woman, and especially a delicate, weak woman!

Ah, these official family feuds were too intense. Today’s incident might just be the Second Madam, resentful after being divorced, coming to vent her anger on the Third Miss!

With this thought, the commoners suddenly felt the matter was no longer interesting and dispersed in all directions, no longer willing to get involved in this mess.

Seeing that the onlookers had all left, Wei Hanqiao’s eyes flickered, and she lost her earlier confidence. In her heart, she silently cursed Hong Xia, that little tramp.

Now she had not only blatantly offended Mu Yunjin but might have also offended the Sixth Prince upstairs. This was thankless work.

Seeing the obvious regret on Wei Hanqiao’s face, Mu Yunjin no longer wished to entangle with her further. She put away the smile that had been on her face and said coldly, “Madam Wei should open her eyes wider. Not everyone can be trusted.”

With these words, Mu Yunjin closed the second-floor window.

After sitting back down in the private room, Mu Yunjin felt thirsty. Just as she was about to pour herself a cup of water, Ding Xian picked up the teapot and eagerly came over to pour water for Mu Yunjin.

“Third Miss, please have some tea.”

Mu Yunjin glanced at Ding Xian, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. “Thank you for your trouble, Guard Ding.”

“No trouble at all.” Ding Xian’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. She had just seen clearly that this Third Miss was truly as His Highness had said—a little fox.

Now whenever she saw the smile on Mu Yunjin’s face, her heart would tremble with fear. She immediately thought of the idiom “a smile hiding a knife,” and deeply regretted telling Mu Yunjin about Chu Li’s condition of sparrow blindness.

Just as she was thinking this, she saw Mu Yunjin take a piece of cake, bite into it, and address Chu Li, “Have you considered what I mentioned last night, Sixth Prince?”

“This matter is in this prince’s hands to decide,” Chu Li replied coolly.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin didn’t show much reaction. She merely looked up and fixed her gaze on Ding Xian standing to one side, then slowly spoke with a hint of a smile, “Guard Ding.”

Seeing this smile, Ding Xian immediately had a bad feeling.

Mu Yunjin continued, “It’s a bit quiet since I recently moved into the Tinghua Pavilion. Would you trouble yourself to catch a few sparrows for me, so I can bring them back to liven up the place?”

At the mention of sparrows, Ding Xian’s legs nearly gave way. At this moment, she hated herself for being so loose-lipped, revealing His Highness’s secret to the Third Miss.

She had thought that after learning of His Highness’s secret, the Third Miss might feel some sympathy for him. Reality proved that this Third Miss was exactly as unreliable as she appeared on the surface.

“Your Highness…” Ding Xian turned her gaze to Chu Li, waiting for his reaction.

Chu Li glanced at Ding Xian and said in a low voice, “Go ahead.”

Upon hearing this, Ding Xian nodded and left the private room.

After Ding Xian left, Mu Yunjin leaned back in her chair, smiling at Chu Li across from her. “Having such a skilled guard is truly fortunate.”

“What are you trying to say with all these roundabout words today?” Chu Li’s eyes showed a hint of mockery as he looked sideways at Mu Yunjin.

“It’s very simple. You just need to state that you’re unwilling to marry me, and that’s all. This decision is now in your hands. For you, it shouldn’t be a difficult matter, right?” Mu Yunjin stated plainly.

Hearing this, Chu Li smiled faintly. “Are you so unwilling to marry this prince?”

“Yes.” Mu Yunjin nodded without the slightest hesitation. “I don’t believe in so-called parental orders and matchmakers’ words. I only trust my judgment.”

“Heh, but in your current situation, it seems you don’t have the right to choose your husband.” Chu Li looked mockingly at Mu Yunjin. Her blunt words had somehow sparked a surge of anger in his heart.

Chu Li’s constant mockery made Mu Yunjin’s face fall. She spoke with displeasure, “Regardless of the future, the urgent matter is our betrothal. Now that the Emperor has given you the decision, as long as you express that you don’t want to marry me, this betrothal will be nullified.”

Seeing her eagerness to escape this betrothal, Chu Li slightly furrowed his brow and couldn’t help but laugh coldly. “With your status as the Minister’s daughter, even if the betrothal to this prince is nullified, Father Emperor will simply bestow you in marriage to another prince or nobleman. Aren’t you concerned about that?”

“We’ll talk about that later. The urgent matter is between you and me!” Mu Yunjin pursed her lips. “Do you agree or not?”

“What if this prince says he doesn’t agree?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow slightly, showing some intention to tease Mu Yunjin.

Seeing that Chu Li was deliberately trying to provoke her, Mu Yunjin took a deep breath and bit her lip. “Then give me back my jade pendant. I’m not selling it anymore.”

“What if this prince doesn’t return it?” Chu Li asked, seeing Mu Yunjin grinding her teeth in anger, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help but chuckle lightly. She lowered her head and casually fiddled with her fingernail, saying languidly—

“If you don’t return it, then Your Highness’s hidden ailment will surely become known throughout the court!”