After Eunuch Lu spoke, his gaze fell on the shattered vase pieces nearby. He then meaningfully rubbed his nose and said, “It seems this old servant’s decree has arrived at just the right time.”

With these words, Eunuch Lu glanced at Mu Yunjin holding the imperial decree, then turned to address Minister Mu, “This time, the Sixth Prince personally went to the Emperor to request this marriage decree, which shows that the Sixth Prince takes this matter very seriously.”

“So for these two months, I request that the Minister and Madam take good care of the Third Miss. By all means, don’t cause any mishaps. Otherwise, neither the Sixth Prince nor the Emperor will be able to tolerate it.”

After finishing, Eunuch Lu gave everyone a bow and then excused himself.

Watching Eunuch Lu’s retreating figure, Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows slightly. This old man was interesting—his words to Minister Mu and Su Biqing had been full of warning.

Beside her, Mu Lingzhu had been trembling uncontrollably from the moment Eunuch Lu finished announcing the decree. With a pale face, she struggled to hold back the tears that were welling up in her eyes. Her mind was filled with a roaring noise, unable to perceive anything else.

A full eight years—she had loved Chu Li for a full eight years. And now, the Emperor had bestowed marriage…

Yet the one Chu Li would marry was Mu Yunjin!

She had failed; she had lost to Mu Yunjin!

…

…

“Zhu’er.” Su Biqing noticed Mu Lingzhu’s unusual state, glanced at the imperial decree, and gritted her teeth slightly.

She had thought that Mu Yunjin would surely be finished today, but unexpectedly, an imperial decree had appeared, and it was a marriage decree at that.

At this moment, Minister Mu’s mind was also filled with complicated thoughts. Looking at the bright yellow imperial decree, his heart was a tangle of emotions.

Now that the imperial decree had been issued, Yunjin would soon be a member of the royal family, instantly becoming someone he could not afford to offend. But thinking of Yi Yang’s injuries, Minister Mu felt as if there was a lump in his throat that he couldn’t swallow.

For the first time in his life, he tasted what it was like to swallow his pride. It was truly stifling.

Mu Yunjin coldly looked at the three people before her, slightly narrowing her eyes. Finally, she fixed her gaze on Minister Mu. “Father, didn’t you want to beat me to death? You can start now.”

Hearing this, Minister Mu was stunned for a moment. A nameless anger rose again, and he let out a heavy snort toward Mu Yunjin, then pointed at her. “To have such an unfilial daughter is a misfortune for the family!”

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin sneered. Though her eyes showed some traces of amusement, they also concealed a cold aura.

“Since there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to rest now. I’ve been keeping the Sixth Prince company all afternoon, drinking tea, and I’m quite tired.” With these words, Mu Yunjin yawned and headed toward Tinghua Pavilion.

After Mu Yunjin left, Minister Mu collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily, his brow tightly furrowed, occasionally sighing.

Looking at this scene, Su Biqing pressed her lips together tightly, somewhat hesitant as she spoke, “Yunjin, this child, has only interacted with the Sixth Prince a few times, yet she already doesn’t take us seriously. If in the future she has the chance to become the mother of the nation, then our minister’s mansion…”

As she spoke, Su Biqing didn’t dare to continue.

Hearing Su Biqing’s words, Mu Lingzhu slowly gathered her scattered thoughts, biting her lip and giving Su Biqing a meaningful look.

Catching Mu Lingzhu’s gaze, Su Biqing immediately understood. She then smoothed her clothes and addressed Minister Mu, “What’s done is done. There’s no use in thinking too much. My lord, go back and rest early.”

“Mm.” Minister Mu nodded with some effort, then stood up and headed to his quarters.

After Minister Mu left, only Su Biqing and Mu Lingzhu remained in the front hall. Mu Lingzhu looked at Su Biqing, tears glistening in her eyes. “Mother, there are still two months until the coming-of-age ceremony. You must think of a way for me.”

…

As soon as Mu Yunjin returned to Tinghua Pavilion, she tore the imperial decree in her hand to shreds and threw it on the ground.

Seeing the bright yellow fragments, Zixiang was startled. She immediately crouched down to pick up the pieces of the decree. “Miss, are you tired of living? How dare you tear up an imperial decree!”

“Huh? Betrothal… Sixth Prince?” Zixiang looked at the vague characters on the fragments, her face full of surprise.

After a moment’s stupor, Zixiang exclaimed, “Miss, is this the imperial decree for your marriage to the Sixth Prince?”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin lifted her eyelids and gave Zixiang a cool look. “So you can read…”

“Congratulations, Miss! Felicitations, Miss!” Zixiang couldn’t hide the smile on her face as she bowed to Mu Yunjin and offered her congratulations.

Mu Yunjin felt somewhat frantic. She turned and entered her room, closing the door tightly behind her, then collapsed onto her soft couch.

It was all because of her loose tongue—why did she have to mention the sparrow blindness?

Now she had brought trouble upon herself. And that Chu Li was truly impulsive—couldn’t he have waited until his anger subsided before making a decision?

Thinking of this, Mu Yunjin sighed heavily.

…

Early the next morning, Mu Yunjin, still in her dreams, was awakened by several chirping bird calls. As she slowly opened her eyes, she heard Zixiang’s laughter from outside the bedroom, along with many bird calls.

Hearing these bird calls, Mu Yunjin immediately sat up, put on her shoes, and walked outside.

When Mu Yunjin opened the bedroom door, she saw Ding Xian and Zixiang standing in the courtyard. Zixiang was holding a birdcage with several mynahs inside.

As soon as she saw the birdcage, Mu Yunjin’s gaze instantly darkened.

Seeing this, Ding Xian immediately ran up to her and respectfully addressed Mu Yunjin, “Third Miss, these mynahs were sent by the Sixth Prince.”

“Chu Li sent them?” Mu Yunjin slightly narrowed her eyes, not understanding what Chu Li’s intentions were.

“After the Sixth Prince accidentally injured those mynahs yesterday, he returned to the palace and remembered what the Third Miss said about Tinghua Pavilion being dull. So he had me prepare several more mynahs to bring to you.” Ding Xian explained.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s brow furrowed, and anger rose in her heart. It was one thing for Chu Li to have killed those mynahs yesterday, but now he had brought her new ones—wasn’t he deliberately causing her trouble?

Just as she was thinking this, Ding Xian seemed to remember something else. She pulled out three banknotes from her sleeve and handed them to Mu Yunjin. Today marks the three day. These are bank notes for thirty thousand taels of gold. Third Miss can take these notes to the Flying Crane Bank outside the city to exchange for silver.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin glanced at the bank notes in Ding Xian’s hand, secretly considering. If she accepted these notes, then the jade pendant would completely belong to Chu Li.

But if she didn’t accept them, the jade pendant would remain with Chu Li, and he likely wouldn’t easily return it to her.

After a moment’s hesitation, Mu Yunjin folded her arms and raised an eyebrow slightly. “These bank notes, I want Chu Li to give them to me personally.”

“Yes, Third Miss.” Ding Xian didn’t say much more. After spending a few days with Mu Yunjin, she knew this Third Miss was not easily dismissed, so she could only agree to her words.

After Ding Xian left, Zixiang looked at the birdcage in her hand with great joy and walked to Mu Yunjin’s side. “Miss, the Sixth Prince cares about you, especially finding these birds to keep you company.”

“These mynahs aren’t here to keep me company; they’re here to warn me.” Mu Yunjin sighed softly, walking back to her bedroom.

Zixiang was somewhat puzzled. She hung the birdcage on a nearby tree branch and followed Mu Yunjin inside.

“By all rights, the Miss marrying the Sixth Prince should be a joyous occasion. Why does this servant feel that the Miss looks so gloomy?” Zixiang watched Mu Yunjin sitting at her dressing table and picked up a wooden comb to help arrange her hair.

Mu Yunjin curved her lips into a smile and said softly, “Leaving the minister’s mansion is a good thing, but marrying into the royal family is not necessarily good.”

“That’s true. Given the Sixth Prince’s current qualities, he is very likely to be established as the Crown Prince and eventually ascend the throne. At that time, if the Miss becomes the mother of the nation, there will be many things to worry about. Just the harem alone will have numerous plots and schemes…” As Zixiang spoke, she suddenly realized that Mu Yunjin’s words made perfect sense.

Hearing Zixiang take the conversation so far, Mu Yunjin smiled helplessly again. She was free-spirited by nature, and a place like the imperial palace was indeed not suitable for her.

After dressing and washing, there came a knock at the main gate of Tinghua Pavilion.

Zixiang immediately left the bedroom doorway and ran to open the main gate. When the gate opened, Aunt Li was standing at the entrance.

“Aunt Li, it’s you.” Seeing that the visitor was Aunt Li, Zixiang was slightly taken aback, then her face cooled. “Why has Aunt Li come here? Is there something you need?”

Aunt Li looked arrogantly at Zixiang, pushing her aside, then stepped forward to enter.

Mu Yunjin walked out of her bedroom door just in time to glimpse this scene, and she couldn’t help but give a cold smile. “What wind has blown Aunt Li here?”

“This old servant comes on Madam’s orders to teach the Third Miss some basic rules and etiquette before her marriage.” Aunt Li said.

Hearing that she was sent by Su Biqing, Mu Yunjin knew this woman was probably scheming something again, so she smiled and said, “Since Aunt Li is here to teach me rules and etiquette, why don’t I see you paying your respects to me?”

“After all, you call me Third Miss, and in this household, I am still your mistress.” After saying this, Mu Yunjin spoke to Zixiang, “Go get me a chair.”

“Yes, Miss.” Zixiang immediately ran to the side.

After sitting down, Mu Yunjin yawned lazily, crossed her legs, and looked leisurely at Aunt Li standing before her. “Alright, Aunt Li, you may begin paying your respects.”

Seeing this, Aunt Li thought to herself that this little brat was indeed different from before. In the past, she would have avoided her at all costs, but today she dared to ask her to pay respects.

But then, remembering Su Biqing’s instructions, Aunt Li gritted her teeth and pretended to smooth her clothes. “This old servant pays respects to the Third Miss.”

“Oh? Is that considered paying respects?” Mu Yunjin was somewhat puzzled, furrowing her brow and thinking hard for a moment. “No, no, that’s not right. Last time when you paid respects to the Fourth Miss, it wasn’t like this.”

Saying this, Mu Yunjin gestured, “Aunt, last time your waist was bent this low.”

Aunt Li looked up to see Mu Yunjin placing her hand at knee height, smiling mischievously at her. Catching the gleam of cunning in Mu Yunjin’s eyes, Aunt Li immediately understood—this little brat was deliberately teasing her.

But at this moment, she couldn’t refute anything Mu Yunjin said.

After a moment, Aunt Li closed her eyes and simply gave in completely. She knelt, bending her body to the ground, and forcibly gave Mu Yunjin a grand bow. “This old servant pays respects to the Third Miss.”

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin exclaimed in surprise, “Aunt Li is an elder of the minister’s household. Such a grand gesture—Yunjin cannot accept this!”

“Zixiang, quickly help Aunt Li up.”