Just as she leaned against the pillar, feeling as if her head was about to split open and she was on the verge of fainting, a familiar sensation welled up in her chest. Gradually, a warm current flowed into her mind, alleviating the sharp pain in her head.

“Princess, are you alright?” Qingmeng came out to look for Mu Yunjin while Huaying was examining Xu Heyu.

Mu Yunjin’s headache had already subsided considerably. Hearing Qingmeng’s voice, she remained seated and shook her head. “I’m fine. How’s it going inside?”

“Miss Huaying is checking Master Heyu’s pulse. I was worried about you, so I came out to check.” Qingmeng looked at her.

Remembering Mu Yunjin’s two heart meridians, Qingmeng added, “Princess, your complexion doesn’t look good. Why don’t I examine you?”

“There’s no need. Don’t worry about me. I’ll just sit here for a moment and then come in. You go help Huaying first. I’ll be there shortly.” Mu Yunjin replied.

Hearing this, Qingmeng nodded and walked back inside.

After Qingmeng left, Mu Yunjin took a shallow breath and fell into deep thought.

Just when her headache felt nearly fatal, the Divine Command Token had once again helped alleviate her discomfort, even pulling back everything that had been draining from her mind.

…

…

Mu Yunjin rubbed her head. Since the Divine Command Token had helped ease her discomfort, did that mean the headache wasn’t caused by the token itself?

Moreover, an ordinary cold wouldn’t cause such an intense headache. What was going on?

Mu Yunjin thought for a moment, suddenly recalling Consort Rong’s deeply meaningful smile in the front hall of the prince’s mansion. Gradually, her thoughts turned to the bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup.

Could it be…

Had Consort Rong tampered with the food?

After considering all possibilities, this was the only explanation Mu Yunjin could think of.

But Chu Li had also eaten the white fungus and lotus seed soup. Would he have problems too?

Thinking of the headache she’d just experienced, Mu Yunjin still felt some trepidation. However, she quickly dismissed the thought. Consort Rong was Chu Li’s mother, and she was after Mu Yunjin’s Divine Command Token. How could she possibly feed Chu Li problematic food?

With these thoughts, Mu Yunjin sighed lightly and walked inside.

……

In the room, Huaying had given Xu Heyu a pill to mitigate the poison’s effects, temporarily suppressing the toxicity. Having lost a considerable amount of vital energy, Xu Heyu quickly fell asleep.

When Mu Yunjin entered, she heard Huaying and Qingmeng discussing the hundred poison antidotes.

“Though this method is risky, if it truly works, it’s worth trying,” Qingmeng said with a furrowed brow after hearing about the antidote preparation.

“What about Sister Xinyao? If we’re going to detoxify, it will likely take a considerable amount of time. I wonder if she can keep things hidden on her end,” Mu Yunjin approached and spoke up.

At the mention of Qu Xinyao, Qingmeng sighed. “Last night, Heyu explicitly rejected Yaoyao, saying he would never be with her in this lifetime.”

“These two children, they truly are pitiful,” Qingmeng said resignedly.

“It’s alright. After City Lord Xu’s poison is cured, it won’t be too late to win back Sister Xinyao,” Mu Yunjin smiled, offering comfort.

Qingmeng nodded. “Let’s hope so.”

“Miss Huaying, why don’t you stay here for the next few days? We can work together to match the hundred poison antidotes. I’m afraid Heyu can’t hold out much longer,” Qingmeng said.

“That’s fine with me, but we’ll need to find more people to help fetch medicinal ingredients. Just the two of us won’t be able to manage everything,” Huaying tugged at the corner of her mouth slightly, discussing the matter with Qingmeng.

From the side, Qiqi immediately stepped forward. “I volunteer first! For such a life-saving matter, I naturally can’t refuse. Besides, I have nothing else to do.”

“There’s also Brother Lei Yan and Xiumei. They can all come help.”

Hearing this, Qingmeng added, “That boy Huang Yan is also coming here tomorrow. Let’s call him in as well.”

“Yes, yes!” At the mention of Huang Yan, Qiqi raised her eyebrows at Huaying.

“I can help too! After merging the crocodile pearl tonight, if we successfully extract the Divine Command Token, I’ll be free!” Mu Yunjin also raised her hand to volunteer.

Seeing that there were enough people, Qingmeng said, “Then let’s settle on this for now. Princess, please inform His Highness and see what he says.”

“Mm, alright. I’ll head back first.”

“Mistress, I’ll take you back using the formless space, and then I’ll go to Phoenix Feather Pavilion to organize some things.” Qiqi walked to Mu Yunjin’s side.

“Good, let’s go.”

……

When Mu Yunjin returned to her room, it was empty. Chu Li hadn’t returned yet.

Thinking of her headache earlier, Mu Yunjin bit her lip, pushed open the door, and slowly walked out of Liquan Pavilion.

Outside the door, Zixiang immediately came forward and said in a low voice, “Miss, Princess Nine came here earlier. I told her you were resting, so she left.”

Zixiang had been by Mu Yunjin’s side for a long time. Although she might not know about major matters, she was well-acquainted with minor details. Earlier, Mu Yunjin had said she was going out with Qiqi and the others, but she hadn’t left the room, probably not wanting others to know.

So when Chu Qingyuan came, she made up an excuse to send her away.

“Mm, well done.” Mu Yunjin smiled, reaching out to gently pinch Zixiang’s cheek.

“Miss, where are you going now?” Zixiang noticed she was preparing to leave.

Mu Yunjin paused her steps, looked at Zixiang, and said, “I’m going out for a bit. You stay here, warm yourself by the fire, and chat with your Song dage.”

With that, Mu Yunjin winked at Zixiang and walked away.

……

Mu Yunjin headed straight for the manor’s kitchen. At this time, the kitchen was bustling with activity. Mu Yunjin stood for quite a while before someone noticed her.

“Greetings, Princess,” a maid helping in the kitchen came forward.

“Where were the leftovers from our breakfast this morning thrown away?” Mu Yunjin spoke slowly, her gaze sweeping around.

Hearing this, the little maid’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. Then, lowering her head, she slowly said, “Those items were already ordered to be taken out of the manor.”

“Weren’t they usually taken away in the evening? It’s not even noon yet. Why were they taken away?” Mu Yunjin slightly clenched her fist.

“It was Mamma Shen who came earlier and instructed us. We were just following orders,” the little maid said.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin nodded and walked out.

Leaving the kitchen, she couldn’t help but coldly curl her lips. How coincidental—just as she suspected, there was a problem with the white fungus and lotus seed soup, today’s leftovers were removed from the manor before noon…

“Princess, why are you standing at the kitchen door?” Mamma Shen had come to check on the progress of lunch and happened to meet Mu Yunjin.

“Mamma, who instructed you to dispose of the breakfast leftovers outside the manor?” Mu Yunjin stared at Mamma Shen’s face, observing her expression.

Mamma Shen was taken aback. Then, furrowing her brow, she looked at Mu Yunjin in surprise. “Wasn’t it you who had someone instruct this servant?”

“Me?” Mu Yunjin pointed at herself.

“Yes, this morning a little maid came and told this servant that you said you weren’t happy with breakfast and wanted everything thrown out of the manor immediately, that you didn’t even want to lay eyes on it. This servant heard this and hurriedly ordered the kitchen to do so.”

Mamma Shen also found it strange. At the time, she had wondered, as the Princess was usually quite easygoing. Why had her temper suddenly flared, becoming arrogant and difficult to serve?

But now, it seemed this might not have been ordered by the Princess?

“I understand.” Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, crossing her arms. “Are Princess Nine and the others still in the side hall?”

Mamma Shen nodded.

Mu Yunjin smiled faintly and turned to go back to Liquan Pavilion. As she walked, her expression grew increasingly somber.

For Consort Rong to go to such lengths to prepare breakfast for her, and then to arrange for the leftover food to be thrown out—such efforts to destroy evidence indicated an intentional cover-up.

It seemed some people were up to no good.

Halfway back, she encountered Consort Rong and Chu Qingyuan.

Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes and rolled them. She had wanted to retreat to her room to rest, but Consort Rong had delivered herself to Mu Yunjin’s doorstep.

Very well then, let’s see what her intentions were!

……

Mu Yunjin slowly raised her eyes to meet Consort Rong’s gaze.

Consort Rong was similarly looking at Mu Yunjin, her beautiful eyes revealing excitement and nervousness. Her gaze swept over Mu Yunjin, as if trying to discern something.

Mu Yunjin also noticed Consort Rong’s gaze. Recalling the splitting headache she had experienced, she smiled playfully and asked, “Is Consort Rong looking to see something in me?”

At these words, Consort Rong immediately opened her mouth, the excitement and nervousness in her eyes instantly transforming into a blank, surprised stare. She gazed at Mu Yunjin, motionless.

This… how was it possible?

She was completely unharmed…

“Consort Rong, your disappointed expression makes it quite difficult for me to save face!” Mu Yunjin pursed her lips. She had previously thought Consort Rong was quite good, but now she had no positive feelings left at all.

The Divine Command Token.

Was this thing so important to her?

As a woman of the harem, did she think she could turn the world of Canghua upside down?

“Sixth Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?” Chu Qingyuan didn’t quite understand Mu Yunjin’s words, but standing on the side, she vaguely felt something strange between Mu Yunjin and Consort Rong.

“Nothing,” Mu Yunjin replied in a flat tone.

With that, she spoke to Consort Rong again, “Stop struggling. Cherish what you have in front of you.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin couldn’t be bothered to say another word to Consort Rong and turned to walk back to Liquan Pavilion.

Consort Rong stood in place, staring fixedly at Mu Yunjin’s retreating figure, her brows tightly furrowed.

……

“Whew, headache…”

Mu Yunjin lay down, feeling that her days never seemed to go smoothly.

After lying for a while, she checked the time again, lazily turning over and muttering, “Why hasn’t Chu Li returned yet…”

Just as she spoke, footsteps were heard outside Liquan Pavilion.

Hearing this sound, Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened. She immediately sat up, staring at the doorway, wanting to discuss Xu Heyu’s detoxification with Chu Li.

“Creeak—”

The door was gently opened, and a figure dressed in purple stepped in.

Seeing Chu Li, Mu Yunjin’s lips revealed a trace of a smile. “Chu Li, you’re back. I have something to discuss with you…”

Before she could finish speaking, Mu Yunjin felt a cold, detached gaze sweep over her face, causing her heart to skip a beat. She stared at Chu Li without blinking.

After a moment, a cool, indifferent voice tinged with anger sounded above her head—

“Who are you?”