Hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Zixiang was momentarily stunned, then immediately understood. She stepped forward to help Aunt Li up.

Before her hand could touch Aunt Li, it was brushed away. “I can manage myself.”

After Aunt Li stood up, she took a slight breath, her face tense as she looked at Mu Yunjin. “Now that I’ve paid my respects, please, Third Miss, learn the rules properly from this old servant.”

“This old servant was specially assigned by Madam, so that when the Third Miss enters the Prince’s household in the future, her behavior and conduct won’t be criticized. Please understand Madam’s kind intentions.”

“According to you, Mother thinks my conduct is improper and unruly? So now she’s sent you to discipline me?” Mu Yunjin leaned lazily against her chair, fidgeting with her fingernails.

Aunt Li was speechless for a moment, then smiled. “Not at all. It’s just that over the years, the Master and Madam knew they were remiss in teaching the Third Miss. Now they’ve sent this old servant to teach you the rules, fearing that you might be at a disadvantage when you enter the Prince’s household. Please understand the Master and Madam’s goodwill.”

Listening to Aunt Li’s beautifully crafted words, Mu Yunjin finally understood why Su Biqing had sent her.

Indeed, old ginger is spicier.

However, Su Biqing suddenly sending her trusted Aunt Li couldn’t be as simple as just teaching rules. She was curious to see what trick was hidden this time.

…

…

“Third Miss, time is of the essence. Shall we begin now?” Aunt Li said.

“Wait.” Mu Yunjin interrupted, turning her head toward Zixiang beside her. “Zixiang, I haven’t eaten anything since I woke up. I’m a bit hungry.”

Hearing this, Zixiang immediately said, “It’s this servant’s oversight. I’ll go prepare breakfast for Miss right away.”

“Good.”

After Zixiang left, Mu Yunjin smiled at Aunt Li. “Let’s talk after I finish my breakfast.”

Aunt Li gritted her teeth, smiling insincerely. “Yes, Third Miss.”

…

In the small garden of Tinghua Pavilion, Mu Yunjin leisurely sipped red bean porridge from a small bowl, occasionally chatting with Zixiang.

A small bowl of red bean porridge took her nearly half an hour to finish.

Aunt Li stood to the side, noticing that it was almost noon, and glared at Mu Yunjin, cursing her a thousand times in her heart.

“I’m done,” Mu Yunjin said, pushing the small bowl aside.

“Third Miss, shall we begin now?” Seeing that Mu Yunjin had finished, Aunt Li stepped forward.

Mu Yunjin nodded, smiling at Aunt Li. “Let’s begin then. Aunt Li, first demonstrate what I should learn.”

“Alright.” After speaking, Aunt Li stepped back a few paces and began demonstrating to Mu Yunjin.

“This old servant will first teach the kneeling ceremony. There are many noble people in the palace, and even the kneeling ceremony has different levels. The third Miss must learn carefully.”

Mu Yunjin responded with a “hmm” and watched as Aunt Li demonstrated.

Aunt Li first demonstrated a slight curtsy, merely smoothing her clothes without bending her waist at all, then explained to Mu Yunjin, “This kind of greeting is suitable for brothers, sisters, and peers.”

Mu Yunjin rested her chin in her hand, watching the scene, and found the trick in this so-called teaching.

So Aunt Li was deliberately teaching her incorrect rules.

Although she had never learned any palace etiquette, she wasn’t stupid enough to give such a perfunctory greeting to her siblings.

Next, Aunt Li demonstrated another ceremony, just like the kneeling and kowtowing she had done to Mu Yunjin earlier. “This kind of ceremony is performed for consorts and empresses. They are the mothers of the princes, so grand ceremonies are appropriate.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded, silently rolling her eyes and lazily yawning.

“Next…”

“Miss, it’s time for lunch.” Before Aunt Li could continue, Zixiang spoke to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows slightly, seeing Aunt Li’s fallen face, and curved her lips slightly. “Good, let’s have lunch first.”

“Didn’t the Third Miss just have breakfast?” Aunt Li asked, suppressing her anger.

“Yes, breakfast was late, and now it’s time for lunch. Shouldn’t I eat?” Mu Yunjin asked in return, picking up her chopsticks and eating unhurriedly.

Zixiang stood to the side, holding back her laughter. She glanced at Aunt Li’s livid face and felt extremely pleased.

In the past, Aunt Li had relied on her position as Big Madam’s attendant to do many unpleasant things to them. Now it was time for her to suffer a bit.

After taking a bite of food, Mu Yunjin raised her eyes to look at the motionless Aunt Li and said, “Aunt Li, please continue with your demonstration. I’m watching. This way we can save time.”

Even if Aunt Li hadn’t understood before, after hearing these words, she now realized that this little wretch was deliberately playing with her!

After waiting for a while, Aunt Li said to Mu Yunjin, “I suppose the Third Miss will want to take a nap after lunch, and after the nap, it will be time for dinner. It seems this old servant has come at an inopportune time. I won’t stay any longer and will take my leave now.”

“Aunt Li does understand me well.” Mu Yunjin sneered. “Since that’s the case, go slowly. No need to see you out!”

After Aunt Li left in anger, Mu Yunjin put down her chopsticks, her eyes flashing as she smiled faintly. “In the next two months, I’m afraid this Tinghua Pavilion won’t be peaceful.”

Zixiang sighed. “This servant has heard that the Fourth Miss has admired the Sixth Prince since childhood. Now that the Sixth Prince is going to marry you as his consort, the Fourth Miss must be very unhappy.”

“Let her be unhappy. Her unhappiness is my happiness.” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow slightly.

…

Three days passed, and Mu Yunjin stayed in Tinghua Pavilion without going out. She had thought that Aunt Li might come to Tinghua Pavilion again, but since she had left in anger that day at lunch, she never returned.

In her spare time, Mu Yunjin heard from Zixiang that there was a temple fair in the city today, so she decided to take Zixiang out of the mansion for a walk.

When passing through the front hall, Mu Yunjin saw the steward carrying many gift boxes through the door, placing them on a table already piled with gifts, panting.

“Uncle Wang, where are these gifts from?” Zixiang looked at the table full of gifts, somewhat curious.

Uncle Wang wiped his sweat and bowed to Mu Yunjin, then said, “Since the news of the Sixth Prince’s betrothal to the Third Miss spread, people have been coming to the minister’s mansion to send gifts. They’re all congratulating the Miss. It’s been three days now, and there are still so many people coming with gifts.”

“Is that so? What about the gifts sent earlier?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

“This old servant is not quite clear about that. They should have been put away by the Big Madam,” Uncle Wang said.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin folded her arms and scanned the gift boxes. At a glance, they were almost all precious medicines or tonics and antiques.

“Since they’re here to congratulate me, send these gift boxes to my Tinghua Pavilion. Also, ask Mother to bring over the gift boxes received in the previous days.”

Mu Yunjin smiled awkwardly, then led Zixiang toward the main gate of the minister’s mansion.

The steward stood frozen, momentarily at a loss.

After leaving the mansion, Zixiang walked beside Mu Yunjin, speaking with some concern. “Miss, you’ve claimed all these gift boxes. Will the Big Madam be unhappy?”

“What right does she have to be unhappy? They were sent to me, so it’s only right that I take them.” Mu Yunjin said with a smile.

After a pause, Mu Yunjin spoke again. “I’m not doing this because I covet those gifts. It’s purely because I can’t stand her and want to make her angry.”

“Miss…” Zixiang was frightened and immediately covered Mu Yunjin’s mouth with her hand, looking around at the people nearby.

If others heard these words, there would be serious trouble.

“Where is the temple fair you mentioned?” Mu Yunjin crossed her arms, walking leisurely along the street, looking from one end to the other without seeing any sign of a temple fair.

“Miss, temples are generally built outside the city. This is the market street; how could there be a temple fair here?” Zixiang said, covering her mouth with a laugh.

Mu Yunjin pouted and headed toward the city gate.

…

Arriving at the temple fair Zixiang had mentioned, Mu Yunjin looked around and saw people constantly entering and leaving the temple gate, all there to attend the fair.

“Miss, I’ve heard that inside this temple, there’s a thousand-year-old tree. They say that wishes made to this ancient tree mostly come true.” Zixiang mentioned the ancient tree with a look of longing.

Mu Yunjin glanced at Zixiang. “You believe in such tricks?”

“Miss, since we’re here, let’s go take a look. The Buddha hall is too crowded now anyway; we won’t be able to squeeze in,” Zixiang said.

Mu Yunjin sighed slightly, nodded, and followed Zixiang to find the thousand-year-old tree.

After walking a few steps, Mu Yunjin saw several carriages parked in the shade of trees nearby. Among them, she immediately recognized a purple sandalwood carriage.

It seemed Mu Lingzhu had come too.

After asking directions from several young monks along the way, Mu Yunjin and Zixiang finally reached the location of the thousand-year-old tree.

However, the ancient tree was placed in a large courtyard, and to enter that courtyard, one needed a token from the abbot.

Seeing this, Zixiang felt somewhat disappointed.

Mu Yunjin originally had no particular feeling about this ancient tree, but now, standing outside this courtyard, she felt something unusual in her heart. It was as if some force was drawing and entangling her.

Mu Yunjin rubbed her chest and looked into the courtyard. “Zixiang, let’s go find the abbot.”

The two retraced their steps, asking for directions until they arrived at the abbot’s meditation courtyard. As Mu Yunjin just stepped onto the stairs leading to the courtyard, she saw a group of people coming down.

Looking up, she saw the Third Prince Chu Qing and the Eighth Prince Chu Xin leading the way, along with a man dressed in magnificent clothes walking beside them. Following them were Mu Lingzhu, Yan Lingshang, and Wen Ruhuan, as well as several noble ladies she hadn’t seen before.

Those people also saw Mu Yunjin walking up, and everyone’s expressions varied.

Mu Yunjin silently cursed her bad luck. Beside her, Zixiang tugged at Mu Yunjin’s sleeve and whispered, “Miss, why don’t we turn back?”

“Why should we turn back? Are we afraid of them?” Mu Yunjin muttered, continuing to walk up the stairs.

When they stood face to face with the group, Mu Yunjin heard Chu Qing’s playful voice. “Isn’t this Third Miss Mu? How come you’ve come alone?”