Mu Yunjin hurriedly tossed down her chopsticks, hastily wiped her mouth with her sleeve, stood up, and was about to run toward the window beside her.

“Princess, wait…” Huang Yan immediately stepped forward, blocking Mu Yunjin’s path.

Thinking Huang Yan had come to help Chu Li capture her, Mu Yunjin threw a punch at him, then used her palm force to fling open the window and leaped out.

Just as half her body flew out the window, she felt a powerful surge of true energy sweep out from behind, enveloping her body in a cocoon of energy that instantly rendered her immobile.

Qiqi and Hua Ying, eager to protect their mistress, immediately rushed forward to stand in front of Mu Yunjin. “What are you trying to do?”

“Don’t panic! It’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!” Huang Yan was still covering his face. Mu Yunjin’s punch had been quite forceful, and he felt half his face swelling instantly.

“Princess, His Highness knows he has lost his memory…” Huang Yan approached Mu Yunjin and spoke in a low voice.

Mu Yunjin paused slightly, glanced at Chu Li, who stood at the door with a cold expression, pressed her lips together, and returned to her original position, fixing her gaze on Chu Li.

Chu Li, meeting Mu Yunjin’s gaze, looked back at her. He stared at her for a long while, then shifted his eyes away from her, still without a trace of emotion in them.

…

…

Nearby, Huang Yan gave a signal with his eyes to the others in the room. Everyone who caught his look quietly walked out.

Only Mu Yunjin and Chu Li remained in the room.

…

Perhaps recalling how Chu Li had hunted her down during the day, Mu Yunjin’s heart was suspended high with anxiety, fearing he might attack her at any moment.

Now facing Chu Li, Mu Yunjin was completely on guard. She wanted to speak to him, but several times the words reached the tip of her tongue only to be swallowed back.

Chu Li also remained silent, occasionally examining her before looking away again.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy and awkward.

Mu Yunjin didn’t know what to say. Two people who had been so intimate in the morning had become like strangers by nightfall.

All because of that brainless woman, Consort Rong!

The two stood face to face for a long time, until finally Mu Yunjin couldn’t bear it anymore and spoke first, “Chu Li, are you hungry?”

She had only eaten two bites of that bowl of noodles before spitting them out in shock. Now, wanting to continue eating, she found the noodles had already congealed into a mess…

So hungry.

Chu Li, hearing her voice, looked at her. The sound of her calling him directly by name echoed in his ears, natural and intimate, not at all causing him displeasure or annoyance.

Meeting Mu Yunjin’s clear eyes filled with a hint of confusion, Chu Li nodded slightly.

In the next moment, a joyful and sweet smile spread across Mu Yunjin’s face, and her tone became more relaxed, “Then wait a bit, I’ll get you something to eat.”

With that, Mu Yunjin walked forward.

When she approached Chu Li, Mu Yunjin paused slightly, then directly sprinted out the door, fearing Chu Li might suddenly attack her.

Chu Li turned around, watching the figure disappear into the night, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. Could he have been fond of such an abnormal woman before?

Chu Li was doubtful…

…

This time, Mu Yunjin bought food from the street outside. After getting several dishes that Chu Li liked from an inn, she passed by a small stall selling sweet cakes and bought a few that she enjoyed.

When she returned to the City Lord’s mansion, Chu Li was still alone in the room.

After entering, Mu Yunjin returned to her guarded state. Approaching Chu Li, she smiled, “I’ve brought the food back. Eat while it’s hot.”

Speaking, Mu Yunjin found some bowls, poured the food from the oiled paper packages into them, then took a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Chu Li.

As she extended them to Chu Li, her fingertips trembled slightly.

Chu Li didn’t immediately take the chopsticks. When his gaze fell on the dishes, his body tensed slightly, and complexity surged in his eyes.

This woman knew his food preferences so well?

“Chu Li, hurry and take the chopsticks!” Mu Yunjin’s arm was getting sore from holding out the chopsticks, and she had no idea what Chu Li was thinking about.

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s voice, Chu Li collected his thoughts, reached out to take the chopsticks, and began eating methodically.

Mu Yunjin sat nearby. Seeing that Chu Li was no longer threatening to kill her, she also relaxed, opened another oiled paper package, took a hot sweet cake, and bit into it.

Just as she took the first bite, Mu Yunjin felt a strong, rancid oily taste spread between her lips and teeth. Her stomach churned with nausea, and she couldn’t help but retch in front of Chu Li.

“Ugh…”

Mu Yunjin quickly covered her mouth, but still couldn’t help retching repeatedly.

Hearing the retching, Chu Li, who was eating, furrowed his brow, silently put down his chopsticks, and glanced at Mu Yunjin with a hint of disgust in his eyes.

Uncomfortable from retching, Mu Yunjin quickly looked at Chu Li, pointed at the water kettle, indicating that he should pour her a cup of water.

Seeing her natural gesture, as if she had often commanded him this way before, Chu Li’s expression changed slightly. Though displeased, he still poured her a cup of water and placed it on the table in front of her.

Mu Yunjin took the cup, not minding that the tea was still a bit hot, and drank it all in one go.

Only after finishing the cup of water did the nausea gradually subside.

Mu Yunjin took several deep breaths, quickly wrapped up the sweet cakes, and pouted, “The shop owner is getting worse at business, selling me spoiled cakes! Such a rancid oil smell, absolutely disgusting!”

After speaking, she stood up and threw the oiled paper package outside.

“…” Chu Li, watching her clumsy actions, twitched his eyebrows but remained silent.

At this moment, Qing Meng ran in from outside and looked at Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, “Your Highness, Princess, He Yu has awakened but refuses to take the antidote. Please help persuade him!”

Hearing this, Chu Li and Mu Yunjin both stood up and walked toward Xu Heyu’s quarters.

…

At Xu Heyu’s bedroom, Mu Yunjin followed beside Chu Li. As soon as she stepped in, the medicinal smell that filled the room caused the nausea to surge again. She stopped in her tracks and didn’t proceed further.

Chu Li, seeing her suddenly stop, turned back to look at her, noticing her deeply furrowed brow and her hand covering her mouth. He also frowned slightly.

But his attention ultimately didn’t linger on Mu Yunjin, and he walked toward Xu Heyu.

Mu Yunjin, not wanting to worry everyone with her discomfort, quietly walked out. After stepping outside, she ran to a secluded spot and bent over to vomit.

Only after vomiting until she saw stars did she finally stop.

Mu Yunjin hadn’t eaten anything, and after vomiting for so long, she had no strength left. She lazily sat down on a stone step. The cold wind blowing from all around made her tightly wrap her arms around herself, but she found it refreshingly comfortable.

After sitting for a while, feeling that the discomfort in her body had completely cleared, she slowly stood up, preparing to go back inside to check on Xu Heyu.

But the weather was cold, and after sitting on the low steps for a long time, Mu Yunjin’s legs were completely numb. As soon as she stood up, her body lost support and began to fall backward…

She tried to grab the railing beside her, but had no strength at all. Just as Mu Yunjin felt she was about to have the misfortune of falling, a wave of warm energy enveloped her.

Instead of the expected fall onto the stone steps, Mu Yunjin looked up and met a handsome, stern face devoid of warmth.

Chu Li had only realized she was missing after being inside for a while. Originally, he hadn’t wanted to bother with her at all, but since hearing everyone say they had been close before, his thoughts couldn’t help but concern her.

In the end, he couldn’t resist coming out to check on her, only to see this woman sitting on the outside steps in the wind. After watching her for a while, he saw her about to stand up and was preparing to leave when he saw her body fall backward…

Now, holding her in his arms, waves of a clear, sweet fragrance washed over him, disturbing his calm mind.

Just as he was about to release Mu Yunjin, the person in his arms had already wrapped her arms around his waist, pouting with a soft, aggrieved tone, “Chu Li, my legs are numb, I can’t walk. Carry me inside…”

…

As the cold wind blew, Mu Yunjin, whose body had felt somewhat better after staying outside, soon felt cold. She hurriedly wrapped her arms tightly around Chu Li, feeling the warmth of his embrace.

But she had forgotten—Chu Li had lost his memory…

In the past, Chu Li would have already carried her into the room, scolding her all the way.

But now, after she had nestled in Chu Li’s arms for only a short while, he pushed her away, then coldly and silently walked inside by himself.

Mu Yunjin stood in place, watching Chu Li’s back, stomped her foot in anger, and snorted lightly, “Hmph, surname Chu, when your memory returns and you kneel begging me, I won’t even let you hold me once!”

After saying this, she rolled her eyes again before walking toward Xu Heyu’s room with an annoyed expression.

…

Chu Li and Mu Yunjin entered the room one after another, both with cold expressions, ignoring each other, making everyone else nervous.

“He Yu, if there’s a way, you should at least try it. Haven’t you thought about your future with Yao Yao?” Qing Meng was still persuading Xu Heyu.

On the bed, Xu Heyu’s face was pale. He smiled bitterly, his voice hoarse, “I know my own body. The poison has already permeated every part of it. There’s no hope for recovery.”

Hearing this, Qing Meng and the others pressed their lips together, not knowing how to respond.

Indeed, what Xu Heyu said was true. Finding an antidote was only seeking a sliver of hope, not a guaranteed cure for the poison.

Hearing such dispirited words, Mu Yunjin pouted, smiled playfully, leaned against the wall, and spoke casually, “I met Sister Xin Yao at noon…”

“After not seeing her for days, she’s lost a lot of weight. Her eyes were red and swollen, probably from grieving for a long time…”

“But, I did hear her mention some things.” At this point, Mu Yunjin paused, looked toward Xu Heyu, and noticing him lying with half-open eyes staring at the ceiling, she continued leisurely—

“She said the Emperor of Ximing had again hinted at her entering the palace, and she agreed!”

“She told me at the time, since you don’t want her anymore, she might as well marry someone eventually. If that’s the case, why not choose the most powerful one? As for age, although he’s a bit older, at least she’ll never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of her life, enjoying wealth and prosperity…”