“So the Black Robe appeared here today, actually to spend the Lantern Festival with Shen Wanning?” After Mu Yunjin finished speaking, she thought of the Black Robe’s gentle smile earlier and still found it strange.

“Shen Wanning…” Qiqi suddenly murmured this name.

“I remember now, there were always rumors about a woman in the City Lord’s mansion called something… what was it… who could exorcise spirits and tell fortunes, but no one had ever really seen her. Could it be this Shen Wanning…” Qiqi couldn’t quite recall the nickname.

Huaying crossed her arms and coolly uttered three words, “Grass Ghost Hag.”

“Yes, yes, that’s the name!” Qiqi immediately nodded.

Huang Yan also stroked his chin, “Having lived in Zhangzhou City for years, I’ve certainly heard of the Grass Ghost Hag. Now that you mention it, it could well be this Shen Wanning.”

“How do you know her name is Shen Wanning?” Mu Yunjin asked Huang Yan.

“Once, when I accompanied His Highness to Qiu Tianhuai’s mansion, Qiu Tianhuai was with this Shen Wanning. He introduced her then, and I remembered her name,” Huang Yan explained.

…

…

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, “So this old Black Robe ghost is an old flame of the Grass Ghost Hag. But what’s her relationship with Qiu Tianhuai? If she loves the Black Robe, why aren’t they simply together?”

“No idea,” Qiqi shook her head.

“Forget it, when Chu Li comes tomorrow, we can ask him. He might know.” At the thought that tomorrow would be the fifteenth, Mu Yunjin’s heart blossomed with joy.

…

The next day.

Mu Yunjin rose early and sat at her dressing table to prepare herself. Though she couldn’t manage complicated hairstyles, she had learned several simple bun styles.

After arranging her hair, she applied rouge to her lips and cheeks while looking in the bronze mirror, clearly in the appearance of someone about to meet their beloved.

After preparing herself, Mu Yunjin sighed while looking in the mirror. In the past, when going out with Chu Li, she would simply tie her hair in a ponytail and go bare-faced. Now, after being separated for just a few days, she had become like this…

She truly couldn’t understand herself.

After leaving the courtyard, Mu Yunjin walked to the mountainside outside the residence, gazing toward the entrance of Fengyu Pavilion, waiting for Chu Li’s arrival.

“Mistress, are you waiting for someone?” Fish Granny approached Mu Yunjin’s side today, slowly walking with a cane.

Mu Yunjin nodded with a smile, “Yes, I’m waiting for my husband.”

“I see…” Fish Granny chuckled lightly, nodding as she looked toward the entrance.

Mu Yunjin turned to look at Fish Granny, “How old are you this year, Granny?”

“I can’t remember anymore.” Fish Granny’s aged voice was filled with the vicissitudes of life.

Mu Yunjin curved her lips. This Fish Granny must certainly be a person with a story.

…

Mu Yunjin stood on the mountainside, waiting from early morning until noon, but still saw no sign of Chu Li.

“What’s going on, he’s still not here…” Mu Yunjin muttered, then, unable to bear it any longer, she started walking down the mountain.

When she reached the bottom, Mu Yunjin headed straight for the stone gate entrance.

Qiqi quickly ran up behind her, “Mistress, where are you going?”

“I’m going outside to see why Chu Li hasn’t come yet…” Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, her brows slightly furrowed.

Qiqi blocked her, “Wait a little longer. It naturally takes some time to travel from Diehua City to Zhangzhou City. Besides, the Black Robe is in Zhangzhou City now. What if he discovers you when you rashly go out?”

Mu Yunjin halted her steps.

“Let’s eat something first.” Qiqi pulled her back.

Mu Yunjin sat down on the grass, took a grilled fish handed over by Qiqi, ate a couple of bites, but had little appetite.

Seeing this, Huang Yan smiled, “Princess, His Highness will fulfill what he promised you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed in the first place.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. It should be so.

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, Mu Yunjin propped up her head, her attention constantly fixed on the direction of the stone gate. But as she waited, noon turned into dusk, and sunset came.

Mu Yunjin’s high spirits gradually fell.

Would he break his promise the very first time?

Or… had something happened?

Thinking of this possibility, Mu Yunjin could no longer contain herself. She stood up and quickly walked toward the stone gate.

Behind her, Qiqi, Huang Yan, and the others also sensed something amiss and hurriedly rose to follow.

After the group passed the small stream, they stood at its edge. The sky had completely darkened. Mu Yunjin looked around; it was quiet, without a trace of anyone.

“I must return to the Prince’s Mansion to check,” Mu Yunjin felt increasingly anxious.

“Princess, please stay at Fengyu Pavilion. I’ll return to the Prince’s Mansion to check the situation,” Huang Yan spoke up.

Qiqi also nodded, “Yes, Mistress, please stay here for now. It’s dark, don’t wander around.”

“Yes, I’ll use the Formless Space to take Huang Yan back. Mistress, you and Qiqi return to Fengyu Pavilion first,” Huaying said, already activating the Formless Space as she finished speaking.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip, instinctively tightening her arms, watching as the two figures before her vanished into thin air.

After Huang Yan and Huaying left, Mu Yunjin stood by the stream, wanting to return but not daring to, afraid that as soon as she left, Chu Li would arrive.

Qiqi sighed lightly, “Mistress, it’s cold here. Let’s go back.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin responded.

Just as the two were about to step into the stream to leave, several faint footsteps were heard in the quiet surroundings.

Mu Yunjin and Qiqi were startled at the same time. Then Qiqi pulled Mu Yunjin into the water. The two stood on the steps, looking toward the shore through the water.

Through the night, Mu Yunjin and Qiqi could see two figures passing by the stream, heading west.

Those two figures were the Black Robe Feng Lan and Shen Wanning, whom they had seen last night.

“Where are those two going?” Mu Yunjin looked westward, watching as the two walked further away.

“That area is remote, with only a mountain at the end,” Qiqi answered.

Mu Yunjin frowned, feeling an ominous premonition in her heart. Especially after learning that this Shen Wanning might be the Grass Ghost Hag they spoke of, she no longer dared to underestimate her.

A Black Robe skilled in witchcraft, plus a Grass Ghost Hag who could tell fortunes and exorcise spirits—it was quite frightening to think about.

The two sat on the steps, waiting for Huang Yan and Huaying to return, while also watching for when the Black Robe and Shen Wanning would reappear.

“They’re back…” Half an hour later, Qiqi gently nudged Mu Yunjin, pointing at the Black Robe and Shen Wanning passing by the stream.

Mu Yunjin followed her gaze, then looked westward again, “Coming here so late at night, they must be up to no good.”

“Shall we go and see?” Qiqi was also curious.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin exchanged glances with Qiqi. After the Black Robe and Shen Wanning had walked far enough, the two emerged from the water and returned to the streambank.

…

At the end of the stream was an abandoned mountain. Not a blade of grass grew around the mountain, making it appear eerie and cold in the night.

Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking around, Mu Yunjin tightened her arms against the cold wind, “This place is creepy. Let’s leave quickly…”

“Mistress, look, there’s light over there…” Qiqi suddenly pointed to a spot halfway up the mountain.

Mu Yunjin looked up and indeed saw a faint candlelight.

“Let’s go look,” Mu Yunjin summoned her courage and started walking up the mountain.

Qiqi followed beside Mu Yunjin.

When they were still some distance from the halfway point, howls suddenly echoed through the empty surroundings, startling the two women to a halt.

“Is that a wolf’s howl?” Qiqi asked.

Mu Yunjin listened more carefully and frowned, “It doesn’t sound like a wolf.”

“Could it be some other monster?” Qiqi steadied her nerves and pulled Mu Yunjin’s arm, “Mistress, let’s leave first.”

Mu Yunjin thought for a moment, then nodded.

The two turned around and started walking down the mountain.

After a few steps, the howling sounded again, filled with pain and frenzy—

“Yun, Yunjin… growl growl…”

Mu Yunjin and Qiqi both stopped in their tracks. Qiqi spoke first, “Mistress, did I just hear your name?”

“I think I heard it too…”

With that, Mu Yunjin looked back toward the halfway point of the mountain. A thought flashed in her mind…

The madman, could it be…

With this thought, Mu Yunjin quickly walked toward the halfway point, with Qiqi following at her side.

When they reached the entrance of the cave with candlelight halfway up the mountain, the frenzied howls became clearer and more piercing.

“Yunjin…! Roar roar roar…”

Mu Yunjin clenched her fists, her feet frozen at the cave entrance, without the courage to step in.

After a long while, until the howling inside gradually faded, Mu Yunjin finally took a deep breath and slowly walked into the cave.

Upon entering and seeing the scene inside, Mu Yunjin stood stunned, her mind unable to calm for a long time.

In the cold, damp cave, a man in tattered clothes was bound by iron chains on his wrists, sitting on the ground with disheveled hair and a wretched appearance. His eyes were empty and numb, staring at a pink sachet on the ground, muttering softly.

“Isn’t this… Qin Munan?” After looking at the man for a while, Qiqi finally recognized him.

Mu Yunjin felt bitter in her heart. She hadn’t expected Qin Muyue to be so cruel, truly treating Qin Munan this way.

At this moment, Qin Munan, who had been muttering, suddenly looked up. His gaze fixed steadily on Mu Yunjin before him. His empty eyes suddenly filled with joy. He stood up and ran toward Mu Yunjin.

But the iron chains on his wrists restrained him. He took two steps before being stopped by the chains, unable to come closer.

Instantly, Qin Munan, as if gone mad, channeled his inner force, repeatedly trying to break the chains with his bare hands. But the chains were specially made and not easily broken. After several attempts, Qin Munan’s wrists were covered in blood.

“Ahhhh!” Qin Munan suddenly let out a roar, raising his palm, ready to chop down on his arm.

Mu Yunjin’s eyes widened. She immediately shot out silver needles, sealing Qin Munan’s acupoints. Qin Munan’s legs gave way, and he fainted.

“Heavens, how could this happen? He was perfectly fine before; how did he become so deranged?” Qiqi was frightened by the scene.

If Mu Yunjin hadn’t acted in time, Qin Munan would have likely chopped off his arms to break free of the chains and rush toward them.

“Mistress, should we rescue him?” Qiqi asked.

Mu Yunjin shook her head, “Not for now. He’s been poisoned. Staying here is the safest for him.”