After returning to the mansion, Mu Yunjin, overcome with curiosity, followed closely behind Chu Li, eagerly wanting to know why that scene had occurred in Jingming Hall.
But Chu Li was unhurried. He first went back to his room and changed his clothes.
After changing, he ordered a meal to be served.
Soon after, when the servants had brought the meal to the room, Chu Li instructed them to leave. Once all the servants had exited, Chu Li transformed back to his original appearance.
He pulled Mu Yunjin to sit down for the meal.
After sitting down, Mu Yunjin didn’t pick up her chopsticks right away. Instead, she stared directly at Chu Li. “Can you tell me now?”
Chu Li looked at her and, seeing her intense curiosity, figured that if he didn’t tell her soon, she probably wouldn’t be able to eat properly.
So he smiled faintly and parted his thin lips. “It was Ink Qilin’s doing.”
“Ink Qilin? But why didn’t I see it…” Mu Yunjin was surprised.
“When this Prince saw that dragon, I secretly summoned Ink Qilin to come. At that time, the dragon was flying into Jingming Hall, and everyone’s attention was focused on it, so no one noticed Ink Qilin’s arrival,” Chu Li explained to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin immediately understood and smiled. “Then we have it to thank. Otherwise, how could we have made Black Robe so angry?”
“Mm.” Chu Li nodded with a smile, his eyes flickering with a hint of deeper meaning.
After her mood improved, Mu Yunjin picked up her chopsticks. Just as she was about to eat, she remembered something else. “All the servants in the mansion are being held at the Court of Judicial Review, and there’s also Master Huaiyuan. Shouldn’t we think of a way to rescue them first?”
Remembering that Wind Xuan Daoist had said Mamma Shen’s condition wasn’t good, Mu Yunjin felt a pang of anxiety.
“With Chen Pu there, they’ll be fine,” Chu Li reassured her.
“Chen Pu? He’s your man too?” Mu Yunjin was surprised.
Chu Li nodded in response, then placed a rib in her bowl. “Don’t think too much about it. Eat.”
“Mm.” Mu Yunjin didn’t ask further and lowered her head to eat.
After lunch, Mu Yunjin walked to Chu Li’s side and took his hand, putting on a pitiful expression. “Chu Li, can I just stay here?”
She didn’t want to return to Phoenix Feather Pavilion alone…
Chu Li looked up at Mu Yunjin. Hearing her words, his brow furrowed slightly, hesitating.
At that moment, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Huang Yan’s voice came from outside. “Your Highness, Qin Muyue has brought Yan Lingshang to the mansion.”
“I know,” Chu Li replied calmly.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin gave Chu Li a disgruntled look, her tone slightly sour. “Miss Qin has come to matchmake for you.”
“Come, let’s go out together.” Chu Li pinched her face, then transformed his appearance before walking out of the room.
Mu Yunjin was still wearing a maid’s clothes. After adjusting her clothes and hair bun, she followed Chu Li out.
In the front hall of the Crown Prince’s mansion, Qin Muyue and Yan Lingshang were sitting in the side seats, waiting for Chu Li.
When they saw Chu Li come out, both immediately stood up and bowed slightly to him. “Greetings, Crown Prince.”
“No need for formalities, please sit,” Chu Li sat in the main seat, while Mu Yunjin stood by his side.
After they were seated, servants brought tea and snacks.
“Having just finished lunch with nothing to do, I brought Miss Yan to visit the Crown Prince. I hope the Crown Prince welcomes us?” Qin Muyue smiled warmly at Chu Li.
Beside her, Yan Lingshang’s face turned slightly red, and she shyly lowered her eyes.
“Of course you’re welcome,” Chu Li smiled slightly.
Qin Muyue curled her lips in satisfaction, not mentioning what had happened at Jingming Hall earlier, as if nothing had occurred. She started a new topic: “Crown Prince and Miss Yan have met a few times before, right?”
Chu Li nodded.
“That’s good. Miss Yan is the Minister’s daughter, born of a noble family, and she’s well-versed in the four arts, poetry, and song. She’s truly a perfect match for the Crown Prince,” Qin Muyue said.
Hearing these words, Mu Yunjin inwardly scoffed.
“Minister Yan and our Chen Prince’s mansion have always had a good relationship. If the Crown Prince and Miss Yan form a good marriage, then our families will be even more closely connected,” Qin Muyue said with a smile, her words hiding deeper meaning.
Hearing this, Chu Li gave her a puzzled look. “Does Third Sister-in-law mean that the brotherly bond between This Crown Prince and the Third Brother is not as close as your relationship with Minister Yan’s household?”
Qin Muyue was taken aback, then lowered her eyes with a smile. “I misspoke. What I meant was that I want the Crown Prince and Miss Yan to get along well.”
“Mm, this Crown Prince will try to get along well with Miss Yan,” Chu Li said, glancing at Yan Lingshang.
Meeting his gaze, Yan Lingshang’s heart trembled, and her cheeks reddened further.
Mu Yunjin secretly rolled her eyes.
“By the way, the weather is nice today. Why don’t we go boating in the suburbs?” Qin Muyue suddenly suggested.
Yan Lingshang’s eyes lit up with joy at these words. “That sounds wonderful. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone out.”
“What does the Crown Prince think?” Qin Muyue looked at Chu Li.
Chu Li nodded in agreement.
Soon after, Chu Li went out.
Due to her status, Mu Yunjin couldn’t follow along and had to obediently wait for Chu Li to return at the Crown Prince’s mansion.
While strolling in the garden, Huang Yan and Qing Meng approached her.
“Princess…” The two walked up to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin nodded, looking at them. “Do you know why Chu Li is pursuing this connection with Yan Lingshang?”
Huang Yan pursed his lips and nodded slightly. “I do know something about that.”
“Tell me,” Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened.
“It’s because this Yan Lingshang is a sacrifice,” Huang Yan said with a serious expression.
Mu Yunjin was taken aback. “A sacrifice?”
“Yes, a sacrifice chosen by Chu Qing and Qin Muyue,” Huang Yan began. “Chu Qing and Qin Muyue want to use Yan Lingshang to create enmity between Minister Yan’s household and the Crown Prince’s mansion, thereby making Minister Yan wholeheartedly serve the Chen Prince’s mansion.”
“But isn’t Yan Qiuhuai already Chu Qing’s man?” Mu Yunjin was confused.
Huang Yan shook his head. “Although he’s been Chu Qing’s man for a long time, he could betray them at any moment. Only by using Yan Lingshang can they firmly grasp Minister Yan’s loyalty.”
“Does Yan Lingshang know about this?” Mu Yunjin asked. If she knew, that would be too cruel.
“Judging by the way she blushed and her heart fluttered when facing His Highness today, she probably doesn’t know,” Huang Yan answered.
Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, beginning to feel sympathy for Yan Lingshang from the bottom of her heart.
Chu Qing and the Qin family, for the sake of the entire Western Yuan Kingdom, seemed to have reached a point of ruthlessness. They wouldn’t spare anyone they could use.
When Mu Yunjin returned to her room, Granny Yu was waiting for her inside.
Seeing Granny Yu, Mu Yunjin was startled at first, then approached her. “Granny…”
“Hello, little master.” Granny Yu smiled and nodded to her.
“I calculated that the spiritual energy in your abdomen is almost gone, so I’ve come to take you back to Phoenix Feather Pavilion,” Granny Yu smiled at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin was stunned for a moment and bit her lip. “But I…”
“Everything has its gains and losses. You can’t be too greedy,” Granny Yu eyed Mu Yunjin.
Gains and losses…
Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes and pouted. Yes, she had agreed that she would only enter the Western Yuan Imperial Palace to take a look, but she had already stayed for more than a day…
She had seen what she came to see, and due to her status, she couldn’t help Chu Li much. Instead, she made Chu Li constantly worry about her.
She couldn’t let herself become an obstacle for Chu Li.
“Let’s go. There are only a few days left until New Year’s Eve. Let’s wait for him at Phoenix Feather Pavilion,” Granny Yu said, taking hold of Mu Yunjin’s wrist.
Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and nodded, leaving a note before departing with Granny Yu.
Half an hour later, Mu Yunjin returned to Phoenix Feather Pavilion from Butterfly City.
As soon as she entered Phoenix Feather Pavilion, Wind Xuan Daoist immediately scolded her. “You wretched girl! I told you to stay put here, yet you dared to run off!”
“Master, don’t be so angry. I wanted to tell you something interesting!” Mu Yunjin winked at Wind Xuan Daoist.
“What interesting thing?”
One cup of tea later—
“Hahaha, the dragon turned into a pig?” Wind Xuan Daoist sat cross-legged on the grass. After hearing Mu Yunjin recount the morning’s events, he laughed so hard he had to clutch his stomach.
Mu Yunjin, remembering the scene from that morning, couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, that five-clawed golden dragon did turn into a pig. You should have seen Black Robe’s face—it looked like he had eaten excrement.”
“Hahaha! That Chu Li boy indeed had a backup plan!” Wind Xuan Daoist laughed heartily.
“Indeed! By now, the news of the dragon turning into a pig has probably spread, which will give the common people something to laugh about for a while,” Mu Yunjin smiled.
After chatting for a while longer, Wind Xuan Daoist suddenly became serious. “By the way, what’s wrong with that Qin Munan boy? Why has he gone so mad?”
“You saw him?” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Wind Xuan Daoist nodded. “This morning, I went for a walk outside Phoenix Feather Pavilion and walked to a deserted mountain in the west. I heard strange noises inside, so I went to check. To my surprise, it was the Qin family’s boy.”
“It’s the lovesickness poison that Qin Muyue gave to Qin Munan. When the poison attacks, he becomes delirious and doesn’t remember anyone.” Mu Yunjin propped her chin on her hand and sighed.
“Doesn’t remember anyone? But he was calling your name. Wind Xuan Daoist’s face showed amusement.
Mu Yunjin coughed lightly, her expression suddenly becoming awkward. “I don’t know about that.”
“That Qin boy is quite decent. Living in such a delirious state is a pity,” Wind Xuan sighed.
“But he’s been poisoned by Black Robe’s lovesickness poison. In this world, no one but Black Robe can cure it,” Mu Yunjin said.
Hearing this, Wind Xuan Daoist raised an eyebrow. “Who says no one can cure it?”
“Oh? Someone can cure it?” Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened.
“It’s just a bit of gu poison mixed in. Does he think Black Robe is the only one in the world who knows about it? What a joke!” Wind Xuan Daoist shrugged.
Mu Yunjin immediately became excited. “Master, who else knows?”
“…” Wind Xuan Daoist suddenly looked at Mu Yunjin without speaking.
“Why are you silent?” Mu Yunjin frowned.
“Murong Rusu.” Wind Xuan Daoist squeezed the four characters through his teeth, then immediately looked away.
Murong Rusu…
Chu Li’s master?
The old expert below Pingfeng Cliff?
“That old expert knows gu poison too?” Mu Yunjin was surprised.
Wind Xuan Daoist nodded, his smile not reaching his eyes. “She’s very skilled. Otherwise, how could she develop medicine specifically to counter the hawk flocks?”
“But that person will never leave Pingfeng Cliff in this lifetime…”