When Mu Yunjin arrived at Water Cloud Temple, the iron door of the secret chamber was ajar, not completely closed. Guessing that Chu Li had arrived first, Mu Yunjin took a deep breath and gently pushed open the iron door to enter.

Stepping into the small courtyard, Mu Yunjin walked toward Consort Rong’s room. As she reached the doorway, she heard Consort Rong’s hoarse voice from inside. Mu Yunjin’s hand, which had been about to knock, paused in mid-air before slowly dropping.

Inside the room, Consort Rong’s sorrowful voice gradually rose.

“Li’er, I never thought I would see you one more time before I leave. This life has truly been without regret…”

“Before, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have been so obsessed with the Celestial Decree, shouldn’t have forced Mu’er to cut out her heart to extract the Celestial Decree, shouldn’t have made you lose your memory for my selfish desires, and shouldn’t have caused you to be ridiculed by everyone because of serving two husbands…”

“Now, my retribution has come…”

After speaking, Consort Rong inhaled a few labored breaths, completely drained of energy.

Beside her, Imperial Preceptor An looked at the silent Chu Li, sighed, and said, “Her mental knot has been festering inside her for a long time. This serious illness has completely broken her body. All those medicinal broths have been useless.”

Chu Li frowned, his dark eyes fixed on Consort Rong, hiding complex emotions in his cold gaze.

…

…

After a long silence, Chu Li slowly spoke, “Mother, are you tired?”

Hearing Chu Li’s voice, Consort Rong’s tears suddenly fell, streaming down from the corners of her eyes. “Yes, tired.”

At this moment, Consort Rong’s heart felt an unprecedented bitterness.

Why do people only think to repent when facing death? If she hadn’t been so obsessed with the Celestial Decree, if she hadn’t returned to Western Yuan Country, everything would be fine now.

“Elder, how much longer can she last?” Chu Li asked Imperial Preceptor An expressionlessly, his gaze dimming.

Hearing this, Imperial Preceptor An glanced at the weakened Consort Rong on the bed and raised three fingers, sending a secret sound to Chu Li: “She won’t last three days.”

“No medicine can save her?” Chu Li replied with his secret sound.

Imperial Preceptor An sighed, his lips moving slightly, seeming somewhat troubled and hesitant.

Chu Li looked at Imperial Preceptor An, showing some displeasure. “If she has been ill for so long, why wait until now to tell this prince?”

Outside the door, Mu Yunjin was startled by these words and couldn’t help feeling guilty.

In the room, after a while, Imperial Preceptor An finally spoke, “The Snow Soul Pill can save her.”

Hearing the words “Snow Soul Pill,” deep thoughts surged in Chu Li’s eyes like the sea. He glanced at Consort Rong on the sickbed and clenched his fist tightly.

“Although the Snow Soul Pill can save her, South Court Country now has only one of the three secret medicines left, which has been secretly guarded by Yun Guangyao. Do you think he will give us the medicine?” Imperial Preceptor An asked.

Hearing this, Chu Li’s lips curled into a cold smile. “How will we know if we don’t try?”

“Very well, then we’ll do as you wish. Let’s go to South Court Country now,” Imperial Preceptor An looked at Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded slightly.

Then, Imperial Preceptor An picked up Consort Rong from the bed, and together with Chu Li, walked out of the room.

The moment they opened the door, Chu Li paused, looking at Mu Yunjin standing in the doorway.

Because of Chu Li’s earlier words, Mu Yunjin now felt somewhat remorseful. She truly hadn’t realized Consort Rong’s illness was so serious. Plus, since Imperial Preceptor An had taken charge of the matter and hadn’t sent any news these past few days, she had assumed Consort Rong’s condition had mostly improved.

Who knew that the first news to arrive would be that Consort Rong was critically ill?

“This prince must go to South Court Country. You return to the residence and stay there. Don’t wander around,” Chu Li said to Mu Yunjin, reaching out to stroke her face, his tone gentle.

“Bring Mu’er along,” Imperial Preceptor An said.

Hearing this, both Chu Li and Mu Yunjin looked at Imperial Preceptor An.

Imperial Preceptor An coughed lightly and pointed at Mu Yunjin. “She has many chaotic but clever ideas. It would be better to bring her along. We need to save time now and can’t afford any delay.”

After Imperial Preceptor An finished speaking, Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin.

At that moment, a figure flew into the secret chamber and, upon seeing Chu Li, urgently spoke, “Your Highness, something has happened to Huang Yan!”

It was Ding Xian, still panting as he spoke.

“Huang Yan has been captured by Black Robe and is now in his hands. The situation is dire!” Ding Xian said.

Chu Li narrowed his eyes and instinctively moved to leave, but catching sight of Consort Rong in his peripheral vision, he hesitated, lowering his gaze as he realized he was in a dilemma.

Noticing Chu Li’s emotions, Mu Yunjin took his hand and pressed her lips together. “Chu Li, we should split up. I’ll take people to find Huang Yan.”

“Absolutely not!” Chu Li refused outright.

“You don’t need to worry about my safety. I have spiritual power in my body, which won’t harm the child in my belly. Black Robe’s methods are brutal. We can’t delay with Huang Yan,” Mu Yunjin looked up at Chu Li, her tone serious.

Then she added, “We can’t delay with Consort Rong either.”

“Ding Xian, accompany the Princess Consort!” Chu Li’s thin lips parted as he made his decision in an instant.

Indeed, there was no better arrangement at the moment.

“Take care of yourself. Don’t push too hard,” Chu Li instructed Mu Yunjin before leaving, concern in his eyes.

Mu Yunjin nodded.

Then, Chu Li summoned the Ink Qilin, and a moment later, the figures of Chu Li, Imperial Preceptor An, and Consort Rong disappeared from the secret chamber.

…

After Chu Li left, Mu Yunjin activated the Phoenix Wing Pavilion spirit signal on her wrist, summoning the disciples of the Phoenix Wing Pavilion.

Soon after, the four guardians—Qiqi, Huaying, Xiumei, and Lei Yan—appeared in the secret chamber.

“Master, what has happened?” Qiqi approached Mu Yunjin in the dark secret chamber, speaking anxiously.

“Huang Yan has been captured by Black Robe,” Mu Yunjin said.

“What? Captured?” Huaying picked up the thread of conversation, approaching Mu Yunjin with an unusual expression.

Mu Yunjin nodded, then briefly explained the situation to Qiqi and the others.

After she finished, Qiqi activated her tracking skill and began searching for Huang Yan’s whereabouts.

Nearby, Huaying maintained a tense face and spoke discontentedly, “He usually has so many clever ideas. How could he be so careless as to get captured by Black Robe!”

“Don’t be anxious, Huaying. Huang Yan will surely be fine,” Xiumei spoke from the side.

“Where did you see that I’m anxious?” Huaying’s face was cold, her tone somewhat uncomfortable.

Xiumei smiled but said nothing.

After waiting a while, Qiqi withdrew her inner power and frowned, looking at Mu Yunjin. “Huang Yan’s movements are somewhat strange.”

“How so?” Mu Yunjin asked.

“After leaving Western Yuan Country, he first went to Northern Ming Country, then left and headed in the direction of Eastern Lin Country,” Qiqi said.

Huaying bit her lip. “Then we should now set out for Eastern Lin Country.”

“But we don’t know why they went to Northern Ming Country. We should also split up!” Mu Yunjin decided.

Qiqi nodded in agreement. “There must be some issue in Northern Ming Country as well. Fortunately, Madam Qing is also here now. We can meet up with her.”

“Master, you are more familiar with Eastern Lin Country’s current ruler, Rong Jiu. You should go to Eastern Lin Country. That will make things easier for us,” Qiqi said.

After she spoke, Ding Xian stepped forward voluntarily. “Then I will go to Eastern Lin Country with the Princess Consort. Those who want to go to Northern Ming Country can decide among yourselves.”

If the Princess Consort was going to find Rong Jiu, he needed to hurry and watch over her for His Highness.

“Qiqi, you go with the Master. The three of us will go to Northern Ming Country,” Huaying decided.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin searched for a token she always carried, found it, and handed it to Huaying. “This is the token my father gave me. It allows free passage in and out of Northern Ming Country.”

Huaying took the token and, without further delay, looked at Xiumei and Lei Yan. “Let’s set out.”

The two nodded.

After they spoke, the invisible space activated, and the three figures instantly disappeared.

Seeing the three leave, Qiqi immediately activated the invisible space, taking Mu Yunjin and Ding Xian toward Eastern Lin Country.

…

By the time they arrived in Eastern Lin Country, night had fallen deeply.

Mu Yunjin marveled at how surreal the day had been—attending Chu Ye’s coronation ceremony in the morning, and now traveling thousands of miles away to Eastern Lin Country.

By now it was deep night. The three stood in a small corner of the street, occasionally observing their surroundings.

“Found it…” Qiqi said in a low voice to Mu Yunjin and Ding Xian.

The two looked at Qiqi.

Qiqi pointed behind her. “Follow me.”

In the darkness, the three cautiously walked toward the center of the market area. After a long while, they stopped and looked at a mansion not far ahead.

“Marquis Han’s Residence,” Mu Yunjin murmured.

“This is Rong Min’s residence. Since Rong Jiu ascended the throne, Rong Min has been enfeoffed as Marquis Han,” Ding Xian explained to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and glanced at the residence. “There should be guards deployed all around that mansion. Sneaking in won’t be easy.”

“Then what should we do?” Qiqi hesitated, conflicted.

“Let’s check the back door,” Ding Xian said.

After he spoke, the three changed positions, quietly moving toward the back door of Marquis Han’s residence.

…

Before getting close to the back door, the three saw two people pushing a cart ahead of them. On the cart were several garbage buckets, and they were hurrying in one direction.

As they pushed, one of them at the front urged, “Hurry up! If we’re late again, beware of being punished by the steward.”

With these words, the cart sped up.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s eyes lit up. She glanced at Ding Xian and Qiqi and whispered, “Here’s our chance.”

The two immediately understood. They picked up small stones and threw them at the people pushing the cart. Instantly, the cart pushers collapsed softly to the ground, unconscious.

“Quick, change into their clothes!”

…

One cup of tea later, the three had changed into coarse cloth garments and were pushing the garbage cart to the back door of Marquis Han’s residence. They knocked gently.

As soon as they knocked, the three sensed the energy of hidden guards surging around them. They all held their breath, not daring to release even a trace of their inner energy.

Soon, the back door opened, and an old man walked out, his tone impatient. “What’s going on, coming so late! Next time like this, don’t come at all.”

“This lowly one acknowledges the error,” Ding Xian said in a gruff voice, responding to the old man.

“Quick, quick, quick! Finish up and leave immediately!” The old man opened the door and pointed inside.

Hearing this, the three lowered their heads and pushed the cart into Marquis Han’s residence.

The old man led the way, bringing the three to the kitchen area. “Hurry up!”