Watching several young monks approach to escort Yang Lian and his men to the dark chamber, Mu Yunjin’s eyes revealed a trace of emotion as she pursed her lips and leaned against the railing. “They came looking for the Life-Returning Pills.”
After speaking, she turned to Master Huaiyuan, “Does Water Cloud Temple have such things?”
Master Huaiyuan sighed and nodded, “Indeed, such medicine exists, but it can only alleviate injuries, not like the three secret medicines of the Southern Court that can bring people back from the brink of death.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, “If they came looking for medicine for injuries, isn’t it a bit suspicious that Qin Muyue sent them to brazenly storm into Water Cloud Temple?”
“Amitabha, this old monk understands the Princess Consort’s meaning. This old monk will handle everything accordingly.” Master Huaiyuan’s eyes held deeper meaning as he glanced at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin understood, curled her lips into a smile, and turned to look at Chu Li, “It’s getting late, we should head back.”
Chu Li nodded.
Afterward, Mu Yunjin waved her hand and opened the main doors of the Buddhist hall.
The commoners who had been hiding inside remained huddled within the hall, not daring to move.
…
…
“Zixiang, come out!” Mu Yunjin called for Zixiang.
Zixiang peeked her head out, and seeing that the black-clothed men were gone, immediately jumped out and ran toward Mu Yunjin.
“Miss, are you alright?” Zixiang looked Mu Yunjin up and down.
Mu Yunjin shook her head, “Let’s go, time to head back.”
Zixiang nodded.
At this moment, Yan Lingshang, seeing that there was no more commotion outside, also came out and hurried over to Mu Yunjin, “Princess Consort of Ning, let’s return to the city together.”
Mu Yunjin looked at Yan Lingshang, but before she could speak, Chu Li had already pulled Mu Yunjin to his side and said to her, “You will ride in the carriage with this prince.”
Hearing Chu Li’s voice, Mu Yunjin’s lips curled slightly upward.
On the journey back to the city, Mu Yunjin and Chu Li shared one carriage, while Yan Lingshang sat in the carriage she and Mu Yunjin had arrived in, following behind Chu Li’s black xuan-wood carriage.
Upon returning to the prince’s mansion, Mama Shen, who had fully recovered from her illness, was standing in the main hall. Seeing Chu Li and Mu Yunjin, she immediately approached with a smiling face, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, the evening meal has been prepared.”
Both nodded and walked toward the dining hall.
During the meal, Mama Shen stood to the side, watching the affectionate couple, her smile growing increasingly warm.
After watching for a while, she suddenly remembered something and said to Mu Yunjin, “Princess Consort, this afternoon, Empress Dowager Zheng sent someone with a message, inviting you to attend her tea party at the Plum Blossom Pavilion in the palace tomorrow.”
“What is a tea party?” Mu Yunjin asked, puzzled.
“It’s when the palace ladies gather to drink tea and chat, but Eunuch Miluo, who delivered the verbal command today, did reveal some inside information…” Mama Shen smiled knowingly at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin’s eyes showed her confusion.
“Well, now that the new Emperor has ascended the throne, the inner palace is empty, and the Old Empress Dowager is anxious. So she’s invited some unmarried daughters of officials as well as some ladies, ostensibly for tea, conversation, and flower appreciation, but isn’t it really about selecting consorts for the new Emperor?” Mama Shen said with a light chuckle.
Mu Yunjin took a sip of soup, “Can I not go?”
Mama Shen’s face showed difficulty as she looked at Mu Yunjin, then at Chu Li, “Tomorrow the Empress Dowager is also said to be arranging a betrothal for the Ninth Princess, so the Princess Consort should attend to help keep an eye on the Ninth Princess…”
At the mention of Chu Qingyan, Mu Yunjin paused briefly, then nodded in agreement.
After Consort Rong’s affair was revealed, Little Nine’s position in the palace had declined dramatically. The Emperor of Ximing had become neither cold nor warm toward this once-beloved daughter, and might very well have developed thoughts of marrying Little Nine off to another country.
“Chu Li, are you going to the palace tomorrow?” Mu Yunjin turned to look at Chu Li.
Chu Li’s lips curved upward as he nodded, “Yes, I will go to the palace.”
“That’s wonderful, I’ll go with you tomorrow.” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but smile.
Now that she possessed Fu Huan’s memories, she had become increasingly dependent on Chu Li, and even her personality had become much more innocent along with it.
Chu Li chuckled softly, looking at Mu Yunjin’s empty bowl, “Would you like some more?”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s face immediately fell as she touched her face, “Can I stop eating now?”
“No,” Chu Li flatly refused.
“Then why did you ask me?” Mu Yunjin said glumly.
“…” A certain someone remained silent.
……
After dinner, the two returned to Liquan Pavilion.
As soon as they entered the room, Mu Yunjin was pulled into an embrace, and then Chu Li’s lips descended, capturing Mu Yunjin’s mouth.
As their lips met, Mu Yunjin’s heart suddenly fluttered, and she closed her eyes.
Siqing…
How wonderful to feel you again.
Chu Li kissed Mu Yunjin while guiding her toward the bed.
Before Mu Yunjin realized it, she was already lying on the bed, with the ties of her outer garment undone.
“What should I do? I want to devour you right now.” Chu Li moved away from Mu Yunjin’s lips and looked down at her slightly flushed cheeks as she breathed softly. His gaze involuntarily fell upon the red plum blossom mark on her forehead.
Looking at this mark, Chu Li’s body stiffened, feeling as if he had fallen into an enchanting whirlpool, unable to look away for a long time. His body and breath grew increasingly fervent.
In a trance, he seemed to see before him a woman dressed in a bright red brocade dress, smiling beautifully at him, sweetly calling him “Brother Qing”…
Chu Li’s expression tightened, suddenly startled by this thought.
Seeing Chu Li staring at her forehead in a daze, Mu Yunjin’s eyes flashed with understanding. Could it be that Chu Li was remembering something?
“Chu Li, you…” Mu Yunjin gently pushed against Chu Li.
Chu Li came back to his senses and looked at Mu Yunjin, his eyes veiled with mist. He bent down to place a kiss on Mu Yunjin’s forehead, then smiled slightly, “Shall this prince help you bathe?”
“You…” Mu Yunjin lightly punched Chu Li, her earlobes turning red.
How did the mood change so quickly…
……
The next day, after finishing breakfast, Chu Li and Mu Yunjin left the prince’s mansion together.
Because Mu Yunjin was going to attend Empress Dowager Zheng’s tea party, and there would be many women of all sorts there, Chu Li was concerned. He specifically arranged for Mama Shen, who had spent decades in the palace, to accompany Mu Yunjin and help her deal with various situations.
Mama Shen, who hadn’t been to the palace for a long time, excitedly followed Mu Yunjin out the door.
After the carriage stopped at the palace gates, when Mu Yunjin alighted, she saw many carriages parked at the entrance. Stepping down from these carriages were mostly young women, each dressed elaborately for the occasion, with not a touch of rouge or powder spared.
Seeing this scene, Mu Yunjin walked beside Chu Li, gently tugging at his sleeve, “Do you remember when I was also called into the palace by Empress Qin, and I accidentally stumbled into your secret base, nearly getting my neck twisted by you?”
Hearing this, Chu Li thought back and chuckled, “There seems to have been such an incident.”
“Then, may I ask a question?” Mu Yunjin linked her arm with Chu Li’s and looked up at him.
Chu Li glanced at her and nodded.
“At that time, I discovered your secret. Why did you show mercy to me?” Mu Yunjin suddenly wanted to ask this question.
After a pause, she added with a mischievous look in her eyes, “Come to think of it, ever since we met, you’ve always been quite nice to me, never really mistreating me. Could it be that long before you confessed to me in Qingzhou, you had already liked me for a long time?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Li reached out and pinched Mu Yunjin’s cheek, saying with a straight face, “Don’t flatter yourself. What about you, woman, would make this prince fall for you at first sight?”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin angrily rolled her eyes and let out a soft huff.
Seeing Mu Yunjin’s frustrated expression, Chu Li’s smile deepened. He wrapped his arm around Mu Yunjin’s waist, leaned down close to her, and said softly, “The first time this prince saw you, he felt you were the most special woman this prince had ever seen in his life.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows proudly.
Chu Li nodded and pinched Mu Yunjin’s cheek again, “Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s more like it!” Mu Yunjin’s face broke into a smile.
Not far behind them, the daughters of officials and ladies from various households who were walking behind Chu Li and Mu Yunjin saw the couple cuddling and laughing all the way, and they all felt somewhat incredulous.
Even from the few glimpses of Chu Li’s profile, they could capture the smile on his face.
Consider this: among these women, who wouldn’t envy this couple? Since Prince Ning married his Princess Consort, let alone establishing a side consort, not even the shadow of another woman had been seen by his side.
Such a devoted man truly made them envious.
Yet today, most of them were here for the sole purpose of competing for one man…
By comparison, it was full of irony.
……
Empress Dowager Zheng’s tea party was held at the Plum Blossom Pavilion, which had formerly belonged to Empress Qin. The plum blossoms in the pavilion were specially cultivated to bloom year-round. Since Empress Qin’s death, Empress Dowager Zheng had claimed this place as her own.
Chu Li personally escorted Mu Yunjin to the Plum Blossom Pavilion, and noticing a slight breeze inside, instructed Mama Shen to drape the cloak they had brought over Mu Yunjin’s shoulders.
After ensuring everything was properly arranged, he slowly walked out of the Plum Blossom Pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, more than half the seats were already filled.
Yan Lingshang, who had also been invited today, saw the empty seat beside Mu Yunjin and was about to sit down when another figure rushed over and took the seat first.
“Sixth Sister-in-law, I haven’t seen you for so long…” Chu Qingyan sat beside Mu Yunjin and gave her a big hug.
While embracing her, she whispered in Mu Yunjin’s ear, “I heard Father Emperor is planning to marry me off to the Second Prince of Northern Ming, Bei Qili. I don’t want to go somewhere so far away. Please help me later, Sixth Sister-in-law…”
Chu Qingyan finished speaking and released Mu Yunjin.
When Mu Yunjin heard the words “Second Prince,” her brows suddenly furrowed. Wasn’t that Yang Qingning’s son?
Although with her father, the Emperor in Northern Ming, Little Nine probably wouldn’t suffer too much if she really married into that family, this Second Prince was particularly unsuitable for Little Nine.
Thinking this, Mu Yunjin took Chu Qingyan’s hand and patted it gently, signaling her to be at ease.
“The Grand Empress Dowager arrives—”
“The Empress Dowager Rui arrives—”
Two announcements came from the entrance of the Plum Blossom Pavilion, one for Empress Dowager Zheng and the other for the former Empress.