“I…”

Madam Yang stammered, unable to speak. Seeing herself being watched by everyone, she eventually closed her eyes and knelt down before Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Rui.

“I ask the two Empress Dowagers to see clearly. This humble subject’s wife raised doubts solely out of fear that traitors might seize an opportunity. If I have offended Madam Li and Miss Li, this humble subject’s wife apologizes to both of them here.” Madam Yang spoke.

By now, Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Rui were somewhat speechless. They were simply hosting a tea party to help Chu Ye select consorts, but how had it generated so much controversy?

This Madam Yang was truly a brainless person!

“Cuiyun Pavilion is the largest jewelry shop in Butterfly City, selling first-rate quality accessories. But Madam Yang just said that Qin Muyue’s accessories were all bestowed by the palace, so the materials and craftsmanship would be more refined than Cuiyun Pavilion’s. Now, we can have someone take this golden hairpin to the Imperial Treasury Office for examination.” Mu Yunjin spoke casually.

Hearing this, cold sweat seeped from Madam Yang’s back.

If the Imperial Treasury Office became involved, the matter would escalate. If the examination results showed it truly was from Cuiyun Pavilion, then her earlier words would constitute false accusations…

Ah, she truly had a loose tongue! Why did she have to say such unnecessary things?

…

…

“I, I was just joking. Don’t take it seriously,” Madam Yang’s tone softened.

At this moment, Madam Li took the hairpin from Li Yingxuan’s hand, knelt on the ground, and held up the hairpin in her palm. “I request the Empress Dowagers to order this hairpin to be sent to the Imperial Treasury Office for examination, to clear this humble subject’s wife and Xuan’s innocence.”

Although they were only the Middle County Magistrates’ family with a low official rank, they couldn’t be ridiculed and toyed with for no reason.

If everyone acted like Madam Yang, deliberately stepping on them and then hypocritically apologizing, what would that make of the Li family?

Madam Yang hadn’t expected Madam Li to be so persistent. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at her.

“Let this matter end here,” Empress Dowager Rui, who had some private friendship with Madam Yang, naturally wouldn’t want to make everyone lose face over such a small matter.

With Empress Dowager Rui’s words, Madam Yang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Madam Li’s hand, still holding up the hairpin, trembled slightly in mid-air.

Mu Yunjin had always despised such scenes of bullying by those with power. The Li mother and daughter were being wrongfully trampled, and just because of their lower status, they had to accept such questioning and ridicule?

She couldn’t tolerate it, couldn’t stand to see it…

“Palace ladies are not to interfere in politics, yet earlier Madam Yang questioned the Li family’s connection with traitors—such a significant matter concerning the safety of the nation—and now a simple apology resolves everything?” Mu Yunjin casually raised a question while cracking melon seeds.

“Moreover, the golden hairpin hasn’t been examined yet. What if it is indeed Qin Muyue’s?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, glancing at the golden hairpin.

At this point, Chen Pu’s wife looked at Mu Yunjin and also voiced her agreement, “This humble subject’s wife also feels that the hairpin should be examined. Then right and wrong will be clear.”

“Exactly! Why should someone be wrongfully accused for no reason?” Chu Qingyan also spoke up.

With this, Empress Dowager Rui’s expression became even more unsightly.

Most of her anger was directed at Madam Yang’s thoughtlessness, needlessly causing trouble.

This Mu Yunjin was already a difficult person to deal with, and now with her persistence on this matter, it couldn’t be glossed over.

Empress Dowager Rui then waved her hand, summoning the Chief Eunuch beside her, “Go, take this to the Imperial Treasury Office for examination.”

“Yes, Empress Dowager.”

Madam Yang’s face immediately fell, and she wished she could slap herself several times.

……

It was now time for lunch. Some palace maids came to clear away the tea and pastries, replacing them with exquisite meals.

After the previous incident, no one spoke anymore. When the food was served, everyone kept their heads down, focusing on eating, barely lifting their heads.

Mu Yunjin wasn’t in a hurry to eat. After consuming so many fruits and pastries earlier, how could she have any appetite for lunch?

As she sat quietly in her chair, her earlobes moved slightly, and she frowned gently, sensing something strange…

This strangeness was hard to pinpoint, but she felt something was amiss.

After a moment, Eunuch Miluo approached Empress Dowager Zheng and Empress Dowager Rui, speaking softly, “The Lady in charge of the Imperial Treasury Office has arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Rui paused with her chopsticks in hand. “Bring her in.”

Miluo nodded and beckoned.

Moments later, Ruo Qiu, the Lady in charge of the Imperial Treasury Office, entered carrying a tray containing the golden hairpin that Li Yingxuan had been wearing.

“Greetings to Empress Dowager Zheng, Empress Dowager Rui…”

Empress Dowager Zheng, due to her advanced age, was too weary to involve herself in these matters and let Empress Dowager Rui handle it entirely.

Empress Dowager Rui took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth and looked at Ruo Qiu. “What are the examination results?”

“In reply to the Empress Dowager, the pearls and jade, as well as the golden flowers on this hairpin, are made of green jade and gold embroidery. Neither of these materials comes from the Imperial Treasury Office,” Ruo Qiu reported.

With Ruo Qiu’s words, Madam Li’s tense expression finally relaxed.

Madam Yang’s face stiffened, and then she stepped forward again, knelt, and without a word, began to slap her face.

Clear and resounding slaps echoed in the Plum Blossom Pavilion.

This matter needed to be resolved right here in the Plum Blossom Pavilion. If it reached the Emperor, that would be another story, and it might even affect her husband’s career.

Truly, calamity comes from one’s mouth.

……

Mu Yunjin had no interest in Madam Yang’s situation now, because she felt there were extremely subtle sounds coming from all around, yet looking around, she couldn’t discover where these sounds originated.

Gradually, Mu Yunjin felt the sounds becoming clearer, drawing closer…

“Ah—”

Suddenly, someone screamed, followed by the sound of many plates falling and shattering.

Mu Yunjin, deep in thought, raised her eyes to see Madam Yang, who had been kneeling and slapping herself just moments ago, now rushing toward the main seat, holding a dagger against Empress Dowager Zheng’s throat.

Seeing this, the official ladies and young ladies all rose, trying to flee.

But after a few steps, their bodies weakened, and they collapsed to the ground. Black blood marks began to appear on their faces and the backs of their hands.

Seeing these black blood marks, Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes. Looking down, she saw tiny black Gu worms crawling out from the dishes that had just been served.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin finally understood where those subtle sounds had come from.

“Lady Lu, how dare you!” Empress Dowager Zheng, restrained by Madam Yang, was extremely frightened. She had been watching Lady Lu, but when she rushed up to take her hostage, her movements were so quick that the Empress Dowager couldn’t even see clearly.

Madam Yang held the dagger without speaking.

Mu Yunjin looked at Madam Yang, examining her carefully, and saw that her eyes were hollow and numb, her mouth opening and closing as if muttering something.

“Sixth Sister-in-law, what’s happening? There are so many insects…” Chu Qingyan suddenly spoke tremblingly. She had also been too full to start eating, and just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, she heard someone scream.

Mu Yunjin shielded Chu Qingyan behind her, instructing, “Be careful not to get bitten by these insects.”

Chu Qingyan nodded.

“Mu Yunjin, aren’t you very capable? If you have the ability, save them all!” Madam Yang suddenly addressed Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin glanced at Madam Yang and laughed coldly. “Shen Wanning, not bad. You’ve even learned the skill of controlling people’s minds. What’s wrong? Scared after the last beating, your true self doesn’t dare to appear?”

“No matter what provocation you use, I won’t come out to see you. Mu Yunjin, you killed my Lan-ge, and now I shall avenge him! These women will be sacrificial offerings accompanying my Lan-ge!” Madam Yang’s mouth moved as she stared at Mu Yunjin.

The women being tormented by the Gu worms all heard this conversation and realized they were in this state because someone had come seeking revenge against Mu Yunjin. Their hearts filled with anger toward her.

“Yunjin, Yun…” Empress Dowager Zheng opened her mouth, but with the dagger at her throat, she dared not move, only begging Mu Yunjin to save her first.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin lightly raised her hand, sending Madam Yang, who was holding Empress Dowager Zheng hostage, flying several meters away. Madam Yang completely lost consciousness.

“Hahaha, Mu Yunjin, so many people have now been infected with my exclusive Gu poison. I give you three days to bring the Life-Returning Pills in exchange for the antidote to the Gu poison. Otherwise, we might as well all perish together!”

After Shen Wanning spoke, all the Gu worms around retreated.

Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, her gaze extremely cold, thinking to herself that once again, someone had come for the Life-Returning Pills…

At this moment, the official ladies and young ladies who had been poisoned by the Gu felt their discomfort ease somewhat, but the black marks on their bodies hadn’t disappeared. They all rushed over and knelt before Mu Yunjin.

“Princess Consort of Ning, please, save us!”

“Please forgive our past offenses and save our many lives…”

“Princess Consort of Ning…”

Mu Yunjin rubbed her aching head and shouted harshly, “All of you, be quiet!”

Everyone fell silent.

At this moment, an announcement came from outside the Plum Blossom Pavilion—

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives—”

“His Highness Prince Ning arrives—”

As the announcement concluded, two figures walked in, surrounded by a group of people.

Seeing the devastation in the Plum Blossom Pavilion and the many people kneeling on the ground, Chu Li and Chu Ye paused, their eyes showing surprise.

Chu Li, seeing that these people were all kneeling toward Mu Yunjin, hurriedly walked over to her, took her into his arms, and asked softly, “What happened?”

“They’ve all been poisoned by Shen Wanning’s Gu,” Mu Yunjin said gloomily.

Chu Li frowned slightly. “Shen Wanning?”

Mu Yunjin nodded. “She put Gu poison in our lunch. It seems she’s been lying in wait here for a long time. She also used her mind control to make Madam Yang take the Empress Dowager hostage…”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s expression grew darker. He looked Mu Yunjin up and down, and seeing she was unharmed, breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“What conditions did that person set?” Chu Ye came over and asked solemnly.

“She wants the Life-Returning Pills,” Mu Yunjin answered.

Chu Ye pressed his lips together. “Someone, go invite the Abbot of Water Cloud Temple and have him bring the Life-Returning Pills to the palace.”