With Chu Ye presiding over the Plum Blossom Pavilion, order was gradually restored. Although the women feared the Gu poison in their bodies, they dared not cause further commotion and could only wait for Chu Ye and the others to find an antidote.

About an hour passed before Master Huaiyuan hurriedly entered the Plum Blossom Pavilion. His robes were covered in dust, his forehead beaded with sweat. Upon seeing Chu Ye and the others, he first bowed in greeting to each of them.

“Master Huaiyuan, no need for such formalities. Did you bring the Life-Returning Pills?” Chu Ye asked.

Hearing this, Master Huaiyuan’s face turned deathly still as he shook his head. “In reply to Your Majesty, a group of black-clothed men appeared on the way and seized this old monk’s Life-Returning Pills.”

“What?” Chu Ye was astonished.

Nearby, the women who had just barely calmed down began to wail and howl again.

“However…” Master Huaiyuan continued.

Chu Ye looked at him.

“What they stole was not the real Life-Returning Pills, but merely an ordinary health medicine pill,” Master Huaiyuan said.

…

…

“Oh? Why would the Master do this?” Chu Ye frowned, not quite understanding.

Master Huaiyuan looked toward Chu Li. “These were Prince Ning’s instructions.”

Chu Ye cast a questioning glance at Chu Li.

Chu Li’s expression was solemn, his thin lips tightly pressed together, his brows tinged with deeper meaning. “Yesterday, a wave of black-clothed men already stormed into Water Cloud Temple looking for the whereabouts of the Life-Returning Pills.”

“This action was already strange and suspicious. Today, someone else comes demanding the Life-Returning Pills, so this subject’s brother felt it was best to remain cautiously vigilant.”

“If the real Life-Returning Pills had been seized just now, then these people who have been poisoned by the Gu would likely never obtain an antidote.”

Hearing Chu Li’s words, Chu Ye’s expression grew even more grave.

“Then what should we do now?” Chu Ye was somewhat vexed by the occasional wailing sounds reaching his ears.

“Evil people will be dealt with by other evil people,” Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

Chu Ye was momentarily stunned, then seemed to understand, letting out a light chuckle.

After a pause, he looked around at the official ladies and young ladies, and commanded, “Today the Empress Dowager has had such a pleasant conversation with the ladies and young ladies, she invites all of you to stay in the palace for two days.”

After Chu Ye spoke, some guards entered and escorted those who had been poisoned by the Gu to the palace where Empress Qin had formerly resided.

……

Walking on the path out of the palace, Mu Yunjin folded her arms and sighed from time to time.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Li glanced sideways at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips. “I’ve discovered that I simply cannot go out. Every time I go out, something bad happens. Yesterday at Water Cloud Temple, I encountered those black-clothed men, and today I ran into Shen Wanning. I’ve realized I’m truly an ill-fated star, almost bringing death to everyone around me.”

Upon hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Chu Li laughed softly and reached out to pat her head. “It’s good that you’ve come to this realization.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin cast him a resentful glance.

“This prince was originally worried that you wouldn’t behave and would wander around during your pregnancy. Now it’s fine; no need to worry,” Chu Li continued to tease her.

Mu Yunjin flattened her mouth. “Yes, I’d better stay obediently in the mansion to nurture the pregnancy from now on.”

Hearing this, Mama Shen, who was following behind, laughed. “Your Highness, you should have seen our Princess Consort doing another good deed today.”

“Oh? What good deed?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow and glanced at Mama Shen.

“The wife of the Vice Minister of Rites said that the daughter of the Middle County Magistrate was wearing a hairpin that Qin Muyue had worn before, implying that the Middle County Magistrate’s family had secret dealings with Qin Muyue. A group of official ladies was waiting to watch the drama unfold, but our Princess Consort stepped in to help the Middle County Magistrate’s family resolve the situation, even involving the Imperial Treasury Office,” Mama Shen said.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin also looked at Mama Shen. “Mama, don’t say anymore. I just meddled in a trivial matter; it doesn’t count as a good deed.”

“Oh my, but it is a good deed!” Mama Shen insisted.

Chu Li, hearing about this incident, smiled. “You helped the Middle County Magistrate’s family—that is indeed a good deed.”

“Why?” Mu Yunjin’s eyes revealed surprise.

“The Middle County Magistrate, Li Mingzhong, is a straightforward and upright man, loyal and devoted, but precisely because he’s not smooth enough in his dealings, the Emperor of Ximing didn’t particularly like him, which is why he’s only been able to serve as a Middle County Magistrate all these years.”

“Now that Chu Ye has taken the throne, he plans to eliminate some of the poison in the court and promote some promising talents. This Li Mingzhong is one of those promising talents,” Chu Li explained.

Mu Yunjin hadn’t expected this dimension to be the matter. She was briefly stunned before continuing to ask, “Then what position is this Middle County Magistrate being promoted to?”

“Prime Minister,” Chu Li answered with a light smile.

“Will Yan Qiuhuai be removed?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Chu Li shook his head. “He won’t be touched for now. The court will establish left and right prime ministers—left will be Yan Qiuhuai, right will be Li Mingzhong.”

“So that’s how it is…” Mu Yunjin understood. “Then this Yan Qiuhuai will be quite upset.”

“Let them be,” Chu Li wrapped his arm around Mu Yunjin’s waist, helping her into the carriage.

……

Upon returning to Prince Ning’s mansion, Chu Li and Mu Yunjin first went to Liquan Pavilion.

Just as they reached the courtyard of Liquan Pavilion, Huang Yan darted out, running up to Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.

“Your Highness, as you instructed, I’ve blocked all four secret passage entrances and exits. I expect a certain someone will go crazy before long…” Huang Yan looked at Chu Li with a smile.

Chu Li nodded and patted Huang Yan’s shoulder. “Good job.”

“Then…” Huang Yan leaned in closer to Chu Li and continued, “Can this subject have a few days off?”

“To go to Fengyu Pavilion?” Chu Li paused and raised an eyebrow at Huang Yan.

Huang Yan laughed a couple of times without saying anything.

Seeing Huang Yan like this, Mu Yunjin suddenly remembered that beast spirits cannot mate with humans. She couldn’t help but purse her lips and ask, “What are you going to do at Fengyu Pavilion?”

“Princess Consort, there’s no point in you asking what you already know,” Huang Yan looked at Mu Yunjin, raising his eyebrows.

Mu Yunjin snorted and patiently asked, “Do you really like Hua Ying that much?”

“Tsk, how could anyone not like Hua Ying? She’s skilled in poisons, highly capable, knows both water and land, and is beautiful too…” Huang Yan counted Hua Ying’s merits on his fingers.

Mu Yunjin felt the goosebumps on her arms and silently walked toward the room.

Chu Li looked at Huang Yan, who was still counting, and spoke helplessly, “Go invite Elder Feng Xuan, and then you may take a few days off.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Huang Yan expressed his gratitude and immediately flew away.

……

Mu Yunjin sat in the rocking chair in the room, swaying back and forth. Nearby, Chu Li was changing his clothes, preparing to bathe in the hot spring pool.

As Chu Li changed into a light robe, ready to go bathe, he saw Mu Yunjin jump up from the rocking chair and walk toward him, linking her arm with his. “I’ll go with you.”

“To bathe?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow, his eyes showing a playful smile.

Mu Yunjin shook her head.

“Then what?” Chu Li was puzzled about what this little woman was up to now.

Mu Yunjin curled the corners of her mouth, her eyes smiling into crescents. “To watch you bathe.”

“…” Someone was speechless.

Soon, in the hot spring pool, mist curled and swirled.

Mu Yunjin brought a small chair and sat at the edge of the hot spring, supporting her head with both hands, watching Chu Li in the pool, her eyes bright.

Chu Li leaned against the pool wall. Although there wasn’t a part of his body this woman hadn’t seen before, being stared at so directly today made him feel uncomfortable all over. He didn’t know what game this woman was playing.

Mu Yunjin now had both hands cupping her cheeks, looking at Chu Li’s back. Her entire body seemed to bubble with pink little bubbles, so sweet that she couldn’t help but giggle several times.

Fu Huan hadn’t watched Lord Mingchen bathe for so long…

In a trance, she recalled the scene when she first secretly watched Lord Mingchen bathe—

At that time, she and Siqing had only known each other for a short while, and their relationship hadn’t progressed to that level yet.

It was her first time going to the Realm of the Dead, and on that occasion, she was ordered to follow an Upper God to handle some business there.

Visiting Siqing’s territory for the first time, she inevitably found it novel. While the Upper God was conducting business, she secretly slipped away to wander around.

In the Realm of the Dead, the terrain was winding and complex. After walking for a while, she became lost. She continued forward for a long time and eventually encountered the Ink Qilin.

The Ink Qilin recognized Fu Huan. Upon seeing her, it excitedly bit the hem of her skirt and led her to a place ahead.

Gradually, they arrived at a bamboo grove, and she heard the sound of flowing water coming from inside.

The Ink Qilin released Fu Huan’s skirt at the entrance to the bamboo grove, extending its paw to point inside, indicating for Fu Huan to enter.

Fu Huan walked in slowly.

Before long, she saw a steaming pool within the bamboo grove. In the pool, a tall figure leaned against a rock, his jet-black hair wet from the water, scattered behind him.

Just seeing this silhouette was enough to make Fu Huan’s heart flutter.

She had stumbled upon a certain lord bathing…

Tsk, tsk, the little Qilin certainly knew how to lead the way, showing her such a scene…

With these thoughts, Fu Huan sat cross-legged on the ground, supporting her head, staring motionlessly at that silhouette, the smile on her lips growing increasingly deep.

“Does Upper God Fu Huan enjoy peeping at people bathing?” After who knows how long, a lazy voice came from the pool in front of her.

Upon hearing this voice, Fu Huan’s smile froze, and her mouth twitched. She prepared to fly away.

Before she could take flight, she felt her waist held firmly by a strong force, and then her body swiftly retreated backward, falling into a warm embrace at the edge of the pool.

“How did you come here?” Siqing confined Fu Huan in his embrace, leaning down to ask near her ear.

Feeling that the person holding her was unclothed, Fu Huan’s face took on a rosy hue. She pointed at the Ink Qilin, which had suddenly entered the bamboo grove. “I came to your Realm of the Dead on business and got lost. Your Ink Qilin brought me here.”

“Oh? Is that so? If you were lost, why did you watch me for a full hour?” Siqing teased her with interest.

Hearing this, Fu Huan’s face burned like a monkey’s behind. This wretched man had known all along that she was peeping—how naughty!

“Let go of me quickly! I need to go back. I’ll never come to your Realm of the Dead again!” Fu Huan spoke with puffed cheeks.

“Oh.” Upon hearing this, a certain someone suddenly released his hold on Fu Huan.

“Splash…” When Fu Huan was released, she fell into the pool, completely unprepared.

After climbing out of the pool, Fu Huan wiped the water droplets from her face and glared at Siqing. “Why did you throw me into the pool?”

“You told me to let go of you,” a certain someone said innocently.

“…” A certain someone gritted her teeth.

……

Thinking of those past events, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Chu Li heard her laughter and turned to look back, only to see her with a vacant expression, not knowing what amusing memory she was recalling, laughing joyfully by herself.