“Princess Consort Ning, please wait.”

Mu Yunjin was just about to leave with Daoist Wind Xuan when a timid voice called out from behind, stopping her.

Hearing this voice, Mu Yunjin turned around to see Madam Li, the wife of the County Magistrate of Zhong County, pulling her daughter Li Yingxuan toward her.

After approaching, the two first bowed to Mu Yunjin, then Madam Li spoke first, “Regarding yesterday’s incident, my daughter and I haven’t properly thanked Princess Consort Ning yet. Thank you for your generosity in helping us out of that difficult situation, otherwise…”

After speaking, Madam Li glanced at Madam Yang, who was sitting nearby in a daze, then sighed.

“It was a small matter. Madam Li needn’t take it to heart,” Mu Yunjin replied with a slight smile.

“Once the poison in Xuan’er’s and my bodies is cured, we will personally visit to express our gratitude. If not for Princess Consort Ning, I fear yesterday’s incident wouldn’t have been resolved so easily,” Madam Li still felt lingering fear thinking about it.

If Madam Yang had truly succeeded in framing the Li family for having connections with rebels, the entire Li family would have been doomed.

Fortunately, Mu Yunjin had mobilized the Treasure Investigation Department. Otherwise, with the Li family’s modest standing, they could never have requested the department’s help and would have had to suffer the injustice silently.

…

…

“Madam Li and Miss Li, there’s no need to be so formal…” Mu Yunjin smiled awkwardly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Daoist Wind Xuan, seeing this, raised an eyebrow. “Girl, we should go now.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded, then bade farewell to Madam Li.

……

After leaving Plum Blossom Pavilion, Daoist Wind Xuan glanced at Mu Yunjin, then sneered, “They were just thanking you, look how uncomfortable you are. So spineless.”

“I get embarrassed when people praise me,” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows, her eyes sparkling.

“Hmph.” Daoist Wind Xuan snorted lightly, then extended his hand toward Mu Yunjin. “Give me the jade pendant.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin handed the jade pendant to Wind Xuan. “Was this a token of love you gave to Master Murong?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Who has feelings for her? She’s just an old hag!” Wind Xuan pocketed the jade pendant, his face full of displeasure.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, that sounds even better than singing,” Mu Yunjin folded her arms, teasing Wind Xuan.

Wind Xuan glanced at Mu Yunjin. “You stinky girl, if not for the fact that you’re pregnant now, your master would give you a beating!”

“Master, how could you bear to hit such a beautiful and adorable little disciple as me?” Mu Yunjin blinked at Wind Xuan.

Wind Xuan took a deep breath, rolled his eyes, and ignored Mu Yunjin.

Walking on the path out of the palace, the two passed through the Imperial Garden. Just as they stepped into the garden, they heard the sounds of two men arguing heatedly from inside—

The northern region is suffering from drought. Simply allocating silver is useless. I fear that much of the silver allocated won’t reach the disaster victims before it’s taken by corrupt officials.”

“Minister Li, His Majesty has already entrusted me with handling the drought. Are you suggesting that I am one of those corrupt officials?”

“In reply to Your Excellency, this humble official is merely discussing the matter objectively and not specifically targeting anyone. Please don’t take it personally.”

“You…”

Hearing these argumentative voices, Mu Yunjin and Wind Xuan walked closer to the source. As they approached a pavilion, they saw a figure in imperial yellow—Chu Ye—sitting inside.

Chu Ye was sitting in the pavilion, his eyes downcast, lost in thought.

Beside him stood Prime Minister Yan Qiuhuai and a middle-aged man wearing an official’s uniform. The two were arguing until their faces were red.

“Minister Li, no matter how much we argue, it’s useless. Let’s leave it to His Majesty to decide,” Yan Qiuhuai, arguing until his throat was parched, finally turned to Chu Ye.

Hearing Yan Qiuhuai’s words, Chu Ye raised his eyes, his peripheral vision catching Mu Yunjin and Wind Xuan standing by the flower bushes.

Seeing the two, Chu Ye waved at Mu Yunjin and Wind Xuan. “Sister-in-law, Master.”

Mu Yunjin had originally only intended to take a casual glance, but now that Chu Ye had seen her, she had no choice but to slowly walk toward the pavilion.

As soon as Yan Qiuhuai caught sight of Mu Yunjin, his face suddenly fell. Despite his displeasure, he still bowed slightly to Mu Yunjin. “Greetings, Princess Consort Ning.”

The Minister Li beside him also bowed in greeting.

“Mm, you may rise,” Mu Yunjin said.

After speaking, Mu Yunjin was about to pay her respects to Chu Ye when she was stopped by his wave. “No need, Sister-in-law and Master, please sit.”

Mu Yunjin nodded and sat down with Wind Xuan.

After they were seated, a palace maid came forward and poured tea for Mu Yunjin and Wind Xuan.

“Is everything resolved?” Chu Ye took a sip of water and looked at Mu Yunjin.

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded, but didn’t elaborate on what exactly was resolved due to Yan Qiuhuai’s presence.

Hearing this, Chu Ye seemed relieved.

At this moment, Minister Li, who had been arguing with Yan Qiuhuai earlier, spoke again, “Your Majesty, the drought matter cannot be delayed. The sooner a decision is made, the more beneficial it will be for the people.”

“Li Mingzhong, that’s enough! His Majesty is catching up with Princess Consort Ning. The drought matter won’t be affected by this short delay!” Yan Qiuhuai spoke up to stop him.

Hearing the name Li Mingzhong, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow and cast a glance at him, sizing him up.

So this was Li Mingzhong. Indeed, as Chu Li had said, he was a straightforward person.

“Minister Li, since you oppose our allocation of silver, what do you suggest we do?” Chu Ye looked at Li Mingzhong and asked.

Li Mingzhong clasped his hands and bowed slightly to Chu Ye. “In reply to Your Majesty, I have already looked into this. The northern region’s four corners—southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest—coincide with Lin Yin Prefecture, Pei Mountain Pass, East Yang Gate, and Sheng Province. Your Majesty needs only issue an edict for the officials in charge of these four areas to take turns sending grain to the northern region. Once the drought is successfully resolved, Your Majesty can reward these officials according to their merits. I fear the effect would be far better than simply allocating silver.”

Yan Qiuhuai, hearing Li Mingzhong’s words, twitched at the corner of his mouth, his brow gradually furrowing.

“Good! In that case, we entrust the northern drought matter entirely to Minister Li. Come, draft an edict for Us!” Chu Ye said loudly.

“Your Majesty…” Yan Qiuhuai immediately spoke up.

Chu Ye looked at Yan Qiuhuai. “Minister Yan, we have just ascended the throne, and there are many matters that require your assistance, along with the Grand Tutor. You need not take on this drought matter in the northern region.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Yan Qiuhuai’s face turned deathly pale.

He had already calculated that he could take the silver allocated by Chu Ye, secretly keep half for himself, and buy a large mansion in Sheng Province for his retirement.

Now his plans were ruined.

That damn Li Mingzhong…

“Alright, you may withdraw,” Chu Ye said to the two men.

Both nodded, bowed, and took their leave.

After Yan Qiuhuai and Li Mingzhong left, Mu Yunjin curved her lips into a smile. “This Minister Li indeed seems more suitable for the position of Prime Minister than Yan Qiuhuai.”

“Yan Qiuhuai was promoted to Prime Minister because of old villain Qin’s interference. Now that old villain Qin has been eliminated and Father has abdicated, it’s time to remove this tumor as well,” Chu Ye laughed lightly.

Mu Yunjin smiled and teased, “Now that the court issues are resolved, shouldn’t you consider your harem?”

“Heh…” Chu Ye chuckled softly. “There’s no rush.”

……

Mu Yunjin wasn’t very familiar with Chu Ye, so after sitting in the pavilion for a short while, she took her leave.

As the carriage passed through the market street, Mu Yunjin, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly heard many chaotic noises from the street outside, accompanied by the sounds of fighting.

Hearing the fighting, the sensitive Mu Yunjin sat up, lifted the carriage curtain, and poked her head out to see what was happening outside.

She saw the common people around stepping back while keeping their gaze fixed upward.

Mu Yunjin followed their line of sight and saw Ding Xian surrounded by a group of black-clothed people on a rooftop, wielding his sword and fighting with them.

Seeing those people in black, Mu Yunjin’s pupils contracted. Weren’t they Yang Lian and his group?

“Master…” Mu Yunjin immediately turned her gaze toward Wind Xuan.

Wind Xuan had already seen the situation outside and stroked his beard gently. “You wait here.”

After speaking, he flew out of the carriage.

Mu Yunjin watched outside and saw that with Wind Xuan joining Ding Xian, Ding Xian was undoubtedly like a tiger that had grown wings. Originally struggling somewhat, he immediately gained the upper hand.

And Wind Xuan, as one of the three great martial arts masters in the world, could handle these black-clothed people with ease.

Soon, seeing they were outmatched, the black-clothed people scattered and prepared to flee in all directions.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows triumphantly.

As she withdrew her gaze, from the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a black figure among the crowd of onlookers. The figure was wrapped in a gray robe, wearing a conical hat, face lowered and features indiscernible.

Seeing this figure, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help looking twice. Soon, she saw the figure turn and quickly leave, disappearing from her sight.

Mu Yunjin frowned slightly, instinctively feeling her heart sink. She felt that the figure just now was extremely familiar…

“Phew, a bunch of useless rascals. I was just getting into it, and they all ran away,” Wind Xuan said as he climbed back into the carriage.

Ding Xian also got in, shaking his sore arm. “Fortunately, Master came. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have been able to hold on much longer.”

“What were you doing today? Where’s Chu Li?” Mu Yunjin looked at Ding Xian.

“We had originally planned to trap Chu Qing today, like catching a turtle in a jar, but we overlooked someone like Qiu Tianhuai. While we were dealing with Chu Qing, he brought people to counterattack and rescued Chu Qing. We were about to give chase when those black-clothed men raised by Qin Muyue also rushed out. I was responsible for drawing away these black-clothed men and fought all the way here. I don’t know how His Highness and Song Chun are doing now…” Ding Xian explained.

“Chu Li never fights without preparation. His deliberate siege of Chu Qing was probably intended to draw out a string of informants behind Chu Qing. Now, those people should have taken the bait,” Wind Xuan smiled mysteriously.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, the image of the conical hat-wearing figure flashing before her eyes again. She felt something was not quite right.

“Master, you can see through this matter?” Ding Xian was surprised. He had intentionally been somewhat vague just now.

“Of course. All these years in the jianghu haven’t been for nothing…” Wind Xuan replied.