The next day, a light rain began to fall outside.

Chu Li had gone to the palace early in the morning. Before leaving, he looked at the weather and specifically instructed Mu Yunjin not to wander about randomly to avoid catching a chill or cold.

Mu Yunjin hadn’t gone out much recently and had been cooped up in the mansion all day, already bored beyond measure. She had planned to take a walk in the suburbs today, but the weather was uncooperative, with rain falling.

Now, she could only sit in the front hall of the mansion, chatting with Mamma Shen and Qingmeng.

During this period, Qingmeng had also been arranged by Chu Li to stay in the mansion, in case Mu Yunjin experienced any sudden situations that couldn’t be dealt with in time.

Now, the women sat in the front hall, opening up their conversation.

“When I went out this morning, everyone outside was talking about that Li family young lady. Some bold people with no regard for their lives were even saying she’s a hen that turned into a phoenix!” Mamma Shen sat in her chair, prattling on about this matter to Mu Yunjin and Qingmeng.

Hearing this, Qingmeng sighed, “These people say such unpleasant things. Though the position of County Magistrate is only of the seventh rank, it’s still an official court position. And that Miss Li comes from a respectable background, how could she be considered a hen…”

“So I listened for a while and then left. I didn’t dare to interrupt, lest the wind blow my tongue,” Mamma Shen said.

…

…

Mu Yunjin laughed lightly, “I guess no one expected that Miss Li would be the new Empress.”

“Indeed! I heard that the family of the Ceremonial Department’s Vice Minister is nearly going mad with anger. Their daughter, Miss Yang, is considered both talented and beautiful, but she didn’t get anything in the end… Now the Ceremonial Department Vice Minister has also been removed from his position and replaced with a sixth-rank official. I’ve forgotten exactly what position it is…” Mamma Shen thought for a moment but couldn’t recall the official title.

“Mamma, is there anything you don’t know?” Mu Yunjin curled her lips, suddenly finding it quite interesting to listen to Mamma Shen’s gossip.

Mamma Shen smiled sheepishly, “Well, I’m old and have nothing to do. His Highness doesn’t assign me many tasks now, so I often go to the streets for walks. Walking around a lot means I hear all sorts of things.”

“Speaking of which, the new Emperor has recently suppressed many of the original court officials and promoted some of a lower rank. It seems he’s preparing for major reforms,” Qingmeng took a sip of tea and said.

“Mentioning that reminds me of something else…” Mamma Shen’s eyes rolled thoughtfully.

Mu Yunjin and Qingmeng looked at her with curiosity.

“That daughter of Lord Chen Pu, she was also selected to enter the palace as Noble Consort, wasn’t she? I heard that young Miss Chen was unhappy about it, blaming Lord Chen Pu for not securing the position of Empress for her. She’s just a fifteen-year-old girl, not even of marriageable age yet. How could she possibly handle the position of Empress?” Mamma Shen said.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin pouted, “If this is true, then I fear Miss Li and Miss Chen will have plenty of conflict in the future.”

Mamma Shen clicked her tongue, shaking her head with sighs.

The group sat in the front hall for a while longer. Seeing that the rain outside showed no signs of stopping, Mamma Shen, worried that Mu Yunjin might get bored, continued finding topics of conversation. Her eyes glanced over to Mu Yunjin’s belly.

“Princess Consort, looking at your belly, it’s a boy,” Mamma Shen said with a smile.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow and looked down at her belly. “A boy?”

“Yes, I’ve lived most of my life, and these eyes of mine are sharp. When it comes to whether it’s a boy or girl, I can tell with one look,” Mamma Shen’s tone carried a hint of pride.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but laugh, “Then it’s over. Someone is going to go crazy.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Mamma Shen didn’t immediately understand Mu Yunjin’s words.

Mu Yunjin shook her head, smiling without answering.

Qingmeng, watching from the side, also looked at Mu Yunjin’s belly and smiled, “Indeed, just looking at the shape of the belly, it does look like a male fetus.”

Mu Yunjin’s hand, holding her tea, paused, nearly splashing the clear water. In her heart, she silently wailed a few times for Prince Ning.

…

Time always passes especially quickly when chatting about various matters. As the morning swiftly went by, just as Mu Yunjin was about to have lunch, a figure she hadn’t seen for a long time walked in from outside.

“Well, what brings you here?” Mu Yunjin looked with particular surprise at Imperial Advisor An, who walked in.

Imperial Advisor An raised an eyebrow. “I timed it perfectly for mealtime.”

“Let’s go, we can talk while we eat.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin stood up and walked toward the dining hall.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin had a friend visiting, Mamma Shen and Qingmeng each went about their own business. In the dining hall, there were only Mu Yunjin and Imperial Advisor An.

“It’s been just a few months since I last saw you, and your belly has already grown so large,” Imperial Advisor An looked at Mu Yunjin with astonishment.

Mu Yunjin curved her lips upward. “I’m not carrying Nezha.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin held up three fingers. “In just over three more months, I’ll be giving birth.”

“Then let me congratulate you in advance,” Imperial Advisor An clasped his hands together.

“Don’t forget the red envelope when the time comes,” Mu Yunjin’s eyes showed playfulness.

Imperial Advisor An smiled, “That’s easy to handle, not a problem.”

“By the way, why did you come here? Where’s Consort Rong?” Mu Yunjin took a sip of soup and looked at Imperial Advisor An.

“She’s doing just fine in Nanting Kingdom!” At the mention of this person, Imperial Advisor An’s expression wasn’t very good.

Then, Imperial Advisor An spoke again, answering Mu Yunjin’s earlier question, “For Chu Ye’s Empress installation ceremony, he invited envoys from various countries to attend. I was sent here by Yun Guangyao to participate in the new Empress’s coronation ceremony.”

“So that’s it…” Mu Yunjin understood.

“Also, from your father’s side, Second Prince Bei Qilu was sent this time. Eastern Lin Kingdom has sent a high official, though I don’t know who specifically,” Imperial Advisor An mentioned.

Mu Yunjin nodded, “Once again, such a lively scene. I wonder if this Empress coronation ceremony will proceed smoothly.”

“The recent peacefulness of the world is strangely eerie. I vaguely have a feeling of nervousness, like all of this isn’t real,” Mu Yunjin lamented deeply.

“What’s meant to come will eventually come, but before it arrives, enjoy your life first,” Imperial Advisor An looked at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin agreed with a curl of her lips, raising her teacup, “Using tea instead of wine, I toast to you.”

Imperial Advisor An picked up his wine cup and clinked it with Mu Yunjin’s teacup.

“By the way, after chatting about so much, I almost forgot something important,” Imperial Advisor An put down his chopsticks and took out an exquisite brocade box from his bosom, handing it to Mu Yunjin.

Just by looking at the brocade box, Mu Yunjin knew it contained something expensive. She reached out her hand and opened the lid…

Inside was a pair of delicate and small bracelets. They were made of pure gold with several small bells hanging from them.

“This is from Yun Guangyao, who asked me to give it to you. He said it’s a birth gift for the child in your belly,” Imperial Advisor An said.

“Has he changed his nature? He’s sending me gifts?” Mu Yunjin felt it was somewhat unreal.

Imperial Advisor An smiled, “The drunkard’s intent is not on the wine.”

“Hmm, I understand…” Mu Yunjin naturally knew what Imperial Advisor An was referring to. She then closed the brocade box and put the bracelets away.

After lunch, Imperial Advisor An didn’t stay long at the Prince Ning’s Mansion, as if he had just come precisely to have a meal.

In the afternoon, the rain outside gradually intensified, accompanied by occasional bursts of spring thunder.

Mu Yunjin returned to her room in Crystal Spring Pavilion, lying on the soft couch, leaning against the headboard. She calculated the time—in another month, it would be a year since she came to this different world.

In this time of less than a year, she seemed to have experienced more than in her previous twenty-plus years of life, and she had even recovered her past life.

For her former self, this would have been an incredible thing to comprehend.

As she thought, drowsiness gradually overtook her.

She didn’t know how long she had slept when she had a dream—

“Fuhuan, Fuhuan, you drove me to complete extinction. You’d better ensure you never set foot on the Tiansheng Continent, otherwise, the next time we meet will be your death!” In the dream, Cold Luan was glaring at Fuhuan with a ferocious expression, her hands waving constantly in front of Fuhuan but unable to grab her.

Fuhuan was smiling at Cold Luan before her, her eyes showing disdain, “Cold Luan, do you think I would make the same mistake as before?”

“You couldn’t defeat me in your previous life, do you think you can in this one? Don’t joke. Shortly, we will meet again on the Tiansheng Continent.” After speaking, Cold Luan threw back her head and laughed loudly.

Fuhuan watched this scene, pressing her lips together without speaking.

After a while, Cold Luan’s face gradually became blurred and distorted, flashing Qin Muyue’s face for a moment, then returning to Cold Luan’s face.

“Ah…”

“Ahhh…”

Cold Luan covered her face, screaming painfully until her figure disappeared from Fuhuan’s sight…

…

Mu Yunjin suddenly woke up and sat up in bed.

Looking at the time, she had only slept for just over half an hour. The rain outside hadn’t lessened, but coupled with the dream she just had, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but wrap her arms tightly around herself as a chill emanated from her body.

Mu Yunjin no longer felt sleepy. She got out of bed, put on a cloak, and walked out.

“Miss, you’re awake…” Zixiang had been standing guard at the door. Seeing Mu Yunjin come out, she immediately opened an umbrella and held it for her.

Mu Yunjin walked toward the front hall. Before she stepped into the front hall, she heard Mamma Shen’s voice—

“My goodness, to die at such a critical time! The Empress’s coronation ceremony is about to take place, how inauspicious!”

Mu Yunjin’s eyelids twitched as she walked in and asked, “Who died?”

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s voice, Mamma Shen first trembled, then looked at Mu Yunjin with a tone of amazement, “It’s Qin Muyue who died.”

Mu Yunjin was stunned.

“The last time Qin Munan was discovered secretly harboring the rebel Qin Muyue in the military camp, the brother and sister were brought back and kept in the imperial prison. Qin Muyue was already seriously injured, so lasting these two months was already a feat! Just now, news came that she died in the imperial prison…” Mamma Shen said.

Qin Muyue was dead…

If not for the dream just now, Mu Yunjin would have almost forgotten about this woman in these two months.

At this moment, combining the current situation with the dream she just had, Mu Yunjin had an indescribable feeling, always feeling that things weren’t so simple.

“Oh, His Highness is back,” Mamma Shen spoke up.

Mu Yunjin looked up and saw Chu Li, dressed in purple brocade robes with a tense face, slowly walking toward the front hall.

After stepping into the front hall, his gaze first fell on Mu Yunjin, and he raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t take a nap today?”