“I just woke up,” Mu Yunjin answered.

Then she walked to Chu Li’s side, wrapped her arms around his arm, and looked up at him. “You’ve been busy in the palace for most of the day again. Are you hungry? Tired?”

“Both hungry and tired. How does the Princess Consort plan to reward this Prince?” Chu Li’s eyes were filled with amusement as he pinched Mu Yunjin’s face.

Mu Yunjin laughed lightly and led Chu Li into the back garden.

Back in the room, Mu Yunjin first let go of Chu Li, then walked to the wardrobe, opened it, took out Chu Li’s light garment, and placed it on a nearby chair.

Then she walked back to Chu Li’s side and lowered her head to help him change his clothes.

“Take a bath first. It’s raining heavily outside, be careful of the cold air,” Mu Yunjin said, looking up at him after removing his outer robe.

Chu Li curved his lips slightly and nodded.

……

…

…

A moment later, in the hot spring pool.

“Here, open your mouth…” Mu Yunjin sat by the pool with several plates of snacks at her left side. She picked up a piece and brought it to Chu Li’s lips.

Chu Li opened his mouth and ate it.

Seeing him eat, Mu Yunjin then reached out her hands to massage his shoulders, looking thoroughly attentive.

“Chu Li, several people said today that my belly looks like I’m carrying a boy…” Mu Yunjin suddenly remembered this matter and looked at Chu Li teasingly.

Indeed, Chu Li’s back suddenly stiffened, and his brows furrowed.

After a moment, he responded glumly, “It doesn’t matter. We can have more children in the future. We’ll eventually have a daughter…”

“Speaking of which, why do you like girls so much?” Although Chu Li had explained before, Mu Yunjin always felt that Chu Li was extremely fixated on this matter.

“Girls don’t have to bear such heavy responsibilities and burdens. They will have an easier life in the future,” Chu Li said.

Hearing Chu Li’s words, Mu Yunjin fell silent for a while.

After some time, Mu Yunjin spoke softly, “Chu Li, after this year is over, let’s find a place where no one knows us and live there. Let’s not participate in these royal conflicts anymore…”

Chu Li turned around to look at Mu Yunjin. The wisps of mist rising from the hot spring pool prevented Mu Yunjin from seeing the emotions in Chu Li’s eyes.

“Alright…” After a moment, Chu Li answered Mu Yunjin’s question.

Hearing this answer, Mu Yunjin wasn’t particularly happy. She felt that Chu Li’s tone was somewhat heavy.

This heaviness, though she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, gave her a vaguely complex feeling in her heart.

It seemed that all along, she hadn’t been clear about what Chu Li had been pursuing…

Whether his heart harbored his ideals and expectations…

She didn’t know any of this.

In a flash, Mu Yunjin felt that she had failed miserably as a wife.

“Hehe, I was just saying that casually. Don’t take it seriously,” Mu Yunjin smiled awkwardly, negating what she had just said.

Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin and smiled.

……

“By the way, I heard Qin Muyue is dead. Is that true?”

After Chu Li came out of the hot spring pool, Mu Yunjin asked while helping him with his clothes.

“Yes, it’s true,” Chu Li replied lightly.

“Her? Why do I feel like it’s somewhat surreal…” Mu Yunjin found it hard to imagine that someone as troublesome as Qin Muyue had died.

Chu Li took a sip of water, held Mu Yunjin, and sat down together on a chair. “Her abdomen was pierced by you, and after being imprisoned in the imperial prison these days, the wound had already festered and ulcerated. Death was just a matter of time.”

Mu Yunjin nodded in understanding. Mentioning Qin Muyue, she couldn’t help but think of another person. “What about Qin Munan? Is he still imprisoned in the imperial prison?”

“Yes,” Chu Li answered softly.

Then he added, “Qin Munan is a loyal person, but as a general, he’s too emotional. Chu Ye keeping him in the imperial prison is also to make him think through some things.”

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together. Just as she was about to take a bath, she suddenly felt something in her bosom.

“By the way…”

Mu Yunjin took out the brocade box given by Yun Guangyao.

“Imperial Advisor An brought this today, saying it was from your fath… I mean, from the King of Nanting Kingdom,” Mu Yunjin said, opening the brocade box and taking out the pair of small bracelets.

Chu Li’s eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the delicate and exquisite bracelets. He reached out to take them and examined them in his palm.

Then, he gently shook them, and a jingling sound of bells came out.

“Keep them safe,” Chu Li put the bracelets back into the brocade box.

Mu Yunjin closed the brocade box, opened the wardrobe, and placed the box on the bottom shelf.

“Wait,” Chu Li spoke up, walking to Mu Yunjin’s side.

“Let me keep it,” Chu Li said.

Mu Yunjin was slightly surprised, then took out the brocade box and handed it to Chu Li. “Then you keep it safe.”

Chu Li smiled and nodded.

Mu Yunjin looked at the brocade box, guessing that what Yun Guangyao gave might not be as simple as just bracelets.

So, it was probably more reliable for Chu Li to keep it.

……

Three days quickly passed, and it was now the day of the Empress’s coronation ceremony.

Because of Mu Yunjin’s pregnancy, Chu Li originally didn’t dare to take her to crowded places, but seeing her cooped up in the mansion every day, he couldn’t bear it and decided to take her out.

Today, the streets were exceptionally lively. Many commoners gathered in the streets and alleys, discussing today’s grand event of the Empress’s coronation. Many had already rushed to the palace gates.

When Chu Li and Mu Yunjin’s carriage arrived at the palace gates, dozens of carriages were already parked outside. The people alighting from the carriages were all dressed in their finest attire before entering the palace gates.

Seeing this, just as Mu Yunjin was about to get off the carriage, Chu Li held her arm. Then they heard the guard at the gate say, “Prince Ning’s carriage, let them pass!”

With these words, the carriage slowly drove through the palace gates.

“Today we have this privilege?” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li.

Chu Li raised an eyebrow and touched Mu Yunjin’s belly. “It’s her privilege, not ours.”

Mu Yunjin laughed lightly. “Is this what they call ‘the mother is valued because of her child’?”

“The mother is valued because of her daughter,” Chu Li corrected her.

“How annoying!” Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but grumble at Chu Li, then spoke sullenly, “If it is a daughter when she’s born, will I lose your favor?”

Chu Li was delighted by her question, his eyes filled with undisguised amusement. “What do you think?”

“I want you to tell me,” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows, looking at Chu Li, her eyes unwavering.

“My heart is filled with you,” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin, his tone and gaze both extremely resolute.

Mu Yunjin instantly felt a sense of elation, suddenly realizing that such sweet words were truly endearing.

No matter how many times she heard them, she would never tire of them.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.” The carriage stopped, and Ding Xian’s voice came from outside.

Chu Li responded.

“Today, follow me. Don’t go anywhere, don’t leave my sight,” Chu Li instructed Mu Yunjin before getting off the carriage.

Mu Yunjin nodded.

Then, Chu Li first got off the carriage, then carefully helped Mu Yunjin down.

“Sixth Brother, Sixth Sister-in-law…”

Just as they got off the carriage, Chu Qingyuan’s voice came through.

Chu Qingyuan seemed to have an urgent matter. As her words fell, she had already come running over. Just as she was about to throw herself at Mu Yunjin, she was stopped by Chu Li’s extended hand. “Speak properly.”

Chu Qingyuan halted her steps, her face somewhat distressed. “Sixth Sister-in-law, that Bei Qilu has come. Father Emperor saw him and was reportedly very pleased. He wants me to marry into the Northern Ming Kingdom… What should I do…”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li.

“If you don’t like him, simply decline. With your brother here, no one can force you,” Chu Li looked at Chu Qingyuan.

“Wuwuwu, Sixth Brother, I’m so moved…” Chu Qingyuan immediately burst into tears.

As they were speaking, a male voice came from the side—

“Sister Jinhua…”

Hearing this voice, Chu Li, Mu Yunjin, and Chu Qingyuan all turned to look.

Seeing this person, Chu Qingyuan immediately hid behind Chu Li and Mu Yunjin in fear.

Mu Yunjin frowned slightly as she looked at the young man walking towards them. He wasn’t very old, with handsome and defined features, deep black eyes that looked spirited, currently wearing a familiar smile on his face.

In this place, the only stranger who could call her Sister Jinhua would be… Bei Qilu.

“It’s Second Brother. Did you come alone?” Mu Yunjin could only pretend to be cordial with a forced smile.

“Several envoys are accompanying me. This humble brother heard that Elder Sister would also be attending today, so I waited for you here,” Bei Qilu said.

Mu Yunjin curved her lips slightly and looked Bei Qilu over. “Second Brother, how old are you this year?”

“Just turned sixteen,” Bei Qilu answered.

Mu Yunjin was slightly taken aback, not expecting Bei Qilu to be only sixteen.

But thinking about it, it seemed about right. Before Bei Tang Wenfeng ascended to the throne, he had already developed feelings for Jiang Qingxue and had conceived her by then.

She had just turned seventeen this year.

“Oh, right, Father Emperor has something he asked me to give to Elder Sister,” Bei Qilu said, taking out a brocade box.

Seeing yet another brocade box, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Beside her, Chu Li reached out to take the brocade box for Mu Yunjin. Opening it, inside was a pair of small lovers’ locks.

“Father Emperor said Sister Jinhua is about to give birth soon. He’s busy with state affairs and can’t come over, so he asked me to bring these,” Bei Qilu said with a smile.

“Thank you for your trouble, Second Brother,” Mu Yunjin curved her lips. After interacting with Bei Qilu, she found that he was just a child who hadn’t grown up yet and seemed to have a good heart.

Chu Qingyuan had been hiding behind Chu Li and Mu Yunjin the whole time. Seeing Bei Qilu still lingering, she felt anxious and irritated, fearing that passersby would see this scene and think there was something between her and Bei Qilu…

“Hey, Second Prince of Northern Ming, now that you’ve delivered the gift, you can go join your envoys,” Chu Qingyuan spoke up, pointing at Bei Qilu.

Hearing this, Bei Qilu looked at Chu Qingyuan and shook his head. “Father Emperor asked me to inquire more about Elder Sister’s recent situation for him to know. I haven’t even started asking yet.”

“You…” Chu Qingyuan was so angry she was at a loss for words. She flicked her sleeve and ran off by herself.

Seeing Chu Qingyuan run away, Bei Qilu scratched his head and looked at Mu Yunjin. “Elder Sister, did I upset the Ninth Princess?”

“I don’t know about that…” Mu Yunjin shook her head.

Bei Qilu and Chu Qingyuan, one sixteen and the other fifteen, were both still just children in Mu Yunjin’s eyes. If they were to be matched in marriage, it felt like chaos was about to ensue…