“Not yet.”
Chu Li spoke, giving a soft laugh before continuing, “The time isn’t right.”
Mu Yunjin understood Chu Li’s meaning and nodded slightly. “Then for now, this matter will be known only to heaven, earth, you, and me.”
“Mm.” The corner of Chu Li’s lips turned upward.
……
Before going to sleep, Mu Yunjin wasn’t feeling particularly drowsy. Thinking of the upcoming Sacrificial Ceremony, she opened her mouth, “Is this Sacrificial Ceremony for honoring ancestors?”
“Yes, it’s held once every two years. This year it’s being held early because of Chu Ye’s ascension to the throne,” Chu Li answered gently.
Mu Yunjin made a sound of acknowledgment.
“The Sacrificial Ceremony will be crowded and chaotic. You should stay in the mansion. This Prince would hate to see you standing outside suffering all day.” As Chu Li finished speaking, he tightened his arms around Mu Yunjin.
…
…
Mu Yunjin’s lips curved in contentment as her body pressed against Chu Li’s. Vaguely, from within her belly, came a sensation of burning heat.
Feeling this strange sensation, Mu Yunjin instinctively looked down. Today she didn’t see any red light, but her belly felt hot and swollen, as if it might burst at any moment.
Mu Yunjin frowned and placed her hand on her belly.
The moment her hand touched her belly, she could feel the child inside kicking her.
“Ssh…” The kick was not gentle, and Mu Yunjin let out a sudden cry of pain.
“What’s wrong? Did the baby kick you again?” Chu Li sat up, slightly raising an eyebrow.
Mu Yunjin nodded. With that kick, the burning sensation gradually disappeared.
Afterward, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li with a pitiful expression. “I’m telling you, this child is a boy…”
……
The next day, Chu Li unusually did not have to go to the palace.
During this leisure time, seeing that Mu Yunjin had been staying in the mansion without going out for days, he decided to take her to Water Cloud Temple for a walk and to refresh their minds.
After arriving at the Water Cloud Temple, they didn’t immediately go to find Master Huaiyuan, but instead toured the surroundings first.
The back mountain was now in full bloom with hundreds of flowers.
As soon as Mu Yunjin stepped onto the back mountain, she could smell the fragrance of flowers in waves.
Having been cooped up in the mansion for so long without going out, Mu Yunjin took several deep breaths and then stretched contentedly.
“Today I must go to the Buddha Hall to pray properly. Last time I was interrupted by those bandits.” Mu Yunjin held onto Chu Li’s arm as they left the back mountain and walked toward the Buddha Hall.
Chu Li smiled and accompanied her to the Buddha Hall.
When they arrived at the front Buddha Hall, Mu Yunjin noticed that there were still many commoners who had come to burn incense and worship Buddha today.
The line below stretched to the main entrance.
“Shall we come back later?” Chu Li looked down at Mu Yunjin, his tone gentle.
Mu Yunjin nodded.
When they reached the entrance of the Zen courtyard, they were informed that Master Huaiyuan was in seclusion these days and would not emerge for another five days.
Mu Yunjin sighed, her gaze shifting to spot the ancient tree not far away. “Let’s go there and rest for a while.”
“Mm.” Chu Li held her hand as they walked over.
Before they reached the courtyard of the ancient tree, they could see many imperial guards standing at the entrance of the courtyard from a distance.
Inevitably, Mu Yunjin and Chu Li exchanged a glance, then slowly approached.
“Greetings to Prince Ning, greetings to Princess Ning.” The guards at the gate recognized Chu Li and Mu Yunjin and immediately bowed upon seeing them.
“Who are you accompanying?” Mu Yunjin asked.
Hearing this, the guard replied, “The Empress and Empress Dowager Rui have come to burn incense and pray for blessings today. They are currently making wishes in the courtyard of the thousand-year-old tree.”
The Empress and Empress Dowager Rui…
Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows, realizing that they had truly come to Water Cloud Temple on the wrong day—there were people everywhere.
She originally wanted to leave first and return to the ancient tree courtyard later, but Li Yingxuan and Empress Dowager Rui had already finished making their wishes and were walking to the entrance, where they happened to see Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.
“Li’er, Yunjin…” Empress Dowager Rui exclaimed in surprise.
Li Yingxuan followed beside her. Upon seeing the two, she nodded to them as a greeting.
Mu Yunjin’s lips twitched slightly as she symbolically bent her waist. “Hello, Empress Dowager Rui, hello, Empress.”
“It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen you. How have you been lately?” Empress Dowager Rui glanced at Mu Yunjin’s belly, her face showing a smile.
Mu Yunjin nodded without saying much.
“I’ve been wanting to meet with Princess Ning, but never had the opportunity. Now that we’ve met here, I wonder if Princess Ning has some free time to chat with me?” Li Yingxuan smiled at Mu Yunjin, and in front of her, didn’t refer to herself as “this palace.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin found it difficult to refuse. First, Li Yingxuan was now the mother of the nation; second, with so many people around, it wouldn’t look good if she snubbed the new Empress’s face.
So, she smiled and nodded.
“That’s wonderful. There’s a pavilion nearby; shall we go there?” Li Yingxuan pointed to a pavilion to the side.
Mu Yunjin made a sound of agreement and walked over with Li Yingxuan.
Chu Li’s gaze remained fixed on Mu Yunjin. Even knowing that Li Yingxuan meant no harm, he still couldn’t help but worry.
Seeing Chu Li like this, Empress Dowager Rui couldn’t help but smile and sigh, “This old one never imagined that you, Li’er, would one day be so tender toward a woman.”
Chu Li had essentially grown up under her watch. Although naturally detached and not very close to her, she understood his temperament to some extent.
Now the children around her were growing up one by one, marrying and having children. Only then did she realize she had truly grown old…
……
In the pavilion.
“Some time ago, Princess Ning helped me at Plum Blossom Pavilion. Until now, I haven’t had the chance to properly thank you,” Li Yingxuan said as soon as they sat down, smiling as she looked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin smiled lightly. “It was a small matter, no need to keep it in mind.”
“This is no small matter. Without that incident, perhaps I wouldn’t be in this position today,” Li Yingxuan smiled slightly.
When she was young, her father Li Mingzhong was just a ninth-rank petty official. Later, after nearly ten years, he was promoted to a seventh-rank county magistrate. For many years, among all the officials’ daughters, she was always the most inconspicuous.
In fact, at some gatherings of officials’ daughters and some grand palace banquets, only the daughters of fifth-rank officials and above were invited.
That time at Plum Blossom Pavilion, she was also surprised to be invited.
Come to think of it, if it weren’t for the episode with that hairpin, she, Li Yingxuan, would never have “stood out” like this in her lifetime.
Mu Yunjin, seeing the deep emotions in Li Yingxuan’s eyes, didn’t know what to say.
“You sent me many tonics and medicines a few days ago. I haven’t had the chance to thank you,” Mu Yunjin changed the subject, bringing up this matter.
These are nothing. You saved my life,” Li Yingxuan winked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin laughed lightly.
Seeing that they had chatted enough, she was about to say she needed to leave when she heard Li Yingxuan lower her voice and ask, “You and Prince Ning, it’s said you hadn’t met many times before marriage. Did you consummate your marriage on your wedding night?”
“…” Fortunately, Mu Yunjin wasn’t drinking water.
“My question may be presumptuous, but… but the Emperor doesn’t touch me, nor does he summon me to serve him in bed. I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong.” Li Yingxuan frowned.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin understood Li Yingxuan’s meaning.
Looking at Li Yingxuan’s pondering frown, Mu Yunjin’s eyes rolled slightly as she made up an excuse for Chu Ye. “That’s because you’re only fifteen, not yet of age to be married.”
After speaking, Mu Yunjin felt her excuse was brilliant!
“So that’s it… Yes… I haven’t reached the age for marriage yet.” Li Yingxuan’s confusion was suddenly cleared, her brow immediately relaxing.
Mu Yunjin discovered that Li Yingxuan was also a lovely girl, so she smiled. “I have some matters to attend to, I’ll be going now.”
Li Yingxuan nodded.
……
When they returned to the ancient tree courtyard, the guards at the entrance had already withdrawn.
Chu Li had already gone inside and was now sitting under the ancient tree, waiting for Mu Yunjin to come over.
As soon as Mu Yunjin stepped into the courtyard, she saw a dark figure sitting under the ancient tree in the distance, with the rare sight of the Ink Qilin beside him.
At this moment, Chu Li was stroking the Ink Qilin’s head, his eyes showing traces of a smile.
Seeing this scene, Mu Yunjin’s footsteps froze in place, and unwanted tears welled up in her eyes, then rolled down from her eye sockets…
Si Qing…
Brother Qing…
“Awoo…”
The Ink Qilin discovered Mu Yunjin and let out a soft howl.
Mu Yunjin immediately turned around and wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and turned back to approach the ancient tree.
Chu Li, seeing Mu Yunjin’s red-rimmed eyes, clearly the appearance of someone who had just cried, frowned and stood up, bending down to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Just now the wind picked up outside, and sand got in my eyes.” Mu Yunjin made up a poor excuse.
Chu Li believed it. He held her face and carefully examined her eyes. Finding nothing unusual, he took her hand and sat down beside him.
As soon as Mu Yunjin sat down, she tilted her head to rest on Chu Li’s shoulder, her heart gradually relaxing.
At the same time, that burning and swollen feeling in her belly vaguely emerged again.
Mu Yunjin gently stroked her belly, realizing that this sensation had been occurring more frequently over the past two days, yet Sister Qingmeng had said the fetal signs were all normal.
What was going on?
As she pondered, the sensation gradually disappeared again.
Mu Yunjin settled down and raised her eyes to see several kites flying in the distant sky.
“Chu Li, have you ever played with those?” Mu Yunjin pointed toward the kites in the sky.
Chu Li looked up, then shook his head. “No.”
“I haven’t either.” Mu Yunjin sighed softly.
When she was very young, she had entered the special agent organization for training. While children her age were flying kites and playing with clay, she was already learning various combat techniques and how to kill with a gun.
At that time, while she trained on the training ground, she would often see kites floating in from outside and vaguely hear the laughter of children.
But she could never join them…
“Would you like to try?” Chu Li saw the longing in her eyes, laughed deeply, and looked at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin’s eyes deepened as she nodded. “Yes.”
“Let’s go.” Chu Li stood up and bent down to help Mu Yunjin up.
Mu Yunjin followed beside Chu Li as they left the ancient tree courtyard together.
Just as they stepped out of the ancient tree courtyard, Ding Xian appeared, his expression solemn. “Your Highness, just now the Ninth Princess went to request the Emperor’s decree for marriage, saying she wants to marry Qin Munan!”