Mu Yunjin frowned, her face pale, seemingly unable to hear Chu Li’s words. She gave no response to Chu Li for a long time.

Chu Li’s heart sank. He immediately walked out of the room and called for someone to find Qingmeng.

Qingmeng, once again summoned in the middle of the night, hurriedly walked to the bedside. “What’s going on here?”

Chu Li pressed his lips together, not answering Qingmeng’s question, his gaze fixed on Mu Yunjin.

Qingmeng sat down by the bed and reached out to touch Mu Yunjin’s forehead. “Oh my, what’s this about…”

After speaking, she took Mu Yunjin’s wrist.

“How is she?” As soon as Qingmeng placed her hand on Mu Yunjin’s wrist, Chu Li couldn’t help but ask.

Qingmeng frowned, taking a moment before answering, “She’s caught a cold. I’m guessing it happened when you were flying the kite. She sweated and was accidentally exposed to the cold air.”

“What should we do now?” Chu Li asked in a low voice.

…

…

“I’ll go prepare medicine for the Princess. Your Highness, please help wipe her body and change her into clean clothes.” After speaking, Qingmeng didn’t waste time and immediately walked out the door.

Chu Li went to the cabinet, took out a clean set of clothes, and returned to the bed.

Mu Yunjin was burning with fever and delirious. She didn’t even notice when Chu Li changed her clothes. In her hazy consciousness, she felt as if her belly was about to explode.

Qingmeng quickly returned with the medicine. Chu Li glanced at her and took the medicine bowl. “This Prince will do it.”

Qingmeng nodded.

Chu Li scooped a spoonful of medicine and brought it to Mu Yunjin’s lips. At this moment, Mu Yunjin was biting her lips in discomfort. When the spoonful of medicine was offered, it all flowed out from the corners of her mouth.

“Your Highness, let me try,” Qingmeng stepped forward.

“No need.” Chu Li set the medicine bowl aside, leaned down to hold Mu Yunjin in his arms, then picked up the bowl, took a mouthful of medicine, and covered Mu Yunjin’s lips with his own, feeding her the medicine.

Qingmeng watched from the side, deeply moved.

After a long while, Chu Li finished feeding the entire bowl of medicine and laid Mu Yunjin down.

Qingmeng placed a cold towel on Mu Yunjin’s forehead to help reduce the fever.

“What medicine is this?” Chu Li suddenly asked, feeling a bitter and sour taste in his mouth. He didn’t like the flavor.

Qingmeng smiled awkwardly. “It’s a cold remedy mixed with some pregnancy-stabilizing herbs. The taste is inevitably unusual, mainly because the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine is particularly bitter.”

“Mm.” Chu Li nodded, pressing his lips together, realizing it was indeed very bitter.

“You can go back to rest now,” Chu Li said to Qingmeng.

Qingmeng looked at Mu Yunjin and nodded slightly. “If anything happens, Your Highness can call me again.”

Chu Li made a sound of acknowledgment.

After Qingmeng left, Chu Li continued to sit by the bed watching Mu Yunjin, occasionally changing the towel for her and checking her body temperature.

After taking the medicine, Mu Yunjin gradually fell asleep.

Around the fourth watch of the night, Mu Yunjin’s fever finally broke. Chu Li’s heart, which had been tense for most of the night, finally relaxed.

When Mu Yunjin woke up, she felt a severe headache. When she opened her eyes, everything around her was blurry. After quite a while, she gradually began to see her surroundings.

The first thing she saw was Chu Li’s tense, handsome face.

“Chu Li…” Mu Yunjin mumbled, discovering her throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire.

Hearing her voice, Chu Li immediately walked to the side, poured a cup of clear water, then returned to the bed and slowly fed it to Mu Yunjin.

After drinking the water, Mu Yunjin’s throat felt much better. “What happened to me? My whole body feels weak and sore.”

“You had a fever in the middle of the night. Do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Chu Li reached out to feel her forehead.

Fever?

Mu Yunjin’s eyes revealed a trace of surprise.

How could she have suddenly developed a fever when she was perfectly fine? Before sleeping, there had been no sign of catching a cold, yet she suddenly had a fever.

Mu Yunjin was puzzled.

“Hmm? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?” Seeing that she didn’t speak, Chu Li asked again gently.

Mu Yunjin came back to her senses and shook her head.

“That’s good.” Chu Li could finally relax.

Mu Yunjin lay there, glancing at the time. Seeing it was nearly the fifth watch, she looked at Chu Li. “The Sacrificial Ceremony is about to begin. You should quickly prepare to leave.”

Chu Li shook his head, holding Mu Yunjin’s hand. “I’m not going. I can’t leave you like this.”

“I’m fine. It was just a cold. The fever has broken now. I just need to rest for a while.” Mu Yunjin curved her lips.

Chu Li still shook his head.

At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door.

“Your Highness, the Princess needs to take medicine again.” Qingmeng’s voice sounded from outside.

“Come in,” Chu Li said.

The door was pushed open, and Qingmeng walked in from outside, with Jiang Qingxue beside her.

Jiang Qingxue entered and quickly walked to Mu Yunjin, her brow furrowed as she reached out to touch Mu Yunjin’s forehead. “You child, how could you be so careless…”

“Mother, I’m fine. It’s just a cold. Look how worried you all are.” Mu Yunjin smiled.

Jiang Qingxue sighed and took the medicine from Qingmeng’s hands.

“Your Highness, are you not going to the Sacrificial Ceremony?” Qingmeng looked at the silent Chu Li.

Chu Li was about to shake his head and say he wouldn’t go when he heard Mu Yunjin say, “Chu Li, I’m fine. You should go now.”

“…” Chu Li remained expressionless and silent.

Jiang Qingxue also smiled at Chu Li. “It’s all right, you go. I’ll take good care of Yunjin here.”

Mu Yunjin nodded in agreement.

Chu Li had no choice but to comply.

……

Throughout the day, although Mu Yunjin’s fever had broken, she had no energy and seemed completely listless, without any vitality.

At this moment, Mu Yunjin leaned against the headboard, feeling a constant buzzing in her head that made her whole body uncomfortable.

Jiang Qingxue and Qingmeng were both keeping her company in the room. Neither spoke much, each quietly doing their things.

Gradually, Mu Yunjin became drowsy. In her hazy state, she began to dream again—

“Tell me, are you really that stupid?”

Under the Floating Life Tree, Si Qing, upon seeing Fu Huan, was so angry that he reached out to poke her head.

Fu Huan covered her head, looking innocently at Si Qing. “I didn’t deliberately make you wait here for half a month. You know I can’t leave casually…”

“Then how will you make it up to me?” Seeing her tearful appearance, Si Qing’s anger immediately disappeared.

“Hmm, what compensation do you want?” Fu Huan looked up and asked.

Si Qing bent down, bringing his face close to Fu Huan’s. “You decide.”

Fu Huan understood Si Qing’s meaning. Her face immediately turned red with embarrassment. After looking around to ensure no one was present, she quickly kissed Si Qing’s cheek, her heart instantly racing.

Si Qing touched his face, the corner of his mouth curving with satisfaction.

Just as this sweet scene was unfolding, the mood suddenly shifted—

Again under the Floating Life Tree, but now only Si Qing and the Ink Qilin were present.

“Ink Qilin, how long have we been waiting here?” Si Qing leaned against the tree trunk, glancing at the Ink Qilin beside him, his eyes full of desolation.

The Ink Qilin let out a low howl and used its paw to write the character “half” on the ground.

Si Qing laughed bitterly. “Yes, she hasn’t appeared for half a year…”

“Is it possible that she was just playing with me, never truly caring for me…”

The Ink Qilin shook its head.

“Lord of the Underworld.” With a flash of light, Leng Yuan’s figure appeared under the Floating Life Tree.

Si Qing looked at her, his eyes flickering.

She was Huan’er’s sister.

“My Lord, are you waiting for Huan’er to arrive?” Leng Yuan approached, giving Si Qing a gentle smile.

Si Qing had always been indifferent to Leng Yuan. Hearing this question now, he did not answer.

“I’ve passed by several times and each time I’ve seen My Lord sitting here…”

“If My Lord is truly waiting for Huan’er, I advise you not to wait anymore, because Huan’er has always been toying with your feelings.” Leng Yuan curved her lips, glancing at Si Qing.

Hearing these words, Si Qing’s body stiffened slightly.

“Otherwise, why hasn’t she appeared for half a year? Moreover, given your statuses, you are destined to never be together in this life. Better to end the pain quickly than to prolong it…”

“My Lord, Huan’er has already given up. You should let go as well!”

As Leng Yuan finished speaking, Si Qing’s brow furrowed. Not bothering to respond to Leng Yuan, he waved his sleeve and disappeared.

The Ink Qilin also suddenly vanished.

After Si Qing left, a mocking smile appeared on Leng Yuan’s lips. She took out a crystal ball and looked at Fu Huan inside it, whose tendons in her hands and feet had been severed, and whose spiritual root had been broken.

“Huan’er, your Lord of the Underworld has abandoned you.”

“Leng, Leng Yuan, you, you will come to no good end!”

……

Mu Yunjin woke up startled from her dream.

Every time she dreamed of past events, whether happy scenes or painful ones, she would always wake up in a cold sweat.

In the dream just now, Leng Yuan’s horrible face seemed to be right before her eyes, impossible to dispel.

Mu Yunjin steadied her emotions, took a deep breath, sat up in bed, got down, wrapped a cloak around herself, and walked out the door.

Perhaps because she moved quietly, as she walked out, two young maids were gathered together, discussing something.

“Did you hear? Something just happened at the Sacrificial Ceremony!”

“What happened?”

“Minister Yan tried to assassinate the Emperor on the spot! Later, the Empress rushed forward, and now Minister Yan is holding the Empress hostage… the entire ceremony is in chaos!”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes. “What did you say? Minister Yan is holding the Empress hostage?”

Minister Yan doesn’t know martial arts. Where did he get the courage to take Li Yingxuan hostage in front of so many people? Isn’t that intentionally seeking death?

The young maid, startled by Mu Yunjin’s words, nodded. “This servant just heard about it.”

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together. “What’s happening now?”

The young maid shook her head. “This servant doesn’t know.”

At this moment, Mama Shen came over carrying some food. Seeing Mu Yunjin, she exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, you little ancestor, why are you out of bed? You should be resting…”

Mu Yunjin glanced at Mama Shen, then turned and entered the room.

Mama Shen followed with the food.

“Here, these are all light foods. Eat quickly, don’t starve yourself.” Mama Shen handed the porridge to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin looked at Mama Shen, raising an eyebrow. “Mama Shen, how is the Empress now?”

Mama Shen was always one for gossip; she should know about this.

At the mention of this matter, Mama Shen slapped her thigh and sighed heavily. “That Minister Yan has been hiding his abilities! He turned out to be a supreme martial arts master. Now he’s holding the Empress hostage, and their whereabouts are unknown.”

“Martial arts master? Minister Yan?” Mu Yunjin’s tone was surprised.

That Minister Yan, whom she had encountered a few times before, had absolutely no internal energy. How could he be a martial arts master…

“Yes, it’s said that it was because the Emperor was going to strip him of his official position. In a moment of anger, he took this action.”