Mu Yunjin frowned, only partially understanding what Chu Li meant.

She then slowly spoke, “Are you saying that the Yan Qiuhuai who attended the sacrificial ceremony wasn’t Yan Qiuhuai himself?”

Chu Li nodded.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, thinking of the black-clad person who had just come to steal the military tally, and sighed lightly, “It seems those people are beginning to stir again.”

…

The next day.

Early in the morning, Chu Li and Mu Yunjin were sitting in the dining hall having breakfast.

Ding Xian walked in from outside, approached Chu Li, and lowered his voice, “Your Highness, we’ve investigated—the person in black last night was not from East Lin Kingdom.”

Chu Li acknowledged this with a faint response.

…

…

Mu Yunjin, sitting nearby, raised her eyebrows. Not from East Lin Kingdom?

Then who could it be…

After a pause, Ding Xian spoke again, “The Emperor has already ordered the execution of the entire Yan family, all nine clans. All members of the Yan family have been imprisoned under the Ministry of Justice’s custody.”

With those words, Ding Xian walked out.

Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes, not expressing any opinion.

But in her heart, an uneasiness gradually began to grow.

After breakfast, Mu Yunjin and Chu Li walked toward the back garden.

In the back garden, Qiqi and Huaying were sitting in a pavilion, along with Qingmeng and Huang Yan.

The four were sitting together, playing chess, divided into two teams battling on the chessboard.

Qingmeng and Huang Yan formed one team, Qiqi and Huaying the other.

Looking from a distance, Mu Yunjin could see that Huang Yan and Huaying seemed to be deliberately avoiding each other, keeping their heads down as they placed their pieces, never looking at one another.

Qiqi was carefree and hadn’t noticed anything unusual, while Qingmeng seemed to have noticed something but just smiled with pursed lips and remained silent.

“Do you want to go over?” Chu Li turned to look at Mu Yunjin, his tone gentle.

Mu Yunjin stood in place, hooked the corner of her lips, “I’m only halfway through embroidering those mandarin ducks I recently learned. I’d rather go to the courtyard of Liquid Spring Pavilion.”

After speaking, she linked arms with Chu Li and left.

Soon after, inside the Liquid Spring Pavilion.

Mu Yunjin held a piece of red embroidery cloth in her hands, focusing intently on embroidering the pattern of mandarin ducks on it. Chu Li sat nearby, holding a book.

Neither interfered with the other, but the thick romantic atmosphere surrounding them was impossible to ignore.

After some time, Mama Shen brought in some fruit tea and fruits.

“Your Highness, Princess Consort, please take a break,” Mama Shen said, looking at the two of them.

Mu Yunjin nodded and handed the embroidery cloth to Mama Shen like a child showing off a treasure, “Mama, how do you think my embroidery looks?”

Mama Shen leaned in to look, then gave Mu Yunjin a thumbs up, “Princess Consort is truly amazing. You’ve only been learning for such a short time, yet you already embroider so well.”

“Then look at the other side,” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

Mama Shen was momentarily startled, then turned the embroidery cloth over and exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my, this…”

This exclamation even caught the attention of Chu Li, who had been reading. He looked up at the embroidery cloth, raising his eyebrows with interest.

The front of the cloth showed a pair of mandarin ducks playing in water, while the reverse side showed a pair of mandarin ducks with necks intertwined.

It was unexpected that not only had Mu Yunjin embroidered the ducks playing in water so vividly with exquisite needlework, but she had also created artwork on the reverse side of the embroidery cloth.

This technique of creating two patterns with one needle was not something every embroiderer could do.

“Princess Consort, who taught you this? Don’t tell me you’ve never learned embroidery before,” Mama Shen touched the cloth, at first thinking it was two pieces of cloth put together, but after feeling it for a while, she discovered it was indeed embroidered on a single piece of cloth.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how some bastard had once spread rumors that the Princess Consort was illiterate and foolish. Even if the first talented lady Mu Lingzhu were alive today, she might not be able to embroider like this.

Rumors were truly misleading.

Fortunately, their Prince had good taste and married such a treasure.

The more Mama Shen thought about it, the more amazed she became, and she couldn’t help but look at the embroidery cloth for a long time.

Mu Yunjin took a sip of fruit tea to moisten her throat and answered Mama Shen, “I’m just clever.”

“Oh, you little treasure, I should learn needlework from you tomorrow,” Mama Shen teased.

Mu Yunjin smiled gently.

Mama Shen didn’t linger in the courtyard for long; after chatting with Mu Yunjin for a while, she walked out.

Mu Yunjin continued happily embroidering her double-sided mandarin ducks, finding that passing time this way was quite enjoyable.

At this moment, Ding Xian walked in again.

“Your Highness, the Emperor requests your presence at the palace,” Ding Xian said.

Chu Li was about to decline when Ding Xian added, “He has also invited Master Huaiyuan. I fear they need to discuss some important matters.”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s expression darkened.

Mu Yunjin, listening nearby, sighed softly. He had just returned after two days of travel to Linyin City, and now he had to go to the palace again.

When would this one-year agreement with Emperor Ximing ever end?

…

After Chu Li left, Mu Yunjin lost patience with her embroidery. Zixiang happened to walk in carrying a bowl of medicine. Seeing Mu Yunjin sitting alone in the courtyard, she approached her.

“Miss…” Zixiang walked over with a smile.

Mu Yunjin looked toward Zixiang.

“The pregnancy-stabilizing medicine just brewed in the kitchen.” Zixiang placed the medicine on the table.

At the sight of the pregnancy medicine, Mu Yunjin felt overwhelmed. Seeing it was still steaming, she set it aside to cool.

At that moment, Qiqi and Huaying walked in.

“Oh, Master, you are embroidering! I just heard Mama Shen say so, but I didn’t believe it!” Qiqi exclaimed in disbelief when she saw the embroidery thread and cloth on the table in front of Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows proudly.

“Let me see the double-sided embroidery technique Mama Shen mentioned,” Qiqi sat down in a nearby seat, curiously looking at the embroidery cloth in Mu Yunjin’s hand.

Huaying stood to the side. Not long after entering Liquid Spring Pavilion, her brows furrowed slightly as her gaze moved around, examining the surroundings.

“Hey, why did you all run away? We haven’t finished the chess game!” Huang Yan and Qingmeng walked in at this moment.

The Liquid Spring Pavilion suddenly became very lively.

Seeing that they had all arrived, Mu Yunjin put away her embroidery cloth and thread, clearing the table.

Everyone sat down together.

Mu Yunjin saw that the pregnancy medicine had cooled enough and picked up the bowl to take a sip. Just as she drank, Huang Yan’s words nearly made her sputter out the medicine.

“Hey, snake woman, why do you frown as soon as you see me?” Huang Yan looked at Huaying with displeasure, especially seeing her constantly frowning with a tense face.

Mu Yunjin was surprised that Huang Yan would boldly address Huaying as “snake woman.”

Huaying glanced at Huang Yan, showing anger, “None of your business.”

“Fine, you’re right, it’s not my concern,” Huang Yan sneered.

Mu Yunjin sighed and tilted her head back to drink the entire bowl of pregnancy medicine in one go.

“This stuff looks bitter, just from the color.” Qiqi looked at the dark pregnancy medicine and pinched her nose.

Mu Yunjin handed the bowl to Qiqi, “Do you want to taste it?”

Qiqi immediately waved her hands in refusal.

Huaying rested her chin on her hand, remaining silent.

Mu Yunjin noticed Huaying’s mood and glanced at her, showing thoughtfulness in her eyes.

…

Half a month passed peacefully, and the season officially entered early summer.

During this time, there wasn’t the slightest disturbance. Mu Yunjin had initially been on guard each day, but gradually, she relaxed.

What surprised her even more was that the feeling of heat and fullness in her abdomen hadn’t appeared once during these past two weeks.

In the blink of an eye, she was now seven months pregnant.

Huaying and Qiqi hadn’t returned to Phoenix Pavilion during this time, staying by Mu Yunjin’s side.

Zixiang and Song Chun’s wedding feast was in five days.

Chu Li had specially given Song Chun a courtyard house to prepare for welcoming his bride, which would also be their future residence.

Today, several women gathered to help Zixiang select her wedding dress.

“This one is good, this one is good!”

“I think this one looks even better.”

“No, this one has better embroidery, it’s more exquisite…”

The women chattered away, causing Zixiang, who had tried on several outfits, to be completely unable to make any decision.

“Miss…” Zixiang looked toward Mu Yunjin with pleading eyes.

Mu Yunjin watched from the side, hooking the corner of her mouth into a smile. Seeing that Zixiang had been confused by Qiqi and the others, she walked over and chose one for her, “This one.”

Zixiang immediately nodded.

“Hmm, little Zixiang is already getting married. When will it be my turn?” Qiqi sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

“When you find a suitable cat spirit to match you,” Huaying looked at Qiqi.

Hearing this, Qiqi immediately let out a sigh.

At this moment, someone knocked on the door of the room. Judging by the force of the knocking, Qiqi raised her eyebrows, “Who is it?”

“Miss Qiqi, it’s me, Song Chun,” Song Chun’s voice came from outside.

“What is it?” Qiqi asked.

After she spoke, Song Chun’s wooden voice sounded from outside, “I’ve come to discuss some matters with Zixiang. Could you ask her to come out for a moment?”

Hearing Song Chun’s words, Zixiang’s face reddened as she put down the wedding dress and walked out.

“Huaying, after attending Zixiang’s wedding feast, I’ll go back and search for my cat spirit…” Qiqi said with a smile at the corner of her lips.

“Are you planning to abandon your Brother Lei Yan?” Huaying raised an eyebrow.

Qiqi laughed lightly, “You’ve already abandoned Huang Yan, why can’t I abandon Brother Lei Yan?”

“…” Huaying had no response.

…

That night.

When Chu Li walked out of the hot spring pool after bathing, Mu Yunjin was sitting in a rocking chair in the room, gently rocking back and forth.

“Chu Li, come look at this and see if I’ve missed anything,” Mu Yunjin said upon seeing Chu Li, handing him a booklet listing the dowry items.

Chu Li took the booklet and looked it over briefly. “Everything seems complete.”

“That’s good,” Mu Yunjin smiled with satisfaction. “Zixiang was the person who treated me most sincerely when I was at the Prime Minister’s mansion. Several times when I was about to be beaten, she rushed in front of me. Now that she’s getting married, I naturally want to give her the best.”

Speaking of these things, Mu Yunjin recalled the early days when she first arrived in this world and the time she spent at the Prime Minister’s mansion. In the blink of an eye, it had been almost a year.

Chu Li walked to Mu Yunjin’s side and gently stroked her head, “Stop looking at this. Go bathe and rest.”

Mu Yunjin nodded and stood up.

Chu Li looked at her protruding belly and reached out to help her undo her clothes.

At that moment, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside Liquid Spring Pavilion, followed by several urgent knocks on Chu Li and Mu Yunjin’s door—

“Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Zixiang is dead!”