Otherwise, if there were any emergencies, she was truly too restricted now…

Chu Li held her and slightly turned his head to look at Mu Yunjin’s swollen belly. For an instant, a red light flashed before his eyes, but it disappeared in a moment. When he came back to his senses, Chu Li thought he had just experienced a brief illusion.

“Don’t overthink. Get some good rest,” Chu Li sighed, seeing that she hadn’t rested well for the past two days due to Zixiang’s funeral arrangements.

Mu Yunjin nodded slightly and lay down. Soon, the sound of light breathing could be heard.

Chu Li tucked in her blanket and turned to look at Mu Yunjin’s sleeping face without moving, his eyes showing deep contemplation.

After some time, strange noises came from outside.

Hearing the sound, Chu Li frowned, got out of bed, and walked out the door.

Outside stood Huang Yan.

Seeing Chu Li, Huang Yan stepped forward and lowered his voice, “Your Highness, last night after everyone left, following your instructions, I brought Chen Pu to examine Zixiang’s body, and we discovered several suspicious points…”

…

…

“Oh?” Chu Li looked at Huang Yan, his eyes revealing a hint of inquiry.

Huang Yan took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Chu Li.

Chu Li took it and glanced at the few points listed on the paper, then frowned and remained silent, pressing his lips together.

“This subordinate will take his leave now,” Huang Yan said, then turned and left.

Chu Li stood at the doorway, tightly clenching his fingers, several faces flashing through his mind, but he couldn’t be completely certain about any of them.

…

Due to Zixiang’s sudden death, the atmosphere in the manor had been particularly somber these days.

It wasn’t until Xu Heyu, Qu Xinyao, and Daoist Fengxuan came to visit Prince Ning’s manor that the atmosphere slightly eased.

Before coming, they had heard about the unfortunate death of Mu Yunjin’s maid, so after arriving at the manor, none of them mentioned this matter.

“How did Senior Fengxuan end up coming with Lord Xu and the others?” In the front hall, Qiqi looked at Daoist Fengxuan with a smile.

Daoist Fengxuan raised his eyebrows, “I met them on the street in Xinyao City. They said they were coming to Butterfly City to find you all. I had nothing to do, so I came along.”

“Yes, it was quite a coincidence. I happened to return to Xinyao City for some business and ran into Senior Fengxuan on the street,” Qu Xinyao smiled, hooking the corner of her lips.

Perhaps due to her pregnancy, Qu Xinyao’s attire had become much simpler, and her overall demeanor and temperament were more gentle than before.

After speaking, Qu Xinyao turned to look at Mu Yunjin, “After I became pregnant, that fool doesn’t let me do anything. I’m almost dying of boredom. How have you endured these seven months?”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin smiled lightly, “I do needlework and embroidery.”

“Needlework and embroidery? You?” Qu Xinyao’s eyes showed surprise, as if she thought she had misheard.

Mu Yunjin is doing needlework? What a joke…

On the side, Mama Shen heard Qu Xinyao’s words and immediately laughed, “Lord Qu, don’t disbelieve. Our Princess Consort not only learned needlework but is also excellent at embroidery. Even I, who has learned needlework for decades, must bow to her skill.”

“Really?” This time, even Daoist Fengxuan was skeptical.

“Really,” Chu Li spoke softly, and then brought out the double-sided mandarin duck embroidery.

This double-sided mandarin duck embroidery was something he had begged her for a long time before she was willing to give it to him. Now Chu Li held it in his hand, quite proudly.

Qu Xinyao stood up and took the embroidery from Chu Li’s hand. Before she could begin to look at it, Chu Li said, “Be careful, don’t damage it.”

“Do you need to treasure it that much?” Qu Xinyao chided, then carefully examined the double-sided mandarin duck.

After looking for a while, she stared at Mu Yunjin, “I still can’t believe it…”

Daoist Fengxuan also rose to look. Although he didn’t understand much about embroidery, at first glance, it seemed quite impressive…

“You’re something, you brat. I’ve underestimated you,” Daoist Fengxuan raised an eyebrow.

Mu Yunjin’s eyes revealed pride, “Of course, how else could I be your disciple?”

“That’s true,” Daoist Fengxuan agreed with Mu Yunjin’s words.

After chatting idly for a while, Ding Xian walked in, followed by Eunuch Lu, the chief eunuch at Chu Ye’s side.

When everyone saw Eunuch Lu, the laughter stopped.

Eunuch Lu bowed to the group, secretly sighing at how lively Prince Ning’s manor was today, with so many people present.

“Reporting to His Highness Prince Ning, news has come from Linyin City. The rebel Chu Qing has joined forces with Prince Han Rong Min of East Lin Kingdom, and they have sent another declaration of war. The Emperor requests Prince Ning to quickly go to the Imperial Study to discuss matters,” Eunuch Lu said, bowing.

Hearing this news, everyone in the hall exchanged glances, clearly no longer in the mood for laughter.

Indeed, the peaceful days had come to an end.

“I understand,” Chu Li calmly acknowledged.

Eunuch Lu nodded, “Then will Your Highness go to the palace now?”

Regarding Chu Li, Eunuch Lu didn’t dare to push too hard, fearing that he might inadvertently anger him. This was someone whom Emperor Ximing had personally invited back, setting aside his dignity. He dared not be presumptuous.

“Yes, I’ll go now,” Chu Li answered Eunuch Lu.

After speaking, Chu Li stood up and looked at Mu Yunjin sitting beside him, his tone gentle, “I’m going to the palace first. Don’t wander around in the manor.”

Mu Yunjin nodded.

After Chu Li left, no one spoke for a moment.

Finally, Daoist Fengxuan spoke first, “I heard that Rong Min of East Lin Kingdom has obtained the military tally. Now that he’s allied with Chu Qing, he’s probably already gained control of all the military power in East Lin Kingdom, and Emperor Rong Jiu has likely been rendered powerless.”

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips but didn’t speak.

Since Rong Jiu had given her the military tally, he naturally knew that the one in Rong Min’s possession was fake. By deliberately ‘surrendering’ the military power to Rong Min now, he was probably planning to deliver a fatal blow to Rong Min.

Although Rong Jiu appeared gentle, his schemes and machinations were not to be underestimated.

…

At noon, everyone had lunch at Prince Ning’s manor.

The atmosphere was still lively.

“Huang Yan, I heard you’ve been running around recently asking to borrow books. What’s that about?” At the dining table, Daoist Fengxuan remembered this and looked up at Huang Yan, who was sitting directly across from him.

Hearing this, Huang Yan’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly. He guiltily glanced at Huaying from the corner of his eye, then composed himself, “Nothing much, just wanting to learn.”

Hearing this, Daoist Fengxuan smiled without exposing himself.

Nearby, Huaying ate quietly, her brow slightly furrowed, her thoughts fixed on a certain point in the room.

Having learned about certain matters, Mu Yunjin’s spirits were also low. She just silently ate her food, occasionally joining in the conversation.

During the meal, the baby in her belly kicked her several times, each kick hitting her bones, causing her to break into a cold sweat, though she didn’t show any discomfort.

“Miss Huaying, why are you so quiet?” Qu Xinyao looked at Huaying and spoke with a smile.

Huaying was Xu Heyu’s lifesaver and the person who had rescued her from the abyss. Her gratitude toward Huaying was beyond words.

Whenever she thought of Huaying, Qu Xinyao felt that the heavens were truly cruel, giving Huaying a fate that made it impossible for her to unite with humans.

Huaying smiled at Qu Xinyao, “I…”

“Ah! Snakes, snakes, so many snakes!” Mama Shen suddenly screamed, running in from outside.

The sudden noise interrupted everyone in the dining hall, causing them all to look at Mama Shen.

“What’s happening?” Mu Yunjin stood up.

Mama Shen was frightened, pointing outside, “Many snakes have crawled into the front hall.”

Upon hearing this, Huaying was the first to rush out.

Indeed, as soon as one stepped out of the dining hall, countless small black snakes could be seen crawling on the floor of the front hall. They were all highly venomous five-step snakes.

Mu Yunjin walked out and narrowed her eyes at the crawling five-step snakes.

“What’s going on? How did so many snakes suddenly appear?” Qingmeng looked at the five-step snakes with a grim face, feeling her skin crawl.

Xu Heyu also protected Qu Xinyao behind him, his expression serious.

Seeing these snakes, Qiqi felt nauseated, “Let’s get rid of these horrible things first.”

Daoist Fengxuan glanced at them, then flew out, saying, “I’ll go outside to check the situation.”

Huang Yan wanted to go with Daoist Fengxuan to check the situation, but seeing Huaying rushing to the front, he sighed, “Hey, don’t think just because you’re a snake woman that you should rush to the front!”

Huaying glanced at Huang Yan, “I am the ancestor of these five-step snakes!”

As she spoke, her fingertips channeled black mist, sweeping toward the five-step snakes on the ground.

In no time, the five-step snakes were instantly destroyed.

“I wonder who released these snakes, deliberately trying to disgust us?” Huaying sneered.

After the five-step snakes were eliminated, when everyone turned back to look at the dining table, they were shocked and froze in place.

On the dining table, huge wolf spiders had crawled in from somewhere, now moving across the exquisite dishes. In a short moment, the entire table was covered with spider webs.

Not only that, but the corners of the nearby windows and other places were also covered with spider webs.

In such a short time, so many strange things had happened. Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but sigh that someone was going to great lengths to disturb them.

At this moment, the five-step snakes that had been eliminated on the ground suddenly turned into smoke, rising hazily into the air.

“Hold your breath!” Huaying called out.

This smoke was highly toxic.

Who could it be, still manipulating the bodies of the five-step snakes? Knowing they would unhesitatingly deal with these snakes, yet still hiding deadly poison inside them.

Everyone instinctively covered their noses and mouths.

As Huaying was about to find an antidote, her body was suddenly pulled. Looking down, she saw that several trained wolf spiders had wrapped spider silk around her waist, dragging her several steps toward the dining hall.

Nearby, Huang Yan was about to rush over to save Huaying when the entrance to the dining hall was instantly filled with spider webs, isolating the inside of the dining hall from the outside.

At this moment, Huaying, who knew how to neutralize poisons, was temporarily trapped inside the dining hall among the wolf spiders.

Meanwhile, the group outside, who didn’t know poison techniques, stood outside the dining hall holding their breath, facing a room full of poisonous smoke.

While holding their breath, someone tugged on Mu Yunjin’s sleeve, indicating they should escape to a safe place together.

Mu Yunjin hesitated, wanting to enter the dining hall to rescue Huaying first, but seeing the increasingly dense toxic fog inside, she frowned. Suddenly remembering something, she wanted to return to her room at Liquid Spring Pavilion to check, but she discovered that her feet had been entangled by spider silk…