Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, his voice laden with deeper meaning. “The day for activating the Celestial Token is not far off.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s footsteps faltered slightly. She pressed her lips together and nodded gently.

When the first day of the seventh lunar month arrived, everything would either be reborn or come to a permanent end…

…

Several days later, it was Chu Li’s birthday and little Chu Mu’s full month celebration.

On this day, Prince Ning’s mansion was especially lively.

Early in the morning, several familiar faces arrived at the mansion: State Preceptor An, Yun Lianqing, and Yun Shuangleng.

Shortly after their arrival, another rare guest entered.

It was Bei Tang Wenfeng.

…

…

With these people’s arrival, the front hall of the mansion was suddenly filled with laughter and cheerful voices.

“This kid is so disrespectful. At the very least, this Crown Prince is his uncle, yet he spat all over my face.” Yun Lianqing passed little Chu Mu to Bei Tang Wenfeng with a look of disgust.

Bei Tang Wenfeng had made a point to arrive at Prince Ning’s mansion today.

For one, his grandson had been born more than two months premature, and he had been very concerned. Secondly, he truly had some urgent matters to discuss, so he decided to come today.

“Oh my, our little Mu Mu is so well-behaved. How could he be as Uncle Yun describes? Isn’t that right…” Bei Tang Wenfeng played with little Chu Mu.

Little Chu Mu smiled broadly.

Mu Yunjin and Chu Li were currently in the room at Liquan Pavilion.

“This time, you haven’t prepared a bunch of carrots for this Prince again, have you?” Chu Li lowered his gaze to look at Mu Yunjin, who was helping him change his clothes, his eyes filled with amusement.

“Of course not,” Mu Yunjin laughed lightly.

After helping Chu Li change his outer garments, Mu Yunjin walked to a cabinet nearby and took something out. Even before she approached, Chu Li could smell a faint fragrance.

After walking closer, Mu Yunjin lowered her head and attached what she was holding to Chu Li’s belt.

“They say a woman should embroider a sachet for the man she admires. I happened to learn needlework recently, so I made one for you,” Mu Yunjin curved her lips.

Chu Li looked at the sachet hanging from his waist and said jokingly, “Are you sure this won’t damage this Prince’s image?”

“Do you want it or not?” Mu Yunjin pouted, glaring at Chu Li.

“Since it’s from you, of course I want it.” Chu Li reached out and pinched Mu Yunjin’s face.

Finally, Chu Li added, “This is so much better than last year’s carrot feast…”

“…” Mu Yunjin’s mouth twitched.

The two left Liquan Pavilion, and as soon as they entered the front hall, they heard Yun Lianqing’s exaggerated cry—

“Oh my goodness, am I seeing things correctly? Is Prince Ning wearing a sachet?”

With these words, everyone’s attention fell on the sachet at Chu Li’s waist.

At a glance, everyone understood whose handiwork the sachet was.

“Are you jealous?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, teasing Yun Lianqing.

Encountering Mu Yunjin’s gaze, Yun Lianqing smiled sheepishly and nodded. “I am jealous. Why don’t you embroider one for me too, Imperial Sister-in-law?”

Mu Yunjin ignored him.

“Yun Jin, are you well?” Bei Tang Wenfeng approached and looked Mu Yunjin up and down.

Mu Yunjin nodded. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Hearing this, Bei Tang Wenfeng felt relieved.

He had heard that when Mu Yunjin went into premature labor, it coincided with the bandits’ attack, making the delivery extremely dangerous. Being able to safely give birth to the child was already a great blessing.

While everyone was chatting, Mu Yunjin called State Preceptor An outside.

Coming to the back courtyard, Mu Yunjin crossed her arms and looked at State Preceptor An. “Do you know about the mechanism behind the Buddha statue in the secret chamber at Water Cloud Temple?”

“Yes, I do know,” State Preceptor An answered frankly.

Mu Yunjin’s eyes brightened. “Then do you know what kind of mechanism it is?”

“Why are you asking about this?” State Preceptor An inquired.

“I just happened to see it and was curious,” Mu Yunjin picked at her fingernails, speaking casually.

State Preceptor An raised an eyebrow. “Your curiosity must be quite strong to ask about it all the way here.”

“After all that talk, do you know or not?” Mu Yunjin felt like she was being strung along.

“This mechanism, it’s quite remarkable…” State Preceptor An dragged out his words.

Mu Yunjin looked at him, listening intently.

“It’s related to the Celestial Token,” State Preceptor An said.

After a pause, he continued, “But beyond that, I don’t know.”

Mu Yunjin felt like she had black lines all over her head. This was no different from not knowing.

“I went there a few days ago and compared the Celestial Token with that mechanism. They match perfectly. But I didn’t dare to do anything rash without knowing what the mechanism is,” Mu Yunjin mentioned.

“What’s behind this mechanism, you’ll find out eventually. For now, just enjoy each day as it comes. Perhaps by the first day of the seventh month, you’ll be six feet under,” State Preceptor An raised his eyebrow, teasing Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin’s mouth twitched. “Can’t you wish me well for once?”

“Don’t worry, you have a tough life. Perhaps you’ll end up transmigrating to some unknown dynasty again,” State Preceptor An’s smile widened.

“I’m not going to bother with you,” Mu Yunjin stomped her foot in anger and walked back inside.

When she returned to the front hall, everyone was sitting and chatting, while Bei Tang Wenfeng was holding his little grandson, unwilling to let go.

After Mu Yunjin entered and sat down, Ding Xian, who was standing next to Chu Li, suddenly frowned. “There’s a situation outside the mansion.”

With those words, he flew out of the front hall.

Hearing this, everyone’s hearts inexplicably sank.

“No way, with so many of us here today, is there someone brave enough to cause trouble?” Taoist Fengxuan’s mind instinctively flashed to the faces of those people in black robes.

Huang Yan also frowned. “Kill one if one comes, kill a pair if a pair comes.”

Mu Yunjin’s heart was in her throat. She walked to Bei Tang Wenfeng’s side and took little Chu Mu back into her arms, only then feeling slightly reassured.

Soon, Ding Xian ran back in from outside.

Upon entering, his first glance was toward Chu Li. “Your Highness…”

“Who is outside?” Chu Li asked in a deep voice.

“It’s… It’s Consort Rong,” Ding Xian answered.

Hearing the words “Consort Rong,” various expressions appeared on everyone’s faces, but no one spoke.

“Let her in,” Mu Yunjin said.

Ding Xian nodded and went out.

Shortly after, Consort Rong stepped into the front hall of the Prince’s mansion. Her appearance was elegant and graceful, with only a light layer of makeup. She seemed to have softened her edges considerably, becoming much more gentle.

Upon entering, Consort Rong noticed so many people present and felt somewhat embarrassed. When she met Chu Li’s gaze, Consort Rong awkwardly tugged at the corner of her mouth.

“Li’er, I thought your birthday was approaching, so I came to the neighborhood to check. I didn’t expect to be discovered outside the mansion,” Consort Rong spoke with little confidence.

Looking at Consort Rong before her, Mu Yunjin, sitting nearby, was also deeply moved.

A person who had been so proud and stubborn in the past was now willing to lower herself to the humblest position…

After speaking, Consort Rong’s gaze swept toward little Chu Mu in Mu Yunjin’s arms. She stood in place, looking around a few times, unable to see the child’s face.

After a while, Consort Rong perhaps felt that standing there was too awkward. She lowered her eyes, smiled embarrassedly, and said, “Then I won’t disturb you. Knowing that you’re all well, I can rest easy.”

With those words, she prepared to turn and leave.

“Since you’re here, stay for a meal,” Mu Yunjin smiled gently, looking at Consort Rong.

After all, she was Chu Li’s mother. They couldn’t be too harsh, especially now that she showed signs of remorse.

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Consort Rong’s footsteps faltered, her eyes revealing a hint of joy. Then she looked at Chu Li, her eyes showing some hesitation.

“Stay,” Chu Li said calmly, his eyes concealing certain emotions.

Hearing both Chu Li and Mu Yunjin speak this way, Consort Rong couldn’t suppress the smile on her face and nodded repeatedly. “Good, good, good.”

“May I see this child?” Consort Rong stood in place, pointing at little Chu Mu in Mu Yunjin’s arms.

Mu Yunjin stood up and carried the child toward Consort Rong.

As she approached, Consort Rong looked down, and a smile immediately spread across her face. “He looks exactly like Li’er when he was little.”

“Have you named him?” Consort Rong asked.

“The birth was so sudden that we couldn’t think of a better name, so we just called him Chu Mu,” Mu Yunjin answered.

Hearing this, Consort Rong murmured the name Chu Mu, “Chu Mu is good, Chu Mu is good, it has both of you…”

“Would you like to hold him?” Mu Yunjin offered little Chu Mu to Consort Rong.

Consort Rong looked at little Chu Mu, her hand extending halfway before drawing back. “No, it’s fine. Just looking is enough. I won’t hold him.”

Mu Yunjin tugged at the corner of her mouth but didn’t say anything more.

…

During lunch, the atmosphere was especially pleasant.

It was rare for so many people to gather together today, and Taoist Fengxuan urged everyone to drink.

“Today is Chu Li’s birthday, let Chu Li toast first,” Taoist Fengxuan said.

Hearing this, Mamma Shen filled Chu Li’s wine cup.

Chu Li picked up the wine cup, turned to look at Mu Yunjin, his eyes hiding deep affection. “The first cup, to the person this Prince loves most.”

Mu Yunjin inexplicably blushed, holding back a smile as she raised her wine cup and clinked it with Chu Li’s. “Happy birthday.”

Chu Li smiled lightly, and everyone else joined in the laughter.

After drinking the first cup, Mamma Shen poured a second cup for Chu Li.

For the second cup, Chu Li looked at Consort Rong and slowly said, “Mother, all these years, you’ve had it hard.”

Consort Rong had not expected that Chu Li would toast her with the second cup. In recent times, she had come to realize that over the years, her obsessions had caused her son to suffer.

She thought Chu Li would no longer recognize her as his mother, but unexpectedly…

Consort Rong immediately couldn’t hold back her tears. She picked up her wine cup and said, “It’s Mother who has wronged you. From now on, you and Mu’er should live well together. Mother will no longer interfere.”

The corner of Chu Li’s lips revealed an extremely faint curve as he drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

The third cup, Chu Li toasted to Jiang Qingxue and Bei Tang Wenfeng.

“Oh my, this fine birthday feast is making me want to cry,” Taoist Fengxuan, perhaps having drunk too much, became emotional.

“For so many years, I’ve wandered alone. Although I’m one of the three great masters in the world, famous everywhere, my life has been no different from a beggar’s.”

“When I first saw this troublesome girl, I felt a connection with her, which is why I insisted on taking her as my disciple. But I wasn’t good to her, even often scolding her. Yet this troublesome girl, how big-hearted she is, buying me new clothes and new shoes.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve been quite a shameful master.”

After saying this, Taoist Fengxuan wiped the tears from his eyes. “In my life, without son or daughter, it’s this troublesome girl who has let me experience a bit of family affection…”