Because of the incident at Water Cloud Temple that alarmed the Empress Dowager and the Empress, by noon, Chu Ye had sent a group of people to temporarily seal off the temple.

Empress Dowager Rui and Li Yingxuan had both been frightened and returned to the palace by carriage.

The other court ladies also returned to the city one by one.

Mu Yunjin watched the scene and sighed softly, unsure of what to say.

She thought that she would no longer participate in these group activities in the future…

“Princess Consort, shall we return to the city now?” Huang Yan spoke from beside her.

Mu Yunjin nodded slightly.

“You two go back first. Rong Min is still detained here, so I’ll stay behind to handle the aftermath,” Song Chun said, looking at Mu Yunjin and Huang Yan.

Qiqi also instructed the other spirit beasts to return first, while she would accompany Mu Yunjin back to the Prince of Ning’s mansion.

…

…

…

After returning to the Prince of Ning’s mansion, Mu Yunjin went directly to Liquan Pavilion.

In the courtyard of Liquan Pavilion, Chu Li was holding little Chu Mu, walking back and forth. Hearing footsteps outside, he turned to look.

“How was the prayer for blessings?” Chu Li asked her, his tone tinged with mockery.

From his expression, Mu Yunjin knew that Chu Li was aware of what had happened at Water Cloud Temple, so she replied gloomily, “Very well. Buddha said he would bless us properly.”

Chu Li chuckled lightly, “It seems I can’t let you go out anymore.”

“Even if you let me, I won’t go,” Mu Yunjin said, taking little Chu Mu. Seeing that he wasn’t sleeping, she lowered her head to play with him.

“By the way…” Mu Yunjin remembered something.

Chu Li looked at her.

“When I went to the secret room today, I found that the mechanism behind the Buddha statue was gone again,” Mu Yunjin said.

After a pause, she added, “Rong Min also came for this Buddha statue today. I’m afraid someone already knows about the secret behind it.”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s eyes flickered, “Black Robe, Autumn Leaf, and the others are all experienced individuals. It’s not surprising they know about the mechanism of the Buddha statue.”

“By sending Rong Min this time, they probably wanted to use him to achieve their goal. If successful, that would be good for them; if unsuccessful, sacrificing Rong Min means nothing to them,” Chu Li said.

Mu Yunjin pouted, “They even tried the tactic of diversion. If I hadn’t reacted in time, Rong Min might have succeeded.”

“Don’t think too much about it. You’ve been busy all morning—are you tired?” Chu Li looked at her with a smile.

Mu Yunjin nodded and blinked her eyes, “Yes, tired.”

“Let’s go eat first,” Chu Li said, handing little Chu Mu to Ding Xian, standing nearby.

Ding Xian took little Chu Mu and walked to the side.

Since Mu Yunjin had given premature birth to little Chu Mu, the couple never casually entrusted him to others for care, not even feeling comfortable with Mamma Shen watching him alone.

Most of the time, Mu Yunjin would not leave little Chu Mu’s side for a moment all day. Occasionally, when Chu Li was free, he would look after him.

With enemies still at large, there were constant hidden dangers that they had to guard against.

…

In the dining hall.

“Hey, little cat, why didn’t Huaying come with you?” As soon as they settled at the table, Huang Yan leaned close to Qiqi.

Qiqi was happily gnawing on a braised fish. Hearing Huang Yan’s question, she raised an eyebrow, “She’s not feeling well, so she didn’t come.”

“Not feeling well? What’s wrong with her?” Huang Yan asked anxiously.

“She has a bit of a headache and stomach ache, I think,” Qiqi answered.

Huang Yan frowned, “Doesn’t she know poison techniques? How can she still feel unwell?”

“She knows poison techniques, not medical techniques. Besides, can’t people who know medical techniques get sick?” Qiqi deliberately teased Huang Yan.

Huang Yan was immediately at a loss for words.

After a moment’s thought, he clenched his fist and tensed his face, “Forget it, I was just asking casually. Who cares if she’s feeling well or not?”

Qiqi pursed her lips, “Your mouth says one thing, but your heart says another.”

Mu Yunjin and Chu Li were eating their meal methodically, hearing the bickering between the two but pretending not to notice, continuing to eat on their own.

Just then, Master Huaiyuan hurriedly entered.

“Your Highness, Princess Consort…”

Master Huaiyuan was a rare visitor. Usually, unless the sky was falling, he never left Water Cloud Temple. Now they had just left, and he immediately came after them, causing Chu Li and Mu Yunjin’s hearts to sink.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Li looked at Master Huaiyuan.

Master Huaiyuan frowned, “It’s bad. When Rong Min and the others moved the Buddha statue, they must have triggered something. Now the mechanism behind the Buddha statue is hidden, and we can’t find a way to open it.”

“Mechanism?” Qiqi and Huang Yan were surprised.

When they were in the secret room, they looked around the Buddha statue and didn’t see any mechanism.

Mu Yunjin furrowed her brows, looking at Master Huaiyuan, “Master, what exactly is the purpose of the mechanism behind the Buddha statue?”

“This old monk does not know clearly. I only know that the mechanism can open something of crucial importance. I once asked Abbot Kong Shi about it, but he couldn’t explain it either.”

“So all these years, I have been carefully looking after this Buddha statue, but I never expected thieves would still covet it.”

Huang Yan understood some of it now, “So when Rong Min and the others suddenly targeted the Buddha statue, does it mean that the mechanism inside it would be disadvantageous to them?”

“That cannot be determined,” Master Huaiyuan sighed.

Hearing all this, Mu Yunjin unconsciously touched the Heavenly God Token hidden in her sleeve, becoming more curious about the mechanism behind the Buddha statue.

“Let’s not worry about this matter for now,” Chu Li said to Master Huaiyuan.

Master Huaiyuan sighed and nodded.

After a while, just as he was about to leave, he paused and looked at Chu Li, “This was found on Rong Min.”

Mu Yunjin looked and saw it was a crescent-shaped jade pendant.

Chu Li reached out to take the crescent jade pendant, examining it in his hand, slightly furrowing his brow, “It’s only half. It’s probably a token from someone.”

“When this old monk found this jade pendant, Rong Min’s expression was very strange. When asked about its origin, he was hesitant and unwilling to say much,” Master Huaiyuan said.

“This Rong Min is quite interesting. I wonder what little schemes he’s pondering day and night,” Mu Yunjin smiled lightly, not knowing what else to say.

Master Huaiyuan also smiled, “Then this old monk will take his leave.”

With that, Master Huaiyuan left.

After Master Huaiyuan left, Qiqi and Huang Yan both came over, staring at the crescent-shaped jade pendant.

“This looks like a woman’s item. Crescent-shaped, like some love token, with the other half probably in the other person’s possession,” Huang Yan said.

“Not necessarily. Perhaps this thing is a key that can open some mechanism,” Qiqi speculated.

Hearing them speak this way, Mu Yunjin also made a bold assumption, “Maybe this thing is bait, deliberately meant to make us investigate.”

As soon as she spoke, Chu Li, Qiqi, and Huang Yan all looked at Mu Yunjin with a ‘whoosh’.

“That makes sense. We shouldn’t fall for it easily,” Huang Yan said.

“I’ll keep it for now,” Chu Li put away the crescent-shaped jade pendant.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

…

For the next two days, Mu Yunjin ignored the outside world, staying in the mansion every day, not going out, and not caring about what was happening outside.

Calculating the time, there were six days left until the beginning of the seventh month.

On this day, Chu Qingyuan came to the mansion.

“Sixth Sister-in-law, Sixth Sister-in-law…”

As soon as she reached Liquan Pavilion, Chu Qingyuan called out to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin heard her voice and opened the door, “Little Nine, come in.”

Seeing Mu Yunjin, Chu Qingyuan ran into her room. As soon as she entered, she spoke with a bitter face, “Sixth Sister-in-law, please help me. I can’t take it anymore.”

“What’s wrong?” Mu Yunjin sat down by the small bed and turned to look at Chu Qingyuan.

Chu Qingyuan’s gaze fell on little Chu Mu. She reached out to touch his little hand, “I heard that Bei Qili from the Northern Ming Kingdom is going to marry the Tenth Princess of the Southern Ting Kingdom. Then Father Emperor found out and pressured my Royal Brother to arrange a marriage for me within five days.”

“Now, they’re planning to marry me off to that Prince Rong Jin of Eastern Ling Kingdom,” Chu Qingyuan said with a miserable face.

Mu Yunjin sighed helplessly, “You know, you and Bei Qili are of similar age. That boy doesn’t seem bad-hearted. If you married him, your future life might not be difficult.”

“The Eastern Ling Kingdom is currently suffering from severe internal strife, and since we’re not familiar with Prince Rong Jin’s temperament, marrying hastily might not be beneficial for you.”

Chu Qingyuan naturally understood all this, and her little face fell, “Sixth Sister-in-law, can you please put in a good word for Little Nine? Let me marry Brother Munan?”

Mu Yunjin was stunned.

“Let me clarify, I’m not fixated on Brother Munan. But if I must marry, I’d rather marry someone closer, and Brother Munan isn’t bad to me. If I marry him, I won’t suffer…” Chu Qingyuan spoke urgently.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, thinking about this matter, “Although Qin Munan has returned to the Qin residence, he’s still under punishment…”

“That’s why I’m asking for your help. If you could get Sixth Brother to speak with my Royal Brother, he would agree.”

“I don’t want to be married far away to Eastern Ling Kingdom…”

Chu Qingyuan spoke with increasing grievance.

“Does Qin Munan know about your wish to marry him? What if your Royal Brother agrees to help, but Qin Munan doesn’t consent?” Mu Yunjin asked.

Chu Qingyuan paused slightly, “As long as my Royal Brother issues an imperial decree, Brother Munan cannot refuse.”

“…” Mu Yunjin was nearly infuriated by this child.

“Little Nine, you’re too naive…” Qin Munan wasn’t afraid of death, so how would he fear defying an imperial decree?

Chu Qingyuan shrank her neck and spoke sheepishly, “Then what should I do…”

“Unless you and Qin Munan discuss this first and reach a consensus, if you act rashly, you’ll be the one who suffers in the end,” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Qingyuan.

“But how can I discuss such a thing with Brother Munan…” Chu Qingyuan’s face was full of difficulty.

After thinking for a while, her eyes suddenly brightened as she looked at Mu Yunjin, “Sixth Sister-in-law, accompany me to the Qin residence later and help me persuade Brother Munan.”

“I won’t go!” Mu Yunjin refused decisively.

This troublesome child was trying to set her up.

“Sixth Sister-in-law, for the sake of my lifelong happiness, please help me. Can you bear to see me married far away to the Eastern Ling Kingdom?” Chu Qingyuan clung to Mu Yunjin’s arm, looking at her pitifully.

Mu Yunjin freed herself from Chu Qingyuan and sat down to the side, “No means no. We can talk about anything else, but this is the one thing I won’t do.”