Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li and nodded slightly.
Back in her room, Mu Yunjin still felt depressed about the beast spirit matter from earlier. Some things, when recalled now, still felt like thorns piercing her heart.
The only consolation was that now the storm had passed, and everything would get better.
Before going to bed that night, Chu Li held Mu Yunjin, his lips tinged with a hint of a smile. “After you’ve fully recovered, this prince will take you traveling. Although many years have passed, some of the places we once visited are still preserved to this day.”
“When you mention that, the first place that comes to mind is the Celestial Mountain Manor in South Court Country,” Mu Yunjin nestled in Chu Li’s embrace, envisioning the ethereal Celestial Mountain Manor.
Come to think of it, if not for the hot spring at Celestial Mountain Manor last time, she might not have remembered Fuhuan’s past.
“Good, let’s go there first.” Chu Li chuckled softly, his fingers casually playing with a strand of Mu Yunjin’s hair.
Mu Yunjin curved her lips and nodded.
As they were talking, there was a gentle knock on the door, and a palace maid’s voice came from outside. “Princess, Your Highness, Madam Qing has instructed this servant to bring the young heir.”
…
…
Hearing that little Mu’er was being brought over, Chu Li got up and walked to the door.
After opening the door, Chu Li took little Mu’er and closed the door, walking back to the bedside.
Little Mu’er was sound asleep. Chu Li gently placed him in the middle of the bed, but little Mu’er made a few “yi ya” sounds, seemingly unwilling to sleep lying flat, insisting on being held.
“Getting more and more demanding.” Chu Li sighed helplessly, having no choice but to hold little Mu’er in his arms until he fell asleep.
“It’s because all of you like to hold him, spoiling him rotten,” Mu Yunjin’s eyes filled with mirth.
After speaking, she raised an eyebrow. “I used to see Prince Ning eagerly anticipating my giving birth to a daughter, thinking you might not care as much if it were a son. Now I see I was mistaken.”
“Silly, how could this prince not cherish our child?” The smile in Chu Li’s eyes deepened, then after a pause, he added, “But, this prince still hopes for a daughter.”
Mu Yunjin caught Chu Li’s meaning and immediately pretended to yawn, lying flat. “Mmm, I’m tired, want to sleep now.”
“Sleep then. The sooner you recover, the sooner we can put having a daughter on the agenda.” Chu Li’s tone was mild as he tucked the blanket around Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin’s body stiffened, and she lifted her eyelids slightly. “Your Highness, I still have a feeling that if I have another child, it will be a boy again.”
Someone’s face darkened. “Go to sleep!”
……
After staying in North Ming Country for another ten full days, Mu Yunjin, thanks to her good physical condition, could now move freely. Since in five days it would be Chu Qingyuan and Qin Munan’s wedding day, Mu Yunjin and Chu Li decided to set off for Western Yuan Country the next day.
On this day, Feng Cang, who had escorted Yun Lianqing to South Court Country, came to North Ming Country.
Jiang Qingxue, who had hastily recognized her father Feng Cang in Tiansheng Continent, was now talking nonstop with him.
Bei Tang Wenfeng, meeting his “father-in-law,” was particularly humble in his attitude.
“Is Prince Yun doing well now? He was so severely injured on that journey, I wonder if the ruler of South Court Country is displeased.” In the great hall, Jiang Qingxue looked at Feng Cang and spoke softly.
Feng Cang took a sip of tea. “That South Court Country ruler turned out to be a master alchemist. He gave Prince Yun several medicinal pills, and now Prince Yun can walk again. One can’t see anything wrong with him at all.”
“That’s good.” Jiang Qingxue curved her lips.
“Yi’er, while in South Court Country, your father heard some news and only then realized that you have suffered alone all these years.” After Feng Cang spoke, his gaze passed over Bei Tang Wenfeng, with some displeasure in his eyes.
For a woman who was once a country’s holy maiden to secretly become pregnant and give birth, enduring the ridicule of the world—how much suffering that must have been.
His precious daughter, whom he had cherished to the bone since childhood, why had she lived such a difficult life?
Even now, she had no proper status.
Bei Tang Wenfeng, feeling Feng Cang’s gaze, sank inside. He quickly stood up, disregarding his status as the country’s ruler, and knelt directly before Feng Cang.
“Elder, for all these years, I have wronged Qingxue. It was my moment of confusion that caused her to suffer such great injustice! Please, Elder, give me a chance to make amends to Qingxue.” Bei Tang Wenfeng’s face was solemn.
As he knelt, the palace maids and eunuchs standing nearby all knelt as well.
When Mu Yunjin stepped into the great hall, she saw a roomful of people kneeling. Looking up, Feng Cang and Jiang Qingxue were sitting to the side, while Bei Tang Wenfeng was kneeling before Feng Cang, saying something.
Feng Cang looked unhappy, and Jiang Qingxue was frowning, appearing troubled. Catching sight of Mu Yunjin from the corner of her eye, she gave Mu Yunjin a look.
Mu Yunjin was stunned for a moment, but seeing the situation, she could guess what was happening.
So she took a deep breath and put on a bright smile. “Grandfather, you’re here!”
Hearing this particularly warm greeting, Feng Cang looked to the side. Seeing that Mu Yunjin had arrived, his tense expression softened somewhat. “It’s Yunjin. How are your injuries?”
“They’re mostly healed,” Mu Yunjin smiled.
“Good to hear.” Feng Cang nodded, glancing at the still-kneeling Bei Tang Wenfeng, and grumbled, “Get up now. People will think I’m bullying you.”
Bei Tang Wenfeng lowered his eyes and silently sighed in his heart. This “father-in-law” seemed difficult to deal with.
“Father, have you angered Grandfather?” Mu Yunjin, who disliked calling Bei Tang Wenfeng “Father Emperor,” had hesitated for a long time before finally addressing him as “Father.”
Bei Tang Wenfeng looked at Mu Yunjin and nodded.
“Speaking of which, I can understand why Grandfather is angry.” Mu Yunjin crossed her legs, changing to a more comfortable sitting position.
Hearing this, Feng Cang gave Mu Yunjin an approving look.
Indeed, she was his granddaughter, thinking just like him.
Although he had missed his daughter’s and granddaughter’s growth, now that they were found, and since Qingxue called him father, he needed to take up his responsibilities as a father.
“Yunjin, don’t make trouble,” Jiang Qingxue said softly to Mu Yunjin.
After all, Bei Tang Wenfeng was the ruler of North Ming Country. If word got out that he was kneeling like this, who knows what the people of North Ming would think of her.
“Mother, I’m not making trouble,” Mu Yunjin said.
Then, with bright eyes, not looking at anyone in particular, she sighed, as if not addressing anyone specifically. “Matters of the heart are hard to judge, and it’s difficult to say who’s right or wrong. Since what’s happened has happened, if amends can be made promptly, it’s never too late.”
“Yes, Yunjin is right!” Bei Tang Wenfeng’s eyes brightened, and he motioned to Su Xin beside him.
Su Xin immediately understood and hurried out.
Feng Cang only wanted to give Bei Tang Wenfeng a lesson; he didn’t intend to do anything to him. After hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, he remained silent, waiting for Bei Tang Wenfeng’s next move.
Su Xin quickly returned, carrying a scroll in his hand.
“Your Majesty, here,” Su Xin bent down and handed the scroll to Bei Tang Wenfeng.
Bei Tang Wenfeng took the scroll, opened it, reviewed its contents, and then handed it to Feng Cang.
Feng Cang looked at Bei Tang Wenfeng suspiciously. “What is this?”
“An abdication decree,” Bei Tang Wenfeng uttered.
Feng Cang was stunned and slowly reached out to take the scroll, looking at its contents.
“I’ve been planning to abdicate recently, preparing to pass the throne to the Second Prince, and then take Qingxue traveling, to make up for past mistakes.”
“In this world, apart from Qingxue, there’s nothing else worth my attachment. What’s being a country’s ruler? If I can’t be with the woman I love, I’d rather be an ordinary person.”
Bei Tang Wenfeng’s words slightly shocked Feng Cang. He couldn’t help but look at the abdication decree again, his gaze finally fixing on the stamped name.
“With these words of yours, I am reassured.” Feng Cang sighed deeply and nodded slightly.
Seeing Feng Cang relent, Mu Yunjin looked up at Jiang Qingxue and Bei Tang Wenfeng. The family of three exchanged smiles.
“By the way…” Feng Cang remembered something and frowned.
“Although your mother and I no longer interact, she is still your mother. Find time to pay her a visit.” Feng Cang spoke, his expression not pleasant when mentioning Murong Rusu.
Jiang Qingxue also put away her smile. “Daughter understands. In a few days, I will go to Pingfeng Cliff.”
“Yes, that’s good.”
……
After leaving the great hall, Mu Yunjin walked alone on the path to the Princess Imperial’s palace. Passing through the imperial garden, she glimpsed a familiar figure.
Mu Yunjin paused, looking at the back of someone sitting with knees drawn up on the steps. It seemed to be Hua Ying.
What’s wrong with her? She looked somewhat dejected.
Thinking this, Mu Yunjin walked over to Hua Ying. “Hua Ying.”
Hearing Mu Yunjin’s voice, Hua Ying’s back tensed slightly. Then she wiped her face, turned around, and smiled at Mu Yunjin. “Master, it’s you.”
Mu Yunjin looked at Hua Ying, noticing her red-rimmed eyes and the tear stains still on her face. She pressed her lips together. “What’s wrong? Have you encountered something troubling?”
“It’s nothing. Just now, a gust of wind blew sand into my eyes,” Hua Ying said.
“Don’t deceive me. I’ve been standing here for a while and didn’t see any wind.” Mu Yunjin sat down beside Hua Ying, placing her hand on Hua Ying’s shoulder.
Hearing this, Hua Ying’s eyes immediately reddened again. “Master, the Jade Moon Spring water doesn’t work for me. I can’t remove my beast spirit form. I can’t become an ordinary person.”
“How can this be!” Mu Yunjin’s body trembled, her eyes cooling slightly, flashing with surprise.
“I don’t know either. Qiqi and Lei Yan drank the spring water and have already transformed into human form, but no matter how much spring water I drink, my body shows no change at all.” As Hua Ying finished speaking, large tears fell from her eyes.
This was the first time Mu Yunjin had seen Hua Ying show such sorrow. She took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of Hua Ying’s eyes. “Don’t worry, let’s think of another way…”