Though Chu Li heard these words, his expression didn’t relax at all. He clenched his fist and frowned even more.

He hadn’t expected such a thing to happen last night…

Nanny Shen knew that Chu Li and Mu Yunjin had quarreled yesterday. Seeing Chu Li’s somber face now, she wasn’t afraid and simply sighed.

“Fortunately, our young master is alright. Otherwise, the Princess would have been worried to death. Last night she held the young master and comforted him all night without closing her eyes.” After speaking, Nanny Shen raised her eyelids and glanced at Chu Li, wanting to see his reaction.

“Where is she?” Chu Li asked, his expression unpleasant.

Nanny Shen pointed to the room diagonally opposite. “I think she went there.”

Hearing this, Chu Li immediately turned and walked out.

“Umm…” Little Mu’er, seeing Chu Li come and then leave, pouted and was about to cry pitifully again.

He was sick, yet his father didn’t even hold him…

…

…

…

Mu Yunjin was now leaning against the wall of the hot spring pool, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

She had originally intended just a simple bath; after all, little Mu’er was still sick, and she had no leisure to soak here. But after staying in the hot spring pool for a while, she found she couldn’t stand up…

Earlier, when she was in Tiansheng Continent, she had fallen vertically from a rooftop, breaking several bones in her back. Additionally, while fighting with Cold Yuan for the Divine Command Token, she had been stabbed once by Cold Yuan, suffering many external and internal injuries. Although she had rested for several days, these wounds couldn’t fully heal in such a short time.

Last night, she had sat holding little Mu’er all night, unknowingly putting pressure on her back bones. Now her entire back felt numb, and she couldn’t muster any strength in her body.

Mu Yunjin wanted to call someone to help her, but Chu Li’s bedroom was empty. She figured that even if she shouted until her voice was hoarse, no one would hear her.

“Ah, such suffering,” Mu Yunjin sighed.

Just as she spoke, the outer door was heard being flung open with a “bang,” followed by footsteps hurriedly approaching in her direction.

Then with another “bang,” the small door to the hot spring pool was opened. Chu Li’s figure hastily entered. Seeing Mu Yunjin leaning against the pool wall, he paused, then slowly approached and crouched down beside her.

“Huan’er…” Chu Li called Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin kept her face sullen, ignoring him.

Seeing that she was angry with him, Chu Li placed his hands on her shoulders. “It was my fault. Don’t be angry anymore, alright?”

At this moment, though Mu Yunjin appeared to be staring blankly, her attention was fully on Chu Li. Seeing him offer no explanation and directly take all the blame, she couldn’t maintain her composure. The slight anger remaining in her heart instantly dissipated.

Come to think of it, in this world, perhaps only Chu Li could easily subdue her.

“Tell me, where did you go last night, not returning the whole night?” Mu Yunjin turned to meet Chu Li’s gaze.

Other matters were easy to explain away, but being away the entire night was something she would thoroughly investigate…

“I went to Water Cloud Temple,” Chu Li replied.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, wanting to continue finding fault with Chu Li, but now wasn’t the time for verbal sparring. There were more urgent matters at hand.

So, Mu Yunjin changed the subject. “Fine then, I’ll forgive you for now.”

“My legs are numb. Carry me out,” Mu Yunjin extended her arms.

Chu Li was surprised at how easily she was placated today. He bent down and lifted Mu Yunjin out of the hot spring pool.

After standing firmly on the ground, Mu Yunjin tried to move her waist slightly. Even with the slightest movement, the pain shooting through her back bones made her involuntarily inhale sharply.

Chu Li, as usual, took a dry towel and helped Mu Yunjin dry off, then skillfully helped her change into light clothing.

After leaving the hot spring pool room, Chu Li noticed that Mu Yunjin’s walking posture was somewhat strange, and he frowned.

Before he could speak, Mu Yunjin, supporting her waist, sighed deeply. “I held little Mu’er all night yesterday, and now I’m so tired I can’t straighten my back. I must get a good sleep later.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin deliberately yawned.

If Chu Li knew that her waist injury had been aggravated, he would probably force her to lie in bed for a hundred days this time. She couldn’t endure that.

“Don’t wait until later, sleep now,” Chu Li said, seeing she could barely walk. He directly lifted her by the waist, placed her on the nearby bed, and tucked her in properly.

This series of actions happened so quickly that after lying on the bed, Mu Yunjin stared at the ceiling for a good while.

“Be good, you rest first. I’ll take care of our son,” Chu Li bent down to gently peck Mu Yunjin’s lips, touched her forehead, and spoke in a gentle tone.

Mu Yunjin nodded slightly.

…

After Mu Yunjin fell asleep, Chu Li stayed in the room for a while before going out.

In the room diagonally opposite, Imperial Physician Yang stood at the door. Without Chu Li’s instructions, he dared not leave yet.

Now seeing Chu Li finally emerge from the room across, he hurriedly approached and called out, “Your Highness.”

“What problem occurred with the young master’s body?” Chu Li glanced at Imperial Physician Yang, frowning.

“In reply to Your Highness, the young master suffered from intestinal inflammation and abdominal pain due to improper diet,” Imperial Physician Yang answered honestly.

Chu Li’s thin lips pressed together. Upon hearing this, he narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on Nanny Shen in the inner room. “Nanny Shen, who has been responsible for the young master’s diet these past two days?”

“The young master has always been personally fed by the Princess. Because the Princess has been unwell these past few days, the wet nurse Xiuniang, who came from the palace, has been helping with feeding,” Nanny Shen answered honestly.

Chu Li frowned. “Summon Xiuniang!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Nanny Shen immediately agreed, beckoning to Ruyue nearby, gesturing for her to quickly find the person.

…

One cup of tea later.

“Your Highness, spare my life! This servant knows her mistake and will never dare again!”

“Spare my life! This servant knows her mistake!”

A woman’s miserable cries echoed in the front hall of the Prince’s mansion. A middle-aged woman knelt on the ground while paddle blows continuously fell on her back.

One by one, the blows landed until blood seeped through the clothing on her back.

Chu Li sat in the main seat, coldly watching the scene before him, showing no intention of calling for a stop, allowing the middle-aged woman to wail as she was beaten.

Nanny Shen stood beside Chu Li, glaring at the middle-aged woman being beaten, so angry her teeth itched. She wished she could rush forward and strike the woman herself.

“You worthless wretch who doesn’t fear death, you still have the face to beg for mercy! If you had no milk, you should have said so directly! How dare you secretly use goat’s milk to deceive and feed the young master!”

“You money-blinded demon, cutting you into pieces and feeding you to dogs would be too lenient!” Nanny Shen grew increasingly angry and directly launched into a tirade against the middle-aged woman.

This Xiuniang had only been chosen to feed the young master because she had previously nursed many princes and princesses in the palace.

Unexpectedly, this wretch had been so bold as to do such a thing. Fortunately, the young master wasn’t seriously harmed, otherwise, the consequences would have been endless!

“Nanny Shen, I know my mistake and will never dare again. Please plead for mercy on my behalf!” The woman called Xiuniang begged Nanny Shen for help.

This Prince Ning was too skilled at torture. Initially, the paddles struck heavily, breaking her skin and flesh. Then suddenly, the force of the paddles lightened, but although lighter, each blow landed precisely on her wounds. Several times she nearly fainted, but with each paddle strike, she regained consciousness.

This repeated torment afflicted both her body and mind.

“Ptui!” Nanny Shen spat when she saw Xiuniang begging her for mercy.

Those wielding the paddles were Ding Xian and Song Chun. Upon learning what Xiuniang had done, they shared Nanny Shen’s sentiment, wishing they could beat Xiuniang to death on the spot.

But Chu Li had not spoken for a long time.

Chu Li sat in his chair, picked up the teacup beside him, and took a sip. Though pleas for mercy continued to sound in his ears, he acted as if he hadn’t heard them.

After another moment, Chu Li raised his hand, signaling Ding Xian and Song Chun to stop.

Seeing the beating stop, Xiuniang immediately looked hopeful, excitedly looking at Chu Li. “Prince Ning, this servant truly knows her mistake. Please spare this servant. This servant truly won’t dare again…”

After speaking, Xiuniang bent down and kowtowed to Chu Li several times.

Chu Li’s eyes were cold as he spoke softly, seemingly to no one in particular. “Does anyone know what the first rule of this Prince’s mansion is?”

“In the entire Prince’s mansion, the Princess reigns supreme!” Ding Xian, Song Chun, and Nanny Shen chorused in unison.

Chu Li raised his eyes and nodded with satisfaction. “Correct.”

Kneeling on the ground, Xiuniang trembled even more. It was her fault for being so greedy. Seeing the high compensation offered by Prince Ning’s mansion, she had eagerly accepted the job.

Now it was all for nothing—not only had she failed to earn money, but she might even lose her life.

She had secretly given goat’s milk to some unfavored princes or princesses before, but those children had been fine after drinking it, all perfectly well. Who would have thought that Prince Ning’s young master would be so delicate…

Such bad luck!

“In this mansion, you may offend this Prince, but you absolutely cannot offend the one this Prince holds dear,” Chu Li said, the corner of his lips rising slightly, revealing a faint curve.

This smile, in others’ eyes, had a bloodthirsty quality to it.

“This Prince has never been a merciful person. Since you dared to scheme against this Prince, you should have been prepared to bear the consequences.” Chu Li’s voice was low and pleasant, as if describing a trivial matter.

At this moment, a guard in purple armor ran in from outside and addressed Chu Li. “Reporting to Your Highness, Su Lixiu’s family of six, as well as her entire clan of eighty-six people, have all been apprehended.”

Chu Li nodded slightly, instantly wiping the smile from his face. His gaze swept over Xiuniang, his eyes narrowing dangerously as a trace of killing intent suddenly permeated the air.

His thin lips parted, enunciating each word with precision—

“Harm this Prince’s child, this Prince will exterminate your entire clan!”

With these words, he rose and walked leisurely toward the back garden.

“No! Prince Ning, Your Highness…” Xiuniang’s face turned deathly pale. Only now did she fully realize how serious her actions were in Chu Li’s eyes.

She had merely secretly fed Chu Li’s son goat’s milk, yet he was so ruthless as to exterminate her entire clan…

Xiuniang couldn’t bear it and collapsed limply to the ground, fainting.

Ding Xian gave her a listless kick, shrugged, and sighed. “Well, that’s that. Once this matter spreads, when the Princess goes out shopping in the future, everyone will avoid her again…”