“Immortal Mountain Villa? Why so sudden? Didn’t we say we’d go together once Yun Lianqing recovered?” Sitting in the carriage, Mu Yunjin felt somewhat confused. How could they just leave like this?

Chu Li turned to look at Mu Yunjin, taking her hand, his lips curving into a smile. “I suddenly wanted to go earlier.”

“Alright.” Hearing this answer, Mu Yunjin couldn’t say much more. After all, she had always wanted to visit Immortal Mountain Villa again.

After sitting in the carriage for a while, Mu Yunjin lifted the curtain to look outside. “It takes about two days to reach South Court Country by carriage. Why not have the Ink Qilin take us directly?”

“Isn’t it nice to enjoy the scenery with This Prince?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow.

“Of course it is.” Mu Yunjin curled her lips upward. “It’s just that we’ve never done this before, so it feels rather novel.”

Chu Li made a sound of acknowledgment and said calmly, “However, we need to go to East Approaching Country first to return that hot potato of a military token.”

Mu Yunjin was startled for a moment, instinctively reaching into her garments to check if she had the military token on her. Before she could find it, Chu Li had already spoken, “This Prince has already brought it.”

“You’re so thorough in your preparations…” Mu Yunjin muttered softly.

…

…

When she looked up at Chu Li again, he seemed not to have heard, his head lowered as he gazed at little Mu’er.

Mu Yunjin’s gaze shifted between the father and son before her, and she couldn’t help but smile, a sweetness seeping into her heart.

Time passes so quickly…

…

After sitting in the carriage for about an hour, they seemed to pass through a main street outside, bustling with noise and occasional shouts.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the Governor’s Mansion in River Moon City.” Ding Xian’s voice came from outside the carriage.

River Moon City?

Mu Yunjin looked outside and, seeing the familiar main street, her eyes brightened.

As the two alighted from the carriage, Ding Xian had already gone forward to knock on the gate of the Governor’s Mansion. After a while, the gate slowly opened, and an elderly man emerged.

“So it’s Prince Ning and Princess Consort gracing us with your presence. Please, come in.” The elderly man recognized Chu Li and Mu Yunjin and immediately bowed, inviting them in.

“Is your Governor in the mansion?” Chu Li asked.

The elderly man nodded. “The Governor is accompanying his wife in the back garden for a stroll. Would Your Highness and Princess Consort please wait in the front hall for a moment? This humble one will go find the Governor.”

“No need. Go about your business. This Prince will find them.” Chu Li said.

Hearing this, the elderly man bowed slightly and withdrew.

Chu Li carried little Mu’er with one hand and held Mu Yunjin’s hand with the other as they walked toward the back garden.

When the two arrived at the back garden, Xu Heyu was accompanying Qu Xinyao in a pavilion, playing chess. Qu Xinyao was about five months pregnant, her figure slightly plump, but her overall condition was excellent, gentle and lovely.

“Silly, why do you keep deliberately letting me win? It’s no fun this way!” As the game finished, Qu Xinyao was somewhat unhappy, throwing down the chess piece in her hand with a pout.

“Xin Xin, when you win, you say I’m letting you; when you lose, you say I’m not being considerate. Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for your husband?” Xu Heyu smiled, looking up at Qu Xinyao across from him.

Qu Xinyao snorted lightly. “I don’t care. What I say goes!”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say.” Xu Heyu went along with her words. From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Chu Li and Mu Yunjin walking toward the pavilion.

“Xin Xin, distinguished guests have arrived.” Xu Heyu said.

Qu Xinyao was startled for a moment, then followed Xu Heyu’s gaze. Turning around, she saw Chu Li and Mu Yunjin approaching.

Seeing this, Qu Xinyao’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she spoke with deep meaning, “Oh my, what rare guests! I thought you two noble personages had forgotten about us, little couple.”

“Sister Xinyao, what are you saying? We might forget others, but we wouldn’t dare forget you.” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows as she entered the pavilion.

Qu Xinyao curved her lips upward and looked at Mu Yunjin, chiding gently, “Sit down quickly. Look at you, it’s only been two or three months, but you’ve lost so much weight. I don’t know how His Highness is taking care of you.”

Mu Yunjin laughed softly, sitting down in the empty seat beside Qu Xinyao. She looked at Qu Xinyao’s visibly pregnant belly. “About five months now, right?”

“Mm.” At the mention of this, Qu Xinyao nodded with a smile.

“Eh? Is this your little Mu’er?” Glimpsing the child in Chu Li’s arms, Qu Xinyao stood up and walked curiously toward Chu Li, lowering her head to look at little Mu’er.

“It’s only been a few months since I last saw him, but he’s grown so much since he was born.” Qu Xinyao smiled, touching little Mu’er’s cheek.

Little Mu’er happened to be awake and returned a sweet smile to Qu Xinyao.

“Your Highness, how have you been recently?” Xu Heyu looked at Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded. “This Prince plans to take Yunjin to South Court Country. Passing through River Moon City, we thought to come see you both.”

“I had wanted to visit your residence when you returned from Great Saint Continent, but Xin Xin had signs of threatened miscarriage recently, so I dared not go anywhere.” Xu Heyu explained to Chu Li.

“It’s alright. Taking care of your health is the priority.” Chu Li spoke slowly.

These people around him, though nominally his subordinates, had been together for so long that he no longer viewed them as such.

Now that they had each found their happiness, he was glad for them.

…

Chu Li and Mu Yunjin did not linger long in River Moon City. After a simple lunch with Xu Heyu and Qu Xinyao, they set off again.

Afternoon, the carriage’s pace quickened considerably. Mu Yunjin, sitting inside, gradually felt drowsy and leaned against the carriage wall to take a nap.

The journey to East Approaching Country took them exactly two days of stopping and starting before they reached the imperial city.

Upon arriving at the imperial city, Chu Li handed the military token of East Approaching Country to Mu Yunjin. “You go see Rong Jiu.”

“By myself?” Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised, having thought Chu Li would accompany her.

“Mm, you’ll be fine. This Prince will wait for you at the teahouse.” Chu Li’s thin lips parted slightly as he reached out to pat Mu Yunjin’s head.

Mu Yunjin pouted, nodded, and alighted from the carriage.

The carriage was currently stopped at the gate of the East Approaching Country’s imperial palace. After Mu Yunjin got down, Ding Xian drove the carriage away.

Mu Yunjin walked toward the palace gate. As she approached, guards on duty came forward. “The palace gate is restricted. Who goes there?”

“Please announce that I wish to see your ruler.” Mu Yunjin spoke while showing the military token.

The guard, upon seeing the token, paused momentarily, then quickly bowed to Mu Yunjin. “Miss, please wait a moment.”

With that, he hurried inside the palace gate.

After a while, the guard ran back out, accompanied by Hong Ling. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin standing at the palace gate, Hong Ling was somewhat surprised. “Princess Consort Ning, it is you!”

In Hong Ling’s impression, Mu Yunjin would never come to see the ruler without an extremely important matter. When she first heard the guard’s report that a woman holding the military token wished to see the ruler, she had thought the token had fallen into someone else’s hands. Unexpectedly, it was Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin, seeing Hong Ling, felt reassured and smiled at her. “Yes, it’s me.”

“Come with me quickly.” Hong Ling promptly led Mu Yunjin through the palace gate.

“Is your ruler busy now?” As they walked, Mu Yunjin looked toward Hong Ling.

Hong Ling thought for a moment and smiled lightly. “Originally at this hour, he would be reviewing memorials, but after hearing the guard’s report, he probably lost all interest in that task.”

“Is that so…” Mu Yunjin drew out the syllables. “Then it’s perfect for me to discuss some matters with him.”

Hearing this, Hong Ling looked at Mu Yunjin suspiciously, furrowing her brow. “Forgive Hong Ling’s ignorance, but may I ask what brings Princess Consort Ning to seek our ruler?”

“This.” Mu Yunjin showed Hong Ling the military token in her hand.

Seeing this, a strange light flashed in Hong Ling’s eyes. She tugged at the corners of her mouth without speaking, though inwardly she sighed. Originally, their ruler had been relying on this token to comfort himself, but now that Princess Consort Ning had come to return it, it seemed they would completely settle accounts with each other.

Hong Ling led Mu Yunjin to Rong Jiu’s study. Upon reaching the study door, the head eunuch waiting outside came forward, seemingly wanting to say something, but Hong Ling waved her hand, signaling him to leave.

“Princess Consort Ning, our ruler, is inside. Please go in.” Hong Ling said.

Mu Yunjin nodded, walked to the study door, and gently knocked.

“Come in.” A clear, pleasant voice came from within.

Having received permission, Mu Yunjin pushed open the study door and entered.

In the study, Rong Jiu was, as usual, dressed in white brocade robes. Even though he had been enthroned for a long time, apart from wearing dragon robes for court sessions or national banquets, he wore white at all other times.

At this moment, Rong Jiu was lowering his gaze to look at the memorial in his hand. Upon hearing the door open, he slowly raised his head. Seeing the person before him, those cold and elegant eyes flickered, like an abyss, bottomless.

“You’ve come.” Rong Jiu’s exquisite face revealed a faint smile.

Seeing her, he had thousands of words he wanted to say to her, wanted to ask if she had been well lately, wanted to ask if the injuries she suffered on Great Saint Continent had all healed, wanted to ask her…

But all those words and longing, when converging at this moment, resulted in only a soft “You’ve come…”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin smiled at Rong Jiu. Without beating around the bush, she took out the military token and placed it on the desk where Rong Jiu was reviewing memorials.

Rong Jiu looked at the military token without speaking, his expression still calm and light, but the hand holding the memorial gradually tightened its grip.

“This belongs to your East Approaching Country. Keeping it with me has always been inappropriate. You should take it back.” Mu Yunjin looked at Rong Jiu as she spoke, pushing the military token forward a bit more.

Rong Jiu sat motionless, gazing at Mu Yunjin for a while before slowly reaching out to take the military token and hold it in his hand.

“Very well. Then I shall take it back.”

Hearing these words, Mu Yunjin sighed with relief, pursing her lips. “Mm, then I’ll be going. I need to continue my journey to South Court Country.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Rong Jiu watched her retreating figure, his eyes flickering. As Mu Yunjin was about to reach the door, a hint of panic appeared in his eyes. He quickly stood up. “Yunjin…”

“Hmm?” Hearing Rong Jiu call her, Mu Yunjin paused and turned to look at him.

Caught by this gaze, Rong Jiu suddenly found himself speechless. He couldn’t help but laugh slightly. “Thank you for what happened with Rong Min.”

“No need to thank me. He brought it upon himself. Don’t take it to heart. Alright then, I’ll be going now.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin immediately opened the study door and stepped out.

After Mu Yunjin’s figure completely disappeared, Rong Jiu slumped back down, his face ashen. He opened his palm, looking at the military token.

The heartstring that had been broken and mended was now completely severed…