Master Huaiyuan nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing this, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but feel curious about Abbot Kongshi, but upon hearing Master Huaiyuan say that he had already passed away, she felt somewhat regretful.
“Does the Sixth Prince’s consort perhaps have some knowledge about this strange sound?” Master Huaiyuan asked again.
“No,” Mu Yunjin shook her head, secretly thinking that this alarm sound belonged to modern technology. Having transmigrated across a thousand years, she thought it best to avoid others’ suspicions—the less trouble, the better.
After hearing Mu Yunjin’s simple two-word answer, a darkness gradually welled up in Chu Li’s crystal-clear eyes.
Master Huaiyuan, sensing the change in Chu Li’s mood, turned his head to look at him and said, “Sixth Prince…”
“Return to the residence!”
After leaving the dark chamber, Mu Yunjin could feel the low pressure radiating from Chu Li, his face displaying apparent coldness. Ding Xian, beside him, also maintained a stern expression, saying not a word.
Mu Yunjin glanced at Chu Li, slightly lowering her gaze, and remained silent as well.
…
…
In the carriage on the way back, Mu Yunjin leaned by the window, watching the slowly passing scenery outside, her ears still filled with the alarm sound from earlier.
The formation they spoke of as difficult to break through came from this alarm sound—so what exactly was this formation?
Thinking back, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help recalling the scene in the dark chamber earlier. The path ahead had seemed completely flat with no obstacles, yet after Master Huaiyuan threw those few beads, the alarm sounded.
Could it be…?
Mu Yunjin was somewhat incredulous, her brow slightly furrowed. She hadn’t expected to see modern technology here, a thousand years in the past.
Then who was this Abbot Kongshi?
Could he also be from the modern era?
Mu Yunjin was filled with questions. She pressed her lips together, thinking that in a few days she would need to go to Water Cloud Temple alone to investigate further.
When the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Sixth Prince’s residence, it was nearly dusk.
Chu Li was the first to get off the carriage, walking directly into the residence.
Mu Yunjin watched Chu Li’s retreating figure, raising her eyebrow slightly. Zixiang, standing beside her, couldn’t help asking, “Miss, did you upset His Highness?”
“I don’t know,” Mu Yunjin replied, somewhat bewildered.
When Mu Yunjin returned to Liquan Pavilion, the candles were already lit in the house diagonally opposite. Mu Yunjin glanced at the remnants of the sunset in the distance and sighed softly.
Upon entering her room and closing the door, Mu Yunjin collapsed onto the soft couch and murmured, “Zixiang, do you believe that there are people from other worlds in this world?”
“Miss, I don’t understand what you mean,” Zixiang frowned, completely unable to comprehend Mu Yunjin’s words.
Mu Yunjin smiled, reached up to remove the hairpin from her head, and her hair, which had been pinned up all day, immediately fell around her shoulders. She stretched her neck and then said to Zixiang, “Prepare hot water for my bath.”
……
For the next month, Mu Yunjin stayed in the Prince’s residence, hardly going out at all.
During this entire month, she never once saw Chu Li. Sometimes at night, she would instinctively look toward the house diagonally opposite, but each time it was completely dark, appearing as if no one lived there.
Mu Yunjin didn’t bother wondering where Chu Li had gone—after all, they weren’t truly husband and wife, and sooner or later they would go their separate ways.
“Miss, someone from the palace just came to inform us that His Highness and you are invited to attend a banquet at the palace tonight,” Zixiang said as she entered the room.
Mu Yunjin paused, “Chu Li isn’t in the residence. Can I not go alone?”
“Miss, that wouldn’t be proper. You are newly wed to the Sixth Prince, and even if he isn’t here, you should represent the Sixth Prince’s residence at the banquet,” Zixiang replied.
Mu Yunjin nodded reluctantly.
That night, after preparing herself simply, Mu Yunjin left Liquan Pavilion. When she arrived at the front hall, she encountered Mamma Shen.
Mamma Shen bowed to Mu Yunjin and then said, “I haven’t seen His Highness for several days. Does the Prince’s consort know where His Highness has gone?”
Mu Yunjin shook her head, “I don’t know either.”
Hearing this, Mamma Shen’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise, but then, remembering Chu Li’s usual behavior, she nodded in understanding.
“Tonight, this servant will accompany the Prince’s consort to the palace,” Mamma Shen said.
Mu Yunjin glanced at Mamma Shen, thinking that since this person had been left in the residence by Chu Li, she should be a reliable old mamma, so bringing her along would be fine.
……
After entering the palace, Mu Yunjin was led by Mamma Shen toward Qinghuan Hall.
While passing through the Imperial Garden, they happened to encounter Empress Dowager Zheng coming toward them. Empress Dowager Zheng was walking slowly, supported by Mamma Yang, with a group of palace maids and eunuchs following behind, creating quite a procession.
Beside Empress Dowager Zheng were several brightly dressed women, smiling and conversing with her.
As soon as Empress Dowager Zheng saw Mu Yunjin approaching, she stopped, her eyes revealing a trace of disdain as she spoke mockingly, “Well, isn’t this the Sixth Prince’s consort?”
Upon hearing Empress Dowager Zheng’s voice, Mu Yunjin inwardly cursed her bad luck, but still went through the motions of bowing, “Greetings, Empress Dowager.”
“Is the Sixth Prince’s consort being too distant with me? I am the Empress Dowager, the Sixth Prince’s legitimate grandmother, so you should address me as grandmother,” Empress Dowager Zheng deliberately emphasized the word “legitimate,” looking at Mu Yunjin with contempt.
“A wife follows her husband. This humble Yunjin follows His Highness in how I address others,” Mu Yunjin smiled faintly, using Chu Li as her shield.
Empress Dowager Zheng’s expression immediately turned unpleasant. Beside her, a beautiful woman, seeing the Empress Dowager’s change in expression, immediately took up the conversation.
“‘A wife follows her husband,’ what a line. But this Imperial Consort has heard that the Sixth Prince has hardly been in his residence for an entire month. How pitiful for a newly-wed wife to be keeping an empty house,” the woman covered her mouth with a laugh, her eyes full of mockery as she looked at Mu Yunjin.
As the woman finished speaking, another woman added, “Sister Imperial Consort Li, your words are incorrect. The Sixth Prince is now in the prime of his youth—how could he stay by only one person’s side all day?”
“Sister Imperial Consort Wan speaks the truth. This marriage was forced by Empress Qin against their will. How could we demand that the Sixth Prince stay with this Prince’s consort?” Imperial Consort Li added.
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Zheng looked approvingly at Imperial Consort Li and Imperial Consort Wan beside her. Of all the women in the imperial harem, these two had the sharpest tongues and spoke the most viciously.
Mu Yunjin listened to these words without being bothered, but looking at these two women in bright clothes, as proud as peacocks, she felt an inexplicable dislike.
“The way you two Imperial Consorts speak, people might think you’ve been hiding under my bed eavesdropping,” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Imperial Consorts Li and Wan.
The two women’s expressions faltered, but it was Imperial Consort Li who recovered first, giving a light laugh, “But this Imperial Consort is speaking the truth, isn’t she?”
“If it weren’t for the agreement between Empress Qin and Old Madam Mu, how could the position of Sixth Prince’s consort have fallen to you?” Seeing that Mu Yunjin didn’t respond, Imperial Consort Li thought she was afraid and made her words even more cutting.
Zixiang, hearing Imperial Consort Li’s words, was so angry that her small face turned pale, but her low status prevented her from objecting.
Looking over at Mu Yunjin, no emotion could be seen on her face, though there was some deeper meaning in her eyes.
After a moment, Mu Yunjin’s voice floated out airily, “When this humble Yunjin married into the Sixth Prince’s residence, if I recall correctly, it was the Sixth Prince who asked the Emperor to bestow the marriage.”
“You all know the Sixth Prince—unless he’s willing, no one can force him to do anything.”
With these words, Mu Yunjin smiled, made a show of bowing to everyone, and then walked away.
Imperial Consort Li stood in place, quite angered by Mu Yunjin’s words. She turned to look at the Empress Dowager and spoke with displeasure, “Empress Dowager is truly right. This Mu Yunjin doesn’t know her place.”
“Hmph, Muyue will return soon. Let’s see how long she can remain so arrogant,” Empress Dowager Zheng snorted coldly, her eyes fierce as she walked forward.
After walking some distance away, Mamma Shen looked at Mu Yunjin with concern, “The Prince’s consort shouldn’t have retorted to the two Imperial Consorts earlier. Those two Imperial Consorts are currently the most favored by the Emperor in the imperial harem.”
“I don’t care about them. I can’t just swallow an insult silently,” Mu Yunjin walked slowly, playing with a silk handkerchief in her hand, speaking casually.
Hearing this, Mamma Shen couldn’t help but smile, “Your character of immediately seeking revenge is very similar to His Highness.”
At the mention of Chu Li, Mu Yunjin frowned slightly and looked at Mamma Shen, “Mamma, how long have you been by his side?”
“Over ten years,” Mamma Shen replied.
“In those ten-plus years, has he often been this mysteriously absent?” Mu Yunjin asked.
Mamma Shen pressed her lips together, smiling faintly, “These matters are not for this servant to speak of. The Prince’s consort should ask His Highness personally another day.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin sighed inwardly; this was truly a person trained by Chu Li.
Upon arriving at Qinghuan Hall, Mu Yunjin happened to meet Empress Qin. As soon as Empress Qin saw Mu Yunjin, her eyes lit up with a smile.
“Jiner.”
Recalling Empress Dowager Zheng’s attitude earlier and now seeing Empress Qin’s loving expression, Mu Yunjin felt somewhat emotional. She responded with an unrestrained smile, “Grandmother.”
“Good child,” Empress Qin said, then looked around, “Where is Li’er?”
“He went out on business and hasn’t been at the residence for days,” Mu Yunjin said plainly.
Empress Qin nodded understandingly, then took Mu Yunjin’s hand and walked into Qinghuan Hall.
As soon as they entered, Mu Yunjin could feel gazes from all around. Her clear eyes swept across the surroundings, seeing that Chu Qing and others were already seated inside.
What was more surprising was that Mu Yunhan was also present.
“Your brother has just been appointed as a Junior General and is particularly valued by the Emperor. Today, the Emperor specially invited him,” Empress Qin said, seemingly seeing through Mu Yunjin’s surprise.
Mu Yunjin nodded.
Seeing Mu Yunjin, Mu Yunhan walked over. Today he was dressed in silver brocade clothing, looking exceptionally refined.
“Yunjin, you seem to be living quite well in the Sixth Prince’s residence. Your face has even gained some flesh,” Mu Yunhan teased with a smile.
Mu Yunjin instinctively touched her face, then crossed her arms and glanced behind Mu Yunhan, speaking mockingly, “This is supposed to be a royal banquet, yet the Emperor invited you. It seems the real purpose is something else.”
Mu Yunhan, being teased like this by Mu Yunjin, blushed slightly and scolded, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Seeing her hot-tempered brother showing a hint of shyness, Mu Yunjin covered her mouth and laughed, unable to help saying, “If you must choose one, choose Little Nine. She’s the cutest, and I wouldn’t mind calling her my sister-in-law.”