Mu Yunjin was startled again. Knowing that Chu Li had just helped her greatly, she felt somewhat lacking in confidence. She picked up her chopsticks and helped Chu Li take a pork rib, placing it in his bowl.

Chu Li glanced at the pork rib, then turned to look at Mu Yunjin and said flatly, “This Prince doesn’t eat pork ribs.”

“Then I’ll change it,” Mu Yunjin smiled and picked up a piece of chicken for Chu Li’s bowl. “Eat this.”

“I don’t eat chicken either,” he refused again.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip, then noticed some carrots on the table. Her eyes lit up, and she helped Chu Li to a piece of carrot.

Seeing the carrot, Chu Li’s slightly furrowed brow immediately tightened, and a look of disgust appeared on his face.

“Ahem, Prince’s consort, His Highness hates carrots the most,” Ding Xian quietly reminded from the side.

Mu Yunjin didn’t seem to mind, putting down her chopsticks and looking at Chu Li, “Carrots contain rich vitamin A, which is good for the eyes, especially for your night bli—”

Mu Yunjin didn’t continue.

…

…

Chu Li’s brow was tightly furrowed as he gave Mu Yunjin a strange look. Although he didn’t understand what these “vitamins” she mentioned were, he grasped her meaning.

Then, unprecedentedly, he picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the carrot, and chewed slowly, his eating manners elegant.

Ding Xian and Mamma Shen looked at this scene in surprise, exchanged glances, their eyes showing some admiration for Mu Yunjin.

“Tastes bad,” Chu Li discarded the remaining half of the carrot, drawing his conclusion.

Ding Xian and Mamma Shen exchanged glances again, their eyes revealing two words—

Fortunately.

Fortunately, His Highness was still the same His Highness.

Seeing Chu Li discard the other half of the carrot, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but feel contemptuous. She deliberately ate three bites of carrot in front of Chu Li.

“Mmm, delicious,” Mu Yunjin said.

……

After the banquet, on the way out of the palace.

Ding Xian carried a large lantern, walking beside Chu Li, helping to light his path.

Mu Yunjin walked to one side, lazily watching this scene, slightly rolling her eyes, finding it boring as her gaze wandered around.

After glimpsing a corner of the palace, she paused, then waved to Chu Li, “You all go back to the residence first.”

With these words, she ran off to the side.

Chu Li gazed in the direction Mu Yunjin had gone, seeing a blurry figure running farther and farther away.

Mu Yunjin quietly approached the corner, where, behind a large tree, Chu Qingchang was looking at Mu Yunhan with a bashful face.

“I heard your name is Yunhan?” Chu Qingchang addressed Mu Yunhan, her eyes showing rare enthusiasm.

Mu Yunhan politely nodded.

“Father Emperor said you are very capable. In this expedition, you also earned many military merits,” Chu Qingchang continued, smiling.

“The Fifth Princess is too kind. Junior General Qin and Miss Qin were the ones with glorious achievements. Yunhan merely assisted,” Mu Yunhan said modestly, his tone flat.

Hearing this, Chu Qingchang shook her head, “Don’t be modest. As far as this Princess knows, the three of you each captured a city. Yunhan, you’re truly amazing.”

Mu Yunhan seemed somewhat embarrassed, his expression bland, as if unwilling to continue the conversation with Chu Qingchang. He then said, “It’s getting late. Princess should return to rest early.”

“Yes,” Chu Qingchang pressed her lips together, then looked up at Mu Yunhan again, her eyes revealing intense admiration. “I heard you haven’t been betrothed to any young lady yet?”

“…” Mu Yunhan remained silent, pressing his lips together.

Chu Qingchang realized her words might have startled Mu Yunhan. She lowered her eyes, rather shyly saying, “Neither has this Princess.”

With these words, she smiled at Mu Yunhan and turned to leave.

Mu Yunhan watched Chu Qingchang’s retreating figure, sighed softly, and shook his head.

When he came back to his senses, his gaze caught Mu Yunjin hiding to the side, eavesdropping with mischievous eyes.

Anger welled up in his heart, “Getting bold now, daring to eavesdrop on my conversations?”

Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but laugh, stepping forward and imitating Chu Qingchang’s manner from earlier, coquettishly looking at Mu Yunhan, “Yunhan, you’re truly amazing.”

“You brat, looking for death!” Mu Yunhan gave Mu Yunjin’s head a hard pat.

“Seriously, though, this Fifth Princess seems to be genuine about you. Could she want to marry you?” Mu Yunjin crossed her arms, looking at Mu Yunhan.

Mu Yunhan’s face was stern, seemingly displeased, “I won’t marry her.”

“Sigh, but if the Emperor truly bestows this marriage, you’d have no choice. You can’t exactly refuse an imperial decree,” Mu Yunjin sighed.

“We’ll see,” Mu Yunhan was unwilling to discuss this topic further with Mu Yunjin. He glanced at someone behind Mu Yunjin and said flatly, “I’ll escort you back to the residence.”

Mu Yunjin nodded.

……

After exiting the palace gates, they had thought the Sixth Prince’s black xuan-wood carriage would have left, but unexpectedly it was still parked steadily in place. Ding Xian, Mamma Shen, and Zixiang were standing outside the carriage.

“Prince’s consort, please,” Mamma Shen said to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin made a sound of acknowledgment. When passing by the carriage, she glanced at Ding Xian standing straight and said, “Help me up.”

Ding Xian was startled, looking at Mu Yunjin, remembering how she had easily jumped onto the carriage before. His mouth twitched slightly, then he helped Mu Yunjin onto the carriage.

After entering the carriage, Mu Yunjin glanced at Chu Li sitting upright inside and tactfully sat in the corner, hugging her arms.

“Are you cold?” Chu Li raised his eyes slightly, looking at Mu Yunjin hugging her arms.

Mu Yunjin gave an awkward smile, “The night is a bit chilly…”

“Oh,” Chu Li said, shifting his gaze away.

Upon returning to the Prince’s residence, just as Mu Yunjin got off the carriage and was about to walk toward Liquan Pavilion, Mamma Shen pulled at her clothes, “Help His Highness with the lantern.”

With these words, the lantern prepared in Ding Xian’s hand was stuffed into Mu Yunjin’s.

Mu Yunjin looked at the lantern in her hand with resentment, pouted, then, with small steps, followed beside Chu Li, walking towards Liquan Pavilion.

As they walked, to ensure Chu Li could see the path, Mu Yunjin deliberately walked a bit ahead, illuminating the ground, her heart full of complaints.

“Where’s the jade pendant?” Mu Yunjin asked.

“Didn’t bring it,” Chu Li replied.

Mu Yunjin pouted, looking at Chu Li, “Is your night blindness so severe that you can’t see anything at night?”

“Yes,” Chu Li said plainly.

“Then you need to eat more pig liver and things like carrots!”

Hearing this, Chu Li slightly narrowed his eyes, glancing at Mu Yunjin, “I never realized before how noisy you are.”

Noisy…

Mu Yunjin admitted she was angered.

Then, she stopped, stuffed the lantern into Chu Li’s hand, and said unhappily, “Walk back by yourself.”

After speaking, fearing that Chu Li might do something to her, she ran off quickly, rushing into Liquan Pavilion.

After returning to her room, Mu Yunjin deliberately didn’t light any candles. She crouched by the door, observing the situation outside. After a while, she saw Chu Li carrying the lantern himself, slowly entering Liquan Pavilion and then going into the room diagonally opposite.

Soon, the room diagonally opposite was brightly lit.

……

The next day, Mu Yunjin was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.

When she woke up, Mu Yunjin was bleary-eyed. The firecrackers were popping incessantly, as if right by her ear, accompanied by the smell of smoke.

Mu Yunjin felt irritated. She sat up, got out of bed, and walked toward the door.

The moment she pushed open the door, Mu Yunjin saw thick smoke rolling outside her room, with some remnants of firecrackers on the ground still making noise.

After a while, the sound of firecrackers stopped.

Through the thick smoke, Mu Yunjin saw Chu Li and Ding Xian standing outside the room diagonally opposite. Chu Li’s expression was cold, but his eyes held a hint of playfulness.

“Why are you setting off firecrackers here so early in the morning?” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li and Ding Xian across from her with displeasure.

Hearing this, Chu Li raised his eyebrows slightly, “Paying you back.”

Paying back?

Mu Yunjin was surprised, then furrowed her brow, looking at the firecrackers directly outside her door. She suddenly remembered how she had abandoned Chu Li and returned to her room last night.

Damn, was this person so vindictive?

Setting off firecrackers early in the morning to disturb her?

Seeing Mu Yunjin’s understanding expression, Ding Xian beside Chu Li sighed helplessly. His Highness had gone mad.

To be at odds with the Third Miss.

And to come up with such a childish tactic—even he, who had been by His Highness’s side for so many years, couldn’t bear to watch.

A moment later, at the breakfast table.

Mu Yunjin sat at the table with panda eyes, eating breakfast intermittently, occasionally yawning, her face full of fatigue.

Chu Li was calmly drinking porridge. Every time Mu Yunjin yawned, his eyes held a cold, enchanting smile.

Mamma Shen stood to the side, serving them. Seeing their behavior, she giggled and couldn’t help looking at Chu Li, “Your Highness, although you haven’t seen the Prince’s consort for a month, you should take it easy. After all, the Prince’s consort has just come of age and is still young. There’s plenty of time ahead.”

“Pfft…” Mu Yunjin spat out a mouthful of porridge, then glanced at Mamma Shen, “Mamma, don’t talk nonsense.”

Mamma Shen thought Mu Yunjin was embarrassed, smiled and nodded, “Alright, this servant won’t say more. But this is good, I believe there will be more joyous events in the residence soon.”

Mu Yunjin’s mouth twitched. Feeling mocked by Mamma Shen, she glared at Chu Li.

Chu Li continued eating his breakfast methodically, as if he hadn’t heard anything, only saying plainly, “Disgusting. Next time, don’t spit things around.”

Mu Yunjin glared at Chu Li again.

After breakfast, Mu Yunjin was originally planning to return to Liquan Pavilion to catch up on sleep, but was detained by Mamma Shen, who quietly said to her, “Prince’s consort, His Highness’s birthday is approaching.”

“The seventh day of next month is His Highness’s birthday. This is the first year of your marriage to His Highness, so you should prepare a thoughtful gift,” Mamma Shen smiled.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin frowned slightly. A gift?

If she had known, she would have given Chu Li the jade pendant later…

On the way back to Liquan Pavilion, Mu Yunjin’s mind was filled with thoughts of the gift Mamma Shen mentioned. Then she remembered that Chu Li had given her bank notes worth thirty thousand taels of gold, so perhaps she could go to the market to see if she could buy something nice.

With this thought, she paused her steps, changed direction, and said, “Zixiang, let’s go out of the residence for a walk.”

Zixiang nodded, “Miss, what did Mamma Shen just tell you?”

“Nothing much. Chu Li’s birthday is coming up, and she asked me to prepare a gift. Do you have any good ideas?” Mu Yunjin asked.

Zixiang shook her head, “This servant’s status is humble. I haven’t seen many fine things, and I wouldn’t dare suggest gifts for the Sixth Prince.”