“Enough, this Princess cannot delay here too long. Madam Li, take her away. Tonight, take her out of the city, and remember to treat her well in the future,” Chu Qingchang sneered, giving Madam Li a meaningful look.
Madam Li nodded in understanding, putting away the smile on her face. She waved to the men behind her, then pointed at Mu Yunjin. “Quick, take her away!”
“Yes!” The men complied and approached.
Seeing the men coming, Zixiang immediately stood in front of Mu Yunjin, trembling as she spoke, “Fifth Princess, please, you can’t do this. Our Young Miss is the Sixth Prince’s Consort…”
Before Chu Qingchang could speak, Mu Yunjin laughed mockingly, “Zixiang, why are you begging her?”
“She should be the one begging us to keep her secret connections with the brothel hidden.”
Hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Chu Qingchang curved her lips, her eyes showing no fear. “Facing death yet still so arrogant. Truly won’t shed tears until you see the coffin!”
“Guards, take her away!”
“Yes, Princess.”
…
…
The men took several steps forward, surrounding Mu Yunjin in a circle. One of them stepped up, about to grab Mu Yunjin’s shoulder.
“Ah—”
Before his hand could touch Mu Yunjin’s shoulder, the man let out a scream of pain. Three silver needles appeared on the back of his hand.
Mu Yunjin frowned at this, then saw a figure fly in from outside the residence and land firmly in front of her.
“Brother?”
It was Mu Yunhan.
Mu Yunhan’s face was tense, his brows furrowed deeply, his cold gaze fixed on Chu Qingchang. “Fifth Princess, you truly are impressive.”
Chu Qingchang was stunned, having never expected Mu Yunhan to come here. Fear flashed in her eyes.
“Brother, how did you get here?” Mu Yunjin asked with curiosity in her eyes.
Mu Yunhan glanced at Mu Yunjin and said calmly, “After you left, I was planning to go to the Zhuang residence to escort Yuyan personally, but I noticed your carriage was still outside our mansion. After asking the steward about your whereabouts, I followed you here.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin smiled and let out a slight sigh of relief.
Chu Qingchang’s expression changed completely. This place had always been her secret base, but now Mu Yunhan had easily discovered it.
This was unacceptable. If this matter got out, it would be disastrous.
With this thought, a murderous glint appeared in her eyes. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out a green whistle from her bosom and blew it gently.
Seeing the whistle, Mu Yunjin was startled.
Then, from the previously empty surroundings, guards in green armor emerged, numbering about a hundred.
“Royal guards,” Mu Yunhan observed, looking around.
Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows slightly. “Do all princes and princesses have their guards?”
Mu Yunhan nodded. “When princes and princesses reach a certain age, the royal family secretly assigns guards to them.”
“I see.” Mu Yunjin smiled faintly. Chu Qingchang had mobilized her guards, so it seemed she was serious.
“Fifth Princess, are you sure you want to do this?” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Qingchang, her eyes filled with amusement.
Chu Qingchang’s eyes darkened as she spoke coldly, “Better to be shattered jade than intact tile.”
Today’s events had indeed been rash on her part. Without thinking, she had exposed the Huayue Tower matter.
But the Huayue Tower affair was serious, even threatening her life.
Now that Mu Yunjin and Mu Yunhan knew about it, she couldn’t let them live, no matter what.
Otherwise, she would be the one to die.
Mu Yunhan frowned deeply as he looked at the guards around them. He spoke softly to Mu Yunjin, “I’ll clear a path for you to escape first, then I’ll stay behind to handle the aftermath.”
“No need. We’ll leave together,” Mu Yunjin replied with complete composure.
Then, meeting Chu Qingchang’s gaze, she curved her lips into an exquisite smile. “Guards, you say? I have them too.”
As she spoke, to Chu Qingchang’s surprise, she took out an elegant jade whistle from her sleeve and blew it gently.
In an instant, the surroundings stirred, and purple-clad figures emerged from various hiding places. Their numbers were vast, and soon they formed two circles around the green-armored guards.
“Purple-armored guards… Chu Li assigned his guards to you?” Chu Qingchang stepped back, drawing in a sharp breath, her eyes unable to hide her shock.
In today’s Changhua Continent, the four nations of East, South, West, and North weren’t as peaceful as they appeared on the surface. As royal children, they were assigned guards from a young age to protect their lives in times of crisis.
But for Chu Li to assign such important guards to Mu Yunjin, could it be…
Chu Li had always been indifferent to worldly affairs. Had he truly developed feelings for Mu Yunjin this time?
“Fifth Princess, are you sure you want to fight now?” Mu Yunjin glanced at the purple-armored guards, who outnumbered the green-armored ones by double, and raised her eyebrows at Chu Qingchang.
In her heart, she silently praised Chu Li. The whistle was indeed effective.
Chu Qingchang’s face was now deathly pale, her teeth almost grinding to pieces. But the pride she had maintained for so many years would not allow her to beg Mu Yunjin for mercy at this moment.
“Today was just a misunderstanding. Why don’t we all disperse? My Huayue Tower is merely a place for performing arts and singing. Don’t think so crudely,” Madam Li, seeing the situation turning unfavorable, stepped forward to smooth things over.
Mu Yunjin curved her lips, slightly raising her chin. “Oh, is that so? Fifth Sister, what do you say?”
In truth, how could she truly want Chu Qingchang’s life? Even if someone did want Chu Qingchang’s life, it wouldn’t be her role to take it.
Now that she had Chu Qingchang by the throat, Chu Qingchang should become more subdued.
It all depended on whether she was willing to take this way out.
Chu Qingchang pressed her lips tightly, a cold light flashing in her eyes. After pondering for a moment, her lips broke into a smile. “Sixth Brother’s wife, today was indeed a misunderstanding.”
With those words, Chu Qingchang waved her hand, and the green-armored guards immediately disappeared.
Seeing Chu Qingchang withdraw her guards, Mu Yunjin also waved her hand to dismiss the purple-armored guards, her eyes containing deeper meaning.
“Since it was a misunderstanding, let’s end it here today,” Mu Yunjin said.
Although Chu Qingchang was reluctant, she had to swallow this bitter pill, nodding slightly.
She glanced at Mu Yunhan from the corner of her eye, feeling somewhat guilty.
Now, she didn’t have even the slightest chance.
But it didn’t matter. She still wouldn’t spare Zhuang Yuyan, that little wretch who dared to steal her man!
Walking on the path out of the residence, a horse and a carriage were parked outside. As Chu Qingchang, supported by Wanxiu, was about to board the carriage, Mu Yunjin called out to her.
“What else?” Chu Qingchang spoke impatiently.
Mu Yunjin, with a smile in her eyes, approached Chu Qingchang. “I won’t speak of your involvement with the brothel business. But if anything unfortunate happens to me or my family, including Miss Zhuang, I promise that the very next day, your secret will be spread throughout Western Yuan.”
“So, let’s each keep to our place.” With those words, Mu Yunjin turned and left.
…
On the way back, Mu Yunhan led the horse, walking beside Mu Yunjin, his eyes occasionally showing admiration.
“Yunjin, you’ve truly changed so much,” Mu Yunhan sighed slightly. He remembered that before he left with the Qin family for the military campaign, Mu Yunjin was still the Third Miss Mu who stayed in Shihua Pavilion all day, timid and fearful.
But after returning from the battlefield, Mu Yunjin’s personality had almost completely transformed.
Just now, facing Chu Qingchang and those green-armored guards, her composure and calmness were qualities few women in the world could possess.
Mu Yunjin smiled and glanced at Mu Yunhan. “Perhaps I’ve suppressed certain aspects of my nature in the past.”
Mu Yunhan nodded, sighing softly. “Knowing how to protect oneself is a good thing.”
“Yes.”
…
Sixth Prince’s Mansion.
“Princess Consort, you’ve finally returned! You’ve been out all day, and His Highness has been waiting for you to have dinner!”
As soon as Mu Yunjin entered, Mamma Shen came forward. Though her words carried a hint of reproach, her eyes showed genuine joy.
“Chu Li is waiting for me?” Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised.
Hearing this, Mamma Shen immediately made a “shh” gesture toward Mu Yunjin. “Princess Consort, you must not directly call His Highness by name.”
“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded, then walked toward the dining hall.
Upon entering the dining hall, she was greeted by the aroma of delicious food. She cast a glance at Chu Li, who was sitting there, then took her seat and began to eat heartily.
After being harassed by Chu Qingchang all afternoon, she was now starving.
Chu Li sat in place, observing this woman who entered and ate as if she hadn’t eaten for days. His eyes showed a hint of helplessness as he picked up his chopsticks and began eating slowly and methodically.
Nearby, Mamma Shen, seeing this scene, looked at Zixiang in astonishment. “What have you and the Princess Consort been doing all day? How did the Princess Consort become so hungry?”
Zixiang pouted, her gaze somewhat evasive, instinctively looking at Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin heard Mamma Shen’s words, put down her chopsticks, and wiped her mouth. “It’s nothing. I just took a walk outside the city in the afternoon. Walking too much made me tired.”
Mamma Shen nodded in understanding.
After eating half her fill, Mu Yunjin turned her attention to Chu Li. Remembering how the purple-armored guards he gave her had been a great help today, she couldn’t help but smile at Chu Li.
“Here you go.” Mu Yunjin poured a cup of tea for Chu Li and handed it to him.
Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, then took the teacup and considerately drank a sip.
“By the way, are you very busy?” Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li.
Chu Li raised his eyebrows slightly. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason, just curious since you’re not in this mansion all day,” Mu Yunjin said softly.
Hearing this, Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin casually, raising his eyebrows. “Afternoon, today, you summoned the guards. What was the reason?”
“…” Mu Yunjin was taken aback, her eyes showing slight discomfort. She lowered her gaze, thinking to herself, he knows?
After a pause, Mu Yunjin bit her lip and smiled awkwardly. “I blew the whistle by accident.”
“Oh?” Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin, his eyes clearly showing disbelief.
Feeling uneasy under Chu Li’s questioning, Mu Yunjin finally replied somewhat shamelessly, “Didn’t you give me that whistle? So shouldn’t the authority to use it be in my hands?”
Hearing this, Chu Li slightly curved his lips and didn’t pursue the matter further.