When Mu Yunjin arrived at the palace, a young palace maid was already waiting at the gate. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, she bowed slightly to pay her respects.

“Empress Qin is currently in the Plum Garden. This servant will escort the Prince’s Consort there,” the young palace maid said.

Mu Yunjin nodded slightly and walked toward the Plum Garden.

Shortly after, the young palace maid led Mu Yunjin into the Plum Garden.

In the pavilion of the Plum Garden, Empress Qin was sitting enjoying cold tea. The table before her was filled with exquisite desserts, while two young palace maids stood fanning her.

Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, Empress Qin’s face lit up with joy as she beckoned, “Jiner, come quickly.”

Mu Yunjin approached with a smile and gracefully curtsied to Empress Qin. “Greetings, Grandmother.”

“Quickly, come sit by my side,” Empress Qin pointed to the space beside her, her face unable to hide her delight.

Mu Yunjin nodded and took a seat next to Empress Qin.

After she sat down, Mamma Qu came over and poured a cup of tea for Mu Yunjin, smiling as she said, “This is the Empress’s favorite plum tea. It’s most refreshing and thirst-quenching during this season.”

“Thank you, Mamma,” Mu Yunjin smiled slightly, picking up the teacup and taking a sip of the plum tea.

“Indeed, it’s delicious,” Mu Yunjin nodded in appreciation.

Empress Qin looked at Mu Yunjin, her eyes unable to conceal her affection, and sighed softly, “The weather has been hot lately, and I’ve been feeling somewhat irritable. A few days ago, I sent someone to your residence to look for you, but the household staff said you and Li’er had gone out. Today, upon learning you had returned, I sent someone early to invite you.”

After speaking, Empress Qin added, “It seems you and Li’er are getting along well.”

At the mention of Chu Li, Mu Yunjin pressed her lips slightly, her eyes revealing a trace of helplessness that vanished in an instant, followed by a smile. “It was merely that I was bored at home and pestered him to take me out.”

“Listen to you,” Empress Qin chuckled softly. “I’ve never seen anyone who could successfully pester Li’er.”

After laughing, Empress Qin seemed to remember something and sighed again, “Ah, not long ago, the Wen family suddenly suffered misfortune, and the entire family was punished. I was quite fond of that child Wen Ruhuan, who would have known her heart was so vicious, daring to plot against Grand Tutor Zhuang’s granddaughter. One truly can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips slightly. Hearing Empress Qin’s words, she merely lowered her gaze silently without saying much.

If she were to tell Empress Qin that all this was thanks to Chu Qingqiang, it would likely shock the elderly lady even more.

Well, the old lady was advanced in age; it was better to spare her from worrying about such matters.

“By the way, I’ve met Grand Tutor Zhuang’s granddaughter a few times. Her name is Yuyan, isn’t it? You should invite her to the palace someday to keep me company and chat,” Empress Qin said.

Mu Yunjin nodded, her gaze falling on the garden full of plum blossoms. “It’s the height of summer, yet this place is filled with blooming plum blossoms. It’s truly remarkable.”

“Of course,” Empress Qin’s eyes betrayed her pride. “These are specially cultivated varieties that my son had brought from frigid lands. They bloom with plum blossoms all year round.”

“Unlike that old witch Empress Dowager Zheng’s maple forest, with nothing but dry, withered leaves. What’s so beautiful about that?”

Hearing the term “old witch,” Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes with a smile. “Grandmother is right.”

Seeing Mu Yunjin agree with her words, Empress Qin’s fondness for her deepened even further. She pointed to the pastries on the table, “Hurry and eat. These were specially made by the imperial kitchen, still fresh.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, picked up a piece of cake, and took a bite.

As they were chatting casually, an announcement came from outside, “Empress Dowager Zheng arrives!”

“Noble Consort Li arrives!”

“Fifth Princess arrives!”

Hearing that these annoying people had all gathered together, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced at Empress Qin.

Sure enough, Empress Qin cursed under her breath, slapped the table, and shouted, “What do you mean ‘arrives’! To come to my place, don’t you need my permission first? How dare you enter my Plum Garden without authorization? Do you have a death wish?”

“Xiangxian, your temper is so fierce this early in the morning,” As these words fell, Empress Dowager Zheng’s figure drifted into the garden, with Noble Consort Li and Chu Qingqiang supporting her on either side.

Empress Qin rolled her eyes. “This is an exception. Next time if you dare to intrude into my Plum Garden without permission, don’t blame me for having you thrown out.”

Noble Consort Li and Chu Qingqiang’s expressions stiffened upon hearing this.

Empress Dowager Zheng gave a cold laugh and leisurely took a seat. After sitting down, she beckoned to Noble Consort Li and Chu Qingqiang, “You may sit as well.”

“You certainly don’t treat yourself as an outsider,” Empress Qin said coldly.

“Naturally,” Empress Dowager Zheng spoke calmly, her gaze drifting over Mu Yunjin. “We are sisters, and Li’er is my son’s most beloved consort, so it’s not excessive for her to call you mother. Qingqiang also calls you grandmother. Tell me, who among us is an outsider?”

Hearing this, Empress Qin said nothing more and instructed Mamma Qu to bring more tea sets.

“Xiangxian, your plum tea is truly excellent, sweet and sour, quenching thirst.” Empress Dowager Zheng took a sip of the plum tea, pursing her lips.

“Indeed, Grandmother’s tea and pastries are all carefully crafted by the imperial kitchen, much more delicious than what I have in my palace,” Chu Qingqiang drank some tea and spoke.

Noble Consort Li also nodded in agreement.

Mu Yunjin had been ignoring these three people from the beginning. Their appearance always gave her the impression of a nest of snakes and rats, up to no good.

Indeed, in the next moment, Empress Dowager Zheng directed the conversation toward Mu Yunjin.

“Yunjin is here too? I just noticed. It’s been a while since we’ve met; you’ve grown even more stunningly beautiful,” Empress Dowager Zheng looked at Mu Yunjin with an ambiguous smile.

Mu Yunjin smiled faintly, “Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.”

“You should visit me sometime. I won’t eat you. Why do you always keep such a distance from me?” Empress Dowager Zheng added.

Hearing this, Empress Qin snorted with contempt, “Isn’t your precious Qin girl about to return to court? What would you want Jiner to visit you for?”

“Yes, I almost forgot about that. Muyue will be back soon. I’m so happy thinking about it. With her keeping me company and entertaining me, I won’t be so bored anymore,” Empress Dowager Zheng replied.

“Great-Grandmother, I’m afraid you’re being too optimistic. Muyue has always been most fond of clinging to Sixth Brother. Before she left for battle, she visited Sixth Brother’s Liquan Palace daily. How would she remember you?” Chu Qingqiang spoke mockingly, her gaze flitting briefly over Mu Yunjin.

Hearing Chu Qingqiang’s words, Empress Dowager Zheng seemed to recall something and nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, yes. I’m truly getting senile. I forgot that Muyue and Li’er are childhood sweethearts and have always been the closest of friends.”

“Indeed, whenever this concubine saw the Sixth Prince in the past, Miss Qin was always by his side. They truly looked like a perfect match,” Noble Consort Li chimed in. When her gaze swept over Mu Yunjin, she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh my, I forgot that the Sixth Prince’s Consort is also here. I’ve been speaking nonsense. I hope the Sixth Prince’s Consort won’t take it to heart.”

Empress Qin had figured out these people’s intentions and snorted disdainfully, “Li’er and the Qin girl have both passed the age of adulthood. If they had feelings for each other, they would have married long ago. How could they have waited until now?”

“You elders should stop gossiping here. Li’er now treasures Jiner immensely; no one else can catch his eye.”

Empress Qin’s words strangely gave Mu Yunjin goosebumps. She lowered her eyes, digesting what Empress Dowager Zheng and the others had just said.

She had to admit, she was becoming increasingly curious about this Qin Muyue.

“Muyue had just come of age when she requested to go to war. How many women in this world could do that? I heard that Li’er once made a promise to Muyue—when she returned from battle, he would help her fulfill a wish.”

“What if, at that time, Muyue’s wish is to become the Sixth Prince’s Consort? What would Li’er do?”

“After all, as a member of the royal family, Li’er’s word is as good as gold. Having promised someone, he wouldn’t easily break his word.”

Empress Dowager Zheng spoke leisurely, her gaze never leaving Mu Yunjin throughout, constantly observing her expression. Her tone was full of mockery.

Mu Yunjin could certainly discern the implications in these people’s words today. They were merely using Qin Muyue to ridicule her.

But as her thoughts turned, Mu Yunjin couldn’t help but wonder: if there truly was such a promise, and if Qin Muyue wanted to be the Sixth Prince’s Consort, what choice would Chu Li make?

Thinking of this, Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes, a trace of self-mockery appearing in them.

She had almost forgotten that she and Chu Li had not gone through the wedding ceremony and were not truly husband and wife. They could separate at any time.

“Why doesn’t the Sixth Prince’s Consort speak? You haven’t taken our jokes to heart, have you? Oh dear, you and the Sixth Prince are still newlyweds. Don’t let this cause a rift between you and the Sixth Prince. Otherwise, I would feel terrible,” Noble Consort Li added a few more sentences upon seeing Mu Yunjin with lowered eyes.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised her eyes, slightly lifted her chin, and flashed an enchanting smile, “Noble Consort Li is joking. How could I take such matters to heart?”

“Oh? So you’re saying you wouldn’t mind if Miss Qin were to use that promise to exchange for your position as the Sixth Prince’s Consort?” Noble Consort Li asked.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, leaned back in her chair, adopting a more comfortable posture, “We’ll see when she returns.”

“So confident? It seems the Empress is right—the Sixth Prince is indeed very loving toward his consort now. However, as a woman, I must warn the Sixth Prince’s Consort to take some precautions. After all, a heroine like Miss Qin is admired by all men,” Noble Consort Li smiled faintly.

Mu Yunjin had originally held some admiration for Qin Muyue, but after hearing Empress Dowager Zheng, Noble Consort Li, and the others talk about her in this way, she couldn’t help but categorize all of them together.

She could no longer muster any good feelings toward Qin Muyue.

“Enough, all of you, be quiet! Li’er will be coming here shortly. I want to ask him personally whether he would marry that Qin Muyue!” Empress Qin slapped the table in frustration. She had been having a nice heart-to-heart with Mu Yunjin, only to have these people interfere.

Upon hearing that Chu Li would be coming soon, Empress Dowager Zheng and the others raised their eyebrows, their eyes filling with schadenfreude.

Everyone in the court knew that the Qin family’s daughter had her heart set on Chu Li. Now, after being away on a xmilitary campaign for just a few months, she would return to find that Chu Li had married someone else.

When the time came, they wouldn’t even need to act. Qin Muyue alone would be enough to turn the Sixth Prince’s residence upside down!