After touching the tree trunk, Mu Yunjin heard her heartbeat accelerate.

That inexplicable sense of familiarity surged again, causing her to look up and carefully examine the ancient tree.

What connection did this tree have with her?

Why did she experience such special emotions whenever she came here and saw this tree?

Thinking this, Mu Yunjin laughed softly at herself, thinking she must be overthinking. It was just a tree, called the thousand-year-old tree because it had been here for a thousand years. How could it have any connection to her?

Just as she was preparing to leave using her lightness skill, the courtyard gate behind her creaked open. Mu Yunjin turned around to see Chu Li walking in alone with unhurried steps.

Watching Chu Li approach step by step, Mu Yunjin stared fixedly. After a moment, her vision seemed to be covered by mist, blurring her sight.

“How did you get in here alone?” A cold, indifferent voice sounded above her head.

Hearing the voice, Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to see more clearly, “I climbed in.”

Chu Li laughed softly, his thin lips parting, “A temple at night—you’re quite brave to wander around alone.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? With Buddha in my heart, Buddha will protect me.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin pressed her palms together with utmost piety and bowed to the heavens several times.

After that, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li and added, “Are you done playing Go?”

“Mm.” Chu Li nodded.

Seeing that Chu Li seemed to be in a good mood, Mu Yunjin curled her lips and couldn’t help teasing, “Did you utterly defeat Master Huaiyuan?”

“No,” Chu Li denied. “This prince will need his help in the future, so naturally I let him win a few games.”

“Interesting.” Mu Yunjin crossed her arms. She had thought Chu Li was the type who never gave face to anyone and only cared about his pleasure. Now it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.

Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, then his gaze fell on the ancient tree behind her. “Do you like this tree?”

“I wouldn’t say I like it,” Mu Yunjin replied.

Hearing Mu Yunjin’s answer, Chu Li nodded slightly, his face showing no emotion, but his eyes, looking at Mu Yunjin, held some deeper meaning.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the residence, it was already past midnight.

Mu Yunjin found a comfortable position and lay down, her eyes showing some fatigue. The road from the outskirts back to the city was a bit bumpy, and the carriage compartment was rocking slightly. With this rocking, Mu Yunjin quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Chu Li sat there, and upon hearing the even breathing from beside him, his gaze fell on Mu Yunjin. He reached out and picked up a blanket from the side, covering Mu Yunjin with it.

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped, and Ding Xian’s voice came from outside.

Hearing the voice, Chu Li was just about to get off when he looked at the still sleeping Mu Yunjin and frowned slightly. He was about to call Ding Xian to carry Mu Yunjin off the carriage when he hesitated for a moment.

When Ding Xian saw Chu Li carrying Mu Yunjin out of the carriage, his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

Chu Li pressed his lips together, completely ignoring the astonishment in Ding Xian’s eyes as he carried Mu Yunjin along the path back to Liquan Pavilion. After entering Liquan Pavilion, he looked down at this woman who was sleeping so soundly, curled up in his arms, and shook his head helplessly.

Zixiang was dozing in front of Mu Yunjin’s bedroom door and was immediately awakened when Ding Xian gently patted her shoulder.

After standing up, Zixiang saw the scene before her and instinctively stretched out her arms, “Your Highness, let this servant do it.”

Ding Xian, behind Chu Li, immediately made a gesture to Zixiang, shaking his head.

Zixiang paused, understanding, and withdrew her hand, turning to open Mu Yunjin’s door.

Chu Li carried Mu Yunjin inside and placed her on the soft couch. After looking at Mu Yunjin, he walked out.

After walking out the door, Chu Li turned to look at Zixiang, “Help her change her clothes later.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Zixiang immediately nodded.

Chu Li made a sound of acknowledgment and then walked toward his room diagonally opposite.

Ding Xian walked behind Chu Li, shaking his head from time to time, looking up at the sky and sighing inwardly, “Things have changed, truly changed…”

When Mu Yunjin opened her eyes the next day, she felt a soreness in her neck. After moving her neck a bit, she realized she had slept in an awkward position.

Sitting up, Mu Yunjin reached out to rub the back of her neck and shoulder, “Zixiang…”

Zixiang immediately pushed the door open and came in. Seeing that Mu Yunjin was awake, she smiled and said, “Miss returned late last night and went straight to sleep. Would you like to bathe now?”

Mu Yunjin nodded, only now remembering that last night she had been with Chu Li at Water Cloud Temple, but after getting on the carriage, she had no further recollection.

“How did I get back?”

Zixiang smiled, preparing Mu Yunjin’s clothes for the day, “Naturally, the Sixth Prince carried Miss back.”

Carried? Chu Li?

Mu Yunjin frowned and looked at Zixiang, “Are you sure it wasn’t Ding Xian who carried me back?”

“Miss, what are you saying! The Sixth Prince is your husband. How would Guard Ding dare to carry you back?” Zixiang gave Mu Yunjin an amused look.

Mu Yunjin rubbed her temples and yawned again, wondering what had possessed her yesterday to sleep so deeply.

After bathing, Mu Yunjin sat at the dressing table. Just as Zixiang was about to help Mu Yunjin arrange her hair, Mu Yunjin waved her hand, “I have a stiff neck today, and my neck is a bit sore. Let’s not do my hair; it’s too heavy and will make my neck hurt.”

After speaking, Mu Yunjin took out a silk ribbon from the jewelry box on the table and simply tied a refreshing ponytail.

She then took out a light, plain outfit from the cabinet and walked out with a bare face.

After going out, Mu Yunjin saw that the door diagonally opposite was open, and Mamma Shen was sweeping at the doorway with a broom. Upon seeing Mamma Shen, Mu Yunjin suddenly thought of something.

On the day she married Chu Li, to deceive Empress Qin, she had deliberately cut her finger and stained the white handkerchief with blood. At that time, Mamma Shen had seemed very pleased seeing that handkerchief.

But now, seeing Mamma Shen cleaning Chu Li’s room, wasn’t it obvious that she and Chu Li were not sharing a room? Wouldn’t that expose their ruse?

As she was thinking this, Mamma Shen spoke, “Sigh, His Highness has so many peculiar habits. Just because the Prince’s Consort is indisposed these few days, he specifically changed rooms to sleep.”

“…” Mu Yunjin’s face froze, and she rolled her eyes speechlessly. Chu Li, that fellow, could come up with such an excuse just to have Mamma Shen clean his room.

It seemed the old lady Mamma Shen was still being kept in the dark…

Thinking this, Mu Yunjin curled her lips slightly and leaned against the door frame, “Is Chu Li not home?”

“Yes, he was summoned by the Emperor early this morning to discuss the matter of hosting a celebration banquet.”

“Celebration banquet? Celebrating for whom?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, looking at Mamma Shen.

Hearing this, Mamma Shen stopped her work, “Why, for General Qin and Miss Qin, of course. After winning so many battles, when they return triumphantly, how could the Emperor not host a celebration banquet for them?”

Upon hearing it was about the Qin family, Mu Yunjin immediately lost interest. She pouted and was about to return to her room when a young maid rushed in from outside.

“Greetings to the Prince’s Consort.”

“No need for formalities. What is it?” Mu Yunjin looked at the young maid.

“The palace just conveyed the Empress’s oral decree. In half a month, the court will host a celebration banquet for General Qin and Miss Qin. All palace ladies and daughters of officials of the third rank and above must each perform a talent to liven up the occasion! Those who receive this decree cannot refuse with any excuse, or it will be considered defying the imperial order.”

Mu Yunjin stood still, her mouth twitching after hearing the young maid’s message.

So, the celebration banquet was specifically prepared for General Qin and Qin Muyue, and she was expected to offer her talents to them?

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. Was this a joke?

After the young maid left, Zixiang looked at Mu Yunjin with some concern, “Miss, what should we do? What talent will you prepare?”

“I’m not preparing anything,” Mu Yunjin snorted coldly, walking back to her room.

Zixiang followed her in, her face wrinkled with worry, “But the decree just now said we can’t refuse, or it would be defying the imperial order.”

“So what? Are they going to kill me?” Mu Yunjin smiled faintly, not taking the matter to heart at all.

Seeing Mu Yunjin’s firm attitude, Zixiang couldn’t say much more, only advising, “There’s still half a month. Miss, please reconsider. Don’t act impulsively.”

Mu Yunjin nodded faintly, not saying more.

After going out, Mu Yunjin sat in the rocking chair in her room, swaying back and forth, looking at the ceiling, her mind deep in thought.

In half a month, Qin Muyue would return.

She felt that after this woman’s return, her days would no longer be as peaceful as they were now.

Thinking this, Mu Yunjin felt she was worrying unnecessarily. What did it matter to her whether Qin Muyue returned or not?

Since when did she need to worry about this?

Mu Yunjin sat in her room until almost noon, until there was a gentle knock on the door.

“Come in,” Mu Yunjin answered lazily.

“Sister Yunjin.” After the door was pushed open, Zhuang Yuyan walked in from outside.

Seeing it was Zhuang Yuyan, Mu Yunjin immediately sat up, putting on a smile, “Sister Yuyan…”

Zhuang Yuyan smiled and nodded, looking at Mu Yunjin without makeup, her eyes revealing a trace of surprise, but she quickly collected her thoughts and looked around, “This is your and the Sixth Prince’s bedroom, right? It’s not proper to talk here. Let’s go to the garden.”

Mu Yunjin paused, realizing that others didn’t know that she and Chu Li slept in separate rooms. To avoid Zhuang Yuyan noticing any inconsistencies, she nodded and led Zhuang Yuyan out.

After leaving Liquan Pavilion, Mu Yunjin took Zhuang Yuyan directly to the dining hall, smiling as she spoke, “Let’s eat together.”

“Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Zhuang Yuyan said with a smile.

“If you stand on ceremony with me, my brother won’t be lenient with me.” Mu Yunjin pulled Zhuang Yuyan to sit down, her eyes filled with mirth.

Zhuang Yuyan nodded, first taking a sip of tea. After putting down the teacup, she looked at Mu Yunjin, “Have you heard about the talent performance?”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“Now all the ladies have been ordered to perform talents. Songs and dances aren’t special anymore. I’m afraid everyone is racking their brains thinking of other performances,” Zhuang Yuyan said, her face showing some difficulty.

Mu Yunjin, however, laughed coldly, speaking disdainfully, “I don’t know who came up with such a terrible idea. You and I are both married now, already someone’s wife. How could we be like unmarried girls, exposing ourselves like that, trying to please the Qin family…”