As soon as the carriage stopped at the mansion gate, Mu Yunjin was the first to jump off, rushing toward Liquan Pavilion with Zixiang following behind, jogging to keep up with her pace.

Outside the carriage, Ding Xian witnessed this scene, already accustomed to it. After Chu Li alighted from the carriage, Ding Xian inquired, “Your Highness, now that Miss Qin has returned, can we try that Black Lotus?”

“Wait a little longer,” Chu Li replied coolly as he walked into the mansion.

…

The next day, Mu Yunjin slept until late morning. Only when a knock sounded at the door did she slowly awaken, looking drowsily toward the entrance.

“Come in.”

Zixiang pushed open the door. “Miss, the Marquis has sent someone with a message, requesting that you return to the mansion for a gathering.”

“What does he want with me?” Mu Yunjin, now somewhat awake, sat up in bed and stretched.

Zixiang shook her head. “It seems to be something important. He says the Miss must return for a visit.”

…

…

“Very well, I’ll get up now.”

A moment later, after washing and dressing, Mu Yunjin walked out of her room. The room diagonally across from hers had its doors tightly shut as usual, indicating that Chu Li wasn’t in the mansion.

When she reached the front hall, Mamma Shen saw Mu Yunjin and smiled, “Would the Prince Consort like to have breakfast before returning?”

“Yes,” Mu Yunjin nodded and walked toward the dining hall.

The table in the dining hall was filled with steaming breakfast dishes. Mu Yunjin sat down, took a bowl of porridge, and looked with surprise at the abundance of food.

“Why was so much prepared today?”

“Well, early this morning at dawn, Miss Qin came to the mansion, saying she wanted to have breakfast with His Highness. But then, for some reason, she insisted on taking His Highness out to eat elsewhere. Now all this food has gone to waste,” Mamma Shen explained.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin pursed her lips. In her impression, Chu Li was usually inflexible in his habits, but since Qin Muyue’s return, he seemed to be going along with her wishes.

Was it true affection, or did she have some leverage over him?

With these thoughts, Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows and lost her appetite for the feast before her. She put down her spoon. “I’m not eating. I’ll eat when I get to the Marquis’s mansion.”

“Eh? Not eating?” Mamma Shen looked with surprise at Mu Yunjin, who was leaving so abruptly, then gazed at the untouched meal, silently lamenting the waste.

These young masters who never worry about food or clothing…

…

Mu Yunjin deliberately chose to walk back. The Sixth Prince’s Mansion and the Marquis’s Mansion were only separated by two streets. Taking a carriage would be faster, but walking wouldn’t make her much later.

On the way, Mu Yunjin bought two steamed buns from a roadside vendor and ate as she walked.

Zixiang, walking beside her, was confused. “Miss, you didn’t eat that whole table of food earlier, but now you’re eating these street foods?”

“I didn’t feel like eating then,” Mu Yunjin replied.

“Miss, I suspect you might be unhappy because you heard that His Highness went out to eat with Miss Qin,” Zixiang covered her mouth and smiled.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin turned and glared at Zixiang. “Little girl, don’t talk nonsense.”

“You know that Chu Li and I don’t have a real husband-wife relationship. Sooner or later, we’ll part ways. Now that Qin Muyue has returned, whatever Chu Li does with her is none of my business. If Chu Li eventually wants to marry Qin Muyue, I’ll just leave with a clean break, take my saved thirty thousand taels of gold, and live freely on my own.”

Zixiang’s little face crumpled. Although she found Mu Yunjin’s words difficult to accept, she couldn’t deny the reality. Her mistress indeed had only the name of a wife to the Sixth Prince, without the substance of a marital relationship. But to simply give up the position of Sixth Prince Consort to that Miss Qin still felt uncomfortable.

“Miss, how can you live freely on your own? This servant would follow you even in death,” Zixiang composed herself and looked at Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin chuckled and reached out to pinch Zixiang’s face. “So you won’t get married then?”

“No, this servant wants to serve the Miss for life.”

“You silly girl…”

Amidst their laughter, they arrived at the gate of the Marquis’s mansion.

The steward, seeing Mu Yunjin, hurriedly came forward to greet her. After paying his respects, he said, “The Master is waiting for the Sixth Prince Consort in the front hall.”

Mu Yunjin nodded and stepped inside.

Upon entering the front hall of the Marquis’s mansion, she saw Marquis Mu and Luo Ningyu seated in the main positions, while Mu Lingzhu, Mu Xiarou, and Zhuang Yuyan sat on either side.

Seeing this arrangement, Mu Yunjin slightly raised her eyebrows, entered, and greeted the Marquis. “Father.”

Seeing Mu Yunjin, Marquis Mu’s tense face broke into a smile. He pointed to the space on his right. “Yunjin, sit down first.”

After sitting down, Mu Yunjin looked at everyone in the front hall, then fixed her gaze on Marquis Mu. “Father, why did you summon me today? Is there something urgent?”

Marquis Mu sighed, furrowed his brow, glanced at Mu Lingzhu beside him, then looked back at Mu Yunjin. “Last night, Zhu’er’s blindfolded calligraphy was the highlight of the banquet. Today, when I went to court, I met the Emperor’s younger brother, the current Prince Rong.”

“He exchanged pleasantries with me, then mentioned Zhu’er. After praising her, he hinted at certain matters.”

Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, pondering the Marquis’s words. The current Emperor was already over fifty, with sons nearly reaching their twenties. The Emperor’s brother must be at least in his forties.

With these thoughts, Mu Yunjin glanced sideways at Mu Lingzhu, who was lowering her head with red-rimmed eyes, obviously having cried.

Could it be that Prince Rong was suggesting…

“Prince Rong wants to marry Fourth Sister?” Mu Yunjin voiced her suspicion.

With this question, the Marquis’s expression became even more grave. He nodded slightly. “That was indeed his meaning. He intends to take Zhu’er as a concubine.”

“Yunjin, can you persuade the Sixth Prince to prevent this? Prince Rong is already forty-five this year. The two children he has with Princess Rong are nearly coming of age. Zhu’er is about the same age as them. How can she marry him and be wasted on Prince Rong!”

As Marquis Mu spoke with agitation, he coughed several times and took a breath.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, suddenly recalling how Mu Yunhan had announced his intention to marry Zhuang Yuyan when Chu Qingqiang was trying to arrange an imperial marriage for him.

She couldn’t help but suggest, “What if we arrange a marriage for Fourth Sister before Prince Rong formally proposes?”

Marquis Mu shook his head. “Prince Rong was well-prepared. He has already privately spread the news of his intention to marry Zhu’er. Who would dare risk offending Prince Rong by marrying her now!”

Seeing how thoroughly Prince Rong had prepared, Mu Yunjin let out a sigh, momentarily at a loss for words.

She never expected that Mu Lingzhu’s meticulously prepared talent performance last night, instead of attracting noble young men, would bring such trouble.

Being a concubine of Prince Rong sounded decent enough, but for someone as proud as Mu Lingzhu to address people her age as “father” because they were Prince Rong’s children, while calling him “husband” — wouldn’t that drive her mad?

“Sister, please help me. I don’t want to marry into Prince Rong’s household. Please ask the Sixth Prince for help. He must have a way to persuade Prince Rong,” Mu Lingzhu suddenly spoke through tears, falling to her knees before Mu Yunjin, crying pitifully.

Mu Yunjin bit her lip. Recalling Mu Lingzhu’s past actions, she had no desire to help her. But to have a young woman in the flower of youth marry a man who could be her father seemed excessive.

“I…”

“Prince Rong has arrived!”

Just as Mu Yunjin was about to offer to ask Chu Li for help, an announcement came from outside. Then, one servant after another walked in, carrying boxes of items into the front hall of the Marquis’s mansion.

After the room was filled with these items, a middle-aged man dressed in gray brocade entered. He was of imposing stature and extraordinary bearing, though wrinkles at the corners of his eyes revealed the passage of time.

“This official pays respects to Prince Rong,” Marquis Mu tensed up, seeing the man who suddenly entered the room along with all the gifts. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

“Hahaha, Marquis, no need for such formality. Today I have come to present betrothal gifts,” Prince Rong Chu Zhen said with a laugh, his gaze sweeping across everyone in the front hall.

The others immediately bowed to Chu Zhen.

When Chu Zhen’s gaze fell on Mu Yunjin, he rubbed his head and laughed a few times. “My little niece-in-law, you’re here too?”

Hearing Chu Zhen’s greeting, Mu Yunjin felt somewhat awkward but still managed to tug at the corners of her mouth as she looked at him. “Greetings, Uncle Prince.”

“Good, good,” Chu Zhen nodded with satisfaction. His gaze circled the room and finally settled on Mu Lingzhu. He smiled and walked toward her.

Seeing Prince Rong approach, Mu Lingzhu was so frightened she dared not raise her head. She stood in place, trembling continuously.

“Fourth Miss Mu, look at these betrothal gifts I have prepared. Are they enough? If not, feel free to say so, and I will have more prepared.”

As he spoke, Prince Rong reached out and gently stroked Mu Lingzhu’s cheek. “My, why are you trembling so badly? Are you afraid of me?”

“I have admired Fourth Miss Mu for a long time. A peerless talented woman like Fourth Miss Mu is truly rare to find, especially last night’s blindfolded calligraphy — it was marvelous!”

“Once you enter Prince Rong’s mansion, although you’ll be a concubine, no one will dare bully you. My principal wife has been bedridden with illness for half a year. The mansion currently lacks a woman to manage affairs. You are sensible and talented, making you the most suitable person to be the female master of the house.”

Everyone in the front hall, seeing Prince Rong’s excited speech, dared not interrupt. After all, he was the Emperor’s brother. At this moment, they had no choice but to listen to whatever he said.

Mu Yunjin watched the scene and sighed inwardly. This time, truly no one could help Mu Lingzhu.

Marquis Mu lowered his eyes. Although he was full of reluctant, he knew that this unfortunate matter had fallen on his head today.

Who knew what rumors would circulate in Butterfly Flower City tomorrow.

Mu Lingzhu was now biting her lip hard. Her peripheral vision fell on the room full of betrothal gifts, her mind constantly analyzing the current situation.

The man she had loved with all her heart, Chu Li, had married Mu Yunjin and now had Qin Muyue by his side. The position of Sixth Prince Consort would never be hers.

Her mother’s death had ruined much of her reputation. If the noble young men of Butterfly Flower City truly wanted to marry her, they would have come forward long ago.

Since she had to marry someone anyway, perhaps it would be better to marry Prince Rong. Then she might become Princess Rong, with a status that would even surpass Mu Yunjin.

With the identity of Princess Rong and Prince Rong’s support, she believed she could avenge her mother’s beheading and also settle the score with Mu Yunjin for stealing her position as Sixth Prince Consort!

“Father, your daughter is willing to marry Prince Rong.”