For three consecutive days, Mu Yunjin stayed in her bedchamber without stepping outside once. All her meals were brought to her room by Zixiang.
“Young Mistress, the doctor says from today you no longer need to take medicine,” Zixiang said as she walked in, placing the steaming food on the table.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, thinking of the bitter and unpleasant medicinal soup, she slightly pursed her lips.
Leaning against the headboard, Mu Yunjin glanced at Zixiang. “By the way, you mentioned that His Majesty bestowed quite a few things on me. Where are those items?”
“Those things are all in the mansion’s storeroom,” Zixiang replied.
“What? The storeroom?” Mu Yunjin frowned, making a move to get out of bed. “No, no, I need to retrieve all those things and find a suitable opportunity to pawn them for some money.”
Hearing this, Zixiang immediately came closer and grabbed Mu Yunjin. “Pawn them? Young Mistress, do you dislike staying here that much?”
“I need to make some preparations for my future life, don’t I?” Mu Yunjin sighed softly.
“Young Mistress, although you’re focused on planning for your future, this servant feels that you and His Highness the Sixth Prince might not be impossible,” Zixiang mumbled quietly.
…
…
Mu Yunjin reached out and poked Zixiang’s forehead. “You silly girl, what nonsense are you thinking?”
“Young Mistress…” Zixiang looked at Mu Yunjin somewhat pitifully. “This servant feels that anything is possible, especially since the Sixth Prince truly treats you well.”
“…”
Mu Yunjin was left speechless and didn’t continue this topic with Zixiang. After eating a few bites of food, she went back to sleep.
When she woke up again, it was already evening.
Mu Yunjin sat up in bed, stretched lazily, and, after putting on her shoes, walked toward the door.
The moment she pushed open the door, the room diagonally opposite also opened its door at the same time. Mu Yunjin heard the sound and looked up, only to see a purple figure walking out from inside.
“Bang—” Mu Yunjin immediately closed the door, leaning against it. She had barely seen Chu Li’s face before instinctively shutting the door.
After closing the door, Mu Yunjin bit her lip hard, even exasperated with herself.
“Knock, knock.”
A knocking sound came from behind her, followed by Chu Li’s calm voice from outside, “Mu Yunjin, what are you hiding from?”
“Creak—”
Mu Yunjin opened the door, her face tense as she looked at Chu Li now standing at the doorway, and replied with displeasure, “Who’s hiding from you?”
“Heh…” Chu Li lowered his eyes and chuckled softly. “You have the energy to talk back, so it seems you’re almost recovered.”
“It was just a minor cold, not some serious illness or injury.” Mu Yunjin snorted.
Chu Li gave Mu Yunjin a faint smile and a glance. “Tomorrow is Prince Rong’s wedding. Have you prepared the wedding gift?”
“Wedding gift?” Mu Yunjin was stunned and glanced at Chu Li. “Why do I need to prepare a wedding gift?”
“As the mistress of this Prince’s residence, shouldn’t these matters be your concern rather than this Prince’s?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow, his gaze coolly sweeping over Mu Yunjin.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin rolled her eyes toward the sky. “Doesn’t your residence have a storeroom? Just pick something from there. After all, he’s just taking a secondary consort, no need for such a grand gesture.”
“Handle it as you see fit.” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, and just as he was about to leave, he paused and turned back. “Tomorrow, you need not go to the Xiang residence. You’ll accompany this Prince to Prince Rong’s residence instead.”
“Mm.” Mu Yunjin nodded.
After Chu Li left, Mu Yunjin stood alone with her arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, watching the sunset gradually sink below the horizon, and let out a deep sigh.
……
Early the next morning, Mu Yunjin was awakened by Zixiang to get up and dress.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
In front of the dressing table, Mu Yunjin began to cough. Looking at the high bun in the mirror, though she was reluctant, she knew that for today’s occasion, she couldn’t be too casual.
“The Fourth Young Miss is marrying into Prince Rong’s household today. I heard Prince Rong made quite a grand display for her. Not only did he personally come to welcome her, but he also sent a large bridal sedan chair carried by sixteen people, grandly escorting the Fourth Young Miss to be married,” Zixiang said as she helped Mu Yunjin put on the last jade hairpin.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin was unimpressed. “Prince Rong is nearly twenty years older than Mu Lingzhu, and there’s already a Princess Consort from the Qin family in his residence. Her days in Prince Rong’s household might not be any better than in the Xiang residence.”
“She deserves it. Who told her to treat Young Mistress that way in the past? Now she’s getting her retribution,” Zixiang spat.
Mu Yunjin pinched Zixiang’s cheek and smiled.
After finishing her preparations, Mu Yunjin walked out of her room. Outside, Chu Li was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard of Liquan Pavilion, seemingly waiting for Mu Yunjin.
Catching sight of Mu Yunjin in her brocade attire with her hair styled in a married woman’s bun, Chu Li slightly furrowed his brow, as if finding it… displeasing.
“Does it not look good?” Seeing Chu Li frown, Mu Yunjin looked down at herself and adjusted the hairpin in her bun.
Chu Li’s expression was indifferent. After Mu Yunjin’s question, he stood up, walked a few steps closer, and slowly reached out to pull out one of the hairpins from her bun.
The hairpin left the bun, and the previously well-arranged hair instantly fell loose. Dark tresses cascaded down onto her shoulders, suddenly appearing somewhat disheveled.
“Chu Li, what are you doing!” Mu Yunjin was somewhat annoyed, glaring at Chu Li.
“It looked hideously ugly just now,” Chu Li said with furrowed brows, his tone distinctly disapproving.
Mu Yunjin was stunned. She reached up to touch the hair that now hung down, and strangely, the anger that had been building was suppressed by Chu Li’s single remark.
“Zixiang, help me fix my hair again.” Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and sat down.
Zixiang immediately understood and went to Mu Yunjin’s side, quickly redoing her hair into a simple small bun like she usually wore, finishing by placing a simple butterfly hairpin.
“Young Mistress, it’s done.”
Mu Yunjin nodded and instinctively glanced at Chu Li again.
“Let’s go.” Chu Li swept a glance over Mu Yunjin and spoke coolly, then headed toward the front hall.
Mu Yunjin immediately stood up and followed. Without the heavy bun, she now felt much lighter.
……
Inside the carriage, Mu Yunjin’s coughing could be heard from time to time. Each time she coughed, Mu Yunjin would take out the preserved fruits she carried with her, eating one to soothe her throat.
“Does Prince Rong live outside the city?” Mu Yunjin lifted the curtain slightly and looked at the street scene outside, which seemed to be gradually heading toward the direction of leaving the city.
“Mm.” Chu Li responded.
Mu Yunjin lowered the curtain, the corner of her lips curling into a faint smile. “Living outside the city, if anything happens, it would truly be a case of heaven won’t respond and earth won’t answer.”
“Cough, cough, cough.” After speaking, Mu Yunjin coughed several times.
After coughing, Mu Yunjin raised her hand to her chest, silently cursing her misfortune. Jumping into a lake to save someone was a good deed, but how had it left her in such a state?
Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but lament that this body’s constitution was far too weak.
Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin from the corner of his eye, pressed his lips together, and remained silent.
After the carriage traveled for a while, Mu Yunjin gradually heard the bustling noise of crowds and the sounds of firecrackers and suona horns, estimating that they had arrived at Prince Rong’s residence.
After getting out of the carriage, Mu Yunjin stood beside Chu Li, looking at the large signboard of Prince Rong’s residence before them, marveling that Prince Rong was truly a person who lived a luxurious and extravagant life.
Following Chu Li through the main gates of Prince Rong’s residence, many officials and merchants bowed to the two of them along the way. When they reached the front hall, Mu Yunjin saw Old General Qin and a dignified-looking woman dressed in a bright red embroidered dress sitting in the main seats.
Old General Qin saw Chu Li and Mu Yunjin and nodded slightly in acknowledgment, which counted as a greeting.
“Today, for the wedding ceremony, is Old General Qin attending as an elder?” Mu Yunjin asked, moving closer to Chu Li.
Chu Li nodded.
“Is that woman beside him Prince Rong’s Consort?” Mu Yunjin asked again.
Chu Li nodded again.
“How come Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister-in-law start whispering as soon as they arrive?” A teasing voice came from one side.
Mu Yunjin didn’t even turn her head. Hearing this voice, she knew it was that annoying fellow Chu Qing again.
Chu Qing was quite used to Mu Yunjin’s attitude toward him and smiled, “The Xiang residence has had many happy events recently, one after another. Sixth Sister-in-law truly set a good precedent.”
“Third Prince, are you very idle?” Mu Yunjin tilted her head to look at Chu Qing, making no effort to hide the disgust in her eyes.
Chu Qing smiled awkwardly, looking at Mu Yunjin and then at Chu Li. “Hahaha, since Sixth Sister-in-law is making such a face, this Prince will be sensible and not disturb Sixth Brother and Sixth Sister-in-law’s whispering.”
After speaking, Chu Qing walked away.
Seeing that Chu Qing had left, Mu Yunjin let out a cold snort and looked at Chu Li. “I’m discovering for the first time that someone like you who speaks so little is quite nice.”
“Is that a compliment?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and looked at Mu Yunjin.
“I suppose so…”
“Brother Li…” Qin Muyue’s voice came from the main entrance.
Hearing this voice, Mu Yunjin’s brow furrowed, and then she saw Qin Muyue dressed in a lemon-yellow gauze dress, walking quickly toward them with light steps.
Arriving in front of Chu Li, Qin Muyue’s face bloomed with smiles.
“Sister-in-law Yunjin, you’re here too?” A moment later, Qin Muyue’s gaze finally turned to Mu Yunjin standing beside Chu Li.
Mu Yunjin forced a cold smile. “Yes, I’m here too.”
“Sister-in-law Yunjin, please don’t misunderstand my meaning. I’m not unwelcoming you; I’m just surprised you’re not at the Xiang residence accompanying your Fourth Sister,” Qin Muyue glanced at the forced smile on Mu Yunjin’s face and stuck out her tongue at her.
“Chu Li asked me to come here,” Mu Yunjin said flatly, with her hands behind her back.
Hearing Mu Yunjin naturally use Chu Li’s name, the smile on Qin Muyue’s face froze, and she slightly lowered her eyes.
Chu Li cast a faint glance at Mu Yunjin beside him. Hearing her directly call him by name, he showed no sign of displeasure, implicitly acknowledging her way of addressing him.
“Brother Li, you and I are about the same age. Can I call you that too in the future?” Qin Muyue paused for a moment, raised her eyes to look at Chu Li, her eyes full of expectation.
“No.” Chu Li coldly refused.
Qin Muyue’s eyes flashed, and she pressed her lips together, putting on a pitiful expression, blinking at Chu Li. “Why can Sister-in-law Yunjin do it, but I can’t?”
Chu Li seemed not to have heard, not even raising an eyelid in Qin Muyue’s direction. His gaze swept warmly over Mu Yunjin at his side as he spoke coldly—
“You are not this Prince’s consort.”