Mu Yunjin glanced at the meddlesome Chu Qing, slightly raising her eyebrow. “It’s my Fourth Sister’s wedding day. If anyone should comfort her, it should be Prince Rong. It’s hardly my place.”
Chu Qing chuckled softly. “I suppose this Prince was being too nosy. I won’t disturb you two any further.”
After speaking, Chu Qing looked at Chu Li and added, “Sixth Brother, tomorrow Father Emperor wants us to meet him at the Chen hour to discuss matters. Don’t forget.”
“Mm.” Chu Li responded indifferently, then boarded the black hardwood carriage waiting outside the mansion.
Mu Yunjin followed and got into the carriage.
Outside the carriage, Chu Qing watched the two as they left, a smile of inscrutable meaning appearing at the corner of his lips.
……
In the carriage, Mu Yunjin leaned against the window frame, watching the scenery along the way outside the city, an indescribable emotion stirring within her.
After some time, when the carriage stopped at the entrance of Water Cloud Temple, Mu Yunjin looked at Chu Li with surprise. “Why are we here again?”
…
…
“This Prince has some business with Master Huaiyuan. You can wander around on your own first.” Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, then walked out of the carriage.
Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and remained seated in the carriage, not getting off.
Watching Chu Li and Ding Xian walk up the steps, Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together and called out, “Zixiang…”
“This servant is here.” Zixiang immediately walked to the carriage window.
“Is there anything good to eat near this Water Cloud Temple?” Mu Yunjin asked, feeling somewhat bored as she looked around.
Zixiang thought for a moment, paused for a while, then shook her head. “This servant doesn’t know exactly, but I heard Mamma Shen say that Empress Qin particularly enjoys the vegetarian dishes at Water Cloud Temple, saying they’re especially pure and delicious.”
“Oh? Vegetarian dishes?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. Normally, she wouldn’t have any interest in such bland food, but today her throat had been itchy and she’d been coughing. Hearing Zixiang mention these vegetarian dishes, she felt like trying them.
Shortly after, Mu Yunjin got out of the carriage and winked at Zixiang. “This young lady brought enough silver today. Come on, I’ll treat you to vegetarian food.”
“Thank you, Young Mistress.” After speaking, Zixiang followed beside Mu Yunjin as they walked up the steps.
At the entrance of Water Cloud Temple, several monks were standing guard. Mu Yunjin had been here a few times, so the monks naturally recognized her. Seeing her step onto the stairs, they bowed respectfully.
“May I ask where we can eat vegetarian food?” Mu Yunjin asked.
“In reply to the Sixth Prince’s Consort, after entering the temple, continue straight to the left. Jingxin Garden is where our temple serves vegetarian food,” the monk replied respectfully.
Mu Yunjin nodded, thanked him, and walked toward Jingxin Garden on the left.
A moment later, Mu Yunjin stood at the entrance of Jingxin Garden, listening to the soft Buddhist chants coming from inside. She felt an inexplicable sense of peace and comfort.
As she walked in, a monk came forward to meet her. “Greetings to the Sixth Prince’s Consort.”
“Our Princess Consort would like to try the vegetarian dishes here. Please trouble this young master to prepare something,” Zixiang said.
“Please wait a moment, Princess Consort.”
After the monk left, Mu Yunjin found a place to sit down. Zixiang also sat down nearby and, seeing a teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea for Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin’s throat was painfully dry. She picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. Immediately, the fragrance of flower tea spread through her mouth, moistening her throat and making it feel much better.
“Elder Brother, my injuries have almost healed. Tomorrow, you can continue to practice martial arts with me.”
“Junior Brother, let’s wait a few more days. You’re just recovering from a serious injury. You should rest and build up your strength. There’s no rush to practice martial arts…”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes, drinking her tea, when she heard two voices suddenly enter the room. Her hand holding the teacup paused slightly. After raising her eyelids, she saw that the people who had entered were Wenyuan and Mingyuan, the ones she had fought with that day.
The two sat down at a table next to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin silently cursed her bad luck, propped her head up with her right hand, and turned her head to the left, trying to avoid those two as much as possible.
A moment later, several monks brought a table full of vegetarian dishes to Mu Yunjin.
“Please enjoy your meal.” A monk bowed slightly and then walked out.
Mu Yunjin looked at the table full of simple dishes, licked her lips, picked up her chopsticks, and picked up a piece of green, eating slowly and carefully.
After finishing a mouthful of greens, Mu Yunjin took a spoonful of soft tofu. After eating it, she still couldn’t describe the taste.
It truly was vegetarian food—so bland it didn’t even have a hint of saltiness.
As she ate with her head down, Mu Yunjin didn’t notice that her every move had already caught the attention of Wenyuan and Mingyuan beside her.
At first, the two just thought she looked somewhat familiar but weren’t quite sure. However, when they glimpsed the fine thread wrapped around her wrist, the two immediately exchanged a knowing glance.
Legend had it that the spiritual weapon, the Phoenix Tail Whip, had been infused with immortal spirit during its forging. Therefore, after recognizing its master, it would transform into a fine thread wrapped around the master’s wrist. When the weapon’s master channeled their true energy, the thread would sense it and transform into the divine weapon—the Phoenix Tail Whip.
And now, wasn’t the fine thread wrapped around that woman’s wrist the divine weapon, the Phoenix Tail Whip, that had injured them that day?
Well, well, they had been wondering where to find her for revenge, and now she had delivered herself to their doorstep.
……
At first, Mu Yunjin found the vegetarian food bland and tasteless, but as she gradually ate more, she discovered it had its unique flavor. She completely forgot that Wenyuan and Mingyuan were still sitting nearby.
After finishing her plate, Mu Yunjin leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh.
Then, before she could react, a cold flash appeared beside her. She felt a chill at her neck. Looking down slightly, she discovered that a sword was now at her throat.
“Ah! How dare you…” Seeing this, Zixiang slapped the table and was about to angrily curse when she saw Mu Yunjin make a ‘shush’ gesture toward her.
Zixiang was startled and immediately closed her mouth.
“Demoness, do you remember us?” Wenyuan held the sword. Seeing Mu Yunjin sitting motionless in the chair, a smug smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Mu Yunjin glanced sideways at the two, reached out to flick Wenyuan’s sword, making a ‘ding’ sound. “Has this young master mistaken me for someone else?”
“I wish I had, but the Phoenix Tail Whip on your wrist doesn’t want me to be mistaken!” Wenyuan said with contempt, moving closer to Mu Yunjin and lowering his voice. “If you’re smart, hand over the true scripture. Otherwise, don’t blame the blade for having no eyes.”
“Alas, I forgot to check the almanac before going out today. Even eating vegetarian food, I can run into someone seeking revenge.” Mu Yunjin took out a silk handkerchief, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and looked at Zixiang. “Little Xiang, go get my husband.”
Zixiang immediately understood, nodded, and ran out.
Mingyuan, standing to the side, saw Zixiang run away and was about to chase after her when he suddenly felt a pain in his calf. Looking down, he saw three silver needles firmly embedded in his calf.
“Despicable demoness! I’ll kill you today!” Mingyuan was furious. He pulled out the silver needles, picked up a staff nearby, and prepared to sweep it toward Mu Yunjin.
Perhaps the commotion inside was too loud. A young monk on duty outside ran in. Seeing the situation, he stared wide-eyed at Wenyuan, who was holding his sword against Mu Yunjin’s throat.
“Master Wenyuan, this is an honored guest of our temple, the current Sixth Prince’s Consort. You absolutely must not disturb her!”
“What?!” Wenyuan’s hand holding the sword trembled inexplicably, and he looked at the young monk who had run in with an expression of astonishment.
Mingyuan, beside him, was equally surprised.
“I just saw the Sixth Prince talking with Master Huaiyuan at the front. The Sixth Prince’s Consort has come to the temple with the Sixth Prince several times. How could we mistake her?”
Wenyuan was now full of shock. He glanced at Mu Yunjin’s calm and composed face, then thought back to the vicious skills this woman had displayed that day. How could she possibly be the Sixth Prince’s Consort?
Or was it that he had truly mistaken her identity?
But the Phoenix Tail Whip on her wrist was unmistakable. What was going on?
“Ah—”
Before Wenyuan could fully react, with his sword still at Mu Yunjin’s throat, a powerful palm strike swept toward him, sending him flying through the window and crashing onto a garden rock outside. He immediately spat blood and fainted.
Seeing this, Mingyuan’s legs went weak, and he knelt. “Paying respects to the Sixth Prince.”
Chu Li now stood at the entrance of Jingxin Garden, his face dark, his eyes slightly narrowed, coldly glancing at Mingyuan kneeling on the ground.
Mu Yunjin sat up, stretched her neck, and lazily sighed. “Aiya, I can’t even eat a meal in peace. Someone’s threatening to kill me with a sword. How frightening.”
“Your Highness, those two just spoke rashly, calling our Princess Consort a demoness,” Zixiang stood beside Chu Li, glaring at the kneeling Mingyuan.
Mingyuan’s legs went weak again. He cast a pleading look toward Master Huaiyuan, who had come with Chu Li. “Elder Brother, this is all a misunderstanding. Brother Wenyuan mistook the Sixth Prince’s Consort for the woman who injured us in the Dark Pavilion last time.”
“You two, really…” Huaiyuan shook his head helplessly, glancing at Chu Li beside him. Seeing that Chu Li was emanating a low-pressure aura, he didn’t dare speak up to help Mingyuan and Wenyuan out of their predicament.
Chu Li’s icy gaze swept over Mingyuan, then turned to look at Mu Yunjin. “What do you say?”
The implication was that the fate of these two men would be decided by Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin touched the Phoenix Tail Whip on her wrist and glanced lightly at Mingyuan kneeling on the ground. “Heaven values all life. In a Buddhist sacred place, it’s best to avoid bloodshed.”
“Since the two masters have mistaken me, it means this was a misunderstanding. Since it’s a misunderstanding, clarifying it is enough.”
“Master Mingyuan, will you be able to recognize me clearly next time we meet?” Mu Yunjin lowered her eyes to look at Mingyuan.
Mingyuan, meeting Mu Yunjin’s gaze, nodded repeatedly. “This humble monk was dim-sighted. Thank you, Sixth Prince’s Consort, for your magnanimity in not holding a grudge against small people. Next time, this humble monk and my elder brother will certainly not make this mistake again.”
“Good, that’s settled then.” Mu Yunjin smiled faintly and raised an eyebrow to look at Chu Li. “Shall we go?”
Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin, an indescribable meaning in his eyes. He snorted softly and turned to walk out of Jingxin Garden.
Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow and followed Chu Li out with light steps.
After everyone had left, Mingyuan, who had been kneeling on the ground, immediately got up, jumped out the back window, and supported the now-unconscious Wenyuan. “Elder Brother, Elder Brother…”
Wenyuan slowly regained consciousness, his brow tightly furrowed, painfully clutching his chest as he spoke slowly, “I can’t be wrong. That Sixth Prince’s Consort must be the demoness who stole our true scripture that day.”
“Then doesn’t that mean the Xuanling True Scripture is now in the hands of the Sixth Prince?”