“I…”

Mu Lingzhu looked around at the roomful of mockery and derision. She opened her mouth, but suddenly found herself speechless, not knowing how to defend herself.

She glanced at Mu Yunjin sitting nearby, who remained calm and composed, her expression indifferent, as if none of this had anything to do with her.

Seeing this, Mu Lingzhu became even more furious. It was clearly all Mu Yunjin’s fault that she had ended up like this, so how could she remain so nonchalant?

Her mother had already been killed by Mu Yunjin, and now, after all this time, she still wouldn’t leave her alone!

Mu Lingzhu clenched her fists. The mockery throughout the cabin made it impossible for her to hold her head up. Never in her life had she felt such shame and anger. She glanced at the emerald-green lake water nearby, a flash of desolation crossing her heart. Turning to look at Mu Yunjin, she gritted her teeth and said, “Mu Yunjin, you’ve made me suffer so much, I won’t let you live in peace either!”

With those words, Mu Lingzhu rose and ran out of the cabin. Before anyone could react, there was a “splash” sound.

Outside the cabin, a guard shouted, “Not good, Lady Mu has jumped into the lake!”

Hearing this, everyone in the cabin immediately stood up and hurried outside, lifting their skirts as they ran.

…

Standing at the edge of the boat, Mu Yunjin could see Mu Lingzhu’s struggling figure in the lake. She glanced at the guards nearby, all standing there with no apparent intention of entering the water.

Mu Yunjin frowned, inwardly cursing Chu Qingqiang’s cruelty. If Mu Lingzhu died like this today, people would only say that she, Mu Yunjin, had driven Mu Lingzhu to her death.

This was a reputation she couldn’t bear.

Then, with another splash, Mu Yunjin jumped into the lake and swam toward Mu Lingzhu.

On the edge of the boat, the Princess of Rong watched this scene and exchanged a glance with Qin Muyue and Chu Qingqiang.

After jumping into the water, Mu Yunjin inwardly complained that her fate must be tied to water lately, as she kept jumping into lakes.

When she reached Mu Lingzhu, the girl still had some consciousness, though she seemed to be suffering from choking on water. She didn’t struggle when Mu Yunjin came to rescue her.

Mu Yunjin laboriously dragged Mu Lingzhu toward the boat, but suddenly the vessel accelerated, quickly sailing toward the center of the lake. The people on the boat’s edge grew more and more distant from them.

Mu Yunjin looked at the people standing motionless at the boat’s edge and laughed coldly. Inexplicably, a surge of true energy rose in her chest, and techniques from the Xuanling True Scripture appeared in her mind.

A moment later, Mu Yunjin felt that energy about to burst from her body. She twisted her wrist, drawing out the true energy into her palm, and struck out at Mu Lingzhu beside her. The force propelled Mu Lingzhu’s body out of the water, sending her flying steadily onto the wooden boat.

The people on the boat were frightened and stepped back as Mu Lingzhu flew toward them. Then they all stared at Mu Lingzhu, who lay on the deck with a faint breath, her body twitching slightly.

The Princess of Rong glanced at Mu Lingzhu on the ground, her face revealing no particular emotion, and gave a signal to a guard nearby.

The guard immediately understood and stepped forward to help expel the lake water from Mu Lingzhu’s chest.

Seeing that Mu Lingzhu had successfully made it onto the boat, Mu Yunjin looked at the people standing by, unmoved, and her eyes grew cold.

Just as she was about to use her lightness skill to fly from the lake surface, fierce winds suddenly arose around Yingguang Lake, and a massive whirlpool appeared on the previously calm water.

Mu Yunjin looked in astonishment at the whirlpool near her, clearly sensing a strange current that had emanated from the boat’s hull.

This whirlpool was artificially controlled!

Seeing the dangerous approach of this massive whirlpool, Mu Yunjin tried to quickly extract herself using her lightness skill, but discovered she could no longer summon her true energy.

As the whirlpool drew ever closer, Mu Yunjin’s heart sank, and she began swimming forward.

At the same time, she heard someone shout from the distant boat, “It’s going to rain, let’s head back first!”

Seeing the boat moving further away, Mu Yunjin looked around and realized that Yingguang Lake was extremely vast. She was now in the middle of the lake with no way to reach the shore quickly.

Thinking about it, Mu Yunjin was grateful she had left Zixiang on the shore, or she would have been in trouble too.

As she was thinking, the whirlpool bore down directly on Mu Yunjin. Then, a high splash of water rose at the lake’s edge, and together with the whirlpool, engulfed her…

Mu Yunjin was instantly pulled to the bottom of the lake. While she still had some consciousness, she covered her nose and mouth, feeling her body wrapped in the whirlpool, unable to move.

Was this truly the end for her?

In her hazy state, Mu Yunjin felt herself falling into a scorching embrace that carried her step by step toward the light.

After an unknown period, the choking sensation disappeared. When Mu Yunjin slightly opened her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar face.

“Muyue, you’ve gone too far this time!”

“Brother, it wasn’t me…”

“Young Miss, Young Miss, how are you…”

Mu Yunjin heard these voices echoing around her. Her head spun violently, and with a muffled groan, her consciousness slipped away, and she fainted.

…

At the Sixth Prince’s Residence.

“Reporting to Your Highness, the Princess Consort was fortunately rescued in time. There is no serious harm; she only needs a few days of rest to recover,” the physician said after examining Mu Yunjin, carefully glancing at the man whose face had turned ashen.

Chu Li, his brows furrowed and eyes fixed on the pale, unconscious woman on the bed, turned his cold face toward Zixiang and asked, “What exactly happened today?”

Encountering his frigid gaze, Zixiang was frightened and immediately knelt, crying as she spoke, “Today, Young Miss didn’t allow this servant to follow her onto the boat. I only saw from the shore that the Fourth Young Lady suddenly jumped into the water, and then Young Miss jumped in after her.”

“Later, everyone from the boat returned to shore, but Young Miss was nowhere to be seen. In the end, it was the young master of the Qin family who saved her…”

“Ding Xian, investigate,” Chu Li ordered with furrowed brows, his voice bearing an unprecedented coldness and murderous intent.

After Ding Xian left, Mamma Shen stood by the bed, anxiously pacing in circles. “What in the world happened? How could a simple lake outing result in falling into the water?”

“Mamma Shen, you don’t know, those people actually abandoned Young Miss and returned by themselves, saying it was going to rain and the lake surface was unstable, so they sailed back to shore first, and then planned to find someone to rescue Young Miss…”

“This…” Mamma Shen was about to speak but stopped, glancing at Chu Li, who was already on the edge of rage, not daring to continue.

“All of you, leave,” Chu Li suddenly commanded.

Mamma Shen and Zixiang exchanged a glance, then nodded and walked out.

The room was left with only Chu Li and Mu Yunjin.

…

Chu Li stood by Mu Yunjin’s bedside, his expression grave. It was the first time he had seen this usually cunning and arrogant woman lying pale-faced on the bed, and he felt an indescribable sensation in his heart.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

After some time, a coughing sound broke the silence of the room.

Mu Yunjin slowly awakened, her throat feeling as if it were on fire. She drowsily reached out her hand, frowning, “Zixiang, water.”

Shortly after, a cup of warm water was placed in her hand.

Mu Yunjin propped herself up, drained the cup in one go, and then, somewhat dazed, rubbed her temples. “Zixiang, when did I return?”

“An hour ago.”

“Mm.” Mu Yunjin made a sound of acknowledgment and was about to lie down when she suddenly jolted, turning her head to look to the side, somewhat startled to see the person standing there.

“Why are you here?”

Chu Li, looking at her speaking with such vigor, where was even the slightest trace of the weakness she had shown while unconscious, couldn’t help but wonder what this woman was made of.

“Then who would you prefer to be here?” Chu Li countered. Seeing she was unharmed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, recalling the scene before she lost consciousness. It was an unfamiliar man who had saved her.

Later, she seemed to have heard Qin Muyue call him brother. Could the person who saved her be Qin Munan?

As she was thinking, there came a knock at the door.

“Your Highness,” Ding Xian’s voice sounded from outside.

“Come in.”

Ding Xian pushed open the door. Upon entering and seeing that Mu Yunjin was already awake, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “Princess Consort, it’s good that you’re alright. You should have seen how worried His Highness was earlier…”

Before Ding Xian could finish, he encountered a stern, cold gaze and promptly closed his mouth, smiling awkwardly.

“Your Highness, the matter has been investigated,” Ding Xian said, dropping his smile as he approached Chu Li and spoke in a low voice.

Then, Ding Xian told Chu Li everything that had happened at Yingguang Lake that day, in complete detail.

Mu Yunjin leaned against the headboard, listening to Ding Xian’s words. The scenes from Yingguang Lake gradually came back to her, and her eyes also grew cold.

The Princess of Rong, Chu Qingqiang, Qin Muyue…

Among these three, one must have created the whirlpool that nearly killed her.

Did they think Mu Yunjin was someone easy to bully?

There would be plenty of time in the future. Just wait!

After Ding Xian finished his report, he immediately made an excuse and tactfully left Mu Yunjin’s room.

The room fell silent once more.

“Are you going to avenge me?” After a while, Mu Yunjin broke the silence, her eyes showing a hint of amusement, a smile on her lips as she looked at Chu Li.

Seeing her change expressions faster than turning pages of a book, Chu Li felt both amused and exasperated, glancing at her, “How do you expect this prince to avenge you?”

“Forget it, I don’t need you to avenge me. I’ll handle my affairs,” Mu Yunjin said dismissively, cold murderous intent showing in her eyes.

Chu Li placed his hand on Mu Yunjin’s shoulder, his brow slightly furrowed, seemingly displeased to see the killing intent in Mu Yunjin’s eyes. “Whatever you want, this prince will help you do it.”

“Why are you being so good to me?” Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“You now bear this prince’s name. Today’s matter is not just your problem alone,” Chu Li said, looking at Mu Yunjin.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin suddenly felt delighted inside. She raised her chin, meeting Chu Li’s deep gaze, “Today’s incident was almost half caused by Chu Qingqiang.”

“I once privately agreed with her that we would each mind our own business, but it seems she has completely forgotten. Since that’s the case, I will now destroy her with my own hands, to let her know that Mu Yunjin is not someone anyone can bully!”