For the next two days, Mu Yunjin rested in her bedroom, constantly planning how to expose Chu Qingqiang’s collusion with Huayue House to the world.

Since Chu Qingqiang dared to scheme against her, she would have to be prepared for the consequences of that scheme.

“Young Miss, it’s time for your medicine,” Zixiang said, walking in with a bowl of medicinal soup.

Looking at the steaming herbs, Mu Yunjin felt exasperated. She had truly been suffering lately, forced to drink these bitter Chinese medicines one after another.

After reluctantly finishing the bowl of medicine, Zixiang handed Mu Yunjin a preserved fruit, then said, “Young Miss, I heard that the Princess of Rong and Miss Qin will be coming to visit you later, to apologize for what happened.”

“A weasel paying New Year’s respects to a chicken—they’re up to no good. Just tell them I’m unwell and won’t see them,” Mu Yunjin rejected outright while eating the preserved fruit.

Hearing this, Zixiang curved her lips into a smile. “His Highness has already instructed that no visitors are to be received while you’re recovering.”

“Good.” Mu Yunjin nodded with satisfaction, and then spent some time chatting and joking with Zixiang.

After a while, there was a knock at the door, and Mamma Shen’s voice came from outside, “Princess Consort, it’s this servant.”

…

“What is it?” Mu Yunjin responded lazily.

“The Prince of Rong and his Princess, along with Miss Qin, have come to visit you. Although His Highness ordered that you shouldn’t see anyone, His Highness isn’t in the residence right now, and this servant cannot handle these important guests alone,” Mamma Shen explained awkwardly from outside.

Mu Yunjin pressed her lips together, dismissively saying, “Then tell them all to go home.”

“This servant has already said that, but the Princess of Rong said that your fall into the lake was due to her poor arrangements. If she doesn’t personally apologize to the Princess Consort, her conscience won’t be at ease.”

“What a troubled conscience,” Mu Yunjin laughed coldly. Hearing Mamma Shen’s difficult situation from outside the door, she sat up and was about to get out of bed and put on her shoes.

Seeing this, Zixiang immediately stopped Mu Yunjin, frowning, “Young Miss, you’re going to see them? That day they were cold-hearted and abandoned you…”

“It’s fine. They brought the Prince of Rong with them, so they came prepared. If I don’t see them, who knows what gossip will spread through Diehua City tomorrow.” Mu Yunjin put on her shoes and asked Zixiang to help tidy her hair.

A moment later, Mu Yunjin left her room and walked toward the front hall.

…

In the front hall, the Prince of Rong, the Princess of Rong, and Qin Muyue were sitting in the side seats. After Mu Yunjin entered, she didn’t bow to the Prince and Princess of Rong but went directly to the main seat. She glanced coldly at the three people in the hall.

Seeing this, the Prince of Rong wasn’t angered. He laughed dryly a few times, “My nephew’s wife, Uncle Wang heard that you fell into the water and fainted a few days ago. How is your health now?”

“I’ve recovered,” Mu Yunjin said, taking a sip of the flower tea Zixiang had prepared, moistening her throat.

The Princess of Rong glanced at Mu Yunjin. Though her face was still rather pale, there was no weakness in her voice, indicating she truly had no major issues.

So, she frowned, lowered her eyes, and showed a trace of apology, “Nephew’s wife, I came especially today to apologize to you. During the poetry gathering that day, it was my failure to properly manage Lady Mu that led to this incident.”

“Yes, Sister-in-law Yunjin, your fourth sister doesn’t know her limits. How could she attempt suicide by jumping into the lake so recklessly? Fortunately, you weren’t seriously hurt this time. Otherwise, Muyue would have been devastated,” Qin Muyue chimed in, smiling slightly at Mu Yunjin, her eyes revealing nothing.

Hearing them place all the blame on Mu Lingzhu, Mu Yunjin snorted lightly. Her fingers tapped casually on the table beside her, and she remained silent.

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat depressed and tense.

“His Highness has returned!” Mamma Shen, who had been waiting outside, poked her head in. Upon seeing Chu Li enter, she felt an inexplicable relief.

The Princess Consort, facing these three powerful figures alone, had made her quite nervous.

When Chu Li stepped into the front hall, he saw Mu Yunjin sitting in the main seat, thinly clothed and pale-faced. His brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at the other three.

“Brother Li…” As soon as Qin Muyue saw Chu Li, she stood up excitedly.

However, Chu Li didn’t even look at her. He walked straight toward Mu Yunjin, his eyes gradually becoming intense, “Why are you out of bed?”

“I…” Mu Yunjin, under Chu Li’s darkening gaze, opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

“Lier, your Aunt Wang came today to apologize to your nephew’s wife. Didn’t she suffer greatly because of the incident a few days ago?” Prince of Rong Chu Zhen explained with a smile, seeing Chu Li’s unfriendly tone.

Hearing this, Chu Li gave a faint “mm” and glanced lightly at the Prince of Rong. “Since you’ve already apologized, Uncle Wang should head back. Yunjin still needs to rest.”

“Yes, yes, yes, we were just about to leave,” the Prince of Rong nodded repeatedly, inwardly cursing himself for feeling like a grandson. Every time he met Chu Li, the young man gave off an inexplicable pressure, despite being the younger generation.

Beside them, Qin Muyue bit her lip, watching Chu Li’s concern for Mu Yunjin since the moment he entered. Flashes of jealousy appeared in her eyes.

The Princess of Rong looked at Qin Muyue and shook her head at her.

“Then we’ll leave first. Nephew’s wife, Uncle Wang brought you a box of thousand-year ginseng today, a great tonic to help you recover,” the Prince of Rong said with a smile as he stood up.

Mu Yunjin nodded, curving her lips, “Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Uncle Wang.”

“We’re all family, it’s what I should do.” With that, the Prince of Rong put his arm around the Princess of Rong, and they walked toward the door.

Qin Muyue walked a few steps forward, then paused, turning to look at Chu Li, “Brother Li, in a few days, shall we try again with that black…”

“Not necessary. You should go home now,” Chu Li coldly interrupted Qin Muyue.

Qin Muyue was startled, then smiled mockingly. She didn’t continue speaking but turned and left with large strides.

Seeing the front hall suddenly return to silence, Mu Yunjin sighed and leaned back lazily in her chair.

“Feeling better?” Chu Li frowned, seeming displeased at her improper sitting posture.

“Almost. It wasn’t anything serious to begin with,” Mu Yunjin raised her eyebrows, looking at Chu Li.

Chu Li made a sound of acknowledgment and checked the time. “Continue resting for two more days. After that, accompany this prince to Heyue City.”

“Why are we going to Heyue City again?” Mu Yunjin’s reaction was somewhat strong. She had no fond feelings for Heyue City.

“You’ll know when the time comes,” Chu Li said without elaborating, leaving after dropping this statement, and walked toward the back garden.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, cursing at Chu Li’s back. He was always like this, saying half a sentence, being mysterious yet making her curious.

What a strange person.

…

Two days later, in the carriage heading to Heyue City.

After entering the carriage, Mu Yunjin deliberately said she wasn’t feeling well, and with Chu Li’s nodding approval, she lay down in the carriage.

The journey to Heyue City was neither long nor short. Sitting stiffly would be uncomfortable, so lying down seemed more appropriate.

Mu Yunjin lay on the soft cushion, hands behind her head, watching the swaying carriage ceiling. She slightly turned her head, “Now can you tell me what we’re going to do in Heyue City?”

“The black lotus will bloom. We need you to try,” Chu Li glanced lightly at Mu Yunjin.

“What? You want to test my blood? Are you sure this will work?” Mu Yunjin was somewhat surprised. If Qin Muyue’s phoenix woman blood didn’t work, how could her ordinary blood activate that mysterious black lotus?

Upon hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Chu Li half-narrowed his eyes, his gaze gradually deepening, “How did you know it requires your blood?”

“…” Mu Yunjin was at a loss for words. She pressed her lips together, inwardly cursing herself as a fool countless times.

Seeing her silence, Chu Li’s mind couldn’t help but recall the strange phenomenon outside the cave after the black lotus bloomed that night. His cool voice sounded in the carriage.

“That night, the person outside the cave was indeed you.”

Mu Yunjin completely lost her composure. She sat up, one hand resting on her knee, directly meeting Chu Li’s gaze, “I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose. I was looking for you and overheard it by accident.”

Seeing her excited yet righteous tone, Chu Li tugged at the corner of his mouth and looked away, no longer speaking.

Seeing that they had moved past this topic, Mu Yunjin lay down again and closed her eyes to rest.

Two hours later, the carriage stopped directly at the foot of the mountain. After getting out, Mu Yunjin looked at the mountain, “Does this mountain have a name?”

“No,” Chu Li shook his head lightly.

“That’s a shame,” Mu Yunjin said, pursing her lips.

Chu Li glanced sideways at Mu Yunjin, slightly curving his lips, “If you think it’s a shame, then name the mountain yourself.”

Mu Yunjin shrugged, “Too lazy to name it. Let’s go, hurry up the mountain.”

Chu Li was no longer surprised by Mu Yunjin’s unpredictable behavior and peculiar thought process. He smiled helplessly and headed toward the middle of the mountain.

Ding Xian walked behind the two, watching them walk side by side ahead. He thought to himself repeatedly that it takes one to know one. It was rare to see his master at a loss for words.

After walking a few steps, Mu Yunjin felt her legs weaken. Cold sweat kept breaking out on her back, and with today’s scorching sun, the alternating hot and cold sensations gave her an indescribable discomfort.

Why was this body so delicate?

“I can’t walk anymore. Let’s rest a bit,” Mu Yunjin waved at Chu Li and sat down under the shade of a tree. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Chu Li was somewhat surprised. Looking at Mu Yunjin leaning against the tree, he saw her face was extremely pale, sweat beading continuously on her forehead, while her body trembled slightly.

“Are you unwell?” Chu Li approached Mu Yunjin, bent down, and placed his hand on her forehead. There were no signs of fever.

“Maybe it’s too hot. I might have heatstroke,” Mu Yunjin said slowly.

Seeing this, Ding Xian also approached and observed Mu Yunjin’s symptoms before saying to Chu Li, “Perhaps this subordinate should carry the Princess Consort into the cave. It’s cooler there and can provide relief from the heat.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Hearing this, Ding Xian thought Chu Li meant to leave Mu Yunjin resting in the shade. But the next second, he saw Chu Li reach out for Mu Yunjin and personally carry her on his back.

Ding Xian looked at this scene in shock, slapping his forehead and rubbing his eyes. He hadn’t seen wrong; he hadn’t seen wrong.

His Highness is carrying a woman on his back…

Surely the sky must be falling!