On the way back to the mansion, Mu Yunjin briefly explained to Chu Li the reason for the argument between Prime Minister Mu and Grand Tutor Zhuang, and also mentioned the incident of Chu Qingzang falling from the building.

Chu Li didn’t show much reaction, except when he heard that Mu Yunjin had knocked Chu Qingzang down, his expression changed slightly.

Mu Yunjin was startled, thinking Chu Li was concerned about his sibling relationship with Chu Qingzang and would scold her. Unexpectedly, Chu Li casually said to her, “Next time, don’t hold back.”

“Yes, I’ll heed your advice,” Mu Yunjin replied with a smile.

After entering the prince’s mansion, Mamma Shen came forward to greet them. Looking at Mu Yunjin, she bowed and said, “Princess Consort, the Prime Minister’s mansion just sent word that the young madam has returned to their household.”

“Good, I understand,” Mu Yunjin nodded, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

Regardless of what method Mu Yunhan had used to bring Zhuang Yuyan back, she thought they must have reached some kind of understanding and agreement.

That night, Mu Yunjin lay on the soft couch, staring blankly at the ceiling, then looked at her right hand in disbelief, recalling the palm strike she had delivered to Chu Qingzang earlier that day.

After thinking for a long while, Mu Yunjin felt that although she knew some martial arts, they were only modern techniques and close combat skills. This was ancient mystical art—she shouldn’t have been capable of delivering such a powerful palm strike.

…

…

Guessing it might be because she had secretly learned a bit of the Xuanling True Scripture, Mu Yunjin sat up after this thought and walked to the cabinet, taking out the cloak from inside.

Just as she was about to undo the stitching of the cloak, the door was pushed open.

When Chu Li walked in, he saw Mu Yunjin holding a cloak in her hands, and he slightly furrowed his brow, looking at her sideways.

Mu Yunjin felt inexplicably guilty and put the cloak back, then rummaged through the wardrobe a bit, pretending to be tidying clothes.

Seeing her fidgeting with the cabinet, Chu Li seemed to remember something and smiled faintly, “This prince has heard that the Princess Consort wants to move into this prince’s chambers?”

“Huh?” Mu Yunjin was stunned, not understanding Chu Li’s meaning at first. Then she recalled what she had said when Ding Xian brought Chu Li’s clothes over, and silently cursed Ding Xian a few times.

“Not at all, Ding Xian was talking nonsense,” Mu Yunjin closed the cabinet and walked to the bed, sitting down.

Chu Li slowly approached Mu Yunjin and sat down beside her.

Mu Yunjin glanced sideways at Chu Li and said with a smile, “What is it? Are you sleeping here again today?”

“Do you mind?” Chu Li raised an eyebrow, his hand already around her waist.

“This entire prince’s mansion is yours. How would I dare to mind?” Mu Yunjin smiled, moving into the bed and lying down.

Chu Li looked at her, his eyes moving slightly, “Mu Yunjin, when shall we pay homage to heaven and earth?”

“Hmm?” Mu Yunjin was startled, suddenly realizing that between them, this step seemed to be missing.

“Last time at the wedding, you brushed me off in various ways. Next time, I definitely want you to come personally with eight bearers in a grand sedan chair to welcome me. As for when that will be, let’s wait a bit—I’ll decide,” Mu Yunjin smiled with pursed lips, tucking in the blanket and closing her eyes.

Seeing the hint of satisfaction in her expression, Chu Li also curved the corners of his lips slightly. What she said was very right.

Next time, he would give her the grandest wedding, welcoming her into his home with great pomp and circumstance.

Before, he didn’t understand what she meant by saying he could only marry her and no other concubines. Now, he completely understood.

With her, how could his eyes accommodate anyone else?

It was enough.

……

The next day, when Mu Yunjin woke up, Chu Li had already left for court.

Mu Yunjin sat up in bed and sighed slightly. Since Chu Li had been enfeoffed as a prince, he had to attend court every time, and typically stayed the entire morning.

Sometimes she thought that being a prince wasn’t bad, at least more leisurely than being the crown prince or emperor, but she couldn’t figure out what Chu Li truly thought.

Although she and Chu Li were officially together, she always felt that Chu Li still concealed many things from her.

For instance, when she first met Chu Li, she overheard from Ding Xian that Chu Li was searching for something. Until now, she hadn’t heard from Chu Li’s mouth what he was looking for, nor did she know if, after all this time, he was still searching for that thing.

Mu Yunjin felt somewhat depressed thinking about it. She also felt that her emotions were off today. When she sat up in the bed, she frowned as she sensed a dark current flowing through her body.

No wonder… so that was it…

“Zixiang, prepare that thing for me, my period has come…”

……

The autumn sun wasn’t as harsh. Mu Yunjin now sat in the courtyard basking in the sunshine, occasionally sipping the brown sugar water that Zixiang had prepared.

Seeing Mu Yunjin frequently holding her lower abdomen, Zixiang asked worriedly, “Young lady, should we find a doctor to examine you?”

“No, no, there’s no need to be so delicate,” Mu Yunjin waved her hand.

After sitting in the courtyard for a while longer, Mamma Shen came in, followed by a servant from the Prime Minister’s mansion. “Greetings to the Princess Consort of Ning.”

“What is it?” Mu Yunjin recognized the servant from the Prime Minister’s mansion.

“The Prime Minister invites the Prince and Princess Consort of Ning to return to the mansion for a small gathering and dinner together,” the servant said, bowing.

Mu Yunjin nodded, but was somewhat surprised, “Eh? Has my father returned from court?”

“Yes, the Prime Minister has been back from court for quite some time,” the servant replied.

“How strange, why hasn’t Chu Li returned yet?” Mu Yunjin muttered, then looked at the servant, “You may go back first. Tell my father I will come.”

“Yes, Princess Consort.”

After the servant left, Mamma Shen stood in the courtyard and sighed, “Princess Consort, since our lord was enfeoffed as a prince, he has been continuously assigned thankless tasks by the Emperor. I don’t know what the Emperor is thinking.”

“Has he been assigned something again?” Mu Yunjin expressed confusion.

“You don’t know?” Mamma Shen was surprised, raising her voice slightly.

Mu Yunjin nodded blankly.

“On the first day of morning court after the lord returned from Qingzhou, the Emperor assigned him a task, asking him to begin receiving envoys from the other three countries in the coming days,” Mamma Shen said helplessly.

Mu Yunjin was truly surprised this time. Recalling how Chu Li had returned from his first day at morning court and sat there sullenly, she understood a bit more.

“This is truly outrageous. Are all the other princes and kings dead?” Mu Yunjin was also somewhat angry, lightly pounding her small fist on the stone table.

Seeing that Mu Yunjin had not known about this matter, Mamma Shen realized she might have said too much, “Princess Consort, since the lord hasn’t told you about this, please pretend you don’t know. When he returns, comfort him well.”

“Yes,” Mu Yunjin nodded, pouting, but in her heart, she felt an impulse to blow up the imperial palace with explosives.

After Mamma Shen left, Mu Yunjin sat in the courtyard biting her finger, pondering what Mamma Shen had just said.

Based on her first impression of Emperor Ximing, he valued his son Chu Li highly. But now, after enfeoffing him as a prince, not only did he immediately send him to Qingzhou, but as soon as he returned, he assigned him the task of receiving envoys.

What exactly was Emperor Ximing thinking?

Or perhaps Empress Qin had said something to Emperor Ximing before her death…

Mu Yunjin felt somewhat agitated as she thought about it, scratching her head. Estimating that Chu Li wouldn’t return for a while, she said to Zixiang, “Let’s go out for a walk.”

……

After leaving the mansion, Mu Yunjin walked along the main street, feeling that she had been going out for strolls too frequently these past few days. But today her mood was truly gloomy, and staying in the mansion would probably suffocate her.

“Young lady, what are they selling up ahead? It smells so good…” Zixiang pointed to a small stall emitting hot steam and ran toward it.

Mu Yunjin looked at Zixiang and smiled, taking out the purse from her sleeve and handing it to Zixiang, “Here, go buy whatever you want to eat.”

“Thank you, young lady.” Zixiang took the purse and ran off happily.

“I didn’t expect the Princess Consort of Ning to be so considerate to her servants,” a familiar, teasing voice came from behind.

Hearing this voice, Mu Yunjin’s back stiffened, and her brow furrowed slightly. When she turned to look, she saw Rong Jiu standing behind her, dressed in white as in previous encounters, with a neat appearance, truly elegant and refined, gentle as jade.

Hong Ling and Zhang Bai stood on either side of Rong Jiu. The words just now had come from Hong Ling’s mouth.

Seeing the three of them, Mu Yunjin didn’t know what to say, so she curled her lips into a faint smile, “Long time no see.”

Rong Jiu nodded to her with a smile.

“What a coincidence to meet the Princess Consort of Ning here. We just arrived in Diehua City today and haven’t yet reported to your imperial court,” Hong Ling said.

Mu Yunjin nodded, not knowing how to continue this conversation. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Then you can look around. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”

“Princess Consort, we hear that the Prince of Ning is responsible for receiving foreign envoys this time. If we report to the imperial court now, we’ll have to trouble the Prince. Since we’ve coincidentally met the Princess Consort, why don’t you substitute for your husband and show us around?” Hong Ling’s words hit Mu Yunjin’s weak spot.

Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, silently sighing that it was no wonder Rong Jiu dared to go out with only two companions—Hong Ling’s sharp tongue could be devastating.

At this moment, Zixiang returned after buying food and was surprised to see Mu Yunjin talking with someone.

“Return to the mansion first. When the prince returns, tell him to go to the Prime Minister’s mansion for dinner tonight. I’ll meet him directly at the Prime Minister’s mansion later,” Mu Yunjin instructed Zixiang.

Zixiang nodded and left immediately.

“I’m feeling a bit unwell today, so wandering around is probably not an option. Why don’t we find a place to have tea?” Mu Yunjin pointed to the Mingxiang Teahouse ahead.

“Certainly, no problem,” Hong Ling agreed on Rong Jiu’s behalf.

After reaching an agreement, the group headed toward the Mingxiang Teahouse. The teahouse owner already recognized Mu Yunjin and immediately came forward to greet her, “Princess Consort, the private room on the second floor is vacant.”

“Good, bring all your pastries and your best tea,” she said.

……

In the private room.

“Crown Prince, please have some tea,” Mu Yunjin lifted the teapot and poured a cup of flower tea for Rong Jiu.

Rong Jiu looked at the light color of the tea, raised an eyebrow at Mu Yunjin, and spoke in a mellow voice, “You like this tea?”

Mu Yunjin nodded, took a sip of the flower tea, and glanced at Rong Jiu, then looked down at the crowd of people below.

“Hmm, it’s not bad,” Rong Jiu said slowly after taking a sip of tea.

Hong Ling and Zhang Bai exchanged glances, and Hong Ling covered her mouth with a smile, thinking to herself that her master had always hated this kind of sweet tea with a floral fragrance. Now, facing the person he admired, he had learned the skill of speaking falsehoods with his eyes wide open.