Jingyang was stunned for a moment. Perhaps she had been intimidated by Mu Yunjin earlier and couldn’t respond immediately.

Looking more closely at Mu Yunjin standing before her, she truly was as rumored—stunning, bearing several similarities to that fox spirit, Lady Qing.

No wonder her father, the Emperor, was so protective of that fox spirit.

After some thought, seeing Mu Yunjin’s smiling expression, which was no longer as sharp and imposing as when she first came out, Jingyang gathered her courage and blinked at Mu Yunjin.

“Sister Jinhua, Jingyang has been traveling for several days and is indeed tired and hungry. I wonder if Sister Jinhua has anything good to eat or play with here?” As Jingyang finished speaking, she deliberately put on an innocent and carefree expression.

Seeing that her form of address had changed from “Elder Sister” to the more familiar “Sister Jinhua,” Mu Yunjin snorted dismissively. If those words had come from little Qingyuan, she would have found them cute and obedient, but from Jingyang…

It just seemed completely fake and affected.

“Nanny Shen, go prepare a meal.” Mu Yunjin glanced sideways at Nanny Shen. No matter how much she disliked Jingyang, she couldn’t let her starve.

Nanny Shen nodded and withdrew.

…

…

“By the way, Princess, didn’t you prepare gifts for the Princess Imperial? Quickly take them out for the Princess Imperial to see.” The elderly nanny beside Jingyang, fearing the atmosphere would turn gloomy, reminded Jingyang, also changing her form of address from “Lady of Prince Ning” to “Princess Imperial.”

“Yes, if Aunt Mo hadn’t mentioned it, this princess would have almost forgotten.” After Jingyang spoke, she beckoned to a personal maid standing nearby.

The little maid quickly understood and came forward carrying several brocade boxes.

Jingyang also took the opportunity to stand up and walk closer to Mu Yunjin, first taking the topmost brocade box. “This was selected by Mother Empress for me. It’s a set of five exquisite hairpins. I wonder if Sister Jinhua likes them?”

Mu Yunjin glanced at the set and nodded slightly, “Hmm, they’re acceptable.”

Acceptable…

Those three words made Jingyang’s expression freeze, her eyes shifting slightly. This set of exquisite hairpins—she had begged her mother for a long time to keep them for herself, but Mother Empress said that only this set would be dignified and generous enough as a gift, and that they were priceless, sufficient to demonstrate the sincerity of this visit.

But now Mu Yunjin merely said they were “acceptable”?

Jingyang felt like she was going to cough up blood.

Aunt Mo had been watching the conversation between the two. She had served in the Northern Ming palace harem for nearly thirty years, only being assigned to serve Yang Qingning after she entered the palace as Empress.

In these thirty years, she had become extremely shrewd. The various intrigues and undercurrents among women couldn’t escape her eyes.

Seeing Mu Yunjin’s attitude now, it was meant to give Princess Jingyang a warning.

But there was nothing to be done about it. Who could blame her when she had only recently been recognized by the sovereign and formally named a princess of Northern Ming? Now meeting Princess Jingyang, who had been pampered and privileged since childhood, she would naturally feel somewhat displeased, even jealous.

Aunt Mo interpreted this show of authority as Mu Yunjin’s jealousy toward Jingyang.

“Princess, didn’t you also prepare a gift for Prince Ning?” Aunt Mo saw that Jingyang’s expression had stiffened, and thought to herself that she was still just a young girl who didn’t understand human affairs at all.

Jingyang came back to her senses, smiled, closed the brocade box containing the five-colored hairpins, handed it to Aunt Mo, and then opened another brocade box.

Before she could speak, she was interrupted, “My Lady, the meal has been prepared!”

The person who spoke was Nanny Shen.

“Good, let’s go eat first.” Mu Yunjin stood up, not even glancing at the already opened brocade box, and turned to walk toward the dining hall.

Jingyang was furious, biting her lip. Beside her, Aunt Mo gently patted her shoulder and shook her head at her.

……

In the dining hall.

Since Mu Yunjin had already eaten, she merely sat to the side drinking tea, while only Jingyang sat before a table full of food.

Inexplicably, Jingyang felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. Although she was hungry, she didn’t feel comfortable eating freely as the only one seated.

“Not to your taste?” Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.

“No, it’s just that I can’t finish all this alone. Would it be possible for Aunt Mo to sit down and join me?” Jingyang looked toward Mu Yunjin, seeking her opinion.

Mu Yunjin leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, “As you wish, whatever makes you happy.”

With these words, Jingyang again didn’t know what to say.

This Mu Yunjin, how could her temperament be so peculiar? So difficult to please!

“If the Princess is hungry, please eat freely. We’re all family here, the Princess need not be too constrained,” Aunt Mo spoke up again, her words continuously drawing Mu Yunjin and Jingyang’s relationship closer.

Mu Yunjin glanced at Aunt Mo. She truly was an old hand, speaking in a way that made it difficult for her to refute immediately.

Family? She certainly didn’t want to acknowledge that.

But nominally, it was indeed the case!

After hearing Aunt Mo’s words and seeing that Mu Yunjin didn’t voice any objection, Jingyang grew bolder and began to eat with her head down.

After the meal, Nanny Shen ordered people to clear away the leftover food, then turned to look at Mu Yunjin, “Would the Lady like some dessert?”

“No need. It’s a bit cold. When will Chu Li return?” Mu Yunjin felt uncomfortable sitting and very much wanted to crawl into bed and lie down.

“The Prince doesn’t know yet! If the Lady is cold, this servant will find a hand warmer for you.” After speaking, Nanny Shen went out.

Jingyang heard Mu Yunjin speak to the servants in such an intimate and gentle manner, yet she was so cool and indifferent to her. She felt somewhat resentful.

She was the noble Princess of Northern Ming—how could she not meet Mu Yunjin’s standards?

A childish mood suddenly came over her, and she addressed Mu Yunjin, “Sister Jinhua, I’m a bit tired. Could I go rest?”

“You may,” Mu Yunjin answered lazily.

“Ruyue, take Jingyang and her people to stay in Minglan Court. You’ll be responsible for Jingyang’s food, clothing, and accommodations these next few days.” Mu Yunjin then spoke to a familiar-looking maid of Prince Ning’s mansion.

The maid called Ruyue immediately bowed and accepted Mu Yunjin’s instructions, then bowed slightly to Jingyang, “Princess, please follow this servant. I’ll take you to rest.”

“Mm.” Jingyang nodded, not even glancing at Mu Yunjin, and turned to leave the dining hall.

Mu Yunjin shot a sidelong glance at Jingyang’s retreating figure and remained seated in the dining hall without moving for a while.

……

When Chu Li returned from outside, Ruyue was leading Jingyang and the others out of the dining hall, happening to pass through the front hall.

“The Prince has returned! The Lady was just mentioning you. She’s feeling cold now, and I’m bringing her a hand warmer.” Nanny Shen smiled at Chu Li, holding up the hand warmer.

“Where is she?” Chu Li asked.

“She’s in the dining hall now!”

Hearing this, Chu Li strode toward the dining hall.

After just a few steps, a woman’s voice reached his ears, “This servant greets the Prince.”

Chu Li glanced sideways, saw it was Ruyue, nodded slightly, and quickly withdrew his gaze, preparing to go to the dining hall.

“Sister… Brother-in-law…” Another voice, filled with shyness and traces of excitement, sounded in Chu Li’s ears.

The speaker was Jingyang.

Since entering the front hall earlier, her gaze had caught a glimpse of a purple figure, and following that silhouette, after seeing the person’s appearance clearly, Jingyang experienced for the first time a feeling of blushing and an accelerated heartbeat.

Purple robes flowing elegantly, refined and dignified, along with cold yet graceful features—all were stunningly beautiful in a way she had never seen before.

Jingyang was completely dumbstruck.

Later, it was Aunt Mo who gave her a push, bringing her back to her senses. The old nanny had called him “Prince,” so he must be Prince Ning, Chu Li?

Before she could think further, seeing that Chu Li was about to leave, she hurriedly stepped forward and called out “Brother-in-law…”

The moment that “Brother-in-law” left her lips, Jingyang’s jealousy toward Mu Yunjin deepened.

That illegitimate nobody—by what right did she marry such a perfect man?

……

After Jingyang left, Mu Yunjin didn’t sit for long before planning to return to Liquan Pavilion for a nap. After walking a few steps out of the dining hall, she heard Jingyang’s shy “Brother-in-law…”

She raised an eyebrow, her eyes tinted with amusement, and slowly walked into the front hall.

Chu Li knew that Mu Yunjin disliked this Jingyang, so naturally his impression of Jingyang wasn’t good either. At that single “Brother-in-law,” he didn’t even give her a proper look.

Noticing that Mu Yunjin had arrived, Chu Li reached out to take the hand warmer from Nanny Shen, walked forward a few steps, and placed it in Mu Yunjin’s hands. Seeing her dressed in full formal attire today, Chu Li’s eyes filled with mischief as his gaze roamed up and down Mu Yunjin’s body.

“What are you looking at?” Mu Yunjin felt uneasy under his appraising gaze, holding the hand warmer and glaring at Chu Li with displeasure.

Chu Li smiled faintly and reached out to touch her face, ignoring everyone else present, “The rouge is too thick. It doesn’t look good.”

“Hmph, what do you know!” Mu Yunjin pursed her lips.

Jingyang stood to the side all this time, listening to the couple’s light banter and teasing. When facing Chu Li, although Mu Yunjin still maintained an appearance of arrogance, the entire aura she exuded was much gentler.

The same was true for Chu Li—though he had entered with a cold and indifferent face, the moment he saw Mu Yunjin, tenderness and doting filled his eyes and brows.

It seemed that the rumors were true: Prince Ning and his wife had a very good relationship.

But why did it have to be Mu Yunjin?

The more Jingyang thought about it, the more unhappy she became. For the first time, a man had made her feel admiration and longing, yet he was the husband of someone she disliked.

Jingyang felt resentful and stepped forward, speaking sweetly, “Sister Jinhua, is this Jingyang’s brother-in-law?”

“Weren’t you tired? Why are you still here?” Mu Yunjin disliked the term “brother-in-law” and disliked Chu Li being claimed by other women through familial connections.

Uh…

Seeing Mu Yunjin’s sudden change in attitude, Jingyang froze.

Catching a glimpse of Chu Li looking at her, she inexplicably became excited again and, disregarding Mu Yunjin’s gaze, took out the gift box she had prepared for Chu Li.

“Brother-in-law, I am Jingyang, Sister Jinhua’s sister from Northern Ming. I’ve come a long way to visit Sister Jinhua, and before leaving, I prepared gifts for both Sister Jinhua and you. This one is for you.”

As Jingyang spoke, she happily opened the brocade box, hoping that Chu Li would say something to her.

Chu Li merely glanced lightly at the brocade box, then looked sideways at Ding Xian standing beside him.

Ding Xian, catching Chu Li’s eye, immediately understood and stepped forward to take the brocade box from Jingyang’s hand. “Thank you, Princess Jingyang. Since it’s for the Prince, this subordinate will receive it on his behalf.”

After taking the brocade box, Ding Xian closed the lid with a ‘snap’ and stood beside Chu Li, his expression returning to seriousness.

“I’m tired. Going back to my room, Mu Yunjin yawned, not bothering to look at Jingyang again, and walked toward the back garden.

Chu Li nodded, naturally and intimately putting his arm around her waist, walking at her side as they returned to their room.

Behind them, Jingyang stood rooted to the spot, watching the two figures walking away together, trembling with anger and biting her lip hard.

“Princess, you must not be willful…”