Translated by: Rize
Edited by: Larkspur
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Edited by: Larkspur
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After swallowing the pill, in no time, Mu Yunjin felt the spirit of the Black Lotus inside her body seem to leap up and down, fine sweat gradually formed on her forehead. She couldn't describe what was happening to her, but she was most certainly not comfortable. But she had to bear it.
A moment later, Mu Yunjin groaned and saw a cloud of black fog come out of her forehead and dissipate.
After the Spirit of the Black Lotus exited her body, Mu Yunjin drank a few mouthfuls of water and felt at peace. If this thing had remained inside her body, she would always have a lingering worry.
Chu Li looked at Mu Yunjin and spoke in a soft voice. "Go and rest now."
"En." Mu Yunjin nodded her head, got up, and walked towards the direction of her room.
Once inside her room, Mu Yunjin closed the door and leaned on it. She let out a deep sigh. It had been a long day. And although she felt physically drained her mind was in turmoil.
Her mind had been constantly replaying the words Daoist Feng Xuan whispered in her ears. Indescribably, she somewhat felt her heart sink, she suddenly had this feeling that this whole thing was wreathed in conspiracies and traps. It was a web of deceit woven intricately, there were more lies than truth, betrayals than trust.
And she… was right at the center of it all.
♚♚♚
The next day, when Mu Yunjin woke up, Zi Xiang told her that Daoist Feng Xuan had left. Hearing the news, Mu Yunjin felt a little envious of the Old Daoist's free and leisurely life.
Would she ever be as lucky as he?
Zi Xiang brought her out of her musings just as she entered. So much for a carefree life!
"Young Miss, you look mentally revitalized these past few days, are you no longer entangled with Fourth Young Miss' affairs?" Zi Xiang was helping Mu Yunjin comb her hair.
Mu Yunjin shook her head. "I am disinclined to bother with her."
Zi Xiang smiled at the words and did not ask further.
Once Mu Yunjin's hair was styled, she went out the door. At the same time, Chu Li stepped out of his room. Mu Yunjin pulled the corners of her mouth to smile.
Chu Li also looked at Mu Yunjin and walked to her. "Mu Yunjin, Xiaojiu sent people to the Fu saying she will visit you."
"Eh? Qingyuan?"
Upon the mention of Chu Qingyuan, Mu Yunjin felt she had not seen her in a long time. She had particularly liked this biological sister of her husband.
Chu Li nodded then he added. "Ben huangzi is going to the Palace.
"Your Emperor Father seems to summon you very often. Is there a matter that needs to be discussed with you?" Mu Yunjin couldn't help but ask.
"En." Chu Li replied. "Recently there has been a disturbance in the north, there are lots of things to guard against."
Mu Yunjin seemed to not really understand, but this was not something that she could interfere with. She smiled and said, "I’m hungry, let's eat breakfast first."
Chu Li did not refuse.
In the dining hall, two people were quietly eating breakfast. Except for the sound of utensils now and then, the air was serene. Then, a peal of playful laughter sounded from outside the door.
"Ah-ha, Sixth Brother, Sixth Sister-in-law, you don't want me here?"
Mu Yunjin followed the sound and saw the top half of Chu Qingyuan at the door, her head was peeking, face overflowing with mirth. She wore a mischievous smile.
Soon after, the entire Chu Qingyuan walked in and sat down on the other side. She then picked up a pastry to eat, making herself completely at home.
"Oh, Sixth Brother, your pastry chef is really great, compared to Xiaojiu's place, these taste much better."
"Qingyuan, where have you been all this time?" Mu Yunjin looked at the carefree girl with a smile.
"Nowhere, was just in my palace and have not come out. Empress Niang Niang said I am not young anymore and need to learn the female art of embroidery, leading to me not being able to go out for these couple of months and my hands pricked by needles."
She then held her hands up for her sister-in-law to see. She tried her best to look pitiful. However, she did cut a sorry figure indeed.
When Mu Yunjin drew closer for a look, she saw that the little girl’s fingers had very small holes. They must have surely hurt her. Disregarding that this was evidence for the other’s clumsiness, she did feel bad for the girl.
"Ben Huangzi will leave first." Chu Li's voice sounded from the side as he shot a glance at the other two.
"En, come back early." Looking right into Chu Li's eyes, Mu Yunjin blurted out the words. Even she did not realize that her tone sounded very natural.
Chu Li's figure was slightly startled, he felt that Mu Yunjin's voice was especially pleasant to the ears, his eyes caught a hint of warmth as he went out.
After Chu Li had walked out, Chu Qingyuan sat near Mu Yunjin and coquettishly hugged Mu Yunjin's arm.
"Sixth Sister-in-law, Xiaojiu came today to ask you some questions."
"En, you say it." Seeing her bashful manner, Mu Yunjin's words held a teasing tone.
"Sixth Sister-in-law, how did you feel when liking a person? Is it that as soon as you see him your heart will beat strongly and your face will turn red?" Chu Qingyuan asked with a sparkling face.
Mu Yunjin pursed her lips and looked towards Chu Qingyuan, seeing her mention this, indeed her face is red.
"Who did you fall for?"
Hearing Mu Yunjin's straightforward question, Chu Qingyuan's face became redder, she reached out to tap Mu Yunjin.
"Aiya, I was just asking casually, Sixth Sister-in-law, what are you saying, Xiaojiu is still young."
"Not all that young. In two years you will reach marriageable age, at that time you can get married." Mu Yunjin teased.
Chu Qingyuan was immediately excited and her eyes brightened. "Then tell me, if the two were six to seven years apart in age, is that a big gap?"
"Xiaojiu doesn’t want to be fodder for gossip saying Xiaojiu married an old man..."
Mu Yunjin had heard clearly and understood her predicament. Never the one to mince words, she held her chin and looked straight towards Chu Qingyuan.
"Xiaojiu, who do you fancy? A difference of seven or eight years is fine, you are only fourteen years old and with a seven years gap, the man is still only twenty-one. It's better than Mu Lingzhu who married an old man twenty years older."
"Right, right, right, Sixth Sister-in-law said it right. Xiaojiu also thinks the same." Chu Qingyuan almost jumped excitedly as she held Mu Yunjin's hand as if she had finally found a person after her own heart.
Mu Yunjin's smile bloomed and leaned closely to Chu Qingyuan and whispered. "Then tell me secretly, who did you fall for? Liu Sao will give you advice."
Chu Qingyuan's face turned red and shyly spoke. "That is... That one who was victorious in battle, Major General Qin, Brother Qin Munan."
Mu Yunjin's smile froze for a moment.
"What's the matter? Sixth Sister-in-law, Is Brother Munan no good?" Chu Qingyuan saw Mu Yunjin's smile gradually freeze and she suddenly panicked.
Mu Yunjin pursed her lips, she did not expect Xiaojiu would actually like Qin Munan.
Qin Munan...
Alas, the world is really small.
"Sixth Sister-in-law?" Chu Qingyuan continued to shake Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin returned to her senses and met Chu Qingyuan's gaze. "Major General Qin is twenty-one this year and he is well-liked by the people. Your Emperor Father values him a lot, perhaps he will bestow him a marriage."
Chu Qingyuan's small mouth flattened into a line and her eyes became aggrieved, nearly in tears. "Xiaojiu really likes Brother Munan, the other day Xiaojiu was climbing trees inside the palace and almost fell to the ground. Brother Munan saved me, he also patted my head and told me to be more careful in the future. Brother Munan is so gentle, he is never rude or frantic. Xiaojiu likes him and wants to marry him!"
Mu Yunjin sighed. Not to mention Qin Munan and her body's original host's entanglement before but according to the Qin family's behind-the-scenes movements, Xiaojiu and Qin Munan were impossible. But how was she to tell her this? Nevertheless, she tried.
"Xiaojiu, you are still young, it is fine to like and admire Major General Qin. But when you reach a certain age, you will understand that between two people, love is important." Mu Yunjin reached over and patted Chu Qingyan's shoulders.
"Then, between Sixth Sister-in-law and Sixth Brother, is that love?"
"...…"
♚♚♚
"You lot come and help push me on the swing, the higher the better!"
In Huangzi Fu's garden, Chu Qingyuan sat on the swing and some little servant girls were helping push the swing. Her face could not hide her happiness. Smiling and laughing, she was enjoying herself.
Mu Yunjin was leaning against a pillar of the gazebo. As she looked at Chu Qingyuan and recalled her earlier question and couldn't help but chuckle.
Love...
She and Chu Li, how can love exist between them? Tsk.
It had been quite some time now since Chu Qingyuan was frolicking when Chu Li's figure appeared from outside. As soon as he entered the garden, he was greeted by his sister's joyful laughter. He shook his head helplessly.
"Hey? You're back." Mu Yunjin caught sight of Chu Li and straightened her body and looked at him as he drew near.
Chu Li nodded, his line of sight fell on Mu Yunjin's hair, he slowly stretched his hand and helped her brush the fallen pearl flowers, his movement was gentle.
"Good." Chu Qingyuan’s clear voice came from afar.
Mu Yunjin's face turned indescribably red, she reached out to touch the pearl flower in her hair and her lips lifted into a slight smile.
"Hahaha, you’ve been caught... I saw it! Sixth Sister-in-law, when facing Sixth Brother, you are blushing and shy. It's the same as Xiaojiu, isn't this what you call love?"
Mu Yunjin choked upon hearing the words, she was a little embarrassed, her face suddenly turned into the color of pig liver.
Chu Li glanced at Mu Yunjin and then looked at Chu Qingyuan, his eyes were inquiring.
"It's like this Sixth Brother, after you left, Sixth Sister-in-law and I talked about the difference between like and love. She said that between you and her it is love, and Xiaojiu right now can only understand like and does not truly comprehend love."
"But Xiaojiu sees Sixth Sister-in-law being like this, then Xiaojiu must also feel love and not just like. I am happy, ah!"
Mu Yunjin wanted to sew Xiaojiu's mouth right now! She was so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole and hide in it. She had only said it casually, but this Xiaojiu took it seriously and even mentioned it to Chu Li.
At this time, Chu Li locked his gaze on Mu Yunjin who was currently looking down, and saw her ears were very red. He suddenly felt his mood turn better, he restrained himself from smiling but eventually let out a low laugh.
When Mu Yunjin saw Chu Li laughing at her, she reached out to cover her face and spoke in a frenzy. "Xiaojiu is talking rubbish, I am just guarding against her puppy love."
"Hey, Sixth Sister-in-law, didn't you just say it is fine even if Xiaojiu is seven years younger, our age is still well-matched?" Chu Qingyuan innocently scratched her head in confusion. Just then Sixth Sister-in-law clearly said it was fine, ah...
Mu Yunjin really wanted to vomit blood.
Chu Li had always been someone who could control his mood, but at this moment, he is unable to take control, he leaned close to Mu Yunjin, his gaze gentle and soft like ripples in water.
"Yunjin, ben huangzi really did not know that you had set your heart on ben huangzi… and to think I have a wife like you, what more can a husband ask for, ah?!"
"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"
Mu Yunjin shrieked, covered her face, and ran in the direction of Glass Spring Pavilion.
Left behind, Chu Li straightened up and touched his chin. His heart softened, his lips painted a happy expression.
A moment later, Chu Li seemed to have thought of something, he put away his smile and his cold eyes turned towards Chu Qingyuan. "Xiaojiu, who do you like?"
Chu Qingyuan took a step back in fear.
Sixth Brother changes his face faster than turning a page of a book ah.
Sure enough, in the face of like and love, the attitude is really not the same, Sixth Sister-in-law is really right.
♚♚♚
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