Li Li hid behind a pillar, watching Liu Xinqi stare at Mu Wanyu's departing figure for a long time without making a move, and his unease grew. He turned around and quietly left, arriving at the temple gate, only to find that Mu Wanyu's carriage had already left.

He returned to the Grand Secretary's residence and went to see his father-in-law first. Grand Secretary Mu was reading in his study when Li Li suddenly walked in mysteriously. He hurriedly put down his book and stood up: "What's wrong? Has something happened to Yu'er again?"

"Father, I have discovered something important, and I would like to ask you for your advice." Li Li helped him sit down, took a deep breath, and then told him everything he had just witnessed at the temple.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Secretary slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage and demanded, "Is this true?"

Li Li stood up with a troubled expression and went to help him up: "Father, don't be anxious. We need to ask Yu'er ourselves, otherwise we might misunderstand her."

“The Emperor has a firm grasp on every move of the Grand Secretary’s household. How many heads does she have to lose to dare to do such a thing!” Although Grand Secretary Mu felt sorry for his daughter, he deeply abhorred the act of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country.

"Li Li, go and bring her here now!" The Grand Scholar was so angry that he felt dizzy. He slowly sat down, holding onto the edge of the table, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

"Father, please take care of yourself. I'm going now." Li Li instructed the steward at the gate to look after him, and then nervously headed to Mu Wanyu's courtyard.

Mu Wanyu was taking a bath and changing clothes when Li Li barged in.

She glared at him with displeasure: "What's wrong with Brother Li?"

Seeing her disheveled appearance, Li Li stepped forward to help her dress and do her makeup: "Father wants you to go to the study."

Mu Wanyu assumed that her father wanted to see her, and took Li Li's hand as she left the courtyard.

Faced with the Grand Secretary's questioning, Mu Wanyu was like a lit firecracker, wanting to explode indiscriminately, disregarding her five-month pregnancy, and flew into a rage.

"It was Di Jingcheng and his woman who humiliated my daughter when she was insulted by Yang Mingyue. Now she is pregnant with another man's bastard child. How can I swallow this insult, Father!" Mu Wanyu's eyes widened in anger. This was the first time she had confronted her father so directly.

The Grand Secretary trembled with rage, his eyes filled with disbelief. How could his daughter have become someone he didn't even recognize! He shakily raised his finger to point at her, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Li Li stood between the two, gently tugging at Mu Wanyu's sleeve. She turned away angrily, ignoring him. The steward patted the Grand Scholar's chest, worried that he might not be able to catch his breath.

"Young Miss, you've made a mistake!" the butler said, his eyes filled with pity.

Mu Wanyu turned to the side, her face already streaked with tears. How could she bear to see the person who had harmed her living such a carefree and happy life?

Li Li sighed softly: "Yu'er, there are many ways to take revenge, but colluding with the enemy and betraying the country is a crime that can implicate nine generations of your family."

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanyu turned around and glared at her, filled with resentment. She knew that they all said they loved her, but in reality, they were unwilling to do anything for her.

"Hmph! If you want me dead, you can tie me up right now and hand me over to your emperor whom you are so loyal to! Otherwise, just leave me alone!" Mu Wanyu had completely gone mad.

Li Li stepped forward and took her hands, his eyes full of pleading: "Yu'er, what are you saying? How could we... possibly send you into a fire pit! Just tell your father now that you promise not to have any contact with Bei Xiang anymore, and we'll pretend this never happened. Can't we just live a good life as a family?"

“Yu’er…” Li Li’s eyes were full of expectation. Looking at Mu Wanyu’s cold expression, he didn’t know what to feel. Why did everything change after they got married?

The Grand Scholar also hoped she would turn back from her wrong path, looking at her with tearful eyes. Mu Wanyu's expression grew increasingly cold. She looked away from Li Li, shook off his hands, and looked at her father.

"You all think I'm wrong and should compromise. Are you still my father and husband? Even an outsider cares about me more than you do! Don't interfere in my affairs from now on!" Mu Wanyu said calmly, seemingly in despair. She felt that only Liu Xinqi truly understood her at this moment.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Scholar looked grief-stricken, and his heart began to ache: "Yu'er, do you really think so? You don't want me as your father anymore..." His voice grew softer and softer until he finally fainted.

The steward quickly helped him up, and Li Li shouted outside, "Go and fetch a doctor! Go quickly!" He couldn't care less about Mu Wanyu now, and hurriedly carried the Grand Scholar back to his room with the steward.

Mu Wanyu stubbornly bit her lip, staring at the spot where the Grand Scholar had just fainted, tears streaming down her face, her expression no longer as resolute and cold as before. After a long while, she turned and went to the Grand Scholar's room.

...Everything that happened at the Grand Secretary's residence has reached Emperor Jingcheng's ears, but the whereabouts of Liu Xinqi have not yet been found.

He had some doubts in his heart, and Cheng Er didn't know what he was thinking: "Your Majesty, I will continue to investigate Liu Xinqi's whereabouts."

"She was secretly in contact with Liu Xinqi, and you were unaware of her leaving the mansion?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Mu Wanyu had someone secretly helping her, and she disguised herself as a maid going out to buy groceries, which is how she managed to deceive everyone. It was my dereliction of duty that I only discovered the suspicious matter today."

"All the secret guards of the Mu Palace should go and receive their punishments. Also, find Liu Xinqi for me as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Cheng Er disappeared from the imperial study, and Emperor Jingcheng wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. Just now, Li Yannian came to submit a memorial, and Yang Mingyue was causing trouble again on the eastern border, repeatedly provoking Xijing.

He pondered for a while, then picked up a brush and wrote on a clean sheet of Xuan paper, ordering someone to send it over by fast horse.

Inside the main hall, Azi lazily ate grapes. Emperor Jingcheng had just been summoned away by Cheng Er, and she felt bored. She got up and took Qinghe, Zheng San, and the others out for a stroll. The spring scenery in the palace was truly beautiful, and Azi felt extremely relaxed and content.

Emperor Jingyuan, who had been strolling leisurely in the Imperial Garden all day, finally saw the person he had been longing for. This time, his elder brother did not accompany him, which secretly pleased him. Fu Zi saw that her master's steps were much lighter, and the melancholy look he had just had had completely disappeared. He looked extremely happy now.

Following his gaze, the stunningly beautiful Empress was strolling in the garden. Dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, she looked even more beautiful amidst the vibrant flowers. A charming and bright smile graced her face, and her alabaster skin shone even brighter in the warm sunlight. With her small hand, she gently plucked a bright red, luscious rose and had Qinghe tuck it into her hair.

Emperor Jingyuan's eyes were filled with amazement; she was truly more beautiful than any flower! Fu Zi was also incredibly impressed; such a wonderful woman was indeed worthy of being the Empress, and even her own prince was... well, she wondered if it was a blessing or a curse.

Before Di Jingyuan could even reach her, an unfamiliar man came into view. He felt a little nervous; besides his elder brother and himself, where did this stranger come from in the palace?