Chapter 43: Consort Jing

Aurora Pavilion.

With nothing to do during the day, Li Musheng leaned against the corridor railing, admiring the scenery in the courtyard below while attempting to create a martial technique similar to the "Life-and-Death Talisman."

Although creating his own martial arts was not a difficult task for him, bringing something from nothing still required a certain amount of thought and effort.

At that moment, Li Yuanling, who was standing beside him, stared at him curiously for a long while before speaking

"You should be careful. This Aurora Pavilion may seem as tightly guarded as an iron bucket, but there are actually many hidden eyes lurking in the shadows."

Li Musheng turned to glance at her and suddenly asked

"Tell me, if I were to report you to that Commander of the Tianjin Guard, would they kick you out immediately?"

Hearing this, Li Yuanling's face darkened. She knit her shallow brows and said

"Don't be like that. I truly want to stay and protect you. You have no idea how much Godmother missed you when she was alive; her soul in heaven would never want to see anything happen to you."

As soon as these words left her mouth, Li Yuanling suddenly realized she had said something wrong and immediately covered her mouth with both hands.

Li Musheng's expression changed, and he asked

"What do you mean by that?"

"I recall that before the matter of the true and false princes occurred, didn't Consort Jing have the Seventh Prince by her side in the Heavenly Prison?"

Li Yuanling blinked, then waved her hands repeatedly, saying

"You misheard me. I meant... I meant..."

Seeing her stammering and unable to find an excuse for a long time, Li Musheng shook his head

"If you don't want to say, then don't. I won't force you."

He then turned back around, staring blankly at the distant red lotus pond, continuing to contemplate the intricacies of creating the Life-and-Death Talisman technique.

Seeing this, Li Yuanling breathed a small sigh of relief.

However, upon seeing that Li Musheng seemed not to care about the matter at all, a deep sorrow rose in her eyes.

After a long while, Li Yuanling spoke softly

"Godmother actually knew very early on that Li Zhi was not her biological son. She just never spoke of it; she only told one person—me."

As she spoke, her gaze fixed tenderly on Li Musheng, saying

"Before Godmother passed away, she lay in bed for an entire day without saying a single word. But I know she wanted to see you once before she died... but she could not have her wish, even in death."

At this, Li Musheng turned around. Looking at Li Yuanling's reddened eyes, he remained silent for a moment.

Then, he let out a soft sigh and said

"So, in that case, were you the one who exposed the matter of the false prince?"

Li Yuanling shook her head

"Godmother wouldn't allow me to do that. She only wanted you to live peacefully as an ordinary person. That is also why she never sought you out."

"Though I don't understand it, I have never gone against her final wishes. So, I am not the one responsible for this."

Li Musheng frowned slightly

"Then who was behind it?"

"I am not sure. The case from twenty years ago is still under investigation and has yet to yield a result. But I suspect it was likely done by Li Zhi's enemies."

Li Yuanling offered her guess, but since she had not been involved in the matter, her knowledge was extremely limited.

To this, Li Musheng only pondered for a moment and did not ask further.

Then, Li Yuanling spoke in a low, determined voice

"You don't need to dwell on the past. Now that you have returned to the Imperial Capital, I will definitely fulfill Godmother's dying wish and ensure you live a peaceful life."

Her expression suddenly turned serious as she continued

"Godmother lived in seclusion and rarely appeared in public, but there must be people in the palace who have seen her. Therefore, once you appeared in this Aurora Pavilion, there will surely be people who can recognize your true identity just as I did."

"You must realize that the people in this Aurora Pavilion are all those who dream of being, or believe themselves to be, the Seventh Prince. The factions involved behind them are extremely complex; there is no guarantee that someone won't take a risk and strike at you."

At this point, Li Yuanling paused. Seeing that Li Musheng was once again staring blankly at the pond below, she wiped the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes in irritation and hissed

"Are you even listening to me?"

Li Musheng glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and said

"Of course I am listening. But don't worry needlessly. It would be better to focus on going back and being your princess."

Just then, two figures suddenly descended from the sky, appearing behind Li Yuanling in the blink of an eye.

One was dressed in Dragonfish robes, possessing a majestic and tall physique. His temples were tinged with white hair, but his face was resolute, giving off an impression of great strength.

The other was fair-faced and clean-shaven, wearing a neatly pressed vermilion eunuch's uniform, with sleek black hair combed smoothly down to his shoulders.

His fingers were slender and long, naturally curling into a "orchid finger" gesture as he raised them slightly.

"Princess, this is not a place you should be. Please follow this servant back to your residence."

Sun Changyu, the head grand eunuch of the Palace Inspection Bureau, bowed in greeting, and the Commander Song Shanyue beside him did the same.

At this moment, Li Yuanling glared at Li Musheng with a face full of shock and fury, saying

"You actually reported me?"

Li Musheng turned back and smiled

"Did you think I was joking with you?"

He had already told the little eunuch, Xiao Anzi, about Li Yuanling's disguise as a man this morning. It was likely just that the Tianjin Guard needed to seek instructions from higher-ups, which was why they were a bit slow to act.

"Ah... ah..."

Li Yuanling was clearly exasperated. She turned around and shouted at Sun Changyu and Song Shanyue

"All of you, get lost! I am staying here, and I'm not going anywhere!"

Hearing this, the grand eunuch Sun Changyu shook his head slightly and said

"If Her Highness insists on this, please forgive this servant for being disrespectful."

"You dare touch me?"

Li Yuanling's expression turned grim, but in the next moment, she shook her head vigorously as if feeling dizzy, and then slowly began to collapse toward the ground.

Seeing this, Sun Changyu hurriedly caught her and called out to those behind him

"Men, escort Her Highness, Princess Huarong, back to her residence."

In an instant, several young eunuchs carrying a small sedan chair hurried up the stairs from below. After taking Li Yuanling from Sun Changyu's arms, they carried her away quickly.

Now, only Sun Changyu, Song Shanyue, and Li Musheng remained on the corridor.

After a moment, Li Musheng glanced at the two of them and asked

"Do you still have business here?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Changyu and Song Shanyue exchanged a look, both of their eyes filled with a strange expression.

Just now, they had used a medicinal powder on Li Yuanling that could induce sleep and soothe the spirit, called "Yinxiang Xian" (Incense Fragrance Salve).

This substance was harmless, but it would cause instant slumber. Even a Martial Arts Grandmaster would find it difficult to avoid; only experts at the Great Grandmaster level could resist it using profound true qi.

Yet, Li Musheng had clearly inhaled the powder, and from beginning to end, nothing had happened to him.