"I won't."
Mu Yunxuan replied firmly.
"Won't?"
Su Zimo looked at him incredulously.
"No, how did you know to bring the bamboo basket?"
"I saw my uncle always taking two bamboo baskets whenever he went fishing, so I brought one."
Mu Yunxuan looked at the bamboo basket in his hand, looking clueless. He had never fished for fish and shrimp himself, but he had seen his uncle do it.
"I've seen my uncle fish, but I've never done it myself."
"You're really pampered. Qi Er and Que Er will be able to catch fish and shrimp by the time they're three years old. I wonder how you spent your childhood?"
Su Zimo shook her head, not relying on Mu Yunxuan to help her.
But as Mu Yunxuan listened, he felt a bit uneasy.
As a son, there were certain things he should be capable of.
Alright! This was also a challenge for Mu Yunxuan. He didn't believe that, with his abilities, he couldn't catch shrimp.
Mu Yunxuan, like Su Zimo, took off his boots, rolled up his pant legs, and stepped into the water.
"Splash!" The sound of water echoed as the fish and shrimp around Su Zimo scattered.
"Slow down, slow down! The shrimp are all running away."
Su Zimo watched Mu Yunxuan and stamped her foot.
This stamp almost made her slip.
Fortunately, Mu Yunxuan quickly reached out and supported her, causing water to splash onto her face.
"Lady, be careful!"
"Phew!" Su Zimo wiped the water off her face.
"Stay away from me. It's enough to have you in one place."
Su Zimo blushed and looked embarrassed.
Mu Yunxuan immediately removed the mask from her face.
He didn't like seeing her wearing a mask in front of him.
He preferred to see the vibrant expressions on her face.
"Madam, let me wipe it for you."
Mu Yunxuan smiled and wiped the water droplets from her eyebrows.
Pulling up his sleeves, Mu Yunxuan was momentarily stunned.
At that moment, the crystal-clear water droplets on Su Zimo's forehead were as clear as water dripping from a hibiscus flower, captivating everyone's gaze. It made Mu Yunxuan recall the phrase "spring cold bathes Huaqing Pool, hot spring water washes away coagulation."
"Madam, you are so beautiful!"
Mu Yunxuan said with admiration.
"I... I know I'm beautiful. After we catch the fish and shrimp, do we need to find wild vegetables?"
Su Zimo said, feeling a bit self-absorbed. She blushed and turned around, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Just as she lowered her head, she could hear her own heartbeat thumping, as if it were about to leap out.
The smile on Mu Yunxuan's lips widened as he found his wife even more beautiful when she was shy.
Mu Yunxuan also started catching shrimp. Despite never having done it before, he was catching them faster than Su Zimo.
Su Zimo watched his movements and smiled.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them had been in the water for almost half an hour.
They had caught plenty of shrimp. Su Zimo looked at the basket and thought they had enough.
"That's enough, Yun Xuan. Catch a few big fish, and then we can go look for wild vegetables."
Su Zimo didn't even realize how naturally she called him Yun Xuan.
"Okay, wife."
Hearing that she could naturally call him by his name, Mu Yunxuan couldn't be happier.
Su Zimo looked up and saw the majestic Cloudy Mountain. The cliffs were illuminated, and the mountains were covered in lush greenery, concealing the glow of the setting sun.
"It's beautiful, like a landscape painting just sketched."
Su Zimo raised her head and smiled at the clouds in the sky.
Mu Yunxuan watched from the side, capturing the enchanting scene and her sweet, knowing smile.
Once again, Mu Yunxuan imprinted her deeply in his heart.
Looking into the distance, the mountains were adorned with the colorful hues of the sunset. Even the clouds in the sky turned as red as flames.
The most beautiful sight was the two of them in the lake, with dragonflies buzzing around. The woman had a pure and sweet smile on her face, while the man looked at her with an infatuated gaze... like a poetic picture that captivated everyone's gaze.
In spring, the land was abundant with delicious game.
Among them, bracken was Su Zimo's favorite.
Every year during the Qingming Festival, when bracken was at its peak, she would go to the mountains and gather a lot of it.
It could be used for cold mixing, stir-frying, or drying. It had the effect of clearing heat, aiding digestion, reducing phlegm, diuresis, and calming the mind.
Mu Yunxuan watched as Su Zimo picked the bracken, feeling a bit nervous. Could this hairy thing really be edible?
"Madam, are you sure this can be eaten?"
"Don't be silly. Why would I pick it if it couldn't be eaten?"
Su Zimo picked a large handful and placed it in the bamboo basket.
"That's enough. Let's go look for other wild vegetables."
"Okay!"
Su Zimo rolled up her sleeves and looked around again.
Water celery by the water could be picked later.
"We'll walk ahead and see if there's anything else to eat. There should be water spinach near the water."
Su Zimo had spotted several trees from a distance that resembled toon trees. Based on her guess, they must be water spinach.
Mu Yunxuan didn't understand, but he would follow wherever Su Zimo went. He was curious about every wild vegetable she mentioned, and Su Zimo patiently explained which ones were edible and which ones were not.
"Yunxuan, look, there are thorn teeth over there."
Su Zimo exclaimed happily and ran over.
Observing the thick and tough thorns on the plant, Mu Yunxuan couldn't believe it. Could these be edible too?
"Madam, can we really eat this... thorn teeth?"
"Yes, we can eat the tender thorns and young shoots. They might be slightly bitter, but they are good for our health!"
With that, Su Zimo began picking the tender thorns.
In her memory, her father used to enjoy eating thorn teeth, often having them with scrambled eggs. However, those memories were from her early childhood and had become quite vague.
After collecting the thorn teeth, Su Zimo continued searching for watercress.
Watercress could be used to make dumplings, and since they had nothing else to do, she thought of making some delicious treats.
After half an hour, Su Zimo had gathered a whole basket of wild vegetables.
Seeing Su Zimo struggling, Mu Yunxuan couldn't bear to see her suffer. He carried the fish, shrimp, and wild vegetables for her.
Returning to the wooden house on the cliff, they found Li Zifu still tending to Xin'er.
Su Zimo glanced at the sky and began cooking.
In ancient times, one had to do everything themselves—building earthen stoves, chopping firewood, and cooking were all challenging tasks for Su Zimo.
She looked around the yard and realized she didn't know how this hermit doctor managed to live without a single piece of firewood cut. Even the dry pine needles they used to start the fire had to be gathered from the mountains.
Luckily, there was a firewood shed.
Su Zimo sighed. She had been living under the Cliff-Top Residence for three years, and it had been a challenging experience for her.
"Madam, where are you going now?"
Seeing Su Zimo preparing to leave again, Mu Yunxuan felt a tinge of concern. She had been exhausted all day.
"I'm going to gather firewood for dinner! As the saying goes, when you live in the mountains, you use the resources around you. I haven't seen your uncle chopping firewood or cooking, so I guess he must gather it himself."
While speaking, Su Zimo had already grabbed a handful of dried pine needles and dry leaves. She asked Mu Yunxuan to collect some dry firewood and bring it back.
After spending the entire day like this, Mu Yunxuan, who had been pampered all his life, felt deeply touched. He had truly learned to live in the mountains.
From Su Zimo's every action and word, he experienced warmth and love. The closer he got to her, the more he was enchanted by her presence, making it difficult for him to leave.
He wondered if the four of them had lived like this for the past few years.
"Madam, I'm sorry."
Su Zimo looked at Mu Yunxuan with confusion.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I'm sorry for making you suffer all these years."
Mu Yunxuan sincerely apologized once again.
It was about this matter again.
Su Zimo lowered her gaze and squatted down to start the fire, her emotions stirring within her.
"You don't have to blame yourself anymore. Many things in life are a mix of good and bad, and it's impossible to clearly determine who is right or wrong. We can only blame fate for playing tricks on us."
Upon hearing this, joy filled Mu Yunxuan's eyes.
"Madam, does this mean you forgive me?"
"Yes, I forgive you, but..."
"But what?"
Mu Yunxuan's face darkened, not wanting to hear what followed.
"But I don't want anything like today to happen again. If possible, please don't appear at Bright Moon Villa. The children can be sent for someone to pick them up. They are your children, and as their mother, I understand their longing to meet their father. I won't prevent you from seeing them."
"No, to me, Mu Yunxuan, you are already my wife."
Mu Yunxuan quickly refuted, seeing no difference between her forgiveness and not forgiving him.
"I can assure you that nothing like today will ever happen again."
"What guarantee can you give? I, Su Zimo, am just your deceased wife, and the person your mother wants you to marry is Ling Qiushui. You don't like to come to me and find trouble?"
A certain woman's heart filled with a sour sensation, strange, why did she feel this sourness in her heart? There was no affection between them, was there?
"Madam, could it be that you're feeling jealous?" Mu Yunxuan squatted down and made her face him.
Su Zimo lowered her head, her face turning red, unable to meet Mu Yunxuan's gaze.
She didn't understand what was wrong with her today. Every time she saw Mu Yunxuan approaching, her face would flush, and her heart would beat rapidly. Could it be that she had developed feelings for Mu Yunxuan?
No, no! That's impossible. Su Zimo shook her head, not allowing herself to entertain such thoughts.
Mu Yunxuan didn't let her escape. He forcefully made Su Zimo face him.
"Su Zimo, listen to me. I, Mu Yunxuan, will not marry any other woman. You will be the only woman, the only wife in my life."
"The only woman, the only wife?"
Su Zimo hadn't expected a high-ranking Holy Lord to say such words. Princes and nobles usually had multiple concubines and consorts.
"But, there is no emotional connection between us, and developing affection requires your willingness."
Su Zimo's heart raced, and a strong anticipation surged within her.
"Lady, I understand that love cannot be forced. That's why I'm willing to go to Bright Moon Villa to find you. How can we cultivate feelings if we never meet?"
Mu Yunxuan's voice was gentle, and it made Su Zimo look at him with tenderness, as if she was lost in thought.
"I... I'll start cooking."
Su Zimo felt a little uneasy in the ambiguous atmosphere and tried to break free from Mu Yunxuan's hold. She continued to make a fire, but her eyes kept stealing glances at him.
Mu Yunxuan smiled, knowing that he couldn't push her too hard. He would gradually make her fall in love with him. His face was filled with confidence.
Mu Yunxuan could only watch as Su Zimo busily prepared the food, doing everything with great skill and dedication. There was a faint smile on her face, which made her even more beautiful.
He realized that she was even more captivating when she was focused, and he found himself becoming more and more infatuated with her.
In Cloud City, Ling Qiushui sat in her room, feeling a sense of unease in her heart. She made herself a cup of ginseng tea, but the feeling of unease persisted.
Su Zimo and Yun Xuan had taken Su Xin to seek the help of the hermit doctor. Who was this hermit doctor? Would he be able to identify the Ice Silkworm Moth in Su Xin's body?
Ling Qiushui stood up and decided to go to Mu Yunhan's room. Mu Yunhan might have the answers she was seeking.
However, as soon as she stepped out of her room, a white figure flashed before her eyes, and a silver-glowing sword swept towards her.
Ling Qiushui's eyes sharpened, and she quickly lowered her head, narrowly avoiding the sword strike.
"Who are you? How dare you intrude upon Cloud City?"
The white-masked man didn't answer. Instead, he took a step back and drew his sword again, launching a series of attacks aimed at Ling Qiushui's vital points.
Ling Qiushui stepped back, her eyes filled with determination. She had a few silver needles shining with a faint glow in her hand.
"If you want to die, then it will be you."
"Huh...!" Several silver needles emitting a glow were simultaneously released.
The white-clothed man's eyes narrowed, he retracted his sword that was aimed at Ling Qiushui, and managed to block three of the silver needles. He then performed a backflip to dodge the remaining needles.
"What a venomous woman, coating poison on the silver needles."
The man's voice was hoarse as he looked coldly at Ling Qiushui.
"Hmph! No matter how ruthless you are, you won't be able to kill me. Prepare to meet your end!" Ling Qiushui shouted, her hand holding ten more silver needles.
Anyone who could infiltrate Cloud City was either a resident of the city or someone with formidable cultivation who wasn't afraid of death. Ling Qiushui perceived the white-clothed man as belonging to the former category.
"You won't achieve much."
"Huh...!" Ten silver needles flew towards the man in white.
The man in white had already anticipated this and leaped up, his movements resembling those of a dragonfly as he swiftly leaped and disappeared.
The silver needles embedded themselves into the wooden pillars.
"If you want to test me, you'll need to have the ability. But you haven't forced me to take action yet. You truly underestimate me."
Ling Qiushui said coldly, glanced at the sky, and thought that Mu Yunhan might be able to shed some light on the situation during dinner. So she returned to her room.
Mu Yunhan emerged from the shadows. Su Zimo's cultivation was commendable, but she still hadn't forced Ling Qiushui to act.
Today, Su Zimo returned to Cloud City at noon. Ling Qiushui seemed to have sensed Su Zimo's presence, so she asked Su Zimo to come over to test her.
Ling Qiushui had hidden herself quite deeply, and Mu Yunhan knew that they would need to plan for the long term.
Back in his room, Su Zimo was already waiting for him.
Su Zimo had changed into a black robe, no longer wearing a face mask. He appeared graceful and handsome, with long black hair flowing casually behind his head. His porcelain-like skin, elegant eyebrows, and clothes as white as snow enhanced his slightly youthful face, making him breathtakingly beautiful with his enchanting eyes and cherry-like lips. He resembled a celestial being.
"Yunhan, did you discover anything?"
"Ling Qiushui already knows that we suspect her, so she wouldn't use the Wu Clan's techniques. Right now, Xin'er and her mother are on their way here. My mother seems fine for now, but she's more favorable towards Ling Qiushui than Yue'er. When Yue'er went to see her, she actually pulled Yue'er out and asked Ling Qiushui to accompany her. I don't know what's going on with Xin'er."
Mu Yunhan pursed his lips and sat down, feeling troubled.
A coldness flickered in Su Zimo's eyes. "Ling Qiushui has coated her silver needles with poison. I learned from the Zisang Kingdom that some people are unaware that the Ling family has a daughter. They only know about the son. However, a few years ago, the Ling family went to Haoyue Country together with the Lin family, and there seems to be something suspicious about that. It's highly likely that the attempt on Madame's life was premeditated. Jincheng has already gone to the Wu Clan, and as soon as there are results, he will rush back."
"I hope we find out soon. I convinced Li'er to bring Ling Qiushui back, and Li'er gave me eight days to uncover the truth."
Mu Yunhan took a sip of tea, his mind consumed by his recent busyness.
"Speaking of which, it's quite unbelievable. Jin Cheng and I were only away for a month, but I never expected Yun Xuan to have three more children, and they're all geniuses. It's truly enviable to hear about."
Zi Mo smiled, but deep down, he genuinely wished his friends could find more happiness.
"Well, who says it's not? With my older brother's temperament, I won't be able to get married until he turns thirty, and before you know it, the children are already over five years old."
"Never mind, let's go have dinner first! After dinner, we can make plans."
"My stomach has been growling all day. Let's go!"
Zimo patted his belly.
The two exchanged smiles and walked towards the dining room.
Meanwhile, in Sanqing Mountain, the sky gradually darkened.
Li Zifu stepped out, looking tired.
Su Zimo had already finished preparing dinner and was waiting for him outside the door.
"Uncle, you must be tired. I've prepared dinner."
Su Zimo smiled. Didn't she promise to make Xin'er better as soon as she was ready? She had to do enough superficial work.
Li Zifu looked at Su Zimo without her mask, her beauty captivating to the point where he couldn't look away. He couldn't help but think that Mu Yunxuan was truly fortunate!
"Girl, you're as thoughtful as ever! This old man is just a little tired, no need to worry! With Xuan'er's bone marrow, Junior Uncle won't let anything happen to Xin'er."
"Thank you, Junior Uncle!"
Su Zimo forced a smile, but it didn't sound pleasant to her ears. Could it be that this old man was saving Xin'er just because he saw Mu Yunxuan's face?
"Hmm! It smells so good. It's the first time this old man has smelled such a fragrance."
A burst of aroma wafted over as Li Zifu hurried inside.
"Oh! You rascal, this old man worked hard to save your daughter. Can't you wait a bit longer for this old man to enjoy a delicious meal?"
As soon as Li Zifu entered, he saw Mu Yunxuan eating with relish.
"Can't you skip the complaints?"
Mu Yunxuan replied coldly.
Li Zifu couldn't help but want to kick him miles away.
"Wow! Girl, did you prepare all this?"
Li Zifu looked at the table filled with colorful and aromatic dishes. At a glance, it looked incredibly delicious.
"Is there anyone else here who would cook something like this?"
Su Zimo looked disgusted. Didn't he ask a rhetorical question?
"Lady, you've had a long day. Sit down and eat!"
Mu Yunxuan smiled at Su Zimo. He had fallen in love with the dishes she cooked. What should he do? He really wanted to bring her back to Cloud City soon.
"Hmm!" Su Zimo's expression was a little unnatural. Being cared for like this occasionally, she was truly not accustomed to it.
"Hmm! Delicious! This fish is tender, smooth, and fresh. It's truly delightful!"
Li Zifu had already sat down and was happily eating.
"Girl, your cooking skills are outstanding! I'll be blessed in the future!"
Li Zifu looked at Su Zimo meaningfully.
Su Zimo's smile looked more like a forced one, almost as if she wanted to cry. "Junior Uncle, you must be mistaken. Our agreement was only for five days."
"Then what if this old man can completely cure Xin'er?"
"Bang!" Su Zimo slammed the bowl she had just picked up onto the table.
Both Mu Yunxuan and Li Zifu were taken aback.
"Senior Uncle, if you can cure Xin'er's illness, I will provide all your meals for the rest of your life."
"Okay!" Li Zifu's eyes flickered, and a glimmer of greed flashed through. He wouldn't refuse such a good offer.
"That's settled!"
Li Zifu readily agreed.
Su Zimo pursed her lips, her face filled with excitement. As long as Xin'er could get better, what did it matter to cook two meals a day?
Mu Yunxuan looked at her and felt a pang of sadness in his heart. In reality, even if she hadn't made the promise to her uncle, he would still heal Xin'er.
It seemed that he still hadn't been able to win her heart.
Feeling disheartened, Mu Yunxuan immediately set down his bowl and walked out with a gloomy expression.
Su Zimo looked at his departing figure with confusion.
What's wrong with these two? Why is he suddenly so angry!
"Girl, just ignore him and eat quickly. He has a foul temper. He's always been like this!"
Li Zifu advised, trying to lighten the mood.