Chapter 13

Mu Wanqing continued to make snide remarks, “But your method of using others to do your dirty work is crude and not aboveboard. If I were you, I'd confront him face to face instead of dragging innocent people into your fights.”
She shook her head with theatrical sighs, “Put bluntly: your hands are dirty and your heart is black. I'm disappointed, you're still a third-rank official, no wonder the Emperor let you go, you dirty (corrupt) official!”
In her previous life she was low-key and restrained, but when certain triggers hit she turned into a keyboard warrior, tearing into foreign netizens until they admitted defeat.
Her trash-talking skills had been personally certified by foreign netizens, they knew by the look in their eyes she was someone you don't mess with!
By comparison, Eldest Master Mu's tongue wasn't as sharp. “You… you…”
Third Master Mu saw his elder brother defeated and grew anxious. “Brother, what are you arguing for? Go together, grab it and we'll deal with it later.”
He was determined to have that mule cart.
With that cart he'd no longer have to trudge along on foot. If he kept walking like this he'd surely die on the road, his greatest fear.
There was nothing he wouldn't do to survive.
If words don't work, then fight!
“If you injure or kill, I'm responsible……” Third Master Mu shouted menacingly and was the first to lunge at Mu Wanqing.
He still fancied himself that arrogant, overbearing playboy of old, looking down on others and treating life like nothing.
He had only one thought: without Mu Wanqing, the second branch of the family would be scattered and easy to manipulate, and everything in their hands would become his.
Seeing a brawl about to break out, the constables simultaneously grabbed their weapons and rushed over.
Mu Zicheng reacted fastest. “Sister, be careful.”
“Qing'er, get out of the way……”
Before the words finished, a stone struck Third Master Mu's knee. He doubled over in pain and fell. “Ah.”
He howled in fury, “Mu Wanqing, how dare you hit me.”
Mu Wanqing picked up a palm-sized stone; a cold smile tugged at her lips and her voice was ice-cold.
“Injure? Kill? You don't even respect the constables. Do you still think you're the exalted Third Master Mu?”
Third Master Mu struggled to get up, but shackles made moving difficult. Halfway up, Mu Wanqing kicked him back down.
She lifted the stone and smashed it hard into his right hand, fast and brutal.
With a crack, the bone broke.
“Aaaah!” Third Master Mu let out a piercing scream, then his head lolled and he fainted from the pain.
The entire world fell silent; everyone froze.
Old Madam Mu went white-eyed and fainted from fright.
Mu Wanqing stepped onto Third Master Mu's chest, her bearing imposing.
“Constables, this man is no good, he wants to kill and burn, yet makes you take the blame. I can't stand by and watch that happen.”
The constables:……
This girl was formidable, she even dared to break her uncle's hand without batting an eye.
Officer Zeng's expression was odd. “So, you're disciplining him for us?”
Mu Wanqing gave a faint smile, looking like a gentle lady enjoying quiet days, nothing betrayed how unhinged she'd just been.
“I wouldn't dare. My hand slipped.”
Officer Zeng understood each word, but together he frowned. “Your hand slipped?”
Mu Wanqing put on a fragile, innocent look. “I'm not very strong, I couldn't hold the stone steady and it fell. Who knew it would just happen to land on Third Master Mu's right hand?”
Officer Zeng:……what a drama queen.
That was a bold line, lying with your eyes closed. Whoever could say that must have nerves of steel.
Mu Wanqing stamped hard on Third Master Mu's injured hand, waking the fainted man; he writhed in pain, screaming and cursing to the heavens.
But this time he didn't dare curse at Mu Wanqing, afraid she'd break his other hand too.
In short, he bullied the weak and feared the strong.
Mu Wanqing understood the importance of asserting dominance. If she didn't make a show of force today over a mule cart, next time they'd truly dare to kill.
When survival is at stake, people will abandon their humanity and do whatever it takes.
Have you not seen the horrors of times of famine, when families were driven to eat their own children?
The road of exile is a gauntlet of death, who, with death ever looming, can keep their kindness and humanity?
"Once someone sets their mind on killing, who knows who will die first? After all, these things depend not only on cunning and methods, but on the will of Heaven."
"Third Uncle, it seems Heaven is on my side."
She babbled nonsense, until Third Master Mu's eyes were red with irritation. "Mu Wanqing."
Mu Wanqing pressed the stone to his temple, a faint glint of killing intent in her eyes. "If there’s a next time, Heaven will smash this spot. Tell me, will you even make it alive to Liangcheng?"
Third Master Mu was terrified out of his wits; he wet himself, a foul smell spreading. "I won't dare again, I swear."
She wasn't a niece, she was a demon! She would certainly take his life!
He was truly frightened!
Mu Wanqing glanced at the others, her gaze icy. "Whoever stirs trouble again will meet the same fate. It's only one rotten life anyway, I'll be magnanimous and send you off to meet the King of Hell."
Those she swept with her stare couldn't help but shiver, trembling in mingled fear and dread.
The place fell silent. Faces varied, some full of awe, some of fear, some of hatred.
But they all learned one thing: Third Miss Mu was ruthless. No one should dare provoke her or covet her.
Unless you were confident you could kill her.
Otherwise, be prepared to be killed by her.
The guards couldn't help exclaiming, "This girl's ferocity runs as deep as any soldier heading into battle, she's a real tough one. No, wait, that's wrong, she's a fierce woman."
Officer Zeng: …
Second Master Mu and his wife: Our daughter has suffered!
Mu Zicheng and his brothers: Sister is so pitiful!
Everyone else looked baffled and wondered what on earth they were talking about.
Second Master Mu broke into a great wail. "My poor daughter, what have they driven her to? I'm a poor excuse for a father, bullied and unable to fight back, and I've driven my gentle, timid girl to madness."
"Sister, it's because we failed you. Don't be afraid, henceforth we'll fight together."
The others: …Fight people together? That would be a glorious sight, too beautiful to dwell on.
Also, are all of you sane?
Mu Wanqing had successfully cowed them; no one else dared make trouble with her.
Second Master Mu and his two sons all wore cangues and could barely move, so Mu Wanqing learned to drive the mule cart.
She was clever and picked it up quickly; the mule cart ran steadily.
She let Second Master Mu and his wife rest inside the carriage, while her two elder brothers walked beside the cart, taking turns to rest after each watch.
That way everyone got some rest and the journey was less grueling.
The Mu father and sons were not idle either; they watched Mu Wanqing drive the cart, eager to learn.
Madam Qian took off her shoes and socks; with medicinal powder on her feet they felt cool and much more comfortable.
The others could only walk on foot; their soles rubbed raw and bled, exhausted to the point of collapse.
They thought they were already moving fast, but the guards thought otherwise and kept urging them on. If they didn’t reach lodging before dusk, they would have to sleep outdoors.
Startled, everyone forced themselves on, pushing until they could barely breathe, dragged forward if necessary.
They walked and walked, and finally reached a small town before night fell.
They should have stayed at a post station, there was one every thirty li, but today they couldn't make it in time.
The town had an inn. The ordinary guards took the common bunks; the leaders stayed in private rooms.
As for the exiles, they were put in the wood-shed, any shelter from wind and rain was a blessing.
The head of the Fang family bowed to Officer Zeng and politely asked, "Official, if we pay, may we have a private room? My mother is old and unwell."
As he spoke he discreetly slipped silver to Officer Zeng. He had formerly served in the military department and had been implicated in an unspeakable case, exiled to the border.
Officer Zeng weighed the silver briefly and, easy to persuade, said, "Fine."
Once out of the capital, with none watching, anything could be worked out as long as the prisoners were willing to spend money.
There was only one restriction: the cangues could not be removed.
The inn assistant led them upstairs, and the Fang couple hurriedly helped their elderly mother up to rest.
Mu Wanqing looked up with pleading eyes. "Official, I'd like a private room as well."
She hadn't offered any silver, but Officer Zeng didn't give her a hard time, he agreed readily.
Mu Wanqing didn't follow right away; she had one more request.
"I'd like to ask a favor. Could you tell the innkeeper to help purchase a batch of supplies for me?"
By the rules, exiles were not allowed to contact outsiders along the way, to prevent accidents.
So better to have someone else handle it, pay a bit extra, and buy peace of mind.
Officer Zeng nodded slightly. "Let me see the list."
"All right." Mu Wanqing cheerfully asked the assistant for paper and a brush.
The assistant led them to the second floor and opened a door. "This is the room. Do you need hot water and food?"
"Yes." Mu Wanqing nodded without hesitation. "Please bring two more quilts."
In this age there was no cotton, and therefore no cotton quilts; winter was brutal for the poor, and for exiles it was a calamity.
She had to prepare in advance.
The room was small, one wooden bed, a cabinet, a small round table, simple and plain.
Second Master Mu looked it over. "You and your mother sleep on the bed; my sons and I will sleep on the floor."
The place was cramped, but far better than the wood-shed.
Mu Wanqing sat down and began to make a list.
She had learned brush calligraphy and had no trouble writing in traditional characters; she wrote while consulting with her family.
Before long, the list was quite long.
Second Master Mu felt troubled. "Do we need to buy so much? We don't have much silver, save it and buy more later."
"Once we pass this village there won't be another shop like this. It's better not to trouble the official too much, some things can only be done once," Mu Wanqing explained softly. "Besides, this place is close to the capital and supplies are plentiful; farther away you might not find what you need at all."
Money's just dead weight, what's more important than supplies?
Just because people are easy to get along with now doesn't mean they will be later; only what's in your hand is truly yours.
Second Master Mu was easily convinced. "All right, we'll do it your way."
After writing it out, Mu Wanqing checked it carefully; there was nothing contraband, and only then did she hand the list to Second Master Mu.
Second Master Mu personally took the list to Officer Zeng next door, even offering ten taels as a tip, all humility and sweet words.
When you ask a favor, adopt the posture of someone asking, being deferential now makes it easier to ask for leniency later.
Officer Zeng took the list impatiently and sent him on his way.
Sharing his room was his old partner, Old Li; the two of them were as close as brothers.
Deputy Captain Li had witnessed Mu Wanqing's daring maneuver and was impressed.
"Let me see, what's on the list? This must be Third Miss Mu's own handwriting, isn't it?"
"Five bolts of white silk, ten bolts of brown hemp cloth, ten pairs of polished leather shoes, a handwarmer, a full set of bedding, straw hats and raincoats, oilcloth, bowls and chopsticks, an earthenware pot, a long ladle, rice, flour, oil, tooth powder, combs, towels, tea, peppercorns, cinnamon, it's quite a lot, plus wheat straw and rice straw... Why does she need all this?"
Officer Zeng glanced coldly. "Preparing for the winter."
"She may be young, but she thinks carefully and looks ahead..." Deputy Captain Li was interrupted by a knock; it was the cook's voice. "Come in."
The cook carried in an earthenware pot, set it silently on the table, his expression odd.
Deputy Captain Li leaned in and saw its yellowish, unpleasant color. "What is that?"
"'The lord ordered Gold-Fleck rice,'" the cook said, looking as if his tooth hurt.
Officer Zeng rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
You couldn't call it identical, more like completely unrelated.
Deputy Captain Li, blunt as ever, blurted out, "It looks like shit."
Officer Zeng: ...
Is he going to eat it? Or not?