Chapter 48

Mu Jinyao was frantic. “My father and Third Uncle both have fevers, their bodies are burning; they’re very ill. Please save them!”
Regardless of how Mu Zhongde treated others, he doted on his daughter a hundredfold; their father-daughter bond was extraordinarily deep.
Second Master Mu froze. The men of the Mu family's main and third branches had all been locked in the communal quarters, put under strict guard, forbidden from eating, left to go hungry for days.
"Then go and find Officer Zeng."
Mu Jinyao's eyes were rimmed in red. "I've asked him, Officer Zeng refuses. Second Uncle, only you can save them now. My father and Third Uncle have wronged you, but you are blood brothers; for Grandfather's sake, please save them."
Officer Zeng wasn't merely unwilling, he practically wished them dead, wanting to end the trouble forever.
She didn't know whether this was Officer Zeng's own desire or Mu Wanqing's doing, but regardless, she had to save them.
Second Master Mu was at a loss. "How can I help? I'm no Physician."
Mu Jinyao pleaded through tears, "If you beg Officer Zeng to open the room and send for a physician, he'll agree."
Even out of consideration for Mu Wanqing, Officer Zeng wouldn't easily refuse Second Master Mu.
Second Master Mu's head ached. "Officer Zeng won't listen to me."
Mu Jinyao was crushed, how could blood brothers be so heartless?
She clung to Second Master Mu's hand, tears streaming. "Please, at least try, I'm begging you."
Second Master Mu wasn't heartless; her crying softened him. "All right, I'll go see for myself."
He couldn't rely on only her version of events.
Before he reached the communal quarters, he saw a cluster of women gathered at the door from afar, every one of them in tears.
From inside came wailing and heart-rending cries; the sound of mourning filled both within and without.
When Madam Mu saw Second Master Mu rushing over, a flash of bitter hatred flickered in her eyes but vanished at once. She cried urgently, "Second Brother, you're just in time, smash the door open and save them."
Before Second Master Mu could utter a word, the women shoved him forward and together forced the main door open.
The Mu family's descendants poured out in a stampede, scattering in all directions and fleeing for their lives.
When those who could run had all fled, Madam Mu and the other women threw themselves into the house, calling, "Master! Master!"
The two Eldest Master Mu brothers had fallen into a half-conscious state, their faces unnaturally flushed, eyes glued shut, their clothes soaked with sweat.
They had lived pampered lives; their tendons had been cut, their bodies and spirits both devastated, so it was no wonder they collapsed sick.
Madam Mu went frantic, her master was her world, her anchor. "Second Brother, what are you standing there for? Go fetch a physician!"
Second Master Mu felt something was off and instinctively turned to leave.
He ran straight into Officer Zeng, who had come at the news. "Second Master Mu, why are you here? What's happened?"
Second Master Mu parted his lips, but before he could speak, Madam Mu cut in. "Officer Zeng, my Second Brother, in his desperate rush to save kin, broke the door, please forgive him."
Second Master Mu was dumbfounded. "N-no, it wasn't me..." He hadn't even touched the door.
Madam Mu gave him no chance to speak. "Second Brother, you must find an expert physician, one capable of repairing severed tendons and broken bones. The master has a fever and is unconscious; if this continues he'll die. Go, go now, and be quick."
It wasn't a request; it was an order.
Officer Zeng's eyes flickered and he sighed silently, men of the Mu family were useless, their women all full of schemes.
Though Madam Mu usually kept a low profile, she was no lightweight.
In any case, he couldn't allow Second Master Mu to be used as a pawn.
"Second Master Mu, come with me."
He took Second Master Mu outside and called to his men. "Guards, hold the entrance, no one may enter or leave. Anyone who disobeys, kill on sight."
"Go round up those fugitives who fled. Anyone who resists, slay them." His tone was murderous.
If you dared to run, you would bear the consequences.
Madam Mu shot up, alarmed and fearful. "Officer Zeng, you misunderstand, the children went out to fetch a Physician, they weren't fleeing. Second Master Mu can attest to that."
"Second Brother, say something!"
Even if he were foolish, Second Master Mu knew he was being set up; he kept his mouth shut.
A cheer rang outside. "Third Miss has returned!"
Second Master Mu whipped his head around and sprinted outside, his daughter had come back. He wasn't afraid anymore; he had an ally.
Madam Mu watched him bolt like a rabbit. "Second Brother, Second Brother..."
Officer Zeng was growing impatient, the whole clan was a constant nuisance and none could fight. "Calling him won't help. Just wait, Third Miss will sort you out and your whole family."
Mu Wanqing was ferociously protective, anyone who dared scheme against her father would be made to weep.
Madam Mu knew full well the fate of those who crossed Mu Wanqing, what could she do? "Officer Zeng, what do you think of my younger daughter?"
Officer Zeng looked in disbelief at Mu Jinyao. She stared back, stunned, either as if she hadn't heard, or as if she'd been terrified into silence.
Madam Mu closed her eyes, biting down on her grief. "I'll give my younger daughter to you as a concubine in exchange for your protection of my husband and sons."
It was the only solution she could think of.
She clearly realized she couldn't outmatch Mu Wanqing or protect her family alone, she had to seek outside help.
"Mother." Only then did Mu Jinyao react, eyes reddening with anger, this was the second time!
Once something started like this, it couldn't be undone, once there's one, there would be a second.
Madam Mu didn't want this either. "Jinyao, don't blame your mother. I have no choice. Your father and brothers won't survive, can you bear to watch them die?"
The thought of her sons being dragged away in carts, just thinking of it tore her apart.
They absolutely wouldn't last a day!
She didn't want to bury them in her old age nor be the one to prepare their bodies.
Mu Jinyao looked at the unconscious Eldest Master Mu and recalled the family's former harmony; tears streamed down her face and she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
She felt utterly hopeless, a crushing sense of defeat sweeping through her. Reborn once, why was it still so hard?
She'd worked so hard to stand on her own, was it really impossible?
A subordinate hurried over. "Boss, miss wants you to come, there's something."
Officer Zeng turned and left without hesitation, leaving Madam Mu and her daughter staring at one another.
This is... no feelings? Not impressed? Surely not?
Madam Mu felt guilty, but explained earnestly, "Jinyao, don't blame your mother. If it weren't a matter of life and death, how could I bear to do it? If your father and brothers came to harm, our family would be finished. Do you know how hard it is for an orphan and a widowed mother? Over the years we've offended many clansmen; they'd only kick us when we're down."
She poured out her helplessness, laying on the pathos thick.
A flash of hatred crossed her eyes. "It's all Mu Wanqing's fault, she ruined our whole family, it's her!"
If someone had to shoulder all their resentment, it would be Mu Wanqing!
Mu Jinyao stood stunned, her expression flickering.
Those waiting outside the inn saw Mu Wanqing indeed return with more than sixty wagons and screamed with excitement.
Cheers rang out across the place.
Mu Wanqing leapt down from the carriage with practiced ease. "Line up to collect the wagons. Everything inside is my gift to our clanspeople, I hope it helps you all get through a warm and safe winter."
Everyone was overjoyed, such a generous act?
The two Mu brothers, Mu Zicheng and Mu Ziang, handled distribution; whoever received something signed for it.
Nobody dared grab or push; they lined up obediently. When they got their packages they couldn't wait to lift the wagon curtains and were instantly delighted.
"To think it's such good stuff! This small stove can warm food anytime; these mats and quilts are so thick, wow, hand warmers too, one for each person?"
"Of course. Third Miss is so thoughtful, this is the kind of clan leader we wanted."
"Yes, Third Miss is the clan leader who thinks of the people, the previous leaders don't compare."
"Not just worse, they don't even hold a candle to a single strand of Third Miss's hair."
At that moment, not only did Mu Wanqing's supporters bow to her wholeheartedly, even the old traditionalists were shaken.
A clan leader who can give them a better life, that's a true leader.
Does gender or age really matter?
Mu Zhongde was a male and even a third-rank official, yet he dragged the entire family into ruin.
Seeing everyone's happy faces, Mu Wanqing was pleased too. She turned and saw Second Master Mu watching her from afar. "Father..."
Second Master Mu turned and ran off.
He ran? Mu Wanqing froze, frowning slightly. "Go fetch Officer Zeng."
Officer Zeng arrived quickly. Mu Wanqing asked bluntly, "Something happened?"
Officer Zeng briefly recounted the matter and even took the blame, saying he had failed in his supervisory duties.
"My father was used?" Mu Wanqing thought. No wonder he didn't dare come. "It's fine, we'll teach them a lesson. With us watching, nothing serious will happen."
She didn't expect Second Master Mu to change; his character was set, he couldn't be turned around.
Better to groom her two older brothers properly and let them shoulder the heavy responsibilities.
Officer Zeng, seeing her utterly unbothered, secretly exhaled. "How should the Mu family be dealt with?"
Mu Wanqing narrowed her eyes. "Handle everything according to the imperial laws."
"Agreed." Officer Zeng wanted nothing more than that attitude from her.
Neither of them mentioned the illness afflicting Eldest Master Mu and his brothers; they tacitly avoided the subject.
They had already lost time. Now that everyone had their wagons, they needed to press on quickly.
Officer Zeng sketched out a simple schedule: they would cover three hundred li a day, prepare yourselves.
Mu Wanqing held a brief meeting and announced several decisions. "Officer Zeng will serve as head of the action team, responsible for daily scheduling and overseeing security."
"Madam Qian, Mu Zhongrui, and the Head of the Fang family will form a three-person Organization Department to manage specific affairs."
"Second Master Mu and Mu Zicheng, you'll be the primary and deputy heads of Logistics, responsible for this unit's support work."
"Mu Ziang and Young Master Fang, you'll be my assistants."
She was building the simplest organizational structure, easy for her to manage.
"If anything is unclear, ask."
The Head of the Fang family raised a hand first. "Could you specify our scope of responsibilities?"
"For example, if we start making soap, the Organization Department will have full responsibility. If any problems arise, I'll come directly to you."
The Head of the Fang family glanced instinctively at Officer Zeng; this used to be under Zeng's control, this was essentially taking his power away. Would he be pleased?
What he didn't know was that Officer Zeng was delighted, this freed him up to go into business alongside Third Miss.
He loved making money!
Mu Wanqing had already discussed this with him and continued, "If clanspeople run into problems, they first go to the Organization Department. If you can't resolve it, report up to me. The three of you must each write a daily report summarizing what happened that day and hand it to me in the evening."
She was delegating authority, she couldn't be bogged down in daily minutiae or she wouldn't be able to handle everything else.
Of the three she chose, Madam Qian was her own mother and naturally on her side; being a woman, she could fulfill the duties expected of the clan leader's wife.
Mu Zhongrui and the Head of the Fang family belonged to different houses and wouldn't collude, they'd check and balance one another.
They exchanged glances and couldn't help but accept the decision to write reports. With three parties verifying matters, nothing could be hidden.
Mu Wanqing appeared to be hands-off, but in fact she still held tight control over everything.
"As for Logistics, clothing, food, shelter, and travel are all included, this requires carefulness and patience." This is grunt work: no decision-making, but it trains people and lets them come and go to liaise with the trailing units and provide cover.
Mu Wanqing raised an eyebrow. "Young Master Fang, being my assistant won't disgrace you, will it?"
Young Master Fang rose and bowed to her with great respect. “Of course not, it's my honor.”
A few constables returned, flinging the bloodied members of the Mu family to the ground. “Officer Zeng, we've brought them all in.”
Officer Zeng didn't so much as blink. “Fifty lashes. Hang them from the tree. Let fate decide if they live.”
Members of the Mu family's main branch came scrambling out. “Sir, we beg you, spare them. They truly went to seek a Physician; please see reason.”
“Sire, have mercy!” the crowd knelt and begged.
Mu Jinyao felt helpless and desolate, with a thread of anger winding through it.
Officer Zeng snorted. “Do you take me for a fool? Those who tried to deceive me just now have already been fitted with shackles. I'll show you the consequences of breaking the law.”
“Sir.”
At that moment, a party of people ushered in a brocade-clad man whose air screamed of privilege.
On seeing the scene, they barely glanced over. “Innkeeper, we'll take rooms.”
Officer Zeng clasped his hands politely. “Sorry, the inn's already been rented by us. Please try another place.”
“Master.”
A clear, bright voice said, “Make room for them, clear a few of the front rooms.”
The familiar voice reached his ears. Mu Jinyao jerked her head up and gaped in disbelief. It was him, of all people! Him!!!
The brocade-clad man was alert; his gaze swept over and their eyes met dead on…