Chapter 5

Wanqing's cool voice rang out, “According to the laws of Da Qi, a woman promised to two men must be punished. Grandmother, what grudge do you hold against this jailer? Are you trying to ruin him? Sir, I am already promised in marriage.”
The jailer froze, then flew into a rage. “Old hag, you're deliberately setting me up? Fine. Very well.”
A matriarch from a wealthy family is full of schemes, but that didn't justify ruining herself.
Members of the Mu family paled, this was bad.
You can dodge the king of hell, but a petty troublemaker is hard to handle; offend the man who watches over you and count your good days as over.
Old Madam Mu glared viciously at Wanqing. “Don't listen to her nonsense. The girl is modest, she's never been betrothed.”
She could call black white and lie without batting an eye; a master of deceit, no wonder she was the domestic intrigue champion.
Too bad for her; Wanqing hated being plotted against more than anything.
“I am already betrothed; I have the marriage contract to prove it.” Wanqing produced the document from a little box, she had been careful. “Sir, a pale, soft-looking man may seem pleasant, but you should check whether the filling is poisoned, shouldn't you?”
The jailer sneered and shot an angry look at Old Madam Mu, this was clearly a trap laid for him.
He dared not retaliate openly, but he could still make their lives miserable in small ways.
Old Madam Mu had been unconscious then and hadn't seen Wanqing bring out the contract; her face changed several times. “Shut up, you have no right to speak here. Sir, I…”
Her thoughts raced as she scrambled to patch things up.
“Look at you, so ashamed you turn angry.” Wanqing wasn't afraid of her; the old woman was a paper tiger now.
“Sir, never trust a woman's tongue, especially a sanctimonious old hag who's lived decades, she's sly and vicious.”
Everyone in the Mu household was stunned, what was she saying? “Old hag”? That was her legitimate grandmother!
Had she lost her mind?
Old Madam Mu went mad with fury. “Ungrateful wretch, you should have been strangled at birth. Wanqing, I have no granddaughter like you.”
But when she sold Wanqing for her own gain, peace between them had already been ruled out.
Unless Wanqing agreed to be her pawn, willing to be sacrificed so others could shine.
But Wanqing was a cold, selfish modern woman.
She had no patience for imperial supremacy, clan dogma, or blind filial piety.
Her grandfather often said, “When poor, cultivate yourself; when successful, help the world.”
Now she was adrift and only wanted to keep herself and her family alive.
She kept clear accounts: those who treated her well received her goodwill.
Anyone who tried to scheme against her would regret it for the rest of their lives, simple as that.
“Sir, she's setting a trap for you. If you fall for it, you'll be on her thieving ship, she'll make you follow her orders; she gives you a granddaughter fair as a flower and will surely have you do things that earn you a death sentence. One charge of sheltering a criminal could wipe out your whole family.”
The guard broke out in a cold sweat. Good Lord, terrifying.
He glared hatefully at Old Madam Mu. “The most poisonous thing is a woman's heart.”
Wanqing smiled sweetly. “You're just inexperienced. Women who run the inner court are experts at bloodless murder, they can destroy you without a sound. My grandmother is a master at it, the ultimate victor in household scheming: she toppled her own men and her rivals, secured her son’s inheritance, kept the illegitimate sons as useless dependents, suppressed them every way possible, and used their descendants as stepping stones for her true grandchildren. She's practiced at it.”
Her words were a needle to the bone, sharp as a knife, she exposed Old Madam Mu's true nature in a few sentences.
The cell fell absolutely silent. Not only the Mu family were stunned; prisoners in nearby cells listened in stunned disbelief.
So bold! She dares say anything.
Old Madam Mu had been pampered in her natal home, ruled her household unquestioned after marriage, and now stood as the exalted matriarch.
No one dared show her disrespect!
“Wanqing, how dare you speak like that?”
Wanqing was usually mild-mannered, but Old Madam Mu had crossed her bottom line.
“Before, your son was a third-rank official and you were the unquestioned ancestor of this household; I pretended to be deaf and blind and kept silent.”
Her smile was stunning, innocent and bright, yet it made people shiver. “Now the Mu family is finished, who's superior to whom?”
Such blasphemy made Old Madam Mu's eyes bloodshot, her rage surging. “The Mu family will rise again one day, and then…”
She would not let that wretched girl off.
Wanqing replied coldly, “A year? Two years? Five? Ten? I wonder if at your advanced age you'll even live to see that day.”
Everyone: …
Old Madam Mu flew into a fury. “Zhongde, cast her out of the Mu family. Strip her of her name. Let her live as one without clan or kin, spat upon by all; let her die a lonely, forsaken spirit.”
Second Master Mu was distraught. “No, Mother, she's young and foolish. I'll apologize on her behalf.”
He shot his daughter a look. “Wanqing, apologize quickly.”
He was spineless, never daring to take charge and weak in temperament, but he truly loved his wife and children.
Madam Qian tugged at her daughter's sleeve, signaling her to stop while she was ahead.
No matter what, when a junior confronts an elder it’s considered unfilial, if word gets out it won’t sound good.
Mu Wanqing blinked at her, then, feigning cheerfulness, called out loudly, "Uncle, please, banish our whole family. If we’re no longer part of the Mu household, we won’t be thrown in jail."
Her words landed like a thunderclap, opening up a new world. The Mu family froze, then their eyes rolled as they began to work things out.
The legitimate second son of the main branch leapt forward in eagerness. "Grandmother, expel me too, please, consider it leaving the Mu family a sliver of hope."
The illegitimate son of the third branch was not to be outdone. "Grandmother, I don’t want to go to prison or be beheaded. You’ve always favored me, help your grandson."
Third Master Mu shouted even louder, "Mother, drive out our entire third branch. I’d rather live without any clan ties."
These were all Old Madam Mu’s darlings, yet when it mattered most they did everything to disown her, such coldness.
Old Madam Mu was so furious she coughed up blood; her eyes rolled back and her heart felt as if it were bleeding, she couldn’t even bother to tear into Mu Wanqing.
A faint smile tugged at Mu Wanqing’s lips, so these were the grandchildren the old lady doted on.
What a pack of fools. Don’t they realize the timing? Before this happened there might’ve been a chance to spare the family, but now, absolutely no chance.
Cowardly and without backbone, clinging to life and abandoning even their ancestors to save themselves.
Round one: Mu Wanqing vs. Old Madam Mu, Winner: Mu Wanqing!
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study
The empire’s most distinguished pair of father and son sat facing one another, sipping tea and playing a game; a gilt censer sent up thin wisps of smoke, the room fragrant with orchids.
The chief eunuch reported softly, "Your Majesty, Vice Commander Wu Dongming of the Wuyi Guard has come to report."
The emperor’s gaze lingered on the white jade board. "Let him in."
Wu Dongming entered without daring to look around, bowing respectfully to the emperor and the crown prince.
"You may rise," said the emperor, his expression casual as he picked up a white stone.
Only then did Wu Dongming straighten, carefully offering up the inventory seized in the raid.
The emperor lifted his eyes slightly, flipped through it casually, then passed it to the prince beside him.
The crown prince wore everyday robes; his features were as if carved from jade, handsome beyond compare, but his complexion was poor, almost unhealthy.
"The Marquis of Dingyuan’s household was generous, some of the betrothal gifts are rare treasures. Huh, is this really all the Mu family has accumulated over generations?"
The Mus had produced a premier and provincial governors; their ancestors had enjoyed honor and glory.
That didn’t match the inventory, there were many items, but not as many as one might expect.
The emperor knew the Mu household intimately. "The Mus divide the family each generation. By their rules, the legitimate branch inherits half the estate, and those who branch off divide the other half equally."
This generation the family hadn’t split because Old Madam Mu was still alive, she doted on her younger son and couldn’t bear to divide the estate.
Not splitting kept them as relatives of a third‑rank official, easy shade under a big tree.
Once they split off, they’d be mere commoners; arranging marriages for their children would become difficult.
"The Mu clan has enjoyed a century of wealth, daily life lavish and ostentatious, even their maids live in luxury and wear gold. The Mus believe men handle the outside world while women manage the home: men study and take up official posts, women run the household and the estates. But Old Madam Mu was poor at management, short‑sighted, grasping for power and money, unwilling to delegate."
They say marry a virtuous wife and the family prospers for three generations, Old Madam Mu was no virtuous wife.
"Her two sons took after her, one loved money, the other loved power."
The prince lazily lifted an eyebrow, so his father disliked the Mu family that much.
The emperor only spoke in passing, then turned to Wu Dongming. "Was the mission successful?"
"Successful." Wu Dongming hesitated. "However..."
The emperor furrowed his brow, imperial authority washed over the room, making even one’s heart race.
Wu Dongming’s chest tightened. "The third miss of the Mu family is an extraordinary person."
He recounted the house‑raid with no emotion, no concealment, no embellishment, telling every detail.
Hearing Mu Wanqing’s praise of him, the emperor was slightly taken aback, and a little pleased with himself.
Well, a girl so young wouldn’t be flattering him; it must have been sincere praise, she has discernment.
The prince’s interest piqued. "You mean this third miss publicly praised the emperor in front of everyone? And so naturally and fluently? How old is she?"
Political arena veterans acting that way is normal, but coming from a little girl, it's kind of comical.
He knew the answer. Wu Dongming replied, "Thirteen. She’s the legitimate daughter of Mu Zhongping of the second branch."
The emperor had no impression of Mu Zhongping’s branch; he leafed through the files. The main and third branches and other Mu relatives had all committed wrongdoing, but the second branch stood out as untainted.
He couldn’t help but ask another question.
Wu Dongming was prepared. "I interrogated the Mu household servants. The second branch was heavily suppressed and life was hard, without Old Madam Mu’s permission they couldn’t leave the house. It’s said Second Master Mu’s education was mediocre and he never took office; his three children are unremarkable. But I found Miss Mu, the third miss, quick‑witted and bright."
Out of curiosity he had specifically inquired into the second branch, now that information proved useful.
The emperor shook his head. "Old Madam Mu’s vision and temperament are lacking. What a pity to squander such a loyal subject."
To him, Mu Wanqing seemed like a girl raised in seclusion, how could she understand such things? Only one possibility made sense: her father was a man of principle, fiercely loyal to the throne, and the child reflected that upbringing.
With that in mind, his impression of the Mu family’s second branch was quite favorable.
It must be said: this was a beautiful misunderstanding.
"How does she compare to Miss Mu of the main branch?"
Wu Dongming smiled slightly. "Third Miss Mu has a quieter, inner grace," he said delicately.
One was calm and prepared for trouble before it came; the other put on airs and resorted to threats of self‑sacrifice, both had their ways.
Indeed, Mu Jinyao’s methods hadn’t escaped his notice, he simply chose not to call them out.
Just then, a herald outside announced, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Consort and the Third Prince request an audience."
Wu Dongming felt a chill crawl across his scalp and muttered inwardly that this couldn't be good, they were here to make a scene.
He hurried to ask, "Your Majesty, what shall be done with the betrothal gifts to the Marquis Dingyuan's household?"