Chapter 52

Mu Jinyao closed her eyes and steeled herself. “I choose my second brother.”
Blood ties made her second brother her closest kin; everyone else was one step removed. Even the nephew she doted on wasn’t as close as a real brother.
Second Young Master’s joy was plain to see, he jumped up and down, cheering. He could live a good life now and never suffer exile again. He was ecstatic.
Those who weren’t chosen hung their heads in despair; disappointment dripped from their faces and tears flowed.
Life’s many faces were all on display. Mu Wanqing gave a faint smile. “Very well, so it’s decided. Young lord, please pay.”
The Jin heir fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand and ordered his men to bring out the silver notes.
He had figured it out, this woman was a lunatic, utterly beyond the bounds of convention.
Unless he could kill her with a single stroke and end the threat for good, it was better not to cross her.
The problem was her sway over the clan; to eliminate her they'd have to wipe out half the Mu family.
Was it worth it, for a woman?
She had no scruples, but he did. He was a prized porcelain; Mu Wanqing was nothing more than a broken tile, not worth destroying both jade and stone.
Third Master Mu burst into a wail. "Mother, I can't leave you. Please, take me with you, please!"
He had offended Mu Wanqing badly; now he was a broken man, his wives and concubines even looked down on him.
Madam Mu had only two sons; she relied most on the elder and doted on the younger. She clutched Third Master Mu and wept as if her heart were being cut. "Jinyao, beg the noble again, see if you can secure a few more places. We cannot be torn apart like this."
This separation could mean they'd never see each other again in this life.
Mu Jinyao's mouth went bitter. This was the limit, the noble was getting impatient; they'd already spent 150,000 taels of silver on her.
Sure enough, the eunuch snapped, "The most famous courtesan in Jiangnan bought her freedom for only 100,000 taels, I've never heard of anyone buying off the whole family. Know your limits; don't push your luck, or all your efforts will be for nothing."
The sneering words shamed Mu Jinyao to the core, comparing her to a prostitute, and yet she had no way to respond.
Eldest Master Mu was frantic; if they went back on their word now, everything would have been for nothing. "Mother, if you won't go, you can swap with Third Young Master."
Madam Mu fell silent at once, she had no desire to remain and suffer any longer.
Third Master Mu felt his heart chill: in the end, the old lady loved him most. He grew even more desperate, what could he do?
The Mu family's daughters-in-law clutched their children and wailed, panic and fear filling their hearts.
What would these women and children do?
Several children had tears in their eyes, crying out for their parents.
Mu Zifeng stroked his son's head, his gaze dark and terrible. "Boy, remember: it's not that your father doesn't want you, it's that someone is forcing us…"
Mu Wanqing wanted to keep the children as bargaining chips, to hold them hostage, let her try. Raising the enemy's children for them, ha. Whoever brags about being clever is plainly a fool.
What he wanted was to plant seeds of hatred in those children's hearts and wait for the right moment.
Mu Wanqing cleared her throat. "Ahem, how about you swap places with your child? Though you're a good-for-nothing not worth even ten thousand taels, for the sake of your deep love for your son I'll be generous and make the exchange. Come on, swap."
She waved a delicate hand and several clan members surged forward to pull Mu Zifeng over.
Mu Zifeng was terrified, barely holding himself together. "Let go of me! I won't swap, no!"
"Not swap? Are you going to abandon your wife and child? You can't be that heartless. Think again."
Mu Zifeng was furious, she was the one who had caused this.
"I... am the eldest son of the main branch. I must serve the elders and see them to their end." The excuse sounded quite weighty.
But Mu Wanqing tore off his mask. "So you're saying you don't want your wife and child? Is that right? If you deny it, then stay here."
Mu Zifeng fell into despair, why had he encountered someone so utterly unreasonable?
"Yes. I don't want them."
Everyone: ...
Bao'er burst into a sob; the Mu family's eldest daughter-in-law cried until she was unrecognizable, this was the man her parents had chosen for her, utterly unreliable.
Mu Wanqing walked up to Bao'er, crouched down and looked at him gently. "Bao'er, see? Your father insists on leaving with that old witch and doesn't want you anymore. But it's okay, the little fairy will protect you."
Mu Zifeng felt like tearing her apart; it was happening again.
Bao'er sniffled, terribly upset. "Will you always, always protect us?"
Mu Wanqing patted his small head, her tone unbearably tender. "Yes. As long as you don't become bad children, the little fairy likes sweet, kind little ones."
Bao'er's heart was greatly comforted; he threw himself into her arms. "Little fairy, I'm so sad. I want candy."
All these little children adored Mu Wanqing, a fact the main branch couldn't comprehend no matter how they thought about it.
The Mu family: ...
Mu Wanqing quietly produced a handful of sweets and gave him two. "Here, eat them. Sugar will make you feel better."
The other children looked on enviously. Mu Wanqing beckoned, and with a cheer they all gathered around; she divided the candy among them.
Candy works wonders; the children who got it were overjoyed.
In such an atmosphere, children were easily influenced, Bao'er's spirits were noticeably lifted.
He threw his arms around Mu Wanqing's neck. "Auntie, what is my father going to do with that old witch?"
Mu Wanqing frowned. "To do bad things, harm people, be a big bad guy."
Mu Zifeng's face split with rage, she had the nerve to speak ill of him in front of his child.
Bao'er balked. "Do bad things? Be a great villain? That's not allowed, bad people don't live long; the little fairy will wipe them out. So...can't we stop them from going?"
Mu Wanqing wore a worried look. "No. The old witch has allied with a great monster, and that monster has many followers. I can't take them on alone. When you grow up, will you help Auntie fight, okay?"
The Jin heir: ...So he really is that great monster, huh? Damn!
Bao'er nodded vigorously. "Okay, I'll help you fight."
Mu Zifeng watched helplessly as his son was being brainwashed by Mu Wanqing, his eyes rimmed red with anger. "Mu Wanqing, don't you feel despicable and shameless?"
Mu Wanqing mocked coldly, "Then why don't you stay and raise your children yourself?"
Mention that and Mu Zifeng immediately shrank back like a cringing coward.
Mu Wanqing had long seen through the men of the Mu family's main branch, they had no sense of responsibility. They rushed forward for the good bits but retreated when it came time to shoulder the burdens.
"Heh. So-called deep love for one's child is just like that. If someone truly cherished their child, they'd lay down their life to protect them, at the very least, they wouldn't speak words that sow discord."
After all, these children would have to live and grow up under her watchful eye.
If they wanted a good life, it would depend on whether she was willing.
"True enough, a wife can be taken again, children can be born anew. Have as many as you like; tossing a few aside isn't a big deal."
Mu Zifeng couldn't help but fly into a rage. "Mu Wanqing, you, bitch…"
Mu Wanqing looked at him coldly. "I want one of his front teeth."
Crack. A Mu clan member landed a punch square on Mu Zifeng's mouth; two bloodied teeth flew out.
"Sorry, I didn't control my strength."
Mu Zifeng stared in disbelief at the clan member before him. How could someone who used to grovel at his feet dare to strike him? How dare they?
The Prince of Jin’s heir could not stand it and rose to his feet. "Let's go. Move out."
At his command, his well-trained retainers closed in and escorted him outward.
Mu Jinyao froze for a moment, then hurried to catch up. Before she left she pressed her palms together and bowed to Mu Wanqing.
She was begging her to protect those left behind in the main branch.
Mu Wanqing gave no reply; her expression remained cool and distant.
Mu Jinyao had no choice, but she trusted Mu Wanqing's character, someone like her wouldn't deliberately make life hard for the weak.
Second Young Master Mu grew anxious. "Our luggage hasn't been packed yet…"
"Then leave it."
Old Madam Mu was shrewd, out with the old, in with the new. With a patron as backing, what was there to fear? "Eldest, carry your father. Second, help Grandmother up. Move quickly, catch up."
A cold voice came from behind. "As head of the Mu clan, I hereby declare the Mu family's eldest main branch expelled from the family; they have all met sudden deaths outside. From this day forward, there will be no eldest main branch."
The people of the Mu family's main branch halted, their faces darkened to the extreme, but they still charged out.
By the time they stumbled outside, the Prince of Jin’s heir and his men were already mounted, leaving only a single carriage for them.
Second Young Master Mu looked this way and that. "Only one? How are so many of us supposed to fit?"
No one paid them any mind. The Prince of Jin’s heir urged his horse with his knees and led the way.
The main-branch members stood dumbfounded; the future suddenly looked far less rosy than they'd imagined.
Seated behind the Prince of Jin’s heir, Mu Jinyao waved urgently at them. Hurry up, follow!
It was maddening, to bicker now, at the worst possible moment, and hold everyone back.
Old Madam Mu quickly helped her husband and mother-in-law into the carriage. "We'll squeeze in. The first step is always the hardest; things will smooth out. I trust Jinyao's ability."
"Zifeng, why are you standing there? Get in and drive the carriage."
Mu Zifeng was a noble son, he'd never done such tasks. His mother and wife had always done the hard work for him. "I won't."
Old Madam Mu almost slapped him; her two sons were utterly useless.
Never mind, there wasn't time for that now. "I'll do it."
Old Madam Mu was nearly breathless from the squeeze, but inwardly she was triumphant. One day she would return and trample those who had wronged her beneath her feet; she would make Mu Wanqing regret everything.
And so the main branch caught up with the main party in the carriage, never once looking back.
They hadn't seen the wives and children who had come chasing after them.
The Mu family's wives, concubines, and illegitimate children watched the receding carriage in a daze, filled with deep fear.
They just left us like that?!
"Everyone, come inside." A voice called from within.
The main-branch members looked at one another, seeing fear mirrored in each other's eyes.
With their elderly, weak, ill, and disabled dependent in Mu Wanqing's hands, could they expect any good days ahead?
The great hall filled with Mu family members. Mu Wanqing raised her hand. "Line up properly. We're distributing money now. Everyone over thirteen is eligible."
Cheers threatened to lift the roof; the atmosphere was jubilant.
The main-branch folk stared at all of it, their hearts growing even colder.
Mu Wanqing continued, "However, we'll first deduct a hundred taels for the carriage. Seven hundred taels will be kept with me for purchasing property when we reach the border; the rest will be divided for travel expenses."
She had earmarked every coin clearly. Each household had its own temperament; in hard times like this, unified management was necessary.
She wanted to make sure every family could get through this crisis safely.
They did the math: that would leave each a little over two hundred, not bad.
Someone couldn't help asking, "What about the children's silver?"
Mu Wanqing had already thought of that. "I'll hold it for now. Children aged seven to twelve will attend the Mu family school; children aged three to six will go to the Mu family kindergarten. Two taels a month will cover room and board and be deducted from this fund. When they turn thirteen they can receive the remainder."
The education of the next generation was paramount; if she could raise the children into useful talent, life would be much easier for her.
She placed great importance on education, it's a long-term plan. A family's prosperity doesn't rest on a single person but on the efforts of countless capable individuals.
Someone bristled inside. "Why can't the parents or relatives keep it?"
Mu Wanqing gave him a cool glance. This man belonged to the lineage of a later wife; the children of the first wife stood in stark contrast to those of the second, the former like paupers, the latter like princes.
In short, the clan was a mixed bag.
What she could do was provide each child with a relatively fair environment.
Of course, it would also limit the parents' control over their children.
"Because I'm more reliable than you. More children can be born; you may be biased, but I treat them equally. That's decided. If you object, you can refuse to take this money."
She emphasized firmly, "If you take it, I will consider it consent."
Refuse bright, shining silver? Are you crazy?
Fine, if they can't get to the children's money, they'll grab their own for now. Worst case, they'll deal with the children's funds when the kids turn thirteen.
No one objected; everyone took the portion that belonged to them.
The Mu family's eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Xu, spoke up timidly, "Clan Leader, may we receive money?"
They had nothing now and no one to rely on, how were they supposed to live from here on?