Female-dominated society: Striving for the position of powerful minister, doting on Xiao Yunqing

Prime Minister's Mansion

Main Hall

Before even entering the door, Mu Yan heard a burst of cheerful laughter. Tsk, what a harmonious scene! They've forgotten about the young lady who's just recovered from a serious illness. It seems this mother isn't very close to her after all.

Mu Yan couldn't help but complain in her heart and roll her eyes. Then she saw the old woman in front of the round table waving to her and calling her to come and sit down.

She had no choice but to quicken her pace and run over. Just as she sat down next to the old woman, she saw the two sisters across from her making faces at each other.

Whatever you say comes.

"Is Yan Yan feeling any better?" The old woman placed a piece of meat in Mu Yan's bowl, her tone incredibly gentle.

"Ahem, so she really is a blood relative, huh?" Mu Yan laughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed. She looked up at the old woman in front of her, about to speak, when Mu Xue, dressed in a pale yellow dress, interrupted her.

"It should be better by now, shouldn't it? We've seen so many doctors and taken so much medicine, the Prime Minister's mansion is practically empty!"

Mu Yan looked up at Mu Xue. This person looked quite ordinary, but why did she speak so rudely?

After Mu Xue finished speaking, she snorted coldly, scooping soup from her bowl with a spoon. It seemed like she was just saying it casually, but in reality, she had a very deep plan.

She wanted to use the excuse that Mu Yan's medical treatment had cost the family a lot of money to make the old woman dislike her, so that the old woman would go to her mother to lecture Mu Yan.

But to her surprise, the old woman not only glared at her fiercely after hearing her words, but also said elegantly and politely, "Things of value naturally have higher costs. Our Yan Yan is precious, so the expenses are naturally high. Besides, how much is medicine worth? At worst, I'll pawn the gold and silver jewelry your mother gave me to make up for it!"

"We're all family, why be so formal? Of course, she needs treatment when she's sick," Mu Xi said, trying to smooth things over. "Xue'er, hurry up and apologize to your third sister!"

Mu Xue refused to apologize.

What she said was the truth; the Prime Minister's mansion had almost been emptied of its coffers to treat Mu Yan's illness.

The whole family doted on Mu Yan; anyone who didn't know better would think she had some rare disease!

He just tripped and fell; he didn't die.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yan choked on her own, spitting out the soup she had just drunk and coughing incessantly.

Xiangqin, who was standing nearby, quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe Muyan's mouth. The old woman was startled and asked Muyan softly if she was feeling unwell.

At this moment, Mu Yan's mind was filled with the old woman's words, "your mother," and she felt indignant.

So, after all this morning, the mother still hasn't shown up.

This old woman was none other than Ye Ming, the biological mother of Mu Yan's father, Ye Xiao.

A few days ago, Mu Yunyan personally invited him to stay at the manor. No one in the manor knew the situation and treated him as a noble person.

The two sisters, Mu Xue and Mu Xi, were even more eager to get involved, hoping to gain some benefits.

Now, looking at the old woman who only revolved around Mu Yan, Mu Xue felt both angry and resentful. She wanted to leave immediately, but she was afraid that the old woman would gossip behind her back, so she could only sit obediently to the side.

Just as they calmed down, they saw Mu Yan suddenly collapse to the ground, and everyone in the room was in a panic, not knowing what to do.

The old woman sighed and clung to Muyan tightly.

Mu Xue was conflicted. She wanted to go and call for help, but then she got angry. If she didn't go, she was still her own sister.

Sigh, she was ultimately driven by her conscience, but no sooner had Mu Xue stepped out than Mu Yunqing rushed in.

"Hurry up and come help your master!" Xiangqin shouted at Mu Yunqing.

Mu Yunqing walked towards Mu Yan with his head down, bent down to pick her up, bowed to the old woman, and then walked out the door.

Xiangqin followed closely behind, gave Mu Yunqing some instructions, and then went out of the mansion to fetch a doctor.

Mu Yunqing carried Mu Yan through several doors. Feeling light as a feather, Mu Yan suddenly opened her eyes, but immediately closed them again upon seeing the person in front of her.

He let Mu Yunqing carry him back to his room.

Fanglan Garden (inside Muyan Room)

Mu Yunqing placed Mu Yan on the bed and then prepared to leave.

Mu Yan subconsciously grabbed his sleeve, but seeing a hint of embarrassment in his eyes, she let go.

Just when everyone thought Mu Yunqing would leave, he knelt down again, still in that humble tone: "What are your orders, Master?"

Mu Yan waved to him, then turned over and faced away from him.

Mu Yan's actions were actually meant to make him leave, but Mu Yunqing couldn't understand it. He was even more unaware that the person in front of him was no longer the Mu Yan of the past.

He sensed her change, but he knew perfectly well that every period of calm was followed by a storm; it was just a different game.

All she ever did for him was hurl insults and physical abuse.

Now, he would only assume that she was angry again, so he quietly knelt by the bed, waiting for her to be punished.

But he waited for a long time and still didn't hear the person on the bed make a sound.

Because Mu Yan had already fallen asleep, she had dragged her weak body to climb walls and rooftops last night, and then got up very early this morning, so her body naturally couldn't take it.

At this moment, Xiangqin entered with the doctor. Seeing that her master was still unconscious, her eyes suddenly reddened, and she cried out, begging for help to save her master's life.

The doctor moved a chair to sit down and saw Mu Yunqing kneeling to the side.

Suddenly, my eyes lit up. Wow, this man is quite handsome. I wonder what he did wrong to be kneeling here. Tsk tsk, what a pity.

Perhaps noticing the doctor's lecherous gaze, Xiangqin coughed a few times before the doctor came to his senses and began to take Muyan's pulse.

"Doctor, how is my master?" Xiangqin asked anxiously, glancing at Muyan.

"It's nothing serious. Your pulse is stable. Judging from your complexion, it's probably due to insufficient qi and blood. Just make sure to rest more and eat some medicinal food to replenish your qi and blood, and you'll be fine."

"Will taking some medicinal food to replenish my energy be enough?"

"Of course, I already said there's nothing wrong!" the doctor said, glancing at Mu Yunqing again.

"But Master has been unconscious since this morning!"

"coma?"

"Mmm." Xiangqin nodded obediently.

"Here's what we'll do: come with me to get some medicine. Drink it for three to five days and you'll be fine!"

"Okay, thank you, doctor."

As she spoke, she led the doctor out the door, and the doctor glanced at Mu Yunqing several times as he left.

It's understandable, Mu Yunqing is indeed good-looking, with phoenix eyes, a high nose, bright eyes and white teeth, and a tall and straight figure. However, due to his low status and heterochromia, he is rarely treated well.

When he was young, people called him a monster, and his peers avoided him. The person who adopted him felt that he was worthless because he was a boy and tried to kill him several times, but he never succeeded.

Later, he was abandoned in the wilderness, but fortunately, an old man took him in and brought him home. The old man treated him very well, but the good times didn't last long. After only a little over a year, the old man fell ill and passed away.

Before he died, he left a note instructing him to go to the Prime Minister's residence to find Ye Xiao, who was also Mu Yan's father. Ye Xiao had been kind to the old man, so the old man's dying wish was for Mu Yunqing to repay that kindness on his behalf.

Later, Mu Yunqing came to the Prime Minister's residence and became Mu Yan's servant.

"Cough cough...cough" Mu Yan coughed as she got up, her mind blank and her throat still hurting terribly.

Turning his head, he saw Mu Yunqing and thought he was seeing things. He rubbed his eyes and found that Mu Yunqing was still there.

This guy didn't leave?

Mu Yan rolled her eyes. She was really pathetic.

But she still asked Mu Yunqing, "Why are you still here?"

Mu Yunqing remained silent, kneeling quietly on the ground.

He wanted to see what new tricks Mu Yan would pull this time, that she was actually starting to act all gentle and demure.

A person with an extremely foul temper is pretending to be gentle and kind.

How disgusting.

He had followed this mistress since childhood, and had been tormented by her since childhood. He knew that Mu Yan's temper was always unpredictable and she was always finding ways to torment him.

When he's sad, he's a punching bag; when he's happy, he's just a fun toy.

Even more tragically, no matter what, he had to obey her every word.

Fortunately, he is still relatively free and can do things he likes on weekdays.

"I'm talking to you, what are you daydreaming about?" Mu Yan waved her hand in front of him when he didn't respond for a long time.

"Reporting to Master, Yunqing is awaiting your punishment..." Mu Yunqing said, lowering her head even further.

Mu Yan liked his humble demeanor the most; the weak love to bully others to satisfy their own desire for dominance.

It's really disgusting.

"Sigh...why wait for me to punish you?"

As Mu Yan spoke, she reached out to help Mu Yunqing, but remembering Mu Yunqing's disdainful gesture earlier, she withdrew her hand from mid-air.

She said softly to him, "Get up."

Mu Yunqing's kneeling legs did not move at all; to be precise, they were numb.

He didn't get up as quickly as before; he was a little slower, but he didn't delay at all.

"If there's nothing else, Yunqing will take her leave now. Master, please rest well." Mu Yunqing said, turning to leave.

Mu Yan looked at his legs; he was clearly limping, indicating he had been kneeling for a long time.

"Um, is your leg alright? Do you need to call a doctor?"

"No problem."

"Okay." Mu Yan responded lightly and didn't ask any more questions.

"Master's health has not yet fully recovered," Mu Yunqing said, feigning concern. "It would be best to go back and rest. The weather is getting cold today, so please don't catch a cold."

"Ok?"

She saw peach blossoms last night, so why is it so cool today?

"Master..." Mu Yunqing thought she hadn't heard him clearly and wanted to repeat himself, but before he could finish speaking, Mu Yan interrupted him.

"You don't need to repeat yourself, I understand. I'm just curious, were you concerned about me or cursing me when you just said that?"

As Mu Yan spoke, she raised an eyebrow at Mu Yunqing, her lips curving upwards in a nonchalant manner.

This ancient version of Mu Yunqing is kind of funny.

"...Yunqing naturally hopes that Master is doing well." Mu Yunqing said humbly.

Mu Yan glanced at Mu Yunqing a few times. This person was clearly full of disgust and disdain, and he looked quite obedient, but he could lie without even blinking.

"Tell me the truth, don't try to fool me." Mu Yan was getting impatient.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunqing looked up at Mu Yan, hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth.

"Master, Yunqing would like to go back to her room to rest."

"?" Mu Yan felt like her brain couldn't keep up with the times.

She asked him to tell the truth, and he told her he wanted to go home.

Okay, that does seem to be the truth.

"Go."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Yunqing turned and walked away.

_

at dusk

After Mu Yan finished drinking her medicine, she chatted with Xiang Qin.

"Little girl... I mean, Xiangqin, tell me, what kind of person is my mother?"

Upon hearing this, Xiangqin put the medicine bowl aside and began to think with her not-so-bright mind.

"Um... The Prime Minister is very beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful... and she's very serious with outsiders, a bit cold to the Second Miss and the Eldest Miss, but she's quite nice to you, Master!"

"What? You're saying my mother is good to me?"

"Yes, you were sick a few days ago, and the adults stayed by your side for several days."

Fine, so she was gone the moment I woke up. She was afraid I'd find out she was nice to me, huh? Mu Yan couldn't help but complain again.

“But Master, you will see the Lord soon,” Xiangqin said in a serious tone.

"In a little while? She's coming to see me in a little while." Mu Yan's face lit up with joy.

She was quite eager to see this so-called mother, after all... this original owner looked exactly like her.

Could her mother... be somewhat similar to her mother?

At this moment, the sound of servants bowing came from outside the door. Soon after, the Prime Minister walked in, and Xiangqin quickly got up and bowed.

"This servant greets Your Excellency!"

"Get up," Mother Mu said softly.

Mu Yan, standing to the side, was stunned. "Wow, she's a stunning beauty!"

Mu Yan was stunned when she saw the Prime Minister, who was breathtakingly beautiful despite only wearing a light touch of makeup.

The woman was dignified, with a face like a peach blossom, and stunningly beautiful. Although she was middle-aged, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. Such a peerless beauty seemed to defy the passage of time, as she had very few wrinkles.

She gently held Mu Yan's hand, softly asked about her recent condition, and kept nagging her to take care of herself. She also instructed the servants to keep a close eye on Mu Yan before hurriedly leaving.

Mu Yan's mother, named Mu Yunyan, was originally from Jiangnan. She served as an official there, where she was kind and well-liked by the people. Later, due to her outstanding talent, she gained the favor of the Empress and was promoted all the way to the capital.

It is said that when the evening clouds and mist emerge from Jiangnan, lotus flowers bloom all over the sky, gongs and drums sound endlessly, and the boats of the people seeing them off travel for thousands of miles, with people on both sides of the river seeing them off.

Upon arriving in the capital, there was no need to enter the palace to meet the emperor; the empress herself rode to fetch Mu Yunyan to her residence.

Later, she was given important responsibilities, and people consulted her on all matters, big and small, in the court.

Fearing that Mu Yunyan might miss home, he specially ordered the construction of a lotus pond and the Yunyan Pavilion, where the two often drank tea and admired the flowers.

One day, the Empress and the Prime Minister got married. The wedding procession went from east to west, with each couple joining the other. Flowers were scattered all over the ground, and red silk was hung all over the buildings. The whole city cheered.

Even today, she remains favored, and the two have a relationship as close as best friends today.

With peace and harmony throughout the land, the ruler and his ministers lived in harmony, and the people lived in peace and prosperity. Phoenix Perch Kingdom was extremely prosperous.

That night

Mu Yan found Mu Yunqing really strange, so she decided to find out what was going on and got up to go to the Green Bamboo Garden.

The night was as still as water, the moonlight hazy, the branches swayed gently in the wind, the bamboo and trees reflected each other, and a figure appeared leisurely on the window.

Mu Yan leaned against the windowsill and looked inside; the room was pitch black.

They're probably asleep.

She tiptoed in through the door.

I had only taken two steps when my foot suddenly bumped into something, making a slight sound.

Mu Yan was startled and quickly squatted down to examine it; it turned out to be a wooden box.

She placed the wooden box on the table and continued walking inside.

Under the moonlight, Mu Yan admired the painting in Mu Yunqing's room. There was a painting of bamboo on the wall, which looked like it was painted by him.

She wandered around Mu Yunqing's room, looking here and there, completely unaware that Mu Yunqing was watching her from outside the window.