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

Even if someone like Pei Xuan were beaten to death, no one would care.

Nobody cares whether he lives or dies.

He himself no longer cared about living.

What's the point of living like an ant all day, groveling and barely surviving?

It would be better to just die and make room for this world.

_

Xiao Yu'an got tired of beating him, threw the whip aside, and raised his hand to lift Pei Xuan's chin.

What a waste of such a beautiful face.

If he were willing to back down even a little, she wouldn't have been so ruthless towards him, just because of his handsome face.

But he was a stubborn man and refused to give in to her no matter what.

Xiao Yu'an gets angry whenever he thinks about that night.

She even had Pei Xuan's clothes stripped off; she almost managed to take advantage of him completely.

But he refused to comply and escaped through the window naked.

Xiao Yu'an snorted coldly, shoved Pei Xuan's face away, and kicked him hard.

Pei Xuan fell to the ground in pain, but Xiao Yu'an pulled him up by his hair.

"It's not even dark yet, why are you in such a hurry to sleep?"

"I don't have..."

"Heh, what use are you then? You can't even bring yourself to kill someone, so what use are you to me?"

Pei Xuan remained silent, standing before her with his eyes lowered.

Seeing that Pei Xuan ignored her, Xiao Yu'an's anger intensified, and she picked up the whip and beat him again.

Pei Xuan was nothing but a lowly slave; what right did he have to ignore her like Xiao Ning did?

He doesn't deserve it!

Xiao Yu'an beat Pei Xuan to the point of near death; he couldn't even straighten his back.

Seeing Pei Xuan collapsed on the ground, Xiao Yu'an was finally satisfied.

This is what happens when you ignore her.

Xiao Yu'an bent down and squatted in front of Pei Xuan, then raised her hand again to pinch his chin, forcing him to look up at her, "Do you still dare not answer my words?"

Pei Xuan wanted to reply, but then he coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xiao Yu'an disgustedly shoved him away, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and shouted, "You're filthy! If you're going to die, go die somewhere else!"

Pei Xuan immediately collapsed to the ground and could not get up.

Xiao Yu'an kicked it, but there was no sound at all.

Could he really be dead?

"Hahahahahahahahahaha." Xiao Yu'an laughed wildly for a while, then said with feigned sadness, "What a pity, I haven't had enough fun yet."

Then, his tone shifted, and he reverted to his previous vicious demeanor, "But it's better if he dies; it's just adding another coffin."

After saying that, Xiao Yu'an turned and left.

She had no interest in whether he lived or died.

He was just a man; once he died, he was gone. There were plenty of handsome men in the world.

If this one fails, just find another one.

With power in hand, why worry about not finding playthings?

Seeing that Xiao Yu'an had left, the maid outside the door slammed the door shut.

The already dimly lit prison was now only illuminated by a single, faint candlelight.

Pei Xuan struggled to get up, but fell heavily to the ground due to exhaustion. He grimaced in pain and curled up in a corner of the dark cell, his wounds shocking to behold.

His eyes revealed despair and helplessness, but his inner will to survive burned like a flame.

He struggled to his feet, his steps faltering, each step seemingly requiring all his strength.

The dark cell was filled with a damp and decaying smell. Water droplets from the wall dripped onto his shoulder, making him shiver.

Pei Xuan's gaze was fixed on the tightly closed door in front of him; it was his only way out. He took a deep breath, used his last bit of strength to rush towards the door, gripped the doorknob tightly, and twisted it with all his might, but the door remained unmoved.

Despair surged in my heart again.

Pei Xuan collapsed to the ground, powerless, pain spreading throughout his body, coughing up blood incessantly.

He suddenly noticed the shelf in the corner where the torture instruments were kept; perhaps he could use it to climb up to the skylight.

This is his only chance.

Pei Xuan forced himself to get up. He would crawl out of the palace if he had to; he didn't want to die in this place.

In such a disgusting and filthy place, if he died here, his soul would probably never find peace.

He gritted his teeth, dragged himself to the shelf, and used all his strength to move it to the skylight. He climbed up step by step, falling three times but refusing to give up.

After a long while, he finally climbed onto the skylight.

He sat on the skylight and looked down. Below was a protective forest with a slight slope. He wondered if he would die if he jumped.

After thinking for a moment, he closed his eyes and jumped.

As long as I'm not in this Tranquil Palace, even death would be worthwhile.

But the expected death did not come. He rolled down the hillside, bumping and tumbling along the jagged rocks, but he was not crushed to death.

He rolled to a path outside the palace gate and was stopped by a stone block by the roadside. He was still conscious, but his body was unable to move. He lay quietly on the ground and heard the sound of horses' hooves.

The man driving the horse was Mu Yunqing. He had returned from Yanwei Mountain and, fearing that Mu Yan would go looking for him again, he had taken a shortcut.

The horse galloped on, and if Pei Xuan hadn't been coughing, Mu Yunqing wouldn't have known there was another person on the ground. Pei Xuan was just one step away from dying under his horse's hooves.

Pei Xuan looked up at the person on horseback.

He was clearly a man, yet he was so unrestrained and carefree.

Pei Xuan stared blankly at Mu Yunqing, who was dressed in white, his black hair flowing in the wind, his eyes sparkling with a lively spirit, and a carefree smile on his lips, as if all the troubles of the world were irrelevant to him.

He rode on his horse, his posture upright and elegant, like a god descending to earth.

Pei Xuan was filled with envy, while he himself was trapped in the palace, disheveled and on the verge of death.

But the person before me seemed as carefree as a hermit.

He thought of his current miserable state, his face as pale as paper, his hair disheveled and plastered to his face, his clothes tattered and stained with blood, lying there barely breathing.

I once had beautiful dreams, but I have gradually fallen into this state, which fills me with regret.

She could no longer be as free and unrestrained as Mu Yunqing; she could only eke out a living or simply disappear amidst the power struggles.

Pei Xuan's eyes gradually dimmed, and the envy in his eyes slowly turned into bitterness. Finally, he slowly closed his eyes and stopped looking at the figure that he both longed for and envied.

"What are you doing lying here? Do you want to die under my horse's hooves?" Mu Yunqing said coldly.

Seeing that the person on the ground did not respond, Mu Yunqing hurriedly dismounted to check.

His breath was faint; he was already on the verge of death.

"Fine," Mu Yunqing sighed, hoisted him onto the horse, and rode away with him once more.

Perhaps due to the bumpy ride, Pei Xuan suddenly coughed.

Mu Yunqing curled her lips into a smile; it seemed she was still alive.

He rode at full speed and delivered Pei Xuan to the Jiang family.

江府

When the servants of the Jiang family saw Mu Yunqing arrive with a half-dead person, they were surprised, but they quickly took the person inside.

Su Qin stormed out, fuming, "Brother, why did you bring back a dead person!"

"I can't just stand by and watch someone die."

Su Qin snorted, "Yes, yes, with your kind heart, you don't even know if he's good or bad, how could you bring him back directly?"

"Once he wakes up, I'll make him go back home, okay?"

“Okay,” Su Qin replied with a smile.

The culprit behind that previous incident has not yet been identified.

Now that an outsider has arrived, it's fine if he doesn't harm anyone, but if he dares to hurt his brother, he'll beat him to death with sticks.

Mu Yunqing stood in the courtyard, arms crossed, watching the busy figures of the crowd.

Before long, the doctor came out and said, "Young master, rest assured, this person is out of danger, but needs to recuperate for some time."

Mu Yunqing nodded slightly, turned around and went into the room.

Pei Xuan slowly woke up and was startled by the unfamiliar surroundings. Then, seeing Mu Yunqing by the bedside, he hurriedly tried to get up to pay his respects, but the movement aggravated his wounds, causing him to wince in pain.

Mu Yunqing said calmly, "No need for formalities. Why are you lying in the middle of the road, and why are you seriously injured?"

A hint of hesitation flashed in Pei Xuan's eyes before he slowly recounted his experiences: first, his family was destroyed, and then he became a plaything of the powerful and wealthy, which led to his current predicament.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunqing frowned slightly; his experience was even worse than his own.

Pei Xuan pleaded with Mu Yunqing to take him in, as he really didn't want to get involved in palace affairs anymore. Seeing Pei Xuan's pitiful appearance, Mu Yunqing nodded as if possessed.

Su Qin wanted to speak up to stop him, but seeing how pitiful Pei Xuan was, she couldn't bear to send him away.

The two brothers simply couldn't bring themselves to be ruthless.

From that day on, Pei Xuan stayed by Mu Yunqing's side, studying, writing, riding horses, and shooting arrows with him every day. As his health gradually recovered, he also assisted Mu Yunqing in handling many matters and gradually became Mu Yunqing's confidant.

Pei Xuan is exceptionally intelligent, possesses both high emotional and intellectual intelligence, is courageous and resourceful, and excels at strategic planning; he is a rare talent.

Mu Yunqing's act of saving him has laid an excellent stepping stone for his future great achievements.

_

Prime Minister's Mansion

Xiangqin is teaching Muyan how to play chess.

Mu Yan wore a light green silk dress, her long black hair tied up with a white jade hairpin, her face exquisitely beautiful. Xiang Qin wore a lake-blue dress, her eyes exuding gentleness.

The two sat facing each other at the table, on which lay a chessboard that was half-finished.

Mu Yan frowned slightly, placed a piece, and smiled, "I've been thinking about this move for a long time. It's my turn to win, isn't it?"

Xiangqin shook her head, about to give some instructions, when she was interrupted by a maid who rushed over.

"Third Miss, the young master is going to the academy to enroll today, and the master has instructed you to escort him there."

"My mother wants me to go?"

"Yes miss."

"Alright, where's Mu Ci?"

"Third sister, I'm here!" Mu Ci said with a smile as she ran towards Mu Yan.

Mu Yan quickly caught him, afraid that he would fall.

"Where are your two older sisters? Why didn't they take you there?"

“They…” Mu Ci hesitated for a moment, remembering what his second sister had told him.

Mu Xue told him that as long as he went to see his third sister, she would buy him a wooden car.

If your third sister asks, you must say you don't know.

"Mu Ci doesn't know," Mu Ci said, shaking his head.

Seeing his expression, Mu Yan thought about it carefully and realized that Mu Ci was not unaware; he had clearly been bribed.

"Alright, I'll take you there."

After finishing her speech, Mu Yan instructed the carriage to be prepared and set off for the academy.

Academy

Upon arriving at the academy gate, Mu Yan led Mu Ci inside. Just as she was about to offer a few words of advice, a cold and elegant voice rang out: "Isn't this the third young lady of the Mu family?"

Mu Yan turned her head and saw Xiao Yu'an dressed in a red brocade robe.

Xiao Yu'an stepped forward and teased, "Miss Mu, what brings you to this academy today? Perhaps you also wish to study here?"

Mu Yan bowed to Xiao Yu'an and said, "Your Highness, I brought my younger brother to school." She then gently patted Mu Ci's shoulder.

Mu Ci obediently bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Xiao Yu'an waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.

"Since you have something to do, then go ahead."

"Yes."

Mu Yan responded and led Mu Ci into the academy.

Xiao Yu'an looked at Mu Yan and sneered inwardly. This flood control general is nothing special.

I thought she was a formidable character, but when I met her, she was all groveling and subservient.

It was incredibly boring; I didn't even have the right to compete with her.

Prime Minister's Mansion

Not long after Mu Ci returned from school, his health deteriorated. His body was covered in red rashes, and he was delirious with fever. The doctor in the manor examined him and exclaimed in horror, "This looks like the plague!"

Upon hearing this, the entire Mu residence instantly descended into chaos.

Mu Yunyan was extremely anxious, her brows furrowed tightly, and her eyes were full of worry.

This plague is a serious disease that has been difficult to control since ancient times, and it is highly contagious.

At best, it leads to the loss of a family; at worst, it brings disaster to the country and its people.

The Empress repeatedly decreed that anyone in the capital who contracted the plague and did not recover within three days should be burned at the stake to prevent the spread of the epidemic.

In recent years, there have been few outbreaks of plague and no major disasters in the country. How did Mu Ci suddenly get infected?

Mu Yunyan was naturally reluctant to see Mu Ci executed, but as the prime minister of a country, what reason did she have not to set an example?

He had no choice but to change into his court robes and enter the palace to meet the emperor.

As Mu Yunyan entered the palace, an urgent report came from the city, saying that a plague had broken out in the south of the city, and many people had died overnight.

Upon hearing the news, Mu Yunyan hurriedly quickened her pace and headed towards the palace.

Inside the Empress's Palace

The interior of the hall was resplendent with gold and jade, with exquisite calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, thick carpets on the floor, and candlesticks burning eternally on both sides, making it appear exceptionally luxurious.

Xiao Ning sat on the phoenix chair, his gaze sweeping majestically over the people below.

She was dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe and wore a golden crown, exuding a noble and dignified air.

Mu Yunyan stood respectfully before the Empress, holding a memorial in her hand, and said with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, this plague has spread rapidly, and many people have already been infected. The situation is extremely critical."

The Empress frowned slightly, tapping her fingers lightly on the table as she pondered a solution.

"Minister Mu, do you have any good treatment methods?" the Empress asked.

After a moment's thought, Mu Yunyan said, "Your Majesty, I believe that imperial physicians should be dispatched to the epidemic area immediately to treat the people. At the same time, the blockade of the epidemic area should be strengthened to prevent the spread of the epidemic. In addition, the people should be organized to carry out epidemic prevention measures."

The Empress nodded and said, "Minister Mu is absolutely right. I will immediately issue an order appointing you to be in full charge of this epidemic prevention work."

Mu Yunyan knelt down to express her gratitude, saying, "Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your mission and do my utmost to share your burdens."

The Empress stood up, walked to Mu Yunyan, patted her on the shoulder, and said, "Minister Mu, this epidemic is related to the safety of people's lives, so I'm afraid we'll have to put in a lot of effort. Thank you for your help."

Mu Yunyan thanked him again, then turned and left to prepare for the epidemic prevention work.

Prime Minister's Mansion

When Mu Xue saw Mu Yunyan return, she went up to her and cried, "Mother, you're finally back! Mu Yan took Fourth Brother away, and no matter how much Second Sister and I tried to persuade her, she wouldn't listen."

"Where did you take it?" Mu Yunyan asked anxiously.

"Medical clinic".

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunyan hurriedly ran towards Fanglan Garden. Mu Xue was secretly delighted, thinking that this was going to be a good show.

Medical Center

The two reached the door, where they were stopped by the physician, who said, "My lord, you cannot go in."

Mu Xue stepped forward and pushed the physician aside, "Hmph, who do you think you are! How dare you block our way!"

"Stop being rude." Mu Yunyan scolded, then turned to the physician, "Could you tell me why you won't let me in?"

“My lord, the young master has contracted an epidemic. With so many people around, breathing becomes heavy, which not only makes him more susceptible to infection but also disturbs his rest.”

"What about Ayan..."

"Don't worry, sir, the third young lady is fine,"

"Hmph, why can Mu Yan go in but we can't? I'm determined to go in and see!" Mu Xue said angrily.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yan angrily shouted at the door, "What's all the noise about? Anyone who didn't know better would think someone had died in the Prime Minister's residence. It happened so suddenly, it should have been kept quiet, why make it known to everyone?"