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

Du Yanqiu and Mu Yunyan walked out of the court side by side, neither of them looking too good.

"Hmph, Prime Minister, you certainly stole the show in court today," Du Yanqiu broke the silence first, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Mu Yunyan turned her head to look at her and replied, "Lord Du, you flatter me. Compared to your eloquence in court, I am far inferior."

"You..." Du Yanqiu was speechless for a moment after being choked by Mu Yunyan's words, and his face became even more unpleasant.

"Lord Du, you have nothing to say? Well, it's better if you don't say anything." Mu Yunyan raised her hand and patted Du Yanqiu's shoulder. "People should talk less and do more."

Du Yanqiu took a deep breath to calm himself down and retorted, "Prime Minister, don't be too smug. We'll see!" With that, he turned and left.

Mu Yunyan watched Du Yanqiu's departing figure with great displeasure.

He's getting on in years, yet he still lacks a sense of proportion. He doesn't consider the bigger picture; all he knows is to oppose her.

How can an official be so petty and narrow-minded?

The city is ravaged by disease, and it is unclear when it will end. Yet, they are already planning to seal the city gates and block the flow of medical personnel. I wonder what their true intentions are.

Prime Minister's Mansion

After returning from the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence, Mu Yan went to her room to look at medical books.

The room was filled with a faint herbal scent, and the last rays of the setting sun shone through the window, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor.

Mu Yan was engrossed in reading the medical books, occasionally jotting something down on paper, while Xiang Qin sat quietly to the side, tidying up the medical books and herbs on the table.

As time passed, the sky grew darker, and the light in the room gradually dimmed.

Xiangqin lit an oil lamp and placed it on the table, its faint light illuminating Muyan's face.

Half an hour passed.

She looked up with joy, "Xiangqin, I've found it! I've finally found a way to prevent the spread of the epidemic!"

Xiangqin placed the medical book on the table and said with a smile, "That's wonderful, Master! You've worked so hard for so long, and you've finally found it."

Mu Yan stood up, stretched, and said, "Yes, we've finally found it. However, this is just the beginning; further research and practice are needed." As she spoke, she walked to the window, opened it, and took a deep breath of fresh air.

The night outside the window was as clear as water, with countless stars twinkling, and Mu Yan's mood became exceptionally pleasant.

Ancient books say that burning Atractylodes lancea produces smoke to ward off evil, while fumigating with Artemisia argyi disinfects.

Atractylodes lancea has a fragrant aroma and can dispel dampness and turbidity internally, as well as dispel wind-dampness externally. The smoke from burning it also has the effect of disinfecting the air.

All clothing used by the patient was sterilized at high temperatures by steaming or boiling.

By combining the three, every household can use them simultaneously.

The miasma will soon be dispelled.

_

The next morning, following Mu Yan's advice, Mu Yunyan went to the palace early to meet the emperor.

The Empress was overjoyed and ordered the people of the city to follow this method, and also sent imperial physicians to treat patients every day.

From then on, every household burned incense and fumigated with mugwort, and with the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Hospital, the sick gradually recovered, and the healthy took precautions, greatly reducing the infection rate in the city.

Fewer and fewer people are dying from the disease, so the disease can be considered to be under control.

_

Meanwhile, Pei Xuan returned from gathering information at the Water Conservancy Bureau and reported it to Mu Yunqing word by word.

One minute they say that group of people drink and make merry every day, the next they say that the Water Conservancy Bureau has embezzled a certain amount of money.

They said there were many blank ledgers on the shelves, and the security had been much tighter these past few days.

Mu Yunqing listened quietly without saying a word until Pei Xuan mentioned that a female assassin had broken into the Dushui Division a few days ago, at which point he was slightly moved.

Pei Xuan stared blankly at him, unsure whether to continue. Logically, his master shouldn't be interested in these things, but his expression had clearly changed just now.

Seeing that he had stopped, Mu Yunqing said, "Continue."

"Yes." Pei Xuan responded and continued, "That female assassin was very skilled. She killed seventeen people before stopping, but she also suffered a lot. Her back was badly injured."

Mu Yunqing became increasingly distressed as she listened, and she gripped the cup in her hand even tighter.

She couldn't contain herself and made two trips in three days, even getting injured in the process.

What exactly does the Water Bureau possess that makes her so desperate?

Could it be because of the ledger? Thinking of this, Mu Yunqing felt inexplicably guilty.

The ledger was in his hands.

"Master, when shall we make our move?"

Pei Xuan's shout brought Mu Yunqing back to reality.

He put down his teacup and said slowly, "With witnesses and evidence, these people from the Water Conservancy Bureau can't escape even if they have wings. Let them enjoy themselves for one more day, and we'll take action tomorrow."

"Yes." Pei Xuan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Should we notify the Green Stone Gang as well?"

"No need. I'll just mention it to the Empress when the time comes. Those people should make amends for the mistakes they made."

"Yes."

"Okay, you should go back and rest." Mu Yunqing said, raising her hand to rub her temples.

Pei Xuan bowed to him, then turned and left.

Mu Yunqing stared blankly at the clump of green bamboo outside the window, lost in thought.

"That female assassin... her back was badly wounded." This thought kept echoing in his mind.

He couldn't sit still any longer and went to the Jiang residence to ask for medicine.

_

Prime Minister's Mansion

Fanglan Garden

As dusk fell, a gentle night breeze blew, stinging one's face. Mu Yan sat inside, and the lamp she had just lit was blown away by the wind.

"This wind is really annoying," Mu Yan muttered, slowly walking to the window. Just as she was about to raise her hand to close the window, a figure suddenly appeared on the window.

His posture was upright, like a pine tree.

Besides Mu Yunqing, Mu Yan couldn't think of anyone else.

He slowly approached, one step at a time, raised his hand and knocked on the window, placing the medicine in front of her.

"For you."

"What is this?" Mu Yan asked him deliberately.

"It's medicine," the two said in unison.

She knew this person wouldn't say anything else.

Mu Yunqing didn't make a fuss and instructed, "Take this medicine once a day and avoid sunlight."

Mu Yan put the medicine in her hand, looked up at him, and asked, "How did you know I was injured?"

"I heard it from someone." He said calmly, his voice cold.

"Who told you that? I didn't tell anyone." Mu Yan said as she moved closer to him.

Could this man be holding a grudge against her for relentlessly pursuing him, and secretly stalking her behind her back?

She had a wound on her back, which even Xiangqin didn't know.

"You don't need to know so much, just remember to apply the medicine." Mu Yunqing said, then turned and left.

"Thank you, I'll apply the medicine," Mu Yan called out to his retreating figure.

He paused for a moment, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips, but he didn't turn around.

Mu Yan wanted to laugh when she thought of his expression just now; who does a good deed with a stern face?

This Mu Yunqing from another world is becoming more and more interesting.

They're even showing concern for people now; it seems the main quest is just around the corner.

next day

Before dawn, Mu Yunqing took Pei Xuan to the Capital Water Control Bureau to arrest people, lock them in cages, and escort them to the palace.

When the people in the city saw a person locked in a cage, they all stuck their heads out to look and started talking about it.

"Who is this person? What did he do wrong? Why is he locked in a cage?" a woman holding a child asked.

"I don't know, but judging from the direction it came from, it seems to have come from the direction of the Waterworks Bureau," replied the vegetable vendor next to me.

A customer drinking tea nearby took a sip and said, "You guys don't know? This is Wu Yunlan, the supervisor of the Water Conservancy Bureau!"

"Oh, Wu Yunlan! I know her, isn't she the one who lost a lot of money at the casino last year!"

"She's involved in gambling, so she deserved to be caught!"

"Yes, yes, they deserve it." A group of people echoed.

Wu Yunlan glared fiercely at Mu Yunqing, her hands gripping the bars of the cage tightly.

She never expected that Mu Yunqing would choose to arrest people in the morning.

She was still lying in bed when a group of people suddenly surrounded her, dragged her out, and locked her in this animal cage.

What right does a mere man have to grab her? Wu Yunlan pondered, her face growing increasingly ferocious. She reached out to grab Mu Yunqing, but Pei Xuan slapped her back.

"You bitches! You're all bitches! You don't deserve to arrest me! Let me out! Let me out!"

"I want to tell Your Majesty! You have arrested people without authorization, disregarded the law, and shown contempt for the powerful!"

"Let me out! Let me out!" Wu Yunlan struggled and screamed in the cage.

"I am the Empress's personally appointed Water Supervisor! You cannot arrest me!"

_

Inside the Empress's Palace

Mu Yunqing presented the evidence in his hand, and Wu Yunlan was forced to kneel on the ground.

The Empress glared angrily at Wu Yunlan below the platform and said sternly, "Wu Yunlan, do you know your crime?"

Wu Yunlan was already trembling with fear, her legs trembling and her pants wet with sweat. She lay on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I...I know I was wrong!"

The Empress snorted coldly: "As an official of the imperial court, how dare you embezzle public funds? What is your punishment?"

Wu Yunlan stammered, "Your Majesty, I...I was momentarily confused, blinded by greed, and committed such a grave error. Please, Your Majesty, spare my life for the sake of my many years of service to the court!"

The Empress was furious: "You have committed such a heinous crime, and you still expect me to spare your life? Guards, drag Wu Yunlan away and throw her into the imperial prison to await her fate!"

The guards rushed forward and dragged Wu Yunlan away.

The Empress turned to look at Mu Yunqing and said approvingly, "Mu Yunqing, it is all thanks to you that I was able to discover this corruption. You have done a great job, and I will reward you handsomely!"

Mu Yunqing immediately knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty! It is my honor to serve Your Majesty."

The Empress nodded. "What do you think should be done about this?"

Mu Yunqing stepped forward, knelt down, and replied, “Your Majesty, I believe that Wu Yunlan should be severely punished as a warning to others. At the same time, the supervision of court officials should be strengthened to prevent similar incidents from happening again. Furthermore, the incompetence of the Water Conservancy Bureau is likely not the work of one person alone, and a thorough investigation is needed before taking action.”

The Empress wholeheartedly agreed: "You are absolutely right. I will order a thorough investigation into this matter and will not tolerate any corrupt official."

"The Empress is wise." Mu Yunqing said, bowing his head to the ground again.

"Okay, you can leave now. You've worked hard these past few days. Go back and get some rest."

"Yes," Mu Yunqing replied, then knelt down and left.

Looking at the person in front of him, Xiao Ning suddenly had a thought.

She suddenly had a strong desire for him to become an official in the imperial court.

Previously, she only noticed his appearance and completely forgot his character, truly letting a bright pearl be tarnished.

Upon careful consideration, she realized that Mu Yunqing's schemes and methods were on par with Mu Yunyan's; both were rare talents.

If such a righteous and intelligent person could remain in the court, he would bring countless benefits to the common people.

But he was, after all, a man, and this was unprecedented, making it difficult to silence public opinion.

Moreover, there are still a bunch of old fogies in the court. If we openly propose to add male officials, who knows what kind of trouble it will cause.

But if she doesn't keep him and give him an important role, there's no guarantee that Mu Yunqing won't be taken away by someone one day, and then she'll only have regrets.

She was truly caught in a dilemma, and couldn't help but sigh and rub her forehead.

The late emperor often taught her to be mindful of the equality of all beings, but since ancient times, women have always been superior, and men have been merely embellishments. She occasionally listened to his words, but they were all insignificant.

If so, how can all beings be equal?

But officials and ministers are all judged by their own abilities, and she was unwilling to give up such an outstanding person, so she had to discuss it again later.

_

Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness

Song Qi'an sent a message to the Prime Minister's residence through a messenger, making three trips back and forth, but not a single message got through.

He paced back and forth in the yard in anger, "Why can't you deliver it? Are you just being lazy and lying to me?!"

"I'm innocent, young master! I really did give it to him!" Mu Dong said, kneeling down on the ground.

"Then why didn't she accept a single one!" Song Qi'an grew angrier the more he thought about it. "Fine, I'll deliver them myself!"

Seeing that Song Qi'an was about to leave, Mu Dong hurriedly stepped forward and hugged his leg.

“Young master, you can’t leave. The master said that guests are coming today. If you leave, Mu Dong will be beaten to death.”

"Guests? What kind of guests are coming?" Song Qi'an looked down at him.

"The Bai family..."

"What kind of guest is that!" Song Qi'an interrupted him, saying as he walked away, "Tell your master to stop playing matchmaker. I don't like that Bai family member!"

“Young Master, and the Sun family…” Mu Dong asked weakly.

"The Sun family? They can't even reach the threshold of my Marquis's mansion. Let your master save his energy!" Song Qi'an said as he left the Marquis's mansion.

He's really seen a lot in his life; he's introduced him to all sorts of random people.

What's so good about getting married? He doesn't want to be subservient to others and spend his days dealing with mundane family matters.

Prime Minister's Mansion

Mu Yan sat in the courtyard, while Xiang Qin fanned the stove fire beside her.

A pot of osmanthus wine is warming on the stove, its aroma subtle yet accompanied by the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

The osmanthus tree on the wall is almost completely bare, leaving a golden carpet on the ground. It's such a waste to let it wither away like this; we should do something about it.

Just as she was pondering this, a servant ran over to announce, "Third Miss, Young Master Song has arrived."

"What is he doing here?" Mu Yan looked up and immediately saw Song Qi'an outside the door.

"Of course I came to find you," Song Qi'an said as he approached Mu Yan.

"You don't even know how to avoid suspicion. Aren't you afraid that outsiders will ruin your reputation?"

“Reputation?” Song Qi’an sat down at his own discretion and continued, “What is reputation worth? They only need to know that I am the young master of the Marquis of Zhongyi’s mansion, that’s enough.”

“That makes some sense,” Mu Yan pointed to her eye. “Does it still hurt here?”

"It doesn't hurt, but the bruises just won't go away."

"Since you know the bruises haven't faded, why are you still showing up in front of me?"

"What does this have to do with me coming to see you?" Song Qi'an seemed to remember something and said meaningfully, "Oh, I know, you want to ask me why I came to see you in this state, right!"

Mu Yan nodded.

“People dress up for those they like, but I don’t like you, so why should I dress up?” Song Qi’an said, beckoning to Chao Xiangqin to give him a glass of wine as well.

"Indeed, do whatever makes you comfortable, but you still need to be careful with your eyes, it wouldn't be good if it left any marks."

“I know, you’re not a child anymore, you’re just as nagging as my mother.”

Mu Yan: "..."

I don't have a son as good as you.