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

“But we have no other choice,” Yang Qiaoyue said, holding Yang Zilin tightly. “If this continues, our whole family will starve to death.”

Yang Qiaoyue burst into tears as she spoke.

"What are you crying for? What kind of woman cries like that?" Yang Jiaxin said sternly. "If people outside hear this, you'll be in big trouble!"

Yang Qiaoyue had no choice but to shut up and sit on the couch with a droopy face.

_

Royal Palace

Xinghe Hall

Xiao Ran squatted on the ground to tease the dog, while Chao Yue waited by her side.

Seeing that Xiao Ran's complexion was getting better and better, Chao Yue was overjoyed.

She knew that her clever and lively princess would never lose her mind because of a man.

"Chaoyue, look at it, it's so adorable!"

"Yes, our Little Blackie is the cutest!"

"Am I cute?" Xiao Ran blinked at her.

Chaoyue nodded.

"Well, my dear," Xiao Ran said, taking a step outside with her hands behind her back, "can I go out for a bit?"

“No, Your Highness,” Chaoyue stepped forward and pulled her back. “His Majesty was already very angry when you didn’t return until the fourth watch of the night last time you went out.”

Xiao Ran retorted, "Last time it was because..."

“An accident?” Chaoyue interrupted her. “Or a mistake? Oh, Your Highness, I’ve memorized all your excuses!”

"Just once," Xiao Ran pleaded with her.

"Your Highness, I'm only doing this for your own good." Chaoyue pulled Xiao Ran to sit down at the table. "Look, aren't these calligraphy and paintings beautiful? Why don't you try to copy a few?"

Xiao Ran was overwhelmed by the densely packed calligraphy and paintings.

Are there any other options?

Chaoyue shook her head. "Her Majesty said that you must make a copy today, and she will call someone to come and see it later."

"Okay, let's draw!" Xiao Ran rolled up her sleeves and started drawing.

It's just drawing, right? That's no problem for her!

_

Military training ground

Rainwater dripped down the eaves, soon wetting the walls.

The weeds were whipped about by the autumn wind, leaving yellow stains all over the ground and withered leaves everywhere.

Xiao Qingzhou held up an oil-paper umbrella and turned his head to look at the training ground.

The group stood against the wall, their clothes completely soaked by the torrential rain, their earthenware jars filled with water.

Training in the rain is the most grueling, especially in autumn and winter.

The wind is biting cold, and you can easily catch a cold if you're not careful.

From a distance, several people could be seen lying on the ground.

But no one dared to put down the pottery jar to help the person; that was the rule.

On the school's military training ground, anyone who voluntarily puts down their task is considered to have given up.

If we abandon our mission today because of hardship, we will disregard the lives of millions of people tomorrow because of life and death.

Such a coward is unfit to be a soldier.

"Ning Xi, why are you shaking!" Ling Yun laughed. "Could it be that you can't hold on any longer!"

“You’re the one who can’t hold on,” Ning Xi said through gritted teeth. “Even if you add another ladle of water, I can still stand firmly!”

"You're just spouting nonsense!"

"Hmph, just you wait and see! I won't even budge when the earth shakes!"

Upon hearing their conversation, Xiao Qingzhou frowned and said, "No noise is allowed in the army."

Although the voice was not loud, it carried an undeniable authority.

Ling Yun and Ning Xi immediately fell silent, focusing even more intently on the pottery jar above their heads.

Xiao Qingzhou continued his inspection.

_

Xinghe Hall

Xiao Ran stared at the calligraphy and painting, racking her brains, twirling the brush in her hand again and again, but she didn't know how to begin.

Chaoyue stood anxiously beside her, but dared not urge her too much.

Xiao Ran had a sudden inspiration and began to freely scribble on the paper.

The Empress only said to copy, but didn't say what the copy should look like. Hehe, then don't blame her for letting herself go wild!

Before long, a painting that looked strange but was full of childlike fun was completed.

Chaoyue's eyes widened, "Your Highness..."

"What, you don't like it?" Xiao Ran said confidently. "Don't you understand? This is called childlike innocence and fun. Just hand it over like this, Mother Empress will definitely like it!"

After saying this, he placed the painting under the inkstone and stepped out of the palace gate.

_

On the Yang family's side.

Mu Yunqing and the other person huddled under the eaves to avoid the rain.

"Not only is Lord Shen incredibly insightful," Mu Yunqing teased, "he is also an expert on thunderstorms."

"Thunderstorm theory?" He turned his head to look at him, his eyes full of confusion.

"Isn't this rain something Lord Shen prayed for?"

Shen Chenxi choked, speechless for a moment.

How petty! It's just getting caught in the rain, and he's blaming him for it.

"Lord Mu flatters me," Shen Chenxi said with a smile, her tone casual. "I don't have such great abilities. Perhaps it is because Lord Mu is so devoted to the people that Heaven was moved and sent down this timely rain."

Just then, the door creaked open a crack, and a head peeked out.

“Sir, the rain is getting heavier,” Yang Zilin handed the umbrella to the two of them and said softly, “Hurry back, lest you catch a cold.”

Mu Yunqing reached out and took the umbrella, saying, "Thank you."

Before I could even see the person in front of me clearly, the door slammed shut again.

"Let's go, we'll come again tomorrow." Mu Yunqing opened the umbrella, and Shen Chenxi unceremoniously squeezed in.

“What’s with that expression, Lord Mu?” He gripped the umbrella handle and moved a few steps to his side. “If we don’t leave now, the Yang family will come out and kick us out.”

Mu Yunqing remained silent, lifted his foot and walked forward, with Shen Chenxi closely following his steps.

"Lord Mu is so far away from me," Shen Chenxi said, her gaze falling on his soaked shoulders, "are you afraid I'll eat you up?"

"Of course not."

"Then come over here," Shen Chenxi said, reaching out to pull him over.

"Lord Shen is indeed incredibly strong," he said casually.

"Not as steady as Lord Mu."

After saying that, the two went their separate ways, without exchanging a single word despite being under the same umbrella.

After a short while, they arrived at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence.

"We've arrived." Mu Yunqing handed the umbrella to him and turned to step inside.

Shen Chenxi called out to him, "Lord Mu, won't you invite me in for a seat?"

"It's cold and windy, so I won't keep you any longer, Lord Shen," he replied casually, and turned to leave.

Shen Chenxi smiled helplessly and headed back home.

_

Military training ground

The rain gradually subsided, and layers of light appeared on the horizon.

The group swayed as they propped themselves up, the earthenware jar on top already filled with rainwater.

Xiao Qingzhou looked up at the sky and said, "Put it down."

Everyone put the earthenware jar down in unison.

“Those who put down the pottery jars earlier, let them wake up and come to me to be removed from the list.”

"Yes!"

"Take this as a warning! Anyone who repeats this offense will be expelled from the team. Do you understand?"

"heard it!"

"Alright, go back and rest."

The group accepted the order and left, walking lazily.

"Ning Xi, you lost!" Ling Yun laughed. "You managed to hold on today! Your money is mine!"

"What's the rush? We don't even know if we can make it through the night!" Ning Xi glanced back at Mu Yan.

He acted as if nothing had happened; what a strange person.

"What are you looking at?" Ling Yun put his arm around her shoulder. "Let's go eat!"

Ning Xi responded and followed Ling Yun.

_

Mu Yan returned to her room and had just taken off her outer robe when someone held a knife to her throat.

"Who exactly are you?" Qiu Yi asked coldly. "What is your purpose in coming to the military camp?"

"Purpose?" Mu Yan chuckled lightly. "What other purpose could one have in coming to the military besides serving the country and killing enemies to earn merit?"

"Don't lie to me," Qiu Yi stared intently at her, "You clearly don't see these things!"

"Then tell me what's in my eyes?" Mu Yan raised her hand and brushed the knife away.

Disdain, blatant disdain!

Autumn's spirit trembled.

“You are not Mu Yan at all,” she said in a deep voice.

Mu Yan was startled, but her expression remained unchanged. "Tell me then, who else am I but Mu Yan?"

"Mu Yan has been pampered since childhood, how could she withstand the training!" she threatened. "If you don't tell the truth, I'll tell Commander Xiao that you're impersonating someone else!"

"Then go ahead and sue," Mu Yan said, taking her clothes and heading to the washroom.

"You said it! Don't regret it!"

Mu Yan ignored her and walked towards the water room on her own.

As Qiu Yi watched her departing figure, she felt increasingly puzzled.

She had met Mu Yan before.

Back then, Mu Yan was arrogant and unreasonable, lazy by nature, and a ruthless killer; her hands were stained with countless dropes of blood.

Just as her master had said, she exuded an aura of malice.

Those who take lives will not live more than three years.

But Mu Yan is still alive and well.

She had heard rumors that Mu Yan had fallen off a wall and come back to life, and that her personality had changed drastically, but these were all nonsense, and she didn't believe them.

But she didn't believe it until she saw it with her own eyes.

He seemed like a completely different person, exuding righteousness.

She thought it was time for her to go back to Qingcheng Mountain.

_

That night

Everyone slept in their rooms.

With a loud bang, something fell from the beam.

"What's that sound?" someone asked from the darkness.

"I don't know! Could it be that a roof beam broke?"

Mu Yan got up and lit the oil lamp. There was a person lying on the ground, covered in blood and gore, which was quite frightening.

Ning Xi got up and glanced at it, then shrank back under the covers in fright.

"Don't be afraid," Mu Yan pulled the blanket down to cover the person on the ground, "the person is already dead."

"But your blanket..."

"It's nothing," Mu Yan said, placing the oil lamp on the table and squatting down to put on her shoes. "I'm destined not to sleep tonight."

"Where are you going?" Qiu Yi looked up at her.

"Let's go for a walk."

When Qiu saw that she was about to leave, she hurriedly got up and put on her shoes, saying, "Wait for me."

"Aren't you afraid?" Mu Yan looked up at her, then reached out and wrapped the person on the ground in the blanket.

"Not afraid."

The two of them carried the person on the ground out.

The night was as still as water, and the moonlight shining on me made me feel even more desolate.

"Sit down, what are you standing there for?" Mu Yan lifted her robe and sat down.

"Sitting next to a dead person," Qiu Yi asked tentatively, "aren't you worried about bad luck?"

"What bad luck?" Mu Yan glanced down at the person on the ground. "I was afraid I would disturb her peaceful sleep."

“You’re nothing like the rumors,” she paused, then continued, “Doing this every day, aren’t you afraid of being discovered?”

Mu Yan laughed self-deprecatingly, "Who would pay attention to me every day? Besides, even if they did notice, so what?"

"So? You impersonated someone else, what do you think will happen to you?"

"Then tell me, how did I impersonate someone else?"

"you you……"

Autumn's chill hasn't given me any clues for half a day.

"Instead of trying to figure out if I'm really Mu Yan, you should practice your basic skills."

"My affairs are none of your business!"

"Oh?" Mu Yan looked at her with interest. "Then why should you concern yourself with my affairs?"

“That’s not the same logic,” Qiu Yi changed the subject. “What do you plan to do with the person on the ground?”

"Report to the authorities first thing tomorrow morning."

"Are you planning to sit here all night?" Qiu Yi asked, looking shocked.

"Otherwise, the blankets will be gone too."

"You can sit here by yourself!" Qiu Yi yawned and said, "I'm sleepy." Then she turned and went back into the house.

Mu Yan looked up at the horizon, where a dark cloud covered the sky, as if a storm was about to break.

The lanterns swayed wildly in the wind, causing the branches of the trees to dance lightly as well.

Mu Yan sat quietly on the steps, lost in thought.

Many people have seen her, but very few have followed her around asking questions like Qiu Yi did.

Qiu Yi's behavior didn't seem like he wanted to take her life; it was more like he was monitoring her.

Could he be one of Xiao Yu'an's men?

Once the thought came to mind, it could no longer be suppressed.

On the day of the written exam, Xiao Yu'an made things difficult for her both openly and secretly, and even tampered with the knife.

Unfortunately, Xiao Yu'an's methods were too clumsy, and he fell into her trap for nothing.

Although she was not in danger, we should not let our guard down.

Mu Yan lowered her eyes again to look at the person on the ground. The person was seriously injured and dressed in palace clothes, which did not seem to be the result of being assassinated by thieves.

If the murder was committed by thieves, the person should have been hidden away, not left exposed among a crowd of living people.

Mu Yan is truly awake now; she's ridiculously stupid.

She didn't even suspect anything!

There were no leaks in the roof, so how could a person fall down? It was clearly someone who deliberately threw them down.

By whom?

You can count them on one finger.

It could only be her, Xiao Yu'an.

_

next day

Dali Temple

As soon as Mu Yunqing sat down, she saw Wei Chengfeng hurriedly run out with a bag slung over his shoulder.

"What's the rush, sir?" he asked him.

Wei Chengfeng hurriedly turned around, bowed, and said, "Your Excellency, I need to go to the military training ground to handle a case."

Upon hearing that it was the military training ground, Mu Yunqing immediately became interested. "What case is it? Would you like me to come with you?"

"It's just a palace maid who died; I can handle it all by myself."

“A palace maid is also a living human being,” Mu Yunqing said, feigning seriousness. “We cannot let her die a tragic death in vain. I will go with you.”

Without waiting for his reply, Mu Yunqing walked straight out the door.

Wei Chengfeng had no choice but to hurry up and catch up.

This is the first time I've seen someone so eager to solve a case.

_

Military training ground

Mu Yunqing stepped through the door, with Wei Chengfeng following behind him.

Where is the deceased?

“In the bedroom,” Xiao Qingzhou said. “I’ll take you there.”

Mu Yunqing nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

Dust flew everywhere, and mud and sand splashed in all directions, making the entire military training ground gray and hazy.

He glanced to the side and immediately spotted Mu Yan.

They are quite serious about it.

“My lord, if we don’t leave soon,” Wei Chengfeng said softly, “I’m going to get lost.”

Mu Yunqing glanced at him with her eyes down and said, "I know, let's go."

"Yes!"

Before long, the two arrived at the bedroom.

"This is the deceased. He fell from the beam last night and was already dead when he hit the ground."

"Please investigate the cause and give her justice."

"This humble official will do his best," Mu Yunqing replied, squatting down to examine the deceased's wounds.

When the blanket was lifted, shocking wounds were revealed.

“My lord, in this palace, it’s common for masters to beat their servants to death,” Wei Chengfeng said in a low voice. “If you are afraid, let me handle this.”

"Guess how I got this position?" Mu Yunqing asked helplessly.

"My lord... naturally possesses extraordinary abilities."

"It's good that you know." Mu Yunqing said before continuing to record the injuries.

Wei Chengfeng stared at him blankly.

“Come here,” Mu Yunqing beckoned to him, “Do you recognize which palace this outfit belongs to?”