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

She only asked him to help find medicine? He thought Mu Yan would at least ask him to conceal the truth, or ask him to turn a blind eye when the case occurred.

She didn't mention it at all, only asking him to help find medicine.

After pondering for a moment, Mu Yunqing softly replied, "Okay."

_

Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness

Song Qi'an leaned lazily against the wall, basking in the sun and eating oranges. Mu Dong sat beside him, carefully holding the plate for him.

"Young master, Pan Yu has sent several messages. Shall we go and take a look?"

“I’m not going,” Song Qi’an spat out a seed, then said, “I’m being bothered with such trivial matters. What use is he to me?”

Mu Dong said, "Those were letters from three days ago. This letter is for you to go and see what it looks like."

What do you look like?

“Young master, you’ve forgotten again,” Mu Dong put the plate aside and pointed to the lantern, “Of course we’re here to look at the lantern! Didn’t you say the other day that the previous one was too plain and didn’t suit your style?”

Song Qi'an suddenly realized: "Oh, that's it! Just change the color."

"That's true, but he was unsure of what to do, which is why he asked you," Mu Dong explained. "What if he picks one that you don't like and you don't like it? That would put him in a difficult position, and that wouldn't be good!"

Song Qi'an laughed and said, "You're quite the advocate for him now. It's only been a few days, and you've already changed your opinion of him?"

Mu Dong scratched his head sheepishly and praised, "Young Master, Pan Yu is a good person!"

"Wow, he's become a good guy again."

"I'm telling the truth. I bought a storybook a few days ago, and he read it to me!"

Song Qi'an pouted and said, "I've read it to you hundreds of times, why don't you ever praise me?"

"You should keep the young master's kindness in your heart," Mu Dong said earnestly. "As for others, you can only say it."

"Alright, what you said makes some sense." Song Qi'an reached for an orange, peeling it as he said, "By the way, has your storybook reached its ninth volume yet?"

Mu Dong nodded repeatedly: "The ninth and tenth volumes have been published!"

"I'll take you to buy it later."

"Really?" Mu Dong hugged his arm with a grin. "Young Master, you're so kind!"

Song Qi'an said, "Don't rush to praise me, there are conditions to it!"

"Young master, are you going to listen to music again?"

“I’m not going,” Song Qi’an stood up and took a few steps. “Do you think I’m the kind of person who only knows how to have fun all day long?”

"Where are you going?" Mu Dong reminded him, "The lord said that we cannot go anywhere more than a mile away from the Marquis's residence."

Upon hearing this, Song Qi'an nearly dropped the orange in his hand. "When was this rule set? How come I didn't know about it?"

"Just a few days ago."

Song Qi'an frowned and muttered, "It's the dead of winter, and it's chilling. There are houses for a whole mile around the Marquis's residence, but not a single shop. How am I supposed to do business like this!"

Mu Dong coaxed, "The master is also worried about the young master's safety."

"How could I, a grown man, be kidnapped?" Song Qi'an scratched his head anxiously. "No, I have to get out of here today!"

"Why do we have to go outside?" Mu Dong said, counting on his fingers. "It's so nice here in the yard. We can wrap ourselves in a blanket and sunbathe, we can eat oranges, and we can also..."

When I looked up, the person in front of me was already gone.

_

Song Qi'an went straight to Shuntian Restaurant. Before even entering, he saw a mountain of lanterns piled up outside the restaurant.

Amidst the colorful lanterns sat a man in white, his head bowed, looking extremely distressed.

Song Qi'an stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and laughed, "It's just a few lanterns, yet you're so worried!"

"Young master, you've finally arrived. I really have a hard time deciding on the color of this lantern."

Song Qi'an circled the lantern once, then pointed to a lake-blue one, "This one will do, it's elegant yet unique."

Pan Yu said, "I will do as you say, young master!"

"Besides lanterns, are there any other items that cannot be chosen?" Song Qi'an asked as they walked.

"Reporting to young master, the porcelain has not yet been finalized."

"Porcelain?" Song Qi'an stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's choose a blue-rimmed white plate; it looks nice and matches the lanterns well."

Pan Yu simply agreed. She then led Song Qi'an around the restaurant and escorted him back.

_

It was three days later when Mu Yunqing found the medicine.

He used to be fumigated with herbs and drink bitter medicine every day, and now his eyesight has improved significantly. He can walk freely without anyone's help.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door, but no one answered for a long time.

"Lord Mu." Someone called from behind, and Mu Yunqing turned around to look.

It was Xiangqin. She was frail and seemed to be seriously injured.

Mu Yunqing asked, "Where is your master?"

"Master returned to the military training ground three days ago. Is there anything you need from her?"

"It's nothing, I just came to bring some medicine." Mu Yunqing placed the medicine on the windowsill and said, "Since she's not here, I won't bother you any longer. Take good care of yourself and recover." After he finished speaking, he turned and left, his expression not very good.

Three days ago?

That was the day Mu Yan came looking for medicine. Since she had already come, she didn't even say goodbye before leaving.

Not polite.

_

Military training ground

The person who was scolded for being impolite is currently washing up in the washroom.

Today is the winter solstice, and Commander Xiao has given them a rare half-day of rest, so Mu Yan thought she would sleep a little longer. But when she opened her eyes again, she found that the person beside her was empty.

She hastily washed her face, and as soon as she stepped out, she was pulled to sit down at the table. On the table was a bowl of steaming dumplings and a prepared dipping sauce.

"What are you standing there for? Eat!" Ling Yun urged.

Mu Yan looked at her suspiciously and said seriously, "Unsolicited kindness is either a lie or a thief."

"What are you saying?" Ling Yun picked up a dumpling and said, "I meant well, how did it turn into something else entirely in your eyes?"

What kind of filling is it?

Ling Yun chuckled and held the dumpling to her lips, his tone teasing: "Why don't you try it and see? Miss Mu, are you afraid I'll poison the dumpling?"

"I knew you wouldn't dare." Mu Yan opened her mouth and swallowed the dumpling, then said, "It's actually pork and cabbage filling, at least you still have some conscience."

Ling Yun's lips curled up slightly, and he said proudly, "I made these dumplings myself!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Yan immediately spat out the dumpling in her mouth.

Ling Yun's face darkened slightly, and he said fiercely, "Mu Yan, what do you mean by this? I kindly brought you dumplings, and you dare to treat me like this!"

"Who knows if you'll use this opportunity to settle personal scores?"

"Hmph, if I really wanted to get revenge on you," Ling Yun picked up a dumpling and stuffed it into his mouth, eating with relish, "why would I need to resort to such despicable means?"

Seeing Ling Yun eat, Mu Yan also picked up her chopsticks and started eating. She praised, "I didn't realize you were such a good cook."

“Of course,” Ling Yun said. “This skill of mine was passed down from my ancestors! If you like it, just say a few nice words to me and I may be so kind as to make it for you.”

"It's not necessary."

"Why not use it? I've already made dumplings for you without holding a grudge, why are you refusing!"

"I'm afraid that one day you'll get impatient and won't be able to resist poisoning me," Mu Yan joked. "After all, some people get impatient even when fetching water."

"You!" Ling Yun slammed his chopsticks on the table with a "bang" and said angrily, "Who are you calling a hothead? That happened so long ago, why are you bringing it up again!"

"Look at you, you're getting angry again."

"Mu Yan, don't think I won't dare to touch you!" Ling Yun's eyes widened in anger, and he slammed his hand on the table, making the dumplings on the table jump.

"What are you doing?" Mu Yan hugged the dumplings protectively to her chest. "Don't let innocent people suffer!"

"You..." Ling Yun was speechless with anger at her words, his face turning pale and then red. He could only take a deep breath and suppress his anger: "Mu Yan, don't be too smug! Don't think that making dumplings for you means I'm accepting you!"

Mu Yan said lazily, "It's rare that you're not targeting me, so of course I'm feeling smug."

Ling Yun glanced at her sideways, his tone slightly sarcastic: "I was just in a good mood today, so I took pity on you and made you dumplings. Don't flatter yourself!"

Mu Yan swallowed the last dumpling and let out a satisfied burp.

"Mu Yan!" Ling Yun frowned, her face full of disdain. "You're supposed to be one of our school's military personnel, can't you pay a little attention to your image? Really..." She paused, unable to find a suitable adjective, and simply stopped talking.

"Really what?" Mu Yan boasted, "Truly as beautiful as a celestial being, with unparalleled martial arts skills, unmatched in the world?"

"Hmph," Ling Yun snorted, turning his head away and no longer looking at her: "I think you're shameless enough to try and make yourself look good."

"With a face as stunning as mine, I have to embellish it," Mu Yan wiped her mouth, stood up, and said, "Let's go, time for training!"

Ling Yun cursed from behind, "All you do after eating is run away, and you don't even wash the dishes! What's the point of having arms!"

_

Dali Temple

Wei Chengfeng squatted in front of the door, hugging his knees, sighing from time to time, looking just like an unfavored servant in the palace.

After a period of relative peace, who would have thought that someone would die again last night?

Three more died in succession.

The two adults inside the house spent a long time examining the clues, and it was almost dark. They didn't eat or even look up.

As a minor official, he dared not approach and could only wait quietly. Had he known being an official was so difficult, he wouldn't have come in the first place.

Lost in thought, he was suddenly interrupted by a voice behind him: "What are you worrying about, old man? Your eyebrows are practically drooping to the ground."

Wei Chengfeng was startled and quickly stood up, saying, "Lord Mu, I have no worries. I'm just wondering who this murderer is, that they would be so audacious."

“Killing three people in a row, he must not be a first-time offender,” Mu Yunqing said meaningfully. “Perhaps he can be considered a regular at the Dali Temple.”

"Regular customers?" A thought suddenly popped into Wei Chengfeng's mind. "Could it be the same group from before?"

"It's not impossible."

Wei Chengfeng asked, "Where is Lord Shen? Why hasn't he come out for some fresh air?"

"Still looking at the case files, I'm afraid I won't be out for a while." Mu Yunqing took a step towards the door, then turned back to look at him: "Would you like to have a meal with me, sir?"

"Eat, eat, eat!" Wei Chengfeng quickly caught up with Mu Yunqing, afraid that he might change his mind at any moment.

Mu Yunqing led the group to a restaurant, and as soon as the dishes were served, she enthusiastically served food to Wei Chengfeng. "Please eat more, don't go hungry."

Wei Chengfeng felt uneasy. A perfectly good meal had been turned into a last meal for him. He was really afraid that this was his last meal.

After a long while, he finally looked up at Mu Yunqing: "Lord Mu, do you have something to say?"

"I do have something to say to you."

Wei Chengfeng's heart sank. It's all over.

Mu Yunqing asked, "I've heard that you've lived in the capital since childhood. Do you know anything about things in the capital?"

"What's going on in the capital?" Wei Chengfeng asked cautiously. "What are you referring to, sir?"

"The Shen family."

The Shen family? There are many Shen families in the capital, but only one is the most famous. Lord Mu must be interested in this family, but this family is also related to Lord Shen.

He was caught in a dilemma: to speak or not to speak.

If I speak out, it will be considered gossiping about Lord Shen behind his back. If I don't speak out, I will offend Lord Mu.

Wei Chengfeng hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Shen family is a prominent family in the capital. Lord Shen's mother is also an important official in the court, and His Majesty values ​​her highly. Their fortunes have been good in recent years."

"Did Lord Shen also grow up in the capital?"

“No,” Wei Chengfeng leaned closer to him and said, “Lord Shen had a hard life; he was only found by his family when he was over twenty years old.”

"Twenties?"

"That's right!" he said in a low voice. "Such a fine young master, kidnapped when he was nine, and not found until he was over twenty. Heaven knows how much suffering he endured."

"Furthermore, the Shen family has many children. As you know, the children of officials are the most cunning and deceitful, and they inevitably compete with each other in private. When Lord Shen returned home, there was no longer a place for him in the family."

"His life in the manor was not easy either. His two older sisters tried to arrange for him to marry again and again. Lord Shen refused, and in a fit of anger, he went to the academy and stayed there for two whole years. For two whole years, he did not step into the Shen manor and did not speak to anyone in the Shen manor. In all these years, I have never heard of Lord Shen befriending anyone."

"Fortunately, Lord Shen has now obtained an official position," Wei Chengfeng said, shaking his head. "Otherwise, I really don't know how he would have been able to get by."

“So that’s how it is,” Mu Yunqing said. “It seems that Lord Shen is truly unfortunate.”

"Isn't it just a miserable life? It's been miserable to the very end!"

After a moment of silence, Mu Yunqing asked again, "I heard that Lord Shen has a missing elder brother. Do you know when he went missing?"

“A lost elder brother?” Wei Chengfeng tried hard to recall: “There is such a thing, but this young master Shen is probably already gone! He was only five or six years old when he went missing. The Shen family searched for months but couldn’t find a trace of him! Later they gave up, and so many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Even if they were found, he probably wouldn’t want to come home.”

He took a sip of wine and continued, "However, this Fourth Young Master Shen... that is, Lord Shen, has never given up searching for his elder brother. But it's all in vain. In such a vast country as Fengqi, where can one even begin to search? One could search the heavens and earth and still not find him!"

Mu Yunqing poured Wei Chengfeng a full glass of wine and asked, "How much older is Lord Shen's elder brother than him?"

“He’s a full five years older,” Wei Chengfeng said. “It’s like the young master Shen was kidnapped the moment Lord Shen was born.”

"Since you have never met him, why is Lord Shen so determined to find that young master Shen?"

"Since we are compatriots, we should naturally find them. Lord Shen is not very close to his brothers and sisters in the mansion, nor to his mother. Now that his father has passed away, only the eldest son of the Shen family is his closest relative in this world."

Wei Chengfeng sighed, "If even this one relative is not found, Lord Shen will truly be all alone. How pitiful... how truly pitiful."

Mu Yunqing seemed to sense something and turned to the waiter behind him, saying, "Make me another meal and send it to Dali Temple."

The waiter responded and got back to work.

"Lord Mu, aren't you going back to the Dali Temple?" Wei Chengfeng asked.

“I’m not going back,” Mu Yunqing said, standing up. “You should also go back and rest early, as we need to set off early tomorrow morning.”

"Got it!"