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

He's not stupid; he understands the stakes involved.

Shen Chenxi wanted to use him to bring down Zhang Xunyu.

If he continued to follow Zhang Xunyu, he would only face death. No one who had been given a death sentence by Zhang Xunyu had ever returned alive.

He cannot die; how can he face death without avenging his wife and children?

He wanted to avenge his wife and children.

As for the favors he owed Zhang Xunyu, he had probably already repaid them.

Beneath the cold corpses, or on the agonizing wounds, he had long since paid his debts.

_

Dali Temple

The mansion, quiet during the day, always becomes much more lively at dusk.

A stove was burning inside the house, and a stone slab was propped up above it, sizzling and sputtering oil.

Seeing that the oil was hot, Wei Chengfeng quickly placed the meat from the plate onto the stone slab. The aroma instantly filled the air as soon as the meat was placed on it. While turning the meat, he asked, "Have you two gentlemen ever heard of Litsea cubeba?"

They both shook their heads.

"This Litsea cubeba is also a specialty of my hometown. The oil-grilled meat made with it is the most delicious! It's spicy, numbing, and fragrant—a true delicacy!" Wei Chengfeng said, taking out a small bottle of Litsea cubeba oil from his pocket and dripping a few drops onto the meat.

In an instant, the aroma became even stronger, mingling with the scent of meat and spreading freely throughout the room.

The cold wind howled outside, rattling the doors and windows. The three people huddled around the stove, which added to their warmth.

Smelling the enticing aroma, Mu Yunqing couldn't help but smile and say, "I'm in for a treat today."

Shen Chenxi said, "Lord Mu's eyes have just recovered, so it's probably not advisable for him to eat these things."

"Hey, it's rare to have some barbecue, it should be fine!" Wei Chengfeng divided the meat among the two men and said, "Gentlemen, please try it, this stuff tastes best when it's hot!"

As they were eating, a dark figure suddenly appeared outside the door. Sun Xiaowu stood outside, hesitant to go forward.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Wei Chengfeng stood up and said, "And this is...?"

Sun Xiaowu knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying, "This sinful man, Sun Xiaowu, pays his respects to the three sages and begs for revenge for my wife and children!"

The three looked at each other in bewilderment. Mu Yunqing put down the meat in his hand and asked, "Why were your wife and children murdered? Tell me in detail."

Sun Xiaowu sobbed uncontrollably, and after catching his breath, he said, "I was just an ordinary citizen who came to the capital in recent years. Later, I was rescued by Zhang Xunyu and stayed to work for her. I killed many people for her, but now she has pushed me out to take the blame. I know I am guilty beyond redemption, but my wife and children are innocent! They should not be implicated, but she is so cruel that she burned my wife and children to ashes in a fire, leaving no trace of their bodies!"

Mu Yunqing frowned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "It's Zhang Xunyu again."

Wei Chengfeng clenched his fist and cursed, "Such wicked behavior is utterly outrageous; they're worse than dogs!"

Shen Chenxi said, "Since that's the case, we certainly won't sit idly by. However, this matter needs to be considered carefully, and it's difficult to bring him down based on just your word."

Sun Xiaowu kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "I understand. I am willing to do anything to ask that you, sir, seek justice for my wife and children."

Shen Chenxi helped him up. "Since you are a convict, you will stay at Dali Temple for the next few days. Now that you have come, you must have already considered the pros and cons. This journey can only proceed, not retreat. If you retreat even slightly, all your previous efforts will be in vain. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Sun Xiaowu said, "As long as I can avenge my wife and children, I am not afraid of death!"

“Old Wei,” Shen Chenxi said, “take some men down to draft the complaint.”

"Alright!" Wei Chengfeng replied and led his men to the side hall.

Shen Chenxi turned around and closed the door, then looked at Mu Yunqing: "Lord Mu, I have something important to discuss with you."

Mu Yunqing seemed not to hear, not even raising his eyelids, and continued to turn the roasted meat with his head down. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Lord Shen, are you not planning to keep this from me anymore?"

“I never intended to hide it,” Shen Chenxi replied, “but…”

"Just what?" Mu Yunqing seemed to smile and looked up at him: "It's just that I chose to hide it because of the situation and fear of being exposed, or perhaps Lord Shen thinks that I'm just a blind man and can't help me."

“That’s not what I meant at all. I’m just worried about your safety.” Shen Chenxi sighed, her expression sincere. “This matter has far-reaching implications. Zhang Xunyu’s power is immense. Once he learns of our plan, he will definitely stop at nothing to deal with us. You have just recovered from your injuries, and I really don’t want you to be in danger again.”

Mu Yunqing raised an eyebrow slightly. "Lord Shen is very kind. But now that I'm involved, I have no reason to back down. Besides, I also want to see just how capable Zhang Xunyu really is."

Shen Chenxi looked pleased. "With Lord Mu's help, the chances of success have greatly increased. But we must be careful. Zhang Xunyu has many followers, and they may be watching us from the shadows right now."

Mu Yunqing nodded in agreement. "Then, in Lord Shen's opinion, what should we do next?"

Shen Chenxi pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Let's wait until he finishes writing the complaint. Sun Xiaowu is the key figure; he's been by Zhang Xunyu's side for many years and must know many secrets. Then there's that group of assassins; the drugs are ready. When they're given the drugs, we'll have witnesses and physical evidence, and Zhang Xunyu won't be able to escape even if she has wings. However, these alone are not enough to bring her down. You and I are of low rank and can't even meet the Emperor. If Zhang Xunyu beats us to it, I'm afraid we won't be able to escape unscathed."

"Since there is no way out, we might as well find a guide." Mu Yunqing gently rubbed his fingers and said, "However, most of the ministers in the court are people who are good at protecting themselves, so it is not easy to win them over."

"Where there's a will, there's a way. There will always be someone willing to step forward. Perhaps Prime Minister Mu will put in a good word for us."

Mu Yunqing glanced at him, "I hope so."

_

Zhang Mansion

The wind outside gradually subsided, leaving only the cold moon hanging alone.

Zhang Xunyu sat by the couch, gazing at the pair of glass cups on the table, feeling increasingly uneasy.

Now that Elder Shen has stepped down, the officials are in chaos and have formed their own factions. Why is the Court of Judicial Review targeting her alone?

Could this be His Majesty's intention?

It's laughable that two lowly sixth-rank officials, who couldn't even step into the palace, would serve under the Empress.

Ha, they're probably just young and fearless, completely clueless about the ways of officialdom! She'd like to see how these two manage to survive in the officialdom.

Hongxiu entered the room carrying hot water and said softly, "My lord, I will serve you a foot bath."

"You're certainly very attentive," Zhang Xunyu said, soaking his feet in the basin. "Where's Wu Peifang? I haven't seen her at all these past few days."

“Lord Wu has caught a cold these past few days,” Hongxiu said, rubbing her feet. “He is currently recuperating at his residence.”

"A cold?" Zhang Xunyu said coldly, "Hmph, catching a cold is an excuse, you really want to desert your post."

"To be honest, sir," she said, "I think so too. Lord Wu was frequently visiting you just a few days ago, but now that this has happened, he's vanished without a trace. He must be deliberately avoiding you!"

"Your master has run away, why don't you avoid me?"

“My lord is joking with me again,” Hongxiu said coquettishly. “Hongxiu is now a servant of your household. If something happens to you, how can Hongxiu escape alone? I am not a sycophant.”

“In this situation, it doesn’t matter whether you have anyone by your side or not; no one can escape.” Zhang Xunyu asked, “Aren’t you afraid of your entire family being executed?”

“Of course I’m afraid,” Hongxiu replied. “Who in this world isn’t afraid of death? But sir, are you really willing to wait like this? If the Dali Temple succeeds, we’re truly finished.”

Zhang Xunyu lowered his eyes to look at the water in the basin and slowly said, "The forces I had previously won over are gradually fading away, and all the evidence has fallen into the hands of the Dali Temple. I have no one under my command now, so even if I take action, it will be useless. Rather than confronting them head-on, it is better to rest now and then I can still save my life."

“That’s not necessarily true,” Hongxiu said. “Think about it, if your evidence is in his hands, why don’t you get his evidence in your hands as well?”

“Hongxiu, you are still too naive. If I could find evidence, why would I be forced into this situation by him?”

“If we don’t have evidence, we can make it up,” Hongxiu coaxed. “He’s just a low-ranking official, and a man at that. What are you afraid of? This world is a woman’s world. How long can he be so powerful now? For a man, the most precious thing is his reputation. If we can’t do it openly, we’ll do it secretly. Even if we die, we’ll drag him down with us and ruin his reputation.”

Zhang Xunyu's eyes flickered slightly as he pondered, "Shen Chenxi has the backing of the Shen family; he can't be touched easily."

“Then let’s start with Mu Yunqing,” Hongxiu said. “He has no background and no power. This nobody…you don’t even dare to touch him, sir?”

Zhang Xunyu said angrily, "Why wouldn't I dare? Killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant! However, this man is meticulous, and ordinary methods are no match for him."

"Then we'll use unconventional methods."

Zhang Xunyu stared at Hongxiu: "What methods do you have?"

“My lady, we can do this…” Hongxiu whispered in her ear.

Zhang Xunyu was taken aback, then laughed: "You've really mastered the art of dragging people down with you."

"You flatter me, sir," Hongxiu said respectfully as she dried her feet. "It is my honor to be appreciated by you, sir."

_

Military training ground

The morning training had just ended, and a group of people were having morning tea around a round table.

Ling Yun, munching on a steamed bun, said, "I'm going to subdue that little red horse today, so watch closely!"

"Keep bragging," Ning Xi deliberately exposed her: "Who was it that was being chased all over the mountains by the little red horse, crying and begging to go home?"

"How dare you talk to me like that?" Ling Yun retorted, "You can't even train Little White Horse! You're hopeless!"

"Hmph, I just didn't perform well!"

Mu Yan asked, "We're eating, why are you bringing up the horse?"

“You don’t understand,” Ling Yun said, “Our military training ground has a horse riding session every month, and today it just so happens to be our turn!”

"The horse farm?" Mu Yan asked, puzzled. "Aren't we supposed to be training? What are we doing at the horse farm?"

"You're so stupid, you won't believe me," Ling Yun patted Qiu Yi's shoulder, raised his eyebrows and said, "Tell her what's essential for a qualified soldier!"

Qiu Yi said, "Weapons and horses."

"Did you hear that? Weapons and horses are essential!" Ling Yun picked up the teapot, poured a bowl of tea, and added, "Don't blame me for not warning you, the horses at that horse farm are incredibly fierce. When they start running, even ten people can't hold them back! Be careful when you're choosing a horse. If you see one with eyes that could kill, stay far away from it! Otherwise, if it rears up, you won't see it again until next spring!"

"Muyan, don't listen to her!" Ning Xi moved closer to her and said, "She's just trying to scare you. The horses are a bit wild, but they won't kill anyone. Just stick close to the three of us, and I guarantee you'll pick a good horse!"

Mu Yan calmly replied, "I see."

"Yes, it's that simple!" Ning Xi asked, "By the way, Mu Yan, can you ride a horse?"

"will not."

"Really not good enough?" Ling Yun asked suspiciously. "Your swordsmanship is so amazing, how could you not know how to ride a horse? You're not pretending to be bad so you can surprise everyone!"

Mu Yan chewed a piece of steamed bun and said, "Swords are for people to see, not for horses. What does it have to do with riding a horse?"

“That’s true,” Ling Yun nudged her arm and raised an eyebrow. “If you can’t ride a horse, I’ll teach you! I guarantee you’ll learn!”

"If I don't learn, I'm afraid I'll end up like you, being chased by a horse."

"Hahahaha!" Ning Xi laughed so hard she was doubled over.

"What are you laughing at?" Ling Yun glared at Ning Xi, then looked at Mu Yan: "I'm serious, believe me, I guarantee you'll learn!"

“I’m scared, I won’t learn.”

"Look at you, you're such a coward when it really matters," Ling Yun said with a sneer. "You're afraid of riding a horse, but why weren't you afraid of catching those men in black back then!"

"What are you talking about? You're going off on a tangent like this," Mu Yan said with a smile. "It's not that I can't learn from you, let me see your skills first."

"What's the point of looking at skills? My skills are absolutely top-notch! Don't believe me? Just ask..." Ling Yun looked around and asked, "Hey, where's Qiu Yi? Where did she go?"

"I don't know," Ning Xi pointed outside, "They just went out."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing's wrong, she looks fine," Ling Yun glanced at the steamed bun in Mu Yan's hand and urged, "Don't worry about her, hurry up and eat your steamed bun, we need to line up soon."

"Oh," Mu Yan swallowed the steamed bun into her mouth, stood up and said, "Let's go, let's pack our things."

_

Racecourse

The sun was blazing down, and a group of people stood together in front of the stables. Xiao Qingzhou instructed, "Once you're inside the stables, choose your horses carefully. Don't be lazy and hide in there; if I see anyone doing that, they'll get thirty lashes!"

Ling Yun frowned slightly; it sounded painful.

"Return your horses before dark. Those that aren't back yet, wait outside!" Xiao Qingzhou said coldly. "I want to see if your skin is thicker than snow! Alright, enough talk, go choose your horses!"

"Yes!"

The group agreed and dispersed to choose horses.

Mu Yan followed the crowd into the stable, where horses neighed incessantly. She looked around and spotted a white horse in a corner. Its coat was pure white, like snow, but its eyes held a lively and gentle light, unlike the restless and agitated horses. A thought struck Mu Yan, and she walked towards the horse.

Ling Yun ran over and took a look, praising, "This horse looks good, but it's a pity that such a fine horse already has an owner."

Whose horse is it?

“I don’t know it,” Ling Yun said, reading the horse's name tag. “It says something about being unparalleled in the world, probably some prince or nobleman.” She pulled Mu Yan away, “Don’t worry about it, I’ll pick out a good one for you!”