After Mu Yunjin returned to the mansion, Minister Mu, who had arrived earlier, was sitting in the front hall with his head propped in his hand, his brow filled with worry.

Mu Lingzhu knelt in the center, her voice choked with emotion as she tearfully promised Minister Mu, “Father, Lingzhu swears to heaven, I knew nothing of Mother’s actions.”

Hearing the words “knew nothing,” Mu Yunjin slightly raised her eyebrows and sat down with interest in a chair to the side.

Noticing Mu Yunjin’s presence, Mu Lingzhu bit her lip and frowned deeply, recalling the last glimpse she had of Su Biqing before leaving.

Mother’s final look had been so desperate. It was all for her sake that Mother would suffer this fate.

She, Mu Lingzhu, swore that someday she would take Mu Yunjin’s life to avenge her mother!

…

After seeing Mu Yunjin, Minister Mu impatiently waved his hand at Mu Lingzhu. “From today on, stay in Mingzhu Tower and reflect on your actions. Without my order, you are not allowed to come out!”

“Yes, Father.” Mu Lingzhu rose and curtseyed to Minister Mu.

…

…

Then, with Hongxia’s support, she walked toward the back garden. Before leaving, she glanced in Mu Yunjin’s direction.

Hmph, as long as the green mountain remains, there’s no need to worry about firewood.

After Mu Lingzhu left, Minister Mu turned his gaze to Mu Yunjin, his eyes full of remorse. He sighed slightly, “Yunjin, you have suffered much over these years!”

Hearing Minister Mu’s words, Mu Yunjin smiled faintly. If she didn’t know that she wasn’t the Mu family’s biological daughter, at this moment she would surely be outraged.

But now she clearly understood that she wasn’t of Mu family blood, so whether she suffered or not meant little to her.

At this moment, Luo Ningyu brought Mu Xiarou out. Walking to Minister Mu’s side, Luo Ningyu frowned and said, “I’ve heard about what happened to Sister…”

“Mm.” Minister Mu glanced at Luo Ningyu. “I’ve already approved Hanqiao’s return to the mansion. From now on, you and she will manage the household affairs together.”

Luo Ningyu nodded, then looked at Mu Yunjin, seeming to have something to say but hesitating.

After a pause, Luo Ningyu continued, “Sister will be executed at noon tomorrow, but the Third Miss and Sixth Prince’s wedding is only five days away. Having celebration and mourning mixed seems inauspicious…”

Hearing this, Minister Mu glanced at the red silk decorations hanging throughout the mansion and angrily replied, “Who said we’re holding a funeral! After tomorrow’s execution, send Su Biqing’s body back to the Su family! Today I will remove her name from our family register. In our Mu family, this person no longer exists!”

“Yes, Master.” Luo Ningyu nodded slightly.

“By the way, you will conduct the hairpin ceremony for Yunjin and Lingzhu on their coming-of-age day!” Minister Mu added.

Luo Ningyu nodded, smiling faintly. “Yes, I understand.”

After speaking, Minister Mu walked toward the back garden.

In the front hall, Mu Xiarou ran to Mu Yunjin’s side and smiled at her. “Third Sister, you truly are blessed by heaven. Fortunately, nothing happened this time. Xiarou was worried to death.”

Mu Yunjin looked at Mu Xiarou, then at Luo Ningyu, her eyes holding a deep meaning.

“Rouʼer, don’t bother your Third Sister.” After speaking, Luo Ningyu looked at Mu Yunjin. “Yunjin, you’ve had a tiring day. Go back and rest well. I’ll have someone bring you some snacks later.”

Mu Yunjin nodded.

…

Before Mu Yunjin reached Shihua Pavilion, she saw Zixiang leaning against the main door. As soon as she spotted Mu Yunjin, she immediately ran over.

“Miss, you’re finally back!” Zixiang wiped away tears as she looked at Mu Yunjin.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin’s eyes filled with joy. “Zixiang, I won. This time, Su Biqing is finished.”

Hearing this, Zixiang broke into a smile through her tears, wiping them away. “This servant has heard that the Big Madam will suffer waist-cutting execution tomorrow. This servant is truly happy for Miss.”

“Prepare hot water for me. I want to bathe!” After entering Shihua Pavilion, Mu Yunjin stretched lazily and walked toward her bedroom.

Shortly after, in the bedroom, Mu Yunjin leaned against the bathtub, enjoying this moment of peace.

Zixiang sat outside the screen, occasionally chatting with Mu Yunjin. “Miss, why did the Fourth Miss escape unharmed this time?”

“Su Biqing protected her,” Mu Yunjin replied softly.

“It would have been better if the Fourth Miss had been punished too. Now that the Big Madam is about to die, the Fourth Miss will surely direct all her hatred toward you, Miss. Who knows what trouble she might cause in the future?” Zixiang said.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin smiled faintly. “Bringing down Su Biqing this time is equivalent to breaking two of Mu Lingzhu’s bones. She won’t recover so quickly.”

“That’s good,” Zixiang spoke with a smile. “Next, this servant can just wait peacefully for Miss’s wedding.”

…

The next day, Mu Yunjin sat in the courtyard of Shihua Pavilion enjoying the breeze, reclining in a rattan chair, occasionally yawning, her eyes still showing signs of drowsiness.

“Miss, in another hour, it will be the Big Madam’s execution time. Won’t you go to watch?” Zixiang gently fanned Mu Yunjin as she spoke.

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “You little girl, when did you become so brave? That waist-cutting execution directly cuts a person in two. Aren’t you afraid of having nightmares tonight?”

After hearing Mu Yunjin’s words, Zixiang imagined the scene and then shook her head in disgust. “Then let’s not go.”

After chatting for a while, Luo Ningyu approached with several maids.

“Yunjin, you’ll be getting married in a few days. Here is the dowry list I discussed with the Master this morning. See if there’s anything you want to add?”

As soon as she entered, Luo Ningyu smiled at Mu Yunjin and handed her a ledger.

Mu Yunjin took the ledger and briefly looked through it, finding that Minister Mu had indeed been generous this time. Items like pearls, jade, and agates were all included.

“Thank you for your trouble, Third Madam.” Mu Yunjin smiled slightly.

Seeing Mu Yunjin’s satisfaction, Luo Ningyu also smiled and then pointed to the maids behind her. “I see you only have Zixiang serving you here. I’m afraid she can’t attend to everything, so I’ve sent a few more people to serve you.”

“That won’t be necessary. My Shihua Pavilion is small, and having Zixiang alone to serve me is enough.” Mu Yunjin directly refused.

Luo Ningyu’s face froze, but she didn’t say anything more. She pulled at the corners of her mouth and continued, “Then I’ll respect your wishes.”

“But you should at least accept these new clothes.” Luo Ningyu paused, then took several new garments from one of the maids.

Mu Yunjin looked at Luo Ningyu and, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, didn’t want to refuse her goodwill. “Thank you, Third Madam.”

Seeing that Mu Yunjin was going to accept, Zixiang stepped forward and took the new clothes from Luo Ningyu.

Looking at these new clothes, Zixiang thought to herself that as soon as the Big Madam fell from power, the good days had truly begun for her miss.

“Mm, if you need anything else, just tell me. In the past, I was oppressed by your mother and, though I felt for you, I dared not go against her wishes. It has been hard on you all these years,” Luo Ningyu said.

“Third Madam needn’t trouble herself. Yunjin will be marrying into the Sixth Prince’s residence in a few days, so these few days don’t matter. Instead, the Fifth Sister is at the age of growing up. The Third Madam should take more care of the Fifth Sister.”

Luo Ningyu was taken aback but nodded and then excused herself.

After Luo Ningyu left, Mu Yunjin was no longer drowsy. She glanced at Zixiang beside her. “Do you want to go watch Su Biqing’s execution?”

“What? Miss, didn’t you say we weren’t going?”

…

In the end, Mu Yunjin dragged Zixiang out with her.

By now, the market square had gathered many citizens, all standing on both sides of the road, watching a procession of guards slowly approaching, pulling a prisoner’s cart.

“Everyone, quickly throw stones at that evil woman! She’s utterly heartless!” After one woman spoke, the crowd began throwing various rotten vegetables and stinking eggs at the cart.

“Stone that venomous woman to death! Evil will be repaid with evil! She brings shame to all women!”

“Indeed, Minister Mu is an upright official. Who would have thought he had such a vicious wife!”

Mu Yunjin followed the prisoner’s cart from outside the crowd, looking at Su Biqing inside—her hair disheveled, her body covered in blood marks from the stones. For a moment, she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

Was this what they called retribution?

At this moment, Mu Yunjin also noticed a pink figure in the corner. It was Mu Lingzhu, wearing a veil, her gaze fixed on the prisoner’s cart, large tears falling from her eyes.

Soon, the prisoner’s cart stopped at the execution ground, and Su Biqing was escorted to the execution platform.

On the platform, Chen Pu sat with a serious expression. Due to the special status of the criminal, he had been specifically appointed as today’s execution officer.

Su Biqing looked at Chen Pu in the main seat of the execution platform, her eyes filled with desolation and despair.

As she lowered her eyes, preparing to await death, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a figure. Su Biqing’s body trembled, and she looked in that direction.

Then, her brows furrowed tightly. Her previously calm eyes streamed with tears. After a moment, Su Biqing shouted hoarsely—

“Lingzhu, Mother is leaving. You must live well, you must live well. Mother has failed you!”

Upon hearing Su Biqing’s words, Mu Lingzhu’s emotions collapsed in an instant. She covered her face and began to sob.

Watching this scene of mother-daughter love, Mu Yunjin suddenly felt that Su Biqing was both pitiful and hateful, and couldn’t help but long for her own family.

“The time has come!”

“Execute!”

Chen Pu looked at the time and then shouted.

Su Biqing was then escorted to the execution device and laid upon it. Then an executioner raised an ax and swiftly brought it down…

Standing in the crowd, Mu Yunjin covered her eyes at this bloody scene, a wave of nausea rising in her stomach.

At this moment, she couldn’t describe her feelings.

“Miss, let’s go quickly. The smell of blood is so strong here.” Zixiang frowned, speaking with some disgust.

Mu Yunjin nodded and walked back toward the mansion.

…

After returning to the mansion, Mu Yunhan happened to be coming out. Seeing that Mu Yunjin had been out, he frowned. “Where did you go?”

“I went to watch the execution…” Mu Yunjin felt inexplicably guilty. After all, Su Biqing was Mu Yunhan’s mother. No matter how good Mu Yunhan was to her, he couldn’t avoid the connection of blood.

To her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, Mu Yunhan grabbed her ear and pulled her inside. “Mu Yunjin! You’ve grown up! In the past, you were so timid that you would scream for ages at the sight of a mouse, but now you even dare to watch executions!”