On her way back to Shihua Pavilion, Mu Yunjin happened to encounter Second Madam Wei Hanqiao coming toward her.

Mu Yunjin naturally saw Wei Hanqiao as well, noticing her plain clothes and haggard appearance. She must have been worried sick about Mu Eryang’s injury.

Initially, she had planned to pretend not to see Wei Hanqiao and continue on her way, but Wei Hanqiao spotted Mu Yunjin immediately. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, Wei Hanqiao’s anger flared.

She immediately began scolding Mu Yunjin, “You little hussy! Your second brother was injured right outside your Shihua Pavilion, and you didn’t even notice! If you had discovered him earlier, perhaps your second brother wouldn’t have…”

Wei Hanqiao couldn’t finish her sentence, but she gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Mu Yunjin.

Hearing Wei Hanqiao’s discourteous words, Mu Yunjin’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Second Mother, are you calling me a hussy?”

Confronted by Mu Yunjin’s question, Wei Hanqiao was taken aback, suddenly realizing she had directly voiced the thoughts in her heart.

In the past, no matter how much she disliked Mu Yunjin, she would never have scolded her so bluntly; after all, she was Big Madam’s daughter. Though Big Madam and the Prime Minister didn’t care for this daughter, she was still their flesh and blood.

Involuntarily, Wei Hanqiao felt uneasy under Mu Yunjin’s gaze, but then, thinking of her poor son, her anger surged again.

…

…

She immediately lost the rationality she had just regained and scolded Mu Yunjin again, “Yes, I’m scolding you! What of it? I am your elder, can I not say a few words to you?”

“Your second brother was so severely injured, he must have made some noise. It happened right outside your Shihua Pavilion. Did you deliberately pretend not to hear, intentionally delaying your second brother’s treatment?”

Mu Yunjin looked at Wei Hanqiao’s shrew-like appearance, narrowing her eyes somewhat lazily and sighing. “Second Mother, you’re wronging Yunjin.”

“My mother taught me from a young age not to meddle in affairs that don’t concern me. Besides, if my second brother doesn’t make it, don’t we still have my big brother? Second Mother needn’t worry about our Mu family having no one to continue the family line.” Mu Yunjin gave a glib smile, deliberately speaking thoughtlessly, her gaze fixed on Wei Hanqiao, awaiting her reaction.

Mu Yunjin’s words struck Wei Hanqiao’s heart painfully, immediately stirring a wave of anger, forcing her mind to consider another possibility.

Could her son’s sudden severe injury be related to Su Biqing?

Yes, Su Biqing’s eldest son was currently on an expedition to the northwest with Young General Qin of the Qin family. They had already captured three cities and were probably close to returning.

Could Su Biqing have deliberately harmed her Eryang for the sake of her son, making her Eryang a cripple so that he couldn’t obtain the management rights of the Mu family?

Yes, it must be Su Biqing. Besides her, no one else had a motive to harm Eryang! And Eryang was wounded precisely in his lower body—how poisonous, directly making her son’s life worse than death.

“Su Biqing, what a Su Biqing!” Wei Hanqiao gritted her teeth, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes.

“Second Mother, what’s wrong? Don’t be angry. You know I’m not good with words. If what I said upset you, please don’t take it to heart.”

Mu Yunjin slyly blinked her eyes, then remembered something else. “By the way, has Second Brother woken up?”

This Mu Eryang had been crippled by her kick. If he woke up and complained to Prime Minister Mu, she might be punished again.

Wei Hanqiao’s mind was in chaos at this moment. When her peripheral vision caught Mu Yunjin, a plan suddenly formed in her mind. She took a breath, her expression becoming somewhat kinder.

“Your second brother hasn’t awakened yet. As Eryang’s most beloved sister, why don’t you come with Second Mother to Baiyang Pavilion to see your second brother?” Wei Hanqiao suggested.

“Certainly.” Mu Yunjin readily agreed.

Beside her, Zixiang suddenly tugged at Mu Yunjin’s sleeve, frowning. From just now until this moment, the Second Madam’s attitude had done a complete turnaround. There must be something fishy going on.

What had happened to her young miss lately? Why did she keep attracting these big figures?

“You go back first.” Mu Yunjin glanced at Zixiang. This girl was too timid; having her around would only complicate matters.

Zixiang instinctively shook her head, following closely behind Mu Yunjin, showing no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Mu Yunjin said nothing more and followed Wei Hanqiao toward Baiyang Pavilion.

Soon, Mu Yunjin entered Baiyang Pavilion. Looking at this pavilion paved with jade stones, she once again realized what favoritism meant.

Even the residence of a concubine’s son like Mu Eryang was so luxurious, yet she, a legitimate daughter, had fallen to such miserable circumstances.

Wei Hanqiao led Mu Yunjin into Mu Eryang’s bedchamber. Inside, several physicians were keeping watch. On the soft couch, Mu Eryang lay with a pale complexion, his eyes tightly closed.

Mu Yunjin glanced at the unconscious Mu Eryang, a cold smile appearing on her lips. She couldn’t connect the Mu Eryang before her with the one who had swaggered into her Shihua Pavilion that day.

“Yunjin, come, sit down.” Wei Hanqiao suddenly brought a chair for Mu Yunjin, eagerly inviting her to sit.

Mu Yunjin glanced at the chair, then sat down.

“You all may leave first.” Wei Hanqiao dismissed everyone in the bedchamber.

After everyone had left, Wei Hanqiao walked to the side and took out a brocade box from Mu Eryang’s cabinet, opening it in front of Mu Yunjin.

A box full of gleaming golden jewelry. Mu Yunjin glanced at the quality and knew they were superior items.

“These things were bought by Eryang from a jewelry store as a birthday gift for me, but at my age, I’m not suited for such colorful ornaments.”

“Yunjin, you’re so beautiful. They would look wonderful on you. Let me give them all to you.” Wei Hanqiao pushed the entire box of jewelry into Mu Yunjin’s arms.

Wei Hanqiao’s generosity left Mu Yunjin somewhat bewildered, not understanding what Wei Hanqiao suddenly had up her sleeve.

“All these years, the hardships you’ve endured, Second Mother has seen them all. Look at you, born with such a beauty that would shame the moon and make flowers blush, yet your mother only dotes on the Fourth Miss. Ah, from the bottom of my heart, I truly feel sorry for you, child.” Wei Hanqiao sighed.

“Tell me, born from the same womb, why is there such a difference between you and the Fourth Miss? Sigh, sometimes, I truly want to ask your father to let you be adopted into my family, but every time I want to speak up, your mother stops me.”

As she spoke, Wei Hanqiao took out a silk handkerchief to wipe away tears from the corners of her eyes.

Mu Yunjin finally understood. This Second Madam had likely taken her earlier words to heart and believed Su Biqing was the culprit behind her son’s injury.

Now she had deliberately brought her here, intending to use her against Su Biqing.

What a scheme of using someone else’s knife to kill!

After some thought, Mu Yunjin went along with Wei Hanqiao’s words, putting on a pitiful expression. “With Second Mother’s words, what are the hardships Yunjin has endured all these years?”

“Good child, make sure to keep these ornaments safe later, lest the Fourth Miss and others see them and start gossip.” Wei Hanqiao glanced at the jewelry box and said to Mu Yunjin.

Mu Yunjin nodded, hugging the jewelry box tightly.

Seeing Mu Yunjin’s manner, Wei Hanqiao inwardly cursed her for being unsophisticated, then paused and casually asked, “Yunjin, do you know why the Fourth Miss was injured a few days ago?”

“That I don’t know. That day when I went to visit Lingzhu, I barely spoke a few words before she drove me out.” Mu Yunjin replied softly.

Wei Hanqiao sighed, “This sister of yours has been spoiled rotten, truly without manners.”

After saying this, Wei Hanqiao stood up and took out a porcelain bottle from beneath a nearby chest.

“Yunjin, let me show you something else.” Wei Hanqiao held the porcelain bottle, presenting it to Mu Yunjin like a treasure.

Mu Yunjin nodded, looking at Wei Hanqiao with a puzzled expression. “Second Mother, what is this?”

“This is something I bought from a rouge shop in the market a few days ago. It’s a beauty item. They say if you apply it to your face, it can remove wrinkles.”

Hearing this, Mu Yunjin feigned surprise and exclaimed, “Is it really that effective?”

“Yes, I was planning to give it to your mother in a few days, but since you’re here today, why don’t you take it to your mother on my behalf?”

“It would be a good opportunity to improve the relationship between you and your mother.”

With that, Wei Hanqiao placed the porcelain bottle in Mu Yunjin’s hand, her eyes flickering. “Yunjin, remember, don’t say it’s from Second Mother. You must say you bought it especially for your mother. This way, she’ll be happy, and the gift will be sincere. Understand?”

“I understand. Thank you, Second Mother.”

“Good, it’s getting late. Go deliver it to your mother quickly. Second Mother awaits your good news.”

Mu Yunjin nodded, then stood up and walked toward the door.

Behind her, Wei Hanqiao, still concerned, reminded her again, “Remember, it’s something you wanted to give to your mother yourself.”

After Mu Yunjin had walked away, Wei Hanqiao’s smile faded from her face, replaced by a cold expression. “Hmph, Su Biqing, let’s see how you’ll wish for death over life soon.”

…

Mu Yunjin left Baiyang Pavilion, weighing the porcelain bottle in her hand. She opened the bottle’s lid and sniffed it lightly. Then she looked at Zixiang beside her, who was holding the jewelry box, and spoke coldly.

“Throw the jewelry box into the pond.” Mu Yunjin pointed to a nearby pond.

Zixiang was stunned, somewhat puzzled. “Young Miss, this is Second Madam’s kindness.”

“Kindness? You’ll understand soon enough. Quickly, throw it away!” Mu Yunjin ordered.

Zixiang hesitated but still followed Mu Yunjin’s instruction, tossing the jewelry box into the pond, causing a significant splash.

“Take me to my mother’s residence.”

“Yes, Young Miss.” Zixiang followed beside her, speaking cheerfully.

She never expected that while the Second Young Master was usually so arrogant and domineering, the Second Madam was so kind-hearted. It turned out there were still people in the mansion who cared for the Young Miss.

Now the Second Madam had thought of this way to help the Young Miss improve her relationship with Big Madam. Thinking of this, Zixiang couldn’t help but feel some respect for Wei Hanqiao.

Mu Yunjin looked at Zixiang’s admiring expression beside her and shook her head helplessly. This little girl was truly innocent and adorable.

Soon, the two arrived at Bilo Courtyard, where Su Biqing lived. Aunt Li, who had previously been slapped by Mu Yunjin, was guarding the entrance. Upon seeing Mu Yunjin, she immediately put on a stern face.

“Has the Third Miss taken a wrong turn? This is not the direction to Shihua Pavilion.”