Half an hour later, Aunt Li entered through the back door of Biluo Courtyard, followed by a raggedly dressed old woman with iron chains binding her hands and feet.
Mu Yunjin looked over and recognized the disheveled figure in tattered clothes—it was none other than Aunt Zhang!
“Third Miss…” Upon seeing Mu Yunjin in Biluo Courtyard, Aunt Zhang immediately ran toward her as if she’d found her savior, the iron chains on her feet making crisp clinking sounds.
Witnessing this scene, Mu Yunjin’s brows furrowed. After scrutinizing Aunt Zhang from head to toe and noticing the whip marks on her face and body, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.
“Su Biqing, you dare to privately torture Aunt Zhang?” Mu Yunjin narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in them.
Su Biqing had just removed the dagger from her hair bun, her heart still somewhat fearful. Being fixed with Mu Yunjin’s murderous gaze, her throat suddenly constricted, leaving her speechless for a long while.
Aunt Li, unaware of what had transpired between the mother and daughter in the courtyard, mustered her courage and said, “Third Miss, this person isn’t dead. She’s been delivered to you in good condition—what more do you want?”
“Besides, you and your mother are connected by blood. Why must you always oppose Madam and help outsiders… Ah!”
Before Aunt Li could finish, Mu Yunjin slapped her to the ground with full force. With that single slap, Aunt Li spat out a mouthful of blood containing two knocked-out teeth.
…
…
“Next time you dare to provoke me, it won’t be just a slap.” Mu Yunjin glared at Su Biqing and Aunt Li before leaving with Aunt Zhang.
Behind them, Su Biqing slumped weakly into a chair, still somewhat shocked…
……
Mu Yunjin carefully supported Aunt Zhang back to Shihua Pavilion. As soon as they entered, she called out to Zixiang, “Go fetch a physician!”
Seeing that the arrival was Aunt Zhang, Zixiang was quite startled but didn’t waste time, immediately running outside.
Mu Yunjin helped Aunt Zhang lie down, then found clean clothes and prepared a basin of hot water to begin cleaning Aunt Zhang’s body.
“Miss, you mustn’t! Don’t lower yourself to serve this old servant,” Aunt Zhang became anxious seeing Mu Yunjin attending to her.
“Aunt, please don’t move. You suffered this because of me—it’s I who has wronged you.” Looking at the whip marks all over Aunt Zhang’s body, Mu Yunjin’s thoughts darkened further.
Hearing this, Aunt Zhang sighed softly, “That Su Biqing has a vicious heart. Back then, if it weren’t for her interference, your mother wouldn’t have…”
Aunt Zhang stopped halfway, not continuing.
Hearing Aunt Zhang’s words, Mu Yunjin didn’t press further. She sat there quietly until Zixiang returned with the physician.
After the physician entered, he began treating Aunt Zhang. Zixiang stood nearby, pacing anxiously at the sight.
“What happened? Aunt, didn’t you set off for home days ago? Why have you suffered such severe injuries?”
Seeing this, Mu Yunjin pulled Zixiang aside, signaling with her eyes for her to be quiet for a moment.
Zixiang immediately understood and stopped chattering, waiting for the physician’s diagnosis.
A moment later, the physician reached his conclusion: “Fortunately, this aunt’s injuries are all external. Luckily, they were discovered in time before the wounds became infected. Apply some medicine for a few days, and they should scab over.”
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin’s anxious heart finally eased.
After sending the physician away, Mu Yunjin saw that Aunt Zhang had fallen asleep from exhaustion, so she left with Zixiang.
“Miss, this couldn’t have been done by Big Madam, could it?” Once outside, Zixiang glanced back at the room, then looked to Mu Yunjin.
Mu Yunjin didn’t conceal the truth. “Yes, it was her doing.”
“So it was Big Madam. I never imagined she would become so ruthless, not even sparing an elderly person.” After a pause, Zixiang seemed to think of something and frowned, “Did Big Madam use this to threaten Miss for something?”
Looking at this increasingly astute maid, Mu Yunjin sighed softly, “Don’t worry too much. Su Biqing didn’t gain any advantage this time.”
“For the next period, things should be more peaceful.”
Zixiang seemed to half understand, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Now that Miss had openly declared war against Big Madam and Fourth Miss, she wondered what tactics Big Madam might employ next.
……
During the following fortnight, things indeed unfolded as Mu Yunjin had predicted—calm and peaceful.
Mu Yunjin stayed in Shihua Pavilion for a full two weeks without venturing out. During this time, Su Biqing and Mu Lingzhu seemed to have vanished like mist, with no news of them, and no misfortunes befalling the household.
Mu Yunjin finally enjoyed some peace.
Aunt Zhang’s injuries had mostly healed. She was now sitting in the courtyard of Shihua Pavilion, supported by Zixiang, basking in the sunshine. Occasionally, her gaze would drift toward Mu Yunjin, who was resting with her eyes closed on a rocking chair nearby.
After a while, Aunt Zhang spoke softly, “Miss, this old servant has stayed for half a month, and my body has recovered. I think it’s time for me to set off.”
Hearing Aunt Zhang’s voice, Mu Yunjin opened her eyes. After Su Biqing’s secret detention of Aunt Zhang, Mu Yunjin always felt somewhat concerned.
“Third Miss needn’t worry. Big Madam has been behaving recently and won’t use this old servant to make trouble again. Trust me, I’ll return home safely this time.”
After a pause, Aunt Zhang looked at Mu Yunjin’s profile, feeling somewhat gratified, “You truly resemble your mother when she was young.”
“Aunt Zhang, you knew my mother?” Hearing Aunt Zhang mention her mother again, Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow.
“Of course, I knew her. But the incident back then is complicated. This old servant feels that Miss’s wings aren’t yet fully developed, so it’s better not to know too early.” Aunt Zhang sighed softly, her expression somewhat grave.
Then, to prevent Mu Yunjin from asking further, Aunt Zhang stood up and glanced at the sky. “It’s still early. I’ll set off today. I’ve been away for nearly a month; my grandson must be worried about me.”
Seeing Aunt Zhang’s firm resolve to leave, Mu Yunjin couldn’t continue to detain her. She asked Zixiang to help Aunt Zhang pack her belongings before escorting her out of the mansion.
At the back gate of the Minister’s mansion, Aunt Zhang shouldered her bundle and looked at Mu Yunjin. “Well then, Miss, please return early.”
“Yes, Aunt, take care on your journey. Remember to send word when you arrive home safely.” Mu Yunjin looked at the solitary Aunt Zhang, her heart still somewhat anxious.
Aunt Zhang nodded, smiled at Mu Yunjin, then exited the gate and headed north.
After seeing Aunt Zhang off, Mu Yunjin felt somewhat melancholic, her mind floating back to the “incident from the past” Aunt Zhang had mentioned…
Thinking carefully, she wasn’t actually of Mu family blood, yet Minister Mu and Su Biqing had declared to the world that she was the Mu family’s eldest daughter, born of the same mother as Mu Lingzhu. No matter how she considered it, she could sense the complexity of those past events.
After walking to the entrance of Shihua Pavilion, Mu Yunjin, who hadn’t left her quarters for half a month, finally felt somewhat stifled. She changed direction, heading toward the main entrance.
“Miss, where are you going?” Zixiang, beside her, was curious as Mu Yunjin changed course.
“Out for a walk,” replied Mu Yunjin.
Hearing this, Zixiang nodded and followed silently beside Mu Yunjin.
Before Mu Yunjin stepped into the front hall, she heard several joyful voices from inside—
“My lord, Pearl was invited into the palace by Empress Dowager Zheng this time and had the fortune to display her poetic talents before His Majesty. His Majesty praised Pearl highly.”
“I heard about this matter from His Majesty. He also praised me, saying that having such a talented young lady is a blessing for our Mu family.”
“Father, Mother, please stop teasing Pearl. If this continues, Pearl will become arrogant, and that’s not good.”
“Hahaha, you girl! Now that you’ve been publicly praised by His Majesty, even if you lose the first place in this year’s Literary Contest, you’ll still be regarded as the First Talented Lady of Western Yuan in everyone’s hearts,” said Minister Mu.
Hearing the harmonious family inside, Mu Yunjin sneered and strode in. The moment she entered the front hall, the joyful voices immediately fell silent.
Su Biqing glanced at Mu Yunjin, her eyes flickering slightly before she displayed a harmless smile. “It’s Yunjin. Your mother hasn’t seen you for several days—you seem to have lost weight.”
“Yes, Pearl hasn’t seen her elder sister for about half a month. Sister, have you not been resting well? You look somewhat haggard,” Mu Lingzhu also rarely displayed a smile as she spoke with apparent concern.
Seeing these two addressing her warmly with looks of concern, Mu Yunjin didn’t withhold her smile. She tugged at the corners of her mouth and glanced at Su Biqing. “Thank you for your concern, Mother. Yunjin is doing well.”
Seeing that peace had finally returned to the household and that Mu Yunjin’s domineering nature had been tempered somewhat, Minister Mu felt somewhat relieved.
“That’s good. It’s less than a month until your wedding to the Sixth Prince. We can’t have any mishaps at this crucial time,” Su Biqing said with a smile.
Hearing this, Mu Yunjin casually hummed an acknowledgment and took a few steps forward, preparing to leave. Then, as if remembering something, she turned to look at Su Biqing, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.
“I want to go out for a stroll, but it seems Shihua Pavilion hasn’t received any allowance for quite some time. I’m a bit short on funds right now.” Mu Yunjin said, extending her palm toward Su Biqing.
Su Biqing’s initially smiling eyes flashed with deeper meaning, but she maintained the smile on her face and signaled to Aunt Li beside her.
Aunt Li understood and immediately took out a bulging money pouch from her sleeve, handing it to Mu Yunjin. Throughout the process, she kept her head down, not daring to look at Mu Yunjin.
Taking the heavy pouch, Mu Yunjin’s face bloomed with a smile. “Thank you, Mother.”
With that, she headed toward the main gate with Zixiang.
After exiting the mansion, Mu Yunjin untied the money pouch, roughly counted the silver inside, and hefted it in her hand.
Zixiang, following beside her, lowered her voice and said, “Miss, just now Big Madam mentioned your marriage. It’s less than a month until your wedding, but it seems the Sixth Prince hasn’t sent the betrothal gifts yet.”
“Betrothal gifts?”
Mu Yunjin slightly furrowed her brow, suddenly remembering this matter.
Indeed, with less than a month until the wedding day, Chu Li’s betrothal gifts had yet to arrive at the Minister’s mansion.
Could it be that he had changed his mind?