Chapter 16: Arrogant, A Family of Bandits

The Lotus Courtyard of the Marquis of Anding's Estate

The Lotus Courtyard was the residence of the Old Madam, named so because of the vast lotus pond behind the house. At this time of midwinter, the pond had already frozen over, covered in withered leaves, leaving the entire garden desolate.

This scene mirrored the current state of the Marquis of Anding's Estate. Without the Marquis's support, Mu Mingchong was a profligate wastrel, and Leng Rumei and the Old Madam's group of female relatives were merely pleasure-seekers. The estate had long since fallen into a deficit, reaching the point where they had to sell off land and property. Much like this winter desolation, its glory and splendor had long since vanished.

In the main hall of the Lotus Courtyard, the room was filled with people. The Old Madam lay flat on a soft couch, with Mu Mingchong and Leng Rumei sitting on either side. Below them sat the daughters in order: the eldest daughter Mu Xiaoqing, the fourth daughter Mu Xiaochun, and the sixth daughter Mu Xiaoqing.

"Mother, that wench Mu Qi wouldn't dare show her face, would she?" The speaker was Leng Rumei's fourth daughter, Mu Xiaochun, who had married the third young master of the Duke of Chen's estate as a second wife two years ago.

Mu Xiaochun bore a resemblance to Leng Rumei, with a peach-shaped face and almond eyes. Aside from her caustic way of speaking, she was quite pretty. Her hair was styled in a Hundred-Flower Bun, adorned with glittering gold hairpins and dangling tassels. She wore a peach-colored short jacket with hibiscus patterns and a matching pleated satin skirt scattered with floral designs. She exuded an air of nobility, but being only twenty years old, this style of dress made her look ten years older.

"She dares. Someone, go and tie the Seventh Miss up!" Leng Rumei had suffered a great loss at Mu Qi's hands. Not only did her hand still ache, but she had also been forced to watch her cousin be beaten to death. To make matters worse, she had just been scolded by the Master. Now that she had two daughters back at her maiden home to back her up, her tone had grown much harder. She didn't believe for a second that Mu Qi wouldn't even fear the Duke of Chen's estate.

Among the people in the room, everyone except Mu Xiaoqing—who sat by the side sipping tea in silence—wore expressions of resentment at the mention of Mu Qi. "Nanny Liu, take two people over there. If Mu Qi refuses to come, just bind her up." Relying on her good marriage and the great tree of the Duke of Chen's estate behind her, Mu Xiaochun felt no fear toward Mu Qi.

"Fourth Sister, two people aren't enough. Mu Qi has many experts around her." Hearing that they were going to kidnap Mu Qi, Mu Xiaoqing wished she could go along. She stood up quickly, hesitantly touching the gauze on her forehead. Thinking of those two imperial-bestowed cups, she still felt a lingering fear and sat back down sullenly.

Mu Xiaochun thought for a moment and said, "Take the guards brought from the Duke's estate as well. I'll go too. It's been two years since I've had to discipline that little wench Mu Qi, and she's turned the household upside down."

Mu Xiaochun stood up with a flourish of her sleeves, acting with the airs of a wealthy noblewoman. She was determined to trample Mu Qi back into the mud today. To think that a broken three-entry courtyard could be used to dismiss their entire family—Mu Qi certainly had some nerve.

By this time, Nanny Wu had already been standing at the entrance of the Li Courtyard for half an hour, her hands and feet frozen stiff. She had seen no sign of Qiaoyu. She had thought about forcing her way in, but every time she tried, she was blocked at the gate by fierce guards.

Nanny Wu was shivering from the cold but was helpless. Just as she was caught in a dilemma, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance. Overjoyed, she hurried to meet them, only to see the noble Fourth Young Mistress approaching with a troop of guards in a grand procession.

Nanny Wu rushed forward. "Fourth Young Mistress, you've finally arrived! The Seventh Miss has such a massive ego; this old servant has been waiting outside the gate for half an hour and hasn't seen her come out."

Mu Xiaochun looked at the two guards in green clothing at the entrance of the Li Courtyard and snorted coldly. "Does she think that by not coming out, I won't be able to do anything to her? Someone, go in and tie the Seventh Miss up for me!"

Nanny Wu had always served the Old Madam, and in this Marquis's estate, everyone looked up to her and addressed her respectfully as Auntie Wu. However, today at the Li Courtyard, she had not only been tricked by Qiaoyu but had also been repeatedly blocked by the two guards. She had been harboring a grudge, and now that the opportunity had arrived, how could she not take this chance for retaliation?

Pointing at the two guards, she said to Mu Xiaochun, "Fourth Young Mistress, it was these two servants who blocked this old servant from entering. Otherwise, I would have escorted the Seventh Miss over long ago."

"Drag these two servants down and beat them to death with canes." With a single, cold sentence, Mu Xiaochun decided their fate. This was not the first time she had executed a servant, nor would it be the last. In her eyes, the lives of these servants were as lowly as dogs; if they were an eyesore or no longer useful, she would simply order them executed.

The guards brought by Mu Xiaochun numbered fifty. They now surrounded the entrance of the Li Courtyard, some preparing to seize the green-clad guards at the gate, others preparing to charge inside.

Watching this formation, Nanny Wu felt a secret joy. With so many people, the Seventh Miss would surely be hauled out in no time. Like everyone else, she did not want the Seventh Miss to gain power; only if the household remained as it was could she continue to enjoy a life of comfort and respect alongside the Old Madam.

Just as everyone thought the Li Courtyard would be overwhelmed by numbers, a burst of wailing came from the center of the crowd. Immediately following, twenty green-clad guards emerged from the Li Courtyard. The man leading them had black hair, a short beard, and a tall, robust build that exuded a sharp, commanding presence.

This man was none other than the housekeeper, Mu Sang. Looking at the guards at the gate, he barked coldly, "Who is making such a racket here?"

Mu Xiaochun did not recognize Mu Sang, but seeing his attire, she knew he was a servant of the Marquis's estate. Thinking that a mere servant dared to reprimand her guards, she pulled a long face and said coldly, "Presumptuous! You don't even offer greetings when your masters arrive, yet you shout so loudly. Get lost!"

Mu Sang hated most of all how Mu Mingchong's family had monopolized the estate and bullied the young lady. Years ago, if it hadn't been because the young lady was too young and naive, and because he feared his own recklessness would ruin her reputation and the estate's name, he would not have been forced to comply with Mu Mingchong's wish to send her to the manor. If he had known Mu Mingchong's family were such trash, he would have driven these shameless wretches out of the estate long ago, rather than letting them torment the young lady for all these years.

Whenever he thought of the deathbed instructions from the Marquis and his wife, Mu Sang felt a dull, stabbing pain in his heart, as if he were being carved by a knife. The Marquis and his wife had entrusted the young lady to his care, yet he had nearly failed to protect her. If he hadn't maintained his composure, he truly wished he could hack these people to pieces one by one.

"Masters? A pack of bandits doesn't deserve such a title. Bah!" Mu Sang was a former soldier. Although he had reined in his temperament after becoming a housekeeper, he could not help but reveal his innate bandit-like grit when faced with such injustice. "Guard the door. If anyone dares to make a sound and disturb the young lady's rest, I'll sew their mouths shut!"

Bandits! Mu Xiaochun was so enraged that smoke practically rose from her head. Before she was married, everyone respected her as a daughter of the Marquis's estate, and after marriage, she was the Third Young Mistress of the Duke of Chen's estate. Such a status was noble even in the capital; when had anyone ever dared to insult her? To be called a bandit by a servant made Mu Xiaochun feel as if she were about to explode.

"You audacious dog! How dare you insult this Madam! Tie him up! Go! All of you, get him!" Mu Xiaochun's features contorted with rage, her hairpins shaking wildly as she pointed at Mu Sang, wishing she could poke him to death.

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