The momo raised her head slightly, regaining a bit of her courage now that Xie Heng had walked farther away. “Is Eldest Miss intentionally punishing this servant? Madam Xie is waiting for you, and yet you leave her hanging.”
Mu Wan sneered. That Eldest Madam Xie wanted to see her was unlikely. By tradition, neither the bride nor groom needed to show up during a marriage proposal. There were indeed such occasions, but only when both sides put a great importance. Mu Wan doubted the Marquis Manor would value her that much; otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent an ordinary official matchmaker.1 It was obvious that they were merely getting the formality done.
Most likely, Shen-shi, who loved to boast about her scholarly family background, felt intimidated by a genuine aristocratic lady and wanted to shift the attention onto Mu Wan to relieve the pressure. Perhaps she also wanted to see Mu Wan embarrass herself.
Knowing this, why should she go? She wasn’t stupid.
“His Lordship will explain my absence to Madam Xie later.” Mu Wan smiled gently at the momo. “But as for your offense against him… well, I wonder how the madam will handle it?”
The momo went pale in an instant. The reason she dared to mock Mu Wan so openly was because of the perfunctory attitude shown by the Zhenbei Marquis Manor today. So what if Mu Wan was going to marry high? Without the support of her husband’s family, a titular Marchioness would still pale in comparison to the sixth young madam of the Zhongyong Count Manor, who held actual power. But who had ever imagined that the Zhenbei Marquis would actually show up?!
The momo wracked her brain for a response. “The Marquis is watching, Eldest Miss. Aren’t you worried he’ll think you’re vengeful and petty—…”
“Save your futile attempt,” Mu Wan chuckled. “You offended the Marquis, yet you expect me to contradict him and let you off? What nerve you have to think the Marquis would tolerate being disrespected for the sake of a servant?”
Finally realizing she would gain nothing from Mu Wan, the momo quickly lowered herself and begged for forgiveness. “This servant knows her mistake. Please, Eldest Miss, have mercy.”
Mu Wan turned away and left. “If you know your mistake, then take your punishment. Stay there and kneel.”
Up ahead, Xiao Liu clicked his tongue. “Adapting pretty quickly, huh? She’s already using your authority to her advantage, my lord.” He paused and suddenly exclaimed, “Wait, was her pitiful act just now fake? Did we just get fooled?”
Xie Heng corrected him, “You got fooled.”
Xiao Liu was about to say more when he glanced ahead and blurted out, “It’s so lively here.”
Yunling, who followed behind the two, thought there was someone in the yard, so she hurried forward, “Who’s here? What’s going on?”
Hearing this, Xiao Liu hesitated, unsure how to describe it. While the courtyard was actually empty of people, it was also very full and lively.
It was evident that Mu Wan held a prominent position in the Mu family. Her Wutong Courtyard was as expansive as the residence occupied by the family head. The walls on three sides were covered in a variety of flowers, ranging from rare species to unnamed wild blooms. They grew densely but were arranged with such natural harmony that the entire courtyard exuded vibrant energy.
On the west side stood a pavilion, connected to the main house by a grape trellis. Small clusters of unripe grapes hung from the vines, hinting at the abundant harvest that would grace the trellis in the fall, a sight that would undoubtedly evoke a sense of fulfillment.
In the southeastern corner was a modest fish pond with a meter-tall waterwheel. Unlike the usual bamboo figurines turning the wheel, this one was shaped like a plump cat. Its front paws pushed the wheel, but its head was turned toward the pond, its face painted with such a lifelike, comical expression of exaggerated greed.
In the shaded northern section, a small herb garden was neatly planted, and beside it stood a uniquely designed swing, shaped like an eggshell. The swing was cushioned with soft padding and scattered with pillows, just looking at it made one imagine how comfortable it must be to lie there.
Xiao Liu paused for a moment and commented, “Your Eldest Miss sure knows how to live a lively life on her own.” Clearly, the reputation of Mu Wan’s love for leisure and entertainment wasn’t undeserved.
Xie Heng gave the courtyard a brief glance before getting straight to the point. “I need to confirm something with you about the Ox and Horse Token.”
Mu Wan was stunned. “What about the token?”
Xie Heng explained, “The Ox and Horse Token was originally used by the frontier army for transporting grain and supplies. However, during the Battle of Lan City three years ago, some supplies were stolen, and three tokens went missing.”
Mu Wan’s expression grew serious. The Battle of Lan City was a direct result of the internal power conflict in the court. One reason the Xie Army’s elite soldiers were utterly defeated was the sudden depletion of supplies. When Xie Heng returned to the capital after that event, it had been a storm of blood and fury. Mu Wan had assumed he had already uncovered everything, but it seemed there was more to it.
“I need to confirm whether the token in your possession truly belonged to your mother. If it did, did she know anything about it? Did she leave behind any clues?”
Mu Wan didn’t hesitate. “Please wait a moment.”
She returned to her room and retrieved a small sandalwood box from a hidden compartment by her bedside. As she held the box close to her chest, a sudden wave of emotion overcame her, and her eyes blurred uncontrollably. It had been three years since her mother, who had doted on her endlessly, had passed away.
After composing herself, Mu Wan carried the box outside and invited Xie Heng and Xiao Liu to sit in the pavilion. Opening the box, she handed over a dark iron token, about the size of half a palm, to Xie Heng.
“I’ve only seen this token twice,” Mu Wan began. “The first time was when I was thirteen. My mother had just returned from Lan City, and we were sleeping together.” Her gaze dropped to the bracelet on her wrist. “It was our habit—every time she came back from a long trip, we’d sleep together for two nights.”
“That night, while cuddling with her, I felt something hard pressing against me. I found this token on her. She told me it was a reward from the Duke for her contributions in presenting the design for the wooden ox and flowing horse mechanism. His Lordship said she could use it to request his help three times if she ever faced difficulties.”
“The second time I saw it was three years ago, when it was delivered to me along with the other items she’d prepared for me as keepsakes.”
Xie Heng asked, “What other items were included with her keepsakes?”
Mu Wan shifted her gaze from her bracelet and smiled faintly. “There were many. This filigree bracelet I’m wearing, trinkets from the curio cabinet, storybooks, fine fabrics, rare materials… My mother had a habit of bringing me good or interesting things she came across while traveling. Altogether, there were several large chests of them, and this Ox and Horse Token was tucked inside one of the boxes holding storybooks.” She paused, her smile deepening slightly. “If there was anything special, it would be the letter she addressed to me.”
That letter… must be a farewell letter. Xiao Liu murmured internally. Before departing for a dangerous mission, it was common to write a letter addressed to their loved ones. Such letters often contained vital clues.
He opened his mouth to say something but stopped short. Although Eldest Miss Mu had been smiling the entire time, yet for some reason, it stirred a sense of melancholy. This sadness was entirely different from her earlier feigned grievances—it felt raw and real.
Unlike Xiao Liu, Xie Heng was unfeeling and pragmatic enough to directly address the matter, “May I take a look at the letter?”
Mu Wan took the letter from the box and handed it to him. Xie Heng read it carefully. The letter wasn’t long, and the tone was light and humorous. When he reached the concluding line, “Your mother has fulfilled her dreams in life and can die without regrets. I only hope you can also achieve your dreams, so that one day, after a long and fulfilling life, you can join me in the afterlife, and we can reunite in joy as mother and daughter.”
Xie Heng asked, “What was Lady Xu’s dream?”
Mu Wan’s eyes gleamed with a faint smile. “To be a great hero who saves the common people and earns a place in history.”
Noticing Xiao Liu’s startled expression, Mu Wan chuckled. “Surprising, isn’t it? But that was truly her dream. Her favorite book was The Legend of Ying Hao.”
Ying Hao was a renowned female hero of the previous dynasty, revered and celebrated for her achievements.
“That’s why, even during the chaos in the court, she risked her life to deliver supplies to the frontier army, and ultimately died protecting them.”
For once, Xie Heng remained silent. Xiao Liu quietly murmured, “Our condolences.”
Mu Wan smiled brightly, almost nonchalantly. “It’s not so bad, really. Just as she wrote in her letter, her life was fulfilling. She had watched the lone smoke of the desert and the vast waves of the deep seas. She loved, she hated, she lived freely. And she had me, her beautiful and charming daughter. In the end, she died for her dream. ‘To exhaust my efforts and fail to reach my goal—I have no regrets.’“
“Her only lingering concern was me.”
Xie Heng asked another question, “What is your dream?”
Without hesitation, Mu Wan replied, “To live a long, leisurely life enjoying fine food, fine drinks, and fine entertainment. Basically, to be a happy idler.”
Xie Heng: “…”
< Previous | TOC | Advanced TOC | Next >
Wants more chapters?
Click this page for the status of sponsored chapters.
Click this page for advanced chapters TOC.
- In China, matchmaking was, and is, a job, because a matchmaker would be given a monetary ‘gift’ for a successful match. But sometimes, you can get someone with a high reputation to act as a matchmaker, which signifies an honor. It’s similar to the practice of getting a society matron to act as a young woman’s chaperone instead of a hired governess.
Thank you for the chapter
I want to be a happy idler too Mu Wan, it’s a nice dream 😊