Back in the manor, Mu Wan walked briskly to the Wutong Courtyard, ready to process the betrothal gifts sent by the Xie family.
“First, give me a plate of lychees, then send another plate each to Grandmother and Father. Yunling and Mushuang, you can share a plate with the girls. The rest should be chilled in the cellar to keep them fresh.”
The courtyard erupted in cheers. Lychees were a rare delicacy, enjoyed only by the wealthiest and the nobles.
Yunling moved quickly. Mu Wan sat peeling lychees, issuing instructions while enjoying the fruit. “Sort out the gifts intended for grandfather and grandmother first…”
In addition to the jeweled dagger she had prepared for her father, she added a few extra pieces of high-quality furs. For the Old Master, the extravagant Fire Liuli Spheres were replaced with several bolts of bright, high-quality fabric. She instructed Yunling to deliver the items with a message: “Granddaughter originally planned to send the Fire Liuli Spheres, but they’re too valuable. If some powerful people take a liking to the items and want them, refusing might cause offense, while giving them away would leave you feeling distressed. To save Grandfather from such heartache, this granddaughter sends you several bolts of fabric that are both beautiful and practical.”
Yunling stifled a laugh. “The old master’s going to be furious. He’ll definitely scold you, Miss.”
Mu Wan shrugged nonchalantly. “Let him. As long as he doesn’t scold me to my face, it’s fine.”
Yunling chuckled. “Oh, he wouldn’t dare.”
Popping another lychee into her mouth, Mu Wan closed her eyes in contentment—wielding someone else’s influence to ward off trouble feels very refreshing!
“By the way, what did they say about the wedding date?”
Amused by her eagerness, Yunling replied, “In ten days, Miss. It won’t be long.”
“Ten days…” Mu Wan reclined in her rocking chair under the grape trellis, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “If there are lychees, then surely they also have Nanzhou honey mandarins…”
Yunling burst into laughter.
…
In the third year of Yongzhen, the 28th day of the seventh month was deemed an auspicious day for marriage.
The Mu Manor on Bafang Street and the Zhenbei Marquis Manor on Qingyun Street were both decked out in festive decorations, bustling with excitement.
Early in the morning, Mu Wan was dragged out of bed, still half-asleep, her eyes barely able to open.
Her grandmother had come to help her prepare for the big day. Noticing Mu Wan still half-asleep, she gently placed a cold cloth on her face, instantly jolting her awake.
Mu Wan pouted. “Grandmother, why are you up so early?”
Old Madam Mu replied with a chuckle, “I wouldn’t be if it weren’t for your wedding today.” She shook her head, sighing. “And to think you slept so soundly…”
Most brides spent the night before their wedding wide awake with nerves, but not her granddaughter, who treated it like moving to a new house, declaring she needed her rest, then promptly falling into a deep, untroubled sleep.
The old madam had come to offer Mu Wan some advice about married life—a role that would’ve fallen to Xu Qinglan had she been alive, or to Shen-shi in her capacity as Mu Wan’s legal mother. Of course, by this point, no one trusted Shen-shi to properly handle Mu Wan’s affair, so Old Madam Mu decided to take on the task herself.
Beyond a few veiled comments about marital intimacy, she found there wasn’t much to teach. “In these matters, you’re very much like your mother—far more insightful than I am.”
She reminisced, “Just as you once told me: ‘What is the purpose of living, if not to find peace of mind? The struggles and hardships we endure are only for the hope of one day living freely. Other people’s opinions and expectations are irrelevant.’”
Old Madam Mu, too, had come from a merchant family. She was sharp and strong-willed, but her husband had preferred the gentle, cultured temperament of scholars’ daughters. For most of her life, she suppressed her personality to cater to his tastes, serving her in-laws, raising her children, and managing the household—only to still face his criticism.
That changed after Mu Wan moved back to Shangliu in mourning for Xu Qinglan. On a visit to the temple, a lecherous man accosted them. Her temper flared, and she fiercely confronted him, leaving him battered and humiliated. When she turned back, she met her granddaughter’s admiring gaze.
“Grandmother, you were so powerful!” The girl had said to her elderly grandmother. Then, she boasted everywhere, “My grandmother is strong and awesome! If anyone dares bully me, my grandmother will make them pay!”
The gentle and virtuous reputation Old Madam Mu had carefully maintained for decades was ruined in days. But for the first time, she felt an inexplicable sense of liberation, as though an invisible shackle had been broken.
Later, Mu Wan had made a remark that struck her like a thunderbolt: “If Grandfather likes gentle and cultured women, he should’ve married one. If he didn’t, that’s his own shortcoming—why blame anyone else?”
“It’s like liking orchids but bringing home an azalea, only to resent it for not being an orchid. Who’s the real fool here?”
Yes, why should she torment herself for someone else’s foolishness? She had always been an azalea, not an orchid.
Old Madam Mu now treasured her spirited eldest granddaughter above all and saw no reason to hold back. “Your grandfather prepared some things for Mu Rou, and I’ve prepared some for you. Let’s see who has more,” she said with a sly smile, opening a box. “I’ve run this household my entire life—does he really think he can outdo me?”
Mu Wan burst into laughter, causing her grandmother to laugh along. The old lady then cautioned, “Don’t put these items in your dowry list. If, by chance, Li Zhang-shi is right and the Xie family turns out to be a den of wolves, having hidden savings will give you an escape route.”
Finally, she added, “No matter the reason the Marquis married you, just live the life you want. Their family may have power and high status, but we don’t need those. If you’re unhappy, come back home. Your mother left her marriage once and lived far happier after.”
Mu Wan realized her grandmother must have heard some unpleasant rumors. Feeling deeply moved, she embraced her tightly. “Grandmother… you really are the best in the world.” In this era, it was rare for an elder to say such things.
The old lady chuckled, patting Mu Wan’s shoulder. “Of course I am. But if you can avoid it, don’t pursue a divorce. Being Marchioness Zhenbei isn’t such a bad deal.” Her eyes drifted toward Fushou Courtyard, clearly relishing how subdued her foolish husband had been lately.
The granddaughter and grandmother shared a knowing smile.
Why bother about the man? What truly matters is power. A woman should prioritize herself, flourishing as she desires, and living a life filled with radiance and brilliance.
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Cute strong women banding together. Also makes sense that she’s so favored. The grandad and the father are two peas in a pod 🙄 want demur ladies when they married focused minded women
Many thanks
I agree with the comment below!
Author, can you please upload the chapter a little bit quicker🙏🙏🙏