Mu Wan was naturally in a very good mood. After going to the Yueheng Courtyard and tattling about Xie Heng’s sudden absence, the Princess was indeed both speechless and annoyed. “How could Sanlang be like this?”
Then she explained to Mu Wan, “He’s the Commander of the Mingjing Bureau. Many of his duties involve classified matters, so he always acts in secrecy. We often only find out he’s not around when we go looking for him. He’s not just like this with you.”
Mu Wan was very ‘understanding,’ “This daughter-in-law understands. Mother, you need not worry. Ping’an was able to tell me the specific date of the Marquis’s return, so it must not be a dangerous mission.”
Seeing that Mu Wan was even comforting her, the Princess felt even more that this new daughter-in-law of hers was a very considerate and sensible girl, which only deepened her own sense of guilt.
Mu Wan then pouted, complaining coquettishly, “But His Lordship’s sudden departure did make me sad. Mother, your daughter-in-law will only be cheered up with a plate of lychees.”
The Princess was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. “What a little glutton.” She then instructed Gu Momo, “Go get a basket of lychees from the cellar.”
Mu Wan’s eyes lit up instantly, “Mother, you’re so generous!”
What kind of compliment is that… the Princess looked at her expectant expression and, for some reason, felt a wave of satisfaction in her heart. She then asked her, “What else do you want to eat?”
Mu Wan blurted out, “Cheese.” Then she seized the moment to complain, “Mother, you have no idea how outrageous your son was. When the kitchen made cheese, it was absolutely delicious, so after I had two pieces, I saved four to bring here so we could enjoy them together. But then His Lordship returned and ate every last one!”
Even now, thinking about it made her angry!
The Princess was thoroughly amused. The last time she’d received this kind of complaint was from her granddaughters, back when they were little. She said helplessly, “Alright, I’ll have the kitchen make more cheese for you tomorrow.”
Mu Wan immediately lit up with joy. “Mother, you’re the best.”
Seeing her like that, the Princess suddenly felt as if she had another little daughter to raise.
In the end, Mu Wan left the Yueheng Courtyard contentedly, carrying a whole basket of lychees. Only then did the Princess remember she hadn’t yet told her how to handle the return visit to her natal home the day after tomorrow.
Even when going to bed, she couldn’t help but murmur to herself, “I’d just thought she was smart and capable, but now she really does seem like a little cat—when she sees something tasty, she forgets everything else. What a girl!”
Gu Momo smiled gently in response. The Grand Eldest Princess and the late Duke of Zhenguo were a loving couple, and their children were all well-behaved and sensible. Her only daughter, who married into the palace and eventually became an empress, had been bright and considerate since childhood. Her three sons all went to war at a young age. Probably out of concern for their mother, they always reported good news and hid the bad. Blessed with such great children, the Princess did not know what it was like to fret over somebody. Eventually… there was simply nothing left for her to fret about.
But now, she had gained a bold daughter-in-law who seized every opportunity to behave coquettishly.
Just as Gu Momo had finished letting down the bed curtain for the Princess, she heard her speak again. “I remember Chef Niu’s specialty is crystal cake? Have him make an extra portion tomorrow.”
Gu Momo chuckled. “Got it.”
So the next morning, Mu Wan got to enjoy even more delicious crystal cake at Yueheng Courtyard, so moved she was on the verge of tears. “It’s too good. Thank you, my lord.”
The Princess almost laughed out loud at her antics, “Why thank him? Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”
Mu Wan replied solemnly, “When drinking water, one must remember who dug the well. Without His Lordship, how could I have met Mother? I’m thanking him for giving me such a wonderful mother-in-law.”
The Princess was thoroughly amused, shaking her head. “That mouth of yours…”
Gu Momo laughed along too—this madam does have one sweet tongue.
When First Madam Xie arrived, she walked in just in time to see this mother-daughter-like scene. The Princess still had a smile on her face and said to her, “Ah, you’re here? Come in.”
The first madam smiled. “What were you and third sister-in-law talking about, Mother? You seem so happy.”
The Princess smiled, “This little glutton has been eating my food and sweet-talking me.” Then she got to the real reason she’d called her eldest daughter-in-law. “I asked you here to discuss her return to her natal home tomorrow.”
The first madam replied, “Don’t worry, Mother. A bride’s first return is a very important event. I’ve prepared everything; all the return gifts are also ready.”
“I know you’re always thorough,” the Princess sighed. “It’s just that Sanlang won’t be around to accompany A’Wan, and I’m afraid people will gossip again. Make the gifts extra generous.” Then she turned to Mu Wan. “How many members are there in your family? Will there be other relatives? Tell your sister-in-law so she can be prepared.”
The meaning was clear: the gifts weren’t just to be given according to custom, but tailored to each recipient’s preferences. Seeing how in just ten days, the Princess had come to value Mu Wan this much. First Madam Xie reassessed her third sister-in-law once more.
Mu Wan felt a bit embarrassed. “Sorry to trouble you, Sister-in-law.” But in her heart, she was already thinking: ‘This is the CFO who holds the family purse strings—I need to find an opportunity to get on her good side and hold onto that golden thigh!
On the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, Mu Wan went straight to the Yueheng Courtyard in the morning to mooch another meal. Yunling was a bit worried, “Didn’t the Marquis say the Princess likes peace and quiet? Is it appropriate for us to keep going there like this?”
Mu Wan casually picked a flower and tucked it into her hair. “If she truly liked peace and quiet, she wouldn’t live in this manor.” As an imperial princess, the Grand Eldest Princess also had her own official manor, where she could stay if she truly wished for quietness.
Sure enough, when the Princess saw Mu Wan coming, she looked helpless but amused. “Looks like I’ve been stuck with you, little glutton cat.”
Mu Wan grinned. “There’s no way! Mother has too much good food here, I don’t want to miss any!”
And today there indeed were new dishes. Seeing Mu Wan eat so contentedly, the Princess’ appetite improved and she took more bites than usual. After the meal, Mu Wan quickly pulled her into doing a set of Five Animal Exercises1 to help with digestion.
During the session, she expressed her goal to ‘live a long life,’ and took this opportunity to air another grievance, “His Lordship actually said I was fat!” she complained angrily. “I may eat a lot, but I exercise too!”
The Princess was both surprised and amused. She hadn’t expected her youngest son to have such a mischievous side.
Once the exercises were done, it was almost time to go. Mu Wan tidied herself and got ready to leave, and the Princess directly ordered Gu Momo to come along, showing her support and favor.
Mu Wan was flattered. “Mother, one of your servant girls would’ve been enough. Gu Momo should stay by your side.”
The Princess did not listen, “She’ll come right back after greetings your family. It’s just two hours—I’m not so old and helpless yet.”
Once again, Mu Wan felt the Princess was truly wonderful—far more reliable than Xie Heng. From now on, she will be her greatest support!
After Mu Wan left, the Princess suddenly felt the room was incredibly empty and couldn’t help murmuring, “How is it that she alone makes more noise than ten people?” After thinking for a moment, she sent her personal servant girl Yaohuang to fetch her grandchildren to come play.
…
Meanwhile at the Mu Manor, the family members had all, without prior agreement, gathered at the Fushou Court early in the morning. After breakfast, they repeatedly cast glances toward the gate. Regardless of their individual feelings, each of them was deeply concerned about how Mu Wan was doing in the Xie family.
Mu Zehai muttered, “I wonder if those rumors out there are true. Will the Marquis even show up today?”
Mu Xingde glared at his son. “If you can’t speak properly, shut up!”
But in his heart, he couldn’t help worrying either. He also suspected those rumors might be true—after all, there was no real reason why Marquis Zhenbei would be interested in Mu Wan.
Even though he, as the new father-in-law of the feared Marquis Zhenbei, had been treated with more courtesy lately, Mu Xingde remained uneasy. He wasn’t worried that Mu Wan would live poorly—on the contrary, he was worried she might stir up trouble in the Xie family on her quest to live a good life, dragging the Mu family down with her. After all, no one knew better than he did what kind of dangerous woman his eldest daughter really was. This was a girl bold enough to consider killing the empress dowager’s younger brother.
Seeing her father’s anxious face, Mu Rou thought he was upset about not being able to climb high through this marriage. She couldn’t help but smirk, knowing very well that his lofty ambitions were destined to come to nothing.
She was certain the rumors were true. She had previously puzzled why this marriage fell to Mu Wan, but upon hearing the gossip, everything suddenly clicked. Even though Mu Wan and Miss Xu didn’t look alike, there were too many coincidental similarities—Mu Wan, just like Third Miss Jiang from her previous life, was merely a stand-in for Miss Xu. That meant her treatment wouldn’t be much different, either.
Third Miss Jiang had returned to her family home alone. Mu Rou didn’t remember it due to a sharp memory, but because, back then, she was confined within the lonely palace. Surrounded by endless rules, restrictions, and hidden dangers, even speaking freely was a luxury, and her only joy came from hearing fresh gossip from the outside world. The tale of the prestigious Marquis Zhenbei taking a low-born woman as his main wife had been the year’s hottest topic, and even the women deep within the palace walls eagerly followed every rumor.
Actually, besides Third Miss Jiang, Mu Wan had also returned home alone in that previous life. It was talked about at the time, but later she became the wife of the Senior Grand Secretary and earned widespread respect, so no one dared to mention it again.
But Mu Rou remembered it clearly, because it had been her darkest time. And the reason Mu Wan returned alone was because Li Yichen had never really let go of his feelings for her.
Looking back now, Mu Rou suspected that in her previous life, Li Yichen might not have even consummated the marriage with Mu Wan. She distinctly remembered that the day before Mu Wan’s return visit, the Empress Dowager had assigned Li Yichen to disaster relief in Minzhou. It wasn’t an urgent task, and as a newlywed, he could’ve pleaded for a day’s delay—but he chose to leave exactly on the day Mu Wan returned home.
When Mu Rou learned of this, the tight knot of anxiety in her heart finally loosened. Knowing that, despite the grave mistake she had made in choosing her path, there was still a place waiting for her brought her a deep sense of comfort and relief.
And that was indeed how things turned out. Even though she and the other concubines were banished to the imperial tomb after the emperor’s death, Li Yichen secretly brought her out and let her live out her days in peace.
But as for Mu Wan… who knew what curse she was under? She married two men in two lifetimes, and both hearts were already taken. At least Li Yichen had a sense of duty. Even if he didn’t love Mu Wan, he treated her as his proper wife, allowing Mu Wan to enjoy every prestige and wealth that comes with the title of the Senior Grand Secretary’s wife. Xie Heng, on the other hand… was a whole different beast.
Thinking back to the gossip that had swirled after Third Miss Jiang’s return visit, Mu Rou felt a flicker of excitement. In truth, she was genuinely looking forward to Mu Wan’s return today.
At the hour of snake (around 9 am), a servant came rushing in, breathless as he delivered the announcement. “She… she’s here! Eldest Miss—no, Eldest Lady has returned!!”
Everyone in the Fushou Hall stood up simultaneously. Mu Xingde quickly led Mu Zehai and other sons toward the front gate, while Shen-Shi brought the daughters to wait at the second gate. The Old Madam held onto the overly-excited Old Master as they waited in the Fushou Courtyard.
On Bafang Street, a luxurious carriage slowly stopped at the Mu family gate. Two elegant maids in luxurious purple stepped out from the carriage. The coachman placed down the footstool. One servant girl lifted the curtain, and the other extended an arm. A delicate hand reached out and rested upon it. Only then did the owner of the hand gracefully step out and reveal her face.
It was Mu Wan.
Mu Xingde snapped out of his awe at the grand display put on by the Zhenbei Marquis Manor. His heart sank when realizing Xie Heng’s absence.
Meanwhile, Mu Rou curled her lips as she listened to the grandeur outside. As expected, Marquis Zhenbei didn’t show up!
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Author’s Note:
Mu Xingde: It’s over. Xie Heng loves another woman. Mu Wan is going to stir up trouble!
Mu Rou: Haha! Xie Heng’s heart was taken. Mu Wan’s going to end up in tears!
Mu Wan: With my mother-in-law’s backing, let’s put on a grand show~
Translator’s Note:
I messed up with the scheduled post last week >_<
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Who needs romance! Not that I don’t look forward to it but I love these cute chapters so much haha! The princess is best, he can come later or not as he pleases.