If Xie Heng was accompanying Mu Wan, he should have been the first to get off the carriage. Mu Xingde stared intently at Mu Wan, trying to catch any early signs or clues to prepare himself—even just mentally would help.
He saw his daughter with her hair in a high peony knot, adorned with ruby hairpieces, wearing a crimson, gold-threaded long dress embroidered with butterflies frolicking among flowers. With her hand resting lightly on a servant girl’s arm, she descended gracefully—elegant, noble, dazzlingly radiant.
Mu Wan came to a stop before him, and then an elderly momo, kindly in appearance but possessing a regal presence, stepped forward from the second carriage. Four other servant girls followed in front and behind, all dressed elegantly, surrounding Mu Wan in perfect formation as they all bowed together.
“Daughter greets Father.”
For a moment, Mu Xingde nearly forgot his worry. Another thought crept up instead: Is this refined, noble-looking girl really my daughter?
Only when his son tugged on his sleeve did Mu Xingde snap out of his stupor. Quickly raising his hand to help Mu Wan up, he said, “No need for formalities—come, let Father take a look at you.”
But in his heart, he was thinking, No wonder everyone wants to rise to the top—this kind of prestige is intoxicating!
Then he remembered his original concerns and examined Mu Wan closely. Yes, it was indeed his bold, ruthless daughter. Seeing her rosy complexion and bright eyes, his worry eased a little—it looked like she was living well enough. Still, he didn’t dare fully relax. There had been precedent—just a few months ago she had smiled sweetly before catching him off guard with a ruthless move that left him mentally drained for over ten days.
He figured it was best to leave any further probing to his mother. With that in mind, he said, “Your husband’s family certainly raises its members well,” as he guided her through the second gate. “Your grandmother has been looking forward to your return all morning.”
Mu Wan’s smile grew more genuine.
Upon reaching the second gate, she was greeted by Shen-shi, Mu Rou, and several other concubine-born sisters. They exchanged formal pleasantries with even greater courtesy.
Although Shen-shi was stationed at the second gate, news that Xie Heng hadn’t returned with Mu Wan had already been delivered by a servant. She had been thinking about how to steer the conversation in that direction when Mu Wan finally arrived, looking like a moon surrounded by stars in her regalia. She stopped before Shen-shi, politely calling “Madam,” leaving the latter completely speechless. Unable to find her words, Shen-shi could only return the greeting with equal formality, not daring to say another word.
‘So this is what it meant to be the marchioness! Even a wild girl could transform so thoroughly that no one dared to offend her!’ Shen-shi couldn’t help glancing at her own poised and composed daughter, feeling a surge of bitterness. If my Rou’er had married the Marquis instead, surely she would’ve done even better than Mu Wan!
Compared to the stiff reaction shown by her mother and half-sisters, Mu Rou was much more at ease—she, after all, had once experienced grander occasions.
‘Besides’, she sneered internally, ‘is it truly grandiose?’
The procession then made its way to Fushou Hall. Walking behind Mu Wan and Shen-shi, Mu Rou’s eyes fell on the elderly momo at Mu Wan’s side. The woman had a steady build and a calm, gracious manner, yet carried an air of quiet authority that naturally commanded caution. Mu Rou realized this must be the rumored wet nurse of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
She lowered her eyes, silently anticipating the spectacle this overbearing woman would put on in front of the family today.
In her previous life, when Third Miss Jiang visited home after her wedding, her entrance had been equally magnificent—luxury carriage, fine horses, servants clearing the way, the pomp so great that even her parents sat below her in accordance with rank, with only her elderly grandparents being exempted from the rules.
But afterward, it caused quite a bit of ridicule. Though it was technically proper for her, Marchioness Zhenbei, to outrank her parents, people weren’t without feelings. With filial piety first, how could everything be governed solely by protocol? In the end, the newly-wed Marchioness Zhenbei gained a reputation for being frivolous and arrogant.
Mu Rou had once believed that Third Miss Jiang was a fortunate girl who had risen like a phoenix—her beginnings may have been shaky, but her status as Marchioness Zhenbei was unquestionable. It wasn’t until the Mid-Autumn banquet at the palace, when some loose tongues let slip the truth, that she learned this illustrious marchioness was, in fact, living under the strict control of the marquis’s formidable wet nurse.
It was a classic case of a servant bullying the master.
And there was no way around it. A low-born, newlywed wife couldn’t possibly compete with a wet nurse who had devoted half her life to the family—and whose husband and son had both died in its service.
Mu Rou had been quite curious to see how Third Miss Jiang would navigate the situation. Later, she heard that Marchioness Zhenbei had become such a stickler for etiquette and propriety that even the wet nurse was left in the dust.
What became of that wet nurse, Mu Rou didn’t know, but clearly, Third Miss Jiang had used even stricter decorum to crush her.
That was the case for her previous life. Now that Third Miss Jiang had been supplanted by Mu Wan, Mu Rou believed that her elder sister lacked such iron conviction.
And even if she did, it would take time—ten days was not enough to deal with someone as formidable as the wet nurse.
In short, there was bound to be some good drama today.
With a light step, Mu Rou followed Mu Wan into the Fushou Courtyard. Grandiose display? More like a chain of rules binding her!
…
When Mu Wan saw her grandmother sitting at the head of the room, her eyes lit up with joy. She called cheerfully, “Grandmother, Grandfather.”
Old Master Mu gave a reserved nod, his eyes darting toward the doorway. The Old Madam, however, disregarded decorum, reached out to pull Mu Wan close, and said with barely restrained emotion, “My dear Wanwan!”
Mu Rou immediately turned her gaze to the “wet nurse.” According to protocol, the Old Madam ought to address Mu Wan by her proper title. If she was corrected on such an occasion, it would make Mu Wan’s lofty title a laughingstock.
Yet even after waiting a while, the wet nurse remained silent. She stood poised, looking at Mu Wan with a gentle, composed smile.
Mu Rou was puzzled—what’s going on?
Mu Wan had no idea what schemes Mu Rou was entertaining—nor would she have cared. She bowed gracefully to her grandparents, a bright smile on her face. “Wanwan greets Grandmother and Grandfather.”
The Old Madam quickly pulled her up. “Good child, let Grandmother take a look at you.”
The Old Master stroked his goatee and opened with a rebuke, “Why have you come back alone? Did you offend the Marquis?”
What kind of question is that?! The Old Madam wanted to kick this old bastard on the spot. But with the Xie family people present, she had to suppress her temper and smile instead. “Wanwan has a good temperament—how could she offend the Marquis without cause? Don’t you know your own granddaughter?”
Her words made the Old Master chuckle. Mu Wan? A good temperament? If she’s good-tempered, then there are no ill-tempered girls in the world! At the same time, he also wronged—Isn’t the Marquis’s absence a clear sign of dissatisfaction? If I scolded Mu Wan now, that would give a good impression to the Xie family!
Mu Wan ignored the Old Master and instead tugged on her grandmother’s hand with a smile. “The Marquis was dispatched on an official mission. He left several days ago and won’t return for another week or so. My return visit couldn’t wait, and I certainly couldn’t go to the Empress Dowager and ask for his early return—so I could only do this visit on my own.”
She was open and cheerful, her tone light and humorous, her expression free of any resentment, instantly making the matter seem like no big deal.
Then she smiled sweetly at the Old Master. “When His Lordship returns, shall I have him come personally to apologize to Grandfather?”
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