Mu Xingde finally gave Mu Wan a careful, scrutinizing look. Despite the magnitude of the problem she had caused, the girl remained calm and composed, showing not a hint of anxiety. Even his son, the heir he had trained so meticulously, didn’t have this kind of courage to confront him.
Mu Wan picked up the teapot, refilled Mu Xingde’s cup, and said with a pleasant smile, “Father, have you thought about what might happen to the Mu family if Lord Wu actually took me away—and I ended up killing him in a moment of desperation?”
“Killing him…” Mu Xingde’s heart began to pound. What kind of young lady could speak so casually about killing someone—especially someone as untouchable as State Uncle Wu?
Mu Wan raised her hand, and a short arrow shot from her sleeve, embedding itself sharply into the wooden window frame. Seeing her father’s astonishment, her smile deepened. “Father, you know I’ve always valued my life, right? That’s why Mother prepared many self-defense tools to protect me.” As she spoke, she removed the hairpin from her hair, gave it a light twist, and a long steel needle emerged, its tip gleaming sharply.
Mu Xingde swallowed unconsciously as he looked at the faint blue glint on the needle. Okay, he now believed her. His daughter truly was capable of killing even the State Uncle!
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Mu Xingde softened his tone. “Wanwan, you’re overthinking this. Father would never do such a thing. Even a tiger doesn’t harm its cubs. Even if I was blinded by greed, I’d never stoop so low as to destroy my own daughter.”
Mu Wan’s response was nonchalant, “I know it wasn’t you, but it was Mu Rou who planned this. As you said, a daughter relies on her natal family and her husband’s family for support. But if a daughter commits a grave offense, can her family avoid being implicated? As her father, can you really stay uninvolved? This applies to me, and it applies to Mu Rou, too.”
Mu Xingde was speechless. His first reaction wasn’t shock that Mu Rou had done such a thing; deep down, he subconsciously knew that the greatest beneficiaries of Mu Wan entering the palace would be Shen-shi and her daughter. What surprised him was how Mu Wan had handled the matter.
At that moment, he finally realized his eldest daughter possessed more than just smart. She had been schemed so grandly, yet chose not to reveal anything to Shen-shi or Mu Rou despite knowing the truth. Instead, she sought to address it directly at its source—him. This was a mindset of long-term perspective over short-term gain, a vision that often requires years of hardship to cultivate. Many might never achieve it in a lifetime, yet here was a girl, barely seventeen, who already had it.
Being a shrewd merchant, Mu Xingde quickly shifted his approach upon recognizing Mu Wan’s capabilities. Abandoning his perfunctory attempts to placate her, he shifted his attitude to negotiation. “What do you want?”
Mu Wan had a ready answer, “I’m not entering the palace.”
“Fine!” Compared with the hesitation he’d shown when facing Shen-shi’s persistent nagging, this time Mu Xingde agreed without a second thought. He had just witnessed the lethality of Mu Wan’s action—merely contemplating sending her to the palace had led her to threaten to destroy the family’s main business. If things didn’t go her way, he feared that within a few months, the entire Mu family and their nine extended relations might be exterminated.1 While Mu Wan might have been bluffing, Mu Xingde dared not gamble. After all, the pawning of the Cangzhen Pavilion deed was real, and the accessories she wore were indeed laced with poison.
Mu Wan continued, “And about breaking off the engagement with the Li family—I’ll handle it.”
Mu Xingde paused, surprised. “You want to break the engagement?”
Mu Wan gave him a mocking look. “Didn’t Father tell me that a forced melon is never sweet? You also believe that Second Sister’s marriage to the Li family would be the most beneficial for the Mu family, don’t you?”
Mu Xingde looked embarrassed. “Father was wrong before. If you still want this marriage, Father will support you.”
“No need,” Mu Wan said nonchalantly. “Since Second Sister takes fancy of my marriage contract, let her have it.” With a high-sounding manner, she continued, “I may be uncultured, but I do know that internal strifes weaken a family. Countless families have declined from infighting among siblings.”
“Two sisters competing for the same husband would not only make the entire Mu family a laughingstock, but if we start harboring grudges, Father, you might end up with no one to rely on in the end.”
In contrast to Shen-shi’s relentless schemes to seize her stepdaughter’s engagement, Mu Wan’s magnanimity left a much better impression on Mu Xingde. “The engagement was yours to begin with. Leave your Second Sister to Father—I’ll handle her,” he replied, this time with genuine sincerity. As a man, he knew that affection alone could only hold someone for a time. Lasting stability, in the end, requires skill and capability.
Take Xu Qinglan, for instance—although he often found her domineering attitude unpleasant, he couldn’t deny her charisma and respected her deeply. If she encountered a serious crisis, he would readily help. As a man, he disliked being controlled by a woman, but as a father, he hoped his daughter could have a tight lash at his future son-in-law. This incident alone showed him that Mu Wan had the potential to establish a firm foothold in the Li family, even more than Mu Rou.
Seeing through his internal calculation, Mu Wan chuckled slightly. She made no comment on her father’s sudden cooperativeness and simply reminded him, “Father, I suggest you keep this matter to yourself and share it with no one, especially not Madam or Second Sister.”
“Why is that?” Mu Xingde asked.
Mu Wan countered, “Father, why do you think the Li family has kept this engagement intact even after rising in status?”
Mu Xingde replied, “Reputation matters greatly among high-ranking families. They’ve only just gained influence and don’t want to risk mockery, so of course they’d be hesitant to break off the marriage contract.”
“High-ranking families care about their reputation, but do you think ordinary people don’t? Merchant families are already facing disadvantages in the marriage market. If we’re the ones to break the contract first, swapping the promised bride from me to my younger sister, what would people say about us?”
Of course, nothing good. People would mock the Mu family’s eldest daughter for being unworthy of Li Yichen, and the second daughter for seducing her sister’s fiancé. In the end, Li Yichen might gain a temporary reputation for being unfaithful, but for the Mu daughters, the impact would be severe. Even for Mu Rou, who stands to benefit the most, a reputation as a temptress would leave her looked down upon by the Li family. Even if she firmly grasps Li Yichen’s support, there are places a man’s influence can’t reach, and she’d be isolated at every step.
“So let the Li family take the initiative. Since Li Yichen loves my younger sister, let him step forward and ask for the change himself,” Mu Wan said. “A man should be willing to shoulder responsibility for the woman he loves, shouldn’t he?”
Mu Xingde detected the trace of scorn in her tone and vaguely sensed that the so-called maintaining family harmony was just an excuse, and that she actually looked down on Li Yichen.
But he understood her reasoning. If it was Li Yichen who pushed for the change, then the Li family would be at fault. Not only could Mu Wan demand compensation, but Mu Rou could also feign reluctance. If Li Yichen persisted, then Mu Rou wouldn’t become a scheming woman who seduced her sister’s fiance, but a reluctant third party that Li Yichen had pursued relentlessly. This way, she would gain a better reputation and respect.
This solution would be ideal for the Mu family, with no downside in sight. Li Yichen might bear a slight blemish on his reputation, but that was trivial compared to the damage a similar accusation would cause a woman. After all, it was Li Yichen who wanted the change in the first place.
Seeing Mu Xingde’s gleaming eyes, Mu Wan knew he understood her plan and cautioned, “So, Father, you must insist that I won’t end the engagement, and don’t share this with Madam or Second Sister. If they lose their composure and the Li family catches wind, we’ll lose the advantage.”
Mu Xingde nodded. With Mu Wan as a comparison, Shen-shi and Mu Rou’s petty schemes were totally amateurish.
“But what if Li Yichen can’t handle the pressure and doesn’t break off the engagement?”
Mu Wan was unfazed, “That’s precisely why you shouldn’t tell Madam or Second Sister. They’ll come up with something.”
“…” Mu Xingde paused. For some inexplicable reason, he had a feeling that even if Shen-shi and Mu Rou succeeded in getting Li Yichen to act, it would still leave him with a headache.
“After the engagement with the Li family ends, what about your future marriage?” Mu Xingde asked, this time with genuine concern. Such a capable daughter deserved a good match.
He began reviewing possible candidates in his mind, realizing that those he’d prepared for Mu Rou now seemed insufficient. In the end, the Li family still stood out as the best, especially with their rising status and the fondness of Old Madam Li for Mu Wan.
He started to regret letting Shen-shi and Mu Rou push things so far.
Mu Wan did not care about her father’s internal struggle, but since he had taken the initiative to bring up her marriage, she seized the opportunity to strengthen her position. “No need to rush, Father. Didn’t you mention issues with the northern suppliers? I can help resolve that. As long as I’m not married, everything I earn belongs to the Mu family, but once I marry, those earnings will become part of my dowry. Since Zehai is still studying and doesn’t have the time, I could help you manage the business.”
“…” Once again, Mu Xingde was left speechless by Mu Wan’s bold remark. Mu Zehai was Shen-shi’s son, three years younger than Mu Wan. Since Shen-shi allowed her daughter to snatch Mu Wan’s engagement, Mu Wan had no qualms about taking over the family business her son was set to inherit.
Mu Wan smiled sweetly, adding, “Just take your time finding me a suitable match, Father. If no one suitable turns up, I’ll stay at home to assist you.”
Now, Mu Xingde truly regretted allowing himself to be swayed by Shen-shi’s sweet whispers. What kind of big trouble had he unleashed upon himself?
In order to express his fatherly affection, Mu Xingde forced himself to chat with Mu Wan a bit longer. She, in turn, retracted her fangs and became the carefree, fun-loving daughter who only knew to be idle all day long.
When the mood felt right, Mu Xingde said, “Father has some matters to attend to. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Mu Wan replied warmly, “Thank you, Father.”
Mu Xingde asked tentatively, “So, about the deed to the Cangzhen Pavilion…”
Mu Wan replied with a firm smile, “I’d appreciate it if you could redeem it for me, Father.”
Mu Xingde stifled his irritation. He knew he’d have to pay a substantial price to redeem the deed, but he dared not lash out, fearing an even steeper cost if he did.
After Mu Xingde left, Mu Wan was in a good mood.
Yunling asked curiously, “Miss, why did you soften up to the master?”
Mu Wan patiently explained, “What softening? Speaking gently while acting firmly is what matters. Father was right about one thing: for a young woman to establish herself, she needs her family’s support. Besides, both breaking off the engagement and securing a future marriage will require his involvement. It’s better if he’s willing rather than coerced.”
“As for the business my mother left me—the Mu family’s business can’t do without ours, and ours certainly can’t do without theirs. If we can maintain a peaceful partnership and profit together, why go through the trouble of breaking it off?” She had no interest in the hassle of finding new clients.
“Then why did you help Second Miss?” Yunling asked, still displeased.
“Who said I’m helping her?” Mu Wan replied nonchalantly. “I’m only helping myself. And…” She gave a slow, sly smile. “Just because you help someone doesn’t mean they’ll succeed.”
If the mother and daughter went against Mu Xingde… would he still feel they were weak and in need of his protection?
Besides, it just so happened that she was curious to see just how much Mu Rou, who had lived one life longer, had actually learned.
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I love the FL ❤️ strong and smart, my favorite 😍
Mu Wan is so smart. I love a smart FML, I’d never read a novel where one can guess another was reborn so quickly.