The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 52 - 51

Chapter 51

After the events had concluded, the atmosphere at the Mu manor remained tense and uncomfortable. Many people stayed within their quarters, avoiding outings, as rumors about the family continued to circulate outside the residence. Although not as widespread as before, the gossip persisted.

Before the scheduled day for Auntie Yang’s sentencing, who had been handed over to the authorities, it was discovered that she had bitten her tongue and committed suicide out of guilt for her actions. This led to the cessation of any further investigations.

A month passed, and it was time for the Mu family to pack up and return home. Though this time, not everyone would be returning...

In front of the residence, nearly ten large carriages were lined up along the wall. Members of the Mu family were busy loading their belongings onto the carriages and taking their seats, waiting on their assigned carriage. Only Mu Gongzhen and Mu Qingxuan remained, saying their goodbyes to their youngest sister.

“Brother, Sister, take good care of yourselves when you return to the capital. I’ll send letters to you both often,” Mu Yingying said cheerfully, her small face beaming with a bright smile.

“Of course, Ying’er. Don’t be too naughty. Take good care of Grandmother. When her health improves, she can join us in the capital,”

Mu Qingxuan gently patted her sister’s head with adoration. She had secretly checked their grandmother’s health and prepared medicinal herbs for Xiao Chun to brew for her.

If everything went according to plan, within a year, just like in their previous life, their grandmother and Ying’er would be able to join them in the capital. However, if the medicinal herbs she had been secretly prepared for nourishing their grandmother over the past few months proved effective, they might be able to make the journey to the capital within six months.

Soon, the three siblings would truly be reunited!

“Alright,”

Mu Yingying responded with a genuine smile. She understood the underlying message in her sister’s words. However, now was not the time for them to have an open and honest conversation, so she had to pretend to be naive and clueless for the time being.

The right time would come. Once everything was in place, she would sit down and have a heartfelt conversation with her sister!

“Ying’er, live happily here. Do whatever you want, cause any trouble you wish. Remember, you always have your brother by your side,”

Mu Gongzhen said with a gentle smile, his eyes radiating warmth as he looked at his little sister, more comforting than the winter sun.

“Yes, Eldest Brother, don’t worry. I will live my life well!” Mu Yingying beamed, her cheeks almost splitting from her wide smile, her big, round eyes sparkling brightly.

The three siblings bid farewell for a while before they finally had to part. The Mu family’s carriage procession left the residence, heading out of Qingyun City and back to the capital of the Qingzhou Region.

This return to the capital marked a significant change in the royal court. The newly selected scholars who passed the palace examination[1] would be appointed to official positions during this period. Various factions began to recruit some of them, both openly and secretly.

Similarly, Mu Gongzhen, who had achieved the Zhuangyuan rank at a young age, attracted the attention of many high-ranking officials due to his talent and intelligence. Despite numerous offers and repeated invitations from various factions to join them, Mu Gongzhen remained resolute in his decision.

Eventually, it became well-known in the capital that this new Zhuangyuan maintained a neutral stance, not aligning with any particular faction. As a result, many powerful groups continued to keep a close watch on him.

The Manor of the Left Side Chancellor, Su Family.

In the deepest study of the Su family manor, a sixty-year-old man was leisurely drinking tea. In front of him sat his forty-year-old son, waiting patiently on the opposite side. After the old man finished his tea, the son respectfully took the cup and placed it back.

“I had our people in the palace investigate the appointments of officials this time, Father. However, no one knows what position His Majesty has decided to appoint Mu Gongzhen to,”

This man was Su Hankai, the eldest son of the Left Side Chancellor, Su Anming.

The elderly official, Su Anming, chuckled softly and said, “The Emperor’s heart is hard to predict.”

Having served as an official for over three reigns, Su Anming had held the position of Left Side Chancellor, a great power that had stood tall for many decades. Having been in service for three emperors, he knew well that the emperor’s mind was something ordinary people could not easily comprehend.

To survive, one must be cautious with every step. Even though the current emperor showed no signs of suspicion or hostility towards the Su family, a powerful official was bound to arouse some wariness in the Son of Heaven.

Therefore, they must avoid displeasing the emperor. Secretly consolidating power was the best option. It was to ensure the Su family’s safety for many generations if something were to happen.

“Don’t concern yourself with His Majesty’s thoughts. Regardless of what position the new Zhuangyuan receives, he is still someone who has earned the emperor’s favor. Just prepare to establish a connection with him; don’t overcomplicate things,” Su Anming instructed his eldest son calmly.

“And what if Mu Gongzhen does not accept our goodwill?”

Su Hankai asked with curiosity. Su Anming’s narrow eyes instantly gleamed with cunning, like an old fox.

"In that case, nip it in the bud!"

"This person is indeed talented, but if we cannot use him, others should not be able to either. If such a young and promising individual were to meet an early end, it would be a pity..."

Su Anming lowered his gaze to the teacup in his hand, deep in thought. The land has never lacked capable officials. No matter how talented Mu Gongzhen was, if he could not be utilized, he could not be allowed to become a future thorn either!

...

..

.

A month after Mu Gongzhen returned to the capital, an imperial decree appointed the eldest son of the Mu family, the new Zhuangyuan, to a third-rank official position in the Ministry of Works. He was also frequently summoned for private audiences in the royal study, causing a stir among all power factions.

Three months later, a rebellion broke out in the northern part of the region. More than three northern cities were seized by rebels, causing hundreds of thousands of citizens to flee the area. The Emperor issued a decree sending the principal commander to suppress the rebels in Jingyuan City.

As Jingyuan City became the frontline city against the rebels, tens of thousands of refugees flocked there, leading to a shortage of supplies for both the army and the refugees.

The capital was in turmoil like a burning flame. Debates and arguments on how to resolve the issue were incessant in the court. Subsequently, the Emperor issued another decree, assigning Mu Gongzhen to oversee the transportation of food supplies from the capital to Jingyuan City to aid the refugees and support the army.

At dawn the next day, after the scheduled departure, Mu Gongzhen led the supply procession out of the capital, heading towards Jingyuan City in the northern region. The estimated travel time was about a month at the earliest.

During the journey, he had to bear the risks involved, as the transportation of supplies was critical. Any delays or if the supplies were intercepted, it would have dire consequences, leading to Jingyuan City’s defeat, widespread starvation among the populace, and the army’s lack of provisions. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Failure in this mission would result in severe punishment for those involved!

Conversely, success in this mission would bring significant merit. Therefore, Mu Gongzhen, carrying this great responsibility, embarked on the journey with utmost caution, as any mistakes could not be afforded.

In his previous life, Mu Gongzhen did not receive this task; it was assigned to another official, and the transportation went smoothly. However, in this life, circumstances had changed.

Mu Gongzhen was the one assigned to transport the supplies, a sudden change that left him with little time for preparation.

Despite his thorough precautions, he couldn’t entirely prevent the malevolent intentions of others...

In the middle of a mountain pass that connected the capital to the northern region, tall trees lined the path, forming a dense forest. It was the middle of spring, making the forest appear even darker with the trees in full bloom.

Mu Gongzhen, on horseback, scanned his surroundings with a cold expression, his eyes showing signs of tension. He had noticed the forest’s odd silence since a moment ago; the birds and insects had fallen quiet, signaling an unsettling disturbance.

“Tell our men to be on high alert. I fear trouble is imminent,” he whispered to Ding Yang, who was riding close by, emitting a chilling aura.

“Yes, Young Master,”

Ding Yang responded, slowing his horse before relaying the command to the soldiers and their men in the procession to prepare themselves.

As the procession turned right along the path, they encountered a blockade of over ten large trees lying across the road, forcing them to halt. Mu Gongzhen narrowed his eyes at the logs, a cold gleam in his eyes.

It seemed this supply transport would not proceed smoothly...

“All soldiers, listen up! Prepare to be attacked!”

His deep voice rang out, commanding people in the procession. The guarding soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, scanning the surroundings warily.

They quickly formed a defensive circle around the supply wagons to protect them from being plundered.

Swish!

The sound of arrows slicing through the air filled the sky, targeting people in the procession. Several soldiers fell, injured by arrows piercing their chests.

“Arrows! We’re under attack!”

Several soldiers shouted to alarm as chaos suddenly erupted. Nearly a hundred figures in black emerged from their hiding spots in the forest, launching an assault on the guarding soldiers continuously.

Mu Gongzhen found himself surrounded by five assassins. He tapped his foot lightly, using his lightness skill to leap off his horse just as a blade slashed down on the saddle where he had been sitting.

“Kill!”

The assassins took turns attacking the young man with murderous intent, and some even lunged at him simultaneously. However, with Mu Gongzhen’s exceptional martial arts skills, how could he easily fall in battle?

He spun, deftly dodging the slashing blades, and with a swift motion of his sword, he pierced the enemy’s chest.

“Young Master! Our men are in trouble!”

Ding Yang shouted to his master with a tense expression. When Mu Gongzhen turned to assess the overall situation, he saw that most of the soldiers sent to guard the procession were injured or dead. The supplies on several wagons had been set ablaze by the assassins.

Mu Gongzhen watched the flames consuming the supplies on more than ten wagons with a stern expression. His eyes were so cold that even the assassins nearby felt a shiver.

These attackers weren’t here to kill him—they were here to destroy the supplies!

"Protect the remaining supplies! All soldiers, gather together and break through the enemy lines with the remaining wagons!" Mu Gongzhen commanded the surviving soldiers.

Upon hearing his order, they moved to regroup, driving the five remaining supply wagons to break through the encirclement. Mu Gongzhen took on the assassins pursuing them, creating an opening for his men to escape with the supplies.

No matter what, the supplies had to reach Jingyuan City!

Mu Gongzhen swung his sword at over ten assassins pursuing the wagons. He leaned back to avoid a blade from an enemy in front, then quickly stabbed his sword into the other’s heart. However, at that moment, another enemy from behind swung a sword at him.

He dodged, but the proximity was too close, so he couldn’t avoid it completely. The enemy’s sword cut a long gash across Mu Gongzhen’s shoulder, causing blood from a deep wound to flow down his arm.

Seeing this, Ding Yang jumped in to assist his master, helping him break through the enemy lines just in time.

Meanwhile, as Mu Gongzhen’s procession fled from the assassins with the remaining five wagons of supplies, one of Uncle Wang’s men, who had been secretly following the procession to ensure the safety of the young master, immediately sent a message back to the capital using a carrier pigeon.

Five days later, when Uncle Wang received this urgent news, he was deeply alarmed. Concerned for both the young master’s safety and the transport of the supplies, he quickly forwarded the message to Mu Yingying in Qingyun City. In just three days, the urgent news reached the Seven Young Miss.

As Mu Yingying received the news, Uncle Wang did everything he could to prevent the news of the supply theft from spreading in the capital. If word of this leaked out, the young master would undoubtedly be in great trouble!

Mu Manor, Qingyun City.

Bang!

Mu Yingying, upon receiving the urgent news from the capital, slammed her hand on the table forcefully. Her small face showed a mix of anger and tension, and her large eyes reflected an unprecedented seriousness.

"How could this happen!"

She bit her lip and immediately began to think of a solution. She couldn’t let her eldest brother face this problem alone.

"It’s likely that this plot was orchestrated by someone from the capital rather than the rebels," said Lu Jiu, who was standing nearby, sharing his thoughts.

If it had been the rebels who wanted to disrupt the supply transport, they wouldn’t have been able to act so quickly. It must have been someone in the capital who knew the exact schedule and route of the transport to strike so swiftly and accurately.

"Whoever it is, I won’t let them off! My eldest brother’s enemies are my enemies too!"

Mu Yingying gritted her teeth to suppress her anger. She knew that politics never showed mercy. It was kill or be killed—the harsh reality of the bureaucratic world!

But this was her elder brother!

She wouldn’t let anyone harm him!

"Send part of our people to investigate who’s behind this. Another part should gather twenty wagons of supplies and escort them to Jingyuan City immediately! No matter what, my brother’s supplies must not fall short!"

Mu Yingying issued her orders with a stern voice, her small face displaying an intimidating coldness. Her big, round eyes shone with a chilling gleam.

If the enemy wanted to steal her brother’s supplies to incriminate him, then she would replace the lost supplies. The one thing she didn’t lack now was money!

Once she found out who was behind this, she would make sure to reclaim everything from them...

[1] Palace examination would be held every three years in the imperial palace and often supervised by the emperor himself.

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