The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 74 - 73

Chapter 73

The abbot stared at the cold expression of the little girl in front of him and let out a deep sigh. The flame of hatred that showed in her eyes made him silently chant Amitabha in his heart, fearing that he could not persuade her to let go.

It seemed that this was a destiny that could not be changed...

Seeing that there was no further business, Mu Yingying bid farewell to the abbot and walked outside to join Mu Qingxuan. The two sisters then lit incense and candles to pay respects to the sacred deities as per the abbot’s advice before boarding the carriage back to their manor.

Upon their return, Mu Yingying immediately went to her own quarters to rest. She sat on her favorite daybed, resting her chin in her hand as she gazed out the window, contemplating the events of the day.

Seeing her young miss’s sorrowful and troubled expression, Su Su, who had just put away Mu Yingying’s cloak and came back to the outer room, felt a heavy weight in her heart as well.

"What are you thinking about, Miss?"

"It’s nothing..." Mu Yingying shook her head slightly and gave a faint smile. "I’m just lost in thought."

Su Su sighed softly. It was obvious that her young miss was troubled, yet she denied it. If Lu Jiu were still here, it would be much better, as he was the only one who could always solve the problems in her young miss’s heart.

Mu Yingying took a deep breath and adjusted her expression back to normal. Her big, round eyes sparkled as she spoke in a cheerful tone, "Oh, right, Su Su! How did the task I gave you yesterday go?"

"It’s all done, Miss. After you returned from Tai Lin Temple, our people who were waiting there spread the news immediately that the Eldest Young Miss has an unfortunate destiny, as seen by the abbot. If nothing goes wrong, by tomorrow morning, everyone in the capital will know about it,"

Su Su reported eagerly. Earlier, she had stationed people at various points around Tai Lin Temple as per her mistress’s orders, including placing people in the commercial district to spread the rumors. It wouldn’t be long before these rumors were widespread.

"Good. The bigger the story gets, the better it will be for Sister Qingxuan."

Mu Yingying smirked. Did Shin Wang think he could get engaged to her sister? Let’s see if things still went his way after this turn of event!

Shin Wang Palace

Late the next morning, someone came to report to Shin Wang in the study that Left side Deputy Chancellor of the Mu family had sent someone to return a gift along with a letter. Upon hearing this, Shin Wang instantly raised his eyebrows in surprise. He took the letter and opened it with a serious expression.

Mu Cui Ming had written that after agreeing to Shin Wang’s proposal, he had taken his daughter to have her fortune read at Tai Lin Temple. The abbot had stated that she was a woman with an unfortunate destiny and could not be engaged to anyone for two years. During this period, Mu Qingxuan had to observe precepts and perform good deeds to dispel bad luck; otherwise, if she got engaged, it would bring misfortune to her fiancé as well.

For this reason, Mu Cui Ming had decided to swallow his pride and return the gift to Shin Wang Palace, apologizing sincerely. He expressed that this matter was too significant to risk involving Shin Wang, a member of the royal family. If anything happened to Shin Wang, the Mu family would be unable to bear the responsibility. Thus, Mu Cui Ming decided to reject the engagement arrangement and promised not to discuss engagements with anyone else until his daughter’s bad luck period ended, as advised by the abbot.

After reading the letter, Shin Wang crumpled the paper immediately, his previous serene mood vanishing entirely. He had thought that this matter would be resolved easily, but his plans were now thwarted by this absurd fortune and destiny!

Even though Mu Cui Ming stated that he couldn’t discuss engagements with anyone else for two years, if Shin Wang secured the engagement beforehand and brought the Mu family’s power to his side, he wouldn’t mind waiting two or three more years to marry. This way, he could ensure that no one else would snatch the Mu family’s power away from him.

This wouldn’t do. He had to do something...

If he couldn’t secure the engagement peacefully, he would resort to force!

Having made up his mind, Shin Wang immediately called for his confidant. His handsome face was now stern, and his eyes were icy cold, sending chills down one’s spine.

"Prepare the carriage. I am going to see the Empress Dowager!"

Chining Palace

Inside the grand Chining Palace, the residence of the current Empress Dowager, despite being over fifty years old, she still retained a beauty that resembled a woman in her late thirties. Her renowned beauty had been famous throughout the land since the previous reign and had not faded with time. She was lounging on a large couch, with two servants fanning her to keep the heat at bay, while another servant was recounting the events occurring in the capital as usual.

Having reached the pinnacle of power as the Empress Dowager, a position many women aspired to, the competitors in the inner palace held no significance for her. Thus, she often felt bored and had her personal servant recount outside news to alleviate her loneliness.

Today was no different. The personal servant eagerly recounted the recent gossip spreading through the capital.

"Your Majesty, everyone in the capital is currently talking about the eldest young miss of the Mu family."

"The Mu family?" The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly. The Mu family was currently under much scrutiny. Their growing influence had many factions wanting to bring them into their fold, including herself...

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is said that the other day, the eldest young miss of the Mu family went to pay respects at Tai Lin Temple. She had the chance to meet the abbot, and unexpectedly, he foretold that she has an unfortunate destiny."

"It was said that if she were to get engaged to anyone, it would bring misfortune to the man. The only way to avoid this is for her to observe precepts and perform good deeds for two years to ward off bad luck. After this rumor spread, many Furens in the capital became fearful and are now reluctant to seek her hand in marriage."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager revealed a cold smile. "It’s only two years, isn’t it? How old is she now? Waiting for another two years shouldn’t be too difficult."

"Yes, Your Majesty. From what I know, she is fourteen and will soon turn fifteen."

"Then it’s not a problem. Just wait another two years. This will also give us time to see which side the Mu family will choose to support," the Empress Dowager said dismissively before closing her eyes to rest. She allowed her close servant to massage her limbs for relaxation. As she was enjoying her leisure, a eunuch hurried in to report.

"Shin Wang requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

The Empress Dowager’s eyes opened immediately, revealing a look of genuine pleasure. She waved her hand, signaling her permission for the prince to enter. The eunuch then turned and went to inform Shin Wang, who was waiting outside.

The servants helped the Empress Dowager sit up against a pillow on the couch before retreating from the hall, leaving only one close servant to prepare tea and snacks for Shin Wang.

Soon, a tall figure entered the hall with a smile on his face. He knelt down and respectfully greeted the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty,"

"You may rise," her gentle voice rang out, her eyes filled with warmth as she gazed at her nephew. After receiving her permission, Shin Wang thanked her and stood up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Shin Wang then walked over to sit on a chair beside the Empress Dowager, a prepared spot he was familiar with. The bond between aunt and nephew was deeper than most people knew. Although the Empress Dowager was his aunt, she had raised him since he was young, much like a mother. Shin Wang respected and cherished her as if she were his real mother.

"What kind of wind brings you here today?" the Empress Dowager asked with a teasing tone.

This nephew of hers rarely visited unless he needed her help. Ever since he had moved out of the imperial palace, it was a rare occasion for him to come and chat with her at Chining Palace, leaving the old woman feeling lonely.

"The wind of nostalgia, Your Majesty," Shin Wang replied with a laugh before turning to accept the tea offered by the Empress Dowager’s close servant, drinking it to quench his thirst.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows immediately. "You, nostalgic for me? Nonsense! If it weren’t for some request, you wouldn’t come to visit an old lady like me. I raised you myself; how could I not know your nature? Do you know that you’re even harder to find than His Majesty...?"

Shin Wang laughed heartily at her words, not expecting the usually imposing individual in front of the officials to speak so sentimentally to him. "Your Majesty, you are still the only one who truly knows me."

"You, oh you. Sigh...," she sighed heavily, shaking her head in exasperation.

"Actually, today I came to ask for your help, Your Majesty. I want to propose to a certain young miss for engagement, but there is an issue."

The Empress Dowager was momentarily taken aback by his words. She looked up at her nephew with a puzzled expression. "Engagement?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I wish to propose to the daughter of the principal wife of Master Mu to be my future Wang Fei," Shin Wang stated clearly, not wanting to waste time. Yet the Empress Dowager still seemed quite surprised.

"The eldest young miss of the Mu family? Are you fond of her?"

"Partly, but the main reason is that I want to bring the power of the Mu family to my side as quickly as possible rather than let others snatch it away."

"But I heard that she has an unfortunate destiny and cannot get engaged to anyone for the next two years," the Empress Dowager recalled the news her close servant had told her. She furrowed her brows tightly.

Matters of fate and destiny were not to be taken lightly. Since the abbot of Tai Lin Temple had confirmed it himself, if they went against it, wouldn’t her nephew face misfortune?

"Does Your Majesty know about this too?" Shin Wang hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to be aware of the rumor, and he felt a weight in his heart.

"You already know about this, so why are you still insisting on proposing to her? If your reason is to bring the Mu family to our side, there is no need to rush. There is still plenty of time; there is no need to put yourself at risk. Heed the abbot’s advice,"

The Empress Dowager warned with goodwill. She knew her nephew wanted to consolidate the Mu family’s power under their control, but she couldn’t let him endanger himself.

"But, Your Majesty, it’s just an engagement, not a marriage yet. It should be fine. I am only worried about unexpected events," Shin Wang tried to persuade her, but the Empress Dowager remained firm.

"No more talking. I do not agree with this. The Mu family won’t go anywhere. Since the eldest young miss isn’t engaged to anyone yet, you can rest assured. At least for these two years, the Mu family won’t form an alliance with any other family. It won’t be too late to revisit the proposal after two years."

"But..."

“No buts. Listen to me. You don’t need to rush. One day, the Mu family will willingly serve you,”

The Empress Dowager declared to her nephew. To become great, one must have patience. Some matters cannot be hurried. Taking things slowly allows one to see much more. It seemed she would need to instruct her nephew further...

At the Left Side Chancellor’s Manor, Su Family.

After returning from the banquet at Duan Wang Palace, Su Baimiao, who had also attended, was even more furious than before. Just a slight displeasure caused by the servants made her fly into a rage, ordering beatings to death without hesitation.

Many porcelains, vases, and ceramics in the residence had been smashed and needed replacing numerous times. Su Baimiao’s temper recently had made the servants so fearful that they dared not approach the eldest young miss’s quarters at all.

Inside the large bedroom, a sixteen-year-old girl was furiously destroying the clothes on the bed. Her once sweet and beautiful face was now twisted into a terrifying expression. She held scissors in her hand, continuously cutting the light blue garments on the bed. Her eyes were bloodshot, like those of a demon. Once she had cut the clothes into tatters, she used her other hand to tear the shredded fabric into tiny, unrecognizable pieces.

Her heart was filled with simmering anger. As she tore the garments apart, she imagined she was ripping the clothes off the body of another woman—the one and only Miss Fei Yang!

At the previous banquet, she had searched for Master Mu for a long time, trying to find the opportunity to get close to him. However, she found him walking beside Miss Fei Yang, talking and laughing happily. The smile that Mu Gongzhen gave Miss Fei Yang was like a sharp thorn in Su Baimiao’s heart up until today. When Su Baimiao had spoken to him before, she only received cold indifference, yet Miss Fei Yang got a warm and gentle smile from Mu Gongzhen!

Moreover, she noticed that Master Mu looked after Miss Fei Yang with care, his gaze full of warmth and tenderness. This was the exact opposite of the coldness and distance she had always encountered.

She wouldn’t accept this!

Why wasn’t it her receiving his smile, his gaze, and his warmth!?

She wouldn’t accept this!

It was all because of Miss Fei Yang!

Because that woman took away what should have been hers!

The warmth of Master Mu should belong to her alone. No other woman had the right!

This was why Su Baimiao had been more irritable since returning from the banquet. Her heart was filled with jealousy and resentment over what she had seen that day. What woman could stand seeing the man she loved showing tenderness to another woman?

Su Baimiao, who had torn the garments in her hands into shreds, still couldn’t quell the anger in her heart. She stood up abruptly and swept everything off the table to the floor.

Crash!

Bang!

Just as she was about to throw the book in her hand to the ground, she suddenly remembered something. Her raised hand froze in mid-air. If she remembered correctly, she had heard that the eldest young miss of the Cheng family had her engagement broken off due to rumors that she had bullied Miss Fei Yang when they were younger.

If that woman had indeed bullied Miss Fei Yang, then she might know some weaknesses or have information that could be used against Miss Fei Yang...

As the saying went, the enemy of my enemy was my friend!

Since the eldest young miss of the Cheng family was Miss Fei Yang’s enemy, then she could be considered Su Baimiao’s ally!

Su Baimiao immediately smiled, her eyes glinting with undisguised malice. She dropped the book back onto the table and walked out, calling for her servant.

"Prepare the carriage. I’m going to the Cheng Manor!"

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