The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 26 - 25

Chapter 25

Merely embezzling military provisions wouldn’t merit execution for nine generations. However, supporting a rebellion was a grave and strictly forbidden act, severely punishable under the law!

The one who submitted the report of these offenses was none other than the Left side Deputy Chancellor, Mu Cui Ming himself!

It was said that the Furen of the Mu family, Bai Lijun, was the one who disclosed the entire affair to her husband. Burdened by guilt and a sense of atonement for the actions her natal family committed, she decided to reveal all the details.

The court recognized the virtue of Mu Furen, adjudging her innocent and uninvolved with the Bai family’s crimes, hence exempting her from the collective execution of five generations.

Amidst these events, Bai Lijun’s reputation in the capital soared as tales of her integrity spread. She was praised as a virtuous woman, bearing guilt for the misdeeds of her natal family to do what was right!

Her actions elevated her status. People in the capital were praising and setting her as a model of a virtuous woman.

After the incident had passed, it was then the time when Mu Yingying arrived in the capital. She vividly remembered how much wealth Bai Lijun possessed at that time.

Upon reflection, she realized that only the dowry of her mother that was seized probably wasn’t that extensive.

It seemed likely that the wealth Bai Lijun possessed beyond her mother’s dowry must partly belong to the Bai family!

It was conceivable that...the events that unfolded were orchestrated by Bai Lijun herself!

Looking at the overall picture, the person who seemed to have benefited the most from the situation was undoubtedly Bai Lijun!

Mu Yingying, wearing a mocking smile. It was as if the deeper she delved, the more she uncovered the continuous vile deeds crafted by Bai Lijun.

Oh...she longed to know how much the extent of the wickedness Bai Lijun had perpetrated, for when retribution came, Bai Lijun would undoubtedly suffer torment far worse than death itself!

Mu Yingying, having recounted to Uncle Wang the history of the Bai family from her past life, concluded, "It appears that our actions have precipitated a change from the original course, causing the Bai family to assume its role sooner."

“Currently, the Bai family is merely engaged in trade within the territories they control at the port and are already immensely wealthy. We cannot allow them to extend their influence into the capital, Miss. Otherwise, they could pose a problem for us later on,"

Uncle Wang warned with a stern face. Aristocrats were scary due to their power, and traders due to their wealth!

With enough money, anything was possible, and this statement was hardly exaggerated. If they allowed the Bai family to become the wealthiest magnates in the capital, aristocrats would flock to them in a frenzy. By then, it would not be easy to curb the Bai family’s power.

"Of course, I won’t let them do as they please. Since Bai Lijun and the Bai family have struck a deal, they are likely preparing to relocate and establish themselves in the capital," Mu Yingying analyzed the unfolding situation before continuing,

"Since they haven’t yet begun to exert their influence in the capital, the Bai family might need to delay their trading activities for one to two years until the situation in the capital stabilizes. They will only start expanding their trade in the capital afterwards. This year presents a golden opportunity for us!"

Uncle Wang nodded in agreement. Any further delay might be too late. "Should I take care of this now, Miss?"

"First, Uncle Wang, handle blocking the Bai family’s trade expansion to the capital. Then, send some of our people to gather evidence regarding the Bai family’s secret support for the rebellion years ago," Mu Yingying instructed calmly.

In addition to obstructing the other party’s wealth and influence, she needed to collect that evidence to hold as a trump card for future use.

"And regarding the deal between the Second Furen and the Bai family, do you want this old man to interfere with that as well?" Uncle Wang asked, intrigued. If that deal were to proceed smoothly, the Mu family in the capital might have a reprieve for a while.

Mu Yingying smirked slyly, her eyes glinting mischievously as if she were a little devil. "There’s no need to interfere. Let it succeed. That’s even better for us. If we can make Bai Lijun and the Bai family have more dealings and become closer in the eyes of others, it will be advantageous for us."

The more the two parties interacted and exchanged, the more Bai Lijun would inevitably become entangled with the Bai family. When disaster befell the Bai family, would Bai Lijun escape unscathed as before?

Definitely not...

" Oh, yes, Uncle Wang, please find someone to foster a situation that promotes the marriage between the Bai family and the Deputy Commander ’s manor as soon as possible," Mu Yingying instructed with a sinister smile that even made Uncle Wang shudder.

"They should connect like that?" he asked again, puzzled.

"Yes, they are already fortunate towards each other; we just expedite this fortune! Once they are connected, those people will surely become useful pawns in our hands..."

Mu Yingying stated, her eyes gleaming with a sinister satisfaction. If she could gather evidence of misconduct by both households, she could preempt Bai Lijun’s attempt to appear as a virtuous lady and her father’s desire to showcase his achievements.

Moreover, using this trump card, she could tarnish Bai Lijun, associating her with disgrace as well!

After planning their approach to the Bai family, Mu Yingying had a sudden thought. "Right...have you found the medicine I requested?"

"Yes, Miss. It’s currently being transported to our people in the capital. It may take about a month to arrive," Uncle Wang hesitated briefly before asking, "Should our people act against Mu Patriarch immediately, Miss, or should we wait?"

"Proceed immediately, Uncle Wang. Any delay might allow escapes. I don’t wish to harm innocent children," Mu Yingying asserted seriously. She might have to stain her hands with much blood, but she couldn’t bear the thought of harming innocent unborn children!

Therefore, she had requested Uncle Wang to find a colorless, odorless drug that would render its consumer sterile and unable to produce heirs.

In her previous life, Bai Lijun gave birth to a son, causing the Mu family to have the second young master. This was the beginning that led her brother to be targeted maliciously!

She could not allow that child to be born!

Feeling pity for a child who would have Bai Lijun as a mother, she decided to eliminate every possibility that the other party could give birth to an heir.

If she rendered Bai Lijun barren, what if Lan concubine and Xia concubine were to become pregnant instead?

A clever woman like Bai Lijun might adopt that child in the name of the Furen, raising him as her own son to instruct until he became the next successor of the family.

When that time came, her brother would undoubtedly become a thorn in Bai Lijun’s side, someone she would be determined to eliminate!

Considering all possibilities, Mu Yingying chose to administer a drug to her father to render him childless, reducing all risks. Without the ability to have heirs, neither Bai Lijun nor the two concubines could produce offspring either!

What she did might seem so cruel that she would be branded as an ungrateful child, but even if given the chance to choose again, she would still select this path.

Ever since their father severed ties with her and her siblings in the previous life, standing by as they were executed, they became orphans without a father!

After the two of them finished discussing their plan, they casually chatted for a while until Uncle Wang suddenly remembered a task that the young miss had assigned him several months ago.

"The matter about the background of the girl named Fei Ren that you asked someone to investigate had been settled, Miss."

Mu Yingying paused momentarily, her mind conjuring the image of the gaunt girl with deep-set eyes that had been mentioned. She quickly recalled who Fei Ren was.

"Oh, yes...And what did we find out?"

"The background of this Fei Ren is quite extraordinary. It took several months to gather information and establish clear connections," Uncle Wang explained, sighing deeply, his expression becoming markedly stern.

Mu Yingying slightly raised her eyebrows, "Is her background that complicated?"

"It was quite significant, Miss. Five years ago, a momentous event shook the entire nation. The Cheng Bei Hou Manor, which had been home to great commanders for many generations, saw its ancestors die in battle for generations, and were known as the most loyal commanders to the region.”

“During the time when Cheng Bei Hou[1] and his two sons went to fight against the Yan region in the Bei Nan district, there were accusations made. It was alleged that the Cheng Bei Hou Manor had conspired with the enemy, causing the war at the Bei Nan district, Qingzhou Region, to lose numerous cities. Tens of thousands of citizens died, and hundreds of thousands became homeless refugees – a catastrophic loss indeed!”

“With clear witness testimonies, but lacking solid evidence, the former emperor ordered the imperial guards to raid the Cheng Bei Hou Manor, which at that time only housed women, elderly, and young children. They found crucial evidence indicating a conspiracy between the Cheng Bei Hou Manor and Yan Region.”

“Enraged, the former emperor ordered the arrest and return of Cheng Bei Hou and his two sons to face punishment in the capital. Moreover, he decreed the detention of hundreds from the Cheng Bei Hou Manor to await their capital punishment for treason alongside the entire family lineage. However, due to the previous meritorious deeds and righteousness of the Cheng Bei Hou Manor across generations, the emperor mercifully spared the lives of children under ten years of age.”

"The girls were sentenced to lifelong royal servitude, while the boys were exiled to be royal slaves at the northern border territories for life as well. Lives of hundreds from Cheng Bei Hou Manor were ultimately executed, their bodies left for the vultures. Thus, the massive bloodshed in the capital came to an end..."

Uncle Wang heaved a sigh mingled with a complex emotion as he concluded. This matter was an imperial decree personally adjudicated by the former emperor, which could be considered rather significant.

Was it wise for them to take in descendants with such burdens under their wing?

As Mu Yingying listened intently, her eyes widened in shock. "Don’t tell me...This Fei Ren is related to Cheng Bei Hou Manor?"

"Exactly. She’s directly related. The Cheng Bei Hou Manor belongs to the Fei family, and Fei Ren is the youngest granddaughter of Cheng Bei Hou, sentenced to servitude then."

"Ha ha ha”

Mu Yingying suddenly burst into clear, ringing laughter, causing Uncle Wang to gaze at her in bewilderment, then called her in a low voice.

"Um...Miss?"

“Oops...ha...ha.” Mu Yingying covered her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter, her eyes were slightly moist. Once she regained composure, she reassured,

"There’s no need for alarm, Uncle Wang. I’m merely amused and pleased, nothing more."

Uncle Wang looked at her in confusion, and after hearing that, he was even more bewildered. “Is there anything that makes you feel amused and pleased?”

"About Fei Ren, what else could it be?" Her eyes sparkled with mischievous delight. "Who would have thought she’d turn out to be such an unexpectedly crucial piece in our game?"

"What do you mean, Miss?”

Uncle Wang asked, still puzzled, wondering how did Fei Ren become such an important, serendipitous piece?

Mu Yingying reflected on past events and shared with Uncle Wang, "When it comes to the Cheng Bei Hou Manor incident five years ago, I am not very familiar with it. However, if we discuss the next five years...I am quite knowledgeable about those events, Uncle Wang."

"In my previous life, shortly after my grandmother and I arrived at the capital, a significant event unfolded, becoming the talk of the entire capital. The Emperor summoned those who had contributed to quelling the northern rebellion to receive awards at the royal palace."

"One of those recognized for their outstanding contributions turned out to be a grandson of Cheng Bei Hou, exiled to be a royal slave at the frontier. He was only fifteen at the time but demonstrated remarkable skills, playing a key role in eradicating the rebels causing havoc then."

"Initially, due to his exemplary service, the Emperor decided to appoint him as a deputy commander. However, this was contested by the officials, who argued that no matter his achievements, he was still a descendant of Cheng Bei Hou, bearing a tainted legacy, as the former emperor had decreed his lifelong servitude at the frontier."

"Despite the evident merits, the former emperor’s decree was crucial. The Emperor had no choice but to temporarily detain Cheng Bei Hou’s grandson. Subsequently, a re-investigation of the Cheng Bei Hou Manor case was initiated at the young man’s request, leveraging his good deeds for a chance at justice."

"After over a year of investigation, the final verdict revealed that the events from five years prior involved false accusations against Cheng Bei Hou Manor, fabricated by a group of nobles. Once the truth surfaced, the implicated nobles from the previous reign were purged by the current Emperor."

"The capital then witnessed a significant purge within the royal court, where many nobles were executed. After resolving these matters, the Emperor restored the title, manor, lands, and properties to the surviving heirs of Cheng Bei Hou Manor."

"The detained grandson of Cheng Bei Hou was released and granted his ancestor’s title, becoming the next Cheng Bei Hou. The Emperor issued a decree to announce the truth to all citizens, absolving and revoking all punishments previously imposed on the Cheng Bei Hou Manor’s descendants."

"However, when people were sent out to find the descendants who had escaped the execution, they were met with dire news. The few descendants who had been sentenced to live as royal slaves all perished at a young age, leaving only one survivor. She was the youngest granddaughter of the Cheng Bei Hou Manor, the biological sister of the current Cheng Bei Hou, who was in extreme hardship, her body so frail it seemed beyond healing."

"Feeling remorseful for the Cheng Bei Hou Manor, His Majesty then took that sister of Cheng Bei Hou under his wing as his adopted sister and appointed her as Princess Wei Yang, granting her the highest princess title, equivalent to those born from the previous emperors."

Mu Yingying raised her hand to her chin, showing a sympathetic expression, her eyes dimming. "It’s pitiful for the Cheng Bei Hou Manor. Although they could restore their honor and eliminate their enemies, the hundreds of lives lost could never be reclaimed..."

"Truly pitiable as you said, Miss"

Uncle Wang agreed, then asked to confirm his understanding, "So, according to you, this Fei Ren is the actual sister of the future Cheng Bei Hou and the would-be Princess Wei Yang, correct?"

"If nothing goes awry, that should be the case," Mu Yingying chuckled, seeing Uncle Wang’s astonished expression. "That’s why I said it’s both humorous and delightful. Who would have thought this crucial piece would just stumble across our path?"

Uncle Wang regained his composure, understanding the young miss’s sentiment. Even he felt like laughing out loud at the twist of fate.

Who would have thought that a dying slave girl, brought back inadvertently by the young miss, would have such a glorious future ahead?!

Moreover, by taking Fei Ren under her care, she essentially saved the girl’s life, becoming a benefactor. If Fei Ren returned to the Cheng Bei Hou Manor in the future, wouldn’t that mean the young miss has the powerful backing?

Such a joyous occasion indeed deserved a loud laugh!

[1] 侯 (hóu) means nobleman or high official; second of the five orders of ancient Chinese nobility.

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