The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 95 - 94

Chapter 94

Amidst the crowd lining both sides of the street, a slow-moving procession of the royal court was passing through. In the procession was a large wooden cage containing the figure of a female prisoner standing inside. This was a parade to publicly shame the prisoner before her execution, serving as a warning to all citizens about the consequences of committing such heinous crimes.

"Evil demon!"

"Wretched devil!"

"Whore!"

"A villain like you deserves to die!"

"Deserves to die!"

These shouts of curses and condemnation echoed continuously along the path of the shaming parade. Rotten vegetables, boiled eggs, and various objects, including stones, were mercilessly thrown at the slender figure inside the cage. Blood oozed from numerous wounds, especially on her head, which had been hit by stones, leaving no less than ten injuries.

Su Baimiao, dressed in a shabby prisoner’s uniform, with disheveled hair and a gaunt body, looked like a walking corpse. There was no trace left of the most beautiful woman in the land, once known as a goddess. She slowly swept her eyes around, her gaze empty and devoid of any pain.

Why?

Why had she come to this end?

She, who was once the number one lady, how did it come to this?

Unable to accept the reality for a long time, Su Baimiao was lost in her thoughts, repeatedly questioning herself. From childhood to adulthood, she had strived to climb to a position where everyone respected and admired her. To attain the title of the number one lady, she had gone through countless hardships.

Yet, why did it all collapse like a mere dream?

As she looked at the people cursing and condemning her on both sides, many stared at her with disgust, and others with disdain—so different from the past when they had admired and praised her immensely.

Why had it all turned out this way!?

While Su Baimiao was immersed in her thoughts, the prisoner procession had reached the execution ground before she even realized it. The execution ground for her was not a scaffold but an open area surrounded by high walls. In the center of the open space stood five large horses waiting.

Seeing the five horses, Su Baimiao was immediately gripped by a deep-seated fear. The horses were much larger than any man. Just one tug of the ropes, and they could drag her far away. Using five horses to tear her body apart was no different from plucking feathers from a chicken!

"I...I won’t go."

A weak, hoarse voice uttered the words as she feebly tried to push away the soldier’s hand pulling her down from the parade platform. However, her frail, powerless body had no chance against the soldier’s strength.

In the end, Su Baimiao was swiftly dragged and tied to the ropes attached to the horses. Her empty eyes suddenly filled with unmistakable fear. The tighter the ropes binding her wrists and ankles to the horses felt, the more her heart trembled.

"N...no."

"P...please, I...sob, I...yi...yield."

Su Baimiao pleaded through her tears. She had never feared anything this much before. She had always done whatever she wanted, without regard for the means, never fearing anything or anyone. Now, facing such a miserable end, she was terrified to the point of near insanity.

"Su Baimiao, do you know what brought you to this point?"

A cold voice spoke from the balcony atop the wall. When Su Baimiao looked up towards the source of the voice, she saw a group of people standing there, waiting to witness her execution. Among them were familiar faces.

The one who had spoken was none other than Duan Wang!

Duan Wang, who knew the truth behind her schemes against his daughter, gazed at Su Baimiao, who showed a confused look, with cold, indifferent eyes. It seemed that even now, she did not recognize her own wrongdoing...

"What has led you to this end is your twisted heart. You did everything for your own desires, regardless of the means. You saw others’ lives as worthless. You...you are not even human."

Su Baimiao paid no attention to Duan Wang’s words. Her eyes fixated on one figure in the crowd, a figure who did not even glance her way, looking out instead at the scenery beyond the execution ground.

He was the one she dreamed of every night, even while imprisoned. She tried to imprint his face in her memory, knowing this might be the last time she saw him.

Everything she had done was to be with him, to be with Mu Gongzhen, like a perfect match that everyone envied. How did it turn out that she was seen as inhuman?

Was it wrong for her to do everything for love, to do everything to make Mu Gongzhen notice her, even if just a little?...

Seeing that Su Baimiao would never acknowledge her wrongs, Duan Wang nodded to the execution overseer, who threw a wooden plank to the ground as a signal. The executioner, receiving the signal, began to coax the horses to gradually pull the ropes taut.

As Su Baimiao was about to step through the gates of the underworld, the physical pain she felt was nothing compared to the sudden heartache that struck her. Finally, the man she longed for glanced at her, but his eyes were filled with cold indifference, leaving Su Baimiao feeling utterly lost.

Mu Gongzhen, who had no interest in this execution, was only present due to his duties. Throughout the execution, he simply looked at the scenery outside the execution ground, waiting for it to end. As the execution neared its conclusion, he glanced at the scene below briefly before turning and leaving.

However, his actions were like a hammer blow to Su Baimiao’s heart, reminding her that no matter what she did to possess Mu Gongzhen, it was all in vain...

Meanwhile, in a procession transporting prisoners to the border that had just exited the capital city gates, a frail female prisoner paused momentarily. Her face bore the word envy, branded on the right side, a mark made by a hot iron that was pressed against the skin until it formed blisters, creating a gruesome scar as the branded word.

Cheng Fuyuan turned back to look at the capital city’s walls with a gleeful glint in her eyes and a mocking smile on her face. She had heard the news about Su Baimiao’s execution by the five horses. Today was the day of the execution.

She had said that Su Baimiao would not die a good death!

Such a wicked demon could never die a good death!

Heaven had truly favored her!

Just knowing Su Baimiao’s end, Cheng Fuyuan felt no more regrets. Even though she was being exiled to the border, she had no attachments left to the capital...

Cheng Fuyuan let out a soft laugh before turning to follow the iron chains that bound her hands and feet, continuing her march toward the border.

Mu Manor

After the Su family was sentenced to death, the royal court swiftly purged all those involved. This process took over a month, but eventually, peace returned to the capital after a long period of turmoil.

Within the tranquil confines of Mu Gongzhen’s quarters, sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air, bringing a lively atmosphere. Today was a rest day for Mu Gongzhen, so Mu Yingying and Mu Qingxuan came to spend time at their eldest brother’s quarters.

“With the Su family dealt with, Eldest Brother must feel a bit more at ease without anyone scheming against you,”

Mu Yingying remarked, munching on sweets with a relieved expression. If the Su family hadn’t tried to get rid of her brother and Su Baimiao hadn’t schemed against Meng Liting, they wouldn’t have met such an end.

“Brother works in the royal court, so he cannot avoid it. Does Ying’er think there won’t be others like the Su family?” Mu Gongzhen said nonchalantly, flipping the page of his book.

“Are there people trying to emulate the Su family?” Mu Yingying raised her eyebrows slightly before shrugging. “If anyone tries to mimic the Su family, they should be prepared for the same end. I understand that Eldest Brother cannot avoid such things, but at least we can have some time to rest.”

Mu Yingying scrunched her nose adorably. She hadn’t had a proper rest due to the Su family’s affairs. For the three siblings, there were greater enemies than the Su family. Having more time to plan other matters would be beneficial.

Mu Qingxuan reached for a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her little sister’s mouth and said, “The matter with the Su family is over, but other issues continuously arise. Eldest Brother...how does His Majesty plan to handle the appointment of the new Left Side Chancellor?”

“It’s been over a month now. Various officials have started bribing and collaborating to push their candidates for the position. Although His Majesty remains indifferent, it won’t be long before the major officials’ pressure forces a decision.”

Mu Gongzhen placed the book on the table and briefly recounted the situation in the royal court. The position of the Left Side Chancellor was highly coveted, and with Su Anming’s removal, it was now vacant.

“Typically, the Left side Deputy Chancellor should be next in line. Recently, my informants reported that our father has spent nearly a third of the central funds bribing numerous officials from various ministries, spending a significant amount of money,”

Mu Yingying said, laughing. Lately, their father hadn’t stayed home a single day, constantly visiting various officials to gain support for his promotion to become the Left Side Chancellor. He was indeed a diligent father. Normally, if nothing went wrong, the one who should be appointed as the Left Side Chancellor would be Left side Deputy Chancellor Mu Cui Ming. However, Mu Yingying had no intention of allowing that to happen!

She had vowed to bring the family down to the mud. Although it wasn’t entirely possible yet because the three siblings hadn’t formally separated from the family, she couldn’t let their father grow more powerful. In the previous life, their father severed ties with them to maintain his power. Now that the three siblings had returned, she would ensure he lost all his power!

As Mu Yingying recalled past events, her big, round eyes flashed coldly. “Let Father struggle. The more he struggles and the higher his hopes, the more satisfying it will be when he falls...”

Mu Gongzhen and Mu Qingxuan shared Mu Yingying’s sentiments. They had no attachment or affection left for their father, as if Mu Cui Ming was merely a stranger to them now. Hence, no one opposed or argued against Mu Yingying’s thoughts.

“Who do you think His Majesty will appoint as the new Left Side Chancellor?”

Mu Yingying asked, curious. To prevent their father’s promotion, they needed to find a suitable candidate, but ultimately, it depended on His Majesty’s decision.

Mu Gongzhen pondered for a moment before responding, “Actually, His Majesty doesn’t have anyone in mind yet. Now that the Su family is gone, there are only two factions left in the royal court. His Majesty cannot allow someone from the Empress Dowager’s faction to take this position, otherwise, the entire court will fall under her control.”

“So, it has to be someone neutral?”

Mu Yingying thought quietly to herself. It was rare for officials in the royal court to remain neutral; most had already aligned with one faction or another. If there were any officials who hadn’t aligned with a faction, they would be lower-ranked officials without the achievements or qualifications for such a high position.

But wait...

There seemed to be someone who was suitable, wasn’t there?

Mu Yingying, having realized something, immediately smiled. She looked up at Mu Gongzhen with a strange gleam in her eyes, which made him shiver and raise his eyebrows in suspicion.

“Ying’er...do you know that when you smile like that, something unexpected always happens?”

“Of course, and the unexpected things are always good!”

Mu Yingying laughed softly before continuing, “Since His Majesty needs someone to take the position who isn’t from the Empress Dowager’s faction, why doesn’t he appoint someone from his own faction? That way, he doesn’t create new power struggles but uses his own people to counterbalance the Empress Dowager.”

“His Majesty has considered this, but he hasn’t found anyone suitable,” Mu Gongzhen nodded in agreement, then sighed.

“That’s not difficult at all. The person with all the qualifications is right here!” As soon as Mu Yingying finished speaking, Mu Gongzhen and Mu Qingxuan turned to look at her in confusion. However, Mu Qingxuan soon understood what her little sister meant and nodded in agreement.

“That’s right, Ying’er is correct. The future Left Side Chancellor is standing right in front of us.”

Mu Gongzhen looked at the strange expressions on his sisters’ faces, then finally understood what they were implying. “You want me to become the Left Side Chancellor? That wouldn’t be right...”

“Firstly, Father is the Left Side Deputy Chancellor. How can his son be promoted to Left Side Chancellor? It would seem disrespectful to the father, and many officials would object.”

“Secondly, I’ve only been an official for a little over a year and have just been promoted. Being promoted again so soon would seem inappropriate.”

“Elder Brother, don’t pretend you don’t know that these objections are minor obstacles,” Mu Yingying interrupted, seeing through her brother’s thoughts. “If you don’t want to take on this responsibility, just say so.”

“You...You’ve caught on to me again,” Mu Gongzhen said, laughing.

His previous explanations were mere excuses. The position of Left Side Chancellor was very significant and extremely dangerous. If he took this position, he would face dangers from all sides. While he could handle the danger himself, what if the enemies targeted his two sisters?

That was the scenario Mu Gongzhen most wanted to avoid!

He could not allow his two younger sisters to take such risks. Therefore, when the Emperor had previously mentioned appointing him as the Left Side Chancellor, Mu Gongzhen quickly refused. However, he did not expect to hear this suggestion from his two younger sisters today.

“I know you’re worried about us, Brother, but we can take care of ourselves. Besides, we have you to protect us. We’ll be fine,”

Mu Yingying said with an endearing smile, her big, round eyes showing a rare gentleness. She understood why her brother hesitated to accept the position. If she had to guess, the Emperor likely thought the same as they did—that appointing her brother would solve the problem and also increase the Emperor’s advantage.

“That’s right, Brother. If anything happens, I can protect Ying’er. Don’t underestimate the disciple of the Divine Doctor. If I can heal people, I can also take lives,” Mu Qingxuan added to reassure Mu Gongzhen. Seeing their determination, Mu Gongzhen finally relented, agreeing to do as Mu Yingying proposed.

“Very well, I will accept the position. But we must prepare to deal with those troublesome old officials.”

“You handle the court, Brother. I’ll take care of the rest,” Mu Yingying confidently volunteered, flashing a mischievous smile.

“The idea of outshining our father is just old-fashioned thinking. The court needs capable people. If someone has exceptional abilities, it’s natural for them to be promoted. And if His Majesty decides on the appointment, what official would dare oppose it?”

“As for Eldest Brother’s achievements, they speak for themselves. Providing supplies to help quell the rebellion, uncovering the embezzlement of military funds in Deputy Commander Wei’s case, and gathering evidence to bring down the Su family—these are all significant accomplishments of Eldest Brother. They are more than enough to justify your promotion to Left Side Chancellor.” 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“What we need to do is get the people to pressure the court. The common people are well aware of your merits, Eldest Brother. I just need to remind them of your contributions...”

Mu Yingying explained her plan with a cunning smile. If her eldest brother became the Left Side Chancellor, it would help establish a strong power base to prepare for countering their major enemy, Shin Wang, in the future. Moreover, if their father learned that the coveted position had gone to his own son, what expression would he have then?...

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