The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 98 - 97

Chapter 97 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

After Mu Gongzhen was appointed as the Left Side Chancellor, the Mu family was like a tiger with wings once more, drawing the attention of people throughout the capital. Numerous congratulatory gifts were sent to Mu Manor, and the servants were exhausted over the past five days, welcoming a continuous stream of guests from all directions.

Of course, this event had both those who were pleased and those who were not. Mu Cui Ming was among the latter. For several days, he often left the manor, either claiming to discuss official matters at other officials’ residences or to work outside, all as excuses to avoid the awkward atmosphere in which the father had to listen to the praises from guests who came congratulating his son.

Mu Gongzhen, having just taken on his new position, was quite busy. There was a lot of leftover work from his predecessor that awaited his attention, causing him to rarely return home. Consequently, the responsibility of welcoming the many visitors to the Mu manor fell upon Elder Mu Furen...

While the main quarter was bustling, Mu Yingying’s secondary quarter was as quiet as if it were cut off from the outside world. Today was no different. Her eldest brother was not at home, and her eldest sister was attending the Imperial Academy. Thus, Mu Yingying could only quietly review trade documents in her quarters.

In the first two days, Mu Yingying had gone out to help the Elder Furen receive guests. However, when she saw how many people were clearly trying to curry favor with her to get close to her brother, she quickly used the excuse of not feeling well to retreat to her own quarters. She believed that her grandmother could handle the situation without difficulty.

"Miss, Elder Furen sent word that you should go and enjoy the festival with the other young misses tonight during the Xu hour[1]," Su Su reported to her mistress as she brought a freshly warmed teapot from the kitchen, pouring tea into a cup for Mu Yingying.

Having finished the last character with her brush, Mu Yingying set it down on the stand unhurriedly. She took the teacup, sipping to quench her thirst while looking over the documents in front of her. "The festival tonight?"

"Yes, Miss. It’s the annual festival where the people of the capital will celebrate in the commercial district. There will be riddle guessing, lantern floating, and even theatrical performances. It will be quite lively tonight."

"It has been a long time since I last went to a festival..."

Mu Yingying murmured softly to herself; her big, round eyes momentarily distant as she recalled past memories. However, she quickly brought herself back to the present. She extended her hand to fan the ink on the paper to dry it faster and asked in a calm voice, "Was this my grandmother’s idea?"

"It seems not, Miss. It was the Third Young Miss who suggested it first. She mentioned that it had been a long time since the siblings had gone out to enjoy themselves together. Additionally, she noticed that you had never attended this festival before, so she thought it would be nice to invite you,"

Su Su explained in detail. This information was brought by the eyes and ears of her young miss who were stationed in the main quarters, ensuring no detail was left out.

"Third Sister?"

Mu Yingying raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise. She had been quite busy dealing with enemies recently, so she hadn’t paid much attention to her half-sisters. She didn’t expect them to make the first move toward her.

"Send these documents to Uncle Wang."

After ensuring the ink was dry, Mu Yingying folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to Su Su. Then, she stood up and stretched to relieve her muscles, revealing a sly smile.

"In that case, let’s get ready. Tonight’s festival should be quite a spectacle..."

Main Quarters

In the sitting room of the main quarters, the figures of six women, both young and old, were sitting and conversing in a relaxed manner. Seated in the highest position was Elder Mu Furen, sipping tea and quietly listening to the conversation. Her complexion looked much better than before, indicating her health had significantly improved and almost returned to normal.

"Fortunately, there are fewer guests visiting the residence today, allowing Mother some time to rest. Otherwise, Mother would have been exhausted from constantly welcoming guests,"

Lan Yi, or Concubine Lan, said with a flattering smile towards Elder Mu Furen. She seemed quite happy. Ever since her rival, Xie Yang, had been given authority to manage the household, Lan Yi often wore a sour expression, unable to find opportunities to shine.

However, due to the influx of guests over the past several days, Elder Mu Furen had called Lan Yi to help with the hospitality alongside Xie Yang. Since there was no true mistress of the house, it was necessary for the remaining concubines to assist. In addition to the two concubines, Elder Mu Furen also had her three quiet granddaughters help to introduce them to society.

Although the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Young Misses were daughters of concubines, they were still granddaughters of Elder Mu Furen. As they were nearing the age to debut in society, Elder Mu Furen took this opportunity to make the three of them known to the public, preparing them for their future social engagements.

Meanwhile, Xie Yang, who was resting nearby, smirked slightly. She knew exactly what Lan Yi was up to.

Whenever guests visited, Lan Yi would seize the opportunity to befriend the Furens, constantly praising her daughter, probably in hopes of finding a young master from a good family for her daughter to marry...

"The annual festival taking place tonight, what do you think of it, Mother?" Xie Yang asked Elder Mu Furen in a gentle voice, her beautiful face graced with a delicate, sweet smile. She intentionally ignored Lan Yi’s words, changing the subject as if the other woman was invisible.

Lan Yi, seeing herself being ignored, could only glare at Xie Yang with resentment, her slender hand clenched tightly under her sleeve to suppress her anger.

"I’m old...I don’t have the energy to go out and enjoy the festival." Elder Mu Furen placed her teacup on the table beside her, then added, "Tonight, you all can take the children out to have fun."

The eyes of the three young misses of the Mu family lit up immediately upon hearing this. They were still young maidens, naturally excited at the prospect of attending such a lively annual festival.

As the sun set, the sky was enveloped in the darkness of night. The atmosphere in the capital, which was usually tranquil, was noticeably bustling and lively, a stark contrast to the usual. The continuous sound of music and fireworks filled the air. Lights from shops, restaurants, and lanterns illuminated the entire capital, making the night as bright as day.

Mu Yingying, waiting for her sister at the front of the quarters, gazed absentmindedly at the fireworks outside the manor. The bright lights reflected in her big, round eyes, creating a sparkling effect. She tightened her cloak around herself unknowingly, lost in thought.

In her previous life, Mu Yingying had only attended the festival outside twice with her sister. Each time, it had been an unpleasant experience...

She still remembered clearly how, during the first festival with her sister, Mu Luofei pretended to get separated from them, leaving them alone at the festival and they had to find a way back home by themselves. That time, they would have nearly been kidnapped, if not for a kind passerby who helped them.

At the second festival, Mu Qin Shuang pushed her off a boat during a festival tour at Emerald Lake, causing her to fall ill for many days. She almost didn’t survive from drowning. After that, Mu Yingying and Mu Qingxuan were forbidden by their father from attending any more festivals outside the manor. As a result, the two sisters never went to another festival again...

What was once excitement had turned into indifference. Mu Yingying wasn’t particularly thrilled about attending the festival tonight, thinking of it as merely a chance to change the scenery.

"Ying’er..."

A gentle voice called out, drawing Mu Yingying’s attention. When she looked, she saw that her elder sister was ready. Despite wearing simple, ordinary attire, Mu Qingxuan’s beauty remained undiminished.

"My elder sister is as beautiful as ever." Mu Yingying shook her head slightly to dispel memories of her past life, then put on a normal expression. She walked over to hold her sister’s hand, smiling mischievously.

"It seems that tonight many young masters will have their hearts flutter because of my elder sister’s beauty."

"You..." Mu Qingxuan laughed softly as she held her younger sister’s hand, leading her to join the others at the manor’s gate.

When the two sisters arrived, the others had already been waiting for some time. Since Elder Mu Furen had mentioned that she would rest in her quarters, and Mu Cui Ming hadn’t returned to the manor since morning, while Mu Gongzhen was busy with official duties, the two concubines had to take the six young misses of the Mu family to the festival themselves.

"Do you think you’re the mistress of the house now? Making everyone wait this long is quite rude," Lan Yi, who had been waiting for a long time, couldn’t help but complain irritably. Although her words were not loud, they were clear enough for everyone nearby to hear.

Xie Yang, equally irritated but not wanting to stir up trouble like Lan Yi, pretended not to hear her words, playing deaf and blind. Xie Yang wasn’t the only one. Mu Tingge and Mu An Yue also smirked inwardly at the two sisters. Only the fifth young miss of the Mu family, Mu Jie, stood at the back with her head down, as if she were invisible.

Mu Yingying glanced at the bold Concubine Lan for a moment before a fleeting smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. It seemed she had let the people in the manor live too comfortably; hence, they were now seeking trouble for themselves...

"If I remember correctly, Grandmother said to leave at the Xu hour, did she not? And now it is indeed the Xu hour. So, who exactly is being rude?"

Mu Qingxuan spoke in a calm voice, her peach blossom eyes narrowing as she gazed coldly at the group before her. The meeting time was the Xu hour, yet the others had arrived early on their own accord and had the nerve to accuse them of being late.

Who was truly being rude?...

Mu Qingxuan’s words were akin to a slap in the face for Lan Yi and the others, causing their faces to burn with embarrassment. Mu Yingying couldn’t help but silently praise her sister.

If kindness was shown, we reciprocated. If malice was shown, we retaliated in kind!

Xie Yang smiled briefly before quickly speaking to ease the situation. "It’s now the Xu hour, so let’s head out."

Mu Qingxuan nodded in agreement, leading her younger sister by the hand past Lan Yi and onto the first carriage, ignoring the others. Once the two sisters were seated in the carriage, the others followed suit, boarding the remaining carriages. The three Mu family carriages then began their journey towards the festival venue in the commercial district.

Throughout their route, the streets were crowded with people bustling back and forth. Even before reaching the heart of the festival in the commercial district, the number of attendees had already caused significant congestion. Eventually, the carriages could go no further, and the Mu family members had to disembark and walk through the festival grounds themselves.

"There are many people at this festival. Stay close so we don’t get separated," Xie Yang, taking on the role of guardian, reminded the children.

The women and young misses of the Mu family gathered close together, heeding Xie Yang’s warning, before starting to walk around and enjoy the festival tonight. The sides of the road were filled with stalls selling a variety of goods. People continued to flow into the event without pause, and the colorful lanterns adorned the streets prominently.

The sound of music from the bands, the loud noises from the street performances, and the continuous chatter of the people created a truly festive atmosphere.

"Mother! Mother, look at that! These accessories are so beautiful!"

Mu An Yue immediately tugged on her mother’s sleeve as soon as she saw the beautiful jewelry on the stall ahead. Jade bracelets, necklaces, and hairpins caught the eyes of many women, especially young girls like Mu An Yue and Mu Tingge, who stared at the stall with sparkling eyes.

"If Yue’er wants anything, just tell me, and I’ll buy it for you," Lan Yi said as she patted her daughter’s head lovingly. The accessories were quite beautiful, and her daughter would look even more gorgeous with them.

"Thank you, Mother!" Upon hearing her mother’s words, Mu An Yue smiled widely and turned to look at Mu Tingge with a smug expression.

Mu Tingge, not wanting to be outdone by Mu An Yue, turned to give her mother a pleading look. Seeing Xie Yang nod in approval, Mu Tingge quickly squeezed in beside Mu An Yue to pick out the accessory.

Mu Qingxuan watched her two half-sisters excitedly picking out the accessory for a moment before turning to the person beside her. "Ying’er...do you want any of those accessories?"

"Do you think I look like someone who lacks those things?" Mu Yingying said with a laugh, her big, round eyes sparkling with mischief. Mu Qingxuan laughed along with her, realizing a certain truth.

Her Ying’er was a wealthy tycoon!

If Ying’er wanted, it wouldn’t just be an accessory; even land or a big mansion was within her means...

The two sisters, well aware of the truth, paid no attention to the accessories before them. They looked around to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the evening. Mu Tingge, who had already chosen a jade bracelet, glanced at Mu Yingying before picking up a silver bracelet.

"Seventh Sister, is there any accessory you fancy? If there is, just tell Mother Xie, and Mother Xie will buy it for you," Mu Tingge said with a friendly smile, lifting Mu Yingying’s arm to put on the silver bracelet she chose.

"Look! This silver bracelet suits Seventh Sister perfectly."

Mu Yingying looked down at the silver bracelet on her wrist with a mysterious smile. This Third Sister of hers had never shown her any kindness in both her past and present lives. They had always kept to themselves. Why now did she want to befriend her?

"Mother, can you buy this silver bracelet for Seventh Sister? It seems our Seventh Sister likes this silver bracelet very much," Mu Tingge assumed, seeing no response from the other party. Believing the little one was pleased with the bracelet, she quickly turned to her mother with a wide smile, seizing the opportunity to score points with her half-sister.

"Ge’er really knows how to please her younger sister," Xie Yang couldn’t help but admire her daughter’s cleverness before turning to Mu Yingying. "Seventh Young Miss, in that case, let Mother Xie buy this bracelet for you."

Mu Yingying glanced at the delighted expressions of the mother and daughter in front of her for a moment. Inwardly, she laughed at their foolishness. Did they think she didn’t know why they were suddenly being so kind and attentive? It was clear without much thought that it was because of her eldest brother!

Even though Xie Yang currently held the authority to manage the household affairs, she still held the position of a concubine. If the mother and daughter wanted to prosper, they would have to cling to the golden pillar that was Mu Gongzhen, the eldest young master with a bright future...

Although these two hadn’t had any serious grudges against her in her previous life, during the times she and her siblings were struggling, they had turned a blind eye, ignoring their hardships. There were many times when the mother and daughter duo conspired to bully them. Therefore, Mu Yingying saw no reason to befriend them now!

Even though the grudge was minor, she would surely repay it!

"Thank you for your kindness, Mother Xie, and thank you, Third Sister, for choosing this silver bracelet. You truly know my heart well. I was just looking for a suitable bracelet to give to Su Su," Mu Yingying said with a wide smile, her round face showing an innocent expression. She took off the silver bracelet from her wrist and put it on Su Su, who was standing by her side.

"See...Third Sister has an eye for these things! This bracelet suits Su Su perfectly!"

Mu Tingge watched her half-sister’s actions with a sense of resentment, her face heating up as if blood was rushing through her veins. The bracelet she had personally chosen for Mu Yingying was given to a servant!

Moreover, Mu Yingying complimented her for having a good eye, meaning she picked something suitable for a servant. Wasn’t that a veiled insult, implying she had low taste!?

[1] Xu hour starts from 7:00 to 8:59 PM.

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