"It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Guards, escort them away and beat them soundly. Let's see who can recall something useful." The Fifth Prince was angered by the audacity of someone acting within his own estate, feeling that their reach was too long.
Soon, screams echoed from outside. To make an example, the Fifth Prince ordered the steward to summon all the servants to witness the punishment.
This method proved effective. A scullery maid soon pointed out that when she entered the kitchen that morning, she saw Qiu Ju acting suspiciously, hiding something. At the time, she hadn't thought much of it, assuming the girl was stealing some ingredients for a private meal. She'd turned a blind eye then, but now, recalling the incident, she found it highly suspicious.
"My lord, spare me! Don't listen to her lies. I've served in this estate for so many years, how could I possibly engage in such petty thievery? She's clearly seeking personal revenge. Yesterday, I reprimanded her for being slow, and she's held a grudge. Now she's found an opportunity to retaliate by pushing me forward. I implore my lord to see through this deception."
Qiu Ju, the maid named by the other, turned pale at her words. She rushed forward, kneeling and begging for mercy.
"Seize her and take her to the dungeon for a thorough interrogation." The Fifth Prince watched her with a calm expression, unwilling to let any doubt go unaddressed.
Qiu Ju knew her fate was dire. Not only would she suffer torture, but her life would likely be forfeit. Without hesitation, she pulled a dagger from her sleeve and plunged it into her heart. Her action shocked everyone present.
The Fifth Prince's attendant had already lunged forward the moment she produced the dagger, intending to disarm her. However, she was faster. He was a step too late. Seeing her release a sigh of relief, he stamped his foot in frustration and then looked at the Fifth Prince with self-reproach.
The Fifth Prince waved his hand. This was not his fault; it was his carelessness. Fearing he might wrong an innocent person, he hadn't expected the woman to go to such lengths once she suspected she was under suspicion.
The lead here went cold. However, he noticed from then on that the people in his estate showed him significantly more respect. They understood that the incident had instilled a sense of awe in them, dispelling the notion that the Fifth Prince was as gentle and refined as he appeared. He, too, had a temper, and those who dared to harm him would pay with their lives.
Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, it was the day of the Fifth Prince's wedding. The Fifth Prince's estate was festively decorated. Even the Fifth Prince, who usually maintained a stoic expression, couldn't help but smile. He personally oversaw the preparations, determined to make the wedding grand.
The Xu family lived very close to the Fifth Prince's estate. Mu Fei, confined within the estate, heard the festive music and noises from outside. She stood by the door and asked the old woman guarding her what all the commotion was about. Upon learning it was Mu Yan's wedding, her expression contorted. She thought about how long she had been confined to a small courtyard since arriving at the Xu family's. Meanwhile, Mu Yan was undoubtedly having a magnificent wedding, so grand that even she could hear it from inside.
She realized that whenever Mu Yan was involved, her carefully cultivated sense of calm would shatter.
Why should she suffer here while Mu Yan was living in splendor? Weren't they both daughters of the Mu family? She had grown up in the countryside, and she couldn't understand why the Fifth Prince would favor Mu Yan.
So, she took out the whistle she wore around her neck and blew it aimlessly. Her personal maid paid it no mind, assuming her mistress was merely bored and blowing the whistle to pass the time.
Meanwhile, Wu Caiwei was woken before dawn by her maid to begin her preparations. For appearance's sake, she even released Madam Mu. Listening to the stiff instructions from her parents, she perfunctorily nodded.
Prime Minister Mu's eyes lit up as he saw the chests of dowry being carried out. Most of it was a gift from the Emperor and Empress, but the Fifth Prince had also secretly sent some, demonstrating his deep regard for his daughter.
Regardless, the grand dowry represented the prestige of the Mu family. He was filled with joy, and his gaze towards his daughter softened with affection. Madam Mu, on the other hand, looked at her husband's delighted face and thought of her daughter, who had not returned home since leaving. She seethed with resentment.
However, for the sake of her son, she had no choice but to endure. Despite her and Prime Minister Mu having grown up together, he would do anything for his career and the Mu family's glory.
Before releasing her, he had explicitly instructed her to pay more attention to their eldest daughter and not oppose her. Her well-being would benefit both sons. He wanted her to mend their relationship. Otherwise, he would not hesitate to find them a new mother, especially since her relationship with the Fifth Princess Consort was so strained; perhaps with a new mother, they could get along better.
Although these words brought a pang of sadness to Madam Mu's heart, she was not surprised. In her eyes, Prime Minister Mu was a man who would stop at nothing. Despite her discomfort, she forced a smile that day, making it seem genuine.
After joyfully seeing their daughter off, Prime Minister Mu glanced at his wife and nodded approvingly. He felt she had conducted herself appropriately today. In his mind, his wife was different from others. If it weren't absolutely necessary, he wouldn't seek another companion.
Madam Mu was a master of reading people. Seeing her husband's expression, she unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. However, if her husband dared to divorce her, she would not let him off easily. Madam Mu never considered herself a good person, but she had her reasons for enduring.
Her husband had been extremely discreet, but she had still uncovered a secret. If she were to reveal this secret to the Fifth Princess Consort, she was certain the Mu family would be thrown into chaos.
Of course, she would not go to such extreme measures unless she was desperate. After all, the Mu estate would one day belong to her sons, and she did not want to jeopardize their future because of that matter. However, if they were to find a new mother, it would be different. A young woman would undoubtedly bear more sons for Prime Minister Mu. With her influence, he might lose his bearings and leave the entire fortune to his youngest son. Her philosophy was: if I cannot have it, I will destroy it. No one will benefit.
Prime Minister Mu could not fathom his wife's thoughts. He assumed that her period of confinement had made her see things more clearly, that she understood the benefits the Fifth Princess Consort could bring to the Mu family and had restrained herself. Upon her release, she hadn't mentioned their unpromising daughter.
The thought of Mu Fei filled him with disappointment. He had once considered her intelligent and worthy of special attention, only to discover she had acted in such a manner. If his son-in-law hadn't informed him, he wouldn't have known that his own daughter intended to take the Fifth Princess Consort to the Xu family.