Chapter 56 The Loyal and Brave Earl Who Attends Even More Frequently Than Attending Court "Third Brother, I..."

Mu Chuanchao enjoyed the banquets hosted by the Ministry of Personnel.

The food was delicious, and everyone in the Ministry of Personnel spoke in a pleasant and friendly manner. He also heard a lot about the local customs and jokes of the Wu and Yue regions, which made him very satisfied.

Before leaving, Mu Chuan went to say goodbye to Li Taijiu and said with a smile, "I will be taking up my post in a couple of days. The deputy general, the accountant, the cook, the armory and so on will all be replaced. If you have any young talents in your family who want to join the army, you might as well introduce a couple. I will have more people to serve."

Li Taijiu has already risen to the position of Minister of Personnel and is about to enter the cabinet. He also has many nephews and nieces, and not everyone in his family is suitable for the imperial examinations. Of course, he cannot send a good-for-nothing to the Earl of Zhongyong. This is clearly the first step in the deep cooperation between the two, and it must be a true young talent.

He thought about it carefully and said, "I do have a nephew. I'll have him come to find you after the fifteenth."

After saying that, Li Taijiu was a little worried. After all, Mu Chuan's face looked really honest. Although they had already made several steamed buns together in private, Li Taijiu was worried that he would be deceived if he didn't speak up.

"The relationships in the capital are complex and intertwined. General, don't extend too many favors and don't let anyone interfere."

Mu Chuan laughed and said, "It's precisely because we're in the capital that we're keeping it so tightly under wraps. If not a single word gets out, I don't plan to do anything anyway. I'll have to ask His Majesty to send a military supervisor later."

Li Taijiu understood; this was a way to let the emperor see for himself how many people wanted to interfere in the Northern Camp. His gaze towards Mu Chuan immediately changed.

"Well, the nephews and nieces of the adults are naturally not included. Besides, they have always been curious about how I conquered the chieftain's village almost without taking any damage, so it's a good opportunity to show them how I train troops."

"But what if someone learns it..."

Mu Chuan smiled and said, "Lord Li, you were able to become the Minister of Personnel, so you must have been at least in the second rank in the imperial examinations back then?"

Lee Tae-gu nodded and said proudly, "Second place in the second class."

"What about the students who studied with you in the same private school? What about the Jinshi (successful candidates in the imperial examination) who took the exam with you?"

Li Taijiu understood: "The confidence of the Marquis of Zhongyong makes me ashamed."

“If some people can’t even pass the county-level imperial examination under the same teacher, what good will it do them? It’s just that we all improve together. Once they can all catch up, I can come up with more effective training methods.”

After seeing Mu Chuan off, Li Taijiu said to Ke Yuanqing, who had been following him, "Lord Zhongyong... no wonder he is Lord Zhongyong. It's a pity, if he hadn't already found a girl he liked, I would have wanted to marry my daughter to him."

Ke Yuanqing only heard the word "also," and he laughed, "It's a pity my daughter is still young, and my sister is a bit older."

The two burst into laughter and returned to the Wu-Yue Guild Hall.

Mu Chuan rested at home for half a day, and the next day was another day of banquets. It was already the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, so Mu Chuan packed two boxes of pastries and went to the palace to meet the emperor.

This time, his approach was different. He ordered a eunuch to send one box of pastries to the Daming Palace, and then personally took the other box to the Imperial Study.

The emperor looked somewhat haggard, much like someone who says "I don't want to go to work" on the last two days of a long holiday.

Mu Chuan smiled and said, "These are newly made pastries. Last time we were in too much of a rush. Although the ingredients this time were not prepared by him personally, they are already seventy percent of his peak quality."

"Make a dessert and have Qiao Yue describe it in the style of 'Seven Heroes and Five Gallants'." The emperor graciously tasted two pieces. "In a little while, have Bai Zhong go back with you. The two residences I arranged for you are settled. Have him take you to see them."

Mu Chuan thought the emperor was truly a good emperor, and then said, "Your Majesty, speaking of which, Miss Lin is really in a pitiful state. What do you think of me having someone impersonate a member of the Lin family and bring her out?"

The emperor laughed and scolded, "Do you think it's appropriate to talk about such things with the emperor?"

“Then I have no one else to discuss this with.” Mu Chuan said very confidently. “I also sent people to look for the Lin family, but for some reason, I couldn’t find a single one.”

"I don't know! I'll pretend I didn't hear it."

Mu Chuan immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." After expressing his gratitude, he immediately changed to a serious topic, "I am new to this place, and there are many government offices in the capital. I would like to ask Your Majesty to assign a knowledgeable person as the supervisor of the Northern Camp."

The serious topic, coupled with his earnest tone and upright face, made the emperor, who hadn't quite caught up yet, feel a little embarrassed.

"I understand," the emperor replied, then, feeling it was just a perfunctory response, added, "I need to think about it carefully. Of the four camps—east, west, south, and north—the northern camp is the closest to the border, so I need to be more cautious."

It is said to be the closest to the border, but even if a large army were to march there, it would still take a month.

Mu Chuan straightened his face and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor then wondered if he had been too serious. Qiao Yue finally managed to confide some personal matters…

"Sigh." The emperor sighed. "Don't have people impersonate members of the Lin family. Have people impersonate servants of the Lin family first. That... at least under the Great Wei Law, it won't be a big problem."

The emperor is truly a good emperor; he personally teaches you how to exploit the bugs in the "Great Wei Law".

Mu Chuan looked at the emperor gratefully and said, "Although the snacks are delicious, they cannot replace meals. No matter how much Your Majesty likes them, please don't eat too many."

The emperor chuckled; he had really wasted his time eating snacks earlier.

Mu Chuan spoke with the emperor for a while longer. The emperor reiterated the importance of the Northern Camp and then said "I trust you" twice before letting Mu Chuan leave.

Upon exiting the Imperial Study, Bai Zhong was already waiting outside. Mu Chuan smiled apologetically, "I still have to go to the Daming Palace to pay my respects to the Emperor Emeritus."

Bai Zhong smiled and said, "Then I'll wait for you at the North Gate, sir."

Mu Chuan walked quickly all the way to Daming Palace, but once he arrived, he began to hesitate—at least the eunuchs at Daming Palace saw him as hesitant.

However, he didn't hesitate for long before Dai Quan came out.

"Why is the general suddenly shy?"

Mu Chuan cupped his hands in apology: "I am ashamed before the Emperor Emeritus."

Dai Quan was startled, and with a slight frown, forced a smile, saying, "I don't believe it. What did the general do? Could you tell me so I can help him out?"

Mu Chuan then recounted everything that Ke Yuanqing had uncovered: "The Rongguo Mansion is truly... How could the Emperor Emeritus... Sigh..."

Dai Quan understood his hesitation; it wasn't that he felt guilty towards the Emperor Emeritus, but rather that he thought the Emperor Emeritus had questionable taste.

But as the saying goes, which emperor wasn't deceived by a few treacherous officials when he was young?

Dai Quan laughed and said, "This is no big deal. Is it the behavior of a loyal minister for a general to avoid this?"

Didn't that reveal the truth? Mu Chuan looked apologetic: "I was narrow-minded."

Dai Quan extended his hand: "General, please."

Having already laid the groundwork, Mu Chuan entered the Daming Palace without further ado. After bowing, he addressed the Emperor Emeritus, saying, "It was Eunuch Dai who enlightened me. Your Majesty, I request that the Rongguo Mansion be severely punished. We cannot allow them to further tarnish Your Majesty's reputation!"

This kind of "please execute the treacherous minister" scene was something the retired emperor had experienced countless times during his long reign. He slammed his hand on the table with practiced ease and asked Dai Quan, "When will Jia Zheng return to the capital!"

Dai Quan replied, "Based on past experience, it will be no later than the 20th of the first lunar month."

The retired emperor comforted Mu Chuan, saying, "If you have any problems in the future, just tell me. Although I am no longer the emperor, I can still make decisions for you."

Mu Chuan then asked, "I do indeed have a question. I have visited the Rongguo Mansion several times and inquired about some things. Although the eldest son of the Rongguo Mansion who inherited the title is not a good person, compared to the second son, he can only be described as lacking in private morality. The second son..."

He shook his head and sighed, "Why did the Emperor Emeritus allow the second branch of the family to live in the main hall and inherit the title and property?"

The Emperor Emeritus was taken aback. How could he remember this? The Rongguo Mansion was not an important place to him.

"I... am too busy with state affairs to remember what happened more than twenty years ago. It seems—" The Emperor Emeritus hesitated for a moment, "It seems that the Duke of Rong submitted a memorial before his death? But the succession of a title is a matter of ancestral law. Why did I agree to such an absurd succession back then? How can a title be separated from property?"

Well, Lord Li and Lord Ke are going to be disappointed, and Mu Chuan is also a little disappointed; he was also curious about this.

Dai Quan hurriedly explained, "The Emperor is kind-hearted, and the Duke of Rong is on the verge of death. It's just an act of leniency outside the law."

Mu Chuan changed the subject, starting with snacks and then moving on to food. He mentioned that his mother's fried noodles with soybean paste were exceptional, which prompted the Emperor Emeritus to invite him to stay for lunch and even order the imperial kitchen to prepare fried noodles with soybean paste.

Mu Chuan praised, "The head chef of the Imperial Kitchen is truly skilled. Especially these scallions. They should be added when the sauce is fried, and then fried in hot oil after removing them from the heat. My mother doesn't have a very good grasp of the heat. Sometimes the scallions are fried until they turn yellow, and they lose the sweet and spicy flavor of fresh scallions, which isn't enough to cut through the greasiness. Sometimes they are added too late, and the scallions are too raw, making them too spicy and not tasty either. The ones in the palace are just right."

The retired emperor was persuaded by his words to eat another half bowl of noodles.

After lunch, Mu Chuan and Bai Zhong went to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence in the northern part of the city.

That's right, it's still called "Imperial Decree to Build the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery". The retired emperor gave a plaque, and the emperor also gave a plaque. It's so absurd that people like it.

"The space is all ready." The little eunuch called out, and Bai Zhong led him inside.

Mu Chuan looked surprised as soon as he entered: "I thought it was... but it turns out it has been tidied up inside."

Bai Zhong smiled meaningfully and said, "His Majesty's kindness towards you is truly rare."

Mu Chuan immediately bowed to the palace and decided to treat the emperor better from now on.

At least in the dragon boat races that the emperor mentioned, he had to win first place, and by a huge margin at that.

Start practicing after the fifteenth!

After viewing the mansion, the two came out, and Bai Zhong said with a smile, "Sir, could you teach me that skill of slipping a red seal into someone's hand without leaving a trace? I really... I've practiced it several times since I went back, but I haven't made any progress."

Mu Chuan chuckled twice and took out the red envelope: "Push your index and middle fingers forward, then make a stroke with your thumb." The red envelope was then in Bai Zhong's hand.

Once you know the basics of this movement, it becomes much simpler; it's just a matter of practice.

After trying four or five times, Bai Zhong finally transferred the red envelope to Mu Chuan.

Mu Chuan took it and left. Bai Zhong was stunned for a moment, then chased after him with a smile: "My lord! My lord? You can't not give the eunuch a reward. I also brought two godson with me."

After seeing Bai Zhong off, Mu Chuan had just returned to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence when his subordinates reported that the jade pendant made of fine jade that he had ordered to be found had been obtained.

Mu Chuan took a look and decided to take this opportunity to visit Daiyu again.

Ever since Jia Zhen sent Jin'er to the Rongguo Mansion to deliver a message, he has been paying attention to when the Earl of Zhongyong will arrive.

The Rongguo Mansion was already like a sieve, leaking everywhere, let alone the Ningguo Mansion next door coming to gather information.

"Not again?" Jia Zhen asked incredulously.

The steward nodded: "This time, we didn't bring anyone with us. We just sat in the warm pavilion in front with Miss Lin. It's just... I heard that even the maids weren't invited in."

Jia Zhen laughed in exasperation: "Coming every three days? She's not even this diligent when attending court. And this old lady is going to keep pretending not to see? She can't really be stupid, can she?"

Jia Zhen frowned and paced around the room: "After the Marquis of Zhongyong leaves, I will go to the Rongguo Mansion."

Mu Chuan was showing Lin Daiyu the jade pendant.

It was so green it was almost black, but when you looked at it in the sunlight, there wasn't a single spot inside. It felt cool to the touch.

The other piece was a pure white jade, without any other color, and it felt warm and smooth to the touch.

“One piece of warm jade and one piece of cold jade. Of course, we still burn charcoal in winter and use ice in summer. Expecting jade to keep warm or cool down is just a pipe dream.”

Lin Daiyu was both amused and exasperated. She was the one who was touched: "Third Brother, you're being too... like a cow chewing on a peony."

Mu Chuan retorted, "You're not even going to say thank you?"

"You gave me something like this, and all I get is a thank you?"

He does want something else, but it's not the right time to say it.

"Well, I said I'd find you two good pieces of jade the first time we met, and now that I've finally found them, it's hard to say thank you. Just don't think I went back on my word."

"Thank you, Third Brother." Lin Daiyu carefully put the jade back into the wooden box and asked cautiously, "Are you going to see the lanterns again on the fifteenth?"

Mu Chuan nodded: "Of course, I've arranged everything. I even went to the Imperial Observatory to check the weather. It's cold at night, so wear a thick cloak so you can warm up a bit when you're walking. Don't wear too many layers underneath, so you can move around easily."

After giving this instruction, he asked, "Do you know what Zhou Rui's surname is?"

Huh? What's this topic now? Lin Daiyu pondered, "I don't know, why is Third Brother suddenly asking me this?"

"Zhou Rui's family's surname is Jiang, as stated in the judgment. They are about to be exiled, and they will be joining my next caravan to Pingnan Town. They should depart around the twentieth day of the first lunar month. Would you like to see them off?"

"Third Brother is too wicked." Lin Daiyu curled her lips. "I have to go."

Mu Chuan chuckled twice. Lin Daiyu originally wanted to bring up her own grievances so that her third brother would comfort her.

She just couldn't feel sad when she saw her third brother. Even now, she has a smile on her lips. How could she possibly muster any emotion?

But... now that things have come to this, I can only force myself to be sad.

"Third Brother..." Lin Daiyu called out sadly.

"What's wrong?" Mu Chuan, who had been sitting opposite her, immediately moved to sit next to her. "Tell me where you feel unwell, where you've been wronged, and where you're unhappy."

She had been pretending, but hearing his gentle words of comfort, Lin Daiyu genuinely felt wronged.

“The other day I wanted to eat sweet porridge, but I was stuck in the mansion and couldn’t go out. My maids couldn’t leave the second gate, and my servants couldn’t leave the main gate either… I had no one to serve me, so I asked Baoyu to go and buy some sweet porridge for me.”

Lin Daiyu tried hard to recall her feelings at the time, but found that she actually enjoyed scolding Jia Baoyu... Oh well, she'll just have to play along.

"In the end, he also bought some for my maternal grandmother and my second aunt. I was so angry that I didn't eat. The maid even advised me not to get angry with Master Bao. Third brother... if it weren't for the snacks you gave me, I would have starved to death."

Mu Chuan patiently listened to her finish speaking, thinking that the beating was still too lenient. Since Li Chengwu knew people now, he might as well arrange for him to go and beat him up again, this time with a heavier hand.

Or should we arrange for him to beat up Master Xue this time? According to the rules of the spoiled young masters in the capital, it would be Master Bao who gets beaten up.

“I’ll arrange a few people for you: an old woman to serve you in your room, and a few male servants to guard the gate.”

Huh? This isn't quite what she planned. Putting everything else aside, if that old woman really comes in and sees how respectful the servants of the Rongguo Mansion are, what if Third Brother misunderstands her?

Lin Daiyu immediately revised her plan. Her third brother was a successful military general and the master of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. Unlike the men in the Rongguo Mansion who had to be mindful of their elders' feelings, he could not only comfort people but also truly solve problems.

"No need, Third Brother," Lin Daiyu said shyly. "It's not that uncomfortable."

Think of something quick! Quickly come up with a good reason to refuse!

Looking at Daiyu's nervous expression, Mu Chuan couldn't help but sigh. He said, "Or I could have someone bring you out. I still have a house—"

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but feel her ears getting hot.

“I asked… well, someone who specializes in the ‘Great Wei Law’. If I find someone to impersonate a servant of the Lin family, it shouldn’t be a big problem.”

"I...no need, Third Brother, really no need. I can't move out, back then..." Lin Daiyu said hesitantly, and then, thinking of her father and mother, she finally managed to muster a little sadness.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Third Brother, do you think—my father and mother actually hoped I would be a man?"

Lin Daiyu asked her third brother a few questions based on what Shi Xiangyun had said in private last time, which Xue Baoqin had also revealed.

“I learned the Four Books and Five Classics from a young age. My mentor was a scholar who had passed the imperial examination. I was raised as a boy, and I thought it was because they loved me. But... they said it was because my parents wanted a boy. They used me to pretend to be a boy.”

Mu Chuan felt extremely distressed, especially seeing her sitting there with her head slightly lowered, her figure no longer as upright as before, her thin body appearing even more desolate under the sunlight.

"No, of course not," Mu Chuan said firmly. "Lord Lin raised you like a boy in the hope that you would broaden your horizons, not be confined to the inner quarters, and have a better life in the future. Lord Lin and Madam Lin genuinely want the best for you."

"Third Brother, how come you're so good at comforting people?"

Mu Chuan continued, "The person who said that is narrow-minded and only cares about their own little plot of land in the backyard. I know it might be difficult for you to ignore her, but if anyone talks about you again, just curse them. If once doesn't work, curse them twice, and they won't dare to do it again."

That's true. Even Xue Baochai has to avoid her gaze these days. Although Shi Xiangyun sometimes dares to glare at her, she doesn't dare to say anything.

"But how should I scold her?" Lin Daiyu seemed a little better and asked with a hint of anxiety.

"Just say that Lord Lin didn't mean it that way. If she doesn't believe you, you can let her go down and ask your father. She can come back up after she's done asking."

Lin Daiyu chuckled: "Going down is easy, but how will you come back up after you've finished asking questions?"

Mu Chuan shrugged: "That's her problem."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "It's already this late, why don't you eat at Rongguo Mansion, Third Brother? Speaking of which, the chefs in the main kitchen have improved a lot, and they even have Suzhou cuisine now. It's all thanks to you, Third Brother."

Lin Daiyu realized that she couldn't say anything bad about the Rongguo Mansion, otherwise her third brother would definitely try every means to take her away. Then, she... only had Jia Baoyu as an option left.

"Should we ask Baoyu to keep us company?"

No… Mu Chuan suddenly felt that the pork in the noodles with soybean paste he ate for lunch was about to turn into a pig, running around in his stomach, and trying to crawl out of his throat.

"Have him accompany me?" Mu Chuan's tone was somewhat cold. "Fine, I'll test him then."

Seeing this unusual and strong reaction, Lin Daiyu was finally satisfied. She smiled and said, "Let's forget about it. Baoyu was beaten a couple of days ago and hasn't fully recovered yet. He can only eat light food for the next two days and needs to rest quietly in his room."

As she spoke, she got up and went to instruct the maids on what to eat.

Mu Chuan felt a mix of emotions. She thought to herself that she had also seen the unreliability of Jia Baoyu, so why... it was still the old father-in-law's problem. Why did he arrange a marriage for his wife?

The most important thing isn't him.

"Third Brother? Third Brother?" Lin Daiyu noticed that he was lost in thought as soon as she returned. She called out twice and then said, "I remember what Third Brother likes to eat. Third Brother, please see what I tell you later, okay?"

Mu Chuan felt a little jealous, not because Lin Daiyu remembered what he liked to eat, but because he was satisfied with just this little bit of warmth.

Jia Baoyu deserves to die.

It was lunchtime, and a group of people had gathered at Grandmother Jia's place in the backyard. The old woman who brought the news shrank back as soon as she entered.

Grandmother Jia disliked her hesitant manner at first glance. She said sternly, "Does my room look like a den of dragons and tigers? Where did you learn this timid and cowardly manner? There are no such rules in my Rongguo Mansion. Speak loudly if you have something to say!"

Helpless, the old woman could only try her best to reply calmly: "Uncle Zhongyong... Miss Lin said that Uncle Zhongyong should stay for dinner and asked the kitchen to prepare food."

Grandmother Jia was so angry that she stood there stunned for a long time before she spoke: "Then go to the main kitchen, or come to my room. Do you think I know how to cook?"

Yuanyang quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Mother Zhang didn't explain clearly. Miss Lin isn't coming here for dinner tonight, is she?"

Mrs. Zhang gave her a grateful look and nodded quickly: "That's right! Miss Lin apologizes to the old lady and will not be coming for dinner tonight."

Grandmother Jia took a deep breath: "Go down."

Wang Xifeng also shrank back, afraid that if Grandmother Jia spoke, she would ask Jia Lian to accompany her.

Jia Baoyu's expression became even more unnatural.

"Sister Lin too." Shi Xiangyun suddenly whispered, but because the room was very quiet, even Grandmother Jia, whose hearing was not very good, could hear her clearly. "This is the Rongguo Mansion. If you want to invite guests to dinner, you should ask first."

Grandmother Jia always knew that Shi Xiangyun was somewhat jealous of Lin Daiyu, feeling that after Lin Daiyu arrived, neither she nor Baoyu treated her as well as before.

As a result, Grandmother Jia became somewhat distant from Shi Xiangyun, but today, Grandmother Jia found her words quite pleasing to the ear.

"Well, he is, after all, the Marquis of Zhongyong," Grandmother Jia said with a smile. "If we were to come back and ask for instructions, it would seem rather ungenerous."

Shi Xiangyun dared to say such a thing, and upon hearing Grandmother Jia's response, she simply said "oh" and let it go.

Halfway through their meal, another old woman suddenly entered. Grandmother Jia didn't recognize her, but she knew she must be the old woman who relayed messages at the second gate.

"What's going on over there?" Grandmother Jia asked in a deep voice.

When Zhang Mama returned just now, she was sweating profusely and looked terrified. This old woman was also trembling: "Uncle Zhongyong said the food was very good, and he told Master Bao to come and see him after he finished eating, as he had something to tell him. He also said that Master Bao is not young anymore and should find a job."

Jia Baoyu was struck dumb, and even dropped his chopsticks.

But when Grandmother Jia heard these words, she didn't know how to react. She not only found them distorted, but also absurd.

Zhou Rui's entire family of thirteen was arrested. Her second son was urgently summoned back to Beijing, and his current situation is still unknown.

Why would the Marquis of Zhongyong test Baoyu? And even help him find connections?

He can't really want to be the older brother, can he?

This… Grandmother Jia’s gaze shifted to Baoyu. The matter was so unbelievable that she was eager to know what the Marquis of Zhongyong was planning.

"Baoyu, go and take a look."

Jia Baoyu grunted like a quail, then put down the last chopstick: "I'm done eating."

In the front yard, it was already getting dark. Mu Chuan finished eating and stood up to move around a bit. In the distance, he saw Jia Baoyu walking towards him, huddled together. He was about to say, "His manners are terrible," when he turned his head and saw Lin Daiyu with her brows slightly furrowed.

Sigh... that's not how you deal with blond hair.

"Your demeanor is a little lacking, but don't worry, it can be fixed."

Lin Daiyu almost burst out laughing. Cured? Is that even possible?

When she was a child, she often heard her mother say that this cousin was "exceptionally unruly and extremely averse to studying." Even her second aunt said that he was "a wicked and troublesome person, a devil incarnate."

Even if it means starting treatment from the womb.

Is there any hope left?

Lin Daiyu chuckled, then quickly covered it up by calling out, "Baoyu."

Mu Chuan's face darkened. That blond-haired guy was despicable!