The prison was dark and damp, the air was turbid and there was a sour, smelly and rotten smell.
There was one room for men and one for women. The small cell was packed with people.
There was a window that was opened very high, and a faint light came in through the small window, dim and depressing.
The masters, ladies and young ladies, who usually lived a life of luxury, sat on the ground in groups of three or four, complaining to each other.
The Mu clan members blamed the direct branch for causing trouble and bringing them great harm.
The Mu family members retorted rudely, saying that they enjoyed themselves normally, and took advantage of the power and influence of the legitimate branch to gain benefits. So what right did they have to blame them when something went wrong?
There is also unrest between the first and third wives of the direct line. You blame me, I blame you, and the quarrels are endless, and each of them is like a black chicken eye.
Only the second wife sat quietly in the corner, not participating in anything.
Mu Wanqing had exhausted all her energy from the battle of wits and courage, and fell asleep in her mother's warm arms.
Madam Mu looked at her pale daughter with pity. The child had lost so much blood on her forehead that her vitality was greatly damaged.
Alas, she couldn’t even make a bowl of nourishing soup for her daughter.
Mu Wanqing didn't know how long she had slept when she was suddenly awakened by a scream.
"The old lady is awake."
The Mu family members all looked over and saw Old Lady Mu being helped up tremblingly and sitting against the wall.
"Mother." Mu Zhongde in the cell opposite was extremely excited, "I'm glad you're okay."
Old Madam Mu is the ancestor of the mansion. She is very capable and the backbone of the Mu family.
At this moment, she seemed to be ten years older, haggard, and her kind face revealed a bit of meanness.
She shouted loudly, "Don't cry, our Mu family is not at the end of its rope yet. There are still countless relatives and friends out there running around to rescue us. Shu'er and Wan'er will also find a way. We will definitely be able to get out safely."
These two people are Mrs. Mu’s biological daughters, and they both married well.
With just a few words from her, everyone calmed down. It turns out that age is the best.
"Boss, think about whether you have any reliable relatives or friends and find a way to ask them for help."
"Yes." Mu Zhongde responded immediately.
Old Madam Mu was the winner of the fight in the backyard, and even at this point, she remained calm.
"Eldest wife, Third wife, find a way to contact your maternal family and ask your in-laws to use their connections to rescue us. No one in the Mu family will forget this kindness."
These two are her legitimate daughters-in-law. She has carefully selected them and their family backgrounds are equally matched.
The only second son's wife who was not named, Qian, felt uncomfortable all over.
Her family... let's not talk about it.
Both daughters-in-law agreed, but Mrs. Mu San hesitated, "But, how do we contact the outside world?"
They have nothing now, no money, no power, and no influence. How can they make connections?
Old Madam Mu was confident, "I have my own way."
Seeing that she was so confident, a glimmer of hope ignited in the hearts of the Mu family.
Old Mrs. Mu was also a capable person. After a while, she started chatting with several jailers. They had a very good and lively conversation.
I heard that one of the jailers' ancestors had done this for generations, and he even became a small leader. Old Mrs. Mu's eyes flashed slightly.
"Sir, how many children do you have?"
It was not the first time that the jailer had seen an official's wife in distress, but the fact that the official's wife spoke to him with some respect and enthusiasm satisfied his vanity greatly.
"Three sons."
"You are so lucky, have you got married?" Old Madam Mu smiled kindly, "If not, I will do my best to find a matchmaker for you."
The officer was moved, "My youngest son is not married yet."
Old Madam Mu smiled even more enthusiastically, pointing her finger at Mu Wanqing who was sleeping in the corner, "Look, what do you think of my granddaughter? She has been docile, well-behaved and obedient since she was a child, well-educated and well-mannered, and proficient in everything from playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. I love her the most. If you don't mind, I will betroth my granddaughter to your youngest son, what do you think?"
"This..." The jailer was very tempted. People are divided into different classes, and they, the jailers, are the lowest class, a lowly class, which is a world of difference between them and the officials.
The two daughters-in-law he married were both illiterate women of low birth, and he dreamed of changing his family...
Being able to marry the daughter of an official to improve your bloodline and bring in the scent of scholars is a great thing that was unthinkable in the past.
But, this comes with risks.
According to the rules of the court, if the wife of a criminal official is engaged, the man can take her away if he is willing to fulfill the engagement.
Nor will it implicate married aunts.
The rules are set like this, but it is human instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm.
After all, who doesn’t have a few rivals? What if you get implicated?
Old Madam Mu smiled and looked at her bastard. "Second brother, I will find a good place for the third girl so that she doesn't have to suffer with us. What do you think?"
Master Mu always felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't figure it out for a moment. As a father who loved his children, he naturally hoped that his daughter would be free from suffering. "Thank you, mother..."
Uncle Mu's eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.
Before Master Mu could finish, a cold voice rang out, "If it's so good, why don't you let your granddaughter go?"
It was Mu Wanqing. She turned over and sat up, brushing her messy hair.
"I would like to follow the example of Kong Rong, who gave up his pears to his younger sisters, so that they can enjoy the happiness."
If she doesn't wake up, she will be taken away and sold. Old Madam Mu is such a disgrace.
Her own father was spoiled and sold, and she still helped count the money.
"My Ah Xue and Ah Shuang are still young." Madam Mu San jumped out hastily, "Wan Qing, this is a token of your grandmother's love. You must not let her down."
"Third Aunt, what you said is not right." Mu Wanqing refuted seriously, "Grandmother always told me that I should respect and love my elder sister and not compete with her in everything. My younger sister is young, so I should give in to her in everything."
"After all, they are my grandmother's legitimate granddaughters. My father was born out of wedlock. We, the second branch, have no blood relationship with my grandmother. My sisters are more noble than me. I understand all of this."
The jailer didn't understand until then what about the most beloved granddaughter? It was all a lie!
The others also understood and had complicated expressions.
Madam Mu II couldn't help but get anxious, "Old lady, since ancient times, parents have been in charge of their children's marriages. I don't agree..."
Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Old Madam Mu's angry shout, "Second son's wife, you disobey your mother-in-law, do you want to be divorced?"
Mu Wanqing had no intention of quarreling with anyone, as she had already become a prisoner, but the old lady's move was so disgusting that it crossed her bottom line.
She said in a gloomy tone, "That's great, hurry up and let my mother escape. The old lady has finally done something humane."
Old Madam Mu stared at her with cold eyes, but Mu Wanqing was not afraid at all and even smiled at her wickedly.
Do you still think you are the old lady who has the final say?
Mu Zhongde was furious, "Mu Wanqing, how dare you talk to your grandmother like that? How did you learn the rules?"
In the Mu family, Old Lady Mu is the top of the pyramid.
Next are the two brothers Mu Zhongde and Mu Zhongwen, followed by their sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law.
Mu Zhongping from the second house was at the bottom of the social ladder and had no say at all. Even the children from the third house did not take his second uncle seriously.
Mu Wanqing smiled nonchalantly, "Uncle, the century-old Mu family was destroyed in your hands. You have completely destroyed the foundation of several generations of the Mu family. Are you still qualified to talk about rules? Anyone with a bit of shame would have died to apologize."
Nothing is more murderous than this.
Mu Zhongde was trembling all over and his eyes were red.
Everyone looked at each other, at a loss.
Old Madam Mu looked at Mu Wanqing with eyes as cold as a poisonous snake. Suddenly, her face turned stern and she gave her a serious lecture.
"Listen, everyone in the Mu family must put the family first, even if it means sacrificing their own lives. The Mu family is in great trouble now, and as descendants of the Mu family, it is our responsibility to work hard to continue the family."
Her prestige was so great that the Mu family members habitually lowered their hands and listened to her instructions, "Yes."
She looked at the bastard coldly, "Zhongping, you are also a descendant of the Mu family. You have been protected by the Mu family for decades and have enjoyed a life of luxury for so long. It's time to give back to the Mu family."
Master Mu felt bitter in his mouth, as if he had drunk a big bowl of Coptis chinensis. Just because they were born out of wedlock, would he push them away the first time something went wrong?
Uncle Mu was indeed a high-ranking official. He had good psychological qualities and soon recovered. He acted like an elder brother and said, "Zhongping, just do whatever mother tells you to do. She will never be wrong."
Third Master Mu nodded desperately, "Yes, it's worth sacrificing one person for the whole family. Second brother, what are you still considering?"
Madam Mu couldn't help but get anxious. Why should her daughter be sacrificed?
Just as she was about to speak, Mu Wanqing gently held her back. Mu Wanqing raised her head and sighed, "My dear ancestors of the Mu family, your descendants are incompetent at everything they do, and selling women for fame is the best. Uncle, Third Uncle, you are really promising."
When these sarcastic words were spoken, the Mu family members blushed.
"Mu Wanqing, your surname is Mu, and you have responsibilities..." Old Madam Mu has the final say in the Mu family and does not allow anyone to challenge her authority.
Mu Wanqing thought she was a good-tempered person, but facing an old lady like this, there was no way to reason with her.
Roll up your sleeves and get to work.
"What a grand official, packaging selfishness and viciousness as great benevolence and righteousness. This is the importance of learning conversation skills. Big brother, you should all learn from this."
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm, "Old lady, if we talk about the people who have received the most favors from the Mu family, it is the children of the eldest wife. They are the direct descendants, and they have the best food, clothing, housing and transportation. They live in the most spacious courtyards, eat the best meals, and wear the best clothes. Now, when there is a need for sacrifice, they should be the ones to make the first move."
"Enjoyment and obligation are linked. It doesn't make sense that all the benefits belong to them and then others should be blamed for the bad things."
Old Madam Mu disagreed and said as a matter of course, "Direct descendants are the most precious of the family. They are the hope of the family..."
And illegitimate children are used to pave the way, otherwise what is the point of keeping them?
Mu Wanqing couldn't help but laugh, "He's a parasite, good for nothing, hiding behind his parents when things get tough, irresponsible waste."
She had a very sharp tongue, and every word she said hit the Mu family sore spot.
Isn't it? Since the confiscation of their property, which of their descendants has taken responsibility? They are all crying and howling, begging for mercy.
But the Mu family couldn't bear it anymore because they knew the truth but didn't say it out loud.
Old Madam Mu was so angry that she was shaking all over. "Zhongping, please take care of your daughter. What has she become of her? She has brought shame to our Mu family."
"It turns out that the Mu family still cares about their reputation." Mu Wanqing opened her eyes wide in surprise, with an exaggerated expression, "This is the first time I know this, haha."
A haha, it's so magical.
Old Mrs. Mu felt that all the blood in her body was rushing to her head. Her face turned red and she felt dizzy.
Mr. Mu was afraid that she would get angry and hurt herself, and then his daughter would not be able to escape responsibility, "Wanqing, just say less."
Since Mu Wanqing has taken action, there must be a result.
Now is the best time to break free from authority and rebuild order.
A cold smile appeared on her lips. Come on, use your trump card!
People around felt inexplicably cold and shivered, having a premonition that something terrible was going to happen.
The author has something to say:
The weather is so nice, I really want to go out for a walk, but unfortunately, there is the epidemic.
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