Chapter 52
General Mu got up early in the morning and saw Mu Yunqing practicing martial arts in the yard, and his brows couldn't help but frown.
“…Why are you still here?!”
Mu Yunqing stayed in the mansion for three days without going out. He practiced martial arts in the early morning every day, then played chess and wrote with him. In the afternoon, he handled military affairs in the study. In the evening, when he was in the mood, he even cooked two dishes himself and the two of them had a few drinks.
At first, General Mu was quite happy. Mu Yunqing grew up in the army, and later when he took charge of the military, he even regarded the military camp as his home. The bedroom in the mansion was just a decoration. Except for the half-day he could barely spare during the holidays, he could not be called back at other times.
Because of his lifestyle, he dissuaded countless matchmakers from coming to propose marriage.
General Mu had beaten him, scolded him, and said a lot of heartfelt words, but Mu Yunqing always avoided him with a joke. When he got anxious, he would throw in a sentence "The descendants of the Mu family should put the affairs of the country first", which made General Mu speechless.
This was the family motto he had personally established back then. He never imagined that because of this sentence, his Mu family would be extinct...
Finally, General Mu was helpless and didn't bother to care about him. Thinking that the grandfather and grandson were both bachelors with no worries, and that one day they would die on the battlefield, he felt relieved as it would not cause sadness and worry to others.
That's why Mu Yunqing's actions in the past few days seemed very unusual.
"Did something happen in the army?"
Mu Yunqing put away his spear and wiped the sweat off his face. "Look at what you said. If something really happens in the army, can I still accompany you in the mansion?"
General Mu stared at him suspiciously. "Tell me about it yourself. The amount of time you've been at home these years can be counted on ten fingers. How can I not be suspicious?"
"...I know I was wrong! So, while the army was free, I came back to spend a few more days with you. Why are you still complaining?" Mu Yun chuckled and said, "The food and military pay have been distributed, and the weapons we've been looking forward to for years have also been replaced. If the enemy dares to invade at this time, it would be tantamount to seeking death. What else is there for Grandfather to worry about?"
I'm not worried about anything else, I'm just worried about you... General Mu didn't say this out loud.
He didn't want to nag all day and annoy others, so he suppressed his uneasiness and said, "You little bastard! If you have time for this, why don't you think about your own life? Why are you accompanying an old man like me?"
Mu Yunqing interrupted as usual, "...What would Grandfather like for lunch? We have some leftover bacon from the New Year. How about stir-frying it with some spicy sauce?"
General Mu glared at him, turned his sleeves and walked away, throwing a command at him from a distance: "Heat up another pot of wine for me! Not that useless fermented glutinous rice wine, but the strongest Shaodaozi!"
Mu Yun chuckled, glanced in a certain direction on the wall, then rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen.
Yue Mingming leaned against the wall, stretched his frozen arms, gritted his teeth and thought: I will return empty-handed again today.
Zhao Congyun asked him to come find General Mu, but he didn't expect that Mu Yunqing had seen through it in advance. Like an old hen guarding her nest, she stayed at home for three days, making it impossible for Yue Mingming to even step into the yard.
The most infuriating thing was that Mu Yunqing would put some food on the wall for her every day. Yue Mingming heard General Mu ask him what he was doing, and Mu Yunqing replied, "Feeding the wild cats."
Yue Mingming was gnawing on a hard naan, cursing in her heart, wondering if anyone had any common sense. Whose cat would eat this? Cats eat meat, okay... and so does she!
But even though she was angry, she had to complete the task Zhao Congyun had assigned her. Yue Mingming saw that Mu Yunqing was going to keep fighting her, and she didn't mind a little hardship. But when she thought about the people who were imprisoned, old and young, and Zhao Congyun's old injuries that hadn't fully healed... How could she not be anxious?
Yue Mingming made up his mind, jumped into the house and went straight to the kitchen.
Mu Yunqing was cutting bacon when he heard footsteps. He didn't even look up. "The wild cats are getting bolder and bolder these days. They even dare to come to our door!"
Yue Mingming sarcastically said, "It's because the food you cook is so bad!"
Mu Yun lightly raised his knife and cut the bacon into even-sized pieces. He arranged them on a plate as if he was suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Then he raised his eyes and smiled, "The border is bitter and cold, not like the pampered life in the capital. Since my wife can't get used to it, it's better for her to leave early."
Yue Ming gave him a look that made him understand: "Do you think I don't want to?"
"Is that so?" Mu Yunqing asked, "I heard that someone in the capital admired you, and Prince Jia also wanted to send you away, but you were willing to accompany him here to suffer. Your love is so deep and sincere, it makes people envious."
Yue Mingming was stunned: "You know everything about us!"
"Know yourself and know your enemy... After all these years in the army, if you don't even understand this little bit of military strategy, how can you fight a war?" Mu Yun glanced at her calmly and said, "Madam, if you are willing to let go and stop getting involved in this mess, I can let you go."
Yue Mingming: "What if I don't agree?"
Mu Yunqing: "Forget it! As long as I'm here, don't even think about getting close to my grandfather!"
Yue Mingming sneered: "Didn't you say that General Mu knew? Why are you so scared... or are you lying?"
The girl in front of him refused to listen, and Mu Yunqing's eyes were filled with anger. "I did lie to him, so what? My grandfather has been a soldier all his life and never disdained these dirty things. He doesn't need to know what I did behind my back. As long as the border is stable and the people are not disturbed by the war, even if he finds out one day and despises what I did, I don't care!"
Yue Mingming stepped forward and looked him straight in the eye. "So you're framing us? What good will that do you?"
Mu Yunqing's eyes showed no shame. "The good thing is... the food and weapons that the court has been owing us are now available. Our soldiers no longer have to go to war hungry and die with rusty weapons!"
His voice grew colder and colder. "Frankly, I even think... Zhao Congyun is lucky to have been able to exchange his life for so many things! Why? Just because he's a royal relative? These masters and young masters in the capital only care about intrigues and power-grabbing tricks. When have they ever cared about our lives?"
He stopped looking at Yue Mingming and turned to scoop out a bunch of sour pickled vegetables from the jar: "Since they don't care about us, why should I care about their life or death?"
Yue Mingming finally understood: "So you made a deal with Mr. Fan!"
"Not bad... He can give me what I want."
"But he... he's not a good person!" Yue Mingming didn't know how to explain for a moment: "He's using you!"
Mu Yun scoffed, "Zhao Congyun wants to get close to my grandfather. Isn't he trying to take advantage of the military power in our hands? We're both trying to take advantage of each other, so who is superior?"
"What does Lord Fan want you to do next?" Although he already had the answer in his mind, Yue Mingming still asked unwillingly.
"...My lady, please leave as soon as possible. I don't want to hurt innocent people."
Yue Mingming persisted: "He also wants you to kill the prince, right?"
Mu Yunqing remained silent. Yue Mingming was so anxious that he almost jumped up and down. "Do you know that once you do this, there's no turning back? Lord Fan's ambition will only grow. If he asks you to help him rebel and become emperor, will you agree?"
"I can't care less!" Mu Yunqing seemed to have reached the limit of his patience. With a flash of his knife, he pressed it against Yue Mingming's neck. "I only know that if this batch of military rations doesn't arrive, the soldiers will starve to death! Since you refuse to survive alone, I will send you to prison with me. You two can be companions on the road to the underworld!"
Yue Mingming hadn't expected his sudden attack, and he couldn't dodge in time. A sudden pain pierced his neck, and blood immediately flowed. A flicker of pity flashed across Mu Yunqing's eyes, but he suppressed it with his reason. He was a soldier who had waded through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. His sympathy for women was nothing compared to the tens of thousands of soldiers at the border and the people of Lingzhou.
Seeing that he really intended to kill, Yue Mingming did not dare to delay and quickly retreated. At the same time, he chopped the knife with his palm. Mu Yunqing turned his wrist and the blade slashed towards Yue Mingming's heart. The two started fighting in the kitchen!
General Mu has devoted a lot of effort to Mu Yunqing since he was a child. He taught him all kinds of martial arts and military tactics, and all of them were top-notch skills. Mu Yunqing was also willing to endure hardships, and for decades, day after day, regardless of the cold or heat, he has developed real skills. Otherwise, no matter how lucky he was, how could he have maintained an undefeated record after so many years of countless battles?
On the other hand, Yue Mingming's kung fu, which she acquired through trickery, even if it was at the bug level, could not withstand her short training time and frequent laziness. If she met a truly powerful opponent, she would have no chance of winning in close combat.
After a few rounds, the winner was already decided. Mu Yun sighed softly, "What a pity that my wife has such good archery skills."
Yue Mingming knew that she was no match for her opponent, but she refused to admit defeat. She didn't know whether Zhao Congyun had any other tricks up his sleeve. If not, she would die in front of General Mu and convey what she needed to say!
Thinking of this, Yue Mingming came up with an idea. She ignored Mu Yun's light chopping knife and cast her eyes on the pots and pans in the kitchen, and swung her palm to smash a full cupboard.
Yue Mingming believed that if this thing fell apart, even if General Mu was hard of hearing, he would be able to hear the noise, and Mu Yunqing would never be able to fool people with the "wild cat" explanation again!
Mu Yunqing was startled and quickly reached out to stop him. Yue Mingming raised the corner of his lips slightly, and his Xingyun Palm turned into a fake move. He twisted his body and kicked back towards the wine rack on the right.
"you!"
That was the old man’s favorite stove. If it was really smashed, not to mention the accusation of falsely accusing Zhao Congyun, General Mu would be killed for this crime alone!
Mu Yunqing blurted out "Stop it", but Yue Mingming didn't care about his life or death. She was at a disadvantage just now, but now the situation was reversed. The small kitchen and the bottles and jars all became her advantages. Yue Mingming became playful and deliberately teased Mu Yunqing!
Just when the two were in a stalemate, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Mu Yunqing's face changed drastically and his heart sank!
Is grandpa coming?
While he was stunned, Yue Mingming slipped past him like a fish, rushed to the door first, and shouted, "Old General, help me!"
The messenger who came hurriedly to the door just stopped, looked at her, and froze in place.
There is a woman in the General’s Mansion!
And Mu Yunqing who rushed out right after him made him even more stunned.
The young marshal, who had always been aloof from women, actually had a woman hidden away. The way he was holding the kitchen knife...was he cooking for her?!
The messenger stared at Yue Mingming so intently that he forgot what to say. Yue Mingming was utterly disappointed, only to find Mu Yunqing's kitchen knife firmly at her throat the next second.
Messenger: …………
He felt that he was wrong... Chasing a girl with a kitchen knife and hacking her, some people deserve to be single all their lives!
Mu Yunqing restrained Yue Mingming and pushed her toward the door, fearing that General Mu would see her. He then turned around and asked, "What's the matter?"
The messenger suddenly realized: "Young Marshal! The scouts just reported that the enemy has made unusual movements! They may be planning a surprise attack on us!"
Mu Yunqing pondered for a moment and looked at Yue Mingming: "...You want to lure the tiger away from the mountain? What exactly did Zhao Congyun do?"
Yue Mingming didn't say anything.
She actually knows nothing.
Based on her understanding of Zhao Congyun, he would not collude with foreign enemies to escape. But for now, she had to put pressure on Mu Yunqing. The more chaotic the situation, the better it would be for her.
Mu Yunqing thought she agreed, and his face turned pale: "Okay, you really can do anything!"
Yue Mingming asked in return: "What are you going to do now? Are you going to continue guarding the old general in the mansion?"
Mu Yunqing: "Don't try to coerce me! I can take you to the military camp, or... kill you right now! Anyway, I won't let my grandfather know!"
An angry question rang out from the courtyard: "...What are you not letting me know?"
General Mu had been hiding behind the pillars for some time, but he suddenly appeared at this moment, looking at his grandson with a gloomy face.
Before Mu Yunqing could reply, Yue Mingming shouted, "The prince has been framed. Please, General, save him!"
She spoke eloquently and quickly explained the whole story. During the whole time, Mu Yunqing kept his head down and neither interrupted her nor gave any explanation.
General Mu listened silently, then turned and asked, "Is what she said true?"
"yes……"
Mu Yunqing had just uttered half a word when General Mu raised his hand and slapped him loudly in the face. Blood immediately appeared at the corner of Mu Yunqing's mouth.
General Mu's face flushed red, and he said in a trembling voice: "Who gave you the courage to do such a thing?!"
Mu Yun wiped the corner of his mouth lightly, his voice was very soft but very clear: "My grandson has no regrets, and he is not ashamed of my Mu family--"
"Bullshit!" General Mu shouted, interrupting him. He raised his hand and slapped him again. "Did I teach you to pretend to obey but actually disobey, or did your father, who would rather die than surrender, teach you to do anything to get what you want... Mu Yunqing, you are really a nobody! You keep saying you are worthy of the Mu family, but let me ask you, the enemy has already made a move, why don't you return to the camp and be on guard immediately? You are still here fussing, thinking about how to hide it from me... How could my Mu family produce someone like you!"
Mu Yunqing's face was pale: "Grandfather..."
"I will spare your life for now, as I won't kill the commander-in-chief before the two armies meet! After this battle, the laws of the country and the family will be waiting for you! Get out of here now!"
Mu Yun knelt lightly and kowtowed heavily, saying, "Grandson obeys! Grandfather, please take care of yourself. I will come back to confess my sins!"
Until he disappeared outside the palace gate with the messenger, General Mu never glanced at him again. Yue Mingming stood there in a daze for a long time, and finally couldn't help asking, "General... can you please release the prince first..."
However, before she could finish her words, General Mu staggered and fell heavily in front of her.
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