Chapter 735 Long Aotian! (Second Update)
The Mu family, including Old Master Mu, also received the news that Consort Wan had been banished to the Cold Palace.
When the king issued the decree to punish Consort Wan, a young eunuch in the palace quickly used his connections to send the news to the Mu family.
Grandpa Mu was furious and slammed his fist on the table: "This is outrageous!"
The butler advised, "Master, please don't be angry. Be careful not to upset yourself."
"Cough cough cough!" Old Master Mu's blood surged, causing him to cough violently.
Old Master Mu's health hasn't been very strong these past two years; he's not as robust as that old fox from the Han family.
The housekeeper quickly poured him some water: "Have a sip of water first, calm down."
Old Master Mu gritted his teeth and said, "My daughter has been unjustly imprisoned in the Cold Palace, how can you expect me to calm down! Where is Mu Tao?"
The butler hurriedly said, "I'll go and call them."
After pondering for a moment, Old Master Mu instructed, "Go to the Su family and deliver a letter. Old Master Su is not in Shengdu these two days. Have Su Yuan come over!"
"yes!"
The housekeeper left in a hurry, unaware that Mu Chuan had been secretly listening outside the window.
Mu Chuan hesitated for a moment, then quickly disappeared into the vast darkness.
Su Yuan arrived at the Mu family at the same time as Mu Qingchen.
Su Yuan was followed by Su Hao, while Mu Qingchen was summoned from the Tianqiong Academy by Mu Chuan.
It was still dark, and in order to open the city gates, Mu Chuan even used his own father's token.
"Fourth brother is here too," Su Hao greeted him with a smile.
Mu Qingchen's expression remained indifferent.
Mu Chuan said irritably, "What are you doing here?"
He's just a son of a concubine, yet he dared to bring him to the Mu family. If it weren't for this son of a concubine, his aunt wouldn't have been so angry!
Su Hao said guiltily, "My fourth brother is not at home, so he doesn't know. Father was injured while practicing martial arts at home yesterday. I was worried and insisted on coming along. It's all my fault. Please don't blame Father, fourth brother and cousin."
The two looked at Su Yuan, and indeed Su Yuan's waist was wrapped in thick bandages.
"Let's go in," Su Yuan said.
In the main hall, Old Master Mu sat in the main seat with a livid face, while his eldest son, Mu Tao, stood respectfully to the side.
Su Yuan bowed to Old Master Mu and said, "Father-in-law."
Grandpa Mu gave a faint "hmm".
Grandpa Mu harbored resentment towards his son-in-law.
Old Master Mu had only two daughters; one married into the palace, and the other married into the Su family.
The marriage between the Mu and Su families was a great honor for the Su family to marry the daughter of the Mu family. However, Su Yuan was ungrateful and kept a mistress outside the marriage, and even let the mistress give birth to a son a day earlier than his legal wife.
The Su family has three branches. The eldest son and the second son belong to the second branch, while Su Hao and Mu Qingchen belong to the first branch.
Su Yuan is the heir of the Su family. Logically, Mu Qingchen, as the eldest son, should also inherit the Su family business in the future. But then Su Hao suddenly appeared.
However, Su Yuan's attitude of admitting his mistake afterward was very sincere. Over the years, Mu Qingchen had always taken his mother's surname, Mu, and Su Yuan had tolerated it all, treating Mu Qingchen no badly at all.
Su Yuan had also made it clear that only Mu Qingchen could inherit the position of head of the Su family, provided that on that day, Mu Qingchen would change her surname back.
Grandpa Mu's gaze fell on the bandages around Su Yuan's waist and asked, "Are you injured?"
Su Yuan said, "I twisted my ankle while practicing martial arts. It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."
"Please sit down," said Old Master Mu, gesturing for Mu Tao to sit.
Su Yuan and Mu Tao sat down on either side of Old Master Mu.
Grandpa Mu looked at Mu Qingchen, his gaze softening considerably: "Qingchen has become thinner recently. Is life at the academy too austere?"
Mu Qingchen said, "No, it's just hot."
Grandpa Mu always doted on Mu Qingchen, but at this crucial moment he was not in the mood to indulge in his grandchildren. He wearily raised his hand and said, "Please sit down."
He didn't speak to Su Hao, but looked directly at the door: "Alright, come in too."
Mu Chuan touched the bridge of his nose and walked in dejectedly.
Regardless of his private relationship with Su Yuan, Mu Qingchen maintained proper decorum on the surface and sat down next to Su Yuan.
Su Hao was about to sit down on the other side of Mu Qingchen when Mu Chuan walked over and said, "I want to sit with my fourth brother!"
"Get over here!" Mu Tao shouted.
After being yelled at by his father, Mu Chuan pouted resentfully and reluctantly walked over and sat down next to his father.
Old Master Mu didn't mince words and said directly, "I won't bother with formalities. I called you here before dawn because of matters in the palace. You must all know about Consort Wan's situation."
Su Yuan nodded: "Steward Liu told me on the way, what's going on? Consort Li made a mistake, what does it have to do with Consort Wan?"
Mu Qingchen heard it from Mu Chuan, who explained it more clearly than the butler.
The steward had to be careful with his words when speaking to Su Yuan, as there were certain things he couldn't say, while Mu Chuan was just blurting things out.
They directly claimed that the Han family had framed her, and that her aunt was also a bit too smug. The Mu family sent her so much money every year not so that she could squander it without thinking.
When Consort Li's father fell ill, she was given three thousand taels of silver. Did she know how hard it was to earn three thousand taels of silver?
He has two aunts: his younger aunt is an imperial concubine, and his elder aunt is his fourth brother's mother.
“I knew she would get into trouble sooner or later. In fact, if it weren’t for Consort Xian’s protection all these years, she would have gotten into trouble countless times.”
These are Mu Chuan's original words.
Mu Chuan felt quite helpless about this little aunt.
Grandpa Mu had Mu Tao recount the whole story, and it could be roughly deduced that it was Consort Han who did it.
Consort Li was bribed by Consort Han. Her father's serious illness was just an excuse. She asked Consort Wan for a large sum of money so that Consort Wan would not be able to clear her name on the day of the incident.
Consort Li's discovery of the affair between the head eunuch of the palace and a young palace maid was also part of Consort Han's plan.
Consort Han had been in charge of the harem for many years; how could she not know that the head of the palace administration was having an affair with a palace maid? Yet she turned a blind eye, precisely to make it a handle that she could use at any time.
Su Yuan said in a deep voice, "This is too much. If you want to get rid of the deposed crown princess, just do it. Why drag Consort Wan into this? Are you trying to make His Majesty resent the Mu family?"
The inner palace and the outer court have always been inextricably linked and cannot be completely separated.
With Consort Wan in trouble, how can the Mu family expect to have a good outcome?
Old Master Mu said coldly, "Hmph, what are the Han family's appetites compared to my Mu family's? In my opinion, the Wang family and the Su family will be targeted by them sooner or later!"
Old Master Mu's younger sister married into the Wang family and is now the Old Madam Wang.
The room fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere eerily tense.
Old Master Mu spoke again: "There's nothing to say about the Han family's ambitions, but there's another key figure in this matter."
Su Yuan hurriedly asked, "Who?"
Grandpa Mu said, "Xiao Liulang."
Su Yuan vaguely felt that the name sounded familiar: "He is—"
Grandpa Mu said, "The new students of Tianqiong Academy are from Zhao Kingdom. The deposed crown princess was severely injured by the head of the Palace Guard, and even the Imperial Preceptor was powerless to save her. This guy named Xiao Liulang managed to snatch her back from the brink of death. If it weren't for him, the Han family's plot to assassinate the deposed crown princess would have succeeded. I also heard an interesting story: the head of the Palace Guard was highly skilled in martial arts and escaped from the palace. It was Xiao Liulang who helped Wang Xu capture the real culprit and extract his confession."
"If it weren't for this Xiao Liulang, the murderer would have already escaped."
"I heard that the Imperial Advisor praised him personally, saying that heroes have emerged from among the young since ancient times. The Imperial Advisor has been in Shengdu for more than 30 years, and no one knows where he comes from or where his home is, but his wisdom is known throughout the world and famous in the six kingdoms. Has he ever seriously praised anyone?"
Su Yuan remembered hearing this name somewhere before, from Su Xue's words.
“What my father-in-law means is—” He looked at Old Master Mu.
Grandpa Mu said thoughtfully, "This Xiao Liulang... must not fall into the hands of the Han family. He must be used by us! However, since he cured the deposed crown princess, I guess the eldest grandson of the emperor may have thought the same thing as me."
Su Yuan frowned: "Would the eldest grandson of the emperor also go to great lengths to win him over?"
Grandpa Mu snorted, "The eldest grandson of the emperor and the deposed crown princess are in a precarious situation. The more people they can win over, the more trump cards they have, although it's not really of any use."
Su Yuan shook his head: "The deposed crown princess has no chance of making a comeback, and the eldest grandson of the emperor is also nearing his end. Only the Han family is suspicious and is making a fuss over nothing."
Grandpa Mu said, "The death of the deposed crown princess will not do us any harm. Don't forget, all ten great families participated in the extermination of the Xuanyuan family back then."
Su Yuan said, "But the Han family shouldn't use us as stepping stones."
Old Master Mu's gaze turned cold: "The Han family has indeed gone too far in this matter. The Mu family will not sit idly by and wait to be destroyed!"
"What are your plans, father-in-law?" Su Yuan asked.
The shrewd old man said, "First, subdue that Xiao Liulang; second, I want the Han family's Black Wind Cavalry! I want the Han family to know that the Mu family is no longer the Mu family it once was. They will pay the price for bringing down Consort Wan!"
"Patriarch Mu."
Su Hao suddenly spoke in a low voice.
Grandpa Mu looked at him with a stern face.
Su Yuan frowned as well. This was a conversation between elders, and it was clearly not the place for a junior to interrupt, let alone Su Hao, who was an illegitimate son.
Su Hao said cautiously, "I have something to say, it concerns Xiao Liulang."
Hearing this, Old Master Mu finally showed some interest: "Go on, tell me."
Su Hao looked at Mu Qingchen beside him and asked in a gentle tone, "Qingchen, I remember there's a freshman in your polo team named Xiao Liulang. Is he the one the Mu family head was talking about?"
Grandpa Mu, Mu Tao, and Su Yuan all looked over at Mu Qingchen.
Grandpa Mu said, "Qingchen, is this really true?"
Mu Chuan glared at Su Hao secretly.
Su Hao seemed oblivious to Mu Chuan's warning. He stood up and bowed to Old Master Mu with the utmost respect, saying, "I've heard that Xiao Liulang is not only Qingchen's teammate but also her classmate, and Qingchen even sits at the same table with him. Since Qingchen and Xiao Liulang are good friends, I think that as long as Qingchen steps forward, she can definitely invite Xiao Liulang to our side."
Mu Chuan stood up abruptly: "Su Hao, what nonsense are you talking about? When did my fourth brother become friends with him? They only played a few polo matches! And you call him a deskmate? Don't you know my fourth brother always sits alone! Are you and my fourth brother in the same academy, or am I in the same academy as my fourth brother? Huh? You talk like you know more than me! Which eye of yours saw that!"
"I..." Su Hao looked extremely frightened.
Mu Tao yelled at his son, "Sit down!"
Mu Chuan was furious.
If my fourth brother doesn't go to recruit Xiao Liulang for the Mu family, he'll be a traitor. If he goes to recruit him but fails, then my fourth brother will be a failure and incompetent.
Damn it, Su Hao!
Su Yuan looked at Mu Qingchen: "I heard Su Xue mention that Xiao Liulang saved her and is your friend, Qingchen."
This statement indirectly confirms Su Hao's words.
Old Master Mu smiled broadly, the first smile he had shown since hearing the tragic news of Consort Wan's death: "That's wonderful. Qingchen's friend is a friend of both the Mu and Su families. Our Mu family will certainly treat him with the courtesy due to a distinguished guest. Qingchen, this matter is entrusted to you."
Mu Chuan looked at Mu Qingchen with heartache.
Mu Qingchen replied expressionlessly, "Yes, Qingchen understands."
...
In the Imperial Preceptor's Hall, the group worked for most of the night. At dawn, Gu Jiao fell asleep on the table.
Xiao Heng escorted Gu Changqing out of the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.
Xiao Heng handed him a note: "Here you go."
Gu Changqing asked, "What is this?"
Xiao Heng said, "The lines."
Gu Changqing refused: "No, I want to say that it was written to me by my sister."
Xiao Heng's lips twitched, and he crumpled the paper ball back into place.
Okay, do as you please.
...
The Crown Prince's Residence.
The Crown Prince was preparing to go to the morning court session when his servants reported to him about events in the palace.
He was silent for a moment, then raised his hand and said, "I understand. You may leave."
Just as he was about to leave, a servant approached him respectfully: "Your Highness, someone has arrived outside and says they wish to see you."
The crown prince asked suspiciously, "At this hour? Who?"
The servant said, "He said his name is Pang Hai and he works at an underground martial arts arena."
The crown prince paused slightly: "Bring them in!"
"yes."
The servant took Pang Hai into the Crown Prince's residence.
Pang Hai did not enter the mansion alone; he was accompanied by a lone swordsman.
Pang Hai bowed to the Crown Prince in the flower hall: "This humble subject, Pang Hai, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live a thousand years!"
"No need for formalities," the Crown Prince said.
The lone swordsman did not bow; he simply stood there coldly, like an unshakeable iceberg.
Such a powerful aura, clearly someone destined for greatness.
The prince looked at the lone swordsman strangely: "He is—"
Pang Hai said, "He is the expert I selected this time. Last time, we arranged to meet Prince Ming at Tianxiang Pavilion, but government officials suddenly appeared, so we had to leave first. Today, we came to your residence to bother you."
The prince was astonished: "He's that Yama?"
The entire underground martial arts arena is a legend of Yama. Masters from six kingdoms gathered in Zhao Kingdom. They set off from the capital of Zhao Kingdom and began their martial arts competition on the very first day. Of the one hundred masters, only five could actually enter Yan Kingdom.
The underground martial arts arena in Yan State was filled with highly skilled fighters selected through this almost perverse method.
These five people will engage in an even more intense and brutal battle among all the top fighters.
Yama is the one with the best battle record.
Pang Hai said, "It is indeed him."
The prince approached the lone swordsman: "What's your name?"
Gu Changqing exuded domineering aura as he said, enunciating each word clearly: "I will not change my name or surname, I am Long—Ao—Tian!"
Crown Prince: "..."
Han Ye: "Your Highness, don't believe him! His name is Gu Changqing! He's the one who hurt me!"
Long Aotian Gu Changqing: "Oh, you mean that twin brother who impersonated me? Don't worry, I've already killed him."
Han Ye: "..."
(End of this chapter)
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