Chapter 744 Capturing the Culprit (Second Update)
The Mu family.
Old Master Mu sat upright in the main seat, and all the people who had gone out to handle matters returned.
The person who came to report to him now was his second son, Mu Hong.
“Father.” Mu Hong stood in front of Old Master Mu and reported the events that had occurred in the woods. “...The various families were fighting fiercely, and I don’t know who sent the little princess back.”
"Hmph." Old Master Mu snorted coldly, "They all seem indifferent to worldly affairs, but secretly they are more competitive than anyone else."
Mu Hong said, "I heard there were quite a few casualties, but the specifics depend on what the major families say."
Grandpa Mu frowned, his graying brows furrowing. "I never expected it would involve so many things."
Mu Hong said with shame, "Originally, there wouldn't have been so much trouble. If that little rascal hadn't run away with the little princess, we wouldn't have gone all the way to find them and ended up leading people from all the major families there as well."
If they had just stayed quietly in that house, who would have noticed?
But it's too late now, and saying these regretful words won't change anything.
"It's all that little rascal's fault," Mu Hong couldn't help but complain.
Who would have thought that a five-year-old brat would disrupt the Mu family's entire plan?
Grandpa Mu let out a heavy sigh: "Has everything that needed to be dealt with been taken care of?"
Mu Hong said, "Father, rest assured, all evidence has been destroyed."
Grandpa Mu then asked, "Where are the people who arrested the young princess? The young princess has seen their faces before."
Mu Hong replied, "They are already dead. We don't know which powerful family killed them. So there's no way to verify it, and no one will trace it back to the Mu family."
Grandpa Mu said thoughtfully, "That fox from the Dong family seems to know quite a lot."
Mu Hong said nonchalantly, "Even if he knows, he's not afraid. Unless he can produce evidence, but the Dong family isn't clean themselves. He doesn't have the guts to implicate the Mu family."
Despite the undercurrents among powerful families, some of their dealings remain unspoken. If the Han family hadn't struck first against Consort Wan, the Mu family wouldn't have taken such a risk to suppress the Han family in this way.
Old Master Mu closed his eyes and sighed, "Let this matter rest. Don't mention it again in the future. Tell your men to keep their mouths shut."
Mu Hong cupped his hands in a respectful bow: "Yes, Father, I understand."
"what are you doing here!"
Suddenly, a sharp shout came from outside the door from Mu Tao.
Grandpa Mu frowned warily.
Mu Hong turned around and quickly walked to the door. He flung the door open and bumped right into Mu Chuan, who was standing outside the door, startled.
Mu Chuan looked at Mu Hong with a look of fear on his face.
Mu Hong looked at him with surprise.
The two were surprised in different ways; Mu Chuan's surprise was mixed with a sense of unfamiliarity and fear, and a hint of complexity.
Mu Hong quickly came to his senses, glanced at Mu Tao who was striding forward, and greeted him, "Big Brother."
Mu Tao grabbed Mu Chuan's wrist and pulled him outside: "You brat, who gave you permission to come into your grandfather's yard? Didn't you go to school? You didn't even say goodbye when you came back..."
Mu Chuan's steps were firmly planted on the ground.
"Is it true?" he asked.
Mu Tao paused, his gaze passing over Mu Chuan and landing on Mu Hong inside the door.
Mu Hong took a deep breath and slowly asked, "Xiao Chuan, how much did you hear?"
Mu Chuan's eyes reddened: "...I heard everything."
Mu Hong looked at Mu Chuan and said, "Listen to your second uncle, and forget what you heard."
Mu Chuan shook off his father's hand, wiped his eyes, and walked quickly towards the door with red eyes.
Mu Tao frowned: "Where are you going?"
Mu Chuan choked up and said, "I'll go tell Fourth Brother!"
Mu Tao's face darkened: "You brat! You come back here right now!"
Mu Hong looked at Mu Tao: "Big Brother."
Mu Tao nodded knowingly: "I understand. I'll have Xiao Chuan stay at home for the next two days."
Mu Tao captured Mu Chuan and locked him in his own courtyard, where guards and Mu family assassins took turns watching him.
The Mu family, who thought they were safe, were approached by people from the Imperial Preceptor's Palace just before dusk.
Leading the group was Ye Qing, the chief disciple of the Imperial Preceptor.
Ye Qing wore a dark blue robe from the Imperial Preceptor's Hall, with light blue bamboo leaves embroidered on the white trim of the lapels and collar—the insignia of an inner disciple.
Holding a long sword, Ye Qing stood solemnly outside the Mu family's gate: "By order of the Grand Preceptor, I request that the Mu family head make a trip to the Grand Preceptor's Hall."
Mu Tao and Mu Hong were the ones who came out to greet them.
Mu Tao was both surprised and uneasy by the scene, but he still said politely, "My father is unwell. I wonder what advice the Grand Preceptor has for me? Perhaps I can go with you."
Ye Qing brandished his longsword: "You are not qualified."
Mu Tao frowned.
Ye Qing: "I'll say it again, by order of the Grand Preceptor, I request that Patriarch Mu make a trip to the Grand Preceptor's Hall."
The Mu family guard said disdainfully, "Are you inviting someone or arresting someone? Don't you know any manners? My master isn't someone you can just take away whenever you want—ah!"
He was knocked unconscious by Ye Qing's internal force.
Ye Qing didn't even draw his sword.
At this moment, Ye Qing was no longer the gentle and mild-mannered senior brother of the Imperial Preceptor Hall; he was a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and piercing.
Mu Tao suppressed his anger and asked, "Since when did your Imperial Preceptor's Hall start interfering in the affairs of our aristocratic families?"
Ye Qing: "No comment."
Mu Tao gave Ye Qing a deep look and said to Mu Hong, "Go and inform Father."
"No need." Old Master Mu walked calmly out of the Mu residence.
Mu Tao and Mu Hong turned around and bowed to Old Master Mu: "Father!"
Standing atop the high steps, Old Master Mu looked down at Ye Qing: "Since the Grand Preceptor has invited me, I will go with you. A clear conscience fears no accusation; I refuse to believe that your Grand Preceptor's Hall could falsely accuse me of innocence!"
Ye Qing said calmly, "I didn't say anything about good or bad things. Why would Patriarch Mu say that? I hope Patriarch Mu isn't feeling guilty."
Old Master Mu snorted coldly: "Don't argue with me. When I was serving the court, you were probably still somewhere out there!"
Ye Qing sneered: "Is that so? Please."
Mu Tao and Mu Hong exclaimed in unison, "Father!"
Grandpa Mu gave them a reassuring look.
Everything that needed to be taken care of has been taken care of, and even the Imperial Advisor's Hall can't find any evidence!
...
Qilin Hall.
Xiao Jingkong was taking a comfortable bath in the next room. To soothe his wounded little heart, he was able to stay in the small bathtub and lie there without having to bathe himself.
"Ah Heng~"
He raised his little arm, revealing his tiny armpit.
"This area needs washing too~"
"Ah Heng~"
"And here too."
He then lifted his little feet up and smugly scratched with his toes.
It feels so good to boss around my bad brother-in-law! I feel like I've reached the pinnacle of my life!
Xiao Heng looked at him with a forced smile.
Okay, go ahead and show off.
Once Jiaojiao leaves, I'll see how I deal with you.
One more chapter to come
(End of this chapter)
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