Xiao Chaihu glanced at the man with disgust, turning her head away directly, not willing to let her eyes be irritated.
Song Ya Lan, bound hand and foot, was confined in the bridal carriage, her mouth gagged with a cloth strip to prevent her from causing any trouble. She strained to move the curtain of the carriage to glance outside, to see if her groom, Mu wasn’t waiting outside the door for her.
Even if he was just there to send her off.
But she didn’t see anything. Looking at the empty entrance, her heart sunk completely. She finally had to face the reality, where was the supposed affection?
From time to time, sneers from the onlooking crowd reached her ears: "Hey, is this the esteemed daughter of the Song Family?"
"Indeed, the fifth young miss of the Song Family, the one who had been caught in the act with Sun Yaowen in Qing Shui Temple, has brought such disgrace upon her family. No wonder the Song Family is so quick and desperate to get rid of her."
"True, and only a shameless family like Sun’s would grandiosely celebrate this scandal as if it’s something wonderful. I heard they sent out countless invitations, but less than half the guests turned up. Who would wish to be a part of such a humiliating wedding, it would be an embarrassment."
"The Suns aren’t afraid of being humiliated, don’t forget, one of the concubines in Sun Yaowen’s inner courtyard used to be his grandfather’s concubine."
"My God! Is that true?"
"There’s no falseness in this. It’s the way everyone in the Sun family is. Being matched with Miss Song, indeed what a ’gifted scholar and a beautiful lady’, ha ha ha."
"What rubbish! Even ordinary families wouldn’t commit such actions. This Sun Family is doomed sooner or later!"
In a burst of criticism, the bridal procession slowly passed by.
The wedding of Sun Yaowen and Song Ya Lan was very lively, filled with all kinds of ridicule and criticism, but also cold. In the wedding hall, less than a third of the invited guests arrived. Those who arrived tried their best to hide, afraid of being seen. This seemingly grand wedding, turned out to be a laughing stock.
Shulan, having just returned, couldn’t stop talking about it: "I really witnessed such a laughable wedding. Especially the deliberately ostentatious appearance of Sun Yaowen, which no one cared for. Compared to Madam and Master’s wedding in the capital, the difference is huge!"
Shulan was genuinely thankful to have witnessed such a grand ceremony. It was almost empty streets, as everyone seemed to be there to bless and admire the event.
Xin He shook her head with a smile, too lazy to engage in conversation. She got up and headed to the study.
Just as Sun Yaowen’s wedding procession was passing, a scout arrived in the capital. He seemed to belong to someone. Currently, Marquis Mu Houchu was in the study talking with him.
When Xin He came, just as the study door opened, the scout respectfully left. Seeing Ji Xinhe, he also respectfully paid his respects before turning around and leaving.
Xin He was surprised and entered the study. She saw Mu Houchu looking at a document with a serious expression.
"Who does that scout belong to?" Xin He asked.
Mu Houchu looked up and said, "The Song family."
Xin He was taken aback: "The Song family, to express their sincerity to you?"
Mu Houchu lightly curled his lips and smiled: "Sort of, and also, to give thanks."
"Oh?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"The little stir you caused recently with the Song Family’s Second and Third House has had a significant impact on the Yu State Song Family. Even the promotion of Patriarch Song of the Second House has been affected. Haven’t you always wanted to know the reaction of Patriarch Song of the main branch? This time, Patriarch Song came to thank and express his gratitude, and to deliver a thank-you gift."
Xin He smiled and said: "So it seems that the main branch of the Song family isn’t exactly on the same side with the Second and Third Houses."
Mu Houchu handed her the document: "This is about the Emperor’s secret talks with the Song and Duan families. Regarding my matter, the Emperor is indeed trying not to let me lead a peaceful life. The Great Prince’s visit to the Yu State is not merely for the so-called bandit extermination, but primarily to probe into my foundation."
Xin He sternly said: "The Emperor is really still not at ease with you."
Mu Houchu appeared casual: "Of course he couldn’t possibly feel at ease with me, if I were him I wouldn’t either. Doing nothing previously was only because he had his hands full, moving against me is only a matter of time. We have been able to delay it until today, which is pretty good already."
At least he had given him half a year, and over this half year, he had completely taken control of Yu State, at least his foundations were established. Even if the Emperor now wanted to deal with him recklessly, it wouldn’t be that simple anymore.
"But is it a bit impulsive for the Emperor to send the Great Prince, an incapable straw bag, over?" Xin He asked.
Mu Houchu shook his head and laughed: "It’s because the Great Prince is unremarkable, so his arrival wouldn’t put us highly on our guard."
"What do you think is the Emperor’s first move by sending the Great Prince?"
"Have you heard of the saying: ’The tallest tree in the forest is always destroyed by the wind’. This principle is understood by both you and me, hence we’ve been low-key for the past half year. Almost the entire Yu State has nearly forgotten that a year ago, Prince Pingyang arrived here. And it’s precisely because we’re hiding in the dark that things became more convenient and less trouble. But now the Emperor understands this principle as well." Mu Houchu said calmly.
Xin He frowned slightly: "You’re saying the Emperor is no longer able to tolerate us remaining in the dark? He wants to dig us out from the dark and expose us to the public eye."
"Once we’re exposed to the light, we’ll be watched by the world. Naturally, things will become a bit more troublesome." Mu Houchu shook his head with a wry smile: "This idea, I guess was given by Duan Lan."
Xin He looked slightly worried: "Then·····"
Mu Houchu squeezed her palm gently and said softly: "Don’t be scared, in the past half year, my foundation in Yu State has been firmly established. Now, even if we’re exposed to the public, I still have hidden lines operating underground. There won’t be any issues, besides·····"
Mu Houchu coldly lifted his lips, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "This may not necessarily be a bad thing, it’s time for the world to know, who the Yu State truly belongs to."
They both understood that there was no retreat for some things, some paths had to be taken even if they didn’t want to, or else, it might be a dead end behind. Retreating to Yu State was a temporary expedient, but it might not necessarily be another viable path.
When the Emperor dispatched him to the small Yu State, he would grasp it firmly in his hands and turn it into the sharpest weapon.
Therefore, it was time for him to establish his authority in Yu State.
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