Chapter 475: Chapter 474: Coughing Blood (Monthly Pass 1080+)
Mrs. Zhou gently draped clothes over Mu Lianxiao: "You said it was an insider who attacked you?"
Mu Lianxiao lowered his eyelids and said, "When I knocked him off the horse, I saw he was wearing our army’s leather armor."
Mrs. Zhou pressed her lips tightly.
Mu Lianxiao saw Madam Wu also looked pensive, and signaled to Nanny Shan.
Nanny Shan understood and, along with Banqiao, withdrew, one guarding the outer room, the other the door.
Madam Wu, seeing this, sat up straight: "Lian Xiao, is there something important you need to say?"
"Yes," Mu Lianxiao replied solemnly, "When in Tong City, my elder brother and I went to Qinglian Temple to see Mu Tang."
The name Mu Tang was like a knife, causing Madam Wu’s heart to clinch painfully.
She had a sense that what Mu Yuanjing wanted to say before dying might be the same thing Mu Lianxiao wanted to convey.
Mu Yuanjing had spoken wildly, spewing accusations, yet those wounds had struck directly at Madam Wu’s heart, etched in blood, and could not be erased.
Mrs. Zhou also suspected. She had sent a secret letter to Mu Lianxiao, thus guarding against the second branch.
Mu Lianxiao spoke slowly, saying Mu Tang had spared Mu Liankang’s life, letting him gamble on destiny, but couldn’t speak of Mu Yuanmou’s deeds in harming the Old Marquis and his brothers — only Mu Tang’s silence could be seen as unrest, fear, and a tormented conscience.
Madam Wu reclined on the pillow, tears silently moistening the wrinkles at her eye corners, neither questioning nor refuting.
After a long pause, Madam Wu said, "When I entered the palace on the first day to kowtow, I mentioned to the Empress Dowager that you had military merits and heirs; you should inherit the title.
Once everything settles, unrealistic thoughts will gradually dissipate.
Yuan Ming’s actions were all for Lian Cheng; as long as Lian Cheng lacked ambition, they won’t make waves.
As for past events, Lian Xiao, it’s not that Grandmother is biased; you must prioritize your title now. Idle gossip would harm you."
Mu Lianxiao agreed.
Madam Wu was right in emphasizing the importance of the title, ensuring he held it firmly was his foremost duty;
But Madam Wu was wrong about Lian Cheng, who did have ambition, vividly witnessed by Du Yunluo in a dream.
Yet, that dream could not be shared with Madam Wu, nor with Mrs. Zhou.
Madam Wu’s face showed signs of fatigue; today, she experienced extreme joy and sorrow and accepted the darkest side of Mu Yuanmou, leaving her somewhat dispirited.
Mrs. Zhou summoned Nanny Shan to attend to Madam Wu’s face, arranged a couch, and had Mu Lianxiao carried back to Shaohui Garden.
At Shaohui Garden, Lian Qiao and Yu Zhu managed things efficiently, along with helpers from Gu Fula’s house.
Jin Rui and Jin Lan returned, quickly tidying up, and the kitchen had hot water ready, waiting for the masters.
When Mu Lianxiao and his wife arrived, the maids under Hong Jinbao’s family, listening to stories about Lindong, dispersed to their tasks.
After tidying up, they proceeded to Jingshui Hall.
Mrs. Zhou was waiting for them.
Nanny Su guarded the outer room as Mrs. Zhou had Mu Lianxiao lie down, asking, "Did you really not see the assailant clearly?"
Mu Lianxiao shook his head with a bitter smile: "I didn’t see clearly. My spear should have pierced his chest, likely killing him."
Mrs. Zhou nodded slightly. Since the attacker’s identity was unknown, no information could be extracted, making it better he was dead, for having injured her son, almost causing his death in the Great Desert, Mrs. Zhou wished to personally tear the villain apart.
"At Madam Wu’s, some things were hard to discuss. I suspect the mastermind is linked to your second uncle," Mrs. Zhou sighed, eyes on the longbow on the wall, "Before your father left, he entrusted the family to me, yet I couldn’t manage everything perfectly."
Mu Lianxiao reached out and held Mrs. Zhou’s hand.
Mrs. Zhou’s hand was slightly cold, matching her current mood.
Mu Lianxiao felt heartbroken; for a moment, he wanted to bury the old grievances to spare Mrs. Zhou pain, but reason told him he had to speak, it couldn’t be avoided.
"Mother, Mu Tang said a lot more," Mu Lianxiao began, causing Mrs. Zhou’s body to tense; he turned away, steeling his heart, "Grandfather, Father, and Third Uncle didn’t die in battle; after Fourth Uncle’s death, Second Uncle began plotting.
For the title, he killed Grandfather, Father, and Third Uncle — strategic deaths with no traces.
Unable to allow Brother to return, he ordered Mu Tang to kill Brother; Mu Tang spared him, offering a chance.
Second Uncle aimed to eliminate me, ensuring my death in the Great Desert. With Brother’s return, Sister-in-law’s ancestry would tilt favor to Second Brother.
Mu Tang feared speaking out, knowing it would ruin the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
He waited, intending to reveal the truth if I inherited the title; otherwise, he’d keep the secret forever.
Mrs. Zhou remained motionless, absorbing Mu Lianxiao’s revelations.
Each sentence, each word like thunderous bolts, as if she were suffering a heavenly calamity, struck by lightning, barely breathing.
Though aware of Mu Yuanmou’s ambition, Mrs. Zhou hadn’t imagined such extreme ruthlessness!
How could he harm his brothers? Target his father?
Mrs. Zhou’s chest heaved, her gaze on the longbow blurred.
She recalled her childhood.
She and Mu Yuance were childhood friends, frequently visiting and staying at the Marquis Mansion.
Mu Yuance, bold since young, dared climb tall trees at six or seven years old.
Amidst cicada calls of summer, Nanny Su, then a big maid, held her hand, strolling the garden with Madam Wu, seeing the three brothers from afar.
Mu Yuance perched in the tree, Mu Yuanmou below giving commands, youngest Mu Yuanming holding a small basket tightly, fearing the cicadas inside might escape.
Maids and servants fretted in circles, helpless against the three little masters.
Seeing Madam Wu approaching, they hurriedly knelt.
Mu Yuance, startled in the tree, slipped halfway down, crashing into Mu Yuanmou and Mu Yuanming.
Madam Wu, both angry and amused, while Mrs. Zhou behind her covered her mouth, stifling laughter.
In youth, they were inseparable brothers, whose smiles Mrs. Zhou remembered upon closing her eyes, yet decades later, everything had changed.
"Your father cared deeply for your second uncle, valued him strongly..." Mrs. Zhou quivered, choking on words, her chest tight, breath laborious.
Cough cough...
Mrs. Zhou coughed twice, and Du Yunluo stepped forward to soothe her back, but Mrs. Zhou coughed relentlessly.
With a sudden retch, she spat out a mouthful of blood.
The crimson smeared their eyes, burning into the couple’s gaze.