Volume One: The Emperor's Sword Chapter 101: The Northern Expedition Secured

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While Yun Que was purchasing necessities at Changliu Street Market, a major event unfolded within the Imperial City. The entire Mu family, imprisoned in the royal dungeon, was released by the emperor. Prime Minister Zhou Shibo personally overturned the Mu family’s case, and combined with evidence brought back from the mines by envoys sent by the Duke of Yu, it was enough to clear the Mu family of guilt.

However, though spared the death penalty, they could not escape punishment. Since Mu Wan, who had colluded with the barbarian tribes, was a member of the Mu family, all their mines across the Yan Kingdom were sealed off due to his involvement. All businesses related to mining were confiscated and became royal property, and the confiscated family estates would not be returned.

The Mu family narrowly escaped disaster but was left utterly depleted, their vast fortune vanished. Their greatest stronghold had been the copper and iron mines; most of their trade involved mining, and the emperor’s decisive blow virtually strangled all their sources of income.

Though they still owned inns and taverns and could live without want, their previous wealth and splendor were now beyond reach. Thus, the once-renowned Mu Mansion, hailed as the premier noble family of the Yan Kingdom, was utterly ruined, unable to rise again, now less esteemed than even ordinary gentry families once looked down upon.

Within the now desolate and cleaner-than-a-dog’s-nest estate, many women of the Mu family wept silently. Once golden branches and jade leaves, living in splendor and luxury, they had now fallen so low; a single imprisonment had irrevocably altered their fate.

Yet Mu Qingzhou, the family head, seemed in good spirits as he paced the mansion with his hands behind his back. “The Mysterious Pavilion’s handiwork is quite thorough; they didn’t even spare my rock garden,” he remarked self-mockingly beside the empty pond.

An old gatekeeper in charge of the estate approached with a report: “Master, it wasn’t the Mysterious Pavilion who took the rock garden; it was the creditors.”

“Creditors?” Mu Qingzhou smiled knowingly. “Yun Que has indeed arrived.”

Ever since sending his daughter with the IOUs, Mu Qingzhou relied on Yun Que’s intervention to reclaim some family property from the Mysterious Pavilion.

“Good, losing money to save our lives,” he said, turning to the assembled family members. “From today onward, the Mu family shall no longer engage in mining business. This is a family rule. Whoever harbors ill intentions in secret will be expelled from the Mu family immediately.”

Mu Qingzhou understood well that the mines had become the emperor’s forbidden treasure; whoever touched them, be they Mu family or others, would perish.

As the head of the family spoke, the kin obeyed. The elders managing the various branches finally grasped the true purpose behind Mu Qingzhou’s three hundred carts of dowry.

Including Mu Gui and the other elders of the Mu Mansion, they felt not only respect but deep self-reproach toward Mu Qingzhou. He alone had foresight; the rest had fallen far short.

With that dowry, though the family could not regain its former glory, they at least still possessed the capital to make a comeback. Without it, they would be utterly penniless.

Mu Gui rubbed his cane and grumbled, “Qingzhou, it’s not that your third uncle blames you, but you gave too little dowry for Qingyao; it should have been at least five hundred carts to be proper.”

The other elders shot him disparaging glances. Everyone knew the hindsight was easy; they should have let Qingyao take the entire Mu family fortune as her dowry!

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“Mu Wan is truly detestable!” Mu Gui fumed, “We raised a white-eyed wolf! If not for him, would the Mu family have fallen so low?”

Everyone else immediately agreed and cursed Mu Wan.

Mu Qingzhou remained silent, a trace of worry shadowing his expression. He seemed to foresee Mu Wan’s fate but was powerless.

Upon hearing the news, Mu Qingyao immediately returned home. Seeing her father unharmed, she finally relaxed and then informed him about the whereabouts of the Thousand Leaf Sword.

Learning that another family treasure remained safe, Mu Qingzhou was completely relieved. Mu Gui stared for a long time, said nothing, merely sighed, looking suddenly much older.

He knew he could not protect the treasure, so it was best for the family head to reclaim it. As for whose hands it would fall into or how it would be used, that was the head’s concern.

Yun Que, upon leaving Changliu Street, also heard of the Mu family’s plight. It needed no inquiry; the news was everywhere.

He instructed Han Jiao and Luo Xiaoyu to return first to the Sword Palace while he himself went back to the Marquis Mansion to transport the Mu family’s stored belongings back to their estate.

There was simply too much; the small temporary mansion could not hold it all. Many items piled outside on the street required guards.

Now that everything was moved back, Autumn Fragrance and the maids were overjoyed; the house was no longer cramped.

The happiest by far were the dozens of laborers hired by Yun Que. Having recently moved these goods from the Mu estate, they labored an entire day moving them back again.

Making double wages, they were naturally delighted and began the work with practiced ease.

Two busy trips ensured at least two months’ pay. Both the Marquis Mansion and the Mu estate were no small households, so the pay was generous.

Old He still had not returned home; perhaps having found a clue, Yun Que eagerly awaited his investigation results.

Soon after, Yun Que paid a visit to Mu Qingzhou in person.

He handed over the Thousand Leaf Sword, a treasured family heirloom. Yun Que never intended to truly claim it; he was only guarding it temporarily.

Mu Qingzhou smiled but did not accept it, pushing the sword back.

“You didn’t get even half of the three hundred carts of dowry, and the debts you owed were returned intact. My worthy nephew is no mule — you can’t just work without being fed,” Mu Qingzhou said, unusually coarse in words but not in reason.

Then the Mu family head’s expression grew serious.

“Thousand Leaf and Flower Spirit were once a pair. Only when the twin swords are united can their greatest power be unleashed. This sword is Qingyao’s dowry, and now I entrust it to you.”

Mu Qingzhou then raised a finger.

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“I have only one request: do not let her be bullied.”

As family head and father, Mu Qingzhou spoke a weighty truth: a man’s profound love for his daughter.

Yun Que nodded solemnly, offering no words, but the sword he put away spoke his promise: the blade will not break, the wielder will not fall—he would protect her at all costs.

The Mu family busied themselves tidying the estate, and Yun Que left without further disturbance.

Night had fallen, and since he planned to retrieve the inner armor from Si Ruonan the next morning, Yun Que did not return to the Sword Palace but instead went to the Duke of Yu’s residence.

His last visit had been rushed, preoccupied with the Mu family’s wrongful case; today he had time to visit Lan Yusheng.

Seeing Yun Que, Lan Yusheng, still bedridden, struggled to sit up and beamed.

“You rascal! I’ve heard from grandpa—if not for you, my brother wouldn’t have survived, nor my sister-in-law. If that impostor had consummated their marriage, how could she have survived? You saved both our lives single-handedly!”

“Is that so? How much for a life? Brother Yusheng, remember to convert that into silver coins for me; I only take silver notes, no small change.”

“I’ll give you half a dukedom! Ha ha!”

“Then I’d be half a duke. Marquis is boring; being a duke sounds more fun.”

They laughed and joked freely, their longtime friendship needing no pretense or scheming.

Lan Yusheng summoned his wife, a woman from a noble family and a refined lady; Yun Que had met her with the respect of a younger brother-in-law.

In Lan Yusheng’s small recuperation room, a large table was laid with wine and dishes. Yun Que ate heartily while Lan Yusheng sipped tea. Though he wanted to drink, his wife forbade it, much to the young duke’s chagrin.

The family chatted happily, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.

Only among the Lans could Yun Que feel the warmth of home—the carefree joy making him involuntarily miss his own family.

He thought of his mother, never met, and his father, who died on the frontier.

Lost in thought, his heart grew intoxicated.

When the old duke learned of Yun Que’s visit, he came himself, sending away his granddaughter-in-law. The three men finally raised their cups for a hearty drink.

Lan Yusheng was specially permitted two sips, savoring the wine with pleasure.

Lan Yu gulped down a large bowl; wiping the wine from his beard, his eyes reddened as he growled,

“The northern campaign is settled; we march at year’s end!”

Clink!

Yun Que’s hand crushed his wine cup instinctively.