Yin Yunlan collapsed into the dragon throne. “Convey Our decree, the Grand General of the Empire is to be demoted by one rank and fined half a year’s salary!”
“Your Majesty’s sacred—” The officials’ voices halted halfway, stuck in their throats. Almost everyone stared at Yin Yunlan in disbelief.
“Dismissed!”
The ministers exchanged looks, then retreated like a tide.
As they passed by Mu Qingbai, every one of them cast him a cold glance, followed by a disdainful snort and flick of their sleeves before walking off.
Once the Grand Hall was empty, a eunuch finally approached, gave Mu Qingbai a cold glance, and said, “Lord Mu, still not leaving? Are you planning to stay and die?”
Mu Qingbai suddenly roared, “Foolish Emperor!!”
“Aiya!” The eunuch was so frightened he fell onto his butt, clutching his orchid fingers as he trembled and cursed, “Crazy! You’re really crazy!”
The eunuch scrambled away.
Even after leaving the imperial city, Mu Qingbai still couldn’t understand why the empress hadn’t executed him.
He had nearly cursed her to her face.
But it didn’t matter. He had offended the entire civil and military court. All he had to do now was find a place to wait for death.
“Young Master Mu, why did you come out so late?” the coachman asked.
Mu Qingbai looked at him with some surprise. “You’re still here?”
The coachman scratched his head and said, “I was ordered to take you to court, so naturally I had to wait to escort you home.”
Mu Qingbai shook his head. “You should go back. I’m not returning to the Mu residence.”
“Don’t be like that, Young Master Mu. If I don’t bring you back, I’ll be punished.”
Mu Qingbai patted his shoulder. “You’ll understand once you’re back. Soon, the whole capital will know what I did. The Mu residence is better off having nothing to do with me.”
“What did you do, Young Master Mu?”
“I did something no one in the world dares to do.”
The coachman said admiringly, “Young Master Mu really is an extraordinary man, just like the young lady. But still, orders are orders, and I have to carry them out.”
“Following me will get you killed. You still want to follow?”
“I’ll follow! Young Master Mu, don’t underestimate me. I can take on twenty of you alone.”
“…I’m not a unit of measurement, damn it!”
…
Amid the mess, Yin Yunlan stared at the records of the morning court compiled by the Central Secretariat and let out a long sigh. “Mingyu, what exactly is he trying to do?”
“I don’t know, Your Majesty.”
“Didn’t he want to leave a spotless name in the world? But his reputation is completely ruined now!”
“I truly can’t see through it.”
“There’s no doubt Minister Wen’s memorial will be written exactly as Mu Qingbai said it would. That’ll completely destroy his reputation.”
Mingyu knelt in the shadows. “I pride myself on reading people, but I genuinely can’t see through him.”
Mingyu cursed silently in his heart.
“Your Majesty, after today, many may want him dead, but none will dare act in the capital.”
“What if they do? Mingyu, you sound like you’re trying to avoid blame for something that hasn’t happened yet.”
Mingyu said, “This subject knows his guilt!”
“Remember, I have not given an order for his death.”
“This subject understands! Since the Son of Heaven has not ordered a subject’s death, the subject must not die!”
“Mingyu, with you around, I am at ease.”
“This is my duty!”
…
Mu Qingbai had no money on him, only his official robes.
So he found a pawnshop and stripped off his robe to pawn it.
The shopkeeper was so frightened he nearly dropped dead.
“No no no, this is my humble gift to you!”
The shopkeeper quickly handed over 50 taels of silver to settle the matter.
Mu Qingbai took the silver note and found an inn nearby.
“Staying in the capital is really expensive,” he said to Huzi.
Huzi was the name of the coachman, sharing the surname of the old steward Huang.
Huzi scratched his head. “Young Master Mu, we have a home. Why stay in an inn?”
Mu Qingbai told the innkeeper, “If someone comes tonight looking for Censorate Inspector Mu Qingbai, just give them directions.”
“Yes, my lord! I understand!”
If the innkeeper knew that this high-ranking official was likely to die in his inn within days, he might not be so respectful.
Mu Qingbai packed a roast chicken for Huzi. “Here, take it for the road.”
Huzi reached out as he firmly shook his head. “I’m not leaving, but I’ll eat the chicken.”
Mu Qingbai chuckled and pulled the chicken back. “You’ve got principles, huh? No leaving, no chicken.”
“Fine, I won’t eat it then.”
Mu Qingbai sighed. “Go back and report. If Steward Huang still sends you to fetch me, then come again, alright?”
Huzi stared at the roast chicken, then nodded. “Alright.”
“Go on.”
Mu Qingbai turned to the innkeeper. “Is there a tailor shop nearby?”
The innkeeper smiled. “My lord needs clothes? The shops nearby are a bit pricey, but they do fine work.”
“Don’t want anything fancy! I need something to wear right now.”
Mu Qingbai had no interest in dying while dressed in official robes—it felt incredibly awkward.
“Madam Shen is skilled and works fast, but her place is a bit far. With your coachman gone, it might be hard to get there.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“Far is fine. Just point me in the right direction.”
“My lord, you’re too polite!”
…
Following the innkeeper’s directions, Mu Qingbai reached another market district.
The path was indeed difficult.
It was like walking from one city district to another, from the new district to the old one.
Even in his official boots, the road felt painfully uneven.
The capital had no shortage of nobility, but it was rare to see an official walking around in full uniform on the streets.
Many commoners stole glances at him.
Mu Qingbai entered a narrow alley, glancing around. As his gaze swept the area, the people quickly lowered their heads to avoid eye contact.
Mu Qingbai shook his head. Clearly, asking them for directions wouldn’t work.
Just then, he heard the sound of reading aloud.
Following the voice, he was surprised to find a small school in a place like this.
And inside, whether teaching or studying, everyone was a woman.
Calling it a school was generous—it was just a courtyard of a common residence.
Inside were only women, ranging from early twenties to a bit over ten years old.
There were about twenty of them, all squeezed into the small courtyard.
Though it looked cramped, it was well-organized. Some were reading, others doing chores.
The woman teaching in the lecture hall seemed to sense someone watching from behind the fence and turned her head.
Seeing Mu Qingbai in his official robes, she was clearly surprised.
The girls in the courtyard also sensed the unfamiliar gaze. One by one, they looked over, and all froze, not daring to move.
“My lord, what brings you here?” the female teacher stepped out and greeted him.
“Sorry to intrude. I wanted to ask where Madam Shen’s tailor shop is?”
She was a bit surprised by how he spoke—using ‘sorry’ and ‘ask’.
There wasn’t a trace of high-official arrogance.
“This humble woman greets you. In reply, I am Shen Nuanyu. Do you wish to have clothes made, my lord?”
“I need them urgently. I don’t care how they look, as long as I can wear them.”
Shen Nuanyu couldn’t help glancing at Mu Qingbai’s face again.
It wasn’t because he was especially handsome.
Most people, upon learning she both made clothes and taught girls to read, were always surprised.
But this man… seemed to find it normal.
But how could a woman reading books ever be seen as normal?