After leaving Mirror Lake, Yin Qiubai didn’t return to the manor.
Instead, she went back to the Imperial Prison.
This left Old Huang and the maid Xiao Juan pacing anxiously.
“General—Miss! Miss, please don’t be stubborn with Her Majesty anymore, alright? That prison’s no place for people to live!”
Yin Qiubai ignored their pleas and continued into the prison.
The jailer was groaning inwardly but could only receive her cautiously.
When she reached the cell door, the little monk looked up, raised a finger to his lips and whispered, “Shh~ He just fell asleep. After you left, Young Master Mu went mad again—kneeling to the heavens and the earth, muttering about Buddha and the Jade Emperor, then he brought up a god I’ve never heard of… something like… Jesus?”
“And then?”
“Then he suddenly seemed to realize something and told me, she’s just a rich lady with some money, there’s no way she’d have the power to save a death row inmate. Then he went to sleep.”
Yin Qiubai signaled to open the door.
The little monk smiled, “Young Master Mu really passed out drunk, looks like… he’s been exonerated?”
Yin Qiubai nodded and carefully helped Mu Qingbai up, carrying him on her back. She glanced at the little monk suspiciously.
The little monk quickly explained, “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be out in two days. I was caught soliciting a prostitute, not a capital offense—no need to break me out.”
Yin Qiubai couldn’t help but laugh.
How amusing. The little monk actually thought she was breaking someone out.
Since when was there such a quiet prison break?
“Farewell.”
“Take care, not seeing you off.”
Yin Qiubai carried Mu Qingbai out of the prison.
Old Huang and Xiao Juan were stunned.
They were just about to speak when one glare from Yin Qiubai silenced them.
“Back to the manor.”
As Yin Qiubai boarded the carriage, Mu Qingbai mumbled against her shoulder, “Plague-ridden… monkey… Her… zog… you… deserve to die!”
Old Huang paused, then turned to Xiao Juan, “Have someone check out that name when we return.”
Grand General’s Manor.
The plaque bearing that name was taken down.
Taken down by Old Huang, the manor’s coachman.
Because the General took it down for a man.
She said the man had a mental illness, couldn’t be provoked.
From now on, inside the manor she was no longer to be called Yin Qiubai, but Bai Qiuyin. And no one was to call her ‘General’—only ‘Miss’.
That was it.
Everyone in the manor felt like the sky had collapsed.
The General… no, the Miss was in love!
And the man she liked was someone who failed the civil exam, had committed a capital crime, and was mentally unstable.
Damn it, that man deserves to die!
…
Mu Qingbai scratched his head. How long had it been since this body had been washed? He was itching all over. Could he bathe before being executed?
“Huh? Why’s this straw pile so soft?”
“What the hell!”
Bang!
He burst out of the room and found himself in a beautifully landscaped garden.
Dozens of eyes turned toward him at once.
The household servants and maids all looked warily at the man their Miss had personally brought back and prioritized.
His appearance wasn’t bad, but his messy, unkempt look was downright embarrassing. He looked like a bumpkin, completely lacking the grace of a scholar!
Someone like this… didn’t deserve the Miss!
Mu Qingbai was dumbfounded.
“Why am I here?”
“Young Master, please return to your room. We’ll assist with washing shortly.”
“No… no, this isn’t right! I was in death row! You… you broke me out! This is a capital crime!”
Several people rushed up, carried Mu Qingbai, and brought him back inside.
But they quickly realized it was overkill. With a body like his, even one person could easily handle him.
After locking him back inside, the servants exchanged bitter looks. It was like they’d just swallowed bitter herbs—tears nearly rolled down their cheeks.
The man their Miss had fallen for… truly had a screw loose.
Not long after, Yin Qiubai arrived, having heard the commotion.
Thankfully, Mu Qingbai had quieted down by then.
“Mi—Miss, Young Master Mu is awake.”
Yin Qiubai asked with concern, “Did he act up?”
The servant hesitated, then nodded, “After waking, he froze for a moment, then shouted some nonsense and struggled wildly. Something like… blocking one’s road to death is like stealing wealth and committing murder, a hatred that cannot be forgiven…”
He looked conflicted, clearly wanting to say more.
“Speak freely!”
“Miss~ with the way he is, even if he’s cured, he’ll probably still drool.”
In other words: Miss~ there are plenty of men out there, can we please pick someone else?
“…Sigh. Is he hurt?”
“No, with all due respect, even I could take ten of him.”
Yin Qiubai shot him a glare, “I meant, is Young Master Mu hurt?”
“N-no…”
Yin Qiubai pushed open the door and entered. What she saw surprised her.
Mu Qingbai was sitting by a washbasin, washing his face, surrounded by maids attending to him.
He kept scrubbing his face, neck, and arms, all while telling absurd stories to the maids.
Yin Qiubai couldn’t help listening for a while.
The plot was bizarre and otherworldly, refreshingly new and unexpectedly captivating.
No wonder her maids were all listening so intently.
“The plague-ridden monkey shattered the High Heaven Palace with one strike… If only he had smashed me that cleanly back then, I wouldn’t have ended up spinning in the clouds in agony for half an hour before finally dying.”
“Young Master Mu, let’s not jump ahead—start with High Heaven Palace! Also, his name is Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong. Why do you keep calling him plague-ridden monkey?”
Yin Qiubai cleared her throat.
“Ahem.”
The maids were startled and quickly bowed before filing out.
Yin Qiubai was dazed.
This Mister Mu, when he’s mad, is truly insane—but when he’s normal, he’s frighteningly composed.
“Mister Mu, I’ve arranged for a bath. You may freshen up first, then dine.”
Mu Qingbai lit up, “I can bathe? Many thanks!”
Yin Qiubai let out a breath of relief. She had feared he’d try to kill himself or something.
Such a wonderful man… if only he stayed sane.
Ever since she returned last night, Yin Qiubai had been holed up in the study, trying to draft a military academy charter.
But as a general writing a civil document, it was clearly beyond her.
She only managed to write the words ‘military academy’ before giving up and sitting there the whole night.
At the table, Mu Qingbai ate heartily—he devoured two bowls of porridge with pickles.
Even Yin Qiubai thought he was being unusually quiet.
After the meal, she gave him a tour of the manor.
Yin Qiubai thought for a moment, wanted to ask about the military academy, but instead said, “I invited a renowned physician. He’ll come later to check Mister Mu’s pulse.”
“I’m not sick.”
Yin Qiubai sighed inwardly.
It really is serious.
She smiled, “I am. Having him check your pulse is just part of the visit.”
“Oh, I wish you a speedy recovery.”
“…Thank you.”
“Send me back later.”
“Hmm?” Yin Qiubai’s heart skipped a beat… but oddly, she felt relieved.
“You broke me out of prison. That’s a serious crime! Let’s wait until night and then send me back quietly.”
“But the world needs someone like you who speaks the truth!”
Mu Qingbai covered his face, half laughing, half crying. Everything he’d said in the prison had come back like a boomerang to smack him in the back of the head.
“There’s actually no shortage,” Mu Qingbai said weakly.
“There is!”
“There are so many people in the world. They don’t need a reckless loudmouth like me.”
“There is!”
Yin Qiubai was like someone who’d swallowed lead—completely immovable.
“Mister Mu, please don’t refuse. Just stay here peacefully.”
“…Alright.”
Only then did Yin Qiubai smile, “You are free to explore the manor. If you need anything, just instruct the servants.”
“House arrest?”
Yin Qiubai paused, “I will find a way to clear your name. Until then, it’s best if you don’t leave.”
“Oh, so it’s forced confinement.”
“…”
Yin Qiubai felt a little awkward. This Mister Mu—his words were truly sharp.