When Mu Yanxi asked for ten thousand taels of silver upfront, everyone felt it was an exorbitant demand, but when Mu Yanxi itemized the expenses, they actually felt it was reasonable.
They then clicked their tongues; although the Prime Minister's Mansion was immensely wealthy, the fact that a single Legitimate Daughter cost ten thousand taels of silver over six years was simply too extravagant and wasteful.
Those with deeper thoughts couldn't help but suspect Mu Yuanlin of embezzlement.
Although Mu Yuanlin held the high position of Prime Minister, his annual salary plus various rewards barely reached five thousand taels of silver at most.
The Mu Manor was a large establishment with nearly two hundred household retainers in total. The expenses for just one daughter amounted to fifteen hundred taels of silver annually, not even counting the other female relatives in the rear courtyard. Where did the deficit come from?
Even the high-ranking Emperor Dongfeng couldn't help but mock him, "Sixteen new sets of clothes for the four seasons? Minister Mu truly dotes on his daughter. Such luxurious spending for a Legitimate Daughter rivals that of Our Princesses."
Mu Yuanlin was terrified and apologetic, "These are just one-sided words from a child; it's not actually that much."
"Grandfather, how can you lie in front of the Emperor? Sixteen new sets of clothes a year is not something I made up. Go ask Ruyi Workshop; my aunt orders at least ten new sets of clothes there every year, if not more. Besides that, there are also Jinxiu Pavilion, Suxue Xuan, and other named clothing shops—Auntie is a regular customer at all of them. Annually, she must get twenty to thirty new sets of clothes, right?"
"Shut up!"
"Minister Mu, are these claims true?"
Faced with the Emperor Dongfeng's questioning, Mu Yuanlin had no way to refute it. His daughter Mu Xi's living expenses were indeed extravagant, but half of that spending came from Prince Qi's Mansion. However, in front of Emperor Dongfeng and all the officials, he had no face to admit it.
Although his daughter and Jun Moyi were deeply in love, they were not yet married. Spending such a massive amount of money from the man's family would not only damage her reputation but also incur the displeasure of Emperor Dongfeng.
For the sake of his daughter's reputation, he absolutely had to grit his teeth and take the blame for this.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Since my eldest daughter left, I have indeed spoiled Xi'er a bit. This subject will reflect on himself and correct his conduct from now on."
Seeing Mu Yuanlin admit his fault, Emperor Dongfeng did not press the matter further.
At this moment, Madam Mu finally realized that Mu Ning was no longer the good-for-nothing, foolish girl who could be bullied six years ago. She had to put away her condescension and dared not bring up the matter of family discipline again.
But whether she could smooth things over depended on whether Mu Ning and her child agreed.
"So, Maternal Grandmother, when do you plan to give the ten thousand and eighty taels of silver to Mother? Mother is just a weak woman; raising the three of us has been very difficult."
Madam Mu reacted quickly as well. "Good child, now that you have returned, the Mu Manor will certainly take care of you. You don't need to worry about your daily living expenses; rest assured."
"Is that so? Then can we also charge things like dining out and shopping to the Mu Manor's account, just like Auntie?"
"Silly child, if you need anything, just tell me directly, and I will have the servants purchase it."
"Oh, then please give the ten thousand and eighty taels of silver to Mother first. I only want that."
No matter how well Madam Mu acted, her expression couldn't help but change. "You child, why are you always talking about money? At your age, you should focus on your studies. After the Birthday Banquet, I will definitely hire the best teachers in Fengjing City to instruct you."
"Maternal Grandmother, are you talking about the same kind of teacher who taught Uncle martial arts?"
Madam Mu's face stiffened. "Of course not. I mean teachers who instruct in academics..."
"Enough, why are you nagging a child? Aren't you afraid the Emperor will laugh at you!"
Mu Yuanlin pretended to be impatient and stopped his wife, but he was actually giving her a way out.
Madam Mu was also clever and immediately apologized. "This concubine has been rude. This concubine is feeling unwell and requests Your Majesty's permission to retire first."
"Madam Mu had better not leave yet. Otherwise, we'll have to send someone to fetch you back later, wasting time with back and forth trips."
It wasn't until they heard Mu Ning speak that everyone remembered the main issue.
Under Emperor Dongfeng's decree, Imperial Physician Liu was quickly summoned to the Birthday Banquet.
"Imperial Physician Liu, you examined Prince Qin at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet six years ago. Do you still recall the pulse reading and Prince Qin's condition?"
Imperial Physician Liu used wiping sweat as a cover while his eyes darted around, clearly contemplating how to answer.
At this moment, Mu Yanxi suddenly walked toward Imperial Physician Liu, her snow-white small hand lightly brushing his shoulder.
"There is an insect."
Meeting Imperial Physician Liu's confused gaze, Mu Yanxi opened her small hand innocently. In her palm was a small insect resembling a bee.
No one paid attention to Mu Yanxi's action because Imperial Physician Liu began to speak.
"...According to this humble subject's diagnosis, Prince Qin was afflicted with an aphrodisiac called Hehuan Powder that night. This poison cannot be cured by medicine; it can only be resolved through intercourse with a woman."
Imperial Physician Liu's words did not cause a major reaction, as the matter had been widely known back then, and everyone was certain that Mu Ning was the one who administered the poison.
"Imperial Physician Liu, from a pharmacological perspective, what do you think of the properties of this Hehuan Powder? Is it easy to concoct?"
"Although Hehuan Powder is perverse, it is a rare medicine. Forget concocting it; even purchasing it is extremely difficult. To this humble subject's knowledge, only Jiuzhentang in the entire Fengjing City sells it, and the price is exorbitant."
Mu Ning nodded, then turned to Emperor Dongfeng to request permission, "Your Majesty, I wish to summon the shopkeeper of Jiuzhentang to testify."
Upon hearing that Mu Ning wanted the shopkeeper of Jiuzhentang to testify, a flicker of disdain crossed Madam Mu's face.
"Ning'er, you don't know this, but Jiuzhentang relies on its reputation to stand in the world. They will never disclose the buyer's information under any circumstances. Even if you summon the shopkeeper, it won't prove anything."
"Whether it proves anything will be known once he arrives."
The shopkeeper of Jiuzhentang was soon invited to the Birthday Banquet.
"May I ask Shopkeeper Zhu, is Hehuan Powder a proprietary secret medicine unique to your establishment?"
"It is."
"May I ask who purchased Hehuan Powder from your shop six years ago?"
The shopkeeper glanced at Mu Ning and smiled slightly, "Please forgive this young lady, but Jiuzhentang has a rule: we never disclose any information regarding buyers to outsiders."
"Not even in the presence of the Emperor?"
"Yes. Your Majesty, please forgive this subject. This is a rule established by the first master of Jiuzhentang, which every person in Jiuzhentang must abide by, or face the death penalty."
Hearing this, a trace of triumph quickly flashed in Madam Mu's eyes.
Back then, in order to test her daughter Mu Xi, she had specifically entrusted this matter to the other party to handle.
The medicine was bought by a newly arrived Maidservant. After the deed was done, this Maidservant was sold off to the border and had already died from the Plague. Even if Jiuzhentang revealed who bought the medicine, it would not implicate her or her daughter.
This little Bitch thought she could fight her, but she was still too green.
"Ning'er, perhaps you should drop it. Stop making things difficult for Shopkeeper Zhu. Just pretend the medicine wasn't bought by you. The matter has already happened; pursuing it further is useless."