Inside an elegant, antique-style study, a man dressed in a dark blue brocade robe smoothly wrote a large character on xuan paper with flowing strokes. After setting down the brush, he walked over to the person kneeling below and asked, “Oh? Did he really say that?”
“Every word is true, sir. I heard it with my own ears.”
The man’s lips curled slightly in a nearly unnoticeable smile. “You may leave. Take good care of my adorable third brother.”
“Yes!”
After the man left, the man by the window looked outside. A white pigeon cooed softly.
His slender fingers removed the paper slip from the bamboo tube tied to the pigeon’s leg. Written in delicate script on the note were the words:
The matter has been handled.
The smile on his lips widened further. “Heh…”
The xuan paper on the desk lay there quietly. The character “War” written on it looked beautiful, but the brushstrokes were far too sharp and aggressive.
Massive stone lions stood guard on either side of the entrance. Luo Wangshu followed behind Mo Li, hesitating a little. “Um… how about you go by yourself?”
“We’ll go through the back door.” Mo Li patted Luo Wangshu’s shoulder reassuringly and led him forward.
Luo Wangshu cluelessly asked, “Aren’t we supposed to knock on the main gate?”
Mo Li paused, lowering his eyes to hide the confusion in them before explaining, “The main gates of wealthy families aren’t opened casually. Usually they’re only opened when welcoming a legal wife into the household, when someone passes the imperial exams with high honors, or when an important guest arrives. Normally people use the side gate next to the main entrance. Since we’re commoners, we use the back entrance. Why? Isn’t it the same in Mingyue Kingdom?”
Luo Wangshu laughed awkwardly. “I forgot.”
Inside, though, he was cursing TV dramas for lying to him. This was way too embarrassing. Farming knowledge aside, he didn’t even know common etiquette. If that didn’t make people suspicious of him, what would?
He secretly glanced at Mo Li, but didn’t notice anything strange on his face.
Did he actually accept that explanation?
Please. Even Luo Wangshu himself didn’t believe the excuse that he “forgot.”
Should he find a proper chance to tell Mo Li that he was someone who had transmigrated and been reborn? In all those novels he’d read before, people always accepted it pretty easily…
Wait!
Maybe he should wait a few more years?
What if those trashy novels lied again?
What if he scared Mo Li away?
What if people thought he was a monster and burned him alive?
All kinds of thoughts raced through his head. By the time they reached the entrance and the steward came out, he still hadn’t noticed.
“Wife?”
“Hm?” Luo Wangshu looked up and saw a stern-looking middle-aged man standing at the doorway. He wore a brownish-gold robe, and the mole beneath his left eye was especially noticeable.
The steward looked Luo Wangshu up and down carefully, his gaze finally stopping on Luo Wangshu’s eyes. A trace of disdain appeared in his eyes.
It was the first time Luo Wangshu had been examined so sharply and thoroughly. He could clearly tell exactly what the man looked down on.
Was it the color of his eyes?
He hadn’t looked in a mirror in so long that he had almost forgotten his eyes were pale gold.
No wonder that woodcutter had looked like he’d seen a ghost when they first met. The man had taken one look at him and run away.
Realizing his thoughts had wandered too far, Luo Wangshu hurriedly pulled himself back.
“We came here for this.” Mo Li opened the cloth bundle in his hands, revealing the bright red lingzhi inside. It looked extremely beautiful.
Only then did the steward finally spare them another glance. But when his eyes landed on the lingzhi, shock appeared openly in them.
At his age, he had seen countless treasures. He had seen many red lingzhi mushrooms before as well, but never one with quality as good as this.
“Please follow me to the side hall,” the steward said, his tone softening slightly.
The two followed behind him, finally getting a taste of what a “wealthy household” truly looked like.
Gardens, artificial mountains, a pavilion in the middle of the lake, winding corridors—
Luo Wangshu couldn’t help marveling at the craftsmanship inside. He secretly glanced at Mo Li, but the man had almost no reaction.
Fine. He was the only country bumpkin here.
But honestly, it wasn’t his fault. He had grown up living in luxurious European-style villas. How could he have ever seen such ancient-style architecture full of traditional charm?
Thinking back to their mud-brick house, Luo Wangshu quietly sighed.
Once they had money, they really needed to renovate the house.
Even the side hall of a wealthy family was impressive. Any random vase here could probably feed an ordinary family for years.
Luo Wangshu tried hard not to look around too much. After sitting down beside Mo Li, the steward frowned slightly again.
Now what?
Luo Wangshu looked at Mo Li.
Mo Li smiled gently at his wife. “It’s nothing.”
If it was nothing, then why did that steward look so unhappy with him?
Tsk. Forget it. Better to sell the thing and leave as soon as possible.
“If you want it, could you please give us a price?” After waiting a long while without anyone coming, Luo Wangshu finally spoke up. His patience had never been very good.
The steward didn’t even spare him a glance and merely stood respectfully to the side.
Oh wow…
Luo Wangshu raised an eyebrow. Damn, he really wanted to lose his temper.
Before he could explode, Mo Li spoke first.
“So this is how the Mu family treats guests. We’ve learned something today. Since you don’t intend to buy it, we’ll leave first.”
As he spoke, he pulled Luo Wangshu up and started walking away.
The steward remained unmoved and calmly said, “Please reconsider.”
His confidence came from the fact that in this town, besides the Mu family, nobody else could afford to buy it.
Luo Wangshu also wanted to say something. If they couldn’t sell it, they’d be in real trouble. Compared to that, enduring a little humiliation wasn’t a big deal.
“The Hong family in Bali Town also seems very interested in red lingzhi. Originally, since Li Family Village is closer to the Mu family, and since we’re still renting Lord Mu’s farmland, we thought we could save ourselves the trouble of making the trip there. But now it seems…”
Mo Li looked directly at him without the slightest fear.
The steward frowned when he heard that. “Bali Town is ten li away from here, and nearly twenty li from Li Family Village. The travel costs alone wouldn’t be small.”
“If we sell this red lingzhi, we’ll get at least ten thousand taels. Are we supposed to be afraid of paying road fees? Since you have no intention of doing business, there’s no point wasting each other’s time.”
Just as Mo Li was about to step out the door with Luo Wangshu, the steward finally became anxious.
“Please wait a moment, both of you. My master isn’t feeling well, so he’ll need some more time before coming.”
“How much longer?”
The steward stayed silent for a moment before replying, “At most, the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.”
“Fine. The Mu family is a prestigious household, so I’m sure you won’t cheat people. We’ll wait another incense stick’s worth of time.”
Mo Li spoke slowly. Though he still wore a smile, his eyes were far from friendly. Every sentence he spoke placed the Mu family on a moral pedestal they couldn’t easily step down from.
The steward secretly wiped sweat from his forehead and ordered the servant at the door, “Why aren’t you hurrying to invite the master?!”
“Yes!”
Luo Wangshu looked at Mo Li in surprise before following him back to his seat.
After waiting for a while, an elderly man with white hair slowly walked in while being supported by a maidservant.
That was the head of the Mu family—Mu Nian.
Mo Li only glanced at him once before lowering his eyes slightly.
Knowing he wasn’t welcome here, Luo Wangshu secretly tugged at Mo Li.
“You want to sell red lingzhi? Cough cough…” Mu Nian coughed weakly, his face pale. Yet the aura he had brought from his years in officialdom naturally carried authority.
“Yes.” Mo Li took out the red lingzhi.
Mu Nian’s hands trembled slightly as he accepted it and examined it carefully from beginning to end.
“Excellent. This truly is fine lingzhi.”
Mo Li smiled faintly but said nothing.
“This lingzhi… how much are you asking?” Mu Nian asked as he placed it back into the cloth bundle.
“Ten thousand taels of silver.”
Mu Nian’s brows lifted almost imperceptibly. “Eight thousand.”
Mo Li remained silent and slowly wrapped the lingzhi back up.
“Young man, leave some room for compromise in life,” Mu Nian said with a half-smile.
Mo Li’s dark eyes stared directly at him.
“It’s because we already left room for compromise that we didn’t include the travel expenses and medical fees. What? Does Lord Mu think this lingzhi was picked up off the road for free?”
Luo Wangshu silently gave Mo Li a thumbs-up in his heart.
After all, Mo Li had been bitten by a snake back then. He had lost a lot of blood and taken nearly half a month to fully recover. There was still a scar on his shoulder even now.
Mu Nian’s expression changed slightly after hearing that. His thumb unconsciously rubbed the armrest of the redwood chair. After thinking it over, he finally said, “What the young man says is reasonable.”
Then he turned to the steward.
“Go to the treasury and bring nine thousand eight hundred taels in banknotes and two hundred taels in silver pieces for this young man.”
“Yes, Master.”
The steward respectfully accepted the key to the treasury and left.
Mu Nian looked Mo Li up and down and asked with a smile, “You’re quite young, but your courage is impressive. Did you retire from the border army last year?”
“Yes.”
“Are you married?”
Mu Nian wasn’t discouraged by Mo Li’s cold and indifferent answers. Instead, he pressed further.
Mo Li still only gave a lukewarm “Yes.”
Luo Wangshu sat beside him, acting like an invisible person. But after hearing Mu Nian’s questions, he suddenly had a bad feeling—especially under the old fox’s calculating gaze.
“I think you’re quite handsome, young man. Even if you’re poor at the moment, there’s no need for you to marry… hehe.”
Mu Nian smiled lightly.
“My daughter is seventeen this year. Aside from being a bit spoiled, she’s extremely beautiful. Are you interested?”
Luo Wangshu was dumbfounded.
Trying to steal someone’s man behind his back was one thing, but doing it right in front of him?
Did they really think he was mute just because he hadn’t spoken?
Before Mo Li could reject him, Luo Wangshu pulled him behind himself and smiled without warmth.
“Lord Mu, please mind your words. Miss Mu is still an unmarried young lady. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to speak like this? If word spreads, people might say your daughter is lonely and desperate for a man. Her reputation would be ruined. And when she marries in the future, what will her husband’s family think after hearing about this? Please think carefully for your daughter’s sake.”
Mu Nian frowned instinctively. “You’re nothing more than a lowly servant. What right do you have to make noise here?”
“Because the man you’re trying to steal is mine!”
Luo Wangshu’s voice rang out powerfully, startling even Mu Nian with his domineering attitude.
Meanwhile, the corners of Mo Li’s lips curved upward.
He stepped forward and shielded Luo Wangshu behind him. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll be leaving now.”
Without waiting for Mu Nian to respond, he set down the cloth bundle, walked out, and took the money pouch from the steward who had just arrived at the doorway.
The steward only felt his hands suddenly empty. By the time he looked again, the money pouch was already gone.
At a loss, he looked toward Mu Nian.
Mu Nian waved his hand tiredly. “Let them go.”
Mo Li led Luo Wangshu back the way they came. Once they finally exited the Mu residence, Luo Wangshu let out a long breath.
“Now I finally understand what people mean by a ‘deep household.’”
Every servant they had passed along the way had stayed strictly in their place and dared not say unnecessary words. The atmosphere felt suffocating.
When he got no response, Luo Wangshu looked at Mo Li in confusion.
The man was smiling brilliantly.
So when this blockhead smiled seriously, he actually looked this good…
Luo Wangshu got lost in the beauty for a moment before finally snapping back to reality and silently despising himself.
“Uh… let’s hurry back. If we miss the timing, that person might die.”
“Alright. I’ll listen to my wife.”
Goosebumps instantly rose all over Luo Wangshu’s body. He stared at Mo Li in horror.
Still, business came first, so he grabbed the man and hurried back quickly.