Chapter 440 - 439: Reunion

Chapter 440: Chapter 439: Reunion

The fifteenth day of the eighth month, the moon and people are both full.

Although several grandchildren are not in the Capital, Madam Wu’s mood is better this Mid-Autumn Festival than in previous years.

Being able to find Mu Liankang is already a great blessing.

Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Xu accompanied Madam Wu in conversation.

Mrs. Lu’s attire remained plain, only adding some jewelry to her hair and wrists, giving her a slightly joyful appearance.

Madam Wu smiled and said to her, "I know you are used to being plain, guarding for Yuan Ming, and do not wear those bright clothes.

However, there are some brighter options even within plainness, just like Yuan Ce’s wife. Once worn, she also looks spirited.

Why don’t you make a few sets as well? When Lian Kang and the others return, it will also bring some joy to the eyes."

Mrs. Xu originally wanted to refuse, but when Madam Wu mentioned Mu Liankang, Mrs. Lu nodded encouragingly at her. After some hesitation, she nodded, "As you said, I will bring it up with my sister-in-law later."

Just as they were talking, the Lian Family and Jiang Yunuan arrived with Sister Niang.

To speak the truth, the Lian Family had been feeling stifled lately. If possible, they usually didn’t like joining the activities in Baijie Hall. They even delayed the family banquet as long as possible this Mid-Autumn Festival.

But in the past, the Lian Family was always proactive. If they acted differently this year, who knows what Madam Wu would think?

They had no choice but to brace themselves and come.

As for Mu Lianhui, the Lian Family couldn’t persuade him, had to wait for that debt collector to step in for dinner.

Mrs. Xu always ignored Jiang Yunuan completely.

Grievances have origins, and debts have masters. Mrs. Xu knew Jiang Yunuan’s nature; she would not harm Mu Liankang, and besides, Jiang Yunuan was mourning in the Jiang Family at that time and wasn’t even at the Marquis Mansion.

Mrs. Xu just didn’t want to acknowledge her, pretending she didn’t exist, but as for the Lian Family, she hated them with a passion.

Mrs. Lu held Mrs. Xu’s hand, and Mrs. Xu took a deep breath, signaling Mrs. Lu to be at ease with her eyes.

Mrs. Xu coldly greeted, "Second sister-in-law," as a formality.

She wasn’t going to act against the Lian Family now; she was waiting for the moment to overturn their second house when they’d get a taste of their own medicine.

Madam Wu took Sister Niang over and played with her for a while before asking the Lian Family, "Where is Yuan Mou?"

"Master is reading in the front yard, saying it’s women’s conversation and he can’t join in. He will come when the time is about right," the Lian Family explained.

Madam Wu’s eyes darkened: "What do you mean by women’s conversation? The old lady is also a woman, and he won’t even talk to me?"

The Lian Family forced a smile, awkwardly.

Madam Wu waved her hand and didn’t mention it again.

In the study of the front courtyard, Mu Yuanmou opened a letter.

The letter was sent from Shanyu Pass. The letter-writer said he saw someone return from outside the pass with his own eyes. Although his appearance changed a lot, it was indeed Mu Liankang.

Mu Liankang had already brought his wife and children back inside the pass. His wife had barbarian blood, blue eyes, and their daughter was around four years old, the son about one and a half.

Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang planned to come out of the pass in September or October for a surprise attack on Ancient Meili City. Mu Liankang had been a bandit for more than eight years, very familiar with the desert and Gobi.

He was brave in the suppression of Changping Marquis’ private troops, and he became a squad leader. When the surprise attack occurs, he will follow Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang out of the pass and will take action then.

Mu Yuanmou pursed his lips, lit an oil lamp, and moved the letter to the fire, burning it to ashes.

The room filled with a burnt smell, and the ashes fell white on the edge of the table. Mu Yuanmou frowned, called a servant to clean up, and walked outside by himself.

In the courtyard, there was the scent of blooming Jin Guihua.

Mu Yuanmou took a breath, stood under the veranda with his hands behind his back, and squinted his eyes.

A wife of barbarian blood? With blue eyes?

Such a woman returning to the Capital is bound to be a joke, isn’t it?

By then, even if Madam Wu and Mrs. Xu can tolerate her, she would feel ashamed and out of place with the life in the Capital.

With such a wife, Mu Liankang would never hope to meddle with the title his entire life.

Divorcing and remarrying would cause gossip and harm reputation, and after the wife’s death, remarrying amidst rumors, who knows how the wife died?

That being said, if Mu Liankang didn’t want to part from his wife, if someone in the family meddled, the backyard would become restless all the same.

In this way, as long as Mu Lianxiao doesn’t return, the title will eventually be theirs, the second house’s.

What happened outside the pass in Ancient Meili City, and where to find evidence?

Mu Yuanmou let out a breath and turned towards the backyard.

In Fengyu Courtyard, Nanny Zhu reported respectfully, "Master, Lady has already gone to Baijie Hall."

Mu Yuanmou nodded and went straight to the inner room, and when he came out, he had changed into a new outfit.

Nanny Zhu, accustomed to it, looked at her nose, and her nose looked at her heart.

Mu Yuanmou asked, "Where is Hui’er?"

"Lady is still in the East Cross Courtyard," Nanny Zhu said.

Mu Yuanmou frowned slightly.

Nanny Zhu was about to tentatively ask if they should invite Mu Lianhui over, when Mu Yuanmou already lifted the curtain and walked out.

Mu Yuanmou did not go to the East Cross Courtyard but instead left Fengyu Courtyard.

Nanny Zhu glanced at the Western clock and shook her head. It’s no wonder the Lian Family would call Mu Lianhui a debt collector; it was really unreasonable.

Fortunately, the days of collecting debt were not long. In just over a month, Mu Lianhui would be married off.

Once married, she’d go to her in-laws to collect debts, no longer troubling the Lian Family.

The Lian Family had been tormented by Mu Lianhui so much that their chest often ached. Nanny Zhu had tried comforting them to no avail several times.

She thought of telling the Lian Family to invite a medical woman for a check-up, but they refused, leaving Nanny Zhu anxious.

If even one of Mu Lianhui or Mu Lianyu was considerate, the Lian Family might not suffer like this.

Nanny Zhu sighed mournfully.

The family feast was laid out in the Flower Hall. Mu Lianhui showed up tardily just as they were about to set the table.

Madam Wu saw her sitting quietly in a corner and didn’t bother to say anything.

The topic of Mu Liankang inevitably came up at the table.

The Lian Family’s hand clenched into a fist under the table, smiling as they said, "Good news brings good cheer. Third sister-in-law seems to look better every day. Madam Wu, this New Year’s Eve, the family can finally have a true reunion meal."

Everyone else hadn’t reacted, but Mu Lianhui sneered.

The Lian Family’s heart raced, worried that Mu Lianhui might reveal something inappropriate.

Mu Lianhui seemed completely unaware of the Lian Family’s anxiety. She drank a sip of osmanthus wine and said, "A true reunion meal? That doesn’t sound right, does it?"

The Lian Family’s heart leapt into their throat.

Mu Yuanmou’s gaze swept coldly over Mu Lianhui: "Eat your meal."

Mu Lianhui pouted and said, "Does Mother think Ay can return to the Capital? Can Grandmother allow Ay to return?"

So it was about Mu Lianyu.

The Lian Family breathed a sigh of relief, glared at Mu Lianhui, and awkwardly said to Madam Wu, "Madam Wu, I..."

Halfway through the sentence, they heard Mu Lianhui say, "Oh, and a girl’s family isn’t really part of the family. This New Year’s Eve, I won’t be in the Marquis Mansion, so to Mother, it will be a true reunion meal, right? After all, a married daughter is like spilled water, once spilled, the basin is broken too."

The Lian Family’s face turned pale, drawing in a sharp breath.