The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1533 - 741 Arrest the Mastermind (Second Update)

Mu Family.

Old Master Mu sat upright in the main seat, as all those who had been sent to carry out tasks had returned.

The one now reporting to him was his second son, Mu Hong.

"Father," Mu Hong stood in front of Old Master Mu, recounting what had happened in the woods, "...the families fought fiercely, and no one knows who sent the Little Princesses back."

"Hmph," Old Master Mu snorted coldly, "all pretending to be above the fray while secretly competing more fiercely than anyone else."

Mu Hong said, "There were also quite a few casualties, the details depend on what the major clans report."

Old Master Mu twisted his grizzled eyebrows, "I didn’t expect it to lead to so many complications."

Mu Hong said with shame, "Originally, it wouldn’t have been this troublesome. If it weren’t for that brat who ran away with the Little Princess, we wouldn’t have ended up tracking them and drawing the other clans’ attention."

If they had just stayed quietly in that mansion, who would have discovered them?

But now that things had come to this, speaking words of regret was of no use.

"It’s all that brat’s fault," Mu Hong couldn’t help but complain out loud.

Who would have thought a five-year-old brat could throw the Mu Family’s whole plan into chaos?

Old Master Mu let out a heavy breath, "Has everything been handled cleanly?"

Mu Hong replied, "Don’t worry, Father, all evidence has been destroyed."

Old Master Mu then asked, "What about the people who caught the Little Princesses? They have seen their faces."

Mu Hong answered, "They’re already dead, killed by a master from some clan. It ends without proof, and no investigation will lead back to the Mu Family."

Old Master Mu pondered, "The Dong Family fox seems to know quite a bit."

Mu Hong said dismissively, "Even if he knows, I’m not afraid. Unless he can produce evidence, which he can’t, because the Dong Family itself isn’t clean, he doesn’t have the guts to implicate the Mu Family."

Although the noble families are tumultuous in secret, some deeds would never be exposed. If it hadn’t been for the Han Family moving against the gracious concubine first, the Mu Family would not have taken such a risk and come up with this method to suppress the Han Family.

Old Master Mu closed his eyes and sighed, "Let this matter come to an end here, and don’t bring it up again in the future. Make sure those people working for you keep a tight lid on it."

Mu Hong bowed with his hands clasped, "Yes, Father, I understand."

"What are you doing here!"

Suddenly, a stern rebuke from Mu Tao came from outside the door.

Old Master Mu’s eyebrows knitted together in alertness.

Mu Hong turned on his heel and quickly moved to the door, swiftly pulling it open, and collided right into Mu Chuan, who shuddered outside the door.

Mu Chuan looked at Mu Hong with a face full of fear.

Mu Hong also looked at him in surprise.

Their shocks were not the same; Mu Chuan’s contained a trace of unfamiliarity and fear, with a hint of complexity.

Mu Hong quickly regained his composure and greeted Mu Tao, who strode forward boldly, "Big brother."

Mu Tao grabbed Mu Chuan’s wrist and dragged him out, "You little brat, who allowed you into your grandfather’s courtyard? Didn’t you go to school? Returning without even a greeting..."

Mu Chuan’s feet were firmly planted on the ground.

"Is it true?" he asked.

Mu Tao’s body stiffened, his gaze shifting past Mu Chuan and onto Mu Hong inside the doorway.

Mu Hong took a deep breath and asked slowly, "Mu Chuan, how much did you hear?"

Mu Chuan’s eyes reddened, "...I heard everything."

Mu Hong said to Mu Chuan, "Listen to your second uncle, forget what you heard."

Mu Chuan shook off his father’s hand, wiped his eyes, and briskly walked towards the door, his eyes red.

Mu Tao frowned, "Where are you going?"

Mu Chuan choked out, "I’m going to tell Fourth Brother!"

Mu Tao’s expression darkened, "You little rascal! Get back here!"

Mu Hong looked at Mu Tao, "Big brother."

Mu Tao nodded with understanding, "I have an idea. These next couple of days, I will make sure Xiao Chuan stays at home."

Mu Tao brought Mu Chuan back, locked him in his own courtyard, and had the guards and Mu Family’s loyal retainers take turns watching him.

The Mu Family, who thought they had everything under control and were infallible, were approached by people from the National Master Hall just before the hour of You.

The leader was Ye Qing, the chief disciple under the National Master.

Ye Qing, dressed in the deep blue robe of the National Master Hall with white edges on the collar and front embroidered with light blue bamboo leaves, the insignia of an inner disciple, stood outside the Mu Family mansion with a long sword in hand and a solemn expression, "On the National Master’s orders, please ask the Mu Family head to visit the National Master Hall."

Greeting them outside were Mu Tao and Mu Hong.

Although surprised and uneasy, Mu Tao still responded politely, "My father is unwell. May I know what instructions the National Master has? Otherwise, I will accompany you for visit."

Ye Qing, with sword across, said flatly, "You are not qualified."

Mu Tao’s brows furrowed.

Ye Qing repeated, "I’ll say it again. On the National Master’s orders, please ask the Mu Family head to visit the National Master Hall."

A Mu Family guard scoffed, "Is this an invitation or an arrest? Don’t you have any manners? Our master isn’t someone you can just take away whenever you wish—Ah!"

He was knocked unconscious by Ye Qing’s internal force.

Ye Qing didn’t even draw his sword.

At this moment, Ye Qing was no longer the gentle and modest eldest brother of the National Master Hall; he was a sheathed Treasure Sword, sharp and formidable.

Mu Tao, holding back his anger, asked, "Since when did the National Master Hall start meddling in the affairs of our noble families?"

Ye Qing replied, "No comment."

Mu Tao stared hard at Ye Qing, then said to Mu Hong, "Go inform father."

"There’s no need," the patriarch of the Mu Family walked out from inside the mansion with a composed gait.

Mu Tao and Mu Hong turned and bowed to the family patriarch, "Father!"

Standing tall on the high steps, the Mu Family patriarch looked down at Ye Qing, "Since the National Master has invited me, I will go with you. A clear conscience fears no accusation. I do not believe that your National Master Hall could falsely accuse me without cause!"

Ye Qing said indifferently, "I have neither spoken of good nor bad. Why such words, Master Mu? Are you perhaps feeling guilty?"

The patriarch of the Mu Family snorted coldly, "Don’t talk back to me. When I was serving the imperial court, you were still figuring out where to be reborn!"

Ye Qing sneered, "Is that so? Please."

Mu Tao and Mu Hong exclaimed in unison, "Father!"

The patriarch gave them a reassuring look.

All the cleaning up had been done; even the National Master Hall couldn’t find any evidence!

...

Qilin Palace.

Little Jiaojiao comfortably took a bath, and to soothe his hurt little soul, he didn’t have to wash himself, instead lying relaxed in a small bath.

"Ahen~"

He lifted his little arms, showing his tiny armpit.

"This needs to be washed too~"

"Ahen~ and here too"

He then propped up his little feet, wagging his toes pompously.

Ordering around the wicked brother-in-law felt too good. It felt like his life had peaked~

Xiao Hen looked at him with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

Fine, be smug.

Wait until Jiaojiao leaves, then I’ll see how to deal with you.