Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 5

The glorious exploits of the Tenth Young Master of Mu Mansion, Mu Chengyang, spread through every street and alley of the Capital within just two or three days.

The rumors spread so quickly that even the full efforts of Mu Mansion could not suppress them.

The Mu Family, proud to call themselves a scholarly lineage, had raised a Tenth Young Master who turned out to be a mischievous and wanton boy, running wild at such a young age.

It was said that noble sons were supposed to be charming but never vulgar, yet Mu Chengyang had, in broad daylight, drunkenly collapsed in a brothel-and not just anywhere, but in the bathhouse, having seen every courtesan in the room.

Amid the screams of the courtesans, he even uttered lewd words without realizing it, causing an uproar along the entire street.

Right beneath the Son of Heaven’s feet, in the imperial city of the Capital, such wantonness was simply beyond the pale!

Central Secretariat Director Mu Han was rebuked for failing to discipline his son, repeatedly impeached in court by Fang Jingtai.

The Emperor, in name only and powerless in truth, could do nothing but order Mu Han to return to his mansion to reflect behind closed doors, temporarily handing over the Grand Secretariat under Mu Han’s supervision to the Prime Minister’s management.

Everyone in court knew that Fang Jingtai was Xiao Hong’s father-in-law and Fang Qin’er’s birth father.

This spectacle was most likely because the Mu Family had recently been forming factions everywhere, and the Xiao Family’s legitimate daughter had lost face after falling into the water at Mu Mansion. Now, both the Xiao and Fang Families were sounding the alarm.

—

In the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, its scorching rays making everything in sight seem blurred and distorted.

“Practicing horsemanship at this hour is truly tough; I just hope Xiao Fuguang doesn’t suffer from heatstroke.” Fang Qin’er accepted the handkerchief from Matron Du and dabbed the fine sweat beading on her forehead.

Xiao Wangshu, seated beside her, poured a bowl of tea and handed it over.

“Mother, have some perilla decoction. It will help dispel the summer heat.”

“Mm, thank you.” Fang Qin’er set aside the handkerchief, raised the tea bowl, and drank most of it.

Xiao Wangshu lounged lazily against the armrest, holding a sandalwood handle and gently waving her sky-blue embroidered orchid fan, as relaxed as a cat.

The soft breeze stirred the wisps of hair at her temples. Her features were already exquisitely refined, and without any makeup, her natural beauty seemed especially fresh in the height of summer.

“Madam, the Prime Minister is waiting in the courtyard. It seems he has something to discuss with you.”

Fang Qin’er’s personal maid, Cang Dong, hurried over and reported by her side.

Hearing this, Fang Qin’er looked slightly surprised. With Matron Du supporting her, she slowly rose and reminded Xiao Wangshu, “I’ll go take a look. If you’re not feeling well later, Wangshu, be sure to return to your rooms and rest.”

“Please don’t worry, Mother, I understand.” Xiao Wangshu rose and curtseyed, “Father’s affairs are important. You should go quickly.”

“Mm.” Fang Qin’er nodded and, with Matron Du’s support, made her way back.

After seeing Fang Qin’er off, Xiao Wangshu sat down again, continuing to watch those on the Riding Field.

She fanned herself gently, her beauty like a living painting.

Not until she saw Xiao Fuguang and the others finish their training for the day did Xiao Wangshu finally rise, bringing Yichun and Shuxia forward.

“Sister!” Xiao Fuguang wiped away his sweat and strode over.

Another youth who had trained alongside him came over as well, bowing respectfully to Xiao Wangshu and greeting her properly: “Greetings, Fourth Sister.”

This was Xiao Zhenxi, the Seventh Illegitimate Son of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, born to Concubine Yu.

He was about the same age as Xiao Fuguang, only two years older, and the two of them usually studied and trained together.

Because he had been frail since birth and was constantly ailing, Xiao Hong never set harsh demands on him.

Take horsemanship and archery, for example: if Xiao Fuguang did not train well, he would be punished and drilled, while Xiao Zhenxi’s health always took precedence-if he felt unwell, he could skip training and simply rest at the side.

“Seventh Brother, have some tea; you both must be exhausted.” Xiao Wangshu smiled gently and personally poured out three bowls of perilla decoction.
Xiao Fuguang stepped forward to serve tea, first bringing a bowl to Chen Chu, who was adjusting the saddle nearby.

Chen Chu was taken aback, then clasped his fists from a distance in salute to Xiao Wangshu, picked up the bowl of tea from Xiao Fuguang, drained it in one gulp, and strode away immediately.

That departing figure, no matter how you looked at it, seemed as if he were fleeing for his life.

“General Chen seems to be a little afraid of Fourth Sister?” Xiao Zhenxi said, choosing his words carefully.

Xiao Wangshu was also a bit puzzled in her heart, but her expression remained calm. She smiled gently and said, “How could that be? I have no dealings with General Chen. We have no past grievances nor recent enmity. Why would he be afraid of me?”

Though she said this, she did feel that this General Chen Chu was indeed avoiding her.

Strange and curious, it made one even more intrigued.

“Fourth Sister is right, perhaps I was overthinking it.” Xiao Zhenxi finished his tea, put down the bowl, and then respectfully cupped his hands to Xiao Wangshu. “Fourth Sister, I still have some lessons to finish, so I’ll head back first.”

Xiao Wangshu nodded. “Alright, take your time on the road.”

“Mm.” Xiao Zhenxi responded, turned around, covered his mouth and coughed twice, then left with his attendants.

At this moment, Xiao Fuguang also returned, muttering in confusion, “General Chen has been acting quite strangely these past two days. When teaching us, he seems rather constrained.”

Xiao Wangshu asked in return, “Oh?”

Xiao Fuguang lowered his gaze, his eyes darting around, then suddenly laughed and said, “Maybe we scared him?”

Xiao Wangshu continued to ask, “How so?”

Xiao Fuguang replied, “Didn’t we borrow two of General Chen’s elite soldiers the other day to handle some matters? I guess after those two returned, they must have told General Chen something, and now he knows what it means to say ‘women and petty men are hard to deal with.'”

That day, he had taken Luo Heng and Yang Yumu with him. First, they paid some beggars to lure Mu Chengyang out of the Mu Mansion and drugged him until he was dazed. Then they carried him to a brothel and threw him into a bathhouse, and in the chaos, disguised themselves and went in to cover Mu Chengyang’s head and kicked him a few times.

He figured he had been too ruthless, and it had scared the two of them.

After they returned and told Chen Chu, it had scared Chen Chu as well.

Hearing Xiao Fuguang’s explanation, Xiao Wangshu was stunned for a moment, then also burst out laughing.

“This General Chen is quite amusing.”

No wonder their Prime Minister father liked having General Chen as a personal bodyguard. Having such a simple-minded person by one’s side was indeed reassuring.

Xiao Fuguang laughed along with her for a while, then continued, “By the way, Sister, you haven’t gone out to buy jewelry for some days. Would you like to go out today?”

It was in a woman’s nature to love beauty, and his sister, being such a remarkable person, should dress up even more exquisitely.

Xiao Wangshu happened to want to go out as well, to see for herself the bustling Capital so vividly described in books. She nodded in agreement, “Let’s go out and have a look, then.”

—

Towering buildings rise a hundred feet high, vermilion carriages compete along the road.

This bustling Capital, with its endless streams of carriages and horses, was truly captivating.

Everywhere the eye could see was prosperity. Such a dazzling visual spectacle could never be captured by a few simple lines in a book.

“It’s quite hot these days, so there aren’t many people on the streets. Wait until the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Lantern Festival-then the Capital’s streets are truly lively,” Xiao Fuguang remarked with a sigh.

Xiao Wangshu looked at the Zhuque Street before her and smiled, “This is already enough.”

It was already breathtaking.

“What?” Xiao Fuguang hadn’t heard her clearly and asked again.

Xiao Wangshu replied casually, “Nothing. Let’s go and see if there’s anything nice, and bring some things back for Mother. Let’s not come back too late, or Mother will worry.”

“Sister, you’ve become even more considerate of Mother lately,” Xiao Fuguang teased.

Ever since she fell into the water at the Mu Mansion, his sister had never shown any further interest in Mu Yunze, and had grown increasingly close to their mother.

It was indeed a wonderful thing.