Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 8

“Sister, have you ever had any conflict with that young lady from the Pan Family?” Xiao Fuguang turned his head to look at Xiao Wangshu and asked.

Xiao Wangshu quietly looked at Mu Xiaoxiao, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

In fact, that day at the Mu Mansion, after the original owner was pushed into the pond, her head hit a stone directly, and she saw nothing at all.

The reason she was asking now was simply because the book never specified who exactly pushed the original owner into the water.

It was a character so minor she didn’t even have a name-just a brief description: a young lady from an official family dressed in blue and white.

This official young lady’s character setting was that she silently loved Mu Yunze, loved him but could not have him, and was jealous that Xiao Wangshu could openly entangle herself with Mu Yunze.

From the beginning to the end of the entire novel, this character only appeared once, so minor she could hardly even be called a supporting role.

The only thing she did to advance the plot was to push Xiao Wangshu into the water. Immediately after, Xiao Wangshu woke up, went mad for love, and helped outsiders bring down her own family.

As for how such a nameless extra could push the book’s main villainess, Xiao Wangshu, into the water, it was all thanks to a certain maid from the Mu Mansion who inadvertently guided her.

Based on the dialogue described in the book, there was some kind of clothing and jewelry transaction between the blue-and-white-clad official young lady and the young lady served by that maid.

In just a few lines of dialogue, the maid once praised the official young lady, saying that the clothes looked especially good on her.

And the official young lady replied at the time-

‘The fine goods from your young lady’s shop, of course they look good.’

Thinking it over, the only young ladies in the Mu Mansion who ran their own shops were Mu Chuxue and Mu Xiaoxiao.

As for Mu Chuxue, she was now in the palace as the Imperial Consort, obviously unable to keep track of what happened at the Mu Mansion’s banquet outside the palace in real time.

After considering it, it seemed only this harmless Fifth Miss Mu was left.

As for those fine goods from the shop, upon entering, she saw there were only a few dresses hanging up, all in similar styles.

Just point to any blue-and-white one, and wouldn’t the answer come out?

The smile on Xiao Wangshu’s lips deepened.

At this moment, Mu Xiaoxiao had no idea what Xiao Wangshu was thinking.

She bit her lip and thought carefully for a while before answering hesitantly, “Miss Pan from the Pan Family has always been interested in our Second Young Master. Perhaps seeing Fourth Sister Xiao also fond of Second Young Master, she became jealous…”

At this point, Mu Xiaoxiao’s voice grew weaker.

After a long pause, she continued, “If it really was Miss Pan who did this, it can’t be separated from our Second Young Master either. I’ll apologize to Fourth Sister Xiao on his behalf first.”

After speaking, Mu Xiaoxiao, looking guilty, walked directly up to Xiao Wangshu, bent down, and prepared to give a deep bow.

Xiao Wangshu reached out to stop her, smiling amiably, “Enough, it’s not something related to you, no need to take it to heart.”

It was the legitimate Second Young Master of the Mu Mansion who attracted the unwanted attention that caused her to fall into the water. If she wanted to hold someone accountable, it would be the legitimate branch, what did it have to do with this Fifth Miss Mu, who was born of a concubine?

Just then, the shopkeeper finished brewing tea and brought it over.

Mu Xiaoxiao, eyes full of guilt, began to warmly serve tea to Xiao Wangshu and Xiao Fuguang.

For the rest of the time, the three of them tacitly avoided mentioning anything about Pan Jin or Xiao Wangshu’s fall into the water.

After picking out two hairpins at Ruibao Pavilion, seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Wangshu and her brother took their leave and returned home.

—

“Sister, why didn’t you ever say anything about being harmed in secret? If you had told them, Father and Mother would surely have investigated thoroughly for you.”

On the way home, Xiao Fuguang was still asking this question, completely unable to understand why Xiao Wangshu had never said she was pushed into the water.

Yichun and Shuxia followed behind the siblings. Hearing Xiao Fuguang’s words, they nodded repeatedly, blaming themselves for not staying with Xiao Wangshu by the pond that day-at least one of them should have stayed with her.

Xiao Wangshu raised her hand and gently rubbed her brow, explaining to Xiao Fuguang, “My silly brother, do you really think Pan Jin alone could have managed to avoid all the servants in the Mu Mansion and push me into the water?”
“So Sister means that there are still people in the Mu Mansion helping her?”

Xiao Fuguang’s anger deepened, and he flung his sleeve as he spoke: “Then all the more reason for Father and Mother to keep investigating! If the Prime Minister’s Mansion can’t have peace, neither should the Mu Mansion!”

Xiao Wangshu cast him a sidelong glance and let out a soft sigh.

“First of all, Pan Jin is indeed jealous, but she’s also cowardly and has never dared to confront me openly. In fact, I barely even noticed her before.

“If she truly did this, then either she had help, or someone incited and manipulated her. Otherwise, how would she have the nerve to plot against me completely unprepared?

“Secondly, public opinion cannot be ignored. Although Father wields great authority, he still has to keep up appearances in front of the Emperor and the other officials. How could he, for my sake alone, conduct a sweeping search of the other officials’ mansions?

“There’s no solid evidence in this matter, and it happened in a political rival’s mansion-it’s far too easy for someone to turn the tables and accuse us instead. If the truth doesn’t come to light, Father could end up being branded as abusing his power, which is simply not worth it.

“I’m just a young lady in the boudoir. If my reputation suffers, so be it; it won’t affect anything major. But Father is the Prime Minister, holding power over the whole court-how could he stoop to bicker with those young ladies at a banquet for my sake?”

To put it even more bluntly, Xiao Wangshu was saying: Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

Are those petty jealousies among young ladies really worth the Prime Minister personally getting involved?

Xiao Fuguang nodded as he listened, then asked, “You’re right, Sister. But if you’ve been wronged, are we just going to let it go?”

“Let it go?” Xiao Wangshu’s eyes glimmered with a smile as she shot him a look. “Even if I could let it go, could you? Now that I’ve told you, do you really think you won’t go and tell Mother all about it when you get back?”

If you can’t act in the open, then act in secret-such a simple principle. Fang Qin’er has managed the Prime Minister’s Mansion for years; how could she not understand?

Xiao Fuguang scratched the back of his head and chuckled, “I can’t.”

Once he got back, he would certainly add fuel to the fire and tell Mother the whole story.

…

Two days later.

Prime Minister’s Mansion, Moonlight Courtyard.

Xiao Wangshu was picking out outfits for the next day’s palace visit with Shuxia when Yichun suddenly came running in, bursting with excitement.

“Miss! Madam Pan just came to our door to make a scene, but the people from the Pan Mansion dragged her back out almost as soon as she entered-it was really lively!”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.” Xiao Wangshu, clearly interested, went to sit down nearby and picked up a piece of pastry.

Yichun cleared her throat, rolled up her sleeves, and began her lively retelling-

“Just now, Madam Pan showed up at our door. Madam received her with proper courtesy in the front hall, but Madam Pan immediately demanded: ‘Was it your Prime Minister’s Mansion that let your daughters assault and drown my son in the pond!’

“Our Madam just sat there calmly, so dignified and composed, and replied without hurry, ‘There’s been no past resentment or recent grudge-if your Pan Family’s child fell into the water, why come to the Prime Minister’s Mansion instead of calling for a doctor?’

“Then, before Madam Pan could say anything, Madam asked again, ‘Has anyone from my family, especially Wangshu, ever offended anyone in the Pan Family? Madam Pan, please tell us-what kind of grudge do we have?’

“Would Madam Pan dare answer? Of course not!

“At that point, Madam Pan was left completely speechless!

“Immediately after, Madam continued, ‘Madam Pan, you come here out of nowhere. I respect you as a guest and treat you with courtesy, yet you barge in and throw your weight around. Are you suggesting there’s no one of consequence in the Prime Minister’s Mansion?’

“Young Master Fuguang was right there. As soon as Madam finished, he got ready to call the guards to escort her out!

“Just then, people from the Pan Mansion rushed over. Young Master Pan kept apologizing to Madam, saying that his sister fell into the water and their mother, overly anxious, lost her senses and caused a scene at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, asking Madam for forgiveness.”

When she finished, Yichun shrugged with a laugh and said, “Then Madam Pan was taken away by Young Master Pan, and Madam sent me back to attend to you, Miss.”