Chapter 23: The Treacherous Minister Mu Yan

Words : 1045 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Treacherous Minister Mu Yan Huang Chizhong's face was as pale as paper, having witnessed the death of his legitimate son. The remaining three illegitimate sons would likely meet the same fate. Mu Yan's sword was still dripping blood, as he rested it on Huang Chizhong's shoulder and asked, "May I ask Mr. Huang, would you dare to obstruct this Seal Keeper?" "I dare not," replied Huang Chizhong, frozen as if a giant python had its gaze fixed on him. "Very well, I gave you a chance." Stab! The tip of the sword flipped and horizontally slid across Huang Chizhong's neck, and moments later, Huang Chizhong fell dead. Mu Yan dropped the sword he held and before leaving the room, he airily left a sentence, "Kill all the males in the house, leave none alive." "Yes!" the Iron Armor Guard's voice echoed throughout the hall. ... In front of the General Mansion, Madam Qin Shuang stood at the doorway awaiting news from all sides. Although she appeared calm on the surface, she was extremely uneasy inside, pacing back and forth while Madam Li comforted her. Not until a carriage stopped in front of the General Mansion did Zhan Lan help her brother and sister wipe the sugar stains from the corners of their mouths. Earlier when passing through the main street, she couldn't resist buying them candied hawthorns. Zhan Lan made a 'this is a secret' gesture, and the two little ones grinned and mimicked the gesture. Only then did Zhan Lan step down from the carriage with Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng. "Heng'er, Rui'er!" Qin Shuang hurried forward, her brows finally relaxing as she crouched down and embraced the two children. "Mother, sister chased away the bad guys!" Zhan Heng clenched his little fist. Zhan Rui also nodded vigorously, her chubby cheeks jiggling, "Sister was so awesome." Before returning, Zhan Lan had already sent word with silver to General Mansion, ensuring that Zhan Heng and Zhan Rui were safe and would be brought back soon. The news of children being abducted in broad daylight on the main street had spread, and naturally, the General Mansion was informed. "Lan'er, we owe you for saving Heng'er and Rui'er!" Qin Shuang looked gratefully at Zhan Lan, embracing the children with tears rimming her eyes. Zhan Xuerou had just returned with others from a carriage, and upon seeing Zhan Lan bring back her dear brother and sister, felt an uncomfortable twinge in her heart. She coughed lightly twice and quickly stepped forward, emotionally grabbing the hands of her brother and sister, her heart aching. "Rou'er, you've also had a hard time, please take your brother and sister inside first!" Qin Shuang consoled. Zhan Lan noticed Madam Li secretly glanced at Zhan Xuerou with affection, but soon looked down as Zhan Xuerou did not notice her, nor did she return the glance. "Rather it's brother, who had his first son Si Jun at thirteen, followed by one prince after another. I worry for brother, who will inherit the throne in the future!" When he heard the two words 'Si Jun,' Emperor Xuanwu didn't get angry but scoffed coldly, "Let's not bring up Si Jun again, those were the foolish things of youth!" "I actually enjoy such foolish matters, let's hear about it," Mu Yan said with a wicked smile, his voice crisp and cold. Emperor Xuanwu took a sip of tea, not continuing the conversation. Mu Yan abruptly changed the subject, "Brother, from this Huang family's confiscation, I have already turned over three million to the national treasury, the remaining two million silver I leave for brother!" Emperor Xuanwu, who loved the Taoist cultivation arts the most, needed a vast amount of silver to build Taoist temples and refine longevity pills. An emperor, to save his reputation, could not directly request silver from the common people, and using the national treasury would have the pedantic ministers submitting memorials against it. Thus, the tasks had to be handled by Mu Yan. "You, for brother, have indeed born the name of a scheming minister; it must be hard on you!" Emperor Xuanwu said with a light smile. Mu Yan spread his hands and said with a smirk, "I'm not aggrieved, besides, I kept five hundred thousand taels of silver for myself!" Facing such a candidly scheming younger brother, Emperor Xuanwu smiled rather than getting angry, helplessly shaking his head. But after Mu Yan left, his expression immediately turned cold. An old eunuch Li Changsheng walked out from behind the screen, "Your Majesty, the person we sent has lost contact, unexpectedly he died." "Now, trying to place a spy close to Mu Yan is too difficult; recently, there's no need to monitor him." Emperor Xuanwu touched the horsetail whisk. Eunuch Li shook his head, "If not for the late emperor's testament revealing Mu Yan's identity, this old servant would never have discovered he was actually a prince." "The late emperor instructed me not to harm him and to treat him kindly, what can I do? If I killed Mu Yan, how could I face the late emperor after a hundred years!" The eunuch took a golden core from the tray and handed it to Emperor Xuanwu, "Your Majesty, with your celestial bearing, you will surely reign for thousands of generations." Emperor Xuanwu smiled as he swallowed the golden core, "Eunuch Li, your words truly resonate with my heart." ... In the master bedroom of Mu Residence. A man in black reported the day's observations to Mu Yan, while another held a wooden tray with a piece of clothing on it. As Mu Yan listened to their reports, he played a game of chess by himself, controlling both the black and white pieces. "The shopkeeper at Hengchang Pawnshop said that he received a robe today, worth a thousand taels of silver, so he sent it over to you." Upon hearing this, Mu Yan's slender fingers paused, and he glanced at the clothing. "How much silver was it pawned for?" His expression was slightly displeased. That girl Zhan Lan actually took his clothes to exchange for money!

Chapter 23: The Treacherous Minister Mu Yan

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