Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 874 - 549 Analysis_2

Chapter 874: Chapter 549 Analysis_2

This is considered bait.

Lou Ji and her team are gathering intelligence, and sometimes they might spend tens of thousands of silver without hearing a peep; spending forty-six thousand taels of silver for a possibility remains very tempting in the grand scheme of things.

After paying the silver, packing the clothes, Xu Yuan and his companion promptly left Hongchang Clothiers.

The streets outside were as bustling as ever, with the Mu siblings who had moved ahead already out of sight, and people in various lavish attire were bustling about under the warm sunshine.

Humming a tune in his heart, Xu Yuan walked ahead with a smile on his face, while Bai Muxi silently followed behind him, carrying a silk pouch with new clothes, and beneath her purple veil, her red lips were tightly clenched.

Although she knew in her heart that the young master had his own plans and that she wasn’t in a position to interfere, that was still forty-six thousand taels of silver! If that money had been saved, it could’ve bought more than twenty sets of spirit armor or an incalculable amount of grain and meat...

After walking for a dozen breaths, Xu Yuan finally noticed Xiao Bai lagging behind and stared at her for a few moments, his face showing a hint of amusing oddity:

"Mu Xi, you... you’re not upset with me for spending silver on a stranger, are you?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Muxi quickly looked up and shook her head:

"Mu Xi wouldn’t dare..."

Xu Yuan chuckled:

"Not daring doesn’t mean not feeling it."

Bai Muxi subconsciously wanted to admit her fault, but after thinking about it, she spoke up candidly:

"Mu Xi just thinks that at a time when the young master is raising funds, such extravagant spending seems quite improper."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan’s eyes curved slightly.

It was somewhat unexpected; before today, Xiao Bai would only admit her faults and would never dare to offer such "advice" to him. However, after today’s transaction, although Xiao Bai was still nominally a slave, she had in fact become a concubine, and not just any concubine, but one with "imperial relatives."

This skill of changing attitude with status was indeed not bad.

Thinking this, Xu Yuan still offered an explanation:

"The two people just now were the legitimate son and daughter of Marquis Wucheng’s Mansion. Do you know of the past between that little Commandery Princess and me?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Muxi hesitated slightly, but then answered truthfully:

"I have heard some about it. The young master was once banished to the borders because of her, and there seemed to be an engagement later, but for some reason, it was changed to Princess Wu Yuan..."

Due to her humble origins, she strived harder than the other women by the young master’s side to rise to a higher position. After coming to the Prime Minister’s Mansion, she had roughly learned about the young master’s past.

However, unfortunately, still limited by her origins, Bai Muxi’s understanding was not comprehensive, with much information being hearsay and gleaned from Dayan’s official gazettes.

Speaking softly, Bai Muxi paused slightly before tentatively asking:

"Is there a hidden story behind all this?"

Xu Yuan nodded with a smile, briefly recounting the whole affair to Bai Muxi.

Chuckle after listening, Bai Muxi furrowed her brows in thought, hesitating slightly:

"Does the young master suspect it’s a self-directed act by that Commandery Princess? But for such a matter, wouldn’t it be better to leave it to Minister Xu?"

Xu Yuan gently shook his head, with a trace of a sigh in his tone:

"My father can’t intervene in this, Mu Zhiyun is the biological daughter of Marquis Wucheng."

Mentioning this, Xu Yuan’s tone took on a peculiar smile:

"Mu Xi, if the Imperial Family were to provide evidence of my wrongdoing, do you think my father would believe the Imperial Family’s evidence or believe me?"

Bai Muxi pondered:

"So it seems, the official route is not viable; we must take the covert path."

Xu Yuan sighed:

"Yes, I was thinking of leaving it to Lou Ji, but Mu Zhiyun hardly leaves Marquis Wucheng’s Mansion, and you’ve seen her character—completely aloof from strangers. For Lou Ji to investigate her, she’d need to be able to approach her first; otherwise, even a skillful woman can’t cook without rice.

"Even with the bait I’ve thrown out, the other party has to bite willingly..."

"Master, instead of taking such a roundabout approach, why don’t we directly plan to kidnap her?" Bai Muxi abruptly suggested.

Xu Yuan’s eye twitched.

What a classic re-enactment, a second chance at play.

Coughing lightly, Xu Yuan frowned and said:

"Times have changed; if exposed, the implications could be too great, and we still haven’t confirmed it’s her..."

"Isn’t it already confirmed?"

Bai Muxi replied as a matter of course, speaking softly under Xu Yuan’s inquiring gaze:

"As for the matters you’ve just mentioned, the Commandery Princess seems to have perfectly avoided the investigation conducted by the Prime Minister’s Mansion."

Xu Yuan frowned and said,

"Without actual evidence, your conclusion is too certain."

Bai Muxi slightly shook her head:

"Sir, the most substantial evidence is actually your marriage contract with Mu Zhiyun. You mentioned earlier that Marquis of Wucheng’s Mansion is already aware that you were manipulated. It would be impossible for Mu Zhiyun not to know. In this way, she would understand that in the whole affair, both you and she are victims."

Xu Yuan reminded her,

"My reputation is notorious; Marquis of Wucheng’s Mansion may not believe it."

"No, sir, your infamy is nothing but rumors of brutality and debauchery. Brutality is common among sons of great families; as for debauchery, Mu Xi doesn’t think someone with your appearance needs to use force."

"....."

Tsk, what skillful flattery at just the right moment.

Listening to Bai Muxi’s words, Xu Yuan found himself caught in a false train of thought.

His ill fame was actually exaggerated by scholars with their pens. With the power of Marquis of Wucheng’s Mansion, a little investigation into such rumors would uncover the truth.

That is to say, Marquis of Wucheng’s Mansion might have already accepted this matter.

His thoughts reaching this point, Xu Yuan felt puzzled again.

That’s not right.

If Marquis of Wucheng’s Mansion considered both parties to be victims, why then was he still sent to Jingjiang Prefecture?

Wait.

Images flashed through his mind: Xu Changge striking Mu Hongli with a hand chop, forcing him to kneel halfway to the ground, and those records that were erased.

Hiss...

Could his exile be a scapegoat for Xu Changge’s pressure on the Emperor?

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan murmured softly,

"What you’ve said also seems to have some truth."

"That’s only one part."

Bai Muxi pursed her lips with a smile, glancing in the direction where the Mu siblings had departed:

"After all misunderstandings are cleared, why would Mu Zhiyun, who is so docile, rather die than consent to the marriage?

"Your marriage contract with her affects the bond between the Imperial Family and the Prime Minister’s Mansion. If Mu Zhiyun truly is the kind of person she shows herself to be, can she really withstand the family pressure?

"Not to mention, the jealous Consort of State would probably try to influence her thinking."

"And finally,

"Sir, now that we know she is special, looking back, don’t you think Mu Zhiyun’s insistence on breaking off the engagement, even to the point of threatening death, was actually out of fear of entering the Prime Minister’s Mansion?

"Even if you were to marry into it, there would inevitably come a day when you’d take her back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion for a visit. Once inside, whether to be investigated or not would be out of her hands."

As the conversation ended, the hustle and bustle of the surrounding crowd once again filled their ears.

Xu Yuan lowered his gaze, pondering Xiao Bai’s words, and after a long pause, spoke with a serious tone:

"When I return home today, I’ll confirm a few things, and if those all add up... I wouldn’t mind attempting fate a second time."

After speaking, the seriousness on Xu Yuan’s face faded, and he looked at Xiao Bai with a chuckle, hooking his arm around her slender waist,

"You’re very good; I like it."

Being embraced on the street, Bai Muxi’s body stiffened for a moment but didn’t resist; she smiled with pursed lips,

"Sir, being involved in the situation, you couldn’t see the whole picture. Mu Xi was merely reminding you."

"Hahaha."

Xu Yuan laughed heartily, taking in the various shops around him, his gaze finally resting on an old store selling servants and various daily necessities:

"A reminder deserves a reward... Let’s get you some more items while we’re at it."