Volume One, Chapter Five: Finding a Good Brother-in-Law

As Wen Yunmu wished, Madam Liu arranged a grand operation, resulting in the largest number of thieves caught in a single day since the establishment of the manor.

Wen Yunmu looked at the courtyard filled with people kneeling densely, just as she had expected. Only Chunrong, Xiawei, and Madam Liu—the three people her mother had left behind—were trustworthy.

None of the others were unexpected; it seemed Qin Weishu had thoroughly entrenched herself in this household, tending it as carefully as her own garden.

“Miss, this was found in Dongmei’s room,” Madam Liu said, holding a hairpin, eyes brimming with tears. “This is the lady’s keepsake. I recognize it. That little wretch is truly bold.”

Dinner time was when the father was at home; he always dined in Lady Qin’s quarters.

“Send for Father and Mother,” Wen Yunmu ordered.

Xiawei and the others quickly brought chairs, and the servants lit torches. For a moment, the entire courtyard was filled with an eerie tension.

Soon, a grand procession arrived, led by Marquis Wen and Lady Qin, followed two steps behind by Wen Xuqing, and then Wen Yunwan and Wen Xuming.

Everyone who was meant to be there had taken their places.

“I was just paying respects to Mother and came along,” Wen Xuqing stood beside Wen Yunmu, gazing at the sea of bowed heads and smiling. “Sister, this courtyard of yours is truly prosperous—has it bred a whole batch of thieves? Oh, isn’t this Mother’s hairpin?” She snatched the hairpin from Wen Yunmu’s hand and examined it closely by the torchlight. “It really is Mother’s. Father, take a look.”

Marquis Wen took it, feeling its weight and instantly recalling memories. On his wedding day, he had personally placed this hairpin for his late wife. The thought that such a relic nearly slipped beyond the marquisate’s walls filled him with a burning rage.

“This traitorous item, stolen from our own home! Guards, drag the culprit out and beat them to death.”

Upon hearing this, Dongmei seemed to lose all strength, collapsing to the ground. The guards were about to seize her when Madam Feng beside Qin Weishu darted forward, stuffing a handkerchief into Dongmei’s mouth. Dongmei struggled, but a guard from the shadows struck her unconscious and dragged her away.

Madam Feng smiled and explained, “Such little wretches tend to lash out wildly when cornered. Silencing her mouth prevents her from uttering anything that might sully the young ladies’ reputations.”

Wen Yunmu immediately regarded Madam Feng with new respect.

Had Dongmei not been silenced, she would surely have called out to the lady and the third young miss for rescue. Yet, as the personal maid to the second young miss, to cry out for the lady and the third miss upon death was highly abnormal. No senior maidservant of the lady would allow such a thing.

But today, Wen Yunmu did not wish to confront Lady Qin directly—the time was not yet right.

Lady Qin was not Wen Yunwan; she was cunning and shrewd. Striking at her weak point was necessary; arguing would be fruitless. Waiting patiently for the right moment was wiser. Moreover, it was already a fault that Lady Qin’s steward had allowed an entire courtyard of thieves to flourish.

“What else has gone missing?” Marquis Wen asked, his face as dark as water.

“Replying to you, Marquis, these were found in various servants’ quarters. Previously, small items often went missing, but the young miss didn’t want to disrupt the household over such trivial matters and endured it. This time, however, the losses were too great, and some were the lady’s keepsakes, so—” Madam Liu knelt before Marquis Wen, presenting a list. “These are items lost over the years, many beyond recovery.”

Marquis Wen glanced over it casually, expressionless, then passed it to Lady Qin.

At that moment, the large courtyard was silent except for the flickering torches.

They all remembered at last: this gentle master of the manor had emerged from a sea of blood and corpses.

“Lady, what do you think about such an incident in your daughter’s courtyard?” Marquis Wen looked up, not at Lady Qin, whose face paled and bowed her head first. “It’s all my failure to manage properly. The children have grown, and I shouldn’t be too strict. Sister Mu always kept things tightly sealed, but I was like a block of wood, unaware that a den of thieves was being raised—”

“How is this Mother’s fault? If the second sister hadn’t spoken, who would have known? How can you blame Mother for not guarding her own belongings?” Wen Yunwan, unable to hold back, interrupted angrily.

“Silence!” Lady Qin glared at Wen Yunwan, scolding her.

“Father, what Third Sister says is not without reason. After all, I have been too indulgent with them. It’s not entirely Mother’s fault,” Wen Yunmu spoke softly. “Every large family has these kinds of issues. Just send away everyone in this courtyard. I will be more careful in the future. But some of the lost items were Mother’s keepsakes and may have already been scattered outside. We must try to recover them—”

Though Marquis Wen was displeased, he did not want to embarrass Lady Qin in front of everyone. Since his own daughter was considerate enough to give Lady Qin an exit, he naturally did not press too hard. “Of course, we must recover them. Xuqing, send people with Madam Liu to search all over the city. Expenses will be paid from the public account.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Lady, what do you plan to do with everyone in this courtyard?”

“Reporting to the authorities would cause a scandal. Naturally, those who must be beaten will be beaten, and those to be sold will be sold. As for the newcomers, I will select them carefully. Nothing like this will happen again,” Lady Qin said. Selling off some slaves would settle the matter. With the old ones gone, as long as the new servants were under her control, she would not fear Wen Yunmu causing any trouble.

“Very well—” Before Marquis Wen could finish, Wen Xuqing interrupted, “Father, Prince Tang has just sent a group of female attendants, all gifts from His Majesty. They are highly skilled in household affairs. He doesn’t need so many servants himself and sent them here this morning. It’s quite fortunate; they can fill the second young miss’s courtyard and then some. Since we need to buy servants anyway, why not have these serve here directly?”

Marquis Wen said nothing, raising an eyebrow at Wen Xuqing. Wen Xuqing understood and whispered, “The prince has vetted them; none are unsavory.”

Marquis Wen nodded. “In that case, we won’t disappoint the prince’s intentions. Send them here. If there are extras, let Sister Mu decide how to assign them.”

“If there are leftovers, can they be sent to the fifth young miss’s courtyard? Aunt and Fifth Miss are short-handed drying herbs. Otherwise, it stays dark, and Fifth Miss has to go to the garden herself to gather.”

“You handle it as you see fit.”

Once the plan was agreed upon, before long, there were shouts and commotion. Marquis Wen and Lady Qin would not stay long; they left with their group. As Wen Xuming was about to leave, he suddenly said, “Second Sister, I also need someone to do sewing regularly. Since there are extras, can you spare one for me?”

Wen Yunmu responded quickly. Before Lady Qin could speak, she said, “I don’t want to offend Fourth Brother, but I don’t yet know how many the prince has sent. If there are any left, I will definitely send one to you.”

“Good, thank you, Second Sister.”

Wen Xuming was one who lacked no servants; why would he ask her for one?

“Sister Mu,” Wen Xuqing, the last to leave, called out to her.

“What is it, Brother?”

“You’ve been spending quite a bit of time with the prince lately.”

Ye Chuiyun was naturally an impeccable man—accomplished in both civil and military matters, wise and resourceful. Anyone would see him as the perfect match, but as a prince, he lived daily on the edge of danger. For his sister’s sake, he did not want her to be caught in such peril.

“Brother,” Wen Yunmu smiled, a touch of sadness in her heart. “You’re overthinking it. He treats me well simply as a sister. Besides, I have no intentions of reaching beyond my station.”

Indeed, she was not worthy to aspire higher.

“That’s good, that’s good. You’re right; he only sees you as a sister.”

“Mm, don’t worry, Brother. I’m still waiting for you to find me a good brother-in-law in the capital!”

“Shameless!”