Female-dominated society: Striving for the position of powerful minister, doting on Xiao Yunqing

Chapter 39 Miss 3, don't you have any friends?

Mu Yan glared angrily at Pei Xuan, "Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding could there be between you two sneaking into the Capital Water Management Office?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Yunqing was shocked. The person he had just fought was actually Mu Yan?

But disregarding everything else, she gave Pei Xuan a wink and then quietly retreated.

If Mu Yan finds out, she'll start to suspect him again.

Pei Xuan understood and immediately stepped forward with a smile to deal with Mu Yan. Mu Yunqing crouched down, her steps light and careful, her eyes constantly glancing nervously at Mu Yan, afraid that she might suddenly turn around and discover her.

Pei Xuan, looking completely at ease, bowed to Mu Yan and said, "Heroine, we are certainly not bad people. We are just looking for a lost item. We were being so careful just now for fear of disturbing others, but we didn't expect to be mistaken for thieves by you."

Mu Yan crossed her arms and looked at Pei Xuan with suspicion. "Really?"

Pei Xuan nodded firmly in agreement.

Mu Yan snorted and was about to ask more questions when she seemed to catch a glimpse of a figure moving around in the corner of her eye. She turned her head and saw only a corner of clothing disappear around the corner.

Suspicion arose in Mu Yan's heart. Ignoring Pei Xuan, she took off in that direction, shouting, "Who is it! Stop!"

Seeing this, Pei Xuan knew something was wrong and hurriedly followed.

"Heroine, why are you chasing him?!" Pei Xuan shouted as he chased after him.

"He's acting suspiciously, why don't we chase after him! And you, you don't seem like a good person either! But I can't worry about you right now, I'll settle the score with you later!" With that, he quickly chased after Mu Yunqing.

When Mu Yunqing saw her chasing after him, he hurriedly ran away in all directions. The three of them chased each other and gradually separated.

Mu Yan relentlessly pursued Mu Yunqing, while Pei Xuan ran wildly in another direction, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

Mu Yunqing seized the opportunity and turned to run back. However, as soon as he turned around, he saw Mu Yan standing in front of him. He froze and turned pale.

Mu Yan sneered, "Hmph, trying to escape?"

Mu Yunqing chuckled twice and changed his tone, "This is a misunderstanding. I was just passing by."

"Just passing by? Do you think I'm stupid? You were just with that person a moment ago, and now you're saying you were just passing by?"

“Heroine, it’s not what you think. I heard there were exotic flowers and rare herbs here, and I came to check out out of curiosity. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Mu Yan crossed her arms: "Rare flowers and exotic plants? You can't even come up with a good excuse. What rare flowers and exotic plants does the Water Bureau have? You must explain yourself clearly today." As she spoke, Mu Yan reached out to remove Mu Yunqing's mask.

Realizing Mu Yan's intention, Mu Yunqing instinctively backed away, his voice low and menacing, "What are you doing?"

"What do you think?"

"I have other matters to attend to, so I won't argue with you any longer. It's getting late, so please get some rest." With that, Mu Yunqing jumped out of the window and left.

By the time Mu Yan realized what was happening, the person had already run far away.

Oh well, he didn't steal anything anyway, let him be.

Wait a minute, that way of speaking! It's clearly like Mu Yunqing!

Damn it, they're making a fool of her again!

Mu Yan quickly drew her sword and rushed towards the Green Bamboo Garden.

She wanted to see just how many things Mu Yunqing was still hiding from her!

Green Bamboo Garden

When Mu Yan arrived, Mu Yunqing was sitting quietly by the window drinking tea. He was wearing a moon-white robe with delicate bamboo leaf patterns embroidered with silver thread, and the cuffs were trimmed with soft fox fur, making him look very noble.

His expression was calm, as if the chase had never happened, only his slightly trembling fingers betrayed a hint of tension in his heart.

how come……

If that person was indeed Mu Yunqing, even if he could get back quickly, he wouldn't have time to change his clothes.

Mu Yan stepped into the room, her gaze fixed on him, trying to discern something from him.

"Mu Yunqing, you seem quite carefree."

Mu Yunqing looked up at her, then gently put down her teacup. "What makes you say that, Master?"

Mu Yan snorted coldly, "Stop pretending. How many things have you been hiding from me? And what was with that all-black outfit just now? Don't tell me you have some unspeakable secret?"

Mu Yunqing slowly stood up, walked to Mu Yan's side, and asked with a puzzled look, "What man in black? Yunqing has been in the room the whole time and has never seen any man in black."

"You haven't seen it, but I have," Mu Yan said coldly.

"Master's words seem to have a hidden meaning."

"is it?"

"Is not it?"

Mu Yan was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth. That's him!

If not, why the overreaction? What a cunning man!

"I won't hold it against you," Mu Yan said, turning to leave.

Seeing that she was about to leave, Mu Yunqing hurriedly explained, "I went to the Capital Water Management Office to look for a collection of poems."

Mu Yan turned around and glared at him, her eyes seeming to say, "Keep making things up, I'll just watch you make things up quietly."

"You've only been here a short time, so you probably don't know that the supervisor of the Water Bureau is a big fan of collecting books, and a large part of his study is filled with these poetry collections."

As Mu Yunqing spoke, he placed the poetry collection he had hidden in his bosom on the table, which was prominently stamped with the seal of the Capital Water Management Bureau.

She didn't know if the supervisor of the Water Conservancy Bureau liked poetry collections, but Mu Yunqing, the system had told her before, did indeed like all kinds of books.

If this is true, then this explanation is quite reasonable.

"If it's theft, why did you involve others?"

Mu Yunqing frowned and chuckled, his gaze slowly falling on her. "Third Miss, don't you have any friends of your own?"

Mu Yan: "..."

This really hit her weakest spot. She's lived two lives, and the total number of friends she has could't even fill a table.

"I don't have many friends, but I would never do what you do, gathering a crowd to steal!" Mu Yan retorted.

"Really? When I came in, I clearly saw the master looking through the account books."

"I, that's..."

"Acting impartially?" Mu Yunqing interrupted her, continuing, "I had no idea that the Prime Minister's office could extend its reach..."

Mu Yan was afraid he would talk nonsense again, so she hurriedly stepped forward and covered his mouth.

"You're being long-winded," Mu Yan said calmly.

Mu Yunqing gently moved her hand away and said with a smile, "Likewise."

"You went to the Water Conservancy Bureau just for a book?"

"What does Master think?"

"I'm not a mind reader, how would I know?"

Mu Yunqing's face darkened, and he gave her a gloomy look, becoming even more certain that she simply didn't believe him.

"Since you don't know, please don't make any wild guesses, so as not to cause any misunderstandings in the future."

"Me, speculate about you? I'd have to be bored to speculate about you!" Mu Yan said angrily.

That's so unreasonable! He was the one who stole first!

What's with all this talk of grudges? He himself is the biggest grudge!

If the male lead weren't him, this stupid main quest would have been completed long ago.

Seeing her exasperated expression, Mu Yunqing chuckled inwardly.

Seeing that Mu Yunqing ignored her, Mu Yan added, "I think you're just bored. If you're really that bored, then come dig a ditch with me!"

"Okay," Mu Yunqing replied softly.

Mu Yan paused for a moment, then looked up at him. "Are you really going?"

"Why not go?"

Mu Yan wanted to say that she was just teasing him, but upon hearing this, she swallowed the words back.

Free labor is free, so why not take it?

“Alright, let’s go then.” Mu Yan said, stepping out the door, with Mu Yunqing following beside her.

-

The long streets and deep alleys were shrouded in darkness.

The lights were dim, and there were very few people around.

Mu Yan led Mu Yunqing to the edge of the ditch.

As soon as the bluestone slab was moved, an unpleasant smell wafted out, and Mu Yan couldn't help but cover her nose.

Mu Yunqing remained indifferent, as if he couldn't smell it.

Mu Yan found two shovels and handed one to Mu Yunqing. "Let's begin." Then she began to dig vigorously at the silt blocking the ditch.

Mu Yunqing stood to the side, looking at her indifferently, not expecting her to be serious.

"Come help!"

Mu Yunqing hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward to help. "This kind of thing should have been handled by the Water Division. Why did you take action first?"

"There's nothing we can do; they didn't send anyone."

Mu Yunqing glanced at Mu Yan, then said nothing more, quickening her pace. "Finish it as soon as possible so we can go back and rest earlier."

"Do you think it can be done quickly?" Mu Yan asked, pointing to the long ditch.

Mu Yunqing looked in the direction she was pointing, and after a moment of silence, said, "It's all about human effort. As long as you put your heart into it, you can always accomplish it."

His tone was calm, yet it inexplicably made people feel at ease.

Do you know why I brought you here to clean these ditches?

Mu Yunqing continued working with his hands, his eyes fixed on the ditch, and casually asked, "Why?"

"A disease has broken out in the south of the city, are you aware of it?"

"I've heard a little about it." He paused slightly in his movements, his voice still cold. "So, Master intends to... clear the ditches to prevent the spread of the epidemic?"

“You’re clever. That’s what I was thinking, but…” Mu Yan sighed softly, “I really can’t help you. There are so many ditches in the city, I can’t possibly clean them all.”

Mu Yunqing did not respond and silently continued cleaning the ditch.

But he already had a plan in mind for how to handle the matter.

Cleaning the ditches is not difficult; it just requires some manpower and time.

He will summon the Qing Shi Gang members another day, and they will be able to clear the way in less than half a day.

"If you need it, I can help you," Mu Yunqing said calmly.

Hearing him say that, Mu Yan smiled, but she didn't take his words to heart, thinking he was just joking.

What help could he possibly offer? Even if he conjured up ten Mu Yunqings, it wouldn't make a difference.

"This ditch is so dirty, I really don't know how the Water Management Bureau manages it."

"It's disgusting. They take the money but don't even know how to do anything for people."

"I haven't smelled this bad even if I've been dead for three years."

Mu Yan complained softly, but seeing that Mu Yunqing ignored her, she reached out and nudged him, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Mu Yunqing lowered his head and dug in the mud, saying in a calm tone, "There's nothing to say, just finish it as soon as possible."

Mu Yan responded and wisely kept quiet.

After saying this, the two fell silent and focused on cleaning the ditch. The cool moonlight shone on them, making them seem to blend into the night, leaving only two tall and lonely figures behind.

Green Bamboo Garden

Pei Xuan circled the city but couldn't find Mu Yunqing, so he decided to go back to Cuizhu Garden to look for him.

To his surprise, Ling Qi stopped him as soon as he entered the door, asking, "What are you doing here?"

"Whether I come or not is none of your business," Pei Xuan said, raising his foot to barge in.

"Do you know who I am? How dare you be so rude!" Ling Qi threatened him.

This man appeared out of nowhere.

Suddenly, she followed Mu Yunqing and stole all her tasks; it's truly hateful.

"I don't care who you are. I, Pei Xuan, only have one master. What do other people have to do with me?" Pei Xuan said coldly.

Ling Qi gave a soft "tsk" and said loudly, "Then I'll tell you too, I don't care if you're Pei Xuan or Pei Bai, go back now, immediately! I'm enough for Mu Yunqing."

Pei Xuan snorted coldly, not taking her seriously at all.

He looks like a simpleton; what can he possibly do for his master?

She's not even worthy to carry his shoes.

"Are you mute? I'm talking to you!" Ling Qi said angrily.

"Shut up, you're so noisy!" Pei Xuan said impatiently, then turned his back.

That tone was exactly like Mu Yunqing's.

"You...you shouldn't act like a bully just because you look a bit like him!" Ling Qi warned him, both timid and angry.

"Ha, so they're just putting on a show of power, aren't they?"

"I'm too lazy to argue with you." Ling Qi said and ran to the door to sit down, refusing to let Pei Xuan in no matter what.

_

On the other side, after the two of them worked together, the ditch was finally cleared and the water began to flow slowly.

Mu Yan stood up, let out a long sigh, and looked at the dirty Mu Yunqing, teasingly saying, "You did a good job today, thank you for your hard work."

Mu Yunqing straightened up and said in a calm tone, "It's alright, the matter is settled, Master should return to the manor soon."

"What about you? Aren't you coming back with me?"

Mu Yunqing originally intended to go to the Water Conservancy Bureau again, but after hesitating for a moment, he slowly said, "I'll go back with you." After saying that, he took a step forward.

"Why are you walking so fast?" Mu Yan said as she chased after him.

Mu Yunqing did not reply, but her pace unconsciously slowed down to match Mu Yan's.

The two walked side by side, their dresses swaying in the gentle autumn breeze.

Mu Yunqing remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, his voice so low that only Mu Yan could hear, "In the future... don't be so stubborn anymore. Not everyone will be there to help you."

Upon hearing this, Mu Yan's good mood vanished instantly. "Do you think I'm doing all this just to show off?"

Mu Yunqing turned his head and replied, "Master is of noble birth; there's no need for you to do these things personally. What is that if not showing off?"

Mu Yan scoffed. These words sounded like a veiled insult to her, and she retorted, "Do you think everyone is like you, who doesn't have to worry about anything?"

Mu Yunqing paused for a moment, his voice still cold, "I'm just someone who does things for money, naturally different from my master."

Seeing his somber expression, Mu Yan explained, "I didn't mean to say anything bad about you. The ditches are rotting, and the people are getting sick. As the daughter of the Prime Minister, I cannot stand idly by."

"Furthermore, the Water Conservancy Bureau is incompetent and we cannot allow them to continue to slack off. If this continues year after year, I don't know how many people will die from this epidemic."

"Also, the reason I kept chasing you tonight was not to make things difficult for you. My arguing with you was just because I was angry for a moment. I didn't mean to go against you."

Mu Yunqing appeared silent, but the corners of his mouth were already turned up in a wide smile.

In the past, Mu Yan would never have explained so much to him.

It's really rare.

"Are you listening?" Mu Yan asked him again.

He responded softly, then strode forward, feigning indifference, with Mu Yan chasing after him.

"Did you even listen to me?!"