Chapter 45
On her journey from Jiangnan up until now, Mu Qing had only encountered a handful of outsiders, and each had exchanged only a few words with her. Naturally, she hadn’t formed much of an impression of most of them.
But this person was different. Because of her husband, she couldn’t help but remember this man more clearly.
Not that this fellow was particularly remarkable—just that within a span of a few days, they had met twice, spoken several times, and more importantly, she had obtained some rather crucial information from him… With someone like that, it was hard not to remember them.
Because this plump, ordinary-looking, seemingly affable young man was none other than the shop assistant from the jade store.
He was the very same assistant who, under her husband’s pressure, had been dragged out by his boss to explain how the old jade pendant Mu Qing had purchased had come into their possession.
Thanks to that explanation, Mu Qing and her husband had been able to connect with Madam Yanran.
Seeing him again now, it was obvious—he wasn’t just some ordinary shop assistant.
Clearly, his true identity couldn’t possibly be something as simple as a clerk at a jade store.
After all, not only did he know Madam Yanran, he apparently also knew some influential eunuchs from the palace. With such connections, it was absurd to think he was merely a low-level jade shop employee.
Even thinking with her toes, Mu Qing could tell this had to be a disguise.
Seeing him now, Mu Qing’s heart was certainly stirred. And the plump shop assistant—Er Gou—was also visibly stunned. He obviously hadn’t expected Liu Feng to bring others with him.
Judging by his reaction, he clearly recognized Mu Qing.
And not just recognized her—he was nearly dumbfounded, and immediately cupped his hands toward her and said:
“Sir, what are you here to ask this time? I beg you to show mercy. Please don’t let your friend take action again. Our boss was so frightened last time, his old illness flared up, and he was bedridden for three whole days. Nearly lost his life, he did.”
He was referring to the time Mu Qing had visited the jade shop with her husband to inquire about the origins of the jade pendant.
Admittedly, her husband had indeed shown off his skill that day—crushing a wooden table bare-handed, which had scared the owner enough to make him spill everything he knew.
But even so, Er Gou was obviously exaggerating.
These people clearly knew everything but wouldn’t say a word unless someone like her husband showed up and performed some “iron chest crushing stone” kind of stunt to terrify them into talking.
Seems like without some martial prowess these days, it’s hard to get anything done.
She had to admit, at times like this, she really did appreciate her husband—handsome, skilled, and efficient.
If he were here now, they could’ve probably wrapped this up in no time.
But Mu Qing certainly wouldn’t let that slip.
Her husband wasn’t around, so all she could do now was maintain her air of mystery and bluff her way through.
She composed herself and adopted the appropriate expression, while the naive shop assistant assumed she was just as formidable as her husband, likely possessing similar terrifying strength.
He looked ready to spill every last secret—until Liu Feng suddenly let out a cold laugh and said, “Er Gou, you’d best remember what should and shouldn’t be said.”
With that, Er Gou snapped back to his senses.
It must be said—this man had indeed built up quite a network in Tongzhou, rubbing shoulders with important people. That wasn’t something anyone could pull off without a particular talent.
For starters, his ability to read the room was top-notch.
He looked closely at Mu Qing’s face before cautiously saying, “Well… about the palace matters, I honestly don’t know much. I don’t really understand what the young masters are hoping to ask. If I don’t even know what you’re looking for, I really don’t know how to help.”
Just like that, with a single line from Liu Feng, they were back to square one.
Wonderful. Truly—nothing worse than a foolish teammate.
Mu Qing didn’t get angry. She simply looked at Liu Feng with a faint, ambiguous smile.
Liu Feng, for his part, met her gaze with a proud expression, clearly signaling he was still trying to compete with her.
But no matter what expression he wore, his eyes still held that same glint of possessiveness and conquest—it was enough to make anyone uncomfortable.
Mu Qing knew what he wanted.
But unfortunately for him, what he wanted, he would never get from her.
While Mu Qing still had the energy to lock eyes with Liu Feng and engage in this unspoken battle of wills, Qin Qin could no longer keep it in.
Up until now, Mu Qing had shielded her, but after hearing the shop assistant speak, she couldn’t hold back anymore.
She stepped forward and said, “Brother, may I ask—who is this palace acquaintance of yours?”
With that one sentence, Qin Qin had finally brought the heart of the matter into the open.
Er Gou looked at Liu Feng. The latter didn’t say anything to stop him, so after hesitating for a moment and glancing at both Mu Qing and Qin Qin, he mumbled, “It’s not like I know anyone important, just… Chief Steward Li from the Inner Court. He’s an old acquaintance from my hometown…”
Mu Qing frowned slightly. With Liu Feng being the main male lead of the original story, even if he was still from humble beginnings, he shouldn’t be this down-and-out. Since this was someone Liu Feng introduced as a close brother, it couldn’t be just some nobody.
She tried recalling the original plot and confirmed that this portion didn’t exist—making things a bit awkward.
Because if this didn’t appear in the original plot she knew, then only two possibilities remained.
One: it was such a minor detail the author hadn’t bothered to write about it.
Two: this was an entirely new development not present in the original novel.
Mu Qing leaned toward the second possibility.
After all, this entire situation stemmed from Qin Qin.
And in the original storyline between her and Liu Feng, there had indeed been some form of crisis.
Not the Academy Master going missing, but something about offending a noble in the capital.
That part of the plot had never been clearly written.
But if Mu Qing’s earlier meddling had caused that original crisis to disappear, and the world insisted on restoring narrative tension, then this situation—like how Yan Hong ended up being drugged into a flash marriage—might just be a substitute “crisis arc.”
If that was the case, then there was nothing to fear.
One way or another, this would turn into another grand stage for Liu Feng to act cool. All they had to do was wait for him to make his move…
Or maybe, it’d be better to just abandon this route altogether and use her own resources?
Mu Qing considered whether it might be more effective to bring this chubby man home for a proper private interrogation, but before she could act, a familiar voice rang out from behind:
“Isn’t that Brother Mu and Brother Qin? What brings you to Xinghualou for a meal too?”
It was a bright, clean, youthful voice—one that should’ve brought joy.
Instead, Mu Qing felt a twinge of unease. Just where didn’t this kid show up? He was getting a little too omnipresent.
She didn’t want to turn around and see that pretty, youthful face again. But alas, whether or not she wanted to see him, the boy clearly wanted to see her.
Before the echo of his voice had even faded, he was already in front of her, smiling as he glanced toward Liu Feng in surprise:
“Oh? Brother Liu is here too? What’s the occasion—are all the big brothers gathering today?”
He usually wasn’t such a talkative kid, so for him to be this chatty was unexpected—even Mu Qing was surprised.
But the most shocked person was Liu Feng.
Mu Qing had no idea how Liu Feng knew this youth—because frankly, as her husband’s fifth younger brother, this boy was clearly born and raised in the capital. A well-bred young master from a noble family.
From every angle, there should’ve been zero connection between him and Liu Feng.
But when Liu Feng saw him, there was a flicker in his expression—a flash that Mu Qing caught perfectly.
Was that… fear?
Liu Feng—the male protagonist, the unbeatable Dragon-AoTian—actually feared someone?
That shouldn’t be possible.
And this Fifth Brother, no matter how you looked at him, seemed like the gentle and harmless sort. Young, handsome, well-mannered—he hadn’t done anything questionable.
Except, perhaps, the surprising bit about being her husband’s messenger—but beyond that, there wasn’t anything suspicious.
Who would’ve thought he and Liu Feng actually knew each other?
And judging by this interaction, they didn’t just “know” each other—there was definitely some deeper, likely unpleasant, history.
Mu Qing was deeply intrigued.
But now clearly wasn’t the time to ask.
Liu Feng, after meeting Fifth Brother’s gaze, immediately dropped his head.
And when Er Gou the chubby shop assistant saw this, he instantly understood and prepared to play dumb.
But Fifth Brother wasn’t about to let him.
He smiled and said, “Just now, I happened to pass by and heard this gentleman mention knowing Chief Steward Li from the palace… a hometown connection, was it?”
Upon hearing this, Er Gou grimaced and said, “Well, yes, we’re from the same hometown… but Steward Li only looks after me out of respect for my late father. Nothing special between us, really…”
Earlier, Liu Feng had talked a big game to coax them here. Now that they were here, this Er Gou acted like he didn’t know a thing—Mu Qing didn’t know whether he was truly clueless or just pretending, but her patience was wearing thin.
She looked at Er Gou, and suddenly, something flashed through her mind. She had just remembered something.
