Chapter 4: Second Uncle Is the Real Winner in Life!

When Mu Rong Shu arrived at her mother’s courtyard, Nanny Li was already waiting at the door. Seeing her from afar, Nanny Li smiled and said,

“Miss is here! Come in quickly. The madam was so happy about your return that she couldn’t even take her afternoon nap.”

“Nanny, why didn’t you try to persuade Mother to rest? If she’s not well-rested because of me, Father might blame me!”

Hearing that her mother hadn’t rested well, Mu Rong Shu quickened her pace.

Nanny Li, worried she might trip, quickly urged her, “Miss, don’t rush. Slow down! Don’t fall. Both the master and the madam dote on you too much to ever blame you.”

“That’s right, Miss. Slow down. Let me support you,” Xiao Tao, her maid, hurriedly chased after her.

“No need to worry about me. I’m walking steadily. I just want to see Mother as soon as possible.”

Though Mu Rong Shu reassured them, her steps became even faster.

Hearing her daughter’s voice from inside the room, Madam Song Wei rushed out to greet her. “Is that Shu Er? Come in quickly. Mother made peach blossom pastries for you. Come and have a taste.”

“Wow! Mother, you’re amazing. Shu Er is in for a treat today!”

Mu Rong Shu was overjoyed at the thought of delicious food. Peach blossom pastries were something she’d only seen on TV before.

“Try it first and see if you like it. If you do, Mother will make more for you in the future,” Madam Song Wei said with a smile, her mood improving at the sight of her daughter.

“Where’s Father? Why is it just you here?” Mu Rong Shu looked around but didn’t see her father.

“Your father went to the Western Mountain Camp with your elder brother after lunch. He hasn’t been there for days and wanted to check things out.”

Madam Song Wei patiently explained when her daughter asked about her husband.

“What about Second Brother?”

“Your second, third, and fourth brothers all went to the academy!”

“Ah, won’t they get in trouble for missing so many classes?”

On the way, Mu Rong Shu didn’t learn much, but she was surprised to hear her brothers were still studying.

“Don’t worry,” her mother reassured her. “Before going to pick you up, they had already finished their lessons in advance. It won’t affect their progress.”

“Oh, I see. Mother, is Eldest Brother also a general?” Mu Rong Shu asked curiously.

“No, not yet. Currently, he works under your father as a vanguard,” Song Wei explained, taking the time to clarify what a vanguard does.

“And Father?”

“Your father is the Wei Wu General, personally appointed by His Majesty. He and the emperor share a bond forged through life and death experiences. Our family is loyal only to the emperor.”

“Wow, Wei Wu General! That sounds so impressive!” Mu Rong Shu was genuinely excited, not just to flatter her mother this was all new to her.

“Since you’re interested, let me introduce the rest of the family to you,” Song Wei said, wanting to seize the moment to share more.

“Of course! That’ll help me understand everyone better. Thank you for the trouble, Mother.”

“Compared to all the years you’ve spent alone out at Tian Men Mountain, this is nothing,” Song Wei said, her heart aching at the thought of her daughter’s time away from home.

Seeing that her mother was about to cry, Mu Rong Shu quickly comforted her. “Mother, you wouldn’t believe how much my master and senior brothers doted on me! They always saved the best things for me. Even when I made Master angry, they’d still side with me.”

“This time, when I left, a few of them even cried. If they come to the capital to visit me, you must help me host them well!”

“When are they coming? I’ll prepare rooms for them in advance,” Song Wei asked excitedly.

“They said they’d write to me first. They even joked that if my family treated me poorly, they’d take me back!” Mu Rong Shu laughed, thinking about her senior brothers, who would genuinely do something like that.

“Who would dare mistreat you? I’d be the first to object!” Song Wei declared. Hearing that her daughter was so cherished made her feel much better.

“I knew Mother loves me the most!” Mu Rong Shu hugged her mother’s arm and acted playfully.

At that moment, Song Wei fully understood what her sister-in-law had once said, raising daughters is entirely different from raising sons. Daughters are soft, sweet, and adorable, so much more endearing than mischievous boys.

“Mother hasn’t introduced Second Uncle yet!” Mu Rong Shu suddenly thought of her lovable Second Uncle, certain he must have an interesting story.

“Your Second Uncle?” Song Wei paused to organize her thoughts. “He’s the one who gets scolded by your grandmother the most. He’s a bit carefree by nature and currently works as a Han Lin Academy editor. He’s definitely a unique member of the family.”

“Wait, aren’t we a family of military officers? How did Second Uncle end up in the Han Lin Academy?” Mu Rong Shu blurted out, then felt slightly embarrassed for asking so directly.

“Your Second Uncle is both talented in literature and skilled in martial arts. When he was younger, he rebelled against tradition and pursued a scholarly path, becoming the first in our family to do so. Later, he placed third in the imperial examination and gained experience in the military. By the time your grandfather passed away, he was already working in the Ministry of War. However, when your father was appointed Wei Wu General, he voluntarily transferred to the Han Lin Academy to avoid suspicion.”

Mu Rong Shu couldn’t help but admire her Second Uncle. “Wow, I’m so envious of Second Uncle. He excels at everything he does!”

“Don’t let your grandmother hear you say that,” Song Wei reminded her with a smile. “Your Second Uncle has been scolded countless times because of this.”

“Second Uncle is so unique and loyal. I like him! What about Second Aunt?” Mu Rong Shu was curious about the kind of person her uncle had married.

“Your Second Aunt is the wealthiest in our family. Her maiden family, the Rong family, is the richest in the capital. As the eldest daughter of the main branch, her dowry caused quite a stir among the noblewomen in the city when she married your Second Uncle.”

Song Wei chuckled, remembering how her mother-in-law reacted when her second son announced his marriage to the Mu family’s eldest daughter.

“Second Uncle is practically the ultimate winner in life! A good family background, good looks, the freedom to change jobs whenever he wants, and a wealthy, kind, and beautiful wife.” Mu Rong Shu couldn’t help but sigh in amazement.

“Who wouldn’t envy him in the capital? But your Second Uncle does have a ‘rival’ the second son of the Wen family. Back when your Second Uncle became the third-ranking scholar and paraded through the streets, a girl the Wen family’s second son admired fell for your Second Uncle. Since then, they’ve been at odds.”

“Haha! Second Uncle is so unlucky!” Mu Rong Shu burst into laughter.

“Even now, they still don’t get along. Both work at the Han Lin Academy and argue at least eight times a day. Sometimes, they even quarrel during court sessions. The Wen family is the leading literary family, and the Wen second son is renowned for his literary talent. But your Second Uncle is just as sharp-tongued, so even the emperor gets headaches from their disputes.”

“Arguing in front of the emperor? That’s so bold!”

“The current empress is the Wen second son’s full sister, and the emperor and empress share a deep bond. Your father is also trusted by the emperor. What can His Majesty do? He just turns a blind eye to it.”

“Having powerful connections really makes a difference!” Mu Rong Shu sighed in amazement.