Chapter 18 – Moving Out of the Tang Residence

Since the Emperor did not issue any order to conceal the Empress Dowager’s sudden return to youth, the entire palace was abuzz with the news within a single day.

By the next morning, the civil and military officials were already gossiping about it in the imperial court hall.

“I heard from the palace maids and eunuchs when I entered the palace that the Empress Dowager took some sort of jade beauty pills and regained her youthful appearance. Is that true?”

“It’s absolutely true. My daughter, who is a Noble Consort, witnessed it with her own eyes! She even sent a maid to the palace gates early this morning to tell me. Apparently, not only did the Empress Dowager regain her youth, but her health has been fully restored as well. The maid said the pills was gifted by Mu Nanjin to both the Empress Dowager and the Princess. Now, all the concubines in the palace are desperate to buy one—but each pills costs ten thousand gold taels!”

Everyone gasped.

“Ten thousand gold!?”

That was equivalent to one hundred thousand silver taels—an astronomical amount.

Many of the officials were immediately discouraged. Even if they sold everything they owned, they could never afford such a sum.

Tang Wenzong entered the hall just in time to hear people repeating “ten thousand gold” over and over.

“What’s this about ten thousand gold?” he asked, puzzled.

The moment one of the officials saw him, the man’s eyes lit up. “Lord Tang is here! Lord Tang has arrived!”

At once, every head in the hall turned toward him.

Under so many eager gazes, Tang Wenzong’s heart skipped a beat.

He asked carefully, “Why is everyone looking at me like that? Has something happened?”

The Minister of Appointments, Minister Yao, strode over with a broad grin and threw an arm around Tang Wenzong’s shoulder.

“My dear Assistant Minister Tang,” he greeted warmly.

Tang Wenzong blinked, both flattered and very confused. “Minister Yao, what can I do for you?”

Just a few days ago, Minister Yao had been cold toward him because of Mu Nanjin’s inner thoughts. But now he was suddenly acting friendly—it made Tang Wenzong uneasy.

Minister Yao clapped him on the shoulder again. “Come now, the whole court already knows. Must you still pretend?”

Tang Wenzong frowned. “Forgive my ignorance, Minister, but I truly have no idea what you’re referring to.”

Another official chimed in, “Minister Yao, Lord Tang just arrived. He probably hasn’t heard what we were discussing.”

Minister Yao nodded. “Ah, then I’ll get straight to the point—Assistant Minister Tang, could your family perhaps sell us the Empress Dowager’s jade beauty pills at a discount?”

“…What jade beauty pills?”

Tang Wenzong broke out in a cold sweat. What in heaven’s name is going on? When did my family ever sell pills to the Empress Dowager?

Minister Yao’s expression darkened as he withdrew his hand. “No need to keep pretending. If you don’t wish to sell them, just say so. There’s no need for this act.”

“I’m not pretending!” Tang Wenzong protested. “Minister Yao, I truly don’t know anything about these so-called pills. Our family has never sold any medicine to the palace!”

If he really had jade beauty pills capable of pleasing the Empress Dowager, he certainly wouldn’t still be stuck as a fifth-rank official.

The Left Chancellor rose and said, “Judging by Lord Tang’s expression, he seems genuinely unaware. Let’s not press him further.”

Tang Wenzong bowed gratefully. “Then, if I may, could someone tell me exactly what this is all about?”

A kind-hearted official quickly explained everything.

When he finished, Tang Wenzong stood frozen in shock. “Mu Nanjin gave the Empress Dowager an jade beauty pills that restored her youth? And she’s selling them for ten thousand gold each!?”

Ten thousand gold… Even if they sold the entire Tang estate, it wouldn’t come close to that amount.

The officials all nodded in confirmation.

Tang Wenzong hurried to clarify, “Gentlemen, I swear I knew nothing about any such pills! If I had, I would have begged her to let my parents try one. Then perhaps they wouldn’t be so frail and ill today!”

He had only heard yesterday that Mu Nanjin was arrested and then released without charge. He hadn’t heard a word since, so naturally, he knew nothing about this so-called jade beauty pills.

One official who had met his parents spoke up in his defense. “We’ve met Lord Tang’s parents—they’re both well into their sixties.”

Tang Wenzong nodded gratefully. “Please, sirs, give me some time. I’ll go home, get to the bottom of this, and give everyone a proper explanation.”

“Then we’ll leave it to you, Lord Tang.”

As soon as court was dismissed, Tang Wenzong rushed home—just in time to walk into the hall as Mu Nanjin was loudly declaring:

“From this day forward, I’m moving out of the Tang residence! You no longer need to worry about me pestering Tang Jingrui, and let me make it clear—I will never marry anyone from the Tang family. So you can all rest easy!”

She had used her day off to find a place to live.

“You’re moving out?”

Old Master Tang and Old Madam Tang stared at her in shock. “Are you serious?”

Tang Liuzhao sat silently, making no attempt to stop her.

“Of course I’m serious. I’ve already found a place. I’m leaving now.”

Mu Nanjin stood and headed for the door.

Jiang Zhenru called after her, “Mu Nanjin, don’t act on impulse! It’s not safe for a young woman to live alone!”

Mu Nanjin waved dismissively without looking back.

Tang Wenzong quickly spoke up, “Mu Nanjin—”

She cut him off. “I’m in a good mood right now, so I don’t want to hear your voice.”

Tang Wenzong: “…”

Wasn’t it usually when someone was in a bad mood that they didn’t want to listen to others? Why was she the other way around?

Mu Nanjin quickened her pace and walked out of the Tang residence.

By the time Tang Wenzong followed, she was already gone.

He turned on the servants in frustration. “Why didn’t any of you stop her!?”

The servants looked innocent.

Weren’t you all eager to see her gone? So why stop her now?

Tang Wenzong sent people to chase after her, but she was nowhere to be found.

He stormed back into the hall, furious. “Why did you let her go!?”

Old Madam Tang snorted. “Should we have kept her here so she could keep pestering Jingrui? Her leaving suits us just fine. Less trouble for everyone. And if she causes any more scandals, we can wash our hands of her.”

“Do you even realize that Mu Nanjin has jade beauty pills on her!?”

“What!?”

Everyone froze.

Tang Wenzong explained everything he had heard in court.

Jiang Zhenru was stunned.

Old Madam Tang clutched her chest in outrage. “That wretched girl had such a treasure and hid it from us? She let us suffer with our ailments while she kept it to herself! She never saw us as family at all—an ungrateful little wolf!”

Old Master Tang grew anxious. “If she has such priceless pills—each worth ten thousand gold—then hurry and find her! Bring her back!”

Just one of those pills could sustain the entire household for generations—let alone several!

Tang Wenzong sighed. “I’ve already sent people after her, but they couldn’t find her. I’ll speak to her again tomorrow.”

Tang Liuzhao remained silent, her expression unreadable.

That evening, when Tang Jingrui returned home for dinner and learned that Mu Nanjin had moved out, he immediately became anxious.

Just as he set down his chopsticks and prepared to send men to search for her, he suddenly heard a familiar voice—

【Hehehe—】

Tang Jingrui and Tang Wenzong both froze. Seeing that no one else reacted, they exchanged a look.

Wasn’t that… Mu Nanjin’s laugh?

But hadn’t she already left the Tang residence? How could they still hear her voice?

【The Tangs would never guess that I’m living right across the street from their back gate. Hehehe—so close they could almost hear me breathe.】

Tang Jingrui, Tang Wenzong: “…”

Indeed, they hadn’t guessed—but they certainly heard.