Chapter 5 – Oh No, This Is Going to Be a Disaster

At the hour of xū (around 6–8 p.m.), Mu Nanjin returned to the Tang residence and saw Tang Wenzong and his wife standing by the gate, personally seeing off their guests.

The guests were a mixed group—men and women, elders and youths. Everyone was neatly dressed; the older generation’s interactions were either cordial or distant, while the younger ones all wore bashful expressions.

Mu Nanjin didn’t even need to ask—just one glance told her the Tang family was hosting another matchmaking gathering for their younger members.

【Oh my, the Tang family’s holding another grand matchmaking event. This time they’ve lowered their standards—not just inviting families of fifth-rank officials and above, but even those of sixth and seventh rank. Finally realized that marrying a daughter too high up isn’t always a blessing, huh?】

The officials present all stiffened instantly and hurriedly urged their wives and children onto their carriages.

“Quick, get on the carriage! Hurry!”

The officials’ wives protested, “But we haven’t even said goodbye to Lord Tang yet!”

“No need for that! Lord Tang will understand.”

Tang Wenzong’s smile froze in place.

Oh no. This is going to be bad.

Mu Nanjin was back.

【Eh? Why are they all running off like their tails are on fire? Don’t want to be the Tang family’s in-laws anymore? Sure, Tang Wenzong’s only a fifth-rank official, but he’s a decent man. And though his wife Jiang Zhenru’s words can be sharp, she’s soft-hearted inside—a true ‘knife mouth, tofu heart’ type. She fiercely protects her own. Marrying your daughter into their family wouldn’t be a bad deal at all.】

Mu Nanjin clicked her tongue as she watched the Deputy Minister of Justice’s carriage dart away first.

【Running pretty fast, that one. Not that it’s a loss. The Deputy Minister of Justice is timid and overly cautious—if the Tang family ever faced trouble, he’d be the first to flee. And his position invites disaster; the Tang family’s modest background could never withstand that. Besides, his wife’s a vicious shrew. She torments her daughters-in-law half to death—her eldest is living proof, always covered in bruises or forced to kneel all day. Whoever marries into that family is signing up for misery. Best not to be in-laws with them.】

【Tang Wenzong and Jiang Zhenru’s matchmaking sense is terrible. Take the Imperial College’s Chancellor, for instance—he comes from a good family, and they’re all decent folks, but their household rules are too strict. Everyone in that family wears a permanent frown. Can Tang Zhiyue’s lively, innocent personality really fit into that kind of house?】

【If you ask me, the sixth-rank Imperial Physician Miao’s family is a better match. Everyone there has a gentle temperament. They’re a family of doctors, men and women alike. Cough, cold, or injury—no problem. Even childbirth complications? Not an issue—there’s a female doctor in-house. What’s most important these days? Life itself! With in-laws like that, you’ll probably live longer!】

That actually made sense.

The surrounding officials nodded without thinking.

Their wives frowned. “What are you nodding at?”

The men coughed. “Nothing.”

Once everyone had left, Mu Nanjin stepped forward. “Lord Tang, Madam Tang.”

Tang Wenzong looked at her with a complicated expression.

For years, he’d treated her coldly, assuming she must despise him for it. Yet, hearing her thoughts now—that she actually held him in such high regard—left him startled.

【Why is Tang Wenzong looking at me like he’s seeing a long-lost daughter? Don’t tell me he secretly fathered one somewhere, lost her, and now thinks I’m the missing child?】

“Cough, cough!” Tang Wenzong nearly choked on his own saliva.

Jiang Zhenru patted his back. “Are you all right?”

He waved her off weakly.

Jiang Zhenru turned her cold gaze on Mu Nanjin. “You’ve really got some nerve, making everyone wait for you to eat.”

Mu Nanjin agreed readily. “Madam is right. But isn’t Tang Jingrui even bolder, making everyone wait for him to dine first?”

Jiang Zhenru’s face flushed with anger. “I was talking about you! What’s Jingrui got to do with this?”

Her son was a man with important responsibilities—it was normal for him to come home late!

“So you mean we don’t need to wait for Tang Jingrui to eat? Then I suppose he’ll be having cold leftovers.”

“Why should my son eat cold food—”

“Enough.” Tang Wenzong cut her off and turned to Mu Nanjin. “Nanjin, go change your clothes first, then come out for dinner.”

Mu Nanjin nodded and went toward the back courtyard.

Jiang Zhenru glared at her retreating back. “Why did you let her go like that?” she scolded her husband.

Usually, Tang Wenzong would have joined in berating Mu Nanjin, not stopped her. But today he’d restrained Jiang Zhenru instead—completely out of character.

“She’s now a ninth-rank official personally promoted by His Majesty, a Jinyiwei no less. For a woman with no official title to scold her in public—it’s like slapping the emperor’s face. If word got out, what do you think would happen to us?”

Of course, that was only an excuse to shut his wife up. He couldn’t tell her the truth—that they could hear Mu Nanjin’s thought. Better to scare her into keeping quiet.

Jiang Zhenru paled. “I—I can scold my own son, who’s a fifth-rank official, but I can’t scold a tiny ninth-rank officer?”

Tang Wenzong’s stern silence was answer enough.

Seeing his serious expression, Jiang Zhenru shrank back, cowed. “Fine. I’ll watch my mouth from now on.”

They returned to the main hall.

Old Master Tang and Old Madam Tang sat there, both wearing dark expressions.

“Mu Nanjin still isn’t back?” the old master demanded.

Jiang Zhenru kept quiet.

“She went to change,” Tang Wenzong replied.

Old Master Tang’s frown deepened. “She’s only a ninth-rank Jinyiwei—what could possibly keep her so busy? Making her elders wait for dinner every day—does she even respect us as her seniors?”

Old Madam Tang added coldly, “If she doesn’t treat us as her elders, we can find someone else for her to respect. She’s fifteen already—it’s time she got married.”

“That’s a fine idea. Once she’s married off, she won’t be hanging around Jingrui anymore,” said Tang Jingrui’s eldest brother.

Old Madam Tang turned to her daughter. “Ah Zhao, what do you think?”

Tang Liuzhao replied evenly, “Ah Yi won’t agree.”

Old Master Tang snorted. “This family doesn’t revolve around him. He’ll have to agree whether he likes it or not.”

Tang Jingrui’s sister-in-law chimed in, “If Mu Qinyi disagrees, we’ll just marry her off while he’s away. He’s often gone for ten days or half a month on official business. By the time he’s back, what’s done will be done.”

Old Madam Tang’s tone was calm but firm. “A woman has to marry eventually. He can’t keep her forever. So it’s settled, Zhenru—you’ll handle the arrangements. With her status, she can’t marry into a high-ranking family anyway. Just find her a decent, ordinary man.”

Jiang Zhenru glanced at her husband.

Tang Wenzong opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to protest.

Taking his silence as agreement, Jiang Zhenru said obediently, “Understood.”

Tang Zhiyue frowned softly. “If you don’t want to wait for Mu Nanjin to eat, you could’ve just eaten separately. Why bring up marriage?”

Jiang Zhenru shot her a warning look. “Mind your tongue. Don’t speak when elders are talking.”

Did she really think the elders’ impatience was about dinner?

No—they just wanted Mu Nanjin married off before she could tarnish Tang Jingrui’s reputation.

A short while later, Mu Nanjin returned to the hall in fresh clothes—just as Tang Jingrui came home from duty.

He seemed distracted. Even when his mother spoke, he barely responded—until his eyes landed on Mu Nanjin. Only then did he come back to himself.

Mu Nanjin frowned slightly when she noticed Mu Qinyi was still absent.

【Uncle’s been gone for days… why isn’t he back yet?】

Tang Wenzong looked up at his sister, Tang Liuzhao. “Has there been any word from Qinyi? Did he say when he’ll return?”

Tang Liuzhao’s cold gaze swept past Mu Nanjin. “No.”

Old Madam Tang’s face darkened. “Every time he goes out, he’s gone longer and longer. Does he not remember there’s a wife waiting at home?”

Tang Wenzong said, “He’s just a minor officer at the Six Gates. Even if he wants to return, he can’t unless his superior releases him. It’s not up to him.”

“Enough. Let’s eat,” Old Master Tang said impatiently. He signaled the servants to bring the dishes.

Mu Nanjin, fighting off drowsiness, quickly finished her meal, washed up, and went straight to bed.

But when she woke up at the hour of chou (around 1–3 a.m.), she couldn’t fall back asleep.

So she opened her system and started watching dramas instead.