Chapter 96: The Inspection

Chapter 96

The Inspection

The maid led Mu Rongying to a side room. The Momo exchanged a glance with Chunmei and the others, signaling them to wait outside. She then guided Mu Rongying inside and quietly shut the door. Mu Rongying bit her lip, knowing full well what the Momo intended to do, yet she still felt humiliated. The Momo approached, bowed slightly, and said coldly,

"I must trouble you, Miss."

Without delay, the Momo stepped forward, skillfully unfastening Mu Rongying’s waist sash and removing her clothes. Mu Rongying clenched her fists tightly as her garments were taken off one by one and draped over a rack. Once she was left standing completely bare, the Momo frowned.

What’s with all these marks on the young miss’s body...?

Young Miss Mu Rongying was regarded as a precious treasure of the family, expected to be the key in turning the tide for Mu Guifei and Jun Wang to regain their advantage. If this beautiful body were tainted, what use would she have?

“Please lie down on the bed, Miss.”

Still not fully convinced, the Momo suspected that these external marks could have been self-inflicted. After all, Young Miss Mu wasn’t just beautiful—she was clever and stubborn. This might be a plan she concocted to deceive them.

Mu Rongying lay down, her cheeks flushed red. The Momo stepped closer to examine her, but the moment she saw the outside, she was rendered speechless.

The young miss hadn’t lied. She had truly lost her virginity. The evidence was unmistakably clear...

It seemed that the young miss had been greatly favored by Kang Wang. Just from looking, it was obvious how intensely she had endured Kang Wang’s desires.

“Are you in pain, Miss...?”

The Momo, who had initially been cold, now asked Young Miss Mu with sympathy. Mu Rongying, who had turned her face away, gave a small nod in acknowledgment. The Momo helped her sit up, deciding there was no need for a further internal inspection. She assisted Mu Rongying in dressing before leading her back out of the room.

When they returned to the main hall, Mu Shen glanced at the Momo. She gave a slight nod, confirming the truth. Mu Shen’s expression darkened for a moment before shifting to one of relief. Perhaps this was for the best. At least now, she wouldn’t have to enter the palace. In some way, he could still honor the promise he had made to her late mother.

Mu Rongying had no idea what Kang Wang and her third uncle had discussed, but her uncle no longer mentioned taking her back. Now, the only people remaining in the room were Kang Wang, Mu Shen, Mu Rongying, and the Momo. It seemed that everyone else had been asked to leave. Mu Shen glanced at the Momo before addressing Kang Wang.

“Momo is a close servant of the Grand Chancellor Mu, and it’s important that she is aware of what has happened so she can report it.”

Kang Wang nodded and then turned directly to Mu Rongying.

“Rongying, I’ve spoken with your third uncle. From now on, you will stay here with me. Your third uncle will return and report this to your family. Since you can no longer serve as a palace concubine, it doesn’t really matter where you stay now, does it?”

Kang Wang’s meaning was clear: she was like water that had been spilled, a worthless thing, no longer of any use to her family.

There was no helping it, the Momo thought to herself as she watched the scene unfold. At least Young Miss Mu Rongying was fortunate enough not to be sold to a brothel. When the patriarch heard the news that his beloved granddaughter had been captured by Baihua Brothel, he was furious. After sending numerous gifts to Princess An Le, a strict order was issued to raze Baihua Brothel to the ground. Mu Rongying’s escape and subsequent capture by Baihua Brothel had remained a well-kept secret. Even if Rui Wang suspected something, there was no evidence to implicate the Mu family. Baihua Brothel itself wasn’t exactly clean, and it had survived by relying on powerful backers. Many held grudges against Baihua Brothel, and with everyone inside now dead, there was no one left to testify.

It was unfortunate for Young Miss Mu Rongying. The patriarch had many other beautiful granddaughters, but none of them could match Mu Rongying in both beauty and intellect. Now, he would have to select another granddaughter to enter the palace in Mu Rongying’s place.

Before leaving, Mu Shen requested a private moment to speak with Mu Rongying. Kang Wang, seeing that her third uncle had genuine concern for her, agreed. When they were alone, Mu Rongying still avoided her uncle’s gaze, feeling deeply ashamed.

"Rongying...it’s my fault for not being able to protect you. That’s why you had to run away like this,"

Mu Shen said, his expression filled with sorrow.

"It’s not your fault, Third Uncle. It’s my own failure for not being able to meet everyone’s expectations,"

Mu Rongying replied, trying to console him.

"Are you willing to stay here with him? He didn’t force you, did he? If you want to return, just tell me. Even if it means a conflict with Kang Wang, I will take you home."

Mu Rongying looked at her third uncle with gratitude. Since her mother’s death, the grand Mu family manor had no real emotional connection to her. Her grandfather may have cared for her, but he prioritized the family’s interests above all else. Aside from her third uncle, what did that place mean to her anymore? Could it even be called a family?

"Thank you, Third Uncle. Rongying is happy here."

Mu Shen sighed. Perhaps he had worried too much. After all, Kang Wang had made his intentions clear just moments ago. On the night he had raided Baihua Brothel, Mu Shen had interrogated the people involved, and they all confirmed that a man from Xiangyun Tea House had indeed participated in the auction. However, a group of over a hundred armed men, dressed in black, had stormed in to take the women. With such a force, who else could it have been but Kang Wang? The words of the brothel’s madam aligned with what the Lady Boss had said—she claimed that Xiangyun Tea House had cooperated with Kang Wang to rescue Mu Rongying. She insisted that she was merely a merchant and couldn’t possibly stand against a powerful group like Baihua Brothel. For safety, once they rescued the women, they were taken back to Kang Wang’s palace. As for what happened afterward, it was clear enough. Kang Wang was young and unmarried, and with Mu Rongying’s striking beauty, it was only natural that he couldn’t resist.

“If there’s anything you need, send word to me. If you ever change your mind and wish to come home, I will come for you.”

Mu Rongying looked at him with deep gratitude.

“You understand, don’t you? If you stay here, your status...your status cannot be openly acknowledged,”

Her third uncle said, his voice heavy with emotion. Yet, Mu Rongying showed no sign of distress.

“I understand, Third Uncle.”

“I will trust Kang Wang this time. He gave me his word, and he won’t disappoint you.”

Mu Rongying gazed up at her third uncle with wide eyes, curious to know what promise Kang Wang had made, but she didn’t dare ask, fearing it would give her away. Mu Shen continued to advise her to take care of herself, handing her the promissory notes he had with him to her, before finally taking his leave.As she watched his departing figure, a sense of loss washed over her. It truly felt like she had severed ties with the Mu family. From now on, she would follow the example of the Young Furen, willing to humble herself, work for a living, and learn from her as much as possible. One day, she would surely succeed in her own right.