Chapter 118: Second Son (2)

Night came sooner than he had expected. Wuzhi was awakened from his nap by a knock at his door.

"Young Master Wuzhi, Second Mistress has asked for your attendance for dinner," said a voice, outside.

Stifling a yawn, he replied, "Understood. Please give me ten minutes."

"This servant shall patiently wait for the young master."

Rousing his body from the bed, he headed to the bathroom for a cursory washing. After dumping his old clothes in a clothes basket, he moved to retrieve a new set of clothes from his suitcase when he remembered that the Mu Household had sent him some clothes to wear.

"Since I'm going to meet my siblings in earnest for the first time, I can't have them looking down on their elder brother now, can I?" Wuzhi softly whispered with a smile. He then put on the clothes that he had been gifted.

As he had expected, the outfit was weaved from the finest of silks. It was light blue and had threads of gold running across it, forming exquisite and elaborate patterns. After dressing himself properly, he took a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror.

"Ho-ho!" Wuzhi chortled. Twisting, turning, and striking a few poses in front of the mirror, he had to admit… he did look pretty amazing. "Clothes maketh the man. It appears that this saying is not without basis after all."

Wuzhi had rose-white skin that would put even the fairest of maidens to shame. His exquisite argent-coloured eyes shimmered mysteriously, akin to the distant stars in the night sky. The reserved colour of the material resonated wonderfully with his indigo-coloured hair and completed the final picture.

Both his mother and father were extremely good-looking individuals and Wuzhi had inherited the best of both worlds. He had his mother's features and disposition and had inherited his father's height and physique. Moreover, the air of intellectual amiability and open friendliness made him appear infinitely more pleasing to others.

As he prepared to leave his residence, Wuzhi's hand subconsciously reached for the bamboo hat that rested on the coat stand near the entrance. However, just as his fingers were about to touch it, he paused.

Wuzhi gathered himself. A string of unexpected events had caused his initial plans to be no longer viable, forcing him to tread down a new path. Hiding himself and playing as the 'Hand behind the Curtain' was no longer an option.

In this new path that he had designed, Wuzhi could no longer hide. He had to appear at the fore and face his challenges directly.

"Man proposes; heaven disposes," he muttered, patting the top of his bamboo hat. Wearing his footwear, he pushed open the front door to reveal a whole new world before him.

---

Dining Hall, Mu Household.

Mu Xinyi, daughter of Second Madam Su Li and the eldest daughter of the Mu Household walked over toward a small group of youngsters that were engaged in hushed discussions.

Upon noticing her arrival, a rotund youngster with full cheeks and a kind expression on his face immediately greeted her. "Elder Sister Xinyi."

Xinyi sported a pleasant smile on her face and returned the greeting. "Third Brother Jianju," she greeted. She then turned to face her two other siblings and continued, "Fourth Brother Taishi. Fifth Brother Qiangyi. It's been a while since we've all met each other, huh?"

Mu Taishi, the fourth son of Golden Sovereign Mu Wudi and the eldest son born from the mysterious Seventh Madam of the Mu Household was a tall and menacing youngster. His face always held a stern and inflexible expression, suiting his name, and he always spoke with a sharp and curt tone. "Elder Sister Xinyi," he bowed. "The last time the lot of us met was during Eldest Brother's engagement banquet."

"Right," Xinyi noncommittally replied, a beautiful smile occupying her lips. She was simply being polite while asking that question and wasn't really seeking an answer. Following in the footsteps of her mother and being a [Wisdom Path] cultivator herself, her memory was far superior to most other practitioners.

"How have you all been?"

"Good," replied Taishi, solemn and curt.

Third Brother Mu Jianju, the rotund and ball-like youngster, and also the third son of Golden Sovereign Mu Wudi born from his ninth wife, was a social butterfly that could not shut up once he had entered into a conversation with someone. "I'm doing extremely well, Elder Sister! Look at me; I've even put on a few pounds." He laughed in a strange manner, pointing at his stomach. {AN: Envision 'Laughing Buddha.' That's how Jianju looks.}

Xinyi joined him in his laughter before saying, "Looks like you indeed have. You need to lay off the sweets, Third Brother."

She then turned toward the final youngster, Fifth Brother Mu Qiangyi, who despite what his name might suggest was a very reserved and reticent young man, and asked, "How have you been doing, Fifth Brother? I heard that your business has begun exports to the Central Commonwealth last month."

Mu Qiangyi was the fifth son of Patriarch Mu and was born from his fourth wife, the green-robed fairy that Wuzhi had first run into when he had first visited the Mu Household. Unlike his mother, who possessed a cheerful and bubbly persona, Qiangyi was very withdrawn. He oversaw and was in charge of the Mu Household's textile businesses and was also the founder of the newly-established and rapidly expanding 'Prosperous Silks.'

Hearing his older sister's question, Fifth Brother Qiangyi stared at the floor and replied in a very hard-to-hear voice. "F-fine… T-thank you…"

"Good. I'm glad then," replied Xinyi. She then faced the youths and asked, "What were the three of you discussing over here?" She then appeared startled and said, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Fourth Brother Taishi appeared wanting to say something. However, Third Brother Jianju beat him to it first and replied, "No, not at all! The three of us brothers were simply discussing the newcomer to our family: Wuzhi."

"Who would've thought that the extraordinary youth that we met a year ago would end up being our long-lost brother? Haha! I cannot wait to meet and talk with him!" The way that the rotund and ball-like Third Brother talked and laughed made him appear very jovial and funny.

He then switched tracks and sent 'knowing' glances at Xinyi and quietly said, "Did you know, Elder Sister Xinyi, when you talking and laughing with him that time, I believed that you had finally found 'The One.' What a pity that he ended up being our half-sibling!"

Xinyi blushed at his words and playfully slapped him on his stomach. "Nonsense! I only thought that he was an interesting person to talk with. Besides, you dare tease your elder sister!" She slapped him on his tummy once more.

"Ah! Don't hit my stomach. It's going to grow even bigger! I'm already having trouble fitting into the clothes that I have!" cried Third Brother.

"If you're having so much trouble, then why don't you slim down!?" rebuked Xinyi.

"Never! A large stomach indicated a wealthy and blessed life!"

While the two of them engaged in such playful banter, Fourth Brother Taishi coughed to interrupt them for a moment and said, "I heard that he ran into some trouble this morning."

At his words, the atmosphere within the group froze. Third Brother stopped his playful acts, an awkward expression appearing on his face. Xinyi, on the other hand, looked at Fourth Brother Taishi and asked, "Fourth Brother, you work in the Disciplinary Hall. Do you know what happened to Wuzhi this morning?"

Taishi nodded his head and spoke. "He was being tried for murder and was almost sentenced to death."

"What!?" Third Brother Jianju blurted out in shock, hearing this news for the first time. "How could this happen!?"

"A maid was found murdered outside his residence. The evidence pointed towards him being the murderer."

"And then!? What happened after? Stop speaking such short sentences and explain the matter in full!"

"I don't know." Taishi shrugged his shoulders. "I only know that he was being accused and all evidence pointed toward him being the murderer. And then, the matter suddenly came to an end."

Third Brother Jianju's face seemed to sport an expression that suggested that he was suddenly suffering from indigestion. He turned to face Xinyi and asked, "Eldest Sister, do you know what happened?"

Xinyi shook her head.

"Argh! Fourth Brother! Why would you start such an interesting topic only to end it in such a manner!? Now, I'm dying to know what happened next and yet am stuck without a clue!"

"We should ask him," suggested Xinyi. Looking at the curious gazes aimed toward her, she continued. "I heard from my mother that the reason why all of us were summoned here was to meet and welcome him into the family."

A look of realization appeared on the others' faces. "Ah, so that's why!"

It was right at this moment that the shy and silent Qiangyi suddenly spoke up. "H-he's here."

All of them turned toward the direction of Fifth Brother Qiangyi's pointing and saw a tall and cultured, scholar-like individual appear at the entrance of the dining hall. His peerlessly handsome face held a brilliant smile as he engaged in a rapt conversation with his guide, a maidservant, who also appeared to be lost in friendly conversation with the youth.

His arrival at the dining hall not only drew the attention of these oldest children of the Golden Sovereign but also of their siblings, the servants, the guards, and everyone else that was present in the room.

Wuzhi's aura and immortal-esque charisma made it appear as if time had stopped and that he was the only colourful soul in an otherwise grey world.

"Oh, it appears that I have arrived." Noticing that he had arrived at the dining hall and that everyone was staring at him, Wuzhi wore a polite smile on his face and performed a full bow.

"Greetings, everyone! My name is Wuzhi. And I… am the second son of the Golden Sovereign Mu Wudi."