Chapter Ten: Tumult in the Mu Manor

The Mu Residence, commonly known as the Yamen of the Mu clan chieftains in Lijiang, lies at the foot of Lion Hill in Lijiang’s Old Town. It is renowned as the “Grand View Garden” of Lijiang’s cultural heritage. The entire architectural complex faces east with its back to the west, forming a magnificent masterpiece of construction and artistry.

Liu Zichen insisted fervently on visiting the Mu Residence, naturally influenced by the television drama. Before the popular broadcast of “Legend of the Mu Residence,” few had ever heard of this site. As the two arrived at the entrance, they were awestruck by these ancient Ming and Qing buildings preserved through the ages! The grandeur of the architecture, the splendor of the palace halls, the exquisite carvings, the intricate objects, and the radiant paintings—all were stunningly beautiful, utterly unparalleled. Of course, the Mu Residence had been rebuilt after an earthquake, and what stood now was already the third iteration, though neither of them knew this.

The story of A Leqiu and the nineteenth chieftain, Mu Zeng, was also inscribed outside the wall of a chamber said to be A Leqiu’s bedroom. Liu Zichen stood there for a long while, gazing at the simple furnishings within. Only the slightly yellowed mosquito net stood out, as if one could almost see the lady of the house, sleepless through the night.

Legend tells of a pure land where an ancient people live,
Each man and woman sings and dances, never alone.
Legend tells of a snow mountain, where clouds drift above its peak,
A dream recurring endlessly, hoping you will quietly understand.

“Oh ah yi yo~ ah yi yo ah yi ye!”

Time passes, the ages change—who still remembers this passionate, familiar melody?

---

Liu Zichen asked, “Do women like A Leqiu truly exist in this world?”

“Are you talking about reality or television?” Chen Tianyu teased.

She shot him a look. “Of course I mean in real life.”

“There’s absolutely no such woman!” Chen Tianyu said with great certainty.

“Why not?” Liu Zichen asked, puzzled.

Chen Tianyu replied in a mock-serious tone, “A truly strong woman is rarely beautiful, and a beautiful woman is rarely strong. To have both beauty and power, and accomplish great things? That could never be A Leqiu.”

“I think your mind is rather twisted. Do you have something against beautiful women?” Liu Zichen pierced straight to the point.

She quickly added, “But perhaps you’re right—beauty and greatness rarely coexist. In life, one must make choices.”

“At least you can draw the right conclusions,” Chen Tianyu laughed.

As they chatted and walked, the sudden clanging of a gong echoed down the street. Several yamen officers, wielding batons, drove tourists to the sides of the street, shouting, “The Chieftain is seeking a bride! Bystanders, make way! ...Mighty and majestic!”

The two had no idea what was happening and awkwardly stepped aside. From around the corner came a grand procession carrying an official sedan chair, a squad of officers brandishing wooden paddles, exuding an air of authority and menace. Inside the sedan, a man in an official hat stuck his head out, scanning the crowd.

Liu Zichen couldn’t help but laugh, “What a display of power! They even clear the way with a gong!” Of course, she realized this was a performance for tourists, and soon the others caught on, joining in with cheers and laughter.

The modern-day actors took the farce further by “abducting women” on the street. Some female tourists shrieked and dodged, while others volunteered to be “captured.” When the procession reached Liu Zichen, they suddenly decided to take her along as well. Chen Tianyu was about to intervene, but Liu Zichen played along with a bright smile, and after she was “arrested,” he could only shake his head in amusement.

This girl really can’t resist joining the fun.

The next act was a beauty contest at the Mu Residence. The officers led their “spoils” onto a brightly decorated high stage. The women pretended to struggle desperately, but showed no intention of escaping—clearly, they too were intrigued by this sudden chance to be in the spotlight.

The official from the sedan swaggered to the center of the hall, taking a seat of honor. A steward-like figure stepped up to the rail, reading the contest rules in a booming voice, and at last called out, “Please welcome the Young Master of the Mu Residence!”

His entrance drew gales of laughter. He was short, with an odd-shaped face and bowlegs—comically ugly in every way. The “Young Master” paraded back and forth before the giggling “brides,” finally stopping in front of Liu Zichen, who had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter, her body trembling with mirth. Chen Tianyu watched from below, enjoying her predicament.

Everyone assumed the ugly Young Master would simply pick a bride, but suddenly a woman’s voice rang out, “Who dares steal my husband from me?” Before the words had faded, a figure leapt from the corner, sword in hand, her pale face beautiful and stern, her robes billowing.

A swordswoman from the martial world, come to reclaim her ugly husband? The director’s imagination was impressive. The audience fell silent, holding their breath.

The swordswoman drew her blade and pressed it to the Young Master’s neck, shouting, “A wife in hardship cannot be abandoned! Are you not coming home with me at once?”

The Young Master seemed stunned by this unexpected turn, but quickly fell to his knees and kowtowed, shouting, “Spare me, auntie, spare me!”

The thuds were loud and earnest—the actor was truly committed! At last, the crowd erupted into laughter, applause, and whistles. The swordswoman, her face like frost, seized the Young Master and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, Liu Zichen’s interest was piqued. She put her hands on her hips and demanded, “Miss, I am the official wife! If you’re taking him away, shouldn’t you at least say hello? Isn’t this rather rude?”

The swordswoman paused, sizing Liu Zichen up. Noting her lack of costume, she must have guessed she was just an impromptu participant. But the look in the swordswoman’s eyes was so venomous that Liu Zichen was startled—her performance was almost too real.

While Liu Zichen was still puzzled, the Young Master crawled behind her as if grabbing a lifeline. The swordswoman wasted no words, brandishing her sword and attacking. Liu Zichen, surprised, tried to fend her off but quickly realized she was no match. The terrified Young Master scrambled frantically, the swordswoman in relentless pursuit. The stage dissolved into chaos, while the official in the center shouted, “Stop at once, stop at once!”

No one paid him any heed; he could only sputter in frustration.

The situation was spiraling out of control. Chen Tianyu sensed something was wrong and was pushing his way to the front when the crowd screamed. Peering through the throng, he saw the Young Master plummet from the high stage with a loud smack as he hit the ground. The onlookers fell silent and instinctively retreated.

What had just happened? Was this still part of the show? The stage was only two stories tall, but a fall from over four meters was no trivial matter. If this was just a performance, it was certainly eye-opening.

Then, the official’s voice rang out from above, now in plain, urgent speech: “Call an ambulance! Call the police!”

Only then did people realize a real accident had occurred. Some tourists quickly dialed emergency services, but most melted away, reluctant to get involved.

After all, they were all travelers from afar, with no desire for trouble.

This general indifference and dispersal cleared a path for Chen Tianyu. He hurried forward and checked the actor’s breath—thankfully, he was still alive, but his face was deathly pale; he had already lost consciousness.

Liu Zichen forced her way through the crowd, anxiously asking, “How is he?”

Chen Tianyu steadied her and reassured her, “He’s alive, for now.”

Relief washed over Liu Zichen, but guilt gnawed at her. “It’s all my fault! I don’t know why I joined in on impulse—now look what’s happened... Tianyu, what should I do?”

“Don’t panic, Zichen. You were only a bystander—how much responsibility could you have? Still, I doubt things are as simple as they seem,” Chen Tianyu said coolly. “My guess is that even if you hadn’t played along, the outcome would have been the same.”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

“It’s too soon to say. Let’s wait for the police and see.” He led her aside. “Rest for a bit—I’ll handle things here.”

“By the way, where’s the woman with the sword?” he suddenly asked.

Liu Zichen shook her head blankly, “I didn’t notice… everything was in chaos up there, I was too scared.”