I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 228 Counterattack
After leaving the palace, Prince An headed straight for the east of the city.

A somber mood hung over the Mu residence, as men, women, and children of the Mu family gathered anxiously in Elder Mu's courtyard.

With bloodshot eyes and a haggard expression, Madam Mu sat at the lowest seat with her head bowed, enduring the condemning and disdainful gazes from all around her.

"Master, Master!" The butler rushed in with a beaming smile. "His Highness Prince An has arrived!"

"Please come in quickly!" Master Mu suddenly stood up, preparing to go out to greet him, but before he reached the door, he bumped into Prince An, who was striding towards him. "Your subject and his family pay their respects to Your Highness Prince An!"

The rest of the Mu family members bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince An."

"No need for formalities," Prince An personally helped Master Mu to his feet. "Cousin, please rise."

"Your Highness Prince An, I am ashamed before Your Highness," said Master Mu with remorse. Prince Wei had already informed the Mu family about the Consort Xian's message to Prince An. Although Master Mu did not support it, he had no other choice but to acquiesce.

“Back then, my mother and I were going through a difficult time, and we were fortunate to receive help from the Mu family. Now that the Mu family is in trouble, how can I stand idly by?” Prince An comforted her. “Cousin, there’s no need to worry. His Majesty will punish Consort Mu. Although the Mu family cannot escape punishment, the lives of everyone in the Mu family are safe.”

Master Mu was overjoyed, "Thank you very much, Your Highness Prince An!"

"What did His Highness Prince An offer His Majesty in exchange for military power or fiefdoms?" Upon receiving the news, Grand Secretary Mu, who was bedridden, forced himself to get out of bed and helped his servants out of the inner room with difficulty.

Prince An hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, "It's only been a few years, how come Uncle's health is so weak?"

"I'm getting old, so my health is naturally like this. Your Highness need not worry," Elder Mu coughed incessantly, his sharp gaze pressing, "Your Highness hasn't yet... cough, answer this old man, what will Your Highness use to protect the lives of the entire Mu family?"

Seeing that he couldn't avoid the question, Prince An had no choice but to say tactfully, "I will stay in Luoyang from now on."

"This old minister deserves to die!" Grand Secretary Mu burst into tears instantly. He never expected that Prince An would offer up his military power and fiefdom to save the Mu family. "How can I face the Noble Consort after I die!"

"How can your nephew be at ease with your uncle saying such things?" Prince An supported Grand Secretary Mu's frail body, which was about to fall unsteadily. "If Mother knew what her nephew had done, she would only be pleased."

"Uncle, have you forgotten that Mother's favorite person is you, her eldest brother?"

With his eyes already blurred, Grand Secretary Mu recalled the voice and smile of his younger sister, who had passed away long ago, through his nephew. His younger sister was his half-sister, but they were a full twelve years apart in age. His feelings for his younger sister were more like those of a father and daughter than those of a brother and sister.

Therefore, when Consort Mu passed away, Grand Secretary Mu was also heartbroken and fell seriously ill. In addition to paying special attention to his nephew's affairs, he entrusted all state affairs and family matters to his eldest son, which led to his second son's neglect of his duties and subsequent execution.

Grand Secretary Mu was not without regret, but since things had come to this point, he could only try to salvage the situation. However, before he could even begin, his granddaughter, whom he had sent to the palace, committed the devastating act of having an affair within the palace, which brought ruin to the family and clan. This blow caused Grand Secretary Mu to fall ill and never recover.

Master Mu was shocked to hear this, and immediately felt extremely guilty. He wanted to make amends but didn't know where to start.

Madam Mu cautiously said from the side, "Your Highness Prince An has traveled a long way back to the capital. Did you have any food on the way? If not, I will go and arrange it right away."

Having only eaten a dry biscuit for three days and three nights, Prince An was already starving. Upon hearing this, he didn't stand on ceremony and said, "Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."

Madam Mu repeatedly said she dared not, wiped away the tears still wet from the corners of her eyes, and went downstairs with her daughter-in-law and servants to make arrangements.

As expected of a veteran of two dynasties, Grand Secretary Mu quickly calmed down. He dismissed the crowd gathered in the room, leaving only his eldest son to speak with Prince An.

"What are Your Highness's plans for the future?" Grand Secretary Mu inquired. Prince An shook his head, "I haven't thought about it."

“Tomorrow at court, I will speak to His Majesty about allowing you to work in the Ministry of War,” Prince An said, helping Grand Secretary Mu back to sit on the bed. “His Majesty has just revoked your fiefdom and military power. If he doesn’t want to be seen as harsh, he certainly won’t refuse.”

"Ministry of War," Prince An pondered, "The Duke of Wei is currently the Minister of War."

“That’s right, but the Left Vice Minister suffered a stroke some time ago and has already submitted his resignation. With no one else in the court, His Majesty has been holding back.” Grand Secretary Mu lay on the cushion. “That’s perfect for you.”

After their last conversation, Prince An was still not giving up. "Alright, with this position, I can naturally have more contact with the Duke of Wei and try my best to persuade him to support the King of Wei."

Master Mu's eyes lit up, and he relayed what the concubine of the Prince of Wei had told the Prince of Wei to Prince An.

Upon hearing this, Prince An felt even more confident, while Grand Secretary Mu, on the contrary, had originally thought that his nephew, who commanded 50,000 troops in the Northeast, would still have a high chance of success even without the support of the Duke of Wei if he were to stage a rebellion to seize the throne. But now...

Seeing the Prince of An and his eldest son's excited expressions, Grand Secretary Mu swallowed his worries and instead asked, "Have you found out anything about the lover who was having an affair with Consort Mu?"

Master Mu's expression froze. "It's been found out. He's the eldest son of a fifth-rank official who passed the military examination and joined the Imperial Guard."

Seeing his father's unfriendly gaze, Master Mu swallowed hard. "Before Lin'er entered the palace, the two had been seeing each other in private. That person even came to propose marriage, which I resolutely refused. Who would have thought..."

"Who would have thought those two would be so audacious as to rekindle their romance in the palace!" Grand Secretary Mu coughed in anger. "And what else?"

Master Mu's eyes were glazed over.

"Didn't you find out that Zhao Yi's mother was poisoned by his father and grandmother just so he could marry his current stepmother? That stepmother framed Zhao Yi for theft in order to give his own son a place in the Imperial Academy. As a result, Zhao Yi became irreconcilably opposed to his family and even his entire clan, wishing that the whole clan would be buried with his mother."

Grand Secretary Mu grew increasingly angry as he spoke, "I sent you to investigate, and what did you find out? You didn't even know that Zhao Yi had long ago sided with the Crown Prince!"

No wonder, no wonder the Mu family ended up like this!

"Father, you mean Lin'er's affair with Zhao Yi is a conspiracy orchestrated by the Crown Prince and the Empress?" Master Mu stood up in shock. "Then why don't we petition His Majesty to clear his name?!"

"Do you think His Majesty didn't see it? Otherwise, why would His Majesty tacitly approve of the Empress Dowager's punishment of only the Zhao family?" Grand Secretary Mu tried his best to explain to his dull-witted son, "But Lin'er's affair is also an indisputable fact!"

The cold words were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, bringing Master Mu back to his senses from his excitement.

"Now that the Mu family has received its due punishment, the Crown Prince and the Empress should also pay the price for their actions!"

Otherwise, the Crown Prince and Empress would think that the Mu family is a pushover they can easily bully!

"Father," Master Mu was taken aback by Elder Mu's meddlesome tone.

"Master, Master, the meal is ready," Madam Mu's voice came at just the right time.

"Go and dine with His Highness Prince An," said Grand Secretary Mu, closing his eyes to rest. "I will handle this matter myself."

Prince An and Lord Mu exchanged a glance, bowed, and withdrew.