The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

He thought a bigger stone would make it easier to spot the purse.

However, he thought too much because the Dongyang party never looked down. After all, who looks down while riding a horse? Therefore, the servant could only watch as the purse silently lay on the ground, unnoticed.

"Master..."

Mu Shaoling saw the purse on the ground, half-covered by the stone—truly hard to spot if one wasn’t paying attention. How could anyone riding a horse see it when you’ve done this?

"So stupid."

"Master, it’s my fault. Please give me another chance. I guarantee I will complete the task." The servant was on the verge of tears. Commandery Princess Dongyang, why didn’t you pick up my purse?

"If you fail again, hmm hmm."

"Yes, yes, if I fail again, I’ll come to see you with my head in my hands."

Without Mu Shaoling’s instruction, the servant obediently mounted the horse and rode off to catch up.

He galloped all the way, nearly bouncing himself half to death, but finally reached a spot with a grove of trees ahead of Dongyang.

He decisively led his horse into the woods. This time he didn’t tie the purse to a stone. Instead, he tied it to a branch and threw it out. However, just as Commandery Princess Dongyang was about 50 meters away from the pouch, two people suddenly burst out from the opposite woods, picked up the purse, and disappeared back into the trees. The servant was dumbfounded as he watched them run into the woods.

"Commandery Princess, what were those two people doing just now?"

Though the two who picked up the purse moved quickly, their proximity allowed her a clear view.

Dongyang shook her head, "I don’t know, and it’s not our concern. Let’s just hurry on our way."

And so, the party hastily made their departure.

Now the servant really felt like crying, but tears wouldn’t come. He just wanted to drop some silver for someone to pick up. Why was it so difficult?

Facing Mu Shaoling’s piercing gaze, the servant hung his head.

"Was it picked up by someone else?" The voice sounded chilly and frightening.

"Um, two people just rushed out from the opposite woods." The servant felt so wronged. On this desolate road where birds wouldn’t even poop, why were there people around? Could they be bandits?

Isn’t it a bit too bold to rob people on the highway?

Mu Shaoling didn’t know what he was thinking. However, Mu Shaoling felt at that moment that the servant was truly foolish. Such a simple task and he couldn’t even do it right, not even able to give away some silver.

He said displeasedly, "Are you daft? The silver was picked up by someone else, and you’re not chasing after them to retrieve it?"

The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead and hastily nodded, "Yes, yes, I’ll go right away."

Once the servant had left, Mu Shaoling summoned his covert protector, "You go!"

"Yes!"

Well, indeed a covert protector, much more efficient in getting things done.

A quarter of an hour later, the covert protector returned.

"Got it done?"

"Done."

Mu Shaoling looked at him somewhat disbelievingly, a bit puzzled. "How did you do it?"

The covert protector stated plainly, "I just gave it to her directly."

Mu Shaoling stumbled a little, barely believing what he heard. "You, you just gave it directly?"

"Yes!" the covert protector nodded. What else could he do?

"You, you’re really too foolish. How could you just give it directly? Now she’ll know it was me who gave her the silver, right?"

The covert protector said blankly, "I didn’t say it was from the master." He didn’t mention the master’s name.

"You, you tell me exactly what happened just now."

The covert protector explained, "I told the Commandery Princess that I’ve been sent by the Mu Residence for her protection and that I was carrying the silver."