His entire family perished in battle; he rose from the ashes to conquer the world.

Her feigned pitiful appearance drew sympathetic glances from the crowd.

Within the Western Army, most soldiers are straightforward and good at fighting, but when it comes to understanding the ugliness of human nature, most are still clueless.

Moreover, since Madam Miao is Miao Hengping's wife, they are even less able to discern the truth.

"Madam Miao, let's talk inside. Don't delay the soldiers' important business," Mu Yuan said patiently.

Seeing Mu Yuan's amiable attitude, the Miao family thought they had his weakness in mind and immediately became fearless.

"General, you can say whatever you want to say here. There's no need to hide anything."

"Since it is Lady Miao's request, I will grant it." Mu Yuan glanced at the soldiers watching and said, "As for your request for a pension of ten thousand taels, I really cannot agree to it."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

"What? Ten thousand taels?"

"Madam Miao, you've gone too far! This is blatant extortion and taking advantage of our misfortune!"

"You dare to ask for such an exorbitant price from someone who's just a stable boy and has never been on the battlefield? If everyone acted like this, what would become of us?"

The soldiers, who had just felt sympathy for Lady Miao, instantly changed their expressions and began to accuse her of being immoral.

Seeing that the situation had changed so quickly and was so unfavorable to her, Madam Miao hurriedly explained:

"No, I didn't need that many."

However, her explanation failed to win the soldiers' trust.

After all, people were more willing to believe Mu Yuan's story than Madam Miao's.

"She asked for three thousand taels, how come you said it was ten thousand taels?" Qin Hongxiu asked Mu Yuan in a low voice, somewhat puzzled.

Mu Yuan replied softly, "She's so shameless, throwing tantrums and acting like a spoiled child. If I still care about saving face, wouldn't I just be letting her have her way with me?"

The best way to retaliate against someone more cunning and treacherous than you is to be even more cunning and treacherous than them.

Madam Miao immediately asked for three thousand taels of silver.

Mu Yuan went further, saying that three thousand taels was ten thousand taels, thus putting her in a position of being completely attacked by the public.

"I really didn't want ten thousand taels."

Seeing the fierce expressions on the faces of the soldiers around her, Madam Miao felt a surge of fear as she tried to explain.

She feared the situation would spiral out of control and these people might skin her alive.

"General," Madam Miao looked at Mu Yuan pleadingly, "Please have them leave. We can talk things out properly, we can have a proper talk."

Lady Miao took the initiative to show weakness, and Mu Yuan took the opportunity to dismiss the soldiers who were watching.

What he truly cared about wasn't the money, but rather Madam Miao's underlying motives.

Miao Hengping owned a horse farm in the area, raising hundreds of horses. Now that he is dead, all of this naturally falls into the hands of Madam Miao.

In addition to other industries.

Logically speaking, Mrs. Miao should not be short of money at all.

Madam Miao asked for three thousand taels of silver right off the bat. Behind her seemingly greedy behavior, there might be other unknown reasons.

After bringing Madam Miao back into the barracks, Mu Yuan didn't rush to speak.

Instead, they wanted to test Madam Miao's reaction.

"My lord, actually..." Madam Miao said hesitantly, "I didn't really want much. If you give me three thousand taels, I promise I will never mention this matter to anyone again."

"Madam Miao, why are you so insistent on having these three thousand taels?" Mu Yuan asked.

From beginning to end, Madam Miao kept fixating on the three thousand taels, as if this amount held a special significance for her.

Madam Miao looked flustered, her eyes darting around. She even pointed to the two children beside her and explained, "I...didn't I say I wanted to raise two children?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Yuan's gaze darkened, and he exuded a sharp aura.

At this moment, Mu Yuan was completely different from his previous easy-going self, and said sternly:

"Madam Miao, I thought you were a smart woman, which is why I've been so patient with you. If you continue to be secretive, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Madam Miao was terrified by Mu Yuan's sudden change of expression and stammered:

"General, how could I dare to deceive you?"

"Still being stubborn?" Mu Yuan sneered, revealing his suspicion: "This three thousand taels, I'm afraid someone instigated you to ask for it, didn't they?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Miao was stunned, as if someone had stepped on her tail.

It seems I guessed right.

Judging from Madam Miao's expression, Mu Yuan felt seventy percent certain.

Next, we need to find a way to pry the reason out of her.

"What? Still won't you talk?" Mu Yuan's face darkened. "If it weren't for the fact that you're a Miao family daughter-in-law, would I be wasting my time talking to you like this? If you don't tell me the truth, I'll have to consider taking back the Miao family's horse farm!"

"No, please don't."

Madam Miao panicked. The Miao family horse farm was the culmination of generations of Miao family efforts and her only guarantee for a prosperous future.

If Mu Yuan takes it back, then she will truly have nothing left.

Mu Yuan accurately grasped Madam Miao's Achilles' heel and said sternly, "Then confess honestly!"

Madam Miao trembled like a leaf, stammering, "It was...it was the eldest young master of the Gao family who taught me to do it this way."

Upon hearing "the eldest son of the Gao family," Mu Yuan hadn't yet reacted, but Qin Hongxiu beside him was shocked: "Gao Yue's son?"

"No...that's right."

Madam Miao nodded cautiously.

"Regarding your husband's pension, come back tomorrow. Remember, you are not allowed to mention today's conversation to anyone else, or else..."

This was the first time Qin Hongxiu had shown her ruthless side in front of outsiders.

Although she didn't finish her sentence, the threatening tone in it made everything clear.

"I know, I know."

Madam Miao, who was already terrified, dared not stay any longer. When she heard Qin Hongxiu tell her to leave, she immediately took her two children and slunk away.

"Why are you reacting so strongly to the Gao family?" Mu Yuan asked, puzzled.

Qin Hongxiu stared at Mu Yuan's face for a long time before finally speaking, "It's not your fault. You didn't interfere in the Mu family's affairs before, and you don't know anything about the Mu family's past interpersonal relationships."

Mu Yuan understood the deeper meaning in Qin Hongxiu's words and said, "So, the Gao family and my Mu family have some connection?"

"That's right."

Qin Hongxiu nodded and began to explain in detail.

It turns out that after the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Mu family was sent to the southwest. At that time, the southwest was not peaceful, with many forces seizing power and refusing to submit to the imperial court.

The ancestors of the Mu family led the Western Army for more than ten years before they subdued or destroyed many forces.

"The Gao family ancestors were originally a local force in the southwest, and only joined the Western Army after being subdued by the Mu family ancestor."

"By your father's generation, the Gao family led tens of thousands of relatives and soldiers to break away from the Western Army. Although they still claimed to the outside world that the Western Army was loyal to the imperial court, in reality, the Gao family had long since stopped supporting the Mu family."

Upon learning about the Gao family's deeds from Qin Hongxiu, Mu Yuan's expression grew increasingly solemn.