As Ouyang Ye's cold laugh echoed, Feng Qishi's heart tightened. He then glanced at the fake Mu Long, who, without looking at him, was focused on protecting the person behind him. Feng Qishi mused that if he were to step forward now, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary trouble.
Moreover, his plan to make Mu Xien a person of Mu Xi'en would be ruined. Therefore, to avoid attracting the fake Mu Long's attention, he temporarily abandoned his intention to help Mu Anxiao and consciously turned to leave the reception hall.
Servants Three and Four turned and left as well, seeing Feng Qishi depart.
Mu Anxiao was now in a state of extreme tension, especially when she saw the glare of the simpleton Ye Yu directed at her. Trembling with fear, she quickly raised her hand to cover her face.
Simpleton Ye Yu: "You..." He pouted, "You want to steal my wife."
Mu Anxiao expected Ye Yu to reach out and scratch her face, as that was his usual tactic. Who would have thought... it was just this?
Thus, she gave Ye Yu a dry laugh, saying nothing.
Mu Xiang, witnessing the scene unfold, began to feel completely nervous.
Ouyang Ye indifferently glanced at Mu Xiang, then at Ye Yu, who looked like he was about to cry, and said, "You're a man, you can't cry." He then looked at Mu Anxiao, "All you have to do is beat her up."
Mu Anxiao could tell that Ye Yu before her was merely a pampered young master. Although he was simple-minded, he certainly hadn't experienced the ways of the world. Seeing Ye Yu's reddened eyes, Mu Anxiao was certain he wasn't the kind of simpleton who would easily lay hands on others.
However, she recalled Ye Yu's address to Ouyang Ye and his degree of obedience, realizing... she was doomed.
Immediately, she tensed her nerves once more, then stared intently at Ye Yu, who had turned to look at Ouyang Ye, and began to subtly shift her feet.
The fake Mu Long's gaze was fixed on Mu Anxiao, and he began to plot something in his mind.
After staring at Ouyang Ye for a few seconds, the simpleton agreed, "Okay, brother."
Hearing the simpleton's obedient reply, Mu Anxiao's heart sank. She took a few steps back, looked at Ye Yu, who was staring at her with a cold face, and said, "You're a simpleton, not a dog."
"You say I'm a dog." Ye Yu was no longer simple-minded.
Mu Anxiao looked at Ye Yu, who seemed simple-minded yet wasn't, her eyes darkening. She chuckled, "I didn't say you were a dog, I..."
"You did say I was a dog." Ye Yu said, running towards Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao had no time to react and turned to run.
Ye Yu: "..." He began to chase.
Then, the fake Mu Long's eyes lit up. He quickly turned his head to his wife, Mu Xiang, "Wife, get out of the way."
Sister-in-law Mu Xiang was also startled by Mu Anxiao's momentum and quickly turned to move towards the corner of the wall.
Mu Anxiao, with no time to react, was about to change direction to wear Ye Yu out when the fake Mu Long suddenly rushed forward and grabbed her arm. Her body stiffened, and she looked at the fake Mu Long, who was smirking at her with surprise. Before she could speak, Ye Yu grabbed her hair.
Thus, her head was pulled back uncontrollably.
Ye Yu forcefully tugged at her hair, while the fake Mu Long restrained Mu Anxiao's hands and looked at Ouyang Ye, who was enjoying the spectacle, "I helped you, you let me go."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ye's face turned cold. He looked at the fake Mu Long, "Do you think you are qualified to negotiate terms with me?"
The fake Mu Long had intended to back down, thinking perhaps Ouyang Ye would let him go. But he never expected... Ouyang Ye to completely disregard his plea. It seemed all his efforts to appease Ouyang Ye were in vain.
Thus, he also put on a stern face and looked down at Mu Anxiao, whose face was contorted and struggling, saying, "I'll let you go, you help me, how about it?"
Although Mu Anxiao's hair was being forcefully pulled by Ye Yu, her ears could still pick up any sound. Hearing the fake Mu Long's voice, she suddenly worried about her hair. Without thinking, she said, "Let go."
"You promise me," the fake Mu Long still held Mu Anxiao's hand.
Ye Yu continued to mess up Mu Anxiao's hair, occasionally pulling at it. In any case, Ye Yu's actions didn't look like 'fighting,' but rather like playing.
Mu Anxiao felt the tearing sensation as her hair separated from her scalp and hurriedly said, "Okay, I promise, I'll spare your life."
Mu Anxiao knew that if Mu Xi could choose Mu Long, his hope for survival must be very deep. Although she also knew that Ouyang Ye would likely not act in earnest, but because she was being held by the fake Mu Long, she might as well agree.
"You said it," the fake Mu Long's lips curved into a smile. He immediately let go and took two steps back.
Thus, Mu Anxiao was instantly freed. Enduring the pain, she quickly turned around, grabbed Ye Yu's shoulder, and then looked up at Ye Yu, who was smiling foolishly at her, and uttered a single word: "Release."
On the contrary, Ye Yu found it even more amusing when Mu Anxiao broke free. "Fun, fun," he said, deliberately tightening his grip.
Mu Anxiao, in pain, quickly grabbed his wrist with her other hand and shouted, "Let go, let go."
The onlookers burst into laughter at the scene.
Ouyang Ye also smiled.
The fake Mu Long stood beside his wife, observing the scene. He then glanced at the seemingly powerful Ouyang Ye, his eyes darkening.
Mu Xiang looked at Mu Anxiao's hair, now completely disheveled by Ye Yu, and her face contorted in pain. She quickly shouted, "Simpleton, let her go."
Mu Xiang's voice was so loud that it startled Ye Yu, and he released his grip.
Relieved, Mu Anxiao bent down, took two steps back, then straightened up, looking at her messy hair. She glanced at the lock of hair in Ye Yu's hand and pouted.
Seeing this, Mu Xiang glared fiercely at Ouyang Ye, then walked to Ye Yu's side and said, "You are not allowed to touch her."
Ye Yu: "Wife, you're worried..."
"How do you know I'm your wife?" Mu Xiang interrupted.
Ye Yu sniffled, "I've seen a portrait of my wife, she's beautiful." With that, he started grinning again.
Mu Xiang looked at Ye Yu's innocent, foolish smile, then at Mu Anxiao, who was blushing and touching her hair. She said, "I am your wife, you must listen to me." She then shifted her gaze back to Ye Yu's face.
"..." Ye Yu nodded.
Mu Xiang pursed her lips. "I never said I was going to marry someone else. She," she glanced at Mu Anxiao, "is being framed."
"But brother said..."
"Do you like me, or do you like your brother?" Mu Xiang's tone was stern.
Ye Yu stammered, "I like both."
"Both," Mu Xiang frowned. "You can only choose one."
"This..." Ye Yu uttered, then hesitantly turned to look at Ouyang Ye, who was coldly staring at Mu Xiang. Startled, he quickly reached out and grabbed Mu Xiang's arm. "I like you."
Ouyang Ye clenched his fist.
Mu Anxiao, looking disheveled, watched the scene unfold. Seeing Ouyang Ye's jealous expression, she said, "Apologize to me, simpleton." With that, she glared at Ye Yu.
Immediately, Ye Yu threw the lock of hair in his hand onto Mu Anxiao's face and said, "Ugly woman."
"..." Mu Anxiao was stunned.
"..." Ye Yu glared at Mu Anxiao and then looked at Mu Xiang, saying, "Wife, what's your taste? Liking women like that."
Woman?
Mu Anxiao, having disguised herself as a man for so many years, was being recognized as a woman for the first time by a simpleton. This felt rather awkward.
At the same time, Ouyang Ye shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face. "You're a woman?" He genuinely hadn't realized Mu Anxiao was a woman?
Mu Anxiao's eyes flickered, and she looked at Ouyang Ye, "Don't listen to his nonsense." She suddenly didn't want to admit it.
Ouyang Ye frowned and looked at Ye Yu, "Ye Yu, why did you say she's a woman?"
Ye Yu's eyes darted left and right. He then sluggishly turned his head to look at Ouyang Ye, saying, "Brother, you're not angry anymore." He hunched his shoulders.
Ouyang Ye said gently, "How could I be angry with Ye Yu? Tell brother," he smiled, "is she a woman, or a man?" He pointed at Mu Anxiao.
Hearing Ouyang Ye's curious words, Mu Anxiao seized the opportunity and realized... there would be no good outcome. She then moved her eyes, and before Ye Yu could sluggishly look at her, she took out a piece of rock candy wrapped in paper from her sleeve. She stepped forward and asked softly, "Hey, do you like to eat candy?" Her voice was so low that only Ye Yu could hear it.
Upon hearing 'candy,' Ye Yu's lips curved upwards, and he turned to look at Mu Anxiao, nodding.
Seeing Ye Yu happy, Mu Anxiao also felt happy. She cautiously handed the candy to him, saying softly, "Don't let anyone know," she said, looking at Mu Xiang, who was frowning at her, "And you can't tell."
Mu Xiang nodded.
Seeing Mu Xiang nod, Ye Yu also nodded and took the candy.
Mu Anxiao, seeing Ye Yu cooperate, said softly again, "Don't tell him I'm a woman, and I'll buy you candied hawthorn again, I promise." She patted Ye Yu's arm.
Ye Yu smiled, "Mm."
Mu Anxiao was startled by Ye Yu's loud "Mm," and said, "Be discreet, be discreet." She patted Ye Yu's arm again.
Then, Ye Yu's expression changed. He smacked the back of Mu Anxiao's hand forcefully. "Don't touch Ye Yu, wife will..." With that, he glanced shyly at Mu Xiang. "She'll be jealous."
Seeing Ye Yu like this, Mu Xiang turned her face away.
Mu Anxiao followed Ye Yu's gaze to Mu Xiang and laughed, "You're not even married yet, look at you." She patted Ye Yu's arm again.
The next second, Ye Yu's face turned serious. "If you touch me again, I'll get angry."
Mu Anxiao had already witnessed Ye Yu's inconsiderate side. So, the moment he said that, she intentionally took a step back and smiled, "I won't, I won't." With that, she raised her hand to touch her completely disheveled hair.
Ye Yu smiled foolishly.
Ouyang Ye had watched enough of their exchange. He said indifferently, "Ye Yu, what is she saying to you? Tell brother."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yu clenched the rock candy in his hand, turned to look at Ouyang Ye, and revealed his characteristic simpleton smile.
Seeing Ye Yu's expression, Ouyang Ye suddenly remembered his simple-minded nature and thought, "Damn it, I'm actually communicating with a simpleton, how ridiculous."
Mu Xiang looked at Ye Yu's profile and truly doubted if he was actually simple-minded.
On the contrary, Mu Anxiao had no such thoughts as Mu Xiang. She merely thought... this simpleton was easy to buy off.
A moment later, Ouyang Ye stopped interacting with Ye Yu and looked at the fake Mu Long and Sister-in-law Mu Xiang, who were hiding in the corner. "Let the wedding proceed today."
Mu Xiang's body stiffened.
Ye Yu was delighted and applauded.
Mu Anxiao pursed her lips and looked at Ouyang Ye, who was no longer focused on her gender, saying, "Isn't this too informal?"
Hearing this, Ouyang Ye immediately shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face. "You have no say here."
"You..."
"Alright, you all stay here for now." Ouyang Ye interrupted, then turned to look at Wan Sha, who was being carried in. "What's wrong with her?" He looked at the two servants carrying Wan Sha's feet and hands.
The two servants put Wan Sha down. One of them said, "Master, this woman was sleeping in the servants' courtyard, so we brought her here."
"Is that so?" Ouyang Ye looked down at Wan Sha.
Mu Anxiao looked at A Long, who was standing beside them, and then at Ouyang Ye and the fake Mu Long ignoring A Long. She thought, it seemed... A Long's invisibility technique was quite effective.
At the same time, A Long walked to Mu Anxiao's side without saying a word.
Mu Xiang's gaze fixed on Wan Sha.
Seeing Mu Xiang's expression as she looked at Wan Sha, Ouyang Ye's lips curled. "Mu Xiang, just wait."
If I can't have it, I'll destroy it. This was Ouyang Ye's usual modus operandi.
As for Mu Anxiao, her primary mission was to awaken Mu Xi'en's true intentions. She thought that if she got involved in this matter, she would undoubtedly waste a lot of time.
Therefore, she decided not to act and obeyed Ouyang Ye.
A quarter of an hour later.
Mu Anxiao and the others were locked in the reception hall. However, after investigating the Mu family, Ouyang Ye found that only the reception hall was suitable for holding a wedding. Thus, he confined Mu Anxiao, Wan Sha, Sister-in-law Mu Xiang, and Mu Xiang together. Mu Anxiao did not understand Ouyang Ye's arrangement.
She thought, she was currently in male attire, shouldn't she be with Ye Yu and the fake Mu Long?
In short, she was bewildered.
"Mu Anxiao, why isn't she awake yet?" Mu Xiang stood by the bed, looking down at the still sleeping Wan Sha, growing anxious.
Mu Anxiao said, "How would I know?" As she sat at the round table, she turned to look at Sister-in-law Mu Xiang, who was standing in the corner, and said, "Why are you standing there? Come here."
Sister-in-law Mu Xiang felt guilty towards Mu Xiang and remained motionless, saying nothing.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "I'm talking to you, haven't you..."
"Sister-in-law, please sit down," Mu Xiang interrupted.
Upon hearing Mu Xiang speak, Sister-in-law Mu Xiang looked up at her. "Mu Xiang, sister-in-law really didn't know... he was a simpleton."
Mu Xiang: "Sister-in-law, many things seem to be arranged by you, but they are actually arranged by others. I believe you." Ever since she learned about Ye Yu, she had started observing her sister-in-law. Her sister-in-law was always like this, whenever someone felt indebted to her, she would act this way.
Therefore, she believed her sister-in-law.
Sister-in-law Mu Xiang choked back a sob. "Thank you, Xiang'er."