"It should be... some I've seen, some I haven't," Along said. "In short, they have only one purpose, and that is... to marry off disobedient girls. They don't care about the consequences."
"Then who do you think invited this man?" Mu Anxiao looked at Along, reminded of how Mrs. Mu Xiang looked after seeing the man in red. She believed Mrs. Mu Xiang definitely didn't know about this.
Of course, the man in red might also have been invited by the groom's family. But she thought the Mu family wasn't a small household. If the groom's side truly acted like this, it would be deception.
Therefore, she felt confused about it.
Along shook her head slightly.
Mu Anxiao thought Along knew, but seeing Along shake her head, she shifted her gaze to Feng Qishi's face. "Crazy fellow, what do you think?"
Feng Qishi was stunned. "Big sister, I don't even know what's going on, and you're asking me," he laughed. "What's the difference between that and trying to find a cure when you're not sick?"
"Don't you like reading those stories about men and women? Maybe you've seen something in a book..."
"That's fantasy, this is reality," Feng Qishi interrupted.
Mu Anxiao had wanted to find some parallels in the books Feng Qishi had read and use them to continue guessing their current situation.
Who knew that this fellow Feng Qishi would start talking about reality? She was speechless.
"The other party must be an idiot," Mu Xiang asserted.
Wan Sha: "I think," she narrowed her eyes, "this man must have been sent by the groom's family. Because before yesterday, you didn't know he was an idiot, right?" She wanted to seize the opportunity to regain Mu Xiang's trust, fearing that Mu Xiang might leave her again.
Mu Xiang: "Yes, I didn't know at first." She shook her head.
"When they introduced you, didn't you see... a portrait of the other party?" Mu Anxiao asked.
Mu Xiang thought for a moment and said, "I saw it, but I forgot."
"What kind of memory do you have?" Mu Anxiao shook her head.
Hearing this, Wan Sha shot a killing look at Mu Anxiao. "You're the same. If I remember correctly, you forgot about Wan Xia and me back then."
Wan Xia again. Mu Anxiao was tired of hearing Wan Sha's words.
Immediately, she said, "Since that's the case, we can only take it one step at a time." She deliberately ignored Wan Sha.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Wan Sha showed a dismissive expression. "Don't cause trouble."
"..." Mu Anxiao glared at the meddlesome Wan Sha, then turned to Mu Xiang and Feng Qishi, continuing their topic. "Mu Xiang, when you go there later, pretend you're reluctant to leave, that you want to stay home, and then... use Longjing to bribe Mu Xi. Whatever you do, don't expose that man's plot, understand?"
"What's in it for me if I bribe him?" Mu Xiang was moved.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved into a smile. "The benefit is that you can stall for time, and we can let that man reveal his true colors."
"What do you mean?" Wan Sha frowned.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao glanced at Wan Sha and stared at a certain spot. "He must have a time limit for picking you up. If the time passes, he'll have to pay more. So... as long as we drag it past that guy's business hours, he'll want to go back first to discuss paying extra. Also, this way, Mu Xi's matter will be resolved, and Mu Xiang will be free."
"You mean, you want me to escape? Then sister-in-law..."
"Putting aside your sister-in-law, whether the person you're marrying is an idiot or not is still a mystery. But from this incident, it can be seen," Mu Anxiao shifted her gaze to Mu Xiang's face, "the man who wants to marry you definitely has a problem. I won't say what kind of problem it is, because it's not good to speak ill of others."
"...." Mu Xiang felt Mu Anxiao's words made sense, so she said nothing.
Then, Mu Anxiao looked at Feng Qishi again. "You... just pretend to be a master looking for his disciple. Then, keep badmouthing Lin Yan. As for how you organize your words, that's up to you."
"You're here, do you think," Feng Qishi's mind was clear, "he will believe my words?"
Ever since Mu Xi appeared, everything he had planned was meticulous. So meticulous that... they still couldn't figure out how much he hated Mu Anxiao.
However, Mu Anxiao made these arrangements with such confidence. This made Feng Qishi feel helpless.
"Contradict me," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
"You..."
"Just cooperate with Mu Xi. Whatever he says to insult me, you insult me too."
Feng Qishi didn't want to do this. Even though it was a mission, he didn't want to follow Mu Xi in scolding Mu Anxiao. Because in his opinion, whether it was true or false, scolding someone was damaging to self-esteem.
Even though Mu Anxiao's skin was already quite thick.
"...."
Seeing Feng Qishi's silent expression, Mu Anxiao thought of how Feng Qishi had opposed her for his 'disciple' in the past. She said, "This is not the time to hesitate. Just like before, protect Mu Xi."
Feng Qishi: "I don't want to..."
"This is a mission. You are my partner, I am your boss, you have to listen to me," Mu Anxiao said. "You're quite interesting. I'm giving you a chance to scold me, and you don't want it. If I were you, I would definitely seize the opportunity to vent."
"Are you sure your self-esteem can handle it?" Feng Qishi worried that Mu Anxiao would be angry with him after this, so he decided to clarify things with her.
Mu Anxiao: "What's there to not handle? Many people scold me, and you're not the only one."
"Can I join?" Wan Sha excitedly asked to participate.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to Wan Sha and smiled. "It's better for you to shut up." She was worried that Wan Sha would get carried away and bring up 'Wan Xia' again, so she had to stop her.
Wan Sha: "Don't you think it would be more realistic if he and I scolded you together?"
"Realistic? What's realistic? You and him," Mu Anxiao pointed at Feng Qishi, "if you team up, Mu Xi will definitely suspect that you already know he's possessing Mu Long. Then, all plans will be disrupted. If Mu Xi gets angry, he'll marry off Mu Xiang directly, and you'll have nowhere to cry."
Wan Sha found Mu Anxiao's words reasonable, so she stopped talking.
Seeing Wan Sha behave herself, Mu Anxiao said, "Alright, you two get ready!" She clapped her hands.
Wan Sha curiously asked, "What about you?"
"Me?" Mu Anxiao pointed at herself and smiled. "Shen the crazy fellow, come here." She beckoned.
Feng Qishi's eyes flickered, but he still cooperated by leaning down. "What is it?" He moved closer to Mu Anxiao.
Then, Mu Anxiao raised her hand and grabbed Feng Qishi's ear, saying, "Later, change into a servant's uniform."
"Why?" Feng Qishi met Mu Anxiao's eyes.
"Just do as I say." With that, Mu Anxiao released her hand and took a step back.
Feng Qishi rubbed his ear. "Do as you say... then why are you pinching my ear?"
"Prepare yourself, and stay in that pose later," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
Feng Qishi was stunned.
"Alright, go to the servants' quarters," Mu Anxiao pointed at Feng Qishi.
Mu Anxiao first told Feng Qishi to change into a servant's uniform, and then asked him to go to the servants' quarters.
This made Feng Qishi confused. "What am I going there for? And I don't think I can wear her clothes, can I?" He pointed at Mu Xiang.
Seeing Feng Qishi pointing at her, Mu Xiang immediately showed a panicked expression. "I won't give you clothes I've worn," she said unfriendlily to Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi showed an embarrassed expression. "Even if you gave them to me, I wouldn't be able to wear them."
Wan Sha: "I can conjure a set for you," she said, raising two fingers.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao quickly said, "No need, he can get it from the servants' quarters."
Hearing Mu Anxiao's stuttering answer, Feng Qishi expressed his helplessness. "Mu the fool, why don't you just say it clearly? Why beat around the bush?"
"I thought you would understand my words easily, but who knew," Mu Anxiao shook her head. "We have no chemistry at all."
Partners need 'chemistry' the most. Hearing Mu Anxiao's words now, Feng Qishi also felt a sense of crisis. "Who said that? I understood."
"If you understood, why aren't you acting?"
"What about you?" Feng Qishi blurted out.
Mu Anxiao put on a stern face. "If you ask one more question, you won't have to do this mission."
"Don't, I'll go." Feng Qishi responded actively and turned to leave.
Mu Anxiao watched Feng Qishi's departing figure, curled her lips, and looked at Wan Sha and Mu Xiang. "Alright, you two get ready too!" she said, then looked at Along. "Let's go."
Along nodded.
Wan Sha: "Where are you going?" She was curious about Mu Anxiao's next move.
"It's none of your business," Mu Anxiao said mysteriously and left the room with Along.
Next, Mu Xiang took the opportunity to take out a notebook and began to write, 'Mu Anxiao, disregarding others' happiness, domineering...' She paused halfway through.
Wan Sha: "There's no need to write this. It won't reach the reporting level." As she spoke, she walked to the opposite side of Mu Xiang and looked down at what Mu Xiang had written.
Mu Xiang: "I think so too." She nodded and put the notebook away.
Wan Sha reached out and patted Mu Xiang's shoulder. "I was wrong earlier, but now I understand," she said seriously. "You should still stay with me. Your sister-in-law... isn't that good to you either."
"You're not allowed to..."
"I'm just talking about your sister-in-law," Wan Sha interrupted. She knew Mu Xiang would definitely defend her sister-in-law and continued, "Once Mu Xi leaves your brother's body, your brother will come back, and then you'll be finished. If you ask me, you shouldn't linger here anymore."
Mu Xiang said verbally that she had seen through her relatives. But Wan Sha could tell from Mu Xiang's face that she would still be soft-hearted towards her relatives, especially her feelings for her sister-in-law, which were clearly not shallow.
Of course, Wan Sha had no right to interfere with Mu Xiang's affairs with her relatives. But she thought that her plan was inseparable from Mu Xiang, so she felt this matter concerned her.
Therefore, she had to persuade Mu Xiang to completely break off with her relatives.
"...." Mu Xiang fell silent.
Wan Sha looked at Mu Xiang's somber expression and asked, "You don't want to..."
"I do, but sister-in-law is really good to me, and I don't want to hurt her feelings."
"Don't want to hurt her feelings," Wan Sha sneered. "Yesterday, when you decided to leave here with me, why didn't you think about this? Don't tell me you only figured this out when you learned your brother died."
Hearing Wan Sha's suddenly cold tone, Mu Xiang was startled. "What's wrong with you?"
Wan Sha: "I hope my partner has no ties. The reason I found you was because you were hurt, so I wanted to save you. Of course," she said with a cold face, "my patience is limited. If you hesitate on such matters again, don't blame me for being impolite."
Mu Xiang: "I... I think sister-in-law is very pitiful for being kept in the dark." Thinking of her sister-in-law's happy tone just now and their recently discussed topic, she suddenly felt that... doing this was very wrong!
Therefore, she felt pity and had the idea of giving up.
However, it was strange... Ever since she was young, whenever she was determined, something would always happen to soften her heart. Those things were the source of her wavering resolve.
Now, it was the same. She felt at a loss.
Wan Sha: "Pitiful," she sneered. "If anyone is pitiful, it's you. Let me put it this way, you're the one getting married, not your sister-in-law. Your sister-in-law is just being kept in the dark for a while, but you, if you are soft-hearted..." she said, "it will be for a lifetime."
"Didn't you say back then that I should get married?" Mu Xiang recalled Wan Sha's earlier words.
Wan Sha: "I was mesmerized by that man's face back then. I admit... I thought at the time that if you married him, and then became my partner, I would have something visually pleasing. You..."
"What's the difference between you and my sister-in-law?" Mu Xiang interrupted.
Wan Sha: "Yes, there's no difference. But after this incident, I understand. No matter what, you are my partner. I won't have such thoughts again. From now on, I won't be like this again. I promise."
"...." Mu Xiang smiled at Wan Sha's determined expression. "I really didn't expect that you, a monster, would also be attracted by a man's looks. May I ask, has this ever happened to you before?"
"...." Wan Sha fell silent.
To be honest, Wan Sha had never thought anyone was beautiful before, nor was she attracted to men's faces. But just now, she was almost brainwashed by the red-clothed man's appearance.
Thinking about it, she was suddenly scared.
"Why aren't you talking?" Mu Xiang asked doubtfully.
Wan Sha: "No," she shook her head. "That person is definitely not right."
"What's wrong?" Mu Xiang became nervous.
"I usually only think I'm beautiful, and I've never acknowledged anyone else's appearance. But just now, I was actually attracted by that person's face. This..." Wan Sha said seriously, "there must be a problem."
"What problem?"
"Perhaps," Wan Sha narrowed her eyes, "that's not a person."
"Who?"
"The man in red," Wan Sha said, raising two fingers. She immediately used her demonic arts to change the clothes on herself and Mu Xiang into casual wear. "Let's go," she said sternly.
Mu Xiang looked down at the plain clothes on herself and Wan Sha and asked, "Aren't we supposed to get dressed up? Wearing these clothes, sister-in-law..."
"Stop thinking about your sister-in-law. Think about yourself," Wan Sha said coldly, and walked past Mu Xiang.
"Okay," Mu Xiang felt Wan Sha's words were reasonable, so she agreed and turned to follow her.
On the other side. Feng Qishi fumbled his way into the servants' quarters and his eyes immediately landed on the servant uniforms hanging on a rope. A smile played on his lips as he walked forward.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao and Along stopped in front of the servants' quarters. Mu Anxiao glanced back at Along, then looked forward again, and gently pushed the rotten, broken door open a crack. "Shen the crazy fellow actually found his way here," she said, looking through the gap at Feng Qishi, who was openly taking clothes.
Along whispered, "Why don't we go to him directly?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao straightened up, turned to Along, and said, "If the servants see me with him, how can I... act later? It will affect my performance."
"You're not going to capture him, are you?"
"Clever." Mu Anxiao's lips curved into a smile. She looked to both sides, and after confirming no one was passing by, she turned back, gently pushing the door open with one hand, stepping over the threshold, and looking inside. She froze, "Huh... where's Shen the crazy fellow?" she muttered, finding that... the servant uniform Feng Qishi had taken was back in place.
Along looked at her in confusion. "What's wrong?" she asked, looking at Mu Anxiao's stunned back.
Mu Anxiao stood frozen, shushed her, and looked towards the house where faint sounds could be heard, frowning. "Someone inside... seems to be plotting something?" As she spoke, just as she was about to turn and leave, voices were heard from not far away in the courtyard.
This time, Along heard it too. She echoed Mu Anxiao's tension, looked around, and then quickly pointed towards the huge water缸 under a tree in the courtyard. "Let's hide there. If we leave now, all our efforts will be in vain."
"..." Mu Anxiao stared at Along for a few seconds, then turned around and ran towards the huge water缸.
The next moment.
Mu Anxiao stopped by the water缸, reached out to lift the wooden lid, and froze. "Why are you here too?" she asked softly, looking down at Feng Qishi, who was half-submerged in the water.
Feng Qishi looked up at Mu Anxiao and 'shushed' her. "Go away, the people in that room... are not servants of this estate."
Just now, the moment Feng Qishi took down the servant uniform, he heard voices from inside the house. Of course, he had already thought of a way to deal with those servants.
So, he planned to pretend to be a servant and have a word with them while holding the clothes. But just as he turned around, he heard two people inside utter the words 'groom' and 'kill'.
From that moment on, he was certain that things were not that simple. Then, while Mu Anxiao and Along were talking, he returned the servant uniform, and just as he was about to climb a tree to eavesdrop, he saw the water缸.
Thus, he hid inside.
Of course, he didn't expect that there would be water in this dilapidated water缸. Sitting here now made him very uncomfortable, especially when he saw Mu Anxiao's leg stepping in, which made him even more annoyed.
"Quick, get out of the way," he emphasized again.
Just then, the people inside the house shouted, "What was that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao's body stiffened, and she quickly said, "Let's squeeze in. This water缸 is big." As she spoke, she still got in.