Feng Qishi opened his eyes as the wind stirred. "They're in," he said, rising from the recliner.
Mu Anxiao was indignant. "You're quite comfortable, aren't you? You're all better, why didn't you call me?"
"Since you were following me, you should be observing me. Why should I call you? Besides," Feng Qishi retorted, "you never said you were coming with me."
Hearing Feng Qishi's words, Mu Anxiao couldn't help but recall what Feng Qishi had said by the water vat earlier: 'Everything starts anew.' She then let out a cold snort. "You really know how to start anew."
Feng Qishi: "That's a must. What… what are you doing?"
"Of course, it's to take you to the front," Mu Anxiao said, waving her hand. "Come down a bit."
Feng Qishi laughed. "I'm the one being captured here. How can the captured person ask to be captured? If you're going to put on a show, it should be convincing."
However, Mu Anxiao had been planning to directly grab Feng Qishi by the ear and drag him to the reception hall, then have Feng Qishi put on a bitter trick in front of the fake Mu Long.
This was supposed to be her initiative, but now she had completely become the passive party. Moreover, after hearing Feng Qishi say this, she was at a loss as to what the point of her actions was.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's utterly bewildered expression and then looking at Feng Qishi, who was smiling at her, A Long said, "Uh, what exactly do you want to do?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao turned to look at A Long. "I want to take him over there, and then..." Her mind suddenly went blank.
"But..." A Long's mind had also cleared up after this exchange. "But if you take him there, Mu Xi will surely be suspicious, right?"
Suspicious?
Mu Anxiao had always considered herself a distinguished guest. She also knew that Mu Xi would not dare to expose her; at most, he would only drive her away.
Therefore, her thinking differed from A Long's. She felt that if she brought Feng Qishi to the reception hall, it would not only please Mu Xi but also win the trust of Mu Xiang's sister-in-law.
But... as it turned out, there were already several fake servants in this household. If she did this, the man in red would surely think she had captured his people upon seeing her. At that time, things would become even more troublesome.
In short... she was completely flustered by Feng Qishi's words.
Feng Qishi looked down at the frowning Mu Anxiao and said calmly, "I'll go deliver tea and then communicate with Mu Xi. I really don't know," he said, "what's the point of you trying to get attention?"
He still couldn't bear to scold Mu Anxiao in front of Mu Xi.
So, he thought of confusing Mu Anxiao's mind. This way, she would have to stay obediently in the reception hall, and he could pretend not to recognize her.
This way, Mu Xi might not become suspicious.
In short, their thoughts were completely at odds with each other.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao looked up at Feng Qishi. "I didn't mean to..." She didn't know what to say anymore.
Feng Qishi: "Alright, you can go."
"Go?" Mu Anxiao repeated, and suddenly thought of a way. "Shen Fengzi, I know what I need to do." She was excited.
Feng Qishi: "What are you going to do now?"
Mu Anxiao glanced at Feng Qishi, then lowered her head and carefully organized the thoughts in her mind before saying, "Later, we'll go to the reception hall together, and then you'll call out 'Mu Xi's disciple'."
"And then?" Feng Qishi also felt that Mu Anxiao had a new idea.
Just as Feng Qishi guessed... Mu Anxiao thought that given Mu Long's usual personality, he would never agree to become a disciple. Naturally, if Mu Xi saw her bringing Feng Qishi, especially after hearing Feng Qishi call out 'disciple,' he would choose to leave and go to his room.
At that time, only the three of them would be left in the room. Then... she and Feng Qishi would have an argument in front of Mu Xi, and perhaps, Mu Xi would be moved.
It was possible that with Mu Xi being moved, he would hand over his body.
However... this was Mu Anxiao's latest idea.
"I'll drag you by the ear, and when you go in, you'll directly call out 'Mu Xi's disciple'."
"..." Feng Qishi looked down at Mu Anxiao's innocent expression, then at his own attire, and said, "Do you think I have a chance to get in?"
He thought, since Mu Anxiao could change her mind on the spot, so could he!
"I'll take you."
"You'll take me?" Feng Qishi sneered. "Let me say something that will discourage you."
"Go ahead," Mu Anxiao said, lifting her chin.
Feng Qishi said seriously, "Who is Mu Xi now?"
"Mu Long, the imposter," Mu Anxiao replied seriously.
Feng Qishi nodded. "That's right. Do you think," he leaned in to meet Mu Anxiao's eyes, "he will acknowledge me?"
"He has feelings for you," Mu Anxiao pointed at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi's face darkened slightly. "Putting that aside, I've figured it out now."
"Figured out what?" Mu Anxiao had a bad premonition.
"I cannot appear before Mu Xi."
"Why?" Mu Anxiao was agitated.
"Don't get excited yet," Feng Qishi reached out and placed his hands on Mu Anxiao's shoulders. "I think you need to have a backup plan."
"Backup plan?"
"Yes. When Mu Xi came here, he immediately became Mu Long. Not only that, but I heard from her," Feng Qishi glanced at A Long, "that Mu Xi seems to be very good to Mu Xiang's sister-in-law."
"He is very good," Mu Anxiao nodded.
"Don't you find it strange? It's only been a few hours, and he's already integrated so well. Not only that, but I feel he's also very good to Mu Xiang. In fact, I think he's become Mu Xiang's brother," Feng Qishi said. "Do you know what that indicates?"
"What?" Mu Anxiao asked, confused.
Feng Qishi: "It indicates that he was already prepared to become Mu Long and monopolize Mu Long's family. Not to mention anything else," he said seriously, "he surely prioritizes this family now. My appearance would disrupt his plans. Perhaps, he would chase both of us out."
"..." Mu Anxiao suddenly felt that Feng Qishi's words made a lot of sense.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's thoughtful expression, Feng Qishi continued, "So, I'll just be your strong backing."
"Backing?" Mu Anxiao no longer understood what Feng Qishi was trying to do.
"Yes. Now," Feng Qishi said, "you and I are no longer on the same side."
"Huh?"
"Didn't you hear? Those three guys just said their master wants to marry Mu Xiang. If that happens, Mu Xiang will inevitably be taken away. No matter how many methods we have, they'll be useless."
"Are you going to infiltrate the ranks of their master?" Mu Anxiao suddenly realized.
Immediately, Feng Qishi moved his hands from Mu Anxiao's shoulders to the top of her head. "Clever," he said, patting her hair twice.
Mu Anxiao was not impatient. Instead, she calmly looked at Feng Qishi and asked, "Do you think that person... is the man in red?"
"...." Feng Qishi shrugged. "I haven't seen that guy at all, how would I know."
"Then..."
"In any case, you continue to be the rich person, and I'll go find them."
"What's the point of you doing this?" Mu Anxiao couldn't keep up with Feng Qishi's pace.
Feng Qishi removed his hands and smiled. "Mu Xi wants to protect his family. I'll help him protect it. This way... I'll be his benefactor again."
"Benefactor..." Mu Anxiao uttered the two words, then realized, "I see, you understand Mu Xi's thoughts."
"He just wants a family," Feng Qishi said, then patted Mu Anxiao's shoulder and left.
A Long was stunned.
Moments later, Mu Anxiao slightly lowered her eyelids, recalling the circumstances of Mu Xi's death and his relationship with Xin'er. She thought, if it weren't for Xi'er, perhaps Mu Xi would have given up everything for Xin'er?
Thinking this, she glanced at Feng Qishi's disappearing figure, sighed, and looked at A Long. "What's wrong with you?"
A Long rubbed the back of his head and said, "I didn't understand what you were talking about."
Mu Anxiao: "Mu Xi never had a real family in his life, so when he was reborn, what he naturally wanted was familial affection. If it's as Shen Fengzi said, I think," she narrowed her eyes, "there will be great chaos here soon."
"Great chaos..." A Long repeated, recalling the conversation of the three people just now, and excitedly said, "They said they would act in an hour."
"As expected," Mu Anxiao nodded, her heart filled with curiosity about who the master they were talking about was.
At the same time, Wan Sha staggered into the servants' courtyard and then saw Mu Anxiao at a glance. "Finally found you," she said, walking towards Mu Anxiao.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao withdrew her gaze, turned to look at the pale-faced Wan Sha, and was startled. "What's wrong with you?" she quickly stepped forward and supported Wan Sha.
Wan Sha's body went limp, and she leaned her head on Mu Anxiao's shoulder. "That man... has a problem."
"What is it?" Mu Anxiao didn't react immediately.
Wan Sha: "I just felt something unusual from that man. It made me feel uncomfortable," she looked up at Mu Anxiao. "He's definitely not right."
Mu Anxiao hugged Wan Sha's shoulders, looked down at Wan Sha's jittery demeanor, and grabbed her wrist. She exclaimed, "It's sorcery!"
Hearing this, Wan Sha closed her eyes. "Shouldn't it be... demonic arts?"
A Long looked at Wan Sha's uncomfortable appearance and said, "If it were really demonic arts, you wouldn't be like this."
"That's true," Wan Sha nodded. "Mu Anxiao, I feel so uncomfortable, I think I'm going to..." She completely collapsed onto Mu Anxiao.
However, Wan Sha's seemingly frail body was also quite heavy. Mu Anxiao, with her leaning on her, was truly struggling to hold her up. Immediately, Mu Anxiao, carrying her, fell to the ground.
Just then, two servants happened to enter and saw this scene.
"...." They both froze.
A Long looked at the two stunned servants, then looked down at Mu Anxiao and Wan Sha. Before she could speak, one of the servants said, "You two really are a pair."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's body stiffened. She turned her head back and quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense."
These two servants had come from the reception hall, so they naturally knew Mu Anxiao and Wan Sha. Seeing this scene, they naturally misunderstood.
Another servant laughed. "We always said your relationship was unusual." He then chuckled, and they left.
Thus, Mu Anxiao felt bitter.
A Long looked down at Mu Anxiao's constipated expression, then at the fainted Wan Sha, and said, "I see. That sorcery is a spell that makes people fall asleep, but... it seems to be more effective on demon souls."
"Why are you okay?" Mu Anxiao looked at A Long.
A Long: "Demon souls also have different constitutions. You and I... are different, right?" She looked down at Wan Sha.
Mu Anxiao sighed.
A moment later, to prevent A Long from suffering the same fate, Mu Anxiao specifically asked A Long to stay and look after Wan Sha, while she headed to the reception hall alone.
In front of the back door of the Mu family.
Feng Qishi stood in the shadows, observing the ten infiltrators in servant uniforms who were openly standing in the stable. He noticed that although they all served the same master, none of them had met each other.
However, even so, they were all chatting quite amicably. He thought, perhaps he could integrate himself by joining them.
Thus, with the intention of striking up a conversation with them, he walked into their midst.
"Hey, when do you think the master will act?" he asked deliberately.
As expected, as soon as he approached, everyone turned their gaze to his face.
Feng Qishi forced a foolish smile to blend in.
Servant Number One looked at Feng Qishi's foolish smile and sneered, "He's an idiot."
Hearing Servant Number One's words, a flicker of displeasure crossed Feng Qishi's mind. "I'm not an idiot." To blend in with them, he continued to smile foolishly.
Servant Number One laughed. "Still saying you're not an idiot, you're smiling like this."
Feng Qishi: "I'm really not an idiot. I'm..." He walked up to them. "A new person sent by the master."
"We have enough people," Servant Number Two said agitatedly.
Feng Qishi: "The master said I'm surplus personnel. When the time comes," he smiled, "I can help you clean up the mess." After saying that, he realized he had said the wrong thing.
As he had expected, they all put on stern faces.
Seeing this, Feng Qishi slapped his mouth and laughed. "I misspoke. I meant I'm here to do odd jobs."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Servant Number Three laughed. "You kid, you really can't speak properly, but I like it."
Feng Qishi smiled. "We act in an hour, right?" He tried to initiate another round of conversation with them.
Servant Number Four showed disdain. "We act when it's almost an hour. You kid, you're really stupid."
Feng Qishi endured it and continued to chat with them with a foolish smile.
On the other side.
Mu Anxiao walked into the reception hall and glanced at the fake Mu Long and the others sitting in their chairs, chatting and laughing. "You're all having a good chat, haha."
Hearing this, Mu Xiang immediately shifted her gaze to Mu Anxiao's face. "You're finally here. Why so late?"
Mu Anxiao smiled. "I had an upset stomach, didn't I?" As she spoke, she walked to the empty seat beside Mu Xiang and sat down.
The fake Mu Long put on a stern face. "You stinking beggar, scram."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's body stiffened. She glanced at the fake Mu Long and smiled. "Young master, haven't you been taught enough by sister-in-law?" As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at sister-in-law Mu Xiang, who was smiling at her.
"What does our family's business have to do with you, an outsider?" Mu Long's tone was serious.
Mu Anxiao: "It has nothing to do with me, but I am a guest. Now," she looked at Ouyang Ye opposite her, who was inexplicably glaring at her, and was startled. "What's with that look?"
"She is my fiancée. You acting like this," Ouyang Ye's eyes were full of jealousy, "isn't very good, is it?"
"How is it not good?" Mu Anxiao asked, confused. She glanced at Mu Xiang sitting beside her, then looked at Ouyang Ye. "There are no more seats, so I..." She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing... there was no one next to Ouyang Ye.
"Come here," Ouyang Ye pointed to the empty seat beside him.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao felt truly awkward. She stood up and walked towards the empty seat.
Mu Xiang: "Don't go over there."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao still didn't heed Mu Xiang's words, sat down next to Ouyang Ye, and said, "Serve the tea." She consciously looked at the maid standing beside the fake Mu Long.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, the maid showed an impatient expression. "..." She looked down at the fake Mu Long.
Mu Anxiao looked at the maid and suddenly remembered the maid who had a private meeting with Mu Long. Then, a smile curved her lips, and she deliberately said, "Why are you looking at your young master like that?"
When sister-in-law heard this, she directly glared at the maid. "What are you doing?"
"Madam, she... is a beggar." The maid saw that the fake Mu Long disliked Mu Anxiao, so she also began to dislike her.
Sister-in-law: "Who is she," she glared at the maid, "you don't need to tell me. Hurry up."
The maid looked wronged.
Seeing his sister-in-law angry, the fake Mu Long said coldly, "Go pour the tea." xxs
Hearing this, the maid weakly replied, "Yes." Then she picked up the teapot and walked towards Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao looked at the maid's aggrieved appearance and chuckled. Then, she inadvertently looked at Mu Xiang opposite her, who was glaring at her, and was startled.
Mu Xiang: "Don't listen to me."
Mu Anxiao's eyes flickered slightly. "I think," she glanced at Ouyang Ye, "you should consider his feelings." She pointed at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye smiled. "Speaking of which, what's your name?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's body stiffened. "Are you asking me?" She feigned ignorance.
She knew that although Ouyang Ye was a liar, he must have known many nobles. If she randomly gave a name, it would surely arouse suspicion. Especially since she was from a prominent family, she would be a famous person in this world.
She thought, Mu Xiang's sister-in-law must have thought the same way.
Therefore, this matter of a fake name was absolutely not to be done.
Thus, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Just call me Beggar." As she spoke, she smiled foolishly.
Mu Xiang frowned.
Ouyang Ye: "This... might not be good."
"It's fine. I'm a person who acts low-key. Also... I'm the youngest in my family, and I'm a... young master. It's inconvenient to reveal my name."
"Alright then, I'll call you Beggar," Ouyang Ye said, then shifted his gaze back to Mu Xiang opposite him.
Mu Xiang glared at Ouyang Ye.
Sister-in-law smiled. "You really are quite casual."
Hearing this, as Mu Anxiao's gaze shifted to sister-in-law's face, she froze.
"...."
Seeing Mu Anxiao's stunned expression, sister-in-law smiled. "What's wrong?"
The fake Mu Long was angry. "You stinking beggar, hurry up and move your dog eyes away from my lady."
On the contrary, Mu Anxiao didn't listen to them at all. She continued to stare at sister-in-law's face for a few seconds, thinking, no way? How could Mu Xiang's sister-in-law look exactly like... her?