The first woman looked at Cheng Ziyuan's untrusting expression and became anxious, "You don't believe me."
"You're called A Ju now, if I remember correctly, you just called yourself Ju Hua." Mu Anxiao said, frowning deliberately, "What you're saying makes it hard for me to trust you."
Xiao Yue looked at Mu Anxiao's continued look of distrust towards the first woman, then at the first woman who was eager to explain but didn't know how, and said, "She didn't..."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao's eyes lit up, and she immediately interrupted, "Oh, I remember, she was talking about you." She put on a look of sudden realization.
Due to the preceding events, Mu Anxiao couldn't tell whether the first woman was telling the truth or lying. Xiao Yue was also a timid girl, so she knew that if she didn't use some tactic, Xiao Yue wouldn't speak. Thus, she resorted to provocation.
As expected, Xiao Yue became anxious when Mu Anxiao said this.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's expression of definite trust in the first woman, Xiao Yue withdrew her words and closed her mouth.
The first woman smiled, "You finally remembered."
Mu Anxiao: "I remember there was a 'Ju' character in the name."
A Ju patted her chest and said, "It's me."
Mu Anxiao smiled faintly.
Xiao Yue knew that A Ju was a snob who put on different faces for everyone.
She would be cheerful to those with money, and cold and mocking to those without. It was precisely because she couldn't judge people that she always made such a scene.
Once, a high-ranking official, even higher than Feng Qishi, visited the General's Mansion. That official was dressed plainly. Upon seeing him, she deliberately gave him a strange look and said things that would anger anyone.
However, that official had a good temper and ignored her.
It wasn't until Feng Qishi returned that she realized he was a big shot.
So, just like now, she instantly changed her demeanor and started flattering and coaxing him. In the end, the official didn't pay her any mind, yet she narcissistically believed she was excellent and the official was very pleased.
Xiao Yue remembered this incident clearly.
Therefore, seeing A Ju fawning over Mu Anxiao now, she felt speechless.
A Ju looked at Mu Anxiao's faint smile and asked, "What do you mean by that smile?"
Mu Anxiao smiled, "Aren't you afraid the silver I'm giving you was stolen from someone?"
"How could that be," A Ju said, glancing down at the money pouch hanging from Mu Anxiao's waist, "That money pouch looks like it was made for you by a beloved woman."
"I don't have a beloved woman."
"You don't?" A Ju was surprised and suddenly shy, "I'm so sorry, I'm not what you imagined."
"I haven't imagined you at all." Mu Anxiao wanted to get rid of A Ju now, but ten taels of silver was too much for her, and she suddenly felt reluctant.
"I know, I just said it casually," A Ju said, naturally adopting a determined expression, "Is that person me?" she asked, her expression becoming cautious.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
A Ju dared not get angry and stared at Mu Anxiao's face, "Why aren't you speaking anymore?"
"You're only speaking nicely to me for the money, aren't you?" Mu Anxiao raised an eyebrow.
A Ju smiled.
"If there was no money, you..." Mu Anxiao's words were cut short as she watched A Ju's face suddenly turn stern, and she smiled, "You make that face."
A Ju: "Tell me, are you playing a trick on me?" She suddenly became angry.
Mu Anxiao smiled faintly, "This is a task given to me by Shu Er's mother. If I give the money to the wrong person, wouldn't that be letting down Shu Er, letting down her mother, and even more so, letting down the 'Ju' who truly helped Shu Er." She became serious, "So, I have to be extremely cautious about this matter."
When A Ju heard Cheng Ziyuan say this, she smiled again, "What you said makes sense, but I really am the one who took care of Shu Er the most."
"Oh?" Cheng Ziyuan feigned surprise, "Then tell me, how did you take care of her?"
"I gave her..." A Ju didn't interact with Shu Er much, so she became nervous while lying. Swallowing, her eyes darted around before she continued, "When she was sick, I brought her tea and water. Sometimes, when she was tired, I even washed her feet. There were many other things, I can't remember them all because I was too good to her." After saying this, she giggled foolishly.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
A Ju looked again, confused, "Why are you smiling at me again?"
Although Mu Anxiao didn't know Shu Er's family situation, she knew that since Shu Er could cruelly disregard her own life, it indicated that she had lost contact with her family. Furthermore, considering the reality of how they bullied Shu Er, it was more likely that Shu Er washed their feet and brought them tea.
Therefore, she didn't take A Ju's response as reference. "She only mentioned a woman named Ju was very good to her, but she didn't go into such detail, so I still can't believe you."
"It really was me," A Ju became anxious.
Mu Anxiao smiled, "It really was you," she said, then thought, "No, I can't give it to you."
"You..."
"It's like this, I'll give you three taels of silver, and you..."
"Stop 'you' for a moment. You said you would give me ten taels, how can you go back on your word? If you do this, Shu Er's mother will be unhappy." A Ju still felt justified.
Mu Anxiao looked helpless, "You've already exposed yourself. I'm lucky to give you three taels of silver. Don't push your luck." As she spoke, her expression turned cold.
A Ju looked at Mu Anxiao's suddenly cold expression and flinched. "I'm telling the truth. I am the one who treated Shu Er the best. Besides, there's only one person named Ju here. You say it's not me," she frowned, "Then who is it?"
"Perhaps it was someone she met outside," Mu Anxiao said righteously.
A Ju was speechless. Because the facts proved that her words were all fabricated, if she continued, she would get nothing in the end.
Mu Anxiao looked at A Ju's sudden silence and said, "Do you want the money?"
"Yes."
"It's three taels." Saying this, Mu Anxiao casually took down the money pouch from her waist.
Upon seeing this, A Ju nodded.
Xiao Yue clearly knew A Ju's character, so seeing Mu Anxiao take out money as if she had been tricked, she frowned.
Then, Mu Anxiao took out three taels of silver from the money pouch and said, "Take the money and go. I have something to say to her." As she spoke, she glanced at Xiao Yue.
Xiao Yue frowned.