As Mu Anxiao’s sudden question sounded, they all shifted their gaze toward the door.
“…” There was no response from outside the door.
Mu Anxiao frowned upon seeing this, then after a moment’s thought, she stepped forward towards the door.
Feng Qishi, seeing this, quickly turned around. Just as he was about to call out to Mu Anxiao, she raised a hand and said, “Who are you, speak up.” Her tone was stiff.
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s question, Zhao Xiang also grew nervous. At this moment, he couldn’t help but worry if the person outside might be Ouyang Ye. Thinking this, he intentionally took a few steps back.
Lou Yi glanced at Zhao Xiang and said nothing.
“…” Still, no one responded from outside.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao walked to the door, reached out to steady the latch, and said coldly, “If you don’t speak this time, I won’t be polite.” As she spoke, she also worried if the person outside might be Ouyang Ye.
At the same time, Feng Qishi’s gaze was fixed intently on Mu Anxiao, ready to act on her behalf at any moment.
Jia also reached out and pulled Bing’er’s arm, prepared to protect her.
However, just as they were all tense, a woman’s voice came through the door crack, “It’s me.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao’s lifted heart settled. She murmured, “Gu Yan.” Then she directly opened the door.
Following this, they all relaxed.
The next second, Gu Yan’s nervous face appeared in Mu Anxiao’s eyes. Mu Anxiao asked, “What’s wrong?” As she spoke, she released her hand from the doorframe.
Gu Yan cast a furtive glance behind her and said, “I just finished talking with Gu Yan. I was worried she might follow me, so I observed for quite some time before daring to speak.” As she spoke, she hurried across the threshold. Just as she passed Mu Anxiao, she looked towards Zhao Xiang… she froze.
Similarly, Zhao Xiang frowned the instant he saw Gu Yan. Thus, they began to stare at each other.
Lou Yi glanced at each of them and said nothing.
Then, after confirming no one was following, Mu Anxiao closed the door, turned to face them, and said, “Don’t be surprised, both of you have pledged allegiance to me.” As she spoke, she glanced at Feng Qishi and walked back to the table.
Subsequently, they all turned their attention to Mu Anxiao. Mu Anxiao picked up a teacup, took a leisurely sip of tea, then turned around, glanced at each of them, and said, “What are you looking at me for? Shouldn’t you two be looking at each other right now?”
“Why didn’t you tell me,” Zhao Xiang said in a low voice, not daring to offend Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao looked at Zhao Xiang with a composed expression and said, “You only just pledged allegiance to me. I don’t know if you’re good or bad. In other words,” she held her teacup and glanced at Gu Yan, “I can’t betray Gu Yan, can I?”
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s words, Gu Yan showed a touched expression.
Zhao Xiang felt Mu Anxiao’s words made sense. He then looked at Gu Yan and said, “Are you sure no one followed you here?” He began to try and impress Mu Anxiao.
Gu Yan knew Zhao Xiang’s habit of flattering, showing off, and ordering her around. Of course, if she were facing Ouyang Ye, she would have complied with Zhao Xiang’s questions to save her life. But now, she wouldn’t.
“Why should I answer you?” she glared at Zhao Xiang and looked at Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang became angry. “Gu Yan, don’t push your luck.” He widened his eyes.
Gu Yan was not swayed by his attitude and simply looked at Mu Anxiao, remaining silent.
Mu Anxiao, seeing Gu Yan deliberately clashing with Zhao Xiang, and looking at Zhao Xiang’s pretense and showing-off demeanor, said, “Don’t do what you did with Ouyang Ye here. You,” she pointed at Zhao Xiang, “have no right to talk to her.”
Hearing Mu Anxiao’s words, Gu Yan immediately looked at Zhao Xiang and deliberately put on a smug expression.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao reminded her, “Gu Yan, it’s better for you to keep a low profile.” As she spoke, she withdrew her gaze from Zhao Xiang’s face and looked at Gu Yan completely.
Seeing Mu Anxiao looking at her, Gu Yan asked in a low voice, “I’ve noticed something. Is it appropriate to say?” As she spoke, she cautiously glanced at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang, seeing Gu Yan secretly looking at him, became angry. “Gu Yan, what do you mean by that glance at me? Don’t you trust me?” he asked, starting to feel disgusted with Gu Yan.
Gu Yan said nothing, still looking at Mu Anxiao.
Hearing Zhao Xiang’s words, and seeing Gu Yan’s slight suspicion of Zhao Xiang, Mu Anxiao said, “Speak freely. He has already pledged allegiance here.” As she spoke, she gave Zhao Xiang a look.
Zhao Xiang, seeing Mu Anxiao’s look, dared not speak and lowered his head.
Upon hearing Mu Anxiao say this, Gu Yan felt relieved. “Then I’ll say it,” she hesitated.
Mu Anxiao nodded. “Yes, tell me what you’re confused about.” She became gentle towards Gu Yan.
Gu Yan looked at Mu Anxiao’s gentle side, cleared her throat, and said, disregarding others, “I feel that Ouyang Ye intends to marry Gu Yan to…” She stopped halfway, cautiously glancing at Feng Qishi, “…the General.”
Feng Qishi frowned. “Where did you see that?” He already had an issue with Ouyang Ye’s unilateral actions, and now hearing this, he naturally became more angered.
Gu Yan did not dare to be perfunctory with Feng Qishi and said, “Just now, before Gu Yan left, she confidently said, ‘Perhaps in the future, I will truly be the second mistress of this mansion.’ That’s why I thought of this.” After speaking, she looked at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao paused, because she hadn’t understood that sentence of Gu Yan’s in any other way.
Feng Qishi said, “Second mistress? Could it be that Ouyang Ye wants to usurp my position as General?” He didn’t want to think as Gu Yan did, so he said this.
Hearing this, Gu Yan immediately shifted her gaze back to Feng Qishi. “General, I don’t think she meant it that way.” She stated her thoughts.
“I think she did,” Feng Qishi, narcissistically worried that Mu Anxiao might be jealous, became firm.
Gu Yan was speechless after hearing this.
Conversely, after a moment of thought, Mu Anxiao said deeply, “Perhaps, Ouyang Ye simply wants to marry Gu Yan to you.” As she spoke, she looked at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi met Mu Anxiao’s eyes and said helplessly, “Why are you also saying this?” As he spoke, he casually glanced at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan shifted her gaze to Mu Anxiao’s face.
Similarly, Zhao Xiang said, “Mo Yun, perhaps Ouyang Ye really has this idea.” He said with a firm expression.
Feng Qishi was utterly speechless after hearing this.