Mu Anxiao saw through A Ju's guilt but had no intention of exposing her directly. Instead, Mu Anxiao deliberately stared at her without saying a word.
A Ju had expected a different response from Mu Anxiao after hearing her words, but instead, they were locked in this stalemate.
Thus, she looked at Mu Anxiao and said with a solicitous smile, "You can tease me with my name too. Don't be angry; it harms our friendship." As she spoke, she playfully grinned at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao found A Ju's playful expression unnerving. She then steered the conversation back, asking, "Why are you looking for me?"
"I heard we got a new person, Cao Gen, so..."
"What does a new person in the manor have to do with you? Besides, aren't I also new?" Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, A Ju instantly became nervous. "It has nothing to do with me. I just like to look after newcomers, so I came to see, and invite you to my room for tea and a chat." She didn't even know what she was saying; she was just very nervous at the moment.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
A Ju followed Mu Anxiao's smile, asking, "What are you smiling about?" She then forced a laugh.
Mu Anxiao replied, "I feel like laughing, why can't you?" She looked at A Ju's face.
A Ju: "Your smile is so infectious; I want to laugh along with you."
"Is that so?" Mu Anxiao said, too lazy to play games with A Ju anymore. "You mentioned the coachman just now."
"..." A Ju was startled by Mu Anxiao's sudden change of topic. "Oh, I only said that because you mentioned it, you..."
"Does the coachman have a high status in this manor?" Mu Anxiao deliberately interrupted and asked.
A Ju froze upon hearing this.
Seeing A Ju's hesitant expression, Mu Anxiao smiled. "Don't be too nervous. I'm just new here and want to learn more about the people around the General. It will benefit me in the future." As she spoke, she reached out to pat A Ju's shoulder.
Seeing this, A Ju took a step back and said, "A man and a woman should not touch each other." With that, she lost the courage to look at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled faintly, glanced at her own hand, and said, "You just asked me to your room for tea and a chat, and now," she lowered her hand, "you're saying a man and a woman shouldn't touch. Indeed, women are hard to understand."
"..." A Ju's thoughts were completely sidetracked by Mu Anxiao, and she was left speechless.
"Not talking anymore?" Mu Anxiao smiled faintly.
A Ju pursed her lips and lowered her head.
Mu Anxiao nodded. "Alright, since we have nothing to say, I'll be going in." With that, she turned to enter.
Seeing this, A Ju became anxious. "Wait."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao naturally retracted the foot she had stepped towards the threshold and turned to look at A Ju, asking, "What is it?"
A Ju thought of Ouyang Ye's methods and took a deep breath. "You saw the coachman, didn't you?" she asked, summoning her courage and looking at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I did. In your courtyard." As she spoke, she suddenly put on a curious expression. "By the way, what was the coachman doing in there?" she asked, moving back in front of A Ju and putting on a gossipy face.
A Ju didn't know what to say.
Seeing A Ju fall silent again, Mu Anxiao deliberately indulged in wild speculation. "Don't tell me he was going there to..."
"Don't talk nonsense," A Ju interrupted.
Mu Anxiao blinked, met A Ju's eyes, and asked, "I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you so anxious? Could it be that you and he..."
"How dare you spout such nonsense!" A Ju exclaimed, her face flushed with anger.
Mu Anxiao completely disregarded A Ju's feelings, lowered her head, and smiled. "Nonsense? I don't think I'm talking nonsense. Look at how red your face is just from mentioning the coachman. Tell me," she raised her chin, "did you and the coachman hit it off?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" A Ju shouted.
Mu Anxiao feigned a startle. "Honestly, you're so obvious about it, and you won't even let people say it. You're really boring." She waved her hand.
A Ju was indignant. "My relationship with the coachman is as pure as it can possibly be. If you continue to spout nonsense, I'll go tell the General."
"Using the General to scare me." Mu Anxiao was calm.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's fearless demeanor, A Ju's heart sank. "You truly aren't afraid of the General?"
"If you haven't done anything wrong, you have no fear of a knock on the door. Why should I fear the General? Besides," Mu Anxiao said, "you sought me out. If anyone is being immodest, it's you. The General is a reasonable person, and I believe he will believe me over you."
"You..."
"If you don't believe me, let's go find the General right now and test it." Mu Anxiao raised an eyebrow.
A Ju fell silent.
Mu Anxiao looked at A Ju's face, which dared to be angry but not truly angry, and her lips curved. "I'm not joking with you. Why did you stop me?" She was worried that angering A Ju would mess up her mission, so she lowered her stance first.
Upon hearing this, A Ju couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Did you pick up a silver needle outside our courtyard?"
"A silver needle?"
"Yes, did you pick it up?" A Ju became serious.
In contrast, Mu Anxiao showed a puzzled expression. "You came to find me just to ask this?"
"Yes." A Ju didn't dare waste any more time and honestly confessed.
Mu Anxiao gave a wry smile. "After all this, it's just this? You..." She feigned thought and continued, "That, did the coachman send you?"
"No..."
"Tell me the truth." Mu Anxiao interrupted.
A Ju's eyes darted away, and she nodded.
Seeing A Ju nod, Mu Anxiao continued, "What was he doing at your place?"
"He's looking for a way to save his daughter. His daughter usually plays with us here, so he often comes to ask us about her condition."
"He's married?" Mu Anxiao feigned surprise.
A Ju nodded.
Mu Anxiao sighed as she looked at this. "He's married. I thought he was going there to find a wife. Disappointing." She shook her head.
Seeing this, A Ju asked softly, "Um, can I have the silver needle?" Her attitude became cautious.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao snapped back to attention and looked at A Ju. "What do you want the silver needle for?"
"That needle is poisoned, and I want it back to give to the General."
"Give it to the General? I can do that for you," Mu Anxiao said casually.
A Ju: "No, the coachman said it's a matter concerning our courtyard. To prevent similar incidents, I must be the one to handle this." She looked very serious, as if this were a real matter.
Mu Anxiao deliberately hesitated.
Seeing Mu Anxiao remain silent, A Ju asked, "What's wrong?"
"That coachman is quite clever. Did he tell you I picked up the needle?" Mu Anxiao said again.
A Ju nodded.
Mu Anxiao mumbled, "The coachman's eyes are quite sharp. I hid it, but he still managed to see it." As she spoke, she began to rummage in her sleeve.
A Ju's heart tightened.
Immediately, Mu Anxiao showed a look of shock.
A Ju frowned. "What's wrong?"
"The needle..." Mu Anxiao deliberately widened her eyes, looked at A Ju, and spat out three words: "It's gone."