However, Mu Hua’s and the others’ voices carried clearly into the room. Hearing her daughter speak, the Madam found her heart growing softer.
Mu Gui, observing his wife’s hesitant expression and then glancing towards the door, said, "Now is not the time for your soft heart."
"I know, but..." The Madam had always been the one to give Mu Hua hope. Forcing herself to speak to her daughter with a different tone was something she couldn't do. "But I don't want her to be sad."
"Letting her be sad is letting her grow. She… she needs to grow up," Mu Gui said calmly.
The Madam lowered her gaze.
Immediately after, Mu Gui stood up.
The Madam was startled and looked up at Mu Gui, asking, "Husband, what are you going to do?"
"We have no time to waste. Go. The more you think, the less you'll dare," Mu Gui said, turning and heading towards the door first.
The Madam’s eyes darkened. "Husband, why don't you say it?"
Hearing this, Mu Gui paused and turned sideways to look at his wife, who was staring at him. "Even if I say it, she will still look at your face. But if you say it, she won't look at me because she knows I agreed to this. Therefore, my words are useless."
"..." The Madam's expression froze.
Mu Gui continued, "Go. She needs to understand some things. Otherwise, it will only lead to her ruin."
"Mhm." The Madam felt Mu Gui's words were reasonable. She nodded and stood up.
A moment later.
Mu Gui opened the door.
Seeing Mu Gui appear, Mu Hua's eyes filled with hope. She called out, "Father," and quickly ran up the steps, stopping before Mu Gui.
Mu Gui looked down at Mu Hua and sighed. "Your mother has something to say to you." With that, he crossed the threshold, deliberately stepping aside.
Seeing this, Mu Hua looked at her mother, who had stopped at the doorway, with hope in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Mother, do you have something to tell me? Have you and Father discussed a solution?"
Following this, the Madam gently called out, "Hua’er."
Mu Hua’s brow furrowed. "Mother, what is it? I’ve noticed that when you and Father discuss matters, you always send the servants away. This time," her smile turned bitter, "are you and Father discussing me? Do I not have to go to the palace?" As she spoke, she stared intently at her mother’s face.
Mu An Xiao and Mai Xia watched Mu Hua's back calmly, saying nothing.
The Madam looked at Mu Hua’s expectant expression, thought for a moment, and said, "Hua’er, tell Mother whatever you need, and Mother will prepare it for you." She crossed the threshold.
Upon hearing this, Mu Hua's heart sank. "Mother, what do you mean?" Her expression froze.
"..." The Madam swallowed. "Mother heard everything you said, but Mother cannot help you."
"What?" Mu Hua retorted, her gaze shifting to Mu Gui. "Father, are you really going to watch your daughter go and serve that consort?"
"Go," Mu Gui said deeply.
Mu Hua's eyes widened in disbelief. "Father, that consort clearly dislikes me. If I go, she will surely torment me to death. I don't want to die, Father! Please save me." She took a step forward and grabbed Mu Gui's sleeve.
Mu An Xiao let out a soft sigh.
Mu Gui looked down at Mu Hua’s single hand gripping his sleeve tightly, then at her tense expression. He said, "If you hadn't gone to the Jin Lord to complain today, none of this would have happened. Therefore," he pushed Mu Hua's hand away, "this is something you must bear."
“...Father…” Mu Hua’s voice choked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Mu Gui continued, "Don't call me. From now on, you will do as your elder sister says." As he spoke, he glanced towards Mu An Xiao.
Seeing this, Mu An Xiao suddenly felt a strange sensation.
Mu Hua stiffened and burst into tears. "...Wuwu, Father... They are bullying me now, both her and her mother. If I have to listen to her, I'll surely enter alive and leave in a coffin, or perhaps never leave again." She wept uncontrollably.
Seeing her daughter’s state, the Madam's eyes also welled with tears.
In contrast, Mu An Xiao, hearing Mu Hua’s noisy crying, raised a hand to cover her ears and shouted, "Enough."
Mai Xia glanced at the short-tempered Mu An Xiao and said nothing.
Hearing this, Mu Hua cried, "See how she treats me! If I listen to her, I'll end up like this. I refuse!"
The Madam quickly said, "Hua’er, don't talk nonsense." As she spoke, she took a handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the tears from Mu Hua’s face.
Mu Hua did not refuse the Madam wiping her tears. She then said, "Mother, please, help me." She cried loudly.
The Madam also began to cry.
Mu An Xiao looked at Mu Hua's back, took a deep breath, and looked at Mai Xia.
At the same time, Mai Xia was also looking at Mu An Xiao, saying nothing.
Seeing Mai Xia’s calm gaze, Mu An Xiao forced herself to say, "Mother, let's go first." She suddenly no longer wanted to continue talking with Mu Gui and the others.
Mai Xia responded with an "Alright," and then looked back at Mu Gui, who was staring in their direction. "Husband, we'll be going now."
"..." Mu Gui frowned, and just as he was about to speak, Mu Hua suddenly turned around and shouted, "You are not allowed to leave."
Consequently, Mai Xia and Mu An Xiao both shifted their gaze to Mu Hua.
Mu Hua forcefully wiped the tears from her face and said, "Father, Mother, I can go to the palace, but now," her attitude changed by 180 degrees, "you must punish them for me."
Mu An Xiao looked at Mu Hua's increasingly arrogant expression, then glanced at Mu Gui and the Madam, who were exchanging glances. Just as she was about to speak, Mai Xia suddenly stepped forward, deliberately blocking Mu An Xiao, and said, "Madam, Husband, I don't understand what Mu Hua is saying, but this temper of hers is not beneficial for her."
Before, no matter how Mu An Xiao was wronged, Mai Xia never said a word, nor did she ever speak up for herself, always choosing to endure in silence.
Now, however, she spoke in front of Mu Gui and the Madam. To Mu An Xiao, this wasn't touching, it was frightening. Mu An Xiao feared that Mai Xia's suicidal thoughts had taken deep root in her heart.
Therefore, the moment Mai Xia uttered those words, Mu An Xiao quickly moved around her and stood in front of her.
She was also startled to see Mu An Xiao’s back.
Subsequently, Mu An Xiao, feigning calmness, looked at Mu Gui, who was about to speak, and said firmly, "These are my matters. They have nothing to do with my mother. These words, I taught her to say."
Mai Xia knitted her brows.
Mu Gui and the Madam both understood that Mai Xia was a person of thought. Although they didn't know her past identity, they knew that Mai Xia understood everything about the palace better than anyone else.
Therefore, the moment Mu An Xiao spoke, they inexplicably started laughing.
Seeing this, Mu An Xiao furrowed her brows in confusion.
Mu Hua was also startled by Mu Gui and the Madam's laughter. She looked at them sideways, not daring to speak.
Mai Xia looked at Mu An Xiao's back speechlessly, sighed softly, walked around Mu An Xiao, and asked Mu Gui and the Madam, who were still smiling, "Husband, why are you laughing?"
Mu Gui replied, "Xia'er, you…"
"Husband, you shouldn't call me that," Mai Xia interrupted, glancing at the Madam who was still smiling at her. She cleared her throat.
Mu An Xiao looked at the back of Mai Xia's head and was about to speak when a blue light suddenly emanated from behind Mai Xia. Seeing the blue light, Mu An Xiao was startled and, disregarding everything else, immediately reached out and placed her hands on Mai Xia’s shoulders.
Mai Xia: "..." She tilted her face slightly.
Mu An Xiao felt her and thought, 'She's just a person.' Thinking this, she lowered her hands.
After Mai Xia interrupted him, Mu Gui smiled. "Before, you particularly liked it when I called you that."
Mai Xia's eyes darkened. "That was the past. I am old now. If anyone sees you call me that, they will laugh. So, just say what you have to say directly. There's no need to be so polite."
Mu Gui chuckled. "Alright, then I'll get straight to the point. I want you to tell Hua'er about matters in the palace, so she has a better understanding. Also, if you can persuade Xiao'er to help Hua'er better." He knew he had offended Mu An Xiao, and given Mu An Xiao's personality, if he spoke to her directly, she would not give him any face. Therefore, to preserve his dignity as 'Husband,' he acted this way deliberately.
Mu An Xiao stated, "Father, I am here. If you speak like this, you are not taking me seriously, are you?" She was also being deliberate.
Subsequently, Mu Gui shifted his gaze to Mu An Xiao's face and smiled. "Xiao'er, you heard that, didn't you?"
Mu An Xiao looked at Mu Gui's feigned ignorance and sighed. "I'm not deaf, Father. I know you don't want to give up such an opportunity. So, please rest assured, I will take care of your daughter for you. If there's a suitable opportunity, I will also try to probe the situation in the palace and make the Jin King look at Mu Hua more. But whether the Jin King takes a liking to her, I don't know."
In order for Mai Xia to live a comfortable life in the mansion, she decided to let Mu Gui know her intentions.
Although she didn't know if it would come true, she thought that Mu Gui and the Madam would be happy to hear her words now. Mu Hua would also understand her intentions after hearing this, which would make things easier for her. It was a win-win situation.
This was precisely what Mu Gui wanted to say, so hearing Mu An Xiao mention it casually, he smiled. "Xiao'er, why didn't I realize you were so sensible before?"
"Father, I have always been sensible. You just never paid attention to me."
"..." Mu Gui gave an embarrassed smile and glanced at the Madam.
Hearing Mu An Xiao say this, the Madam breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Xiao'er, this… these three months, it was my fault. Please forgive me."
Mu An Xiao smiled faintly. "Madam, you are not my mother. My mother is she." She glanced at Mai Xia and continued, "Actually, I have a condition too."
"You say it," the Madam replied with a forced smile.
Mu Hua glared at Mu An Xiao, clenching her fists.
Mu An Xiao stated, "It's very simple. Give my mother a title, even if it's just a concubine."
Mai Xia was stunned.
Mu Hua retorted, "Why? She doesn't even have a status. She's not qualified to be my father's concubine at all. Mu Xiao, don't be delusional."
Hearing this, Mu An Xiao shifted her gaze to Mu Hua's face and sneered, "From my observation, if you enter the palace with this temper, you won't survive seven days."
Mu Hua snapped back, "Don't curse me here, Mu Xiao. I will definitely kill you."
"..." Mu An Xiao rolled her eyes at Mu Hua and said, "Fine. If that's the case, then I have nothing more to say to you. Let's go, Mother." She took a step forward and turned to look at Mai Xia.
Mai Xia nodded slightly.
Immediately after, Mu Gui grabbed Mu Hua's arm and said urgently, "Xiao'er, she's been spoiled by her mother. Don't be angry. Come in and talk." He looked expectantly at Mu An Xiao, who was about to turn away.
Upon hearing this, Mu An Xiao turned back to Mu Gui. "Father, stop making excuses for her. To be honest, I'm truly afraid of her. Just like in the reception hall, when she inexplicably called me a monster. This matter…"
"That matter is in the past. Don't mention it," Mu Gui interrupted.
Mu An Xiao looked at Mu Gui's impatient expression and thought about her own disconnected relationship with the Mu mansion. She said, "Fine, I won't mention it. Some things, even if we say them, are useless. You know a lot about matters in the palace. My mother brought me here only to say goodbye to you casually. Now that there's nothing else, we'll be leaving."
"Xiao’er…"
"She and I are both people of the Mu mansion. If she dies, I won't have the face to see you. So… rest assured, as long as she doesn't harm me, I will naturally protect her. Conversely, if she harms me, then that's another matter. Also, I hope you can give my mother a title. If not, I will use my own methods to ensure your daughter has a miserable end." Mu An Xiao said intentionally.
Mu Gui stated, "You are threatening me."
"Yes, I am threatening you. If you want to hit me, that's fine too, as this may be the last time." Mu An Xiao's hidden mission was to uncover the cause of Mu Xiao's death. Now, she had learned the truth from Mai Xia and knew that the real culprit who killed Mu Xiao was the Madam.
And now Mai Xia had admitted she was her daughter. Based on this alone, she was already the true Mu Xiao. What she wanted to do next was to capture the demon soul, cultivate her spiritual energy, and protect Mai Xia.
Mu Gui responded, "You…"
"Father, I hope you will give my mother a title before we leave tonight," Mu An Xiao said deliberately.
The Madam's eyes widened.
Mai Xia looked at Mu An Xiao and said coldly, "Xiao'er, you don't need to concern yourself with my affairs."
Hearing this, Mu An Xiao was taken aback. She turned to look at Mai Xia and said seriously, "Mother, you must have a title. You…"
"I am fine like this. I will listen to the master and take good care of the fourth young lady," Mai Xia said calmly.
Mu An Xiao was speechless.
The Madam breathed a sigh of relief.
Conversely, Mu Hua deliberately laughed a few times and said, "Your mother doesn't appreciate your efforts. It's truly laughable. Also..." she continued, "Mu Xiao, I advise you not to think too highly of yourself, lest you die early."
"..." Mu An Xiao glared at Mu Hua and couldn't be bothered to speak.