The Madam had always thought Mu Hua was a bright child. She also felt Mu Hua was the daughter who understood her best. Little did she know, she had been thinking too much.
"Look," she said, pointing at the teacup again.
Mu Hua frowned slightly and, following the Madam's gaze, stared at the teacup once more. She hesitated, then asked, "Mother, what do you want me to look at? There's nothing in your hand."
"The teacup," the Madam replied simply.
Upon hearing this, Mu Hua looked at the teacup in agreement and said, "Mother, what's so special about this teacup? I really don't know what you're thinking." The Madam then said, "I don't like tea, but I like teacups. Therefore, you, too, can find what you like amidst things you dislike. Do you understand?"
"Mother, what's the difference between that and making the best of a bad situation?" Mu Hua finally understood the Madam's words.
The Madam looked at Mu Hua's enlightened expression, her lips curling upwards slightly. "Since it's already bitter enough, one naturally needs to give oneself some sweetness. And that sweetness is not something anyone else can give you; it comes from yourself."
"..." Mu Hua lowered her gaze slightly.
The Madam continued, "Once you enter the palace, you must put aside your young lady's temper. You must obey the Consort. Only then..."
"Mother, are you and Father really not going to help me anymore?" Mu Hua interrupted, still believing that Mu Gui and the Madam possessed such capabilities.
"It's not that we're not helping you, it's that your father and I truly cannot. I'm telling you this only because I want you to know not to be willful. No matter where you are, no one likes selfish and willful people, understand?" the Madam said earnestly.
Mu Hua added, "Mother, when I was little, you told me I had to be willful. That was the only way Father would like me, and those servants wouldn't dare to step on me. Now," she furrowed her brow slightly, "you say something different. It's quite strange."
"This matter came about rather suddenly. If you were entering the palace for the imperial selection, you could be as you pleased; someone would teach you the rules. But," the Madam became serious, "things are different now. You are entering the palace as punishment. Once inside, you will be a servant to that consort. If you are sensible, she might even help you. But if you are not, then that's another story."
"Mother..."
"The Imperial Palace is a place everyone yearns for, but the people within it do not think that way. Therefore, listening to me will only bring you benefits, never harm," the Madam interrupted, her expression earnest, afraid Mu Hua wouldn't heed her words.
After hearing the Madam's words, Mu Hua quietly said, "Mother, I understand."
"As long as you follow the rules, the opportunity is yours, and Mu Xiao won't be able to get ahead of you. Conversely, if you are foolish, Mu Xiao will surpass you, and by then, it will be difficult for you to turn things around. Do you understand?"
"Mother, I understand. I've taken your words to heart," Mu Hua said softly.
The Madam smiled upon hearing Mu Hua's response. "Alright, drink your tea."
"Mother, it's bitter," Mu Hua said softly.
The Madam chuckled. "Fine, I'll grant you this chance to be willful. We won't drink it."
"Mm," Mu Hua nodded, then after a moment's thought, added, "Mother, will that girl be alright?"
The Madam heard this, picked up the teacup, and stared at the pattern on it, saying, "Ask what you should ask, and don't ask what you shouldn't."
"Mother..."
"Be quiet," the Madam glanced at Mu Hua.
Mu Hua was startled and lowered her head.
Not far from the Madam's room, Feng Qi Shi and two servants stood under a tree, their heads bowed as they looked at the dead maid lying on the ground. None of them spoke.
Behind a certain tree.
Mu An Xiao peeked out, observing the situation over there. A strange sadness welled up within her. She looked down at Jia, who had run back from that direction, and asked, "Who is it?"
"It's..." Jia looked up at Mu An Xiao, hesitated, and then said, "It's... the maid by Mu Hua's side."
"..." Mu An Xiao's brow furrowed in disbelief.
Jia continued, "I'm not lying to you. It's the girl whose memories we altered..."
"It can't be," Mu An Xiao murmured, her gaze drifting towards Feng Qi Shi and the two servants surrounding the maid's body. After a moment's hesitation, she skirted around the tree and walked towards them.
Jia was taken aback and quickly followed Mu An Xiao, saying, "Isn't it too sudden for you to go over like this?"
Mu An Xiao completely ignored Jia and continued walking towards them.
A moment later.
Mu An Xiao stopped behind Feng Qi Shi and asked, "What are you doing?" She pretended to be passing by.
Jia let out a sigh of relief at Mu An Xiao's words.
Then, Feng Qi Shi turned to look at Mu An Xiao and countered, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm just passing by," Mu An Xiao replied, then looked up at the first and second servants who were staring at her. "Why are you two here?" she asked, feigning ignorance of the maid.
The first servant stared at Mu An Xiao for a few seconds before quickly saying, "It's her."
"..." Mu An Xiao froze, suddenly having a bad premonition.
Upon hearing this, Feng Qi Shi turned to the first servant, who had suddenly become agitated, and asked, "What are you talking about?"
The first servant exclaimed, "It's her! She killed this maid!" As he spoke, he extended one hand towards the maid.
Feng Qi Shi's brow furrowed.
Mu An Xiao knew that if the first servant became agitated like this, there would be no good words coming. As expected, he had turned his attention to her.
However, she was thinking that if she hadn't altered the maid's memories, the maid wouldn't have met such a fate. So, she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the maid.
Feng Qi Shi looked at Mu An Xiao's silence with confusion. "Why aren't you speaking anymore?" His tone remained very cold.
The first servant, hearing Feng Qi Shi's question, his eyes darted around, and he quickly said, "General Shen, to tell you the truth, she, she killed the maid. It was her, she..."
"You shut up," Feng Qi Shi said without even looking at the first servant.
The first servant was startled into silence.
Jia looked up at Mu An Xiao's silent expression and asked, "You don't actually think this maid's death has anything to do with you, do you?"
"...." Feng Qi Shi slightly lowered his head, glancing at Jia's face, then continued, "She wasn't killed by you. I know."
The first servant was stunned.
The second servant, who had intended to follow the first servant's lead and pin all the blame on Mu An Xiao, did not expect Feng Qi Shi to expose everything so clearly.
He thought he was fortunate that he had hesitated.
The first servant frowned and agitatedly said, "General, I saw it. It was her. She cursed this maid, then forced..." He looked up at the white silk hanging from the tree, "forced the maid to hang herself."
"How can this person talk such nonsense?" Jia said impatiently.
Feng Qi Shi glanced at the first servant, then looked at Mu An Xiao, and said coldly, "If you don't speak soon, I'll arrest you."
"Arrest me..." Mu An Xiao repeated, then let out a cold laugh. She looked at the first servant, who was flinging all sorts of dirt and filth at her, and asked, "Why are you doing this?" She suddenly didn't want to remain silent anymore.
Feng Qi Shi followed Mu An Xiao's gaze towards the first servant and remained silent.
The first servant's eyes darted evasively. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Mu An Xiao sneered and said flippantly, "Fine, if you say it was me, then... bring out the evidence. Show it to me. No, show it to him."