"Replying to the second young lady, Miss is awake and has fallen asleep again," Mei Xin's respectful voice sounded.
Mu Qingyao paid no heed to the voices outside. She didn't want to see anyone right now; she wanted to see what she looked like.
In the twenty-first century, she was a beauty, to say the least. Transmigrating to ancient times, she prayed she wouldn't turn into a monster. Her previous self had pursued such an ugly man and often dressed herself in a vulgar and unattractive manner, even concealing her true features.
Mu Qingyao, clad in a moon-white inner garment, got out of bed and walked to the vanity.
A delicate face appeared in the bronze mirror. Mu Qingyao was stunned.
This woman was so beautiful! While she was pretty enough in her past life, this was entirely different.
Now, she was a classical beauty with a small, melon-seed-shaped face. Her skin was dewy and tender, her large eyes like pools of spring water. Below her small nose were cherry-red lips. Her entire being was as if painted.
Words failed to capture her beauty, but eight characters would suffice.
She could make fish sink, birds fall from the sky, and the moon hide its face, causing flowers to blush with shame.
So, some people could truly be this beautiful. Mu Qingyao's lips curved upwards. The beauty in the mirror smiled lightly, and she could almost hear the sound of flowers blooming.
Such a beauty had managed to make herself look universally detested. It was no wonder everyone ran from her. However, her previous self had another fatal weakness that was simply unbearable.
A scene flashed through Mu Qingyao's mind. She not only liked chasing handsome men relentlessly but also enjoyed tormenting them.
She would lay hands on them at the slightest provocation, no wonder they fled upon seeing her.
However, her skills were quite nimble. Mu Qingyao stretched her limbs. Her internal energy flowed freely and swiftly, her dantian's qi circulating like the wind. She also knew martial arts. This was excellent; having martial arts in ancient times was certainly a good thing.
Mu Qingyao smiled slowly.
The voices outside rang out again.
"Mei Xin, you useless girl, go wake your young lady immediately! Who does she think she is? The eldest and second young ladies have come to visit her, and she's sleeping?"
A sharp voice sounded. Mu Qingyao's brows furrowed. Wasn't this eldest young lady the one who always caused trouble for Mu Qingyao? Mu Qingzhu, wasn't it?
"Eldest Young Lady, Miss does not wish to be disturbed."
As soon as Mei Xin finished speaking, there was a loud slap. It was evident Mei Xin had been slapped.
Mu Qingyao had intended to ignore them, but this Mu Qingzhu dared to slap her maid. This was tantamount to slapping her.
She was not one to be bullied. Perhaps the previous Mu Qingyao had suffered at her hands, but she wouldn't.
Mu Qingyao turned and lay down on the ivory wood chair nearby, her voice a cold command, "So noisy. Let them in."
Mei Xin heard her young lady's words, covered her face, and responded, "Yes, Miss."
This eldest young lady, relying on being born to the primary wife, had often bullied her young lady, and she herself was frequently bullied by her maids. Although the master doted on his daughter, he was often away from the manor for most of the year. The primary wife managed everything in the household, so the mother and daughter pair had frequently bullied the young lady and her maids.
Mei Xin lifted the door curtain and invited the eldest and second young ladies in.
In the room, on an intricately carved ivory wood chair, lay a serene beauty. Her dark hair was as black as ink, casually spread across the chair.
A gentle breeze blew in from the window, caressing her hair, as smooth as silk. It playfully lifted some strands before letting them fall again, as if afraid to disturb her.
Her eyebrows were fine as crescent moons, and her long, curled eyelashes veiled the luster of her eyes. The lingering sunlight cast upon her face made her skin appear even more crystal clear, shining and dewy like pearls from the South Sea.
Mei Xin gazed at her young lady, stunned. Good heavens, was this Miss? So beautiful! How had she never noticed before?
Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang, who had followed Mei Xin, were also stunned. Who was this woman? Was it their third sister?
Dressed in a simple inner garment, the sleeves gracefully outlined a few auspicious clouds. Her dark hair was scattered across the white garment, exuding an indescribable elegance and refinement, a complete departure from her previous heavy makeup, vulgarity, and ugliness.
Almost no one in this vast manor had witnessed her true face. Now, it seemed she was the most beautiful in the Mu manor.
Mu Qingzhu was filled with jealousy and resentment. She let out a cold snort and resentfully walked to the side to sit down.
Mei Xin, having witnessed a different side of her young lady, dared not disturb her rashly. She could only speak cautiously.
"Miss, the eldest and second young ladies have arrived."
"Mmm," the person on the ivory wood chair responded faintly, stirring lazily. Her eyes suddenly snapped open, a dark glint flashing through, piercing and cold, emitting a chilling, faint light that bore directly into Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang.
The two women were shocked, and for a long time, they dared not speak. Such imperious eyes seemed capable of devouring people's hearts, making them afraid to even breathe.
"Thank you to both elder sisters for coming to see me."
Mu Qingyao spoke calmly, her voice completely unlike her previous infatuated tone; it was exceptionally clear and cold. What had happened to this third sister? She was entirely different from before.
Mu Qingzhu blinked her eyes and looked at her intently. Gazing at her peerless beauty and celestial charm, an inexplicable sourness welled up in her heart. She would have preferred her to remain heavily made up and garishly dressed.
Then, people in the capital would say that the eldest young lady of the Mu family was the beauty of the capital.
"Third sister, are you alright?" It was Mu Qingxiang who spoke. A gentle and demure woman, of average to above-average looks, with a soft and slender figure. Her every gesture exuded a graceful charm.
Looking at her concerned expression, it seemed she truly cared about her. Mu Qingyao nodded faintly. In her memory, the previous self did not like this Mu Qingxiang. The reason was that Mu Qingxiang was born to the second wife.
In this Mu manor, they held little power and were often victimized by the primary wife's faction. This Mu Qingxiang was different from Mu Qingyao.
Mu Qingyao, after all, had the favor of her Prime Minister father. Although the primary wife and her daughter bullied her, what was rightfully hers was never withheld. They only verbally abused her or bullied her maids.
In this Mu manor, Mu Qingxiang and her son were often bullied by the primary wife's faction, lacking even the ability to resist. Therefore, Mu Qingyao did not usually associate with her.
Even though this second sister seemed to care about her, Mu Qingyao did not need such concern.
Just as Mu Qingxiang finished her concerned words, Mu Qingzhu on the side glanced at her with disdain and snorted coldly.
"What could be wrong with her? I'm just curious, that Prince Nan'an is too incompetent. I thought a punch would kill her, but who knew she wouldn't be hurt at all."
Mu Qingzhu spoke with venom, forgetting Mu Qingyao's changed demeanor. She was always accustomed to being arrogant and had never expected her third sister to be different.
A faint, chilling smile touched Mu Qingyao's lips. Mei Xin, who had been watching her, felt a shudder down her spine and her scalp prickle.