Chapter 30

Today, Mu Yulu wore a begonia-red dress with an exquisitely tailored skirt that seemed to ripple with varying depths as she moved.

She wore almost no makeup, and only a simple silver hairpin with intertwined branches was worn diagonally in her hair. A few strands of her black hair fell to her ears, which made her skin look even whiter than snow.

Unexpectedly, this simple and almost plain makeup brought out Mu Yulu's natural beauty. She was indeed beautiful, and not just any ordinary beauty, but a breathtaking beauty.

Everyone upstairs held their breath, even Mu Yugang, who was about to curse her, was stunned.

How come he never noticed before that his daughter was so beautiful? He couldn't help but start calculating in his mind that he would have to increase the bride price.

Mu Yulu slowly walked to the rooftop. When she passed by Mu Zhaoshi, she paused and turned to look at her.

Mu Zhaoshi was clearly a little guilty, but she did not dodge and looked straight back at Mu Yulu.

Mu Yulu suddenly smiled and said, "I felt a little unwell this morning, thank you for your concern, Mother."

Mu Zhaoshi seemed surprised that Mu Yulu would directly start a fight with her here. She paused for a moment and did not immediately respond.

Mu Yugang, however, asked in confusion, "You're not feeling well today? How come I didn't know?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Mu Zhaoshi with even greater suspicion: "I only found out about this when the servant came to deliver the message. How come it seems you already knew? What kind of riddle are you two playing?"

Before Mu Zhaoshi could speak, Mu Yulu immediately curtsied to Mu Yugang and said, "I think I didn't rest well last night. I felt a little dizzy when I woke up this morning, so I asked Xinyun to ask Mother if she could rest for a while before going out."

After saying that, she feigned surprise and asked, "Father, you didn't know about this?"

"What do I know? I know nothing!" Mu Yugang stared at Mu Zhaoshi, utterly bewildered. "Why didn't you send someone to tell me?"

As soon as Mu Zhaoshi uttered the word "I," Mu Yulu immediately interrupted her, pretending to take the blame herself: "Xinyun didn't relay the wrong message, did she? Who told you that Madam told me to sleep a little longer before getting up?"

Xin Yun immediately replied, "It is Qiu Chi, who serves the Madam."

Qiu Chi didn't care about anything else and immediately knelt down.

Mu Yugang kept staring at Mu Zhaoshi, asking the same question over and over again: "Why didn't you tell me?"

Mu Zhaoshi took a breath without showing any emotion: "This was my oversight. I wanted to tell the master this morning, but I was too busy and forgot about it."

Mu Yugang said incredulously, "You really forgot completely. I was standing here for so long this morning, and you didn't even think to tell me?"

Mu Zhaoshi remained silent, but Mu Wanyi couldn't help but speak up for her mother: "Today is my sister's coming-of-age ceremony. Father has invited so many high-ranking officials and dignitaries to attend. Their families alone number over a hundred. Mother has to handle all of these people. She's been so busy that she's forgotten about this little thing. Why does Father only know how to speak up for my sister and not understand Mother at all?"

Throughout the entire process, Mu Zhao kept giving Mu Wanyi meaningful glances, almost reaching out to cover her mouth. However, Mu Wanyi was spoiled by her mother and couldn't stop her. She blurted out all those words in a rapid-fire manner.

Mu Yulu glanced at her.

Very well, I was so focused on dealing with Mu Zhaoshi that I forgot to deal with you. Since you're so eager to jump out and defend yourself, I might as well deal with you as well.

Mu Yugang's face had darkened, while Mu Yulu seized the opportunity to fan the flames: "Sister, you're wrong about that. How can you only be considerate of Mother but not at all of Father?"

Mu Wanyi turned her head and widened her eyes: "When have I ever been inconsiderate of my father?"

Mu Yulu said seriously, "You just blamed Father for not understanding Mother, but isn't that actually a lack of understanding of Father? Mother has to deal with the wives of officials, but does Father not have to deal with other distinguished guests?"

Mu Wan pointed at her angrily, opening her mouth to retort, but Mu Yulu spoke too fast, and she couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"Besides, why doesn't Father understand Mother?" Mu Yulu pressed on this point, her gaze falling on Mu Xingzi and her daughter: "Mother does have to deal with many officials' wives, but at least she has Consort Wang to help her, so she's not alone. Mother's health has always been poor, and Consort Wang often helps her with everything. Isn't that precisely because Father understands Mother's hardships?"

Mu Yulu extended an olive branch, and Aunt Wang immediately seized the opportunity: "That's absolutely right. I've been running around doing a lot of work lately, but of course, it's all part of my job, nothing to brag about. But Second Miss, you can't be ungrateful for Master's difficulties."

Mu Wanyi gasped, her face turning bright red, her chest heaving violently: "You two are really good at working together, aren't you? Have you no shame in broad daylight?"

She had clearly never been treated like this before, and she spoke without thinking: "Aunt Wang, you are just a concubine in the Mu family. Calling you 'aunt' is already an honor. My mother is the head wife, and she doesn't need you to help manage the household. You have no right to speak here."

After scolding Aunt Wang, she turned to scold Mu Yulu: "And you, you are a legitimate daughter, how can you team up with a concubine to bully Mother? Mother has spoiled you for nothing!"

Before she could finish speaking, Aunt Wang burst into tears, crying and threatening to kill herself.

Mu Yulu remained calm, quietly watching Mu Zhaoshi without looking away, even when Mu Wanyi insulted her.

She had achieved her goal. The scene was now in complete chaos. She looked at Mu Zhao through the crowd with a provocative smile in her eyes.

Just moments ago, Mu Zhaoshi was anxious and angry because of Mu Wanyi's impulsive remarks, but now she has calmed down. She grabbed Mu Wanyi and slapped her: "What kind of behavior is this, making such a scene? Go back to your room."

Mu Wanyi covered her face and looked at Mu Zhaoshi in disbelief: "They are clearly being unreasonable, why did you hit me, Mother?"

Mu Zhao ignored her: "Qiu Chi, why aren't you taking her away right now?"

Qiu Chi, who had been kneeling on the ground with his head down, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his master's order and pulled Mu Wanyi toward the side room at the end of the corridor.

Mu Yulu raised an eyebrow. What a clever move of retreating to advance! This was indeed a common tactic of the Mu Zhao clan.

She seemed to be criticizing Mu Wanyi, but in reality, she was pulling her precious daughter out of the vortex. If Mu Wanyi continued to make a scene like this, the consequences would probably not be as simple as just locking her in a side room.

Mu Yulu found it somewhat ironic that Mu Wanyi, who was kept by Mu Zhaoshi's side every day, could not understand her mother's intentions, while she, the daughter who had been raised outside since childhood, could always instantly understand what her mother was thinking.

After Mu Wanyi was taken away, the place fell silent instantly, and Aunt Wang's crying seemed somewhat abrupt at this moment.

Everyone turned to look at her, and she stopped crying, feeling a little embarrassed.

Mu Yugang put his hands behind his back and sighed deeply: "Alas, what a misfortune for our family, what a misfortune for our family!"

Mu Zhaoshi lowered her head and stepped forward to admit her mistake: "It's all my fault for not disciplining my daughter properly. When we get back, my daughter and I will accept whatever punishment the master may give us."

As she spoke, she looked up at Mu Yulu and said, "Today is mainly for Xiaolu to throw the embroidered ball to choose her husband. We've already missed the auspicious time, and now it's almost noon. The guests upstairs and downstairs are all waiting, so we can't delay any longer."

Mu Zhaoshi adopted a humble attitude, and her words were all reasonable, so Mu Yugang couldn't say anything more.

Today, he booked the entire No. 1 Restaurant in the world and set up a banquet in advance so that after Mu Yulu threw the embroidered ball, the guests present could be seated and eat. These distinguished guests were all prominent figures in the court or business world, and it was indeed not appropriate to let them continue to sit idly.

What's more, there's a huge Buddha statue downstairs waiting for Mu Yulu to throw her embroidered ball. It's fine with others, but this Buddha statue really can't be left hanging any longer.

Thinking of this, he said, "What you say makes sense, Madam. Xiao Lu, you should hurry up and throw the embroidered ball. After you throw the ball, everyone can have dinner. Prince Mu is still waiting down there. We can't delay any longer."

Mu Yulu: ? ? ?

"Who are you saying is waiting down there?" she asked as she rushed to the railing, nearly fainting when she looked down.

The area downstairs where people caught the embroidered ball was completely empty; a group of guards with swords blocked the crowd of onlookers from getting any closer.

Mu Yulu turned to look at Mu Yugang.

What does this mean?

Mu Yugang then put on a kind and loving expression and smiled at her with satisfaction.

At the same time, a guard-like man ran upstairs and whispered something in Mu Yugang's ear. Mu Yugang nodded and then quickly ran back downstairs.

After the guard went downstairs to deliver the message, Mu Qinhan leisurely walked out of the building, looked up at Mu Yulu on the roof, and had a faint smile on his lips.

Mu Yulu couldn't hold back any longer: "Father, did you and Prince Mu conspire to set me up?"

Mu Yugang clicked his tongue: "Look at you, child, what are you saying?"

He frowned and said, "Prince Mu came early this morning to clear the place. Besides, you've been so late today that I was going to cancel the embroidered ball tossing contest for marriage. If it weren't for the prince telling us to wait, do you think you would have been able to throw the embroidered ball today?"

Mu Yulu looked utterly desperate: "In this situation, what difference does it make whether we sell or not?"

At this moment, Mu Zhao stepped forward and said, "Look at you, child. Didn't you want to throw the embroidered ball yourself? The Prince and the Master were just trying to fulfill your wish. Why are you not only ungrateful but also saying such things?"