Chapter 491 You won’t... go after our Mu Mansion just because of this little thing, right?
Lan Xiyue finally lost her patience and waved gently to the shopkeeper, signaling him to leave.
The shopkeeper fell silent immediately as if he had received an imperial decree, bowed and stepped aside, but the look he gave the Mu family mother and daughter was as cold as if he were looking at a dead person.
Lan Xiyue stopped looking at Mu Ting'er and called out clearly, "An Yi."
The sound is not loud, but it is penetrating.
An Yi, who had been standing guard outside Jin Man Lou like a rock, flashed inside in an instant upon hearing the sound. He stood solemnly with his head bowed, and said in a low voice, "I am here. What are your wishes, Princess?"
The word "Princess" was like a heavy hammer, smashing heavily into the silent air.
When Madam Xu and Mu Ting'er heard the name and saw An Yi's ghostly agility and absolute obedience, they trembled violently and the last trace of blood on their faces faded away completely.
The huge fear was like an icy tide that instantly overwhelmed them.
Lan Xiyue seemed oblivious to their pale faces. Her gaze fell on An Yi, her tone calm and even, as if asking something insignificant: "An Yi, did you know there's a 'Mu Mansion' in the capital?"
"My lord, the Mu family is a wealthy merchant family in the capital, but their wealth is not as great as the Qian family. Oh, and..." He paused for a moment before adding a key piece of information, "The owner of Baihua Tower is none other than Mu Yongkai, the second master of the Mu family."
A hint of understanding flashed in Lan Xiyue's eyes. No wonder she felt that this "Mu Mansion" sounded a little familiar.
She finally turned her gaze back to the pale-faced mother and daughter across from her. A playful smile slowly curved her lips as she asked leisurely, "Oh? Mu Yong? Do you... know each other?"
How could Mu Ting'er still be arrogant at this moment? Her face was as pale as paper, her lips were trembling, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito, almost squeezed out from her throat: "Mu... Mu Yong... is... is my second uncle..."
After hearing Mu Ting'er's mosquito-like answer, Lan Xiyue's cold curve deepened a bit, and she said casually: "Very good, so Mu Yong, the second master of the Mu family, is your second uncle..."
She dragged out the last syllable of her words slightly, her eyes lightly sweeping over the pale-faced mother and daughter. "Looks like I need to ask Shuntian Prefecture Governor Bao to thoroughly investigate your Mu Mansion. Besides the Baihua Theater incident, are you involved in any other...immoral activities?"
As soon as she finished speaking, An Yi, who was standing by her side, immediately added, "Don't worry, Princess. Now that Lord Bao has taken over the Baihua Theater case, he will follow the clues and investigate thoroughly. I will send someone to inform Lord Bao later and have him conduct a thorough investigation of the Mu Mansion, inside and out, to ensure that no clues are left unturned."
The three words "upside down" were pronounced particularly clearly by him, like a heavy hammer hitting Mrs. Xu's heart.
Mrs. Xu felt a chill running from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
She forced herself to support her almost limp body, hurriedly took a step forward, and bowed deeply to Lan Xiyue, her voice trembling with a noticeable tremor: "Princess...Princess, please forgive me! I...I was blind and didn't recognize you. I really didn't know you were the honorable Regent Princess. I have offended you just now, and I deserve to die!"
She raised her head, forcing a fawning smile that was uglier than crying, and pointed at the golden phoenix hairpin. "This...this hairpin, we absolutely dare not take it! I am willing to pay a large sum of money to buy it and present it to you, Princess. Just consider it...just consider it as an apology for the offense I've committed today. Please have mercy on me, Princess!"
Upon hearing this, Lan Xiyue sneered softly as if she had heard something extremely ridiculous.
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze like an icy blade falling on Madam Xu's terrified face. Her voice was low, but every word was as sharp as a knife: "You paid a large sum of money to buy it and present it to this princess?"
She stood up and nonchalantly adjusted her cuffs, her tone filled with unparalleled sarcasm, "Do you think this princess... needs this little bit of money from you?"
Madam Xu shuddered at the sight, her undershirt instantly soaked with cold sweat. She waved her hands repeatedly, speaking incoherently, "No, no, no! I absolutely did not mean that! I deserve to die! I am confused!"
In panic, she pulled her daughter, who was standing beside her like a fool, and said, "Princess, please forgive me! Princess, please forgive me! I and this good-for-nothing daughter have lived in the inner house for a long time, and have never had the honor to see the princess's honor. That's why we made a big mistake! I beg you, Princess, to be magnanimous, for us... for our ignorance, please forgive us mother and daughter this time!" She deliberately emphasized the words "ignorance is not a crime", as if she had grabbed the last straw.
Mu Ting'er stumbled as her mother pulled her, finally waking up from her immense fear. Meeting Lan Xiyue's cold gaze, she hurriedly lowered her head, her voice dry and stiff, tinged with tears: "Regent Princess, I'm...I'm sorry..."
Lan Xiyue didn't even bother to raise her eyelids. She turned to Shopkeeper Zhang, who was standing solemnly with his hands hanging down, and her voice returned to her usual coldness: "Shopkeeper, pack everything up."
"Yes! Princess!" The shopkeeper responded quickly and personally led the servants to skillfully and carefully wrap the brocade boxes containing precious jewelry.
Lan Xiyue once again took out a thick stack of silver bills from her wide sleeves and placed it casually on the polished mahogany counter, making a slight sound.
An Yi took a step forward and silently took the bag handed to him by the servant.
Lan Xiyue didn't even glance at the mother and daughter. She turned around and walked straight out of Jin Manlou.
An Yi followed closely behind, holding the bag.
It was not until the suffocating figure disappeared outside the door that Mrs. Xu seemed to have been drained of all her strength. Her legs went limp and she almost collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, the maid beside her was quick to support her.
She was gasping for breath, her chest heaving violently, and her face was still as pale as paper.
"Hurry!" She grabbed her daughter Mu Ting'er's wrist tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. Her voice was hoarse and urgent, "Return home! Return home immediately!" A huge fear gripped her heart. She had offended the Regent Princess and was about to be thoroughly investigated in the Mu Mansion... This was simply a disaster! She had to go back and tell the master immediately!
The mother and daughter rushed out of Jin Manlou in a daze. As soon as they stepped out of the door, they saw Lan Xiyue getting on the carriage and leaving.
Mu Ting'er's wrist was painfully gripped by her mother's hand. She could feel her mother's hand trembling uncontrollably. A mixture of frustration and fear filled her heart, and she couldn't help but grumble, "Mom! I didn't actually steal her hairpin... As the regent princess, she wouldn't... target our Mu family just for such a small matter, right?"
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