"This is something many young ladies like. If you don't buy it now, another girl will ask for it soon," said the proprietress, glancing around.
Mu Anxiao sighed and looked at the other bracelets. "It seems only this one suits her," she murmured. Relenting, she took out silver and handed it to the proprietress.
The proprietress beamed, accepting the silver. "Oh, look how lovely this child is, as pretty as her mother," she commented, eyeing Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao picked up the silver bracelet. "I'm covering my face, so don't flatter me so readily." She then crouched down and fastened the silver bracelet onto Xiao Nian's wrist.
Xiao Nian shyly said, "Thank you."
Mu Anxiao stood up, patted Xiao Nian's head, and turned to the proprietress, who was still smiling at her. "You'd better not have lied to me, or I will definitely come back to settle the score with you."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," the proprietress replied, shaking her head.
Mu Anxiao said nothing. As she turned to leave with Xiao Nian, Piao appeared before her.
"I have plenty of such accessories. You can find the current me," Piao said.
Mu Anxiao blinked, grabbed Xiao Nian, and walked around him without a word.
Piao was momentarily stunned, then turned and followed Mu Anxiao.
"I'm talking to you, can't you hear me?"
Mu Anxiao knitted her brows and quickened her pace.
Seeing Mu Anxiao speed up, Piao said no more and followed them.
Soon, Mu Anxiao brought Xiao Nian back to the residence through the back door.
Piao, having endured the walk, spoke. "Don't touch the teapot. It contains poison, placed by that woman."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao finally glanced at Piao. She then abandoned the thought of letting Xiao Nian go ahead first, nodded slightly, and led Xiao Nian towards the dilapidated room.
Seeing Mu Anxiao respond, Piao's lips curved upwards slightly.
In the room, Feng Qishi stared at the teapot. "How strange. Why can Piao do anything he wants, but I can't?" he muttered, looking at his palm.
"Why aren't they back yet?" Yan asked, standing by the door.
Feng Qishi continued to gaze at the teapot. "That guy never eats enough. She won't stop until she's spent all her silver. Anyway, you wouldn't understand that feeling."
"I don't understand," Yan replied softly.
"When I have time, I'll take you to the market. It's very fun," Feng Qishi said.
Yan exclaimed excitedly, "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? I'll tell you, I haven't been here long either, and I haven't had a good look around the market. When we go back, I'll definitely have a good go at that fool Mu. Oh, right," Feng Qishi turned to Yan, smiling. "Do you know what my goal is?"
Yan asked, "What?"
"My goal is to bankrupt that fool Mu. I'm really curious now, what she'll be like when she's begging, haha." Feng Qishi laughed heartily, imagining Mu Anxiao in distress, obeying his commands.
Yan couldn't quite keep up with Feng Qishi's train of thought and forced a laugh. He then turned and saw Mu Anxiao staring coldly at Feng Qishi.
"You're back," she said.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Yan, then released Xiao Nian's hand. "Xiao Nian, didn't you need to use the latrine?"
"Oh, I'm going." Xiao Nian suddenly realized and ran off.
Mu Anxiao looked sideways at Xiao Nian's retreating figure, then crossed her arms and cracked her knuckles. "Piao, go help me grab that guy's ear."
Piao was startled. "Isn't that a bit…?"
Mu Anxiao tilted her head. "It's nothing. Look at him, how he's smiling." She pointed at Feng Qishi, who was still laughing with his head back, completely oblivious.
Piao looked at Feng Qishi's expression, then at Mu Anxiao. "Alright then." He then stepped towards Feng Qishi.
Mu Anxiao took a deep breath, closed the door with her hands behind her back, and slowly walked forward. Before she could speak, Piao grabbed Feng Qishi's ear.
The next second, Feng Qishi abruptly stopped his laughter and glanced sideways at Piao, who had suddenly grabbed his ear. "What are you doing?" he yelled.
Piao said nothing, still gripping Feng Qishi's ear tightly.
"Spending all my money, Feng Qishi, you really think highly of yourself," Mu Anxiao stopped in front of Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi raised his hand to grasp Piao's, and looked down at Mu Anxiao. "Piao, you're a dignified demon lord. It's rather pathetic that you listen to this person."
"I only listen to her," Piao replied.
"You..."
"Feng Qishi, do you really want to see me begging?" Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Feng Qishi grinned. "I was just saying it casually. Why are you taking it so seriously?"
"This is premeditation," Mu Anxiao said, pointing at Feng Qishi's face. "If I weren't a cripple right now, you..."
"I'm telling you, a good woman speaks, she doesn't act. Fool Mu, fighting and killing is not good. Be careful you don't end up unmarried," Feng Qishi said animatedly.
Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes. "Feng Qishi, you really are glib-tongued. Piao," she looked at Piao, "hold on tight. Better yet, give him a couple of smacks."
"You wouldn't dare," Feng Qishi said, pulling Piao's hand tighter.
"I understand," Piao nodded at Mu Anxiao.
Feng Qishi's eyes widened.
A few minutes later...
Feng Qishi stood at the table, his hair a mess and his face blackened. "Piao, you're a great demon lord. How could you listen to that fool Mu? I despise you."
Mu Anxiao picked up the teapot. "If you want to be struck by lightning, keep going." She then threw the teapot onto the ground.
The moment the teapot shattered, Feng Qishi flinched in fright. "Could you give a warning? You scared me."
"No," Mu Anxiao replied, looking down at the foamy liquid on the ground. "This poison is potent. One sip and it's instantly fatal."
"That woman had her personal maid administer the medicine," Yan added.
Mu Anxiao snorted. "That woman is quite cunning, isn't she? Having a maid do such a wicked deed and keeping herself clean."
"Just now... the elder came, but after being threatened by that woman, he left again," Yan said softly.
Mu Anxiao frowned. "The steward came, was he delivering blankets?"
"Yes," Yan nodded, glancing at Feng Qishi. "The woman said that if the elder dared to report anything, she would make him pay with his life. So the elder left."
Mu Anxiao had initially thought the elder was no longer involved. Hearing Yan's words, she looked with feigned panic at the foamy liquid on the ground. "It seems, as Rabbit said, I can't change anything."
"You know?" Piao asked, surprised.
Mu Anxiao turned to Piao. "Know what?" she asked, frowning.
"You know that Rabbit is absorbing the soul essence of Xiao Nian's mother?" Piao asked softly.