From the moment she arrived, Mu Anxiao had felt that Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law looked familiar. Now, upon closer inspection, Xin’er’s face flashed vividly in her mind.
Back then, Xin’er had dressed plainly, her hair tied in a simple bun—nothing about her spoke of nobility. Aside from her face, everything else about her seemed ordinary.
Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law, however, exuded an air of elegance, carrying herself with the poise of a wealthy noblewoman.
At this moment, Mu Anxiao fully grasped the saying: *Fine feathers make fine birds, and reincarnation is a skill in itself.*
If she wasn’t mistaken, this sister-in-law of Mu Xiang’s was undoubtedly Xin’er’s reincarnation.
But... something didn’t add up. If Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law was connected to Xin’er in that way, then by calculation, shouldn’t she be over fifty by now?
Yet, in reality, Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law still looked young.
Mu Anxiao quickly realized her thoughts had led her astray.
*"Stinky beggar, stop staring at her!"* The fake Mu Long could no longer hold back.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Mu Anxiao turned to the fake Mu Long, who was glaring at her, and smirked. *"What, afraid a beggar like me might take a fancy to your wife? You really don’t have much confidence in yourself, do you?"*
Fake Mu Long: *"Silver-tongued and shameless. Get lost."*
Mu Anxiao chuckled. *"I won’t. Your wife invited me, not you. Besides..."* She deliberately glanced at Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law again. *"I’ve decided—once I return, I’ll bring you ten thousand taels of silver as thanks."*
*"Really?"* The sister-in-law’s eyes gleamed at the mention of money.
Mu Anxiao nodded. *"Of course. You’ve taken me in, and I’m truly grateful."* As she spoke, she noticed a young maid stopping beside her to refill her teacup.
The maid shot Mu Anxiao a glare, removed the teapot, and uttered a single word: *"Enjoy."* She gave a slight bow before walking away.
Mu Anxiao smirked, glancing at the steaming cup. *"I prefer iced tea."*
The maid stiffened, turning back to Mu Anxiao, but before she could speak, the fake Mu Long cut in: *"Know your limits."*
*"How am I overstepping? I just—"* Mid-sentence, Mu Anxiao frowned at the maid, who was unintentionally blocking her view. *"Could you move?"*
Hurt by Mu Anxiao’s tone, the maid pouted. *"Young Master... she’s being rude to me."* She looked pleadingly at the fake Mu Long.
But the fake Mu Long, mirroring Mu Anxiao’s impatience, snapped: *"If she told you to move, then move. Why are you standing there?"*
*"......"* The maid sniffled.
Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law, sensing the tension, stepped forward and whispered sharply: *"Leave. Don’t embarrass me here."*
Though spoken softly, the words stung the maid. *"Yes, Madam."* Her voice trembled as she hurried away with the teapot.
Mu Anxiao watched the maid’s retreating figure, then turned her gaze to the sister-in-law, who was glaring after the girl. A thought crossed her mind, and she deliberately asked: *"Young Master, how many concubines do you have?"*
The sister-in-law shot Mu Anxiao a sidelong glance before stepping back.
Fake Mu Long frowned. *"What’s it to you?"*
Mu Anxiao picked up her teacup, blowing away the steam. *"I heard you and that maid have... *history*."*
*"Who told you that?"*
This was something Mu Xi had learned back when he was still Mu Yu. At the time, he had warned Mu Long to keep his distance from the maid.
But Mu Long, stubborn as ever, hadn’t listened.
And that was one reason Mu Xi had grown to despise him.
*"Me?"* Mu Anxiao lowered her eyes, smiling. *"Well, not to make light of it, but I once knew a man who was infatuated with his maid—so much so that he sacrificed his own sister for her."* She deliberately wove her own past into the story, hoping to stir the memories that time had eroded in Mu Xi.
Fake Mu Long: *"......"* A sudden headache gripped him.
The sister-in-law, noticing his pained expression, quickly asked: *"Husband, what’s wrong?"* She stepped forward, grasping his arm.
Mu Anxiao observed the fake Mu Long closely.
Ouyang Ye, however, had no interest in their drama. His attention remained fixed on Mu Xiang, who was growing increasingly uncomfortable under his stare and drinking cup after cup of water.
Just then, the fake Mu Long slowly lifted his gaze to the sister-in-law, his vision blurring as he murmured: *"Xin’er..."*
The sister-in-law’s face darkened instantly. She released his arm.
Startled, the fake Mu Long shook his head, blinking at her icy glare. *"Stinky beggar, what did you do to me?"* He knew he had just recalled the past, but to avoid angering his wife, he decided to shift the blame onto Mu Anxiao.
And that was exactly the reaction Mu Anxiao had hoped for.
*"I don’t have that kind of power,"* she said lightly.
Fake Mu Long scowled. *"Who is Xin’er? Don’t think I don’t know—you bewitched me!"*
Mu Xi longed for a family, not the past. He knew that if he didn’t clarify things in front of his wife now, greater misunderstandings would arise.
To prevent that, he had to resort to this absurd charade.
And it worked.
Sister-in-law: *"You don’t know Xin’er?"*
Fake Mu Long feigned confusion. *"No, I—"*
*"Your wife’s childhood name was Xin’er. And you claim you don’t know?"* Mu Anxiao cut in, fabricating freely. *"Do you even love her?"* She glanced at the sister-in-law.
The fake Mu Long froze.
Mu Anxiao took a sip of tea, then turned to Mu Xiang. *"Isn’t that right, Mu Xiang?"*
Mu Xiang set down her empty cup. *"What?"* She had been tuning out their conversation, so the sudden question caught her off guard.
Mu Anxiao patiently repeated: *"Didn’t you tell me your sister-in-law’s childhood name was Xin’er? Have you forgotten?"*
She was doing this on purpose. Mentioning Xin’er served one goal—to keep Mu Xi trapped in his memories, hoping it might rekindle some shred of his humanity.
Mu Xiang, catching Mu Anxiao’s meaningful blink, gave a barely perceptible nod. Then, addressing her sister-in-law, who now looked equally puzzled, she said: *"Sister-in-law, don’t you remember? You told me when you were little, for three days, you were called Xin’er. But your family thought the name was too rustic, so they changed it. You said you’d told Brother, but you didn’t like it and made him stop using it."* She glanced at the fake Mu Long.
The fake Mu Long, buying the lie, smiled. *"Yes, you forgot, but I never did."*
The sister-in-law had devoted her life to this family, and many memories had faded over time.
Hearing Mu Xiang’s words now, she accepted them as truth. *"Ah, yes, I did tell you that. You have such a good memory."*
Mu Xiang smiled.
Mu Anxiao had worried the sister-in-law might not believe it, but seeing her reaction, she relaxed.
Ouyang Ye chuckled. *"I don’t think it’s rustic at all."* He stood.
Noticing his movement, Mu Anxiao checked the time in her mind. *Damn, an hour’s already passed.*
*"Really? How sweet of you."* The sister-in-law beamed at the fake Mu Long. *"From now on, call me Xin’er. ‘Wife’ sounds so distant."*
Fake Mu Long grinned. *"Alright, Xin’er."* Then his gaze shifted to Ouyang Ye. *"What are you doing?"*
Ouyang Ye: *"It’s time I came clean."*
*"About what?"* The fake Mu Long was baffled.
Mu Xiang stiffened.
Mu Anxiao, seeing Ouyang Ye’s suddenly hostile demeanor, clicked her tongue and took another sip of tea. She glanced at Mu Xiang, who was staring at her, and said: *"Can’t even recognize a conspiracy when you see one."* Then she turned to the fake Mu Long.
The fake Mu Long’s gaze locked onto Mu Anxiao. *"Stinky beggar, this is your doing."* His eyes widened.
Hearing him still call her that, Mu Anxiao confirmed he’d never address her by name, no matter what. So, casting aside all reservations, she stood and said: *"I’m not capable of that."*
Ouyang Ye: *"She’s right. She isn’t."* He shot Mu Anxiao a glare.
Mu Anxiao feigned shock. *"Brother Ouyang, why glare at me? What did I do? If you need something, just ask. I’ll cooperate fully."*
*"Shut up."* Ouyang Ye’s glare intensified as he turned to the fake Mu Long. *"I am Ouyang Ye. I have no relation to the man who was supposed to marry Mu Xiang. As for that man—I killed him."*
*"......"* Mu Xiang paled.
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao suddenly realized—he was the *Master* the servants had mentioned.
Now, she was completely lost.
*"What?"* The sister-in-law gasped.
*"Sister-in-law,"* Ouyang Ye smiled, *"you’re a good person. I don’t want to hurt you. Step aside."* With that, he summoned a longsword from thin air.
Mu Anxiao’s eyes bulged. *Magic? Is he an immortal?*
The sister-in-law, terrified by the display, stammered: *"What are you doing?"* She instinctively shielded the fake Mu Long.
The fake Mu Long, touched by her gesture, murmured: *"Xin’er..."*
Sister-in-law: *"Husband, I won’t let you die. Never."* She glanced back at him.
In the past, Xin’er had always been the first to protect Mu Xi whenever he was in trouble.
For decades, he had forgotten everything—except Xin’er’s face.
When he was reborn into the human world, his first thought had been to find her. He had even prepared himself to face an aged Xin’er, planning to use his powers to restore her youth so they could be together.
But reality was cruel. Soon after arriving, he learned of Xin’er’s death.
In that moment, all hope vanished. Then, upon hearing Mu Anxiao was still alive, a new hope emerged—reincarnation.
Yet fate was unpredictable. After being denied by the underworld, he encountered the Vine Demon and learned the true method of resurrection.
Later, he took over Mu Yu’s body and saw Mu Xiang’s sister-in-law—who looked exactly like Xin’er.
But knowing his own aged soul, he never dared to approach her.
Instead, he observed Mu Long’s every move, avoiding his flaws, even preparing to *become* Mu Long.
His dream was simple—a family. A home with Xin’er. Even if this woman wasn’t truly her, he would pour all his love for Xin’er into her.
And now, he had achieved it.
But just as things seemed perfect, disaster struck. The thought infuriated him. *"Xin’er, move."* He gripped her shoulders.
She shook her head. *"No, I’ll protect you."*
*"Let me protect you."* He gently pushed her aside, stepping in front.
The sister-in-law was stunned. The *real* Mu Long would never have done this.
In the past, she had always taken the fall for him. Every time he caused trouble, he would blame her to his parents, who would then scold her or make her kneel in the ancestral hall—while Mu Long faced no consequences.
She had even known about his affair with the maid but dared not speak up. When she once confided in his mother, the woman had coldly reminded her: *"Outwardly, you’re his respectable wife. But in this house, you’ll always be beneath him."*
Mu Long’s *"respect"* for her was merely a facade to keep her from tattling. She knew this.
So now, seeing this fake Mu Long shielding her, she was deeply moved. *"Husband..."*
Fake Mu Long glanced at her. *"Xin’er, I won’t let you get hurt."*
Mu Anxiao watched the touching scene, then recalled Ouyang Ye’s earlier words. *Wait, did Ouyang Ye even threaten the sister-in-law? Mu Xi is overreacting.*
Meanwhile, Ouyang Ye sneered at the display. *"I was only ever here to kill *you*. Stop the act."* He raised his sword, thrusting toward the fake Mu Long.
Mu Xiang cried out: *"Stop!"* She knew that if Mu Long was severely injured, even if Mu Xi left, his chances of survival would plummet.
For her own sake, she had to intervene.
Ouyang Ye turned to her, his gaze darkening. *"Still so kindhearted."*
*"I—"* Mu Xiang frowned. *"Do I know you?"*
Ouyang Ye lowered his sword, stepping closer. *"You may not remember, but I do. The things you’ve forgotten... I never will."*
Mu Anxiao smirked. *"Oh? A backstory?"*
Ouyang Ye’s glare snapped to her. *"Shut your mouth."*
Startled, Mu Anxiao rolled her eyes but stayed silent.
Ouyang Ye turned back to Mu Xiang, his voice softening. *"I told you I’d marry you. Have you forgotten?"*
Mu Xiang’s brow furrowed.
Mu Anxiao also frowned, though she held her tongue.
Just then, a group of over a dozen servants appeared at the hall’s entrance—with Feng Qishi hidden among them at the back.
The lead servant, oblivious to the tension, shouted: *"Everyone, quiet down!"*
Mu Anxiao sighed at the man’s foolish bravery, then glanced at Ouyang Ye’s irritated expression and shook her head.
Ouyang Ye commanded: *"Kill him."*
Among the disguised servants, Feng Qishi stiffened at the order. Peering over the others’ heads, he saw the lead servant trembling in fear. Without hesitation, he pushed through the crowd and grabbed the man’s arm.
The servant yelped: *"No, please, no!"*
Feng Qishi winced at the shrill voice. *"Let’s go,"* he muttered, dragging the man away.
Mu Anxiao spotted Feng Qishi in disguise and stifled a laugh.
Unfortunately, Ouyang Ye noticed. *"What’s so funny?"*
Mu Anxiao turned back, forcing a straight face. *"Nothing."*
*"That was a blatant smirk. Don’t lie."* Ouyang Ye eyed the remaining servants. *"Someone—"*
Remembering the lead servant’s fate, Mu Anxiao quickly stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and clamped a hand over Ouyang Ye’s mouth. She glared at the second servant, who was about to step forward. *"The early bird gets shot. Want to die? Come ahead."*
The second servant hesitated, retracting his foot. The others also held back.
Mu Anxiao exhaled in relief.
Ouyang Ye wrenched her hand away. *"You dare?!"*
*"I—"* She forced a grin. *"I don’t dare. If I did, I’d be fighting you right now."*
The fake Mu Long, noticing his inexplicably vanished powers, clenched his fist and shot Mu Anxiao a meaningful look. *Perhaps only she can help now.*
Coldly, he taunted: *"Stinky beggar, you’re usually so bold. Why so cowardly now?"*
Mu Anxiao had planned to play along, helping Mu Xiang escape this mess. But now, Mu Xi had dragged her into it—and his tone carried an odd trust in her that made her head spin.
Still, even if she was flattered, she had to keep her pride in check—lest she crash and burn later.
*"I admit, I come from wealth and influence. But—"*
*"I’ve seen you fight demons,"* the fake Mu Long interrupted.
Mu Anxiao froze.
Ouyang Ye’s gaze sharpened on her. *"Who are you, really?"* He, too, sensed something off.
Mu Anxiao forced a laugh. *"I’m just a rich young master—"*
*"If you lie, I’ll kill everyone here—and it’ll be on you."* Ouyang Ye’s voice was ice.
*What a sinister threat.* Mu Anxiao realized her disguise wasn’t as foolproof as she’d thought.