The madam's current actions filled Mu Anxiao with an inexplicable sense of tension. However, she couldn't evade the situation that needed to be faced. Helpless, she could only cooperate and walk to the madam's side.
Immediately, the madam stared at Mu Anxiao for a few seconds and said, "Mu Xiao, you've been back for almost a year." After speaking, she used her handkerchief to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Mu Anxiao hummed, unsure how to respond.
Seeing the madam's strange behavior, Mai Xia grew anxious for Mu Anxiao.
Jia also found the madam's actions very peculiar. So, she tilted her head up to look at Shen Lü, who was staring in that direction, and said, "Won't this madam harm Mu Anxiao? You... perhaps you should go forward too."
"Let's forget it. She doesn't want me to interfere," Shen Lü said softly, looking down.
Jia frowned slightly. "Impressive. You're even afraid of Mu Anxiao."
"We're both in the same boat," Shen Lü stated simply and clearly.
Upon hearing this, Jia was left speechless.
Mai Liang watched Mu Anxiao, who was rendered speechless by the madam's words, and then glanced at Hong'er, who was kneeling on the ground awaiting the outcome. He furrowed his brow slightly, "..."
Over there.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's silent reaction, the madam grew somewhat angry. "Can you stop being perfunctory with me?"
"Madam, I..."
"I am your mother," the madam interrupted sternly, her eyes wide as if declaring some sort of dominion.
Mu Anxiao, seeing the madam being driven to near madness by that girl, said softly, "Madam, I recall my mother seemed..."
"I am the madam of this Mu manor. Your surname is Mu, so naturally, you are my daughter," the madam interrupted softly, suddenly starting to act out mother-daughter affection with Mu Anxiao. "Therefore, now, as my daughter, you must adjudicate for me."
"Adjudicate?" Mu Anxiao was surprised by the madam's sudden behavior, her face only showing embarrassment.
"Yes," the madam completely ignored Mu Anxiao's feelings, nor did she pay attention to the changes on Mu Anxiao's face. She continued, "You adjudicate for me."
"Madam..."
"Call me Mother," the madam interrupted in one breath, glaring fiercely at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled faintly. She truly couldn't bring herself to call her "Mother," so she deliberately tried to change the subject. "Um... you want me to adjudicate, but I don't know what you want me to adjudicate. So, could you please be clearer? I am rather foolish."
"Indeed, foolish," the madam growled.
Hearing the madam's words, Mu Anxiao felt a thousand grievances in her heart. To ask for help and be so arrogant. If it weren't for Mai Xia, she wouldn't endure such humiliation to communicate normally. Thinking this, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, and she said, "Since you know I am foolish, it would be best to explain things clearly."
"How did I treat your father?" the madam suddenly asked.
"Quite well," Mu Anxiao replied casually.
"Quite well..." The madam's expression turned grim, and she glared fiercely at Mu Anxiao. "So, that means not well."
"I never said that."
"If you didn't say that, then speak properly. Otherwise," the madam choked, "I'll take all my anger out on Mai Xia."
"You..."
"How did I treat the master?" the madam asked again.
Mu Anxiao clenched her fist slightly and replied helplessly, "Very well." She lowered her eyes slightly, biting her lip in full of resentment.
At the same time, as if gaining some strength, the madam directly shifted her gaze to Mu Gui. "Did you hear that? Our daughter says I treated you very well, Mu Gui." Her eyes were firm. "You have been unkind to me, so don't blame me for being unrighteous to you."
"Madam..."
"You say I'm shameless. Then I ask, are you ashamed? At your age, you still want to be involved with this young girl. Mu Gui," the madam said, taking a step towards Mu Gui, "According to Jin Cheng's law, taking a concubine is permissible, but to keep a mistress hidden is a grave offense. Now that you've been caught red-handed, you... just wait."
"What do you want to do?" Mu Gui asked. He never dreamed that his illiterate wife would be so knowledgeable about Jin Cheng's law. He was deeply surprised by this.
"What else can I do? Sue you."
"You dare not," Mu Gui said angrily.
The madam let out a cold snort. "Since you dared to place this little girl by my side, naturally I also dare to ruin your reputation."
"You..."
"Madam, this is becoming serious," Mu Anxiao interjected deliberately.
Upon hearing this, the madam frowned and immediately turned to look at Mu Anxiao. "Mu Xiao, you have no right to speak here."
"Yes, I know I have no right to speak. But what I want to say is," Mu Anxiao said, her face hardening, "Before you go to sue the master, shouldn't you first enumerate your own sins?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?" Mu Anxiao repeated, lowering her eyes with a smile, and looked back towards Shen Lü. "General, come here."
Hearing this, Shen Lü was startled, suddenly unable to understand Mu Anxiao. "..."
Jia looked up at Shen Lü, who was standing there like a block of wood, and then at Mu Anxiao, who was staring intently in their direction. She quickly reminded him, "Hurry up and go over." She nudged Shen Lü's arm.
"She doesn't allow me to interfere. I... I can't go," Shen Lü said softly, lowering his voice.
Jia looked helpless. "Consider yourself a tool person right now. Whatever she says, just agree," she said, giving Mai Liang a look. "Hurry up and go, don't make things difficult for Mu Anxiao."
"Then I'm going," Shen Lü said softly. He unintentionally looked at Mai Liang, who was extending a hand towards him, and asked, "What is this you're doing...?"
"Hand her the sack. It's inconvenient for me to carry it," Jia interrupted.
Upon hearing this, Shen Lü casually handed the sack to Mai Liang. "Hold it tight." After speaking, he strode towards Mu Anxiao.
Seeing Shen Lü approach, Mu Anxiao smiled with satisfaction.
The madam, seeing this, frowned slightly. "Mu Xiao, what are you... trying to do?"
"Now that the General is here, I will first enumerate your sins one by one," Mu Anxiao stated. She saw that all of the madam's actions were feigned, so now she only needed to scare her a bit, and everything would be easy.
Of course, her reason for not acting earlier was entirely due to Mu Gui. After going through all this, she finally realized that Mu Gui's entire focus was now on Hong'er. Therefore, if she could favor Mu Gui at this moment, perhaps the matter of saving Mai Xia could be resolved.
Shen Lü had stopped beside Mu Anxiao.
The madam hadn't expected that Mu Anxiao would set a trap for her at this moment. Looking at Mu Anxiao, she couldn't help but sneer, "Are you trying to get revenge on me?"
"The death of Xiao Fei, the death of Mu Xiao, and... the deaths of some other people, were all your doing, weren't they?"
"Aren't you Mu Xiao?" the madam asked, puzzled.
Mu Anxiao smiled.
Seeing Mu Anxiao about to reveal the truth, Shen Lü's heart sank. Just as he was about to speak, Jia quickly ran to Mu Anxiao's side and said, "You can't tell the truth." She grabbed Mu Anxiao's arm.