The Madam never thought her lifelong reputation in the household would be utterly ruined by this young Mu Anxiao. She was a hundred percent unwilling to accept this, but considering Mu Anxiao’s threats outside earlier, she lost the courage to argue with her.
Pulling her gaze back from the faces of those people, she glanced at the leisurely Mu Anxiao and said, "Don't spout nonsense, I never..."
"Madam, please stop talking," Mu Gui finally couldn't bear to watch.
Upon hearing this, the Madam stiffened and looked at Mu Gui with disbelief, "Why aren't you letting me speak?"
"Madam, your actions, others may not know, but I do. Therefore," Mu Gui, not wanting the Madam to lose any more face in front of the servants, became direct. "Stop talking, lest you lose all dignity."
"Lose all dignity," the Madam repeated, sweeping her gaze over the people with disdain. "They wouldn't dare spread this matter."
As soon as the Madam spoke, the servants lowered their heads one by one.
Mu Anxiao continued to watch with her arms crossed, observing the Madam still threatening the servants and the servants who were clearly accustomed to being intimidated by the Madam. She smiled, "It seems I wasn't spouting nonsense after all. The one who talks nonsense and shoots their mouth off..." She raised an eyebrow at the Madam. "...has to be you."
"You..."
"These servants have become conditioned by you. Your mere glance, your slightest movement, makes them bow their heads... evidence."
"Evidence? What nonsense, what evidence, I don't understand what you're saying."
"Madam," Mu Anxiao said, lowering her arms from her chest and placing them behind her back, "They dare not speak of today's events, but don't forget... someone is not them." With that, she lifted her head high.
The Madam frowned, "What are you saying? I still don't understand."
"Pretending not to understand, and understanding but pretending not to, hmm..." Mu Anxiao cleared her throat and nodded. "This is indeed your usual style, Madam."
"Mu Xiao," the Madam was almost driven mad by Mu Anxiao.
"Yes, Madam? What do you need?" Mu Anxiao feigned ignorance.
The Madam narrowed her eyes, "Your goal in playing dumb and foolish is to make me agree to Master taking your mother as a wife, right?"
"Yes, but," Mu Anxiao said, a smile curving her lips, "that's not entirely true. I think this matter... depends on my father's thoughts." She then shifted her gaze back to Mu Gui.
This time, Mu Gui did not evade her gaze but stared directly into Mu Anxiao's eyes.
Mu Anxiao smiled, "Father, whether to marry or not, it's up to you."
"This is something I've wanted to do for a long time." Mu Gui had heard from Mu Anxiao and the Madam's conversation that the Madam still held some fear of Mu Anxiao. He had remained silent before because he worried that after marrying Mai Xia, the Madam would become more demanding and bother him endlessly. However, now that Mu Anxiao was willing to help him alleviate these worries, he naturally felt relieved. "Your opposition is useless," he said, looking at the Madam, his resolve finally firm.
The Madam had never imagined that her obedient husband would suddenly change his ways. Looking at him, her eyes welled up with tears. "How can you treat me like this? You've forgotten the promises you made to me."
"You promised to be a virtuous wife after marrying me, but," Mu Gui's eyes were sharp, "ask yourself honestly, have you done so?"
"I..." The Madam choked.
Mu Anxiao watched Mu Gui’s confidence surge, fueled by her words, and felt a surge of satisfaction. She then deliberately said, "Then, Father, give my mother a proper status today." She glanced at Mai Xia.
Mai Xia, seeing the Madam's speechless expression, also felt a great deal of relief.
Mu Gui smiled. "Then today," he said, looking at Mai Xia, "I promised I would never let you be a concubine."
"Mu Gui, what do you want to do?" the Madam panicked.
Mu Gui ignored the Madam and smiled at Mai Xia again. "Therefore, from today onwards, you will be on equal footing with Madam."
"Mu Gui..." the Madam exclaimed again.
Mu Anxiao looked at the completely out-of-favor Madam and at the resolute Mu Gui who insisted on giving Mai Xia status. She continued to deliberately say, "Madam, you don't object to my father taking a concubine, but you didn't object to him taking a wife, so don't be so anxious, lest..." She put on a stern face, her eyes filled with mockery. "You harm your health."
"Mu Xiao, it's all your fault, you..."
"Six months ago, I was an unknown little girl," Mu Anxiao interrupted, her tone righteous. "But now, everyone knows me. If I suddenly die or disappear, Madam, you will be the first one suspected."
"You want to threaten me, Mu Xiao..."
"Madam, I never wanted to bring up the past, how Mu Xiao went missing, so..." Mai Xia said, thinking of Mu Xiao's death, her heart sinking. "If you continue to verbally abuse my daughter, I will be the first to object."
"You're already so arrogant before even marrying into the family. If you get married, you'll be walking all over me," the Madam narrowed her eyes. "Based on this alone, I will be the first to disagree." With that, she fixed her killing gaze on Mu Gui.
Mu Gui: "Madam, if you say one more word, believe it or not," his gaze was cold, "I will divorce you."
"Master..."
"Mai Xia, come with me. I'll draft the marriage certificate for you," Mu Gui said and turned to leave.
Mai Xia, hearing Mu Gui's words, replied, "Okay." Then she looked at Mu Anxiao. Before she could speak, Mu Anxiao said, "Mother, you go ahead, I still have something to do."
"Alright, be careful." Mai Xia nodded, glanced at the Madam, and left.
The servants who had followed Mu Gui also dispersed.
And so, only Mu Anxiao and the Madam remained.
As Mu Anxiao had predicted, after everyone left, the Madam resumed her unpleasant demeanor. "What exactly do you want?"
"I don't want anything," Mu Anxiao said calmly. "I just want to tell you that this is your retribution. Don't blame others."
"You..."
"Madam, speaking of which, I have been very kind to you. If you push your luck," Mu Anxiao narrowed her eyes, "then don't blame me for being impolite."
"Mu Xiao, you little..." Before she could finish, Mu Anxiao produced a dagger. The Madam was stunned, "You really are a demon."
"Say whatever you like," Mu Anxiao glanced at the dagger, then at the Madam, and smiled. "I like family harmony and dislike scheming. Do you understand what I mean?"
"You're the one stirring up trouble." The Madam's voice was clearly trembling.
"Stirring up trouble," Mu Anxiao repeated and laughed. "I think these words suit you quite well."
"Mu..."
"Do you want to know what happened to that Hong'er?" Mu Anxiao deliberately interrupted.
The Madam froze.