The bold and straightforward words of the young man reverberated in the solemn mourning hall.
Like a warning bell, it struck the hearts of the others.
It also punctured Qu Yue's previous righteous air.
She stood still, a blush spreading across her fair and pretty face, reaching her ears, burning with embarrassment.
Qu Yue forced a smile awkwardly. "I... I misunderstood you."
She reached out to touch her ears and then lowered her head to arrange her hair. After fidgeting for a while, seeing she couldn't avoid Mu Wang's gaze, she finally apologized in a low voice. "Sorry."
Mu Wang snorted. "Weren't you quite energetic when you shouted at me?"
With his arms crossed over his chest, he glanced at Qu Yue, who wished she could bury her head in the sand like an ostrich. He glared at her angrily. "Is that what you think of me in your heart?"
Qu Yue, who had misunderstood someone, didn't dare to say a word.
The heat on her blushing cheeks continued to rise. The more imposing she had been just now, the more she wanted to find a hole to hide in now.
She retorted in a low voice. "I didn't..."
Mu Wang was frustrated. "Didn't you? You might as well have pointed at my nose and scolded me."
With his hands on his hips, he paced around Qu Yue, nagging. "Why didn't you dodge when you were about to be hit just now? Where's that energy you used to be fierce with me?"
Qu Yue clenched her fists and gently interrupted him. "You... stop scolding me for now."
"Let's solve the problem of the burial items first!"
Soon the mourners would arrive. If they saw the mess on the ground, it would have a bad impact on the Marquis Mansion.
Moreover, later the imperial court would also send envoys to pay tribute. If the missing burial items were noticed, the face of the Marquis Mansion would be completely lost.
Mu Qing understood the stakes, so he spoke up to stop Mu Wang. "Wang'er, stop talking for a while."
"Let's find the real burial items first."
For a moment, there was only silence in the mourning hall.
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing where to start.
There were already faint wails outside the main gate. Could they really only watch helplessly as the Marquis Mansion lost face?
Just as the atmosphere was getting heavy, a sneer broke the silence.
Mu Wang walked up to the fragments, stepped on one of them with a loud noise, his ponytail swinging with confidence behind him. "Isn't it easy to find the real one?"
Everyone's eyes focused on him.
Mu Qing clasped his hands behind his back, his brows knitted tightly. "Wang'er, what's your idea?"
The young man raised his thick eyebrows slightly, his sharp eyes sweeping across everyone present. "Report it to the authorities."
Qu Yue reminded weakly. "There's not enough time..."
Mu Wang spread his hands. "It's the thief's responsibility. What does it have to do with our Marquis Mansion?"
"We're just burying my elder brother as usual. The thief stole the things. We couldn't prevent it."
He scanned the crowd, the sharpness in his eyes becoming more intense, and his clear voice lowered. "Go and report it to the authorities now. When the thief is found, execute him in public to comfort my elder brother's soul in heaven."
"Wouldn't that be great?"
His matter - of - fact statement was like a sword hanging above everyone's heads, threatening each person present.
Mu Qing's slightly plump figure was wrapped in the coarse hemp mourning clothes. His face, caressed by years, relaxed a little. "What Wang'er said does make sense."
After all, no one could have predicted the thief's actions.
The Marquis Mansion didn't need to take the blame for the thief.
Mu Qing told someone to go and report it to the authorities. The young servant who had just put down the broom was about to go out when Mu Yao clicked her tongue and stopped him.
"Come back! What a big deal that you have to make a fuss and involve the yamen. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
Displeasure was written all over her face, which was lightly powdered with rouge. "Can't we investigate behind closed doors? Do we have to let outsiders do it?"
Mu Yao pointed at the steward of the mansion. "You, go and call all the servants who have been in this mourning hall."
Qu Yue didn't understand this sudden change.
She looked up at Mu Wang. "This..."
The latter snorted and turned his head away. "Why are you looking at me? I only know how to harm my elder brother."
Qu Yue recovered from her embarrassment, but there was still a faint blush on her cheeks. She apologized seriously. "Sorry, I misunderstood you. Don't be angry."
Mu Wang secretly observed Qu Yue from the corner of his eye. Her bright eyes only held him.
An inexplicable emotion swelled in his chest. He snorted. "I'll let it go for my elder brother's sake."
Seeing that he was no longer angry, Qu Yue let out a sigh of relief.
But she couldn't help thinking in her heart, "Why does he always snort like a little calf?"
Mu Wang, who didn't know he was compared to a calf, was still immersed in Qu Yue's gentle consolation. The corners of his lips curled up uncontrollably into a smile.
But when he saw his elder brother's coffin, he immediately put away the smile.
He must be crazy to help the person who had caused his elder brother's death!
No, he didn't want to help Qu Yue.
It was just that the person who stole his elder brother's burial items was really too much!
Mu Wang successfully found an excuse for helping Qu Yue. The steward had gathered all the servants who had entered and left the mourning hall in the outer courtyard.
Mu Yao called out. Madam Song supported Marquis Mu and walked slowly there. Qu Yue looked at the large crowd outside and couldn't help but want to go out and see what was going on.
Before she could take a single step, a shrill scream pierced her eardrums. Her beautiful features scrunched up.
"Ah—"
Just as she was about to squint and peek, a pair of hands covered her eyes.
Mu Wang didn't know when he had stood behind her. He whispered a warning in her ear. "What are you looking at? Close your eyes."
Qu Yue was startled. Her eyes blinked several times in succession. Her long eyelashes tickled his palm.
Mu Wang moved his hand a little further away. "Your eyes are blinking so fast. Are you a dragonfly?"
Qu Yue shook her head and explained. "You scared me."
"Then you still want to see what's out there?" Mu Wang asked impatiently. "Keep your eyes closed tightly."
"Okay."
Qu Yue didn't dare to disobey.
The darkness intensified her senses. The hand on her shoulder pushed her in one direction. Qu Yue lifted her feet carefully until Mu Wang stopped pushing, then she stopped.
"Stand here and don't move."
Mu Wang's rare serious tone made Qu Yue also become solemn. She nodded vigorously.
She stood upright. Her slender figure was full of tenacity. Her fair neck connected to her spine, straight and tall, perfectly demonstrating her good figure.
Mu Wang looked back three times at every step. It was not until another scream came from the courtyard that he finally looked away.
When Qu Yue opened her eyes again, a man covered in blood was lying on the ground, barely alive. His thin clothes were already covered with whip marks, dyed blood - red by the fabric.
There was blood all over his chin. His empty eyes were filled with nothing but death.
He mustered his last bit of strength, straightened up, and kowtowed heavily to the coffin.
Then, he slumped to the ground and died.
Qu Yue's pupils dilated in shock. The bloody scene made her legs go weak.
But except for her, everyone in the Marquis Mansion was used to this kind of scene.
Mu Qing casually waved his hand. "Throw him away."
As soon as the body was carried away, the real burial items were sent over.
The maid rushed over. "My lord! My lady! We found them! He really hid them!"
"That's good."
Mu Wang took the round box and placed it in its previous position.
He clapped his hands and glanced at Mu Yao, who had a sinister look on her face at the door. "Some things, everyone should be clear."
This ambiguous remark made Mu Yao look up.
The siblings' eyes met, with a hint of suspicion in the air.
Qu Yue smelled the blood and felt nauseous. She endured the discomfort and bowed. "The mourners are here. I'll go out first."