An instant of silence fell upon the main hall as everyone stared at Qu Yue in shock.
In their eyes, Qu Yue's feigning ignorance just now was equivalent to indirectly rejecting the emperor's edict.
Qu Yue, who had successfully won the gamble, slowly let out a sigh of relief. Her calves trembling, she walked up to the eunuch. "Thank the emperor."
Mu Qing and Song Luo beside them were almost grinding their teeth in anger.
That little bitch actually managed to receive the edict!
They had carefully planned for days to prevent her from getting the reward, but the emperor still bestowed it upon her!
Why on earth?
Qu Yue naturally felt those two burning gazes. Her hand holding the edict was unusually cold.
The edict was made of top - grade silk brocade, with a smooth touch, and the gold - inlaid shaft glistened brightly. She suddenly felt a great deal of pressure.
Just like that, she had obtained the edict that Mu Qing and Song Luo had been longing for?
It seemed... like a dream.
Qu Yue hugged the edict tightly in her arms. Her dark eyes darted around, looking as if the word "vigilant" was written on her face.
Xie Qichi waved his hand. "Since the reward has been bestowed, you shall preside over the subsequent grand burial ceremony."
With these words, the matter of the reward came to an end.
What he meant was that if anyone had any objections afterwards, he would not bother to care.
The eunuch, who always accompanied the emperor, led the group to kowtow and see the emperor off.
The rest followed the crowd into the mourning hall to participate in the burial ceremony.
Qu Yue was about to follow with the edict in hand when she suddenly heard Mu Qing's low - toned command from behind. "Qu Yue, stay behind."
What was coming would surely come.
For some reason, when she heard him call her, Qu Yue actually felt a strange sense of relief.
She squeezed the edict in her hand. "Father, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Mu Qing had a solemn face. "Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements?"
"I'm not!" Qu Yue quickly shook her head. "Father, I'm not dissatisfied with your arrangements..."
Mu Qing was full of anger. Seeing Qu Yue's innocent look, he got even angrier. He pointed at the edict in her arms. "Then what's that in your hand?"
Qu Yue was so frightened that she was at a loss.
Her slender shoulders shrugged. "The edict..."
Mu Qing said, "Can't I see that?"
Qu Yue fell completely silent and didn't dare to answer.
She herself had thought that there was no hope of getting the edict and had prepared for a more difficult life in the future. But this unexpected blessing had completely stunned her.
She didn't even have time to think about how many difficulties she would face later.
What was happening in front of her was just the beginning.
But at least she had appeared in front of the emperor. In the future, if the Marquis Mansion wanted to target her, they would have to consider the emperor's face.
Mu Wang's cold reminder came from behind. "Father, Qu Yue still has to preside over the grand burial ceremony. Let's talk about anything after the emperor leaves."
Mu Qing snorted from his nostrils and gave Qu Yue a cold look. "I'll spare you for now!"
As soon as he left, Song Luo immediately followed.
There was worry on Song Luo's mean face. "My lord, what shall we do now?"
Letting that little bitch Qu Yue get the edict, it would be extremely difficult for them to either claim the reward or suppress Qu Yue in the future.
Mu Qing's anger was burning in his chest. He slapped Song Luo across the face. "Stupid woman!"
The flesh on his cheeks twitched with anger. He almost gritted his teeth. "You can't even handle such a small thing I told you to do!"
Song Luo felt a numbing pain on her face and let out a plaintive cry. "My lord..."
As soon as the news of Mu Yuan's death in battle came, Mu Qing had asked her to come up with a reasonable excuse to claim the reward. She had wracked her brains for days and finally came up with a plan by using the excuse that Qu Yue and Mu Yuan had never shared a room.
Now that the plan had failed, why was it all her fault?
Thinking of the use of this reward, Mu Qing's head started to ache faintly. "Don't call me!"
"My lord, do you think the emperor has guessed our intention to use this..."
Before Song Luo could finish her sentence, Mu Qing shouted angrily, "That's enough!"
He frowned. "Nothing happened back then."
Seeing that Mu Qing was really angry, Song Luo quickly bowed and apologized. "I'm guilty, my lord."
Mu Qing walked towards the mourning hall. An idea came to his mind. "What if Qu Yue dies of excessive grief because of missing Mu Yuan?"
Song Luo was instantly enlightened. "My lord is right!"
As long as they found a suitable excuse and presented Qu Yue's death as an inevitable accident, they could still get the reward.
Mu Wang accurately predicted this conversation between them and told Qu Yue about it.
Qu Yue was so shocked that she stood still. "So, even if I have the edict, I'm still not safe?"
Mu Wang met her big, round eyes and then awkwardly looked away. "You're so stupid!"
"I've just told you so much, and you didn't listen to a single word?"
"You spoke too fast. I didn't remember." Qu Yue hugged the edict and murmured in a small voice to defend herself.
Mu Wang waved his hand impatiently. "Forget it. I'll move to your courtyard."
"Ah?" Qu Yue was almost crying. "It's against the rules for you to come to my courtyard."
Mu Wang suddenly leaned closer to Qu Yue. "Rules or your life?"
The distance between them suddenly shrank. Qu Yue instinctively widened her eyes.
Seeing that heroic face getting closer, yet showing a solemn look that scared her, all the hairs on her body stood up instantly.
She stammered but replied firmly, "L - Life."
"Then let me move to your courtyard."
Qu Yue was forced by him. Even her breath was taken away by him. How could she dare to refuse?
She nodded repeatedly. "Maybe I need to tidy up a bit."
Mu Wang snorted. "The sooner, the better. Got it?"
"Okay!"
Qu Yue wondered if she was seeing things. There seemed to be a hint of satisfaction in his eyes?
But right now, she didn't have time to think about it. She had to preside over the grand burial ceremony, so she quickly walked towards the mourning hall.
Mu Wang was left alone in the main hall, pondering over what had just happened.
Previously, he only had a vague understanding of his parents' plan. He only knew that they were going to do something to Qu Yue on the day of the reward.
But he never expected that his parents would be so ruthless. They had taken away her identity and the reward she deserved.
At that moment, he was angry.
No matter what, Qu Yue had truly lived in the Marquis Mansion for three years. She should be given the due status.
But with the emperor around, he couldn't make a scene on the spot.
All he could do was stay by her side and try to minimize the harm to her.
He had thought that with his parents' flawless excuse, the emperor would agree to bestow the reward upon his father. But the emperor's attitude was also a bit strange...
"Qu Yue."
Muttering her name, an unknown feeling welled up in Mu Wang's heart again.
It seemed like hatred, but not so intense.
Forget it. For the sake of his elder brother, he would protect her during this period.
When Mu Wang walked to the front hall, Qu Yue had already started to preside over the grand burial ceremony. Her delicate body seemed to contain boundless strength, and her sobs touched people's hearts.
Hearing Qu Yue's sincere reluctance to part with Mu Yuan, Mu Wang rubbed his chest.
He sneered disdainfully. "She acts quite real."
Just as he mumbled this, he heard Liu Xu's scream. "Madam! Are you okay?!"
Before his mind could react, his legs had already stepped towards the coffin.
Qu Yue's slender figure was tottering. It seemed that she was about to fall to the ground. Mu Wang rushed forward quickly to catch her.
But unexpectedly, a pair of hands reached out before him and hugged Qu Yue's waist.
The black sleeve embroidered with dragon patterns was eye - catching and flamboyant.