A circle of servants trembled on their legs. After exchanging nervous glances, one of them stepped forward timidly and went to fetch Qu Yue.
Just at this moment, Mu Yao and Song Luo, mother and daughter, had already exchanged glances and decided to shift the blame onto Qu Yue.
This unjust accusation hit Qu Yue out of the blue. She stood there in shock, not knowing how to respond.
Mu Wang was also stunned by what was happening in front of him.
His mother and elder sister had both knelt on the ground. Their beautiful faces were smeared with soup, and they were still trying to find out who had cooked this meal.
All these things happening at once ignited the indignation in his heart.
He immediately stepped forward and drove away the servants who were holding Mu Yao and Song Luo. With his almond - shaped eyes glaring directly at Xie Qichi, he said, "Your Majesty, is this to hold the Marquis Mansion accountable?"
Xie Qichi slowly raised his eyes and glanced at him. "Is the Second Young Master Mu challenging me?"
Mu Wang pressed his tongue against his cheek. "How dare a subject? But once Your Majesty is displeased, you..."
"I did it!"
Qu Yue suddenly interrupted Mu Wang.
With her peach - blossom eyes boldly looking at the emperor's face, she ignored the shocked looks from those around her.
"Your Majesty, I cooked all these dishes. If you have any dissatisfaction, please punish only me!"
Xie Qichi didn't miss the timing of her words. His eyes shifted back and forth between her and Mu Wang, and his pupils darkened slightly.
Even when he spoke, there was a hint of coldness in his voice. "Really you?"
Qu Yue's legs were weak. Her hands hanging on both sides were tightly clenched into fists, and her hands were covered with cold sweat from fear.
"Yes... it was me."
Mu Yao was like a drowning man seeing a savior. She howled loudly, "Your Majesty! I said it was her! Please spare me..."
Xie Qichi's cold glance was like a sharp blade. After it swept across Mu Yao, her voice weakened.
When it was quiet again in his ears, he stubbornly asked Qu Yue for an answer. "Why did you admit it?"
"I..."
Qu Yue's breathing was rapid. Her pink lips turned pale.
She had been in the Marquis Mansion for three years and knew Mu Wang's temper very well.
This man had been spoiled since childhood and always spoke without thinking. If he angered Xie Qichi, she was afraid that his life would be in danger.
She had spoken just now to protect him.
Xie Qichi also guessed this. The corners of his phoenix - shaped eyes were cold. "The Marquis Mansion is really good at deceiving the emperor!"
The cold tone instantly froze everyone's hearts.
Song Luo was visibly panicked. In a broader sense, this was the crime of deceiving the emperor!
She immediately said, "Your Majesty! All of this was Qu Yue's doing alone. It was she who came up with the idea for Yao Yao!"
"Poor Yao Yao was infatuated with you and was deceived by her!"
It wasn't true at all!
Qu Yue's pupils shrank suddenly. She never thought that Song Luo would push her to the forefront to protect herself.
She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. Song Luo's words were like an invisible big hand, crushing her heart.
Mu Qing beside her immediately shook his head in disappointment. "Qu Yue... you, sigh."
Mu Wang was already on the verge of a breakdown. Seeing his parents being so opportunistic, he couldn't help but sink his face.
He voluntarily protected Qu Yue behind him. "Don't protect me. I came up with this idea for Qu Yue."
Hearing this, Song Luo's face changed. She was about to scold him, but then thinking about her own situation, she could only hold back her words aggrievedly.
Xie Qichi's dark eyes were fixed on Qu Yue behind Mu Wang. "Who really came up with the idea?"
"Your Majesty, you don't need to investigate so much. I'll take the responsibility for my own idea."
Right now, it was obvious that Xie Qichi wanted to find a scapegoat. He couldn't let Qu Yue be one.
"I didn't expect the Second Young Master Mu to be so clever." There was a smile on Xie Qichi's lips. "Since the Marquis Mansion is so united, I'll stay with you tonight and figure out the whole story."
"I'm really curious who gave you the guts."
Mu Yao was in tears. Someone suddenly pinched her behind, and she was so scared that her whole body trembled like a sieve. "Yes! It was Qu Yue!"
She was panicked and frightened. She told a story in a jumbled way.
In her narration, Qu Yue, in order to gain wealth and honor, incited her infatuation with Xie Qichi.
"She planned all of this and specifically emphasized that I shouldn't tell you that she cooked this meal!"
As Mu Yao was talking, she even believed her own lies.
She straightened her back and pointed at Qu Yue firmly. "How can you still have the face to hide behind my younger brother?"
Xie Qichi was playing with the silver chopsticks in his hand. "Qu Yue, is it really so?"
He stared at Qu Yue through the chopsticks, as if mocking her.
Look, this is the family you chose. At the critical moment, they will only push you out to take the blame.
Qu Yue was sad in her heart. The ups and downs of her mood that night left her quite at a loss.
But what hurt her most was that when she was busy cooking and trying to claim credit, her efforts were ignored. But when they needed a scapegoat, they offered her up.
She privately didn't want to admit it.
But if she didn't, the whole Marquis Mansion would never have peace from then on. Even Mu Yuan's posthumous title might be affected.
There was a dull pain in her temple. "I..."
Mu Wang listened to the hesitant words of the woman behind him, and his breathing was filled with anger.
He despised the actions of Song Luo and Mu Yao, but after all, they were his relatives.
And what about Qu Yue?
He clearly should have hated Qu Yue. This was obviously a good opportunity to get rid of her. Why... didn't he want to?
The irritable mood lingered in his heart. "Your Majesty, is it fun for you to play with our Marquis Mansion like this?"
"Wang'er!"
Song Luo was shocked. What was he talking about!
The person being contradicted, on the contrary, looked calm. "Why does the Second Young Master Mu say such a thing?"
"The Marquis Mansion held a banquet openly at the funeral of the person I valued. What's your intention?"
"Intentionally excluding the wife of the General of Zhenyuan. Are you dissatisfied with my reward?"
The cold tone echoed in every corner of the Marquis Mansion, like the cold wind in winter, piercing into people's bones.
Smart people had already read the meaning of his actions that night from his three sentences.
Mu Wang stood upright. "So, Your Majesty knows very well the meaning of this meal."
Xie Qichi certainly knew.
According to the etiquette of the Great Yan Dynasty, he shouldn't have attended this dinner. It was Qu Yue's invitation that broke his rule.
But when he saw Mu Yao's enthusiastic appearance, he knew that everything was wrong.
It was never her who wanted to invite him.
It was the order from the Marquis Mansion.
At the moment, nameless anger burned in his chest. When he saw the interaction between Qu Yue and Mu Wang, he was soaked in jealousy.
He wanted to tear off the false skin of the Marquis Mansion and show it to her, and let her choose him.
When he took the first bite of the crispy meat, he was sure that all these were cooked by Qu Yue.
These idiots in the Marquis Mansion, how dare they! How could they! Use Qu Yue's things to curry favor with him?!
There was a blazing fire in Xie Qichi's dark eyes. "Whether I know or not is never an excuse for the Marquis Mansion to deceive me."
He looked down at Mu Yao. "Qu Yue came up with the idea for you?"
"Please understand her before making up a story next time."
With her timid nature, not to mention coming up with an idea, she didn't even dare to say a single word.
Mu Qing had been observing the situation from the side. As soon as he heard Xie Qichi's words, he stepped forward without hesitation and slapped Song Luo and Mu Yao twice each.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
"You asked Qu Yue to cook for you, but then offered her up in a critical moment. How bold you are!"
His palms were numb. He could only smile apologetically at Xie Qichi. "Your Majesty, I'm incompetent in managing the family and have been deceived like this. Please forgive me!"
"It seems that the Marquis of Zhaoping was also kept in the dark." Xie Qichi sneered faintly.
His meaningful eyes fell on Song Luo and Mu Yao. "Right?"