Mu Wang walked forward with a solemn gait and stood in front of Qu Yue protectively. "We didn't mean to cause any trouble. Why did you choose this moment?"
His words were blunt, and his clear and youthful voice carried a hint of aggression. "If you're so reluctant to part with my brother, why weren't you here during the mourning yesterday?"
Song Luo, supported by an old maid, consoled earnestly, "Wang'er, since she has such feelings, why do you have to make things difficult for her?"
Hearing such overly reasonable words from her mouth, Qu Yue looked over in surprise.
She vaguely sensed a trace of uneasiness, and her heart sank in panic.
Qu Yue sized up the woman from head to toe and subconsciously moved closer behind Mu Wang, regarding him as a reliable person.
This action was caught by Ning Yanzhi and Wen Wuyou, who were standing not far away.
Ning Yanzhi's cold and handsome features frosted over, looking extremely icy.
The corner of Wen Wuyou's mouth, which always wore a smile, froze. The folding fan he had been idly swinging came to a halt.
He put down the fan. "It seems that Mu Wang has taken good care of her."
"Yeah." Ning Yanzhi responded casually, but the annoyance hidden in his trailing voice was even a mystery to himself.
Qu Yue, the person involved, was oblivious. She was observing the woman's reaction through the gap between Mu Wang and herself.
Hearing Song Luo backing her up, the woman quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes, little brother."
"Little brother?" Mu Wang crossed his arms over his chest and sneered. "Mother, are you confused?"
He tilted his head, tapped his temple with his finger, hissed, and then slowly said, "This... elder sister."
"Don't we all know the reason why she became a concubine outside the family?"
"Is a woman like this, who is only interested in money and profit, worthy of seeing my brother off for the last time?"
His disdainful mockery echoed in the hall.
Mu Yao rubbed her aching buttocks and rolled her eyes at him speechlessly upon hearing this.
What a show-off!
It was a good thing she hadn't told him about the plan. If this fool had known, he would surely have ruined everything!
Song Luo was also stunned for a moment.
The elaborate scheme she had laid out was about to be ruined by her dearest son!
Mu Qing glared at Song Luo fiercely, with a look of disgust in her eyes. How could she raise such a troublemaker!
Song Luo's heart sank. Ignoring the pain in her body, she immediately stepped forward and walked beside Mu Wang. "Wang'er, don't talk like that. After all, they had a child together."
Her words were full of implications.
"Didn't elder brother buy the child with a large sum of money?"
"What relation does she have with him now?"
"Back then, this woman, relying on the fact that she was pregnant with elder brother's child and refused to become a concubine, extorted all his wealth as compensation before she agreed to the settlement.
"Elder brother was worried that the child couldn't be separated from his mother, so he bought a villa outside the city to support them. This woman clung to elder brother for three years!"
"Do you believe that she really can't let go of elder brother, or do you believe that I'm not your and father's biological son?"
Mu Wang made up a random remark.
Unexpectedly, Song Luo's whole body froze.
She suddenly tightened her grip on Mu Wang's hand, raised her red and swollen eyes, and stared at him fiercely. "Nonsense!"
"Of course I'm your biological son." Mu Wang shrugged. In his opinion, this woman must have some ulterior motives for coming here today.
Frowning impatiently, he sized up the woman from head to toe. "Just tell me what you want quickly."
"I..."
The woman glanced at Song Luo standing beside her cautiously.
At that moment, Song Luo's chest was rising and falling violently, and she was in a state of being out of control.
In comparison, Mu Qing's affirmative nod gave her the courage.
Anyway, the goal was to get the reward. The method didn't matter.
She took a deep breath, knelt down in front of everyone, and her high - cheekboned face showed embarrassment. "This humble woman, Xiao Yang, indeed has something to ask for."
"This involves private matters. I hope Young Master Mu will allow me to talk to the Lady of Zhenyuan!"
She clasped her hands in front of her and raised them above her head. Her sonorous voice spread throughout the mansion.
Qu Yue couldn't pretend not to hear.
She bit her lip and stepped out from behind Mu Wang bravely. Her charming face was revealed to everyone, causing a gasp of surprise.
For some reason, Qu Yue's cheeks had regained a lot of color today. Her eyes showed a rare combination of timidity and boldness.
Even the simple mourning clothes on her showed a unique and elegant dignity because of her tall and slender figure.
But in the cuffs that no one could see, her hands were tightly clenched into fists. "What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Lady, this involves my privacy. May I..."
"If you can choose this moment to cause trouble, you probably don't care much about privacy." Mu Wang raised one eyebrow and disagreed.
Xiao Yang looked hesitant. After biting her lip, she slowly spoke under everyone's gaze.
"Lady of Zhenyuan, my name is Xiao Yang. Four years ago, I met General Zhenyuan by accident and got pregnant with a son. Now that he has received a reward and risen in status, although I can't be counted as his legal wife, I was the first woman to be with him. I should also be given a share of the reward."
In just a few words, she stated the purpose of her visit.
Qu Yue's bright eyes fell on her, and she suddenly noticed a huge change in this woman's appearance.
When she was tearful before, Qu Yue really thought she was sad about Mu Yuan's passing.
But these words were almost like sticking the words "Give me the reward" right in front of Qu Yue's face.
She had come for the money.
"Pfft."
After hearing this, Mu Wang scoffed speechlessly. He supported Song Luo with his backhand. "Mother, don't trust everyone in the future. Look at this."
"Ah?!"
Song Luo suddenly came to her senses, and the surprise in her eyes couldn't be retracted in time.
Mu Wang caught her completely.
"What's wrong with you?" Mu Wang asked gently.
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Song Luo's forehead. She weakly curled her lips. "It's okay."
"Mother knows. Maybe the pain from the beating is still too severe." She waved her hand and walked back to Mu Qing with a heavy heart.
She received an extremely dissatisfied glare from the man.
"If I remember correctly, my husband should have severed the relationship with you." Qu Yue pursed her lips. Her slender figure trembled slightly, but she mustered up her courage because of her status. "Everything he has now has nothing to do with you."
Suddenly, she rushed to the child and knelt down with him. "This humble woman knows it's inappropriate, but the child can't be left without a family. Please give him a chance, Lady!"
"The time is up—"
The Taoist priest standing beside the door looked at the time and shouted at the top of his voice.
It was time for Mu Yuan's funeral!
If they delayed the time, apart from being gossiped about, if it really affected Mu Yuan's reincarnation, Qu Yue would feel guilty for the rest of her life!
She frowned slightly, walked quickly to Xiao Yang, and tried to pull her up.
Her gentle voice persuaded softly, "We can talk about the reward later. Please get up first, okay?"
"Lady, as a mother, I can't just watch my child have no support in the future. Please understand me!"
The Taoist priest's call sounded again from the door. Many servants were looking around anxiously, and whispers filled the air.
Surprisingly, Mu Yuan's close relatives didn't seem to care at all whether he could be buried on time.
Qu Yue was getting impatient. She shouted sharply, "Get up first!"
"Lady! If you don't agree, I'll kneel here with Chu'er forever!" The concubine stubbornly tossed her head and swore hoarsely.