"Or has your mistress never truly considered herself part of the Marquis's Mansion since the marriage?"
Mu Yao pressed on, her tone filled with aggression.
Liu Xu's hands that were holding Qu Yue suddenly froze.
She never expected that a casual address of hers would become evidence for them to slander Qu Yue!
One should take responsibility for one's own deeds. She had harmed her mistress once before and would never do it again.
Liu Xu lifted her eyes bravely: "The madam has always been loyal to the Marquis's Mansion. Please don't spread rumors, eldest miss!"
Mu Yao hooked her lips in triumph. "Then it's you who has second thoughts about the Marquis's Mansion."
"I..."
As soon as Liu Xu opened her mouth, she heard Song Luo interrupt sharply: "Someone! Separate the madam from this spy quickly!"
"I don't want to be separated from the madam!" Liu Xu was flustered. Seeing a large crowd approaching, her pupils shrank in fear.
Song Luo didn't really want to do anything to this maid. Seeing that the intimidation had worked, she took out the pre - prepared deed of transferring the reward, along with a stamp pad, and threw them in front of Liu Xu.
"Then press your fingerprint for your mistress!"
Liu Xu was hit on the leg and shivered in pain. The deed loosened and unfurled automatically after turning over.
It was written in standard regular script that Qu Yue voluntarily transferred the reward to Mu Qing because she was unable to manage it.
Liu Xu was not well - educated, but somehow she understood these lines.
An indescribable chill ran up from her toes, freezing her blood and making her shiver.
"I... I won't press it!"
Her mistress hadn't agreed to give up the reward even when facing such a situation in the Marquis's Mansion. She would never compromise easily either!
"You won't press it?" Mu Yao poked through Liu Xu's naive fantasy impatiently. "Your precious madam is already dead. The reward is useless to her. Or do you want to embezzle it?"
Two big accusations were thrown at Liu Xu one after another. She finally understood how difficult Qu Yue's situation had been. Holding the delicate woman in her arms, her nose turned sour. She forced herself to suppress the trembling in her voice and retorted loudly, "I've never had such an idea!"
"Liu Xu, I know you're Qu Yue's dowry maid and you have a deep affection for each other."
Mu Qing put one hand behind his back and explained grandly, "But the dead cannot come back to life. As a maid, you naturally cannot seize the things she left behind. So you need to sign on her behalf to agree to transfer the reward."
"You can rest assured that the Marquis's Mansion will never treat you badly."
"You will surely be rewarded. I will also find a good family for you and ensure that you get the civilian status. From then on, you'll have no worries about food and clothing."
With his appearance, Song Luo and Mu Yao seemed more like villains before.
But Wen Wuyou, Ning Yanzhi, and Mu Wang all detected the problem in his words.
It was obvious that the Marquis's Mansion didn't want to take responsibility.
If the emperor blamed them for moving Qu Yue's reward after her death, Liu Xu would be the perfect scapegoat.
By then, Mu Qing could simply make up an excuse of "not knowing" and shift all the blame to Liu Xu. He could get away clean and still obtain the reward.
One could only say that the water in the Marquis's Mansion was too deep.
Liu Xu obviously didn't expect Mu Qing to offer such generous conditions. She was momentarily stunned.
It was during this moment of hesitation that three men around her noticed.
Wen Wuyou pushed his cheek. Unable to stand it any longer, he said, "If the marquis wants the reward, why not ask the emperor first?"
There was a smile in his words, but no matter how one listened, it was full of mockery.
Coldness welled up in Ning Yanzhi's willow - leaf eyes. His thin lips were tightly pursed. His emotions, which were usually well - hidden, now showed a bit of indignation because of the despicable behavior of the Marquis's Mansion.
"Father, why on earth do you have to take this little reward from Qu Yue?" Mu Wang was straightforward. He stuck out his neck and asked stubbornly, "It's her thing. Even if she... it should be buried with her!"
"Her thing?" Mu Qing's dissatisfaction with Mu Wang had reached its peak. "She snatched it!"
"Rebellious son, shut up!"
Mu Qing didn't want to argue with him any more. He glanced at Wen Wuyou and then continued to persuade Liu Xu, "Don't be too embarrassed. As long as you sign for your mistress, I guarantee to give her a grand burial."
Liu Xu lowered her head and said nothing.
But her trembling hand slowly reached out towards the stamp pad...
Mu Wang widened his eyes. "You maid have no shame! Qu Yue has been good to you, right? Is this how you repay her!"
Just as he was about to rush forward and grab her hand to question her, he was held down by the servants sent by Mu Qing with a wink.
A hint of coldness appeared at the end of Wen Wuyou's fox - like eyes.
Women were just such profit - seeking creatures.
He had known it for a long time.
It was just a pity for Qu Yue. She was still being betrayed even after her death.
Death.
Thinking of this word, his gaze uncontrollably shifted to Qu Yue again. The memories of their past together flashed through his mind, and a faint emptiness welled up in his heart.
He slowly let out a breath and shifted his gaze elsewhere.
Coincidentally, he met Ning Yanzhi's calm gaze.
There was the same indescribable emotion as his.
Who would have thought that the maid who had been inseparable from her before would actually betray her at the critical moment.
Liu Xu reached out and picked up the stamp pad on the ground. The bright red liquid reflected in her pupils, making her feel dizzy and constantly hitting her brain.
Mu Qing reminded, "Just press your fingerprint."
"No!"
Just when everyone was holding their breath and staring at Liu Xu's actions, she suddenly roared and threw the stamp pad out forcefully!
Snap!
It landed right beside Mu Qing's feet.
His anger was instantly ignited. He stared at Liu Xu with wide eyes, "You!"
"You'll never take my mistress's things!" Liu Xu hugged Qu Yue tightly. The coldness from her body made her teeth chatter. "I won't help you do such a dirty thing!"
The angry roar was like the last struggle of a weak beast in a desperate situation, regardless of life and death, just to fight for the last glimmer of hope!
Mu Yao was the first to react. "Liu Xu! You're looking for death!"
Mu Qing glanced at the two men opposite and forced himself to suppress the anger in his chest. "Yao Yao, don't bother with her."
"If you don't want to sign, then I'll draft a memorial to ask the emperor if I deserve this reward."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone brought a table, a chair, a pen, and paper.
Mu Qing called out, "Yao Yao, grind the ink."
Mu Yao wanted to refuse at first, but when she saw her father glaring at her, she stepped forward again.
She bent down to focus on grinding the ink when she heard Mu Qing's almost inaudible order: "Go and get rid of Mu Wang and those two."
Mu Yao immediately understood.
If they still wanted to force Liu Xu to sign, when the emperor questioned them later, they might speak up for Liu Xu.
After all, except for them, the rest were all servants of the Mu family who had signed a lifetime contract.
Only when they didn't see it and there was no evidence could the Mu family be safe and this reward could completely fall into the hands of the Marquis's Mansion.
She nodded and walked slowly towards the two men standing beside Qu Yue.
She curtsied and showed a shy and gentle smile. "Master Ning, Master Wen, I know you're the best brothers of my eldest brother. He's about to be buried soon. Do you want to go with me to see him for the last time?"
Wen Wuyou laughed. "The eldest miss of the Mu family is in a good mood. Maybe you can go for a drink with me tonight?"