Chapter 392 - 391: Slander

Chapter 392: Chapter 391: Slander

Madam Wu leaned back in the Eight Immortals Chair, her chest heaving, unable to calm down for a long time.

Mu Yuanjing looked at Madam Wu, her hand hidden beneath the quilt clenching tightly.

She should have felt satisfied and pleased to stir this muddy water so filthy, but seeing Madam Wu like this, Mu Yuanjing felt a bit low in her heart.

Biting her back molars, Mu Yuanjing shifted her gaze to the window.

She was speaking off the cuff.

What does it matter if there’s no evidence? What does it matter if it’s true or false?

Anyway, she didn’t believe Mu Yuanmou had the guts to harm Mu Liankang and Mu Lianxiao. How could Lian Family, a mere woman, overstep Mu Yuanmou and act recklessly?

Mu Yuanjing remembered how Mu Yuanmou was different from the other brothers since they were young.

Mu Yuanmou’s body was frail, a congenital issue from the womb, and despite Old Marquis and Madam Wu trying numerous remedies, he was fundamentally weak; growing up was easy, but going to the battlefield was impossible.

Mu Yuanmou did practice martial arts—the simple horse stance, punching—for physical health benefits.

Mu Yuance and the others would go to the training grounds, while Mu Yuanmou stayed in the study.

Mu Yuanjing often went to him, asking him to catch cicadas or dragonflies, but Mu Yuanmou always had others do it.

She asked why, and Mu Yuanmou’s answer, Mu Yuanjing always remembered: her second brother was afraid to climb trees.

If he didn’t even dare to climb trees, how could he have the courage to harm his nephews?

Mu Yuanjing sneered.

But whether Mu Yuanmou dared or not, whether he did it or not didn’t matter; she just wanted to ramble nonsensically.

As long as her ramblings could sow suspicion among the first, second, and third branches, that would be Mu Yuanjing’s victory.

The glint in Mu Yuanjing’s eyes didn’t escape Madam Wu.

Madam Wu saw it clearly, feeling only exhaustion in her heart.

To spew such accusations driven by selfish desires, Mu Yuanjing’s character was truly too extreme.

Yet precisely, Mu Yuanjing’s baseless words had split Madam Wu’s heart.

Neither mother nor daughter spoke again.

After sitting quietly for two quarters of an hour, Madam Wu stood up, giving Mu Yuanjing one last deep look: "Yuanjing, if in the next life you’re still my daughter, I would never spoil you again, wouldn’t have raised you to be like this."

Mu Yuanjing’s eyes tightened suddenly.

Mrs. Lu and Nanny Shan helped Madam Wu out.

Mu Yuanjing was left alone in the room, watching Madam Wu’s slightly hunched back, her shoulders started to tremble uncontrollably.

Covering her face, she cried silently.

Madam Wu’s steps were unsteady, walking slower than when she came.

Nanny Shan comforted her softly: "Old Madam, you know Madam’s temperament, wherever you feel hurt, she speaks to.

"I know," Madam Wu sighed sorrowfully, "It’s precisely because I know, my heart aches. Yuanjing’s temperament is too extreme."

Such clandestine matters, which ordinary person would do?

In this household, women enduring hardships and waiting weren’t limited to Mu Yuanjing alone.

Yet Mu Yuanjing did, seeking her own nephew, so against moral orders, utterly inconceivable.

Now she makes baseless claims, making everyone uneasy because she can’t.

Tears faintly appeared at the corners of Madam Wu’s eyes.

Seeing this, Nanny Shan felt a pang in her chest: "Since you know she has no evidence and is only trying to upset you, making the first and second branches suspicious of one another, why not..."

"But she’s right." Madam Wu’s voice trembled fiercely, "If Lian Kang was still here, who would Yu Nuan end up marrying? Who would I let Yu Nuan marry?"

Mrs. Lu turned her head, unable to bear looking at Madam Wu.

The person who knows you best can stab you deepest.

Madam Wu understands Mu Yuanjing, and Mu Yuanjing understands Madam Wu alike, needing no evidence; just strip open Madam Wu’s heart to leave her in unspeakable pain.

Mrs. Lu lowered her eyes; ultimately, Mu Yuanjing didn’t just pressure the first or second branches but Madam Wu.

Supporting Madam Wu back to Baijie Hall, Mrs. Lu didn’t leave immediately.

Madam Wu reclined on the Arhat Bed, sipping a cup of hot tea handed by Banqiao.

"Mrs. Yuan’an," Madam Wu called softly, indicating for Mrs. Lu to sit beside her, "What Yuanjing said..."

Mrs. Lu lowered her gaze, saying: "Don’t worry, I won’t spread it."

"That’s not what I meant," Madam Wu coughed, "I’m just thinking, if we’d settled Yu Nuan’s marriage earlier..."

Mrs. Lu stopped Madam Wu, speaking numbly: "Old Madam, are you suspecting the second branch?"

Madam Wu was shocked, breathing rapidly.

Mrs. Lu quickly helped Madam Wu to calm down.

As she had thought, only Madam Wu was suffocating, pressured by Mu Yuanjing.

Finally, Madam Wu calmed, waving her hand: "They say daughters are close, mine truly is close, knowing exactly where I hurt, where I suffer."

Mrs. Lu was speechless, seeing Madam Wu wanting to rest, she quietly left the room.

The clouds pressed low, ready to snow, Mrs. Lu exhaled the pent-up breath in her chest.

She couldn’t judge Mu Yuanjing’s words—provoking solely from malice and selfishness; to think deeply was to fall for Mu Yuanjing’s trap.

But truly, if she didn’t want to think at all, Mrs. Lu found herself unable to let go.

Especially when thinking of Mrs. Xu, barely getting by due to Mu Liankang’s disappearance made Mrs. Lu’s heart heavy.

She thought Madam Wu’s state of mind was surely like hers.

Unable to bear thinking, unable not to think.

Outside Baijie Hall, Mrs. Lu encountered Mrs. Zhou, who came to serve Madam Wu lunch.

"Sister-in-law," Mrs. Lu stopped Mrs. Zhou, speaking softly, "Old Madam is weary, probably won’t be eating lunch today."

Mrs. Zhou wondered.

Mrs. Lu said: "I just accompanied Old Madam to Manhe Garden."

Mrs. Zhou suddenly understood, considering Mu Yuanjing’s mouth, Madam Wu not being able to eat was naturally reasonable.

Mrs. Zhou didn’t enter to disturb Madam Wu’s rest, instead walking slowly with Mrs. Lu towards Jingshui Hall.

Along the way, the two chatted intermittently about Du Yunluo’s pregnancy.

"Only two months left, but it’s uncertain about Lian Xiao’s wife’s health." Mrs. Lu sighed.

Mrs. Zhou smiled faintly, saying: "With her family watching, I’m somewhat reassured. I reckon Lindong’s New Year gifts should be arriving soon; when they do, I’ll inquire carefully."

Mrs. Zhou invited Mrs. Lu inside to sit, sending the others out, and asked: "What exactly did Yuanjing say to Old Madam?"

Mrs. Lu glanced at Mrs. Zhou with difficulty.

Mu Yuanjing’s words sought only to provoke—hearing them would certainly discomfort Mrs. Zhou.

Moreover, she promised Madam Wu not to spread those words recklessly.

But Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Zhou were generally close, and after some consideration, she said: "She talked about Lian Kang’s affairs, about the matters of the first and second branches."

Mrs. Zhou’s smile froze.