Mu Ru raised her head to glance at Xi Muxue's stomach. She was seven weeks pregnant, but her stomach was flat as if she was not pregnant at all. With the way Xi Muxue stood, she looked like she was five to six months pregnant.
"Since the second young mistress is pregnant, then quickly go back to your room and sit down to rest," Mu Ru said plainly. She did not even look at Mu Xue. "We're watering the flowers here. It will be wet around here later. What if you slip and fall?"
"I have to go back quickly," Xi Muxue answered proudly. She then looked at Mu Ru, whose hands were covered in mud. She said, "Um, Mu Ru, just now, Aunt Gu said that it's a good thing sign that someone in the Dongfang family is pregnant and that I should go to the Dharma Temple to burn incense. Aunt Gu has already called Big Brother, and Big Brother also said that I should go—"
"That's your business. Why are you telling me this?" Mu Ru asked coldly. She thought it strange that Mu Xue would tell her all that. Mu Ru wondered whether pregnant women really acted or behaved strangely at some point. Whether she wanted to burn incense or make a petition to the gods—what did it have to do with her?
"You're the first young madam," Xi Muxue said in a softer tone as she walked closer to Mu Ru. With a sweet smile on her face, she said, "Mu Ru, you're my sister, and now, you're also my sister-in-law. I want to go to the Dharma Temple to burn incense and make a petition. Of course, I want you to accompany me."
Mu Ru looked back at Mu Xue coldly. She knew how sly and tricky and manipulative Mu Xue could be. Mu Ru felt that Mu Xue was simply trying to be nice to her because Ah Min was around. Otherwise, she was definitely up to something.
Of course, Mu Ru knew that Mu Xue was simply mocking her. It was as if she said, "So what if you, Xi Muru, are the first lady of this family? You aren't blessed with a child of your own because you're married to a eunuch, aren't you?"
Mu Ru felt like the fact that she had been demoted to a mere maid was slapped on her face. She felt like Mu Xue was intentionally mocking her and making her feel how pitiful it was that she was still her servant in spite being the first young madam of the Dongfang family.
Fortunately, Mu Ru was already used to Xi Muxue's tricks. She calmly replied, "I'm sorry. When you go to the Dharma Temple to burn incense tomorrow, your husband, Second Young Master Dongfang, should accompany you. I won't be a third wheel anymore."
"Aiyo, Sister-in-Law, what are you saying?" Xi Muxue said in an even gentler tone. "Just now, Aunt Gu told me that burning incense and petitioning is something that is handled by the family's mistress. Since you're the first young madam, that means you're also the Dongfang family's mistress. You'll definitely have to accompany me there...don't you think so?"
Mu Ru was stunned when she heard this. Just as she was about to reject Mu Xue again, she looked up and saw that Dongfang Mo was behind Xi Muxue.
She immediately understood that Xi Muxue's pretense was not for Ah Min to see, but for Dongfang Mo. It was probably to make Dongfang Mo believe that she was a gentle and virtuous lady. After all, because she had once refused to marry Dongfang Mo, he no longer had a good impression of her.
Before Mu Ru could say anything, Dongfang Mo said, "Second Sister-in-Law, you're right. Mu Ru, you're the mistress of the Dongfang family. You'll have to accompany Second Sister-in-Law to the Dharma Temple."