And Jun Lantian's embarrassing scene was observed by Mu Yunxuan, who was concealed in the shadows.
The stench from that manure was still lingering even from such a distance.
Mu Yunxuan had a feeling that he should return here when he noticed something off about Qi'er's gaze as he left. He felt a sense of unease in his heart, so he turned back. He intended to go to Bright Moon Villa again, but unexpectedly, he saw Su Li passing by above his head, seemingly lost in thought. He decided to follow Su Li back to Su Mansion.
Mu Yunxuan glanced at the direction where his two sons had left and shook his head in secret. These two little guys had quite cunning methods. Who would have thought they would come up with something as audacious as dung? It showed how much they despised Jun Lantian!
As he watched the black shadow depart from another location, Mu Yunxuan's eyes flashed with a hint of bloodthirst. He swiftly flew after the shadow.
Once the shadow left the city, without hesitation, Mu Yunxuan swiftly eliminated the assassin.
However, in the darkness of the night, Mu Yunxuan didn't notice a crystal-clear white insect crawling out from above the head of the person he had just killed.
His eyes shifted towards Cloud City, and a bloodthirsty glint flickered in his eyes. He cast a cold glance once again before flying towards Cloud City.
Mu Yunxuan arrived at the door, where Qing Feng was already waiting.
Seeing Mu Yunxuan's return, Qing Feng greeted him. "Holy Lord, Madam and the Old Holy Lord have a request!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunxuan's face remained expressionless. "Let's go!"
Arriving at the main hall, his family and Ling Qiushui were already there.
"Xuan'er, I heard that you didn't return home the night before last and spent the entire day today at Bright Moon Villa. What were you doing? Is a married woman with three children so captivating to you? Do you not care about having a stable home? What do you want?" Jun Zixi started counting indiscriminately as soon as Mu Yunxuan entered the room.
Mu Yunxuan shot a sharp glance at Ling Qiushui.
Ling Qiushui furrowed her brows slightly, wondering why he was looking at her like that. Could it be... impossible? She had been discreet in everything she did. Perhaps he thought that she would be on the receiving end of his gaze if she mentioned anything in front of Madam.
"How did my mother find out that I went to Bright Moon Villa?" Mu Yunxuan spoke coldly.
Ling Qiushui's eyes flickered, not expecting Mu Yunxuan to dig deep into the matter. After all, Mu Yunhan had also gone, and he was here, but he asked such a question. Clearly, he had already made up his mind that it wasn't Mu Yunhan who had revealed the information. Moreover, the cold gaze he gave upon entering the room indicated that he might have known!
Deep down, Mu Yunxuan had no doubts about Mu Yunhan. He knew Yunhan wouldn't have said anything, and they understood their mother's temperament very well.
"Xuan'er, no matter who informed your mother, just answer her question. Did you go to Bright Moon Villa?"
As Mu Yunxuan remained silent, his gaze grew colder, and the atmosphere in the room became tense.
Ling Qiushui fidgeted and approached Mu Yunxuan, speaking softly, "Holy Lord, it's like this. Shui'er went to the market with Yue'er this morning and saw you and the Second Prince heading towards Bright Moon Villa. Shui'er and Yue'er followed, and when we returned, I mentioned it to Madam. Shui'er didn't expect Madam to be so opposed to you going to Bright Moon Villa. It's all my fault for telling her, which made Madam worried." Ling Qiushui feigned a puzzled expression and wore a look of grievances on her beautiful face.
Mu Yunyue glanced at Ling Qiushui with suspicion. Why did she feel like she was being used? She didn't say anything, so why did Sister Qiushui inform their mother? After all, their mother had insulted the owner of Bright Moon Villa in front of everyone during the previous incident, and she held an extremely negative impression of him. Shouldn't Sister Qiushui have considered this and refrained from telling their mother? By doing this, she would only face backlash, and it would make Mu Yunxuan resent her even more.
Mu Yunhan's mouth slightly opened. Ling Qiushui's behavior seemed too contrived. Who was she trying to convince with that aggrieved expression?
Unconsciously, Mu Yunhan's resentment towards Ling Qiushui deepened.
"Sister Qiushui, don't be upset. It's not your fault in the first place," Mu Yunfan couldn't bear it anymore and stood up to defend Ling Qiushui.
"Big brother, how can you say that? What's so good about the owner of Bright Moon Villa? He hides behind a mask and doesn't dare to show himself. How can he compare to the gentle and lovely Sister Qiushui...!"
"Enough!" Mu Yunxuan coldly interrupted Mu Yunfan, his gaze sending shivers down Mu Yunfan's spine. His elder brother's eyes were too chilling.
Mu Yufeng observed Mu Yunxuan thoughtfully. His son's behavior was highly unusual, and he needed to understand the reasons behind it.
"Xuan'er, why are you scaring Fan'er? He's right. It seems that I don't need to consult your opinion, Xuan'er. I will choose an auspicious day for you and Qiushui to consummate your marriage."
Mu Yufeng's words were astonishing.
"Mother, that can't be done. You must also consider Yunhan's feelings...?"
"Shut up! Why should I consider your eldest brother's feelings? At this rate, he'll be completely infatuated with that married woman from Bright Moon Villa."
Mu Yufeng's beautiful eyes turned cold, and she couldn't help but cast a stern gaze at Mu Yunhan. Her two sons dared to talk back to her now, and they still regarded her as their mother.
"Mother, how does this concern the owner of Bright Moon Villa? He hasn't done anything wrong. Why are you placing the blame on others?"
Mu Yunhan retorted loudly, feeling aggrieved on behalf of Su Zimo.
"Han'er, are you being insolent...?"
"There's no need for further discussion, Mother. If you want this woman to get married, I have no objections. However, I won't be the groom. As for who the groom will be, you'll have to find a way. I've already been married once, and I won't do it again."
After speaking, Mu Yunxuan turned and left without looking back.
"Xuan'er, Xuan'er..."
Mu Yufeng angrily chased after him to the door.
Ling Qiushui clasped her hands and said, "Madam, there's no rush in this matter. After all, Qiushui is also in Cloud City. Let them cultivate their relationship further!"
Seeing his son's determination, Mu Yufeng realized that he had no interest in Ling Qiushui, and as parents, they couldn't force it.
"And you," The lady glared at Mu Yufeng without backing down and stormed off in anger.
"Madam, let me accompany you back to your room to rest!" Ling Qiushui offered her blessing to Mu Yufeng and quickly went to catch up with Jun Zixi.
"Han'er, you go with your father to the study. Fan'er, Yue'er, you go back and rest."
"Okay!" Mu Yunfan reluctantly nodded.
Mu Yunhan followed Mu Yufeng to the study with a helpless expression.
Mu Yufeng's study was spacious, well-lit, and comfortable.
The floor was covered with luxurious wool carpets.
Mu Yufeng didn't beat around the bush and immediately got to the point after closing the door.
"Speak up! You and your older brother have been going to Bright Moon Villa frequently. What's going on?"
"Dad, what's there to explain? Doesn't older brother just want to do business with the owner of Bright Moon Villa?" Mu Yunhan didn't intend to reveal the truth. After all, his sister-in-law hadn't forgiven his older brother, and disclosing their identities to the world would only bring harm and trouble to her, considering their underworld marriage.
Moreover, Ling Qiushui's identity was becoming more and more suspicious, and his older brother hadn't revealed their identities to protect his sister-in-law and their child.
"Han'er, don't try to fool your father. I can see through your older brother's expression. Don't you think you can deceive me?" Mu Yufeng's expression suddenly turned serious. It was true that the saying "parents can see through their children" held weight, and he experienced it firsthand every day.
"Dad, please don't overthink it! There's really nothing going on. It's just a casual visit, and it's a good thing."
Mu Yunhan stood up, intending to leave.
However, Mu Yufeng made a sudden move and used his Xuan Power to trap Mu Yunhan, rendering his limbs immobile.
"Dad, what are you doing?"
Mu Yunhan tried to break free with his Xuan Power, but the restraints only grew stronger.
"You insist on making your father take action, don't you? Don't struggle in vain. I've locked your Xuanli, and if you don't explain everything today, you'll be standing and sleeping like this all night."
Mu Yufeng smiled, seemingly unfazed by the idea of disciplining his son. After all, a child needed discipline from time to time.
"Dad, aren't you embarrassed?"
Mu Yunhan looked embarrassed. If his father knew about the existence of three grandchildren, would he still be able to stay calm? He had a feeling that his father would fly to Bright Moon Villa in the next moment if he revealed the truth.
"You think I'm embarrassed? Well then, if you don't speak, don't blame me for leaving you on the top cliff to accompany our ancestors."
Mu Yufeng threatened.
"Dad, you'll find out in a month or two. Why are you putting your son in such an embarrassing situation now?"
Mu Yunhan was speechless. His father also had a childish side to him.
"You don't want to speak, do you? Fine, then I'll take you to the top cliff to enjoy the breeze."
Mu Yufeng said, preparing to make a move.
Mu Yunhan looked terrified. The top cliff was where the deceased members of the Mu family were buried, and the stories about it were horrifying. If he spent another night there, he might go insane by morning.
"Don't! Dad, I'll tell you, but you have to keep it a secret. Otherwise, my older brother will definitely kill me."
"Is it that serious?" Mu Yufeng raised an eyebrow.
"Do you think I'm joking, Dad?"
Mu Yunhan felt a bit angry. His father had never been so difficult to deal with.
"Go ahead. I promise not to tell anyone."
Mu Yunhan looked at his father with a mix of disbelief and relief. He didn't doubt his father's trustworthiness, but...
"Aren't you going to say it?"
Mu Yufeng was getting impatient.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you."
Mu Yunhan relented. His father was determined to know the truth tonight, even if it meant facing his older brother's anger.
"The owner of Bright Moon Villa is Su Zimo, and those three children are my older brother's."
Mu Yufeng was shocked, his mouth agape.
"Is there a misunderstanding? Su Zimo is still alive, but how did those children come about? Are they really my older brother's?"
Mu Yufeng couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Dad, your questions are the same as ours, but those children are indeed my older brother's. Xin'er is not in good health and survived thanks to Nanyang Jade's Jade Soul. My older brother didn't pay attention to Nanyang Jade, but just by looking at Qi'er and Li'er, it's obvious they are his children."
"Yes! No wonder I felt a sense of familiarity when I saw the two brothers. They're my grandsons! Hehe! Han'er, let's go to Bright Moon Villa. My grandsons are remarkable!"
Mu Yufeng was clearly overjoyed, oblivious to the late hour.
"Dad, didn't you promise to keep it a secret? Going to Bright Moon Villa so openly and at this hour, if Mom finds out, and if Ling Qiushui..."
Mu Yunhan informed his father about the events that occurred before and after.
After listening to Mu Yunhan, Mu Yufeng gradually calmed down, and then the father and son engaged in a lengthy conversation...
Early the next morning.
Su Zimo was half-asleep when she heard Qinghe's hurried footsteps.
"Owner, owner, something incredible has happened... Hurry up, owner."
Annoyed, Su Zimo turned over and tried to continue sleeping. What could be so important? Unless it involved an incident at her Bright Moon Villa, she didn't want to be disturbed.
Yesterday, she spent the whole day preparing meals, which left her with a sore back and deprived her of much-needed sleep. Xin'er woke up three times during the night, and she was still drowsy.
Then there were those ambiguous words Mu Yunxuan whispered into her ear before leaving.
Damn it, she couldn't believe she lost sleep over Mu Yunxuan's words. The whole night was restless because of him.
The thought irritated Su Zimo to no end.
After a night of restlessness, she had gone to bed very late and was trying to catch up on her sleep now!
Qinghe pushed the door open and saw Su Zimo covering her head with a quilt, desperately trying to continue sleeping.
Next to her, Xin'er slept soundly.
Qinghe found Su Zimo's actions quite amusing. She lifted the quilt and called out, "Owner, what time is it? You can't keep sleeping! There are people from the palace. Did you forget? Today, three days later, the emperor intends to reward Xin'er."
Unmoved by Qinghe's words, Su Zimo replied, "That's Quercus's concern. Let her handle it herself."
"Owner, it's not just that. This morning, all the members of the Su family, young and old, were arrested. The accusation is that Su Ziyun and other men were caught red-handed by the three princes and tried to assassinate them. The entire city is in an uproar."
Qinghe narrated the incident, certain that the owner would be unable to sleep after hearing about it.
As expected, Su Zimo got up, looked at Qinghe, and felt extremely frustrated. How had the world turned upside down overnight?
But what did the Su Mansion matter to her? She had always wished for misfortune to befall them. Now that something had finally happened, she wanted to play with them, and it was just the beginning. They were in for a tough time.
Furthermore, Su Ziyun getting close to other men and being personally seen by Jun Lintian... was it possible? Su Ziyun had lived her entire life for the sake of Jun Tiantian. Would she ruin herself by turning to other men?
Well, now they were in trouble. Killing a royal heir was a serious offense, and the Su family was now involved.
Su Zimo pondered the matter. Ever since she had harbored doubts in her heart that day, a vague idea had formed—that their three siblings were most likely not the biological children of the Su family. Su Weichen had a plain appearance, and it could be argued that Su Ziyun and Su Fangxu resembled him to some extent. However, none of the three siblings resembled him, and their appearances were quite remarkable.
"What are you thinking, Owner?"
"It's nothing. Is Jun Lintian dead?"
Compared to anyone else, Su Zimo wished the worst for the scoundrel Jun Lintian.
"He woke up this morning, but after waking up, he smelled something foul on himself and fainted again. It alarmed the emperor, and he's still at the Three Kings' Mansion."
"Foul smell?" Su Zimo was taken aback. How repugnant did he have to smell to make people faint?
Ignoring the trouble, Su Zimo went back to sleep.
"Qinghe, you and Qinglian go ahead to welcome the palace delegation. Also, bring more silver. Those yapping servants won't keep quiet if they see Quercus's bad attitude. I'll wait for Hao Xin'er to wake up before I come."
Su Zimo slowly got out of bed.
"Okay, but please come quickly, Owner."
"Hmm!"
Su Zimo nodded. She led a pitiful life, and her laziness had nothing to do with her current situation.
Before Su Zimo arrived, the palace delegates read the imperial decree, received the silver, and left.
Su Li was named a prodigy of the Haoyue Kingdom and was rewarded with some gold and silver jewelry. Notices were posted on the city's imperial lists, announcing the fact to every household.
Did Su Zimo care about this? The emperor was someone who cared about appearances, and this reward meant nothing to her.
However, the unexpected trouble that befell the Su family made her suspicious. Something felt off, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Zhenguo Mansion was grand and magnificent, with two lifelike stone lions guarding the entrance.
As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a scene of splendor and luxury.
Red walls, green tiles, intricately carved beams and paintings, golden embellishments on the beams and columns—the entire Zhenguo Mansion exuded an air of majesty and grandeur.
Hongyuan is the courtyard where Ji Hong resides. Currently recuperating in a hospital bed, Ji Hong heard the news that Su Li had been hailed as a prodigy. Anger and unwillingness surged in her heart. Her proud title had been snatched away by Su Li, who was five years younger. How could she accept this?
With her uncle and aunt still absent, there was nothing Ji Hong and her grandfather could do at the moment. Once she recovered from her injury, she vowed to cultivate diligently and reclaim her position as a prodigy.
In Cloud City, Qing Feng updated everyone on the situation outside while Mu Yunxuan and his family were having breakfast.
Upon hearing Qing Feng's words, everyone, except Mu Yunxuan, was taken aback.
It seemed like the world had changed overnight.
"Xuan'er, Lintian is your cousin after all. He fainted all night and fainted again now. You'll be busy for a while. Go and check on Lintian, you understand?" Jun Zixi put down her utensils, expressing her disinterest in the Su family and Su Li's affairs. She only cared about the people close to her.
"Hmm!" Mu Yunxuan nodded.
"What is this? Why is the emperor so petty? He only granted the title of prodigy to Li'er. How can I let Li'er enter Xuanli Academy?" Mu Yufeng expressed dissatisfaction with the reward from the Haoyue Emperor.
Hearing this, Mu Yunhan felt his father was being overly protective of his grandson.
Mu Yunxuan's hand paused slightly, and he glared sharply at Mu Yunhan.
"Huh! Eldest brother..."
Mu Yunhan forced a fake smile, feeling uneasy. He didn't want to say it, but his father had threatened him. The eldest brother wasn't afraid of the ancestors on the cliff, but he was afraid!
Mu Yunxuan's gaze pierced through Mu Yunhan, clearly indicating that it was Mu Yunhan who couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Do you think anyone can enter Xuanli Academy? It was specifically established for the royal family's children and those from prestigious families. Bright Moon Villa is just a small place, and Su Li has no father or influential background. What qualifications does he have to enter Xuanli Academy?" Jun Zixi sneered, observing how everyone leaned toward Bright Moon Villa, which fueled her anger.
"Nonsense! Are you saying those three children appeared out of thin air without a father?" Mu Yufeng suddenly retorted against his wife's words.
Jun Zixi looked at Mu Yufeng, a perplexed expression on her face. What had gotten into him today? Why was he always siding with the people from Bright Moon Villa?
"I'm full," Mu Yunxuan declared, placing his utensils down and leaving.
"Mother, Han'er is also full. Han'er will leave first," Mu Yunhan hastily explained.
Mu Yufeng's eyes darted around.
"Zixi, I'm also full. Take your time with your meal."
Mu Yufeng hurriedly followed suit and left.