Su Xin was immediately captivated by the Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast upon first sight, but after some time, her fascination faded, replaced by a worried expression on her little face.
"Xin'er, don't you like it?" Mu Yunxuan anxiously asked his daughter.
"Not really," Su Xin shook her head, although her eyes remained fixed on the Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast.
Mu Yunxuan couldn't understand why Xin'er shook her head when it was clear she liked the divine beast.
Su Zimo also found it strange. Xin'er clearly had an interest in the Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast, so why was her expression...
"You guys! You don't know. Xin'er can't cultivate Xuan Qi, but she already possesses the cultivation of the Initial Xuan Period within her body. So, it might be a little difficult for her to form a contract with this Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast," Li Zifu expressed his worries and straightforwardly stated the situation.
Su Zimo's heart was instantly shattered.
"Xin'er, you've been secretly cultivating Xuan Qi?" Su Zimo's tone suddenly grew intense, her anger unable to be concealed.
"Lady, you're scaring Xin'er like this," Mu Yunxuan looked at Su Xin with distress. It was a good thing that Xin'er could cultivate, and as for the other issues, Uncle Junior would handle them.
But Su Zimo's anger soared as she exclaimed, "Shut up! What do you know? With Xin'er's physical condition, she shouldn't be practicing Xuan Qi at all. If she experiences a backlash, it could severely harm her!"
She clearly knew about Xin'er's physical condition, yet she was still being deceived, and her heart was on the verge of collapse.
"Mother, please don't be angry. Xin'er overheard your conversation with Grandpa Mo and Grandpa Bai. They both said that Xin'er could try cultivating Xuan Qi. If successful, Xin'er's condition would gradually improve. Xin'er has only recently started cultivating and has reached the first stage of the Initial Xuan Period. Xin'er is already very satisfied. If Xin'er succeeds, you won't have to worry about me and my illness anymore. I know that you can't sleep well every day because of me. Grandma Mo went out and only managed to find six silver grasses. I don't want to burden you anymore, so I wanted to get better quickly, secretly cultivating Xuan Qi. Xin'er..." Su Xin's voice choked up, tears streaming down her pitiful face. She believed that this was the only way to prevent her mother from getting angry. She had already thought it through. Once her mother found out about her cultivation, she would say this, and her mother would soften and not punish her.
"Xin'er, do you understand the consequences? Do you want to make your mother even sadder and more worried about you?" Su Zimo's expression remained stern, and her anger had not dissipated. The cunning face of Qi'er suddenly flashed in her mind. When Qi'er diagnosed Xin'er's pulse, it was impossible for him not to notice her cultivation of Xuan Qi. She would deal with him later.
Seeing her mother's expression, Su Xin secretly worried that she had burdened her second brother.
"Mother, please don't be angry. Xin'er won't dare to do it again," Su Xin lowered her gaze, understanding her mother's helplessness and the anger in her heart. But she truly didn't want her mother to worry about her. She wanted to recover quickly.
"Girl, it's already happened, it's too late to dwell on it. Let's talk about something else," Li Zifu intervened, curious about another matter. But as soon as this little guy woke up, he clamored to find his mother, leaving no time for questioning.
"Uncle Junior, please go ahead," Su Zimo maintained her stern expression.
"In my opinion, Xin'er should have taken at least five days to wake up, but she woke up in less than two days. Moreover, the silkworm ice within her body has been removed. However..." Li Zifu paused, building suspense.
"What is it?" Su Zimo's nerves were on edge.
"The method used to help Xin'er recover is quite peculiar. In my opinion, with Xin'er's physique, it would have been impossible for her to survive without exceptional medical skills. Can you tell me, who is that person?" Li Zifu asked, hoping to uncover the truth.
Su Zimo's heart sank. As long as it wasn't related to Xin'er's illness, everything could be resolved.
"One of those people is my master, and the other is the master of Qi'er and Que'er," Su Zimo disclosed, unable to share further details.
"Who are Li'er and Qi'er?" Li Zifu seemed to have missed that part.
"Who else could they be? They are my two sons, Mu Yunxuan's sons," Mu Yunxuan proudly declared.
"Your sons?" Li Zifu's eyes widened. "So, besides Xin'er, you have two sons. Who are the mothers of those two?"
Su Zimo: "..." Mu Yunxuan's eyes flashed, hoping to avoid such misleading comments at this moment.
"Well, they are triplets," Su Zimo clarified, not wanting Li Zifu to make unfounded assumptions.
"Triplets?" Li Zifu was shocked, his gaze fixed on Mu Yunxuan. Could this man really be blessed with triplet sons?
However, Su Zimo regarded Mu Yunxuan with skeptical eyes, not fully convinced by his explanation.
Mu Yunxuan's eyebrows raised, and he quickly clarified, "My lady, I swear on my honor that you are the only woman in my life."
"What did I ask again? Why are you in such a hurry to explain?" Su Zimo's brows furrowed, though she felt a sense of satisfaction in her heart knowing that she was his only woman.
"You two, are you bringing me back with you this time?" Li Zifu, still finding it hard to believe, hadn't seen Xuan'er in over a month, and the world seemed to have changed.
"If that's what you wish!" Mu Yunxuan didn't see any inconvenience in bringing his uncle back to Cloud City. The city was vast, and his uncle could live wherever he wanted.
"Xin'er, Daddy will help you form the contract now, and this Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast will be your companion in the future," Mu Yunxuan said softly, looking at his daughter affectionately.
Su Zimo gently placed Su Xin on the ground.
She was also overjoyed at the prospect of her daughter forming a contract with a divine beast.
"Thank you, Daddy!" Su Xin replied sweetly.
With excitement in her eyes, Su Xin approached the Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast, which had a beautiful white coat and enchanting pink eyes.
"Daddy, look, it's looking at me," Su Xin exclaimed with joy.
"Xin'er, come here. It will be yours from now on. It's still at the early Xuan period, and you can cultivate alongside it," Mu Yunxuan said, his voice filled with pride.
Su Xin happily took hold of the Snow Spirit Fox Divine Beast. It nestled into her arms, seeming to favor her greatly.
"Daddy, Mother, it likes me so much. It keeps rubbing against me," Su Xin said with a sweet smile. She was delighted to receive its affection and even more delighted to openly call Mu Yunxuan "Daddy."
Could Su Zimo perceive the thoughts in her daughter's heart? She knew that once Su Xin acknowledged Mu Yunxuan, it would be difficult for her to keep a low profile in the future. According to the Mu family's customs, she was already Mu Yunxuan's wife, even in death. Su Zimo anticipated having a serious conversation with Mu Yunxuan, as she feared he might suddenly appear before her while she was bathing.
"Mu Yunxuan, we need to talk," Su Zimo declared, walking toward the courtyard entrance without waiting for his agreement.
"Xin'er, you can play with the Snow Spirit Fox and Grandpa Li for now. Daddy needs to go out," Mu Yunxuan said, pinching his daughter's small, pink cheeks, his heart melting.
"Daddy, please coax Mother a lot. Mother is very reasonable, and she is more receptive to gentle words than forceful ones. Daddy, you need to be gentle in your approach so that Mother can forgive you sooner," Su Xin pleaded, hoping that her parents could reconcile. She and her brothers loved their father very much and didn't want to see them separated.
"Daddy will listen to Xin'er," Mu Yunxuan agreed, looking at Li Zifu before quickly walking out.
Su Zimo stood outside the courtyard, gazing at the beautiful scenery, feeling a sense of relief in her heart.
"Madam, what would you like to discuss?" Mu Yunxuan knew that their interactions over the past two days had changed her attitude toward him, igniting a glimmer of hope in his heart.
"Mu Yunxuan, let's be straightforward. I, Su Zimo, won't beat around the bush. We have no history together and don't know each other well. Like you said, let's give each other a chance..."
"As long as you give me a chance, I believe that one day you will fall in love with me," Mu Yunxuan eagerly interrupted, holding onto the hope that she would give him a chance.
"Then let's make a deal! Give each other a chance to get to know one another. If you can outperform me in the paper, jewelry, wine, and fabric shops in the capital of the Haoyue Kingdom in the second half of the year, I'll give you an even bigger surprise," Su Zimo proposed.
Mu Yunxuan furrowed his brows, puzzled by the connection to business matters. "Lady, it's good to make money and have a husband. You don't need to worry about the business. You can focus on teaching our children in Cloud City."
Although he was intrigued by Su Zimo's idea, he didn't want her to expose herself to the public. He couldn't bear to see such a beautiful woman risking her safety.
Su Zimo turned around abruptly and looked at Mu Yunxuan intently.
"Mu Yunxuan, that's exactly why we can't be together. Throughout history, women were expected to prioritize their domestic roles, but I, Su Zimo, am different. I have my own aspirations..."
"Husband, if you understand what I mean, then do as I say. I don't want you to stop me. If I want to do it, I hope you'll support me," Su Zimo said, surprised by Mu Yunxuan's open-mindedness.
On the street, they overheard two women gossiping about the rumors. One woman said, "Have you heard the rumors? The owner of Bright Moon Villa has illegitimate children and had an affair with Prince Murong Shaofeng. It's only because of his support that the villa has achieved its success."
The other woman chimed in, "Yes, the rumors are spreading everywhere. It's such a shame. I wonder who those children really are."
Passerby A joined the conversation, saying, "Who knows? These rumors are getting out of control. Some people are just jealous of the villa's owner and want to tarnish her reputation."
Suzie, who had just arrived on the street, overheard the gossip. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Connecting her mother with Murong Shaofeng and revealing their true identities would have severe consequences for Bright Moon Villa and Cloud City. Ling Qiushui had made a grave mistake by provoking them.
Su Qi's face tensed, and he muttered to himself, "How dare they associate my mother with Uncle Murong? They even revealed his identity as a prince."
A determined look crossed his eyes as he clenched his fists. They had already discovered their mother's true identity, and these rumors were meant to discredit her. If they associated her with Su Zimo, it would inevitably lead to the revelation of their Mu family bloodline. Ling Qiushui must pay for her actions.
Su Qi quickly formulated a plan in his mind and whispered something to Qinglian, who hurriedly left.
"Aunt Qinghe, go to the city gate and wait," Su Qi instructed, his voice filled with determination.
Although hesitant, Qinghe followed his orders and made her way to the city gate, where she began loudly announcing an exciting show to attract a crowd.
Meanwhile, Su Qi, along with Shao Yu and Tianji, hurried through the streets, moving swiftly towards their destination.
On the street, there was a loud conversation between Passerby A and someone they knew. Passerby A exclaimed, "Oh no! Have you heard the scandal? The owner of Bright Moon Villa supposedly had children outside of marriage, and it's said that she is involved romantically with the prince of Xingyue Country. People are attributing her success in business to her relationship with Prince Murong Shaofeng."
Passerby B, with a smug expression, added, "Oh, you don't know? This gossip is spreading everywhere, and it's hard to escape it! It's truly shameful. Can you believe those three children still have no idea about their true identities?"
Passerby A responded with a hint of suspicion, "What are you talking about? Who told you all this? I recall encountering someone before who wanted to defame the owner of Mingyue Villa. It seems some jealous individuals in this area are trying to slander her."
Passerby A's voice seemed somewhat familiar, reminiscent of the woman who sold rouge and cosmetics the other day.
Meanwhile, Su Qi had just arrived on the street, where he overheard the intense gossiping between two nearby women. Another woman, who was listening in, taunted the two gossiping women for speaking ill of others.
Su Qi furrowed his brow and muttered, "How could my mother be involved with Uncle Murong? And they even revealed Uncle Murong's identity as a prince."
Su Qi bit his lower lip tightly, realizing that they were aware of his mother's true identity. They were willing to offend Uncle Murong rather than reveal that his mother was Su Zimo.
However, there was another possibility: that person already knew their true identities as mother and son. These rumors were merely an attempt to tarnish their mother's name. If they spread rumors connecting her to Su Zimo, everyone would associate her with that marriage. Then, the truth about them being descendants of the Mu family would be exposed to the world. Once Bright Moon Villa and Cloud City became involved, who would dare to spread such rumors? The woman in red must be Ling Qiushui. Ling Qiushui, you're finished. Did she really think the moth flying into the flame was an ordinary insect?
Qinghe, unable to contain her anger, glared fiercely at the two gossiping women, yearning to tear their mouths apart.
"Aunt Qinghe! Appearances can be deceiving. In the capital of Haoyue Kingdom, with so many people around, Aunt Qinglian, please come here," Su Qi said, gesturing to Qinglian to lower herself.
Without hesitation, Qinglian quickly bent down as instructed.
Su Qi whispered a few words into Qinglian's ear, and upon hearing them, Qinglian hurriedly left.
"Aunt Qinghe, you go to the city gate and wait," Su Qi instructed as he walked with short steps and a cheerful smile.
"Qi'er, what are you planning to do? Should Aunt Qinghe accompany you?" Qinghe expressed her unease.
"Hmm!" Su Qi pondered for a moment, tilting her head. "Aunt Qinghe, it's better if you lead a group of people to the city gate. Just say there's an exciting spectacle to witness, and I will return."
With that, Su Qi swiftly disappeared from Qinghe's sight, leaving her with no choice but to shout loudly to both sides of the street.
"Everyone, head to the city gates! There's a fantastic show waiting for you!" Qinghe shouted, attracting the attention of many bystanders who loved to join in on the excitement. As they looked at each other, they decided to head towards the city gate.
Meanwhile, Su Qi's small figure ran from the direction of Cloud City.
In another courtyard belonging to Murong Shaofeng, Murong Xingchen hurriedly burst into his room.
"Brother Huang, it's not good! The streets are filled with rumors about you and the owner of Bright Moon Villa," Murong Xingchen exclaimed urgently.
Murong Shaofeng calmly took a sip of tea before responding.
Observing his calm demeanor, Murong Xingchen became even more anxious. "Brother Huang, aren't you concerned? These rumors outside are ugly. They suggest that the owner of Moon Mountain Villa is involved with you, and Bright Moon Villa's success is solely due to your support. Perhaps those three children..."
Murong Xingchen looked at her royal brother with suspicion.
Murong Shaofeng replied nonchalantly, "They are merely lifting the main palace."
There was no further discussion, but Murong Shaofeng gazed out the window, a trace of peculiar emotion flickering in his eyes.