0p0 Chapter 177 Too shameless!
Chapter 177 Too shameless!
Upon hearing this, Mu Xin Nuan narrowed her eyes. Her eyes, which were originally clear and beautiful like water, now looked cold and stern, causing the servants present to involuntarily tense up. This young lady was known for her kind heart, so why did she look so cold and aloof at this moment?
“This marble screen is extremely rare and very valuable. If you place it like this, what if it gets bumped or damaged? This is Mother’s dowry. If it is broken, all of you combined probably couldn’t afford to pay for it.”
Mu Xin Nuan's voice wasn't loud, and her tone was very gentle, but the words she uttered made all the servants present turn pale!
This was the lady's dowry, but now the old lady wants them to send it to the second master's courtyard, which is really too much.
One of the older servants, who seemed to be the old lady's confidant, quickly said with a smile, "Don't worry, Miss. Since it was the old lady's order, we servants will be careful and meticulous. We would never dare to damage it."
Mu Xin Nuan glanced at him again and saw his two small eyes rolling around happily. After hearing what he had just said, she knew that he was the old lady's man. Otherwise, he would not have reminded her again and again that this was the old lady's order!
Is he trying to use the old lady to pressure him?
Mu Xin Nuan was disdainful in her heart, but her smile became even gentler. "Isn't Father's study just ahead? You can carry it to Father's study first, and I'll take a closer look. It really comes from the Zhenguo General's Mansion, so we can't be careless. Even if Second Uncle and Second Aunt come back in the future and find that this thing is damaged, won't they be angry with Mother? At that time, who will remember who sent it? They'll only remember that it's Mother's thing, and they'll think that Mother deliberately sent them a broken one."
When the servant saw that the young lady's attitude was firm, although her smile remained unchanged, he realized that she had been emphasizing that the screen belonged to the madam and had even mentioned the Zhenguo General's Mansion, which they could not afford to offend. So the servant had no choice but to agree and carry the screen to the master's study.
At that time, Mu Chang'an was still in the procession of officials welcoming the Fourth Prince's triumphant return and was not at home at all. Mu Xin Nuan's words were merely to give the old lady a way out.
If she were to simply confiscate the items or have them returned to the storeroom, she might incur criticism from others, since filial piety is of paramount importance!
Mu Xin Nuan stayed in the study, since she came here almost every day anyway. After carefully examining the marble screen, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"Sister, isn't Grandmother going too far? She's actually using Mother's things to curry favor with that second aunt. Isn't that a bit unfair?"
Mu Xin Nuan glanced at Mu Qing Xuan, who was frowning and displeased, and slightly curled the corners of her lips. "Such valuable things are not something she can just give away as she pleases! Besides, this is the capital. Even if the old lady dares to give them away, do you think our second uncle and second aunt would really dare to accept them?"
Mu Qingxuan blinked. "What do you mean by that, sister?"
"Since the old lady dared to have this moved over, she was obviously prepared. This thing is too conspicuous. Even if we didn't find it today, Mother will definitely discover it someday. So, she clearly did this on purpose."
Mu Qingxuan scratched his head, somewhat confused.
"If you can't figure it out, don't bother. You'll find out later." Mu Xin Nuan said with a light smile. "However, the old lady probably didn't expect us to come back so early, and we just happened to run into her. It's quite a coincidence today. Otherwise, if Mother saw it later, it would already be in the west wing. If Mother wanted to come back, she wouldn't know what to do, and if she didn't come back, she would feel frustrated."
"Sister, do you mean that Grandmother deliberately moved these things over there while we were away?"
"What do you think?"
Mu Xin Nuan smiled and glanced at him before saying, "That's enough. Don't say another word about what happened today. I will explain it to my father myself."
"I know, sister."
As soon as Mu Chang'an returned, he saw Mu Xin Nuan sitting at the table, engrossed in reading a collection of poems.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed the newly added marble screen in the study. Remembering what the steward had told him outside, his brow furrowed. It seemed the steward was right; his mother indeed intended to move it to the west wing without the household's knowledge.
Mu Xin Nuan noticed her father's return, put down her book, and then stood up to greet him, bowing respectfully. "Father, the steward must have mentioned this marble screen to you as well. I took the liberty of having it moved here. So, let's just place it in your study. Do you like the location I've arranged?"
Mu Chang'an couldn't help but take another look at this eldest daughter. From beginning to end, she hadn't mentioned the old lady once, nor had she said a single bad word about her! Her words didn't show any emotion of wholeheartedly protecting her mother. It seemed that this daughter really knew how to prioritize the big picture.
At least, this saved the old lady's face. If things got too tense, not only would the Mu family be in turmoil, but the servants would also have something to laugh at!
The mother-in-law forcibly took her daughter-in-law's dowry! If such rumors were to spread, it would ruin the reputation of the entire Mu family.
"If you think it's good, then it's good. But these are your mother's things. Weren't they supposed to be saved as your dowry?"
Mu Xin Nuan smiled faintly. It seemed that her father also knew that this was her mother's dowry. Fortunately, she had not made a big fuss about it, otherwise, her father would have felt embarrassed right now.
"Father, I have already obtained Mother's consent. When Ah Xuan went to tell Mother, she was with my younger brother while he was sleeping. I reckon he should be awake by now. Would you like to go to Jinyuan together to check on him?"
"Alright! You go first. I'll go to Rongyuan Hospital to pay my respects to your grandmother."
"Yes, father."
Mu Xin Nuan left the study, glancing towards Rong Yuan with a warm smile in her eyes, but a hint of coldness in her lips. She could understand her father's words, which were tactful, as he was probably going to have a good talk with the old lady.
The second branch of the family hasn't even returned to the capital yet, and they've already caused so much trouble. If they do return, who knows what kind of mess they'll make of the Mu family.
It's always best to prepare for things early. As for Mu Xinyao? Want to be the legitimate daughter? Don't even think about it!