Knock, knock, knock. The knocking on the door sounded again.
Mo Lian put down his chopsticks and signaled to Tong, who was standing beside him, with his eyes.
Tong immediately stepped forward, opened the door, and slightly shifted to the left, saying indifferently, "What is it?"
Mu Qingya stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Crown Prince, Crown Princess."
Mu Ruanxuan's face instantly became very unpleasant.
She always felt that her mother bowing to the little Crown Princess every time she saw her was very demeaning.
As the eldest madam of the Mu family, and Qiao Mu's stepmother, she shouldn't have to bow to this junior.
Furthermore, if Qiao Mu truly respected her mother, she would have told her to dispense with the courtesy before her mother even bowed.
But now?
She had to watch her mother complete the bow, then regard her with cold eyes.
Qiao Mu couldn't be bothered to look at Mu Ruanxuan's angry expression; no matter what she did, Mu Ruanxuan would always be dissatisfied with her.
Since that was the case, why bother caring?
Mu Qingya looked up and smiled faintly at Crown Prince Mo and Qiao Mu. "I apologize for the intrusion."
Lord Qiaoqiao looked up at her, her expression calm, and said, "It's difficult for Madam to have chased us all the way to Cai Die Xuan. May I ask what it's about?"
Mu Qingya smiled and said, "The Old Master and the Head of the Family were very happy to hear of the Crown Princess's return. They would like to invite the Crown Princess to stay for a few days at home."
"Coincidentally, the Old Master's birthday is approaching, and the Old Madam is also eagerly looking forward to meeting the Crown Princess," Mu Qingya said with a smile. "I thought, since the two elders at home are so sincerely inviting you, I would take the liberty to come and invite the Crown Princess back for a visit. I hope the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince will not mind."
So, she wanted to invite them back to the Mu family to stay, Qiao Mu thought, sweeping a faint glance at Mu Qingya.
"Of course, we'll return for the Old Master's birthday, but staying there is out of the question," Qiao Mu directly refused Mu Qingya.
She didn't want to go back to Mu Garden and feel annoyed everywhere.
Wasn't it better to live happily with Qiaoqiao's Lotus in the East Palace?
Why rush back to the Mu family?
"Crown Princess," Mu Qingya quickly urged, "The Old Madam has been missing you for a long time. For the sake of the Old Madam's longing for her granddaughter, the Crown Princess really should go home for a visit."
Qiao Mu sized up Mu Qingya, then curled her lips and suddenly said, "Don't I disgust you?"
Mu Qingya was taken aback, then quickly shook her head and said, "Crown Princess, what are you saying? You are originally a daughter of our Mu family, how could I..."
Qiao Mu raised a hand to stop her, gazing deeply at Mu Qingya.
Honestly, she had never truly understood the real thoughts in the heart of this eldest madam of the Mu family, from the day she returned until now.
Logically, as a stepmother, she should feel some discomfort towards the previous wife and wouldn't care much for the previous wife's children.
But Qiao Mu could never see through Mu Qingya. It seemed that not only did she not feel disgusted by her, but she also protected her in every way.
Why was this?
"Mother, if she doesn't want to go back, then she doesn't want to go back. Why do you insist on inviting her?" Mu Ruanxuan said angrily.
"Ruanxuan, shut up," Mu Qingya glanced at her daughter, frowning slightly. "You are becoming increasingly ill-mannered, with no respect for your elders."
"How have I taught you normally?"
"How dare you yell like this at the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's door?"
"Go back to the Buddhist hall for me. Carefully copy the family rules a hundred times. Don't come out until you're done."