In the grand hall of the Mu Family, Mu Qing was already sitting with a displeased face at the head seat, with Mu Tingting and Mu Yixue sitting next to him.
Seeing Mu Ruyue finally arrive late, Mu Yixue had a smug smile on her lips, watching her with schadenfreude. In contrast, Mu Tingting, dressed in an orange silk skirt, was comforting Mu Qing, advising him not to blame Mu Ruyue.
"Sister Ting'er, you are just too kind," Mu Yixue snorted coldly through her nose when she saw Mu Tingting constantly speaking well of Mu Ruyue, "It's because of your kindness that you get bullied. Have you forgotten how she treated you the day before yesterday? She pointed at your nose and called you an adopted daughter. Even though Sister Ting'er is an adopted daughter, how much prestige has she brought to our Mu Family? Which young master in all of Feng City doesn't praise Sister Ting'er? Unlike some people who eat and live in the Feng Family but have no practical use, yet they are the legitimate daughters of the Mu Family. If Sister Ting'er were my blood sister, my life would be fulfilled."
"Xue'er!" Mu Tingting's face carried a hint of reproach, but her eyes couldn't hide her pride, "After all, she is still your sister, born of the same mother. Don't go too far."
"But I would rather that mother gave birth to Sister Ting'er!"
Mu Yixue pouted slightly aggrievedly. The fact that Sister Ting'er was scolding her for that waste made her hate Mu Ruyue even more.
It so happened that this waste was heartless. Sister Ting'er was so good to her, yet she was still clinging to the Heir of Jing King. She didn't even consider if she was worthy of him.
From beginning to end, Mu Ruyue crossed her arms and watched the scene quietly, with an icy smile at the corners of her lips, neither anxious nor impatient.
This made Mu Tingting a bit puzzled. With her usual temper, she would have probably made a scene by now.
"Is there something you need?" Mu Ruyue raised an eyebrow indifferently, her voice tinged with the laziness of someone not yet fully awake, "If there's nothing, I'll go back to my room."
Mu Qing's face darkened further, "Is this how you speak to your father?"
"Oh? Then how should I address you?"
"You..." Mu Qing's face turned green with anger. This girl was truly out of control!
"Father, calm down," Mu Tingting quickly helped Mu Qing soothe his anger, then she looked up at the impatient-looking girl at the door, and said reproachfully, "Sister, Father is also concerned about you. He heard that you went to take the talent test at the Testing Hall yesterday, so..."
"Ting'er," Mu Qing pushed Mu Tingting's hand away, his expression cold and somber, "Stop speaking for this rebellious girl! Mu Ruyue, do you know what they said when I had dinner with those officials last night? They said you were shameless. A person in their teens going to take a talent test with a group of four- or five-year-olds. Clearly, you are a waste yet refuse to believe it. Even if you took the test a hundred times, you would still be a waste! Why don't you think about your father for once? Your actions make others mock me. I have raised you all these years, and instead of showing gratitude, you try every possible way to humiliate me!"
After saying these words in one breath, Mu Qing took a deep breath.
Until now, he still felt his face burning with shame. Having such a wasteful and unruly daughter was the greatest humiliation of his life.
"Are you finished? If so, I'll go back to my room."
Mu Ruyue yawned. She would rather go back to cultivating than listen to Mu Qing's lecture here.
Seeing the girl turn to leave, Mu Qing's face grew even darker. Though Mu Ruyue had been a waste before, she at least listened to him. What had changed now?
Even a waste knew how to resist?
"Father, let me handle this." Mu Tingting furrowed her delicate brows. Though she wanted to see Mu Ruyue get scolded, there was something more important.
"Sister, Father is waiting for you here not just for that matter. There was a summons from the Imperial Palace just now. You and Father are to go to the palace immediately to meet the Emperor."
Suddenly, Mu Ruyue stopped, her delicate brows furrowing slightly...