When Prince Jian saw the porcelain fragments scattered on the floor, a shiver ran down his spine. He looked up and saw a murderous glint in Lu Jingxing's eyes, as if they were laced with icy daggers.
The moment Wei Mingsang pulled Mu Wan Yun into his arms, she saw the shattered cup on the ground. A single thought consumed her: 'It's over!'
She pushed Wei Mingsang away and said anxiously, "Heir of Wei, you have the wrong person. I am Mu Wan Yun, not Wanruo."
Wei Mingsang released Mu Wan Yun and studied the woman before him. Her makeup and clothes were all Mu Wanruo's.
'How could I be mistaken when their faces are identical?'
"You are Wanruo. Wanruo, I would know you even if you were turned to ash. How could I be wrong?"
"I'm really not Mu Wanruo."
Mu Wan Yun was on the verge of tears from anxiety, keenly aware of the gossiping stares of the crowd and the murderous look Lu Jingxing was giving her. "I really am Mu Wan Yun! Prince Jian can vouch for me!"
Prince Jian spoke up. "Mingsang, you really have the wrong person. This is Mu Wan Yun, Mu Wanruo's half-sister."
Wei Mingsang shook his head, staring at the person before him. "How is that possible? Even Mu Qingyun and Mu Wanruo, who are fraternal twins, don't look this much alike."
"There is a clear distinction between the legitimate and illegitimate lines. How could these two have the exact same face?"
"You are Wanruo. Wanruo, I know you still hate me. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please forgive me, won't you?"
Listening to Wei Mingsang's words, Mu Wan Yun felt a pang of shared misery. However, she had no idea if he could ever win Mu Wanruo's forgiveness.
All she knew was that if Wei Mingsang kept pestering her like this, she would definitely never win her husband's forgiveness…
Mu Wan Yun said, "I am the Chief of the Clothing Bureau under the Palace Bureau. I must ask the Heir of Wei to conduct himself with dignity."
Madam Wei stepped in with a smile to smooth things over. "Chief Mu, please, come take your seat. It seems we're fated to meet. You can sit with me."
After sitting down next to Madam Wei, Mu Wan Yun didn't dare to even glance in Lu Jingxing's direction.
During the meal, she stared at the chicken leg before her, not daring to eat it.
Today, she finally, truly understood the feeling of being too distressed to swallow a single bite.
On the stage, dancers from the Chang'an Imperial Music Office swayed gracefully to the music. A woman in red, her face veiled, held a branch of red plum blossoms as she danced. But when the dancer's gaze fell upon the woman beside Madam Wei, her steps faltered.
The dancer's veil slipped, and Mu Wan Yun saw that it was Mu Wanyan, the very same sister who had called her a country bumpkin the moment they met.
Evidently, many guests in the crowd also recognized Mu Wanyan, and sighs of surprise rippled through them.
Mu Wan Yun overheard a titled lady beside her whisper:
"Although this Mu Wanyan isn't as beautiful as her sisters, she was incredibly arrogant just last year. A mere illegitimate daughter, yet she looked down on everyone. It seems the tables have well and truly turned."
"I hear that after she fell to the Imperial Music Office, she has become a 'behind-the-curtain guest' for many a young lord and nobleman."
The term "behind-the-curtain guest" was spoken with extreme suggestiveness.
Mu Wan Yun looked at Mu Wanyan on the stage and thought of how she had recently mocked her as a country bumpkin. 'I wonder if she regrets it now?'
Lu Jingxing's gaze was fixed on the stage. "The women of the Mu Family have always been skilled dancers. Chief Mu's skills must be even better. Chief Mu, please perform a dance for us!"
Hearing Lu Jingxing's words, Mu Wan Yun looked back at him, her eyes filled with grievance and a silent plea. 'How could I possibly know how to dance?'
If she were to perform a dance today, she would only become a laughingstock.
Prince Jian shot a curious look at Lu Jingxing. 'There's definitely something strange going on between Lu Jingxing and this little palace maid!'
"Your Majesty, why not allow me to perform a dance to celebrate my grandmother's birthday?"
Wei Minlan took to the stage with graceful steps. The Peacock Feather Dress she wore stunned every guest present.
Mu Wan Yun let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Miss Wei had come to her rescue.
As Wei Minlan danced to the music, the peacock feathers shimmered under the sunlight, resplendent, dazzling, and magnificent, making her look like a spirit of the mountains.
Mu Wan Yun watched, completely captivated. After today, Wei Minlan would no longer have to worry about her reputation in Chang'an City; it was unlikely anyone would ever mock her again.
When the dance ended, Lu Jingxing slowly asked Wei Minlan, "That feather robe you are wearing is quite nice."
Wei Minlan smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for having Chief Mu make this dress for me."
"So it was made by Chief Mu. In that case, I must reward Chief Mu handsomely."
Wei Minlan smiled and said, "Chief Mu loves chicken legs. Perhaps Your Majesty could have the Imperial Kitchen prepare some more for her…"
Lu Jingxing said, "Very well. Once we return to the palace, I will reward Chief Mu with chicken legs."
Hearing this, Mu Wan Yun felt a prickle of unease.
As soon as the birthday banquet ended, she delivered the birthday gift on behalf of Zhong Shanggong and then hurried back to the palace.
After returning to the palace, she went to report back to Lin Siming.
She had just left Lin Siming's office when a burly man appeared before her. "Miss Mu, His Majesty requests your presence at Ganlu Palace."
Mu Wan Yun braced herself and followed the man into Ganlu Palace.
Upon entering, she was greeted by the sight of ten large platters piled high with chicken legs—about a hundred in total.
Lu Jingxing stood beside the platters and said, "So you love chicken legs? If you can't finish all of them before the sun sets today, you can prepare to spend the rest of your life in Prince Jian's dungeon!"
Although Mu Wan Yun loved chicken legs, her stomach could handle two at most. That was her limit.
There was no way she could finish so many before sunset.
"Husband," Mu Wan Yun walked to Lu Jingxing's side and tugged on his sleeve. "Are you jealous again? There is absolutely nothing going on between Wei Mingsang and me!"
Lu Jingxing said, "I am not blind. You were hugging and holding another man in broad daylight, in front of everyone. And you call that 'nothing'?"
"I warned you not to think you could approach and seduce Mingsang as a substitute for Mu Wanruo. You just wouldn't listen. It seems I have been too merciful with you. I should have demoted you to a low-class government courtesan along with the rest of your Mu Family long ago!"
Mu Wan Yun said helplessly, "Husband, I really didn't try to seduce the Heir of Wei."
Lu Jingxing sneered. "You're still wearing clothes that Mu Wanruo has worn!"
Mu Wan Yun let go of his sleeve and shed her outer robe, leaving her in only her chemise and inner skirt. Fortunately, there were charcoal braziers in Ganlu Palace, so it wasn't cold.
In a soft and sweet voice, Mu Wan Yun said, "Husband, Madam Wei made me wear this. I didn't know it was Mu Wanruo's dress at first."
"I'm not a fool. A substitute is just a substitute, not the real thing. Besides, once you have seen the ocean, all other water pales in comparison. With a pearl like you before me, how could I possibly be interested in mere fish eyes?"
Lu Jingxing grew even more furious. "Wasn't marrying Prince Jian for the Mu Family as Mu Wanruo's substitute being a substitute? What nonsense about 'once you have seen the ocean'? When you personally wrote that divorce letter, did you spare any thought for this so-called 'ocean'?"
"If I weren't the Emperor, but just your ex-husband from the countryside, you probably would have chosen Wei Mingsang by now, wouldn't you?"
"I should have seen your true nature long ago—your love of money and your vanity. Don't you love chicken legs? Today, you will eat your fill!"
Hearing Lu Jingxing's words, Mu Wan Yun's eyes instantly reddened, and tears began to fall.
She picked up a chicken leg and started gnawing on it, her tears falling onto the meat, making it taste both salty and bitter.