Yuan'an returned home laden with worries and went straight to the cellar, where Tianshu was busy feeding pills to a red monkey. The monkey, aware of his ploy, opened its mouth and spat back at him, leaving him covered in saliva.
Tianshu wiped his hands, shook his head, and sighed, "Testing medicine on animals just doesn't work. Hey, kid, where's your little minion Le? Haven't seen him for days."
Yuan'an replied, "I drove him away."
Tianshu scolded, "You fool! If you don't want him, give him to me. I'll use him to test medicine. I tried it once, and it worked well."
Yuan'an sensed something amiss and grabbed Tianshu's collar, asking, "Did you give him the medicine you brewed?"
Tianshu retorted, "So what?"
Yuan'an pressed, "How did it affect him?"
Tianshu explained, "It's a kidney qi medicine. The dead can come back to life after taking it."
Yuan'an questioned, "And the living?"
Tianshu replied, "The living turn into gangsters."
Yuan'an, recalling the day she drove Mu Le away, suddenly understood. She grabbed Tianshu's collar and slammed her head to his chin, but he grinned in pain. Yuan'an rushed out of the basement.
On her way out, she encountered the stubborn Gou'er stealing underwear. Yuan'an confronted him, "Come, we need to talk."
Gou'er was frightened, nearly peeing himself. He spoke, "Little owner, Elder Young mistress, it wasn't me. The young master arranged it all!"
Yuan'an wreaked havoc in Ye Mansion, and even Lord Ye, just returning, was dragged into the chaos. Yuan Ning, dodging Yuan'an's attacks, was eventually cornered. Despite being stopped by others, Yuan'an was powerful, flying up to kick Yuan Ning. Antique flower pots shattered, and Yuan Ning wailed.
Uncle Xia, restrained Yuan'an, advising, "Little owner, control yourself. Don't beat the young master so hard. If things break, how will you explain to the master when he returns?"
Yuan'an, furious, cursed while punching and kicking, "Shameless! Plotting with the little guy to frame my person! Forcing me to drive people away! I'll kill you!"
Yuan Ning cried, accusing the Gou'er, "Gou'er, you smiled when you took the money and then sold me out, didn't you?"
Gou'er pleaded, "Young master, don't scold me! I accidentally let the little owner catch me."
Ignoring their squabble, Yuan'an continued to violently beat Yuan Ning. The family intervened, but Yuan Ning only escaped momentarily. Yuan'an, about to resume, suddenly stopped. Lord Ye had arrived, and Yuan'an stared at Yuan Ning.
Madam Ye helped Yuan Ning up and scolded him, "Useless thing! You're bullied by your sister every day!"
Yuan'an, facing his father, sneered, "What's the fake lamentation, mother? Yuan Ning useless? He's scheming!"
Yuan Ning, tearful and sniffling, denied, "I didn't!"
Furious, Yuan'an clenched her fists, vowing, "I'll make you talk!"
Lord Ye intervened, scolding Yuan'an and questioning if she would beat even her stepmother one day. He ordered Yuan'an to leave, and Yuan'an, seething, ran off.
Madam Ye and Yuan Ning, relieved after Yuan'an's departure, exchanged glances.
Lord Ye, pacing, pointed to Yuan'an's departing figure, "This child will bring me a big disaster sooner or later!"
Quick on her feet, Yuan'an left on horseback, deciding to rectify the injustice against Mu Le.
Around the same time, in Nancheng gambling hall, Mu Le was being watched closely by the rascal Nigu. A person with no beard, fair skin, and a brocade robe had won a significant amount of money. Mu Le, in a corner, fed a brown kitten, unaware of the unfolding drama.
Suddenly, people from a fruit shop attacked Mu Le, accusing him of stealing. In the ensuing chaos, Mu Le tried to escape but slipped. Yuan'an, waiting nearby, used her iron skeleton hand to aid Mu Le in the nick of time.
Yuan'an confronted Mu Le, who looked at her with mixed emotions. She attempted to talk, but he turned away, evidently unhappy.
Ignoring his silent response, Yuan'an tried to understand, "Why were those people chasing and beating you?"
Mu Le remained silent.
"Don't you recognize me anymore?"
He finally spoke, "Yuan'an."
"Then why won't you answer my question? Why were they chasing and beating you?"
"It's none of your business."
"Ah, after not seeing each other for a few days, you dare to talk back?"
Mu Le wasn't used to questions, and about to leave but was grabbed by Yuan'an. She spoke in a hushed voice, "Hey, don't go. I've almost searched the entire Luoyang City looking for you. I want to talk to you."
Mu Le stopped but didn't look at her.
Yuan'an struggled, "Come back home with me. I've investigated everything. It was someone else who harmed you, set you up in the maid's bathroom, and hid those things in your sleeping place. The old guy in the basement used you to test medicine, and you were confused that day. Anyway, it's not your fault. They were all making fun of you. Come back home with me."
Mu Le turned his back, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, I've punished them. They won't dare to make fun of you again."
Mu Le finally turned back at Yuan'an, his shoulders were thin with a face resembling two round apples. In his dark brown eyes, scenes from that day appeared—scenes that haunted his nightmares, where Yuan'an struck his cheek with thorns.
He didn't believe her.
Shaking his head, Mu Le fled.
Yuan'an didn't pursue, standing still as thunderclouds gathered in the sky.
~Thank You for Reading, Please Comment Below~
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