3360 Uninvited Guests

"Let's go take a look." Mu Qingya whispered through gritted teeth, though a smile still played on her face as she politely nodded to a few aristocratic ladies, "Ladies, please excuse me for a moment."

These ladies were all noblewomen from prominent families, and naturally, they knew that large families often had troublesome matters that were best kept private from guests.

Since Madam Mu wished to handle family affairs away from them, they naturally wouldn't insist on her continuing their casual chat.

They all very tactfully nodded to Mu Qingya, watching her and her personal maid hurry away.

The ladies exchanged glances, all feeling that Old Master Mu's birthday banquet today seemed to be quite eventful.

Qiao Mu glanced at Madam Mu's retreating figure, pouted slightly, and tugged at Mo Lian's sleeve.

Mo Lian turned his head to look, then chuckled and whispered to her, "I'll have someone follow them and inquire."

Not long after, a person darted to Mo Lian's side and whispered a few words into his ear.

Mo Lian raised an eyebrow slightly and squeezed the little girl's fingers.

Qiao Mu looked at him with curiosity, only to hear him whisper, "Two people from the Pink Pavilion arrived, and Madam Mu went to negotiate with them."

Qiao Mu blinked, nodded, and said nothing.

She was generally too lazy to bother with things that had nothing to do with her, as long as no one was secretly plotting against her, the great Qiaoqiao.

"Everyone, it's almost time, please take your seats," the Old Madam said with a smile, ushering all the female guests to their places.

Because they were to watch the Mu family's martial arts competition, all the seating was arranged outside the training ground.

Although the male and female guests had separate seating, they were only separated by some carved screens and were still quite close.

The Old Master and the Crown Prince were, naturally, invited to sit at the main table.

Qiao Mu sat down with the Old Madam, while Madam Qiu of the Second Branch, with her daughter Mu Rouxian, smiled and sat on the Old Madam's other side.

Madam Hua of the Fifth Branch, Mu Rouqin of the Fourth Branch, Mu Dongni, and others took their seats in order, leaving two empty spots for Madam Mu and the eldest young lady, Mu Rouxuan.

The other concubine-born young ladies and the concubines from various branches were arranged at separate tables.

The positions for the collateral branches of the Mu family were arranged even further away.

After everyone was seated, Old Master Mu stood up with a cheerful smile, and, according to the annual custom, began to give a speech...

He had only just begun speaking, and everyone was jovially congratulating him, when suddenly, a voice interrupted them.

"Old Master, I, Li of the Pink Pavilion, have come uninvited. Please excuse my intrusion!" Entering from outside the main courtyard was a lean, middle-aged man dressed in a green patterned long gown, with a somewhat gloomy expression.

Accompanying him was a scar-faced man, who stood with his arms crossed, his eyes narrow and menacing, sweeping across the crowd.

"Steward Li, don't go too far." Mu Qingya followed them in, her face ashen, with Cong Lu behind her.

She had just rushed out to negotiate with this middle-aged man.

However, her opponent was as slippery as an eel, impossible to get rid of. Before she realized it, he had already barged into the main courtyard, disrupting the festive atmosphere of the Old Master's birthday banquet.

Mu Jingfeng, who was sitting next to Crown Prince Mo, shot up. His cold eyes fixed on the two men who had just burst in, and he sharply questioned, "Who are you, and why have you trespassed?"

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances.

Didn't the man just announce himself when he came in, saying he was Li from the Pink Pavilion?