Love is deep but fate is shallow, this beautiful wife has waited for a thousand years

Mu Jincheng's eighteenth birthday is coming soon. After Mu Xiaoqiao and Ruan Haoyu's marriage was settled, the general's mansion has been preparing for the birthday banquet, and Chen Taorui and Xuemei's wedding date is set for three days after the birthday banquet.

Mu Xiaoqiao was extremely busy, preparing everything needed for the two banquets, drawing up a guest list, shopping, arranging the arrangements, etc. She did it all herself without asking anyone else to do it, and there could not be any mistakes. She wanted her father to be happier in his last moments. This was the only thing she could do for her father as a daughter.

These past few days, she was busy until very late before returning to her room. The night before the birthday banquet, Mu Xiaoqiao still returned at nearly midnight. Xuemei helped her make tea while saying distressedly, "Miss, you should also take care of your health and don't get too tired."

Mu Xiaoqiao shook her head. "I'm fine. But you're about to get married, and you still haven't been serving me day and night. I really feel bad for you."

Xuemei's eyes were red, "Miss, Xuemei can't bear to leave you."

Mu Xiaoqiao held Xuemei's hand and said, "Silly girl, you are not leaving the capital. If you miss me, you can come back anytime. The General's Mansion is your mother's home."

A few days ago, Mu Xiaoqiao asked Ruan Haoyu to find a nice house in the capital, bought it and gave it to Chen Taorui and Xuemei. These two had followed her since they were young, and she couldn't treat them badly.

Before going to bed, Mu Xiaoqiao saw a locked red sandalwood box on the dressing table beside the bed. She asked curiously, "Xuemei, what is that?"

Xuemei smiled and said, "Arui said that you worked hard for our wedding, so he gave you a gift. He was very secretive and told you to open it on your wedding day."

"Still trying to be mysterious." Mu Xiaoqiao smiled and yawned. She was indeed tired these days.

It seems like I haven't seen A Rui for several days. I don't know what he is busy with, and he doesn't come to help her much. I must scold him later. Doesn't she see how busy she is?

Mu Xiaoqiao was thinking and fell asleep without knowing when.

The next day was Mu Jincheng’s eighteenth birthday party, and Mu Xiaoqiao got up early.

Today was not so bad. Only the Mu clan members and Ruan Haoyu were invited, and no one from the court was invited, so it was just a family dinner. But because the Mu clan is a large family, quite a few people came. Before noon, many people had already arrived.

Mu Huanan was in poor health, so he only received guests in the main hall. Mu Xiaoqiao and Mu Jincheng greeted guests at the door, Shao was supervising the dishes in the kitchen, and Mu Xiaoya was playing in the inner courtyard with her two younger brothers and sisters.

From a distance, Mu Xiaoqiao saw Ruan Haoyu wearing a moon-white brocade dress, with a bright pearl on his waistband, his black hair tied up high, red lips and white teeth, a handsome face full of smiles, and he was riding a maroon horse towards her.

She smiled and walked down the steps to greet them. Suddenly, a noisy sound of footsteps came from a distance. Soon, a group of soldiers passed Ruan Haoyu and ran to the gate of the general's mansion, surrounding it.

Ruan Haoyu reined in his horse and stopped. The people around him exclaimed in surprise and gathered around pointing and talking. No one knew what crime had been committed by the general's family, who had made so many military achievements.

"What are you doing?" Mu Jincheng on the steps changed his expression and asked loudly.

Mu Xiaoqiao happened to be surrounded by a group of officers and soldiers. Her expression remained unchanged as she looked around calmly. These were all palace guards, and it seemed that this was the order from that person.

A general in armor rode up on horseback, passed by Ruan Haoyu without even looking back at him, and stopped his horse at the entrance of the general's residence. He shouted, "Guardians of the Imperial Palace, we have been ordered to arrest the traitor Mu Huanan and his family. Anyone else should stay out of the way."

"Rebel?"

"How could the general's family be traitors?"

"Did the Emperor make a mistake?"

The people around were talking about it, and the guests in the general's mansion immediately scattered as soon as they saw that something was wrong, for fear of being implicated.

Mu Xiaoqiao looked at the guard leader Zhao Yong in front of him. They were both military commanders, so they naturally had some friendship before. Mu Xiaoqiao said, "Commander Zhao, I wonder what crime my Mu family has committed?"

Zhao Yong took out the imperial token and said, "Zhao is acting according to the emperor's order. I know nothing else. I hope General Mu will forgive me."

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Take them all away."

"Wait." Mu Xiaoqiao shouted loudly. She had fought on the battlefield for many years and had an aura of majesty without even getting angry. The officers and soldiers were frightened by her for a moment and did not dare to move forward.

Mu Xiaoqiao took two steps forward and said to Zhao Yong, "Commander Zhao, my father is still ill. I wonder where you are going to take my family?"

"Of course, I'll go to the Dali Temple Prison."

Mu Xiaoqiao took a deep breath and softened her voice, "Commander Zhao, my father's health really can't stand the torture. Can you please show mercy and let me go with you to the Dali Temple Prison? Can you first confine my family members to the mansion and wait until the truth is found out before making any decisions?"

Zhao Yong said helplessly: "General Mu, it's really not that I am unaccommodating, but the imperial decree has been issued, and Zhao cannot disobey it. General Mu, please forgive me."

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the officers and soldiers stepped forward again. Mu Jincheng clenched his fists and said angrily, "Let's see who dares to come over."

"Jincheng, step back." A majestic voice came from inside the door. Mu Xiaoqiao looked back and saw her mother supporting her father out of the door.

Mu Xiaoqiao hurried forward to support Mu Huanan on the other side and whispered, "Father, why did you come out? Your daughter can handle it."

Mu Huanan patted Mu Xiaoqiao's hand, signaling her to calm down, and then he clasped his fists towards Zhao Yong, "Commander Zhao, what exactly did my Mu family do? Do you have any evidence?"

"Zhao is only responsible for arresting the person. If you have anything to say, please go to the Dali Temple."

"Then could you please ask Commander Zhao to pass on the message and say that this old minister wants to see Your Majesty, and ask Your Majesty to meet this old minister and explain things to him face to face."

"I will pass on General Mu's words. As for whether Your Majesty wants to see the general, then it's up to Your Majesty to decide. Take him away."

"Father..." Mu Xiaoqiao wanted to speak but was stopped by Mu Huanan, "Xiaoqiao, our Mu family is worthy of heaven and earth, and worthy of our ancestors. Since His Majesty has the order, let's go to the Dali Temple. I believe that His Majesty will give justice to the Mu family sooner or later."

"But," Mu Xiaoqiao was worried about Mu Huanan's health.

"It's okay." Mu Huanan comforted Mu Xiaoqiao, and then said to Zhao Yong, "We'll go with you."

Zhao Yong cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, General, for your cooperation."

Two teams of soldiers came over and surrounded the Mu family. Mu Xiaoqiao looked back and saw that her younger brothers and sisters as well as the Mu family's servants had all been brought out. However, she seemed not to see A Rui. At the moment, she didn't have time to think too much. It was good that he was not caught. Leaving someone outside was better than having the whole army wiped out.

She looked at Ruan Haoyu again. He had been standing outside the crowd watching everything with a calm expression and without saying a word. When he saw Mu Xiaoqiao looking at her, he nodded slowly at her and said that he would find a way to get to the bottom of this matter.