They're the Family.

"Ting'er," the man said affectionately as he held Mu Ting'er's hand tightly, "Since you gave yourself to me a month ago, I have sworn to take you as my wife. But the matter of my engagement with this waste was a childhood arrangement. Breaking it off will take time because the Emperor would have to withdraw his own decree. But trust me—you will soon be my wife."

Mu Ruyue was deeply stung by the scene in front of her. She glared at Mu Ting'er with her eyes red and she lashed out, "Mu Ting'er, you're only an adopted daughter of the Mu family. I'm the real lady here! You'd better remember your identity!"

"Pa!"

The moment she finished talking, a slap knocked her face aside.

Mu Ruyue trembled from head to toe all at once. She covered her aching cheek and stiffly turned her head, looking ashenly at the middle-aged man on the side in disbelief. "Father, how could you…"

"How dare you! Who gave you permission to talk to Ting'er like that?" The middle-aged man's face was cold as if the girl in front of him wasn't his own daughter but just a maid who could be abused at will.

"Father, I'm your daughter." Mu Ruyue's voice was choked with sobs. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she continued, "She's just an adopted daughter. Father, why do you…"

"Daughter?" The middle-aged man laughed disparagingly. "Having a daughter like you is a disgrace in my life! Ting'er might be an adopted daughter, but she's gifted. She is my pride and joy! Did you think you're worthy of His Royal Highness? Let me tell you in no uncertain terms—it was I who paired them together. Why else do you think no one has come here?"

Like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, Mu Ruyue trembled a few more times as she bit her lip and looked at this person who shared blood with her.

"Sister Ting'er, are you alright?"

At this point, her younger sister Mu Yixue treated Mu Ruyue like air and walked over to Mu Ting'er, whose face was already covered with tears.

"Sister Ting'er, don't worry about it—Xue'er and father will both protect you. We won't let anyone take brother-in-law away from you," Mu Yixue comforted her lovingly. She turned and looked at Mu Ruyue with disgust and contempt in her eyes. "Moreover, I, Mu Yixue, only have one sister in the Mu family—Mu Ting'er. This waste simply isn't worthy of being my older sister. I really don't understand why Mother gave birth to such a waste. She isn't qualified to be a daughter of the Mu family at all!"

"Father, Xue'er…"

Mu Ting'er looked at the two of them gratefully. Nobody noticed the cold sneer that lingered on her lips.

Mu Ruyue, I swore to take everything from you! Who said you were the real Miss Mu, while I'm just the adopted daughter?

Yet the foster daughter that you've never taken seriously since the beginning has now crept up on you, all because you're a waste incapable of cultivation!

Still, it's unlikely that you will ever figure that it was the poison I mixed in your bowl before your talent test at the age of five that drove you to become a waste. Well, who could've known that a four-year-old could have such a scheming mind?

Mu Ruyue's heart gradually chilled. She stared at the happy family of three and suddenly realized that she was just an outsider. They were the real family…

"Haha!"

In a flash, she howled with laughter, and while laughing, she heavily rammed herself into a tree beside her.

This sudden turn of events startled everyone, and Mu Ting'er paled dramatically. She wasn't trying to drive this woman to her death; wouldn't it be too boring if she died?

However, when she was about to stop Mu Ruyue, the middle-aged man raised his arm to block her.

"Since she wants to die, let her. I'll just pretend I never had this daughter."