chapter 7 Like glue and lacquer, showing affection ===

Serene Mu sneered coldly, what a pair of despicable men, the perfect hypocritical couple! Plotting to remarry at her funeral, planning to substitute one for another, and still maintaining an air of righteousness.
"Hehehe! Your Highness Li hasn't divorced you yet, and you're already thinking of marrying someone else. Isn't that a bit too impatient?" The voice, cold and tinged with malice, momentarily masked the identity from Li Wang.
"Who? Come out, don't play tricks in Serene's memorial hall."
Serene Mu walked out nonchalantly from her coffin, and when everyone saw that somewhat familiar face, their expressions changed drastically in an instant.
"A ghost!"
"A staged death!"
"..."
For a moment, chaos ensued in the Mu family's memorial hall.
Lily Mu stared wide-eyed at Serene Mu, looking utterly stunned. "Serene... it's you, Serene..."
Serene Mu said, "Ben, teach Lily Mu a lesson. Can the family head's nickname be used so casually by her?"
"Yes..."
Ben moved to strike Lily Mu, but was intercepted by Ethan Xuanyuan. He spoke with anger, "Serene Mu, have you caused enough trouble? You faked your death, causing Serene so much heartache. She almost cried her eyes out, and now you dare to treat her like this."
"On ordinary days, you're extravagant and lawless, and your wastefulness knows no bounds. You're nothing more than a useless infatuated fool. I never thought your scheming could run so deep!"
Serene Mu sneered, "Your Highness Li pities a beauty. Please don't extend that pity to my Mu family. In my Mu family, I, Serene Mu, am the heavens, while she, Lily Mu, is just a servant."
Lily Mu's face turned pale. Since Serene Mu appeared in the Mu family, their relationship had been good because they were similar in age. She was treated like a princess in terms of her material needs, comparable to those of the Purple Moon Kingdom. However, her grandfather held the title of elder in the Mu family but was essentially a servant. She was forever relegated to a servant's status.
She couldn't accept it. Why was she superior to Serene Mu in every aspect, yet had to be subordinate due to her status?
Serene Mu could decree who she wanted to marry with an imperial edict, while she could only watch as her beloved man married her.
Serene Mu had already breathed her last, why did she come back to life and compete with her for Ethan?
Ethan Xuanyuan coldly said, "Serene Mu, Serene has always treated you like a sister. I never expected you to see her as a servant. I truly misjudged you."
"Whether you're alive or dead, today I'll tell you, I will absolutely not marry you. I want to marry Serene. Even if her background isn't as good as yours, she's gentle and considerate, and her talent in cultivation is unmatched by you."
The crowd was in an uproar. Initially, it was a good thing that the family head was still alive. They never expected Ethan to propose a divorce at this moment.
Considering the family head's infatuation with Ethan, how could he bear this? It was infuriating.
Serene Mu smirked, "Ethan, do you think you have the ability to divorce and marry another concubine? In front of the family head, you're nothing!"
Ethan Xuanyuan was speechless. This marriage was bestowed by the Emperor.
Although he was a prince, in the eyes of the Emperor, he couldn't compare to the family head of the Mu family, who controlled the economic lifeline of the Purple Moon Kingdom.
At this moment, Lily Mu defiantly walked up to Serene Mu.
"Family head, I never thought you looked at me this way. It's because I, Lily Mu, overestimated myself that I treated you, someone like you, as a good sister. I truly love Brother Ethan. Please, grant us your blessing to be together!"
After speaking, Lily Mu, with a look of grievance, tried to kneel, but Ethan Xuanyuan hurriedly held her up.
"Ruyún, don't beg this vile and shameless woman. Even if she's the family head of the Mu family, so what? I only love you!" Ethan Xuanyuan looked at her affectionately.
"Ethan Brother..." Lily Mu looked at him deeply, standing up stubbornly.
She looked at Serene Mu and said, "Serene, there are some things I've never said to you, afraid of hurting you. But today, you've gone too far, and I have to say it."
"You have no cultivation, no talent, no looks..."
"Hmm! Do you think your appearance, suitable only for selling charm in a brothel, can compare with the family head?" Serene Mu mocked.
Everyone looked at Serene Mu's face, untouched by any makeup, yet it surpassed countless beauties of the mortal realm.
The family head's face used to be covered in various cosmetics, truly unattractive. But now, after removing it all, there was such unparalleled beauty.
Delicate features, flawless perfection. Those jet-black eyes sparkled with dazzling brilliance, capturing one's gaze.
Was this still their family head?
Ethan Xuanyuan, seeing this incredibly beautiful and slightly malicious woman before him, was completely stunned.
Lily Mu's fingers had dug into her own flesh. She had always known Serene Mu was beautiful, which was why she had gone to great lengths to persuade her to use various cosmetics to conceal her peerless beauty, lest she catch the eye of Li Wang.
But she hadn't expected that today she would reveal this face. Not only had she revealed it, but she had also added many more alluring qualities to her beauty.
She saw Ethan Xuanyuan in a daze and pitifully called, "Brother Ethan..."
Ethan Xuanyuan finally snapped out of it and coldly said, "Being good-looking is just being a decoration. Your strength can never match Serene's."
"Hehe! Can never match, you say?" A cold glint flashed in Lily Mu's eyes. She asked gently, "Serene, do you refuse to accept that?" Serene Mu was a person she knew very well. She loved to compete and was very proud! If she forced her into a battle, and she accidentally killed her, this funeral could still continue.
..