Even though the Empress did not have any sons, she was in a position of power. No one dared to defy her. Even if a prince were to inherit the throne, she would still be the Empress Dowager. As she had no sons, she could avoid the fights in the palace. After all, no matter what, she would still be respected as the Empress Dowager. This would definitely allow those from the Ding General Manor to rest assured.
However, this was only what is on the surface. As for what was really happening, no one really knew. It was indeed a regret to not have any sons. Even though she would be the Empress Dowager, she was still upset to not have any sons. She did not interfere with the matters of the concubines but was focused on praying to Buddha and living in purity.
Mo Xuetong frowned slightly. Ling Mingyan’s words were full of challenge. She had just returned to the capital, so how had she offended Ling Mingyan? This was her first time attending a banquet and it was organized by the palace. If she clashed with Ling Mingyan because of this matter, someone would definitely use it against her. It would also show that she was being petty and that she had a nasty character.
If the Empress found out about it, it would impact her negatively. However, if she did not say anything, others would think that she was cowardly and weak, and that they could bully her. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. This was not something Ling Mingyan, whom she had nothing against, could do. She looked around and indeed, a familiar figure approached them from a fake mountain in the distance. Mo Xuemin was coming!
She smiled gently and elegantly and came to a decision. She said, “Older sisters, don’t fight anymore. How did this Miss get to know me? Why have you come to find me?”
Everyone looked at Ling Mingyan suspiciously when they heard her say that. Even though they had guessed that this was the useless and untalented main daughter of the Mo Manor, this was still the first time they have met her. How did Ling Mingyan know who she was at first glance? Listening to what Third Miss Mo was saying, she did not know Ling Mingyan. So how did Ling Mingyan know that she was the Third Miss of the Mo family!
Some of the people looked at Mo Xuetong pityingly when they thought of how she was being challenged the first time she attended a banquet and how Ling Mingyan was being so arrogant for no reason. It was obvious that she had been egged on by someone! Third Miss Mo had been plotted against!
“Do you really think nobody knows who you are? First Miss Mo told me that you are her sister. Are you not going to admit that?” Ling Mingyan tilted her chin up in disdain and smirked. Ling Mingyan had been angry ever since she found out that this was the person who had brought up her past mistakes and had made You Yuecheng unhappy and refusing to marry her.
A long time had passed since the incident in which she had knocked someone down with her horse. The matter had slowly been buried as the Ding General Manor tried to hide it. However, You Yuecheng witnessed Third Miss Mo knocking down someone at the city gate and had gone home to refuse the marriage offer from the Ding General Manor. The prideful Ling Mingyan seethed with hate.
She had liked You Yuecheng since she was a child. She had presented herself as You Yuecheng’s fiancee to others long ago and accompanied You Yuecheng everywhere. You Yuecheng hated her because she had knocked down someone because of who she was. He had not brought her along when they went out to the countryside. When he returned, he had refused the marriage proposal the two manors were discussing. Ling Mingyan had come today with anger in her heart.
She was intentionally making things difficult for Mo Xuetong. If this woman had not knocked down someone with her carriage, You Yuecheng would not have been reminded of the past and be so unfeeling. It was all this woman’s fault. She would not let her off easily.
“Did Eldest Sister tell you to give me a hard time and even told you I was here? That’s impossible. Eldest Sister isn’t such a person.” Mo Xuetong pretended not to understand the hostility in Ling Mingyan’s words and intentionally misunderstood her. Her eyes looked frightened and she cocked her head and bit her lips, her eyes teary as if she had been incredibly wronged!
“What is it, are you afraid that your Eldest Sister will tear through your lies? You’re afraid, aren’t you? I was the one who brought your Eldest Sister into the palace to tear through your mask. I want to see if you will still dare to shirk your responsibility after knocking someone down and killing them. Do you really think the capital is lawless?” Ling Mingyan was satisfied seeing Mo Xuetong being afraid. She raised her chin righteously, looking as if she had found justice. She had long forgotten that she was the one who had killed someone by knocking them down.
Everyone was surprised when they heard that!
In a pavilion not far away, Mo Xuemin, who had been secretly watching frowned angrily. She scolded Ling Mingyan for being so stupid to tell others that. Didn’t that imply that she had something against her sister so much to ruin her reputation in the palace? Even if her younger sister from the main branch had done something wrong, she, as a concubine’s daughter could not say anything.
Furthermore, even if she had done something wrong, the family should settle it behind closed doors. This was an embarrassment to the Mo family for her to do this outside. This was not something the magnanimous and gracious Mo Xuemin would do. You Yuecheng, who was standing by the side looked at her with a suspicious glance. Mo Xuemin felt like slapping Ling Mingyan’s mouth off.
Who was You Yuecheng? He was the Ming Duke’s son! His status as the duke’s son was completely different from Sima Lingyun’s. He was from a truly noble family while Sima Lingyun was from a destitute family that only retained its noble name. The difference between the two was as wide as the distance between the sky and earth. Mo Xuemin had always wanted the handsome Ming Duke’s son. However, Ling Mingyan had always been between them and she did not dare to do anything. She could only behave coyly and gently towards him. However, she was certain that You Yuecheng rather liked her.
However, she felt that You Yuecheng treated her somewhat coldly after the incident at the city’s gates.
She could not let Ling Mingyan ruin her reputation at this time.
“Is that Third Miss over there? What happened? Is someone bullying her?” She pretended not to see You Yuecheng’s suspicious glance and tugged on Mo Jin, asking her in an urgent manner.
“It is Third Miss. I think Miss Ling said something to her. There are many people surrounding them and I can’t see clearly.” Mo Jin immediately got to attention and tip-toed, looking over there.
“Is it Miss Ling Mingyan? Is she bullying others?” She said this somewhat worriedly.
“Yes!”
“Then let’s go down quickly. We must not let anyone bully Third Sister.” Mo Xuemin pulled Mo Jin and they left together. She tripped on her long dress because she was in a hurry, and she started to fall. You Yuecheng who had been standing beside her helped her to steady herself. The suspicion in his eyes had faded and he asked with concern. “Slow down. Are you okay?”
Mo Xuemin blushed as she held on to You Yuecheng’s hand. She wanted to stand up, but sprained her ankle in her hurry. Then, she fell against You Yuecheng’s chest and said, “I’m fine.” She hurried to steady herself but could not, looking rather pitiful.
“Don’t panic, that third sister of yours is not easy to deal with. She won’t be missing your help, and you might even make matters worse.” You Yuecheng smiled warmly. It was rare to see him smile.
“Third Sister just came and she has a bad temper. I am afraid that she will suffer!” Mo Xuemin said shyly while blushing. Her eyes were gentle and filled with worry, making others sympathize with her.
“You are afraid that she will suffer, but look at her. It’d be good if others don’t suffer.” You Yuecheng harrumphed and helped to steady her. They were right by the fake mountain and had moved quickly. No one had noticed them.
You Yuecheng disliked Mo Xuetong. It was mostly because he was reminded by her about how Ling Mingyan had killed someone with her carriage. Even though she had indeed been framed, but she would not have gotten into trouble for no reason. Perhaps she had brought it upon herself because of her usual actions.
This was especially when he saw how gentle and weak Mo Xuemin was and how she insisted on defending her younger sister. He felt that this Third Miss Mo was someone who would always get into trouble. She might even be like Ling Mingyan and was very arrogant and rude. Anyway, since she had encountered Ling Mingyan, they would get a good show.
He accompanied Mo Xuemin and the two walked over slowly.
He was in no hurry and Mo Xuemin was naturally in no hurry as well. She played with her handkerchief and followed behind him with a flush on her face. She looked rather like the blushing bride.
Not far away, on a pavilion higher up that was brightly lit, a handsome youth dressed in purple robes looked on with a faint smile on his face as he leaned against the railings. He watched as You Yuecheng and Mo Xuetong walked down slowly from the fake mountain and then at Mo Xuetong who was being surrounded. His lips stretched up.
He leaned against the railings and raised his fingers, clicking them in the air.
“King Xuan, what’s the matter?” A guard hurried up and asked respectfully.
“Go and get that old man from that day over and then take him down there.” Feng Yuran said somewhat lazily, waving his hand.
“Yes!” The guard was stunned, and then, immediately got a hold of himself and turned to leave.
The guard did not understand what his master intended to do. They had brought the old man with them for a few days. It was no big deal for King Xuan to get that matter settled. It was just a person who had tried to scam others at the city gates. Why would His Highness pay attention to something like that? Even if it was something he witnessed usually, he would just smile and ignore it lazily. Why did he bring the criminal along this time and even interrogated him personally?
The old man had not even been secretive. He confessed everything long ago when he saw His Highness!
But what had this to do with His Highness!
It had nothing to do with him at all, but he had locked the man up for many days. He did not say anything, and his subordinates did not dare to say anything. They only guessed that the man would be of use in the future. Those who served King Xuan all knew that while he appeared to be harmless and could not bring himself to do anything, and was sometimes willful against the Emperor, the Emperor could do nothing to him. However, only those close to him knew how terrifying he was.
“Why would Eldest Sister speak ill of me? Miss Ling, could you be mistaken? My relationship with my eldest sister has always been good. She would not do something like that.” Mo Xuetong sounded as if she was defending Mo Xuemin, but everyone began to feel suspicious of Mo Xuemin. This was especially so when Ling Mingyan tried to sound more credible and added on proudly, “Your Eldest Sister told me just now that you are just faking it. She told me to be careful of you. What magnanimity, what graciousness. They’re all fake!”
Ling Minyan felt annoyed when she looked at Mo Xuetong’s beautiful face and her charming eyes. She was extremely jealous. Why did nothing happen to this woman when she knocked someone down, but You Yuecheng would refuse to marry her when she did the same thing? Didn’t You Yuecheng like righteous women? She would be one today.
“My eldest sister isn’t someone like that…”Mo Xuetong bit her lips as she was surrounded by the crowd. A hint of fragility flashed through her charming eyes. She looked fragile and many felt bad for her. She bit her lips, and sounded as if she was going to cry, yet she was determined to defend her sister. Many began to sympathize with her and felt that Miss Ling was bullying others because of her superior status.
“Miss Ling, how has my third sister offended you? If she has, shall I apologize on her behalf?” A warm and gentle voice could be heard from behind the crowd. The crowd naturally parted. Mo Xuemin, who was dressed in a long pink dress appeared. She had taken special care with her appearance today. She wore a light pink satin dress and a light sash that draped down from her arms. She looked like a picture as she stood there, looking very likable.
As a good older sister who doted on her younger sister, others would start to get suspicious if Mo Xuemin did not appear any sooner!
