“Miss, shall we go there first?” Mo Ye saw Mo Xuetong picking up her skirt and approached with a smile. Her gaze landed on the horse carriage behind as she asked hesitantly.
“Let’s go first. Fourth Sister still has something to say to the His Excellency.” Mo Xuetong swept her eyes over the carriage door disapprovingly as she hid the cold laughter in the corners of her eyes. Adding drugs that made my aroused to one that would knock a person out. Her Fourth Sister really impressed her. She was not any less vicious that Mo Xuemin.
Even though there wasn’t too much arrosal drug, it was impossible not to affect someone when they stayed in a confined space for so long. Furthermore, Mo Xueqiong had intentionally flirted with Sima Lingyun, and he only pretended to be a gentleman. How could he not resist acting on his desires? It had happened indeed, and she doubted that they would be able to leave any time soon.
Mo Xuemin wanted to plot against her but had not expected to let Mo Xueqiong get around to it first. She wondered if the people Mo Xuemin brought with her to watch the scene would be so angry as to vomit blood!
She tugged on Mo Ye’s hand and ignored them, turning around and walking into the forest. She did not need to worry about anything else. If Mo Xuemin wanted to ruin her reputation, she would definitely plan to do something else when she realized that the people in the carriage had not gotten off. When she caught them at it, they would be the ones who would find it hard to explain themselves. Mo Xuetong anticipated the result.
She was in a rather good mood and she felt that the blossoms that surrounded her were even more beautiful then.
The plum blossom forest was famous and there were quite a few people who had come to see it. A few noble ladies and gentlemen would walk by together. However, they were usually a couple made of a man and a woman. Coming out to play was an elegant matter, but if a man and a woman were there alone, it would create rumors. If Mo Xueqiong had not come today, she and Sima Lingyun would have become the subject of gossip. They would become a pair with bad reputations…
Deep inside the plum blossom forest, there was a gentle breeze that caused the branches to shake slightly. Petals fell, snow white flowers and pink flowers. They landed on the girl standing under the tree. She was so beautiful, a king would ransom his country for her. Her skin was like porcelain, clear and pale, and she flushed with redness from within. She was flawless and more perfect than the purest sheep fat jade. She was more beautiful than the most beautiful flower in the world, and more lively than the clearest waters.
She had an indescribable elegance and noble aura. Her eyes looked around, hiding slyness and intelligence within them. What was most beautiful about her was her smile. It was clean and pure. The breeze lifted her skirts and her sleeves fluttered in the air. Her white shirt was as white as snow and she looked like an ethereal fairy from the nine realms. A smile from her could shake the world.
There was a tall wall at the end of the plum blossom forest which was newly built by the government. In order to prevent King Jin’s old manor from being destroyed, his manor was hidden despite the outer walls of the forest being destroyed. As such, they had built a new wall at the end of the forest, separating the manor from the forest.
In a pavilion on a fake mountain close to the wall, Feng Yuran laid on a couch with his legs crossed haphazardly. There was a cup of tea and a platter of fruits on the table beside him. There was a screen behind the pavilion which blocked the cold wind. He laid on the couch and watched the entire forest. It was the best spot ever.
He was looking at where Mo Xuetong was standing. She was looking down and taking deep breaths. He watched as she opened her eyes in a good mood and walked around the forest with light steps. Her perfect tightly shut lips lifted up slightly. His brows picked up and an interested expression appeared on his handsome face. He looked at her beauty and liveliness from above. She was not as defensive or careful as usual. She was like a dancing fairy in the forest at this moment.
She did not have any makeup and tilted her bare face up, looking at the sky. She wore comfortable and casual clothing, looking especially refreshing in the plum blossom forest. She was beautiful. When had the little wild cat kept her claws?
Feng Yuran’s eyes moved from Mo Xuetong to another part of the plum blossom forest. His eyes suddenly turned grave as he looked over there. His eyes clouded over. His guard, Feng Yue backed away when he saw that expression on Feng Yuran’s face. Only those who served Feng Yuran closely knew that the more devilish his smile, the more brilliantly his eyes shone, the angrier he was.
He did not know to whom the carriage belonged to. Feng Yue only saw Third Young Miss Mo getting off the carriage. It was obvious that there were still people in the carriage. He could tell when the driver carefully waited near the carriage.
If he was not wrong, the sign on the carriage indicated that it was not from the Mo Manor but from the Duke’s manor!
His purple robes fluttered and he disappeared without a flash. Feng Yue turned to see where Feng Yuran had been looking at. Indeed, beneath a plum blossom tree, a young lady was looking at that handsome face in surprise.
His Highness had gone down after all!
He had to follow since His Highness had. He could not stand here at such great heights to admire the plum blossom forest anymore! This pavilion was not somewhere anyone could visit. Only his master, out of the entire capital, dared to come. He was not afraid that the Emperor would rebuke him! However, he would not be able to admire the plum blossoms now.
Feng Yue sighed to himself and left the pavilion in a flash as well. He discovered that the Duke’s manor’s carriage was surrounded by people from the corner of his eyes. They were too far away and he could not hear what was happening through the chatter. He could hear the cries of a woman that traveled with the wind. It seemed that something had happened. That was good, at least if His Highness unleashed his anger, he would not make Feng Yue do some immoral things!
“Feng Yuran…” Mo Xuetong looked at Feng Yuran’s handsome face in surprise. She could not react at that moment and she stuttered. Then, her mind cleared immediately and she realized that they were standing very close to each other. She immediately took two steps back and curtsied, greeting him respectfully, “King Xuan!”
Feng Yuran was annoyed when he saw how she carefully distanced herself from him as if he was a ferocious beast. He could not keep the smile on his face. If he had not had self-control that he had always been proud of…
“Why did you come out from the carriage of Duke’s manor. When have you become so close with the Duke’s manor? That gentle and elegant Sima Lingyun is not suitable for you. If he knew that you had given the orders to beat him so badly, I wonder if he would still be so nice to you!” Feng Yuran’s beautiful eyes were filled with laughter, making his already perfect face seem stunning.
Feng Yue observed the situation and smartly backed away. Then, he climbed up a tree in a flash and tried to appear as if he was not there.
He seemed to understand why His Highness had looked so displeased…
Mo Xuetong did not understand what he meant at that moment. Her long lashes fluttered and she looked at him in confusion. Her pink lips parted slightly in shock. She had not been shocked because of Feng Yuran. It was because she had understood what he meant but could not understand it. Why had Feng Yuran looked for her to unleash his anger on when someone else had been the one to annoy him.
What had she done to him!
She backed away subconsciously, furthering the distancing herself from Feng Yuran. He was a person who would do whatever he wanted but she was not someone who could be easily bullied as well. Did he really think that she could be easily molded and would do whatever he wanted? Even a clay Buddha would have a temper. Furthermore, she was human. Her lively eyes blinked and then returned to normal as she glared at him. She only reigned in her anger after a few moments.
She told herself who she was up against! King Xuan, Feng Yuran, the son Emperor Zongwen doted on the most. And he might even pass on the throne to him. The Emperor caved into his every demand. Mo Xuetong could not offend him.
“What is it, you have nothing to say? And you’re glaring at me? I wonder what the handsome Sima Lingyun would say if he saw you like this. I wonder if he will think that he had set his sights on the wrong person and would never visit the Mo Manor again.” Feng Yuran said sarcastically when he saw that she had taken another two steps back.
“Even so, it seems like this has nothing to do with Your Highness.” Mo Xuetong warned herself not to be angry, however, her eyes flashed with anger. Her forced sweet smile froze on her face as she retorted with an angry expression.
“How could it be none of my business? I was admiring the scenery from the pavilion, but the two of you destroyed the scenery. I can’t admire it, so I am naturally in a bad mood. Mo Xuetong, you have made a mistake and yet you still glared at me. Do you really think that I won’t punish you?” Feng Yuran reached out impolitely and stopped her from turning away. His expression was one of madness, as if he would make them pay for him not being able to admire the scenery.
What reasoning was that!
What had her coming to admiring the scenery to do with him being unable to. This person was so unreasonable. Even though hew as a noble prince, he could not behave like this. Mo Xuetong reigned in her temper. She did not dare to get angry with the prince.
Sima Lingyun and her? Which eye of his had seen Sima Lingyun and her together? He was still on the carriage getting it on with Mo Xueqiong!
“King Xuan, pardon me for not understanding what you said. Even though I did come on the carriage of Duke’s manor, I was with my maid. I don’t know how that annoyed you. But since this is so, then I shall take my leave first and return this quiet patch of forest to you.” Mo Xuetong bit her lips and said helplessly. If possible at all, she did not wish to interact with King Xuan, whose mood swung wildly like a pendulum. He was not a good person to hang around with.
She had already lowered herself to say this, how would the noble King Xuan not let her go.
“Who else was on the carriage other than you?” Feng Yuran placed his fingers on a plum blossom branch beside him. He broke a twig and twirled it slowly in his hands. He did not seem to have any intentions of letting Mo Xuetong go, she realized helplessly. The man did not behave like a normal person would. Mo Xuetong yelled bitterly in her heart. He was of such noble status, and yet was still making things difficult for her. What was happening!
Fortunately, his voice, while lazy, was not cold. Mo Xuetong heaved a sigh of relief for some reason. She did not know what he wanted, so she answered obediently, “My Fourth Sister and I came with His Excellency. My Eldest Sister will come in a bit.” She would definitely not reveal to him her achilles heel and tell him about what was happening between her and her sisters. The man in front of her might cause trouble. If he were to discover the issues between her and her sisters, he would watch them as if he were watching a show and make it known to the entire capital.
He would not only embarrass Mo Xueqiong but the entire Mo Manor as well. After all, no matter what, Mo Xuetong was also a daughter of the Mo family and was still the main daughter at that. She had to consider the Mo Manor’s reputation.
Mo Xuetong’s Fourth Sister was also in the carriage but Mo Xuetong had been the only one to leave the carriage. It meant that there were indeed people on the carriage and they were a man and a woman. The Duke’s son, Sima Lingyun and the Fourth Miss of the Mo Manor. What an interesting pair! Of course, it meant that she had nothing going on with Sima Lingyun.
Feng Yuran touched his chin playfully when he understood that. He held out the plum blossom branch in his hand and said, “You sound reasonable. Since you have destroyed my mood to admire the flowers, then walk with me in compensation.” Feng Yuran said it as if he was in the right. He put the twig in Mo Xuetong’s hand and dusted his hands, putting them behind his back. He glanced at Mo Xuetong and gestured for her to follow him. Then, he walked into the depths of the forest.
A devilish smile appeared on his lips. The little fox was indeed the little fox. She must have checkmate Sima Lingyun! He did not believe that Sima Lingyun would ruin his plans for a concubine’s daughter…
