Mdm Qin came to her senses as well when she saw the Princess Royal speaking up for Mo Xuetong. She knew she had to do something or she would offend the princess as well.
She looked at Yu Sirong gravely and then slammed her cane down on the ground heavily. She glared at Yu Sirong and said angrily, “Miss Yu, the Qin family has always been kind to you and Tong’er has always treated you as an elder sister. How could you do something like that? You were the one who slammed into the mountain yourself, but insisted that it was Tong’er who did it. Do you really want to doom her to death? Do you really think that no one would help her? Since you are so vicious, the Yu and Qin families will no longer have any more ties.”
This meant that she was standing on Mo Xuetong’s side.
Mdm Qin then looked at Mo Xuetong who was standing by the side. Mo Xuetong looked wronged and was biting her lips anxiously. However, she did not make a fuss nor cry and seemed lonely and sad. Mdm Qin felt bad, as if she had really wronged the child. She shuffled towards Mo Xuetong who was looking down, standing strong despite being sad.
She embraced Mo Xuetong and said dotingly, “Tong’er, child, it’s been hard on you. It is all grandaunt’s fault. I didn’t get all the facts and almost got you into trouble. These people are mad. How can they try to do something like that to you? Fortunately, you were lucky that these evil people have gotten what they deserved.”
She felt bad as she spoke and started crying.
Mdm Yu was flustered. If the two families broke all ties, she would lose connection with her family. How could she not be worried? She stepped forward and wanted to plead on behalf of Yu Sirong but was stopped by the maid beside her. The maid looked at the Princess Royal respectfully and gestured to Mdm Yu. Mdm Yu gritted her teeth and forced her words down.
She was no only a daughter of the Yu family, she was also a daughter-in-law of the Qin family.
Yu Sirong had already fainted. She was angry and ashamed and could not bear to look at anyone in the eye, so she fainted. The Yu family maids panicked and screamed.
Mdm Chen did not dare to say much. She curtsied to the Princess Royal together with her servants and left.
The others in the temple who were wise enough had already left silently. Even though some things were known to all without anyone having to say anything, everyone pretended not to know since the Princess Royal did not say anything.
The Princess Royal glanced at Mo Xuetong again when she left. Her eyes were deep and there was a meaningful smile on her lips. Then, she turned and brought her servants with her.
The Princess Royal lived in the room named “Sky”.
Feng Yuran sat there lazily. There was a vague smile on his stunning face as he sat lazily on the nanmu wood chair. However, that did not affect the beautiful slender lines of his body. His stunning face looked as if it had been carved exquisitely. His brows were thick and long, extending into his hair. His nose was tall and his thin lips were red and moist. The sun shone in through the windows and on his handsome face that one could get drunk on with just a glance.
He wore purple robes that made him look handsome and enchanting. The wind blew, lifting up his dark locks of hair, enthralling others with his charm and beauty.
“Little Eighth, you came to me in such a panic because of her?” The Princess Royal asked with a smile the moment she entered the room.
The handsome young man turned around. His eyes were filled with emotions. He was a natural beauty. No one could resist him if he took just one look at them even if it meant that they would be damned.
“Aunt, you are the most righteous. You would help out in such a situation even without me asking.” Feng Yuran said with a smile that reached his eyes.
“So you schemed against me!” The Princess Royal harrumphed. Even though her tone was sharp, there was a hint of a smile in her eyes. She did not seem stern at all.
“I heard that you and her mother used to be good friends. You won’t be willing for her to suffer, right, Aunt?” Feng Yuran’s eyes turned and he changed the topic.
“You rascal.” The Princess Royal scolded him with a smile and smacked him on the head. She then sat down. A palace servant had already brought her tea. She picked up her cup and took two sips before setting it down. She asked, “Your father would be angry if he finds out that you’ve slipped out.”
“But there’s still you! As long as you help to praise me in front of him, he would not do anything to me as long as nothing goes wrong.” Feng Yuran smiled and lifted his brows.
“You can’t behave like this. Be careful these days. Now that something like that has happened to Mingguo Manor, I fear that the capital would not be peaceful these days.” The Princess Royal said worriedly.
They had not only entered the inner courtyard, but they had also even taken the young ladies from inside. This was no small matter. There were many little things that had all been uncovered and the situation in the capital was now a little tense.
“Aunt, don’t worry. I will be careful.” Feng Yuran stood up and hoisted himself with one hand onto the window. Then, he was outside the room in the next moment.
“You are already so old, but you still behave like this. You can’t even walk properly.” The Princess Royal scolded with a smile.
“Aunt, I came out here secretly and no one must find out. Otherwise, Father will punish me again.” Feng Yuran’s figure disappeared from the window, leaving behind a laugh.
The Princess Royal sighed lightly as she looked at the direction where Feng Yuran disappeared into. Her expression turned grave.
“Crash!” Another porcelain object shattered into pieces, shattering at the feet of a maid who was kneeling down. The shards flew in all directions, some cutting the maid’s foot. Blood appeared on the green dress and the maid kneeling on the floor shuddered fearfully. She did not dare to speak up and defend herself.
The bandages that covered her face had already been taken off. There was only one bandage left on the left side of her face and there were two lines of blood that stained the outside of the cloth. It made the angry expression on the normally gentle face look even more ferocious and venomous. She waved her hand and slapped the kneeling maid loudly. She yelled hysterically, “You slut, did that slut give you some benefits? Didn’t you say that that slud does not know anything? How did she extricate herself so quickly? Are you working together with her against me? See if I don’t beat you to death.”
She reached out and wanted to use both her hands to hit the maid. The maid could not kneel any longer and she fell to her side while crying, “Miss, spare me! Miss, spare me!” However, she did not do anything else to defend herself.
“I am going to kill you, slut.” Yu Sirong looked to the side viciously and then lifted the tea kettle on the table and smashed it down heavily on the maid’s head. How could she stand it? Her plan was so good, but it had failed. It had not only failed, but she had also been disfigured. There were two long marks running down from the corner of her eye to her lips. Her face had become ugly and despicable. How could she bear it?”
“Sirong, do you still not understand over the past few days? Mo Xuetong is no longer the Mo Xuetong she once was. There are so many people who spoke up against you today. She had evidence in her hands but let us believe that she did not have any to make you say something so vicious. She is not stupid at all. She is sly and she had plotted carefully. Listen to me, you cannot be flustered by her now. We don’t know who will win until the very end.” Mdm Chen entered and spoke coldly. She pressed down the tea kettle in Yu Sirong’s hand and had her sit down. Then, she gestured to the maid beside her.
The maid beside her helped the fallen maid up hurriedly and brought the other people in the room out as well, closing the door behind her.
“Mother, I want to get revenge! I want to kill that slut.” Yu Sirong said venomously when everyone left. Her eyes looked as if there was a blazing fire in them, they were dark and deep.” I want that slut to die! I want her to die pathetically!”
“Sirong, don’t worry. Mother will get revenge for you. That little slut will not live for long. Don’t do anything else for now. Stay in the temple these few days and don’t go out. The Yu family has fallen into her hands today but I will definitely ruin her this time.” Mdm Chen’s face flickered under the light like ghost fire.
“Mother, can that person do it? Don’t make any mistakes then. I will definitely have her die with her reputation in tatters.” Yu Sirong said softly as she gritted her teeth. She thought of how she had been disfigured while that woman stayed before Cousin Xuan with her beautiful face. She wanted badly to tear that face into shreds.
“Not this time. Second Aunt has already prepared something. She knew that the little slut would be difficult to deal with.” Mdm Chen said sinisterly.
Second Aunt was no one else but Auntie Fang!
“Mother, I want to go tomorrow as well,” said Yu Sirong. She covered her face and smiled ferociously when she thought of how Mo Xuetong’s reputation would be ruined tomorrow. She wanted to see Mo Xuetong being ruined with her own eyes tomorrow and see how ashamed she would be.
“Alright, then I will bring you along tomorrow. But you must not be as rash as you were.”
“Mother, I won’t be rash this time. I will hide in the corner silently and watch as that little slut’s bad reputation becomes known to all.” Yu Sirong said darkly. She would go to see how Mo Xuetong would become even uglier than her no matter what.
Mo Xuetong did not leave early the next morning because she had slept late. When she arrived at Mdm Qin’s room, Mdm Qin had already taken breakfast and was speaking with Mdm Yu. Qin Yuxuan was standing by the side. His usually lively expression was somewhat gloomy. However, he regained his wits and smiled when he saw Mo Xuetong enter.
“Tong’er, child, come to grandaunt. Look at how beautiful this flower is.” Mdm Qin said with a smile when she saw Mo Xuetong enter.
Mo Lan backed away to the side. She was wearing light colored and plain clothes today. However, the material was good. Her dressing made her look as if she was from a good family, unlike regular servants. However, Mdm Qin could see that her clothes were hand-me-downs from Mo Xuetong. She figured that it must have been gifted to her and did not bother herself with it.
Mo Xuetong smiled guilelessly and greeted everyone before she looked at the freshly changed flowers in the vase. They were plum blossoms that still had the morning dew on them. They were fragrant and really brought joy to others, putting them in a good mood. The plum blossoms in Qingliang Temple had always been famous. It was said that people were usually not allowed to pick them.
Indeed, Mdm Yu smiled and said, “I sent servants to pick these plum blossoms early in the morning. The plum blossoms there are really beautiful. I have never seen such brightly colored flowers before. Perhaps the plum blossoms here have an affinity with Buddha as well. The abbot in the temple said that the plum blossom forest is open to visitors today and we can go there to admire the blossoms.”
The plum blossom forest of Qingliang Temple was owned by someone. The monks in the temple took care of them. It was said that there was every type of plum blossom in the forest. Even though it could not compare to the plum blossom forest in King Jin’s old manor, it was better in terms of sight, scent and colors. Furthermore, there was someone to take care of the blossoms, so it was different from the plum blossoms one usually saw outside. The flowers were also very beautiful. There were monks in the temple who could draw well who would put the plum blossom forest into their drawings. The plum blossom forest of Qingliang temple became famous because of this.
However, in order to maintain the value of the plum blossom forest, it was not open to the public every day. It would only be open on special occasions such as today.
“Tong’er go and take a look as well. Young girls like to admire plum blossoms the most.” Mdm Yu smiled at Mo Xuetong.
“Many thanks, aunt. Tong’er does want to look at the plum blossom forest.” Mo Xuetong answered obediently.
Mdm Qin cleaned up and brought Mdm Yu, Qin Yuxuan, and Mo Xuetong towards the back of the mountain. The plum blossom forest was behind it.
Mdm Yu relaxed when she saw how Mo Xuetong followed them without any suspicion. She held on to Mdm Qin with a smile as they chatted. It was as if she had long forgotten what happened yesterday.
They only realized that there were quite a few people who had come to the forest. Many had hiked up the mountain today to admire the blossoms.
And because they were all women, the monks present were all young, about eight or nine years old. It was a smart idea and was done tastefully!
