“Mo Xiu, invite Auntie Fang into my Garden to rest for a while later. No matter how urgent the matter is, she must not tire out my little brother who is in her belly. Eldest Sister, do you want to go there and take a look?” The corner of Mo Xuetong’s lips lifted lightly as she smiled faintly and gently. It made one’s heart hurt for her.
She seemed obedient and at a loss of what to do!
Qin Yufeng, who had not spoken all this while, could not help but take another glance at her. When her eyes swept over in his direction, he turned his deep dark eyes towards a fake mountain near the stream.
The joy in Mo Xuemin’s eyes grew when she heard how quickly Mo Xuetong agreed. She said to Mo Xuetong affectionately, “Auntie would not have any urgent matter. I went to visit her this morning. Just let her rest at your place and I will go to Lihua Garden later after I have accompanied our guests.”
“Third Sister, have you taken your medicine? Do you want to get Mo Jin to bring you some here? I heard that your health had been poor and father got you some pills.” Mo Yufeng asked in rare concern.
“Of course she needs them. I was in the wrong earlier to rush you to leave your place. You must not have brought anything. You might as well get Mo Lan to go with Mo Xiu to inform the servants about Auntie Fang and then bring your medicine here.” Mo Xuemin said in rare kindness, holding on to Mo Xuetong’s hand in concern. “Your hand is really cold. You had better have your medicine here in case you don’t feel well later.”
Her smile was concerned and gentle, looking like the water of the river in spring!
She was insistent about getting Mo Xuetong to tell Mo Lan to return!
Mo Xuetong lifted her eyebrows lightly and smiled faintly. Mo Xuemin’s plot was really detailed. Mo Xuetong was to send her maids back especially since Auntie Fang had gone to her Qingwei Garden. What will come will come. She remembered that Auntie Fang had lost the unborn child in the end as well in her past life.
It was said that it was because of Auntie Qing. She did not expect that in this life, because of her rebirth, she would be the cause of it.
However, no matter when, Auntie Fang would use the unborn child in her belly for her own benefit. A vicious woman like this was not worthy of having a child!
Wang Yilan thought that Mo Xuetong was still hesitant when she saw that Mo Xuetong did not speak for some time. She persuaded her, “Third Young Miss Mo, you had better let your maid go. We can walk over there slowly and catch up. You must not be tired out because of us.”
They were guests, and it would be hard to explain if the young lady of the family hosting them fell ill because she had to accompany them.
“Mo Lan, go with Mo Xiu and tell Mother Xu to bring a few pills I have there. Invite Auntie Fang in to have a rest when she gets there. The weather is so bad, she must take care not to fall down.” She turned around and spoke gently to Mo Lan who had been standing behind her silently.
What would happen would happen. She might as well let them have their satisfaction first. Even though the process was different, the result would definitely be the same. However, she did not know how interesting Mo Xuemin’s expression would be when she discovered that their father did not care about the child at all.
However, she could not remember when her elder brother, who used to look at her distantly, had been involved in the matters of the inner yard. It seemed that he was also wearing a fake mask. He had played a role in the tragedy of her past life. It would be difficult for Mo Xuemin, a woman of the inner yard to appear at times in her dealings with Sima Lingyun…
Their mistresses each had their own plans as did the two maids. On the surface, it seemed that they were heading to Qingwei Garden together happily.
The group continued towards the garden.
Maids and servants had already set up equipment for tea in the pavilion near the plum blossoms. There were screens on each side because it was winter, only leaving the front area facing the truly beautiful blossoms unobstructed. Not only did this block out the wind and cold, it was also very elegant. There was a stove in the area and the hot steam that spilled out of it made the pavilion warm and toasty.
The group entered and felt the warmth hit them. They did not feel cold.
There was already a table set up in the pavilion. Even though it was said that men and women should be seated separately past the age of eight, they were all family friends and relatives. They were considered to be very close. Furthermore, there were seven or eight of them. There was no space in the pavilion if they were to set up two tables. As such, they sat together and it would be more fun because of that as well.
It would not be inappropriate since there were so many of them anyway.
“Third Sister, sit closer to the inside. It is windy here. While it might not be too cold, it is a little far away from the stove. You have only just recovered from your illness and you are still weak. You must not sit near the entrance. It would be bad if you caught a cold.” Mo Xuemin pulled Mo Xuetong onto a seat inside. Then, she arranged Wang Yilan to be beside Mo Xuetong and then sat down beside Wang Yilan.
Mo Xueqiong, Mo Yufeng, Wang Minglou, and Qin Yufeng sat down on the other side as well.
Qin Yufeng was sitting beside her.
“Cousin Tong, are you feeling better? Younger Brother Xuan spoke about you yesterday and said he wanted to come and visit you. However, I did not expect us to meet coincidentally today. If I had known, I would have asked him to come.” Qin Yufeng smiled gently, his eyes were clear and happy and his behavior gracious.
“It’s nothing. I was just naughty and went to the temple to play. I didn’t expect to trip. I feel a little ashamed to have worried grandaunt and Cousin Xuan.” Mo Xuetong answered somewhat shyly. A faint blush appeared on her porcelain cheeks, making her look lively and adorable.
However, her long lashes hid the wariness in her eyes!
If there was one person who made her feel afraid at all moments, then it would have to be Qin Yufeng. Every time he appeared, she would watch him carefully. Perhaps Qin Yufeng had seemed undefeatable in her past life. Mo Xuetong could not deal with Qin Yufeng as effortlessly as how she dealt with Mo Xuemin.
This person had amazing wits!
He was so deep that one could not feel him out clearly!
Just like what happened this time. After what happened to Yu Sirong, it was said that she had been sent to the family temple in Cloud City. It was impossible for her to appear in the capital again in this life. The Yu family’s reputation was in tatters because of this as well. Mdm Chen and Mdm Yu would not just let the incident go so easily. She heard that Qin Yufeng was rather close with this cousin of his.
In the past, when Qin Yufeng was young, he had been brought up by the Yu family for a period of time. He and Yu Sirong were considered childhood sweethearts. How could he not do anything about Yu Sirong’s predicament? Mdm Yu would definitely push all the blame onto her. With both his mother and aunt as witnesses, Qin Yufeng might have long decided to deal with her.
“Cousin Tong, are you not happy to see me?” Qin Yufeng picked up his cup. A maid went forward to pour him some wine. He swirled the wine in his cup and cocked his head, smiling at Mo Xuetong handsomely as he asked the question softly.
“Ah!” Mo Xuetong fell silent in shock by the question. She looked at him in confusion with her wide eyes and curled lashes.
“Then why are you not close to me? Younger Brother Xuan is your cousin, and so am I. So why do you always have such a distant expression when you see me?” Qin Yufeng looked aggrieved but his eyes flashed with mirth.
How could they be the same! Qin Yuxuan had always treated her well in her past life and had never harmed her. Qin Yufeng and stood behind Mo Xuemin and she did not know how many ideas he had given her. Mo Xuetong knew that the two had some sort of communication when she saw how Mo Xuemin’s gaze which was full of jealousy and hatred would drift over to them occasionally.
His behavior was enough to have others be prudent and careful when interacting with him.
“Cousin Feng, you are joking. How can I treat you and Cousin Xuan differently? It might be slightly different perhaps because I always see Cousin Xuan around when I lived in your home but I am not as familiar with you.” Mo Xuetong shuddered internally but her smile was soft and radiant. Her sweet voice could soften hearts.
She was charming in her softness and gentleness. It made her jade-like skin seem as pure and beautiful as the snow.
Wang Minglou, who was sitting by the side could not help but have his gaze drift towards Mo Xuetong time and time again.
“I remembered that we were still considered familiar with each other when I was in Cloud City. There was once that I brought you to hide from Younger Brother Xuan. How could you say we are not familiar.” Qin Yufeng laughed and picked up his wine to take a sip. “I remembered you said you would repay me for that.”
Mo Xuetong suddenly remembered this incident now that Qin Yufeng mentioned it. Mo Xuetong was only about 10 then. Her mother was still alive and there was once she went to the Qin Manor to visit Mdm Qin and left Mo Xuetong in the garden to play by herself. Qin Yuxuan was half-grown and was at an age when children were most naughty. He saw a cousin in the garden and was so excited he wanted to bring her to run around. The only thing he didn’t do was to take her to climb the trees and walls.
She did not like these things and naturally tried to hide from him.
She hid behind a large tree that time and Qin Yuxuan was about to find her. Just as she was panic about it, Qin Yufeng appeared from behind. He took her hand and they walked behind another tree and took a large circle before they ran out of the garden. Mo Xuetong looked at the handsome youth while she panted heavily. In order to express her gratitude, she mentioned that she would repay him for his “help”.
Qin Yufeng saw how happy she was and had even brought her to the side and fished with her for an entire afternoon.
In the end, all those things happened in Mo Xuetong’s home, and then Luo Xia had died and Mo Huawen went to the capital. When she returned to the Qin’s home, she found out that the kind elder brother had gone to the capital with her father.
Now that Qin Yufeng mentioned it, Mo Xuetong recalled the incident. However, in her memories, he was a gentle and elegant youth and she was just a child. However, he was now much more than he seemed and she was no longer that ignorant little girl anymore.
“Cousin Feng, what did you tell Third Sister. You look so happy, tell us and let us enjoy the story as well.” Mo Xuemin turned to them and interrupted them with a smile.
“Third Sister, you are so close with Cousin Feng as well. Things happened between you two when you were younger that we don’t know about. You have to take this opportunity to tell us as well.” Mo Xueqiong asked with interest as well. However, her tone was rather misleading.
Mo Xueqiong was such a troublesome person. She wanted to bite everyone and wanted to clamber over everyone.
“It’s nothing. I just remembered the first time I saw Cousin Tong. She was only nine then, oh, maybe eight.” Qin Yufeng said lightly. He raised his wine cup calmly and toasted Mo Yufeng and Wang Minglou. Then, he took a slow sip and turned to the side to talk to Wang Minglou about studying.
“So it is something that happened when you all were so little. I was about that age too when I met Cousin Feng.” Mo Xueqiong felt slightly awkward as they all ignored her and she entertained herself. She knew how to retain some dignity in front of others. Furthermore, she was slightly afraid of Qin Yufeng. She had suffered plenty because of him since she came to the capital and naturally did not dare to force him.
Just as they were speaking, Mo Lan and Mo Xiu returned. Mo Lan had brought with her a medicinal case. Mo Xuetong opened the box and took the pill with clear water because she was a little tired.
She had only just opened the box when she smelled a foreign but extremely pleasing fragrance.
