“Madam…” Nanny Tian said with a smile as she helped the Duchess onto the horse carriage when they left the Mo Manor.
“Let’s go to the Mingyang Duke’s Manor.” The Duchess looked extremely pleased. Then, her expression changed into one of viciousness. She gritted her teeth. That little slut, Mo Xuemin thought that she would not be able to do anything without her help. However, she did not expect that there was always a different way out. As long as Xiayu was around, Yun’er’s case was not considered to be a big deal. Furthermore, she still had other evidence. Mo Xuemin would have no choice but to admit it.
It would not be too late to seek revenge against Mo Xuemin when she married into the manor in the future.
Inside Qingwei Garden, Mo Yu packed up the bowl of fruits that had been damaged in the fall. She rushed in excitedly and put down the bowl of fruits when she saw Mo Xuetong sitting down by the window, reading. She smiled and poured tea for Mo Xuetong and said with bright eyes. “Miss, how did you know that Duchess Zhenguo and Duchess Mingyang are close?”
Mo Xuetong accepted the cup of tea and took a sip. Then, she smiled lightly and said, “Both Duchess’ have the surname Zhao. They are from the Hanyun Zhao family, so they would definitely have kept in contact with each other.”
“Miss, you are really smart. You have not traveled, but you know about something like that as well.” Mo Yu said with admiration. When she saw Mo Xuetong concentrating on her book, she smiled and left quietly.
Inside the room, while Mo Xuetong was looking at the book, her mind whirled with other things!
She had only found out about the relationship between Duchess Zhenguo, Zhao Mingyu and Duchess Mingyang, Zhao Xiayu after she had married Sima Lingyun in her past life. The two were biological sisters. However, their Eldest Uncle did not have any children, and as such, their father put Zhao Mingyu in her Eldest Uncle’s care. The two sisters were separated and many did not know that they were biological sisters and that they were very close.
The Mingyang Duke’s Manor was different from the Zhenguo Duke’s Manor. They were not only the descendants of nobility, but also those of a general. Duke Mingyang was now under the King of Xian and was a high ranking official in the army. It was completely different from the failing Zhenguo Duke’s Manor. Since Duke Mingyang had been stationed outside of the capital, their duke’s manor in the capital had stayed empty all this while.
Now that the Duchess was desperate and knew that Mingyang Duchess was in the capital, she would definitely seek her out for help. Even though Duchess Mingyang might not be able to say anything in the palace, she would definitely be able to speak to the Lady of Xian Prefecture. If Duchess Mingyang pleaded with the King of Xian, who had always thought highly of Duke Mingyang, he would definitely speak up for her…
No matter how hard she struggled, Mo Xuemin would not be able to fight her fate of entering Duke Zhenguo’s Manor.
Mo Xuemin had killed her in her past life. She had poisoned Yu’er to death. She had done all of that just to marry Sima Lingyun. In this life, she viewed the Duke Zhenguo’s Manor with disdain. However, it was not so easy for her to get out of marrying Sima Lingyun. If she did not get the both of them together, how would she get revenge for all that happened to her!
There was a hint of a cold smile on her lips. She lowered her eyes to hide the pain in them. How could she forget, the searing and burning pain? How could she forget the sadness and hatred she felt when the poison was drained down her throat? She could see the ridicule in Mo Xuemin and Sima Lingyun’s eyes through the flames. That pain. That hate…
“Miss, Sir Bai’s men sent this over.” Mo Lan lifted the curtains and entered with an invitation in her hands.
Mo Xuetong reached out to take it. It was light pink in color and there were a few words embossed in gold. There were peach blossoms on the edges of the invitation and it lifted one’s mood for some reason. She opened the invitation and read it. On it, written in beautiful handwriting, it said, “There is a Qin meeting tomorrow. Please bring your own instrument!”
A Qin meeting? Mo Xuetong only recalled after some pondering that the Qin meeting was the gathering of noble ladies Bai Yihao mentioned the last time. They were all girls who were learning the instrument from him. Her father had allowed her to learn the instrument from Bai Yihao ever since he had, for no reason, told her father that she was very talented at it. Mo Xuetong would not believe that Bai Yihao was so silly to do something like that for no reason. However, she could not guess why he had done that. Could he just be trying to befuddle the public?
Too many things had happened in the past few days. If the weather was good tomorrow, she should go out and take a walk.
Mo Xuetong was woken up by Mo Lan early in the morning the next day. The girls going for the gathering were all about her age, so Mother Xu had picked out a long, plain colored chiffon dress. There were small purple flowers on the edges of her sleeves and the bottom of the dress. The light blue colored sash at her waist set off her slender waist. She looked elegant and beautiful and her eyes brimmed with beauty and brightness.
Mother Xu looked at her and smiled happily. She seemed as if she was proud of how Mo Xuetong had grown.
They got onto the carriage and arrived at the academy where Bai Yihao taught the instrument. It was Qinglin Academy.
Qinglin Academy was very famous in Great Qin. Ordinary folks would not be able to enter the academy. When the academy first started, it was meant only for male students. Later, a smaller female school was set up for the young ladies of noble families to learn from the master. As the only school in which both males and females could study in, and as an excellent school, only daughters from wealthy families could enter. It was much more difficult for girls to enter the school than for boys.
Mo Xuetong had heard of Qinglin Academy in her past life as well. It was because Sima Heyan could not enter the school and threw several tantrums at home. Then, she heard that the Princess was enrolled in the school as well. It was a school for the cream of the crop and the noble young ladies would feel proud of themselves if they were able to join the school.
The test for women was much stringent than for males. The young ladies could learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting in the school. They could also make close friends and connections. Those who had good grades would be known as talented women and this title was different from the talent that Mo Xuemin was said to possess.
They would truly be acknowledged to be talented by powerful families. The girl would not only be of noble status, she would also be known to be exceptionally talented as well.
The 15th of the month had not yet passed and Qinglin Academy had not officially started yet. She did not understand why Bai Yihao would hold a Qin meeting at this time. However, he only had a title in Qinglin Academy. He taught only in spring and only took in a few female students. With his status, Qinglin would not be able to interfere with his matters.
Qinglin Academy was in the north-western side of the capital. The Mo Manor was also in the northern area of the capital and was not too far away from the academy. It took just an hour by horse carriage.
Mo Xuetong did not know what time the Qin meeting was since it was her first time attending it. As such, she went there earlier. When she reached Qinglin Academy, she realized that there were already dozens of horse carriages parked outside the doors. The first carriage was beautiful and luxurious. One look at it and one could tell that it was no ordinary horse carriage. Mo Xuetong’s sharp eyes found the insignia of the royal family on it. She could not help but frown slightly. Which Princess did the carriage belong to?
Some young ladies who were dressed up nicely were at the entrance, getting off their carriages daintily. Mo Xuetong’s horse carriage stopped and she got off the horse carriage. She heard a loud female voice, “Isn’t that Third Miss Mo! Are you here for the Qin meeting as well?”
Mo Xuetong sighed when she heard the arrogant voice that had a hint of a challenge in it. She turned around and looked. It was indeed Ling Rui’er. The Fifth Princess was standing beside her.
“Princess, Third Miss Mo here is very well-known. She was really wild when she talked about her elder sister a few days ago.” Ling Rui’er introduced Mo Xuetong. She was a distant cousin of the Fifth Princess. When she saw Mo Xuetong’s delicate beauty, she grew more and more displeased. As such, she started to frame Mo Xuetong.
The Fifth Princess sized up Mo Xuetong with a sullen face. One could not tell if she was happy or angry.
“How dare you. You should greet the Princess.” A palace maid who was dressed luxuriously and did not look like a palace maid at all yelled sharply.
“Greetings, Fifth Princess.” Mo Xuetong sighed and curtsied deeply.
“So you’re Mo Xuetong. Were you the one who had once said that Second Miss Ling’s looks were average without feeling ashamed?” A flash of coldness appeared in the Fifth Princess’ eyes as she spoke coldly to Mo Xuetong.
“I do not dare to twist your comment. I fear that Third Miss Ling had heard wrongly.” Mo Xuetong said lightly. The Fifth Princess did not allow her to rise, so she remained in a low curtsy. She looked at the ground graciously. She did not want to fight with the Princess with her status.
“How could I have heard wrongly? You were the one who said that my elder sister looked average and that she was in a tussle with the two Princes and their relationship was ambiguous.” Ling Rui’er said loudly. She looked at Mo Xuetong in a pleased manner. There was no one here to help Mo Xuetong today. She was going to see what Mo Xuetong would do today.
There was a flash of anger on the Fifth Princess’ face when she saw Mo Xuetong’s distant expression. She laughed coldly, “Mo Xuetong, how dare you slander my elder brothers. You have slandered the name of the royal family. How dare you. Kneel down!”
“I have never once said something like that. If the Fifth Princess does not believe me, you can speak to the young ladies present that day. I never expected that a fair person like Third Miss Ling would lie and bully others. I wonder if Third Miss Ling will speak so confidently when you see the other young ladies again?” Mo Xuetong retorted and smiled lightly at Ling Rui’er.
However, she still knelt. The Fifth Princess was the legal daughter of the Empress. She had no choice but to kneel.
The stone floor was icy cold and there was a layer of frost on it. The coldness seeped through her knees and into her bones. But she was not in the mood to care now. Her skirt was dirtied and her legs were cold. All of this did not matter. What was most important right now was that she had to bear it!
Ling Rui’er flushed when she heard that. She seemed rather uneasy. When she thought that a few of the young ladies would be present as well, she was speechless.
“Mo Xuetong, I heard that your reputation was bad in Cloud City. You bullied your Auntie, and frame your half-sisters when you returned to the capital. You are great. I heard that you are the only daughter in the manor that remained unscathed. Were you the one who plotted everything?” The Fifth Princess was steadied by the palace maid. There was a hint of laughter on her face, but the smile made one feel cold.
The other young ladies in the distance saw what was happening and knew that the Fifth Princess was berating someone. They did not dare to say much and looked at each other before entering the Academy. The Fifth Princess was just as arrogant as King Xuan.
“Rumors cannot be believed. If I have done anything bad, my father, who is the magistrate of the capital, would not allow such a vicious woman to stay in his home. He would definitely lock up the vicious person for the safety and peace of the family.” Mo Xuetong said calmly with her head low. The people who were locked up were Mo Xuemin and Auntie Fang. It was obvious who the vicious ones were.
The Fifth Princess felt extremely jealous and hateful when she saw how Mo Xuetong answered her calmly. Her eyes were clear and beautiful despite her kneeling there. She thought about how such beauty would definitely cause nations to fall in a few more years and felt like tearing the beautiful face apart. She smiled coldly and said, “You reprimanded Second Miss Ling. That is already being disrespectful. And you pay so much attention to my royal brothers. Do you want to marry them? If so, Mother has talked about you before. I can help you let her know. However, you can at most just be a concubine with your status.”
Mo Xuetong’s head buzzed. All the blood in her body rushed up to her mind.
The Empress had mentioned her? Why did she mention her? During the Hundred Flowers Banquet, the Empress had summoned her. If not for the Princess Royal meeting her, the Empress would have already met her. Also, she later heard that the young ladies who went to meet the Empress were all given similar gifts to hers.
The young ladies were all from prominent families. The Empress was interested in getting more imperial consorts for Emperor Zongwen!
Was the Empress interested in making her an imperial consort as well? But why did she not act in the end!
