The state banquet was held in Chengyun Palace.
As an international banquet between Great Qin and Great Yan, it was the biggest party since New Year. It was like a party thrown on a National Day. Officials and their families were invited to celebrate in the royal palace.
It didn’t matter if they brought wives or sons. However, they must bring their young unmarried daughters. Everyone had a post. Two rows of beautiful maidservants from the palace stood aside. Every time they received a post, they would give a beautiful golden hairpin to the young miss. Every hairpin with a pearl pendant was the same, yet they were still pretty.
The maidservants took the hairpins and put them into their misses’ hair to distinguish their young mistresses from the women of the palace.
Recently, it was already getting warmer and the sky appeared exceptionally clear. Several clouds in the blue sky were like girls dancing in blue waves. They looked vivid and at the same time ethereal and beautiful.
The imperial garden was already sprouting some flowers’ branches in the early spring. In less than two or three days, one seemed to be able to smell the spring in the air of the garden.
Before the banquet officially started, the palace prepared some snacks and tea for the guests. Because it was a state dinner, men and women didn’t have to follow the manner so strictly. In accepted areas, they gathered in groups of three to five to cite poems, make couplets, exchange views on literature, and play other games.
Mo Xueqiong excitedly raised her head as if she were a proud golden peacock. A glamorous chest-high iridescent golden striped dress made her stand out in the crowd. Beside her were the same excited Mo Xueyan and another girl of 15 or 16 who was a little shy.
They were the three people in the invitation sent to Mo Manor.
Mo Xuecai was Mo Manor’s distant relative. Though she was born into the aristocracy, her family didn’t have a very high status. Initially, she wasn’t qualified for such a banquet. However, for no reason, Mo Huawen sent her an invitation. Therefore, she decided to attend the party to broaden her vision. She found everything she discovered eye-opening, and she would be amazed by every single thing she saw.
“Fourth Sister, let’s go there. Some flowers seemed to have bloomed there.” Mo Xueyan rolled her eyes and suggested.
However, her gaze landed on several young masters there. No matter how she perceived them, they were handsome and tall, carrying a noble feeling. She could tell at one glance that they were the real nobility.
Mo Xuecai also saw a few young masters there. Moreover, of course, she saw those young misses surrounding them, so she murmured, “Well, I don’t think that’s fine! There are too many people there…”
“You’re such a redneck. Why bother worrying about others?” Mo Xueqiong said disdainfully. Today, she felt very relieved. Mo Xuetong couldn’t come, and Mo Xuemin was replaced because she had offended Father yesterday. Now, here, she was the only real young miss from Mo Manor.
In the past, she lived under the shadow of Mo Xuemin. Few people knew Fourth Miss Mo. Even there was some party; her father would always let her stay at home because of her young age. Later, when Mo Xuetong entered the manor, she became even more obscure. The only time when people heard of her was when she was involved with Sima Lingyun.
She hardly went out of the manor and saw few men outside the manor. Though elegant-looking, Qin Yufeng appeared distant. Sometimes, the darkness inside his eyes would keep her from getting nearer to him. Only Sima Lingyun was both handsome and gentle. Sometimes, he would gift some gadgets to her and Mo Xuemin. When they met, he acted affectionate for her as well. Therefore, she naturally set her heart on Sima Lingyun.
Hence, she was bent on marrying Sima Lingyun, even as a concubine.
Nonetheless, recently, she had completely changed her mind.
With the Empress’s order, Mo Xuemin would marry into Duke Zhenguo’s manor, and she wouldn’t become Sima Lingyun’s concubine in a million years. Later, knowing that Mo Xuemin wasn’t willing to marry and even threatened with her life, Mo Xuetong faltered too. Therefore, this time, she had finally decided and dressed up to show up in the royal banquet.
Mo Xuetong was already Princess Anping. If some noblewoman appreciated her, she could also be promoted!
Compared with Mo Xuetong, she only lacked a chance. If she attended parties like today’s several times more, she was sure that she would be more famous than Mo Xuetong and even found a high society husband sooner than Mo Xuetong. It didn’t matter if she was a legal daughter or not, what mattered the most was if she would marry into a powerful family.
Of course, this was only on Mo Xueyan’s mind.
Mo Xuecai felt wronged at the scolding. However, she couldn’t persuade the other two. She could only follow them pitifully. This was the first time she had been in the royal palace, and she didn’t dare to wander alone.
Someone gently exclaimed. “Gee, isn’t that Fourth Miss Mo?”
Mo Xueqiong stopped and turned around to look. On the left side of the road, a girl in a pink skirt was chatting with other girls. When the girl looked at her, she looked a little curious, disdainful, and somewhat mocking.
“That’s right. It’s said that she’s with Duke Zhenguo’s manor’s…” A girl languidly echoed and aroused mocking laugher in the crowd.
“Duke Zhenguo’s manor’s heir is destined to be with Mo Manor’s girls. He not only saved the younger sister in a fire but also got the elder sister back from a burglar. I wonder if Sir Mo will marry both of his two daughters to Sima Lingyun.” Her giggle instantly made Mo Xueqiong blush.
She was not embarrassed. Instead, she was furious!
“The elder sister becomes the wife, and the younger sister is the concubine. The younger sister must love him so much as to marry into Duke Zhenguo’s manor in every way she can think of.” Mocking laughter rang again.
Her voice was either loud or low and could just reach her. She was livid with rage and saw those noble masters, who she paid attention to, also heard it. They turned around to closely look at her. She wished there were a hole on the ground so she could crawl into it.
She stomped, embarrassed and angry. She couldn’t face those young noble masters anymore. Teeth clenched, she directly walked on another road.
Behind her, Mo Xueyan faltered and didn’t follow finally. She turned to another path, thinking that with her good reputation, she couldn’t walk with Mo Xueqiong lest Mo Xuetong blemished her good name.
Mo Xuecai stood at the intersection of the paths. She looked to the left and to the right. At that moment, she didn’t know who to follow. Originally, she didn’t have her own opinion and kept herself very much to herself. At this time, seeing the two take different roads, she was in a dilemma. She didn’t know who to follow. Then, after consideration, she followed Mo Xueyan.
She didn’t want to follow Mo Xuetong to be humiliated for no reason, either.
Noticing the two sisters didn’t follow her, Mo Xueqiong tore off the leaves on a tree beside her. She stormed into a nearby yard. “It’s better the unintelligent two don’t follow. They burden me.”
“May the young miss please stop for a moment?” After just a few steps, she suddenly heard a man’s gentle voice ring, sounding polite.
Mo Xueqiong turned around and her eyes lit up. A handsome and elegant nobleman was standing at a nearby moon-shaped gate. He wore a navy brocade robe with a stand-up collar, which made him look taller. There were leaf patterns embroidered with gold silk at the collar and sleeves. He looked both graceful and glamorous.
It was a young master dressed in fine clothes. Mo Xuetong suppressed the joy in her heart. She coyly curtseyed and asked, “What do you want me for?”
…
The noble master walked to her and gently asked, “Are you from Mo Manor? I wonder how you call Princess Anping.”
He was inquiring about Mo Xuetong. Mo Xuetong cursed in her heart but still carried a smile on her face. “She’s my Third Sister. I wonder what you want from my Third Sister.”
“It’s nothing. I heard Princess Anping was talented and beautiful so I wanted to meet her. I don’t know if Fourth Miss Mo could pass a letter to Princess Anping for me?”
A letter? In secret?
Mo Xueqiong was so excited that her eyes lit up. Mo Xuetong was indeed guilty. Usually, she looked weak and distant from people as if she wanted to keep all the people away from her. Well, she actually had an affair with a man outside the manor. Moreover, the man had found her sister to send a letter. How could Mo Xueqiong not be excited about this?
As long as she presented the evidence before Father, she didn’t think Father would still think Mo Xuetong the most sensible and well-behaved.
She just needed a way to drag Mo Xuetong down. Now, she couldn’t miss the chance.
Immediately, she stepped forward and enthusiastically said, “If you have any items or letters, you can give them to me. I’ll give them to Third Sister as soon as I get home. She’s been at home and feeling boring, if she…”
If she received a letter of comfort from her lover, she must be overjoyed.
“Unluckily, this time, I get the letter…” She was feeling smug and managed to suppress her laughter by pinching her wrist.
The nobleman heard that and faintly smiled. As expected, he took a letter from his inside pocket and presented it before Mo Xueqiong.
“Third Miss Mo, please give it to her. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Mo Xuetong hurriedly took the letter lest he regretted it. The more she pondered on the idea, the happier she felt. As long as she dragged Mo Xuetong down, she would be the noblest miss in the manor. It didn’t matter if she was a born or adopted princess, her reputation would be tainted once involved in such a thing. She didn’t think Mo Xuetong could prove herself innocent.
Mo Xueqiong had the letter, the physical evidence. No matter how she justified herself, Mo Xuetong would fail.
Mo Xuemin, who thought herself cleverer than Mo Xueqiong, was still locked in her yard now. Only she could do such a thing without a trace, so how could Mo Xueqiong not feel smug?
Putting away the letter, she remembered to ask his name. “Young master, may I have your name please and how I…?”
She looked up but found the figure had faded away. There was only a hollow gate. On the branches on the gate, in the winter, withered leaves curled.
If not for the actual letter in her hand, Mo Xueqiong almost thought she just had a dream.
Mo Xueqiong walked to and fro on the spot and then entered the yard, only to find an empty and unoccupied yard. Then, she had to give up and return. Luckily, she still had the letter. No matter what happened, the fact that a man sent a secret letter to Mo Xuetong wouldn’t change.
“Fourth Miss Mo?” Nearby, in a pavilion surrounded by a rockery, Feng Yuxuan picked up the cup. Sipping at the wine, he thoughtfully looked at Mo Xueqiong, who faltered on the spot.
“Yes, she nearly became Sima Lingyun’s concubine. Do you want her as well?” Qin Yufeng smiled. He was dressed in a pale pinkish purple brocade robe embroidered with gold silk. Compared to Feng Yuxuan who was wearing a jade belt and golden crown, he looked more casual. Maybe he had had a few drinks, because he appeared tipsy, glanced at Mo Xueqiong and smiled.
He always thought himself too graceful to say these kinds of mean words. Today, when he casually said it out loud after drinking, he still didn’t strike people as flippant.
Feng Yuxuan knew he was joking too, so he looked up to ask, “In this way, we don’t need to watch Mo Manor anymore. She’s really not our girl. The other side doesn’t seem to care about her. They don’t know Third Miss Mo until now?”
Qin Yufeng put down his wine cup and his eyes fell. He faintly smiled and shook his head. “Don’t take it lightly. Do you think it’s just a letter when they sent it at such a place and time? It looks like they’re fighting all over the place in the Yan Kingdom too.”
Feng Yuxuan was startled and asked, “So what now?”
“Initially, I wasn’t sure if she was involved. However, I can almost be positive about that now.” Qin Yufeng stood up, picked up his cup and drank it up. He gently put down the cup on the table with a crisp rat-tat, pleasing to the ear.
“Your Highness. Since they’ve taken action, we can also follow suit. Whoever first finds it has the biggest advantage.”
