The edict from the palace came in the late afternoon. The little eunuch who delivered it first went to see Mo Huawen and then brought Mo Xuetong to the palace.
It was rather awkward for Mo Xuetong because she had injured her leg. Fortunately, it was not obvious with the help of Mo Lan even though she was a little slow.
A horse carriage was already waiting outside. Mo Xuetong boarded the horse carriage and went to the palace with Mo Lan.
They entered through the main gates of the palace and went onto a palanquin that was set up for them especially. A eunuch holding a box approached them. This must have been the will of the consorts who were appointed at the banquet today, along with King Yan and King Chu’s consorts. Palace maids followed along with nimble steps and the neat procession moved outwards. There were also some women who were destined to stay in the palace forever.
When they arrived outside of Tianchen Palace, Mo Xuetong got off the carriage. A palace maid had been waiting for her and helped her off carefully.
“Princess Anping, please.” The lead eunuch Liu Xi had already been waiting there. He approached Mo Xuetong with a smile when he saw her.
Mo Xuetong did not dare to be rude to Emperor Zongwen’s lead eunuch. She hurriedly smiled and nodded and walked forward. She saw Feng Yuran the moment she entered. He looked refreshed. Emperor Zongwen was sitting on the throne. His eyes were dark and she could not tell what he was thinking. Mo Xuetong released the palace maid who was helping her and knelt down with some difficulty. She kowtowed respectfully and said, “Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live, Your Majesty.”
She sounded slightly afraid because of her nervousness. Coupled with the swelling around her eyes, she looked very pitiful.
Emperor Zongwen looked at her expressionlessly for a moment. He could not help but smile lightly when he saw that she remained to kneel respectfully but did not show any signs of being flustered. He said, “Rise.”
Liu Xi glanced at the palace maid who quickly understood his intentions. She went up to help Mo Xuetong stand.
“The Princess Royal mentioned you to me. She said that you are obedient. I was going to meet you in a while but I did not expect Old Eight to be so anxious. He urged me to meet you now. How is your leg? Have the imperial physician take a look before you leave. It would be bad if it leaves lasting damage while you are young.”
Mo Xuetong did not expect Emperor Zongwen to be so kind. She glanced at Feng Yuran with some surprise but saw that he was smiling with satisfaction. He even raised his brows when he saw her looking at him. His behavior was really flamboyant. Mo Xuetong looked away to the ground quietly.
She replied softly, “Many thanks for your kind love, Your Majesty. I am not so delicate. Furthermore, the physician already said that it is no big deal. I just have to rest.”
Her injury was not serious and was just a slight sprain. It was no big deal. Honestly speaking, it was not too much trouble for her to walk either. She only had to rub it with medicated oil. However, her leg was wrapped up only to show how serious it was. She must not let the imperial physician see it.
“Even so, you were injured. Old Eight, do you still have that superior-grade medicinal oil at your place? Give it to Princess Anping later.” Emperor Zongwen smiled and turned to speak to Feng Yuran who was standing beside him. He did not insist that Mo Xuetong see the imperial physician.
“Father, even though the medicinal oil I have is good, it is not as good as the one in the palace. Father, why don’t you be generous? She seems rather pitiful, give her some.” A handsome smile appeared on Feng Yuran’s face. It was rare that he was showing Emperor Zongwen the adorable side of his.
This prince seemed so different today! Was it because of the girl in front of him?
Liu Xi turned to look at Mo Xuetong who was waiting with her head lowered respectfully. His eyes showed the deep thoughts that he had.
However, Emperor Zongwen smiled. “Alright, alright. I will give her some medicinal oil. But just that. Why did you say that she looks pitiful? Princess Anping seems well, don’t bully her.”
Emperor Zongwen looked at Mo Xuetong again, sizing her up once more. Even though she looked rather frail, she was gracious. That was rare. Furthermore, it was obvious that she had cried earlier. However, there was not a hint of sadness in her face. It made her seem gentle and showed off her good breeding.
No matter whether it was in the palace or outside of it, a man had to marry a virtuous wife who was gracious and understanding. Even though Mo Xuetong was still young and had an air of childishness that made one’s heart hurt for her, she seemed like an intelligent and gracious girl. She could be so silent and unaffected at such a young age. That was difficult. She was the right match for Old Eight.
Even though there were rumors about his son being licentious, he was truly unfeeling. Emperor Zongwen knew about it. Feng Yuran had never treated a girl kindly. It was rare that he cared so much for a girl. Emperor Zongwen was rather satisfied.
The girl’s character and behavior were both rare.
“Father, am I a person like this? Anyway, there are not many in your palace who likes that smell. But I quite like it, and it has a light fragrance when one uses it. I shall ask you for it on her behalf.” Feng Yuran said with a smile. Tong’er would definitely like the rare medicinal oil that had a light fragrance.
Mo Xuetong was so embarrassed by his impudence that she was speechless. She could only look at her feet with a red face and pretended that she did not exist. Even though they understood what Emperor Zongwen meant, the two of them were still not officially engaged. Feng Yuran’s words made them sound as if they were family.
Even though her heart was warm, she could not hide the embarrassment and anger on her face.
“Alright, alright. I shall give it to you. Liu Xi, get someone to send the medicinal oil to the Mo Manor later. And give Princess Anping two sets of phoenix wings accessories as well as ten bolts of good cloth.” Emperor Zongwen said with a smile. It was rare that his two-faced son would speak with him in such a familiar manner. He could not help but feel pleased and give his son face there and then.
Phoenix feathers head accessories were only gifted when a prince gets engaged to his official consort. However, Emperor Zongwen was already treating Mo Xuetong as his daughter-in-law. He naturally did not think that it was weird to give something like this to her. It meant the heralding of the phoenix and phoenixes were meant to be partnered with dragons. It was rare that his son would be so happy and serious about this marriage. How could he not agree as a father? He had to help his son out.
Mo Xuetong, however, was speechless, “…”
They were not married yet but Emperor Zongwen had already gifted the head accessories to her. She could not refuse and could only thank the emperor for his gifts.
Emperor Zongwen asked a few more questions before allowing the two to leave the palace.
Mo Xuetong leaned back into the soft palanquin. Feng Yuran strode beside her and chatted with her. The two of them had gone through the right channels and do not need to go around secretively anymore. Furthermore, Feng Yuran had no intention of hiding anything. There was not just one person who was going after Mo Xuetong. This was a good method to fend against them.
However, they had only just passed through the first palace gate when Liu Xi ran after them to tell Feng Yuran that Emperor Zongwen wanted him to stay.
“You go back first. When Father’s gift arrives, ask Mo Ye to help you massage your leg. You’ve hurt your leg in deep winter and it’s easy for it to become a lasting injury. The medicinal oil has a light plum fragrance and you will definitely like it.” Feng Yuran looked down and smiled at Mo Xuetong, speaking to her quietly.
“Alright.” Mo Xuetong replied with a blush. Even though the two eunuchs who were carrying the palanquin looked stoic as if they had not heard anything, the slight curve on their lips made Mo Xuetong feel so embarrassed that she could not speak. She leaned back to avoid his warm breath.
They were in the palace, so he could behave so insolently. However, she could not. Furthermore, not everyone knew that they were now engaged. The two of them could not be so close to each other.
“Then I shall leave now. You go back.” Feng Yuran said with a charming and satisfied smile on his handsome face. Then, he turned to leave.
“Let’s leave quickly!” Mo Xuetong turned her gaze away from Feng Yuran’s retreating back. The palace was a dangerous place. Feng Yuran was there earlier, and perhaps no one dared to do anything. However, she was alone now. It was different. She had better leave as soon as possible.
However, man proposes, but God disposes. Even though Mo Xuetong was in a hurry to leave, it was not that simple.
The palanquin moved even faster after Mo Xuetong ordered it so. They headed towards the palace gates in a hurry. However, they were stopped just after a few steps.
“Who is that in front? Why have you not come down to greet me after seeing me?” It was an arrogant voice that came from the front. Mo Xuetong sighed and called out, “Stop!”
Even though she wanted peace, others had to be able to give her that too. The Fifth Princess obviously had different thoughts.
Mo Xuetong got off the palanquin with the help of Mo Lan. She saw the Fifth Princess blocking their way, dressed luxuriously. Mo Xuetong did not expect that Bai Yihao would be beside her.
“Oh, so it’s the brand new Princess Anping. What is it? Have you come to suck up to my father after sucking up to my aunt? It’s a pity that you are too late. Father has already taken a few concubines earlier in the day. The edict should be out already.” The Fifth Princess suddenly smiled. Her bell-like voice was pleasing to the ear.
However, what she was saying was not. She made it sound as if Mo Xuetong had entered the palace to seduce Emperor Zongwen.
The Fifth Princess looked as if she had returned from horse-riding. She was wearing a beautiful horse-riding costume and was holding a horsewhip in her hand.
“Greetings, Fifth Princess. Many thanks for your reminder.” Mo Xuetong curtsied at the Fifth Princess. Then, she slowly got up and looked at her with a vague smile. Her eyes sparkled with beauty and she looked as if she did not care about what the Fifth Princess had said earlier. She did not even retaliate.
The last time she saw the Fifth Princess, she had been bullied. She had accepted it because of her insignificant status. However, she was a princess now. Even though her status was still slightly lower than the Fifth Princess, she was not someone the Fifth Princess could easily bully. Furthermore, she would encounter the Fifth Princess in the future when she married into the royal family. If she seemed too weak, she would only be bullied.
She did not wish to entertain the Fifth Princess today either!
She looked at the clear and beautiful eyes before her and listened to the clear sweet voice. The Fifth Princess could not help but turn to look at Bai Yihao. Even though his expression remained the same and he looked just as indifferent, the Fifth Princess could sense that Bai Yihao’s gaze had strayed on Mo Xuetong’s face and stayed there for some time.
Anger rose within her. She disliked the girl before her since the first time she saw her!
She harrumphed coldly, holding her horsewhip. A flash of sinister coldness glinted in her eyes. She raised the whip and swished it at Mo Xuetong’s tender face.
The Fifth Princess enjoyed riding and training horses. As such, her horsewhip was different from regular horsewhips. There were two sharp barbs at the tip of it. If the horses did not obey her and annoyed her, she would have someone hold the horse while she hit it.
The horse would often be severely injured and covered in blood. If the horse could not withstand the beating, it might even die.
She had whipped the horse that had thrown her off to death like that.
She did not believe that Bai Yihao would dare to protect this woman so openly. A satisfied smirk appeared on her lips. She could almost see the shock on Mo Xuetong’s delicate face under the shadow of her whip. However, she did not see Bai Yihao’s eyes that flashed coldly with anger. He held a thin needle secretly between his fingers.
“Xueyu, are you making trouble again?” A gentle voice suddenly sounded from a path beside them. The Fifth Princess’ arm stilled in mid-air. Then, she moved it and turned around with a brilliant smile. “Aunt, you are going to lecture me again. How could I make trouble? I am just chatting with Princess Anping.”
Nobody noticed that Bai Yihao’s hand, which were hidden in his wide sleeves, relaxed slightly when the Fifth Princess moved her hand away from her horsewhip. A bloodthirsty desire to kill flashed in his cold eyes. If Feng Yuran were here, he would definitely notice that Bai Yihao was ready to kill earlier. The thin needle that he held in his palms slid back into his sleeve silently.
There was a blue substance on the shiny needle. It was some sort of poison that would kill a person with a single strike!
