It was a small tent. Because it was temporarily set up, there was only a table, a few chairs. There were several baskets of fruits and sunflower seeds. It was so simple that she saw them all in a glance. She arrived a little early and there was no one else.
Mo Lan wiped the table and found it turned out to be clean. Therefore, she helped Mo Xuetong sit down. “Miss, there’s no one else. I’ll go check at the door to see if I can get a cup of tea for you.”
Mo Xuetong couldn’t help but chuckle. “How will there be tea?” She remembered on their way here, they didn’t even see a few servants. It was really quite here, which was also dangerous. However, to figure out the other party’s identity, she had to risk herself.
The tent was set up on a small hill. If they waved hands from here, someone might spot them. “Miss, should I check at the door? Perhaps I’ll find one.”
Since Mo Lan insisted, Mo Xuetong had to nod approval. Anyway, Mo Lan wouldn’t go too far; she would only get to the door.
Mo Xuetong picked up an orange from the table and slowly peeled them while carefully listening to the surroundings.
It was quiet outside, and the human voices sounded scattered in the distance; she couldn’t quite make out what they were saying. Qin sound varied from slow and quick. Because of the Qin sound from all directions, she didn’t find it quite pleasing to the ear. In the end, she only felt noisy! The Qin gathering Bai Yihao organized was really disordered. However, it was just because of the disorder that everyone could relax at the gathering.
They could throw away all the rules they had to obey in the usual days.
They could talk to whoever they liked, and they could play aloof in front of anyone they disliked. It didn’t matter if one called them difficult, lofty, or true to themselves, today, these features all belonged to scholars. All of the other people, instead of viewing you with a sophisticated eye, would only think you’re a real scholar.
This must be why those Qin gatherings Bai Yihao organized turned out to be successful!
He made use of the weakness in humanity and used all kinds of means to let down people’s guard. In this way, compared with in the rigid daily lives, something could be done easier. In such a relaxing atmosphere, people would let their guard down. That was how the human heart worked. Factors like environment and vibe could all relax people.
Mo Xuetong’s lips raised in a small curve. She was about to put the peeled orange into her mouth. Suddenly, she put it down and her face paled. She listened carefully and suddenly rose up. Nonetheless, before she got back on her feet, her body heavily collapsed. Her vision turned blurry and she could hear familiar laughter ringing by her ear.
“Such a vigilant girl! Relax, don’t be afraid! You’ll feel better once you get there!”
“Who is it? Who is trying to hurt me and meanwhile comforting me!” Before she could sort it out, she soon fell into heavy darkness.
Flames, numerous flames soared up!
Trapped in the sea of flames, she lay on the ground, blood dripping down her forehead. She couldn’t feel the burning pain on her body and only stared at two people outside the fire. They were Mo Xuemin and Sima Lingyun, who were dressed in red wedding garments. Though looking awkward as well, they were not hurt.
Mo Xuemin watched her struggle in the fire with a sneer and at the same time dragged Sima Lingyun’s hand. The two seemed to be in a quarrel. She couldn’t hear them. “Will Sima Lingyun try to save me or something?” Mo Xuetong smiled coldly and fingered a burning stick beside her. Despite the pain, she grabbed it and flung it at Mo Xuemin.
She could no longer see anything and all she heard was a drone. Blood of tears started to ooze out of her bright eyes. However, she seemed to see a man dashing into the fire. For some unknown reason, she felt she knew him. “What is he doing here? Save me?”
It was too late!
It was too late to do anything!
In the dark, Mo Xuetong jerked awake and started panting as if she could still see that red sea of fire and feel that burning pain that could almost rip her. Her hands and feet were twitching and her forehead was covered with beads of sweat. She hadn’t had such a dream in a long time. Ever since she woke up from her resurrection, she had been having nightmares every day; then, they occurred less until she finally ceased having them.
It never occurred to her that she would dream it now, and it should be slightly different from before!
A man showed up in fire and rushed to save her!
She even could vaguely hear the man calling her! Did she miss something from her last life…?
She slightly moved her numb hands and feet.
Her hands crept over the couch but stopped because a man’s voice rang. “Has she waken up?”
It sounded like someone opened the door. After a squeak in the dark, she felt light fall on her body. She instantly shut her eyes, afraid of opening them and got into trouble.
Another man’s voice rang. “No. It’s still early. The drug effect can’t wear off so soon.” Afterward, the light vanished; the door was closed again.
Mo Xuetong slowly opened her eyes. Previously, when she put a segment of orange into her mouth, she suddenly remembered that Mo Lan wasn’t outside the tent. She heard everything except Mo Lan. Mo Lan was going to get a cup of water for her. How could there be no sound at all? Even if Mo Lan walked out, there would still be footsteps.
At the moment when she felt something went wrong, she held her breath right away. Therefore, though she did pass out then, later, she woke up earlier than they expected.
Her hands and feet still felt sore and weak, therefore, she could only lie there in the darkness. She seemed to be in a room, but she felt the slow and rhythmic swinging. Instantly, Mo Xuetong realized it was not a room but a moving carriage.
Someone abducted her and threw her into a carriage.
A driver, who was in his 30s, said to another one in his 40s. “Old Mo, will we really send her there? Such a shame. Master is really generous to give away such a pretty girl.”
Old Mo shook his head and sighed. “So what even if he’s reluctant? Old Qin, you don’t get your eye on the girl in the carriage, do you? She’s Master’s lover. I’ve been serving Master since young and I don’t remember seeing Master looking at some girl so affectionately. Master has never cared about girls. She’s blessed to have Master’s love.”
Recalling the jade-white and pretty face he just saw, Old Qin suddenly smiled sinisterly. “Blessed? Cursed more like. If he loves her, why does he want to send his lover into another man’s bed? He sends her there without good cause; she will at most become a serving concubine. Such a misfortune for a pretty miss like her. She’s so beautiful and she might kill herself by bumping into a piece of furniture tomorrow.”
“She’ll hit her head on a piece of furniture anyway. Such a shame for a beautiful girl like her. Why don’t we…”
Old Mo slapped him in the back and glared. “Don’t try anything funny. Otherwise, you don’t know how you’ll wind up dead once Master knows. Don’t forget what happened to Old Han after what they’d done last time. Unlike you, I still want to survive.”
Old Qin trembled remembering those bodies covered in blood because they had been cut many times. His face paled and he murmured, “Master won’t know anyway. When that chick finds herself waking up in a man’s bed tomorrow, she’ll kill herself. Why can’t she serve…”
Old Mo grew impatient. “Why can’t you stop gibbering? You’ll die because of women one day. How can we get our eye on such a pretty girl? If you want to live, don’t touch anything on her. I’ve been following Master long, and I haven’t seen Master so serious for a woman. Just watch, Master will manage to get her back tomorrow, and then…”
Old Qin was immediately startled by those words and no longer leered. Thinking of Master’s methods, he couldn’t defend himself in front of Old Mo anymore. He only bitterly lowered his head and casually cracked his whip from time to time.
Old Qin looked grumpy and Old Mo had to comfort him. “When it’s done, we’ll have some fun in Drunken Blossom Hall. We can have all kinds of women there. Why don’t we risk our lives for one single woman?”
“Alright. But it’ll be your treat.”
“You bet!”
“Someone wants to send me into another man’s bed. I don’t know who that resourceful master behind those two is, but I must know him. When I passed out, I seemed to fall into someone’s arms. I think he’s the one those two call master.
“It’s not Mo Xuemin. First, that someone is a man; second, if Mo Xuemin caught me now, she would directly kill me. She no longer fancies those little name-ruining games. We’re like ice and fire now and can’t stay in the same room. Rather than managing to get me back, the thing Mo Xuemin wants the most now is to tear me apart.
“From the way they talk, their master should be powerful and he doesn’t want me dead. Instead, he wants to send me into some man’s bed to benefit himself.” Mo Xuetong’s analysis had come to a dead end. “He’s too vicious. Even if I don’t die tomorrow, how will I end up any better?
“What does he want from me even if it means ruining my life?”
She went through all the names in her head but couldn’t find a possible suspect. “And they call me his lover? I don’t remember anyone who loves me except Feng Yuran. But I don’t suspect Feng Yuran, because I just don’t believe he’ll set me up.”
She carefully sat up and felt her hair. After making sure the pair of sword-shaped hairpins remained, she slightly relaxed. She couldn’t see the outside circumstances behind the firmly shut windows. They were two adult men. Even with the short swords, she wouldn’t necessarily match them. It must be at night because it’s quiet outside. When listening carefully, she only heard the clang of horseshoes.
It was not a good time to attack. Even if she could kill them now, after that, there was nowhere for her to hide. The carriage rode on a road where nobody was in sight. Moreover, it was at night. None of these factors benefited her. She must wait, wait for the best chance to pull off one strike to survive.
Outside, Old Qin’s impatient voice rang again. “Are we there yet?”
Old Mo said, “Take the turn and we’ll be there soon. When we get there, you just shut up and let me do the talking.” Then, Old Qin grumbled again in a low voice and Mo Xuetong couldn’t quite hear it.
Mo Xuetong immediately lay back down. According to their expectancy, the drug effect shouldn’t have worn off by now, so she pretended she was still in a coma.
After riding for another short distance, the carriage slowly halted. Someone asked and it was a woman’s voice. “Have you got her?”
It was Old Mo’s voice. “She’s here. Look for yourself.”
The door was opened, and someone seemed to have gotten in. It was a woman because she carried a faint scent. It was not a tacky type, but one which could only be smelled on those elegant ladies. Mo Xuetong had detected it on some girls in the royal palace. Therefore, the woman who just got into the carriage had a high status.
Someone flashed her with a lantern. Then, it was the woman’s voice again. “I’ll take her. You should leave as soon as possible too. These are yours.”
With a thump, Mo Xuetong felt something like a quilt surrounding her. Two people respectively held her feet and head, carrying her off the coach.
