Mo Xuetong spoke with Cairong for a while and then went to walk around the garden with Nanny Yang. Mo Xuetong did not wish to publicize the matter for now. The matter would not be so simple and she had a feeling that Cairong definitely had something to do with the He family. However, Mo Xuetong could not tell if Cairong had anything to do with Consort Xian.
Fortunately, she had been dealing with the He family and could find out information from them. The thing with Consort Xian could not be so simple. Perhaps this Cairong was a key to finding out about it. For now, though, she would just watch on regarding the He family and would interfere only at the right time. Anyway, given the characters of the He sisters, things would not be peaceful. As such, Mo Xuetong was not in a hurry. She would wait silently and at the best possible moment…
Peonies did not bloom at this time and the flowers that had bloomed earlier were all wilting. All that was left was a verdant green color. They were no different from the other branches. However, the peony garden did not just have peonies. Other than the peonies, which made up most of the flowers there, there were other various flowers interspersed in between. The design of the entire garden was very reasonable.
Nanny Yang brought Mo Xuetong around and then led her to the main courtyard. That was where Feng Yuran would stay when he visited occasionally.
The main courtyard was very clean. Mo Xuetong rested there for a while and looked at the general size of the garden. Having gotten an idea of it, she then left the peony garden.
She did not return to King Xuan’s Manor straightaway. Instead, she first went to Mo Manor. Xu Yan was already several months pregnant. She hurried out to welcome Mo Xuetong upon hearing that she was visiting.
Mo Xuetong helped her into the room and sat down after greeting her.
Mo Xuetong looked at Xu Yan’s belly, which was already showing, and smiled. She said, “Mother, you have to have a little brother for me so that Father can have a legitimate son to take over the family business.”
Mo Xuetong had never thought well of Mo Yufeng, especially in current circumstances. After what happened to Auntie Fang and Mo Xuemin, Mo Yufeng must hate Mo Xuetong a lot. After what happened to Mo Xuetong in her past life, she felt that she had steeled her heart.
Xu Yan flushed and lowered her head slightly. She sighed and said, “It’d be great if I can have a son.”
She knew of the current situation the Mo Manor was in. If she could not have a son, the Mo Manor would end up in Mo Yufeng’s hands sooner or later. Mo Xuetong did not mind for she was now Consort Xuan. However, it was different for Xu Yan. When she thought that she might have to live under Mo Yufeng’s thumb in the future, she could not bring herself to be happy.
“Mother, you are a blessed person. It will be alright. Even if it is not a little brother this time, you can have more children. You’re young anyway.”
Mo Xuetong smiled and comforted Xu Yan upon seeing that she was truly worried.
“I can only think of it this way now.” Xu Yan sighed once more and held Mo Xuetong’s hand. She suddenly asked, “Did you see your Fourth Sister when you came in?”
“Mo Xueqiong?” Mo Xuetong asked in surprise.
“Yes, she just returned to the manor. I heard that she brought with her some gold and jewelry. She doesn’t seem to have lost King Yan’s affection after marrying him. She even gifted me some things earlier.” Xu Yan pointed at a few colorful bolts of cloth on the table.
Mo Xueqiong had left King Yan’s Manor. That was odd. Mo Xuetong heard that after You Yue’e became Consort Yan, she did not allow any other woman to get close to Feng Yulei. Mo Xueqiong had been disfigured after entering the manor. Mo Xuetong did not know how Mo Xueqiong gained the attention of Feng Yuxuan and what trouble she was up to.
“Is she visiting Auntie Qing now?”
“She came here to pay her respects to me first and then went to Auntie Qing’s courtyard. She still hasn’t come out yet.” Xu Yan thought for a moment before replying to Mo Xuetong.
What was Mo Xueqiong up to? Mo Xuetong knew that given Mo Xueqiong’s character, she would not come to the Mo Manor for no reason. After what happened in the past, she and their father had completely torn off any veneer of civility. Mo Xueqiong still had the cheek to come here. Either she had been forced to do it, or she wanted something! However, Mo Xuetong did not know what there was in the Mo Manor that Mo Xueqiong was after.
“Mother, you rest for now. I shall go to Qingwei Garden to take a look. If Mo Xueqiong comes over, tell her to look for me in Qingwei Garden.” Mo Xuetong paused for a moment and then said lightly as she got up.
“Alright, lie down there if you get tired. I will have the servants prepare lunch that you like. I’ll call for you at lunchtime.” Xu Yan said with a knowing smile.
No matter what Mo Xueqiong was up to, Mo Xuetong would give her a chance! However, Mo Xuetong did not want her to bring trouble to the Mo Manor. As such, she was going to get Mo Xueqiong to look for her. Xu Yan was now pregnant and Mo Xuetong must not let her be involved in all these plotting. Mo Xuetong did not say anything else to Xu Yan after bidding her farewell and led her servants to Qingwei Garden.
Qingwei Garden looked just like it did when she left. Her father had once said that she could stay there whenever she wanted to.
Everything there was just like how they were when she lived there. The room was very clean and it was obvious that someone had been cleaning it. The things in the room were all placed in their original spots and it felt like she was still living here.
Mo Xuetong settled down on the couch. Mo Lan had already made tea and brought it to her. Mo Ye gave Mo Xuetong a fan while Mo Yu went outside to tell the two nannies guarding the door to bring some snacks from the kitchen. However, before the nannies could leave, Xu Yan had already sent servants over with snacks. Mo Yu received them with thanks and brought them to the table in front of Mo Xuetong.
“My Lady, look, this is just like the past. Look at the shapes of these snacks. You were the one who made them.” Mo Yu smiled and placed the dishes of snacks on the table. The dishes were made into various flower patterns. It made the dishes seem even more tempting when paired with the light fragrance of the snacks.
“I haven’t seen these flower-shaped snacks in a long while.” Mo Xuetong nodded and picked up a snack. She placed it in her mouth and a familiar fragrance filled it. Her eyes lit up and she said to Mo Lan and the other maids standing by her side, “Not bad. It is made with lotus flower powder. It is light and fragrant. You all have a taste too.”
When they were still living in the Qin Manor, Mo Xuetong and the other maids had tried to make snacks with lotus flower powder. They were afraid that Mdm Yu might be unhappy and even begged Qin Yuxuan to pick lotus flowers. Now that she recalled that, everything seemed like a dream in the distant past that could not be captured. There was only the faint fragrance of lotus flowers by her lips.
“Is that right? Madam thought of using lotus flower powder. I only mentioned it last time and said that My Lady liked this. I didn’t expect Madam to be so thoughtful.” Mo Yu picked up a snack and bit into it with a smile.
“Madam and Old Sir care a lot about Our Lady, of course. They’re not like you. You only care about eating.” Mo Lan smiled and teased Mo Yu while she took small bites of the snack. She looked very elegant.
“I don’t just care about eating. I’m worried that Our Lady won’t have good food to eat! Look at how happy Mo Ye is while eating. I’m not the only one…” Mo Yu argued with wide eyes.
“Alright, alright. Food can’t even stop you from talking. You’re the best at arguing.” Mo Ye picked up a small snack and stuffed it in Mo Ye’s mouth, stopping her from saying anything else.
Mo Yu stretched out her neck and picked up another snack on the table to stuff into Mo Ye’s mouth. Mo Ye was trained in martial arts and would not let Mo Yu get her way so easily. She had already fled with a laugh. Mo Lan moved to let her through and handed Mo Xuetong a handkerchief. They watched as the two chased each other around the room.
“Third Sister, what’s so fun. Let me join in as well.” Mo Xueqiong’s sweet and gentle voice suddenly rang from the door. It was a voice that made one unable to hold back their shudder. Everyone in the room fell silent immediately.
A hint of coldness flashed in Mo Xuetong’s eyes. She glanced at Mo Yu who immediately understood what she wanted. Mo Yu went to the door and lifted the curtain suddenly, scaring Mo Xueqiong, who was about to enter. Mo Xueqiong shuddered and almost fell down.
“I was wondering who it was, so it’s Second Consort Yan. Why is the Second Consort here to see My Lady?” Mo Yu reached out to stop Mo Xueqiong.
“How dare you. This is Second Consort Yan. Move away.” The maid beside Mo Xueqiong, Mo Yan, moved forward and yelled loudly. She and Mo Jiao were all sent to King Yan’s Manor by Mo Huawen.
“Mo Yan, you’ve said so yourself. She is just Second Consort Yan. She has to make her identity known if she wishes to see My Lady. How can a Second Consort just barge in to see a First Consort like that according to the royal family rules? Are the rules of the King Yan Manor different from ours?” Mo Yu said with arms akimbo, looking as if she would not let them off easily.
Mo Xueqiong was furious upon hearing that. Had this been in the past, she would have already leaped forward to slap Mo Yu. However, she gritted her teeth and stopped Mo Yan who was about to rush forward. She said softly in a fawning tone, “Mo Yu, Third Sister and I are sisters. We don’t have to be so particular about this. Is Third Sister inside?”
“Our Lady is resting inside. If Second Consort wishes to see her, please wait for a moment. I will report this to the Lady.” Mo Yu looked at Mo Xueqiong coldly. Mo Xueqiong was wearing a mask that only showed her eyes which were even more cold and sinister than before. However, she still pretended to be kind and friendly. It truly made one feel uncomfortable. And she even used a sweeter and more demure voice than before.
One could not help but shudder when they heard that. Mo Xueqiong had indeed changed a lot.
“Yes. Then Mo Yu, please report to Third Sister.” Mo Xueqiong said, tampering down the anger she felt.
“Hold on!” Mo Yu would have made a very good lackey as she looked at Mo Xueqiong coldly. She raised her eyebrows at Mo Yan in a challenging manner and harrumphed coldly. Then, she turned and entered the room. There were sounds of people talking coming from the room, but what was said could not be heard clearly. Then, laughter rang in the room.
Mo Xueqiong’s brows twitched as she looked at the bead curtain viciously.
“Second Consort, we should just go back. Both of you have returned to your family homes. How can Consort Xuan forget about your sisterly ties? How can she treat you like this?” Mo Yan said, feeling angry on behalf of Mo Xueqiong as she helped Mo Xueqiong to stand on the stairs.
“Don’t say anything else.” Mo Xueqiong arranged her clothes and said with gritted teeth.
Mo Yan had wanted to say something else but was stopped by Mo Jiao.
After a long while, the laughter inside abated. Mo Yu lifted the bead curtain once more and stood at the door. She looked at Mo Xueqiong coldly and lifted her head. She said proudly, “Second Consort, My Lady invites you in.”
Mo Xueqiong entered holding on to Mo Yan’s hand. When she arrived at the door, Mo Yu suddenly stretched out a hand to stop her.
Mo Xueqiong looked at Mo Yu in confusion.
“My Lady has only invited the Second Consort alone.” Mo Yu looked at Mo Yan and Mo Jiao with a challenging look, lifting up her chin.
“Mo Yu, you…” Mo Yan could not bear it any longer and she glared at Mo Yu.
“Mo Yan, Mo Jiao, wait for me at the entrance.” Mo Xueqiong held Mo Yan back and ordered the two.
“Second Consort… Yes!” Mo Yan wanted to say something else but could only lower her head under Mo Xueqiong’s cold and sinister glare. She did not dare to say anything else and went to stand by the side with Mo Jiao.
The curtain was lifted and Mo Xuetong was seated on the couch, just like how Mo Xueqiong saw her every time in the past. She was just as gracious and demure. Perhaps she might have been comfortably and peacefully living at the King’s Manor. Even though she was still a little pale, she looked energetic. When she saw Mo Xueqiong, the smile on her lips faded. She seemed a little cold and did not even look at Mo Xueqiong as she picked up her teacup.
“Third Sister…” Mo Xueqiong murmured.
“I don’t dare to be Second Consort’s Third Sister.” Mo Xuetong slammed the teacup in her hand onto the table.
“Third Sister, Mo Xuemin did that. It was all Mo Xuemin’s work. I, I, was just befuddled by her. That’s why I made a mistake like that…” Mo Xueqiong looked up at Mo Xuetong pleadingly.
Was it all because of Mo Xuemin?!
Mo Xueqiong really knew how to shirk her responsibilities.
Mo Xuetong’s lips curled up. However, her smile was icy cold. That day, on the horse carriage, Mo Xueqiong had tried to viciously kill her. That scene played out as if it were happening right before her. Mo Xuetong said, “Mo Xueqiong, do you think that if I tell Consort Yan that you and King Yan were together even before you entered his manor, would she think more highly of you?”
Let You Yue’e know that she and King Yan were already in a relationship before she entered King Yan’s manor? When Mo Xueqiong thought of how viciously You Yue’e treated the women who entered the manor after her, Mo Xueqiong’s heart lurched. She thought of King Yan’s icy cold expression and his dark and expressionless eyes. Her breathing grew heavy.
“No, Third Sister, you… You can’t do that.” She said, her eyes wide with fear.
“Why can’t I do that? Mo Xueqiong, you don’t think I’ve truly forgotten what happened that day, did you? If I had not been lucky, the grass over my grave would already be green by now! It is a pity, you and Mo Xuemin did not succeed in your plot against me. But the two of you had gotten yourselves into trouble instead. Do you want to know how King Yan will deal with you if you ruin things now?” Mo Xuetong’s smile suddenly grew warm. However, when she saw it, it just made Mo Xueqiong even more frightened and fearful.
