“Bring the dumplings along. I will go and visit father.” It was New Year’s Eve and the whole family should have been gathered together happily. Yet, something like this had happened and Father must be most upset. She looked up at the window. The lights had just been hung up. It did get darker earlier in winter. Regular families would have already eaten dinner by now. But today…
She could not describe how she was feeling. Rationally speaking, the possibility of Auntie Fang rising to a position of importance again was practically impossible. She could also heave a sigh of relief. However, her chest felt stuffy. It was a feeling she could not describe. She felt heavy and stifled and she just could not bring herself to feel happy. Instead, she felt a little depressed. If they were really to discuss this, even though Auntie Fang had been the one to kill the child, she had also played a role in it too.
Her father would probably have another adorable child if not for her!
It was hard for her father to have children…
But, if the situation were to repeat again, she would still do the same thing. She would never stand on the same side as Auntie Fang and her daughter. They wanted her dead at all times and she would not just stand around and not do anything about it. She had been rebirthed for revenge. This unnecessary kindness would bring the greatest damage to herself. In her past life, her flesh and blood had turned into ashes in the fire. She would not go through that pain again!
“Miss, Auntie Mo and Auntie Qing have already sent people over. They were all stopped outside by Old Sir.” Mo Yu explained when she saw the despondence in Mo Xuetong’s eyes.
“It’s alright. Old Sir has always doted on Miss. He would definitely be happy to see you bringing him dumplings personally.” Mo Lan put the dumplings into a food box on the table. Then, she also intentionally put in two side dishes she made into the box as well. She handed it to Mo Ye who was standing by the side after she arranged the food and got her to hold it for Mo Xuetong.
Mo Lan was the most attentive out of all of Mo Xuetong’s maids. That was also why she knew what Mo Xuetong was thinking and understood that she was feeling upset right now. Even though it seemed as if Mo Xuetong had won a beautiful match today, she had hurt Old Sir. Her mistress was a filial child and would naturally feel upset. She was definitely thinking of Old Sir right now and wanted to see him.
As such, she had specially asked Mother Xu for a larger food box to bring to Mo Xuetong.
Mo Yu helped Mo Xuetong put on her soft leather cape. It was snowing again and the northwestern winds howled, making one feel cold. She did not meet many people as she walked down the corridor to the study. It was considered late, but one would usually still be able to see a few people chatting and laughing outside occasionally. Yet, it was very quiet and lonely at this moment.
After what happened in the day, coupled with the death of a servant, who would dare to earn the ire of their masters? As such, the servants were all very careful and rested early if they had nothing on. None of them chatted outside. The Old Sir had ordered that if anyone were to spread the news of what happened today, they would not just be beaten to death.
The doors to the study were tightly shut. Mo Xuetong saw how her father’s personal servant was also left outside. He was curled up outside the room, hugging his knees to himself as he dozed off. He hurried up to greet Mo Xuetong when he saw her.
“Where’s Old Sir?” Mo Xuetong asked as she looked at the dark study. It seemed completely desolated. Her father was really upset!
“Old Sir is alone in the study and would not allow anyone to enter or the light the lamps. He still hasn’t had dinner.” The servant looked at the study doors and answered sadly.
“You all go to the room next door and get out of the wind. I will go and visit Father.” Mo Xuetong took the box of food from Mo Ye and gave her instructions to the servant and Mo Ye.
“Yes!” The servant was shivering from the cold but did not dare to leave. He felt grateful when he heard what Mo Xuetong said and nodded forcefully. Then, he and Mo Ye walked towards the room by the side that was lit.
Mo Xuetong held the box of food and pushed the door open.
“Who is it?” The voice inside did not sound like how her father’s usual high spirited and vigorous voice. Even though it was just as dignified, Mo Xuetong could hear the exhaustion and weakness in it.
Her father’s heart must be tired after all that happened!
“Father, it’s Tong’er.” Mo Xuetong answered softly. She walked forward finding her way based on her memory. Her father’s desk was not far away before her and her father was sitting behind the desk.
Mo Huawen quietly watched in the dark as his slender daughter lifted the box of food with difficulty. Even though it was snowing outside, it was still brighter out than inside. His daughter had just entered and had not yet gotten used to the darkness inside. She lifted her feet and walked forward carefully. She almost tripped on the edge of the bookshelf and he could not help but sigh softly.
His frustrated mind and heart immediately cleared and softened. Even though his son was not up to standards, he had a loveable daughter. And she was a daughter that she had borne him. He had no other desires in this life now that he had Tong’er. There were things that cannot be forced. Back then, if he had not had so many considerations, something like what happened today would not have happened.
He reached out for some paper and lit it, lighting up the candle next to him.
“Father, I brought you some dumplings. Mother used to make dumplings with Mother Xu on New Year’s Eve in the past. Grandaunt’s family did not like making dumplings when I stayed in Cloud City, so they made plenty of noodles. But I didn’t like them and Mother Xu would secretly cook me a bowl of dumplings. Cousin Xuan would sneakily eat half of my bowl of dumplings. What a shame! Mother Xu made plenty of dumplings today and I want to eat them with you. Shall we?” Mo Xuetong blinked when she saw the bright light. Her eyes began to accustom to the brightness again. She put the box of food on the table and took out the dumplings and dishes inside as she spoke delicately.
She looked like a gentle and thoughtful daughter.
Her beautiful eyes shone like the stars in the night sky. There was once a girl who used to look at him with eyes that shone and a gentle smile on her lips. She had set up his food for him then too. That was the happiest period of his life. But after that…Mo Huawen’s eyes darkened and he looked away, avoiding those eyes that looked at him with admiration. The corners of his eyes were moist.
New Year’s Eve, dumplings…Mo Huawen felt that he was a scoundrel as he looked at his daughter’s innocent smile.
He had left his daughter, who had lost her mother at a young age, in Cloud City. He had let her live in someone else’s home without asking or caring about her. A child that young must have been very upset. Even though she smiled and joked now, but how could one put into the words the sadness and suffering she had endured? He had thought Auntie Fang was a good person in the past. But who would have expected that she had not only committed adultery, but also so vicious?
He had thought that while Feng’er was no great talent, at least he was obedient. But who would have thought that he was not any better than his mother? He was also vicious and had even acted against his unborn sibling.
Even though Min’er was different from her mother and younger brother, she was not as gentle or gracious as she usually was today. She had made things difficult for Tong’er and had almost forced Tong’er out of their home. Was Min’er still that gentle, gracious, and intelligent daughter in his heart?!
It was true that the apple will not fall far from the tree. Auntie Fang was evil and her two children were the same…
Mo Huawen could not describe how he was feeling right now. His beloved eldest daughter and son were completely different from how he imagined them to be. How could he not feel conflicted?
He touched Mo Xuetong’s black hair and closed his eyes, hiding the pain in his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a faint doting smile. He said, “Alright, “Father will spend New Year’s Eve with Tong’er. We will eat dumplings together.”
He owed this daughter of his too much. When he saw how his daughter smiled at him sweetly and innocently, his heart hurt even more. She was the daughter that he wanted to dote on the most, but time and time again…
It was already completely dark when Mo Xuetong returned to Qingwei Garden. Mother Xu was waiting outside her courtyard. She hurriedly ordered the servants to prepare hot drinks when she saw M oXuetong. Mo Xuetong had some before she put things down and said that she was too tired. Then, she returned to her room. She did not get anyone to light the candles, but laid on her bed with her clothes still on and shut her eyes.
Scenes from the incident that happened in the day flashed through her mind. Mo Xuemin’s scheme, Auntie Fang’s cries, Mo Yufeng’s angry shouts, Mo Xueqiong’s… All these incidents replayed in her mind, scene by scene. If she had indeed be deemed to have caused harm to her father’s child, even her father would not be able to protect her.
Yet, her father was sure that Auntie Fang was having an affair. However, he was a man and would not speak of this directly!
If Mo Xuemin’s evil plot had succeeded, she would only have one path, and that path would lead to death. In their society where men were in charge, a woman abandoned by her family would have no choice.
Auntie Fang and her daughter did not only want the matriarch position of the Mo Manor. They wanted her life. How would she let them off so easily? She had used up all her kindness in her past life and she had entered this life for revenge. Whenever she thought of the flames licking her body and the searing pain, and when she thought of how Sima Lingyun and Mo Xuemin spent their matrimonial night together in a room that was stained with her blood, her heart felt as if it had been torn apart by ten thousand swords.
Her hate was like a burning flame that burned her bones and blood. The pain that seeped through her flesh and bones was one that she could feel even after her rebirth…
While Mo Xuemin was crafty today, she had been unable to tear off her fake mask even until the very end.
Mo Xuemin had apologized graciously to her before everyone with teary eyes, looking as if she was sincerely regretful. She had managed to deceive everyone including her own father. Her father had even told her in vague terms that Mo Xuemin and Auntie Fang were not the same. She could only laugh coldly in her own heart when she heard that.
Not the same. Of course, they were not the same!
Mo Xuemin was even more vicious than Auntie Fang. She was more savage! And she was even more patient!
She had waited until the end in her past life and pushed Mo Xuetong into the dark abyss when she had been the most helpless. If she had died any earlier, she would not be able to discover that her gentle and gracious elder sister had been the beautiful snake hidden by her side, waiting to take a bite of her.
Sima Lingyun, Mo Xuemin, and Auntie Fang…She would not let any one of them off! The hatred of her past life, the sufferings she had endured, her struggle in the fire as they laughed and mocked her with satisfaction from outside the fire. How could she not get revenge for this hatred! It was fated that she would not rest until she ended them!
A fiery red appeared before her in the darkness. The flaming red burned through the gauze curtains and a large beam fell from above, crashing down upon her head. She could only lie on the ground in despair and look at Mo Xuemin’s cold, mocking expression outside of the burning flames.
“Mo Xuetong, you are too stupid. You are too stupid. Of course, that dead mother of yours was the stupidest. She even called my mother her sister. Drink this. Drink this and you will be free. You better see clearly before you reincarnate in the future. Don’t be born to a stupid woman, or you will die of stupidity.”
…
She was bathed in fresh blood and laughed tragically and maniacally, filled with desperation. Her wide eyes were filled with dark traces of blood and her clothes were completely burnt. The fire burned her skin, which hurt. Yet, it could not compare to the pain she felt in her heart. The large pool of blood beneath her legs glimmered in the fire, mocking her. Then, she knew no more.
There was only hatred and revenge in her consciousness! Her mother’s, her child’s hers. If there was a next life, if they would meet again, she would definitely throw them all into the pits of hell. She would make them scream in the cruelest of space in hell for eternity. For that, she was willing to undergo reincarnation, over and over again.
The scenes of the past played through her mind. And in every scene, she was hurt, injured, and her heart hurt…
“Hey, hey, hey…”
A lazy and mellow voice of a youth sounded by her ear. Mo Xuetong’s eyes flashed open in the dark and she looked at the handsome face in front of her in confusion, her hands clenched in fists. The haughty moon outside refracted on the white snow, shining on the person sprawled next to the bed. Feng Yuran’s handsome face was charming, and under the moonlight, it seemed charming and devilish, bright and brilliant.
