Mo Huawen didn’t know Lan Xinru’s intention and thought she was an unmarried girl after all and had to keep her dignity. Now that Old Madam said that, she didn’t dare to pester him any more. He felt relieved inside. Then he just chatted with Old Madam for a while and left. He couldn’t stand Lan Xinru’s languishing eyes.
Mo Xuetong was also in no mood to chat with them and left too.
As a result, they walked out of the yard together.
“Father, how is the thing about big sister going?” After they left, Mo Xuetong gently asked. She carefully saw Mo Huawen sigh after he got out of the yard and saw Fuqing Garden. She knew he cared about Mo Xuemin. All these years, he cared most about the gentle kind daughter, and couldn’t give her up because of a single thing.
Moreover, Mo Xuemin had a good reason. No matter how angry Mo Huawen was, when he calmed down, he thought she was justifiable. And he put all his anger onto Auntie Fang and blamed her for all the things.
Therefore, he didn’t feel so angry towards Mo Xuemin. Besides, when Minister Li came to visit, he explained something for her, and it didn’t disgrace other daughters’ reputation. Mo Huawen’s anger towards Mo Xuemin was halved. He just felt that Mo Xuemin was blamed for Auntie Fang’s fault and it had nothing to do with her.
She was just unlucky to run into Li Youmo who was a hooligan. Then when he heard Mo Xuetong’s caring words, he smiled and waved his hand. And all the servants and maids stepped backward, which made it convenient for them to talk.
“Tong’er, your big sister didn’t mean to go out… She just went out to find some medicine for Auntie Fang’s illness… Then she ran into Li Youmo somehow and caused such a scene which almost ruined all your reputation. She didn’t really mean it.” Mo Huawen sighed and explained with guilty.
He cared for Mo Xuemin because she was a smart gentle daughter, while he cared for Mo Xuetong because she was the daughter of his beloved woman. Anyway, they were both his daughters, and he didn’t want them to be against each other.
“Father, you don’t have to say anything more, I know what big sister was thinking. She was Auntie Fang’s child, and would definitely consider for Auntie Fang. She ignored father’s order because she was worried about Auntie Fang’s illness. I understand. If my mother is ill, I’ll search for good medicine to cure her too.” Mo Xuetong said obediently and raised her gentle smiling face. She knew her father didn’t want to listen to her complaints about Mo Xuemin. She had to say it from Auntie Fang’s side and made him uncomfortable about it.
Her father had deep affection for Mo Xuemin which couldn’t be called off for only one thing. What she needed to do was to remind her father. After a long time, Mo Xuemin would show her true appearance and lost father’s love forever.
Hearing Mo Xuetong compare Luo Xia with Auntie Fang and how Mo Xuemin go against his will for Auntie Fang. Besides, he recalled Sima Lingyun’s seal which was found in a sachet under Auntie Fang’s pillow. Mo Huawen’s face darkened and felt extremely uncomfortable.
One was his beloved woman and the main wife, while the other was a vicious concubine who cheated on him. They were so different! After thinking like that, he felt Mo Xuemin was not sensible. She didn’t have to go out and get such trouble over a concubine.
It seemed that there was something wrong with Auntie Fang’s education!
Seeing Mo Huawen’s face darkened, Mo Xuetong held Mo Huawen’s sleeves and asked smilingly, “Father, how long will Miss Lan stay in our home? Tong’er remembers she came to our home two years age when I was yound and my mum was ill. But my memory has been blurry. I’ve just heard that Miss Lan had a good relationship with my mum. Grandma and second sister both asked me to call her aunt at grandma’s yard!”
Her little face was smiling in the morning sunshine, and her long eyelashes blinked, which revealed her cuteness as if she were just asking casually. Seeing his daugher’s carefree smiling face, Mo Huawen felt soft and a little angry. He understood what Old Madam wanted. She had hoped he would marry a girl from the Lan’s even before he married Luo Xia.
Though he was grateful to Old Madam, he didn’t want anyone to decide his marriage. He married Luo Xia after he saw her at the first sight. Then Luo Xia was ill, and Lan Xinru dressed like that showing up in front of him all the time. He forgave her because of Old Madam. But now her beloved daughter was framed by Old Madam because of this, so he was really annoyed.
Being Mo Xuetong’s aunt meant she could stay here for a long time under this title. He couldn’t let such a coquettish woman be the mistress in Mo Manor. Mo Huawen remembered her disgraceful words in front of so many people and felt very furious.
He was the master at home. Even if he was grateful for Old Madam, he wouldn’t let her decide his marriage.
He had a decision inside.
“Your grandma will return home after the New Year and Miss Lan will leave with her. Your grandma got confused, your aunt should be from General Manor, not our side. If your grandma ask you again, don’t bother. Maybe the place your grandma used to live in had different customs.” Mo Huawen thought for a while and explained.
He was determined that he would find some time to discuss with Old Madam clearly even if she might get unhappy. Thus Tong’er wouldn’t be unfairly treated because she wouldn’t call Lan Xinru aunt. Old Madam didn’t like Luo Xia because she went against her will. Tong’er had already suffered a lot and shouldn’t be treated unfairly anymore.
“So that Miss Lan will leave after the New Year, but nannies said Miss Lan would stay for a long time and cleaned up the yard with the best view. Do you remember? It’s the one by Chuaihua Men and close to your study. Grandma also thinks it’s proper for Miss Lan to live.”
Mo Xuetong said innovently as if she were just chatting casually with her father. Her voice was sweet and soft, and her smile was bright like the sunshine. When the wind blew, her hair flew, which made her cute and attractive.
It’s just a daughter being intimate to her father.
Mo Huawen stood still, and gently touched her head and said with care, “Let Nanny Ming and two concubines worry about such things. They’ll throw a party to celebrate the Queen’s birthday tonight in the palace, you can go with me. Just the two of us.”
When he finished, he found his daughter staring at him with those big watery eyes confusedly, and smilingly added, “If Tong’er wants to take care of family affairs, you can learn from Nanny Ming after the New Year. By then, Four Great Manors will hold parties dividedly, and you can get familiar with that at their parties.”
Four Great Manors would hold parties dividedly? Why?
“Father, why haven’t I heard there will be a party in the imperial palace tonight? “And Four Great Manors will also hold parties one by one. Is there any good news in the imperial palace?” Mo Xuetong tilted her head and asked with confusion. She really knew nothing about it and it was impossible to imagine. Four Great Manors were the most famous in Qin Kingdom.
It would be a huge deal to receive one invitation from one of them. But this time they seemed to hold parties one after another. She felt the handkerchief with his fingers. In her last life, she had heard of this thing, which had happened before she returned to the capital.
She hadn’t asked about it carefully because it had nothing to do with her. But she had heard Mo Xuemin mentioned the decorations in the manors proudly, which were luxuriant and unique. This was also the time when Mo Xuemin struck people as a talented and beautiful girl.
“I knew about the party when Emperor announce it. The parties to be held by Four Great Manors were mentioned by the princes for fun. King Chu first started it and King Yan agreed. All the ministers also thought it would be meaningful for Four Great Manors to hold parties in the beginning of the New Year.” Mo Huawen smiled but there was grimness and cold in his eyes.
The parties to be held by Four Great Manors was come up with by King Chu and King Yan who used to be against King Chu agreed. So it couldn’t be as simple as it seemed. Seeing her father’s heaviness, Mo Xuetong got even more confused. But she knew she wouldn’t get the truth from his father, so she pulled Mo Huawen’s clothes embarrassedly, “Dad, I don’t have new clothes and would make you embarrassed if I go like this. Maybe you should let big sister go instead…”
“Your sister is not suitable for this. Besides, last time in the palace… Never mind, you go to this party instead of her. Tong’er is the legitimate daughter in Mo Manor and can represent Mo Manor. You don’t have to worry about the clothes, I’ve told your concubine to prepare for you. By the time you’re back in the yard, you might see the new clothes. My Tong’er must be a beauty when dressed up!”
Mo Huawen joked with Mo Xuetong and determined that Min’er couldn’t go into the imperial palace. In the last time, such a thing happened. If she went in again, it might be unimaginable. Mo Huawen still remembered last time when Min’er returned home, her maid had disappeared. When he asked afterward, there was no clue. Someone in the palace must have cleaned her up.
Min’er might have annoyed someone in the palace, and might cause other problems if she went in again. She had had enough trouble these days. And if she got someone someone in the palace annoyed, it might end her life. After all, there would be another party held by Four Great Manors after this one, and he could let Min’er attend that.
“But, father, Tong’er is still in mourning period…” Mo Xuetong said awkwardly. During the mourning period, one couldn’t take part in any festive ceremonies, or it might be called as not filial obedient.
“It’s okay. I’ve told Emperor that I have only one legitimate daughter and it’s necessary for you to be a part of social activities. Besides, it’s not festive or joyous. It’s Queen Mother’s mother and we all have to be serious about it.” Mo Huawen touched her head with love. Thinking that she lost her mother at such a young age, and cared about her even more. Besides, letting concubine’s children come to the party held in the imperial palace was disgraceful. And there was only one legitimate daughter in Mo Manor, so she couldn’t miss the important party because of the mourning period!
However, he had only a son of a concubine, so he had to take him along!
