“Bai Ling, how is Aunt feeling? Father has locked me up and I had to sneak around to visit my Aunt. It is inconvenient to enter the palace and it was difficult for me to enter the palace openly. So I had to take this opportunity to visit her. When have I ever broken my promises to her?” Feng Yuran said to Bai Ling as he walked forward carelessly. He glanced at Mo Xuetong through the corners of his eyes, behaving rather flamboyantly.
“Princess Royal is almost recovered. She was worried that Your Highness might feel bored being locked up and that you would anger the Emperor by misbehaving. She even told the maids to send someone to tell King Xuan to behave last night. But then she thought that it was not actually Your Highness who was misbehaving but that she was worried about you.” Bai Ling walked on slightly in front of Feng Yuran’s left while lifting her skirts slightly, leading the way.
They reached the doors. Bai Ling smiled and pushed the door open and led them in.
“You rascal, you’re always so disobedient. You sell me out whenever you see Little Eight.” The light laughter and scolding of a woman could be heard from inside. Even though she was scolding Bai Ling, her tone was gentle and peaceful and she did not seem angry at all.
“Your Highness, you are the one who cares most about King Xuan, and you won’t allow me to say so! I will definitely be more obedient next time and won’t tell anyone about how Your Highness went to the door to look out of it several times. Your Highness worries about King Xuan so much, but you are worried that he would find out.” Bai Ling smiled at the Princess who was seated on the couch.
“You lass, why are you so glib? I only said one sentence and you started to natter on and on. Anyone who dares to marry you would be nagged to death by you.” The Princess Royal scolded with a smile. Then, her gaze landed on Mo Xuetong who entered after Feng Yuran.
Her gaze froze and then grew warm again. She looked completely different from how she had that day when she was enraged.
“Your Highness, I will not marry and will serve you in the future.” Bai Ling flushed and replied before leaving.
Feng Yuran bowed naturally and then sat down on a large nanmu seat on the side.
Mo Xuetong lowered her head and curtsied to the princess graciously. “Greetings, Your Royal Highness.”
“Third Miss Mo, I did not expect that we would meet so soon again. Are you getting used to the palace?” The Princess’s lips lifted in a faint smile as she gestured for Mo Xuetong to stand. She seemed gentle and gracious.
“Many thanks for your concern, Your Highness. I am doing well.” Mo Xuetong replied gently.
“We met in Cloud City and I received your orchid. If you are free, come and visit me in the palace in the future. People rarely visit and it gets rather quiet.” The Princess smiled gently. The smile appeared sincere on her youthful face. “Little Eight brought you here, so you don’t have to stand on ceremony. If there is anything that you need help with, you may come to me.”
“Many thanks, Your Highness.” Mo Xuetong replied politely.
The Princess was completely different from how she appeared the last time. She only mentioned the orchid but not their previous meeting in the palace…
Feng Yuran had grown impatient and he smiled lazily before saying to the Princess, “Aunt, don’t ask so many questions. There will be opportunities to do so in the future. I need your help today.”
“You’ve gotten into trouble and are looking at me for help again. When your father scolds you next time, I cannot speak up for you again.” The Princess could not resist smiling even as she scolded him when she saw his lazy expression.
“Father scolds me all the time anyway, you don’t have to speak up for me. But you have to help me today and stop the rumors. Nothing happened, but the rumors would make it sound ugly and embarrass me. Aunt, you would be embarrassed too.” Feng Yuran said with a smile. His small, slitted eyes, which were slightly upturned shone like the stars in the sky seductively.
“You were the one who caused trouble but you are making me take responsibility for it. I won’t do that. Furthermore, when has your reputation ever been good? You’ve done embarrassing things more than once anyway, so when have you become concerned about your reputation?” The Princess said, sounding rather annoyed. However, one could see the love and laughter in her eyes. Bai Ling, who was also smiling by the side invited Mo Xuetong to take a seat.
Bai Ling served some tea with a smile and then retreated to stand behind the Princess, giving her a back massage.
“Aunt…” Feng Yuran said pleadingly and cutely, “Aunt, love me!”
He was like a little girl who was acting cute before an elder. There was even a hint of delicateness in his eyes. Mo Xuetong’s lips could not help but twitch as she watched him. She felt that the man was really interesting. His expression was really on point and he even winked at her in the end.
“You rascal…” The Princess could not help but point at him and laugh out loud!
“Tell me what happened today. I’ll say this first. I won’t help if it’s too difficult. Your Father can punish you so you will learn your lesson. You’re already so old, but you’re still so mischievous. The Emperor will choose a wife for you tomorrow so that someone can control you. It will ease my worries then.” The Princess picked up her tea and took a sip of it with a hint of a smile.
“It’s still early. Father won’t be in a hurry to find me a wife. I still have Eldest Brother and Third Brother. He would choose a wife for them before he chooses one for me. It would still be another year or two before that happens.” Feng Yuran looked up with a smile as he spoke carelessly. He pointed at Mo Xuetong and said, “Please, Aunt, say that you were chatting all this while with Tong’er. You don’t need to say anything else, and everyone will understand.”
Mo Xuemin said that Mo Xuetong had once appeared at Qingfang Pavilion, implying that Mo Xuetong was responsible for what happened there. Then, he would get Princess Royal to be their witness.
“Alright, I will let everyone know that Third Miss Mo is someone I like. Are you satisfied with that?” The Princess laughed out loud. Her eyes grew gentle as she turned towards Mo Xuetong. She said with a smile, “Third Miss Mo, did something interesting happen at the banquet earlier? Why don’t you tell me about it and let me be entertained as well.”
Something interesting that happened at the banquet? She must mean what happened between Mo Xuemin and Sima Heyan!
“Your Highness, I was behind my eldest sister then and was far away from where the Empress was sitting. I only heard that there was something odd about my sister’s poem. Then, my sister and Miss Sima went up to argue before the Empress, but I don’t know what happened. After that, the Empress ordered for the banquet to end and that we were to get on the boats. So I don’t know what happened.”
She did not know what the Princess’ intentions were. As such, she chose to put some things gently and politely.
“That eldest sister of yours is truly interesting. There have always been many interesting people in the palace.” The Princess seemed to be talking about something else. There was a flash of darkness in her eyes and the smile on her lips turned cold.
Mo Xuetong could not reply to what she said, so she turned to look at Feng Yuran uneasily.
“Aunt, that’s why I say you’re the best. You’ve always sat and watched as the drama unfolds in the palace.” Feng Yuran winked and smiled naughtily at the Princess.
A servant entered as they were speaking. She reported, “King Chu is outside Mingzhu Palace right now. He is asking to meet the Princess.”
“Eldest Brother should be meeting his lover at this time. What is he doing here!” Feng Yuran wrinkled his handsome and tall nose. There was a hint of ridicule in his laughter.
Feng Yuxuan entered, wearing an elegant and exquisite wide robe. When he heard what Feng Yuran said, he answered with a laugh, “Eighth Brother, you are joking. I don’t have any lover at home.”
His gaze could not help but settle on the girl in white robes. The girl before him was clothed in white and looked clean and pure. She wore a tight light pink jacket. The silk ribbons of her jacket hung down to her ankles. Her porcelain skin had a healthy glow to it. It was smooth and flawless like the purest piece of white jade there ever was. She was more delicate and more beautiful than the most beautiful flower. Her mouth was tiny and her eyes were crystal clear. She was unspeakably elegant and seductive.
One could not help but be drawn into the ripples in her eyes.
Mo Xuetong got up and curtsied to Feng Yuxuan. She must not be impolite in the room filled with royals.
“Third Miss Mo, please, get up. When did you come to Aunt’s? I heard Aunt’s laughter when I entered. It seems that she likes you a lot.” Feng Yuxuan waved his hand and gestured for Mo Xuetong to get up as he questioned her with a smile, seeming as if he did not care. His eyes landed on Feng Yuran, who was smiling rather naughtily. He coughed lightly.
“Third Miss Mo is indeed an interesting person. I have already liked her since Cloud City. We were fated to meet. I heard that she was here for the banquet, so I especially sent someone to bring her here. The two of you came while we were talking. Could there be something good in my palace that has attracted all of you here? You two rarely come, but you are all here now.”
The Princess said lightly, reaching out to wave Mo Xuetong towards her. Mo Xuetong approached hurriedly and stood beside the Princess. There truly was nowhere for her to sit with the three of them present. Standing beside the Princess was the most suitable. Mo Xuetong took over Bai Ling’s chore and started to massage the Princess’ back. Bai Ling smiled at her and turned to make Feng Yuxuan tea.
“It is rare for Aunt to find someone she likes. Third Miss Mo, you have to come to the palace often in the future.” Feng Yuxuan said with a smile. Then, he turned to say to the Princess, “Aunt, how are you feeling? I did not have time to visit the last few days. I heard you were ill and could not wait to come even though it is late now. I have disturbed your rest.”
Feng Yuxuan behaved elegantly and spoke gently. His concern was obvious and he was really pleasant. The Princess’ smile grew even wider. She nodded and said, “That’s great. Something joyful has happened to me on Mother’s birthday as well. My two nephews are here to accompany me. But I don’t know if the other ladies out there will blame me!”
“Don’t worry, Aunt. They will blame you only because Eldest Brother is here. You know as well, who could be bothered with someone like me. They would just hide and be afraid to see me. I shall stay here and accompany you lest I be tiresome to others. Otherwise, I might be blamed for something that happened to another one of those young ladies.” Feng Yuran smiled roguishly, lifting his handsome brows lightly. His lips were as red as blood and he was undeniably seductive.
“Eighth Brother, you are too humble. I heard that Her Majesty is interested in playing matchmaker for you. There were noble ladies who came just for you to take a look at them. So why have you come here? Someone from the Empress’ palace might come to fetch you in a bit.” Said Feng Yuxuan with a smile.
“Eldest Brother, talk about yourself. Which girl are you interested in? Is she from the Ding General Manor or from the Mingguo Manor? I heard the young lady from Mingguo Manor is really pretty. And the daughter of the General is also here today. The Empress has put these young ladies at the first table specially. You have to grasp the opportunity.” Feng Yuran said with a light smile.
The two brothers exchanged words, seeming to be on good terms…
