Sad crying filled the study and then Mo Yufeng appeared by the door. After he got in, he knelt down by Mo Xuemin obediently and begged miserably with them. “Father, please forgive the first sister. What happened yesterday was an accident. She just intended to do something for you, but no one could imagine Sima Lingyun was so shameless.”
Mo Yufeng was Mo Huawen’s only son and Mo Xuemin’s elder brother by blood. If Mo Xuemin really became Sima Lingyun’s concubine, Mo Yufeng would never be proud in front of others; even his career would be affected. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t see Mo Xuemin being sent into Duke Zhenguo’s manor.
Now the accident was known by all, everybody knew Mo Xuemin was almost raped by Sima Lingyun. It’s not bad that Mo Xuemin struggled against him, which distanced her from the rumor in the palace. However, Mo Xuemin was forced to stay at Duke Zhenguo’s manor for a whole night yesterday, which was not good news. Thinking about the duchess’s attitude in the morning, which seemed to treat Mo Xuemin as their concubine, Mo Huawen felt the horrible pain in his chest.
He would never let Mo Xuetong or Mo Xuemin go through the gates of Duke Zhenguo’s manor.
A sign of seriousness showed in his calm eyes. His two daughters were said to have improper relations with Sima Lingyun. Judging from all the signs, Sima Lingyun might even want to marry Tong’er. Thinking of all these things, Mo Huawen couldn’t help feeling furious, and was in no mood to handle Mo Xuemin’s affairs.
“Someone take first miss back into her own yard and don’t let her out without my order. Anyone who lets her out will be beaten to death!”
The two guards waiting by the door walked in, bowed to Mo Xuemin, and invited her out politely. She was the first miss who had been in the boudoir for a long time and couldn’t be touched by a man. The order was to take her there, but the watch was just nominal.
Seeing that her father didn’t mention Sima Lingyun again, Mo Xuemin was relieved. She knew her goal had been achieved, and it was no big deal to be locked up by her father. After the affairs with Sima Lingyun were solved and people started to forget about it, she still had a chance. There was no doubt You Yuecheng would fall for her beauty.
When she became the wife of the duke’s son, You Yuecheng, she wouldn’t even be afraid of her father.
She stopped crying, covered her face with her sleeves, and bowed to Mo Huawen. Her pitiful behavior, along with her pale face, made her seem innocent and sad as she followed the guards to leave the study with Mo Xiu holding her hand.
“Father.” Mo Yufeng began, but Mo Huawen coldly waved his hand and stopped him.
“Go back to your study to read your books, instead of going out. Your exam is coming soon. You have spent so much time for it; don’t ruin it by focusing on things that aren’t your business.”
“Yes, father!” Mo Yufeng didn’t dare to say anything more. He just bowed to Mo Huawen and went out.
After leaving the study, he saw his servant waiting nervously. When the servant saw Mo Yufeng coming out, he hurried over.
Mo Yufeng looked at the study’s direction and found nothing abnormal. Then he held the servant’s hand and hurried from Mo Huawen’s yard. Once they were out, he asked hurriedly, “What did Miss Hongxiu say? Will she pick me up tonight?”
The servant wiped the sweat from his brow, saying, “Sir, Miss Hongxiu sent a letter which said she would pick Sir Yu Mingyong tonight and had to say sorry to you.”
Mo Yufeng’s face froze. Not him again?
After a moment, he shouted, “Why? She said she would belong to the one who would give the most. What made her change her mind again? That bitch!”
“Sir, it was said that the money that Sir Yu gave was much more than ours, so…” The servant’s unfinished words didn’t make Mo Yufeng’s anger disappear; instead, it made him even more furious. Thinking of how Hongxiu lay in his arms and said to him that she would belong to him, he couldn’t hold his anger now that she changed her mind.
That bitch wanted to have his money and stand him up. It was not that easy!
He was so furious that he left the manor with the servant, completely forgetting that Mo Huawen’s servants would notice. She was just a prostitute, but she dared to treat him like this? He wouldn’t take this lying down!
Meanwhile, in the study, it took Mo Huawen quite some time to calm his nerves.
“Sir, the sir from General Manor asked to see you.” A servant reported.
Mo Huawen paused, then felt relieved. A slight smile emerged on his face, and he nodded to invite him in.
It was the official in charge of the ministry of the penalty and was much more experienced than him, having just become the capital official. He didn’t know much about what happened yesterday and had much to say to him . They used to have little interaction to avoid each other’s attention. Now that the relationship between their manors turned smooth, their interaction would seem normal.
Luo Bin had come to give Mo Xuetong a New Year’s present on behalf of Old Madam Luo from General Manor.
They had a pleasant conversation before Luo Bin departed. After, Mo Huawen sat alone in the study for a while before going to Qingwei Garden, where Mo Xuetong lived.
In Qingwei Garden, Mo Xuetong had just gotten up and lay on the cushion, her hurt hand swathed and hidden in the sleeves, and all her confidants were in the room. The wound on her hand was not that serious, so it didn’t hurt much with the good medicine and a night’s recovery. The fear, however, had made her face so pale that it was nearly transparent.
It’s good that she was still “ill in bed,” and what happened last night was unknown to others. It was said she got ill in the palace. Two concubines who were in charge of the manor sent someone to ask how she was in the morning and sent some tonics for her. What was most unexpected was that Mo Xueyan and Lan Xinru came by.
Mo Xueyan pointed at Lan Xinru who was sitting there quietly and said, “Third sister, Auntie Lan heard you were ill, so she got up early this morning and cooked some millet congee for you. It smelled very nice, but grandma and I didn’t have any. I heard that Auntie Lan brought this millet from the south, so it’s stickier and tastier. There was only a half bag of it.”
Mo Xuetong’s fair face looked a little pale and she weakly lay on the cushion and said, “Miss Lan, thank you so much. But I already had some when I got up and can’t eat anything more. It’s better for the second miss to eat it, who seemed to want it for a long time!”
She had put her hand into the quilt because she couldn’t let others know about her injury, so she definitely couldn’t stretch her hand out to drink the porridge. However, she had had breakfast, and the bowls were still on the table, which Mo Lan was quietly cleaning.
Seeing Mo Xuetong had done eating, Mo Xueyan said, “It’s a pity that the third sister doesn’t drink it. Don’t you want to have some more? You’re too weak and supposed to eat more. Auntie Lan got up early and cooked the porridge for you, and she even got her hand scalded with two blisters.” She dragged Lan Xinru’s hand to let her have a look.
As expected, there were two obvious blisters on her white forefinger’s end.
Lan Xinru pulled her hand out of Mo Xueyan’s hand with much effort. And she smiled gently. “Xueyan, it was no big deal. It was just scalded a bit, which was nothing serious. But the third miss is so weak, and I think it will be good for her health to drink some millet congee. I had wanted to get here earlier, but I got my hand hurt when I was cooking, which is why I was late for your breakfast. But it’s good to make your refreshment and it does well to your body.”
It had just been two days, but Lan Xinru had become much more clever!
As expected, just after she finished her words, a voice came from the outside of the door, “Didn’t catch up with breakfast? Tong’er hasn’t had breakfast yet? You haven’t recovered yet?” It was not too early, and Mo Xuetong didn’t get up so late. Besides, in regular cases, most people would have finished breakfast by that time.
Hearing the voice, Lan Xinru had already stood and timidly greeted Mo Huawen with, “Hello, cousin Mo!” This time she sounded quite normal. Maybe Old Madam told her how to behave.
After Mo Xueyan’s greetings, Mo Huawen bowed to Lan Xinru politely and let Mo Xueyan continue to talk. He came to the big chair by Mo Xuetong’s bed. Mo Lan had already cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks on the table, and then Mo Yu calmly served the tea.
“How did Miss Lan come to Tong’er’s yard so early?”
“I heard that third miss went into the palace for the feast and got ill, so I got up early today to cook some millet congee for her, but I burned my hand and got here late. When I arrived, the third miss had already finished breakfast. I was telling her that it’s good for the body to have some refreshments after the meal. Cousin Mo is here just in time; will you do me the favor and eat some millet congee?” Lan Xinru stood up with a charming smile and took the food box to the table.
Opening the cover of the food box, she saw a big gold-inlaid bowl full of millet congee. The minute it was opened, the sweet smell spread out, which was quite appetizing.
“It smells so good!” Mo Xueyan lifted her nose and said coquettishly. Then she turned to Mo Huawen, “Uncle, Yan’er wants some, too.”
After their performances, Mo Huawen couldn’t say anything to refuse and had to nod his head.
Right after he said yes, Lan Xinru complaisantly placed a bowl of congee in front of him. Her fingers, which had been carefully trimmed, were quite fair and slender, and looked even more pure and delicate when placed on the blue celadon bowl. Her face flushing, “Cousin, you should also have a try. If it’s not to your taste, I shall improve it next time.”
After her words, she turned around to pick out the pickles to accompany the congee. She did everything by herself, along with an affectionate expression. Someone who didn’t know the truth might think she was a wife preparing a meal for her husband. It was too difficult to refuse her hospitality.
Mo Huawen had already had breakfast and was worried, because he had no appetite. He lifted his eyes to look at Lan Xinru and frowned a bit. He picked up his chopsticks on the pickles and then put the chopsticks down, saying to Mo Xuetong, “Do you feel all right? Maybe I should send for a doctor for you. Last night’s feast went late, and you shouldn’t have gotten up so early.”
He had started to talk seriously with Mo Xuetong; although Lan Xinru opened her mouth, she didn’t say anything to interrupt. Her charming eyes were fixed on Mo Xuetong’s face and the impatience was obvious
