On the eighth of the New Year, Mo Xuetong went to Fu General Manor when they were holding a banquet. As a granddaughter of Fu General Manor, she couldn’t be absent.
On the morning, Mo Huawen asked someone to send her new-made clothes with matching accessories. Mo Xuetong had seen these accessories before, which had once belonged to her mother. These accessories were all splendid and glamorous, but her mother used to dress plainly. Therefore, these accessories had only been used few times and looked almost new.
These days, Mo Huawen always gave her something from her mother and said these would be souvenirs of her mother. But she knew actually her father was afraid that someone to marry him later would want to get her mother’s dowry, so he just gave them to her piece by piece. Her father had inferred many times that he was too tired to manage the stores left by her mother and wanted to pass them over to her.
Mo Xuetong was very moved after she saw her father’s behavior and how much he cared for her. After the misunderstanding was clarified, she cherished the ties between her father and herself which was found back after a life’s time even more. So she just naturally agreed to his words and said she would take over the stores after the Lantern Festival, which could let him off the burden.
Mo Yu was selecting jewelry for her and pointing at a pair of bracelets inlaid with rubies which were in the jewelry box and said, “Miss, you can try this bracelet on for a change. It has such a nice gloss, which I’ve never seen before!”
Mo Xuetong saw them and shook her head, “They are too brightly colored and conspicuous.” She touched the bracelet on her arm, which was left for her by her mother. She even found a similar one particularly, in case that only one bracelet might seem different. She didn’t know why but she felt she just couldn’t let others know this bracelet was left by her mother especially, “Those on my arms are fine and there is no need for a change.”
Mo Yu pointed at a pair of hairpins in front of the dressing table and asked, surprised, “Miss, this pair of hairpins are so beautiful. Were they sent by Old Sir too? I’ve never seen Madam wore this pair before, and they look like swords.”
Those were that pair! Mo Xuetong kept silent.
However, Mo Yu thought she agreed and hurriedly put those on for her. The hairpins were cutely designed with some small diamonds on it. It immediately made her pretty face even more attractive, gentler, and more charming.
Mo Xuetong suddenly hated herself in the mirror. She pointed the hairpins inlaid with white magnolia by the side and said lightly, “I don’t like this. Use that one.”
“Miss…”
Mo Xuetong interrupted Mo Yu who wanted to persuade her, “It’s not early now. If we don’t set off immediately, Grandma will get worried.” Mo Yu had to pull out the bright and beautiful hairpin and put that one for her instead. Luckily, Mo Xuetong in the mirror looked fresh and clean, which also made Mo Yu satisfied.
This time they went to Fu General Manor, they had to take Mo Xueyan along. This was Old Madam’s order, so even Mo Huawen couldn’t say anything about it.
Mo Xueyan was in good mood and already waited in the carriage. When she saw Mo Xuetong coming in, she warmly held her arm and said smilingly, “Third Sister is so beautiful dressing like this. It is said that First Miss is the most beautiful one among us sisters. Now it looks that you are the most beautiful. You look like a fairy and even I am attracted by you.”
Mo Xuetong definitely knew the reason why Second Sister who used to ignore her behaved so warmly was that she wanted to rely on her fame. Mo Xuetong didn’t care about that, but she just worried that Mo Xueyan would go out to peep at the males like the last time when they were at home, which was really humiliating, “Second Sister is the one who is truly beautiful. The clothes and dress look so suitable on you. If I wear such bright colors, I won’t be as pretty as you.”
But after Old Madam’s words, she could say nothing. She just hoped Second Sister would be better-behaved.
Mo Xueyan happily looked at her clothes and felt very confident, “Third Sister’s words were so sweet.” This morning, she woke up and felt very confident. Though Mo Xuetong’s face was pretty, she looked too childish. Mo Xuetong couldn’t even compare with her.
Old Madam and her were determined. Today those came to the feast must all be from rich and famous families. As long as she could be one of them, she would have an easy and joyous life! And she wouldn’t have to look up to others in Mo Manor.
But she didn’t realize that since she had entered Mo Manor, she was the one to give others a hard time.
When they were still talking, they arrived at Fu General Manor.
Today it was very busy and lively in front of the gate of General Manor, a line of carriages parked there in order with the guidance of servants. The carriage from Mo Manor had to find a corner to park. Mo Huawen got off from the horse and went to the gate. Mo Xuetong guided Mo Xueyan to the second door. On arriving the second door, Mo Xuetong saw Nanny Shen who accompanied grandma run to her.
“Miss, you’re finally here. Old Madam has asked me several times about it. If you are still not here, I don’t dare to reply to her.”
Mo Xuetong said smilingly, “Nanny Shen, I’m sorry for the trouble. This is my Second Sister.”
Nanny Shen knew that this Second Miss was actually Mo Xuetong’s cousin and only the daughter of a merchant. But she had to be respectful to her for Mo Xuetong’s sake, “It is Second Miss. No wonder you have this beautiful appearance like a flower. Second Miss, please come in. If you need something later, just tell me and don’t be too polite.”
However, Mo Xueyan really regarded herself as a noble miss. She lifted her head and nodded casually, which could be seen as greetings.
Nanny Shen who had seen so much of the rich and famous families almost lost control and laughed out loud.
How dare she to play cool in front of her? She didn’t even consider if she was qualified or not.
She just ignored Mo Xueyan and talked to Mo Xuetong along the way. They arrived after a while.
Today, Mo Xuetong’s grandma sat in the first seat in the inner yard and was surrounded by Old Madams of a similar age. By her left sat an elder lady with a long thin face who seemed a little serious. And when she looked at someone, she seemed to gaze at the person and made the person dare not to lift their head. By the other side sat a kind elder lady and she looked especially easy to get along with when she smiled.
Mo Xuetong came closer and greeted. “Tong’er wishes grandma good health!”
Old Madam cared for her much and asked Nanny Shen to hold her up from the ground, “Nice kid, get up, get up. Don’t be too polite to me. Come here and let me have a look. You’ve become thinner these days.”
The kind elder lady looked at Mo Xuetong carefully and smiled, “This is the granddaughter you love so much that you are afraid she might melt in your mouth. She is a little beauty indeed. How come different people come from the same water? If my girl looks like this, it will be great.”
These words made Old Madam satisfied. She pointed at Mo Xuetong and smiled. “Tong’er, come here and meet Old Madam Chen from Pingguo Manor.”
Mo Xuetong greeted her gently, “Greetings to Old Madam Chen.”
Old Madam Chen pulled Mo Xuetong up and gave her the pair of bracelets which were just taken off from her own hand. She said smilingly, “Get up, get up. This is not the first time I have seen your granddaughter. I don’t expect her to have grown up so quickly. It’s nothing valuable and I shall send them to you as a little gift. It’s like you’re made of water. You look so delicately beautiful that you bring up others’ care and love for you.”
With just a short glimpse of the jade bracelets, Mo Xuetong would tell they were first-class and could be compared to the ones given by her mother.
Such a precious gift? Mo Xuetong couldn’t help looking at her grandma.
She said smilingly which meant Mo Xuetong didn’t have to worry about that, “Quickly, thank Old Madam Chen.”
Thus, Mo Xuetong thanked her softly.
Old Madam pointed at that serious elder lady and said, “This is Old Madam You from Mingguo Manor. Tong’er should also come to greet her.”
Mo Xuetong hurriedly followed her words, “Greetings to Old Madam You.”
Old Madam You awarded her with a hairpin which was also first-class, but her face was filled with coldness rather than warmth.
Luo Mingzhu appeared by the door and dragged Mo Xuetong outside the minute she saw Mo Xuetong, “Cousin Tong, here you are. Come quick and observe the flower with me. My cousin found a flower which is very beautiful, but no one knows what it is. You should also come to have a look with me.”
Mo Xuetong said embarrassedly, “Second Cousin, there is no one to accompany grandma…” To tell the truth, she would rather stay here to chat with grandma.
Old Madam waved her hand with a smile, “Go ahead to appreciate the flower with other children. We old ladies can chat together.”
Luo Mingzhu got grandma’s permission and held tightly on Mo Xuetong’s hand, “Come on, Cousin Tong. Since grandma allowed you to go, you can come with me.” She caught Mo Xuetong’s hand and pulled her out before Mo Xuetong could say anything. Mo Xuetong had no choice but to hold Mo Xueyan’s hand and led her out too.
After they went outside, Mo Xuetong had the time to say, “Second Cousin, this is my Second Sister who hasn’t greeted grandma yet!”
Luo Mingzhu carelessly said, “It doesn’t matter. There are so many people here today, and grandma definitely can’t remember all of them. You can say she has greeted already, and I’ll prove for you.”
Mo Xuetong hesitated, “But, it’s not right…”
Luo Mingzhu said directly and smiled to Mo Xueyan, “There is nothing wrong with it. Second Miss Mo, I’m sorry today. When there are fewer people, I’ll take you to my grandma. Now shall we go to appreciate the flower?”
Mo Xueyan couldn’t say anything else. After Luo Mingzhu’s words, she had to agree to her even though she wasn’t satisfied. Besides, she had another plan, so it’s not a big deal in her heart whether to greet the Old Madam or not.
So she said generously, “Second Miss Luo was being too polite. I have to thank you for taking us to the flower. In such a cold winter day, maybe it’s a rare flower?”
Luo Mingzhu smiled and her face turned red, “Of course, it’s true. It was brought by my big brother from the outside and was said to be the only one of its kind.” Luo Mingzhu was quite excited and she became chattier than in usual days.
When they arrived at the garden, they saw many misses surrounding and observing a pot of flower.
That was a beautiful pot of flowers which had lively green leaves in such a cold winter day. There were three flowers which had different colors. One of them was in bright red and looked extremely glamorous. The huge blossom held layers of stamen, which looked very bewitching. The one by the left was in light pink, which brought along liveliness to the winter and made it feel like the freshness in spring. The one by the right was still budding, and its color was dark purple.
“What is this flower? I’ve never seen one like that before.”
“It’s so beautiful with three different kinds of red flowers growing together so harmoniously, while their shapes were totally different.”
“The one in the middle is like a peony in Kingdom Wan. The one on the left looks like a camellia. The one on the right looks like an iris ensata. I can’t imagine exotic blooms like this.”
All of the misses whispered, and one of them knew what it was.
However, Mo Xuetong trembled at these words and almost fell. She was shocked as if a huge wave had surged in her heart.
It, it’s impossible!
