After the banquet, some guests went to rest; a few female guests went to appreciate the flowers with Princess Royal. The red plum blossoms looked very beautiful against the snow.
Mo Xuetong also wanted to rest but was held here by Princess Royal, thus she had to stay. The guests were all quiet, whispering in twos and threes and worshipping the scenery. Against the white background, plum blossoms were either blossoming or about to blossom. They booked both ethereal and lively, which was extremely beautiful.
Standing under a tree, Princess Royal looked up at the giant plum trees, appearing calm. She slowly said to Mo Xuetong, “Many of the plum trees here were transplanted from King Jin’s garden. After a few years, there is already another plum forest.”
At some point, only she remained by Princess Royal’s side, even the princess’s maidservants stayed away. The wind lifted the hem of Princess Royal’s dress, looking bleak, as if she just happened to appear at the noisy banquet.
Mo Xuetong smiled from the bottom of her heart. Her eyes fell on the branches, and the red plum flowers were in full bloom. The snow covered its branches, and when the wind blew, snowflakes would fall, which was so beautiful. “King Jin’s garden is dying, but Your Highness’s is blooming. In a few years, Your Highness’s plums must be a sight to see in the capital.”
Princess Royal’s voice carried an obvious touch of loneliness. She stroked the branches by her side. With a snap, she picked a plum flower and thoughtfully said, “Right. In the years to go, maybe my manor will also be like King Jin’s… even those plum trees will perish.”
Mo Xuetong was dazed. “Your Highness…”
Entirely different from just now, the princess no longer looked exceedingly noble. Instead, she was like a soulless puppet now. While she wanted to comfort, Mo Xuetong didn’t know how to put it at all. She felt the atmosphere heavy and lonely, so heavy that it made people’s hearts ache and feel like suffocating. Yes, Princess Royal should sound a little desperate.
Why was that? Mo Xuetong looked at Princess Royal from behind her, dazed.
Last time they met, though looking indifferent, Princess Royal didn’t appear desperate. What happened to make Princess Royal’s heart freeze like ice, frozen in desperation…
After a while, Princess Royal turned around and laughed, slightly cocking an eyebrow. “Don’t be nervous. I was just joking with you.” Now, she was once again the elegant and calm princess. The way she acted just now was like a piece of fleet cloud. When it disappeared, it vanished like water, traceless. However, only Mo Xuetong knew that the princess was really feeling something just now.
“Did your father betray your mother?” Princess Royal turned around and started to walk again, and Mo Xuetong followed.
Thinking of Mo Huawen’s obvious love to her, Mo Xuetong calmly said, “He didn’t. The thing that happened to my mother is too mysterious, but I know I can’t blame it all on my father.” Though she failed to understand Princess Royal’s words, she knew her father loved her mother. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have loved his daughter so much.
In her last life, she didn’t know what she missed. She didn’t know if Auntie Fang bad-mouthed her or his father misunderstood her, in the end, her father and she got estranged. However, considering everything, her father didn’t mistreat her except leaving her in Cloud City for three years. Even, when she insisted on marrying Sima Lingyun, her father still managed to agree.
Then, her father helped Duke Zhenguo’s manor revive, which was also for her!
In the last life, she hated her father. She never took a look at his heart, nor did she let him peep hers.
In this life, after clearing the misunderstanding, she found that though a little weak, her father loved her more than she had imagined. She was blindfolded last life and didn’t see how nice he was.
Princess Royal didn’t listen to Mo Xuetong’s explanation. Seeming lost in the memory, she stonily said, “I heard your father has a son and daughter and they’re both older than you. Isn’t that the proof that he betrayed your mother? Back then your father said he’d stay loyal, never took another concubine, and would only be with her for the rest of his life. Who knew that he should betray her in the end?”
Did Father promise to be with her mother only for the rest of his life?
Mo Xuetong was dumbfounded!
She never expected that. Though knowing her father adored her mother, she didn’t imagine he would say something like that. However, why did Mo Xuemin and Mo Yufeng later show up in her life? Moreover, they were both older than her.
“When they first planted the plum trees here, your mother was just at your age. I was two years older than her and we’re close sisters. Then, when she married, we got lost in touch. I thought she married a good man and though she died young, she was better than those in hopeless lives. But who knows that we…” Princess Royal couldn’t continue. Standing behind her, Mo Xuetong saw her wiping something.
At that moment, Mo Xuetong couldn’t find a word to say and just followed her behind.
After collecting herself, Princess Royal stood firmly in a place where the sun didn’t shine. She quietly stood there and held her spine really straight. At that moment, she looked so fragile, yet so strong. “Tong’er, go back to tell your father that I’ll adopt you.”
Mo Xuetong was really dumbstruck now.
She didn’t think she had left such a good impression on Princess Royal. At the palace’s banquet, Princess Royal left soon. Then, between the later few interactions, she didn’t think she had impressed the princess either. However, why did Princess Royal, all of a sudden, act so nice to her and even want to promote her rank?
Was it for the friendship between the princess and her mother? Nevertheless, Mo Xuetong didn’t think that kind of friendship would pass to the daughter.
Mo Xuetong numbly said, lifting her watery eyes to look at Princess Royal before her. “Princess Royal…”
“I used to have a baby. When I first had her, she was so pure and cute.” Princess Royal twisted around to face Mo Xuetong, her gentle eyes falling on Mo Xuetong’s face. A nearly untraceable smile appeared by her lips, carrying a hint of sadness. “But then…”
She didn’t continue. Her pale lips were wavering, which made her seem in deep desperation.
Mo Xuetong didn’t know what to say and just called the princess’s name, an inexplicable gentleness at the bottom of her eyes. “Princess Royal…”
Princess Royal heaved a sighed, and her eyes fell on Mo Xuetong’s delicate face, saying, “Go back to tell your father that I don’t want to go after what happened back then. But I can’t let him ignore you. I thought you’re living well in Cloud City, so I didn’t interfere with your matters. I never expected that your mother died just like that, in such a…”
She sounded so melancholy and seemed to have more to say. In the end, she just wearily waved her hand, signaling Mo Xuetong to leave.
Mo Xuetong silently curtsied and turned around to leave. When she was about to leave, out of the corner of her eye, Mo Xuetong seemed to glance at the flickering brightness by Princess Royal’s eyes.
She left, walking on the thick snow. Every step she took, she would hear the sound of her aqua laced silk shoes on the snow.
Princess Royal seemed like a mystery, one that got more mysterious if she tried harder to crack. It looked like she was in a good relationship with her mother. That being said, which kind of relationship would prompt the princess into adopting her? The princess had so many good friends in the capital. In time, those relationships either vanished or faded. Even some of them lasted until today, they were nearly nominal.
How could Princess Royal adopt her just because of that kind of friendship? Princess Royal was different because her daughters would be recorded in the royal shrine. That kind of process was very complicated. She would have to seek permission from the emperor and the Empress Dowager. Even if the princess conducted the adopting process herself, she had to push this thing again and again.
What kind of relationship would make Princess Royal do so?
Mo Xuetong couldn’t understand. Her mother never mentioned Princess Royal in front of her. Moreover, in her last life, Fu General Manor’s fall was also related to Princess Royal. If she really treasured the relationship, why didn’t she protect Mother’s family? Instead, she had helped quicken the fall of Fu General Manor?
Was it really because the son of Princess Royal’s wet nurse was framed?
Since her rebirth, it was the first time that Mo Xuetong had suspected her speculation about Princess Royal. Did she went wrong in her guess, but where did she go wrong…
“Third Miss Mo!” Someone gently called her. Mo Xuetong looked up, only to run into a pair of delicate eyes. It was King Chu, Feng Yuxuan.
Mo Xuetong collected herself and curtsied. “I bow in respect before Your Highness.”
Feng Yuxuan sat in a pavilion. He was wearing a royal blue velvet cape, laced with golden threads. He looked as pure as jade in it. Sitting in the pavilion, he was facing a chessboard. He seemed to be playing the chess alone. “I heard Third Miss Mo can play chess well. Why don’t you join me?”
He said firmly and openly, which made her hard to find a reason to refuse. Mo Xuetong gently smiled and walked to him. Mo Ye stood by her and followed her closely.
Seated opposite Feng Yuran, Mo Xuetong wryly smiled. “I’m not good at chess. Your Highness, please forgive me.”
Feng Yuran smiled and let Mo Xuetong have the black piece, which was supposed to move first. “Don’t worry. It’s just for pleasure.”
Mo Xuetong made a move, while Feng Yuran gently smiled and followed her to move. The two didn’t speak, so there’s only the sound of the pieces on the board. After the time of a cup of tea, Mo Xuetong fluttered her long lashes and wryly watched Feng Yuran occupy another area of hers. She felt speechless while holding a black piece in her hand, but couldn’t find a proper spot to place it down.
She knew herself, and she really couldn’t play chess well!
In her last time, in four major arts, she was only bad and even lousy at chess. She didn’t know how to plan and devise strategies at all. Later, in Duke Zhenguo’s manor, she only practiced Qin, painting, and calligraphy to entertain herself. Now, when she picked up the chess pieces again, how could she match Feng Yuxuan? After a few rounds, she was already facing a losing game.
Judging from the composition, Feng Yuxuan was chasing after her closely between a few moves, and she seemed trapped.
Holding a black piece, Mo Xuetong looked rather awkward. Then, she just placed it at random. As expected, a hopeless case would always be hopeless. After another move, Feng Yuxuan occupied another large area of hers. She couldn’t possibly win now.
Mo Xuetong forced a smile and tried to leave now. “Your Highness, look, my pieces are really…” Though the one opposite her stayed silent, he would fix his eyes on her face from time to time, which somehow embarrassed her. To stare at her again and again really was improper for the graceful King Chu to do.
Feng Yuxuan mildly smiled and asked, looking away from her jade-white face. “Upset? How about another game?”
Mo Xuetong rose and cast her gaze to look at her own chin. “There’s no need. I’m poor at chess and really can’t compare with you,” said she, rather stonily, hiding the impatience at the bottom of her eyes.
Feng Yuxuan didn’t seem to detect Mo Xuetong’s slight anger. With some implications in his eyes, he slowly lifted his head. “What? Are you angry? I remembered the first time I saw you, it was back in Cloud City. You were keeling down before your mother’s tablet, and I only saw you from behind you.”
