“Something has come up at home tonight. Will arrive tomorrow. Father is already suspicious. I hope you can bring people to the temple tomorrow. If Father sends someone to investigate the matter, they can take the punishment and you will be fine. We will speak in detail in person.” The note was signed off with Xuemin of the Mo Family.
Mo Lan was stunned when she heard what Mo Xuetong said. She took a deep breath after a while and muttered, “Miss, is this how you are sure that those two people would fix their sights on First Miss?”
Mo Xuetong pushed herself into a sitting position and took the tea that Mo Lan handed her. She took a sip and said lightly, “Those are all rich sons that Sima Lingyun hang out with. They don’t do much usually and only know how to fight amongst themselves. How would they let this go?”
The two people were considered Sima Lingyun’s scoundrel friends. In her past life, she had once heard Sima Lingyun recount several vicious things that he did and got the two to do for him. People like them were used to fighting viciously. Sima Lingyun did not have power right now and they would not let this go for Sima Lingyun.
They had been tricked up the mountain and then been beaten for Mo Xuemin. It would be weird if they did not seek revenge on Mo Xuemin.
However, she did not expect them to have done it so nicely. They even stole Mo Xuemin’s pouch. That’s right. Sima Lingyun would not have thought to bring them up to the mountain if they did not behave so roguishly usually. However, they had not expected to land themselves into trouble because of their behavior. Revenge was swift.
“Miss, will First Miss sense that you…” Mo Lan suddenly recalled something and asked uneasily.
“Eldest Sister would definitely guess something. She had planned to plot against me but was plotted against by someone else. How can she not suspect me…” Mo Xuetong’s finger tapped against the colorful patterns on the cup in her hand with a smile on her lips.
“Then what are we going to do?” Mo Lan asked.
“But why would that matter? She would not dare to say some things openly and I will not say them either. She has to vouch for me in front of Father too.” There was a trace of coldness in Mo Xuetong’s eyes. Mo Xuemin would not dare to drag the matter out. If she made a fuss about it, she would be the one on the losing end.
Colluding with a man outside the family to ruin her younger sister’s reputation!
Mo Xuemin would not dare to bear this name. She had to taste the bitter fruits of her labor.
Of course, she would not hope that this would be a fatal blow to the beautiful snake that was Mo Xuemin. However, she could start to dissolve Mo Xuemin’s position in their father’s heart. Or perhaps, there might be unexpected gains… She had never underestimated Mo Xuemin. She was an opponent more difficult to deal with than Auntie Fang. She had learnt her lesson in her past life.
Inside Mo Xuemin’s Fuqing Garden, the roses were at full bloom in the corridor. They were flowers Mo Xuemin had taken from You Yuecheng. She treated them like treasure and even watered them herself. She would spend time to prune the flowers and felt that she resembled the flowers greatly. Elegant and beautiful, and in its quietness, seemed gracious and noble. They were just like her, born to be taken care of and admired.
However, she kicked the pot of roses over the moment she entered. The blooming roses smashed onto the ground and sand scattered messily. They did not look as beautiful as before. Mo Xuemin was enraged and she could not help but take a few steps forward and pulverized the roses on the flower with her feet.
What gentleness and beauty, what graciousness and benevolence? She only knew that she had been a clown today that had been played by the sickly and dying slut.
The usual facade of gentleness and poise that she usually maintained was broken immediately. Her expression was dark as she glared viciously at Mo Xiu who came out to welcome her. She stomped into her room by herself.
Inside the house, Mo Xiu, who had received signs from Mo Jin carefully carried a pot of tea in. She saw First Miss sitting by the window, glowering at the sights outside. Her heart skipped a beat and she said softly, “First Miss, Auntie sent someone to ask why you returned today. Weren’t you going to stay another night…”
Mo Xiu fell silent when she saw Mo Xuetong’s vicious expression when she turned around.
“Get out, get out! Go and tell that stupid woman she’s screwed things up.” Mo Xuetong’s eyes were red and she hurled the pot of tea at Mo Xiu. The boiling tea landed on Mo Xiu, mostly on the back of her hand. She did not have time to scream before Mo Xuemin kicked her and she fell to the ground.
Mo Xiu was in so much pain she turned pale. She lay on the floor and did not dare to yell in pain. She said, “Yes, Yes, Miss. I will go and tell her immediately.”
Then, she climbed up and was about to go.
“Hold on.” Mo Xuemin suddenly calmed down and bellowed.
“Yes, Miss.” Mo Xiu did not dare to move. She had a hand on the ground and the other hand was holding the edge of the table. She looked at Mo Xuemin fearfully.
“How did you get injured?” Mo Xuemin looked at her from above and asked coldly.
“I understand. I accidentally toppled the pot while pouring tea for Miss and hurt myself. Luckily, Miss was kind and discovered my injuries quickly.” Mo Xiu’s voice was very soft.
“Go!” Mo Xuetong said coldly.
Mo Xiu stumbled out and Mo Xuemin stared out of the window in the direction of Qingwei Garden. Her eyes were filled with hate. She had underestimated that little slut. Of course, she should have gotten Auntie to work harder and just killed her when she was in Cloud City. If it didn’t work once, they would do it twice. If it didn’t work twice, they would do it thrice. She did not believe that the little slut would be so lucky. How could she escape if a rock fell on her or if she fell into the lake?
She said sinisterly when she thought of that, “Mo Xuetong. You’re good!”
Then, she took the long neck vase by her side and threw it onto the ground fiercely.
Mo Jin who had been waiting by the door was shocked when she heard the shattering sounds. After a moment of hesitation by the door, she still knocked on the door gently.
“What is it?” Mo Xuemin said coldly. She did not even turn around. She was used to appearing gentle and perfect in front of others like a beauty made of porcelain. She was elegant and beautiful. However, her false facade had been torn down completely by now.
“Young Master Qin sent a letter. Miss, see…” Mo Jin hesitated a little before speaking.
A letter from Qin Yufeng?
“Was Young Master Qin in the manor earlier?” Mo Xuemin’s red eyes cleared slightly.
“Yes. Young Master Qin saw you coming in and greeted you. You did not hear him so he left you a message.”
“Bring it here.”
Mo Xiu handed her a note that was folded neatly. It was obvious how calm and orderly the person was to do something like that even when it was done hurriedly.
Mo Xuemin almost snatched the note out of Mo Xiu’s hand. She opened it and read it carefully. She gradually calmed down as she read and slowly relaxed. Her eyes remained cold.
“Calm down. Do not do anything. Plan carefully!”
There were only a few words on the note. However, Mo Xuemin felt more relaxed for some reason. Indeed, she had been too reckless earlier and had lost her wits to anger.
Qin Yufeng was a smart person and was loyal to her. He would definitely think up something for her. Qin Yufeng had helped her to gain her father’s love easily and help Auntie Fang gain her status as the most doted concubine. So what if the little slut gained the upper hand for now? As long as she insisted that she knew nothing, her father would not be able to do anything.
Mo Jin had also taken back the only evidence which was the pouch!
Nothing could be said when there was no evidence.
She gritted her teeth and looked out of the window coldly. She clutched the note in her hand tightly. “Mo Xuetong. You’ll definitely die fighting against me.”
It was already noon of the second day when Mo Huawen found out about what happened to his eldest daughter at the Repayment Temple. Mo Huawen was visiting Mo Xuetong at Qingwei Garden when she received a missive. He was so angry that he returned to his study and ordered Mo Xuemin to see him there.
Mo Xuetong was worried and followed. She was present that day and knew some things. As such, her father allowed her to sit by the side.
Mo Xuemin had already had plans by the time she arrived. She would definitely appear in front of her father looking as if she had been wronged. She would insist that she was innocent and could even place the blame on that little slut that was Mo Xuetong. However, she did not expect Mo Xuetong to already be sitting by the side.
Mo Xuetong stood up tearfully when she saw her enter. Tears flowed down her cheeks slowly as she said, “Eldest Sister, it is all my fault. I’ve ruined your reputation. I did not expect the Zhenguo Duke’s son to also be at the Repayment Temple. I stayed in the guestroom that you booked and still met him. It was such a coincidence!”
Mo Xuemin was dazed. She thought about what Mo Xuetong meant. She had said that Mo Xuemin was the one who had booked the guestroom and then mentioned Sima Lingyun. Mo Xuemin blanched. She knew what Mo Xuetong planned to do. She was here to create trouble. Even though she was sly, she was flustered. She had to gain her father’s approval.
“You insolent daughter. Kneel down.” Mo Huawen understood what Mo Xuetong meant. His expression turned grave and he yelled angrily.
It was a coincidence. It was too coincidental. It was Sima Lingyun again. If the previous incident had not happened, Mo Huawen would really believe that it was a coincidence. However, Mo Xuemin had brought Sima Lingyun to Mo Xuetong’s inner courtyard only a few days ago. Then, Sima Lingyun had stayed in the Repayment Temple at the same time as Mo Xuetong. Min’er was the one who had planned the blessing at the Repayment Temple. This was too much of a coincidence.
Something was definitely up.
Mo Xuemin knelt down with a thud. She looked up with teary eyes and sobbed, “Father, it is not Min’er. Min’er had only arrived to see Third Sister. Third Sister was ill and needed to rest, so I left with Mo Jin to pray in front of Buddha for Mother. But I met His Excellency’s servant just as I exited. He said that His Excellency was beaten up by someone last night and was unconscious. I thought that since our family has close dealings with His Excellency…”
“Furthermore, His Excellency has saved Min’er once. Min’er should go to visit him. However, I didn’t expect the incident in the courtyard to happen… Father, if I really have anything to do with His Excellency and had so much time to give him a pouch, why would I need to go to the Repayment Temple and give the pouch to him where there were so many people watching.”
Mo Huawen harrumphed as he listened to her defense.
This daughter of his had always been smart and lofty. She had always treated the Zhenguo Duke’s son politely. They did not interact much usually. However, Sima Lingyun came to find his son often. Even if they met, it was not much of a big deal and even gifting each other things in private was not a big deal either. She would not do anything so stupid.
His expression softened when he thought of how logical that was.
Mo Xuetong knelt down as well and cried, pleading, “Eldest Sister is right. Father, how could someone like Eldest Sister do something like that? It was all an accident. We don’t even know where those people are from and how dare they try to discredit Eldest Sister. Father, you have to investigate this and be fair to Eldest Sister.”
Mo Huawen felt pity for Mo Xuetong as she reproached herself sadly. Her face was pale and weak, yet she held on and cried, trying her best to defend her eldest sister. He hurried to help her up and said, “Of course. I will definitely investigate and be fair to your eldest sister.”
“Father, eldest sister had gotten into trouble because of me. If I had not fallen ill, she would not have gone there, ruining her reputation. Father. Tong’er has implicated eldest sister…” Mo Xuetong looked at Mo Xuemin guiltily. She walked towards Mo Xuemin and wanted to pull her up.
“This has nothing to do with you. Even if she had not visited you, those people will still say that the pouch is hers. We can only start investigating from that maid. What’s her name?” Mo Huawen asked softly.
“Father, she’s called Shuang Ye. Auntie sent her to me.” Mo Xuetong answered obediently.
“Someone brings that maid called Shuang Ye here.” Mo Huawen yelled. Someone had already taken his orders and hurried towards the back courtyard.
“You get up too. Let’s sit down and hear what the maid has to say.” Mo Huawen frowned and he looked at Mo Xuemin…
Mo Xuemin did not dare to say much. She wiped her tears and stood behind Mo Huawen to wait.
They had just settled down when an older servant ran through the doors. She stumbled and almost fell when she entered the door in her haste. She said, “Old Sir, quickly go out and take a look. Something happened at the back courtyard!”
