Mo Xuetong did not know why, but perhaps Feng Yuran’s words had reassured her. She slept very well that night. It was already late in the day when she woke up. Mo Lan had already prepared her clothing. Xu Yan would visit her after she got cleaned up.
What happened at the Repayment Temple yesterday had been explained by the horse carriage crashing into a tree by the road and causing the carriage to fall off the cliff.
This was what happened.
The horse carriage crashed into a tree by the road. Mo Xuetong and Bai Yihao fell off the cliff together while Mo Xuemin and Mo Xueqiong were knocked unconscious.
Feng Yuran rushed to the scene despite his injuries and difficulty moving after he found out about it. He jumped down the cliff with a rope and saved Mo Xuetong and Bai Yihao. After he sent Bai Yihao away, and despite Mo Xuetong’s objections, he helped Mo Xuetong out and caused trouble. Mo Xuemin and You Yuelian met each other coincidentally and the two were taken away together. Those spying on them disappeared while Feng Yuran brought Mo Xuetong somewhere else secretly.
When Mo Xueqiong woke up and returned to the Mo Manor, Mo Huawen rushed out with his men to save Mo Xuetong. That was when Feng Yuran had his men send Mo Xuetong home and said that he saved her earlier and was about to send her home. Then, he went to the palace and complained to Emperor Zongwen angrily.
At this time, the incident that involved Duke Zhenguo’s Manor, Mo Xuemin, and You Yuelian had already been exposed. You Yuecheng was on his way to Duke Zhenguo’s Manor.
When Mo Xuetong returned to the manor, she only said that an accident happened that caused the horse carriage to fall off the cliff. Emperor Zongwen’s edict was released before Mo Xueqiong could calm herself down. Mo Xueqiong was taken away along with Wang Xiuxiu to King Yan’s Manor. Just as King Yan, Feng Yulei was angry and anxious, Feng Yuran fainted in the palace. The imperial physicians in the palace were all extremely busy.
All these matters happened and were linked. Mo Xuetong could not help but be in awe of Feng Yuran’s deviousness and careful planning. The incident had happened suddenly but he was able to adapt and change in a short period of time. This was not a simple plotting. Yet, this also made Mo Xuetong feel even more pity for Feng Yuran’s predicament.
He was just a young man who had just turned 17. Given his status, how could a child who had lost his mother be able to survive if he had not been careful with every step he took? There were so many princes in the palace, but only three survived.
King Chu had Consort Su to take care of him while King Yan had the Empress’ support. However, Feng Yuran had nothing. While Emperor Zongwen doted on him, he had almost died. If a child was truly innocent in the palace, he would just die even faster. Disregarding the palace, she herself, in her past life in the Mo Manor, had died a terrible death. The palace was a much more dangerous place than the back courtyard of a manor.
When she thought of that, Mo Xuetong’s heart hurt as if it had been torn apart. She bit her lips slightly, causing a twinge of pain. That was when she realized that she had bitten through the skin of her lips yesterday when she had tried to bear down on the pain.
“What’s the matter, Tong’er? Does it hurt badly?” Xu Yan asked, sincerely caring for Mo Xuetong. She thought that Mo Xuetong’s hands hurt. Her hands were wrapped up in bandages yesterday, having been scratched by the branches when she hung on to them on the cliff. When Xu Yan thought of how such a young girl had experienced such an ordeal, she was very frightened and pitied the girl.
She reached out to hold Mo Xuetong’s bandaged hands which were on the table and said, “Let me take a look. How are your injuries?”
“Mother, you don’t have to look at it. It doesn’t hurt as much now. I just need to recuperate for a few days and I’ll be fine.” Mo Xuetong avoided Xu Yan’s hand with a smile. Mo Lan served up tea and distracted Xu Yan.
“Your hands are so badly injured and look at what happened to your eldest sister. Even your fourth sister has been sent to King Yan’s Manor for some reason.” Xu Yan accepted the cup of tea and sighed. Then, she continued, “I don’t know why things turned out like this when you all were just going to the mountains to pay your respects to Elder Sister.”
“Where is Father now?” Mo Xuetong looked up and said delicately, changing the topic.
“Your father went to court early in the morning and has yet to return. I don’t know what happened!” How could Mo Huawen not be suspicious after all that happened to his three daughters? He had sent all his men to investigate last night and had not slept well. He only rested a little in his study when dawn broke.
Xu Yan visited him in the morning and he was already up. He told Xu Yan to take good care of Mo Xuetong and had not said anything else. He did not mention anything about Duke Zhenguo’s Manor. Xu Yan was intelligent as well and knew that there were things happening that she was unaware of. As such, she did not ask about anything and only did as Mo Huawen asked.
“Mother, rest assured. Nothing will happen to Father. Perhaps His Majesty asked Father to stay to ask him about what happened yesterday. Fourth Sister has gone to King Yan’s Manor to become a second consort before King Yan even welcomes a first consort. It is reasonable for His Majesty to do this.” Mo Xuetong comforted Xu Yan. Then, she continued, “Fourth Sister going to King Yan’s Manor is also worthy of celebration. Don’t worry, Mother.”
Even though it had not been long since Xu Yan entered the manor, she was speechless about Mo Xueqiong’s character.
Even though Mo Xueqiong usually seemed sharp and acerbic, she did not have much foresight and was a vicious person. There was once when Xu Yan visited her and saw Mo Xueqiong in the garden, stabbing a little maidservant with her hairpin. The little maidservant screamed and cried. The maidservant had only accidentally broken a goldfish tank that Mo Xueqiong liked. It wasn’t a big deal!
Mo Xueqiong was extremely narrow-minded and selfish. She also did not hide how vicious she was. A person like her entering King Yan’s Manor was not really considered a blessing and one would not know when she would implicate the Mo Manor. When Xu Yan thought of that, she felt that she had to speak with Mo Huawen about it lest Mo Xueqiong got into trouble and implicated the Mo Manor.
“Did your horse carriage crash into a tree yesterday? Why were you the only one to fall down the cliff?” Xu Yan decided not to think about Mo Xueqiong and then had new doubts again. She took a sip of tea and placed the cup on the table. Then, she looked at Mo Xuetong sincerely and said, “Tong’er, if anyone has wronged you, tell Mother. Even though I do not have much power to help you, I will definitely stand on your side.”
“Thank you, Mother. But I truly have not been wronged. Perhaps I sat on a bad spot.” Mo Xuetong’s smile froze a little before she regained calmness. Her gentle smile remained on her face, but there was an obvious flash of sadness in her eyes. Xu Yan grew more suspicious.
However, since Mo Xuetong refused to say anything, Xu Yan could not force her to.
The two chatted for a while. Mo Xuetong told Xu Yan that she would visit her grandmother at Fu General Manor later. Fu General Manor already found out about what happened yesterday. Mo Xuetong sent men to tell them that she was alright. However, the Old Madam did not believe her. She sent servants early in the morning to ask when Mo Xuetong would visit.
“Tong’er, get the horse carriage to drive slower when you go later. You have to be slow even in the bustling city. Your hands were injured and the Old Madam would be even more distressed. She would definitely ask you to stay for lunch if you go now. If there’s something that you can’t eat, you have to tell the Old Madam.” Xu Yan instructed her.
Xu Yan’s gentle behavior and her similarities to Mo Xuetong’s mother made Mo Xuetong think of her mother for some reason. She could not help but find her eyes turning warm. She turned her head to the side and dabbed the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief before she nodded with a soft smile.
The two of them chatted for a little while more before Xu Yan left.
Mo Xuetong left the manor and boarded the horse carriage with her three servants, Mo Ye, Mo Lan, and Mo Yu.
After what happened yesterday, Mo Ye refused to leave Mo Xuetong’s side. Mo Lan and Mo Yu had the same idea and as such, the three maidservants could only be assured when they were with Mo Xuetong.
Mo Xuetong could not persuade them not to and could only bring all three of them along with her.
At the entrance of Fu General Manor, Luo Wenyou paced in front of the entrance. He stopped occasionally to look at the sun. He had already been waiting at the entrance for a good hour. When he heard the sound of a horse carriage stopping, he hurried out of the door.
Mo Xuetong was just getting out of the horse carriage. Her hands were wrapped tightly. Even though there was a warm and gentle smile on her face, her face was as pale as snow. She looked haggard and it was obvious that she was feeling unwell.
“Cousin Tong, how are you?” Luo Wenyou strode forward to welcome her. He looked down at Mo Xuetong’s hands and questioned her anxiously.
“Cousin, I am fine, I just injured my hands and it is slightly inconvenient, that’s all. I have worried you and grandmother.” Mo Xuetong smiled warmly. She held up her hands, which were tightly wrapped, and let Luo Wenyou look at them. She looked mischievous and adorable and did not seem unwell.
“I will go with you the next time you go to the Repayment Temple. Don’t go with them. Why are they all fine while you almost lost your life when you went with them?” Luo Wenyou ordered Mo Xuetong as they entered the manor. He was not convinced by Mo Xuetong.
The matter was weird no matter how they looked at it. The three girls had gone out together. The other two had not fallen off the carriage despite the crash while Cousin Tong had fallen off the cliff. If she had not caught on to a tree branch, she would have died. Luo Wenyou felt that the other two sisters of the Mo Manor were really vicious when he thought of how Mo Xuetong had almost died.
He had always been a gentleman and rarely spoke about others behind their backs. He was furious now and Mo Xuetong felt touched when she saw how angry he was. An affectionate and gentle expression appeared on her face. She said softly, “I will ask you to take me there in the future. Cousin, if you are not free, tell me early so that I won’t wait for you in vain.”
“I will definitely accompany you there. I’ll definitely have time!” Luo Wenyou said sternly. Then, he realized he sounded overly confident and could not help but cough softly.
They entered the house and the Old Madam looked at Mo Xuetong anxiously. She insisted that Mo Xuetong unravel her bandages to show her injuries. Luo Wenyou had to help Mo Xuetong convince the Old Madam not to and Mo Xuetong did not have to unravel her bandages.
“Grandmother, my injury is not that serious. I will be fine in a few days. I will definitely let you see if I have any scars.” Mo Xuetong said, looking adorable. Even though she did not look very energetic, she looked lively. The Old Madam felt rest assured. When she thought of how her granddaughter almost died, her anger was all directed at Mo Xuemin and Mo Xueqiong.
Her anger and hatred rose again when she thought of how Mo Xuemin’s birth mother, Auntie Fang, killed Luo Xia. She slapped the table and said, “Is that Auntie Fang still alive? She killed Xia’er but she is still well and alive. Does the Yu family think that there is no one left in our family? I will bring the men from our manor to the Yu family and see what they are going to repay us with for Xia’er’s death.”
“Grandmother, do not worry. Look, didn’t eldest sister get what she deserved!” Mo Xuetong bit her lips and said. She did not want to hide the hatred she felt for Auntie Fang and her daughter in front of the Old Madam. There was a flash of hatred in her eyes, and she continued, “Tong’er will definitely get revenge for Mother after some time has passed.”
She would definitely get revenge for her mother. She would make it so that Auntie Fang and her daughter would live a life worse than death! The vengeance of her past life and the hatred she felt in this life could not be paid so simply with their lives, with the blood of so many people, and the hatred of so many of them. Did the Yu Manor intend to get rid of Auntie Fang quietly?! She would not let them get what they wanted!
“Alright, I will listen to Tong’er. We will see how karma will get to them! Also, what’s the matter with your younger sister? Why did she go to King Yan’s Manor? Did King Yan ever say he wanted to take her as his concubine?” The Old Madam changed the topic to Mo Xueqiong. The bestowing of marriage was too sudden. Furthermore, with what happened to Mo Xuetong, the Old Madam could not help but be suspicious.
“Perhaps King Yan wants to marry a few second consorts who have power.” Mo Xuetong said, pretending to be confused. “Look, Wang Xiuxiu is the Grand Secretariat’s daughter. Her status is not any less than the First Miss of You Manor. She entered King Yan’s manor as well. The royal princes are all of a marriageable age. Of course, he has to marry a few wives who have power.”
Her long lashes lowered slightly. She pretended not to see the Old Madam’s expression which suddenly turned sharp. Her grandmother had acute senses!
She would naturally think of a way to deal with the matter just like what Feng Yuran said. She did not have to think too much. Her grandmother would definitely have a way. Mo Xuetong relaxed slightly when she thought how Fu General Manor would be able to distance themselves from the Empress’ plot. Feng Yuzhen was not a good person and he would not be loyal to Mo Xuetong’s Second Cousin. He had even promised Wang Xiuxiu that she would become the empress in the future.
That meant that even if her Second Cousin were to become Feng Yuzhen’s legal wife right now, he might allow her to get hurt in the future. Mo Xuetong thought of her previous life. Sima Lingyun and Mo Xuemin had killed her together. Sadness welled up within her. She would not allow her cousin to repeat the tragedy she experienced in her previous life. She had to hold destiny in her hands this time.
