King Ning, Feng Yuzhen, did return to the Qin, but did not stir up too many waves, and was received by King Chu, Feng Yuxuan on the second day of his marriage. Then, Feng Yuzhen came with Feng Yuxuan to learn to administer the affairs of the government. And the days passed leisurely. Feng Yuran almost recovered himself. After being urged by the Emperor several times, Feng Yuran also came to learn with them.
Then, Feng Yuran went to the court normally, just as the Emperor said, “Old Eight finally grew up after getting married and can do business!”
Only one thing made Mo Xuetong depressed. That was, she had to take medicine every day which Feng Yuran got from somewhere. The medicine was too bitter and astringent. But she had to take it and just was told that the medicine would heal her health injured by Auntie Fang’s plot in childhood. Therefore, Mo Xuetong was required to take medicine to tonify primordial Qi. Otherwise, it would affect her pregnant capacity.
Mo Xuetong had no choice but to take the medicine once at noon every day, just like having a meal.
Afraid that the medicine was too bitter for her, Feng Yuran even came to supervise personally, as if confronted by a formidable enemy, which made Mo Xuetong sweet and depressed.
Was she so finicky? At most, she felt slightly dizzy and exhausted sometimes. It was lucky that the medicine was so effective that she felt better than before. But Feng Yuran thought it was not effective enough. From time to time, he even asked some familiar doctors to consult for her. It was really troublesome.
Mo Xuetong was about to take a rest after taking the medicine.
“My Lady, the ladies of the He family come to pay a visit again.” Mo Ye lifted up the curtain and said.
“Why haven’t they left? Didn’t they say they were leaving?” Mo Yu put down the feather duster in her hand and asked curiously.
Mo Xuetong lay aside as she was reading a book. Then, she put down the book and looked at them.
They both followed to name her “My Lady”!
“They said they have something to tell you and hope you can give a hand to them. They look rather anxious.” Mo Ye also lost her temper with them. The girls from the He Family looked quite good, but why did they come to send their regards every day? The family had not contacted Feng Yuran for so many years. But when Feng Yuran was invested with the title king, the He family sent their daughters immediately. Their purpose was completely bared there and then. If something went wrong, they must stay in the manor and wouldn’t leave.
“My Lady, you are not well. How about taking a rest and letting me go out to answer them?” Mo Yu put down the feather duster and said unhappily. Everyone knew clearly what the two cousin ladies wanted—they wanted to enter the manor and did not leave, as they saw the king’s handsome appearance.
Since they saw him last time, they came to the manor more often. Several days ago, they said they were about to leave. Mo Yu felt relieved that the two finally would come back. But unexpectedly, they decided to stay shamelessly. It seemed to be endless.
After Mo Xuetong married into King Xuan’s Manor, her close maidservants all felt satisfied as they had not expected that King Xuan who was said to be promiscuous outside behaved so decently after the marriage. Although they did not consummate, he showed great respect for Mo Xuetong, never permitting those numerous women in his back garden to disturb her, including the regards sent from the main room.
As a matter of fact, it was against the rule. However, King Xuan’s order overrode it. Otherwise, Mo Xuetong might feel angry at the sight of those people.
Mo Yu and other maidservants became more satisfied with Feng Yuran and thought their lady was so lucky to marry King Xuan, the one who loved her so much.
Therefore, Mo Yu would not want to let the two coquettish ladies of the He Family enter the manor.
Because she was afraid they would ruin the relationship between Feng Yuran and Mo Xuetong!
Therefore, Mo Yu planned to drive them back after finishing the words.
“Just let them in. Anyway, it’s the maternal family of the king. It will be bad if it is spread out.” Mo Xuetong said indifferently, as she sat up and sat down in front of the makeup mirror supported by Mo Lan.
Last time, Feng Yuran felt better, so he invited them to the manor. Then, a message came from Fu General Manor that something happened to Luo Mingzhu. So they just met for a while without saying anything more. But later, Feng Yuran’s uncles brought their daughters to ask to see Feng Yuran every day. But he happened to be busy at that time, and even was not at home, so he always used it as an excuse to refuse them.
Mo Xuetong did not expect that the two cousins would find her directly, even not come with their fathers. So it was inexcusable that she refused to see them this time.
“Mo Ye, go and lead them to the parlor. Mo Yu, go to prepare some tea.” Mo Xuetong instructed.
“Yes.” The two maidservants retired.
She needed to figure out some things before deciding what to do next.
Not long after Mo Xuetong arrived at the parlor, did He Yufen and He Yuxiu arrived, too.
He Yufen was the daughter of the eldest brother of the He family while He Yufen was the one of the second eldest brother. So they were almost at the same age, but He Yufen was superior to He Yuxiu. They two looked quite beautiful with pink tender faces and shy cheeks. Their lovely and shy appearances were rather attractive.
“Yufen pays respects to my sister-in-law.”
“Yuxiu pays respects to my sister-in-law.” The two walked in front of Mo Xuetong and bowed in salute prettily.
Only judging from their current appearances, He Yufen behaved decently, and He Yuxiu appeared more active, glancing at the furnishings around with glowing eyes, so she looked delicate and cute.
“Two young sisters, why so courteous? Please take a seat.” Mo Xuetong gave a polite smile and asked the maidservants to prepare seats and serve tea.
“Thank you, my sister-in-law. It is so beautiful here with a typical royal style. Sister-in-law, you are really blessed.” He Yuxiu smiled innocently and looked around with a cute expression.
“Second sister, behave yourself. Sister-in-law is here.” He Yufen hissed at her.
“Behave yourself? Sister-in-law is here. What if she’s not here? Interesting!”
“Elder sister…” He Yuxiu felt grieved and took on a pitiful and teary look.
“Yufen, don’t mind. Make yourself comfortable just like at home. Mo Lan, serve some delicate dessert to the two cousin ladies.” Mo Xuetong said with a smile.
Mo Lan took the order and retreated, and then, served the dessert in a moment. Looking at the delicate dessert, He Yuxiu could not help asking, “Sister-in-law, it is really nice here, not only with resplendent furniture, but also such exquisite dessert. Can I come here every day?”
She looked so tender and simple, as if she hadn’t known what the words “come here every day” meant.
A cousin who should get married lived in her infamous cousin’s house. Could she go out?
“Second sister, what did you say? How can sister-in-law have so much time with you?” He Yufen said, displeased, and turned her head to Mo Xuetong and made an apology, “Sister-in-law, my second sister is too innocent to know the world. Please forgive her.”
“It doesn’t matter. She is just a kid.” Mo Xuetong followed the remarks and answered.
“Eldest sister, see, sister-in-law is so great. She said it didn’t matter, which means she has promised me to come here every day. Sister-in-law, you are so great, greater than my eldest sister.” He Yuxiu pouted her nose to He Yufen cutely, as if putting on a rival show against her.
These two people, one playing the hero and the other playing the villain, meshed perfectly. Mo Xuetong could not help sighing inwardly that the He family did have many talents.
“Two sisters, what can I do for you? Why are you so nervous? Didn’t you say that you are ready to return to your hometown?” Mo Xuetong asked with a smile.
The words of returning hometown were mentioned when they met last time. But months had passed, and they did not take any action. Their excuse was really needed to change. “What will they make a scene for this time?”
“Sister-in-law, we won’t return hometown now. My senior uncle has set a marriage for my eldest sister in the capital. It wastes a lot of time for one turn. So my senior uncle said we’d better stay in the capital. Therefore, I will have a lot of time to come to the manor to accompany sister-in-law.” He Yuxiu answered without any thought, as she was enjoying the dessert.
He Yufen got flushed at the words and lowered her head in shame immediately without speaking.
Getting engagement in the capital? It was getting more and more interesting.
“Then you come here today for?” Mo Xuetong followed to ask and took a sip of the tea from the table to conceal the smartness at the bottom of her eyes.
He Yufen was sent by the He family to curry favor with Feng Yuran. Such a beauty who had been used to mend the relationship broken for many years got engaged now?
“My senior uncle wants to ask my cousin if he can allow my eldest sister to marry from King Xuan’s Manor. If so, we will gain face. And once my eldest sister marries there, she will not be bullied.” He Yuxiu twittered and even came to Mo Xuetong’s ears and said warmly, “Sister-in-law, my eldest sister is too bashful to ask you, so I will say it for her.”
After saying the words, He Yuxiu grinned with an innocent and inattentive look.
The words brought gloom on the faces of the maidservants around. “How daring the He family is! Marry from our manor? Can they deserve the status?”
“It is not possible, as the royal rules are here that only the members of the royal family can marry from here. I am afraid that the two sisters are not allowed.” Mo Xuetong smiled apologetically and avoided quietly He Yuxiu’s coming close, and said to Mo Lan, “Let second miss choose her favorite desserts and send the desserts in double to them later.”
“Yes!” Mo Lan took the order, invited He Yuxiu to sit back with a smile, and then asked what her favorite desserts were.
He Yuxiu returned to her seat smilingly. After pointing some, she turned around and said anxiously, “Sister-in-law, well, what should we do now? My eldest sister wants to marry in the capital, but doesn’t have the place. What should we do? It would be settled if we were at home. At least, there are several residences there…”
Speaking of residences, He Yuxiu brightened her eyes to look at Mo Xuetong suddenly and said, “Sister-in-law, do you have any residence available now? How about letting us stay there first? It is not so good to always live in the hotel. Besides wasting money, it may create idle talks about my cousin that such a great king has no way but to let his uncles live in the hotel.”
After that, she added in grieve, “It seemed to lack family love, anyway.”
Mo Xuetong smiled and listened to her speaking word by word. She looked at He Yuxiu’s animated face. Normally speaking, a girl at 15 or 16 years old had been engaged. He Yuxiu was so clever and beautiful, and even could adopt a sweet look of suffering. Obviously, the He family had spent a lot cultivating her who could speak so smoothly without missing a single circumstance.
However, any superficial innocence could not hide the greed and hypocrisy in her eyes.
She was calmly telling Mo Xuetong that if they still lived outside, it would be bad. And the rumors that the King Xuan’s Manor was so ruthless to arrange the uncles to live outside might spread, which would tarnish King Xuan’s Manor’s reputation, especially at the moment when Feng Yuran was “abandoning the depraved way of life and returning to the path of virtue”, and no gossip could be caused.
What perfect timing!
“It is true that there is a house. If uncles and cousins are willing, I will ask servants to lead you there.” Mo Xuetong asked gently as she smiled.
“That’s great. Thank you so much, sister-in-law.” He Yuxiu could not hide her complacency, but soon put on an innocent smile instead with a face of joy.
“Thank you, sister-in-law!” He Yufen bowed bashfully to thank Mo Xuetong in a courteous manner, behaving with decorum.
