Her kind and gentle Madam had died so young because she cared too much! And now, Miss was going to walk on the same path.
“Miss, don’t worry. Madam was worried that you would be poisoned by that evil woman in the future. The engagement was to give you a reason to go to Yan Kingdom. Miss, go to Yan Kingdom now and there will definitely be a way to save you.” Nanny Ming did not care how much Mo Xuetong knew. She just said everything. She thought of how young Mo Xuetong still seemed, and how she was going to end up like Madam!
Nanny Ming’s heart hurt as if it were being cut up by knives!
Mo Xuetong was stunned by what Nanny Ming said. Her fingers shook as she tugged at the corner of her handkerchief. Her eyes widened and she sat down heavily after a moment.
The engagement that seemed as if a great advantage had been given had another use to it!
Since Nanny Ming had already said everything, there was nothing to hide anymore. She began to recount what happened in detail to Mo Xuetong.
When Princess Shuanglan found Luo Xia, Luo Xia was already married to Mo Huawen and had given birth to Mo Xuetong. The family of three was very blissful. Even though Luo Xia got Mo Huawen to take a few concubines and had a few concubine-born children, Mo Huawen was in love only with Luo Xia. He usually would not go to the courtyards of his concubines.
This changed when Princess Shuanglan came. When she found them, she asked Luo Xia to go to the Yan Kingdom with her and then to find a way to avenge their parents. Luo Xia had given birth to Mo Xuetong and was in love with Mo Huawen. She could not bear to leave. Furthermore, she had always treated the Madam of the Fu General as her own mother and did not think that two women would be able to accomplish much. As such, she refused Princess Shuanglan gently.
Princess Shuanglan stayed in the Mo Manor for a while then. When she saw that Luo Xia had no intention of leaving with her, she left angrily.
After some time, Princess Shuanglan visited once more. Madam was already unwell then. Princess Shuanglan said that there was an antidote in Yan and she had a divine doctor under her retainer who could help her rid the poison. However, Madam did not want to leave. Furthermore, it was not serious then. If they found someone suitable, someone in the Qin Kingdom might be able to treat her.
Princess Shuanglan saw that she could not convince Madam and suggested that the two families become one through marriage. She said that the two of them were sisters and should become even closer. They would be able to take care of each other in the future. If they felt that the children were not suited for each other when they grew up, they could just break off the engagement. Anyway, it was just an engagement agreed upon secretly. Princess Shuanglan continued to talk about getting revenge and Luo Xia felt helpless. She had already refused the princess last time, she would not refuse her this time!
Furthermore, Madam could not find out how she had gotten poisoned. She was afraid that Mo Xuetong would be poisoned in the future as well. It was a good idea to have an engagement with Princess Shuanglan. If something were to truly happen in the future, her daughter would be able to go to Princess Shuanglan for help. On the account of the betrothal contract, Princess Shuanglan would definitely help Mo Xuetong to get the antidote!
That was how the engagement was settled!
Then, Princess Shuanglan left!
This time, she did not come back for a whole year. The next summer, Princess Shuanglan suddenly came to Cloud City again. This time, Luo Xia could feel that she was thoroughly poisoned. However, all the physicians could not tell and only say that she was weak. They said that she was overly weak and had to take care of herself well.
Princess Shuanglan once again tried to convince her to leave. Luo Xia did not agree. In the end, Princess Shuanglan scolded Luo Xia for being unfilial and told her to hand over her secret guards. Luo Xia had not made use of those secret guards since she found out about them. After that, when she got married and moved, she kept them by her shop in Cloud City. She was intentional in not letting them appear in public.
Then, Luo Xia kept feeling that people were watching her. She did not dare to move those people even more, afraid that the palace would discover. Then, she would implicate the enter Fu General Manor and the Mo Manor. She could not help but refuse Princess Shuanglan. Princess Shuanglan was furious and even threw a couple of things around and yelled at Luo Xia. Then, she left and never returned!
A letter came from the Yan Kingdom during the last few months of Luo Xia’s life. After reading it, Luo Xia burned the letter and said that she could not return. Even though there was an antidote in the Yan Kingdom, she would not leave. She passed away soon after.
Nanny Ming cried while she recounted the past. Her heart hurt as she spoke and wept.
Mo Xuetong helped Nanny Ming to a chair and poured her a cup of tea. She put the teacup in Nanny Ming’s hands and sat beside her. She frowned, not able to digest what Nanny Ming said for the time being.
This was the first time Nanny Ming was telling her about her mother detailedly and systematically. It had something to do with Bai Yihao’s mother, Princess Shuanglan. To the public, Bai Yihao’s mother was the Empress, the Princess Royal, Yunruo of Qin. Princess Shuanglan was an impressive character to have taken advantage of the Princess Royal and make it so that the Princess Royal had no choice to acknowledge the son of her rival.
But this person did not stand out in the Yan Palace!
Mo Xuetong had once gotten someone to investigate. They said that of the consorts that the Yan Emperor doted on, Princess Shuanglan was not one of them. Furthermore, Nanny Ming said that Princess Shuanglan had come to the Qin Kingdom more than once. No matter how much affection a consort of the palace was given, she would not be able to leave the palace as she wished. Did Bai Yihao always have her support?
“Miss, even though you have married King Xuan now, the Crown Prince of Yan is your cousin. If you go to the Yan Kingdom, you will be able to get the antidote to the poison.” Nanny Ming felt a little anxious when she saw that Mo Xuetong was silent. She wiped the tears off her face and tried to persuade Mo Xuetong.
Bai Yihao was known to be highly skilled in medicine in the Qin Kingdom. With his help, Nanny Ming believed that Mo Xuetong would be able to get through this. Nanny Ming thought that even though Mo Xuetong did not marry Bai Yihao, it was not because she had intentionally forsaken the marriage contract. She had been forced by the situation and Bai Yihao had never mentioned it.
Even though the two cannot become a couple, they were still cousins. Bai Yihao was such a perfect gentleman. He probably would not mind!
“Nanny Ming, how long did Mother take to die from the poison?” Mo Xuetong asked. In her memories, her mother had always been poor in health. However, she could still manage the matters of the back courtyard. It was until the end when she had no choice but to hand it over to Auntie Fang. Could it be that her mother had been poisoned for more than ten years but had not been affected by it? Then, it could be a slow-acting poison. Why did Mother die suddenly then!
She had gone through quite a few medical texts. However, she had never seen anything like that. She thought that was too incredible!
“Even though Madam was poisoned, it was not serious. She was just weak. She would have been fine if she was not over-tired. If not for Princess Shuanglan’s reminder, we all would not have known that she was poisoned. Then, there were many physicians who treated her but no one said anything about being poisoned.” Nanny Ming said after some thought.
“Miss, Madam had so many considerations then but she had no choice. It is different for you.” Nanny Ming felt a little anxious and tried to persuade Mo Xuetong again when she saw that Mo Xuetong was not taking any action.
Different? It was indeed different! Her mother had to deal with the secret guards and treat herself viciously. She thought of ruining her reputation and to go to Yan Kingdom. Mo Xuetong did not know where Nanny Ming got her confidence from to think that Bai Yihao will definitely save Mo Xuetong. Mo Xuetong had secretly stolen the betrothal contract and burnt it. There was enmity between the two.
However, she did not have to tell Nanny Ming that. She nodded with a smile and said, “Nanny, please go back. Allow me to think about this.”
“Miss, what else is there to consider? As long as you go to Yan Kingdom, you will be able to get the antidote. It won’t take too much time.” Nanny Ming refused to leave and could not help but try to persuade Mo Xuetong again.
“Alright, I will speak with His Highness tonight.” Mo Xuetong smiled and nodded.
This was a huge matter she definitely had to discuss with Feng Yuran. Nanny Ming had seen for herself that King Xuan treated her mistress very well. Even though there were numerous women in the back courtyard, but the only true woman was her mistress. King Xuan doted on her mistress so much. If Mo Xuetong said she wanted to go, he would definitely agree.
When Nanny Ming thought of how her mistress still had hope, she heaved a sigh of relief. A pleased smile appeared on her face as she said, “Miss, I will go to the temple outside the city to give thanks. I will donate some money for incense and oil. If anything were to happen in the future, may all the retribution be upon me. I am so old anyway and I am all alone. It would not be bad luck even if I were to die now.”
Mo Xuetong knew that she was talking about the vow her mother made Nanny Ming swear. Even though Nanny Ming had told her the truth, there were some things she revealed that Mo Xuetong had not asked her about. She was afraid that there would be retribution. Mo Xuetong was touched and she nodded with a smile. She said, “Get Mo Yu to go with you. I will feel more at ease if she’s there to help you!”
“Alright. Thank you, Miss!” Nanny Ming sighed and stood up to thank Mo Xuetong. She seemed to have aged ten years. She had told Mo Xuetong everything rashly earlier and only started to worry now that her mind was clear. She kept praying in her heart and was intent on going to pray before buddha now. She was going to ask for all the bad things that would happen to her mistress to happen to her.
Mo Xuetong understood what Nanny Ming was thinking and could not bear for her to feel too guilty. She called for Mo Yu to go with Nanny Ming. After staying in the room to think for a long while, she called Mo Lan in. She got cleaned up and then brought Mo Lan and Mo Ye to the Princess Royal’s Manor. There were some things that she could not understand. However, Nanny Ming would not tell her anything else again.
She had only managed to get information out of Nanny Ming earlier because Nanny Ming was shocked upon hearing that Mo Xuetong was poisoned. However, she could not do that again.
She could not bear to make things difficult for Nanny Ming again!
Inside Mingyue Palace, Consort Zhao sat alone at the table silently facing the steaming dishes on it. Her expression seemed gloomy under the light. Palace maid Caichun entered cautiously and reported, “My Lady, His Majesty is visiting Consort Yu tonight. He asks that you eat first. He might not be able to come today.”
The child in Consort Yu’s belly was what all the women in the palace were most envious about. Even though Consort Zhao had just left Mingyue Palace, she also knew to nod when appropriate. She picked up her chopsticks and picked at the dishes. After taking a mouthful, she felt that it tasted bland and tasteless. She threw her chopsticks down and looked at the palace maids waiting outside. She did not speak.
The palace maids were all sent by Emperor Zongwen since the Mingyue Palace was opened to the public. It meant that she would be like the other consorts in the palace from now on. She had to greet the Empress every morning.
“My Lady, do you not like these dishes? His Majesty said that if you do not like them, we can get new dishes made. What do you think, My Lady?” Caichun asked with a smile. She had remained by Consort Zhao’s side since Consort Zhao entered the palace. She knew that Consort Zhao did not like the food when she put her chopsticks down.
“No need to be so troublesome. I’ll just have some food. I have only just appeared before the masses and don’t want to offend anyone.” Consort Zhao picked up her napkin and wiped her face. Then, she said with a slight smile, “What about the thing I got you to do? Have you investigated it?”
Caichun knew that Consort Zhao was asking about Consort Xuan. She immediately recounted what she got others to investigate. “Consort Xuan is said to be the daughter of the lord mayor. It was said that her mother is the legitimate daughter of the General Manor. However, she passed away early. Back then, she was left behind in Cloud City, a small place, by Lord Mo. It was for more than a year. After that, the General Manor brought her back. She is said to be beautiful. King Xuan used to be a playboy. However, he didn’t take in anymore woman after he married her.”
She was just the daughter of the lord mayor. Even though that was considered a high position, it was not much amongst truly powerful families. Consort Zhao nodded. It seemed that Consort Xuan was from an insignificant family. Furthermore, her father did not dote on her. She probably only managed to reign in Feng Yuran’s philandering because of her beautiful looks.
Even though she was Princess Anping, everyone in the palace knew that it was a powerless position. Compared to her status as King Xuan’s Consort now, her title as Princess Anping did not bring her many benefits.
A woman like this seemed much easier to deal with than the devilish and arrogant Feng Yuran. Consort Zhao heaved a sigh of relief when she thought of that. She decided then that since Consort Xuan seemed like a pretty vase, then she would start from her!
“Invite Consort Xuan over tomorrow to chat. Tell her I wish to see King Xuan’s wife. I am happy for Elder Sister since she had gotten such a great daughter-in-law.” Consort Zhao said slowly.
“Yes, I will have it arranged now.” Caichun nodded with a smile and left.
