“King Xuan is the main overseer of this project.” Lian An did not dare to lower his head and answered truthfully and respectfully. No one noticed that anything was amiss.
“Alright, let’s go!” Consort Zhao said lightly, seeming to have grown disinterested. She drew her hand back into the palanquin.
“Yes, let’s go!” The eunuch called loudly upon receiving the orders.
The palanquin continued forward. No one noticed a pink handkerchief floating out from the bottom of the palanquin and landing in the grass.
When the palanquin had moved further away, Lian An took a few steps forward and stood beside the pink handkerchief. He looked around to see if there was anyone around. Then, he lowered his head as if he were arranging his robes. He took the opportunity to pick up the handkerchief silently and without anyone noticing.
Then, Lian An stood up and continued forward with wide strides as if nothing happened.
At night, in Minister of Works, Lian An’s study.
Senior Master He, He Hui looked at the pink handkerchief darkly. He said urgently, “Lord Lian, was that really what Consort Zhao said? Didn’t she promise us that Yufen would definitely become Second Consort Xuan after entering King Xuan’s Manor? How did she end up as an ordinary concubine? This… what are we going to do…”
“Consort Zhao was very clear. We have to work on this slowly and must not be hasty.” Lian An said calmly. He picked up a cup from the table and took a sip from it. Then, he said casually, “I heard that your manor has sent out people to investigate in various places recently. Did something happen?”
He Hui paused at that and a hint of awkwardness appeared in his expression. Even though he knew that Lian An was on his side, a girl had gone missing. It was a great scandal. He Hui was too embarrassed to say it. They had searched everywhere the past couple of days and had even gone to King Xuan’s Manor. However, they heard that while He Yuxiu had gone to King Xuan’s Manor, she had not entered. When their men left, she escaped from the side doors.
Then, they did not receive any further information. When He Hui thought of the girl’s impending nuptials to Yu Mingyong, his head hurt even more.
He had not thought highly of this marriage. After all, he was just a worthless playboy who had a favored concubine as his sister. The He family had someone in the palace as well. As such, it was not considered to be an advantageous match.
However, now that He Yufen could only be a concubine in King Xuan’s Manor, she would need help. With Consort Yu backing Yu Mingyong, this marriage was now considered a decent match. Furthermore, the girl would be a legal wife.
“Lord Lain, please help me find Yuxiu. She… she’s gone missing.” With no other alternatives, He Hui had to swallow the awkwardness and ask Lian An for help.
“Second Miss He has gone missing? What happened?” Lian An asked in shock, his eyes widening.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s just… she was dissatisfied with the marriage arranged for her. But at this point, so what if she’s dissatisfied?” He Hui stomped his foot angrily, blaming He Yuxiu for being insensible. He would not tell Lian An the true reason for He Yuxiu’s disappearance, of course. That was a secret of the He family and not even Lian An was privy to that.
“She’s a girl; it’s no big deal for her to throw a tantrum. I will send more men to search for her. Regarding First Miss He, you’d better be prepared.” Lian An picked up his tea and sent He Hui off.
“Yes, many thanks, My Lord.” He Hui took the opportunity to take his leave and left.
After He Hui left, Lian An stood up and walked out. As he walked, he said to the butler, “Go and tell Madam that I have an engagement tonight and will be back late. I will rest in the study. Tell her not to wait for me.”
“Yes,” replied the butler.
After Mo Xuetong returned from the palace, she took a separate path from Feng Yuran at a crossing, heading to the Fu General Manor.
King Xuan’s Manor had been placed on lockdown the past few days and the Fu General’s Manor had sent things over from time to time. They also enquired about Mo Xuetong. Mo Xuetong knew that her maternal grandmother must be very worried these few days. As such, the first thing she did after giving her thanks in the palace was to visit her grandmother. Nanny Shen, the Old Madam’s personal maid was already waiting for her when she arrived at the Fu General’s Manor.
When she saw Mo Xuetong, she led her to the Old Madam’s courtyard with a smile.
A maid lifted the curtains and they entered the room. Mo Xuetong saw the Old Madam standing up from the couch shakily. The Old Madam said excitedly, “Tong’er…”
The Old Madam did not seem to be in good h health. When Mo Xuetong left the last time, the Old Madam’s constitution had been poor even though she was not gravely ill.
The Old Madam was considered to be quite healthy when she was young. However, her body had been damaged when she gave birth to her daughter and she had not given birth again since then. When Luo Xia died, the Old Madam had become gravely ill and her body had been damaged. Her condition was unstable and she had been ill since then. She would feel better after taking the medicine Bai Yihao prescribed. However, she did not continue treatment after Bai Yihao left.
Mo Xuetong felt a sense of warmth as she looked into the Old Madam’s tearful and concerned eyes.
No matter whether the Old Madam was her biological grandmother or not, Mo Xuetong always felt that she was her grandmother. She had never met Consort Jin and had no memory of the woman in this life or the past. When she saw the joyful tears in the usually strong Old Madam, Mo Xuetong felt ashamed of the suspicions she once had.
“Grandmother, I am fine. I truly am fine.” Mo Xuetong took a few steps forward and held the Old Madam. She helped the woman back onto the couch. Her eyes were as bright as the stars and there was a slight smile on her face.
“Did King Xuan do something to make His Majesty angry again?” The Old Madam asked urgently, holding on to Mo Xuetong’s hand.
“It is nothing. It’s just Fourth Sister who implicated me. I don’t know what happened after that, His Majesty got angry at His Highness. Don’t worry, Grandmother. All’s fine now.” Mo Xuetong comforted her.
The Old Madam frowned. She had already heard of what happened to Feng Yulei at Puguang Temple. News of that incident had already spread throughout the capital. Most people felt that King Yan had tried to plot against King Xuan and had caused the whole saga. King Yan’s Second Consort tried to elope and Consort Xuan helped her to escape? Then, everyone had died. This was really hard to believe.
Mo Xueqiong didn’t want to be King Yan’s Second Consort but wanted to elope with a manservant? She even brought with her documents from King Yan’s Manor? That was ludicrous!
The Old Madam was not a simple woman. She immediately understood after some thought and held Mo Xuetong’s hand, asking her with concern, “I heard that Marquess Mingguo was with King Yan that day at Puguang Temple. Did he intervene?”
There were four great manors and every one of them was noble families with several centuries of lineage. They had many sources of information. As such, the Old Madam trusted the source of her information.
“Was Marquess Mingguo there as well? I did not see him. Consort Yan was very overbearing. Then, Mo Xueqiong’s maid had caused such a fuss. I feel that it does not look like something King Yan would do…” Mo Xuetong flushed when she mentioned Mo Yan. After all, that was considered a scandal involving the Mo Manor.
However, Mo Xuetong had to say it now to raise the Old Madam’s awareness. However, she could not say it openly and could only pretend to be ignorant of everything and have the Old Madam investigate it herself.
The connections between the four great families were complicated. If Mo Xuetong could not make her grandmother aware of the odd behavior displayed by Mingguo Manor, they might plot against the Fu General Manor one day. One of the reasons why Mo Xuetong had visited today was to raise her grandmother’s suspicion of You Yuecheng and Mingguo Manor.
Even though Mo Yan was pretty, she was just average. There were many women of her caliber in King Yan’s Manor. Mo Xuetong did not think that King Yan, Feng Yulei would be interested in Mo Yan. However, if Mo Yan did not have any relations with King Yan, then which man had entered the heavily guarded King’s Manor?
Furthermore, Feng Yulei and You Yue’e seemed to disregard the matter entirely after it happened. They did not have any intentions of contending the matter. It was as if they had acknowledged it. This was what Mo Xuetong thought the weirdest. Which person was worth King Yan’s silence and willingness to take the blame! The most probable suspect was You Yuecheng.
Only You Yuecheng could make King Yan and Consort Yan shut up about the maid getting pregnant. They did not even mention where the child in her belly came from.
“Tong’er, you have to be careful of Marquess Mingguo in the future. He is a sharp man and King Yan’s manor has suffered a great disadvantage this time. He would definitely not stop there. Stay away from him in the future and do not engage in any arguments with him.” The Old Madam’s eyes were dark. She was not an old woman who only knew of the struggles in the back courtyard. She had experienced some of the feuds between noble families.
“Grandmother, do you mean that You Yuecheng had something to do with this?”
“Mingguo Manor is moving closely with King Yan’s Manor right now. You Yuecheng is definitely involved in the great plot that King Yan set up for you and King Xuan. Stay far away from him if you see him in the future.” The Old Madam said worriedly.
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. I will not allow others to bully me. I am now Consort Xuan. If I act cowardly, others will only bully me even more. Furthermore, there are times when others will not allow me to back away. Since You Yuecheng had worked together with King Yan to plot against me, they will not just stop. So what if I avoid them!”
No matter why You Yuecheng felt enmity towards Mo Xuetong, the two had been on separate sides since he tried to plot against her. Since they were enemies, they would one day come to blows. Furthermore, she knew that You Yuecheng would not let her off. There was still the matter involving her mother. He seemed to have some evidence. She had to act before he did and deal with what happened back then.
The Old Madam sighed deeply when she saw how stubborn and determined her granddaughter was. She thought of her daughter whom she had doted on dearly. If her daughter could be as strong as Tong’er, she might not have died at such a young age. The Old Madam could not help but tear up when she thought of that.
“Tong’er, no matter what you do, I will always support you!” The Old Madam said seriously, turning around to wipe away her tears.
Mo Xuetong looked at the Old Madam’s pale face and serious expression. Then, she saw the loving look in her eyes and her greying hair. Mo Xuetong felt extremely touched and she launched herself into the Old Madan’s chest. She cried out, “Grandmother!”
There was a lump at her throat and she could not say anything.
Her grandmother had truly treated Mo Xuetong’s mother as a daughter and treated Mo Xuetong as her biological granddaughter. Was this really a good time for her to talk about those things that the old woman had tried vehemently to hide?
The Old Madam had raised her mother and doted on her wholeheartedly. The old woman had put in so much effort in her daughter but her daughter had died you. Now that her granddaughter was in trouble, she wanted to give everything she had to her granddaughter. Yet, at this time, her granddaughter told her that she was not her biological granddaughter. What would the Old Madam do?
Beneath her hand, Mo Xuetong could feel that the Old Madam was so skinny and frail, she seemed to be only bones. However, the woman hugged her tightly and patted her back. She murmured with a smile, “Tong’er, be good. It’s alright. Grandmother is here for you.”
Her heart hurt. Her heart hurt for this old woman with a head full of white hair.
Since her grandmother did not want her to know that she was not her biological granddaughter, why must Mo Xuetong hurt her like that? In her past life, even though she had made use of the Fu General Manor to help Sima Lingyun, and even though the Fu General Manor had fallen because of Sima Lingyun, her grandmother had not blamed her. She also did not say anything about Mo Xuetong not being her biological granddaughter.
Mo Xuetong had the wholehearted protection of this woman. This relationship was stronger than that of blood relations. Mo Xuetong was unwilling to hurt the Old Madam. She changed her mind then and decided that she must not let her grandmother find out that she already knew that her mother was not the Old Madam’s biological daughter. She would also not allow the Old Madam to be upset in her old age.
