A painting, a painting that Old Madam Qin valued highly, and it was a painting of three girls! Mo Xuetong was 100 percent sure that it was the painting given to her by Qin Yufeng. It turned out that it was not given to her intentionally by Old Madam Qin, but that Qin Yufeng found it and sent it to her. How did he know that she wanted the painting?
When she saw the painting, Qin Yufeng was in the capital and she had never told anyone about it. She did not even mention it in front of Mo Lan and Mo Yu. Where did Qin Yufeng know that she wanted the painting, or was it just a coincidence? But it was too coincidental. Qin Yufeng sent the painting to her when she wanted it. At this time, this matter was full of twists and turns, and Mo Xuetong could not figure it out, but she had an intuition that Qin Yufeng knew that she wanted the painting!
“Didn’t Cousin Feng think of a way to help you?” she asked softly as if she did not care.
“It’s impossible for him to help me think of a way. At this time, he is going to take the exam. To put me off, he asked me to come to you for help. Cousin Tong, I am wondering if there is someone in your manor good at painting. Maybe I should give a same copy to Grandmother, so that Grandmother won’t keep asking me for it all the time. I’m so annoyed that I don’t even dare to go home.”
Qin Yuxuan muttered with a headache. He also knew that this method was not feasible. No matter how good one was at painting, the painter had to see the painting. But the problem was that he had seen it, but he couldn’t explain it clearly. Now he had no choice. Since his elder brother said so, he would make every possible effort.
“The original painting is gone. How can you get someone to draw it?” Luo Wenyou asked with a smile.
“I just suggest it. I asked Elder Brother to think of a way to solve the problem, but he said Cousin Tong had a solution, so I went to His Excellency. On the way, I met him and came with him.”
He had thought that Qin Yufeng’s words made sense, so he had rushed into King Xuan’s Manor with Luo Wenyou excitedly. However, when he saw Mo Xuetong’s innocent smile on her ignorant face, he immediately felt that he had been tricked by his elder brother again. Mo Xuetong did not seem to have a solution. He was really anxious.
“Draw another one. It’s a good idea.” Mo Xuetong put down the teacup in her hand, rolled her watery eyes, and agreed in a loud voice. The two of them blinked and could not react for a moment.
Qin Yuxuan blinked his eyes quickly and asked in confusion, “Cousin Tong, you have never seen that painting before. How can we have someone draw another one?”
“Cousin Xuan, have you forgotten that we have seen the painting together? Grandaunt took it out to air it, and we studied it secretly for a long time,” Mo Xuetong said with a smile.
Hearing this, Qin Yuxuan recalled that what she said was true. Back then, Mo Xuetong had stood in front of the painting for a long while and had been reluctant to leave. Then, he had tried to drag her away. He had wanted to find a way to get the painting from his grandmother and give it to Cousin Tong. However, Cousin Tong had come to the capital before he could get it.
Later, when he came to the capital, he was getting further and further away from Cousin Tong. As such, he slowly forgot it. He did not expect Cousin Tong to still remember it, and felt a wave of bitter rising from his heart for some reason. He could not tell if it was pain or something else. The beauty was still in front of him, but she was no longer his Tong’er.
For a moment, he only felt a dull pain in his heart.
Luo Wenyou coughed and asked with a smile, “Cousin Tong, you’ve only seen the painting once many years ago. Do you still remember it?”
“I’m not too sure either. Let’s try first. Cousin Xuan, don’t blame me if it doesn’t work.” Mo Xuetong smiled and asked Qin Yuxuan, “Cousin Xuan, what do you think?”
“That’s good, but are you sure you can do it?” Qin Yuxuan still did not believe it. Could she remember it when she just studied it for a while? All he roughly remembered was three women.
“Let’s have a try. Since Cousin Feng said that I have a way, I have to try.” Mo Xuetong nodded forcefully to show her confidence. She could not hide the smile in her eyes.
“Alright, that’s it. I will go and put it off and tell Grandmother that Elder Brother has lent it to someone else. Elder Brother is taking the exam now and we have to discuss this matter after he comes out.” Qin Yuxuan nodded subconsciously when he saw Mo Xuetong’s sweet smile. This was the only solution he could think of. He would try his best to put it off. If it did not work in a few days, Qin Yufeng would come out. Then, he would throw it to him.
“Alright, it’s settled then. Cousin Xuan, hold Grandaunt back these few days. I will send it over personally when I have a result,” Mo Xuetong answered with a smile. Looking at Qin Yuxuan’s bitter expression, she felt that her cousin was still the same person who was not able to take responsibility, but she felt comfortable when she looked at him.
“That settles it.”
Qin Yuxuan nodded. He had no choice but to nod now. Cousin Tong was right. How would he know if she did not try? It would be fine if there was even a little difference. Anyway, his grandmother had not seen the painting for many years. Even if there was something different, she would not be able to notice it. When he thought of this, he immediately felt that Mo Xuetong’s method was very good.
After settling the matter with Qin Yuxuan, Mo Xuetong turned to Luo Wenyou and asked, “Eldest Cousin, how is Grandmother? Is she feeling better now?”
Mo Xuetong had always been concerned about Old Madam’s health. She was always worried about it. When her mother passed away, Old Madam had once fallen gravely ill and almost died then, so she was not able to go to Cloud City to attend her mother’s funeral. After that, Old Madam had always been ill. She would be ill for a few days whenever she felt unwell. It was because she had been too sad then and had hurt her foundation. As such, she should be taken good care of.
“Grandmother has been in good health recently. Cousin Yun has been spending every day with Grandmother, and Grandmother is very happy,” Luo Wenyou replied with a smile.
“Cousin Yun?” Mo Xuetong was stunned. She did not remember who it was, so she looked at Luo Wenyou with watery eyes.
“It’s Second Aunt’s niece of her maternal family. She came with Second Aunt to celebrate your birthday,” Luo Wenyou explained patiently when he saw Mo Xuetong’s dazed expression.
Cousin Yun? The girl named Yun Ya? Mo Xuetong frowned secretly. “Does Second Cousin know that her cousin is spending every day with Grandmother?” From what Luo Mingzhu said that day, Mo Xuetong could tell that she took a great dislike to Yun Ya. Furthermore, this woman was obviously scheming. She might even have something to do with the person Mo Xuetong had imagined.
“Second Sister is busy at home every day. I heard that her grandmother-in-law is in poor health, so she didn’t return home recently.” Even though Luo Wenyou did not understand why Mo Xuetong was asking about Luo Mingzhu, but when he saw that her expression had darkened, he asked curiously, “Is there anything wrong?”
Mo Xuetong thought for a moment and asked, “Eldest Cousin, what did Second Aunt say about it?” Now that Luo Mingzhu knew something, Second Aunt should know it as well.
“Second Aunt didn’t say anything. She just said that you and Mingzhu were not around and she didn’t have a sweet girl by her side. Cousin Yun is so considerate that she can take care of Grandmother. That’s great. She did a good job of being filial to Grandmother on behalf of Mingzhu.” Luo Wenyou was confused by the question and couldn’t understand Mo Xuetong’s meaning.
Mo Xuetong bit her lips. A hint of coldness flashed through her heart. Did Second Aunt mean that?
Yun Ya was not a good woman. How could she deserve Eldest Cousin? Luo Wenyou was the son of Fu General and would be the next Fu General. He deserved an elegant and decent woman. Yun Ya had a piece of a man’s jade in her hand. Coupled with what Luo Mingzhu had told her about Yun Ya, Mo Xuetong did not think that such a woman was a good person.
She looked at Luo Wenyou’s dazed expression and thought for a moment. Then, she asked carefully, “Miss Yun stays at Grandmother’s place every day?” She could not allow her Eldest Cousin to be fooled.
“She’s there most of the time.” Luo Wenyou nodded. “She would come and chat with Grandmother when she’s free. Grandmother also likes her very much.”
“Eldest Cousin…” Mo Xuetong hesitated and thought for a moment. However, she still asked, “Eldest Cousin, do you see Miss Yun every time you go to see Grandmother?”
Luo Wenyou felt that something was wrong when Mo Xuetong pointed it out. His face flushed slightly and he said uneasily, “Of course, Cousin Yun is there. I usually leave after a few words. There’s no need to avoid her.”
Since the two were not related by blood, and there was a distinction between men and women, they were supposed to avoid each other.
“Your Excellency, after hearing what you said, I finally understand. Do Old Madam and your aunt want to make a match between you and Miss Yun?” Qin Yuxuan did not understand what was going on and said with a teasing smile.
Luo Wenyou’s face grew even redder when he heard him making fun of him. “No… no. We are just relatives… there is no need to avoid her. Cousin Yun is very gracious.”
Mo Xuetong had been staring at Luo Wenyou. When she heard his haste answer, there was a hint of anger and coldness in her eyes. She did not want to interfere with what Yun Ya did. She thought that girl would return after she stayed in the manor for a while. As for whether she had anything to do with other men, Mo Xuetong did not want to investigate.
But now, it seemed that Yun Ya had been scheming against her eldest cousin since she entered Fu General Manor. Did her second aunt know about it, or was there something else? Why didn’t she remind her grandmother and eldest cousin? She had taken a fancy to the position of Fu General Manor’s son’s wife.
Her second aunt had brought such a girl into the manor, and now the girl was hooking up with her eldest cousin. Did her second aunt know what she was doing?
“Your Excellency, you are speaking up for Miss Yun. Does that mean that you have a good feeling about Miss Yun?” Qin Yuxuan did not know about it at all, and when he saw how embarrassed Luo Wenyou looked, he immediately laughed and teased him.
“Second Young Master, you can’t say that again. She is a good girl and reputation is the most important for her.” Luo Wenyou forced himself to keep a straight face and scolded Qin Yuxuan seriously. However, the flush on his face could not fade away. It was obvious that he felt guilty. Qin Yuxuan laughed again when he saw that.
Mo Xuetong calmed down and her eyes grew cold. However, she then put on a smile and asked, “Eldest Cousin, can you go to Li’s Manor to visit Second Cousin?” No matter who that girl wanted to seduce, she would not give her a chance.
“Alright,” Luo Wenyou agreed readily. Then, he asked casually, “Cousin Tong, are you coming to visit Grandmother with Second Sister?”
“Yeah. But I have to discuss this with Second Cousin. Eldest Cousin, wait here for a while. I will write a letter to Second Cousin. Please bring it to her. I might not be able to come over for the time being. I will have to wait until King Chu’s birthday banquet is over.” Mo Xuetong stood up and said.
She was telling the truth. King Chu’s birthday banquet was in a few days. She would have to spend some time preparing gifts. King Xuan was King Chu’s younger brother and was not like the others, so she had to prepare it more carefully. Luo Wenyou nodded to show that he got it. As Mo Xuetong went into the inner room, he spoke with Qin Yuxuan.
After a while, Mo Xuetong took a letter from inside and gave it to Luo Wenyou. Then, the two young men left.
