“Father said that these clothes and cloth are not good. He will send someone to send new ones over.” Mo Xuetong said with a gentle and likable smile.
The servant holding the cloths at the door smiled wanly at the door. She could neither leave nor say. She wanted to slip away but was glared at by Mo Huawen coldly and did not dare move. She was secretly upset. She would not have come if Mo Xiu from First Miss’s courtyard had not said that First Miss was ending gifts for Third Miss and that Third Miss would definitely be happy and tip her.
How unlucky! She did not expect to make Third Miss upset and even anger Old Sir. The servant hated the little bi*ch Mo Xiu for sending her on this trip. She would definitely not take part in such matters again.
“Are the clothes not good? They look beautiful!” Xu Yan did not know what happened and only felt that it was awkward for her to sit there. Her face was flushed and her heart beat wildly. She did not dare to take another look at Mo Huawen. As such, she stood up and went up to the servant. She reached out for a skirt and took a look at it with a smile.
The skirt was naturally good, but it was a pity that it had been worn by Mo Xuemin. She was certain that Mo Xuemin had not wanted to give her these. With Mo Xuemin’s intelligence and in her current situation, she would not try to get herself into trouble with such little matters. The only person who could do anything was Auntie Fang.
Auntie Fang must have felt reluctant for Mo Xuemin to send good clothes and cloth to her and had secretly ordered people to swap them out. She knew that Mo Xuetong would not accept Mo Xuemin’s clothes and cloth. After all, Mo Xuetong was the main daughter, why would she really want a concubine’s daughter’s clothes? It was just a gesture of good will and just for show. Why waste good cloth?
However, she did not expect Mo Xuetong to put on Mo Xuemin’s clothes in front of Mo Huawen. Mo Huawen could tell from one look that they were Mo Xuemin’s old clothes. How could he not be angry about it? The third daughter that he doted on much was relegated to wearing a concubine’s daughter’s old clothes. It would be embarrassing if others found out about it. He held a position in the imperial court and the Emperor had hinted that he would have a use for him recently. How could he allow Mo Xuemin to ruin his reputation at a time like this?
Furthermore, he truly doted on Mo Xuetong. He saw that his daughter was slender and fragile, looking very similar to his wife. He was always afraid that she would suffer. How could he be in a good mood when he saw the things that Mo Xuemin sent?
Mo Huawen had liked Auntie Fang a lot and felt that she was capable and sensible. She was also skilled at dealing with household matters and bore him his only son. However, after the incident at the family rites and he saw how Tong’er knelt there in pain, and how Auntie Fang had dared to insist that she did not know anything, Mo Huawen’s thoughts of marrying Auntie Fang faded away.
He had to marry a person who would treat Tong’er well!
“Aunt, Tong’er does not like such brightly colored clothes. I even pestered Father to buy me new clothes and you had to see that embarrassing scene.” Mo Xuetong would not point out Mo Xuemin’s mistake in front of Mo Huawen. There were some things that she could not point out herself and could only let Mo Huawen see for himself. She would naturally only help Mo Xuemin out now and mention her own shortcomings.
Her eyes shone and she stood there, scrunching up the corners of her shirt looking as if she were shy.
Mo Huawen’s heart softened even more when he saw how his daughter had not mentioned anything about Min’er and had even said that it was her fault. He looked at Mo Xuetong dotingly. He had not expected Tong’er to be so sensible and gracious. She would rather ruin her own reputation to save his face. His daughter was too sensible!
His heart ached as he thought of how she had been alone in Cloud City with not even a relative by her side. She must have gotten so sensible because she lived alone. He had made his daughter like this. If he had made a decision earlier, Tong’er would not have been abandoned in Cloud City alone. He heard from the servants who returned that Tong’er had almost drowned in the lake not long ago. How could a young miss just fall into the lake for no reason!
Mo Huawen dealt with cases all the time. How could he not be suspicious?
“Oh, so Tong’er doesn’t like bright colored clothing. I have some new bolts of cloth that are less muted in color. I wanted to bring them for you to take a look anyway.” Xu Yan smiled and looked at the maid standing outside. The maid returned quickly with two servants behind her. They each held a few bolts of light blue, green, white and grey cloth.
The two maids put them beside Mo Xuetong with a smile and then backed away.
“Tong’er, come and see if you like them?” Xu Yan pulled Mo Xuetong to the cloth and smiled gently. Mo Xuetong stood on the other side of Mo Huawen. Xu Yan had to first pass Mo Huawen to get to her. She smiled at Mo Huawen shyly and asked, “Brother-in-law, would you help Tong’er pick?”
Mo Huawen was feeling frustrated and annoyed when he thought of how Mo Xuemin could be being mean to her younger sister. However, when she saw how polite Xu Yan was, he could not possibly vent his frustrations at her. He was also being held on by Mo Xuetong and could not say no and be impolite. As such, he went up and took a look as well.
“Father, which color do you think looks good on Tong’er?” Mo Xuetong’s eyes shone and a happy and innocent smile appeared on her face again. She did not seem to mind what happened earlier.
Mo Huawen was truly grateful to Xu Yan when she saw how Tong’er looked so happy and no longer smiled as stiffly as she had earlier when Xu Yan first came in. He mustered up his interest and pointed at the blue cloth in front with a smile. “This one looks good. Get this from your aunt!” Mo Huawen could see clearly that Tong’er liked Min’er’s clothes because she liked the light blue color.
“Aunt, does Tong’er look good in this color?” Mo Xuetong pouted and made a naughty face at Mo Huawen. She did not reply to Mo Huawen and instead asked Xu Yan.
Xu Yan picked up a corner of the cloth and placed it on Mo Xuetong. The light blue cloth looked nice against her pale skin. She could not help but praise, “Tong’er’s skin color is really nice, it matches this color well. Take this bolt of cloth and make a dress and also a robe. Even though it’s not an especially bright color, you can’t keep wearing plain colors like what you are wearing now during the New Year.”
Xu Yan pointed at what Mo Xuetong was wearing. It was a white color shirt that only had faint flower embroidery on the collar. It was a plain colored thing with no other colors on it. It made her face even paler against her slender body and made others feel pity for her. Mo Huawen agreed with what Xu Yan said. He looked at Mo Xuetong dotingly and said, “Tong’er listen to your aunt. Take the cloth and make some new clothes. Father will send you some lighter colored cloth tomorrow.”
“Father, why are your thoughts the same as Aunt’s? Does this color really suit me?” Mo Xuetong’s large eyes shone. She wrinkled her nose adorably and asked as if she were not confident enough.
“Of course!”
“It definitely suits you!”
Mo Huawen and Xuyan spoke in unison. They only realized they had spoken at the same time after they had spoken. Xu Yan felt shy. She blushed and looked down, not being able to speak. She glanced at Mo Huawen secretly and blushed even redder. Something was going on!
Mo Xuetong saw everything clearly by the side. She could not help but smile with satisfaction. Then, she pulled on Xu Yan’s hand awkwardly and said adorably, “But this is Aunt’s favorite cloth. If you give it to me, then you won’t have any!”
“It’s alright as long as Tong’er likes it. I am an adult and I don’t mind. I am happy as long as you like it!” Xu Yan’s shyness faded a lot with Mo Xuetong’s acts. A smile appeared on her face and she reached out to pat Mo Xuetong’s head as she spoke sincerely.
Even though she had come for Mo Huawen today, she could not help but feel pity when she saw how obedient and adorable Mo Xuetong was. She saw that Mo Xuetong truly did like the cloth and was satisfied with it. She had wanted to send Tong’er some bolts of cloth anyway and had especially picked out these when she heard that Tong’er liked plainer colors. She was naturally happy since Mo Xuetong liked them.
The corners of her mouth lifted and everyone could see that she was truly happy.
Mo Huawen who was standing to the side could not help but smile when he saw that. He quite liked Xu Yan and felt that Tong’er truly liked this aunt of hers. He turned around and looked at Xu Yan especially and discovered that she looked quite like Luo Xia. If he did not look carefully, they were very much alike, especially when they blushed. She smiled shyly like Luo Xia and he could not help but be dazed as he looked at her.
Xu Yan discovered that Mo Huawen was looking at her dazedly. She blushed even harder. Even though she was interested in Mo Huawen, she was still a noble young lady. She could not stand Mo Huawen looking at her like that. However, she was too embarrassed to say anything to Mo Huawen and could only turn to Mo Xuetong and speak with her.
“Father, Aunt treats Tong’er so well, she’s giving me her own cloth. Aren’t you going to do anything about it!” Mo Xuetong tugged on Mo Huawen’s sleeves coyly. She ignored the fact that Xu Yan was listening to them and was blushing furiously. She did not lift up her head and played with her handkerchief.
Mo Huawen regained his wits after Mo Xuetong tugged on him and he looked away awkwardly. He was flushed and spoke to hide the fact that he was dazed earlier. He did not hear what Mo Xuetong had said clearly and replied, “Tong’er you’re right. Father will send your aunt some cloth tomorrow. The two of you can pick some to make clothes.”
Xu Yan could not be dazed anymore. She flushed and thanked Mo Huawen and turned to leave with her maids as if she was fleeing. Even though she looked shy, she was secretly happy. She didn’t think that her gentle brother-in-law was going to give her cloth. She had not wasted her effort in picking out the cloth to give to Mo Xuetong.
Mo Huawen realized what he said when he saw Xu Yan fleeing with a blush on her face. It was really awkward now!
A brother-in-law giving his sister-in-law cloth to make clothes? What was happening! He wanted to say something to smooth things over and he pointed at the cloth and coughed. He said seriously, “Tong’er, I shall leave first. Tell me when the clothes are done. I might have something on and can’t come tomorrow.”
He wanted to just say that he would not be able to visit tomorrow and smooth the matter over. However, Mo Xuetong grew unhappy when she heard that. The corners of her lips lifted and she went to pull on Mo Huawen’s hands and said reluctantly, “Father, you promised Tong’er and Aunt earlier. You can’t go back on your words. Anyway, Tong’er and Aunt will be waiting here for you to send cloth over. You won’t lie to two girls, will you? Or are you reluctant to give up the cloth and you’re not willing to make clothes for Tong’er and Aunt?”
Then, she blinked her watery eyes as if she had been wronged, looking rather upset. She had also included Xu Yan in what she said, which meant that Mo Huawen would not only disappoint Mo Xuetong if he were to go back on his words, but also Xu Yan as well. Then, she pouted and said that Mo Huawen was petty, blinking her large eyes.
Mo Huawen was still rather pleased that his daughter was looking at him like that. He reached out to pat her head and looked at how his daughter was looking at him, entirely dependent on him. He only wanted to make his daughter happy and nothing else. “Alright, as long as Tong’er likes it. I will have someone send some bolts of cloth over. Pick them out with your Aunt and make more clothes.”
Mo Huawen had decided that since he would not be coming tomorrow, he would let Tong’er decide who to give the cloth to. It had nothing to do with him.
“Then will you come to visit me?” Mo Xuetong did not intend to let him off. She asked naively, her long lashes fluttering.
“I will, of course I will!” Mo Huawen was pleased when he saw how reluctant his daughter was for him to leave. He laughed happily and patted Mo Xuetong’s head.
“Then come tomorrow! Can Tong’er go out to shop for clothes?” Mo Xuetong shook his arm and asked, pushing her luck and then pouting. “Tong’er still hasn’t gone shopping since I returned to the capital. Will you accompany Tong’er?” She looked at Mo Huawen with watery eyes so much that he could not reject even if he wanted to.
He thought about how Tong’er had just gotten to the capital and had indeed not gone shopping and was filled with heartache. He hurriedly agreed and looked at his daughter’s beautiful face. He felt both comforted and pain and pity! If Luo Xia was still around, would Tong’er not even have a person to go shopping with!
