The Mo Manor was very lively today and there were many guests. Originally, only close relatives would come at the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, because of Mo Xuetong’s return, some relatives who rarely contacted the Mo Manor voluntarily came as well. Since they were guests, even though he knew that they didn’t harbor pure intentions, Mo Huawen could only receive them with a smile.
Because of the guests’ coming, it was normal for Mo Yufeng to receive them with his father. After all, he was always the Eldest Young Master on the surface and the only son of Mo Huawen. Mo Huawen could not restrain him too much and had to allow him to meet the guests. As such, early in the morning, Mo Yufeng accompanied Mo Huawen to welcome the guests.
The most unexpected thing was that someone from the Yu Manor also came. It was Mdm Chen—Yu Feng’s wife—and her other daughter Yu Siyan. Now everyone knew that the vicious-hearted Auntie Fang of the Mo Manor was from the Yu Manor. She almost killed Consort Xuan. The entire Mo Manor did not like them at all.
However, they came without shame. No matter what, Yu Feng was Mo Yufeng’s uncle, and they were related by blood. Mo Huawen could not close the shut in their faces. Furthermore, he and Yu Feng were both officials and would see each other frequently. There was no need to embarrass them because of Auntie Fang, who was already dead.
Thus, when Yu Feng’s family came, Mo Huawen and Mo Yufeng still went out to meet them.
Mdm Chen and Yu Siyan followed everyone to rest in Xu Yan’s courtyard. Mo Xuetong had returned to the Mo Manor early in the morning. Xu Yan could not stand the fatigue, so the matters of the inner courtyard were managed by Auntie Mo and Auntie Qing. However, the two concubines had a low status. Hence, Mo Xuetong, the daughter who had returned to the manor, accepted the task of receiving guests.
However, Mo Xuetong was not an ordinary daughter. As she was Consort Xuan, no one would dare to disturb her too much. As such, after she had talked with Xu Yan for a while, she went back to Qingwei Garden to rest on the grounds that she wasn’t feeling well. Seeing that she and Xu Yan couldn’t receive them, the other women didn’t bother them and strolled in the garden under the guidance of the two concubines.
After resting in the room for a while, Mo Xuetong took a book casually to read and kill time. Just now, a maidservant came and said that there were about two hours before lunch, so it was still early now.
Mo Lan came in and reported that Auntie Qing wanted to visit Qingwei Garden with a few madams and young ladies and asked if it was convenient for Mo Xuetong!
Mo Xuetong’s lips curled up slightly. There was a slight ripple in her eyes, but there was a hint of coldness in them. She nodded meaningfully at Mo Lan. Mo Lan understood and went out to reply.
Soon, Auntie Qing came in with some of the girls from the relatives, including Mdm Chen of the Yu Manor and her daughter Yu Siyan.
Mo Xuetong also knew Yu Siyan. The latter and her elder sister Yu Sirong were from the same mother, so their relationship was naturally different from that of other sisters. Furthermore, there was a year gap between them. In the past life, Yu Siyan had often accompanied Yu Sirong to visit the Qin family. She had been watching from the side when Yu Sirong bullied Mo Xuetong.
Every time Mo Xuetong was hurt, she would comfort her on behalf of Yu Sirong. It could be said that Yu Sirong’s younger sister had made great contributions to the fact that Mo Xuetong didn’t resent Yu Sirong after she had been badly hurt by her in the last life.
In this life, Mo Xuetong hadn’t seen Yu Siyan yet. She returned to the capital shortly after waking up. After that, Yu Sirong followed her parents to the capital first. When Yu Sirong was disfigured, Yu Siyan and the others went to the capital. But the relationship between the Yu Manor and the Mo Manor became worse and worse, and they stopped having any dealings with each other.
Mo Xuetong did not expect to see Yu Siyan, who was obviously more resourceful than Yu Sirong, today. It seemed that Yu Feng was determined to fulfill his purpose this time. He even used his favorite daughter Yu Siyan. Did he want to take this opportunity to please King Ning, Feng Yuzhen, and then send his daughter to King Ning’s Manor? Yu Feng was indeed experienced. He even set another trap in the trap to let his daughter show up in front of King Ning and attract Feng Yuzhen’s attention.
However, it was a pity…
“Greetings, Consort Xuan.” The guests were all very polite and they all curtsied to Mo Xuetong together with Auntie Qing. Mo Xuetong gave a small smile and softly asked them to sit down by the side.
Then the maidservants served tea and put them in front of those people before they all left.
There were Auntie Qing, Mdm Chen, Yu Siyan, and Wang Yilan, whom Mo Xuetong had met before, as well as some relatives of the Mo family.
Auntie Qing picked up the teacup with a smile and took a sip. Immediately, her eyes lit up as she looked up and asked, “My Lady, is this tea a tribute from the palace? It smells so good.”
Mo Xuetong had indeed brought some tea leaves here today and they were placed in Qingwei Garden. No one lived in Qingwei Garden right now. Even though it was clean, there was definitely no tea here. It would be troublesome to ask for it temporarily. So Mo Xuetong brought some with her. The maidservants made tea just now with the tea leaves she had taken here.
Emperor Zongwen was extremely fond of Feng Yuran. It was normal to send daily food and clothing directly to Feng Yuran from the palace.
Mo Xuetong gave a soft smile as a hint of light flashed in her watery eyes. Then she replied humbly, “It was originally awarded by the palace. This time, I came here to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and His Highness specially asked me to bring some. Even though it might not be the best, it is rare.” How could the things from the palace not be good?
Among the relatives of the Mo Manor, Mo Huawen had the highest position. They usually did not have the chance to enter the palace. When they heard about the good things from the palace, the madams and young ladies who were not thirsty could not help but pick up the teacups. They had to taste the good things from the palace, so that they could show them off to other madams when they went out in the future.
There were too many guests, and everyone sat close to each other. In particular, for convenience’s sake, the young ladies were closer to each other. Originally, it was suitable for them to huddle together and talk in private. But now, everyone picked up the cups at hand. As their arms collided, they failed to hold on to their cups and the tea spilled out.
The tea was made with scalding water, and at this time, their clothes were thin. A lady spilled some of her tea and immediately jumped up when she was scalded. Then she bumped into the other lady, who was also scalded and screamed. She hurriedly stood up. In her anxiety and panic, she could not hold the tea in her hand and poured it to the other side…
For a moment, there were three or four young ladies who were doused with hot tea. Their dresses were wet and hot. Several young ladies cried out with tears in their eyes. Two of them even fell to the ground. In a word, they were in a mess.
Mo Xuetong, who was seated high, frowned slightly and put down the teacup in her hand.
“My Lady, it’s all our fault. We were careless and broke your tea set. My Lady, please be magnanimous and forgive us this time.” Before everyone could react, a lady whose dress was wet rushed out and walked up to Mo Xuetong. Then she lowered her body, about to kneel down.
For a moment, everyone quieted down. Even the other young ladies who had been scalded gritted their teeth pitifully and endured the pain, looking at Mo Xuetong pleadingly.
It was only the ladies themselves that caused the trouble. However, her words sounded like Consort Xuan had bullied the relatives of the Mo Manor and oppressed them with her power!
Mo Xuetong shot a glance at Mo Lan. The latter hurriedly helped the kneeling lady up. The lady was Yu Siyan!
The lower part of her dress was thoroughly wet, and there were a few tea leaves on it. Coupled with her pleading eyes now, she looked really pitiful.
“Second Miss Yu, what are you talking about? What do you mean by ‘broke the tea set’? It’s just a few tea sets. How could Her Lady blame you for these tea sets? You worry too much.” Mo Lan pulled Yu Siyan up forcefully. She used much strength with her hand, but there was a gentle smile on her face as she tried to persuade Yu Siyan.
“Mo Lan is right. You spoke as if it’s a big deal. Second Miss Yu, you should first check if you have any burns. Nothing else is a big deal. If you have burns, there would be a scar. Then it wouldn’t be good. I heard that if the burn isn’t cured in time, it would be a little…”
Looking at Yu Siyan’s frightened eyes and her dress, which was wet in the lower part, Mo Xuetong sneered in her heart. She didn’t expect that it was Yu Siyan who started the show today. It seemed that the Yu Manor really couldn’t wait any longer. After all, since Consort Yu had lost her power, Yu Feng’s life was even harder, and now he didn’t hesitate to make a desperate bet.
The others did not pay attention to it, but Mo Xuetong had seen it clearly when she sat high just now. The first person to pour the tea on someone else was Yu Siyan. Now she came out to beg for mercy, as if she was afraid that she would be punished. It seemed as if Mo Xuetong had always been mean and ungrateful to others. Mo Xuetong would like to see how Auntie Qing and the others would continue to act in this scene today.
Before Mo Xuetong could finish her words, the young ladies who had been scalded changed their expressions. They were all noble young ladies and usually paid the most attention to their appearance. Even though the burns were on their legs, it would not be perfect if scars were left on them. It would be hard to say if their husband would be judgy about the scars in the future.
“Ouch, it hurts!”
“It’s too hot. My foot hurts.”
“Mother, I can’t get up anymore.” The young ladies remembered their injuries with hindsight and cried out one by one. The maidservants standing behind them suddenly realized what had happened and hurried over to help them.
“My Lady, do you have any medicine for burns here? Can we apply some to our injuries? If we go back now, I’m afraid it’ll be too late to cure the burns.” Yu Siyan also covered her calf, as if she had been burned badly. Those young ladies whose tears had fallen because of the burns were frightened and looked at Mo Xuetong pleadingly.
It would be better if they people could apply the medicine to the burns as soon as possible.
Mo Lan helped her sit down on a stool by the side and comforted her in a soft voice. “Second Miss Yu, don’t worry. My Lady has already sent someone to ask the doctor of the manor to prepare some medicine for burns. Second Miss Yu, do you have a terrible burn? Would you like the doctor to see you first?”
“That’s right. Second Miss Yu, is it very painful? Don’t endure it if it hurts. As you were the first to rush out earlier, you must be in so much pain that you can’t stand it. Ask the doctor to apply medicine to your burns first later.” Mo Xuetong also comforted her in a gentle voice.
The other young ladies cried out in pain beside her. However, Consort Xuan’s attention was on Yu Siyan. Most of her dress looked wet, mainly at the hem, but she did not seem to be badly scalded. The others all looked at her suspiciously.
They knew what it felt like to be burned, as they also suffered the mishap. In that instant, they could not think of anything else and only felt sharp pain. They would not be able to stand up and say anything else to Consort Xuan!
Was Yu Siyan’s injury the most serious or the least?
