Chapter 64
"Can I ruin their reputations?" Ling Mingyan was pleased when she heard the nanny’s casual tone. She thought about it and took two steps forward to whisper in the nanny’s ears.
"Yes, but you have to listen to me." The teaching nanny said. There were so many such incidents in the palace. How could she not know about these since she served the Empress closely? The Empress had arranged for her to be with Ling Mingyan not just to watch her. Ling Mingyan was, after all, the First Miss of the Ding General Manor. If she were bullied, it would be an embarrassment to the Ding General Manor and the Empress.
"Alright!" Ling Mingyan answered quickly. She looked at the two viciously and said hatefully, "Nanny, I want to ruin their reputations. I want to see if they still dare to be so arrogant in front of me in the future."
"Alright, but First Miss, you have to remember to keep your temper in check and be patient." The teaching nanny gestured to the other nanny to release Ling Mingyan’s hand coldly.
Ling Mingyan thought about how Mo Xuetong and Luo Mingzhu were about to get into trouble soon and stopped throwing a tantrum. She glanced at a few bolts of cloth, bought them, and left the shop. One of the nannies followed her into the carriage while the other walked on the streets casually.
"Go see what that servant is up to." Feng Yuran smiled charmingly from a tall building. He clicked his fingers lightly on the table. A guard behind him immediately jumped out of the window and disappeared in a flash.
He was wearing a purple fox leather shirt and had a vermilion red cape on his shoulder. His red lips were extremely charming. His slightly narrowed eyes, dark and long lashes were beautiful. His chin was lifted slightly at a perfect angle. His face seemed as if it was carved and was extremely eye-catching. He looked beautiful, second to none, and one could not take his eyes off him. Even those used to seeing Feng Yuran’s beauty were stunned by it. Feng Yue paused for a moment and then immediately lowered his head. He did not dare to look at the handsome prince again.
King Xuan’s beauty attracted men and women. No wonder the eunuch had been dazzled by his intentional smile that day and destroyed the painting that the Empress sent. The Empress probably still did not know that his master had intentionally dazzled the eunuch and caused the trouble because he did not want her niece, who was known as the top beauty of the capital.
"Feng Yue, how about I find someone to ruin her virtue?" Feng Yuran’s gaze was on the innocent and beautiful face downstairs. The soft, delicate skin on her face and the gentle smile on her lips made her look as if she was a noble lady. He was sure that no one would know that beneath her fake mask, was a vicious woman. She had dared to bite him in his ancestral home. Fortunately, he did not lose because he bit her back.
Fang Yue was startled by what Feng Yuran said. He looked up and glanced at Feng Yuran, not being able to catch what Feng Yuran meant. He followed Feng Yuran’s gaze, which was on Mo Xuetong, who was picking out clothes downstairs. Then, he understood who his master was talking about, but was also shocked by what his master said. He was the eighth prince, and King Xuan, whom the Emperor doted most on. When did he become so narrow-minded to want to ruin the girl’s virtue?
"Then, I’ll save her and help to prove her innocence. Do you think she will want to marry me out of gratitude?" Feng Yuran continued slowly. Feng Yue was shocked speechless.
"If I save her, it will be a debt of gratitude which could be repaid by marrying me. If she wants to marry me in thanks, then I will take her even though it will be somewhat of a hardship. Anyway, I still need a princess, and she can be one!" Feng Yuran was in a good mood, and he smiled as he talked to himself. However, Feng Yue sweated profusely as he spoke.
"Feng Yue, what do you think of my idea?" Feng
Feng Yue only felt as if moral values were experiencing an upheaval. What as his master thinking? To ruin someone’s reputation and then save her, making the girl marry him out of gratitude. Then, he would even take her as his princess despite the "hardship". Was he his wise and cold master? Why did he seem abnormal!
Feng Yue opened his mouth but could not say anything.
"Do you think there is something wrong with my thoughts? Do you have a better idea for me to tame this little wild cat?" Feng Yuran lifted the cup by his side and took a sip as he glanced at Feng Yue from the corner of his eyes. It meant that he would not let Feng Yue go if he did not give him a satisfactory answer. The devilish corners of his mouth lifted into a vague smile. His deep and dark eyes glinted with an almost invisible coldness.
He was going to…
Feng Yue gritted his teet, looked down and said respectfully, "Your Highness is wise!"
Feng Yuran seemed satisfied when he saw Feng Yue lowering his head. He no longer gave him the side eye. Instead, he turned his attention downstairs and said lazily, "Go and invite her here!"
"Your Highness?" Feng Yue was confused. He looked at Feng Yuran who was obviously up to no good and felt that coming out with the prince today was a mistake. Feng Yuran was asking a noble young lady to have a private meeting with him and was even saying it out loud. Furthermore, Feng Yue did not see anything that indicated Third Miss Mo’s interest in his master. What was happening? He was the prince’s personal guard, and he could not do something like that.
"Third Miss Mo?" A gentle and surprised voice sounded from beside Mo Xuetong. It was a familiar voice she had heard many times in her previous life. It was engraved in her heart. Her blood ran cold even as she thought about it now.
Indeed, not far away was a face that she could describe even in her dreams. She had once thought that he was her partner for life. But who would have thought that he was the most venomous snake who would even bite the Fu General Manor which was the hand that fed him?
She closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened her eyes again, they were as clear and water. They were a pair of extremely beautiful eyes. It added a slightly coquettish look of a young lady to her innocent face. Her eyes could touch one’s heart. Sima Lingyun felt dazed, and his heart started beating even faster!
"Greetings, Sir Sima." Mo Xuetong smiled slightly and curtsied. She was distant but polite.
Ever since what happened at the Repayment Temple, Sima Lingyun had not visited the Mo Manor again. She wondered if he was trying to avoid rumors of if he had been too embarrassed to!
"Third Miss Mo, we are really fated. I have just returned from a trip outside of the capital and was thinking of visiting the Mo Manor. If Third Miss Mo could help me pick out some bolts of cloth for your three sisters?" Sima Lingyun regained his wits and laughed heartily. Then, he removed his outer shirt and passed it to the waiting servant.
He took two steps forward as if he wanted to stand with Mo Xuetong and pointed at a colorful yarn knitted shirt and said, "Third Miss Mo, what do you think of this? This matches your skin tone perfectly."
It was as if he did not know of the awkward situation between himself and the Mo Manor as he continued to smile.
"Many thanks, Sir Sima. I am not here to pick out clothes. I came with my cousin." Mo Xuetong smiled coldly. Sima Lingyun must have been here for a while. Even though he had just entered the doors looking as if he had just arrived, the servant had come from behind the screen. It was obvious he wanted to pretend that it was a chance meeting, but it was obvious that he was here with someone.
Mo Xuetong looked at the women standing inside the shop, and her gaze landed on one standing in front of the counter, looking rather cautions. The woman in green looked neat, slightly frail. Even though her clothes were plain, she looked extremely beautiful. Mo Xuetong was startled.
Yun Yiqiu!
Mo Xuetong had not thought that she would see Yun Yiqiu here. In her past life, Mo Xuetong had found Yun Yiqiu to be Sima Lingyun’s concubine. She had been disfigured and usually wore a veil and felt that she did not deserve Sima Lingyun’s love. When she saw how his cousin Yun Yiqiu looked at him silently with such loving eyes, she felt pity for her!
She felt that Yun Yiqiu loved deeply and pitied her. She especially allowed her to become Sima Lingyun’s concubine. However, this concubine had joined hands with Sima Lingyun’s mother to bully her. She had miscarried the first time because of this woman. She had flirted with Sima Lingyun in front of her intentionally and bumped into her.
She thought she deserved all that she had in the past and did not see how vicious Yun Yiqiu was. She had brought the trouble upon herself when she found a concubine for Sima Lingyun. When her eyes met Yun Yiqiu’s, she realized how stupid she had been in her past life. Her excuses of just having arrived at the Duke’s manor and meeting her cousin and cousin-in-law for the first time were all fake.
Mo Xuetong saw how she looked at Sima Lingyun carefully and lovingly. Sima Lingyun had accompanied her to Clothes Pavilion. All these meant that the two were already in a relationship. She thought that Yun Yiqiu had met Sima Lingyun for the first time then. She recalled how Sima Lingyun had told her righteously and sternly that he would not take his cousin as his concubine when she mentioned it to him. He had even gotten angry at her suggestion and slept in the study for a few days.
Stupid. She was too stupid. Perhaps the two were already entangled together and laughing at her while she was worried about how to explain matters to Sima Lingyun. Heaven was fair. She had discovered things that she had not in her past life. She would not allow this seemingly weak woman who seemed to be deeply in love but was actually cold and vicious to go scot-free this time.
Their eyes met through the satin veil. Yun Yiqiu was startled and felt that the gaze from behind the veil was icy cold. She could not control her shock and surprise and almost yelped. She took two steps back, and the maid beside her hurried to hold her. She asked worriedly, "Miss, what’s wrong?"
"Nothing. I’m alright!" Yun Yiqiu held her chest and breathed heavily before she replied lightly. Her health was poor, and she had been drinking medicine for it. Fortunately, the Duchess was her aunt and treated her well. The manor had gotten her medicine, and her sickness did not act up usually. She trembled when the woman under the veil looked at her, and she grew nervous for some reason.
"Should I call His Excellency over?" The maid asked as she grew worried when she saw how pale Yun Yiqiu was. She glanced distastefully at the two noble ladies wearing veils who were with Sima Lingyun. She did not understand why His Excellency had abandoned his cousin but was instead talking with two ladies who seemed as if they could not be bothered with him. He was so cautious speaking to them that the maid who served Yun Yiqiu felt rather annoyed. She steadied Yun Yiqiu and was about to head over to Sima Lingyun to pass the message for her mistress.