Chapter 74
"Fourth Miss, will Old Sir blame you for knocking Third Miss over?" Mo Xueqiong’s personal maid asked carefully. She was afraid because Mo Xuetong was the main daughter after all. Furthermore, she was a main daughter who was doted upon.
"What should I be afraid of? Would she dare to tell him? Look at how hard she knocked her head, but she didn’t dare to say anything. How useless." Mo Xueqiong said with a cold laugh. "And she still wants to marry into the Duke’s manor and become the matriarch. Can she even manage!"
"But, Fourth Miss…"The maid wanted to say something, but Mo Xueqiong waved her hand impatiently. She laughed and said with satisfaction, "No more buts. I just don’t like how she is. So what if she’s the main daughter. She doesn’t dare to say anything against Mo Xuemin. If Mo Xuemin can bully her, so can I!"
Qingwei Garden.
Mo Xuetong’s injuries were quite severe this time. There was a large red lump on her forehead. Fortunately, Mo Ye had acted quickly. Otherwise, she would not only have just fallen and embarrassed herself, but she might also have even been disfigured. It was winter now, and it would take some time to heal.
The medicine that Mo Xuemin sent had been tossed to the side. Mo Xuetong did not dare to use it. In her past life, she had been poisoned without her knowing it. In the beginning, she could not even get pregnant. She found out after that that she had been poisoned when she was younger and had damaged her fertility.
Mother Xu’s heart ached as she helped her to clean her wounds and then put her fringe down to hide it. It made it look slightly better.
After everyone left, Mo Xuetong picked up the medicine and played with it in her hands. Then, she passed it to Mo Ye who was standing beside her and said, "Get Mo Feng to bring it out and see what’s inside."
She would not believe that Mo Xuemin was being nice to her for no reason. The two of them had already almost fallen out. It was odd for Mo Xuemin to pretend to care now. She clearly remembered what she had tripped on. It was not the threshold. And there was only one person in front of her, which was Mo Xuemin.
"Yes." Mo Ye had never been one to talk. She replied and turned to leave. Mo Feng was a secret guard and usually did not appear before others. Things were much simpler with Mo Ye around. The two of them had their own way of contacting each other.
Mo Xuemin’s Fuqing garden welcomed a guest.
It was Yu Sirong, the first miss of the Yu Manor.
She was sitting in front of a table and holding up a pair of white jade earrings to the window and examining them under the sunlight. She could not help but praise, "Cousin, this is really good jade. Look at how flawless it is! They must be really expensive. Won’t your heart ache if you give it to me?"
"We are sisters, what heart ache are you talking about. I don’t know how much they were. The Duke’s son gave it to me to thank me for a favor he asked of it. But I just don’t know if I can do it." There was not anyone else in the room, so Mo Xuemin did not have to pretend.
"His Excellency likes that little slut from that poor family. Why is she still refusing and pretend to be high and mighty? It’s good enough that she can get married." Yu Sirong was no longer in the mood to admire the earrings. She felt jealous when she thought of how she saw Mo Xuetong’s portrait in her cousin’s study
"Cousin, how can you bear to have her stalk around like that here after how that little slut treated you all. You might as well just drug her and send her to His Excellency’s bed. It is totally up to his will whether he wants to marry her or take her as a concubine."
"Do you think she is still the Mo Xuetong of the past? She’s really sly. My people can’t get close to her." When she thought of all the unpleasant incidents that happened since Mo Xuetong’s return, Mo Xuemin’s expression grew bitter.
"Cousin, you said in your letter that you are interested in His Excellency. Aren’t you sad giving him to Mo Xuetong?" Yu Sirong asked in confusion. Mo Xuemin had sent her a letter a few days ago. It seemed as she was interested in Sima Lingyun and him in her. Why did things seem different now that she was in the capital?
"Duke Zhenguo’s son is indeed a good choice. But the Zhenguo Duke’s family has fallen. I have to marry into a better family." Mo Xuemin smiled faintly and said with disdain. Another handsome face appeared in her mind’s eye. The Ming Duke’s son was her new target. She did like Sima Lingyun at first, and he buttered up to her carefully, so they were very close.
However, the appearance of You Yuecheng made her see the difference between the two. Her heart had already settled on You Yuecheng. Furthermore, even though Sima Lingyun
Their goals were different, so their relationship had turned lukewarm.
Mo Xuetong’s appearance had immediately united their goals.
The two of them had gotten together and discussed in private and came to the conclusion that Mo Xuemin and Auntie Fang will help Sima Lingyun get Mo Xuetong. When they finish using her, they will end her life. Then, he will take Mo Xuemin as his wife. Everything that Mo Xuetong hand would become Mo Xuemin’s. As Sima Lingyun’s second wife, his mother had nothing to pick on her about. Furthermore, Auntie Fang would have become the main wife then and Mo Xuemin would be considered a main daughter. There was nothing more the Duchess can ask for.
Sima Lingyun wanted to make use of the Mo Xuetong’s backing, the power of the Fu General Manor, to reestablish his family. Mo Xuemin thought that if she could not become You Yuecheng’s wife, she could still be the madam of the Zhenguo Duke’s family. It was considered a happy ending. She now had two options and no matter what, she would become a madam.
Furthermore, without Mo Xuetong, Auntie Fang could be firmly established as the matriarch of the family. The dowry that Luo Xia left behind was said to be so lavish it was shocking. They were all locked up in a little storeroom. They would all belong to Auntie Fang and her then. Such a beautiful prospect made Mo Xuemin’s heart flutter.
The two of them had common goals, and worked together to plot against Mo Xuetong!
However, man proposes, but God disposes. No one expected that Mo Xuetong had not entered the Mingguo Duke Manor, but Auntie Fang would have lost Mo Huawen’s affections and be locked up. Then, the incident at the palace happened. Mo Xuemin was still furious whenever she thought about that. How could she not have expected that the person to appear was not King Chu, but the Princess
Yu Sirong finished listening to what Mo Xuemin said and could not help but clap her hands in agreement. She smiled viciously and said, "Cousin, that’s a good plan. With your smarts, you definitely deserve to be in a better place. No matter how good that little slut is, she cannot possess the wits that you have. Rest assured, she would definitely be tricked this time. The decision about whom she wants to marry would be taken out of her hands."
Her heart burned with jealousy and hate every time she thought of the portrait of Mo Xuetong in her cousin’s room.
What was so good about that little slut? Even though she looked decent enough, she was not as beautiful as her. She did not know what was wrong with her cousin for him to like that little slut. She should have just gotten a larger rock and killed that little slut that day. Fortunately, it was a good time now too. As long as Mo Xuetong entered the Zhenguo Duke’s household, she would be under her command.
She smiled with satisfaction when she thought of that.
Yu Sirong suddenly stopped smiling and asked, "Why hasn’t Auntie been released yet? Cousin, how can you just watch on as she is still being locked up?"
This was something her grandmother had especially told her to ask. She only remembered then.
"Auntie is fine, please ask Grandmother not to worry. She will be released in a few days." Mo Xuemin smiled with satisfaction. As long as that matter is announced, her father would have no choice but to release Auntie. However, if they waited to announce the matter after Mo Xuetong ended up in Sima Lingyun’s hands and have her reputation ruined, Mo Xuetong would be too busy to care and would not have the time or strength to go against Auntie Fang. Father would be disappointed in Mo Xuetong then and would focus on her and her elder brother. There would be no obstructions against making Auntie Fang the main wife then.
Mo Xuetong did not know they had so many plans. She took a nap after lunch and felt that the swelling on her head had gone down by quite a bit. With her hair covering it, one would not be able to notice it if they did not pay attention to her. She decided to go to the garden to take a look. She held Mo Ye’s hand and made her way there slowly. There were a few stray snowflakes swirling in the air.
They had not yet piled up on the ground. The ground was a little damp. It was the beginning of winter and it was getting cold. She wore a large and loose cape over her slender figure. She had fallen gravely ill after her mother’s death and could not get out of bed. After that, she had been tossed to the Qin’s to recuperate. Her health fluctuated, and even with the recuperation she did in the capital, she was still very thin.
"Isn’t that Third Miss Mow?" A mocking voice could be heard from the fake mountains on the side.
Mo Xuetong stood where she was and turned around in the direction of the voice. She saw Mo Xueqiong being accompanied by a tall teenage girl approaching.
Her hand that was holding Mo Ye’s clenched tighter and her eyes grew cold.
She had been disfigured by Yu Sirong in her past life. She was the eldest main daughter of the Yu family and was very much doted on. She was skilled in music and chess and was famous for her talents in Cloud City. Because of the relationship between Mdm Yu and the Qin family, she would stay with the Qins for a good half of the year. She knew Mo Xuetong very well.
Mo Xuetong had no company in the Qin family and Yu Sirong would occasionally visit from time to time if she had nothing on. However, ever since Yu Sirong went to accompany Mo Xuetong, something would always happen to her. She would either trip while walking or knock into something. There were even rumors that said that she was arrogant. It was obvious that there was nothing there, but she had almost fallen and broken her arm…
"Third Miss Mo, do you not recognize me? Did you not expect to see me here" Yu Sirong was not in the mood to play with Mo Xuetong when she thought of how Mo Xuetong would immediately be forced into hell. The mocking tone in her voice was thick, especially after she realized how beautiful Mo Xuetong had gotten in the time they have not seen each other. She grew even more jealous and hateful.
"Miss Yu, do you have something on here?" Mo Xuetong hid the coldness she felt and looked up, replying in a lukewarm manner.
A flash of anger crossed Yu Sirong’s eyes. She had not expected the lass to speak to her like this. She had intentionally become friends with Mo Xuetong in the past to make her suffer even more.
"Third Sister, you are so impolite. I heard that Sister Yu took care of you while you were staying at the Qin Manor." Mo Xueqiong’s eyes flashed and she made a mocking jibe with a smile. She looked as if she was waiting to watch a good show. Even though Yu Sirong was here to see her, she knew that Yu Sirong had gone to see Mo Xuemin as well.
"Fourth Miss Mo, don’t be so quick to say that. I can’t measure up to Third Miss Mo either. I wanted to come and visit you three sisters, but it seems like Third Miss Mo doesn’t like me. Forget it, I shall leave now." Yu Sirong laughed coldly. She was proud and arrogant.
"Oh, Miss Yu, don’t go. It’s so rare for you to come and you’ve traveled far. Third Sister, quick, apologize to Miss Yu." Mo Xueqiong saw that Yu Sirong was really going to leave and immediately held her, pretending to be worried. Inside, she was secretly happy. She was the happiest at Mo Xuetong’s misfortune. She had intentionally brought Yu Sirong with her to deal with Mo Xuetong. She knew that Yu Sirong hated Mo Xuetong the most.
Many in Cloud City knew of Yu Sirong’s interest in Qin Yuxuan. However, Mo Xuetong did not know and even got along well with him. How could this not make Yu Sirong angry and jealous?
"Miss Yu, my apologies. I still have something on. I shall take my leave now." Mo Xuetong said coldly. She ignored what Mo Xueqiong had said and completely disregarded the implications in Yu Sirong’s words.
"Mo Xuetong, you’re too much…" Yu Sirong was so angry she was shaking. She immediately turned around. She was the eldest main daughter of the Yu family and was the most talented girl in Cloud City. No one had ever treated her so rudely before. She felt that she was nobility and had never liked Mo Xuetong, who was weak and cowardly. She pretended to be Mo Xuetong’s friend only to make her look like a fool. When had the fearful lass become so indifferent to her existence?