Chapter 86
Mo Xiu cried as she hugged Mo Xuemin. Now that a fuss had been made, the maids outside had all heard her. A few of the more obedient ones left the yard and waited outside. Indeed, the curtains lifted in just a while and a nanny appeared. When she saw that everyone around had left the courtyard, she turned around with satisfaction and went back to mutter in the old madam’s ear.
"Enough. Everyone stop. Are you all afraid that others don’t know that something so embarrassing has happened to the Mo Manor? Why are you all making a fuss?" The old madam was stiff with anger, the veins on her face twitched wildly. Every family that had something like this happen to them would try to hide it with their lives. However, the two girls in front of her were creating such a fuss. She had thought that Mo Xuemin was an obedient child, but she was creating such a fuss right now. The old madam was furious.
Mo Xuemin sensed the old madam’s anger. Mo Xuetong’s words earlier had been too big of a blow to her, which was why her reaction was so different from how she usually would behave. She immediately knelt in front of the old madam and tugged on her robe, saying in an aggrieved manner, "Grandmother, it is Min’er’s fault. It was because Third Sister said that, which was why I… behaved so irrationally. Please punish me, Grandmother."
She spoke gently, returning to her usual calm and composed self.
"Grandmother, it is Tong’er’s fault. I was just shocked that Eldest Sister told me to admit to the mistake, which was why I spoke nonsense. If my grandmother finds out that a main daughter is taking responsibility for a concubine’s daughter’s mistake, she would punish Father. I do not dare to hide things from Father as well, which is why I cannot accept Eldest Sister’s suggestion." Mo Xuetong cried. Who didn’t know how to pretend to be weak? She even brought up the General Manor while pretending to be weak.
The General Manor was indeed distinguished and was not to be trifled with. They were also more powerful as compared to the Duke’s Manor. She did not believe that the old madam would not consider this.
Mo Xuemin was forcing her to take the blame but had never considered that the General Manor would not allow the matter to pass if she was forced to take responsibility. They would make a fuss about it then, and who would be powerful enough to bear the brunt of the General Manor’s pressures. The entire Mo Manor would be implicated in the matter. The old madam listened to what Mo Xuetong said and frowned. The implications of Mo Xuetong’s words were heavy.
They really could not deal with the situation in this manner. However, if they did not do that, how would they deal with the Duke’s Manor? The old madam was put between a rock and a hard place.
The old madam had been dealt with. When Mo Xuemin saw that, the hatred, jealousy and venom in her eyes grew as she looked at Mo Xuetong. She was just about to say something when Mo Xuetong spoke first.
"Grandmother, are you worried about what the Duke’s Manor would do? Sima Lingyun had ruined Fourth Sister’s reputation but refused to take responsibility. There were so many noble sons and ladies who saw it. With the Duke’s Manor current power, there would definitely be many amongst those present that they cannot afford to offend. As long as we find a few of the young ladies and noblemen who witnessed the incident and explain matters, the Duke’s Manor would definitely have to answer to us. Didn’t the Duchess say that Fourth Sister had fallen and Sir Sima was just helping her? We can’t just let them say that. We will see what the other noblemen and ladies say. Even if the matter was made public, the Duke’s Manor would have to give Fourth Sister an answer. Why do we have to be afraid of them?"
Mo Xuetong knew that the old madam was worried for the reputations of the ladies in the Mo Manor. But as long as Sima Lingyun was found guilty for what he had done, then he had no choice but to be responsible for his actions.
"Third Sister, those young ladies and noblemen are people we cannot afford to ask for help from." Mo Xuemin said anxiously.
"Eldest Sister, don’t worry. I will get my maternal grandmother to ask those noblemen and ladies to explain what they saw." There was a flash of coldness on her lips as she said that. Mo Xuemin was still using status to try to control her. Was the General Manor to be trifled with?
"But, it would be bad for reputations if we make a fuss, right?" Mo Xuemin said reluctantly.
"Eldest Sister, you are a good daughter of the Mo Manor. You are still concerned about reputations at a time like this." Mo Xuemin’s lips curled up mockingly. "Relax, as long as those noblemen and ladies all stand witness against Sima Lingyun, he would have to marry Fourth Sister.
"But…"
"No more buts, First Sister. I even met Lady Xian in the plum blossom forest. She can be my witness that I was not the one in the horse carriage. Furthermore, my cousin Mingzhu has already gone to inform my grandmother. She must have already invited those noblemen and ladies to the General Manor." Mo Xuetong smiled coldly at Mo Xuemin, hitting the last nail in with satisfaction.
She had witness, and her witness was the famous Lady Xian. Mo Xuetong’s last sentence had completely dispelled all of Mo Xuemin’s thoughts. Mo Xuemin stood where she was dazedly and forgot to even act. She crumpled onto the ground, her beautiful face flushing red and white. She bit into her lips. She hated that little slut Mo Xuetong. She was too sly!
Lord Xian was a distant relative of the Emperor. It was said that Lord Xian was a distant cousin of the Emperor. Unlike other royal relatives, Lord Xian was very talented in martial arts even from a young age. He disliked books and ink and joined the army at a young age. He started off at the bottom as a guard and was now a general.
Even though he and Luo Cheng were both generals, they were different. Even though the power they had in the army was about the same, Lord Xian was much more powerful than Luo Cheng. This was partly because he was a relative of the Emperor and also because of his success at war. Lord Xian had been through many more wars compared to Luo Cheng. As such, no matter who it was who mentioned Lord Xian, they would all praise him highly.
Lord Xian’s wife, Lady Xian was not an ordinary noble lady. She was the daughter of his deputy general, Yan Ruoling. It was said that the lady did not like needlework but preferred swords and spears. She was gracious and forthright and was very righteous. Mo Xuetong had seen the phoenix head on her jade bangle earlier and then noticed the four maids behind her who were all versed in martial arts.
Who else other than the famous Lady Xian would have something like that?
Mo Xuetong had intentionally greeted Lady Xian with her full name because she had wanted Lady Xian to be her witness. The Duke Manor’s carriage had left after the incident but she had emerged from deep inside the plum blossom forest. No matter what, the person on the horse carriage during the incident could not have been her. Lady Xian’s morals would mean that she would tell the truth.
So what if Mo Xuemin insisted that it was her inside the carriage? Could her words be more trustworthy than Lady Xuan? Of course, Mo Xuetong had considered Feng Yuran as well, but her interactions with Feng Yuran were private and were more like private transactions. Furthermore, Feng Yuran’s mood swung wildly and even if there was nothing, he could create more trouble. Mo Xuetong really did not want to trouble him.
Lady Xian also knew the truth about this matter. Those noble ladies were invited to the General Manor right after they left Mo Manor. The General Manor would have found out about this long ago. If she created trouble like the main daughter taking responsibility for the concubine’s daughter’s mistake, she would not only offend the General Manor, Lady Xian, and even those noblemen and ladies. This was something the Mo Manor could not afford to do.
The old madam immediately forwent her initial ideas when she heard that. Since the situation was already like this, the Duke’s Manor would have to bear responsibility even if they did not want to. The old madam felt aggrieved as well. She had wanted to just let the matter settle down without creating too much of a fuss, which was why she had lowered herself in front of the Duke’s Manor. However, she had not expected the Duke’s Manor to push the blame onto the Mo Manor. Now that she heard that someone would support the truth, she did not care whether the Duke’s Manor would be embarrassed at all.
As long as it was proven that Sima Lingyun had touched Mo Xueqiong intentionally, the reputation of the Mo daughters would not be lost
"Grandmother, even so, Third Sister was wrong to leave the two of them in the carriage. When the Duke’s Manor asks about that, how will we explain it? We still have to punish Third Sister just to show outsiders that the Mo family has already punished those who did wrong."
Mo Xuemin could not be appeased since Mo Xuetong had escaped her carefully set up plot. She could not hide the sharpness in her voice and she looked at Mo Xuetong viciously. She wanted to ruin Mo Xuetong. No matter what, she would not allow the little slut to get off so easily.
The old madam agreed. The whole matter today had been caused by Mo Xuetong getting off the carriage. Furthermore, Mo Xuetong had used the General Manor against her. It was unfilial and annoying. It was irksome. It was right for her to use the opportunity to punish her for it.
She did not allow Mo Xuetong to argue and said coldly," Min’er is right. It is impossible for the Mo Manor to not have any responsibility at all in this matter. Don’t say anything else. Go to kneel in the ancestral hall for the Mo Manor’s reputation. You have to bear responsibility for your own actions."
"Grandmother, how long does she have to kneel for? Her health is poor…" Mo Xuemin tried hard to hide the satisfaction she felt and pretended to be concerned.
"It is such a huge mistake, why do you still have to ask me how long she has to kneel for? If she is sensible, she will just go there and kneel. She has gone out and created trouble even when her health is poor. If she feels well, she might tear down the Mo Manor." The old madam had never liked Mo Xuetong and she was especially angry now. She just wanted the troublemaker to go away for she felt annoyed just looking at her.
"Grandmother, Third Sister’s health is poor. Kneeling for an entire night is too long. She won’t be able to take it." There was a glint of viciousness in Mo Xuemin’s eyes. She had already made plans and said that the old madam wanted Mo Xuetong to kneel for an entire night.
"She won’t be able to take it, then she won’t do something like this in the future. Go." The old madam truly did not wish to see Mo Xuetong. She felt that Mo Xuetong was in the wrong no matter what. She waved her hand and gestured for them all to leave.
Two female servants came up wanting to drag Mo Xuetong to the ancestral hall.
Mo Xuetong swept her eyes upon them coldly, her dark eyes looking at them coldly. The two servants shivered and lowered their heads. They feel that Third Miss seemed very powerful and they did not dare to cross her.
"Many thanks for your punishment, Grandmother." Mo Xuetong stood up and bowed deeply to the old madam. Then, she turned around and brought Mo Ye to the ancestral hall with her.
She had seen the viciousness that had turned into satisfaction in Mo Xuemin’s eyes. It was obvious that Mo Xuemin had another idea for a plot against her. She had ignored her outward appearance of graciousness and gentleness and had said something like that in front of the old madam. She must have a new plot against Mo Xuetong.
That’s fine. She had to kneel in the ancestral hall no matter what. It might even bring Mo Xuemin some satisfaction!
She had not managed to tear away Mo Xuemin’s mask in the day. This might be a good opportunity for her. She rather anticipated what will happen tonight.
The two servants brought Mo Xuetong to the ancestral hall which was in a slightly secluded spot on the property. The two servants closed the door loudly after the two entered and then left.
"Miss, are you really going to kneel here?" Mo Ye looked at the little room that only had one altar table in it. There were several futons on the floor, but the room was otherwise empty other than this. There was not even a place in the room for them to get warm. Cold wind blew in through the window, and she felt that it was cold even with her martial arts skills. How would her mistress be able to take it?
"I won’t have to kneel for long. My good Eldest Sister would not let me be so comfortable!" Mo Xuetong knelt down respectfully before her mother’s tablet, speaking after she kowtowed.
"Get Mo Feng to watch Mo Xuemin. How would she be able to bear it after being dealt such a big blow." Mo Xuetong stood up and took the candle that Mo Ye passed her and lit the incense in the pot. The refreshing scent added a certain mystery and coldness to her innocent face.
Mo Xuemin’s plan had failed, she would be mad and hysterical. She had been forced to this step and she would definitely not be so careful next!