Chapter 445 Returning to the Mo Manor and Meeting Second Consort Yan
Mo Xuetong spoke with Cairong for a while and then went to walk around the garden with Nanny Yang. Mo Xuetong did not wish to publicize the matter for now. The matter would not be so simple and she had a feeling that Cairong definitely had something to do with the He family. However, Mo Xuetong could not tell if Cairong had anything to do with Consort Xian.
Fortunately, she had been dealing with the He family and could find out information from them. The thing with Consort Xian could not be so simple. Perhaps this Cairong was a key to finding out about it. For now, though, she would just watch on regarding the He family and would interfere only at the right time. Anyway, given the characters of the He sisters, things would not be peaceful. As such, Mo Xuetong was not in a hurry. She would wait silently and at the best possible moment…
Peonies did not bloom at this time and the flowers that had bloomed earlier were all wilting. All that was left was a verdant green color. They were no different from the other branches. However, the peony garden did not just have peonies. Other than the peonies, which made up most of the flowers there, there were other various flowers interspersed in between. The design of the entire garden was very reasonable.
Nanny Yang brought Mo Xuetong around and then led her to the main courtyard. That was where Feng Yuran would stay when he visited occasionally.
The main courtyard was very clean. Mo Xuetong rested there for a while and looked at the general size of the garden. Having gotten an idea of it, she then left the peony garden.
She did not return to King Xuan’s Manor straightaway. Instead, she first went to Mo Manor. Xu Yan was already several months pregnant. She hurried out to welcome Mo Xuetong upon hearing that she was visiting.
Mo Xuetong helped her into the room and sat down after greeting her.
Mo Xuetong looked at Xu Yan’s belly, which was already showing, and smiled. She said, “Mother, you have to have a little brother for me so that Father can have a legitimate son to take over the family business.”
Mo Xuetong had never thought well of Mo Yufeng, especially in current circumstances. After what happened to Auntie Fang and Mo Xuemin, Mo Yufeng must hate Mo Xuetong a lot. After what happened to Mo Xuetong in her past life, she felt that she had steeled her heart.
Xu Yan flushed and lowered her head slightly. She sighed and said, “It’d be great if I can have a son.”
She knew of the current situation the Mo Manor was in. If she could not have a son, the Mo Manor would end up in Mo Yufeng’s hands sooner or later. Mo Xuetong did not mind for she was now Consort Xuan. However, it was different for Xu Yan. When she thought that she might have to live under Mo Yufeng’s thumb in the future, she could not bring herself to be happy.
“Mother, you are a blessed person. It will be alright. Even if it is not a little brother this time, you can have more children. You’re young anyway.”
Mo Xuetong smiled and comforted Xu Yan upon seeing that she was truly worried.
“I can only think of it this way now.” Xu Yan sighed once more and held Mo Xuetong’s hand. She suddenly asked, “Did you see your Fourth Sister when you came in?”
“Mo Xueqiong?” Mo Xuetong asked in surprise.
“Yes, she just returned to the manor. I heard that she brought with her some gold and jewelry. She doesn’t seem to have lost King Yan’s affection after marrying him. She even gifted me some things earlier.” Xu Yan pointed at a few colorful bolts of cloth on the table.
Mo Xueqiong had left King Yan’s Manor. That was odd. Mo Xuetong heard that after You Yue’e became Consort Yan, she did not allow any other woman to get close to Feng Yulei. Mo Xueqiong had been disfigured after entering the manor. Mo Xuetong did not know how Mo Xueqiong gained the attention of Feng Yuxuan and what trouble she was up to.
“Is she visiting Auntie Qing now?”
“She came here to pay her respects to me first and then went to Auntie Qing’s courtyard. She still hasn’t come out yet.” Xu Yan thought for a moment before replying to Mo Xuetong.
What was Mo Xueqiong up to? Mo Xuetong knew that given Mo Xueqiong’s character, she would not come to the Mo Manor for no reason. After what happened in the past, she and their father had completely torn off any veneer of civility. Mo Xueqiong still had the cheek to come here. Either she had been forced to do it, or she wanted something! However, Mo Xuetong did not know what there was in the Mo Manor that Mo Xueqiong was after.
“Mother, you rest for now. I shall go to Qingwei Garden to take a look. If Mo Xueqiong comes over, tell her to look for me in Qingwei Garden.” Mo Xuetong paused for a moment and then said lightly as she got up.
“Alright, lie down there if you get tired. I will have the servants prepare lunch that you like. I’ll call for you at lunchtime.” Xu Yan said with a knowing smile.
No matter what Mo Xueqiong was up to, Mo Xuetong would give her a chance! However, Mo Xuetong did not want her to bring trouble to the Mo Manor. As such, she was going to get Mo Xueqiong to look for her. Xu Yan was now pregnant and Mo Xuetong must not let her be involved in all these plotting. Mo Xuetong did not say anything else to Xu Yan after bidding her farewell and led her servants to Qingwei Garden.
Qingwei Garden looked just like it did when she left. Her father had once said that she could stay there whenever she wanted to.
Everything there was just like how they were when she lived there. The room was very clean and it was obvious that someone had been cleaning it. The things in the room were all placed in their original spots and it felt like she was still living here.
Mo Xuetong settled down on the couch. Mo Lan had already made tea and brought it to her. Mo Ye gave Mo Xuetong a fan while Mo Yu went outside to tell the two nannies guarding the door to bring some snacks from the kitchen. However, before the nannies could leave, Xu Yan had already sent servants over with snacks. Mo Yu received them with thanks and brought them to the table in front of Mo Xuetong.
“My Lady, look, this is just like the past. Look at the shapes of these snacks. You were the one who made them.” Mo Yu smiled and placed the dishes of snacks on the table. The dishes were made into various flower patterns. It made the dishes seem even more tempting when paired with the light fragrance of the snacks.
“I haven’t seen these flower-shaped snacks in a long while.” Mo Xuetong nodded and picked up a snack. She placed it in her mouth and a familiar fragrance filled it. Her eyes lit up and she said to Mo Lan and the other maids standing by her side, “Not bad. It is made with lotus flower powder. It is light and fragrant. You all have a taste too.”
When they were still living in the Qin Manor, Mo Xuetong and the other maids had tried to make snacks with lotus flower powder. They were afraid that Mdm Yu might be unhappy and even begged Qin Yuxuan to pick lotus flowers. Now that she recalled that, everything seemed like a dream in the distant past that could not be captured. There was only the faint fragrance of lotus flowers by her lips.
“Is that right? Madam thought of using lotus flower powder. I only mentioned it last time and said that My Lady liked this. I didn’t expect Madam to be so thoughtful.” Mo Yu picked up a snack and bit into it with a smile.
“Madam and Old Sir care a lot about Our Lady, of course. They’re not like you. You only care about eating.” Mo Lan smiled and teased Mo Yu while she took small bites of the snack. She looked very elegant.
“I don’t just care about eating. I’m worried that Our Lady won’t have good food to eat! Look at how happy Mo Ye is while eating. I’m not the only one…” Mo Yu argued with wide eyes.
“Alright, alright. Food can’t even stop you from talking. You’re the best at arguing.” Mo Ye picked up a small snack and stuffed it in Mo Ye’s mouth, stopping her from saying anything else.
Mo Yu stretched out her neck and picked up another snack on the table to stuff into Mo Ye’s mouth. Mo Ye was trained in martial arts and would not let Mo Yu get her way so easily. She had already fled with a laugh. Mo Lan moved to let her through and handed Mo Xuetong a handkerchief. They watched as the two chased each other around the room.
“Third Sister, what’s so fun. Let me join in as well.” Mo Xueqiong’s sweet and gentle voice suddenly rang from the door. It was a voice that made one unable to hold back their shudder. Everyone in the room fell silent immediately.
A hint of coldness flashed in Mo Xuetong’s eyes. She glanced at Mo Yu who immediately understood what she wanted. Mo Yu went to the door and lifted the curtain suddenly, scaring Mo Xueqiong, who was about to enter. Mo Xueqiong shuddered and almost fell down.
“I was wondering who it was, so it’s Second Consort Yan. Why is the Second Consort here to see My Lady?” Mo Yu reached out to stop Mo Xueqiong.
“How dare you. This is Second Consort Yan. Move away.” The maid beside Mo Xueqiong, Mo Yan, moved forward and yelled loudly. She and Mo Jiao were all sent to King Yan’s Manor by Mo Huawen.
“Mo Yan, you’ve said so yourself. She is just Second Consort Yan. She has to make her identity known if she wishes to see My Lady. How can a Second Consort just barge in to see a First Consort like that according to the royal family rules? Are the rules of the King Yan Manor different from ours?” Mo Yu said with arms akimbo, looking as if she would not let them off easily.
Mo Xueqiong was furious upon hearing that. Had this been in the past, she would have already leaped forward to slap Mo Yu. However, she gritted her teeth and stopped Mo Yan who was about to rush forward. She said softly in a fawning tone, “Mo Yu, Third Sister and I are sisters. We don’t have to be so particular about this. Is Third Sister inside?”
“Our Lady is resting inside. If Second Consort wishes to see her, please wait for a moment. I will report this to the Lady.” Mo Yu looked at Mo Xueqiong coldly. Mo Xueqiong was wearing a mask that only showed her eyes which were even more cold and sinister than before. However, she still pretended to be kind and friendly. It truly made one feel uncomfortable. And she even used a sweeter and more demure voice than before.
One could not help but shudder when they heard that. Mo Xueqiong had indeed changed a lot.
“Yes. Then Mo Yu, please report to Third Sister.” Mo Xueqiong said, tampering down the anger she felt.
“Hold on!” Mo Yu would have made a very good lackey as she looked at Mo Xueqiong coldly. She raised her eyebrows at Mo Yan in a challenging manner and harrumphed coldly. Then, she turned and entered the room. There were sounds of people talking coming from the room, but what was said could not be heard clearly. Then, laughter rang in the room.
Mo Xueqiong’s brows twitched as she looked at the bead curtain viciously.
“Second Consort, we should just go back. Both of you have returned to your family homes. How can Consort Xuan forget about your sisterly ties? How can she treat you like this?” Mo Yan said, feeling angry on behalf of Mo Xueqiong as she helped Mo Xueqiong to stand on the stairs.
“Don’t say anything else.” Mo Xueqiong arranged her clothes and said with gritted teeth.
Mo Yan had wanted to say something else but was stopped by Mo Jiao.
After a long while, the laughter inside abated. Mo Yu lifted the bead curtain once more and stood at the door. She looked at Mo Xueqiong coldly and lifted her head. She said proudly, “Second Consort, My Lady invites you in.”
Mo Xueqiong entered holding on to Mo Yan’s hand. When she arrived at the door, Mo Yu suddenly stretched out a hand to stop her.
Mo Xueqiong looked at Mo Yu in confusion.
“My Lady has only invited the Second Consort alone.” Mo Yu looked at Mo Yan and Mo Jiao with a challenging look, lifting up her chin.
“Mo Yu, you…” Mo Yan could not bear it any longer and she glared at Mo Yu.
“Mo Yan, Mo Jiao, wait for me at the entrance.” Mo Xueqiong held Mo Yan back and ordered the two.
“Second Consort… Yes!” Mo Yan wanted to say something else but could only lower her head under Mo Xueqiong’s cold and sinister glare. She did not dare to say anything else and went to stand by the side with Mo Jiao.
The curtain was lifted and Mo Xuetong was seated on the couch, just like how Mo Xueqiong saw her every time in the past. She was just as gracious and demure. Perhaps she might have been comfortably and peacefully living at the King’s Manor. Even though she was still a little pale, she looked energetic. When she saw Mo Xueqiong, the smile on her lips faded. She seemed a little cold and did not even look at Mo Xueqiong as she picked up her teacup.
“Third Sister…” Mo Xueqiong murmured.
“I don’t dare to be Second Consort’s Third Sister.” Mo Xuetong slammed the teacup in her hand onto the table.
“Third Sister, Mo Xuemin did that. It was all Mo Xuemin’s work. I, I, was just befuddled by her. That’s why I made a mistake like that…” Mo Xueqiong looked up at Mo Xuetong pleadingly.
Was it all because of Mo Xuemin?!
Mo Xueqiong really knew how to shirk her responsibilities.
Mo Xuetong’s lips curled up. However, her smile was icy cold. That day, on the horse carriage, Mo Xueqiong had tried to viciously kill her. That scene played out as if it were happening right before her. Mo Xuetong said, “Mo Xueqiong, do you think that if I tell Consort Yan that you and King Yan were together even before you entered his manor, would she think more highly of you?”
Let You Yue’e know that she and King Yan were already in a relationship before she entered King Yan’s manor? When Mo Xueqiong thought of how viciously You Yue’e treated the women who entered the manor after her, Mo Xueqiong’s heart lurched. She thought of King Yan’s icy cold expression and his dark and expressionless eyes. Her breathing grew heavy.
“No, Third Sister, you… You can’t do that.” She said, her eyes wide with fear.
“Why can’t I do that? Mo Xueqiong, you don’t think I’ve truly forgotten what happened that day, did you? If I had not been lucky, the grass over my grave would already be green by now! It is a pity, you and Mo Xuemin did not succeed in your plot against me. But the two of you had gotten yourselves into trouble instead. Do you want to know how King Yan will deal with you if you ruin things now?” Mo Xuetong’s smile suddenly grew warm. However, when she saw it, it just made Mo Xueqiong even more frightened and fearful.
Chapter 446 The Vicious Mo Xueqiong Begs for Help
“Third Sister, it was really Mo Xuemin who befuddled me. She was the one who sent the handkerchief to me. That’s right, and there was also Mo Xueyan. She was jealous of you and questioned why you should be able to stomp all over us. She said that the three of us would be able to make something of ourselves if we dragged you down…”
The last thread had broken for Mo Xueqiong. Tears slid down her cheeks and she cried at Mo Xuetong, on the brink of breaking down. “Third Sister, it’s true. The two of them befuddled me. If this wasn’t the truth, may heaven strike me down with thunder and lightning and may I go to hell and never be able to be reincarnated.”
Her face was drenched in tears and snot and the white mask she wore stuck to her face, revealing her disfigurement. Blood-colored scars that turned black could be seen on her face. Her scars looked even more serious than when she was just freshly injured. She looked like an evil demon. Mo Lan and the others looked at her in shock.
Could that still be considered a face?
Mo Xueqiong used to be a beauty. However, no one expected her to become like this after entering King Yan’s Manor. It was obvious that someone had done something to her wounds so that they would not heal and would get even worse. Mo Xueqiong’s entire face was dark and bloated.
Her face has been utterly destroyed!
“My Lady, both you and Fourth Miss were lied to by others. Look at Fourth Miss, she became like this because she was tricked. Given Old Sir’s status and how Fourth Miss used to look, she could have married anyone and would not have been bullied. My Lady, you and Fourth Miss are sisters. Why don’t you forgive her!” Mo Lan went up to pull on Mo Xuetong’s sleeve. She pleaded for Mo Xueqiong with a compassionate expression.
She could not bear it after seeing how pathetic Mo Xueqiong looked.
“Yes, yes, Third Sister. I’ve become like this all because of Mo Xuemin and the others. I was young and ignorant then, that’s why…” Mo Xueqiong felt even more upset when she heard Mo Lan helping her. She thought of how her life was worse than death in King Yan’s Manor and immediately started to sob.
Young and ignorant?
There were only a few days between their ages. How was Mo Xueqiong young and ignorant?
“My Lady, Fourth Miss is already so pitiful, why don’t you let her off? After all, you two are sisters. If Old Sir finds out that you two are not on good terms, he will be upset.” Mo Ye seemed to feel pity for Mo Xueqiong’s miserable state. She also went up to persuade Mo Xuetong softly.
Even though she was soft, Mo Xueqiong was close to them and could hear everything. She hid her face with her handkerchief, hiding the pleased look on it.
“She deserves it. She worked together with Mo Xuemin to plot against me.” Mo Xuetong said angrily. Even though her tone was sharp, her expression had softened.
Mo Xueqiong immediately took the chance to cry. She said, “Third Sister, no one in the King’s Manor would take notice of me. They say that the Second Consort of King Yan is not even worthy to be a maid. Only Mo Yan and Mo Jiao stayed by my side. King Yan’s Manor did not arrange any other servants for me. They only said…They said that I am a second consort and that I am just a concubine. They said that it’s already decent that I have two servants. His Highness, His Highness never visited me once…”
Mo Xueqiong cried so hard that she could not speak any longer. She laid on the floor. Her pitiful cries and ugly appearance were enough to make even the toughest person melt.
Mo Xuetong looked at her coldly from above. After a moment, she turned around to say coldly to Mo Ye, “Go and help Fourth Miss up. She is the Second Consort of a King’s Manor and is still behaving like this. She’s going to embarrass the Mo family.”
“Fourth Miss, please get up. I feel sad looking at you like this. How did this happen? There are so many good medicines in the King’s Manor. I heard that there were consorts who got their faces scratched and they still emerged beautifully and unscathed after that. Why did this happen to you? Your face is ruined. How are you going to live in the King’s Manor in the future?”
Mo Ye helped Mo Xueqiong up. Even though she sounded as if she was concerned for Mo Xueqiong, it just made Mo Xueqiong’s eyes grow even more sinister and vicious. However, she quickly hid that. When she looked up again, she appeared pitiful and upset.
“My Lady, I will go out and take a look at Mo Yu. Mo Yan and Mo Jiao are still blocked outside by her.” Mo Lan said softly.
Mo Xuetong slightly nodded and Mo Lan left accordingly. When she went to the entrance, she saw Mo Yu glaring viciously at Mo Yan and Mo Jiao. The two did not back away either and they glared at Mo Yu with wide eyes. None of the three were willing to back down but they did not speak either. They could hear the conversation inside the room clearly.
Mo Lan lifted the curtain and walked out. She patted Mo Yu and smiled at Mo Yan, saying, “My Lady and the Second Consort are speaking inside. It might take some time. Don’t be offended by Mo Yu, and come inside with me to take a break. When the Second Consort and My Lady are done speaking, you guys can go with the Second Consort.”
“Sister Mo Lan…” Mo Yu said unwillingly.
“Alright, alright. You go in and serve the Lady. I shall entertain these two elder sisters.” Mo Lan smiled in a friendly manner and pushed Mo Yu through the curtain. Mo Yu seemed to want to say something. However, she was already inside the room. She could only stomp her feet and walked toward Mo Xuetong.
Outside the room, Mo Yan hesitated for a moment. She was about to say something when Mo Lan approached politely. She held their hands and dragged them to a wing room. A servant had already made tea and brought it to them.
They were situated in a good spot and were able to see Mo Xuetong’s door. If anyone was to emerge from the room, they would be able to see it. Mo Jiao glanced at Mo Yan, who gave her a small nod. Then, she pasted a smile on her face and thanked Mo Lan profusely. She was not as confrontational as before.
The tense atmosphere in the room lightened. Another maid served up sunflower seeds and snacks. It did not take long for the three to start laughing and chatting together.
Inside Mo Xuetong’s room, Mo Xuetong softened with the persuasion of her maids.
Mo Xuetong sat in front. Even though her expression was one of dissatisfaction, she was not as cold or sharp as before. However, she did not seem like she intended to pay attention to Mo Xueqiong.
“Didn’t King Yan treat you pretty well before? He even allowed you to be his second consort. Why hasn’t he paid you attention after you entered the manor?” Mo Xuetong picked up the teacup by her side and asked lightly after taking a sip of tea.
“He had lied to me before. I am disfigured and don’t have the affection of our father. How will His Highness truly care for me? Third Sister, please. Third Sister, save me!” Mo Xueqiong accepted the tea Mo Ye handed her. However, she did not drink it but looked at Mo Xuetong sadly. The white mask on her face was smeared with tears and snot and had been left on the side. One could see the gaping wounds on her face. She was truly disfigured.
“You are now the second consort of King Yan’s Manor and is considered to be part of the royal family. How am I going to save you!” Mo Xuetong asked.
“No, Third Sister… I am not part of the royal family.” Mo Xueqiong wiped her tears with a handkerchief. She looked pitiful and on the brink of falling apart.
“Why? You were betrothed to King Yan personally by His Majesty. Why is your name not part of the royal registry?” Mo Xuetong asked in shock.
The royal registry was like the family archives of the royal family. Only those who were on the registry were recognized by the royal family. Ordinary concubines and bed maids had no place in the royal family. As such, even if the legal wife were to beat them to death or gift them to others, nothing would happen. A place on the royal registry represented one’s status in the royal family.
“Third Sister, Consort Yan said… she said that I and Wang Xiuxiu were sent to King Yan’s Manor because His Majesty wanted to punish King Yan. No one would acknowledge our status. That’s why she did not allow us… I went to beg His Highness but he did not say anything. He does not care about me anymore for I am a disfigured woman.”
Mo Xueqiong cried.
“King Yan did not speak up for you at all?” Mo Xuetong continued her questioning.
“Yes, that’s right. His Highness has not seen me since I entered the manor. I went to beg him and knelt at the front of his courtyard door. However, he did not even come to see me and had the servants drag me away.” Mo Xueqiong recalled the night when she was dragged away. Her heart hurt so much she could not breathe. She could hear laughter coming from behind the windows. It was King Yan and a woman laughing inside.
Couldn’t he hear her pained cries outside?!
The guards who came to drag her away dragged her by her feet towards the outside uncaringly. She was thrown onto the ground, and from the seams of the curtains, she could clearly see the despise in the woman’s eyes. At that moment, she wanted to find a hole to crawl into and hide. She did not dare to cry out loud and allowed the guards to drag her out and throw her at the back entrance like a pile of garbage.
It suddenly started to rain and the large water droplets pelted at her, raising her from her unconsciousness. She wanted to stand but realized that she had twisted her right leg in her struggles with the guards. She could not stand. She used her hands to drag herself towards her courtyard. There were maids walking by her but none of them stopped to help her.
There were a few of them who even laughed and stepped on her. They ran away laughing when they saw her trying to pull her hand back in pain.
She was the Fourth Miss of the Mo family and was praised by many. She had never been treated like this. Now, she was disfigured and abandoned by King Yan. She had no future to speak of anymore.
At that moment, she wanted to die. Only if she was dead could she not feel so ashamed.
She did not crawl any longer and allowed the rain to pelt at her. She could not see anything in front of her other than the sheets of rain. The pain she felt had disappeared too. Just when she thought she was about to die, a pair of shoes appeared before her. She looked up, and beneath the tall and wide umbrella, was the face of a cold and handsome man…
“Then what are you going to do?” Mo Xuetong asked lightly. Her long lashes fluttered, hiding the ridicule in her eyes.
“Third Sister, save me. Please save me. I know you are the only one who can save me now!” Mo Xueqiong looked up pleadingly. She suddenly slid down and knelt at Mo Xuetong with a thud. She cried, “Third Sister, there is no way out for me in King Yan’s Manor now. I came out this time hoping to meet you. I know that you definitely have a way to save me.”
She scooted forward on her knees and tugged on the edges of Mo Xuetong’s skirt. She lifted her swollen face at Mo Xuetong and pleaded with her bitterly.
“How do you want me to save you? Do you want me to steal you from King Yan’s Manor or tell King Yan to divorce you? You have to know that your marriage was bestowed upon by His Majesty. Even if King Yan wanted to divorce you, it would not be possible.” Mo Xuetong patted Mo Xueqiong’s hand and tugged her skirt away. Her tone was cold and full of ridicule.