Coming back from the court, Su Jinyu, sitting in the garden hall, was a little absent-minded and languid, his chopsticks wandering around vacant, regardless of the delicate dishes that Luo Caihe had cooked.
He finally knew what was missing. It was fierceness, liveliness, and…
Luo Caihe didn't notice his difference and chatted with him as usual, "The fifth lady Li recently gave birth to a daughter. You and lord Li are close friends. Should we prepare some decent gifts? "
Su Jinyu came back to himself and thought for a while, "The other day I saw the first batch jade dolls made of Hetian jade arrived in the storeroom. Choose a pair of dolls and two bolts of cloth for them. Novelty and cheerful and not cheap."
Although Su Jinyu was a little absent-minded during the meal, he was always attentive to these affairs and arranged it in an orderly manner.
These staff couldn't be underestimated, and the socials were essential because the success of many things depended on wife diplomacy. Now he wasn't the master yet, so he mustn't take it lightly.
The couple chatted during the meal. Afterwards, as usual, Luo Caihe asked her dowry girl Xier to bring water and serve her washing. Then, she put down the bed curtain to take a nap, but Su Jinyu got up and left.
Since he was able to sit firmly in the position of the future master, certainly he could control himself well. Having chatted with Luo Caihe, the restlessness in his heart had disappeared.
Although Mo Qianxue was so different and special, she didn't belong to him. The one belonging to him was Luo Caihe, who worked hard in domestic affairs and social occasions for him.
You cannot have both!
He could admire, appreciate and watch from a distance but shouldn't love a woman like her.
Thinking this through, he was reminded of Su Qi's attitude. She must be the girl who had drawn the cute portrait.
Since he was a boy, Su Qi had never expressed affection to any girl, neither would he be so kind to a girl that he met for the first time for no reason.
One was the girl he appreciated, and the other was his dearest brother. He must help them.
**
Mo Qianxue was still on her way home, and master Mo had known what had happened at court.
At the moment, he was appreciating an antique vase and, hearing the news that Mo Qianxue applied for a halt of three-year allowance, almost spat blood and broke the vase. He ached in every part of his body.
Mo Qianxue was stabbing him in the heart! Master Mo got increasingly angry: This infilial girl! Did she know how much was the yearly allowance of the Founder mansion? What a stupid girl!
In the future, how to cover the expenses of Mo mansion? Why could the Mo mansion live a comfortable and respectable life for so many years? Because his untitled clan had been enjoying the allowance of a duke.
Why did she make that decision? Who did she think she was? No way! He must get her and lecture her and ask for compensation. Why did the Mo family suffer when she was the wrong-doer?!
Some people were just like this, using a thing borrowed from others for too long and believed it belonged to him already. He was not only unwilling to return back but would ask for more. If it was taken back, then he would accuse the lender of being unkind and cruel and try to let him pay for it.
**
At the mansion of Prince Jing, a dark shadow sneaked into the study of the prince. The shadow looked up after greeting Prince Jing. The dark suit, cold face and a scaring scar on it proved that it was no other person than the shadow guard.
The shadow guard presented a gift box to prince Jing, "Lord gives you this."
"Only this?" Prince Jing measured the weight of the box and looked dissatisfied.
The shadow guard was still cold-faced, "Lord said the agreement was to let Miss. Mo unhurt in this incident, but now although she is alive, her forehead was scratched by the Emperor.
Even if she survived due to her own wits, prince Jing's role in it was essential too. Therefore, the reward is less than decided but still a must. I believe prince Jing wouldn't have an opinion."
The shadow guard said his role instead of help. Prince Jing's dissatisfaction disappeared and said meaningfully, "Your lord is clever."
Opening the box and checked the gift, he was satisfied but pretended to put the box on the desk carelessly.
He had thought that Ning Shaoqing wouldn't even send anything, because after all, Mo Qianxue was injured and he didn't say much to help her at court besides two questions.
His dissatisfied tone was only to test the bottom line of this eldest lord Ning as well as to put on a mask for himself.
The shadow guard lowering his head, didn't reply. Prince Jing breathed a long sigh as if he had suffered a great loss, "Alright, it's also a favor to Mo Tianfang. Although he didn't have sons, with this daughter, the family won't collapse. Let your lord stop trying. The Emperor won't let her marry anybody, especially a Ning."
"Don't bother to worry about this. Lord has his plan."
The court changed at any second.
As prince Jing took her side even if by only asking a few questions, those censors wouldn't dare to talk nonsense anymore, and the Emperor would at least be milder, so that Mo Qianxue's speech of self-defending could be given a full play.
As soon as the shadow guard left, a came in.
The girl, fair-skinned like jade, had a red little mouth and a pair of round bright eyes. She wore a red brocade skirt, embroidered with gold cloud patterns, long to the feet, a silver silk outer coat, long hair all combed up, leaving only a few strands around her ears.
In her hair, there was a phoenix-shaped hairpin, adorned with a pearl, hanging before her forehead, making her elegant and outgoing as it swung when she walked.
The girl went into the study and instantly played cute to call prince Jing father.
"My Susu." At the sight of this daughter, prince Jing became all smiles and pretended to scold her, "Why are you so free to see me today?"
The girl was exactly Prince Jing's favorite daughter who was born when he wasn't young.
"Father." Princess Susu wasn't afraid of her father at all and only by playing cute, her father surrendered.
"Alright, tell me, what is it?"
"I heard that the lady of the Founder mansion killed a dozen beggars on street yesterday. Is that true?"
Brilliance shone in her eyes. She had hated learnings and loved martial arts since she was little. What she hated most were those pretentious and graceful ladies, so today when she heard the act of the Founder daughter, she admired her at once and wanted to befriend with her.
Girls were curious and fascinated in those novel anecdotes. Prince Su didn't think too much and stroked his daughter's hair, "Yes, it's true."
"Then…who is that Miss. Mo? Tell me everything… Is she as heroic as a martial artist with a loud voice like a gigantic bell and strong as a bull…?"
Princess Susu described while making exaggerated expressions. Certainly, she didn't really think so, but to make father laugh and get his objective comment, she was willing to make this sacrifice.
A gigantic bell? Strong as a bull? Prince Jing laughed at his daughter's description and movement.
But he couldn't associate gigantic and strong with the fragile girl kneeling but articulating clearly her opinion in the court this morning.
That girl wasn't coarse but looked pretty and gentle, but she was tough in character…
Prince Jing pulled himself out of this contemplation and narrated objectively and seriously, "Well…She is pretty and elegant, but deep down, she was also stubborn, daring, considerate…"
"…"
**
Su Qi and Feng Yuchen sent Mo Qianxue to the gate of the Founder mansion, but Mo Qianxue didn't invite them to take a seat inside and only bowed as gratitude before turning around and walked inside with Chuyi and Shiwu who had been waiting here.
Before mounting his horse, Su Qi said, "Recently I'll stay in the capital. If you need me, let me know." Then, he spurred the horse and left.
Feng Yuchen jumped off the horse and intended to follow into the mansion but was stopped by nanny Mo, "Lord Chen, lady needs rest. Please visit her some other time."
Although nanny Mo didn't know what had happened to her lady this morning, the scary scar on her forehead, blood drops on her clothes and sullen face suggested she was in a bad mood.
If lord Chen was lady's fiancé, she would naturally let him in. However, lady had chosen lord Ning publicly. Besides, lady had expressed her attitude just now by merely thanking them instead of inviting them inside. Hence, she shouldn't let him in.
Luckily, Feng Yuchen didn't insist, only let her pass the words that he would be staying at the former Feng mansion and left too.
He also knew that now she needed quiet. It was his habit that had been developed through years of taking care of her and following her all around. The old Xue would definitely hide into his arms and need his company…
Mo Qianxue looked messy but emanated an air of murderousness.
All the servants passed by trembled and stepped aside, standing hands dropping and not daring to look at her. Once she went back to her courtyard Snow, nanny Mo hurriedly began to clean her wound and apply medical cream.
Quickly, the scary would was bandaged by nanny Mo who was tearful. The Bining scream carried by Shiwu all the time was helpful again.
Then, Mo Qianxue asked Chiyi and Shiwu to roll up her pants.
The palace was paved with granite, which was hard and cold. Having kneeled for too long, her knees were now red and swollen as she expected. Without proper treatment, she was afraid that she would suffer rheumatism in the future.
The eyes of nanny, Chuyi and Shiwu were all red, who sobbed and didn't know what to say.
In their concepts, lady was heaven and shouldn't suffer any discomfort.
She had left well but came back, forehead injured and knees swollen.
Nanny Mo cursed the Emperor a million times secretly. Fortunately, although the Founder mansion hadn't been dwelled for years, the butler still maintained and equipped the mansion with everything as before. Nanny made herbs with hot water and applied to Mo Qianxue's knees while Chiyi and Shiwu massaged to remove blood stasis.
These were done and after lunch, Mo Qianxue was going to take a nap and think about the next, when a messenger sent by the butler said that master Mo and other elders visited and were now enjoying tea in the front hall.
"Already?" Mo Qianxue was surprised.
She hadn't expected that the master should be so anxious. She had just applied for the halt, and he arrived at once, leaving her no time to breathe.
Nanny Mo gritted her teeth and wished to beat those old trashes out of the Founder mansion, but at this moment, no mistake should be made, so she suggested in a soft voice, "What about telling them you're tired and letting them leave?"
Letting them leave? All these people were greedy wolves that came to seize a share of the big cake of the Founder mansion. They hadn't gotten the biggest share—the duke title yet and the small one was already taken back. Would they leave easily?
She was going to meet these shameless old trashes in person.
Mo Qianxue stood up and pointed at the mourning suit with blood stains, "Help me change!"
"Shall I take another one, lady?" Nanny Mo had planned to personally washed this suit after Mo Qianxue go to sleep.
"No need!" The blood stains should be fully used. After putting it on, Mo Qianxue stood there, forehead wrapped with gauze, in the white suit dotted with red plum blossoms, yet, the look rendered her with a special solemnity and overbearing dignity.
This was Mo Qianxue. The more battles she fought, the stronger she became.
In addition to nanny, Chiyi and Shiwu, there were two other servant girls and nannies guarding at the door. Mo Qianxue's calmness and courage made everybody present awed.
Nanny Mo, standing in the room, appreciated and was gratified that lady really had grown up. With such a lady, the Founder mansion wouldn't collapse.
Followed by a group of nannies, along with nanny Mo, Chiyi and Shiwu, Mo Qianxue went to the front hall.
At the entrance, she saw sitting in the main chair of the front hall an old man around fifty years old and four other old men sitting in the chairs on the two sides. She guessed they were clan elders.
Mo Zitang, Mo Zihua, and Mo Ziye stood respectfully next to them.
The butler was serving with a smile and seeing Mo Qianxue at the entrance, gave her a look to let her be careful.
Besides the butler, next to the old trashes, there were also servant girls and boys who filled the entire hall, as if to hold a hearing.
What a scene!
Mo Qianxue snorted. Of course she knew this was arranged deliberately by master Mo to give her mental pressure at first encounter.
Shame that he was wrong.
She had undergone the hearing in the imperial palace and stayed calm before the Emperor and the hundred officials. Here was the front hall of her Founder mansion. Why would she feel nervous at her place?
With a sneer, Mo Qianxue stepped into the hall.
Upon she walked in, Mo Zijing immediately said, "It's sister Xue. Come here and greet master and elders."
Sister Xue? Who was his sister? Mo Qianxue got goose bumps.
As he shouted, everybody shifted their eyes onto Mo Qianxue. The neat gaze even made nanny Mo behind her a little uneasy.