Mo Xuetong ignored the red-faced ladies who had been rebuked by her. She turned around and curtsied to Feng Yuxuan delicately and said, "Excuse me, First Prince, what's wrong with my eldest sister?"
She was confident that Feng Yuxuan thoughts were different from Mo Xuemin's.
No matter whether Feng Yuxuan truly did have anything going on with Mo Xuemin, he would on the surface try to protect everyone's reputation. After all, if it was rumored that he had something going on with the daughter of a fifth-grade officer and his concubine, it would not just be an embarrassment to the Mo family. The rumors would not be good to King Chu's reputation either. It was important for him to have a good reputation in order to get the throne. He would not ruin his reputation for a woman.
And this was what Mo Xuetong wanted. King Chu, Feng Yuxuan's, explanation was more useful than what anyone else said.
Indeed, Feng Yuxuan explained with a warm and graceful smile. "I do not know what is wrong with First Miss Mo either. I was resting in the pavilion when she walked past it and suddenly fainted. I got the eunuch to help her to the side and rest. The eunuch went to look for the imperial physician and will be back soon."
"Many thanks, King Chu." Mo Xuetong looked at him gratefully, as if she was really thankful that Feng Yuxuan could help Mo Xuemin into the pavilion to rest. She curtsied deeply and pretended to be a good younger sister. Then, she took two steps back, keeping an appropriate distance from Feng Yuxuan.
Her small actions to avoid any inappropriateness gained the approval from the other ladies. They no longer looked at her with enmity and the way they looked at her softened. Third Miss Mo was unlike the rumors. She was not untalented, spoilt or arrogant. Of course, First Miss Mo's actions today was not something a gracious and gentle woman should be doing.
Rumors were indeed rumors!
In the Mo family, the concubine must be running the place and the concubine's daughter must be arrogant and domineering!
They were all main daughters and all knew that while their mothers were the true wives to their father, they sometimes could not compete with a coy smile of a concubine. The bitterness of it was something only main daughters could understand. They were all linked in this inexorable manner, and some of the ladies began to look at Mo Xuetong warmly and in a friendly manner. Some even began to look protective of her.
"Third Miss, don't worry. Your Eldest Sister would probably regain consciousness in a while. The weather isn't hot, so she couldn't have gotten a heatstroke." Someone saw her pale and worried face and started to comfort her.
"It will be fine, look at the healthy flush on your eldest sister's face. However, your health must be poor. Don't worry for your eldest sister and become ill. Your family is too much. The elder sister isn't looking after the younger sister, but instead is worrying her younger sister." Someone complained about the injustice.
Feng Yuxuan heard what the ladies said and his gaze landed on Mo Xuetong's pale face. She did look ill. Every since she almost drowned, her health would act up at times. She had never gotten her body completely regulated. Her pale and almost translucent skin made others pity her.
She smiled gently and stood there in her plain dress. Her skirt was lifted by the breeze and she looked like an innocent fairy. Her natural gentleness and her disposition, coupled with her child-like innocence were all very attractive.
She was very beautiful. In the picturesque courtyard, she was like the spot of color in the middle. Her eyes were tearful and she looked worried. It made her look rather pitiful.
"Ladies, please take a seat. The imperial physician might take some time to get here." Feng Yuxuan sat down in the pavilion and smiled gently and gracefully. The ladies whom he looked at all flushed. Everyone was more than willing to sit down with King Chu and speak with him. They thought that they might be able to gain King Chu's trust or attend the night banquet tonight.
They were all so excited that their faces flushed red. How would they not be willing! They all curtsied to Feng Yuxuan. They tugged on each other and then sat down near the railings.
Feng Yuxuan smiled at the slender ladies who sat across him beside Mo Xuemin. He asked warmly, "Did Third Miss Mo just come to the capital? Where did you use to stay? Why did you not come to the capital with Lord Mo?"
He asked one question after another, which made it difficult for Mo Xuetong to answer. This was especially since the girls were all focused on him. Those who spoke to him would gain the ire of other girls. Mo Xuetong did not know how King Chu took notice of her. She looked at Mo Xuemin gloomily.
She sighed helplessly. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly caught Mo Xuemin's lashes fluttering. A glint of darkness appeared in her eyes. Her expression did not change and her smile was especially sweet.
Mo Xuemin might have wanted to pretend to faint to remain out of this situation. But it depended on whether Mo Xuetong agreed or not.
"I stayed in Cloud City because I was ill." She answered two questions with a sentence. She did not drag things out and be annoying and did not ignore and disrespect the eldest prince. She spoke while reaching out to hold Mo Xuemin's head in her arms.
She was still young and her arms were slender and short. Mo Xuemin's head was half lying on her arm and she looked tired holding it. However, her actions were soft and gentle and it was obvious that she was afraid that Mo Xuemin would be uncomfortable. Her careful and gentle actions were touching and she did not look impatient at all.
Looking at her careful and experienced action, the lady beside her asked in confusion, "Third Miss Mo, are you so skilled at taking care of your elder sister because her health has always been poor?"
Even though her voice was soft, everyone became interested in it. Everyone turned to look at her.
It would be major news if First Miss Mo had a hidden illness. Who would be willing to marry a wife with poor health? She would not only be able to take care of her husband, but she might also have trouble having children. This was a serious matter. No matter how many children a family could have from its concubines, they were not as important as main children.
Everyone knew this!
If rumors of her having a hidden illness spread, she would have trouble getting married. Mo Xuemin leaned against Mo Xuetong's chest and seethed in anger. Cold sweat ran down her back.
Mo Xuemin had plotted and plotted, but she had not expected that she would suddenly faint when she met Feng Yuxuan's surprised gaze when she reached the entrance of the pavilion. She had not really remained unconscious, she regained consciousness soon after she fainted. However, she had not expected there to be a eunuch in the pavilion. Feng Yuxuan did not pick her up but got the eunuch to pick her up and place her near the railings.
Then, the eunuch was sent to fetch the imperial physician, leaving the two of them alone. Just as she was laughing to herself secretly and was about to awake to shyly thank the prince, a crowd of ladies appeared. They were chattering about her and how she was having secret alliances with others. It was not rational for her to immediately awake then, so she could only continue to pretend to be unconscious and see where things lead to.
She wanted to tear those sluts apart. She had ruined her plans completely. However, she was still pretending to be unconscious. Fortunately, they were not only speaking about her. She thought of how Mo Xuetong was also present and was being mocked and felt herself calm down. As such, she just continued to watch the show.
She did not think that Mo Xuetong would carefully place her against her arm and pull her into the center of the discussion.
This was terrible. If Mo Xuetong continued to say things against her, it would be terrible! King Chu was still sitting across her. Mo Xuetong was too evil!
"My eldest sister...is very healthy. She has never fainted in the past. Really. She is very healthy." Mo Xuetong's eyes flickered and she stuttered, looking at the floor tiles guiltily. She blushed but answered firmly. However, everyone could see the weakness in her words and that she was obviously lying and wanted to protect her elder sister.
"Then Third Miss Mo, you are a noblewoman, how are you so skilled at taking care of others?" Someone continued to ask her as they did not believe her. They don't intend to let her off so easily.
A cold smile appeared on Mo Xuetong's lips. However, her head was lowered and no one discovered it. Indeed, in her past life, she did not know how to take care of others before she got married. However, after she married into Sima Lingyun's place where they had fallen from grace, his stern mother was very unwell. And she would occasionally torture her for joy. Mo Xuetong felt guilty towards Sima Lingyun because of her appearance and as such, did not dare to be disrespectful. Even though she was beaten and scolded, she was still in charge of taking care and serving her mother-in-law. She could not be unskilled even if she didn't want to.
Mo Xuetong appeared to be shocked as everyone focused their attention on her. She hesitated as if she could not speak and looked up shyly, looking naive and as if she did not know what to do. She bit her lips and pretended to compose herself. Her gaze wandered and everyone could see that she was lying. "My mother's health was poor, so I learnt how to care for others."
Who would need their young daughter to take care of them when they had servants? It was not as if they wanted to torture their daughter. So how would something like this happen? It was obvious that Mo Xuetong was using this as an excuse. And everyone knew that she was lying for First Miss Mo.
Mo Xuemin however, was getting worried and she could no longer pretend. She did not know how Mo Xuetong was going to continue to spin this. If a rumor like this really spread, then it would be difficult for her to find a good marriage. How would the royal family accept a weak girl who would faint from time to time to become a prince's side concubine? She would not even have to think about becoming queen in the future.
She could not remain unconscious and allow Mo Xuetong to speak nonsense any longer.
Once decided, she moved her head lightly as if she was just regaining consciousness. She held her head and opened her eyes. Her bleary eyes met Feng Yuxuan's and she smiled gently. She leaned against Mo Xuetong and stood up, curtsying and said, "Many thanks, King Chu. I visited my family matriarch late last night and caught a cold. I was feeling unwell when I woke up this morning and had some wine earlier, so I was a little drunk. I'm sorry you had to see that."
Mo Xuemin was beautiful, and her gracious smile made it easy for others to like her. Furthermore, from her gentle tones and her pink cheeks, it indeed did not seem like she was unwell at all. She had fainted because she caught a cold last night and was a little drunk.
"It was no trouble. However, First Miss Mo, please be more careful with your health when you travel in the future." Feng Yuxuan said politely with a smile. He had always been gentle, and his smile was even more charming as he looked at Mo Xuemin. The ladies around them started to look at Mo Xuemin with displeasure.
"First Miss Mo, isn't your mother still around? When did you have a family matriarch? Did Lord Mo get married again? That's too soon. Isn't he still grieving? How could he..." The ladies seated on the left of Mo Xuetong laughed as if it was a casual question. However, her tone was very sharp.
"I was wrong, I was in a hurry to explain myself earlier. It is an Auntie." Mo Xuemin flushed and explained gently.
"She is just a concubine and First Miss Mo did not sleep late in the night to visit her? Were you discussing whether First Miss Mo could attend the Flower Appreciation Banquet tonight?" The questions came one after another.
Mo Xuemin frowned. Even though the ladies did not like her usually, they had never been so sharp towards her before. However, they all seemed especially angry today and were all speaking to her sharply.
"Why did you come here, Third Sister? You are not familiar with the palace. If you get lost, how will I find you later?" Mo Xuemin pretended not to hear what they were saying and instead, turn to question Mo Xuetong with a frown.
Her words totally implied that Mo Xuetong was being insensible and was barging around with a few other ladies. If one listened clearly, she was implying that Mo Xuetong had intentionally brought these people to gossip about her with ill-intentions.
The ladies present were all intelligent people and they all grew mad when they heard that. A few of them stood up, unable to help themselves.
"Eldest Sister..." Mo Xuetong felt aggrieved by her accusation and stood up as well. She pinched her handkerchief and only muttered a few words before someone interrupted her.
"First Miss Mo, this isn't the first time you've visited the palace, is it? Why have you asked Third Miss Mo to wait there and come to see King Chu alone? You are sisters, shouldn't you help your younger sister?" A lady standing by the side smirked. She could not watch on any longer. Mo Xuemin wanted to have a dalliance with King Chu but blamed her younger sister for ruining her plans. How shameless.
"We brought Third Miss Mo here because we were worried that First Miss Mo would get lost and go to the male banquet. It really has nothing to do with Third Miss Mo." The others were all main daughters and hated arrogant concubine's daughters. She was having a dalliance with a man and still blamed her younger sister for ruining her plans by bringing other people here. As such, someone complained about the injustice on behalf of Mo Xuetong.
Feng Yuxuan who was sitting by the side glanced at Mo Xuemin darkly.
"Ladies, please don't speak anymore. My eldest sister did not mean to say that I did this intentionally..." Mo Xuetong looked up with her crystal clear eyes and bit her lips in explanation when she saw that everyone was speaking against Mo Xuemin. She turned to look at Mo Xuemin and said, "Eldest Sister, since you are fine, let's go home."
If they were to return now, it would mean that they were not going to attend the night banquet. This would mean that they were not interested in the positions as the princes' concubines.
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