Mo Huawen opened his eyes and was stunned to see his daughter holding the serving platter. His gaze moved from her to the platter she held. On it was a bowl of plain porridge, a dish of pickled cucumbers and a plat of vinegar chicken. They were all dishes that he loved. He then turned to look at Mo Xuetong's face with a hint of sadness.
Tong'er resembled Luo Xia greatly, especially when she held the serving platter. Now that he thought about it, he realized how deeply he loved that deceased woman. If that gentle woman was still around, she would definitely prepare such a breakfast for him personally!
"Tong'er, why have you come? I am fine, I just don't have an appetite." Mo Huawen smiled and asked her, hiding his thoughts.
"Father, how can I not come since you are not eating? Will you try my cooking?" Mo Xuetong approached him with a smile. She moved away the documents in front of him and placed the dishes on the table. Then, she handed Mo Huawen chopsticks.
"Did Tong'er make all these dishes?" Mo Huawen did not reject her and accepted the chopsticks. He reached out to pat Mo Xuetong dotingly. When had his Tong'er grown up and become sensible?
"Yes. Father, quick, have a taste. It won't be good once it gets cold." Mo Xuetong answered with a smile. She pulled out the chair across Mo Huawen and sat down. She put her chin on her palms and said, "Tong'er will sit here and watch you eat. Otherwise, your servant will come and complain to Tong'er later."
"Complain about what?" Mo Huawen's worry lightened as he saw how adorable his daughter was. He smiled and took a sip of the porridge.
"Complain that there's yet another set of breakfast that no one's eaten. And then he has to get rid of it. How troublesome! Then, he would have to tell everyone he meets that the dishes Third Miss prepares taste so bad that Old Sir can't even eat them!" Mo Xuetong pouted and glanced at Mo Huawen.
This tickled Mo Huawen greatly. He paused and then laughed loudly and took several sips of the porridge and ate a few slices of cucumber and chicken. "How can the porridge Tong'er make tastes bad? This is the best porridge and dishes I have ever tasted."
"Really?" Mo Xuetong glanced at him disbelievingly. She looked adorable, and Mo Huawen's mood took a turn for the better as he looked at her.
"Of course. The dishes that Tong'er makes tastes the best to me." Mo Huawen was filled with love. He took great gulps of the porridge to show how much he liked it. He looked at the crisp and sweet cucumbers and his eyes darkened. He suddenly stopped and asked, "Tong'er, when did you learn to make such dishes?"
When he left Cloud City, Tong'er was still a noble young lady who didn't know how to do anything!
"I used to watch mother make these two dishes that you love best. After that, Mother fell ill and was too weak to make them. And then, when I was alone in Cloud City and miss you and Mother, I will wake up secretly at night to make it for myself. I feel like you are both by my side when I eat them." Mo Xuetong lowered her head, her voice cracked slightly. Perhaps she felt something. She sniffed and then looked up with a brilliant smile. "Just like right now. I am very happy when I see you eating the porridge I made. I am not sad at all."
Even though she said that she was not sad, the damp corners of her eyes showed how bitterly painful the yearning was.
Mo Huawen's heart shook and he felt as if his heart was being wrung. He held the bowl in his hands, green veins bulging. His sensible and obedient daughter. How could she be so vicious to take someone's life! To do something like forcing her mother's maid to death! Someone must have led him wrong back then for him to mistakenly thought that Tong'er was the culprit.
"Tong'er, hush. I won't abandon you again." Mo Huawen put down his bowl and hid the suspicion in his heart while he comforted her in gentle tones.
"I know that you dote on Tong'er the most." Mo Xuetong wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and looked up with an innocent smile. She pouted and approached Mo Huawen, pulling on his robe and saying, "Father, you promised that you'd send me to my grandparents' that day. You mustn't go back on your words."
"Alright, alright. I will definitely send you to your grandparents' the next time you go." Mo Huawen's heart softened and he patted her head. Right now, if she said that she wanted the moon in the sky, he would go and pick it for her.
The two chatted. Mo Huawen drank half the bowl of porridge. He had just put the bowl down when a servant came in to report, "Old Sir, a servant ran away through the back door earlier."
"When did this happen?" Mo Huawen was stunned and stood up forcefully. His expression suddenly became terrifying.
"This morning. I heard that two servants were arguing over a small matter and did not realize that someone left the manor. It is a steward from the manor who was about to leave to run an errand who saw him running out secretively. That's when it was discovered." The servant reported.
"Where's the person?"
"I heard the stewards say that the person disappeared by the time everyone gathered to give chase."
"Give chase and send someone to capture him." Mo Huawen huffed angrily. There hadn't been a servant who had run away before. Auntie Fang was not the one in charge of the matters in the manor anymore. Auntie Qing and Auntie Mo were both kind and would not drive away servants. Furthermore, after what happened in the manor last night, he was about to give orders to everyone not to speak about the matter this morning. He did not expect anyone to escape. How could Mo Huawen not think too much into it?
"Father..."Mo Xuetong appeared to be scared and clueless. She looked at him with shocked wide eyes.
"Tong'er, go back to your courtyard. I have things to settle." Mo Huawen was not in the mood to say anything else. He definitely could not let others find out about what happened to Mo Xuemin in the palace last night. Even though not many knew about the matter, a lot of the servants had risen before him. It was difficult to keep things quiet.
If someone spread the news outside, Mo Xuemin's reputation would be ruined.
Even though Mo Huawen was angry at his eldest daughter, he did not want her life to be ruined.
"Father, your daughter shall take her to leave first." Mo Xuetong turned and got Mo Yu to collect the dishes and utensils before leaving.
Mo Huawen paced around in his study. After turning around several times, he stopped in front of the servant and asked, "Is the servant who ran away related to First Miss?"
If not, the servant would not run away at a time like this. After all, if an escaped servant ran away, they would be castrated. Something major must have happened for a servant to take such a huge risk. And the only thing that had happened last night was Mo Xuemin's incident.
"That person...is very close with Miss Mo Jin, who is First Miss' personal maid!" The servant was so anxious that he was sweating. However, he did not dare to not say it. Even though there was no proof, it was talked about in private. furthermore, he had heard several times that the two were flirting.
"Mo Jin? The maid that did not return this time?" Mo Huawen recalled Mo Xuetong's personal maid. He was so angry he stomped his foot. How did Auntie Fang manage the inner courtyard? She did not even know that her daughter's maid was having dalliances with other men. Mo Huawen hated Auntie Fang even more at this moment.
"That's right, Old Sir." The servant answered fearfully.
"Give chase. Give chase immediately. The person who catches him will be awarded 20 taels of silver. Those who kill him will be awarded 15." A sharp look appeared in Mo Huawen's eyes. He knew that he could not be soft-hearted now.
He could not allow this matter to go unpunished since this had something to do with Mo Jin. Mo Jin had not returned last night and Mo Xuetong had only said that Mo Jin died for betraying her mistress. She did not say anything else. He had been too busy being angry at Mo Xuemin and did not think things through clearly. He only realized that the maid had parents to be informed too.
"Yes, Old Sir." The servant knew that the matter was urgent. He ran outside.
In Lihua Garden.
Auntie Fang smashed several expensive porcelain decorations on the ground angrily. She wanted to rush out of the courtyard but was stopped by Nanny Li.
"Auntie, you cannot go. If you go out and make a fuss, First Miss' reputation would really be ruined."
"No. I have to go and see Min'er since something like this happened to her. I should ask Old Sir how he is going to handle the matter. That little slut is having dalliances with men in private. We should lock up her parents as well." Auntie Fang glared angrily. However, she knew that she could not act rashly. As such, she could only rant furiously.
"Auntie, Old Sir will definitely help First Miss. First Miss is Old Sir's favorite. How would he let her suffer?" Nanny Li persuaded her. It was obvious that she thought it was hard in private. First Miss used to be Old Sir's favorite in the past. But ever since Third Miss' return, First Miss was no longer the most doted upon in the manor, but Third Miss was.
However, she had to say that for if Auntie Fang tried anything, she would be the one to get the blame.
"What was Min'er thinking? Why would she do anything with those from the palace? And even get scorned by the Empress? I told her not to act rashly and to wait for the Yu family to enter the capital before trying anything. However, she could not wait to flirt with King Chu. See what's happened now. Her reputation has been ruined." Auntie Fang seethed.
She had been dragged outside by Mo Huawen last night to kneel with Mo Xuemin. She had been scolded terribly and after listening to what Mo Huawen told the eunuch, knew roughly what happened. She was so anxious then and then had been startled now. As such, she felt very flustered.
"Auntie, don't worry. The Yu Family will be coming to the capital within the next day or so. You can ask your uncle to do something. Furthermore, your elder sister will be coming as well. She can help you to come up with some ideas. Two heads are better than one. You can invite them here to help you come up with ideas. This is better than you being locked up in Lihua Garden and being worried for nothing."
"When will they arrive?" Auntie Fang calmed down slightly.
"I heard that they are still two days away. They should be here in the next two days. Furthermore, they came with the Qins. The two of them are definitely more capable than Old Sir. Then, Old Sir will definitely be forced to release you. With your wits, there might still be a turn in the situation." Nanny Li suggested.
"Go out later to check on First Miss. I am worried that she cannot deal with the incident. If anything happens, inform me immediately." Auntie Fang had calmed down, but she was still worried.
Nanny Li answered in affirmative and went to Fuqing Garden.
Facts have proved that Mo Huawen had sent his men out too late. In less than an afternoon, the rumors outside had spread that the First Miss of the Mo Family had shamelessly seduced King Chu. The rumors were so realistic it was as if someone had witnessed the incident. Some of the more curious dug in deeper and found out that the First Miss Mo had met up with the Duke's son secretly at the Repayment Temple some time ago.
This rumor was even more likely to be true. Someone proved that the maid who sent the pouch had died in the room the second day. Although it was made known that she had hung herself, who would believe that!
It was already past noon when Mo Xuemin received news about this. A chill ran down her entire body when she heard Mo Xiu recount the news. She ran to the entrance of her courtyard, but stood at the door, stunned. After some time, she felt that she was cold inside and out.
Mo Xiu was worried that she was feeling ill. She approached her and said softly, "Miss, let us return and rest. Old Sir will help you to settle this matter."
Then, she reached out to help Mo Xuemin in. She discovered that her body was boiling hot. She became flustered and touched her hands, which were icy cold!
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