"Third Sister, you have to bear the most responsibility for this situation. Eldest Sister is so gracious. You are the main daughter of the Mo Manor, so how can you allow yourself to fall prey to rumors." Mo Xueyan interrupted oddly, her expression full of sarcasm. "You can't just let the Mo daughters' reputations be ruined, can you?"
The last part of her statement was where her main point was. She was indeed harsh to say something like this at this point in time.
"Third Sister, quickly own up to your mistakes to Grandmother. Take responsibility for your own actions and don't make her angry. Father isn't home now so we have to be filial to Grandmother. Third Sister, don't make her angry." Mo Xuemin added fuel to the fire by the sidelines in gentle tones. It was as if Mo Xuetong would be considered unfilial if she did not take responsibility today.
"Grandmother, how would you like me to take responsibility for this matter?" She asked lightly. Her expression was calm as if she was talking about a matter that had nothing to do with her. Her eyes were dark and deep and made one fearful!
However the old madam had already decided on her plans and when Mo Xuetong asked that, she felt slightly embarrassed. This was especially when Mo Xuetong looked up at her with her bright and lively eyes. There were some things that really cannot be said easily. She wanted to get Mo Xuetong to agree to Mo Xuemin's intentions and say that she was willing to marry into the Duke's Manor. However, she did not expect Mo Xuetong to speak coldly and force them to speak directly.
The old madam was stunned by the girl's straightforward disregard for her. A trace of awkwardness appeared in her eyes.
Everyone knew that it was Mo Xueqiong whose reputation had been ruined, but they had gotten the main daughter to replace her. While this was what the old madam had in mind, she did not dare to face the repercussions of it directly. It had always been concubine's daughters to take the blame for main daughters. When had a main daughter ever taken the blame for a concubine's daughter? She had wanted Mo Xuetong to raise the matter herself. However, if she was the one to raise the matter, the implications would be different.
Disregarding whether Mo Huawen would blame her when he returned, the General Manor that backed Mo Xuetong was not a force she dared to go against. When she thought of that, the old madam hesitated. She wanted to retreat and harrumphed without saying anything. She looked to Mo Xuemin.
The old madam was hesitant, but Mo Xuemin could not be. She glanced at the old madam secretly and saw that the woman's expression was grave and that she was silent. She scolded the old woman for being useless secretly in her heart. She was different from the old madam. The old madam presided over the matter today and would be held responsible for whatever conclusion that they decided on today. However, she was just an unmarried young lady. What could she know. Even if she said something wrong, people would just think that she was ignorant and would not hold her responsible.
The situation today had been a plot engineered by her and Sima Lingyun against Mo Xuetong. However, for some reason or another, Mo Xuetong had been replaced by Mo Xueqiong. The plot had been a failure. However, the message that the Duchess sent had given her a new idea. Not many people had seen the situation then. As long as she insisted that it was Mo Xuetong inside, so what if others had doubts about it?
Furthermore, if Mo Xuetong admitted to it in order to take responsibility, no one would have anymore doubt. She saw that while Mo Xuetong was not willing to admit to anything, she showed signs of breaking. She said lightly, "Third Sister, if you really want to take responsibility, there is a way. You just have to admit that the one inside the horse carriage is you and not Fourth Sister. Third Sister, you are the main daughter and your reputation has always been good. Even if the matter spreads, others will only think that it is His Excellency Sima who is a playboy. It is different for Fourth Sister. She is just a concubine's daughter. Everyone will think that she has overestimated herself and wants to marry up which is why she seduced His Excellency. It would be bad for the reputation of all the Mo daughters. Third Sister, what do you think?"
Mo Xuemin seemed as if she was being considerate and gracious. In her past life, Mo Xuetong had been deceived by her fake mask of kindness. She hated Mo Xuemin even after she died.
Mo Xuetong's heart hurt. Her fingers gouged into her palms and she looked down, hiding the hatred in her eyes. Mo Xuemin truly thought that she was still that ignorant Mo Xuetong. She wanted her to pretend to be Mo Xueqiong and even said that Mo Xuetong's reputation was good. If she truly admitted to it, then what else could her father or the Luo manor say when the Duke's Manor asked to marry Mo Xuetong?
Who else could she marry if her reputation was ruined? Everyone would only praise Sima Lingyun for being a true man if the Duke's Manor was willing to take responsibility. They would be praised for willing to marry Mo Xuetong because they were considerate towards her reputation. However, she would fall into their plot and the tragedy that was her past life would repeat once more. She would fall into hell after Sima Lingyun was done using her, and she would never be able to raise her head up high ever again.
A woman whose reputation had been ruined would be looked down upon even if she was married.
This was a good plot of Mo Xuemin's!
Her fingers gouged deeply into her palms and the intense pain brought back a hint of clarity in her red eyes.
That was what Mo Xuemin had planned, but she would not let Mo Xuemin get what she wanted. She looked up and smiled coldly, staring at Mo Xuemin's concerned expression. Her voice was devoid of any warmth as she said, "Eldest Sister, you want me to admit to losing my reputation so that I can be married into the Duke's Manor, right? Eldest Sister, you have spent so much effort helping the fallen Duke's Manor with such a plot. I wonder what benefits His Excellency Sima gave you for you to set up such a scheme. You can even use the reputations of the Mo daughters as a chess piece. I can really see how ambitious you are."
Since they had already had a falling out, then there was not much she had to consider. "I wonder if you have considered that you will also be implicated in the matter when you try to ruin your younger sister's reputation. Even though I am just the Third Miss of the Mo family, I am Father's only main daughter. If something were to really happen to me, it would be an embarrassment to the other young ladies of the Mo Manor. Sima Lingyun had tried to ruin Fourth Sister's reputation. You did not pursue the matter but you are asking me to take responsibility for it. Those who do not know will think that you are not versed in etiquette and are shameless…"
"Third Sister, how could you say that of me…" Mo Xuetong's expression changed immediately, scolding Mo Xuemin so severely that Mo Xuemin was stunned. Then, Mo Xuemin immediately reacted. She turned around and lunged beside the old madam's stove bed. She picked up her handkerchief and covered her face with it. She knelt at the old madam's feet and cried bitterly.
"Grandmother, you have to speak up for Min'er. How could Third Sister say that of Min'er? I have been considerate towards her, but I became that sort of person to her. Grandmother, grandmother… Min'er might as well die after being accused of something like that."
She could not speak again, pulling on the old madam's robe and sobbed. Then, she suddenly stood up and rushed towards a pillar, trying to slam herself against it.
Behind her, Mo Xiu pulled on her, holding her tightly as she cried out anxiously, "Old Madam, help. Save First Miss. Third Miss, how could you say that of First Miss? When Old Sir finds out about this when he returns, he would be very angry. Even if you blame Old Sir for leaving you behind in Cloud City without asking about you or caring, it has nothing to do with my mistress. How can you unleash your anger on her? Our mistress has always done everything with your sisterly relationship in mind and wanted to end the matters today well. Why did you make her out to be a completely different person?"