"Your Highness, please mind yourself. If you came today just to say this, then please just leave!" Mo Xuetong's delicate face was cold, as were her eyes. She was already feeling irate and did not bother to play nice with Feng Yuran. She had yet to guess what Mo Xuemin wanted so she really was not in the mood to guess the noble prince's thoughts.
"Alright, speak. Does your Eldest Sister want to marry you into the Duke's Manor?" Feng Yuran stopped teasing her. There was a charming smile on his handsome face as he spoke.
"You know?" Mo Xuetong was stunned.
"That Eldest Sister of yours is very vicious. I saw a building by the ancestral hall that smelt of gunpowder and oil when I came here just now…"
Gunpowder, oil, fire!
"Where is it?" Mo Xuetong sat up straight suddenly with shock in her eyes. Mo Xuemin was so mad to want to burn her to death!
"On the left-hand side right beside the ancestral hall. It doesn't look like there's anyone in there." Feng Yuran answered lazily.
Mo Xuetong immediately understood Mo Xuemin's vicious plot.
There really wasn't anyone in the room beside the ancestral hall. There were only some random things that were kept there like things used for rituals. They were all easily flammable and would catch fire quickly. They were at the back of the inner courtyard and the ancestral hall was close to the back door. Not many frequented the area usually. It would take some time to get here after someone spots the fire from the front courtyard. The few rooms right beside were also used for storage and stored things that caught fire easily. The whole manor would be thrown into chaos if a fire started.
If someone slipped in from the back door then and raped her, no, he did not even have to touch her. If he carried her out of the ancestral hall, or if they emerged from somewhere with their clothes in disarray, her reputation would be ruined. She would not have a choice but to marry Sima Lingyun. Mo Xueqiong would be implicated as well and the two sisters would marry the same man.
Mo Xuemin was really vicious!
She did not hesitate to light a fire to ruin Mo Xuetong's reputation! Or perhaps, what she wanted more was Mo Xuetong's life…
If she rushed out then and showed off how good their sisterly relationship was, others would only think that she was being gracious and not that she had a hand in this plot.
Hate filled Mo Xuetong's heart and her hand clenched tightly. The pain of the fire burning her in her past life could be felt in her heart. Her heart was still bloody and hurt from it. The pain and the hate was something that she would never be able to forget…
"Relax, you won't suffer with me around. How about I send her in here?" Feng Yuran smiled slightly and suggested, his deep gaze fell upon her face.
"Alright, Your Highness, please bring her here. Please take me out after I exchange clothes with her. Just let the fire burn." Mo Xuetong frowned and said coldly. Her gaze moved slightly before she looked up and spoke with determination. Since Mo Xuemin wanted the fire to bur, she would help her with it and make it burn even brighter.
"That's a good idea. I like it when there's plenty of trouble." Feng Yuran clapped in agreement. His charming and soul-stirring eyes were cold. Mo Xuemin was about to stand and did not notice the flash of coldness, blood-thirstiness and cruelty that flashed in his eyes.
It was crowded that night. The Mo Manor, which had always kept a low profile became the topic of contention in the entire capital.
First, the ancestral hall had caught fire. The fire had been swift and large. The neighboring manors all came with their family to help the Mo Manor put out the fire because they were afraid that the fire would spread. The Duke's Manor, which was several streets away had come as well. Just while they were putting out the fire, someone mentioned that there was someone being punished in the ancestral hall. The old madam of the Mo Manor had fainted immediately.
The fire had already started to spread to the ancestral hall and the door to the hall was already burning. If anyone went in to save the person, it would be extremely dangerous. Everyone was very anxious. Just as they were feeling worried, the His Excellency Sima Lingyun charged in bravely and carried out a person whose clothes were in disarray. Because of the large fire, Sima Lingyun's robe was laid on her and the two had skin-to-skin contact in front of everyone.
The old madam who regained consciousness immediately called for the Third Miss of the family before rushing out.
However, no one expected Third Miss Mo to emerge from the other direction with her maid helping her. Everyone realized then that the woman who had been half-naked in the fire that Sima Lingyun was carrying was First Miss Mo. It was said that Third Miss Mo had been feeling poorly and had fainted two hours after being punished. Her personal maid had discovered that she had fainted when she had sent food to her secretly so she had brought her out to let her take a breather.
Just then, First Miss Mo who was concerned for her younger sister had brought food to her as well. However, the fire started just as she entered. She had secretly brought food for her sister alone. Her constitution was weak and her health was poor. The fire blocked the door and she could not flee and fainted inside. Fortunately, Sima Lingyun had rushed in to save her or she would have died in the fire.
The whole incident was rather weird. But no matter what, Sima Lingyun and First Miss Mo having direct skin contact was a fact that everyone present saw. As such, the old madam brought His Excellency into the house to discuss the matter after the fire was extinguished. Those whose mind moved quickly immediately thought of the rumors from a few days ago.
It was said that First Miss Mo had caught Fourth Miss Mo and Sima Lingyun together by the plum blossom forest. She was so angry that she had made the matter public. That incident had not been settled yet when something like this happened. Those who were gossipy said that the Duke's Manor was a few streets away, but His Excellency Sima had arrived too quickly. Those who were there to extinguish the fire all said that His Excellency Sima was already there when they arrived at the scene. Did he know that there would be a fire there…
If that was true, then the relationship between Sima Lingyun and First Miss Mo was really unusual…
Furthermore, with the rumors of what happened at the Repayment Temple and in the palace, the whole incident sounded odder and odder.
In the end, the conclusion that most people came to was that First Miss Mo was a concubine's daughter and she would not be able to get together with His Excellency because of her lowly status. Yet, the two were in love with each other.
That was how the incident in which First Miss Mo caught Fourth Miss Mo together with Sima Lingyun came about. It was because she was jealous!
And that was why Sima Lingyun was the first to appear at the scene of the fire. It was because of his lover.
That was how he knew that First Miss was inside the ancestral hall. Sima Lingyun had disregarded his own safety and rushed into the fire because he loved her.
…
All of these incidents had a reasonable explanation. The two had touched closely in front of so many people. The Duke's Manor naturally had to give the Mo Manor an explanation.
They did not expect that the talented and famous First Miss Mo was only outwardly gracious but was actually a flighty person who would meet a man in secret. She had even ruined her younger sister's reputation because of her own relationship with another man. It made others despise her when they thought about this.
The usually gentle and elegant Duke was also a fake. He was in a secret relationship with a noble lady. They not only met in a temple and even met in secret in their manor. Everyone spoke of the Duke's Manor with disdain. The fake and shameless concubine's daughter and the licentious Duke were a good match.
Those interested in gossip were all watching the show. They wanted to see how the two families were going to settle the issue!
In just moments, Mo Xuetong and Sima Lingyun became what everyone talked about. Everyone mocked, ridiculed, scolded and disdained them…
They were all bad rumors about Mo Xuemin!
The fallen Duke's Manor was also a topic they gossiped about!
That night
Inside King Xuan's manor, on the highest floor on the highest building on the left side of the manor. The moon was dim.
The moonlight entered the room through the satin curtains, shining on the faint figure sitting in front of the window. The room was not lit at all because the prince that the Emperor doted on the most had been throwing a tantrum for the past few days. They even heard that King Xuan had fought for the most beautiful courtesan at a brothel with someone again yesterday. He made a huge fuss about it and was dragged away by Emperor Zongwen for a scolding. It made the arrogant prince so angry when he left the palace that he kicked several dozen palace servants he met on the way out.
It made the Emperor so angry that it was said he threw the calligraphy paper on his table away and scolded, "Unfilial child!" Then, he sent his orders to King Xuan's Manor that he was not allowed to leave for a month.
However, this also made many who were watching heave a sigh of relief. They had long since grown anxious ever since Feng Yuran appeared in the capital and became the most doted prince by Emperor Zongwen.
Even though it was rumored some time prior that while the Emperor doted on Feng Yuran, he did not allow him to control anything. He was just a big playboy. However, the Emperor did not rebuke him for anything. The Emperor's edict this time was a direct rebuke. At the same time, Emperor Zongwen had also sent someone to reward King Chu and King Yan. Not many in the imperial court understood the undercurrents.
King Xuan had truly lost Emperor Zongwen's favor.
Emperor Zongwen was not a confused ruler. Even if King Xuan were to gain favor again in the future, he would no longer be able to get the throne. A wise Emperor would not give the throne to a useless playboy prince. So what if he doted on King Xuan? He would only be able to guarantee King Xuan a life of wealth.
Those who relaxed turned their watchful eyes away from Feng Yuran and focused on their original opponents. The political grace period that occurred because of Feng Yuran's sudden appearance changed. The political sensitive immediately started a new round of planning. King Xuan might have deliberately made it seem as if he had given up on Feng Yuran to confuse his subordinates.
Who did the Emperor truly favor? Was it the gentle and erudite King Chu, or the just and honest King Yan?
In King Xuan's manor, King Xuan, who was always arrogant and wild could not sleep well. He leaned back against the futon in front of the window and looked at the fire that leapt at the sky outside the window. The only thing that shone in the dark were his charming eyes. The satin drapes were really long and behind the screen stood three people other than him. The first was Feng Yue.
Feng Yuran did not speak, and neither did the other three make any sounds.
He was in a good spot and he could watch the fire reach up the skies. The skies burned red and was magnificent. Even from afar, he could clearly hear the bustling sounds of people talking. It made the quiet room seemed even more quiet. He could hear someone coming by with a drum announcing that it was three in the morning!
"Feng Yue, pick a few people to go to the Mo Manor." The lazy voice had an unusual sharpness in it.
"Your Highness, didn't you already send Third Miss Mo two secret guards?" Did a young lady of a noble family need so much protection? Feng Yue glanced to his side at Steward Wang. Steward Wang shook his head imperceptibly, indicating that he did not understand what His Highness was doing as well. He could only lower his head and ask. He did not dare to be careless at all when doing things for His Highness. Others did not know what His Highness was capable of, but they did.
"There aren't enough people!" Feng Yuran answered lightly after some deliberation. There was a flash of allure in his eyes. He did not expect that the daughter of a fifth grade official could bring out so many clues that he could not track down in the past.
"Yes!" Since this was what His Highness thought, Feng Yue did not dare to say anything else.
"Wang Fu, how are things going on your side?"