Chapter 178 To Whom is the Chaos Beneficial
It was already late at night and it was dark. Furthermore, Mo Ye and Mo Yu intentionally blocked the others from seeing Mo Xuetong. As such, no one had noticed. Mo Huawen had returned to the manor early and had already slept. The other two concubines were also in their courtyards and had gone to bed early. Nanny Ming came to visit despite the cold but Mo Lan stopped her with a smile and asked that she turn back.
Then, Mo Lan and Mo Yu went to bed. Her master had appeared inside the room not long after. She heard her master’s voice. Mo Ye, who had kept an ear out, dragged her soles against the floor and went to the door.
“I’m fine. Do you know how to deal with what happens tomorrow?” Feng Yuran’s cold voice could be heard.
“I do.” Mo Ye lowered her head respectfully outside the room.
“Take care of her.”
“Yes!”
Mo Ye stood outside the door silently. She did not hear anything for a long while and knew that her master had left. Then, she exhaled slowly. Her master was really scary today. She could sense the suffocating sharpness even outside the room. She wiped off the sweat gathered on her forehead and pushed the doors open softly.
It was quiet inside. The windows were tightly shut. It was evident that he had closed the windows after he left. Mo Ye approached the bed and lit the candles by the bed. Then, she blew and extinguished the match. There was a young girl lying on the bed quietly beneath the flickering candlelight.
She was delicate and weak, looking like a lone plum blossom pressed under the snow. Her beautiful face was pale and fragile. Beneath her usual calmness and wits, she was but just a girl of 13. No matter how intelligent she was usually, how could she not be tired and fearful after such an incident?
It was fortunate that her master was there this time. Or she really could not image the consequences.
She gently placed Mo Xuetong’s hand back under the blankets where it had escaped from. Then, she walked to the windows and closed the windows once more from the inside. She extinguished the candle and closed the door behind her. There was not much time until dawn. She had to take this time to sleep for it would definitely be busy in the Mo Manor tomorrow.
While she could sleep peacefully, someone could not fall asleep.
At the same time, in King Chu, Feng Yuxuan’s luxurious bedroom. Feng Yuxuan was dressed in white. He could not be as calm and composed as he usually was in front of others. He picked up a jade seal beside him and threw it away forcefully. The crisp clatter scared the counselor who knelt in front of him. The wine cup in his hand felt onto the ground with a clatter.
“Tell me what happened. Why did those changes happen to our plan? Sima Lingyun is so stupid. He can’t even handle a weak girl. What else can he do? You always tell me that Sima Lingyun is a talent of great use and that he is vicious. Why is he weaker than a woman? He’s been stabbed bloody all over and even got caught with that woman?” Feng Yuxuan did not have to pretend to be gentle and gracious because he was in his own home. His expression was dark as he yelled angrily. He kicked the man who looked like a steward kneeling before him.
How could he not be angry? His plans, which had been perfect, had been completely derailed in just mere moments. The situation, which had been to his advantaged had completely spiraled out of control. He felt his forehead twitch when he heard that Sima Lingyun had failed and had almost kicked Mo Xuetong into a tree. How could he control his anger?
“Your Highness…” The man wanted to say something. Feng Yuran looked at him coldly. He shrunk back and swallowed what he was about to say. He did not dare to say anything else. It had been his idea to look for Sima Lingyun, but he was not the only one who had given the suggestion. His Highness had even claimed that the plan was good. Why was he the one being blamed when the plan took a nosedive?
However, if he spoke now, he would get into trouble. The man shut his mouth obediently and lowered his head.
“Your Highness, you don’t have to use Sima Lingyun to get close to the Mo Manor and their property. Perhaps we can attack from other areas and it might even be more effective. Sima Lingyun and that woman are ruined, so you might as well let them go.” The voice was calm and even had a hint of laughter in it. It swept away Feng Yuxuan’s annoyance.
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Hiding the annoyance he felt, Feng Yuxuan waved at the counselor sitting in the room. He gestured for the rest to leave. The other counselors took the opportunity to leave after they said their farewells. An inconspicuous handsome young man sitting at the corner of the room was left behind. If Mo Xuetong were here, she would have yelped in surprise.
The man was none other than Qin Yufeng, whom Mo Xuetong had always had her guard up against.
Who would have guessed that the second young master of the Qin family, who was known to be a talent, would be a counselor working for Feng Yuxuan? Furthermore, he seemed like a highly valued counselor. His identity had been hidden well, no wonder he was unwilling to become an officer during Emperor Zongwen’s time. He had other plans.
“You can return to your courtyard as well. Don’t come out these few days. I will send someone over once the matter is over.” Feng Yuxuan said impatiently when he saw that the man who looked like a steward kneeling where he was. Since Feng Yuran had interfered in the matter, he could not just let it go like this. A hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes and he gestured to the guard beside him.
The guard understood what he wanted and he nodded at Feng Yuxuan silently. Then, he followed the man who looked like a steward out of the room.
Everyone in the room had left. Feng Yuxuan returned to sit by Qin Yufeng’s side. He asked, “Yufeng, what should I do now?”
“Your Highness, there is no rush!” Qin Yufeng lifted his hand calmly and poured Feng Yuxuan and himself a cup of wine. Then, he slowly picked up the teacup and drank it while Feng Yuxuan looked at him anxiously. He laughed softly and said, “Your Highness, do you feel like you are missing a power that can control the Mo Manor?” “The original plan had been for Sima Lingyun to marry the legal daughter of the Mo family, just like what he wanted. With the fourth Mo daughter, who was a concubine’s daughter marrying him as well, Lord Mo would definitely think well of his son-in-law. Then, they would help that concubine become the legal wife. When Third Miss Mo is about to marry Sima Lingyun, she would definitely organize the dowry her mother had brought with her from the Luo family. Aunty Fang is her stepmother and will organize her wedding. She would definitely let us pick through the dowry in order to thank us. We would be able to find whatever we want then!”
Qin Yufeng picked up two empty cups and placed them on the floor. Then, he stacked another cup on them. The cup had not been completely emptied, but it sat steadily on the cups and the liquid did not spill at all.
“But what are we to do now? Sima Lingyun and Auntie Fang are both stupid. None of them succeeded.” Feng Yuxuan frowned and looked at the cups. He could not understand what Qin Yufeng was doing and could not help but ask anxiously.
“It can’t be considered that they did not succeed at all. At least we now know that the playboy Eighth Prince is not as useless as he is rumored to be. He is so skilled, so how could he just be a useless playboy? Your Highness, it looks like we have to pay more attention to this King Xuan.” Qin Yufeng was not hurried at all and he flicked the top-most cup lightly. The cup shook and then the cups below started shaking as well.
“But, Yufeng…” While Feng Yuxuan felt that it made sense, he could not calm down when he thought of how his plans had been completely ruined. He was in no mood to further examine what Qin Yufeng said. Instead, he continued to press him.
“Your Highness, do not worry. You are a noble and elegant Prince! We will be more relaxed now. Since what has happened has happened, then we might as well give the pot another stir. If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. We might as well make it even more chaotic. Don’t you think that it would be more advantageous to us?” Qin Yufeng said calmly. He poked at the cups and the wine cup slid down from the two empty cups.
Feng Yuxuan had been too anxious earlier. He had calmed down after listening to what Qin Yufeng said. He looked at the two empty cups and the elegant smile he usually wore appeared on his face once more. He could not help but nod lightly in agreement.
There will be no fish if the water is too clear. If they wanted the fish, they would have to dirty the water.
At the same time, there was yet another person who was still awake. The handsome young man was dressed in white as he laid on the couch reading a book. There was a smile on his lips and his eyes were clear. He listened to the reports from his guards half-heartedly as if he did not care. Only Qiu Ju, who had been holding up the light for him realized that his master had not flipped the pages of his book in a long while.
Because he was about to go to bed soon, he wore only a snow-white long robe. The robe hung nicely and was wide and casual. His long dark hair was tied up with a single silver thread. There were no pins in his hair either. A few strands of hair fell onto his handsome forehead, shrouding his handsome face, but yet, making him seem noble. His eyes were so clear they looked as if they could see through one’s heart.
He had not gone to the banquet tonight. He had only entered the palace to keep the Empress Dowager company for a while before leaving. The Empress Dowager’s health was poor and she could not have fun with her people or stay up late. Bai Yihao helped her to bed and left the palace. As such, while he had heard of what happened afterward in the palace, he did not interfere in it.
“Sir, should we continue watching them?” The secret guard asked. He had finished his report but received no reply even after a long while.
“Don’t be so hasty, and there is no need to send someone to watch Feng Yuran closely anymore. We are on his territory and he will always have more men than us. Since someone already knows that he is capable, they would try to deal with him. We just need to wait and watch.” The gentle voice was crisp and clear. Bai Yihao leaned back. His long dark hair was scattered casually across his handsome face, making him seem ethereal. He looked at the candle that was almost extinguished and gestured for Qiu Ju to move it away.
Qiu Ju understood and took two steps back. He put the light on the table and then lowered his head, hiding in the shadows. He did not dare to say anything else. Qiu Ju had noticed his master’s odd behavior. His master’s bright eyes shone differently and he kneaded his right index finger and thumb together.
The young master was not as calm as he appeared to be!
“The First Prince has already entered the capital. Sir, do you think…”
“Find a chance to bring the thing to First Prince. I trust that Elder Brother would have gained plenty on his trip to the Great Qin this time!”