Chapter 195 The Intelligent Grand Secretariat’s Daughter
Mo Xuetong did not know what happened. She met Xu Yan and the two started chatting.
After a few days of getting to know each other, Mo Xuetong found that she was very satisfied with this aunt of hers. That was because while Xu Yan looked gentle and fragile on the surface, she was very opinionated. Otherwise, she would not have delayed her marriage until now and be so picky about her husband.
That was for the best. Xu Yan’s character would not allow Auntie Fang and Lan Xinru to have a second chance. If Xu Yan had been a weak-willed noble lady, she would definitely be no match for them. One of them had Mo Xuemin pull the strings behind her and Xuemin had someone to back her as well. The other’s backing was the Old Madam. They both had different advantages.
Furthermore, Xu Yan’s character was a good match for her father. Mo Xuetong knew that even though Mo Huawen doted on her now, she could still sense Mo Huawen’s softness. His strength did not lie in managing the inner courtyard! The hierarchy in the inner courtyard almost did not exist any longer!
The gossip must have taken effect. Her aunt brought up her father shyly. Even though she was just asking about regular things, Mo Xuetong could sense the underlying currents. She praised her father without hesitation and even mentioned that the pouch Xu Yan gave her was very beautiful. Her father thought that Mo Xuetong made it so he carried it with him.
This made Xu Yan flush with shyness. She did not say anything and returned to her courtyard.
What she had to do next was to deal with her father!
Mo Xuetong had already decided what to do. She turned around and returned to her courtyard. Mo Yu hurried up to her on her way back.
Mo Yu did not see Mo Xueyan being stopped at the inner doors. However, she saw Mo Xueyan running back, looking very pathetic. She knew that Mo Xueyan must have done something and had been taught a lesson by someone. As such, she ignored Mo Xueyan and went to look for Mo Xuetong. While searching, she received shocking news. When she went to search for Mo Xuetong at the fake mountains, she heard that someone had died there.
She was frightened and squeezed up in front of the crowd to take a look. The deceased was a maid who had fallen from the rocks into the water for some reason. Her head was covered in blood and Mo Yu did not dare to look. She continued searching, and fortunately, a maid by Xu Yan’s side saw her and told her where Mo Xuetong was.
“The maid died because she fell into the water and hit the rocks?” Mo Xuetong asked Mo Yu as they walked. She had sensed the glint of the sword, so why had the maid died from impacting the rocks instead?
“That’s right. I could not really see from where I was standing, but there was a lot of blood on her head. I was very scared and ran away.” Mo Yu still felt afraid when she recalled the scene. She would not have been so curious if she had not been worried about her mistress.
The two saw Luo Mingzhu while they were talking.
There were a few young ladies who were dressed in bright colors and fine clothes around her. They all wore brightly colored coats and had leather on the cuffs of their clothes. The leather and fur made the clothes look especially luxurious. The girls were all beautiful and looked picturesque.
“Cousin Tong, where did you go? I looked for you for a good while. Come, let me introduce you to a few people.” Luo Mingzhu saw Mo Xuetong and greeted her enthusiastically.
Everyone turned around to look at Mo Xuetong. Their expressions all looked different.
Mo Xuetong smiled and greeted the other ladies unhurriedly as Luo Mingzhu introduced them to each other.
The five young ladies who were with Luo Mingzhu included You Yuecheng’s younger sister, You Yue’e, Chen Ya’er from Duke Ping’s manor, Wang Xiuxiu, the daughter of the grand secretariat, a minister’s daughter, Shen Qianxiu, as well as Ling Rui’er from the Ding General Manor. They were all from powerful and noble families. Other than Chen Ya’er and Wang Xiuxiu, who returned her greeting warmly, the other three only greeted her in a lukewarm manner.
“Elder Sister Luo, so this is the Cousin Tong whom you kept talking about. She is indeed beautiful.” Chen Ya’er was a girl who had a round face. She cocked her head and sized Mo Xuetong up, looking rather childish. “If I had a cousin who looked like that, I would flaunt her off to others as well.”
She seemed like a straightforward person and was rather likable.
Ling Rui’er said, “Even though I don’t have a beautiful cousin, I have a beautiful elder sister. So I am not jealous of others.” She sounded very sarcastic and one could hear the challenge in her voice. Fortunately, everyone knew that the Ding General Manor had never gotten along well with the Fu General Manor. As such, no one spoke.
Luo Mingzhu’s expression turned dark. She was about to express her anger when Mo Xuetong quickly held her back. Luo Mingzhu was the host today and must not make things difficult for her guests. Her Second Cousin was not someone who was good at bearing her anger. All these people must have gathered today for some other reason than her Second Cousin. There must definitely be someone in this group who was good at making everyone get along. Otherwise, her Second Cousin would not have been here together with Ling Rui’er.
Indeed, Wang Xiuxiu smiled and reached out for Ling Rui’er’s hand. She said, “Younger Sister Ling. Who else can match up to Second Miss Ling’s beauty? She is the most beautiful girl in Great Qin, and even His Majesty is full of praise for her.”
Then, she turned around to smile at Mo Xuetong. “Younger Sister Tong, I heard that you have not been in the capital for long. Tell us about Cloud City. I heard that the sky there is much higher than in the capital. Is that true!”
Everyone chuckled when they heard that.
“Elder Sister Wang, to think that you are the Grand Secretariat’s daughter. To think that you would think that the sky would be higher in other places. The Grand Secretariat will give you a dressing down when you go home.” You Yue’e, who had not spoken all this while pulled Chen Ya’er over and smiled. The two of them were really close.
They had been linking arms all this while.
The Ping Duke’s Manor and the Mingguo Manor had always had a good relationship. If they connected with the Ding General Manor, the only manor left would be Mo Xuetong’s maternal family. In her past life, nothing had happened to the other three families. Only her maternal family had gotten into trouble. Was it because the three families had joined hands while her Uncle did not have any support…?
If that was so, then did the good relationship between the daughters of these manors signify the cooperation of the two manors? She heard that First Miss Ling of the Ding General Manor had always admired You Yuecheng and the two families had intentions to get the two to wed. Was it possible that the Ding General Manor had started to connect with the other two families after the marriage? That would be a great disadvantage to her maternal family.
“Elder Sister Wang, there is no saying that the sky is higher and the weather is good in Cloud City. I have only heard that the people there are very greedy. I heard that King Chu went to Cloud City some time ago and got rid of many officials there. I don’t know if that has anything to do with the sky being higher.” Ling Rui’er said with disdain and raised her brows.
What she said was highly sarcastic and Luo Mingzhu was about to rage at her. Mo Xuetong held Luo Mingzhu’s hand and refused to let go. She looked up with her clear eyes and said lightly with a smile, “Miss Ling, you are so knowledgeable. I heard that His Majesty was furious because of this. Yet, you speak of this as if it were a joke. You are indeed from the Ding General Manor, and your family is much more powerful than the families of Princes, Dukes, or Generals. You dare to speak of something that they don’t even dare to speak of in court.”
Ling Rui’er blanched and she spoke angrily, “You…”
Mo Xuetong looked at her with a smile. She did not look afraid at all. She did not want to relent but the state of the Mo Manor right now gave her no choice. She had only just arrived in the capital and did not want to be looked down on right from the start. There were some people who would make trouble for you no matter how demure you were. She might as well behave ostentatiously today.
“Miss Mo, how could you speak like this to Younger Sister Ling. She is a young lady from the Ding General Manor.” You Yue’e immediately spoke up when she saw that Ling Rui’er could not say anything.
She had always looked down at Mo Xuetong. She used to be close with Mo Xuemin in the past and Mo Xuemin had buttered up to her because she wanted to get close to You Yuecheng. As such, the two were incredibly close. Mo Xuemin had always pretended to be pitiful before her. She always cried when she mentioned her younger sister and always seemed self-reproachful.
Mo Xuetong smiled lightly and said, “Miss You’s status is noble, of course. However, are you as noble as the Princess Royal? Would I dare to say something like this if the Princess Royal had not? Is my status too low to say something like this to Miss Ling? I wonder how noble Miss Ling is.”
“You, you…” You Yue’e was speechless and could only sneer in anger.
“Miss You, please forgive me. I am from the countryside and have always been very direct. I hope that you will forgive me if I have offended you.” Mo Xuetong said lightly with a smile.
“Ling Rui’er was furious and glared at Mo Xuetong angrily. Her beautiful face was dark with anger. Mo Xuetong glanced at her casually and ignored her. Then, she started chatting and laughing with Luo Mingzhu without care.
Luo Mingzhu’s mood took a turn for the better. It was rare to see Ling Rui’er and You Yue’e being put down together!
The two had always pitted themselves against her. Furthermore, she was the hostess today and could not say much. Fortunately, her cousin had not let her down. She had gone against the two and had not lost.
Wang Xiuxiu tried to ease the tense situation then. She smiled at Luo Mingzhu and asked, “Younger Sister Luo, your courtyard must be not far away from here. I wonder if you’ve gotten the servants to prepare tea and snacks. The other younger sisters must all be cold. The hand warmers are all cold as well. We have to get some hot ones.”
“Elder Sister Wang, don’t worry. Everything is already prepared. I immediately got the maids to prepare everything when you said that you wanted to come over and play. I have to make sure everyone has fun.”
“Elder Sister Wang, this small banquet that we are holding secretly is really fun. Let’s go to Elder Sister You’s place next time. Elder Sister You, you have to take us to your room.” Chen Ya’er smiled warmly. She had been standing beside You Yue’e earlier. You Yue’e had let go of her hand while she was arguing with Mo Xuetong. Mo Xuetong finally saw her face clearly and realized that she was a sweet and beautiful looking girl. She did not look like a schemer.
She left a good impression on Mo Xuetong. She was unlike You Yue’e.
“I will hold the banquet next time, of course. All of you have to come.” You Yue’e waved her hand around her. Mo Xuetong had naturally been excluded. Fortunately, she did not mind. She continued walking, holding on to Luo Mingzhu’s hand.
Heaters had already been prepared in Luo Mingzhu’s room. It was warm and toasty. The moment they lifted the curtains and entered, a wave of heat rushed towards them. A few maids hurried over and helped the young ladies to remove their capes.
There was a table set up in the room with seven seats. Luo Mingzhu had not planned this on the spur of the moment and had prepared for this.
They gathered around the table with smiles on their faces. They looked like a painting of beautiful young girls gathering around in the winter. But who would have guessed that years later, they would all be standing on different sides and become enemies…?
They sat down. Mo Xuetong looked up to see Ling Rui’er who treated her with enmity. She was seated across her for some reason and she looked at Mo Xuetong with disdain and hostility. Then, she turned around to chat with You Yue’e.
Mo Xuetong looked at the girls around her and she frowned. Other than her, they were all daughters of important court officials. The four general manors, the grand secretariat, and the minister’s family. It was like a miniature imperial court session. The backing of the girls, if they gathered together, might affect who the throne belonged to… What did the gentle and intelligent Wang Xiuxiu want to do?