Chapter 243 Beautiful Jade and King Xuan’s Plots
Even though the boxes were not large, they were so exquisite when put together that it made one sigh. One could tell that everything there was a treasure.
No matter the jade bangles, earrings, or jade pieces and locks… they were all either made of jade, had jade embedded in them, or were jade with precious stones embedded on them. The color of the jade pieces was clear and extremely dazzling.
“This is from the Ding General Manor and this is from the Ping General Manor. This is from that young lady from the Mingguo Manor and First Miss Mo of the Mo Manor sent this secretly.” Qin Yufeng pointed at the four boxes of varying sizes with his fan.
“It’s not there?” Feng Yuxuan frowned, asking while he squatted down and riffled through the boxes.
“No. I checked it earlier. Other than the fact that these are all precious stuff, there’s nothing else.” Qin Yufeng picked up a piece of jade and looked at it under the bright light in the room. It was as bright as day in the room.
Feng Yuxuan did not say anything. He carefully checked through the jade in the four boxes before moving away disappointedly. He stood up and asked Qin Yufeng, “How could it be possible that it’s not there. If it’s not here, are there things that still have not reached us?”
“Yes, there is still a portion in the manors. However, the target is too big and it would not be easy to find it.” Qin Yufeng frowned. In this case, the target was still big. Even though they knew that the treasure would not have been gifted to servants, there are many masters in the manor. It would not be easy to find if any one of them hid it.
“It’s a mess now at the Mo Manor. You implied that you were not going to help First Miss Mo anymore, so why did you help her with this?” Feng Yuxuan asked casually as he took the warm towel a eunuch handed him and wiped his hand.
Qin Yufeng smiled bitterly and also wiped his hand. Then, he walked to a nanmu wood chair and sat down. “I was going to give up. But when I thought of how Yu Feng and Consort Yu were working together, I figured that if we could strike Mo Xuemin’s sister and keep her down, it would be a good choice. On one hand, we would be able to continue going through Madam Mo’s dowry through Mo Xuemin. On the other hand, we can also use Consort Yu to plead for His Highness. No matter how much trouble Consort Yu goes through, she does not have a son and would not be able to rise again.”
Feng Yuxuan understood what he meant. If he were to secretly use Consort Yu’s consolidated power, it would only be a good thing even if they failed and Consort Yu were to be implicated.
As such, they had secretly instigated Consort Yu to work with other officials, and that was why the incident today had happened. Consort Yu meddled in Auntie Fang’s matters. However, she did not imagine that the tides would turn so quickly. She had lost completely in just mere moments. They heard that the concubine had been brought out of the Mo Manor in a mat. The matter had blown up after she was taken from the Mo Manor.
After such a huge incident, Consort Yu did not dare to do anything and had already fled long ago.
“That Third Miss Mo is not one to underestimate!” Qin Yufeng put down his fan and took a cup of tea that was offered to him. He took a sip from it.
One could not tell that the slender and weak woman was so capable. In just mere moments, she had turned the tides so stealthily. Even Qin Yufeng, who had always had good foresight and planning could not help but praise her. For some reason, she thought of her clear, beautiful eyes that were lively and cold. His head hurt. She had appeared in some of his dreams. That was odd. They had not interacted much.
“Yu Feng, this matter cannot be rushed. Since we can’t find it and the Empress would not be able to get anything either. Since Father is not yet decided, anyone could be named the heir. We just have to stop the Empress from finding it. What do you think if I marry Third Miss Mo as a second consort?”
Feng Yuxuan’s words shocked Qin Yufeng. He held his teacup and turned away, coughing softly to hide his shock. Then, he turned around, his expression having calmed down. He put down his teacup and picked up his fan, waving it as he cocked his head with a smile. He asked, “Your Highness, when did you think of this? Are you giving up on First Miss Mo completely?”
Feng Yuxuan stood up and paced around in frustration. Then, he stopped in front of Qin Yufeng and said, “Since the Mo Manor has already become like that, First Miss Mo has long since lost her usefulness. Last time in the palace, I was dragged down by her and she almost got me a punishment from Father. Yet, you still protected her maid.”
“I thought it was just a maid, I would just employ her. She might be useful in the future. But it seems like the woman is stupid. She just wants to marry up and is a flirtatious sort. Who would be willing to marry her? Only Sima Lingyun, that idiot. She is a useless chess piece, what’s the point of keeping her around?” Feng Yuxuan said sarcastically.
“If Your Highness marries Third Miss Mo as your second consort, First Miss Mo, as well as those working with and for her would be made useless. Do you think its worth it?” Qin Yufeng’s smile was light. He looked completely unconcerned as if he were watching on the scenes as someone who were not involved in the matter. He was completely disengaged emotionally.
Nonetheless, his tight eyes reflected something different.
However, it was faint. It was so faint that King Chu, Feng Yuxuan did not notice at all.
Feng Yuxuan frowned. He understood what Qin Yufeng was saying, of course. Mo Xuemin was useless now, but she had the support of the Yu family as well as Consort Yu, who was related to the Yu family. He needed that desperately now. What was better than a secret alliance that he was not part of but could use!
In recent days, his mother did not enjoy the favor of his father. Consort Yu, who had just entered the palace did though. If he buried this spy by his father’s side, his father would never expect that he, who had never come into contact much with the women of the palace, would be able to make use of his lover. This was much more important than anything else.
In the future, when a crown prince is elected, his chances would be greater with the help of Consort Yu. And, should his father not elect a crown prince, and when his body fails, he would be able to gain a huge opportunity when the tides turn. The competition between him and Feng Yulei had already made his father become wary against the Empress and his mother. Only consorts who do not have children can gain his father’s trust and he would listen to them.
That was the most important thing during the most crucial period.
“We shall see.” Hesitance appeared on Feng Yuxuan’s elegant face.
“Your Highness, you still have a different choice.” Qin Yufeng smiled leisurely. “If Your Highness can take both sisters, you will be able to get the best of both worlds.”
Marrying both sisters. Feng Yuxuan paused for a moment. This was a viable method, but when he thought of that gentle and beautiful face that had a hidden strength beneath, he fell silent. A girl like that would definitely not agree. Mo Xuemin and Mo Xuetong had already become enemies. The concubine had killed her mother, and Mo Xuemin had tried to hurt her again and again. Her life and reputation had almost been damaged by Mo Xuemin. How would that stubborn girl be able to share a husband with that woman?
Furthermore, whenever he thought of Mo Xuemin, he felt disgusted, as if he had swallowed a fly.
Feng Yuxuan flung out his hands and then objected, “Let’s not talk about that first. We should check through these things.”
“Alright, I will investigate again. After all, many years have passed.” Qin Yufeng smiled and walked out. Nobody saw the relief in his eyes. He unfurled his clenched up left hand, looking like the intelligent Young Master Qin once more.
On the other side!
On the Yu Manor roof, Mo Xuetong stayed in Feng Yuran’s embrace. Her eyes were cold as she listened to the conversation below.
It was Auntie Fang, Yu Feng, a woman she did not know, as well as Yu Feng’s wife, Mdm Chen.
“Feng’er, your sister did not mean to end up like that. We should think of a way to help her. How is that little slut from the Mo Manor so smart? Even you can’t deal with her.” The old woman sounded like the Old Madam of the Yu Manor as she spoke sharply to Yu Feng. Auntie Fang had cried and complained earlier, and looking at how pathetic Auntie Fang looked now, the old lady felt her heart breaking.
“Mother, sister was the one who did this to herself. Why did she admit to hurting Mdm Mo? This would not be forgiven no matter which family it is. Mo Huawen did not flog her to death because she is the mother of his two children. I can’t do anything to send her back to the Mo Manor now.” Yu Feng just wanted to hit Auntie Fang to death. Mdm Chen had already analyzed the matter to him earlier, and there were a hundred disadvantages and not a single advantage to keeping Auntie Fang around.
However, he could not tell that to his mother, and he could only answer her in a roundabout manner.
“She is your younger sister. Someone took her away when she was younger. Otherwise, how would she become a concubine? Feng’er, no matter what, you have to think of something for your younger sister. You have to let her return to the Mo Manor through legal means. When Feng’er takes charge of the Mo Manor, your younger sister would become the Old Madam of the manor.” Old Madam Yu hit the ground with her cane, unwilling to back down.
Since Auntie Fang had been thrown out, even if Mo Yufeng were to take charge of the Mo Manor in the future, Auntie Fang would still not be a proper madam.
However, a concubine who had been thrown out and had committed such crimes would not be accepted again by the Mo Manor. Yu Feng paced around in frustration, feeling extremely troubled. This matter had definitely affected the Yu family. First, it was Yu Sirong, then, it was Auntie Fang. How would others think of the girls in the Yu family in the future?
“Mother, don’t worry. We can’t rush this matter. We might as well send her to the countryside to recuperate. Your daughter-in-law set up a house out there, the scenery is pretty good. Send her there to recuperate and then we can discuss the matter again.” Mdm Chen persuaded the Old Madam. She had her plans and Auntie Fang was a hinderance right now if she were to stay in the capital. Furthermore, her reputation was terrible. Even though she hated the little slut, she knew that they could not keep Auntie Fang here.
“Shut up, when is it your turn to talk? Son, if you want to send your younger sister to the countryside, you might as well send me there. We women really have terrible lives. I worked hard to raise you all, but look at what’s happening now. You have your wife and you have forgotten about your mother…” The Old Madam pushed her daughter-in-law who was standing in front of her aside and bellowed.
“Mother, Mother…” Auntie Fang howled.
“Mother, I did not mean that…” Mdm Chen sweated profusely.
“What do you mean you didn’t mean that? I’ve seen useless people, but I have never seen someone as useless as you both. Your daughter’s reputation has been ruined and she was disfigured. Yet, you didn’t even say anything. Now that your own sister has been landed in such a terrible state, you still think of avoiding the matter. If everyone in the Yu family behaves like you, we would be too embarrassed to go out. She’s just a little slut, and to think that you work out there…” The Old Madam complained.
This infuriated Yu Feng. His daughter was disfigured. She was his eldest legitimate daughter and was beautiful. She could have married someone in court to hook him up with powerful and wealthy connections. However, something like that had happened not long after they came to the capital. Her life was ruined. How could he not hate the instigator from the Mo family?
“Mother, I was wrong. Younger Sister can rest here and I will not let that little slut off easily.” Mdm Chen’s ire was stoked as well. A hint of viciousness flashed through her eyes.
“Sister-in-law, Consort Yu will definitely help us. As long as the little slut is around, my children and I will not be safe. As long as we beg Consort Yu for help, I will give most of Luo Xia’s jewelry to her.” Auntie Fang had long sobered up by then and a flash of darkness glinted in his eyes.
She did not expect the little slut to be so smart. She had distracted her so much that she had even mentioned what happened back then.
She did not have much hope of returning to the Mo Manor now. She only hoped that they can get rid of that little slut Mo Xuetong. She knew that if she did not get rid of her, Min’er and Feng’er would never be able to succeed.
The people beneath gathered together and started to plot softly…