Chapter 307 Stopped after the Princess’ Banquet
After the banquet ended, everyone left the palace. Mo Xuetong and Luo Mingzhu walked right at the back. They were seated far away earlier and did not have the chance to speak. They only met each other now and were speaking with each other softly.
Luo Mingzhu glanced at Bai Yihao and Bai Yichen who were not far away ahead in front of them. She pulled Mo Xuetong’s hand in concern and pointed at the two men. She said softly, “Cousin Tong, you must not go on the riding trip with them. The First Prince of Yan came to marry a noble woman from the Qin Kingdom. You are in a perilous seat and be careful lest you be plotted against.”
Even the usually careless Luo Mingzhu could see it. How obvious were the Bai brothers!
“Second Cousin, do you think that the royal brothers will plot against me?” Mo Xuetong held Luo Mingzhu’s hand with a vague smile. She remembered that her cousin was one of the girls who liked Bai Yihao. She did not expect Luo Mingzhu to speak badly of him.
Luo Mingzhu glared at her angrily. She knew what Mo Xuetong meant, and she pursed her lips, saying, “If you continue saying that, I will ignore you. I’m worried for you and am afraid that you won’t know even if someone hurts you.”
“Alright, alright. I know Second Cousin treats me the best.” Mo Xuetong swung their hands, trying to butter up to Luo Mingzhu. Bai Yichen, who was speaking with Bai Yihao turned around then and caught sight of how adorable she was. He could not help the elegant smile that appeared on his lips.
“As long as you know. since the Princess Royal is ill, you can use this excuse and stay at home in peace. Don’t go anywhere. I think the Fifth Princess has some enmity against you. Be careful.” Luo Mingzhu smiled sincerely and warned Mo Xuetong, afraid that Mo Xuetong would be ignorant given her young age.
Mo Xuetong’s heart softened when she saw the smiling face of her cousin and her sincere concern. There was also a bittersweet feeling. In her past life, her cousin treated her very well too. However, Mo Xuetong never listened to her and always ignored what she said. She had told Mo Xuetong to be wary of Mo Xuemin many times but Mo Xuetong had ignored her thinking that she was jealous of her friendship with Mo Xuemin.
They could see the entrance of the palace. Luo Wenyou brought Luo Mingzhu in a different direction. Their horse carriage was parked there and it would be faster if they were to head there. Mo Ye went to call for the Mo Manor’s horse carriage and told Mo Xuetong to wait for her.
Mo Xuetong stood under the tree. She suddenly saw a horse charging towards her. It was as quick as lightning and it seemed about to run into her. A few people by her side screamed in shock and they could not help but run in all directions. However, Mo Xuetong stood there silently. She was gracious and there was a relaxed look on her tender face. She did not seem to have sensed the danger at all.
Her skirt flew in the air and then floated down again. She looked dignified and elegant, composed and gracious. Her beautiful eyes were innocent and charming. Yet, her expression was distant and did not match her appearance at all. The mismatch made her even more charming. And on her slender figure, she seemed even more elegant and captivating.
The horse was reined in forcefully when it was just two steps away from her. The horse raised its legs and almost touched her skirt. It was very dangerous.
Bai Yihao had just gotten on his horse not far away. He turned around and his eyes darkened. The gentle smile on his face seemed to turn icy cold in mere moments. He saw You Yuecheng on the horse and a bone-chilling coldness flashed through his eyes. He watched as You Yuecheng stopped the horse before he tightened his horse reins and left with Bai Yichen.
He moved his hands away from the pocket at his waist surreptitiously. His secret daggers were hidden there!
You Yuecheng sat atop his horse and looked at the calm and beautiful face below. He wanted to look away as if nothing had happened. However, he saw her relaxed gaze that looked at him calmly. Their eyes met and for a moment, and he forgot what he was about to do.
“Your Excellency, is there anything you need?” Mo Xuetong arranged her sleeves and asked lightly.
“Princess Anping, don’t we have something to settle between us?” You Yuecheng regained his wits. His deep dark eyes were icy cold. He recalled the information he received yesterday. Mo Xuetong knew of his secret meeting with Mo Xuemin.
This meant that everything that happened after might be part of Mo Xuetong’s plot. That included how Mo Xuemin had been teased, her meeting with Li Youmo, and how he had no choice but vouch for her and implicating his reputation, and what happened to Mo Xuemin after. He had been implicated in the rumors about Mo Xuemin.
He thought of all that and how many still suspected that he and Mo Xuemin were having an affair. They would bring up Mo Xuemin from time to time during conversations with him. They all meant to imply to say that something must have happened between her and Mo Xuemin.
“Xuetong does not understand what Your Excellency means.” Mo Xuetong looked at him with a gentle smile. She seemed really dismissive as if she did not care what he was saying.
“The night before New Year’s Eve, where were you?” You Yuecheng stared at Mo Xuetong, pausing between each word.
“Your Excellency, why are you asking this? I don’t think I have to explain to you what I did!” Mo Xuetong answered uncaringly.
“Mo Xuetong, you are a young unmarried lady. You should adhere to the teachings and behave in a noble and dignified manner!” You Yuecheng said coldly.
“Your Excellency, did you come to tell me that? Are you going to teach me how to behave! We are not related at all, so I won’t trouble Your Excellency.” Mo Xuetong said lightly.
“Mo Xuetong, you are too much. How dare you plot against your sister!” You Yuecheng shouted angrily.
“Plot against her sister!” A dark look appeared on Mo Xuetong’s face. She looked up and said coldly, “Your Excellency, aren’t you meddling too much? That sister and auntie of mine tried to kill my mother and ruin my reputation. If I were not as lucky, I would have been stomped on firmly by them. Having a sister like that is truly a lucky thing. I wonder if the young ladies in the Mingguo Manor are like that!”
She did not expect You Yuecheng to be so biased against her. Mo Xuemin had been the one who hurt her first. He had worked together with Mo Xuemin to hurt her and yet, he seemed so righteous right now berating her. She truly did not know whether her own thinking was too old-fashioned or if he was too evil.
You Yuecheng’s expression changed the moment he heard that!
You Yuecheng had heard what happened that day and even had someone investigate it especially after the matter happened. He knew very well that Mo Xuemin was not as gracious as she appeared to be. It was not her first time trying to hurt Mo Xuetong either. However, the issue was that Mo Xuemin had gotten what she deserved. Why did he have to be implicated? He vented all the anger he felt on Mo Xuetong.
“Mo Xuetong, so what if I stop you here today? Do you think His Majesty will think that something happened between us and bestow a marriage upon us?” He said angrily, narrowing his eyes and looking at the calm young woman.
You Yuecheng was certain that Mo Xuetong would not dare to do anything to him. Mo Xuetong looked around her. It was obvious that some of the young ladies and masters were shocked by what happened. They were all looking at them. Mo Xuetong had been blocked by a man at the entrance of the palace because he was certain that there was no one to protect her. The Princess Royal was ill and the Fifth Princess held enmity against her. The Luo siblings were not there either.
He had behaved so wildly, and might even really have the intention to make Mo Xuetong marry into the Mingguo Manor. Mo Xuetong did not think that You Yuecheng had done this because he wanted to marry her. It was because he wanted her inside the Mingguo Manor so that he could deal with her.
Her clear eyes shone with a deep dark look. It was as if there were embers of flame dancing within them. She curled up her lips coldly and said, “Your Excellency, do you think that no one will deal with you if you behaved so flagrantly at the entrance of the palace? Even though the Empress might have power over the women in the palace, she is not the most powerful woman. The Empress dowager is the true ruler of the palace. Your sister is about to become King Yan’s consort. If something were to happen now, it would definitely implicate King Yan. Do you think that my mother is so ill and cannot get up that she cannot help defend me?”
“You…” The words caused an impact on You Yuecheng. He had only found out about the chasm between the Empress and the Empress Dowager recently. She naturally knew that the Empress Dowager had something on the Empress. If he really did anything inappropriate today, the Empress dowager would definitely use Yue’e to implicate King Yan.
He bit out viciously, “Do you think the Empress Dowager will believe you!”
“How would we know whether the Empress Dowager will believe me or not? In any case, it would just ruin my reputation, but for you and King Yan…” Mo Xuetong relaxed slightly and she smirked coldly. Her beautiful lips curled up with a hint of ridicule. It would be fine as long as You Yuecheng had something to hesitate about!
The Empress Dowager had remained hidden behind the scenes partially because Emperor Zongwen was not her biological son and also because she wanted to keep a low profile. If she had the chance, who knew how she would react? You Yuecheng did not dare to make the wager. If the insignificant matter today caused the fight between the Empress and the Empress Dowager, it would be more of a loss than a gain.
Anyway, he had a plan and she could not escape from his grasp. A cold expression appeared on his handsome face. He said, “Princess Anping, you had best think carefully. You can enjoy endless glory and wealth if you were to marry into the Mingguo Manor. Will you not consider it?”
“Many thanks, Your Excellency, for your affections. The glory and honor are not something that I can afford to enjoy.” Mo Xuetong knew that what she had said had worked. She said, with a mocking jeer in her voice, “I trust that you are even more sure of what happened exactly that day. Why do you think that I will sit there and allow her to hurt me without retaliating? This is how the daughter of a noble family should behave!”
You Yuecheng’s ridiculous enmity frustrated Mo Xuetong. She did not even deny that she had plotted against Mo Xuemin. Her gentle and beautiful eyes were frozen and there was undisguised anger in her tone. What right did he have to think that she should be hurt by Mo Xuemin? The hatred of her past life crashed around her and the color of blood appeared before her.
In her past life, she had been forced into a corner by Mo Xuemin and had been killed. No one had spoken up for her. Why were there so many people who could not resist jumping out to blame her loudly when she had only just caused Mo Xuemin her reputation? They seemed righteous as if they were going to bring her to justice. Did they think she was someone they could easily bully and that anyone could stomp all over her?
The intensity of her attitude shocked You Yuecheng. He paused for a moment. He did not expect Mo Xuetong to have such a huge reaction and that she would be so sharp with her words, not even allowing him anywhere to back into. However, he had been threatening as well and had not allowed her anywhere to back into. He had laid things out in the open. Mo Xuemin’s reputation had been affected after she was found that day. But if he were to be discovered with Mo Xuemin, her reputation would be completely ruined.
Some of the young ladies and masters seemed to have seen the fight then. They were strolling casually towards them.
You Yuecheng gritted his teeth. He did not dare to truly tear through the veneer of civility in the end. He calmed down and said to Mo Xuetong coldly, “Princess Anping, you’d better watch out! See you!” Then, he pulled the horse reins and the horse turned around. It lifted its front legs and sped away, leaving a trail of dust behind it.
He would return to the manor and have his First Uncle go to the Mo Manor to ask for Mo Xuetong’s hand. He wanted to see what reason the Mo Manor would use to reject him!