Chapter 375 The Affair at the Wedding Banquet
“My Lady, you are an imperial concubine and you manage matters within the palace. I heard that the Emperor values the child in your belly a lot. If you tire yourself out minding so many things, you might incur the Emperor’s wrath.” Mo Xuetong seemed not to notice the fury on Consort Yu’s face. There was a calm and leisure smile on the corners of her lips. Coupled with her lively eyes, she seemed concerned for Consort Yu. However, there was a hint of contempt in her eyes that could not be hidden.
“You dare!” Consort Yu yelled angrily and covered her stomach subconsciously.
“I am King Xuan’s consort. The child in your stomach has nothing to do with me. If you are not careful and push the blame on me, that’s not right either. No matter how great you are, you are just a concubine of the Emperor. I heard that King Xuan had once kicked a favored imperial consort from the prayer platform.” Mo Xuetong smiled. Her gaze landed on Consort Yu’s face. They shone brightly.
This incident happened before Mo Xuetong entered the capital. It was said that Feng Yuran had only just entered the capital then as well. Emperor Zongwen brought a few of his sons and his favored consorts to the prayer platform to worship their ancestors. A favored consort mocked Feng Yuran and looked down on Feng Yuran’s birth mother. She spoke down to him with contempt!
Feng Yuran had not spared her at all and kicked the favored concubine off the worship platform. It was said that the favored concubine’s skirt hooked onto the railings and managed to stop there. She was saved but was never doted on again or consoled by Emperor Zongwen. Instead, she was thrown into the Cold Palace because of an insignificant matter and died there after a few months.
Yet, nothing happened to Feng Yuran. He was just locked up at home for two days and continued to stroll around arrogantly and licentiously in the capital.
The woman was Emperor Zongwen’s favored concubine. If she had not lost favor, Consort Yu would not have received any attention! When Consort Yu thought of that, she shuddered. There was a hint of hesitation in her eyes.
“Your Highness, if you wish to use the child in your belly to hurt me, that’s fine too. The Emperor is old and whether or not he can have any more children in the future is a problem. It will not be easy for you to have another child if you lose this one. Without a child, life in the palace will be…” Mo Xuetong smiled faintly.
If a consort in the palace did not have any children, they would be sent to a desolate palace at the back. They did not have much hope of leaving again.
“Don’t pretend to be kind. You don’t need to care about my business. You just have to care about yourself.” Consort Yu retorted sarcastically.
The lead palace maid had returned while they were speaking. She placed the hot water on the ground and turned around to retrieve a bottle of medicinal ointment. She poured some of the ointment into the water. Mo Xuetong saw that she did not have much business there anymore, so she smiled and turned to leave.
“King Xuan’s Consort, can you help me to hold up the lady?” The lead palace maid suddenly said as she looked up at Mo Xuetong.
Mo Xuetong glanced at Consort Yu who was lying on the bed and then at the pleading look on the lead palace maid’s face. Her face suddenly grew stern and she said coldly, “There will definitely be servants from the palace to wait on Consort Yu since she is ill. Does it definitely have to be me!”
There were so many palace maids outside who were not doing anything but the palace maid insisted on the noble King Xuan’s consort helping Consort Yu. Did the palace maid think that she did not have a temper?!
Mo Xuetong had always been gentle and she appeared to be beautiful and youthful. As such, everyone thought that she was sweet and kind and was easy to get close to. However, when she appeared stern and angry, she was dignified and poised. The lead palace maid was so afraid she did not dare to say anything. Her lips tremored as if she was trying to explain herself. However, Mo Xuetong’s aura stopped her from doing so.
“Alright, we can’t afford the help of the great first consort. Go and don’t scare my servants. I wouldn’t dare to have you help me! I will get up myself!” Consort Yu retorted unhappily.
Mo Xuetong looked at Consort Yu expressionlessly. Consort Yu was frowning slightly and there was a hint of urgency in her eyes. She seemed very impatient.
Even though the lead palace maid was scared, there was a sense of urgency within her as well. Furthermore, anyone with the slightest bit of temper would definitely be infuriated by what the maid said earlier. Was it intentional?
“My Lady, I did not mean to do it.” The lead palace maid said fearfully.
“You ordered me around unintentionally? If you meant it, would you order the prince around too?” There was a hint of severity in Mo Xuetong’s eyes. She did not leave but glared at the lead palace maid coldly.
“My Lady, I saw that you were a little close…” The lead palace maid did not dare to stand any longer when she heard King Xuan being brought into the equation. She knelt down forcefully and begged for forgiveness as she tried to explain herself.
“I was just a tiny bit closer than the maids at the door. Is that considered close? Am I very strong and am just a servant for you, a slave, to order around?” Mo Xuetong said sharply. She did not intend to let the maid off.
“I did not mean that, I thought…” The lead palace maid tried to explain.
“You thought, you thought. You are a servant, what do you dare to think? You should consider whether your rank is high enough to treat me like this!” Mo Xuetong did not spare the maid. Her expression was dark and grave.
“Alright alright, you don’t have to show off here if you don’t want to help me up! You’re putting on airs here!” Consort Yu grew more impatient. She sat up by herself and slapped the bed angrily as she spoke. Her sharp voice was completely different from the gentle and gracious appearance she assumed when she entered.
Mo Xuetong’s long lashes fluttered and she hid the coldness in her eyes. She harrumphed and left.
Consort Yu seemed to be really anxious to be so angry with Mo Xuetong. She refused to let Mo Xuetong go earlier but wanted to throw her out when the palace maid returned.
Mo Ye was waiting for Mo Xuetong when she reached the entrance. Mo Xuetong slowly left the courtyard holding Mo Ye’s hand. She heard Consort Yu’s voice growing gentle. The angry woman had immediately returned to being gentle immediately. If Mo Xuetong had not come out from in there earlier, she would not dare to believe that Consort Yu had once been so vicious and hateful!
Even though they were close to the bridal chamber, it was not in the same courtyard. Duchess Ding was afraid that Consort Yu would be disturbed and specially chose the parlor here. It was obviously also because of the child in Consort Yu’s belly. Everyone knew how fervent the entire palace was over the unborn child. They must be very careful about it!
“Did you see King Ning, Feng Yuzhen?” Mo Xuetong asked softly while she held Mo Ye’s hand.
Mo Ye replied certainly. “I did not see King Ning, but someone definitely entered the courtyard earlier. Someone came not long after the palace maid went out with the basin. A few maids blocked my vision intentionally and if I had not known some martial arts, I would not have been able to see the corner of the person’s clothes. It was a man’s robe!”
She did not know if it was King Ning but was certain that the person was male. Furthermore, the person was skilled as well and had slipped into the courtyard very quickly. The man hid himself in a room by the side. Mo Ye only saw the edge of a sky blue robe. There were many who wore clothes like that. Furthermore, King Ning was a new groom today and probably would not wear such a color.
Ever since Mo Ye started serving Mo Xuetong, she admired Mo Xuetong’s capable way of handling matters. As such, even though she was uncertain whether the man was King Ning, she felt that her lady was definitely right!
It was just an article of clothing. It would not be difficult to change! Since the King’s consort was certain that the man was King Ning, then it was highly possible that the person was King Ning. However, Mo Ye could not understand. Wasn’t King Ning receiving guests at the front? Why did he come to the back of the courtyard where the Emperor’s consort was? Just thinking about this made one afraid.
“Get Mo Feng to lure Wang Xiuxiu here.” Mo Xuetong suddenly said after taking a few steps forward holding on to Mo Ye.
“Lure her here?” Mo Ye agreed immediately. Then, she said, put in a tough spot, “What will you do if I leave? This is King Ning’s Manor, who knows… This will make His Highness angry.”
Mo Ye did not dare to leave when she thought of what the man would do should anything happen to Mo Xuetong here.
While Mo Feng had followed them here, they had entered the inner courtyard and there were many people. Since it was also daytime, Mo Feng did not follow them inside. If Mo Ye was to go out and find him, Mo Xuetong would be alone in the inner courtyard.
“Don’t worry. Go!” Mo Xuetong smiled lightly as she looked at Princess Royal who was approaching them slowly from not far away.
Mo Ye did not say anything else when she saw Princess Royal. With Princess Royal around, nothing would happen to Mo Xuetong. Mo Ye turned to leave from a side path after seeing Mo Xuetong walking up to Princess Royal. She was walking in the direction of the back door. It would be faster for her to leave this way.
“Tong’er greets her mother!” Mo Xuetong approached Princess Royal with a bright smile. Even though she was smiling, there was a hint of dampness in her eyes. Her eyes were filled with grievances and it was obvious that she had been bullied.
Princess Royal frowned. She pulled Mo Xuetong up and asked her, “Tong’er, did something happen? Did Consort Yu make things difficult for you?” Even though she had come late, she found out that Consort Yu had felt unwell earlier and pulled King Xuan’s Consort to rest somewhere. Princess Royal was displeased when she heard that.
How was it possible for Consort Yu and Tong’er to get along so well for Consort Yu to take her away to speak with in private!
Princess Royal was afraid that something might happen to Mo Xuetong, which was why she hurried over. Consort Yu was pregnant with a royal descendant. Should something really happen, no one could bear the responsibility for it.
“It’s nothing. Consort Yu only told me to look out.” Mo Xuetong said tearfully. She stood straight and a suspicious hint of weakness appeared on her beautiful face. Her long lashes fluttered and she tried to smile.
“Consort Yu is getting braver and braver to dare to meddle in the matters of the royal family.” Princess Royal smiled coldly. Even though she was the Empress Dowager’s descendant, she did not like Consort Yu. Consort Yu usually buttered up to the Empress Dowager and did not leave even when King Ning visited the Empress Dowager. She acted as if they were family and as if she were not an imperial concubine. It was inappropriate for her to see a man unrelated to her.
“Mother, do not be angry. Consort Yu is only pregnant and not feeling well. She’s not trying to make trouble for Tong’er.” Mo Xuetong explained sweetly as if she were trying to help Consort Yu smooth things over.
“Not trying to make trouble for you? She’s trying to make things difficult for you. Tong’er, don’t hang out so much with Consort Yu in the future lest you be blamed if she loses the child!” Princess Royal instructed Mo Xuetong. The Princess grew up in the palace and had seen many things like that. She pulled Mo Xuetong along with her and they walked toward the outside of the courtyard.
She had only come because she was worried about Mo Xuetong. Since Mo Xuetong was fine, she did not wish to see Consort Yu. She was the Princess Royal of the royal family and it was below her position to visit a lowly concubine. So what if she had a son? The Emperor would not just hang on to the throne and not pass it on to his three adult sons and make a young boy the Crown Prince!
It was impossible no matter how much Consort Yu buttered up to the Empress Dowager!
“Tong’er knows. I will take note in the future!” Mo Xuetong smiled lightly. Her eyes shimmered, making her seem sweet, gentle and lovely!
She was truly touched. The Princess Royal stood on her side without any hesitation as if she were truly Mo Xuetong’s biological mother. This made Mo Xuetong think of her biological mother. If her mother were still around, she would definitely be like the Princess Royal, protecting Mo Xuetong without any hesitation!
Mo Xuetong looked up and felt that the Princess Royal’s face merging with her memory of her mother’s face. Her mother and the Princess Royal were considered cousins. It was normal for them to look alike! If her mother were still alive, would she look like this?
Mo Xuetong’s heart wrenched and hurt!
“Mother, let us go look at the bride. Second Miss Wang looks beautiful.” Mo Xuetong hid the sadness she felt and looked up with a smile. It was still early and there was nowhere to go. Most of the women of the Wang manor were probably there. The best solution was to hang out there!
Or perhaps they could use that to fan the flames!