Chapter 393 Mo Xuetong Met the Sisters of the He Family in the Subsidiary Manor
“Mo Lan, don’t you think it is unusual that the two sisters always ask about the things in the palace?” Mo Xuetong looked at the tea cup thoughtfully with a dim smile in her eyes.
Her words reminded Mo Lan, and Mo Lan thought for a while and nodded. “Yes. I remembered that the Second Young Miss He once privately asked Mo Yu about the things that we followed you into the palace, and the things about different consorts in different palaces, and who those more favored consorts were.” Mo Lan was not stupid and immediately understood Mo Xuetong’s words.
“Mo Lan, why do you think they asked so many details about the consorts in the palace?” Mo Xuetong wore a smile, leaned back and lay down on the couch. The design inside the carriage was rather good and fully equipped. It was comfortable and convenient to take. However, this seemingly ordinary carriage had something special.
There was a button beside Mo Xuetong. As long as the button was pressed, another set of iron plates would pop up from the wooden carriage to protect the person inside. And from another mechanism, numerous arrows would be drawn out in all directions like a cloud of arrows, making the hijacker shot like a hedgehog.
This design was fast, resolute and accurate, and took any possibility into consideration. So to speak, whosoever dared to attack the carriage in any direction would come to a dead end.
This was the new carriage designed by Feng Yuran for Mo Xuetong. It was just delivered yesterday, so Feng Yuran dared to let Mo Xuetong come out.
Mo Xuetong’s delicate fingers to touch the button, and a sweet smile took on her face. She thought Feng Yuran was born to be resourceful. How could he even consider it?
Mo Lan did not see Mo Xuetong’s lips curl up, and said with some uncertainty after some careful thoughts, “Do they want to inquire about the things about King Xuan’s Mother, Consort Xian? However, Consort Xian has passed away for years. What is the point of asking about her? Will it be any good for them?”
Although Consort Xian enjoyed the greatest favor, no one remembered her now. Numerous beautiful women came into the palace one after another, so who would remember the face as beautiful as flowers?
Hearing Mo Lan’s reasonable analysis, Mo Xuetong raised her eyes and encouraged her to continue. “Go on…”
Mo Lan thought for a while and continued to say with her thought. “Consort Xian has passed away for years. It is useless that the He Family inquire about her. Do they want to do something by the name of Consort Xian?”
Mo Xuetong was silent, and her smile faded away from her eyes, as her eyebrows wrinkled involuntarily. In the last life, Feng Yuran harbored such an intense hatred for his uncle’s family that he shredded them in the main hall. But until now in this life, although Feng Yuran disliked them, he did not have any killing desire for them. So what happened afterward to bring great changes to his temperament?
It was like a thorn in Mo Xuetong’s heart. If she could not make it clear one day, she could not set her mind at ease, because it concerned Feng Yuran’s future, which really vexed Mo Xuetong.
Mo Xuetong raised her eyes and said, “After entering the manor, you let the nanny come with us to ask around about what they are doing recently.”
“Yes. I will do it.” Mo Lan replied. It was the subsidiary manor where most of the servants came from King Manor. It was proper to let the nanny from King Manor ask about some information, because when Feng Yuran knew Mo Xuetong was going to the subsidiary manor, he asked Steward Wang to send the nanny to follow Mo Xuetong since the nanny’s daughter was serving in the subsidiary manor. It was good to let the mother meet her own daughter.
Feng Yuran was so astute that he knew what Mo Xuetong was going to do before she said anything to him.
Thinking the gentle tease on his remarkably handsome face, Mo Xuetong felt warmth welled up from her heart. In this life when she was reborn, meeting Feng Yuran was her most thankful thing to God.
She thought she would not love anyone in this life. Because her heart had been broken deeply in the last life, she was unwilling to suffer any heart-breaking pain this life. As long as she did not love anyone, she would not be loved, let alone be heartbroken.
She only needed to marry a common person, become his legitimate wife and take some concubines for the person. However, she must take the position of legitimate wife firmly in her hand. Then, she would give birth to a boy and a girl. That life was enough for her. Love was just a ridiculous story for stupid worldly people. This was her original thought.
But this person could not be Feng Yuran!
If the person was him, she was unwilling to see him take concubines. Even though she knew that his back garden was just a display, she still felt sad about it. Fortunately, she had strong self-control and knew that steps should be taken one by one. If he performed too strikingly well and drew all the attention, it was not good for him.
Thinking of his thoughtful care, Mo Xuetong could not help grinning, and her face turned red with beautiful charm…
“My Lady, Ma Lady…”
“Ah, what happened?” Mo Xuetong woke up from her contemplation suddenly and looked at Mo Lan blankly.
“My Lady, we’ve arrived. And someone has been sent to report.” Mo Lan said with a smile.
Mo Xuetong blushed and felt Mo Lan’s smile today carried some special meaning. So she took a glare at Mo Lan, but the manner was not imposing enough, instead, it seemed to be a bit bashful, which gave Mo Xuetong away by conspicuously protesting her embarrassment. So Mo Xuetong felt ashamed and annoyed at that moment.
Mo Lan also found that Mo Xuetong flushed because she was missing the King, but Mo Lan knew that Mo Xuetong had a thin skin, so she did not dare to tease Mo Xuetong. So Mo Lan lifted up the curtain, jumped down first and reached out to help Mo Xuetong get off the carriage.
“My sister-in-law, you are here. We have been waiting here for a long time.”
The moment Mo Xuetong got off the carriage, the He sisters came out from the manor to greet her smilingly. He Yuxiu’s voice arrived faster than her. He Yufen, who came with her, also wore a smile and gave a salute to Mo Xuetong politely.
“There is something on the road, so we are late. Sorry to have you waiting for a long time.” Mo Xuetong said with a smile.
“It’s fine. It is our blessing to have sister-in-law come here. Please come in.” He Yuxiu grinned and said. She called Mo Xuetong sister-in-law more warmly than calling her own brother’s wife. At the scene, an outsider might think that the two families had a close relationship and that the enthusiasm and sincerity would warm anybody.
“Where are the two uncles?” As a junior, Mo Xuetong would greet the two seniors of the He family naturally.
He Yuxiu answered complacently, as she pointed at some mahogany furniture placed vaguely on the left side of the yard. “My father and uncle went out early in the morning because they needed to prepare some things for the eldest sister’s marriage. So they went out early to see if there was anything new.” The set of mahogany furniture was quite expensive. As for the daughter’s marriage, the He family unexpectedly spent a lot preparing the brand-new furniture.
He Yufen blushed with shyness, looking like a newly married woman.
Mo Xuetong stopped, pointed to the other side and asked, “Are these your eldest sister’s dowries? Let me have a look.”
“Yeah, I just want to take sister-in-law to see if there is anything improper or lacking in the dowry. Sister-in-law, please give us some advice. After all, we are from a small place and prepare the dowry in the way as 20 years before. Uncle prepared the dowry by feeling and thought the eldest sister could not be treated poorly.” He Yuxiu took on an innocent look and pointed to the other side, ready to take Mo Xuetong there.
It seemed that she really wanted Mo Xuetong to give some advice.
“Second young sister…” He Yufen hesitated. No matter how she was, she was still a miss to be married. How could she bring others to see her dowry so shamelessly? He Yufen thought she could not do it, so she did not know whether to follow them or not.
He Yuxiu seemed to come to senses, looked at He Yufen bashfully, and said, “Eldest sister, go to do embroidery. I will accompany my sister-in-law. It will be fine. Right? Xuetong?”
He Yufen flushed by the words.
Mo Xuetong’s crystal-clear eyes fell on He Yufen and said with a meaningful smile, “Your sister is right. You should do your things now. In only a few days, you should finish all the embroidery as planned.”
“Thank… thank Xuetong very much.” He Yufen ran away hurriedly with a bashfully red and tender face, as she held her handkerchief to run to her own garden.
On the other side, the nanny had walked to another familiar road when she entered the manor. Coincidentally, He Yufen also walked on the same road. Mo Xuetong smiled more meaningfully.
“Xuetong, see if they are selected well. Senior uncle said the dowry needn’t be too extravagant but could not degrade the King’s manor. After all, we also stand for the King’s face. If the King’s manor is humiliated, not only the King but also our ancestors at home will be angry.” He Yuxiu said in a peevish manner. She acted like a lovely girl. Although she was two years older than Mo Xuetong, He Yuxiu looked more naive.
If He Yuxiu’s body had not happened to block Mo Xuetong’s sight; if Mo Xuetong had not happened to see the arrogance in He Yuxiu’s eyes; if He Yuxiu had not worn a sneer when her fingers pointed at the dowry vaguely…
“Senior Uncle picked them, and the design is really good.” Mo Xuetong followed He Yufen inside the house and cast a glance at the materials of the dowry. She found they were really good, made of genuine solid mahogany. It seemed that the He family was rather satisfied with the marriage, or specifically, with the fact that Yu Mingyong had an elder sister who was enjoying the greatest favor.
He Yuxiu said with a smile, “Senior Uncle knows a person here who has made such preparation before. It is easier to finish things with acquaintances’ help.” She touched the corner of the cabinet with envy in her eyes.
Mahogany furniture was not uncommon in the capital. But to prepare a whole set of mahogany furniture was not affordable by ordinary people. It would cost a lot. Even though the He family served in the government, it was just a low official position in the remote area. How much money and power could they afford to pay for such a set of dowries in such a short period? Looking at the dowry, Mo Xuetong was filled with questions.
Mo Xuetong looked at the furniture while pretending to ask unconcernedly, “The person that the Senior Uncle knows is so powerful that he could prepare the set of dowries in such a short time. They must have a close relationship. When did Senior Uncle know him?”
“Senior Uncle knew him 20 years ago when we still lived in the capital,” He Yuxiu seemed to be reluctant to talk more and shifted the topic after mentioning a little. “Xuetong, looked at it. Is furniture proper? Will Consort Yu be satisfied with it?”
“Of course, this set of furniture is very suitable. Uncles did work hard on it. But I am afraid that Consort Yu cannot go out that day. Otherwise, she will be very satisfied when she sees the eldest cousin’s dowry.” Mo Xuetong pretended to feel sorry.
“Why?”
“I heard Consort Yu does not feel well and she is conceiving the Emperor’s baby. Nothing can go wrong. His Majesty let Consort Yu have a good rest in case of an accident.” Mo Xuetong explained. It was just the official story that sounded that Consort Yu was enjoying the Emperor’s greatest favor. But actually, the day before yesterday when Feng Yuran held Mo Xuetong, he said to her in a low voice that Consort Yu’s criminal conspiracy would be unmasked soon, so Mo Xuetong should be more careful and keep away from Consort Yu.
The matter about Consort Yu?
Obviously, the matter meant the relationship between Consort Yu and Feng Yuzhen. They two had an illicit relationship. If it was disclosed, it would be a great scandal. A nephew slept with his Uncle Emperor’s consort, which would bring disgrace upon the whole imperial family.
But how could the Emperor tolerate being cheated by his consort? He would find a reason to kill the baby in Consort Yu’s belly and threw her into the Cold Palace. Therefore, for Consort Yu who was still living in the dark and making fantastic dreams, Mo Xuetong just felt pitiful and ridiculous.
He Yuxiu raised her face and blinked her eyes with a look of innocence, as if she were really a little girl ignorant of the worldly affairs. She asked curiously, “Is Consort Yu the most favored consort in the palace? She hasn’t given birth to the imperial prince, but His Majesty has loved her so much.”
If an elder person saw her look, they would think the little girl was quite cute. However, Mo Xuetong was younger than He Yuxiu. To show off innocence in front of a younger girl, He Yuxiu looked rather artificial.
Mo Xuetong looked at He Yuxiu’s pretentious expression, and her eyes flashed with a faint smile. The He family inquired about the imperial consorts again and again, and they acted too impatiently. Just like this time, Yu Mingyong’s fame was known to all in the capital. So why was the He family still willing to allow He Yufen to marry him? Because of Consort Xian?
But Consort Xian had passed away. Why did the He Family refuse to stop?
What was their intention?