Chapter 405 The Face-off Between the Princess Royal and King Xuan
It was still early when Feng Yuran and Mo Xuetong returned.
The matter did not involve them a great deal and Feng Yuran’s leg was still not healed. As such, they were allowed to return to their manor early.
After Mo Xuetong got Feng Yuran to lie down when they returned home, news of the Princess Royal’s arrival came.
As such, Mo Xuetong received Princess Royal in her courtyard.
Princess Royal came in a hurry and only brought a few people. When Mo Xuetong entered the room and curtsied, the princess nodded. She looked at the servants around Mo Xuetong with narrowed eyes and did not say anything.
She wanted to speak with Mo Xuetong alone.
Mo Xuetong waved her hands and Mo Lan and the other servants left. The servants around Princess Royal followed them and left as well. Mo Lan, who was the last to leave closed the door and waited a few steps away from the door. After serving Mo Xuetong for so long, she knew what she should do at a time like this.
“Tong’er, do you know of your mother’s past?” Princess Royal did not tarry and went straight to the point. She looked at Mo Xuetong with deep and worried eyes. She seemed a little lost. This was a topic that the two of them had not spoken about plainly. However, Mo Xuetong knew that Princess Royal knew about it.
The kidnapping the last time had actually been a test.
“Mother!” Mo Xuetong looked shocked and opened her small mouth. Her expression was filled with fear and shock, panic and unease. She stood up suddenly as if she had been shocked.
“Tong’er, do not be afraid. I am your aunt and will not hurt you.” Princess Royal held Mo Xuetong’s hand and patted her soothingly when she saw how afraid Mo Xuetong was. She pulled Mo Xuetong into her seat and explained softly, “Your maternal grandfather was afraid that the situation would get worse. When I was born, a maid in my uncle’s courtyard had a baby too. Your grandparents swapped the babies. I never thought that the swap would part us forever.”
Princess Royal sighed after saying that.
So that was why Princess Royal had not been killed together with King Jin’s family. Mo Xuetong had once suspected that something like this might have happened. King Jin must have been afraid that he would fail and his entire family would be killed. As such, he had swapped one of his daughters out. If he succeeded, he would acknowledge her. If he didn’t, he would have been able to protect one of his bloodlines.
“Mother, you mean…” Mo Xuetong bit her lips, looking lost. Her bright and shiny eyes were still filled with fear and confusion that matched her age.
She did not think that Princess Royal had come in such a hurry today to talk about the past with her. What happened today had been sudden. The Emperor had sent men to investigate what happened in the Princess Royal’s Manor. Princess Royal should not have the time to discuss what happened long ago with her. Then, what was she doing here today? Princess Royal was having a showdown with her. What would happen next?
Mo Xuetong’s mind whirled while she still appeared to be frightened. She looked afraid, nervous, and a little lost.
“Did your mother leave you with an important jade piece?” Princess Royal wiped the smile off her face and spoke seriously as she examined Mo Xuetong’s expression carefully.
Mo Xuetong naturally knew of the jade piece her mother left behind. The jade bangle was something her mother had especially asked her to take with her in both her lives. It was said that the jade bangle had been a token of love from Bai Yihao’s family. Mo Xuetong keenly sensed that this had something to do with Bai Yihao.
“I fell ill after Mother passed away. Then, I was sent to the Qin’s and was kept deep inside the courtyard. I did not return to our old home again after that. Mother was in Cloud City then as well and you must have heard of my plight. I was just a weak girl who was being raised by the Qin family then. I did not have any freedom in my comings and goings.” Mo Xuetong said unhurriedly. There was pain in her eyes as she bit her lips and looked up with a forced smile.
“Didn’t your mother leave you anything?” The Princess Royal’s eyes were dark and deep. She appeared to be testing Mo Xuetong as she continued to press her.
“Mother passed away so suddenly. She could not speak by the time I got there…” Mo Xuetong said sadly with tears in her eyes. When she thought of how her mother held her hand and looked at her with pain and pity, sorrow surged up from within her. She would not forget that even though she had lived through two lives. Her mother had forced herself to speak and her words were filled with intent. In her past life, Mo Xuetong had naively believed that her mother had repeated herself because she could not bear to leave her.
However, when she thought of it now, every word and sentence her mother said was meaningful. Her mother did not want her to know and had made Nanny Ming swear not to tell her what happened. Her mother had wanted to get her out of the situation in which the royal sons try to get their hands on the throne. However, in the last moments of her life, her mother had been worried about her.
In everything she said, she had been trying to hint at something. She wanted Mo Xuetong to be prepared!
She had left the jade bangle to Mo Xuetong. It must have been for in case she needed it!
No matter what had happened, that was her mother. Mo Xuetong could not help but feel upset. Her eyes reddened and she lowered her head.
Princess Royal frowned and sighed when she saw Mo Xuetong’s show of true emotions. She said gently, “Tong’er, trust me. I will not harm you. Your mother has a jade piece. Inside, there is a jade pendant that is proof of your mother’s identity. It also serves as a warrant that can order the secret guards around you. When they see the warrant, they will do anything for you, even die for you. You look for it. It is very important to you.”
Mo Xuetong finally understood why Princess Royal came to her!
This was because of the rumors surrounding the legitimate princess of the Qin royal family.
Every legitimate princess had their own secret guards. Her mother had secret guards and the Princess Royal must have known about this long ago. However, since some of the secret guards had always been hidden in the wild, the Princess Royal was not able to find them. Or perhaps, it could be said that the Princess Royal did not look for them. No matter what happened then, she was still a princess who had grown up in the royal family and was grateful to the royal family for her upbringing and care. Furthermore, she was just a woman and there was no need for her to cause waves. As such, she had always maintained a low profile.
She had not even been overtly close to her own mother!
That meant that she had no intention to seek revenge for King Jin’s Manor. After all, in trying to get the throne, one would either succeed or die. The strong would emerge victoriously and no one could blame anyone else but for the fact that they were not as vicious as the victor. The Princess Royal maintaining a low profile was worth it. However, what did she want now? Could she be trying to seek revenge for King Jin?
Mo Xuetong could not understand what the Princess Royal was trying to do. She sent the Princess Roya away after they had a small chat and then immediately headed to Jinwei Pavilion.
In her past life, the Princess Royal had changed drastically in the end. In the end, she had gone against Emperor Zongwen and was imprisoned for the rest of her life. Was the Princess Royal going to take the same path again in this life? No matter what had happened, Mo Xuetong could sense that the Princess Royal truly cared for her.
Or perhaps, there was something else about this. But no matter what had happened, she would not have been able to get together with Feng Yuran today without the Princess Royal. Furthermore, the Princess Royal was her biological aunt. Mo Xuetong had to understand what the Princess Royal was doing no matter what would happen so that she could rescue her from her tragic end.
“The Princess Royal is asking you for the jade pendant. It is a jade pendant that represents the orders of a legitimate princess of the royal family. If I have not guessed wrongly, the Princess Royal wants to give the jade pendant to Bai Yihao. Or perhaps, Bai Yihao had asked the Princess Royal for it.” Feng Yuran put down the book in his hand and leaned against the headboard of the bed. He patted the side of the bed and gestured for Mo Xuetong to sit after seeing the frown on her face.
“Bai Yihao wants these secret guards?”
“Shouldn’t he?” Feng Yuran glanced at her from the corners of his handsome eyes. He smiled lightly and turned the question back to her as he caressed her long hair gently.
Mo Xuetong fell silent. King Jin had left behind these secret guards so that his bloodline can seek revenge. He did not pin any hopes on his daughters. But what about the sons of his daughters? Of his three daughters, the Princess Royal did not have any children. Mo Xuetong’s mother had one daughter. That left Bai Yihao. As such, Bai Yihao was the one with the most right to inherit King Jin’s dying wish. The secret guards were naturally meant for him.
“But he is the crown prince of Yan. Could he inherit the lands of Qin?” Mo Xuetong bit her lips and asked in confusion.
“Even if he cannot become the Emperor of Qin Kingdom, he can at least ruin it. Of your mother and the Princess Royal, one has never seen King Jin while the other grew up in the royal family without knowing her birthright. They do not have any feelings for King Jin. However, it is different for Bai Yihao’s mother. She is the noble princess of the royal family and was doted on. She became the lowest of the low in just one night. How could she not have any complaints? She ended up in a foreign country and had tried her best to have a son so that he can be the crown prince. The more effort she put into this, the more hatred she has for the Qin Kingdom.”
Feng Yuran pulled Mo Xuetong down so that she was lying on his arms. He explained the matter to her softly and massaged her tight frown.
He had not wanted to explain too much about these matters. As such, he had not said anything after they got married since Mo Xuetong did not ask about them. For example, what happened in the old family home of the Mos in Cloud City, the secret guards… But, it seemed now that Tong’er would be involved even if he did not mention it.
Feng Yuran’s heart suddenly felt as if it was wrangled when he looked at Mo Xuetong’s thoughtful expression. His heart hurt. If he were not around, Tong’er could have lived a peaceful life and would not have to enter the tough life of the royal family step by step. She could serve her husband and teach her children, leaving a regular life and be an ordinary blissful woman.
However, Feng Yuran could not help but breathe in deeply when he imagined Mo Xuetong in the embrace of another man. He would not allow that. Tong’er could only be his. No matter how hard it would get, he would protect her. What could Bai Yihao or the Princess Royal do? He would hug her tightly in his embrace and not allow anyone to hurt her.
If he encountered God, he would kill God. If he encountered Buddha, he would kill Buddha!
Mo Xuetong looked up and into Feng Yuran’s gaze. She could see the pain guilt in his clear eyes, as well as his determination and anger. His almond-shaped eyes were deep and dark. They did not hold his usual charm. Instead, his eyes were filled with death and coldness.
It took just a moment for Mo Xuetong to guess what Feng Yuran was thinking. She smiled and turned around, leaning into his chest. She held his hand and said, “Yuran, you don’t have to be like that. I am not afraid!”
“What were you thinking?” The anger dissipated. He was once again the handsome and charming prince. His gentle smile could ruin a nation.
He wanted to change the topic. However, Mo Xuetong did not want him to hide anything from her. Even though he was protecting her, she wanted to know. She did not want to end up like how she did in her past life. She did not know anything even up till her death. Furthermore, there was still the thing with Feng Yuran. Without his cooperation, they would not be able to investigate the matter with the He family.
She wanted to tell him that she was not a fragile porcelain doll. She could be strong and she could help him.
Her hatred and pain had died along with Mo Xuemin and Auntie Fang. The fall of Sima Manor had soothed her. She did not want them to die immediately because death was not the end. Living as if they were in hell on earth was much harder for them to bear than death.
But what about Feng Yuran?
The matter stayed in her heart and became a sharp thorn. It hurt with the slightest movement. She must not allow the matter to infect the rest of her. She had to remove the thorn before she could truly relax.
She needed him to come clean and for the both of them to shoulder this together. When she married him, she knew that she was willing to stand next to him. She was willing to shoulder all the burdens he had. If he had any doubts, then she would start first.
“Yuran, does the jade pendant have any other uses? I can’t find the empty imperial edict and King Jin’s stamp.” Mo Xuetong asked softly and gently. She moved her hand in front of Feng Yuran. On her pale white hand, was a jade pendant the size of a thumb. It was not a straight pendant but was a little wavy. There was a small hole on the side.
It was the jade pendant that could give orders to the secret guards!
Feng Yuran’s eyes suddenly darkened!