Chapter 406 Mo Xuetong’s Poisoning
“Tong’er, where did you get this?” Feng Yuran asked carelessly when he saw the jade pendant in Mo Xuetong’s pale hand.
“Mother intentionally left behind a jade bangle. I was bored these few days and examined it to discover the secret that laid within. There is a small secret compartment and this little jade pendant was inside it when I opened it.” Mo Xuetong told the truth without hesitation.
She was going to come clean to Feng Yuran today.
She would brave through the storms with him.
Feng Yuran did not look at the jade pendant. His eyes were grave as he looked at Mo Xuetong. He looked at the determination in her clear eyes for a long while. In the end, he sighed softly and kissed her hair. He was gentle and loving as he said softly, “You don’t have to be involved in such matters in the future.”
He understood what was on her heart in an instant.
“I don’t want to. I am your wife. I am the person who has to stand by your side. Do you hope that I am someone who cannot carry any burdens? I will only drag you down that way. Let me tell you. I am not willing to do that.” Mo Xuetong pushed him and said somewhat strongly.
He wanted that position. So how could she be weak? She wanted, even more, to stand by his side in times of trouble and brave the storms with him.
“I will protect you.” Feng Yuran said softly as he buried his head in her neck and breathed in her sweet scent. He felt that he was the one who had dragged Tong’er into the center of the storm. If not for him, perhaps no one would have noticed her and she would not have become the thorn in some people’s eyes. Just like what happened to Ling Fengyan. If not for him, Tong’er would not have been implicated.
“Even if you wanted to protect me, there are some times when you can’t. Just like today. Even though you thought of getting someone to pretend to be me and to enter the front courtyard from the back courtyard, but if I had not taken the chance to take the shorter path, we would have gotten into trouble today.” Mo Xuetong still felt frightened when she thought of what happened in the morning. If not for the fact that the two of them had the same idea, they would have become the scapegoats for what happened this morning.
The two of them had come up with a plot but instead had attention drawn to them. It would just make others suspicious of them.
This time, it was because both of them had the same idea. But what about next time, or the time after that? They would not always be so lucky.
Feng Yuran closed his eyes when he heard that and did not say anything for a long while. All was silent in the room. She could only hear his soft breathing by her ear. His relaxed body was wrapped around Mo Xuetong and it made her feel safe and calm. She looked up at his face. He was extraordinarily handsome.
Everyone only knew of his charming looks but did not know that when he did not speak or smile, he felt extremely powerful. He was majestic and cold. It was a noble aura that he had since he was a child. It was not only charming but it was also uncontrollable. One could not resist it.
She knew that he was considering her suggestion. She also knew that he was powerful. However, she was willing to face the storms with him. In her past life, she had been a flower, tended to in the greenhouse. She did not know anything about the world and had died a miserable death in just a gentle storm. This time, she not only had to be strong. She was going to work together with him to rule the world. As such, she needed to be stronger.
“Alright!” His clear eyes suddenly flew open and his lazy voice entered her ears.
“Truly?” Mo Xuetong widened her eyes in shock and joy.
“Of course.” Feng Yuran sighed helplessly and kissed her lovingly. “I will not hide anything that you need to do in the future.”
Feng Yuran felt afraid now when he thought of how he had allowed Tong’er to be placed in danger today. Ling Fengyan had smeared medicinal cream on Tong’er before she died. Together with the box of things she gave Tong’er, would have made Tong’er infertile. There was a cold glint in his eyes. He would make them pay the price for plotting against Tong’er.
“This is for you. Make a fake one and leave that with me.” Mo Xuetong said meaningfully with a slight smile. She was gentle and sweet as she reached out and stuffed the jade pendant into Feng Yuran’s hands.
Feng Yuran did not object. He took the pendant and placed it aside. He understood what she meant. Tong’er should have a jade pendant with her. The Princess Royal had come in such a hurry, Bai Yihao must have asked her to come. Mo Xuetong could vaguely guess what Bai Yihao wanted. He would first plunge the Qin Kingdom into internal strife. Then he would be able to give the imperial edict and King Qin’s personal seal to two people so that these two people would fight.
The Qin Kingdom would be thrown into chaos!
Once he dealt with the First Prince and took royal power, he would be able to return and engage in war with the Qin Kingdom. By then, the fight for the throne would be out of control. He might not even have to make a move and the country might be torn into pieces. If he invaded Qin with the power of the entire Yan Kingdom behind him, taking over the nation would be as easy as pie.
In her past life, upon her deathbed, she had heard that the Yan Kingdom had invaded them!
While she did not understand how Bai Yihao had managed to get the royal brothers to fight within themselves without using her, it did not matter. He had already achieved his goal!
“Yuran, have I been poisoned?” Mo Xuetong suddenly looked up at Feng Yuran. She smiled faintly, her smile lighting up her beautiful face sweetly. Her lashes fluttered and she made it seem as if it were a sure thing.
Since she had decided to come clean to Feng Yuran, she also hoped to find out the truth about her physical condition. She did not want to see a hint of graveness and worry in his eyes when he smiled charmingly. No matter what happened, she had to find out about her current health.
Feng Yuran was shocked by her sudden change of topic. A hint of worry flashed through his eyes. He suddenly could not speak as he looked at Mo Xuetong the way she was now. However, he smiled faintly and then nodded. He said, “Yes, but it’s alright. You are getting better. The imperial physician said that you just have to take the medicine and you will be cured over time.”
He had always wanted to tell her this but could never find the opportunity to. He was also afraid that she would be frightened. However, when he saw her determined but gentle gaze, he hesitated slightly before telling her the truth. He did not want Tong’er to feel as if he was hiding something from her.
“Mo Xuemin did this!” It was not a question but a statement. She already had many conjectures when she felt sleepy and started taking medicine. There were many in this world who wanted her life, but the person who wanted her dead most was Mo Xuemin.
She did not expect to be poisoned by Mo Xuemin even though she had kept her guards up against Mo Xuemin. No wonder she had died so tragically in Mo Xuemin’s hand in her past life.
“Don’t worry. You will get better.” Feng Yuran reached out to wrap his arms around her slender waist and comforted her.
“Is it the same poison that killed my mother?” Mo Xuetong leaned into his embrace and asked obediently. Her tone was calm as if she were speaking about someone else. There was even a hint of laughter in her voice.
Feng Yuran felt a little uneasy. He pushed her head away and examined her face carefully. There was a hint of a smile on her face as she turned around to glance at him teasingly. Her expression was extremely similar to the usual vague smile he wore on his face and this made him relax for some reason. He said, “The antidote to the poison is about to be done. Rest assured. Nothing will happen.”
“I am not worried.” Mo Xuetong blinked her beautiful and clear eyes. Then, she said with a determined smile, “I want to see Mo Xuemin.”
Feng Yuran examined her expression carefully and did not see anything odd. Then, he nodded forcefully and replied, “Alright, but promise me. You must not be disappointed.”
His hand, which was wrapped around Mo Xuetong, tightened and a dark glint rippled through his eyes.
He had kept Mo Xuemin alive and not allowed Sima Lingyun to kill her because he wanted to get the antidote from her. He did not expect the woman to be so vicious that she would drag Tong’er down with her even as she was about to die. If not for the fact that she was still useful, Feng Yuran would have already ground the vicious woman into ashes.
However, she could not die now. The antidote. He needed Tong’er’s antidote.
When Feng Yuran thought of Bai Yihao’s threat, anger welled up within him. He had to help Tong’er find the antidote no matter what would happen!
“I promise!” Mo Xuetong was as gentle as the waters in spring.
The incident at the Princess Royal’s Manor was settled very quickly. An imperial edict was sent out even before the various officials could react.
Wang Yueyue had plotted against Consort Chu and committed suicide when the truth was revealed. She had been pregnant with King Ning’s child! She had gotten what she deserved.
After such a big hoo-ha, Grand Secretariat Wang being punished was something everyone expected. His position as Grand Secretariat was taken from him and he was to reflect on his mistakes at home.
In just moments, the usually bustling Grand Secretariat front doors grew empty and desolate.
King Ning and King Chu both lost a consort. One could say that they both suffered losses. However, Consort Chu had been killed while Consort Ning was the culprit. As such, King Ning was punished and had to pay a year of his dues.
On the surface, it seemed that King Ning did not suffer any losses. However, everyone knew that King Ning’s power was greatly reduced.
Some of the older subjects stood on the Empress Dowager’s side together with Grand Secretariat Wang. Now, the Grand Secretariat had stepped down and was replaced by a young Grand Secretariat. The new Grand Secretariat was loyal to the Emperor and had nothing to do with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager could no longer hold on to these men.
The blame was pushed entirely onto Wang Yueyue. There was news from the capital that said that King Ning was unsuccessful and pushed all the blame onto a woman which caused Wang Yueyue’s death as well as the death of the child in her belly. King Ning was known to be cold-blooded and heartless. One could see that all at one glance. Even though King Ning still had some supporters, they all had to consider if they would be pushed to be the scapegoat should they fail.
He was so ruthless even to his pregnant wife. What else could he not do?
Like the storm that was happening in politics, the back of the palace was in chaos as well.
Many porcelain goods were smashed in the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace that day. The head steward and porcelain goods in the palace were all changed. When news of this was spread to the Empress Dowager’s Palace, the Empress, who was in ill health drank another half a bowl of porridge on the spot. Then, she got up and went to Cining Palace, where she had not gone in a long while, to greet the Empress Dowager.
When she returned, she appeared gentle and gracious. She did not seem frustrated or annoyed as she did before.
Imperial Consort Su had managed to get a hold of herself this time and did not appear arrogant at all. She seemed to know how to hide her feelings now after what happened the last time!
Consort Yu pottered around the garden every day and practiced self-cultivation. Her stomach was getting bigger and bigger. Rumor had it that she might be having twins. The Emperor was so happy that he sent her more and more things. There were even some who said that if Consort Yu were to have a prince, she would get the Emperor’s affections. It was possible that the mysterious Consort Zhao would not sit and do nothing and be forced into action.
However, the mysterious Consort Zhao seemed unable to sit still any longer. At the banquet two days later, Consort Zhao appeared before all and led to endless reverie amongst the people.
The storm did not seem heavy on the surface. However, deep down below, no matter whether it was the court or the back of the palace, plotting was happening. Everyone wanted the greatest benefit. This was not just a question of who would take the throne, but also whether the noble families would continue to live in nobility and luxury. Everyone had their own secret thoughts, and that was not a bad situation.
When the ruler of a nation changes, the cards of the deck are reshuffled. No one wanted to be on the lowest rung of society and become the new round of losers. When King Jin had fought for the throne, some nobility fell with him. It was obvious that the fight for the throne was not just one between the royal sons, but also between noble families, and between noble families and the royal family. It was a never-ending war!
The blood that flowed between success and failure could fill a river!
Mo Xuetong did not care about these things. She was on the way to Duke Zhenguo’s Manor. Oh, no, she should call it Sima Manor. Ever since Duke Zhenguo’s Manor lost their title, Sima Lingyun was blinded and lost his power. No one among the nobility mentioned Sima Manor again. Everyone knew that Sima Lingyun had already fallen. His face and eyes were injured and it was impossible for him to rise again.
The horse carriage stopped in front of the doors of Sima Manor which had been flourishing once upon a time. Mo Xuetong got off the horse carriage with the help of Mo Lan. This place was somewhere she had once visited often. Her memory of the place gradually melded with the dilapidated building in front of her. Mo Xuetong suddenly lost her hatred as she took in the ruins before her!
Mo Xuemin had plotted again and again and had ended up with Sima Lingyun in the end. The lowly pair was a great match for the dilapidated manor.
Many things had changed in this life and Mo Xuetong felt as if she had experienced the vicissitudes of life.
She held Mo Lan’s hands and slowly approached the platform which had not been swept in days. An old doorkeeper hurriedly wiped his eyes when he saw Mo Xuetong approach and jogged over to her.
A guard stopped him and said loudly, “Consort Xuan is here, come and greet her.”
The doorkeeper hurriedly knelt on the dirty floor in a frightened manner. Then, he kowtowed respectfully and said, “Greetings, My Lady!”
His frightened voice drew the attention of a maid. She perked up when she heard the voice and immediately ran into the manor.