Chapter 576 Passion, the Empress Dowager’s Perfect Plan
“Why are you back so late? Was it so troublesome?” When Mo Xuetong came back to her yard, Feng Yuran had already been waiting there. He threw down the book in his hand and looked up lazily. His bright eyes landed on her, a doting smile flashing in them.
Usually, he was not at home at this time. The situation in the court had suddenly changed and he had many things to deal with. Even though Emperor Zongwen doted on him the most, if he did not have a certain amount of strength, Mo Xuetong believed that Emperor Zongwen would not choose him. Compared to the kingdom, Emperor’s love for him was a little lighter.
Then he was worried about her!
Thinking of this, Mo Xuetong smiled even more sweetly. She walked to the couch and blinked her shimmery eyes. “Not really. It was not so troublesome, but I learn something else.”
Then she waved her hand and the maidservants in the room sensibly left one by one. Mo Ye had already gone to find Mo Feng as soon as she entered the manor. Luo Mingzhu’s reaction was odd in Fu General Manor, and Mo Xuetong was a little worried.
“What is it?” Feng Yuran stretched out his long arms and held Mo Xuetong on his lap. He reached out to pinch her pink and tender face and asked in a good mood. Her face was as smooth and tender as white tofu, which made people love her.
Being teased like a child, Mo Xuetong pouted and reached out to pat his hand. “I’m talking about a serious matter.”
“Just say it! I’m listening to you!” Feng Yuran said, all smiles. His hand landed on her hair and tucked the hair on her cheeks behind her ear.
Mo Xuetong flushed when she saw his burning gaze landing on her face. His handsome face was really attractive. How could a man be so handsome? Every time he smiled as brilliantly as a flower, it tested one’s sense. Even if she was the only one who could see it, she would still be enchanted.
However, when she thought that this person belonged to her, she felt satisfied and sweet as if she had drunk honey.
She leaned into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist as if she was declaring that he was hers. Anyway, there was no one else in the room and he could not just listen to her obediently. She moved and sat in a comfortable position. Then, she began to say, “You Yuecheng is behind the matter about Yun Ya. He keeps investigating Fu General Manor.”
Mo Xuetong had once told Feng Yuran about the deserted courtyard. However, she had only mentioned it casually. Since she had some conjectures that were not very clear, she did not tell him. It would not be late to tell him after the investigation was done.
Feng Yuran curled his lips in disdain and said lazily, “Mingguo Manor is also a noble family. You Yuecheng is becoming less and less aggressive. He only focuses on the back courtyard and only contacts with women. He’s really at a disadvantage.” A hint of coldness flashed in his bright eyes. It turned out that You Yuecheng wanted to talk about what happened in the past and force the Emperor to punish Fu General Manor. Then Tong’er would be implicated. Was he living too well?
You Yuecheng was determined to go against Tong’er. Did he really try to strike at him by striking at Tong’er for the sake of Feng Yulei? Or for other reasons? You Yuecheng was not such a person, unless he had other ideas. At the thought of this, Feng Yuran’s face darkened, and a cold smile flashed in his eyes. Now that You Yuecheng liked the fight in the backyard, it was coincidental that Feng Yuran knew something about him. Originally, he just treated it as a joke. Now, he inevitably wanted to add fuel to the fire.
As Mo Xuetong noticed Feng Yuran’s displeasure, a charming smile appeared in her watery eyes. She gave him a push and asked, “What do you think is wrong with You Yuecheng? Why does he dislike me so much? Do you want us to fight against him so that he cannot keep staring at other’s back yard?”
She spoke completely in accordance with Feng Yuran’s intentions. As she expected, when Feng Yuran heard that, his handsome face lit up. He reached out to lift up her chin and kissed it gently on her lips. “Don’t worry. Leave this to me, Tong’er. Now that he likes to watch the drama in the back yard, I’ll make the back yard of Mingguo Manor lively as well,” he said vaguely, with her lips in his.
He was clear that Tong’er hated You Yuecheng, but he was pleased to hear that she said it herself. No matter how much You Yuecheng cared for her, Tong’er would always belong to him.
“I have prepared King Chu’s birthday gifts. Do you want to take a look at them?” Mo Xuetong asked with a chuckle. The gifts were bestowed on them by the palace and it was appropriate to give them to Feng Yuxuan.
“Why should I take a look at them? You’ve already prepared everything. I’m not worried. You can do what you want to do with the gifts for Eldest Brother.” Feng Yuran listened to Mo Xuetong’s soft voice. When she leaned into his embrace, he enjoyed it very much. “Anyway, we can give him anything. He can’t be picky about the gifts,” he added lazily.
His words made sense. Even if Feng Yuran did not give him anything, given Feng Yuxuan’s character, he would not say anything. However, Feng Yuxuan had given her that set of head accessory of Southern Pearls last time. Even though he did not have any good intentions, it was sent to King Xuan’s Manor, and King Xuan’s Manor had accepted it. King Xuan’s Manor was looking for an opportunity to return the gift.
As Mo Xuetong thought of this, the girl she met the other day suddenly flashed across her mind. She nudged Feng Yuran and asked, “Are the people of the Southern Barbarian Lands about to arrive?”
Couldn’t that woman be the princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands?
“Yes, they’re about to arrive. You can just clean up a few courtyards. You don’t have to worry too much. When I pick them up, let them stay in there.” Feng Yuran was rather displeased when he thought that someone was going to live in his manor and that he and Tong’er would not have much time together. He just wanted to get rid of them casually.
“They haven’t yet arrived in the capital?”
“Not yet. I heard that a few of their advance guards have already come. They are not important people anyway, so you don’t have to worry about them.” Feng Yuran lifted the corners of his lips and vaguely answered with a smile.
Since it was not the princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands, Mo Xuetong felt a little relieved. That girl seemed not easy to deal with. If such a princess lived in their manor, the family would be in chaos. What was more, the princess came here for marriage. Although the princes, including Feng Yuran, were married, which was not suitable for the marriage, what if the princess liked one of them?
Mo Xuetong felt a sense of crisis whenever she thought of the arrival of the princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands.
“Can’t we let them live outside? It’s not good to live in our manor!” After thinking for a while, she said, “Isn’t the princess going to marry someone? If they live here, it’s a little…”
“Are you jealous?” Feng Yuran’s eyes shone brightly. He turned to look at Mo Xuetong and realized that she was so shy that her neck was even red. He immediately laughed happily.
“Who’s jealous? I’m worried that something will be wrong? Some people of the Southern Barbarian Lands are chasing after the Crown Prince and trying to kill him. I’m worried that something may happen to him here.” Mo Xuetong’s face grew redder when she saw the teasing look in his eyes. She pushed his handsome face away and wanted to speak seriously. However, when she saw he turned his face to her again, she felt a little embarrassed and angry.
“Can you be serious? I am talking about serious matters.” She put on a straight face, looking furious. However, the shyness in her watery eyes made her look as if she was pouting.
“Oh, I’m listening seriously!” Feng Yuran nodded seriously and his expression was as serious as it could be. However, it didn’t look like that. Especially, there was a hint of ridicule in his eyes, which made one feel ambiguous for some reason.
Mo Xuetong was shy and annoyed. Most importantly, she was indeed a little guilty. Then she pulled on his arm, bit down angrily and snapped, “Keep looking.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t look at you again. Tong’er, go on.” Feng Yuran hurriedly patted her back when he saw how embarrassed she was. He coaxed her and stopped looking at her face.
“I will care about the people from the Southern Barbarian Lands. I am not the one without the first consort now. I heard that the Empress Dowager really likes the princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands, so she will definitely be in contact with her then. You can rest assured. I have told Father that I won’t take someone with a higher status than you to annoy you and make a mess of the family.”
What he said was the thing Mo Xuetong was worried about. She immediately felt rather comfortable. “Why would the Empress Dowager pay attention to the princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands?”
She asked casually. Then, as if she had thought of something, she looked up at Feng Yuran. Her eyes widened and her tiny mouth opened slightly. She could not say anything for the moment.
“Eldest Brother, Third Brother, and me, we all have legal consorts. Even though the princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands is noble, she could only enjoy the same status as a wife after marrying into our manors. But Feng Yuzhen is different. Feng Yuzhen’s wife is dead! Their identity and status are compatible. He is also the prince of the Qin Kingdom. The Empress Dowager has this idea long ago,” Feng Yuran said lightly.
“Does His Majesty know?” Mo Xuetong pointed her slender finger upward.
“Don’t worry. The Empress Dowager thinks too highly of herself. She wants King Ning and the Southern Barbarian Lands to join forces so that King Ning can have a helping hand,” Feng Yuran stated sarcastically. There was a hint of coldness on his handsome face. So many children in the palace died before they were born, and the Empress Dowager was absolutely responsible for this. The Empress was not capable enough.
Compared to the Empress, the Empress Dowager was evidently more astute!
Mo Xuetong heaved a sigh of relief when she knew that Feng Yuran had already come up with a way to deal with it. She suddenly asked curiously, “The box containing the South Pearl necklace is called… Duo La. What about it now?” Since Feng Yuxuan wanted her to open the box which was a trouble, Feng Yuran would never leave it with him. Then where was that box?
“I’ve sent it to the Empress Dowager’s palace together with the South Pearl head accessory that Eldest Brother gifted. They did not look odd together.” Feng Yuran looked up slightly. There was a hint of understanding on his jade-like face. He reached out and patted Mo Xuetong’s head. “You don’t have to worry about these things. Since someone sent them to us on purpose, we can use them.”
Mo Xuetong understood what he meant. Feng Yuxuan was the first to send the South Pearl. Furthermore, everyone who attended the banquet had known about it. Ling Rui’er had also said that Feng Yuxuan had sent the South Pearl head accessory over. If something were to happen in the future, it would definitely have something to do with King Chu’s Manor. After all, King Chu was the one who had started the thing about the South Pearl.
The box did not have much to do with King Xuan’s Manor.
She suddenly had an evil expectation to see who the Empress Dowager intended to give the box to. Would she send it back to the Southern Barbarian Lands? The Crown Prince and the Princess of the Southern Barbarian Lands must know about it. Of course, it was sent with bad intentions. This matter was getting messier and messier. After so many people had involved in it, no one could tell who did it.
“You really won’t get into trouble?” Even though she knew that Feng Yuran had already arranged it, Mo Xuetong still raised her brows and asked with a smile.
“I won’t!” Feng Yuran lifted Mo Xuetong’s face calmly and kissed her pink lips hard to gain her attention. He had wanted to do it for a long while. How could she not sense it? How dare she be lost in thought? It was really depressing!
As the wind blew, the window screen was raised, and a pretty couple was cuddling under the window…