“Father, Father…” The sounds of Mo Xuetong crying could be heard outside. It broke the silent sorrowful atmosphere in the room. Mo Huawen rearranged his expression and looked up coldly at Mo Xuemin who was faking sadness as was being helped along by Mo Xiu at the door.

Mo Xuemin did not expect Mo Xuetong to be there as well. A trace of viciousness flashed in her eyes. She took a step forward, looking gentle and weak. There was a bandage wrapped around her head that still bore traces of blood. It was probably the wound from where she had smashed her head earlier. Her pink clothes bore spots of blood near the wound. Her hair was let loose and she opened her mouth fearfully. Her sad eyes were filled with tears and she looked very pitiful, making one sympathize with her.

She tripped before she even entered the room. She would have fallen if Mo Xiu had not caught her.

She looked so pitiful and had this been in the past, Mo Huawen’s heart would have softened and he would not bear to punish her. He would just accept whatever she said.

However, Mo Huawen was still feeling furious at Auntie Fang. When he thought of how nothing would have happened if Mo Xuemin listened to him and stayed at home, he said coldly, “Why are here and not at your Fuqing Garden? Are you dissatisfied with the marriage that you found yourself?”

“Father…”Mo Xuemin had not expected her father, who doted on her usually, to speak to her so harshly. She let go of Mo Xiu and knelt down heavily in front of Mo Huawen, crying.

She looked weak and sad, appearing slightly fearful. She seemed to be here to get her father’s sympathy. No wonder she did not even change. How could she not change if she really wanted to see her father! She was trying to get her father to ignore the matter once he saw how pitiful she was! Mo Xuetong thought to herself coldly as she looked down.

Her father’s heart would definitely hurt for Mo Xuemin when he saw how pitiful she was and just let her off for what happened yesterday had this happened before she came to the study. However, Mo Xuemin’s hypocrisy only added on to her father’s ire. Her father would not pity her when he thought of Auntie Fang’s lies.

“What did you go out for yesterday night? Didn’t I ask you to stay in your courtyard and copy scriptures? Or do you think that your father’s words don’t mean anything and you can do whatever you want in private?” Mo Huawen thought of how Aunie Fang’s face was also filled with tears on the day Luo Xia died when he saw Mo Xuetong’s tearful expression. Auntie Fang had told her that Tong’er had been vicious and violent and beaten Madam’s maid, Yichun almost to death. He could not reign in the rage he felt and stood up forcefully, yelling as he slammed his hand down on the table.

The same tears, the same gentleness. But they were all fake…

“Father…It is Min’er’s fault. Father, please forgive me…” Mo Xuemin knelt on the floor and cried, tears rolling in her eyes. She could not even speak coherently. However, Mo Xuetong saw the sinister look flashing in her eyes. “Father, yesterday, Auntie had a miscarriage…I went out to…” She had not even finished her sentence before she started sobbing inconsolably.

“To what?” Mo Huawen was not touched and he spoke coldly.

“Old Sir, Old Sir, Miss went out for Old Sir and Auntie!” Mo Xiu who was kneeling behind Mo Xuemin crawled forward and kowtowed beside Mo Xuemin as she cried, helping Mo Xuemin answer his question. “Old Sir…Auntie Fang miscarried yesterday and was locked up…Only Aunie could be blamed for this and no one else. But…but, she was locked up in Lihua Garden and did not get treatment. Miss was worried that something might happen to Auntie Fang, so she snuck out to get some medicine. It’s the new year, and if something happens to Auntie, it would not look good on Old Sir. She did not expect this to happen! It’s not Miss’ fault! It is my fault. I did not take care of Miss. Miss was only being filial, and we did not expect…”

Mo Xiu kowtowed furiously, her forehead smashing on the floor tile and she started to bleed.

“Mo Xiu, no! Father, it is all Min’er’s fault. Please punish Min’er.” Mo Xuemin turned around and held Mo Xiu in her arms, looking like a good mistress who was protecting her servants. She started to cry and pull Mo Xiu up, looking extremely aggrieved as she pleaded with Mo Huawen.

Mo Xuetong harrumphed to herself coldly!

Mo Xuemin was indeed a very good actress. She told Mo Xiu to kowtow so furiously and then help her to explain herself. This was much more convincing than her saying so herself. She was not having a dalliance with anyone else and was only concerned about the Mo Manor’s reputation. Then, she reminded her father that Auntie was at fault. But she had lost her child and that was as good as being punished. However, that did not mean she had to die. Her act of sneaking out at night became an act of filial piety, and the incident that happened last night was just bad luck!

However, this was all built on the premise that her father acknowledged Auntie Fang’s child as his own. Mo Xuemin had never expected that her father had wanted the child gone. The child was a thorn in her father’s eyes and had to be gotten rid of. Even if this had not happened, her father would have acted.

Mo Huawen’s expression darkened. He spoke coldly after a while, “Did you really go out to get medicine?”

“Father, do you mistrust Min’er so much? I have stayed in seclusion at home for so long, why would I do something so shameless? The Ming Duke’s son was present that day as well. You can go and ask him if Min’er was meeting someone or was alone. That carriage still has medicine to stop Auntie’s bleeding and is still scattered inside. Father, if you don’t believe me, you can send someone to check immediately.” Mo Xuemin looked up, her tear-stained face filled with hard determination.

This was done even more beautifully. First, she had mentioned the Ming Duke’s son, You Yuecheng, and then the proof in the carriage. Mo Xuetong believed that the medicine was real and that they were scattered all over the carriage. This was an excuse of Mo Xuemin to leave the house. Even if Mo Xuemin had snuck out of the house, she could not hide it from Mo Huawen and he would find out sooner or later. Mo Xuemin would not dare to go out without such an obvious excuse.

Even though her father was slightly suspicious, he would have to believe her somewhat!

“That Li Youmo has concrete evidence and so many people saw. You are unwilling, so what do you say we should do?” Mo Huawen groaned and sat down. His expression was indistinguishable as he threw the question to Mo Xuemin.

“Father, that Li Youmo doesn’t know Min’er, so how could he be sure that the person was Min’er. His reputation has always been poor, and not many would believe what he says. Furthermore, the carriage did not have the emblem of the Mo Manor.” Mo Xuemin heaved a secret sigh of relief when she heard Mo Huawen’s tone softening even though it was still a little gruff. She looked up and spoke. This was why she had come in the first place.

“Even though no one would believe what Li Youmo says, but the Ming Duke’s son was there as well. Others would definitely believe him. How will you explain it then?” Mo Huawen continued coldly.

“His Excellency did see Min’er that day, but I can beg him to say he is not sure whether the person he saw was Min’er or not. If he says that he is not certain whether it’s me, Li Youmo would not be able to say for sure that the person he saw was Min’er!” You Yuecheng was the key in this. But Mo Xuemin was confident that she can make You Yuecheng change his statement.

She had gone to Fragrance House to see You Yuecheng in the first place and he had believed what she said. He thought that Mo Xuetong, that lass, was vicious and evil, and had hurt her Auntie and elder sister. He thought that she had not even spared the unborn child in her Auntie’s belly. If she pinned the incident that happened yesterday on Mo Xuetong, You Yuecheng would definitely be willing to help her. Li Youmo would not be able to do anything no matter what he said. She could also plant more ill-will in You Yuecheng’s heart against that slut.

It would be killing two birds with one stone.

Mo Xuemin had not expected Mo Xuetong truly had something to do with the incident.

“You will go and persuade the Ming Duke’s son?” Mo Huawen raised his brows coldly. One could not tell how he was feeling.

Mo Xuemin grew happy instantly. She could not hide the joy in her eyes. Mo Xuemin was definitely willing to have more interactions with You Yuecheng and have him sympathize with her even more. She wanted to become the Ming Duchess. Now that she had been framed, she could have the opportunity to plead with You Yuecheng and express how lonely and helpless she was, how weak and pitiful she was. This would move him more than any other words would. She was definitely willing to do that.

“Father, I am willing to go and persuade the Ming Duke’s son and ask him to spare the Mo Manor. It is alright if Min’er’s reputation is ruined, but I cannot implicate my sisters.” Mo Xuemin’s righteous words showed how considerate she was towards her sisters and also how selfless she was. At the same time, she had brought up the fact that if she were really to marry Li Youmo, she would not be the only one to be affected!

Persuade the Ming Duke’s son? Mo Huawen had once had this thought but then had buried it immediately. If it were so easy to persuade You Yuecheng, would he have such a good reputation? He felt angry once more when he saw how well-planned Mo Xuemin was and her righteous expression. He felt that he would definitely explode in anger if he continued watching her!

This was the daughter he had always thought was sensible and obedient! The gracious daughter he had brought up in her boudoir. The situation was already like that, what could she do to make You Yuecheng change his statement? Was it not enough that she had her reputation tainted by Li Youmo and now she wanted to be involved in rumors with You Yuecheng? The incident in which Sima Lingyun carried her out of the fire had only just been smoothed over, and now she was involved with Li Youmo.

No matter how shameless a noble lady was, she would not make the same mistakes over and over again. What close relationship with her sisters! The last time, she had used Qiong’er as her scapegoat. Even though Mo Huawen had not liked Mo Xueqiong, he knew that he had treated Mo Xueqiong badly in this incident. An unmarried girl who was involved in such an incident would be looked down upon even if she were to marry that man. Furthermore, Qiong’er was going to become a concubine.

Mo Huawen had been observing Mo Xuemin all this while. She had not visited Mo Xueqiong after the incident and had accepted her younger sister’s grace towards her without any qualms. It was as if Mo Xueqiong had really been the person rescued from the fire that day. She had not considered that her younger sister would be looked down upon by her husband’s family and be shamed by others because of this.

She had not been considerate towards her sister at all but had pretended to be in front of others. She was just like Auntie Fang! Mo Huawen suddenly thought of how viciously and harshly Auntie Fang had treated Mo Xuetong and thought of the shame, pain and grievances that Mo Xuetong experienced. Mo Huawen was no longer in the mood to speak with Mo Xuemin and only felt that she was a hypocrite and liar.

“Go!” Mo Huawen waved her away with a fierce expression. He did not even want to see Mo Xuemin…” Go!”

Mo Huawen’s actions surprised Mo Xuemin. She held on to Mo Xiu and the two of them were in shock. When Mo Xuemin saw that Mo Huawen would not even turn around to look at her, she did not give up and scooted forward on her knees, begging him tearfully, “Father, Father!”

Behind the desk, Mo Huawen’s expression was one of tiredness and his frown grew deeper! His eyes, however, remained cold and sharp as he yelled angrily, “Go!”

He was growing more and more disappointed with this daughter!