The daughter from Luo Xia’s family. Lan Xinru was no match for that.

And the Old Madam from the General Manor had decided on the matter. She was considered an elder. Mo Huawen could not be considered to have been in a secret relationship.

The Old Madam glanced at the sachet angrily. She did not reach out to take it and said coldly, “This matter has only been mentioned. It is not official. Even though the Old Madam’s niece would not be bad, but you have to ask around more about it. This embroidery work is only alright and cannot compare to Xinru’s skills. You had better think about it again. Marrying someone who doesn’t know anything cannot compare to someone whom you know everything about. Get married while I am still here and consider it as fulfilling one of my wishes.”

“Yes, yes. Mother, you are right!” Mo Huawen said respectfully. However, he did not give her a firm answer.

The Old Madam was so angry she was no longer interested in talking to him. She threw Mo Huawen out after they exchanged a few more words.

“Aunt, help me! Aunt, help me!” Mo Huawen had only just left the Old Madam’s room when Lan Xinru rushed out crying from behind the screen. She dove into the Old Madam’s embrace and cried.

“Xinru, it is not that I won’t help you. But you’ve seen it as well. Huawen has someone else he likes and has already decided long ago.” The Old Madam was in a bad mood as well. Even though she was exalted, she could not make a decision about Mo Huawen’s marriage. Since Mo Huawen had already said that, it meant that he was agreeable to marry the other girl.

The Old Madam could not object to Mo Huawen marrying Luo Xia back then. Now that she was in a place to object, Mo Huawen had already made up his mind. No matter how many opinions she had, she knew that she was not Mo Huawen’s biological mother. Mo Huawen greeting her as his mother respectfully was already a show of his gratitude.

“Aunt, I truly love Cousin and am willing to do anything for him. Please help me.” Lan Xinru knelt down when she saw the Old Madam’s gaze turning dark. She pulled on the Old Madam’s sleeves and cried, “Aunt, I can help out with Xueyan’s marriage in the future once I marry Cousin. I can also help Xueyan to pick out a good man. If he marries someone else, she will not help Xueyan.”

Her words hit the spot with the Old Madam’s dilemma. Mo Xueyan’s marriage was something that troubled the Old Madam. She had come to the capital just for this matter. That was why she had pretended not to get Mo Huawen’s hints and continued to get Mo Xueyan to go to the entrance to look at the young men who visited.

It was not because the Old Madam did not know the rules. But she could not just let the matter slide.

However, Mo Xueyan had gone to the doors and looked out secretly so many times, but her marriage was still not settled. There were a few young wastrels who saw a beautiful girl looking out secretly from the doors. However, they teased her with sarcastic words. Mo Xueyan did not like them. However, gentlemen would not even look at her when they walked by. The handsome ones would not even be bothered with her. No one came to ask for her hand.

In the end, Mo Huawen even made others guard the door to stop Mo Xueyan from going out. And this matter ended.

However, getting Mo Xueyan married off had not yet succeeded and it was something that troubled the Old Madam. How could she not be stirred when she heard what Lan Xinru said?

The Old Madam thought about what Lin Xinru said. Then, she stood up and said lightly to a servant standing at the side, “It’s cold at night these few days. I heard that Huawen has been staying in the study. Go look for the servant who guards the door and tell her to bring me the keys to the study. I will get someone to send him some hot soup at night. The male servants in the outside courtyard do not know how to take care of others.”

“Yes, Old Madam.” The servant understood what the Old Madam wanted and left.

Lan Xinru knelt on the ground. A satisfied smile appeared on her face which was streaked with tears.

In the Duke Zhenguo’s Manor, Sima Lingyun had already woken up. After finding out what happened, he almost jumped off his bed. His face was where his worst injuries were. After that, he had fainted from being kicked. His other injuries were minor and he was fine now that he had regained consciousness. However, when he heard that his mother had locked Mo Xuemin up and had just returned from the Mo Manor, he almost fainted from anger.

How would he want to marry Mo Xuemin? He already had Mo Xueqiong, and having Mo Xuemin was no help to him. It would push Mo Xuetong even further away. He had already lost his chance with Mo Xuetong. No family would marry all three of their daughters, legal and concubine, to a single family. The Mo family was now the family of a third-grade official. Mo Huawen was not old and had a bright future. There were many families he wanted to create alliances with. He would not be hung up with the fallen Duke Zhenguo’s Manor.

If the plot yesterday had been successful, he would not only gain a reputation of being a hero who saved the beauty. He had intended to break off his engagement with Mo Xueqiong so that Mo Xuetong would be more determined to marry him. Mo Xuetong would be grateful to him then, as would Mo Huawen and General Manor. They would all thank him for protecting Mo Xuetong. With their help, the Duke Zhenguo’s Manor would rise again.

However, he did not expect Mo Xuetong to be so tough. She had stabbed him without any care for her own safety. He had gone out of his mind from the pain and had kicked Mo Xuetong out of the carriage. Then, everything that happened after that was beyond his control. Who would have expected that King Xuan, the Prince most doted upon by the Emperor, would save Mo Xuetong? And that he would plot against Sima Lingyun?

He did not know when he had offended King Xuan.

King Xuan had not only destroyed the marriage that he wanted, but he had even destroyed the reputation he had carefully protected. Sima Lingyun was so angry he wanted to vomit blood when he thought of how he had been framed. He had been framed trying to rape Mo Xuemin but had failed because Mo Xuemin had struggled to defend herself to death. Furthermore, his mother did not even know what happened before she forced Mo Xuemin into staying in his bedroom for an entire night. It would be impossible for him to explain this even if he wanted to.

He did not want to marry Mo Xuemin!

However, this was not Sima Lingyun’s only worry. A servant ran in. He was sweaty and pale as he yelled, “Your Excellency, Your Excellency, something’s happened!”

“What’s the matter?” Sima Lingyun asked anxiously. His already pale face grew even paler.

The Duchess was standing beside him. Her face was also pale because of the shock.

“Someone from the Ministry of Justice has come… take Your Excellency in for questioning… already in through the second doors.” The servant was frightened and he stuttered in his anxiousness.

Someone from the Ministry of Justice has come. Why would the Ministry of Justice send someone down for something like that? Sima Lingyun was shocked.

“Oh no, oh no. Men, go and ask them what exactly is happening. Tell them that this is the Duke Zhenguo’s Manor and they should not behave so wildly here.” The Duchess stood up hurriedly and yelled. She was feeling worried as well.

Those from the Ministry of Justice were all men. They had dared to just stride in and through the secondary doors into the inner courtyard. This was an embarrassment to the family of those who had contributed to building the nation. The Duchess was furious and she brought a few servants with her to the secondary doors. The matter between Mo Xuemin and Sima Lingyun was not a huge matter. At most, it could only be considered a noble son creating trouble because he was bored. How did it concern the Ministry of Justice?

At the secondary doors, the people from the Ministry of Justice did not stride in like what the servant said. Instead, they stood respectfully under the lead of a young officer. When they saw the Duchess rushing out, he smiled and approached her. He held his hands together in greeting and said, “Are you the Duchess? Greetings, I am here on official business.”

Then, he bowed respectfully. It did not seem as if he was being slipshod in his work.

The Duchess’ anger was greatly appeased. She could not help but look at the fierce-looking guards standing behind the officer. They did not seem as easy to speak to as the young officer. Their eyes were cold and they were muscular and large. They looked straight at the Duchess without looking away.

They were people who have killed other people. One could not help but tremble before their aura.

“My Lord, you are too kind. I wonder why you have come to the Duke Zhenguo’s manor today.” The Duchess smiled after she took a look at the situation. She pretended to be gracious and kind. If she did not look at the fierce-looking men, her heart would not beat so fast.

“Madam, is His Excellency around? Some things happened in the capital yesterday and I heard it has something to do with His Excellency. I was ordered to ask His Excellency to return with us for questioning.”

“His Excellency was injured last night and is still unconscious. I fear that he cannot go with you. How about I ask him to go over when he awakes?” The Duchess said politely.

“I’m afraid that will not work. Madam, please do not make things difficult for us. If my superior finds out that I have not brought His Excellency back, there will be more people who will visit. Madam, do not worry, we will just take His Excellency back to ask some questions. He can come back shortly.” The officer’s voice was hard, but the smile on his face was gentle. The Duchess did not dare to underestimate him.

The Duchess sighed and forced down the fear she felt. She smiled and wanted to say something when she heard a feeble sounding voice behind her. “Mother, I am awake. I will go with this official. You go in and rest. Nothing will happen.”

She turned around hurriedly. Sima Lingyun was holding the shoulders of two servants weakly as he came out. The bandages wrapped around him were soaked in blood. It was obvious that he was injured. The young officer waved his hand and two men pushed the servants aside and held Sima Lingyun up.

“My apologies, Your Excellency. Please come with me.” The young officer’s smile was polite. If one did not see the fierce guards behind him, they would really think that he was a young gentleman inviting his guests home to have fun.

“Sir, you have been troubled.” Sima Lingyun said softly and smiled weakly.

“You’re too kind!” The young officer waved his hand. A few men took Sima Lingyun away with them, leaving behind the Duchess whose face was pale with shock.

“Mother, Mother, what’s going to happen to Elder Brother?” Sima Heyan emerged from the secondary door in shock. She had been punished because of Sima Lingyun. As such, she had been mad at Sima Lingyun for the entire night when she returned to the manor. Later, she heard that Sima Lingyun had brought Mo Xuemin home. She was so angry that she did not care even though Sima Lingyun was injured. She did not even visit him.

She grew anxious when she saw that he had been taken away by the Ministry of Justice. She abandoned the grudges she bore against him and questioned her mother anxiously.

Yun Yiqiu followed behind her fearfully. Her delicate figure was being propped up by a maid. She panted anxiously and could not say a single word. She only looked at the Duchess. She had rushed here but was too late. She did not see the entire scene and did not know what happened.

“It’s alright, your Elder Brother will be fine. He will return soon. Let’s go back in!” The Duchess’ voice was soft. One did not know whether she was comforting herself or the two girls. Her straight back stooped and she could not help but cough. She had been in poor health and she had not slept last night. She had been angered at the Mo Manor early in the morning and had been startled earlier. There were still matters for her to handle but her body was failing her. She coughed twice and collapsed.

Sima Heyan yelled in shock and reached out to help her. The Duke’s Manor descended into chaos.