“That slut Mo Xuetong is so smart. She didn’t even leave us any cracks. I haven’t even spoken to the eunuch from the Empress’ palace before she came and she even makes Father give me a scolding.” Mo Xueqiong entered huffily and sat on a chair. She picked up the tea Mo Xiu poured for her and took a sip.

“Father only cares about her. You’d better be more careful. So what if you send word to the Empress? Father will still only dote on her. Don’t do something like that in the future. Your situation will get worse if Father finds out.” Mo Xuemin looked up. She put down the embroidery she was doing and comforted Mo Xueqiong with a smile.

However, Mo Xueqiong felt that Mo Xuemin’s smile was as if she was mocking her and she grew angry.

She stood up furiously and pointed in the direction of Qingwei Garden. She said, “It can’t just end like that. She messed up my marriage and made Father plan to send me to the old manor in Cloud City. She’s ruling this manor. Why? If she can do that, then I can one up her. Anyway, at the worse, I will just be sent to the old manor at Cloud City. What can she do to me?”

Mo Xuemin pursed her lips and smiled. She asked Mo Xiu to bring Mo Xueqiong another cup of tea gently and shook her head with a smile. “Fourth Sister, you can’t beat Third Sister like this. You are direct and she is sly. If you really send word to the Empress through her servants today, Father would have punished you. You are too direct and gutsy and that will only make Father angry.”

This made Mo Xueqiong even angrier. However, she understood that if she had spoken badly of Mo Xueqiong in front of the Empress’ servants, her father would not let her off so easily. However, she could not just allow Mo Xuetong to parade in front of her arrogantly.

Since her marriage to Sima Lingyun was completely hopeless and the Empress has already decreed that her eldest sister be married into the Duke’s manor, her father had told her not to think about Sima Lingyun anymore. This infuriated Mo Xueqiong, who had always secretly pined for Sima Lingyun. This was all Mo Xuetong’s fault. How would Mo Xueqiong let her off easily?

However, since Mo Xuemin mentioned it, she also understood that it was silly for her to go against Mo Xuetong head-on. Her father was completely devoted to Mo Xuetong and listened completely to her. Mo Xueqiong had no status in the manor at all. And after what happened last time, Auntie Qing had been punished as well, so Mo Xuetong was now in charge of the household.

Mo Xueqiong could not hold back on the anger she felt as she thought about that.

Ever since she moved to the little courtyard near the backdoor entrance, the servants all treated her badly. That day, when she saw Mo Xuemin who had also been treated badly by the maids, she immediately pitied her for they shared the same fate. One of them wanted to marry Sima Lingyun while the other did not. The two immediately buried the hatchet.

Mo Xueqiong thought of ways to deal with Mo Xuetong.

“Eldest Sister, you were competent in the past, but why have you landed in your current predicament just months after she entered the capital? I heard word from Lihua Garden that Auntie Fang is very ill. If she is not released and treated, her days would be limited.” Mo Xueqiong thought quickly and said with a grim twitch of her mouth when she saw how calm Mo Xuemin was.

She did not believe that Mo Xuemin was not worried. Even though her reputation was damaged, it could not be compared to Mo Xuemin’s. “Eldest Sister, the rumors outside are fervent. They are all about you. They not only say that you have something going on with Sir Sima, but also that you have something going on with Minister Li’s son and Sir You. It’s a mess.”

Mo Xueqiong’s eyes glinted with pleasure at Mo Xuemin’s misfortune. However, her expression was one of pity as she said fakely, “Eldest Sister, you have suffered.”

Then, she slowly picked up the teacup by her side.

Mo Xuemin clenched her hands into a fist secretly. Her sharp kneels pressed into her palms which throbbed in pain. However, she did not show anything on her face as she said, “Since things are already like this, Fourth Sister, what else can I fight for? Third Sister has gotten everything that she should. I am barely alive. I don’t want for much now. I just want to leave this place as soon as possible. Third Sister’s jealousy is too stronger than anything else. She is too jealous.”

Mo Xueqiong could not say anything sarcastic when she saw Mo Xuemin’s despondent expression. She pursed her lips and thought about how Mo Xuemin would be able to leave the Mo Manor in a year at most. However, after what happened to her, she would not be able to marry into a good family. She might even be worse off than Mo Xuemin.

“Eldest Sister, we can’t just be bullied like that. We have to find a way to show Father how vicious Mo Xuetong is. She has made us like this. If we don’t fight this, she will bully us to death.” She turned around and said to Mo Xuemin passionately.

Mo Xuemin sighed and did not speak. Then, she sighed again and stood up with Mo Xiu’s help. She walked into the room with a despondent expression.

Mo Xueqiong stomped her foot angrily when she saw how useless Mo Xuemin was. She slammed her teacup down and walked out angrily!

She gritted her teeth. No. She was not Mo Xuemin. She would not just let matters rest after taking such a hit.

Inside Mo Huawen’s study.

Mo Xuetong looked at the table laden with gifts in surprise, unable to react for the moment.

There were a few bolts of beautiful and luxurious cloth, a pair of clear jade bangles with precious stones engraved in them. The bolts of cloth were all brightly colored and had a high thread count. They were expensive and were unavailable in the common market. There was also an opal headdress. The opals shone brightly and the one in the middle was especially eye-catching.

One could tell how precious the items were at one glance. Mo Xuetong had not done anything worthy of praise. In fact, she had not said anything to the Empress, so how had she caught the Empress’ attention?

“Father, what does the Empress mean?” Mo Xuetong looked away from the luxurious and beautiful bolts of cloth. Her expression turned grave. She had seen such cloth before in her past life, but she had only just seen them. The Duke Zhenguo’s Manor gradually prospered under Sima Lingyun and the Emperor gradually thought highly of him.

The Emperor had gifted them with some items on the Duchess’ 50th birthday. Amongst the items were bolts of cloth such as this. It was said that not many were given to the palace as a tribute and there wasn’t enough of such cloth to go around to the consorts the Emperor favored. The Empress had given the Duchess’ two bolts of such cloth, which was very generous. So what had she done now for the Empress to give her four bolts of such cloth at one go?

“Tong’er, you said that the Princess Royal wanted to adopt you as her daughter. I have already discussed it with the Princess Royal. It will happen on the 15th of the month after spring. The Princess Royal said that you should not go anywhere and if there is a banquet invitation from the palace, you should not go and say that you are feeling poorly.” Mo Huawen reached out to pat Mo Xuetong’s head, his expression was grave.

Mo Xuetong looked up with lively eyes in shock. She told her father what the Princess Royal said to her on the very same day. However, her father had not said whether he agreed or not then. It had only been two days and her father was already done with his discussion with the princess.

The fragrance from the incense at the window drifted through the room. In the smoke, Mo Huawen’s expression was somber and a little blurred. A hint of worry flashed through his eyes. Even though he did not understand what the Empress wanted, it made him very wary. The Empress would not be nice to an official’s daughter for no rhyme or reason.

So what did the Empress want?

The consort-selection was coming. Tong’er had a good reason not to participate in it. It had only been two years since her mother’s passing. She could join in it if she was ordered to. Just like how the Emperor could call on an official to work for the nation and not mourn even when an elder in a highly-regarded official’s family passed away.

The problem was that his daughter had only just returned from Cloud City. Furthermore, she was so young, so what need did the Empress have for her?

“Tong’er, the Princess Royal used to be good friends with your mother. If you have her protection, there are many things that you will not need to do.” Mo Huawen looked at his daughter meaningfully. His eyes were filled with love for her.

No matter what, he would not allow his daughter to be in any form of danger again.

“Father, why didn’t Mother tell me about the Princess Royal?” Mo Xuetong tugged on Mo Huawen’s sleeve and asked in confusion.

This was a nagging thought she had had for some time. She felt that there was something more behind this!

“Your mother grew up with the Princess Royal. Their relationship was different from others… Your mother once said that if you are really in trouble, you can find the Princess Royal and ask her for help.” Mo Huawen frowned deeply. He continued, “However, your mother also said not to tell others about her relationship with the Princess Royal.”

They must not let others know about her relationship with the Princess Royal? What was her mother hiding?

“Then why is the Princess Royal taking me as her adoptive daughter now?” Mo Xuetong pressed tightly. No matter whether it was her mother or the Princess, they both tried to hide their past. So why was the princess bringing it up now?

There were some things that had been kept from Mo Xuetong. Now, she felt as if she could catch a glimpse of light!

She wanted to find out the truth even more!

“The Princess Royal told me that you are growing up and are beautiful. If you grow up any more, there would definitely be trouble. Even though I am a third-grade official in the capital, I do not have much power here and cannot protect you. She was a close friend of your mother’s and she could not bear to see you…” Mo Huawen looked at Mo Xuetong. He knew very well how his daughter looked. Her childish face was growing more and more beautiful.

She was young in the past and rarely interacted with others. Others did not know about her. However, she was growing older and she was now in the capital where the wealthy and noble were gathered. She would attend banquets from time to time. And people had already said that if Tong’er were to grow up more, she would definitely surpass the greatest beauty of the capital from the Ling family.

If one was extremely beautiful and did not have sufficient power for protection, then it would lead to tragedy.

Luo Xia had been ill-fated. How would she allow her daughter to end up with the same ill-fate? Mo Huawen secretly decided that he would not allow his daughter to suffer one bit no matter what happened.

“Father, do you know exactly what Mother and the Princess Royal’s relationship was like?” Mo Xuetong could not help but press him for an answer when she saw his sad eyes. Her mother had hidden more than one thing from her. No matter what she did, she always had a hidden motive. What was her mother’s goal in this? Mo Xuetong did not know, but she had a feeling that everything her mother did was for one thing.

She would definitely be able to find out her mother’s end goal as long as she continued investigating!

She had died without knowing what happened in her past life. This time, she would definitely investigate till the very end…