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nAre they just going to forget the matter? Had Mo Xuemin invited her here today just to watch this show? Are they going to hide away Auntie Fang’s mistake with just a claim that she was being negligent? Was her father not going to pursue the matter just because Mo Xuemin claimed to feel guilty? Mo Xuetong could hear the challenge that Mo Xuemin issued her.

nBy claiming that Mo Xuetong could walk a long distance from her courtyard to Mo Xuemin’s courtyard proved that the injuries on her knees were not serious and that she was intentionally making a fuss.

nEveryone had such a mindset. If she kicked up a fuss about one thing, then she could kick up a fuss about other things and everything. She was kicking up a fuss about the injury on her leg today, then she must have kicked up a fuss about the incident yesterday. About her clothes yesterday, the injuries on her knees, and the matter yesterday…must have been blown up! If she had blown up the matter, then Auntie Fang was indeed a little wronged…

nMo Xuemin was indeed sly and vicious.

n“Eldest Sister, you’re too kind. I heard that you were ill so I hurried over. Why did you kneel at the ancestral hall? Auntie was the one who made the mistake. You are the First Miss of the Mo family, how could you hurt yourself so and make Father and I worry.” Mo Xuetong took a few steps forward with wide watery eyes and wanted to hold Mo Xuemin’s hand.

nHowever, she was in a hurry when she walked forward and knocked into the bed frame. She could not help but make a pained cry. She released Mo Xuemin’s hand and clutched her knee. Her face paled immediately and her eyes filled up with tears. She was in so much pain she cried.

n“Miss, how are you. You were in so much pain last night and you came early in the morning to visit First Miss. I told you not to come but you refused. If you hurt your knees again, you’re going to be crippled. You can’t neglect your health no matter how worried you are for First Miss!” Mo Yu hurried up to help Mo Xuetong whose face had paled from the pain.

n“Tong’er, how are you?” Mo Huawen was worried and he stood up forcefully. He hurried up to her and took her other arm.

n“Father, I am fine!” Mo Xuetong hurt so badly she could not even speak. She breathed in heavily and tried to smile. However, she could not stand up straight and was leaning on Mo Yu. There was no color on her lips at all. It was obvious she was trying to bear the pain and was worried that Mo Huawen would be worried.

n“Who went to tell Third Miss?” Mo Huawen’s expression darkened and he asked angrily as he watched his daughter’s pained expression.

n“Old Sir, a few older sisters talked about it as they walked past me. I did not want to tell miss, but I was afraid that Third Miss would be worried about First Miss’s health and blame me.” Mo Yu trembled slightly and answered fearfully with her head lowered.

nFuqing Garden and Qingwei Garden had quite a distance between them. How did the news of what happened to Min’er this morning spread so quickly to the faraway Qingwei Garden? And how did Tong’er’s maid just happened to hear it? Even though Mo Huawen did not pay attention to the happenings of the inner courtyard, he still understood what happened. Mo Huawen could not help but frown and yelled since this had something to do with his two daughters. “Get Auntie Mo to go and check. Who told Third Miss about First Miss falling ill.”

n“Yes!”

nMo Huawen felt terrible when he saw how Mo Xuetong could not even stand in pain. He could not help but feel annoyed at Mo Xuemin. He suddenly recalled that Tong’er had suffered because of Auntie Fang and suddenly felt an immense dislike for Auntie Fang. He did not soften at all like Mo Xuemin had planned.

n“Father, Tong’er is really fine. Eldest sister is so filial and is willing to do something like that for Auntie. Tong’er’s pain is nothing compared to Eldest Sister’s.” Mo Xuetong looked up with her pale face. Her eyes shone and she looked extremely obedient, looking like the delicate younger daughter.

nShe had knelt at the ancestral hall for Auntie Fang? Mo Huawen had been concerned about Mo Xuemin’s illness earlier. But now that he thought about it, how could a concubine’s daughter kneel when the concubine had committed the mistake? If news of this were to spread, it would be a breach of etiquette. The concubine was but just half a mistress and half a servant.

nHis expression darkened and he scolded lightly.

n“Min’er, Auntie Fang’s mistake has nothing to do with you. You have to remember that you are the eldest daughter of the Mo family. Don’t do such things again. You have always been obedient and you gracious. Why have you done something like this this time? No matter what happens to Auntie Fang, it has nothing to do with you. You are a young mistress of the family, the First Miss of the Mo family.” Even though the voice was not loud, Mo Xuemin was so angry she gritted her teeth. She almost could not maintain the gentle expression on her face and was so angry she almost fainted!

nOn the surface, Mo Xuetong had said all of that to help her. She had even proved that she had come despite her injuries and pain because of their relationship as sisters. Mo Xuetong’s maids had heard about what happened to her because of two maids conversing. This conversation had made Mo Huawen suspicious. And then, she had even said something like that.

nComparing between the two, Mo Xuemin was the First Miss of the Mo family. Yet, she had made a fuss and fallen ill because of a concubine. She had even dragged her younger sister who was injured out. She had failed to be considerate and was indeed suspicious.

nMo Xuetong had done well this time. Not only had she caught a mistake Mo Xuemin made, she had used it to magnify her mistakes. Their father was once again reminded of Auntie Fang’s viciousness and was once again suspicious of Mo Xuemin.

nMo Xuetong, the little slut, was too sly. How terrible. However, everything she said was reasonable and one could not refute her points.

nMo Huawen, who had softened towards her earlier, started to look at her with a new depth to his eyes once more after hearing what Mo Xuetong had to say. Mo Xuemin clenched her hands into fists under the blanket.

nShe had not even spoken when Mo Xuetong smiled and said, “Father, Eldest Sister has always been the good First Miss of the Mo Manor. Tong’er is the one who has been immature to run here and have worried you and Eldest Sister. I won’t do this again.” Then, she sat down. Even though her face was pale and her legs hurt so much they were shaking, she was still comforting others.

nFurthermore, everything she had said was to help Mo Xuemin. Her innocent face looked so obedient,it would make one’s heart melt.

nHowever, in Mo Xuemin’s eyes, it was just endless mocking.

n“Many thanks, Third Sister. It is I who have been muddle-headed. I won’t worry Father again. Third Sister, you should go and rest too. I will visit you once I can get up from bed!” Mo Xuemin sat up, holding back tears. This time, Mo Huawen did not have time to stop her. She turned and almost fell out of bed if not for the fast-acting maids who stopped her in time.

nHer mind whirled. When she saw how Mo Xuetong had evaded her attack, she gritted her teeth and admitted her mistakes.

nBeing brave enough to admit her mistake would show how cultured she was. This was similar to her usual style.

nMo Huawen softened a little when he looked at his eldest daughter who admitted to her mistakes shamefully and with tears in her eyes. However, he did not mention Auntie Fang again. Mo Xuemin smartly stopped trying to plead for Auntie Fang as well. Her ruse of inflicting pain on herself to gain sympathy had failed. She could not use this to touch Mo Huawen’s heart.

nWhat was more annoying was that this had been ruined by Mo Xuetong and she could not do anything but to swallow it.

nMo Xuemin had already taken medication and slept when Mo Xuetong left Fuqing Garden with Mo Huawen.

nThe rain had stopped, however, the skies were still gloomy. Fallen leaves flew on the wet ground, looking rather depressing. There were a few leaves that flew towards them. They stuck easily after being wet, and fell before their feet.

nStanding on the path in the garden, Mo Xuetong smiled and looked at Mo Huawen. “Father, the weather is bad. Don’t tire yourself. Eldest Sister and I are not seriously injured and the physician already took a look at us. It is nothing major. Even though Auntie Fang had made a mistake, she should not be locked away in her courtyard forever. The matters of the inner courtyard really can’t do without her.”

nCould the matters of the inner courtyard really not do without Auntie Fang?

nMo Huawen harrumphed when he heard that. However, he could not help but sigh to himself. It was true that the inner courtyard could not do without Auntie Fang. There were many mistakes that had occurred this morning. Clothing were sent to the wrong place, and then there were complaints about maids skiving off…

nIt had only been a day and Mo Huawen already felt battered. He secretly resented that Auntie Qing and Auntie Mo were not up for the task. He was in a bad mood and in his annoyance, also thought that he would not be so troubled if Auntie Fang were around. The matters of the inner courtyard were not major, but it was not minor either. He was a man, so he could not stay in the inner courtyard all the time to settle those matters.

nHe had a sudden thought. Should he listen to Tong’er and release Auntie Fang? But he quickly stomped down the thought the moment it appeared.

nAuntie Fang had dared to treat Tong’er like this in front of him. Tong’er would die if she did it again. Even though Tong’er could be gracious and not pursue the matter because of him, he could not be inconsiderate towards Tong’er. She had been left alone at Cloud City and had been lonely and had a terrible time. How could he allow her to be harmed by that vicious woman again?

nHe would not let her go this time!

n“Don’t worry about it. Father will mind the matters of the back courtyard as well. You just have to focus on recuperating.” Mo Huawen forgot the annoyance he felt when he saw how his daughter looked at him adorably. He reached out to pat her head and smiled to comfort her.He had a sudden thought that he should perhaps find a virtuous woman to manage his back courtyard.

n“Father, it is against the rules for you to manage the back courtyard personally. You are someone who is going to do great things, how can you manage a small back courtyard? Auntie Fang had done well managing the back courtyard in the past, but it is now a mess since she got locked up…Father, Tong’er is willing to forgive Auntie Fang. Let her go. She will manage the back courtyard well and will not make mistakes again.” Mo Xuetong pouted and pleaded with wide eyes.

nShe caught the hesitance on Mo Huawen’s face with her sharp eyes. There was a faint trace of derision on her face.

nAuntie Fang had played the game well. She had gotten her maids and servants to make mistakes to force her father into letting her out. Of course, Mo Xuemin was even smarter. She had fallen ill together with Auntie Fang’s plans so that she could play the sympathy card. Then, if something happens to Mo Yufeng, Auntie Fang would be let out sooner or later.

nAs such, she had to make sure that Auntie Fang would not be able to get a second chance this time.

nNot only that, she was going to make Auntie Fang regret her plot this time.

nMo Huawen did not feel at all happy when he saw how Mo Xuetong kept talking about Auntie Fang and even pleading for her with an innocent smile. Instead, he felt that he had committed a huge mistake! His eyes grew cold and sharp. He had never considered that because he had not had the time to. But now that Mo Xuetong mentioned it, his mind was suddenly clear.

nNothing happened when Auntie Fang managed the back courtyard. So why were there so many people complaining to the two other concubines and to him after she was locked up yesterday? Especially since he was the head of the family and he should not ask too much about the matters of the inner courtyard. As a court official, he should only be concerned with the emperor and work matters. Which family would trouble their master with such matters?

nHowever, the maidservants had been very hardworking at visiting his office. One of them had even made a fuss and entered his study. How could these maidservants be so brave to bother him? It was obvious that someone had been instructing them to do so. When he realized that Auntie Fang had possibly something to do with this, Mo Huawen’s expression grew as cold as steel. He said angrily, “Don’t bother with her. Let her reflect on her mistakes inside!”

n“Father…”Mo Xuetong seemed as if she still wanted to persuade her father. However, she saw Mo Huawen’s servant ran towards them at that moment and did not speak.

nThe servant called out hurriedly when he saw Mo Huawen and wiped his sweat. He said, “Old Sir, two maidservants are fighting outside your study…”

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