Chapter 275 - Being Born Noble Doesn't Mean Always Being Noble
Chapter 275 Being Born Noble Doesn’t Mean Always Being Noble
Both the words of Beauty Liu and the actions of the Fifth Princess made all understood the truth of the matter, as none of the bystanders were fools. If anything was amiss, that would be the mistake in the execution by Beauty Liu. However, she shouldered all the responsibility herself.
“Your Highness, do you have any other matter that requires Anping here? If not, I need to speak to her.” Princess Royal spoke solemnly as she looked at Fifth Princess with a disapproving glance. That sharp glance made Fifth Princess shudder as she turned her head away, scared to speak.
“Nothing. I merely asked Anping to come so we can get a complete knowledge of the situation. Since it was an accident, and that Beauty Liu has gone insane after injuring her face, the investigation will not lead to any more outcome. Please bring Anping back, Princess Royal. It must be quite a fright for a girl like her!” The Empress comforted Mo Xuetong as she walked up and looked at her with eyes of sympathy as if she were worried about Mo Xuetong.
Princess Royal did not pursue the matter, meaning that she had compromised. The Empress naturally returned the favor and showed leniency to Mo Xuetong.
One always prioritizes their own benefits in the palace.
“Come and gift the newly-obtained headdress with pearls and colored stones to Princess Anping, so as to calm her down.”
“Mother…” Fifth Princess was about to retort when the Empress stared at her, making her shut up.
A servant came with the headdress, and Princess Royal ordered her servant to receive it. She then said goodbye to the Empress before turning around to leave.
Mo Xuetong slowly inched behind Princess Royal as she walked out.
“Please wait a minute, Princess Anping.” As she was about to leave the door, Fifth Princess suddenly shouted.
The Empress was about to speak when Fifth Princess walked up. Mo Xuetong stopped while Princess Royal continued forth at a leisurely pace.
“You are indeed malicious to hurt Beauty Liu. Such a good move!” Fifth Princess walked beside Mo Xuetong and snickered. She was angry that her delicate plan had failed, and thus refused to put on a show.
“Fifth Princess is more malicious to hide the antidote from Beauty Liu. Are you not afraid that Beauty Liu will hate you so much to destroy your appearance!” Mo Xuetong retorted coldly, full of disgust in her innocent eyes, with the same impoliteness in the tone.
“How rude!” Fifth Princess chided as a satisfying smile appeared on her face. “So what if you know that I tried to harm you? I merely wanted to destroy your foxy face so you cannot seduce my cousin. Even if you escaped just now, you cannot escape for the next few times. I will not let you escape so easily next time. I am a princess and I can kill you with no consequences to myself! As the daughter of a third-grade official, you can never compare to my royal status!”
“Unjust? So what if it’s unjust? You will not be nobler than me!” Seeing that Mo Xuetong was quiet, Fifth Princess became more sinister.
“Fifth Princess, do you want to bet and see who will laugh longest!” Mo Xuetong smirked, her innocent eyes full of hatred, sending chills into Fifth Princess’ heart. Her smile froze but she became immediately furious. As the most doted Fifth Princess of the Emperor, there was no need for her to be afraid of a fake princess!
“Tong’er, come over. The Empress will take charge of matters within Tianfeng Palace.” Princess Royal’s voice came from behind.
The Empress’ expression became extremely solemn as she stood up and walked towards the duo, smiling. “Xueyu, do not take up too much of Anping’s time even if you are closer with her. Princess Anping still needs to leave the palace.”
“Yes, Mother, I shall send her out.” Seeing that the Empress had interfered, Fifth Princess replied and stared at Mo Xuetong cruelly, smiling while raising her voice. “Please, Princess Anping. Princess Anping is like my long-lost friend, and I would love to have a longer conversation with you next time!”
“Thank you, Fifth Princess.” Mo Xuetong replied politely and turned around to leave.
She could no longer stay here for any second longer, as the smell of blood rested heavily in the air. The Fifth Princess indeed dared to be arrogant as she was not even chided for such an evil act, and even threatened Mo Xuetong at the palace gate. Even though Princess Royal protected her, Mo Xuetong could not punish Fifth Princess.
Now that she had a rivalry with Fifth Princess, Fifth Princess would definitely not let this matter go. Of course, Mo Xuetong would also not just wait for her demise! She stared into the night sky with forlorn eyes, frowning.
“Are you blaming me, Tong’er?” Princess Royal slowed down and asked Mo Xuetong as she came up.
“Thank you, Mother. Why would Tong’er blame Mother? If not for Mother, I will…” Mo Xuetong smiled bitterly as a flicker of confusion flashed over her eyes when she lowered her head. The light from palace street lamps scattered onto her small jade-like face. Fan-shaped shadows of her long eyelashes formed on her face, making her seem particularly helpless.
“I apologize for their wrongdoing. Living in the palace, you can never have everything in your way. You can’t do something, can’t speak some words, and freedom is impossible.” Princess Royal’s eyes turned away from Mo Xuetong’s face. These words seemed like casual remarks but they meant a lot of things once one started deciphering its message. It did hide a subtle sadness from within.
“Is the noble Princess Royal so helpless too?”
“Mother, freedom is not only restricted in the palace but in other places too. There is no need to feel sad for Tong’er as I don’t feel sad for myself. The nobility of Fifth Princess is not something I can compare myself to. Compared to Fifth Princess, it is a great blessing that Tong’er can safely retreat.” Mo Xuetong’s face shimmered in the night sky as if she were a beautiful dream. She smiled with a tinge of determination hidden in a fragility. Anyone seeing her then would feel tender for her.
Being born noble meant being born in a royal family. If not for what happened back then, perhaps Tong’er was now nobler than Xueyu! Princess Royal’s heart ached as she resisted sharing that information. She did not have a daughter and treated Luo Xia’s daughter as her own.
However, she really was not in the position to do certain things.
Her eyes fell on the cute face of Mo Xuetong. She could see her restraint and calm, as well as the determination, hid in her fragile body. Even though she kept quiet about what she was thinking, Princess Royal could understand her!
What a pity for her to be a woman! Princess Royal sighed before feeling happy for Luo Xia.
If Xia’er knew that she had such a sensible daughter, she would certainly feel happy!
Being born noble does not mean always being noble. The nobility of a woman is first given by her parents, and then by her husband. Even though Fifth Princess had a unique status, a Princess without influence would have no nobility, and Princess Royal knew that far and well. She could only hope that Tong’er understood that, and not have any conflicts with Fifth Princess for now.
For the next section of the route, none of them spoke, with only the rustle of their dresses. It was peaceful and quiet, engulfing all the rage in Mo Xuetong’s heart. Looking at the Princess Royal in front of her, Mo Xuetong somehow felt touched as she realized that Princess Royal looked like Mother from this angle.
Perhaps the night was too quiet today, or perhaps it was because Mother and Princess Royal were cousins. She felt that such a Princess Royal had connected with Mother to become one, for both their demeanor and their appearance. Even when Princess Royal did not speak to her at all, she could feel the sympathy of Princess Royal towards her.
Standing at the gate of the palace, Princess Royal stopped and turned around, giving instructions. “You can go out from here. The carriage is still waiting outside, I have already sent someone to Mo Manor to inform your father that we will be keeping you for a while and thus you can return late. When you meet Fifth Princess next time, there is no need to be too polite. Even though we cannot punish her, we can still protect you.”
She regained her composure and touched Mo Xuetong’s head, blinking. She then smiled and waved to her, signaling goodbye.
Before Mo Xuetong could respond, she turned and left.
Many servants were around her. Some were in front of her, holding lanterns, while others are behind her, afraid to overtake her. She stood amidst them, with her back straightened as she walked slowly.
Mo Xuetong’s eyes followed her unconsciously as she left.
She somehow felt that Princess Royal was too thin.
Out of the palace, she saw her carriage outside the doorsteps. Anxiousness was written all over the driver’s face until he saw Mo Xuetong and Mo Lan appear by the doorsteps. He then relaxed and drove the carriage forward.
“Third Miss, old sir has sent someone here several times. Old sir will come personally if you still don’t come out.” The driver jumped down the horse and exclaimed.
“Father sent someone here to rush me? Did anything happen in the manor?” Mo Xuetong was dumbfounded as she remembered that Princess Royal had sent someone to inform Father already, and he shouldn’t be rushing her anymore.
“Nothing, but I heard that Second Sir’s family is here. Old Sir wanted them to move to the garden near Yushui Street but he refused to do so, and was arguing with old sir and Old Madam.” The driver lowered his voice. “Old Sir was afraid that you will venture in recklessly, and thus asked me to bring you to his study room to hide, instead of going to your own garden.”
Mo Xuetong lowered her gaze as she thought of the arrival of Second Sir. Second Sir was Father’s brother and Mo Xueyan’s father. To let Mo Xueyan enter the palace, Old Madam unexpectedly tried to harm her. Father must have been unable to endure anymore and was forcing the Second Sir to move to the garden in Yushui Street, a place bought over by Second Sir long ago.
For her, Father had been in conflict with Second Sir.
That’s alright as she remembered that Second Sir did spread rumors with Auntie Fang about her in her previous life. They lived in the garden at Yushui Street but they came over consistently so much so that even Mo Yufeng became close to him. At least a portion of the misdeeds to her was instigated by her Second Uncle.
As she stepped on the carriage and lifted the curtains, she heard a languid voice before even entering the carriage. “Why so late? I waited for so long.”
Before Mo Xuetong could react, her wrist was grabbed and with a gentle grip, she was pulled into the carriage, which made her fall heavily inside. Her hands stretched out to support herself but she was then immediately hugged by the man inside. The man’s warm breath was beside her ears as he smiled jokingly, “Such a warm welcome from Tong’er! We just met not long ago!”
Mo Xuetong sighed as she could already guess the man from his shameless remarks!
But why hasn’t he returned to the palace at this ungodly hour?