Chapter 48 The Princess Royal Grows Angry Upon Reminiscing About the Past (1/2)

The path in the garden was very quiet. There were a few palace maids who followed behind them. There was quite a distance between them. Only Mo Xuetong followed the Princess Royal closely. The path was covered by fallen autumn leaves, and every stem she took felt as if they were a blow to her heart. They were noisy and yet quiet and for some reason, felt lonely. The princess did not speak but only continued to walk forward slowly.

The cold air of the late autumn had not affected the sights of the imperial garden. It was still blooming with flowers. However, Mo Xuetong felt that the princess radiated an aura of failure for some reason. The young princess felt like an old person. It was an odd feeling that she could not put in words but could sense.

The garden was covered in flowers, but it could not hide the loneliness in her eyes. She had lost the imposing aura she had earlier.

”I planted this tree with your mother. Your mother said then that if we were fated to, she would take her child here to give the tree more fertilizer in 20 years.” The princess stood under the tree. It was an ordinary maple tree that was not considered tall or strong. However, Mo Xueteong spotted the new layer of fertilizer under the tree and that there were no weeds surrounding it. It was evident that it had been well taken care of.

”My mother has also spoken about Your Highness to me before. She said that you are a straightforward person...” Mo Xuetong said. Actually, her mother had never once spoken with her about the Princess Royal. If the princess had not mentioned it, she would not have known about the relations.h.i.+p the two shared.

In her past life, she had never met the Princess Royal even until the day she died.

”How did your mother pa.s.s away?” The Princess Royal changed the topic. She looked at the maple tree before them and asked lightly.

”She died of illness. Her health has always been poor. It would sometimes get better, and sometimes, it would get worse. After that, there was nothing that could be done...” Mo Xuetong's eyes grew red and she bit her lips, trying to hide the bitterness in her eyes.

She was still young then and could not understand why her mother's face had always been so pale and drawn. She had even thrown a tantrum to get Luo Xia to take her out to play. It seemed like it was a different world when she thought about it now.

”Even though your mother has pa.s.sed, but at least your father still remembers her. This life of hers...at least it was not spent in loneliness...” The princess looked at the top of the tree and did not turn back. Mo Xuetong caught the flash at the corner of her eyes.

Was her mother and the Princess Royal really so close? Why had no one mentioned it to her in her past life?

”Your father mourned your mother for three years. This was unheard of in Great Qin. Your mother...has married a good man. It's considered a different form of compensation.” The princess said softly. Her voice was so soft that Mo Xuetong could not tell if she was speaking to herself.

”Father was with Auntie Fang then. He did not stay by mother's side.” Mo Xuetong said in a curious coincidence.

”What?” The princess' body shook and she turned around forcefully and caught hold of Mo Xuetong. Her eyes turned cold immediately as she said, ”Your father didn't stay by your mother's side but was in a concubine's room?”

Her calm expression had been replaced with a furious look. She only looked like the image Mo Xuetong had constructed of her in her heart right now.

”That's right.” Mo Xuetong's expression darkened and her long lashes fluttered, hiding the bitterness in her eyes. She nodded. This was something that had troubled her and she had never told anyone about it. Not even Mother Xu had sensed anything. However, she had for some reason told the princess about the first time she met her.

”Princess Royal!” The princess' personal maid called out worriedly when she saw the princess' cold gaze.

The voice seemed to awaken the princess from her reverie. Her hold on Mo Xuetong's hand slowly loosened. She turned around slowly and continued looking at the maple tree. The breeze lifted her skirts. Mo Xuetong could sense that she was suppressing her anger.

”The Empress has already seen everyone. You can leave now. Bai Ling, get someone to arrange Third Miss Mo's return.” She suddenly ordered coldly.

”Yes!” Bai Ling answered softly. A young palace maid behind approached. Mo Xuetong curtsied to the princess deeply and silently before following the maid. After walking a short distance, she turned around to see that the princess had not moved from her spot under the tree.

When Mo Xuetong returned to the banquet, the ladies that were summoned by the Empress had only just returned to their seats. Mo Xuemin pretended to ask in concern, ”Third Sister, why did the Empress summon you? I was worried for you after you left.”

”Eldest Sister, I fear you will have to be disappointed. I did not see the Empress but met the Princess Royal instead.” Mo Xuetong answered with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

”How could you not see the Empress!” Mo Xuemin almost stood up in shock. Her smile almost slipped off her face. It was such a good opportunity to stomp on Mo Xuetong, but it had disappeared just like that. How could she still smile?

”Eldest Sister, why are you so weird. Are you going to meddle in the affairs of the palace as well? I can't make the decision to see the Empress or the Princess Royal.”

Mo Xuemin could not say anything in reply to that.

It was obvious that Mo Xuemin knew what would happen in the palace today. But how did she know about things that happened in the Empress' palace! She was just a concubine's daughter. Even if she were a main daughter, how did she get news from the palace? Furthermore, she could enter the palace even though she did not have an invite. Mo Xuemin grew vigilant.

The thought that Mo Xuemin could possibly be connected to some people in the palace made her heart cold. That person was also someone with power. Otherwise, Mo Xuemin would not be able to enter the palace so easily.

”Third Sister, what are you talking about. I was just concerned for you...” Mo Xuemin calmed down after a while and she said with an unhappy expression. ”If Third Sister thinks that I like to meddle in things, I shan't ask in the future so you wouldn't get angry and think that I have ulterior motives.”

”How would I dare to be annoyed with Eldest sister. I won't say anything even if you meddled in my affairs. However, everyone in the palace is much higher ranked. If you annoy them, it might implicate the entire Mo Manor. That is why you should meddle in fewer things. If you meddle in too many things, you'll just get into trouble.” Mo Xuetong's voice was gentle. Even though the ladies sitting by the side could not hear what she was saying, they could see her aggrieved expression.

A few of them cast suspicious glances on Mo Xuemin. They looked as if they wanted badly to tear off her mouth.