Chapter 139 - The Minister’s Manor Asks for Mo Xuemin’s Hand (2/2)
She wrenched herself out of his embrace while Li Youmo was not paying attention and gave him a tight slap!
Who was Li Youmo? He was Minister Li’s only son and was doted on and spoiled. In the Minister’s Manor, Minister Li had never disciplined him. And the minister’s mother would rush out to protect him if anything happened. Li Youmo had never been slapped and was furious. He was not a gentleman and it was not like he had never hit a woman. He rushed forward and was about to hit Mo Xuemin.
It was a coincidence that You Yuecheng exited from Fragrance House at that moment and saw what was happening. He stopped Li Youmo and pulled him to the side, telling him who Mo Xuemin was. Mo Huawen was now a third-grade governor. Even though his ranking was not as high as a minister, he was a close subordinate of the Emperor and was not just any third-grade official.
You Yuecheng’s intentions were to get Li Youmo to stop. However, the rascal was an unreasonable person. Even though he released Mo Xuemin because of You Yuecheng, he grew more and more annoyed when he returned home. A woman had dared to hit him. Those around him jeered him on and he ran off to Old Madam Li in the morning and said that he was interested in First Miss Mo. He had to marry her!
Li Youmo was Old Madam Li’s precious darling. Even if he created trouble outside, his father did not dare to do anything to him. He had always been a playboy and had never been interested in settling down. The Old Madam had been worried about it. He had finally agreed to take a wife two years ago but she had been tortured to death by him in just a few short days. After that, he had refused to marry again.
Now he had taken the initiative to ask for another girl’s hand. The Old Madam was exhilarated. She sent people to ask around about Mo Xuemin and heard that despite First Miss Mo being a concubine’s daughter and having a less than stellar reputation, she was said to be gentle and gracious, talented and beautiful. Even though her status as a concubine’s daughter and the bad rumors about her were not very satisfactory, but she knew what kind of person her grandson was.
As such, she sent an official matchmaker to the Mo Manor early in the morning to ask for Mo Xuemin’s hand. She told the matchmaker to say that First Miss Mo had been molested by others and her grandson had been the hero to save her. They were seen hugging each other by so many people and it was the truth. Furthermore, the Mingguo Duke’s son was a witness as well.
To make this more credible, the Li family lowered themselves slightly. After all, Li Youmo had saved her.
Mo Huawen heard these from the official matchmaker and was furious! He chased the matchmaker out. He did not know about anyone else, but Li Youmo was an infamous character. He had fought over a prost.i.tute with someone and the scuffle had caused an entire street to come to a standstill. And then, the next day, he would ride in a horse carriage down the streets openly with a male singer… A person like this dared to come up to their doors and ask for his daughter’s hands. This was definitely not good news and was a great insult to the Mo Manor.
When he thought about how he had only grounded Mo Xuemin yesterday and something like this happened, he understood that Mo Xuemin had only pretended to be obedient. He was extremely disappointed in his usually obedient and gracious daughter. And this incident made him hate Auntie Fang even more. Mo Xuemin was indeed a child taught by a concubine. He ignored all the news about Mo Xuemin committing suicide because he was angry and stewed in his anger alone in the study.
When Mo Xuetong hurried to the study at the front courtyard, Mo Huawen was sitting in front of his desk, a hand propping up his head with a troubled frown.
Old Madam Li had told the official matchmaker to tell Mo Huawen about the incident yesterday firstly to claim that the two had met and it was not because her grandson was interested in the daughter of Mo family for no reason. Secondly, it was a veiled threat. Her grandson had done the heroic act of saving a beauty and everyone saw them touching each other. It would be a beautiful incident if they got married. But if they did not, it would become a scandal. Furthermore, the Mingguo Duke’s son was present as well.
Li Youmo was an unreliable person and if he were to spread rumors about what happened yesterday, the Mo Manor could just insist that the person he was with yesterday was not First Miss Mo. However, You Yuecheng was different. He was the Mingguo Duke’s son and his reputation had always been stellar and was an honest person. If he said that it was Mo Xuemin who was present last night, Mo Xuemin had to be present even if she was not!
When he thought of that, Mo Huawen’s head hurt badly. He felt that the matter was pressing and could not be bothered with punis.h.i.+ng Mo Xuemin. His only thought was how to dodge this disaster!
He knew that Mo Xuemin definitely cannot marry Li Youmo. This was not just about Mo Xuemin. If she were forced to marry Li Youmo, that would mean acknowledging Mo Xuemin sneaking out alone in the middle of the night with just a maid. Was she meeting someone?
The reputation of the daughters of Mo family would be ruined. Mo Xuemin being forced to marry Li Youmo would make her seem guilty. The marriages of the other daughters of Mo family would be affected as well and that was something Mo Huawen did not want to happen.
He thought of how Tong’er would be the next to marry after Mo Xuemin. His obedient and adorable Tong’er would be gossiped about because of Mo Xuemin and then would not be able to find a good husband. Mo Huawen grew anxious when he thought of that. He grew angry and annoyed and could not sit nor stand around. He walked around in the study but still could not think of a solution.
Mo Xuetong’s gentle voice sounded at the door just as stewed in his anger and annoyance. “Father, have you had breakfast? I still haven’t. Would you have some breakfast with me?”
He looked up to see his daughter’s concerned and somewhat cautious expression. Even though her tone was rather playful, she seemed to be trying to please him because of her concern. Despite so, his heart still softened at the look of her.
The sun streamed into the study from behind Mo Xuetong. She held a red wicker food basket and stood at the door. Compared to the large basket, Mo Xuetong seemed slender and soft. The eyes of the person on the portrait behind the desk seemed to be scrutinizing her carefully. She bit her lips, her eyes were as clear as pools of water, looking as if she could see through one’s heart. The concern in her eyes were clear as well.
<script>