Chapter 405 - The Face-off Between the Princess Royal and King Xuan (1/2)

Chapter 405 The Face-off Between the Princess Royal and King Xuan

It was still early when Feng Yuran and Mo Xuetong returned.

The matter did not involve them a great deal and Feng Yuran’s leg was still not healed. As such, they were allowed to return to their manor early.

After Mo Xuetong got Feng Yuran to lie down when they returned home, news of the Princess Royal’s arrival came.

As such, Mo Xuetong received Princess Royal in her courtyard.

Princess Royal came in a hurry and only brought a few people. When Mo Xuetong entered the room and curtsied, the princess nodded. She looked at the servants around Mo Xuetong with narrowed eyes and did not say anything.

She wanted to speak with Mo Xuetong alone.

Mo Xuetong waved her hands and Mo Lan and the other servants left. The servants around Princess Royal followed them and left as well. Mo Lan, who was the last to leave closed the door and waited a few steps away from the door. After serving Mo Xuetong for so long, she knew what she should do at a time like this.

“Tong’er, do you know of your mother’s past?” Princess Royal did not tarry and went straight to the point. She looked at Mo Xuetong with deep and worried eyes. She seemed a little lost. This was a topic that the two of them had not spoken about plainly. However, Mo Xuetong knew that Princess Royal knew about it.

The kidnapping the last time had actually been a test.

“Mother!” Mo Xuetong looked shocked and opened her small mouth. Her expression was filled with fear and shock, panic and unease. She stood up suddenly as if she had been shocked.

“Tong’er, do not be afraid. I am your aunt and will not hurt you.” Princess Royal held Mo Xuetong’s hand and patted her soothingly when she saw how afraid Mo Xuetong was. She pulled Mo Xuetong into her seat and explained softly, “Your maternal grandfather was afraid that the situation would get worse. When I was born, a maid in my uncle’s courtyard had a baby too. Your grandparents swapped the babies. I never thought that the swap would part us forever.”

Princess Royal sighed after saying that.

So that was why Princess Royal had not been killed together with King Jin’s family. Mo Xuetong had once suspected that something like this might have happened. King Jin must have been afraid that he would fail and his entire family would be killed. As such, he had swapped one of his daughters out. If he succeeded, he would acknowledge her. If he didn’t, he would have been able to protect one of his bloodlines.

“Mother, you mean…” Mo Xuetong bit her lips, looking lost. Her bright and s.h.i.+ny eyes were still filled with fear and confusion that matched her age.

She did not think that Princess Royal had come in such a hurry today to talk about the past with her. What happened today had been sudden. The Emperor had sent men to investigate what happened in the Princess Royal’s Manor. Princess Royal should not have the time to discuss what happened long ago with her. Then, what was she doing here today? Princess Royal was having a showdown with her. What would happen next?

Mo Xuetong’s mind whirled while she still appeared to be frightened. She looked afraid, nervous, and a little lost.

“Did your mother leave you with an important jade piece?” Princess Royal wiped the smile off her face and spoke seriously as she examined Mo Xuetong’s expression carefully.

Mo Xuetong naturally knew of the jade piece her mother left behind. The jade bangle was something her mother had especially asked her to take with her in both her lives. It was said that the jade bangle had been a token of love from Bai Yihao’s family. Mo Xuetong keenly sensed that this had something to do with Bai Yihao.

“I fell ill after Mother pa.s.sed away. Then, I was sent to the Qin’s and was kept deep inside the courtyard. I did not return to our old home again after that. Mother was in Cloud City then as well and you must have heard of my plight. I was just a weak girl who was being raised by the Qin family then. I did not have any freedom in my comings and goings.” Mo Xuetong said unhurriedly. There was pain in her eyes as she bit her lips and looked up with a forced smile.

“Didn’t your mother leave you anything?” The Princess Royal’s eyes were dark and deep. She appeared to be testing Mo Xuetong as she continued to press her.

“Mother pa.s.sed away so suddenly. She could not speak by the time I got there…” Mo Xuetong said sadly with tears in her eyes. When she thought of how her mother held her hand and looked at her with pain and pity, sorrow surged up from within her. She would not forget that even though she had lived through two lives. Her mother had forced herself to speak and her words were filled with intent. In her past life, Mo Xuetong had naively believed that her mother had repeated herself because she could not bear to leave her.

However, when she thought of it now, every word and sentence her mother said was meaningful. Her mother did not want her to know and had made Nanny Ming swear not to tell her what happened. Her mother had wanted to get her out of the situation in which the royal sons try to get their hands on the throne. However, in the last moments of her life, her mother had been worried about her.

In everything she said, she had been trying to hint at something. She wanted Mo Xuetong to be prepared!

She had left the jade bangle to Mo Xuetong. It must have been for in case she needed it!

No matter what had happened, that was her mother. Mo Xuetong could not help but feel upset. Her eyes reddened and she lowered her head.

Princess Royal frowned and sighed when she saw Mo Xuetong’s show of true emotions. She said gently, “Tong’er, trust me. I will not harm you. Your mother has a jade piece. Inside, there is a jade pendant that is proof of your mother’s ident.i.ty. It also serves as a warrant that can order the secret guards around you. When they see the warrant, they will do anything for you, even die for you. You look for it. It is very important to you.”

Mo Xuetong finally understood why Princess Royal came to her!

This was because of the rumors surrounding the legitimate princess of the Qin royal family.

Every legitimate princess had their own secret guards. Her mother had secret guards and the Princess Royal must have known about this long ago. However, since some of the secret guards had always been hidden in the wild, the Princess Royal was not able to find them. Or perhaps, it could be said that the Princess Royal did not look for them. No matter what happened then, she was still a princess who had grown up in the royal family and was grateful to the royal family for her upbringing and care. Furthermore, she was just a woman and there was no need for her to cause waves. As such, she had always maintained a low profile.