Chapter 406 - Mo Xuetongs Poisoning (2/2)
“I am not worried.” Mo Xuetong blinked her beautiful and clear eyes. Then, she said with a determined smile, “I want to see Mo Xuemin.”
Feng Yuran examined her expression carefully and did not see anything odd. Then, he nodded forcefully and replied, “Alright, but promise me. You must not be disappointed.”
His hand, which was wrapped around Mo Xuetong, tightened and a dark glint rippled through his eyes.
He had kept Mo Xuemin alive and not allowed Sima Lingyun to kill her because he wanted to get the antidote from her. He did not expect the woman to be so vicious that she would drag Tong’er down with her even as she was about to die. If not for the fact that she was still useful, Feng Yuran would have already ground the vicious woman into ashes.
However, she could not die now. The antidote. He needed Tong’er’s antidote.
When Feng Yuran thought of Bai Yihao’s threat, anger welled up within him. He had to help Tong’er find the antidote no matter what would happen!
“I promise!” Mo Xuetong was as gentle as the waters in spring.
The incident at the Princess Royal’s Manor was settled very quickly. An imperial edict was sent out even before the various officials could react.
w.a.n.g Yueyue had plotted against Consort Chu and committed suicide when the truth was revealed. She had been pregnant with King Ning’s child! She had gotten what she deserved.
After such a big hoo-ha, Grand Secretariat w.a.n.g being punished was something everyone expected. His position as Grand Secretariat was taken from him and he was to reflect on his mistakes at home.
In just moments, the usually bustling Grand Secretariat front doors grew empty and desolate.
King Ning and King Chu both lost a consort. One could say that they both suffered losses. However, Consort Chu had been killed while Consort Ning was the culprit. As such, King Ning was punished and had to pay a year of his dues.
On the surface, it seemed that King Ning did not suffer any losses. However, everyone knew that King Ning’s power was greatly reduced.
Some of the older subjects stood on the Empress Dowager’s side together with Grand Secretariat w.a.n.g. Now, the Grand Secretariat had stepped down and was replaced by a young Grand Secretariat. The new Grand Secretariat was loyal to the Emperor and had nothing to do with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager could no longer hold on to these men.
The blame was pushed entirely onto w.a.n.g Yueyue. There was news from the capital that said that King Ning was unsuccessful and pushed all the blame onto a woman which caused w.a.n.g Yueyue’s death as well as the death of the child in her belly. King Ning was known to be cold-blooded and heartless. One could see that all at one glance. Even though King Ning still had some supporters, they all had to consider if they would be pushed to be the scapegoat should they fail.
He was so ruthless even to his pregnant wife. What else could he not do?
Like the storm that was happening in politics, the back of the palace was in chaos as well.
Many porcelain goods were smashed in the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace that day. The head steward and porcelain goods in the palace were all changed. When news of this was spread to the Empress Dowager’s Palace, the Empress, who was in ill health drank another half a bowl of porridge on the spot. Then, she got up and went to Cining Palace, where she had not gone in a long while, to greet the Empress Dowager.
When she returned, she appeared gentle and gracious. She did not seem frustrated or annoyed as she did before.
Imperial Consort Su had managed to get a hold of herself this time and did not appear arrogant at all. She seemed to know how to hide her feelings now after what happened the last time!
Consort Yu pottered around the garden every day and practiced self-cultivation. Her stomach was getting bigger and bigger. Rumor had it that she might be having twins. The Emperor was so happy that he sent her more and more things. There were even some who said that if Consort Yu were to have a prince, she would get the Emperor’s affections. It was possible that the mysterious Consort Zhao would not sit and do nothing and be forced into action.
However, the mysterious Consort Zhao seemed unable to sit still any longer. At the banquet two days later, Consort Zhao appeared before all and led to endless reverie amongst the people.
The storm did not seem heavy on the surface. However, deep down below, no matter whether it was the court or the back of the palace, plotting was happening. Everyone wanted the greatest benefit. This was not just a question of who would take the throne, but also whether the n.o.ble families would continue to live in n.o.bility and luxury. Everyone had their own secret thoughts, and that was not a bad situation.
When the ruler of a nation changes, the cards of the deck are reshuffled. No one wanted to be on the lowest rung of society and become the new round of losers. When King Jin had fought for the throne, some n.o.bility fell with him. It was obvious that the fight for the throne was not just one between the royal sons, but also between n.o.ble families, and between n.o.ble families and the royal family. It was a never-ending war!
The blood that flowed between success and failure could fill a river!
Mo Xuetong did not care about these things. She was on the way to Duke Zhenguo’s Manor. Oh, no, she should call it Sima Manor. Ever since Duke Zhenguo’s Manor lost their t.i.tle, Sima Lingyun was blinded and lost his power. No one among the n.o.bility mentioned Sima Manor again. Everyone knew that Sima Lingyun had already fallen. His face and eyes were injured and it was impossible for him to rise again.
The horse carriage stopped in front of the doors of Sima Manor which had been flouris.h.i.+ng once upon a time. Mo Xuetong got off the horse carriage with the help of Mo Lan. This place was somewhere she had once visited often. Her memory of the place gradually melded with the dilapidated building in front of her. Mo Xuetong suddenly lost her hatred as she took in the ruins before her!
Mo Xuemin had plotted again and again and had ended up with Sima Lingyun in the end. The lowly pair was a great match for the dilapidated manor.
Many things had changed in this life and Mo Xuetong felt as if she had experienced the vicissitudes of life.
She held Mo Lan’s hands and slowly approached the platform which had not been swept in days. An old doorkeeper hurriedly wiped his eyes when he saw Mo Xuetong approach and jogged over to her.
A guard stopped him and said loudly, “Consort Xuan is here, come and greet her.”
The doorkeeper hurriedly knelt on the dirty floor in a frightened manner. Then, he kowtowed respectfully and said, “Greetings, My Lady!”
His frightened voice drew the attention of a maid. She perked up when she heard the voice and immediately ran into the manor.
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