The reason why Yu Feng was here was simple. His younger sister had gone to him, crying. He was very angry but was trying not to show it. He asked, “Lord Mo, Feng’er is already so old. How can he represent the household with his status? He can’t even have a good marriage. He is your only son. Do you intend to let him carry the name as the concubine’s son forever?”
It was indeed hard for Mo Yufeng to marry a noble young lady with his status as the concubine’s son. Even though he was the only son of the family, Mo Huawen was still young. If he married another woman, she might bear him a son. That would become his main son, and he would one day represent the family.
If that happened, who would care about a concubine’s son? So what if he was the elder son!
This was what the Yu family was most worried about. If Auntie Fang wanted to be acknowledged in her own family, she could not do so as a concubine. The Yu family would not allow a main daughter of theirs to become someone’s concubine. As such, the Yu family would not be able to acknowledge her in their ancestral halls if Mo Huawen did not marry her. Even though everyone in the Yu family knew about it, they could not make it public.
Yu Feng pitied his younger sister a lot, especially so after he saw how thin Auntie Fang had gotten when he entered Lihua Garden earlier. She did not look like how she had when she first came to the capital. He saw how she looked aggrieved and cried when she talked about what had made her sad, and as such, he felt entirely dissatisfied with Mo Huawen. He waited in the study for a long time and heard that Mo Huawen had gone to General Manor to visit his daughter. He thought that Mo Huawen must be after the General Manor’s support, which was why he had not married Yu Feng’s sister even after all this while.
He naturally felt upset about it.
“Lord Yu, we will talk about Auntie Fang later. Min’er got into trouble sometime earlier and even drew the ire of Her Majesty. She would…” Mo Huawen brought up Mo Xuemin’s incident. He knew what Yu Feng wanted, but he did not want to suddenly make Auntie Fang the madam before he thought it through carefully.
“Min’er must have suffered because of what happened in the palace. She is just a young lady who has just arrived at the palace. How could she know anyone in there? The incident with King Chu has more to do with his position. It has nothing much to do with us. The Empress would understand. “Yu Feng put down his teacup with displeasure.
“Even so, we have to see how the Palace feels about it. No matter what, Min’er still has a bad name right now…” Mo Huawen hesitated. The rumors about Mo Xuemin had not abated. Instead, they had grown even more vicious. Even some of his old friends would mention the matter. Mo Huawen was very angry about it.
And it made him even more hesitant.
“Then what about Feng’er? Min’er is a daughter, but Feng’er is a boy. He will take up the helm of this family. This is the right time to find him a good match. If you remain hesitant, it will grow more difficult for him to find a match.” Even though Yu Feng agreed with what Mo Huawen had said, his stand immediately solidified when he thought of how his sister had cried and pleaded with him.
Mo Huawen would have thought of his only son. As such, he had not done anything to Auntie Fang. He could not have done anything to her because of his children. He frowned and felt very annoyed. “Lord Yu, let’s talk about this matter in a few days. I will think about it again!”
“Lord Mo, are you worried about General Manor?” “I remember that you seemed to have had a fallout with the Fu General Manor when your wife died. They did not even let you enter the city gates. It’s been more than a year, and I have never heard of a husband remaining single for his deceased wife. Furthermore, Auntie Fang gave birth to a son and a daughter for you, and even if she had not done anything to benefit the family, she has worked hard for it. Could you bear to let her continue suffering?” Yu Feng felt a little angry when he saw how Mo Huawen was still hesitant. He half-mocked him by bringing up the Fu General…
He was trying to say that the Fu General Manor had long abandoned Mo Huawen, so why was he still sucking up to them?
Now that he mentioned it, Mo Huawen had not only not thought about the virtues of Auntie Fang as Yu Feng wanted, he thought about his helpless third daughter. He thought of the sadness that appeared in her eyes from time to time, and his expression turned grave. He said coldly, “Lord Yu does not have to find out about the matters between my manor and the Fu General Manor. Auntie Fang has tried to harm my main daughter under everyone’s eyes. There was so many nobility who saw it. You should understand what I have to do.”
To make Yu Feng understand and to show that Mo Huawen had evidence, he had to mention Auntie Fang. However, the focus was on how Mo Xuetong had intentionally plotted and schemed.
As such, Yu Feng did not like Mo Xuetong as well. When he heard Mo Huawen pushing all the blame to his sister, he slapped the table forcefully and stood up. “That main daughter of yours is so young, but she is so disrespectful towards her concubine mother. How would she be like when she grows up.”
How dare someone to speak against the main daughter on behalf of a concubine. How disrespectful!
Mo Huawen was enraged. He stood up as well and pointed at the door coldly, “Lord Yu, if you have so much time to meddle in the business of other people, then you might very well take care of your household. It is not up to a concubine to discuss my daughter.”
He was throwing Yu Feng out!
Yu Feng would have just left if he had not thought about Auntie Fang’s predicament. He tampered down his anger and bowed slowly and politely. “Lord Mo, I was in the wrong just now. I was just worried when I saw how thin my sister had become and heard the rumors about Min’er…”
Since Yu Feng had softened first, and because of the matter with Mo Xuemin and Mo Yufeng, Mo Huawen could not be too unreasonable. He said lightly, “Many thanks, Lord Yu, for your concern for my concubine.”
Their conversation had reached an awkward point. The two spoke about casual matters, and Yu Feng left. He had only just left Mo Huawen’s door when he saw a little maid standing under the great tree in front of the door.
She went up to him in a hurry and curtsied respectfully.
“I am First Miss’ personal maid. First Miss wanted to come and see you when she heard that you have come but she could not. She seeks your forgiveness. She heard that cousin has come to the capital and would like to invite her over for a chat if she is free. First Miss and First Miss Yu were very good friends in Cloud City.”
Yu Feng nodded and said, “Tell your mistress that Rong’er will come to visit her in a few days.”
“Many thanks,” Mo Xiu said and left.
Yu Feng returned to his manor in a bad mood. When he entered the inner courtyard, he saw his daughter and wife seated there, chatting. He sat down gloomily.
“Father, did you visit Cousin and Aunt today? How are they? They’ve been in the capital for some time. Ask Cousin to go shopping with me in a couple of days.” Yu Sirong was a clean looking girl. However, the prideful look in her eyes made her seem less gentle.
Auntie Fang’s status was not a secret in the Yu family. They had already secretly reunited a few years earlier. They would immediately let her into their ancestral halls to pay her respects to their ancestors the moment Mo Huawen marries her. A few years ago, when they were in Cloud City, Mo Xuemin, and Yu Sirong’s relationship was pretty good. Yu Sirong had enjoyed teasing Mo Xuetong.
It had just been a few days since they arrived in the capital. Yu Sirong was a noble lady and still did not know that Mo Xuemin’s reputation was in tatters.
“I did not see Min’er. I only saw your aunt.” Yu Feng’s brows were slightly furrowed. He was very displeased with Mo Huawen’s actions.
“How is Aunt? And Cousin? Father, shall we visit them in a few days? I haven’t seen them in so long, and I miss them.” Yu Sirong did not notice Yu Feng’s bad mood and said happily.
“What nonsense.” Mdm Chen, who was sitting beside her, noticed her husband’s expression and knew that he was in a bad mood. She scolded her daughter and turned to said to Yu Feng, “Did Mo Huawen refuse to marry Auntie Fang?”
“How did you know that?” Yu Feng asked in surprise.
“What’s so difficult to guess about that? They have been in the capital for so long, but Mo Huawen did not say anything about marrying Auntie Fang. Now, even his daughter has come to the capital. It would be more troublesome to make Auntie Fang the Madam of the family now.” Mdm Chen pursed her lips. “Back then, I told you to strike while the iron was hot. Get Lord Mo to marry Auntie Fang once the year passed, but you all said to wait. Look at what happened! Isn’t the matter ruined now!”
“Father, was it that Mo Xuetong who had ruined things? That useless thing, did she trouble my smart cousin?” Yu Sirong could hear the underlying implications and asked. She disliked Mo Xuetong and had bullied her with Mo Xuemin. The two of them had worked together marvelously to bully Mo Xuetong.
She visited her grandparents the last time when she went to Cloud City, and when she returned, Mo Xuetong had already left. Otherwise, she would have heard about how Mo Xuetong had changed. Mo Xuetong was just a weak and cowardly thing, what great things could she do?
“I fear that it is not just that girl. There’s still the Fu General Manor. Mo Huawen did not even mention what we agreed on back then.” Yu Feng said hatefully.
“Father, is it true that once the girl is gone, Auntie Fang can become the Madam and Cousin will become the main daughter?” Yu Sirong’s eyes shone, and she suddenly smiled at Yu Feng.
“It is easier said than done. The Fu General Manor treasures that girl. Rong’er, don’t be rash. We are not in Cloud City.” Back in Cloud City, no one knew if she bullied Mo Xuetong, and the Fu General Manor could not do anything about it. However, they were in the capital. Yu Feng knew that he only had a lowly position in court and he had no chance of winning going against Mo Huawen. As such, he could only swallow his anger and apologize as he did earlier.
“It’s alright. Father, I won’t get into trouble. I will go and visit Cousin in a few days.” Yu Sirong had long made p her mind. She giggled when she saw that her father was going to stop her and immediately ran away.
“Old Sir, if Mo Huawen refuses to marry Auntie Fang, what will we do?” Mdm Chen saw that Yu Sirong had left with maids and waved her hands, getting the other servants in the room to leave as well.
Old Madam Yu doted on Auntie Fang greatly. She had told Yu Feng that he had to do anything he could to get Auntie Fang to return and acknowledge her ancestors.
“If Mo Huawen marries another woman, Auntie Fang and the two children will suffer in the days after. We cannot allow him to do that.” Yu Feng’s expression grew dark. The new wife might treat Mo Huawen’s daughters well, but not his sons. This was especially since Auntie Fang was still in charge of the household. How could Mo Huawen’s new wife accept her?
“But he now has the support of the Fu General Manor. Even though your court position has not been decided, you will not be too powerful. What can we use to make him marry Auntie Fang!” Mdm Chen was not too optimistic.
Yu Feng’s new posting would at best be as a fourth-grade official. Even though it was slightly higher than Mo Huawen’s post, he was unlikely to be more powerful than Mo Huawen. This was especially since the Fu General Manor was so powerful, having someone in court and the army as well. If they supported Mo Huawen, Auntie Fang would have no chance at all.
“Mo Huawen will not have another son!” Yu Feng said coldly, a flash of viciousness in his eyes.
“Old Sir, you mean…” Mdm Chen asked hesitantly.
“If you are free, go with Rong’er to visit Min’er. Don’t go to the Qin’s if you have nothing on. Since their second son doesn’t like Rong’er, why should we suck up to them? We are in the great capital, and there are many noble young men here. Tell Rong’er not to be so hung up on Qin Yuxuan.” Yu Feng did not talk about this again. He changed the topic and said slightly angrily, “She’s a girl, why is she chasing after a man!”
Mdm Chen grew upset when she heard her husband talking about their daughter. “Rong’er is a good girl; she likes that Qin boy. You used to approve of the match, why are you like this today?”
“We are in the capital, not Cloud city. If something like this happens again, Rong’er would be disgraced. Just watch her closely and don’t let her ruin her reputation like Min’er.” Yu Feng flicked his sleeves and said with displeasure. He had heard plenty of the wild rumors about Mo Xuemin even though they had just come to the capital. He could not allow Rong’er to get into the same kind of trouble.
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