Chapter 17 Cousins of the General's Manor

"F-father!" Mo Xueqiong's face turned white. "Father!" Mo Xuetong bit her lip, looking as if she was forcing a smile through her hurt, but the attempt to smile paired with bloodshot eyes only made her more pitiable. Mo Huawen glared at Mo Xueqiong, then walked over and stroked Mo Xuetong's hair tenderly. "Tong'er how did you sleep last night?" Mo Xuetong sniffed and tried to stiffle her sobs. She looked up and pulled on Mo Huawen's teal robe. "I slept well, thank you. I even slept in a bit!" she said with a soft smile. "Father, don't scold Fourth Sister. She and Eldest Sister are just teaching me how to do things. They're not really bullying me!" She had dealt with Mo Xueqiong and Mo Xuemin in one swoop. Her words shocked Mo Xuemin. She was just about to reply when Mo Huawen's face darkened. "Min'er, even though you are the eldest daughter in the manor, you should understand that Tong'er is my only legal child. Even if there's anything that she's in the wrong, you must point it out in an appropriate way. How can you and your sister scold Tong'er? Do you not know your own status?" Mo Xuemin's heart grew cold and a trace of hatred flashed in her eyes. She forced herself to smile gently. "Yes, Father is right to scold us. Min'er was in the wrong. Besides that, as the eldest, I should have managed to stop Third Sister and Fourth Sister from bickering. Please punish me!" "Father, it is my fault. It is all my fault. Father shouldn't scold Eldest Sister and Fourth Sister because of this. We were just teasing each other. Father, look, I don't mind. I don't mind at all." She gave another forced smile, beautiful as a blooming flower. Mo Huawen was filled with love for his sensible, adorable daughter. He reached out to pat her hand. "Alright, I will listen to Tong'er," he said gently. "But they must not forget your status. Tong'er, you must remember, you are not like them. You are the legal child of this manor, so don't be afraid to tell me if anything comes up. I will help you." He was not just comforting her, he was siding with her. Mo Xueqiong twisted her hankercheif hard enough to rip it. She wanted to claw at Mo Xuetong's beautiful and innocent face. The hate and venom in Mo Xuemin's eyes was just as intense, but she maintained a gentle smile. "Father is right to scold us. From now on, I will protect Third Sister and make sure nobody looks down on her." Mo Xuetong released Mo Huawen's robe and gave Mo Xuemin a grateful bow. "Thank you, Eldest Sister. I will work hard to get along well with you and Fourth Sister in the future." Mo Huawen couldn't help smiling when he saw the girls smiling at each other. He had always quite liked his eldest daughter. She was kind, gentle, and generous. Mo Xuemin behaved how a noble young lady should. It was a pity she was just a daughter of a concubine. It was a waste of her talent. He'd wanted to marry Auntie Fang after his mourning period for Luo Xia to raise Min'er's status. However, Mo Huawen was slightly hesitant now. Could Auntie Fang truly love Tong'er? Those missing letters were corcerning, and now Tong'er was being bullied just after she'd arrived home. Those facts felt like thorns pushed into his heart. Mo Xuetong could see that Mo Huawen was unhappy, and she did not continue to press the point. No single incident was going to change his mind. "Father, shouldn't you be in the study right now? How do you have time to come? Let me guess: Father must be looking for me, right?" Mo Xuetong asked innocently. Her clear eyes looked young and honest in the midday sun. "Ah, right! Xuetong, your grandparents sent a carriage for you. I know you must not have slept well last night and told them to wait outside! Since you're up, go quickly." He walked out as he spoke and Mo Xuetong followed him. The two walked out amicably, leaving Mo Xuemin and Mo Xueqiong behind. "Eldest Sister, Father's treating Third Sister better than us. Look, He doesn't even care about you anymore. This is too much! How are we daughters of concubines going to live from now on!" Mo Xueqiong said darkly, watching Mo Xuetong walk away with Mo Huawen. Mo Xuemin looked at their retreating backs, her eyes venomous, but she kept a gentle smile on her face. "Fourth Sister," she said softy, "Father will be unhappy if he hears you. We are sisters and have to help each other. We can't fight!" "Eldest Sister, you're so generous. Qiong'er cannot be like you. You're still speaking up for her now. If I have half of your ability, I wouldn't have to be so humiliated by her. Eldest Sister, you're pretty much a legal daughter already!" Mo Xueqiong said bitterly, turning away. Hate danced in Mo Xuemin's eyes. Daughter of a concubine. She hated being reminded. Of course, she would not let that slut Mo Xuetong take her position in the family so easily. Mo Xuetong brought Mo Yu and Mo He with her to the General Manor. She'd just entered when she saw a slender middle-aged woman with a rectangular face in a silver embroidered wrap robe. This was Nanny Shen, who'd brought Mo Xuetong into the capital. "Nanny Shen!" Mo Xuetong said warmly. Nanny Shen smiled happily when she saw Mo Xuetong. "Miss, you're finally here. That's wonderful. Old Madam Xu was still worried about you and she's barely rested all morning. She made me keep coming out here to check for you. She was worried that you'd be cold on the way here. She even scolded me!" She had the maids lift the door curtains as she spoke. "Thank you for your help on the journey back. Thanks to you, I could arrive home without worries. Grandmother isn't blaming you. She must be asking whether I was obedient and if I've bothered you," Mo Xuetong answered with a smile. She had just spoken when a maid hurried up to them. Nanny Shen hurried her into the room without waiting for the maid to speak. Old Madam Xu of the General Manor was sitting on top of the bed-stove. She was wearing a grey robe with the character for "prosperity" embroidered on it. Her expression was eager when she saw Mo Xuetong entering. Before she could speak, tears filled her eyes. "Grandmother!" Mo Xuetong hurried when she saw the familiar, benevolent face. She knelt down at Old Madam Xu's knees and held her slightly trembling hand, breathing in the woman's scent. Old Madam Xu had loved her the most in her previous life. "Grandmother!" Old Madam Xu clutched Mo Xuetong's hands tight, feeling the warmth of her hands. "Tong'er, it's really my Tong'er! Why have you become so skinny?! Didn't the Qin's feed you!?" T She looked at Mo Xuetong's face carefully. Even though the joyful face did not resemble Xia'er, those beautiful lively eyes were so like Xia'er's. She thought of her deceased daughter and could not help but call out to her softly. "Xia'er!" Mo Xuetong knew that she was calling for her mother. "Grandmother, it's me, Tong'er!" she said softly. Old Madam Xu paused and caressed her pale face. She wanted to speak, but she couldn't stop the flow of tears. Mo Xuetong couldn't hold in her own sadness. Tears started to flow down her cheeks. It was some time before the people around them could calm them down. One of the maids helped Mo Xuetong off the floor so she could lean against Old Madam Xu. "Why are you wearing such pale colors? And they're so old. Don't you have any nice clothes?" Old Madam Xu asked. She reached out and touched her white, worn dress and frowned. "Grandmother, Auntie made me clothing in Cloud City too, but mother's death has left me far too heartbroken to dress in such find things." "Silly child, this fabric is far too thin. Your health is poorm and I heard that you were ill in Cloud City last year. Your father should have brought you to the capital. Instead, he brought a bunch of his concubines and their children here. If your father does something like this again, Grandmother will protect you. Maids, bring that white leopard skin coat here. Give it to Young Miss later." Old Madam Xu was still angry at Mo Huawen. She'd pretended not to know when her son had stopped Mo Huawen from entering the city, just to make things difficult for him. Nanny Shen obeyed her orders and went inside. Mo Xuetong was shocked that the old madam also wore such plain clothing, but Old Madam Xu was surely greiving too. The thought made her start to cry again, so she held up her handkerchief and turned her head away to wipe away her tears, afraid that Old Madam Xu would see. "Grandmother, you treat me so kindly!" She turned around and smiled even more beautifully. The maid outside reported that Young Master and Second Miss were here. Old Madam Xu smiled and asked them to enter. "Grandmother, is younger sister Tong here?" The speaker had an elegant, clear voice. The maid lifted the curtains high up and a handsome young man and beautiful young lady entered. Mo Xuetong turned to them, hurring to stand up. The man in the light green robe was the Young Master of the Luo manor, Luo Wenyou. Mo Xuetong had two uncles. Her Eldest Uncle Luo Cheng had two sons and a daughter. They were his oldest daughter Luo Yanyue, eldest son, Luo Wenyou and younger son, Luo Wenchi. Her Second Uncle, Luo Bin, had a daughter, Luo Mingzhu. Luo Yanyue was already married, and the Second miss in the manor was Luo Mingzhu.