Chapter 757: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 757: Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder (2)
As soon as Mo Qingze heard that Mo Yan had found more mist tea, his anger dissipated somewhat, though he still maintained a façade. He turned to Xiao Ruiyuan and said, “That tea is excellent. Once Han Zhang finishes his tasks, join your uncle in the front hall for a tasting.”
Xiao Ruiyuan eagerly agreed, cupping his hands in respect. “It would be my honor!”
Noticing that Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression remained composed, clearly unperturbed by the earlier outburst from his daughter, Mo Qingze slowly exhaled in relief. He shot a sharp glare at Mo Yan before nodding politely to Xiao Ruiyuan and leaving with his hands clasped behind his back.
The moment Mo Qingze was out of sight, Mo Yan shooed away the four beasts who had been sitting and watching the drama unfold. Turning to Xiao Ruiyuan, she immediately asked, “How do you have the time to visit today? Is there news of Chen Ji?”
Her question was partly a guess, but Xiao Ruiyuan confirmed it. “Anjiu, who has been tracking Chen Ji, sent word that Chen Ji was spotted in Bincheng, a thousand miles from the capital. The search is underway, and if nothing unexpected happens, we should have news within three days.”
Mo Yan, already aware from Xue Tuanzi that Chen Ji would be found, wasn’t particularly surprised by this update. However, thinking about the need to save Du Shi’s life, she clung to a sliver of hope and asked, “Once Chen Ji is captured, what will happen to his wife and daughter?”
She wasn’t sure if she could save Du Shi, but if Du Shi’s life could be spared, Mo Yan intended to arrange a stable future for her as repayment for the life debt.
Xiao Ruiyuan assumed she still harbored feelings for Du Shi as her mother and couldn’t bear to tell her the harsh truth: Emperor Hui'an had already decreed the execution of the entire Chen family. If not for Chen Ji being an orphan without extended relatives, the punishment might have extended to the ninth degree of kinship.
This hesitation on Xiao Ruiyuan’s face extinguished Mo Yan’s faint hope entirely. With a heavy heart, she asked, “Is there no way to spare Du Shi’s life?”
Xiao Ruiyuan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “Chen Ji participated in poisoning the late Empress, a crime that neither His Majesty nor my cousin would forgive. The Lin family narrowly escaped extermination, but only because Marquis Wenzhong sacrificed his life in exchange.”
Frustrated, Mo Yan paced back and forth before stopping abruptly. “What if I trade my title as a princess for her life?”
Xiao Ruiyuan was momentarily stunned but then considered it, albeit uncertainly. “Perhaps... it’s possible. I’ll ask my cousin about it. But... is it worth it?”
“It’s worth it!” Mo Yan replied without hesitation. Seeing Xiao Ruiyuan’s furrowed brows, she guessed he misunderstood her intentions. She didn’t explain that saving Du Shi was crucial to preserving the blessings of her siblings. Instead, she decided to say nothing more.
Xiao Ruiyuan couldn’t understand Mo Yan’s reasoning, but he wouldn’t interfere with her decisions. As long as it was something she wanted to do, he would help her accomplish it. “Du Shi is indeed innocent. I’ll speak to my cousin, and as for His Majesty... considering your contributions to the kingdom, he might grant leniency. Once Chen Ji and his family are captured, I’ll accompany you to the palace.”
Mo Yan was deeply moved by Xiao Ruiyuan’s willingness to risk angering Emperor Hui'an and Chu Heng for her sake. However, guilt weighed on her as she hurried to stop him. “You shouldn’t get involved in this. No matter what, His Majesty owes me a promise. There’s no need for you to be put in a difficult position.”
Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression darkened, his deep voice carrying unmistakable displeasure. “What matters to you matters to me. You don’t want me to be troubled, but do you think I can stand by and watch you face His Majesty’s wrath alone?”
Mo Yan wasn’t afraid of his reaction. Instead, warmth filled her heart. She realized that continuing to argue would only upset him further. Knowing his determination, she understood that even if she tried to stop him, he would still act on her behalf.
With that thought in mind, Mo Yan stopped rejecting his goodwill and earnestly said, “When the time comes, we’ll go together. You’re not allowed to keep anything from me or take everything on yourself.”
(End of Chapter)
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