Chapter 210 - Bookstore, Transcribing a Book on Medicine (1/2)

Chapter 210 Bookstore, Transcribing a Book on Medicine

Mo Xuetong returned to the manor at noon and found Mo Huawen actually not in.

After Mo Huawen settled on his marriage with Xu Yan, the wedding between the two should already be a cut–and–dried decision. Though the Mo Manor hadn’t started to send betrothal gifts, servants at the residence all started to gossip about Old Sir’s getting a new wife. Though not knowing who she was, they were sure she would marry into this family soon, judging by Old Sir’s preparing bridewealth.

After that incident involving Lan Xinru, Old Madam had utterly taken a backseat to Mo Huawen on his marriage. They had dismissed the male servant, while Lan Xinru was gone. Mo Xuetong never believed that Lan Xinru had beat it after that. Mo Feng had asked around and learned that Lan Xinru was living in a rented apartment near the east gate of the town.

She had rented it for half of a year. It looked like she planned to stay at the capital for long!

How could she go home before she landed a rich husband! Only, she didn’t have the face to step into Mo Manor again.

After that thing involving Mo Xueqiong happened, Mo Huawen had Mo Xuetong help the butler. Mo Xuetong had entrusted most of the manor’s affairs to Nanny Ming and Mother Xu. While attending to matters together, the two concubines had to focus on Mo Xuetong. Thus, with the help of Nanny Ming and Mother Xu, Mo Xuetong learned fast.

However, even under this circ.u.mstance, she would only inquire about things when in need. After all, in the future, Xu Yan would be the one who made decisions in the manor. When Xu Yan married into this family, Mo Xuetong would hand the job of the butler to her. Now, she only needed to act as a surrogate, and she had been a butler for some time in her last life.

Back then, the d.u.c.h.ess said she was in poor health and let Mo Xuetong do the job of a butler. At that time, Mo Xuetong was touched, thinking the d.u.c.h.ess really treated her as a daughter-in-law. Nevertheless, only when she took over things did she discover the manor’s financial imbalance. Therefore, in fear of the d.u.c.h.ess picking on her, Mo Xuetong used her dowry to make up the gap.

Later, with the help of his grandfather and father, Sima Lingyun slowly established his career and gained a fortune. Then, the d.u.c.h.ess removed Mo Xuetong from the butler position and said Mo Xuetong needed to nourish herself to have a healthy baby and make Duke Zhenguo’s manor flourish.

Remembering it now, she realized she was merely being used. In the entire Duke Zhenguo’s manor, from masters to servants, not a single one acknowledged her to be His Excellency’s wife. Finally, when she couldn’t be used anymore, she could only end up in a miserable situation.

Thinking of that, her eyes turned cold.

Mo Lan stepped in to ask, “Miss, Nanny Ming just came. She said the workers would complete the shrine over there soon and there was still a large s.p.a.ce beside it. Should we build a few more side rooms like before, for storage?”

After the old shrine went up in flames, the place was covered in ashes. Then, Mo Huawen had people build a larger one at the same place. After all, he now was a third-grade official. With his status, he had the right to build a larger building.

Before, five to six side rooms stood next to the old shrine. They also vanished in the fire. Mo Huawen only mentioned the shrine and nothing else. Therefore, a large empty s.p.a.ce was left. Even the trees were burned down in the fire, thus the deserted land looked really bleak. That was the reason why Nanny Ming especially reported this to Mo Xuetong.

After consideration, Mo Xuetong said, “Tell Nanny Ming to build a few side rooms, not too many, and we need trees there. Tell her to act quickly. Soon, if Father marries a new wife, we’ll wors.h.i.+p Mother in the shrine. I don’t want it to be late.”

…

In Great Qin, it was the custom for the new wife to pay tribute to the original main wife. Unlike the original wife, the new wife’s premarital ceremonial routine didn’t take a year or so. Additionally, Mo Mano’s current state wouldn’t allow a time-consuming one. Mo Xuetong estimated that after January, Father would officially propose marriage to Fu General Manor.

When she married into Mo Manor, she needed to wors.h.i.+p the ancestors in the shrine. Though it wouldn’t take long to build a few side rooms, the workers till needed to paint the rooms. After the whitewash got dry, more days would have already pa.s.sed.

Mo Lan hesitantly said, “Nanny Ming said it was a little late now for side rooms. So they might need to work at night and afraid that they would disturb you. And, it would affect the two misses living nearby too.”

Hearing her, Mo Xuetong realized that the shrine sat close to the back door, while the other side of it adjoined her Qingwei Garden. The building sat really close. Originally, Mo Xueqiong and Mo Xuemin lived away from the shrine. Now, Mo Huawen moved them to a remote house, which was in the range of the shrine area. If the construction continued at night, it would affect them.

Mo Xuetong said after considering, “Let Nanny Ming tell First Miss and Fourth Miss that Father wants to build the shrine faster. There might be noises and outsiders coming in and out. Make sure they mind their own people in the yard.” Not only the noise, but also the servants coming in and out of the back yard would be troublesome. If she didn’t remind them earlier, she would be to blame should anything happen.

Mo Lan answered and left. “Yes, I’ll tell Nanny Ming right away.”

After lunch, Mother Xu’s maid went to her. Yesterday, Old Sir wanted new cloth for making clothing for the servants since it was already a new year. The maid asked Mo Xuetong how to choose cloth.

Father didn’t return yet, and she didn’t get to inquire him. Thinking that she would be free in the afternoon, Mo Xuetong had Mo Yu tell Mother Xu that she would be out today. She would buy cloth and send it to the manor. The sewing maids should first take servants’ measurements.

Mo Lan stayed in the manor to run affairs for Mo Xuetong, while she bought Mo Ye and Mo Yu to the market.