Chapter 418 - Consort Zhaos Gifts (2/2)

“This Minister Lian is an intelligent man!” Mo Xuetong said with a smile. The man knew to invite Feng Yuran to witness the move. Even if there were portraits or cla.s.sics that go missing in the future, the blame can be pushed on to Feng Yuran. He was a smart man.

Feng Yuran reached out to embrace her. He replied, “If he is not smart, he would not be able to become a minister in his 30s. He is the youngest minister of the six ministries.”

“Oh, this Minister Lian is so young. Was he the number one scholar? Or was he from a n.o.ble family?” Mo Xuetong asked curiously. All the ministers were very old. Being able to become a minister while still in one’s 30s was not easy. If he were not from a n.o.ble family, then only a young scholar would be given such an important task by the Emperor.

“Minister Lian is not a number one scholar nor is he from a n.o.ble family. He is just the son of a rich merchant family in Jiangnan.” Feng Yuran’s eyes suddenly sparkled as he answered with a smile.

“Oh, to think that there is such a thing. This minister is not simple.” Mo Xuetong blinked her lively eyes as she spoke meaningfully. She suddenly looked up and asked, “Consort Zhao is from the He family. However, I looked at the He sisters, and the only resemblance is in their eyes.”

If they really wanted to talk about family resemblances, He Yufen and Consort Zhao did not look alike at all. He Yuxiu, on the other hand, had eyes that were somewhat similar to Consort Zhao’s.

Furthermore, even though the He sisters were beautiful, they were only above average. Their beauty could not compare to Consort Zhao’s. Feng Yuran also said that Consort Zhao resembled her mother, Consort Xian a lot. That did not make sense.

They were blood-related but did not look alike. However, Consort Zhao and Consort Xian, who were not related, looked very similar.

“I don’t know where the He family found a woman who looks so much like my mother.” Feng Yuran harrumphed coldly. A flash of sharpness glinted in his eyes.

“Do you want to look at Consort Zhao’s things? Like those tea leaves that I supposedly asked for to please you and got after much difficulty?” Mo Xuetong’s eyes glowed and she changed the topic. She did not want Feng Yuran to sense her intentions. She had to find out the truth before he did.

Then, she was about to get up. However, she had only just got up when she shook and fell backward onto Feng Yuran. Fortunately, he moved fast and caught her. He said, “Tong’er, do you miss me?” Seeing Mo Xuetong so reliant on him, he smiled so hard that his charming eyes were practically a line.

Mo Xuetong pouted and pushed him away. She pointed at her skirts pitifully to say that he was lying on her clothes.

Feng Yuran looked at where she was gesturing but did not move. Instead, he hugged her even tighter and with even more strength. Then, he let go and pulled her up. The two of them straightened out their clothes before going to see the tea leaves that Consort Zhao gave them.

The tea leaves were placed in a box. When they opened it, a light fragrance permeated the air. It was indeed good tea.

Feng Yuran looked at it carefully and then put the tea leaves down. He called out to the servants outside, “Come in.”

“Yes, I am here.” The eunuch guarding outside entered immediately upon hearing Feng Yuran’s summons.

“Take this and check what is inside.” Feng Yuran said lightly.

“Yes.” The eunuch picked up the box and left respectfully.

“What do you suspect is inside?” Mo Xuetong raised her eyebrows and smiled, glancing at Feng Yuran from the corners of her eyes.

Feng Yuran pulled Mo Xuetong to the windows and opened the windows even wider, allowing the wind to enter. It also blew away the light fragrance of the tea leaves. He said, “Don’t bring these unsafe things in in the future. Who knows what’s inside?”

“What do you think is inside?” Mo Xuetong asked with a sweet smile when she heard the concern in his voice.

“It has to be something that will harm us. I did not expect Consort Zhao to not be able to bear it so soon after she was released. She’s been locked up deep in the palace for so many years and lived a lonely life for so many years. It did not make her any smarter.” Feng Yuran smirked. There was a sinister glint in his eyes. He sat down and pulled Mo Xuetong into his embrace.

Mo Xuetong smiled lightly. She poked out her tongue cheekily and said, “Consort Zhao is really your aunt. She is so considerate of you and even hinted that I should bring your cousin into the manor. The He family seems to be informed. Otherwise, they would not have changed Yu Mingyong’s bride to He Yuxiu. I did not expect the He family to become so powerful so soon after arriving at the capital. They even plotted against Yu Mingyong.”

No family would agree to a change in the bride right before the wedding. However, the Yu family had agreed because Yu Mingyong had been found in a compromising situation. The He family found out about it coincidentally. It was already good that they did not break off the engagement. The He family only changed the bride. There was no clash and some might even feel that the He family was too kind.

The He family had plotted well. They could b.u.t.ter up the pregnant Consort Yu while also exchanging for Her Yufen so that they could prepare her to be sent to King Xuan’s Manor.

King Xuan’s Manor was not any other manor. He Yuxiu, whose reputation was ruined, was a useless chess piece. However, she would become useful again after marrying Yu Mingyong.

“If Consort Zhao does this again, tell her that I don’t like He Yufen.” Feng Yuran suddenly smiled. He looked at Mo Xuetong’s pouty lips and kissed it. Then, he turned to bite her ears gently and said, “Don’t worry. No matter who says anything like this, just push it all to me. Can they force me to like or not like someone?”

Mo Xuetong flushed and pushed him away with her hand. She said cutely, “Go tell her that yourself.”

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