Chapter 469 - Pay Respects to the Emperor, Incisive Words (2/2)

Feng Yulei almost vomited blood with anger. All the people in the palace knew that his mother’s memorial tablet was not in the Puguang Temple, and he arranged the Buddhist rites and prayed merely for You Yue’e’s mother. But Feng Yuran’s words would remind those in the know that Feng Yulei’s mother was also dead, and she died on the date before today. That was to say, Feng Yulei did not play Buddhist rites or pray for his own mother, but instead did that for You Yue’e’s mother. His behavior was rather suspicious.

But annoyed as Feng Yulei was, he had to pretend a smile on his face. He looked at Feng Yuran and still said deliberately, “Something happened in the manor, so I came to the palace especially. Eighth Brother, why did you return from the palace with the consort at this time?”

Feng Yuran didn’t answer his question, but stood upright, waved his big sleeves and put his hands behind his back. He a.s.sumed a careless and casual air and said slovenly, “Third Brother, the woman in your manor did screw up my consort. As her husband, I should back her up, right? It is a matter between men. How can it get women involved and let them be bullied, right?”

Feng Yuran’s words had special implications, which made Feng Yulei’s face turn livid. Feng Yulei was about to lose his temper, but seeing Feng Yuran’s casual and teasing look, he realized that it was not the proper time to get cross. So he gritted his teeth secretly, took a few deep breaths, and stopped You Yue’e who was about to flare up.

It was not the time to get angry. What had happened in the Puguang Temple would definitely cause the Emperor to doubt him. Feng Yulei had to prepare the explanation and did not let the Emperor perceive the least enmity, so he should reduce the effect of this matter as much as possible. Besides, Feng Yuran was well known for his casualness. Even if he would say something offensive, it would not be unusual.

But Feng Yulei himself was different. Since he was being grounded, he should behave himself without a tiny mistake.

And there was an insinuation in Feng Yuran’s remark, which was beyond the literal meaning. If Feng Yulei got angry at this time, didn’t he admit that he felt guilty?

“Eighth Brother, I am very sorry for you. I did not expect that Mo Xueqiong hated her sister so much. And she is so petty-minded. The difference between the legitimate and the illegitimate exists commonly in all the families, and the legitimate always enjoys the leading position. And how can she, an illegitimate daughter, feel grieved? Eighth brother’s consort, I’m sorry that you were frightened.”

Feng Yulei folded his hands to Mo Xuetong apologetically, as if he was apologizing on Mo Xueqiong’s behalf.

Mo Xuetong stood silently beside Feng Yuran. When seeing Feng Yulei mentioning her, she smiled softly to Feng Yulei to conceal the sneer at the corner of her lips, but did not answer him. Standing beside Feng Yuran, she needed to do nothing but be a king’s consort ignorant of worldly affairs.

An arrogant and irrational king with bad manners, and an incompetent and cowardly king’s consort who knew nothing but behaved submissively were such a perfect match present in public.

According to Feng Yulei’s remarks, because of the dispute for the legitimate and the illegitimate status, Mo Xuetong caused so much trouble as a result of Mo Xuetong’s place as a legitimate position and the suppression on her. Feng Yulei was really good at making up stories and even wanted to described Mo Xuetong as the cause of the matter, trying to explain what Mo Xueqiong had said and done did not count, and all were on her personal grounds, which had nothing to do with Feng Yulei himself.

Feng Yulei said it smoothly without any stop. It seemed that he had prepared the excuse in advance. If something unexpected happened, he would push Mo Xueqiong out to bear the blame. So even if there were any punishment, he would transfer the blame on the dispute between Mo Manor’s sisters, and even claimed that it was Mo Xuetong’s excoriation that led to such a consequence.

“Third Brother, is it possible? Did your second consort say this to you? Third Brother, I tell you it must be lies. You should let someone beat her up and see if she will spit out other reasons. She dared to murder her sister and elope with a man. She will be beaten to death for the elopement. No matter how ignorant she is, she won’t risk her life to harm Tong’er, will she?”

Feng Yuran laughed and answered. He touched on it lightly and described the forced confessions as ordinary things, and a hint of enchanting cunning flashed in his beautiful eyes, as if he were unaware of the stiffened smile on Feng Yulei’s lips.

The dispute between the legitimate and illegitimate would cause some frictions, which was rather common in all the manors. But no matter how terrible the dispute was, a person would not do harm to others at the cost of his/her own life. After all, it was not so grievous as murder and looting. Besides, Mo Xuetong was in the King Xuan’s Manor, while Mo Xueqiong in the King Yan’s Manor. The dispute before their marriage had petered out already.

Even a petty-minded person knew not to stir up so much trouble at this moment.

Obviously, Feng Yuran did tease King Yan with King Yan’s answer. At that moment, a trace of embarra.s.sment took on Feng Yulei’s eyes. As the excuse was exposed directly, he could not accept it no matter how shrewd he was.

You Yue’e could not restrain herself any longer, looked up, and explained for Feng Yulei with a serious look. “Your Highness, it is impossible to guess Second Consort Mo’s mind.”

Feng Yuran narrowed his eyes and asked slowly, “Is the second consort still alive? I really want to see her.”

The words made You Yue’e unable to respond immediately. Her face turned white, and she answered dryly after some thoughts, “It should be decided by His Majesty.”

Feng Yuran did not grill them, and took Mo Xuetong’s hand and smiled at them. “Tong’er was frightened and feels tired now. I take her back to rest first. Third Brother, and Third Sister-in-law, please help to vent anger for Tong’er. A second consort dared to do that. She is as tactful as a man.”

Feng Yuran’s last sentence sounded like praise, and he put on a half-smile, which made Feng Yulei and You Yue’e lost in words at that moment. “She is as tactful as a man.” It meant that a woman in the inner yard was unable to do such a thing. There was an insinuation in Feng Yuran’s remark. How could Feng Yulei and You Yue’e not understand it? Sweat oozed from Feng Yulei’s forehead.

Feng Yuran finished his words and walked off with Mo Xuetong before they replied.

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