Chapter 109 - Concubine Liu’s Favor (1/2)

It was said on Liu Yiyi’s invitation that the fourth prince’s side concubine Qin Yanyan would have her birthday in three days, so Liu Yiyi would like to invite the ladies from aristocratic families to enjoy the beauty of flowers in his mansion and celebrate Qin Yanyan’s birthday.

If Qingxue didn’t know that Liu Yiyi aimed at her, she would have thought that the emperor’s favored concubine sincerely liked her daughter-in-law so much as to make her happy, but if others knew that Liu Yiyi wanted Shi Qingxue to be the fourth prince’s wife, it would humiliate Qin Yanyan.

Shi Qingxue felt it laughable but didn’t want to join the fun.

Next day, she told someone to send a letter to the imperial palace and said that she was seriously ill, so she couldn’t disturb Qin Yanyan’s birthday party. Meanwhile she sent a proper gift to the fourth prince’s mansion.

After she did that for the sake of courtesy, Qingxue felt at ease and stayed at home to continue living in comfort.

But beyond her expectation, on Qin Yanyan’s birthday, Liu Yiyi’s maid in charge, Mammy Zhuo came with a royal doctor and said that Concubine Liu was worried about Lady Qingxue’s health, so she came to visit her as ordered.

Oh, she came to visit the patient as she said. But in fact, she came to check if it was true.

After the royal doctor checked on her, Shi Qingxue couldn’t pretend to be ill anymore. It happened that Shen Luo went back to the Mang Mountain, so the only one she could ask for help was not here.

Shi Qingxue was carried into the carriage by Liu Yiyi’s people. Mammy Zhuo didn’t give her a chance to send a message in private, as if she found that Qingxue would ask for help. She stayed with Qingxue all the way and said that it was Concubine Liu’s favor.

When the carriage reached the fourth prince’s mansion, Shi Qingxue saw Mo Junhao standing at the gate as soon as she got out. He welcomed her with a smile, “Qingxue, I haven’t seen you for a few days. How are you?”

Shi Qingxue put on a smile just to show her politeness. “Your Highness, thanks for your concern. I am well.”

While speaking, she planned to enter through the side door.

But Mo Junhao stopped her. “You are a respected guest. How can I let you enter my mansion through the side door with grievance? You certainly should go through the main gate.”

In Mo Country, being led in from which entrance could show the guest’s status, but it was a customary rule for the woman who was not a member of the royal family to go through the side door.

Shi Qingxue naturally wouldn’t be so foolish as to be used and said with a smile, “Before I came out, my mother warned me that I should follow the rules. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Mo Junhao just wanted to stay with Shi Qingxue. Seeing that she insisted, he laughed. “It’s just the gate. There are not so many rules. Since you want to go through the side door, I will go with you.”

Shi Qingxue was taken aback and thought she had misheard, but Mo Junhao grabbed her arm and went through the side door.

Mo Junhao paid much attention to status. He was a prince, and he could never enter through the side door no matter which family he visited, not to mention his mansion, but now because of her words, he went through the side door with her.

He did that just to please her.

Shi Qingxue suddenly remembered that in the previous life, before she married Mo Junhao, he had truly done many things he wouldn’t do at ordinary times “for her sake”, so she didn’t doubt his “love” for her.

It seemed that something happened again, but she was not moved. She just felt it was sarcastic, and his touch she was used to made her feel sick.

“Let me go. I can walk on my own,” Shi Qingxue said coldly and took back her hand.

Mo Junyang asked in a warm voice, “Why are you angry? Do you feel unwell?”

“Because I don’t want to see you!”

Shi Qingxue answered in secret but she couldn’t say that. Or she would be unreasonable.

“Nothing. I am a little tired and want to have a rest first. Please help yourself, Your Highness.” She pretended to be exhausted and walked to the nearest pavilion to have a seat, trying to avoid Mo Junhao.

But as soon as she sat down, Mo Junhao caught up with her and told someone to serve tea and fruits, as if he wanted to have a talk with her.

Shi Qingxue couldn’t help but goggle. “Your Highness, what do you mean? You have other guests, right? It would be unworthy if you neglect other respected guests.”

Mo Junhao responded quickly, “No matter how important they are, nobody can be compared with you. What’s more, Ms. Qin can take care of them, and I don’t need to worry. I just want to have tea and talk with you, so that such beautiful scenery won’t be a waste.”

Not until then did Shi Qingxue realize that the pavilion she selected randomly was the best place to watch the scenery in this mansion, with a nice view. In the previous life, she most liked to have a walk here, but now she just felt she was unlucky.

She didn’t want to pretend polite anymore in front of Mo Junhao and stood up. “Today is Lady Qin’s birthday. I have to say happy birthday to her, so I won’t disturb your enjoyment.”

Mo Junhao hurriedly grabbed her arm and looked displeased at last. “Is it so difficult to ask you to sit with me and have a cup of tea?”

Shi Qingxue didn’t say a word.

“Mo Junhao continued, “…Even if you hate me so much, you must remember what you promised to me on the way to the Qingluo Mountain. I saved your life… Now I ask you to drink tea and sit with me. Is it too much?”

He even mentioned that he had saved her life. No matter how unwilling Shi Qingxue was, she had to sit down again. “In that case, it is impolite to decline.”