Chapter 28: A Nightly Discussion Between Husband and Wife (Part 1)

Chapter 28: A Nightly Discussion Between Husband and Wife (Part 1)

If he recalled correctly, it happened during last year's imperial banquet.

Fang Chuanzhou had attended the event accompanied by his wife and their eldest daughter, Fang Mingzhu. Emperor Shunwu had instantly taken a liking to the young maiden.

Taking advantage of the alcohol, the emperor disregarded protocol and expressed his desire to bring Fang Mingzhu into the palace as one of his concubines.

To everyone's surprise, Fang Mingzhu refused, openly stating that she already had an arranged marriage, thus declining the emperor's "kind offer."

Fang Chuanzhou, unwilling to see his daughter enter the palace to compete for favor among numerous women, knelt down to speak on her behalf.

With so many officials present, Emperor Shunwu couldn't force the matter and could only reluctantly let them leave.

The day after the banquet, Fang Mingzhu hastily married someone else.

Given Mo Jiuye's understanding of this emperor, he must have held a grudge and seized this opportunity to punish the Fang family, exiling them all, and simultaneously causing distress to Mo Jiuye.

As for the Li and He families, they already had an uneasy relationship with Mo Jiuye. It was evident why the emperor would send them into exile alongside him; no need to think too hard about it.

Noticing He Zhiran still deep in thought, he gently crooked his finger at her.

When she turned to look at him, he softly spoke, "I'll tell you about these families another time if I get the chance."

Hearing Mo Jiuye say this indicated that he had sorted out the situation.

Since someone was now aware, the Mo family no longer needed to remain ignorant. He Zhiran decided not to meddle further.

"Alright," she replied casually. It didn't matter to her whether or not Mo Jiuye told her.

Anyway, she had already clarified her goal. Her first priority was to alter Mo Jiuye's fate of dying during exile.

Seeing that she had finished what she wanted to say, Second Sister-in-law didn't wish to disturb the newlyweds any longer.

"Ninth Sister-in-law, I'll go back and rest now."

He Zhiran had climbed onto the wooden cart to help Mo Jiuye escape. Now that their objective had been accomplished, it would be best for them to return to their respective positions to avoid any awkwardness.

However, if she were to lie down for a while before leaving, it might arouse Zhou Laoba's suspicion.

With no choice, she mustered the courage to lie back down in her original spot.

Mo Jiuye shifted his body slightly to the side, all for her comfort during sleep.

Despite the journey's exhaustion, He Zhiran was now wide awake.

Seemingly sensing that she wasn't asleep, Mo Jiuye softly asked, "Can't fall asleep?"

"Hmm," He Zhiran replied nonchalantly.

"Is it because of what Second Sister-in-law said?" Mo Jiuye inquired.

"Sort of," He Zhiran answered, not entirely sure herself why she was experiencing insomnia. Perhaps it was due to being suddenly thrown into an unfamiliar environment, which she still hadn't quite adjusted to.

However, she didn't wish to discuss this with Mo Jiuye.

Mo Jiuye, not adept at reading emotions, could only gauge from her tone and failed to detect her evasion.

"There are some unresolved issues between the He and Li families and me," He Zhiran observed, noticing Mo Jiuye's willingness to share. Since she couldn't sleep anyway, she might as well listen attentively.

"What kind of issues?" she inquired.

"Originally, He Zhiyuan was the Minister of War. When I led troops into battle, he deliberately cut corners with supplies for his own gain. I reported this matter to the Emperor. The Emperor launched an investigation, but strangely, despite the severity of the issue, He Zhiyuan only lost his rank, demoted from Minister to Vice-Minister of War."

Hearing Mo Jiuye's account, He Zhiran began to formulate new theories.

"So, if I understand correctly, the Emperor had intentions to act against the Mo family all along. He didn't immediately punish He Zhiyuan but kept him around to cause you trouble?"

Mo Jiuye was surprised that this woman could analyze the situation so astutely. It had taken him almost a day of careful deliberation to come to the same conclusion. He was increasingly convinced that He Zhiran was not an ordinary person.

With the conversation taking this turn, He Zhiran became intrigued as well.

"What about the Li family?"

When it came to the Li family's involvement, Mo Jiuye found it difficult to articulate his feelings.

After some deliberation, he decided to be truthful.

"My conflict with the Li family can be traced back to Li Rouer."

From Mo Jiuye's words, it seemed there was some connection between him and Li Rouer.

This piqued her interest even more.

"What's your relationship with her?"

Simultaneously, He Zhiran delved into the original host's memories, searching for any mention of Mo Jiuye by Li Rouer.

She searched for a long time, her head beginning to ache, but still found nothing.

This indicates that Li Rouer didn't mention Mo Jiuye at all in front of the original host.

"We have no relationship," Mo Jiuye replied without hesitation.

"Why then did you say that your conflict with the Li family was because of her?"

Hearing He Zhiran's inquiry, Mo Jiuye subconsciously thought that this woman might be feeling jealous.

Promptly, he explained himself. "Her carriage lost control and ran amok on the street, coincidentally encountering me. I merely acted out of goodwill to rein in the horse. At the time, I didn't pay much attention to the incident, assuming it had already passed. Yet, the next day, Li Liang came to my door with gifts, claiming to express his daughter's gratitude for saving her life.

"He even mentioned sending Li Rouer to the Duke's residence as a concubine. I immediately declined, stating that I already had an engagement with you and that the Mo family's ancestral teachings forbade taking concubines.

"Li Liang didn't show any unusual reaction when I refused. It wasn't until three days later, when I encountered Li Rouer again while leaving the house, that I realized she might have been intentionally waiting outside the Duke's residence."

I intended to ignore him and leave, but her two maids blocked my path.

Li Rouer claimed that we had an intimate relationship and that I must take responsibility for her.

When I helped control her horse, there was no physical contact between us; it was obvious she was trying to cheat.

Thus, I gave her no quarter nor offered any explanation before mounting my horse and leaving.

Since then, I've noticed Li Liang opposing me at every turn. Whatever I say, he goes out of his way to refute it.

Aside from the Li Rouer incident, I can't think of where I've offended him…"

Upon hearing Mo Jiuye's account, He Zhiran grasped a truth: Li Rouer had deliberately approached her, constantly speaking ill of the Mo family in an attempt to make her call off the marriage so that Li Rouer could marry Mo Jiuye instead.

"You're referring to the incident at the beginning of the year?"

"Did you know?" Mo Jiuye asked in return.

With the conversation having reached this point, He Zhiran saw no reason to conceal anything.

He Zhiran recounted in detail how Li Rouer had tried to dissuade her from marrying into the Mo family, and this incident occurred right after Li Rouer was rejected by Mo Jiuye.

Upon hearing this, Mo Jiuye's dark eyes sank.

"I never expected that a young lady could have such deep schemes – truly despicable."

"Yes, very despicable. She pretended to care for me in front of my face, but as soon as I was exiled, she couldn't wait to show her true colors."

Speaking of Li Rouer, He Zhiran expressed her disdain.

This was the epitome of a two-faced person, someone He Zhiran held in the lowest regard.

Seeing that He Zhiran was unhappy, Mo Jiuye assumed it was due to the nonexistent affair between him and Li Rouer.

To lighten the mood, he added, "I've already read Father-in-Law's letter."