Chapter 208: A New Chess Piece

“The reputation of a virtuous woman is merely a thing to display to others. What does it have to do with me? What can I do with it? As for status, I’ll have it as long as Shaoqing cares about me and stands by my side. If he doesn’t, what can I do with the status in the Ning clan? Utilizing other women to gain his affection? Ridiculous! Can such affection be true love?”

Those hypocritical men talked about love and respect towards their love but went to other women’s bed to work hard at night…

Mo Qianxue couldn’t even bear the thought of it. Her face was full of mockery. If there was such one day when Ning Shaoqing stayed in another woman’s room, she would rather give up on him and live a life she liked than put up with a life like that.

On thinking of such a day when she had to live the rest of her life alone, a bitter sadness loomed behind her mocking expression.

This damned world! It wouldn’t let people to live or love.

Tears rimmed up in Mo Qianxue’s eyes. The sadness spread inexplicably and infected everyone present. Nanny Mo came to the realization but didn’t know how to comfort her.

Mo Qianxue struggled to swallow her tears, “What’s more, he didn’t propose to take concubines today. Why should I do that to bother him and myself while giving bad people an opportunity? …

No matter who it is, she’ll be my enemy as long as she wants to share my husband with me. What I wish for my life is the loyal love like that of my parents.”

“I understand.” Saying that, nanny Mo kneeled down, face stern, like making an oath, “For my whole life, I only wish lady happiness. I won’t care about others’ opinion anymore or repeat this mistake. If anyone dares to have such a plan again, I won’t let him/her have a good time.”

Standing up and turning to the several shocked servants, nanny Mo scolded, “Do you understand?”

Chuyi and Shiwu immediately kneeled down to show their determination, “Lady, we understand.” They never had such a plan anyway since birth. They could even die for lady if that was what she needed, let alone displaying their determination.

In view of this, Zhizhu, Zhihe, Zhiling, and Zhiqiao had no other choice but kneeling on the floor to demonstrate their loyalty.

The meaning of Mo Qianxue’s words was clear. Whatever the future was, she wouldn’t allow these girls to climb onto the bed of Mr. Ning, or to promote them to concubines to gain his affection.

None of them ever met Ning Shaoqing, but when they were selected as close servants of Mo Qianxue, they were quite enviable.

It was known to all that close servants of a lady marrying to a huge mansion were candidates for her husband’s concubines. When the lady wasn’t well to serve the master or felt the need to boost her power, she would send her servant girls to her husband as a way to obtain his satisfaction.

The four girls had been overjoyed when they heard the marriage granted by the Emperor between their lady and the future master of the Ning family. Every super-family master was a one-in-a-million exceptional man, a fact everyone in Tianqi knew.

Not only they had been rejoiced, but also their families. For this reason, they had also been somewhat respected by other servants in this mansion.

Zhizhu and Zhihe was a little disappointed but quickly thought it through, face clam and relaxed. Yet, Zhiling and Zhiqiao grudged like their parents passed away and vowed reluctantly.

Mo Qianxue said these words in front of them for two purposes, one to warn them, and the other to test them out.

It would be good if they were loyal. If they were spies, the message would be sent out through their mouths, which was also nice.

Otherwise, she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t be driven crazy if someone send over a beauty today or give her two sisters or servants tomorrow, who then made out with Ning Shaoqing, and this became an endless cycle.

She never feared of being called a jealous or relentless woman!

The servants had sworn loyalty, and nanny Mo nodded, in an expression more serious than ever, “Do not spread out the words you heard, or you’ll beat up to death and your families be sold out as slaves.”

Mo Qianxue didn’t fear of a bad reputation, but nanny Mo did.

There were things that could be done but couldn’t be spelled out, at least not on the table.

The six servants nodded and said yes nervously.

The thing done, Mo Qianxue felt tired and lay back on the couth, motioning to let them leave. Nanny Mo put a blanket over her and left the room first. The six girls then followed her out.

Nanny Mo repeatedly enjoined and warned them. However, these words still got out of the Founder mansion as if they had wings. They reached the ear of the Emperor, Ning Shaoqing as well as others with vicious intention.

Ning Shaoqing only arched his lips, eyes playful— No matter who it is, she’ll be my enemy as long as she wants to share my husband with me.

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He never knew that she cared about him so much. Although the threat was rebellious, it was courage as well. Only she could and had the guts to say something like this.

The Emperor also smiled at it. Want to be a jealous woman? Try to become his wife first!

**

The summer was approaching. Early in the morning, the sun shone up high.

Junzhu Susu came in her carriage to pick up Mo Qianxue and go shopping.

She wore a red gold-woven skirt, a rose crystal-and-gold hairpin in her hair, a turquoise jade pendant around her neck, gold-thread-twisted-jade eardrops on her ears and a matching bracelet around her wrist. Everything was overbearingly luxurious.

Mo Qianxue was still plainly dressed in the lake-green skirt embroidered with lotus flowers, several hairpins in the clouds bun, which was neither flamboyant or humble. The grandeur as the lady of the Founder mansion wasn’t a bit eclipsed.

Wherever they were, the two pretty girls were the focus of eyes.

Fortunately, they were in the carriage, and Junzhu Susu was familiar with the capital. The shops they went to were exclusives to nobilities. Otherwise, these two outstandingly pretty girls hanging around on the streets and followed by myriad servants would definitely cause a traffic jam.

The two visited a few satin shops, the most famous jewelry stores, art galleries and special boutiques.

At noon, they were starving. At the invitation of Mo Qianxue, the two, with loads of purchases, went to have lunch in Yuji Restaurant owned by Mo Qianxue.

Prior to their arrival, the restaurant was noticed. As their carriage stopped at the door, the manager went out to usher them into a VIP room.

Mo Qianxue just asked Junzhu Susu to take a seat, and Yunyao came over to greet them.

Yunyao had been picked up from Yunqi town a few days ago by Shiwu.

Coming along with her were Wang Tianrui and his wife, a couple of apprentices of root sculpture, and several villagers from the Wang village.

Later, Yunyao was arranged by Mo Qianxue to be the accountant of this restaurant, and Wang Tianlei and others were taken to the shops.

Yunyao greeted and carefully said in a low voice, “Mr. Ning and his friends are here too, right in the next room. Should I pass a word…?”

**

In the imperial palace.

Over these days, the imperial study was in a sullen air. The eunuchs and imperial maids clammed up in terror, not daring to be a slightest careless.

The chief eunuch returned from errands and waved to let the servants out.

The Emperor was holding a chess book in one hand, pinching a chess piece between his fingers of the other hand, fixing his eyes down, seemingly baffled by the game, “Any progress in investigating the background of Lu Zhengyang?”

“Yes, your majesty. I’ll reporting it to you.” The chief eunuch bent his body, tossing the duster back and replied in a high-pitched voice, “Lu Zhengyang was born to an ordinary family of merchants in Pei county. He got to know Ning Shaoqing in the deserted fief belonging to the Ning clan. In those days, the two called each other brother, and Ning Shaoqing treats him more intimately than his real brother…”

The chief eunuch narrated orderly and made clear the birth of Lu Zhengyang and how he became an acquaintance of Ning Shaoqing.

Finishing the report, he bowed his head, not daring to take credit.

The Emperor pondered for a second and seemed to remember something, eyes shining sharp at the chief eunuch, “Is this Lu related to the Lu family in the capital that was extirpated a century ago?”

The chief eunuch shook bodily, bent even lower, “I’ve had his ancestors checked carefully. The result shows that his family lives in the Pei county for every generation and isn’t related to the Lu family in the capital at all.”

“…” The Emperor didn’t seem to believe the result. How could a merchant son build up such a sphere of influence in the capital within years and become a friend of a super-family lord? That was more than a coincidence.

Despite his suspicion, the Emperor chose to believe it first. This confidant eunuch had served him for decades. He had always been careful in his work and never made any mistake.

Hence, his expression eased, “Pass down the words. I’m going to meet this Lu Zhengyang.”

“Yes.”

The chief eunuch left, and the Emperor placed the chess piece on the board, a smile surfacing onto his face. He seemed to be satisfied with where the chess piece went.

My favorite drama is brothers stabbing each other. I just don’t believe a humble son of a merchant can resist the authority of an emperor and temptation of power…