Chapter 134
Chapter 134: The Aunt Who Married Far Away
After sharing a meal with Mo Yuan Hao, he had intended to take his leave. But halfway down the road, an uneasy feeling rose sharply in his chest. He turned into the market, bought a set of coarse cloth clothing, and after using his disguise art, doubled back.
This time, he avoided all eyes in the royal manor and did not alert Mo Yuan Hao. Silently, he leapt onto the roof of his quarters, only to see Su Qian Xue and Mo Yuan Hao alone together. They stood so close that Su Qian Xue was nearly pressed into his arms, the air thick with a suggestive atmosphere—one step more and the woman would have succeeded.
Fortunately, he carried sleeping smoke. A quick breath sent it swirling inside. Su Qian Xue collapsed instantly, but Mo Yuan Hao, swift to react, sensed it in time, held his breath, and avoided the trap.
Next, Mo Yuan Hao spotted his position and led men in pursuit. He deliberately lured them across half of Haojing before shaking them off, then returned to Prince Qi’s manor to toss the unconscious Su Qian Xue into a guard’s courtyard.
As he was lost in thought, Yun Wan Ning’s startled heart voice rang in his ears: [What? Second Brother left but then came back, knocked Su Qian Xue out, and ruined her private moment with Mo Yuan Hao? Strange, did Second Brother not fall under the heart throb aura’s influence? He is supposed to be Su Qian Xue’s supporting male lead, which should make him even more susceptible. How could it turn out like this?]
Yun Wan Ye’s thoughts snapped back. Heart throb aura? What was that supposed to be? And he was certainly not Su Qian Xue’s supporting male lead. At the thought of the original plot where he played the role of her fawning dog, his heart turned with disgust, as if he had swallowed a fly.
[Also, didn’t Su Qian Xue tell her system to warn her whenever Second Brother came within five li? Why wasn’t she warned this time? Was that restriction only effective yesterday? Or is there another reason? Wait—Second Brother lured Mo Yuan Hao away, then dumped Su Qian Xue into a guard’s yard? Tsk, that’s exactly the sort of thing he would do. Looks like I guessed wrong before; the one with the system is Second Brother, not Elder Sister. Second Brother did well this time, though it’s a pity it failed in the end. Su Qian Xue’s system might seem useless most of the time, but at a key moment it’s worth something. After Second Brother left, it drained her life force to activate a spatial transfer, sending her right back to Mo Yuan Hao’s room.]
Yun Wan Ye’s plan was foiled, but at least Su Qian Xue had not completed her mission. Mo Yuan Hao chased the disguised Yun Wan Ye until nightfall, only to return empty-handed. There he found Su Qian Xue, newly awake, quarreling with her system.
She had just seen the system’s notification about deducting fifty days of life. Furious, she complained nonstop that it had done so without her permission. Fifty days—taken in an instant. She feared she would die from the loss before finishing her task. Of course, Mo Yuan Hao could not hear any of this; to him, she simply appeared lost in thought.
By now, the heart throb aura had faded, and Mo Yuan Hao’s mind was clear. He knew that whatever the matter, it was improper to keep her so late. Rumors could cause trouble. He ordered her sent away.
In mere moments, Yun Wan Ye’s mood had risen and fallen like a roller coaster. Hearing of her sudden return to Mo Yuan Hao’s room had made him tense, but learning her mission failed brought him relief. He even received approving glances from Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, and Yun Wan Yao. He curled his lips in smug satisfaction.
That night, as the time limit ended, the mission failed. Su Qian Xue received a bolt of lightning punishment and a refreshed task, while Yun Wan Ning slept soundly.
The next morning, under Jing Yuan Zi’s supervision, Duke Ning Manor began a full-scale feng shui renovation. To make the act convincing, Yun Wan Chen had “introduced” Jing Yuan Zi to Yun Zheng, and the daoist now became an honored guest of the Yun family.
In Dreamweaver Pavilion, as the day before, Yun Wan Ning was laid on Yun Wan Yao’s bed, the sisters lying together. Yun Wan Ning swung her little feet and let her thoughts wander, while Yun Wan Yao listened and told her things she had never spoken of before. At the table, Madam Yun studied the account books, glancing occasionally at her daughters.
“Madam, this is from the steward, who said it is to be delivered to you.” Little Tao entered with light steps, placing a letter into her hands. Madam Yun glanced at it, and a smile touched her face.
“Mother, what is it? A letter? Who wrote it?” The sisters turned their heads, but with Yun Wan Yao on the outside and Yun Wan Ning inside, the little one could not see anything. She did not release her spiritual power, but listened closely.
“Yes,” Madam Yun said with a small laugh, setting the letter aside. “It’s from your aunt to your father.”
“Aunt?” Yun Wan Yao was startled; it had been so long since her aunt last wrote. The last time was when Mother was pregnant with Little Sister, inviting her to return. Her aunt had replied that she was unwell but would make arrangements.
[Ah, I almost forgot I have an aunt—Yun Chu Chu—who married far away to Nanzhou Prefecture. Father had seven siblings in all, but aside from Father, Seventh Uncle, and Aunt, the rest were gone—one lost as a child, the others dying young. This aunt, the fifth-born, was three years older than Seventh Uncle. When Father rose to prominence, she too became one of Haojing’s most sought-after young ladies, courted by many noble sons. Yet she refused them all, choosing instead a wealthy merchant’s son visiting the capital. Sigh… another love-struck fool, giving her heart to the wrong man, only to be plotted against and meet a tragic end. Yes, yet another bloody tale of blind devotion.]