Soon, the news had spread through the streets . All of the commoners discussed how the Sixth Princess’s marriage had been abruptly cancelled .
The Empress even went as far as to call Mo Qingli into the inner palace . She praised M3o Qingli for finding a way to successfully solve the matter with the Second Princess . The only thing she was displeased about was how Mo Qingli had not disclosed this “plan” earlier .
Mo Qingli could only try to use this situation in her advantage and flatter the Empress . Gloomily, she realized that she really was becoming more and more like an ordinary person .
Just as Mo Qingli was about to leave the palace, an uninvited guest called out to her .
“Sixth Princess . ”
Mo Qingli turned around, only to see the distant figure of Ouyang Haoxuan . She gave a mocking smile . “What? Does Father Consort once again want to impart blame on this child?”
Ouyang Haoxuan remained calm, and smiled in turn . “What is Sixth Princess speaking of? This Consort would never wish to harm the Sixth Princess . ”
Instead, he slowly approached, the silver ornaments of his hairpin tinkling . Gently, he whispered in Mo Qingli’s ear, “I only want to make you die a slow and painful death, and get justice for my nephew!”
Mo Qingli’s mouth quirked upwards . Leaning her head forward, she murmured to Ouyang Haoxuan, “Then… this child will wait . ”
“Good . Then wait and see . ” Ouyang Haoxuan looked at Mo Qingli . Although he was smiling, Mo Qingli could see that he was looking at her with hatred .
After she left the palace, Mo Qingli did not return back to the residence . Rather, she made a detour to the restaurant she had recently visited .
Ever since that time, when she had sampled her first sip of the fragrance and flavor of the Son Red, she had been returning to this restaurant in occasion to drink one or two jars .
The shopkeeper had also gotten used to her visits . Seeing her visit now, he was quick to ask, “Young Miss, will it be Son Red again?”
“Mmm,” Mo Qingli replied .
The shopkeeper led Mo Qingli up to her favorite window seat . However, before she could sit down, a person in jade robes suddenly s.n.a.t.c.hed the chair that the shopkeeper had just pulled out .
“This Young Miss…” The shopkeeper looked at Mo Qingli, then at the jade-robed woman in front of him . “This table is already occupied . ”
“Already occupied?” The jade-robed woman looked at the shopkeeper, then looked around, purposefully ignoring Mo Qingli’s presence . “Who’s occupying it? Why don’t I see anyone?”
“This…” The shopkeeper glanced at Mo Qingli .
The jade-robed woman grabbed the shopkeeper’s elbow, demanding, “Since you’re dressed like this, you should be the shopkeeper here! I want you to bring me five gla.s.ses of your best Son Red, then a few platters of small dishes . Of course, there needs to be meat . This woman hasn’t had meat for a long time!”
Afterwards, she flung the shopkeeper away . Mo Qingli quickly grabbed the shopkeeper before he stumbled . He looked at her, grateful, before his expression turned to shame .
“Don’t worry . I’ll sit somewhere else,” Mo Qingli said, giving a slight smile to alleviate the shopkeeper’s guilt .
The current her had learned about conceding to others .
When the jade-robed woman heard these words, she yelled at the shopkeeper, “See? She said it herself that she doesn’t want to sit here . Now hurry up and bring me some dishes, this woman is starving!”
The shopkeeper brushed past Mo Qingli, not forgetting to whisper a quiet ‘thank you’, then scurried downstairs to prepare the wine and small dishes .
Mo Qingli looked around, then found another window seat with a slightly inferior view . She looked out the window, pressing her cheek against her palm, then thought about the events that had happened as of recent .
There were too many things happening at once . Xiaoyao Yunbo had died . She had almost been smothered, been poisoned, then neem subject to an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt . Feng Qingjue had left .
These thoughts swam across Mo Qingli’s mind . She had tried many times to clear her head, but every visit back to her residence brought to mind Feng Chenling’s anguished face, forcing her thoughts back into turmoil . It was only here, with the comfort of wine, that she could find peace .
Thinking back to that Ge Yueming who seemed to speak familiar words to her, Mo Qingli felt her head ache even more . She didn’t have any clue as to his ident.i.ty, or how he had arrived here . When she had asked Yue Yao, she only learned that his divination abilities had been discovered by the Empress and had thus been brought to the palace . Afterwards, when the original Mo Qingli had seen him, she had stubbornly insisted on marrying him .
What happened next, Mo Qingli was familiar with .
She couldn’t trust him . For some reason, she could sense that he was hiding something from her .
“f.u.c.king grow some eyes when you walk!”
As Mo Qingli was lost in her thoughts, a sudden sentence pierced through her meditative state . Turning her head, she saw the jade-robed woman slam a fist against the table, angrily bellowing at a young man .
“Sorry, I’m sorry,” the young man said, lowering his head . He didn’t dare to look at the jade-robed woman . “I only accidentally b.u.mped into you . I’m sorry . ”
The jade-robed woman grabbed the young man by his lapels, studying his delicate features . Her pupils revealed a lewd, lascivious light . “Do you think that ‘sorry’ will be enough? How about I press you down and then say ‘sorry, I didn’t mean it . ’ What do you think? Hahaha…”
Hearing this, a few women in the surrounding tables burst into loud guffaws . Meanwhile, the men watching the scene turned their heads, slowly slipping away .
Hearing the laughter of the people around her, the smile of the jade-robed woman grew even bolder . She reached out and groped the young man’s wrist, rubbing her hand against it . “Aiya, who would have thought your skin was this smooth? Could it be you’re still a virgin?”
“You… release me!” The young man turned red at the crude words . He wanted to withdraw his hand, but his strength was nothing against the woman in front of him .
The jade-robed woman’s eyes glinted with glee at his reaction . She continued speaking, her insinuation more and more obvious . “I can release you, as long as you…”
She slowly stroked her hand against the young man’s arm again, causing the entire floor to burst once again into laughter .
The young man turned away, his body bursting into tremors . Now, he could only feel pangs of immense regret . His father had even warned him before he left to hurry back home after he finished his delivery . He was just one young man, and it wasn’t safe for him to be alone . However, he didn’t believe those words . He had heard that this restaurant had the highest quality Son Red’s in the Imperial City, and so, disregarding his father’s words, had come to such a place . But who would have thought…
Tears flowed out of his eyes . His voice choked . “As long as I what?”
“As long as you…” The jade-robed woman laughed, then reached a hand to gently undo the young man’s lapels . Lewdly, she reached a hand into his chest . “As long as you spend a night with me, this woman will forgive you . ”
The man stared at her with two terrified eyes . He hadn’t thought that people would be this daring in the Imperial City . Furthermore, there wasn’t even one person willing to help him in his surroundings!
A look of despair appeared over the young man’s face . He hadn’t even been married yet, but was going to be disgraced in this manner now?
The jade-robed woman became impatient at his silence . “Hurry up . Or else I’ll take off your clothes right now!”
The man’s expression changed . Finally, he gave a slow nod, agreeing to the jade-robed woman’s request .
Mo Qingli watched the events unfold in front of her . She wanted to help the young man in front of her, but now was not a good time . There were too many witnesses . She needed to find a good opening to rescue him .
The jade-robed woman guffawed . Her hand groped the young man a few more times, before retreating and releasing the young man . “Then, drink a few gla.s.ses of wine with me . After that, I’ll bring you to have some fun . ”
The young man looked at the jade-robed woman, his eyes filled with hate . Then, he looked at the crowds of people outside the window . Making a silent resolution, he took advantage of a lapse of the jade-robed woman’s attention, then ran to the windowsill and jumped .
Ah—!
The surrounding people, seeing the body fall from the window, cried out in fear .
Mo Qingli realized that the situation was devolving into something terrible . She hurriedly leaped out the window . The jade-robed woman, also wearing an expression of anger, followed suit .
Mid-leap, Mo Qingli caught the young man before it was too late . The two of them landed on the ground safely .
The young man closed his eyes, expecting to die . However, he realized that there was no pain from impact . Instead, he was wrapped up in a comfortable embrace .
Opening his eyes, he was greeted by a pair of indifferent and yet slightly tender eyes . The man stared blankly, then felt himself blush . He hurriedly sat up, bowing his head down, and murmured, “Thank you for saving me . ”
Before Mo Qingli could reply, the jade-robed woman landed next to them . Immediately, she reached out to grab the young man . The young man, terrified, hid behind Mo Qingli, his entire body s.h.i.+vering with fear .
The jade-robed woman’s eyes flashed with killing intent . However, forcibly restraining herself, she clasped her hands towards Mo Qingli: “This Young Miss, if you will excuse me for the events that happened earlier . ”
Seeing Mo Qingli remain indifferent, she added, “This Young Miss, may you please return the young man behind you to me?”
Mo Qingli looked at her, then smiled . “I’ve seen shameless people, but I’ve never seen someone as shameless as you!” ʷᵒʷ ᵐʸ ᵐᵒᵐ ᵗᵉˡˡˢ ᵐᵉ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᵃˡˡ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᶦᵐᵉ
“You…!” Mo Qingli’s words infuriated the jade-robed woman . She raised her hand, charging at Mo Qingli .
Mo Qingli grabbed the young man’s waist, then lightly dodged the jade-robed woman’s strike .
The jade-robed woman grew even angrier . “You’re seeking death!”
She leapt into the air, once again pouncing towards Mo Qingli . However, this time a faint green light emitted from her hand . Mo Qingli’s expression sank . She looked at the people around them, and then at the furious jade-robed woman who had completely lost all reason .
If they continued like that, the people around them would be harmed .
“Just give me to her!” The young man yelled, unable to watch the scene anymore .
“Don’t worry,” Mo Qingli rea.s.sured him .
After a moment of consideration, Mo Qingli brought the young man up to the rooftops . Seeing the jade-robed woman following in pursuit, Mo Qingli’s mouth quirked upwards . Right now, the best course of action would be to lead the woman to a less populated area .
Mo Qingli, with the young man being dragged behind her, wondered what place would be best to take care of the situation .
After a while, they had escaped the city . Mo Qingli, having carried a person the entire way, felt her stamina depleting and thus stopped .
The jade-robed woman sneered at Mo Qingli, also stopping . “If you don’t have the strength, then don’t show off!”