As he laughed, he reached out a hand to roughly pat the small fox's head. The small fox dodged to the side, unwilling to let Mu Tianlang touch it.

Nevertheless, Mu Tianlang managed to grab its head. Seeing the fox, all of his previous gloom seemed to dissipate immediately. “Aiya… I'm about to laugh to death! How did you end up like this?”

“Haha… this is too funny, this is too funny! Hahaha…!”

The small fox glared ferociously at Mu Tianlang, to no avail. As Mu Tianlang continued to madly laugh, the small fox grew more and more enraged. Taking advantage of a moment when Mu Tianlang's guard was lowered, the small fox rushed forward and bit his hand, then quickly dashed behind Mo Qingli's body.

Mu Tianlang immediately groaned in pain. How could he let off the fox just like that? However, when he tried to grab for the fox again, he was stopped by Mo Qingli.

Seeing Mo Qingli's cold and icy expression, Mu Tianlang shook his head, then earnestly said, “Don't worry, I promise not to hurt him!”

Mo Qingli's expression remained unconvinced. Mu Tianlang continued: “I'm not the kind of person to bully a junior¹.”

Junior? But when you fought with Leng Hanling before, I certainly didn't see you being lenient with him!

Mo Qingli glanced at Mu Tianlang again, then picked up the small fox into her embrace, once again moving the side. The current appearance of the fluffy small fox was enough to arouse a woman's maternal nature.

At the side, Xiaoyao Yunyan was unable to listen to this conversation anymore. This man was clearly mentally ill! How could he regard a fox as his junior? It really was too ridiculous.

He told the adjacent Ge Yueming his thoughts, preparing to be met with a.s.sent, only to realize that Ge Yueming was strange in the head too. What did Ge Yueming mean by he was thinking too much?

Xiaoyao Yunyan shot Ge Yueming a supercilious look. Was this fellow still his brother anymore?

Although… thinking up to the upcoming drama that was about to happen, Xiaoyao Yunyan's spirits improved drastically. Once again, he had advanced closer to that position.

Finally, Mo Qingli's palanquin arrived to the front of the Imperial Palace. Xiaoyao Yunyan stepped off the palanquin first, followed by Mu Tianlang.

Only Ge Yueming silently remained on the palanquin, waiting for Mo Qingli to step off.

“You should go down first,” Mo Qingli said.

“It's fine. According to etiquette, it's only right that you go down before me,” Ge Yueming replied, chuckling.

The corners of Mo Qingli's mouth raised into a self-deprecating smile. “According to etiquette? Hehe… you should go down first.”

Ge Yueming wanted to say something to comfort her, but found that when the words reached his mouth, he was unable to speak. He could only sigh, then exit the palanquin.

As Yue Yao helped Mo Qingli step down the palanquin, coincidence had it that Mo Qingyu's palanquin had also arrived just then.

It had been a long time since she saw Mo Qingyu. It could be said that Mo Qingli had “missed” her.

Following etiquette, Mo Qingli remained in her current position.

When Mo Qingyu stepped down from the palanquin, it looked as if she had returned back to her high-and-mighty arrogant self. However, a moment later, she turned around, pushed the curtain, and gently a.s.sisted Xiaoyao Yunbo in exiting the palanquin.

Watching the way that Mo Qingyu seemed to treasure the man in front of her, Mo Qingli couldn't help but sigh. Could it be because of Xiaoyao Yunbo, that she had turned a new leaf?

She had thought it strange that she hadn't heard any news about Mo Qingyu recently. So it turned out that she had wholeheartedly thrown herself onto Xiaoyao Yunbo!

Xiaoyao Yunbo turned to Xiaoyao Yunyan's direction, sharing a meaningful glance with him. Of course, the doting Mo Qingyu would not miss even this small movement. She looked over as well, noticing Mo Qingli's existence.

Immediately, her expression sank. She pulled Xiaoyao Yunbo behind her, glowering at Mo Qingli. She had never forgotten how Mo Qingli was one of the suitors that had asked for Xiaoyao Yunbo's hand before.

Mo Qingly could only helplessly turn away her head, preparing to leave. However, coincidentally, Mo Qinghan's palanquin also arrived in that moment.

This day was really too filled with coincidences!

Mo Qinghan stepped off the palanquin. Like Mo Qingyu, she also tenderly a.s.sisted a person off of the palanquin.

Mo Qingli looked over, only to realize that it was Feng Chenling.

Meanwhile, Feng Chenling had also noticed Mo Qingli's presence. Suddenly, his entire body trembled. Retracting his hand from Mo Qinghan's, he quietly muttered, “I… I can walk by myself.”

“It's alright, there's no need to be afraid,” Mo Qinghan said, gently smiling.

“Thank you, Qinghan,” Feng Chenling said.

Before, Feng Chenling had sat there for ages, waiting for Mo Qingli to send people to pick him up. He had almost driven himself mad with the disappointment. He missed Mo Qingli so much, really too much. Every day and night he thought of her, missing her scowl, her smile, missing her calm and collected manner, missing her gentleness, missing her.

Finally, he had packed up his clothing, preparing to return from his paternal home. However, when he opened the door, he saw Mo Qinghan standing in front of him. Mo Qinghan realized what Feng Chenling's intentions were, that he wanted to return back to Mo Qingli, and felt a deep wound scar into her heart.

“Do you want to return?” Mo Qinghan said, her eyes filled with hurt.

Feng Chenling didn't meet her eyes. Lowering his head, he said, “Yes, because… she's my wife.”

Mo Qinghan's eyes filled with a complicated expression. Finally, she sighed. “Let me send you, then!”

“There's no, no need. I… I can return by myself…” Feng Chenling's voice grew quieter and quieter.

Mo Qinghan's heart felt like it was about to melt. She hated, beyond anything else, that she hadn't been able to meet Feng Chenling earlier.

“Don't worry. From here, the Sixth Princess's residence is only a short distance away. Moreover, the sky seems that it's about to rain. I… I'm worried about you.”

Feng Chenling looked at the sky. The gloomy sky rumbled, as if it were about to rain any moment.

“But…” Feng Chenling looked at Mo Qinghan's palanquin. She was supposed to be leaving for the Empress's palace any minute. Inside… there were her other consorts. If he went into it, then it wouldn't be right.

Seeing Feng Chenling's expression, Mo Qinghan smiled. “There's no one in it right now.”

“Ah? Aren't you going to attend the Empress's birthday banquet today?” Feng Chenling asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes,” Mo Qinghan said, nodding. She didn't know why, but with Feng Chenling, she was extremely patient.

“Then are you not even bringing your Prince Consort?” Feng Chenling said, unable to stop himself. However, a moment later, he realized that he had been too offensive. Hurriedly, he said, “I'm sorry, I..”

“No worries,” Mo Qinghan chuckled. “I don't have any consorts.”

As Feng Chenling's expression once again turned to shock, Mo Qinghan's smile deepened. “It's because there's only one person in my heart.”

Feng Chenling was as dense as a wood block, but still knew who she was talking about. Awkwardly, he turned his head to the side.”

“Alright then. I'll send you back,” Mo Qinghan said. Seeing that Feng Chenling was silent, she changed the subject.

However, when they arrived at the Sixth Princess's residence, they were told that Mo Qingli had already left with her consorts to the Imperial Palace.

Hearing this, Feng Chenling's eyes filled with beads of tears.

Mo Qinghan immediately consoled him, then led him onto the palanquin, leaving for the Imperial Palace.

And thus, it had ended up like this. Mo Qingli had clearly misunderstood the situation.

Feng Chenling slowly walked towards Mo Qingli's direction, with Mo Qinghan following closely behind. When Mo Qingli saw this, her lips curled up into a cold smile. Afterwards, she turned around and left.

She no longer looked at Feng Chenling.

Feng Chenling felt his entire body stiffen as he watched Mo Qingli walk away. He could only stand there, silent.

It wasn't until Mo Qinghan reached out her hand and patted away his tears with a handkerchief that he realized, he was crying.

Mo Qingyu, still holding onto Xiaoyao Yunbo's hand, was followed by a crowd of men. These were all of her lower-ranked consorts. As the crowd walked past Mo Qinghan, Mo Qingyu did not forget to sneer, mocking Mo Qinghan, “You've picked up someone's discarded shoe from the trash and regarded it as a treasure. I really don't know how to congratulate Younger Sister's taste. It really is… cheap.”

Mo Qinghan didn't bother to pay attention to Mo Qingyu's words. To Feng Chenling, she said, “Don't worry. Come, let's enter.”

Mo Qingyu, seeing Mo Qinghan treat her like air, prepared to further aggravate Mo Qinghan. However, she was stopped by Xiaoyao Yunbo.

“Let's hurry and enter the palace. Standing is so tiring,” Xiaoyao Yunbo impatiently said.

Hearing Xiaoyao Yunbo's words, Mo Qingyu's face immediately turned into a placating expression. She rea.s.sured him, “Alright, alright. Come, come, we'll enter the palace.”

Xiaoyao Yunbo turned away his head, not looking at Mo Qingyu as he walked into the palace.

That face, that one eye, it really was enough to make him want to puke.

Every time he looked at it, he lost all his appet.i.te.

At least, he was soon about to leave this ugly woman.

Thinking about this, Xiaoyao Yunbo's heart filled with excitement. Xiaoyao Yunyan, I hope you won't let me down this time!

“I'm not going. Go without me!” Feng Chenling said, pus.h.i.+ng away Mo Qinghan. He turned around, wanting to leave, only to be caught off guard by Mo Qinghan's arms.

Feng Chenling wanted to break free, but Mo Qinghan's embrace was too tight. He shouted, “Let go!”

“I won't,” Mo Qinghan insisted. “She doesn't want you. I want you!”

“She won't not want me!” Feng Chenling said, pus.h.i.+ng away Mo Qinghan. His voice became hoa.r.s.e as he continued, “We… we're just going through a misunderstanding! She won't not want me! She won't…”

“Fine,” Mo Qinghan laughed coldly. “Then, come into the place with me. Why don't you ask her again clearly, whether she wants you or not!”

She grabbed Feng Chenling's arm, dragging him into the Imperial Palace. Feng Chenling did not try and resist. Right now, his mind was in extreme turmoil. Other than refuting Mo Qinghan's taunts of “she doesn't want you”, he couldn't hear or see anything.

As she grabbed onto Feng Chenling's palm, a smile formed on Mo Qinghan's face. Feng Chenling, there will be a day when you are mine. You'll definitely be mine! Definitely!

if you aren't reading this hiohbye translations you're missing out

¹As in someone from a younger generation.