Chapter 72 - The Second Move

Shi Qingxue frowned, and glanced at Xia Mang helplessly. Xia Mang’s bright eyes made her speechless.

After a long while, she said, “The second son in the Family of the Minister of Ministry of Revenue. Well, isn’t he Zhao Zhu’er’s second brother, Zhao Liang?”

Xia Mang nodded and said initiatively, “Miss Zhao had always been in a good relationship with First Lady before. But since we returned from the Peace Temple, she has spent more time with Third Lady. I heard that Third Lady invited Miss Zhao to go to Zhao Liang’s school together.”

About what they went there for, there was no need for Xia Mang to explain.

“Shi Baojin has always been proud. How could she be satisfied with the identity of the wife of the second son in the Family of the Minister of Ministry of Revenue? This is a bit strange.”

Shi Qingxue wasn’t slandering Shi Baojin. In her previous life, Shi Baojin became the new Empress.

Such an ambitious person, how could she marry him because of the identity of a noble son? Not to mention that the relationship between the Minister of Ministry of Revenue and the Third Prince was unclear. Weren’t they afraid that Mo Junhao would kick their family out of his party when he was mad?

Xia Mang shrugged, “Who knows! Third Lady is always being arrogant. It’s not the first time that she has done such an excessive thing. Didn’t she do those ugly things in order to become the wife of King Rui’s eldest son? Now it’s not strange that she takes the initiative to get close to Zhao Liang.

In my opinion, as long as she doesn’t make the Shi Family lose face when she is teased, why do you bother to mind her?”

It had been proved that Xia Mang was sometimes a jinx.

Only one day after she had just said this, there was another big news in the Shi Family which had been bothered by the rumors. Someone saw that Zhao Liang was sleeping in the same bed with Shi Baojin who not properly dressed, in the famous brothel in the capital city. It was doubted that something indescribable had happened.

As soon as this topic came out, it quickly swept through the entire noble circle. And the rumors about Shi Qingxue before disappeared instantly.

After all, compared with Shi Qingxue’s rumors without any evidence, the crowd were more interested in such matter with witness and evidence to prove that they had been caught in bed.

Although the custom of the Mo Dynasty was open and there weren’t so many things to avoid for men and women, it was still too excessive to meet privately in the brothel with no scruple.

Shi Qingxue frowned again when she heard the news and asked Xia Mang in doubt, “Why is this thing exaggerated like this?”

Xia Mang smiled indifferently, “How great it is! Everyone has turned their attention to the matter that they were caught in bed, and no one talks about your rumors any more!”

The best way to break the rumor was to create a more surprising gossip. Obviously, Shi Baojin’s gossip was more attractive than Shi Qingxue’s rumors, which were without any evidence.

Shi Qingxue understood this, but she still felt that something was wrong, “I’m just afraid that someone deliberately aimed at the Shi Family. By the way, how is Shi Baojin now?”

“How could she be after being ashamed? It is announced that she doesn’t feel well and needs to recuperate at home. Who doesn’t know that the Princess Royal thinks that she is shameful and locks her up?” Dong Shuang said while she was dancing. She was so excited, as if she had picked a gold ingot.

Shi Qingxue was speechless, “Eh! She is also a member of the Shi Family. It’s okay for her to have a bad luck on her own. But now it is the reputation of our Shi Family that is defiled.”

It was true that she hated Shi Baojin, but she also couldn’t tolerate others to slander the members of the Shi Family at will!

Yes, she liked shielding the weak.

Xia Mang glanced at Qingxue and said softly, “There might be some details added into this matter of Third Lady. But the fact is not much different from the rumor.”

It was really too dramatic, and there was no room for passers-by to exaggerate it!

Shi Qingxue opened up her eyes wide in surprise, “You mean that Shi Baojin is really with Zhao Liang…”

When Shi Baojin seduced Mo Junyang before, she used this trick according to the saying that what had been done could not be undone. She instantly had nothing to say.

“And what’s more exciting is that Zhao Liang is a shameless noble man. He has already slept with her and made it known to the whole city. If he is responsible, he will marry her and live with her. But he doesn’t do it! It has been two or three days, but the Zhao Family never sends anyone to propose a marriage. It is said that someone has seen that Zhao Liang goes to the opera today!” Dong Shuang told her the gossips she had heard with an excited look. And she had an expression of gloat on her face!

But this time Shi Qingxue was not angry. She liked shielding the weak, but she was not stupid.

It was the trouble Shi Baojin caused for herself, so she should bear her own responsibility. She had saved Shi Baojin, and she didn’t plan to mind her business for the second time.

She just sighed with emotions, “It seems that she will miss the position of Empress this time.”

Thinking in this way, Shi Qingxue felt it funny. In her previous life, she and Shi Baojin had spent so much time on fighting for the position of Empress. But in this life, she gave up that position from the beginning, while Shi Baojin wasn’t qualified any more.

It had really changed!

Shi Qingxue sighed for a while, and simply ignored the matter. But Zhou Ruyu came to her at this time.

“What is Third Aunt up to in the Luotong Boudoir?” Shi Qingxue spoke softly after completing the etiquette.

She was not afraid that Zhou Ruyu would criticize her on her attitude. If she really annoyed her, she could drive her out right away.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Ruyu was not angry. Instead, she smiled obsequiously at Shi Qingxue, “It’s no big deal. I find that you don’t go out these days, so I want to check whether you are feeling well. If you feel sick, I can help you call Dr. Shen…”

The words of concern were endless, as if she were really concerned about her.

Shi Qingxue was impatient with pretending to be close to Zhou Ruyu. She raised her eyebrows and said with a seemingly smile, “I think Third Aunt knows why I haven’t gone out these days.”

If Shi Baojin hadn’t done those dirty things, would she need to stay in the house for peace?

Zhou Ruyu’s smile froze on her face. After a long time, she reluctantly said, “I know that there are some things that we have done improperly before, and they offended you. But after all, we are families. You can’t do those things to make your families painful and make your enemies pleasant.”

“Well.” Shi Qingxue looked more indifferent, and said unkindly, “I think it is more appropriate for Third Aunt and Baojin.”

Zhou Ruyu, “…”

Zhou Ruyu wholeheartedly sought peace, and her attitude was already extremely low. If she still held her erratic temperament as before, she must have argued back if she was treated like this. But when she thought of Shi Baojin, who was still locked up in her boudoir, she forced herself to suppress her anger.

She flattered, “Qingxue! You know about your Baojin’s temperament since you have known her for so long. She is reckless and doesn’t think too much while speaking and doing things. But she has a good heart. She is now locked up by mother, so she won’t be able to apologize, even if she feels sorry.

I am her mother, so I should also bear the responsibility of not raising her well. I would like to apologize to you for all the wrong things she has done before. After all, you two are sisters. Please forgive her!”

Shi Qingxue was surprised. If it weren’t an inelegant behavior, she would rub her eyes to see if she recognized the wrong person.

Were those humble words really said by Zhou Ruyu, who was always so arrogant?

Shi Qingxue was silent for a moment, and then she simply asked, “Auntie, if you have something to say, don’t be devious.”

Zhou Ruyu thought that Shi Qingxue was moved by her words. She was suddenly overjoyed and said hurriedly, “I won’t say those empty words. I wish you can do me a favor to make the second son of the Zhao Family marry your Baojin in a formal way.”

“What?” Qingxue looked at Zhou Ruyu in surprise and said gloomily, “Auntie is thinking too highly of me. The relationship between the Shi Family and the Zhao Family is normal, and I am more unfamiliar with those gentlemen and ladies in the Zhao Family. You ask me to persuade the Zhao Family to propose a marriage. Is it possible that I will succeed?”

Not to mention Shi Qingxue was still unmarried. If she really believed Zhou Ruyu and proposed a marriage, she really wouldn’t marry a man in the future.

Zhou Ruyu turned a blind eye to the difficulties that Shi Qingxue had said. Instead, she encouraged her with more excitement, “If you say a word, even the Empress Dowager will give you a face. How could it be that you won’t succeed?

Qingxue! The happiness of Baojin’s life is all under your control. She now gives her everything to that damned ungrateful person in the Zhao Family. If he doesn’t marry her, she really won’t live!”

Speaking of her sadness, Zhou Ruyu really dropped a few tears and looked very pitiful.

Shi Qingxue was speechless for a while. She totally didn’t understand Zhou Ruyu’s logic. Since she knew that Zhao Liang was an ungrateful person, why would she still insist on pushing Shi Baojin into the fire pit so persistently?

What a great mother!

She pursed her lips and didn’t show what she was thinking. However, she mentioned, “The so-called formal marriage should be according to parents’ orders or the matchmaker’s words. Even though Third Uncle is a man and doesn’t like minding such matters, why don’t you ask grandmother to stand out for Baojin?”

A trace of resentment flashed in Zhou Ruyu’s eyes, but she quickly hid it and explained helplessly, “Mother is unwilling to take care of these little things, and it is not convenient for me to bother her as a junior. So Qingxue, you must…”

It turned out that Mo Shujun didn’t care about it at all!

Shi Qingxue understood. In fact, she had guessed Mo Shujun’s attitude. She was curious, “I’m just a weak woman. Why do you think that I have the ability to persuade Zhao Liang, or the Zhao Family?”

It would be more reliable if she went to Shi Baoning. Anyway, Shi Baoning was an Infanta and had a very good relationship with Zhao Zhu’er.

Zhou Ruyu only thought that Shi Qingxue was saying the riddle with her. With a flattering smile on her face, she said in a devious way, “Qingxue is being naughty. You are saying riddle to me. Now who doesn’t know that you and King Rui’s eldest son…”

“Third Aunt.” Shi Qingxue’s voice became cold and she interrupted Zhou Ruyu’s words. Her eyes suddenly became extremely indifferent.

Zhou Ruyu still insisted on finishing her words, “You have such a good relationship with King Rui’s eldest son. You just need to tell him about this matter and ask him to do you a small favor. This matter will be solved casually!”

Shi Qingxue never thought that one day she and Mo Junyang would be linked together by others in this way.

Mo Junyang was not her subordinate.

No, Zhou Ruyu’s words were even more harsh. It implied that Mo Junyang was a dog under the command of her.

She didn’t feel happy. Instead, she was extremely uncomfortable!

Shi Qingxue looked angry, she pointed at the door and unkindly drove her away, “Third Aunt, please leave!”