“I… I…” Mo Si’an stammered unnaturally, but soon raised her voice again, “In the evening, Young Master Zhou came to the general’s mansion looking for you!”
Qin Wanxiu, who had remained silent until now, spoke with a stern face, “Lingzheng, you’ve been missing all day, and we’ve been worried all day. Now you return so late at night. If you don’t give a clear explanation, how will the general’s mansion save face if word gets out? And when your father returns to the capital and learns of your behavior, how are we supposed to explain it to him?”
Mo Lingzheng glanced at her coolly from the corner of her eye.
Three years ago, her original self’s mother passed away. Her father was dispatched by imperial decree to resist foreign invaders. Worried that no one would care for her, he brought her grandmother and Second Uncle’s family from their hometown in Youzhou to the capital, entrusting this second aunt with managing the household.
But ever since taking charge, this second aunt had treated everything in the general’s mansion as the private property of their second branch. Embezzling funds aside, over these three years, her original self hadn’t received a single copper coin, hadn’t gotten a single new garment, and hadn’t seen meat in her daily meals—all under the pretext that her original self’s mother had passed away, and during the three-year mourning period, her original self needed to wear plain clothes and eat frugally to honor her mother’s memory!
“Ah!” Mo Si’an suddenly pointed at Mo Lingzheng and exclaimed, “Grandmother, Mother, look at Cousin’s clothes—why are they so dirty and disheveled?”
The elderly Madam Yu glared at Mo Lingzheng’s wrinkled, mud-stained clothes, her fury intensifying. “When An’er said you went into the deep mountains with a strange man, I didn’t believe it. Look at your state—how dare you claim you’re still chaste? You truly have no shame!”
Mo Lingzheng lowered her gaze to look at her own ruqun.
After jumping off the cliff, her clothes had soaked in the hot spring pool, then she had taken them off and put them back on. After wearing them again, she had scrambled like a thief through that misty place searching for a way out, struggling and stumbling until she finally found a stone door to escape…
No wonder she wasn’t clean!
She lifted her head and looked toward Mo Si’an, her eyes filled with an indescribable chill.
The reason she had acted like a female rogue and forced herself on a strange man today was entirely thanks to this cousin of hers!
Her original self was betrothed to the heir of Pingnan Marquisate, Zhou Rongkai. But ever since Mo Si’an appeared, Zhou Rongkai had grown increasingly cold toward her original self. At first, her original self thought it was because she was in mourning that Zhou Rongkai didn’t want to get close. But later, her original self discovered that Mo Si’an and Zhou Rongkai had already been intimate, and the two had gotten involved just one month after Mo Si’an arrived in the capital!
Her original self was also a fool. Betrayed by a scoundrel, she didn’t know to cut her losses in time. Instead, she went to confront Mo Si’an.
As a result, Mo Si’an lured her to the mountains, saying she wanted to properly explain. Who would have thought her original self would be foolish enough to go!
Even more unexpected was that Mo Si’an had arranged for two men to wait for her original self on the mountain in advance…
“Grandmother!” Mo Si’an clung to Madam Yu and said indignantly, “If word gets out about Cousin’s impropriety, it won’t just bring shame to our general’s mansion—it will also disgrace the Pingnan Marquisate. You can’t let Cousin act so recklessly!”
Qin Wanxiu also suggested with a serious expression, “Mother, judging by Lingzheng’s appearance, she clearly feels guilty. Why not give her a chastity examination? Whether she is chaste or not will be known once she’s examined.”
Madam Yu narrowed her aged eyes, then ordered the matron waiting nearby, “Nanny Wu, take Miss Lingzheng behind the screen for a chastity examination. Let’s see if she really went out to fool around with someone!”
“Yes!” The named Nanny Wu immediately responded.
Mo Lingzheng’s face instantly darkened with fury.
The reason she returned to this general’s manor was because the original body’s lingering memories held many humiliations and resentments.
This was originally the home and legacy built by her original body’s parents together, but now it had been usurped by others. Even these so-called relatives had bullied and insulted her original body, not only seizing everything that belonged to her but also shamelessly trying to destroy her!
If she wanted to use this body with a clear conscience, she had to deal with these despicable parasites who preyed on the heirless for the original body!
Her icy gaze shifted from Yu Shi’s mean, aged face to Mo Si’an. Sure enough, Mo Si’an was curling her lips in a smug, contemptuous smile, practically etching the words “you’re doomed” on her face!
Clearly, this wretch was certain she would lose her virtue today, which was why she deliberately brought Yu Shi and Qin Wanxiu to wait in the room for her return!
Just as Nanny Wu approached her and she clenched her fists, ready to fight back fiercely, old steward Dai Hong suddenly rushed in, flustered—
“Madam, people from Prince Anren’s residence have come to our manor, saying they wish to see Miss Lingzheng!”
Yu Shi, Qin Wanxiu, and Mo Si’an all looked at Dai Hong in astonishment.
Prince Anren’s residence?!
Prince Anren was the tenth son of the emperor, but from his birth until now, few had ever seen him. Everyone only knew there was a Prince Anren’s residence in the capital, yet the prince was as mysterious as a legend. For someone who had never appeared in public to suddenly visit their manor—how could they not be shocked and bewildered?
Soon, two men in matching attire strode through the door.
As the current head of the general’s manor, Qin Wanxiu hurried forward and asked anxiously, “Are you gentlemen from Prince Anren’s residence? May I ask why you have come to the general’s manor so late at night?”
Chang Qi held up a golden token toward them. “We are Prince Anren’s men, sent by His Highness to the general’s manor to find Miss Mo Lingzheng.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Shi also stepped forward and asked in confusion, “May I ask why His Highness Prince Anren is looking for our Lingzheng? Has she done something to offend His Highness?”
Chang Jiu said solemnly, “Today, Miss Mo encountered danger in the mountains. Our prince happened to pass by and rescued her.” Then he turned to look at Mo Lingzheng, who was covered in dirt. “Miss Mo, you owe our prince a debt of gratitude. Our prince says he does not require any other repayment—only that you take care of a child for him.”
“…” Mo Lingzheng was utterly confused, completely at a loss.
When had she been in danger in the mountains?
And rescued by Prince Anren?
Just as she stood there bewildered, a child of about five or six years old emerged from between Chang Jiu and Chang Qi!
And Chang Qi gave her no chance to speak, directly instructing, “This child is very important to our prince. Please take good care of him. If you neglect him, our prince will not let it go lightly!”
Chang Jiu, who had remained silent until now, forcefully shoved a bundle from his shoulder into Mo Lingzheng’s arms.
Then, without looking back, the two men left.
Mo Lingzheng hugged the heavy bundle, feeling even more disoriented than when she had acted like a ruffian earlier that day.
However, when she focused her gaze on the little boy, her entire body instantly went numb!
This… this…
How could this child look so much like the man she had slept with by the hot spring today?!
No, not just similar—they were practically carved from the same mold!
The only difference was their size!
“Lingzheng, what on earth is going on?” Yu Shi pointed at the child and couldn’t help but question Mo Lingzheng.
Mo Lingzheng quickly composed her expression, then spoke without a hint of embarrassment, “Grandmother, I don’t think there’s any need to explain too much. The people from Prince Anren’s residence have already made it clear enough. I haven’t done anything shameful; I was just out hunting in the mountains today and unfortunately encountered danger, which is why I returned late. If you don’t trust my words, surely you can trust the people from Prince Anren’s residence?”
After speaking, she turned her gaze toward Mo Si’an.
Sure enough, the smugness on Mo Si’an’s face vanished completely, replaced by a pair of venomous eyes glaring at her unwillingly.
She placed the heavy bundle on the table and walked over to Mo Si’an. Without another word, she raised her hand and delivered a swift, precise, and fierce slap—
Smack!
“Mo Lingzheng, how dare you hit me!” Mo Si’an roared, clutching her cheek.
“Mo Si’an, you were the one who told Grandmother I was fooling around outside! You’ve been living off my family, eating and staying here for free, and now you spread rumors to tarnish my reputation. Do you think just because my father is gone, there’s no one to stand up for me?”
“An’er!” Qin Wanxiu hurried over to embrace her daughter, glaring at Mo Lingzheng with displeasure. “Lingzheng, what are you doing? It was you who left the residence without permission and returned late, causing misunderstandings. How can you blame An’er?”
Mo Lingzheng glared back at her without backing down. “Aunt, I’ve been a soft persimmon for three years. Do you think I’m easy to bully? My father is about to return to the capital. Should I tell him everything you’ve done to me over these three years?”
“You!” Qin Wanxiu’s face instantly turned pale.
Even Mo Si’an, filled with hatred, had to suppress her anger.
Mo Lingzheng said coldly, “I have an important guest to attend to now. Please leave!”
Yu Shi, seeing her beloved granddaughter slapped, was naturally furious. However, with Prince Anren’s people coming to vouch for Mo Lingzheng, she couldn’t very well take it out on her.
“Second daughter-in-law, let’s go!” Supported by Nanny Wu, she was the first to leave Mo Lingzheng’s bedroom.
Before leaving, Mo Si’an glanced at the child sent by Prince Anren’s residence.
Though filled with doubts, she was certain that today’s events were absolutely not as Prince Anren’s people claimed!
That aphrodisiac had no antidote. If Mo Lingzheng was dosed with it, she would die without finding a man!
Even if Prince Anren’s residence could cover for Mo Lingzheng, she could no longer be untouched!
Just wait and see—she would definitely find a way to ruin Mo Lingzheng’s reputation!
With their departure, peace finally returned.
Mo Lingzheng let out a sigh, slumping her shoulders as she sat down at the table.
Originally, she wanted to calm down and sort through her chaotic thoughts, but a childish voice suddenly rang out in the room—
“Woman! Are you treating me like air?”
Mo Lingzheng straightened her back abruptly and looked toward the little boy.
At this sight, not only did her back go numb, but she also felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
She had to admit, the child was beautiful—fair-skinned, soft, and delicate like an exquisitely carved porcelain doll. But shouldn’t a five- or six-year-old child have clear, innocent eyes? Why were these pitch-black eyes so fierce and malicious, filled with resentment like a vengeful spirit?
She gathered her courage and approached the little boy, bending down to ask him in confusion, “Little one, can you tell me what’s going on? I don’t even know Prince Anren. Why did he send you to me?”
The little boy glared at her with fierce eyes and gritted his teeth, saying hatefully, “Woman, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what you did today? Do you even know who he is?”
Mo Lingzheng paid no mind to how fierce and terrifying he looked, feeling only as if her head had been struck hard by something, nearly leaving her breathless. “Today, I… I was with a man… You… Are you saying the man by the spring pool was… was… was Prince Anren?!”