Reborn: Femme Fatale First Daughter

“Consort Xian, Consort Zhao?” He Yuxiu was beaming with delight. However, she had a fast reaction and murmured to herself before immediately suppressing the exhilaration in her eyes, feigning envy. “How doted must Consort Zhao be for the Empress to have no power over her. I wonder how ethereal she must be!”

He Yuxiu thought that she hid her emotions well but she did not expect Mo Xuetong to be placing close intentions on her reactions. The sudden change of emotions in her face was well observed by her Mo Xuetong. “What is the relationship between Consort Zhao and He family?”

Just now, He Yuxiu involuntarily spoke of Consort Xian together with Consort Yu, which must signify something.

“I heard that Consort Zhao had always been staying in Mingyue Palace. Emperor also exempted Consort Zhao’s need for any greetings and allocated guards in front of her palace, providing tight protection due to the fear that someone will harm her.”

Such incredible efforts to dote this beauty didn’t evoke much jealousy from the rest of the concubines from the harem as Consort Zhao came from a small family with none of her family members holding official positions in the imperial city. Furthermore, even though Emperor Zongwen had a tight guard to her palace, he did not always stay in Mingyue Palace, going there only once to twice per month. This resulted in peace amongst the concubines.

Even though she had a reputation of being doted on, she was not actually doted on since she neither benefited her family nor left any child behind. Thus, neither the official court nor the harem dealt with her harshly. Some concubines were quite pleased with her presence since they would not be so conspicuous if they were being doted. Thus, Consort Zhao was invisible in the palace, but yet everyone knew her.

Since the He family was involved with Yu Mingyong, Mo Xuetong was sure that they knew about it!

“Consort Zhao is so doted.” Deep within He Yuxiu’s eyes, excitement could be seen before she turned it into an innocent smile. She pulled Mo Xuetong’s sleeves and begged affectionately, “Cousin, if I can see this lady’s beauty, I don’t mind even if I die!”

“Second cousin, you want to see Consort Zhao?” Mo Xuetong asked, smiling.

“Can I? Cousin-in-law?” He Yuxiu asked pitifully, with a look of eagerness. Even though she concealed it a little, everyone could see the desire in her eyes.

With such a pair of longing and innocent eyes, it was really hard to refuse her!

However, the only thing incompatible was that the woman opposite her seemed more innocent and childlike.

“If second cousin really wishes to see Consort Zhao, you can accompany me to the palace for the palace feast a few days later. What do you think? I heard that Consort Zhao will appear then.” Mo Xuetong invited her casually, giving off a pure and bright smile.

That’s the most popular news for these few days. It was a spectacle to see Consort Zhao, who had been locked in her palace for ten years, attend the Spring Wind Feast.

Spring Wind Feast would happen in three days, with a feast in the palace and other events in the harem. It was rumored that the concubines were all ready to present their beauty in front of the Emperor in an attempt to catch the eye of the Emperor, replacing other doted concubines. Even though there were many women in Emperor Zongwen’s harem, he never had a special interest in one particular lady. However, all these women believed that they could make the Emperor fall in love with them using their seduction.

Every spring, there would be one day where all the flowers blossomed. It was indeed a joy to see beauties amidst the flowers. It was an open festival amongst the peasants as well, where couples went on dates. Hence, the palace would host a feast to invite aristocratic ladies in.

Hearing the words of Mo Xuetong made He Yuxiu hide the joy in her eyes as she gave an innocent smile, nodding repeatedly out of happiness. “Thank you, thank you, cousin-in-law! I know you dote me the most!”

This expression was the most adorable on the face of a teen girl. However, this seemed strange since the girl she was facing seemed even purer than her. Mo Lan lowered her head quietly to hide her ridicule at the coquettish nature of the girl, who really pretended to be the cousin of her lady.

After exchanging a few more words, Mo Xuetong left with Mo Lan on her carriage back to her own household.

After Mo Xuetong’s carriage turned the corner and disappeared, He Yuxiu removed the smile on her face and returned with her servants. As her servants locked the door behind her, she brought her servants to the room on the left taking the small road.

A small study room was placed there, with two servants from He family waiting at the doorstep. Seeing He Yuxiu, they retreated, leaving a space to enter. Respectfully, they said, “Second Miss, the two sirs are waiting for you!”

He Yuxiu nodded her head as she left her servant outside when she entered.

The Old Sir and Second Sir of He family sat within. On the right was First Miss He Yufen from He family, who was rumored to be so embarrassed that she hid to embroider her dowry!

“How was it?” Seeing He Yuxiu, Old Sir from He family, who sat in the middle, raised his head and asked.

“No worries, Uncle. The Lady had promised to bring me in for the palace feast three days later.” He Yuxiu greeted the two men in the middle before she sat down on the seat on the left. Strangely, no one was in the room other than the few masters. The rest were all stationed outside the door.

“If she really agrees, we can say those words once we say the consort in the palace. Our family can finally make it out.” Second Sir of He family did not expect the situation to be so smooth and heaved a sigh of relief.

“Father, why must we see the consort. The consort has no children, and cannot be as powerful as our cousin?” He Yufen asked in confusion as she did not understand why they came all the way to the imperial city to see Consort Zhao instead of their cousin King Xuan.

Consort Zhao was merely a woman. Without any child, there would be no future for a doted woman!

She could not understand the happiness of her father and her uncle.

“What do you know, you little kid!” Old Sir of He family stared at her, showing off his excitement. He was naturally excited at the chance that of the success of He family, especially after many years of waiting.

“Father, the marriage with Yu family...” He Yufen hesitated for a while before asking daringly as she stared at her father with anticipation.

Yu Mingyong’s reputation was well-known in the imperial city. Since her father’s objective had been fulfilled, she wished to backtrack on this marriage. The thought of Yu Mingyong made her feel as if she had swallowed a fly. Every time he saw a beautiful woman, his eyes would light up. His glance on her and her second sister was lusty, as if he was peeping at them, naked.

No woman would want to marry him!

“Consort Zhao is doted on and Consort Yu is well-loved as well, especially since she has a prince in her womb. If the two consorts can work together, in the future...” Second Sir of He family spoke his mind due to his joy. He immediately turned sober after he saw the astonishment in the eyes of his daughter and his niece, coughing twice as he concealed his smile.

“We cannot run away from this marriage. Consort Yu is doted by the Emperor now, and she only has one brother. She will naturally rely on her brother in the future. Once Fen’er marries into Yu family, you will be the sister-in-law of Consort Yu, and she will be nice to you. Once she gave birth to her son, her status will rise even higher. You shall just wait and enjoy it!” Old Sir of He family smiled.

He did not reveal his entire intention. Consort Zhao rarely exposed herself. If He Yufen got the chance to enter the palace, she could naturally see the mysterious Consort Zhao. If she knew Yufen was from He family, she would naturally wish to help He family more. Consort Zhao was not a foreign product, and would naturally treat He family well.

He family would become a large aristocratic family soon!

“Father...” He Yufen did not think so far ahead as she could not endure the lusty nature of Yu Mingyong. Squeezing her handkerchief, she anxiously asked, “Didn’t you say that this matter can be disregarded once we see Consort Zhao?”

“Alright, as a girl, you shouldn’t be discussing this. This marriage is the most suitable.” Seeing the look on the face of his eldest daughter, his face sank as he raised his voice, a cold chilly light flashing across his eyes.

That sentence made He Yufen’s face turn pale. Her lips shivered as she could not even speak of grievances.

They had an agreement that the marriage was a temporary affair, and now they wanted her to marry that playboy. It will be a problem of her survival, much less if she could enjoy herself. He Yufen’s servants had found out that her future husband was a punk who raped women and bullied man. He dragged all beautiful women to his house, regardless of their age or marital status. How could she be blessed to marry such a man!

No! She did not want to marry that kind of man!

However, she dared not confront with Old Sir He.

“Sister, did the nanny just now ask about us in our garden?” Seeing that her expression was amiss, He Yuxiu changed the topic, smiling.

“Yes. I asked the other servants to call her away. Those that don’t talk to us barely get the chance to see us. I let her ask a few questions for fear of raising suspicions if we had too tight a control on them.” He Yufen feigned a smile and raised up her head.

“Sister, there’s no need to be so careful. Our little cousin-in-law is not a smart woman. I heard that she is easily bullied in Mo manor. Otherwise, how can a legitimate daughter be bullied to such an extent? Not only was she thrown in Cloud City for many years, but she was also heavily suppressed by the other daughters.” He Yuxiu snorted and smirked.

She had no regard for Mo Xuetong. If not for that pretty face, she would have no chance of marrying a good man like her cousin. Thinking of his cousin’s handsome and ethereal look, she lamented at him marrying such an unlikeable woman who could not help her cousin at all. If she could marry her cousin, she would help him wholeheartedly!

“Alright, be careful, everyone. Even though Consort Xuan was small, she is not to be underestimated. Xiu’er, be careful, and not let her take advantage of you and notice our intentions.” Second Sir He stared at He Yuxiu, who obviously had no regard for Mo Xuetong. Consort Xuan did seem innocent and pure, with no calculations. She agreed to almost everything they said!

The result of their investigation showed that she was bullied by her stepsister, resulting in her abandonment in Cloud City. All the news signaled that Consort Xuan was useless. But was that true? Those destroyed now were her stepsister and stepmother, and her only stepbrother had a terrible reputation!

Was such a woman really uncalculating, innocent, and even dumb?

The answer was negative!

The two sirs of He family dared not underestimate Consort Xuan.