Bergbanditen sind unterwegs - Kapitel 62
The air was filled with the faint fragrance of plum blossoms, refreshing and pleasant. Mo Xibei looked up and saw that the white courtyard wall was almost blending into the snow, while countless vigorous plum tree branches had already stretched out of the wall, with red and white plum blossoms blooming brilliantly.
"What do you think of this place, Miss Mo?" The middle-aged man, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly spoke up.
"Very good, this is probably what paradise on earth looks like." Stepping into the manor gate, there was no main building in sight, only a plum grove. The plum blossoms were in full bloom, and when the wind blew, there were no petals falling like rain or snow. Mo Xibei looked around and saw that the winding path in the grove, paved with pebbles, was swept clean, as if it were completely unaffected by the snow falling all over the sky.
"The master is waiting for Miss Mo inside the manor." The middle-aged man bowed, stretched out his hand in a gesture of invitation, but stood still and did not move forward.
Mo Xibei didn't ask any more questions. He walked along the path while admiring the plum blossoms. The plum grove was quite large. It took him more than half an hour to walk there before a white marble arched bridge appeared at the end of the path. The bridge was carved with the image of Chang'e flying to the moon. Chang'e was described as cold and elegant, her clothes fluttering in the wind. As Mo Xibei moved, Chang'e seemed to come alive, her eyes following him. Her gaze seemed to be filled with both affection and indifference, and there was an indescribable greed, anger, and infatuation in her eyes.
Mo Xibei felt her feet freeze for a moment, and she couldn't help but smile, thankful that she was a woman. If she were a man, seeing such a masterpiece of carving, he would probably be so captivated by the design that he wouldn't be able to move an inch.
After crossing the white marble bridge in a few steps, a few dozen feet away, there was another snow-white courtyard wall, directly opposite the passageway, with a vermilion gate. Before Mo Xibei could knock on the door knocker, the gate creaked open and slowly opened inward.
"My master has been waiting for Miss Mo for a long time." After the vermilion gate was fully opened, a pair of pretty girls walked out. They were both seventeen or eighteen years old. Their hair was styled in double buns with gold hairpins inserted diagonally. They wore silver-red jackets with six-panel skirts that trailed like the Xiangjiang River. When they saw Mo Xibei, they curtsied without raising their heads and stepped back to make way for her.
After passing the screen wall, the villa's true appearance finally came into view for Mo Xibei. It was a garden courtyard in the style of Jiangnan, with rockeries, green bamboo, small bridges, and flowing water. This time, someone finally led the way, bringing Mo Xibei to a small flower hall.
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Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Sixteen: Appreciating Plum Blossoms at the Mountain Villa (Part 1)
In the center of the flower hall, on the floor, sat a thin, white porcelain vase about half a person's height, sparsely filled with plum blossoms. At first glance, it seemed quite ordinary, but now, under the sunlight, its beauty was revealed. The porcelain vase was thin and translucent, and under the sunlight, one could see dragons and phoenixes on the inner wall. Mo Xibei walked around the vase once, and then casually found a chair and sat down.
"So Miss Mo has already arrived. Why didn't you announce it sooner?" The bronze bamboo-shaped dragon-ear incense burner in the flower hall slowly emitted the scent of agarwood. The warm aroma made Mo Xibei feel drowsy, but her ears still automatically picked up the tinkling of her jade pendants and the extremely soft voice of a woman.
After a series of crisp rustles from the crystal curtains, Mo Xibei's eyes widened. A group of young women in brocade robes escorted a woman who looked to be under thirty into the flower hall. This woman was very beautiful, and not only beautiful, but also possessed a noble bearing. If it were a few years earlier, she would surely have been a peerless beauty no less than Murong Lianyun. Mo Xibei wondered if she would have possessed such poise at the same age as Murong Lianyun.
"I've kept Miss Mo waiting," the lady said, not minding that Mo Xibei was sitting still. She waved to stop the maids beside her from speaking, and instead smiled and sat down to the side, saying, "I've heard that Miss Mo has traveled to many places and seen different worlds, which is incomparable to women like us who never leave the house. I wonder what you think of my garden today?"
"Exquisite craftsmanship, and very thoughtfully done." Mo Xibei nodded in praise, casually taking the fragrant tea offered by the maid, but only opening the lid to smell it before putting it down.
"What's wrong? This tea doesn't suit your taste?" The lady had been watching Mo Xibei, seemingly trying to find something on her face. She asked naturally. "I don't know much about tea. I drink tea to quench my thirst. So, green tea is too bland for me," Mo Xibei said calmly, her eyes unwavering, not even glancing at the lady. After a pause, she said in a soft voice, "Madam invited me to admire the plum blossoms. Now that the plum blossoms have been admired, if Madam has nothing else to say, please allow me to take my leave."
"It seems your master truly understands you better. He said before that if he met you, he should speak frankly; beating around the bush will only annoy you." The lady laughed, her voice still clear and melodious like a silver bell. "This temperament is similar to mine when I was young, except that these days, I've lost the ability to speak frankly."
"Speak frankly or indirectly, I just hope that Madam will speak her mind." Mo Xibei frowned slightly. The words "Inner Palace" flashing in the sunlight on the inside of the vase had already given her a rough idea of the owner's identity. She had initially thought it was that meatball playing tricks, but it turned out to be meatball's mother.
"Jia'er, do you still resent your mother?" The lady's laughter suddenly stopped. She seemed to take two deep breaths before letting out a long sigh and saying something with a hint of sadness.
"Madam, you've mistaken me for someone else. There's no Jia'er here." Mo Xibei sneered, his fingers gently swirling the teacup. "Your master said he saw you walk into Mochou Lake and rescue you from there. When you woke up, you insisted on calling yourself Mo Xibei. Over the years, he taught you martial arts. Four years ago, you graduated and opened Qingfengju, Xieyilou, Huafang, and Feicuige in Jiangnan. More than half a year ago, you came to the capital. Is that wrong?" The madam seemed to have been prepared for Mo Xibei's indifference. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, but her tone was calm. "Jia'er, whether you believe it or not, I haven't stopped thinking about you for a single moment these past years."
"Madam, I really don't understand what you're saying. Who exactly is Jia'er? How did she end up in Mochou Lake? And why would my master tell you these things?" Mo Xibei snorted, thinking that the few times he had seen the little emperor Rouwanzi, he seemed to be in good health. Could it be that he had contracted some strange illness again? He must have thought of his unfortunate twin sister. But, in all honesty, the original owner of this body had been dead for more than ten years and should no longer be fighting with Rouwanzi for his life.
"Jia'er, do you think that if there had been any other way, I would have had the heart to hurt you? You were born after ten months of pregnancy, a piece of my own flesh and blood. How could I not feel heartache for you? It's just that your brother has always been sickly, and when I gave birth to you two, it was a difficult labor. The doctor said I could never have another child. Jia'er, you're not married yet. You don't know how important a boy is to a large family, nor do you know how important it is for a woman who marries into a large family to have a son. And then, that damned fortune teller came to our house and said that you and your brother were destined to fight for your lives..." "But your brother really did contract that strange, serious illness. Do you think you could have lived peacefully at home and grown up safely if your mother hadn't done this? You couldn't. That's why your mother invited your master over, preparing to take you away from home when the opportunity arises, to a different environment where you can grow up safely. Otherwise, how could your master have so coincidentally saved you at Mochou Lake? Haven't you thought about any of this?" the lady said, slightly agitated. "In the past six months, your business in the capital has grown bigger and bigger. In this vast capital, there are countless high-ranking officials and nobles. Has anyone ever caused you trouble? Do you really think you could have accomplished all of this by strategizing and maneuvering on your own?"
"So, what is Madam trying to say? Are you saying that I've been able to grow up safely all these years because of your protection, so I should be grateful, or even moved to tears?" Mo Xibei suddenly felt a little annoyed. She had always known that her business in the capital could make money peacefully thanks to the power of the Eastern Depot, but she never thought that Huang Jin would obediently lend her his golden signboard. There was a hidden story behind it all.
"Silly child, what use is it for your mother to be grateful and thankful? I only hope you understand that back then, besides sending you far away to protect you, I had no other way or ability. But now, everything is different. My strength is enough to protect you, to protect you very well. I can also get back everything you lost. From now on, you can have whatever you want. I will also repay you for everything I owe you over the years. What do you say?" The lady finished speaking in one breath, slightly out of breath.
Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Sixteen: Appreciating Plum Blossoms at the Mountain Villa (Part Two)
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"How would you like me to answer you?" When Mo Xibei looked up at the woman opposite him, she was wiping away tears, which he couldn't even tell were real, with a handkerchief in her hand. Looking at her up close, Mo Xibei also felt that her skin was extremely well-maintained, the kind of skin that could only be achieved by someone who had lived a life of luxury and had never experienced hardship. The only thing that could reveal her age was her eyes, which held a deep and unfathomable gloom.
Mo Xibei felt indifferent towards such a person. There is no hatred without a cause in this world; hatred often stems from love. She was not Zhu Jingjia himself, so naturally there was no love for her, and therefore no hatred. Perhaps, she should be grateful instead. If she had stayed in that palace where she could only see the sky from four corners, perhaps by now, she would either have been completely assimilated and become a true princess who never left her home, or she would have been tormented to the point of madness and barely clinging to life.
"Jia'er, do you have to talk to your mother like this? What do you want in return for your forgiveness? Tell me, and I will do whatever I can, okay?" The lady was surprised by Mo Xibei's reaction. She had indeed been paying attention to Mo Xibei's news for a long time, but she had to admit that the more she knew, the more afraid she was of facing it. Before making this decision, she had thought of many possible reactions from Mo Xibei. However, she never expected that the girl in front of her would be so calm, so calm that it was as if they were not the closest people in the world, but just two strangers meeting for the first time.
"It seems you've misunderstood me. I didn't mean to hold a grudge against you. In fact, I never resented you. Are you satisfied with this answer?" Mo Xibei sighed. She didn't remember much about her time in the Prince's mansion, but the experience of being starved and forced to commit suicide was far from pleasant. Besides, the original owner of this body had died under mysterious circumstances, so she was initially quite calm. However, being constantly harassed and interrogated like this was getting on her nerves.
“I gave birth to your own child, how could I not understand, Jia’er? I know you resent your mother. Actually, after so many years, it's not easy for you to accept my sudden visit. I've waited all these years, a few more days won't make a difference. You can go back and think about it slowly.” The lady wiped her face lightly with her handkerchief for a while before standing up and speaking to Mo Xibei. “This villa is a gift from your mother to you. The plum blossoms are in full bloom right now. Why don't you stay for a while and look around? It'll be good to relax.”
"Madam, are you suggesting I be placed under house arrest?" Mo Xibei was startled and immediately thought of a possibility.
"..." Upon hearing this, the lady paused abruptly. She turned and scrutinized Mo Xibei for a long while before forcing a smile, "It seems that in your eyes, I am indeed a bad person." As she spoke, she slightly raised her head, but no longer wiped away her tears with her handkerchief. She simply said softly, "Your master taught you excellent martial arts. How could a mere manor be enough to imprison you? Don't worry, your mother won't make another mistake. This place is truly a gift, specially prepared for you. No matter how pleasant your Spring Breeze Pavilion in the city may be, it's still a bustling place. You might not be satisfied living here. If you like it, come and stay here. If you don't like it, then forget it."
As soon as Madam Shun walked away, Mo Xibei slumped into her chair and sighed a few times. The development and changes of things were always beyond people's expectations. However, the sudden addition of a mother out of nowhere still made her feel very uncomfortable. The main problem was that she didn't know how to face it. Moreover, people who have been in business for a long time inevitably develop certain ways of thinking. That is, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Even if there were, how big would the free lunch have to be to fall on your head?
Mo Xibei touched his head. It was normal; it hadn't grown any bigger. Although this body really belonged to the younger sister of the little emperor Rouwanzi, Rouwanzi's mother had abandoned her biological daughter without hesitation. If she had known about him all these years, why would she have waited until now to acknowledge him?
When many questions piled up, Mo Xibei discovered that his greatest strength was that he never got stuck on a single point. If he couldn't figure something out, then fine, he would just stop thinking about it.
Outside the villa, the carriage that had brought them there was still there, and the driver was still the same middle-aged man who had delivered the invitation. When he saw Mo Xibei come out, he didn't say much, but directly lifted the curtain and then took Mo Xibei back to Chunfeng Ruyi Tower.
Honglu had been waiting near the entrance. When she saw Mo Xibei get out of the car, she rushed over and bombarded him with questions. Mo Xibei was both amused and exasperated, only saying that it was a drinking buddy he knew from the martial arts world who had recently come to live in the capital. He had heard about her and insisted on treating her to a meal, claiming that admiring the plum blossoms was just an excuse. Honglu was initially skeptical, but upon hearing that it was a drinking buddy Mo Xibei knew, she immediately believed him.
Mo Xibei originally thought that getting past Mu Feinan would be difficult, but to her surprise, Mu Feinan didn't ask her anything. It wasn't until she couldn't help but bring it up during their late-night snack that Mu Feinan gently pressed his finger to her lips and said, "If you don't want to say it, you don't have to. You know I believe you no matter what you do, so don't make up some lame excuse just to fob me off."
Mo Xibei was quite discouraged and muttered, "It's as if I made up some lame excuse to fool you."
"Prevention is better than cure." Mu Feinan smiled. "I hate being lied to the most. Northwest, even you can't lie to me."
"What would you do?" Mo Xibei asked casually, not taking it seriously.
"I'll make you regret ever being born." Mu Feinan was still smiling, but the chilling tone in her words sent a shiver down Mo Xibei's spine. As if knowing her feelings, Mu Feinan leaned over and gently held Mo Xibei's shoulder, saying softly, "Xibei, I believe whatever you do. You can do anything without telling me why. I won't ask you anything you don't want to say. I only ask that you not lie to me, for any reason."
Mo Xibei remained silent for a long time.
Mu Feinan shook Mo Xibei urgently and asked, "Did my words scare you?"
“A little.” Mo Xibei nodded, thought for a moment and said, “It’s not easy. You have to know that some lies in this world are well-intentioned.”
“But it’s also deception, Northwest. People who love each other and want to stay together should be honest with each other, because they should trust each other wholeheartedly, trusting each other as they trust themselves.” Mu Feinan interrupted Mo Northwest and finished speaking in one breath.
“Stubborn fellow.” Mo Xibei hesitated for a moment, wanting to argue that keeping quiet about things is also a form of concealment. Although concealment and deception are different in nature, the results are similar. However, looking at Mu Feinan’s very persistent and bright eyes, she suddenly felt that in many ways, Mu Feinan’s persistence was not unpleasant, and that there was no need to necessarily determine the outcome of many things. So she smiled and pressed her face against Mu Feinan’s chest, saying, “Okay, whatever you say.”