Indeed, as soon as he heard that Mo Yan had found more Cloud and Mist Tea, Mo Qingze couldn’t help but let go of his anger and sowhat intended to cover up the incident, saying to Xiao Ruiyuan, "That tea isn’t bad, once Hanzhang wraps up his official business, we’ll go ahead and et uncle to taste and discuss it."
Xiao Ruiyuan couldn’t have been more eager, bowing with a fist and replying, "It would be Hanzhang’s greatest honor!"
Seeing no odd expression on his face, Mo Qingze realized that Xiao Ruiyuan hadn’t taken his daughter’s nonsensical words to heart and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. He glared fiercely at Mo Yan before nodding with a smile at Xiao Ruiyuan and walked away with his hands behind his back.
Not until Mo Qingze’s figure was out of sight did Mo Yan shoo away the quartet of onlookers who were taking seats in a row and quickly asked, "How co you’re free to co here today? Have you found Chen Ji’s whereabouts?"
What was originally just a speculation was confird by Xiao Ruiyuan, "An Jiu, who’s searching for Chen Ji, sent word that they’ve spotted Chen Ji in Bin City, a thousand miles away from Jing City. They’re conducting a thorough search now. If nothing goes wrong, there should be news within three days at most."
Mo Yan, having already known from Xuetuan that Chen Ji would be found, wasn’t very surprised upon hearing the news. But thinking about saving Mrs. Du’s life, she asked with a glimr of hope, "If Chen Ji is captured and brought back, what will beco of his wife and daughter?"
She wasn’t sure if she could save Mrs. Du, but if Mrs. Du could be spared the death penalty, that would be for the best, and she would arrange Mrs. Du’s latter half of life as a way to repay this life-saving debt.
Xiao Ruiyuan thought she still cared for Mrs. Du, her mother, and couldn’t bear to tell her that Emperor Huian had already decreed that the three mbers of the Chen family be put to death. If it weren’t for the fact that Chen Ji had no parents or other relatives, his entire family might even be implicated and exterminated.
With such thoughts, his face took on a trace of hesitation, unsure how to break the news without upsetting his beloved.
It was this mont of hesitation that completely dashed Mo Yan’s hopes, and she asked in distress, "Mrs. Du... is there any chance of sparing her life?"
Xiao Ruiyuan paused for a mont, then shook his head. "Given Chen Ji’s involvent in poisoning the Empress Dowager, neither the Emperor nor my cousin will spare anyone from the Chen family! The Lin Family survived the calamity of extermination only because Duke Wen Zhong exchanged his own death for their survival."
Feeling sowhat agitated, Mo Yan paced back and forth, then stopped to ask, "What about if I trade in my title as County Lord?"
Xiao Ruiyuan was stunned for a mont, then sowhat unsurely replied, "Maybe... it might work. I’ll ask my cousin when I return! But is it worth it to do this?"
"It’s worth it!" Mo Yan said without hesitation. Seeing Xiao Ruiyuan frown, she guessed he might have misunderstood her, but she didn’t know how to explain that not saving Mrs. Du would diminish the good fortune of her and her two siblings, so she simply said nothing at all.
Xiao Ruiyuan couldn’t understand Mo Yan’s approach, but he wouldn’t question any of her decisions. As long as she wanted to do sothing, he was willing to help her achieve it. "Mrs. Du is indeed innocent. I will speak on her behalf to my cousin. As for the Emperor’s side... considering the rits you have for our country, perhaps the Emperor will be lenient towards Mrs. Du! Once we have located Chen Ji and his family, I will accompany you to enter the palace."
Xiao Ruiyuan was willing to take the risk of angering both Emperor Huian and Chu Heng for her sake, and while Mo Yan was touched by this, she also felt incredibly guilty, and quickly interjected to stop him, "You needn’t interfere in this matter. No matter what, the Emperor still owes a promise and can’t burden you with this trouble!"
Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression changed, his deep voice filled with a thick displeasure, "Your matters are my matters. You may not want to be in a difficult position, but how can I stand by and watch you face the Emperor’s wrath alone?"
Seeing this reaction, Mo Yan was not afraid; instead, her heart felt warr. Realizing that any further argunt would only provoke him, and knowing that he still would do what he intended even if she tried to stop him a hundred tis, she gave up resisting.
With that in mind, Mo Yan no longer rejected his offered affection and spoke sincerely, "When the ti cos, let’s go together. You mustn’t conceal anything from and take all the burden upon yourself alone."
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