Chapter 180: The Dingguo Duke’s Mansion Doesn’t Keep Two-faced People
With a crisp “pa” sound, Fu Jing was slapped so hard his head turned to the side. He staggered but steadied himself, staring at the palm print on his face as he said: “Even if Father beats me to death, it won’t help. The Heir of Marquis Zhaoyang is still waiting in Ten Fragrance Pavilion, and Fu Qing is there too. Father can decide how to resolve this matter entirely. Your son still has a wound, so he won’t get involved.”
With that said, Fu Jing turned to leave.
“Bastard, who allowed you to leave? Stand right there! Your sister caused trouble and you won’t even stand up for her, and now you’re pushing everything onto your old father to take the blame? Is this how I raised you?” Fu Jing’s father, Fu Pingrong, roared furiously behind him.
“Father, don’t you understand Fu Qing’s temper? She publicly said from now on her affairs don’t need my involvement. Even if I go over now, can Father guarantee she won’t make things worse just to spite me? That’s the Heir of Marquis Zhaoyang she wounded!” Fu Jing said expressionlessly.
“Bastard, bastard!” Fu Pingrong was so angry smoke seemed to come from all seven orifices, but he had to admit Fu Jing was right. This daughter of his had been spoiled since childhood and really might do such a thing. The Marquis Zhaoyang was not to be trifled with.
“Father, your son bids farewell.” In the past, seeing his father sunk in anxiety would make Fu Jing feel sad, and he would do his utmost to help solve the problem. But now, looking at his father like a trapped beast, he suddenly felt very detached in his heart, even a bit mocking.
“Get lost, get lost, get lost, get lost!” The four “get lost”s in a row made the last bit of reluctance in Fu Jing’s heart vanish completely. He nodded, turned, and strode away. The wound on his chest was tugged painfully, and there was a damp feeling on his chest and abdomen—it must have split open.
He pressed his hand to the wound, and Mo Ziyuan’s words rang in his ears again: “Is it worth it?”
What had his answer been at the time? He couldn’t quite remember, but if asked now, he would answer without hesitation: “Not worth it, not worth it at all.”
“Heh,” he laughed mockingly to himself.
At the same time Fu Jing was slapped by his own father, Mo Ziyuan was also being cursed at nose-to-nose by his own father.
Half a shichen ago, he returned to his courtyard in Dingguo Duke’s Mansion. As soon as he entered the door, a pungent fragrance assaulted his nose. A slender figure in water-green rushed at him from nearby. He instinctively kicked out, and a water-green arc accompanied by a scream flew past.
The old wet nurse who had been ambushing nearby jumped in fright and hurried out from her hiding spot to the figure’s side, calling out repeatedly: “Young Lady Cousin, Young Lady Cousin, are you alright?”
Mo Ziyuan’s face turned completely dark. He turned to the servant trembling like chaff and squeezed out words through gritted teeth: “What is this about?”
The servant dropped to his knees with a “plop.” “Young Master, it’s not this servant’s fault! It was all Madam’s arrangement. This servant only did it on the Duke’s orders… Please spare this servant, Young Master!”
Mo Ziyuan nodded. “Your contract isn’t with me anyway. Since your loyalty lies elsewhere, no need to stay here reluctantly. Go serve whoever gives you orders! Dingguo Duke’s Mansion doesn’t keep disloyal, treacherous people!”
The servant was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly: “This servant knows his mistake, truly knows it. Please spare this servant this once, Young Master!”
“Begging me is useless. Before, I turned a blind eye when you reported my affairs outside, but not anymore. If you’re not with me heart and soul, I won’t keep you. If you won’t leave on your own, I can help you along. Whether you live to keep informing your master is up to your good fortune.” With that, Mo Ziyuan drew the long sword at his waist, its sword tip pointing straight at the servant frozen in place.
“Young Master, this servant…” All words stopped at the throat pressed by the sword tip. The servant shuddered, a foul stench spreading from him, and a yellow puddle spread on the ground—he had been scared into urinating.
“While I still have patience, get lost!” Mo Ziyuan sheathed his long sword and looked down at the servant, meeting his pleading gaze, then shook his sword hand.
The servant’s last shred of hope vanished. He got up in a daze and shuffled toward the courtyard gate.
“Wait!” Mo Ziyuan’s voice rang like heavenly music in his ears. His eyes lit up and he spun around quickly, only to see the Young Master pointing at the woman on the ground who was slowly coming to and the ashen-faced old wet nurse. “Take these two pieces of trash with you!”
The servant’s face visibly fell, and he bowed his head: “Yes.”
With that, he strode to the two and said, “Young Lady Cousin, old wet nurse, please!”
“Cough cough.” Qi Wanying, dressed in a water-green long skirt, clutched her painfully aching chest. Her watery eyes looked at Mo Ziyuan as she said pitifully: “Young Master Cousin is so cruel-hearted. Why trample my sincere feelings like this? Don’t you understand my intentions? To strike me so heavily!”
“Ha,” Mo Ziyuan laughed disdainfully. “Sincere feelings? Intentions? These beautiful words coming from your mouth feel like a desecration to this Young Master. Do you really think you deserve their noble meanings? Besides, your cousin isn’t this Young Master. Are your eyes blind or is your mouth spouting lies, hmm?”
Qi Wanying’s already pale face flushed red. Of course she wanted to marry her real cousin Mo Zichen, but her aunt refused to agree and pushed her to this nominal Young Master. She was already harboring a bellyful of fire, and now he portrayed her as so vile. She felt she had suffered utter humiliation, a breath stuck in her chest, unable to go up or down.
The old wet nurse nearby was dumbfounded. She had come with Madam Qi as part of the marriage, and had watched Mo Ziyuan grow up. Though this child had resisted her young lady before, he had always been polite. She had never seen him so venomously sharp-tongued. What… exactly had happened? No, she had to hurry and tell the young lady!
At that thought, the old wet nurse grabbed Qi Wanying’s arm and yanked her up from the ground, ignoring whether she was still in pain, and quickly dragged her away pinching her arm.
The servant cast a pleading glance at Mo Ziyuan, but upon meeting the Young Master’s indifferent eyes, he knew nothing he did would help. He had been completely excluded by the Young Master.
Dragging his heavy legs, the servant went to the front courtyard and found Mo Qilan.
“What did you say? The Young Master doesn’t need you anymore?” Mo Qilan asked.
“Yes, the Young Master said since this servant has another master, he should devote himself fully to that master. Dingguo Duke’s Mansion doesn’t keep disloyal people.” The servant repeated Mo Ziyuan’s words.
“What is that rebellious son up to now!” Veins popped on Mo Qilan’s forehead. Mo Ziyuan had always known this person was placed by him at his side, and they had gotten along fine before. What was wrong with him today?
