Chapter 186: No Matter How Huge The Event, Don’t Come In And Disturb
Qi Shi was so furious she was about to explode, standing at the study room door trembling as she pointed at those servants, “You, you really are something…”
The study room door behind her was opened by someone, and Mo Qilan frowning appeared at the door, “What are you making a fuss about!”
“Duke.” The servants bowed in unison to pay their respects.
“Enough, if there’s nothing else, go do what you should do, don’t crowd around here.” Mo Qilan waved his hand to disperse the servants, then looked at Qi Shi, “What’s the matter with you? Why are you making a fuss with the servants?”
The strong tone of reproach made the flames in Qi Shi’s heart burn even higher, but she was always gentle and compliant in front of Mo Qilan, so she subconsciously hid her anger, put on a wronged expression, and looked at him: “Master, Zi Chen he…”
Mo Qilan had been pondering this matter all along. Although Mo Ziyuan had deep prejudices against him and looked down on Qi Shi in every way, and had never shown a good face to Mo Zichen and Lan Zhi brother and sister, in all these years he had never caused a public scene of family discord.
To say that Mo Qilan didn’t know that Mo Zichen and his sister had teamed up against Mo Ziyuan in private would be false, but he always believed that Mo Ziyuan had taken advantage by getting the heir’s position, and he had also promised Qi Shi to push Mo Zichen up, so he understood if Zi Chen and Lan Zhi were unhappy in their hearts. Mo Ziyuan had taken all the advantages, so being targeted a bit wouldn’t hurt, which was why he had always turned a blind eye.
But ever since Mo Ziyuan brought the little Your Highness back from that Willow Forest Village, everything had shown different signs, most obviously in Mo Ziyuan’s courtyard where all those people he and Qi Shi, or even Zi Chen, had planted were driven out with different reasons, really not a single one left.
And in facing him this father, Mo Ziyuan could still maintain surface respect, but now he vaguely felt that this surface respect would soon be withdrawn too.
This feeling made Mo Qilan very uncomfortable inside, and a bit panicked. The events of the day the late emperor passed away kept flashing in his mind to assert their presence, making his patience for Qi Shi and Mo Zichen and his sister much less.
Especially since Mo Zichen had deliberately exposed his wound and its origin to him first, and now Qi Shi had come to him over this matter, the illusion he had always thought he maintained well suddenly showed signs of cracking.
“What happened to Zi Chen?” Mo Qilan brought Qi Shi into the study room, sat down, and asked with a grim face.
“Master, Zi Chen he… suffered so much! You didn’t see it, that wound on his neck almost cost him his life. If something happened to Zi Chen, how am I supposed to live, Master…” Qi Shi sat sideways on the chair, looking at Mo Qilan on the verge of tears.
For some reason, Mo Qilan, who would usually feel heartbroken and soften at her tearful appearance, felt for the first time that Qi Shi’s crying was so annoying, making him very irritated.
Qi Shi had been watching Mo Qilan’s expression closely, and seeing that he not only didn’t show the usual heartbroken look, but his face was even darkening a bit, her heart sank.
But she couldn’t figure out exactly why, though her ability to lord it over the mansion and oppress the legitimate son of the original wife relied solely on Mo Qilan. If he really came to dislike her, not only would her good days be gone, but even her pair of children would likely not have a good outcome.
Especially since the late emperor had left such a statement, said in front of everyone, which basically eliminated the possibility of changing the Dingguo Duke heir, she could already foresee that once Mo Qilan was gone and Mo Ziyuan ascended, her fate would probably be nothing but ancient Buddha with withered lamp.
So she absolutely could not let the master abandon Zi Chen and Lan Zhi.
Thinking of this, she lowered her head and rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief, then looked up at Mo Qilan with reddened eyes, “Master, do you have something troubling you? Is there anywhere this concubine can help?”
Looking at Qi Shi who was worried to death about her son but still forcing herself to comfort him, the balance in Mo Qilan’s heart tilted toward her again. He pinched the space between his brows, didn’t answer her, but instead asked: “Is Zi Chen’s wound serious?”
The big stone in Qi Shi’s heart temporarily settled, and she put on a understanding expression again: “It’s nothing, our noble family’s children aren’t that delicate, it was just this concubine being overly concerned. Master knows, this concubine has no one to rely on but you, so the moment I saw Zi Chen injured, I came to find you first.” She blinked her eyes, “Did this concubine delay master’s business?”
“What could you delay!” Mo Qilan fell for this, stood up and walked to Qi Shi, took her hand and said: “There’s nothing else anyway, I’ll go with you to see Zi Chen!”
“Good, Zi Chen will definitely be very happy to see master coming.” Qi Shi said delightedly.
The servant arranged by Mo Zichen to keep watch at the door saw the two figures coming together and hurriedly ran to report to him: “Young Master, Young Master, the Duke and Madam are heading to the young master’s courtyard.”
Mo Ziyuan’s lips curved into a smug smile, which quickly faded. He felt around the bedside and tossed a piece of loose silver into his arms, “Got it, instruct the people outside well, no matter what big thing happens later, they are not allowed to come in and disturb before father leaves.”
“Yes, Young Master, this one will go right now.” The servant hurriedly caught it, joyfully went out to pass the message.
After he left, Mo Zichen half-sat up and leaned against the bedhead, deliberately letting his hair fall messily to cover half his face. He thought for a moment, felt out a small medicine bottle from the hidden compartment at the bedhead, poured out a pill the size of a soybean and swallowed it directly, restored the bedhead to its original state, then picked up the book at hand and pretended to read.
“Young Master, the Duke and Madam have arrived.” The servant’s voice sounded from outside the door, then the room door was pushed open, and Mo Qilan and Qi Shi’s figures appeared at the door.
“Father, Mother, why are you here?” Mo Zichen looked at the door in surprise.
“We’re here to see you.” Qi Shi said, following Mo Qilan’s steps into the room.
Mo Zichen put down the book in his hand and made to get out of bed to pay respects to his parents.
“Enough, if you’re injured, don’t move around.” Mo Qilan quickly took two steps to stop his movement, then grabbed his wrist to check his pulse.
Mo Qilan didn’t understand medical skill, but he could gauge the strength of the pulse. He quickly frowned, looked again at his son’s pale face, his heart sank, turned around and instructed: “Call the household physician to check on the second young master.”
“Yes.” The servant behind responded and turned to find someone.
Qi Shi was so frightened her face lost all color, grabbed Mo Qilan’s sleeve and tremblingly asked: “Master, Zi Chen he…”
“Zi Chen is fine, let the household physician take a look first.” Mo Qilan put down Mo Zichen’s hand, personally helped him lie down, saw the book placed at the bedside and couldn’t help saying: “If you’re injured, rest properly, you can read the book anytime.”
