Too high to reach

Chapter 212 No Pain in Conscience
The Xu family's residence was not far from the Prince's Mansion.

Today is a day for close friends and relatives to come and offer New Year's greetings.

The steward and others were waiting at the gate early in the morning. Upon seeing that the Prince of Qi's carriage had arrived, they quickly went in to announce his arrival.

Then, the three Xu brothers came out to greet them.

"Your Highness! Happy New Year!" Xu Dalang said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting. Erlang and Xu Ke followed suit.

Li Jing stepped out of the car and nodded. "Let's go inside and talk!"

The carriage behind them continued forward, and the women would disembark at the east gate.

Old Master Xu, accompanied by his eldest son, stood at the bottom of the steps outside the door.

Then Li Jing slowly approached, surrounded by a crowd.

His innate noble bearing was awe-inspiring. Old Master Xu couldn't help but smile. If it weren't for the sisterly relationship between Princess Qi and his granddaughter-in-law, this gentleman would hardly have been able to visit the Xu family.

"This old minister greets Your Highness, Prince Qi!"

Li Jing stopped in front of the old man. "Master Xu, everyone, please don't stand on ceremony. Let's go inside and talk."

The prince's carriage stopped at the side gate, where Mowen and his two sisters-in-law were already waiting at the second gate.

As soon as the carriage stopped, they went out to greet him.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" The three sisters-in-law of the Xu family bowed to Mo Yi.

Behind her, Mo Yuan felt a surge of excitement. It turned out that her dull-witted little sister was quite the star outside.

It's laughable how I still call her by her first name, and even when I do call her "Princess," it's mostly in jest. Looks like I can't be so careless anymore. Being fawned over every day might just make me arrogant and picky!
Having power and influence is great!

Mowen also had this idea.

Normally, both of her sisters-in-law were very self-important. Deep down, they looked down on their own background, but they always maintained a well-mannered demeanor and never openly expressed it.

And now, the smile on his face as he looked at Mo Yi didn't seem fake at all!

"elder sister."

"Let me introduce you to my sister. These are my two sisters-in-law..." Mo Wen readily agreed and introduced them to each of them.

“Then I’ll follow my sister’s lead and call her sister-in-law,” Mo Yi said gently.

"I wouldn't dare..." said Sister-in-law Xu. "Your Highness, please come inside first. It's cold outside, and with so many beautiful girls coming in, you can get to know them better when you go inside!"

“Okay.” Mo Yi turned around and glanced at Zhou Jiu. The two little girls she was with also got off the ground and went straight into the courtyard.

The two Xu sisters-in-law thought to themselves: This princess is quite amiable, and doesn't seem like a petty person who has gotten her way.

Mo Yuan then pulled Mo Wen along, "Third Sister, your house is so big! And so beautiful!"

Mo Wen asked in a low voice, "Why did you come with her?"

“I went to stay at the Prince’s Mansion yesterday!” Mo Yuan retorted.

"You really went?" Mo Wen couldn't believe it.

“Of course it’s true. I live in a small courtyard with Ajiu. The house there is very luxurious. I’m going to the Crown Prince’s residence tomorrow. Oh, Mo Da and Mo Fan came to your house today too, they’re ahead of you. You’re going to the Prince’s residence the day after tomorrow, right?”

"Yes."

"Hehe, please come and have a look at my yard then!" Mo Yuan said smugly.

"You better tone it down!" Mo Wen gave her a disapproving look. "Mo Yi just married into the family, and she and the prince aren't exactly a perfect match yet, nor has she started managing the household. Don't cause her any trouble!"

"No way..." Mo Yuan glanced at the Xu family and replied nonchalantly.

In the main courtyard at the north end, Madam Xu, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, greeted Mo Yi at the entrance.

Don't let her young age fool you, she's a princess!

"Sister, the old lady and madam are waiting at the door!" Mo Wen said upon seeing them.

The two women quickly stepped forward. "Sister, this is my grandmother, and this is my mother-in-law."

Grandma Xu smiled and said, "Your Highness, Happy New Year! Your presence is a great honor to my humble abode."

"Madam, you are too kind. As a junior, I am sorry for being late in paying my respects!"

"Your Highness, what are you saying? Please come in!"

The group entered, sat down, and were served tea before they began to speak.

"When Wenwen married into the family, I suggested arranging a wedding for our sisters to meet her. But she said you were too busy. But then I thought, with your engagement and marriage to the Prince, you must have countless things to do. Anyway, sisters and in-laws will have plenty of time to get together!"

"You're right." "Grandma, let me introduce you. This is our Prince's eldest daughter, Princess Wenxiu, and his second daughter, Qianqian."

Two little girls were wishing an old lady a Happy New Year, and their manners were impeccable.

The old folks love children, so they quickly had their maid give them lucky money and small gifts.

"This is Princess Wenxiu's aunt: Miss Zhou Jiu. This is my fourth sister, Mo Yuan."

After exchanging a few polite words, Madam Xu remarked with some emotion, "Your Highness, you've changed quite a bit! It hasn't been long since we last met, and you've truly grown into a young woman. And Miss Mo Yuan... Mother, look at this girl, she's as beautiful as a painting."

"Indeed! And there's Miss Zhou Jiu, we've met her before, she's pretty and refined. A good girl!"

Qianqian was simple-minded. When she heard people praising the young lady, she turned the small purse she was carrying to the front and rolled up her sleeves to reveal the small bracelet that Consort Tian had made for her.

With obvious intention to show off, Old Madam Xu praised her highly.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Mo Wen felt quite pleased. Needless to say, this atmosphere made him look good.

After chatting for a while, Mo Wen wanted to take Mo Yi and Mo Yuan to her courtyard for a look.

Zhou Jiu stayed behind to play with the two little girls and the Xu family girl.

We enjoyed the scenery along the way and arrived at Mowen's small courtyard.

Dujuan was guarding the courtyard gate. When she saw them coming, she grinned foolishly, "Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss!" Then she realized her mistake, "This servant called you by the wrong name. I should call you Your Highness, Princess!"

Mo Wen gave Du Juan a reproachful look, "Still so restless!"

Upon entering the courtyard, four or five maids and servants stood to the side, bowing. At the foot of the steps stood a woman dressed in silk and satin, her attire clearly different from that of the maids beside her.

She was quite pretty, wearing a floral headdress and a pair of very long earrings. Her head swayed gently with every movement.

A pair of fair, small hands were exposed.

It was Jinfang, Xu Ke's concubine.

Jinfang had a half-smile on her face, wanting to see what Third Grandmother's sisters were like.

But when she saw Mo Yi and Mo Yuan clearly, her smile froze.

Many noblewomen came to the Xu family home, and it was common to see those who were good-looking and well-dressed.

To her surprise, all three Mo family girls were exceptionally beautiful and dressed impeccably... completely different from the maids she had previously imagined.

Mo Wen ignored her and led her two younger sisters into the house, instructing Jin Fang to "make some tea."

How could Mo Yuan possibly miss out on gossip?
He asked Mowen in a low voice, "Who's that in the courtyard?"

Mo Wen is so angry. The Prince's mansion has a lot of concubines and mistresses. Are you curious about that too?

But seeing Mo Yuan's burning gaze, she herself wanted to say... "She's your brother-in-law's concubine."

"Aren't you going to send them away? Are you keeping them to carry a concubine?" Mo Yuan was very dissatisfied.

“It was given to your brother-in-law by the old lady. He’s been living in this house for several years. I don’t know how to get rid of him. But my mother-in-law said that if he makes a mistake, I will deal with it.”

"Then you can't let her get pregnant." Mo Yuan was surprisingly adept at this...

"Mo Yuan, is this something a young lady should say?" Mo Yi looked at her angrily.

"We're like sisters, I meant well!" Mo Yuan said innocently.

"Alright, alright..." Mo Wen didn't want to say any more. "These are the three rooms I usually live in."

Looking around, I realized that everyone's layout was pretty much the same. The central room was the main hall, used for receiving guests and living.

One room is a bedroom, and the other is a study.

The whole house was clean and tidy, with a faint fragrance.

There are paintings on the walls, ornaments on the table, and a silk carpet on the floor... It's sunny, not damp, and warm.

Mo Yuan was very excited. "Look at this garden, this house! In the past, who would have thought that we could marry into a place like this? It turns out... we're doing well..." She patted Mo Wen.

"What's the house like where Kemo lives? It's small and dark..."

"So you knew too!" Mo Yi sneered, bringing up past grievances. "Back then, my aunt and mother wanted me to live in the third courtyard, even offering some money, but my third aunt and you refused. Now that I'm better, you're invited to live in the Prince's mansion. Mo Yuan, put your hand on your conscience, doesn't it hurt?"

"How could I refuse? I didn't know anything about that..." Mo Yuan quickly denied it. "Oh dear, when you came home for the New Year, didn't you notice how dilapidated and old our house was? Now, you two are living in a house like this, leaving me alone there. We're sisters, don't you have any conscience?"

"No." Mo Wen and Mo Yi both smiled.