Too high to reach

Chapter 271 Flowers and Firewood
They took Mo Yuan home.

Although the result was not satisfactory, Mo Yi's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety these past few days, could finally feel a little more at ease.

A letter arrived at the door: "Your Majesty, Madam Xu the Third has arrived."

Mo Yi took a moment to realize that they were talking about Mo Wen.

"Oh, what brings her here?" She hurriedly got up and went outside to greet her.

They were almost at the second gate when Mo Wen, supported by Du Juan, slowly arrived.

Even from a distance, you can tell she's in great shape.

Although I wasn't walking fast, I felt quite light.

Mo Yi quickly stepped forward, "Sister, what brings you here? If you needed anything, just have Du Juan tell you! Why are you out at this hour?!"

"I'm fine, I don't feel unwell at all. Don't worry!" Mo Wen said softly, "Today, my mother-in-law had to go out, so I took her there. I'll stay here for a while and then go pick her up later. I'm still worried about Mo Yuan, so I wanted to ask you about her."

The two walked side by side into the yard, and Mo Yi talked in detail about things at home.

Consort Feng happened to be coming from that direction and was about to exit through the second gate when she saw the two of them and quickly hid behind the wall to the side.

I didn't even have time to think; it was a completely instinctive action. I dodged it, and only then did I realize what had happened...

I couldn't help but feel embarrassed and annoyed... Why was I avoiding them?!

The two entered the house. "Sister, can I have some tea now?"

"Just pour me a glass of water, I haven't been drinking tea much lately." Mo Wen carefully examined Mo Yi, and thought to herself, "This girl's demeanor is getting better and better."

“Yuanyuan’s situation is a bit special, and it’s hard to say how to handle it. So I wanted to ask you how you did the makeup. We sisters shouldn’t be too different.” Mo Wen’s voice was unusually gentle now.

If it were up to her personality, she would simply return the favor she received from Mo Yuan when they got married, no more than ten percent of how Mo Yuan had treated her.

But now... I'm in a bit of a dilemma.

From her perspective, she was extremely unwilling for Mo Yuan to come to this point.

Because of this, Xu's two sisters-in-law openly and subtly gossiped about it. The servants in the house also chimed in, and she always managed to overhear them, which made her angry, but she was too embarrassed to tell her mother-in-law.

Her expression turned sour when her mother-in-law brought it up.

Fortunately, my husband didn't say anything when he came back last time.

Under such circumstances, she couldn't possibly make a big show of adding makeup.

However, Mo Yuan is, after all, entering the Crown Prince's residence, albeit as a concubine. But fortunes change... who knows what the future holds?

I've been thinking about it for a long time, but I still can't quite grasp the right balance, so I wanted to see how Mo Yi does it.

Mo Yi was very straightforward: "I gave her a set of emerald jewelry."

Mo Wen was taken aback. Such a grand gesture?
"There were also some silver coins, silver hairpins, purses, and trinkets. It all adds up to quite a bit."

However, you don't need to follow my example, nor do you need to listen to my advice. The reason I added so much is because I feel that the reason she encountered this situation is ultimately because I gave her the opportunity. This time, I've made it clear to her that from now on, we'll go our separate ways and never see each other again.

Mo Wen was surprised by her attitude. "Yi Yi, do you mean that she planned this herself? So you blame her?"

Mo Yi shook her head: "I wasn't there, so I don't know the real story. But no matter what happened, the result is the same for me. I've thought it through, so let it be."

Mo Wen thought to herself: She is clearly the softest person, but her heart is the hardest.

I didn't know what to say for a while.

Mo Yi advised her, "Right now, your health is the most important thing. Don't worry about anything else. As for makeup, just follow the rules or do what you feel is right. Anyway, you're pregnant now, so no one will criticize you."

"Okay. I understand." After talking for a while, Mo Yi saw her to the door.

When they returned, they ran into Zhou Jiu, who was leading a maid, coming out of the princess's room.

"Ah Jiu."

“Your Highness,” Zhou Jiu approached, “Yuanyuan came back for two days and then left again. The thought of not being able to see her often in the future makes me feel quite sad.”

Mo Yi smiled and said, "It's getting hot. Have you changed the window screens and bed curtains in the room?"

"Everything has been changed. Your Highness, would you like to sit for a while? I've roasted some jasmine flowers in a small earthenware pot and brewed some tea. Would you like to try some?"

"Okay, I happen to have some free time."

They entered the small courtyard where Zhou Jiu lived.

Mo Yi first glanced at the room where Mo Yuan had previously stayed. It was spotless, even the bedding had been put away. She then went to Zhou Jiu's room; it was quite elegantly furnished, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone all laid out on the table, and a zither stand nearby. However, the bed curtains… were quite different from the soft, fragrant silk in her own room…

In the blink of an eye, I saw the cactus on the windowsill in the bedroom, still in bloom.

Judging from where it was placed... it's clearly something they value.

"My cactus is still blooming!"

Zhou Jiu laughed and said, "Xiangxiang's potted plant was killed by her overwatering. She watered it several times a day. I told her, but she wouldn't listen!"

The two of them laughed.

"Consort Feng said that the female tutor we hired for Xiangxiang will be arriving after summer," Zhou Jiu said softly as he brewed tea.

Mo Yi thought for a moment: "Granny Zhao said that Xiangxiang will first be tutored by a female teacher, and will only go to a girls' school when she turns ten."

"Yes. This female teacher knows a lot, so her early education will cover all aspects. With her by Xiangxiang's side... I'll go back now."

She poured herself a cup of tea. "Smell it..."

Mo Yi picked it up: "It smells so good, is it fresh jasmine?"

"Yes. A few pots of flowers just bloomed in the greenhouse, and I picked a few blossoms. Also, there are Jiangyin roses; please take a bag home and try them, they are very fragrant."

Mo Yi smiled and said, "...Speaking of going home, Ajiu, if I may ask, is there any news about your marriage? Of course, I know this is a bit abrupt, but you don't have to say if you don't want to."

Zhou Jiu lowered his head and said, "You're just concerned about A-Jiu, how could it be presumptuous? It's just that my family situation is rather complicated. Everyone has their own ideas, and no one is willing to make a decision. Over the years, quite a few people have come to propose marriage. But later, either this person disagreed, or that person said it wasn't good enough. In the end, nothing came of it..."

"I guess he's offended quite a few people. My father's temper... people don't want to cross him."

Zhou Jiu felt helpless. The only decision that most people would be willing to accept was entering the Qi Prince's mansion. Even so, his father was being instigated by his aunt, and things were still uncertain, but he couldn't ruin it.

In the end, it didn't work out. He caused quite a scene, even getting his uncle and aunt to get angry.

Now, his marriage is becoming a taboo subject in the family. Even his grandmother is afraid of angering him and doesn't want to provoke his father.

And then there's my aunt... who doesn't want her to be well at all, and even lets her nephew run around the yard.

There was nothing I could do; my father was too muddle-headed.

"With your looks and character, you're sure to have a wonderful marriage."

"Ajiu just wants to live a simple life... She doesn't care about the other person's social status or wealth. As long as he has good character and treats her well. That day, when I talked about this with Yuanyuan, she said, 'I'm used to a life of luxury. If I were to marry into a poor family and have to deal with the mundane details of daily life, I would know how tough it is.'"

“What she said isn’t entirely wrong,” Mo Yi nodded.

"But I don't think so. If people are destined to live a hard life, I hope the hardship is simple. I'd rather have simple meals than live in constant anxiety."

Mo Yi shook her head, thinking to herself: With all your jasmine and roses, calligraphy and painting, and music, how can you possibly live a life of daily necessities?

“My family is just a small, humble household. When my sisters come to my house, I’m already very happy if they can make me a bowl of osmanthus almond milk.”

Mo Yi noticed that Zhou Jiu was staring intently at her.

“Really? My family is a typical small household…” Mo Yi told her some stories from the past.

Mo Yuan and Mo Wen bicker, Liu Shi and Wang Shi compete. The parents' personality differences. Mo Qing's undisguised fascination with the spectacle and his greed for easy gains. Mo Bao has nothing to do but study and eat…

Zhou Jiu couldn't help but laugh and say, "So that's how it is..." But after thinking about it more carefully, she realized it was still different.

It's just a lot of trivial noise all day long.

In her own family, not to mention others, that concubine has a criminal record, and she still wants her nephew to ruin her reputation...

They are different in nature.

"In the first year after I got engaged to the prince, I planted dozens of pots of daffodils in the house..." Mo Yi started talking about the daffodils again.

"...The daffodils I carved are all in different poses, they're very beautiful. I'll get some more by the end of this year..."

"...They took them all, leaving me not a single pot. In the end, it was my second brother who helped me snatch two pots back from my eldest uncle."

“Young Master Mo is clearly kind and honest. You can tell he treats his sisters very well.” Zhou Jiu’s face turned red.

Mo Yi's heart skipped a beat, and she thought of her second brother's silly look when he looked at Zhou Jiu...

Or should I ask the prince?

Actually, the next chapter was posted, but it was put in the dark.

It's been corrected. Wait for him to be released, don't rush.