Too high to reach

Chapter 369 All Fleeting Clouds
Mo Fan's wedding has entered the banquet stage.

There were many people coming, and many people serving them, but everything was in good order.

Mo Yi sat at the main table for the female guests, while Madam Zhang deliberately sat next to Mo Yuan.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Madam Zhang smiled at Mo Yi and said, "I'm genuinely happy for Mo Fan. As the saying goes, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. In other words, one should live life step by step, doing what needs to be done at the right time. Don't overdo it, and don't take detours."

Just like Mo Fan, going to school, working, getting married, having children—it all happened naturally. With a family, a career, and experience, one's mind is calm. When doing things again, one will reach new heights.

Mo Yi nodded in agreement: "What you say is true, Madam."

Those present nodded in agreement.

"Only a very few people are fortunate. Most people have to rely on their ancestors' blessings, their own efforts, and the help of friends. They have to take steady steps forward, one step at a time."

Madam Zhang looked around, her gaze lingering on Mo Yuan beside her for an unusually long time. Then she said to Mo Yi, "Your Highness, when the Prince returns, I beg you and the Prince to teach Debao."

This child is wonderful in every way. It's just that his marriage is causing my husband and me so much anxiety. I'm alright, but his father… you have no idea how much we've donated to charity! But praying to Buddha is not as good as praying to the right people. Even the boundless Buddha's power needs a helping hand…”

Among them, probably only Mo Yi and Mo Yuan know what Madam Zhang means.

Mo Yi nodded: "Madam, rest assured, a tree will grow straight on its own. Your son is of pure and kind nature, and will surely be rewarded."

Mo Yuan fiddled with the food on the plate with her chopsticks, feeling utterly bored: Madam Zhang is simply inexplicable; she has no ability to control her son, yet she pushes the responsibility onto others!

Instead of wasting time on this nonsense, why not find your son a good one? Someone he can't look away from at first sight, someone he can't forget, like...

"Hmph! Look for someone who looks like you..." She scoffed. "Who would want to marry a wife who looks like me?!"
You're not good-looking!
Madam Wang sighed, "Alas, everyone has their own worries. My Da-ge'er is doing as you said, following the proper steps. The next spring, his tutor said he has a good chance of passing the imperial examination. But what about my Wen-jie'er?! To say she has a good fate is true. But is it smooth sailing? Alas..." She stopped mid-sentence, unwilling to continue.

Grandma Xu sat down next to her and said with a smile, "My dear in-law, good things often come with difficulties. Wenwen will definitely be safe and sound."

Aunt Wang gently nudged her younger sister, not wanting her to say this in this setting.

Mo Yi calmly picked up her water glass and took a sip: her mother probably wouldn't remember that she was pregnant.

The men wanted to drink more, while the women left after finishing their meals.

Mo Yi returned to the manor and went to the front study to see if there was any news from the prince.

"Your Highness, how did the wedding go?" asked Granny Zhao, who was at home.

"It went smoothly, it was so lively! My second brother was so happy that he carefully helped his wife through the door, which made everyone laugh at him for a while..."

Granny Zhao sighed with emotion, "I really didn't realize before that the beautiful and delicate Miss Zhou Jiu could have such composure! Mo Fan is of good character, down-to-earth and hardworking. Your uncle and aunt are also respectable people. Marrying into such a family is truly a blessing. Oh, the Prince has sent a letter!"

Mo Yi took it and said with a smile, "I walked ahead because I wanted to know if there was any news."

Upon opening it, it remains as concise and to the point as ever.

He said his progress was going relatively smoothly, but he hadn't yet encountered the opponent's main force and was only advancing gradually through probing. A portion of his forces hadn't arrived yet.

Once that person in the capital fully realizes what's happening, a decisive battle will likely take place after the New Year.

In the capital, be careful of that person's retaliation once they realize what's happening. Be extra cautious with everything at home. Don't go out unless absolutely necessary.

Finally, a more tender sentence: You are pregnant, and I couldn't be by your side. I feel regret and worry... Take care.

I glanced at it quickly and put it away, planning to look at it more closely when I got back to my room.

"Granny, I received a letter from Madam Xu today. Lord Xu has reported something to the emperor. The emperor knew about it, but did not take any action. I don't know why."

The group started discussing it again...

…………

"Huh? Who are you?!"

Feng Liniang was walking forward nervously, and just as she was about to exit through the small door, she suddenly heard this sound behind her.

Terrified, I turned around abruptly.

Aunt Wu?!

Wu's mother, who massaged Mo Yi last time, was wearing a thick cloth and a straw hat, and came out from behind the wall next to her.

“Feng…Feng Shi? Where are you going? Who is he?!” Granny Wu’s eyes widened as she pointed at the man and asked.

The man, who had been walking ahead of Feng Liniang and had already left, came back in when he heard the noise.

Upon seeing the man, Mrs. Wu realized she didn't recognize him and immediately exclaimed, "Someone come here..."

She only had time to utter two words.

The man's figure flickered, lightly passing in front of Feng Liniang, and with a single palm strike, Wu Mama fell silently to the ground.

"You go first..." the man instructed.

Feng Liniang glanced at the woman on the ground with a complicated expression. She was always bringing her food, and it was the woman who shouldn't be bringing it!

But she always insisted on doing the work!

It's getting cold, and people carrying boxes always walk in a hurry, as if they're afraid the food will get cold on the way.

Ha... What a meddlesome fool!

Always doing things they shouldn't do!

She turned and left without looking back.

There were quite a few people in the manor, some of whom knew martial arts. This man came alone and couldn't possibly slaughter the entire manor. If he gets injured, he won't be able to leave the mountain.

Fortunately, in winter, the people at the resort won't realize anyone is coming!

It's snowing, everyone's huddled indoors to keep warm...

As long as the dogs kept in cages during the day are kept from barking, no one will find out.

"You damned woman, what are you doing out here?" he grumbled, grabbing Wu Mama's ankle and dragging her forward through the small door, throwing her into the ditch beside him. He glanced at her once, then chased after Feng Liniang.

The snow is still falling; it won't be long before it covers their footprints. And of course, the people in the ditch too.

That day, it was this man who sought out Feng Liniang.

At the time, Feng Liniang only agreed to think about it, but the man said he had made up his mind and would go down the mountain today.

Feng Liniang thought about it all night and still decided to leave.

She knew that a man like this was available in the Prince's mansion! If he wanted to harm her, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths.

His master intends to harm the prince.

Although he didn't know who the other party was, he had no other choice now. His master was right: if Mo Yi gave birth to a son, no matter what the prince did, there was no hope for Shao Ge'er, and he himself couldn't get out.

If you follow this person and cooperate with his master, with your intelligence and talent, it's still uncertain who will emerge victorious!
Besides, if she doesn't leave, this man has taken such a big risk to come here, and if he doesn't get what he wants, he might even attack her! She might end up dying for nothing!
"Let's go!" She made up her mind.

The road to the resort becomes difficult to travel in winter, and even more so when it's snowy. If the master is coming to soak in the hot springs, the road will be cleared beforehand.

No one has come recently; we can only wait until the snow stops.

The man picked up Feng Liniang's carriage and stopped at the foot of the mountain. He had ridden up on horseback, and when the path became difficult, he had to dismount and lead the horse.

Worried that the commotion would attract attention, he tied the horse in front. The man was also a little anxious, worried that if the horse was tied up for too long, it might attract wild animals.

He quickly caught up with Feng Liniang, saying, "Hurry up and go," before continuing on his way.

Little did he know, Feng Liniang was already somewhat bewildered.

She only knew it would be cold outside and the roads would be slippery. So, she wore a silk-padded jacket and trousers underneath, with a skirt over them. On top was a mink cloak. On her feet were deerskin boots. Her hair was neatly combed, and she had put her valuable jewelry and silver in a small pouch tied around her waist.

There was also a small package containing some leftover braised meat and flatbread.

In this way, she thought she was well prepared, but she hadn't thought about how to navigate the mountain path in the snow.

I've never walked like this before!

Moreover, he was so excited that he was already imagining all sorts of ways to take control of the Prince's mansion. He had even considered all the possible unexpected events.

I never expected the road to turn out like this...

It was fine when we first came out, but once we actually left...

With each step, the snow was knee-deep in some places and ankle-deep in others. The icy wind seeped right into my clothes. Wearing a fur coat was fine, but my legs were a different story!
Her thin silk trousers were so light that they were easily seeped through by the wind.

Moreover, the mountain path was undulating. Going uphill was tiring, and going downhill was slippery. She hadn't been born into privilege, but what woman had ever walked on such a path in this weather? She hadn't gone far before she tripped and fell several times in a row. The ground was covered in snow, obscuring the main path, and she almost slipped into the ditch beside the road.

The snow got into my trousers and socks. It chilled me from my feet all the way down to my back.

She was stunned. How could this be? How long would it take to walk here?

Hearing the banging behind him, the man finally turned around and came back. He looked at Feng Liniang's disheveled state without showing any emotion.

"Go a little further ahead, and you'll find horses. You'll only find carriages at the bottom of the mountain."

"How long will it take?" Feng Liniang asked.

"Look at your situation! The horse is tied up over there..." The man pointed into the distance.

He then explained, “Although this kind of weather makes it a bit difficult to walk, it also makes it harder to be spotted. The snow will quickly cover the footprints. Otherwise, it would be troublesome if they caught up with us.”

He then looked at Feng Liniang and said, "Follow behind me, follow my footsteps, and I'll try to walk slowly..."

"Oh..." Feng Liniang replied guiltily.

I took a step forward, and my foot slipped again, whoosh...

The man reacted quickly and caught her.

"Take smaller steps, don't take big strides!" the man said, then turned and walked forward.

Not long after they left, Feng Liniang collapsed; she felt as if her breath was freezing.

"It's so cold!" I started shivering.

Every step I took felt like climbing to the heavens.

Finally, she cried out from behind, "I can't take it anymore..." Tears streamed down her face, and as soon as they came out of her eyes, they turned cold.

Previously, when she traveled by carriage in winter, blankets were laid out from the gate to the carriage. Charcoal braziers were lit inside the carriage, and incense was burned.

Now, all that remains is bone-chilling cold, an endless end in sight, and snow and mud underfoot...

Why is all this happening?!

I'm afraid I'll be exhausted before I even reach where the horses are tied up. And even if I get there, it won't be enough; I don't know how much further I have to go…

Despair washed over him: his life was about to end here today.

The man finally turned around, looking at the pleated skirt peeking out from under her large cloak, and shook his head repeatedly. "Wearing this to walk this kind of road..."

Aren't these ladies all quite capable? They know exactly what to wear for every occasion! How come she's dressed like this?
But how could he know?
Feng Liniang was dressed like a noblewoman in winter... the kind of clothes worn when appreciating snow and plum blossoms!

Watching Feng Liniang sway and move forward inch by inch...

The man said with a stern face, "I'll help you up!" He extended his arm.

But how could Feng Liniang dare to do that?
She instinctively backed away, saying, "How can this be? Men and women are different..."

After saying this, she regretted her actions, realizing they had been too rash.

The man rolled his eyes: "It's still bright enough to see the road. If we can't get down the mountain before dark, that would be terrible. Forget about encountering wolves, you'd freeze to death."

She glanced at Feng Liniang again: "I work for my master, there's no difference between men and women. You and that old lady from earlier are no different in my eyes! You're not a virgin, what are you being so coy about!"

“…You!” Feng Liniang was so angry that she didn’t know what to say.

Ignoring Feng Liniang's reaction, the man grabbed her, tucked her under his arm, and strode forward.

Feng Liniang's feet were only used for support... which indeed made her much faster.

But that man, that smell...

Feng Liniang clenched her teeth and remained silent.

Now that things have come to this, she has no choice; she definitely can't go back. It'll get dark, and she'll really freeze to death.

The problem of being able to walk has been solved, but what about the problem of being cold?

The snow that had just gone into my boots had melted, and my toes were freezing cold. At first, it made my whole body feel cold, and then it started to hurt...

"I'm freezing to death," she murmured.

"Ha, you're cold even wearing a mink coat? This one cloak of yours is more than my family could spend in ten lifetimes!"

"My body is fine, but my feet..."

The man was holding Feng Liniang's arm from the outside; the sleek, shiny mink fur made him feel very uncomfortable.

Without a word, he stopped and reached his hand inside the cloak to put it around Feng Liniang's waist. But his hand immediately touched the pouch tucked into her waistband…

"Ah?!" The man's movements were too fast; by the time Feng Liniang realized it, he had already tightly embraced her.

She screamed. When had she ever been so close to any other man besides Li Jing?
If others find out about this, what's the point of controlling the Prince's Mansion? They probably won't even survive.

The man touched something at her waist, paused for a moment, then understood, and chuckled, "Alright! At this point, don't think about anything else. Don't worry, I won't touch you. The master didn't instruct..."

He smiled smugly, revealing a set of yellowish-black teeth.

The smell of his breath made her feel nauseous and ashamed, and she felt like vomiting. Feng Liniang truly wished she were dead...

But precisely because of this, the two of them moved much faster, and soon they reached the horse.

The horse looked cold too, standing still and pacing back and forth.

"You can ride a horse, right?"

"I, I won't."

"You have to ride even if you can't, it'll make you faster!" With that, the man put one arm around her shoulder and the other on her thigh, lifted her up and placed her on the horse. "Spread your legs and straddle!"

No words could describe Feng Liniang's feelings at this moment. She gritted her teeth and did as she was told!
Everything is for the future, wait for me...

She felt stronger.

However, those who have never ridden a horse will not know how high off the ground you are when you're sitting on one...

My gut feeling is that if I fall, my neck will break...

She exclaimed, "Huh?!"

But the man ignored her completely. "Put your feet on the stirrups!" he said impatiently.

What a terrible job I've been given this time!
Tears streamed down Feng Liniang's face uncontrollably. She hurriedly stepped into the stirrups, her skirt twisting as her silk trousers rode up, revealing a section of her leg between her deerskin boots and trousers...

Before she could even get ready, the man had already led the horse and was trotting along...

Feng Liniang leaned back on her horse and immediately gripped the saddle handles with both hands. At that moment, she cared about nothing but preventing herself from falling off.

The road was difficult to walk on; going uphill meant leaning backward. Going downhill was even more frightening; several times I almost fell off the horse's head.

All along the way, there was only her screaming.

This road is so long.

The patient was so cold that his whole body was numb, he was shivering uncontrollably, his back ached, and his buttocks hurt. His lips were bloodless, and his eyes were unfocused.

At this moment, fame, fortune, and glory are all fleeting clouds...

Everything went black, and I fell down.

The man sighed helplessly, then clicked his tongue. He scooped her up and, like packing a bundle, placed her face down on the horse. The horse knew the way, so there was no need to lead it. He supported her buttocks with one hand and pressed down on her thigh with the other.

He had no improper thoughts in his heart, yet he kept complaining.

"This is really troublesome! Such a short distance, and it's taking so long to walk. If we don't get down soon, we won't be able to see the road anymore. Don't even mention you, I'm afraid I'll freeze to death..."

After being shaken for a while, Feng Liniang woke up, feeling pain in her ribs, stomach, and face, and also felt nauseous.

Upon closer inspection, her eyes widened in shock... The man was pressing against her most intimate, indescribable area.

Overwhelmed with shock and anger, I fainted again...

Let Feng Liniang suffer a little...

Today's chapter is very long, so there's only one chapter... really.