Reborn: Femme Fatale First Daughter

He had dealt with the stalemate with just a few words.

The lanterns lit up the dark as white snowflakes fell from the skies. It brought an additional beauty to the lantern festival in the palace. The snowflakes drifted as skirts swayed. The young men were handsome and the young ladies, beautiful. The young people were easily pleased and were in good spirits which were further enhanced by the beautiful scenery.

The incident between Marquess Zhenguo, Sima Lingyun, and Mo Xuemin, the eldest daughter of the Mo family, had long disappeared in the beautiful snow. No one remembered that Mo Xuemin had been sent out of the palace early on and that Sima Lingyun had been reprimanded by the Emperor. The Dukeship that he had been about to get his hands on was now put on hold indefinitely. Sima Lingyun was still the Marquess of Zhenguo.

He had behaved improperly in the palace and had annoyed the Emperor. Even the other officials felt that he was flighty. A few of them had agreed in private to speak up for Sima Lingyun when the Emperor mentioned him so that he could take the dukeship.

However, the Emperor had been in a bad mood even before he spoke. They did not dare to say anything else. Emperor Zongwen was a powerful ruler. There were no other dissensions in court since he assumed his position. Great Qin was considered orderly and he was a fair ruler. The families of those who helped to establish the nation remained titled so that their descendants could be taken care of.

The descendants of these lords were already in straitened circumstances. They were no longer the legendary figures they once were and now depended on the court for money. The Duke’s Manor was a representation of these people. Sima Lingyun was determined to make the Duke’s Manor rise again, which was why he became interested in the Mo Manor and wanted to marry their legal daughter. This was how he could become related to the General’s Manor.

Due to Emperor Zongwen’s power, only the Four Great Manors in the Great Qin retained actual power amongst those who helped to build the nation. This power was one that not even the Emperor could underestimate. If he received the help of General Manor, it would not be an issue for the Duke’s Manor to rise again. However, Sima Lingyun did not expect something like this to happen in the palace.

First, his sister had gotten into an argument with Mo Xuemin and the matter had even been escalated to the Empress. Then, what happened at Qingfang Pavilion was something that he could not explain no matter how much he tried. Coupled with what happened the last time, his relationship with Mo Xuemin had become really complicated. However, she was just a concubine’s daughter and he was not interested in her.

He was already very annoyed and angry for having Mo Xueqiong as a concubine for no rhyme or reason. If Mo Xuemin joined her, he would truly have nothing to do with Mo Xuetong anymore! How could he bear that! He would do anything it took this last time…

He sat in the horse carriage outside the palace and watched the entrance coldly. It was just past 12 and his carriage stopped at an inconspicuous corner outside the palace.

It was an ordinary horse that was not striking. Compared to the other horse carriages outside the palace entrance, his carriage could be considered dull. Fortunately, no one took any notice of the inconspicuous horse carriage at all. No one noticed someone was inside even though it had parked there for some time. Furthermore, inside sat the Marquess Zhenguo who had been chased away earlier.

A few servants chatted and laughed outside the palace entrance. It was the New Year and the patrols were not very strict. Everyone was relaxed. There would be rewards in the palace later and they did not know how much they would be given. The servants chatted excitedly and even mentioned how much they received in the previous years. In recent years, the rewards from the palace had increased and the servants smiled so widely that their teeth showed. They were not in the mood to care too much. It was cold and their masters in the palace did not have much on, so they were free as well. No one could care to walk in the wind and snow to examine each and every horse carriage.

This was the palace entrance, the largest entrance in the world. Who would dare to do anything here!