Chapter 577: 663 The misunderstanding deepened further
Chen Mo knew that Quan Qiyang’s sister was Consort Yu, but why tell him she returned from Nanyang?
"What do you mean by this?" Unable to decipher the meaning, Chen Mo decided to directly ask.
Seeing Chen Mo feign ignorance, Quan Qiyang grew anxious. His sister’s Glazed Bead had "Beloved Mo" engraved on it, and she even made sachets for him. Yet, he pretended not to understand—wouldn’t his sister’s affections be in vain?
Or perhaps the Prince didn’t want to take responsibility.
No, wait. Could it be that it’s just his sister’s unrequited love—that’s why she engraved "Beloved Mo" on the Glazed Bead? The Prince might not even know.
No, no, that’s not right either. The Glazed Bead was extraordinarily valuable, and he hadn’t seen his sister with similar jewelry before. Such an expensive item couldn’t have come from anyone but the Prince. His wives and concubines had jewelry quite similar to the Glazed Bead...
Could the Prince have forgotten his sister?
It’s not impossible. During the time his sister was in Nanyang, with so many beautiful wives and concubines around the Prince, when would they have had the chance to meet?
This won’t do.
A Prince who could marry the daughter of a county magistrate certainly wouldn’t have any reason to exclude his sister.
His sister wasn’t unattractive.
No, I have to help my sister.
"Your Highness, my sister misses you. Haven’t you seen her in such a long time because you’ve forgotten her?" Quan Qiyang said.
"Hmm? Misses me?"
Chen Mo was taken aback. What did this mean? Could it be...
He recalled that night long ago when he mistook Consort Yu for Wanqiu, kissing and holding her. Perhaps she still held a grudge over that.
And a woman’s feelings are always complicated. Isolated in the deep palace, unable to see other men, left without favor, it could easily develop into affection for a man who had taken advantage of her situation and lingered in her mind.
Moreover, they had quite a few encounters and entanglements after that.
Chen Mo, without a hint of irony, thought: with his current appeal, which young lady in the Great Song Dynasty wouldn’t be drawn to him...
She thinking of him was not surprising at all.
He rubbed his hands and tentatively asked, "Did... Consort Yu say this?"
Quan Qiyang nodded and said outright, "Your Highness, my sister is still pure. In those years in the palace, the late Emperor never touched her. You must be aware of this. If you could marry Cao Xiyue, in what way does my sister fall short of her..."
Quan Qiyang wanted Chen Mo to take responsibility for his sister.
The image of Consort Yu’s face appeared in his mind; it seemed a good opportunity to address his feelings for Wanqiu and quickly reassured him, "I understand, I was a bit indecisive. If I had known, back in Nanyang..."
Chen Mo left the second half unsaid. After all, he couldn’t be too blunt in front of her brother.
Quan Qiyang was hugely embarrassed, but for his sister’s sake, he put aside his pride and said:
"Tomorrow I will host a banquet. Your Highness, come to the feast, and I will handle the rest."
"Tomorrow won’t work; I have a wedding to attend... How about tonight?"
Though tonight felt rushed, for his sister’s sake, he would do his best to arrange it.
Quan Qiyang nodded and quickly left Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion as though fleeing.
...
Evening arrived quickly.
After giving instructions, Quan Qiyang arranged the evening’s matters and then headed to the Chen Mansion, as if afraid Chen Mo would forget, he made a special effort to remind him:
"Your Highness, everything has been arranged."
Chen Mo’s eyes lit up, and he placed a hand on Quan Qiyang’s shoulder, saying, "We’re like family now; referring to yourself as a subordinate is unnecessary. Come, let’s share a carriage."
Gao Zheng saw Chen Mo emerging and immediately went to meet him. Chen Mo turned back and said, "No need to follow. If Zhen’Er asks, just say I’ve gone to the Qi Mansion."
Gao Zheng was puzzled as he watched the two walk off with their arms around each other’s shoulders, thinking something seemed off.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was awkward.
Quan Qiyang felt like he had become a matchmaker. To reach this point, was there any brother in the world besides him?
He secretly grumbled about his sister; if she truly married, addressing the Prince and working together in the future would be difficult.
To ease the awkwardness, Quan Qiyang occasionally lifted the curtain to see how far they had gone.
...
"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Qi Mansion." Quan Qiyang stepped out of the carriage and welcomed Chen Mo down.
It wasn’t Chen Mo’s first time visiting the Qi Mansion.
Last time he came, he flirted with Consort Yu and learned her true name, Qi Nichang.
Tonight, the mansion was ready early to welcome Chen Mo, the powerful Prince Zhen Nan. Servants had been busy all afternoon preparing for his arrival. Given his esteemed status, everything had to be suitably arranged; they couldn’t afford to neglect him.
When the carriage arrived, the Qi Mansion steward was waiting at the door with over a dozen people. After Chen Mo got off the carriage, he and Quan Qiyang headed into the main hall.
Quan Qiyang invited Chen Mo to the seat of honor.
Quan Qiyang had indeed prepared thoroughly; the long table was lined with various fruits, all attended to by women whose appearances, unusually, were not particularly striking.
Quan Qiyang clapped his hands to have someone invite the young lady, while he poured Chen Mo a drink himself.
Just as they finished a glass, Qi Nichang, draped in a splendid palace dress, gracefully entered with a maid, instantly turning the maids serving in the hall into mere background, accentuating Qi Nichang’s beauty.
While Consort Yu’s appearance was delicate and beautiful, it wasn’t an overwhelming beauty, yet now, under the circumstances and contrasted with others, Chen Mo found himself surprisingly captivated.
"Brother."
"Prince Zhen Nan."
After nodding at Quan Qiyang, Qi Nichang made a courteous gesture towards Chen Mo.
Appropriately, Quan Qiyang dismissed all the maids from the hall and cheerfully said, "Sister, come toast the Prince Zhen Nan."
Qi Nichang came into the hall primarily because her brother served under Prince Zhen Nan and had called her over; a simple greeting and a toast seemed appropriate.
She approached; Quan Qiyang personally uncorked a fresh jug of wine and poured her a glass, while Chen Mo’s cup, already filled, was not topped off.
"Prince Zhen Nan, this humble one toasts you." Qi Nichang raised her cup, her large sleeves partially covering her face, leaving only her clear eyes visible to Chen Mo.
Qi Nichang’s feelings were quite complex. A year ago, he was just a palace-serving eunuch who had to respectfully call her Consort Yu. Now, he was the exalted Prince Zhen Nan.
"Lady Yu Fei, you’re too kind." Chen Mo finished the wine in his cup and then overturned it to show Qi Nichang.
"I am no longer Consort Yu." She frowned slightly, puzzled by the wine’s strength, and her cheeks began to flush.
Seeing her eyebrows knot, Chen Mo remembered what Quan Qiyang had told him; since she had feelings for him, calling her Consort Yu now seemed inconsiderate of her emotions.
"I’ll drink another cup as a penalty," Chen Mo said.
