Chapter 578: 664 Good intentions lead to bad outcomes
"Sister, don’t fall, sit here." Seeing Qi Nichang looking dizzy and about to fall, Quan Qiyang helped her kneel by Chen Mo’s right side.
Chen Mo knew that some people simply couldn’t handle alcohol and would turn red-faced upon drinking. He thought Consort Yu was such a person, so he didn’t find her behavior strange.
Quan Qiyang intended to play matchmaker for his sister and continuously encouraged them to drink. The wine he poured for his sister had an additive he had prepared in advance, which could stimulate one’s passions and bolster courage.
Qi Nichang felt her head spin, and her body grew somewhat hot. She didn’t know why she felt shy and restless, her fair neck turning red. Unwittingly, she leaned towards Chen Mo, but then she regained some clarity and hurriedly tried to pull away, only for her waist to be caught in Chen Mo’s embrace.
Chen Mo wasn’t oblivious; when a beauty throws herself into his arms, there’s no need to pretend to be proper.
However, with Quan Qiyang right beside them, he just held her without taking further advantage.
"Let... let me go..." Qi Nichang struggled.
Chen Mo thought she was playing hard to get because, in the next second, her arms were wrapped around his neck.
Quan Qiyang, sensing the atmosphere was just right, cleared his throat and said, "Your Highness, I... I’ve had too much to drink and need to visit the restroom. Sister, keep Prince Zhen Nan company."
With that, Quan Qiyang stepped out of the hall and dismissed all the maids outside the hall.
He glanced back at the dimly lit hall and thought to himself, "I’ve done all this; it should finally work out, right?"
...
Inside the hall, seeing Quan Qiyang leave, Chen Mo no longer restrained himself, his large hands wandering over Consort Yu, whose body was hot with passion, and she began nibbling on Chen Mo’s neck.
Seeing her more eager than himself, Chen Mo couldn’t help but chuckle, gripped her, and lowered his head to capture those luscious lips.
"Mmm..." Consort Yu’s eyes widened, her delicate hands slapping Chen Mo’s shoulders, seemingly holding onto the last bit of reason, but in the next moment, she surrendered, her eyes brimming with tears, body going limp in Chen Mo’s embrace.
While kissing, Chen Mo’s eyes roamed and noticed a small room adjacent to the hall for rest.
Chen Mo picked Consort Yu up and carried her into the small room.
The room was simply furnished, with only a small bed and a table.
The quilt on the bed was new, likely just prepared.
Chen Mo placed Consort Yu on the bed, first discarding his own clothes, then roughly removing Consort Yu’s, and pressed down upon her.
With a cry of pain, another beautiful woman was added to the world.
...
...
"Meeting like gold and jade under the autumn wind surpasses countless encounters in the world."
As night silently retreated, dawn arrived, and the warmth of the spring sun shone over the Qi Mansion.
Qi Nichang lay on her side on the small bed, slowly opening her eyes that glistened like autumn water, then her face turned slightly rigid as she stared at the face of the person embracing her.
Last night...
She remembered offering wine to Chen Mo; the wine was strong. After drinking just one cup, she felt tipsy, and then her body got heated, and she fell into Chen Mo’s arms...
Qi Nichang wasn’t foolish and quickly realized the wine was drugged.
Who did it?
The first person she thought of was Chen Mo, since he had taken advantage of her purity.
But then she realized something was off. When her brother poured the wine, the jar was still sealed.
Moreover, her brother was right there, witnessing everything yet not stopping it, which could only mean...
Her brother had spiked the wine.
Why did her brother do this?
Was he forced, or did he intend to sell his sister for glory?
Qi Nichang’s thoughts were meticulous, and after pondering, she concluded her brother must have been coerced.
And Chen Mo was no saint.
Even Princess De Ning, Consort Jing, and the Empress Dowager had fallen into his grasp. How could she escape his clutches while being by his side?
But...
Even if she understood the whole story, what could she do? Could she really stand up against him?
Even if she exposed this incident, the other side could easily suppress it.
More than that, both she and her brother would face misfortune then.
Looking at the man in front of her, Qi Nichang felt anger and indignation. But what to do next was what she needed to think about.
At that moment, Chen Mo also woke up. Seeing her blushing cheeks, he immediately kissed her forehead and stroked her face, saying, "I understand your feelings now. Rest assured, I will treat you well in the future. In a few days, join Xiyue and Jingyun in entering the mansion."
With that, as if recalling something, Chen Mo propped himself up, picked up his robe from under the bed, and found a hairpin he had prepared for Qi Nichang, saying, "Nichang, here, a meeting gift for you."
Qi Nichang’s mind buzzed at that moment.
What feelings?
What entrance?
What was he talking about?
Seeing Qi Nichang’s slight confusion, Chen Mo slapped his forehead and said, "Right, this matter should have been discussed with your brother."
Chen Mo rubbed Qi Nichang’s head, then got up to dress and said, "I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll leave first. I will send someone, in the name of the Prince’s Mansion, to formally propose marriage and deliver betrothal gifts."
After tidying up, he saw Qi Nichang still stunned. Chen Mo leaned over, kissed her red lips, and said, "Nichang, we’ll meet next time at Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion."
With that, he left.
As he left the Qi Mansion, Chen Mo ran into Quan Qiyang. Since he would be his brother-in-law in the future, Chen Mo was quite courteous: "Brother Quanyang, after I return to the mansion, I will send someone over quickly to propose marriage and make the necessary arrangements for her to enter together with Xiyue."
Seeing his arrangement finally succeed, Quan Qiyang breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, I entrust my sister to your care from now on."
"Sure." Chen Mo patted Quan Qiyang’s shoulder firmly to indicate no problem, then said, "I’ve got urgent matters, so I won’t stay longer. Catch up with you later."
"Your Highness, let me see you out."
...
After seeing Chen Mo off, Quan Qiyang whistled as he went to find his sister, believing she should be grateful for his great help.
Just as he arrived outside the hall, he saw his sister coming out, holding a piece of cut bedsheet with a red stain on it.
Seeing her brother, Qi Nichang quickly balled up the sheet and hid it in her sleeve, greeting him first and then questioning, "Brother, was he the one who forced you?"
"Hmm?" Quan Qiyang was puzzled by the question, but he didn’t dwell on it and instead said, "Sister, the prince intends to marry you into the mansion. He promised me himself, sister, your wish will be fulfilled."
Qi Nichang: "???"
"Brother, what are you saying? What wish fulfilled?"
"Sister, stop pretending. I know everything. Mo Lang, isn’t that just referring to His Highness?" Quan Qiyang said.
