Chapter 16: It Was You Who Stole It!

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Xiao Ming’s face turned pale from fright, and she instinctively tried to pull away, reproaching him,
“Young Master Mo, please don’t do this. If others see, they’ll spread gossip.”

Mo Shichang abandoned his usual caution, speaking carelessly, “Let them talk. I am the second young master of the Mo family, here in my own private courtyard. What is there to fear about my reputation being tarnished? Besides…” He glanced around and raised his voice, “There’s no one here anyway.”

Xiao Ming tilted her head, “Even if there’s no one, I’m still afraid.”

“Are you really angry?”

Only then did Mo Shichang sense something was wrong. His heart raced as he hurriedly took a couple of steps to catch up. “Ming’er, I spoke carelessly just now. I apologize to you!”

Xiao Ming bit her lip until it turned white. “Ming’er wouldn’t dare ask a young master to apologize. I’m just a fallen merchant’s daughter, far inferior to those noble ladies, not worth your attention at all.”

Mo Shichang quickly grabbed her hand, forcing her to stop. “Ming’er, weren’t you very happy last night at the Clear Water Pavilion?”

“Enough! Mo Yunyin, you are the second young master of the Mo family, a newly appointed official in the Ministry of Revenue with a bright future ahead. Now that your eldest sister is the legitimate wife of the Second Prince, you can command the winds and waves, go wherever you please, say whatever you want. Why would you care about my reputation?”

Tears glistened faintly in Xiao Ming’s eyes, her voice choked with emotion.

He was momentarily stunned, lightly touching her arm.

Frustrated and teary, she suddenly shook off Mo Shichang’s hand.

If even he said such disrespectful things without any regard for her feelings, how could she tolerate it?

“Ming’er…”

He gently turned her around, softening his voice and patiently coaxing, “It’s because I miss you too much that I was thoughtless and didn’t consider your feelings. Please, don’t be angry.”

Yet, Xiao Ming hadn’t expected Mo Shichang to humble himself to coax her. Seeing his pitiful face, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt and whispered,
“Only this once. No more.”

Before her words had fully fallen, a shadow suddenly flashed from afar, but Xiao Ming couldn’t see who it was clearly.

“Someone’s over there. Young Master Mo, you should leave.” Xiao Ming hurriedly pushed him.

Having only met for less than fifteen minutes, this woman was crying, throwing tantrums, and angry, yet still urging him to leave. Mo Shichang was quite displeased.

“Then promise me one thing, and I’ll go.”

Xiao Ming glanced around cautiously before lowering her eyes and whispering, “Alright, you say it.”

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“At dusk, meet me at Buqing Bridge.”

“What?”

Xiao Ming’s expression turned troubled. How could a young lady like her quietly leave the mansion at dusk? What kind of propriety would that be? Moreover, the Ling residence had many eyes and tongues; rashly going to such an appointment would be courting death.

“I can’t go.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, nor that she was unwilling.

She hoped he could read between the lines.

But Mo Shichang obviously did not.

He only thought she was hesitant and waiting for him to coax her a little more, so perhaps the matter could be settled.

He never expected her refusal to be so decisive.

Mo Shichang frowned, displeased. “Ming’er, whether you come or not is not for Yunyin to judge, but I will wait for you at Buqing Bridge at dusk today. Even if the skies fall and the earth shatters, even if seas dry and stones crumble, this is a promise like that of Wei Sheng. Farewell!”

He cupped his hands and left with a dark expression.

—

“Really?”

Meng Qingxuan was surprised, her pupils wide with shock as she looked at her maid Huan’er.

“No mistake. I heard it clearly.” Huan’er’s eyes flickered with sharpness, her tone certain. “That woman is truly a temptress, utterly unruly. Not content with seducing Young Master Ling, she’s now cozying up to the Mo family’s young master. I bet Young Master Ling is still in the dark.”

“No wonder she was able to attend Mo Yuan’s birthday banquet.” Meng Qingxuan pondered.

“Exactly!” Huan’er curled her lips in disdain. “That girl sure knows how to take advantage. I heard it was the Mo young master who personally sent the invitation. Ugh, what a thing!”

Meng Qingxuan frowned and murmured, “So… she’s not Young Master Ling’s concubine?”

“Miss, you’re about to be betrothed to Young Master Ling. At such a crucial time, better to kill the threat than show mercy! Even if she isn’t now, she might be in the future. Just now I saw that girl using a new lip balm from the Lotus Pavilion. For a fallen merchant’s daughter…”

Huan’er lowered her voice and continued, “Don’t forget, when we met her in the mansion the other day, her shabby appearance — if she hadn’t scraped that from Young Master Ling, how could she afford such fine things?”

Meng Qingxuan’s gaze darkened, her expression sour. “Your suspicion isn’t without reason. That little vixen is certainly entangled with Young Master Ling in some unclear way.”

Ling Zhao even favored a woman like Xiao Ming, yet why didn’t he spare her a second glance?

If he were indifferent to all women, that would be one thing, but now it was clear that he only treated Xiao Ming kindly while being cold to Meng Qingxuan.

“By the way,” she suddenly recalled and asked Huan’er, “Did the Mo young master invite that woman alone to Buqing Bridge?”

Huan’er nodded firmly, “Miss, I saw Third Miss Ling in the peach grove too. It looks like she’ll definitely make a move. Should we also get involved and stir up some trouble?”

Meng Qingxuan waved her hand lightly, snorting coldly. “I’m not wasting time on her. Just send a servant to watch from the shadows. Report back immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes, Miss. I’ll go now.”

As Huan’er was about to leave, a commotion arose from the Water Pavilion. Meng Qingxuan exchanged a glance with her and said,
“What’s going on over there? Help me take a look.”

—

Water Pavilion

At the Water Pavilion, all the young ladies were returning from the theater stage. When Meng Qingxuan entered, Mo Yuan approached her.

“Sister Mo Yuan, what’s happened?”

Before Mo Yuan could respond, Ling Huaishu sneered from the corner, “Miss Mo has lost something — stolen by someone unknown. They’re conducting a strict investigation now!”

Meng Qingxuan immediately asked, “What was lost?”

“A carved golden cicada armlet, a gift from the Second Young Master of the Han family in the Duke’s mansion.”

Ling Huaishu deliberately raised her voice, “I heard it was a tribute from a vassal state, extremely precious.”

All those who had come to the appointment were daughters of noble families; no one expected petty theft like this.

“Typical of those from lowly families — unfit for high society. They can’t keep their eyes off fine things and resort to stealing!” sneered a sharp-faced noble girl sarcastically.

Ling Huaishu scoffed coldly, “Exactly. Some people are so shameless. Their own family’s disorderly enough, but now they’re stealing outside too! They shamelessly cling to our Ling family and even learn to pilfer!”

Her words made Qingzhu’s brow twitch. She sensed something amiss but forced a smile and stepped forward, “Third Miss Ling, may I ask what you meant by your words just now?”

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