Su Yunmo looked up at him, her eyes gradually misting over, "Daddy..."
Never, never had anyone taught her like this.
Her mother had died early, her wet nurse had also died when she was four, and her father in the Marquis's mansion had always treated her as a chess piece.
There were even many times when she felt as if she was born unloved and uncared for.
But unknowingly, she had gained a mother, brothers, and a new father.
This father was truly good.
Cold liquid trickled down her face.
Su Yunmo felt a painful tightness in her throat, and a prickle of emotion made her burst into tears.
Su Qingtian sternly admonished, "Don't get that look on your face just because I say a few words! Children of the Su family bleed, but they don't shed tears! No crying!"
Su Yunmo hadn't wanted to cry, and felt ashamed when she did. Hearing his scolding now, she suddenly felt a surge of grievance.
She suddenly burst into loud sobs and, without restraint, threw herself into Su Qingtian's arms, "I don't want to, I don't want to, I'm going to cry, cry, boohoo..."
She clutched Su Qingtian's collar, crying and fussing, venting her grievances and acting spoiled.
"Daddy, boohoo... that person bullied me, he said I was adopted, and he said that the prince who came to marry me on my birthday last time, boohoo..."
"He said I shouldn't have refused, and that my status isn't high, and even if I marry someone as a concubine in the future, they won't want me, boohoo..."
"He's talking nonsense! My daughter? Concubine? Even the Empress wouldn't be worthy!" Su Qingtian cursed with a stern face.
Zhou Wanyou was helpless.
Only he, without thinking, could spout such nonsense.
"Teach the child properly, why are you saying such foolish things? She's so young, and you're already talking about marriage, and even if she were to marry, she wouldn't enter the palace."
Although the current Emperor was handsome and extraordinary, a true dragon among men, he was a bit too old.
"I was just saying it casually." Su Qingtian cast a fawning glance at his wife, then continued to comfort the child in his arms.
"Don't cry, don't cry. Next time, Daddy will beat him up for our precious Mo Mo, be good, don't cry, don't cry~"
Su Yunmo was soothed and cried for a good while before her spirits calmed. She then felt embarrassed and buried her head in his embrace, unwilling to come out.
The couple found her even more endearing and kept teasing her.
The atmosphere in the carriage became much more cheerful.
However, what was said carelessly was heard with intent.
The three children in the corner exchanged glances, and all understood.
They had made an enemy of that Marquis!
Su Yunmo was teased all the way, and her cheeks were still puffed out when she returned to her courtyard.
Gui Sha squatted in front of a cage in the corner of the courtyard, staring eye-to-eye with the little family of six fox-mice kept inside.
Su Yunmo entered the courtyard.
He immediately stood up, pretending to be a guard, and stood still, his hanging hands slowly hiding behind his back.
Su Yunmo saw it.
He was holding half a piece of pastry.
The mouths of the six fox-mice all had pastry crumbs on them.
Su Yunmo curiously stopped, "Are you feeding them this?"
Gui Sha slowly raised his head to look at the sky, his face still ice-cold, "No."
Lü Luo came out from inside and called to him, "Stop feeding them, you've been feeding them all day, don't overfeed them to death."
Gui Sha's ears instantly turned red, and he quickly vanished, leaving.
Su Yunmo raised her eyebrows playfully.
"Miss, you're back?" Lü Luo saw her and quickly went to greet her.
Su Yunmo, "Didn't I tell you to rest and recover from your injuries? Why are you out of bed again?"
Lü Luo pouted and mumbled something softly.
Su Yunmo didn't hear clearly.
It was Zi Yuan who came out from inside, saying that hot water and pastries had been prepared, and invited her mistress to come in and eat. Su Yunmo then went inside.
Lü Luo went to attend to other matters.
Only the two of them remained inside.
Su Yunmo, "How is it going with having Xue Hen monitor matters in the capital?"
Zi Yuan, "For the past half month, our organization's people have been stationed in the capital, and we haven't seen any suspicious individuals entering. Are you sure that Hei Feng was telling the truth before he died?"
Su Yunmo frowned.
In that situation, she felt no one could hold on and continue lying.
"Forget it, if you can't find anything, have the brothers withdraw."
The capital was so vast, with so many people coming and going every day. Since 'they' were of unknown whereabouts and origins, guarding them was futile.
"Prepare the carriage for tomorrow morning. I should go to the palace to see Consort Liang."
Su Yunmo had been busy for the past half month and hadn't gone to the palace. After such a long time, she assumed Consort Liang's illness had made significant progress.
The next morning, she bought pastries and other items and entered the palace.
However, when she reached the cold palace, the room was empty.
"Did Ye Jingyu take her out for a stroll?" Su Yunmo thought this possibility was very small.
Ye Jingge ran in from outside, his expression panicked, "Mo Mo! Her Majesty the Empress has taken Consort Liang to Fengqi Palace!"
Su Yunmo's heart leaped, and she turned to hurry towards Fengqi Palace.
As soon as she reached the palace gate, she heard a scream from inside.
Su Yunmo cursed inwardly and quickened her pace.
Palace attendants at the main entrance tried to stop her.
Su Yunmo waved her hand, gripping her whip and lashing out, knocking the person to the ground.
In the courtyard.
Luo Yun'e sat high on a soft seat by the corridor.
Consort Liang was being held down by two maids, kneeling before her.
Su Yunmo stepped in, and before she could speak.
Palace attendants who had been hidden in the dark surrounded her.
"Mo Mo! Mo Mo!" Consort Liang struggled and reached out her hand towards Su Yunmo.
Luo Yun'e sneered and looked down at the two, her gaze falling on Su Yunmo, "You little slut, you've finally come. This time, don't expect the Empress Dowager to help you!"
She had been wondering why the Empress Dowager would suddenly go to the cold palace without reason. It turned out this girl was behind it.
Her reach was quite long!
Su Yunmo held her whip, coldly looking at everyone, and said word by word, "I thank Her Majesty the Empress for her regard, for setting up an ambush for me in this strictly regulated imperial palace."
"Ambush?" Luo Yun'e sneered, "I merely executed an assassin who trespassed into Fengqi Palace."
"As for this assassin being a deranged, deposed consort, and the young lady from the General's mansion being accidentally injured, I can't help that."
Su Yunmo's eyes flashed with a cold light.
What a convenient excuse!
Since that was the case, she must have already figured out how to explain things to the Empress Dowager afterward.
Gui Sha hadn't come with her today, and her abilities were temporarily unusable.
Let's finish this quickly!
She rushed towards Consort Liang.
The two maids holding Consort Liang quickly dragged her aside.
But their speed was naturally no match for Su Yunmo.
Two whips, carrying a cold wind, struck their chests, sending them flying.
Su Yunmo raised her hand and shielded Consort Liang behind her, "Your Highness, please get up quickly and come with me!"
"I'm afraid you can't leave!"
An arrow shot towards Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo swung her whip to block it. The arrow broke, but didn't stop. It changed direction and headed towards Consort Liang.
Su Yunmo was startled. She extended her left hand and grabbed it. The arrow shaft grazed her palm as it stopped precariously in front of Consort Liang.
"Hiss~"
It really hurt!
A child's skin was too tender.