Chapter 24: Ruined by Slander

"Green Bud, just tell me, where did Big Sister go? That man... is he someone she loves?" One day, Mo Siyu rose early and ran to the small bamboo hut beside the Glazed Garden to find Green Bud.

This bamboo hut was newly built, and upon entering, one could still smell the clean, fresh scent of bamboo.

The Great Elders had been trying every means to track down Mo Liuli's whereabouts. They had asked Green Bud several times, but she kept her lips tightly sealed, refusing to leak even a whisper of news. She had even moved into this self-built hut, claiming she had to wait for the Eldest Miss to return.

"Second Miss, please stop asking. This servant really knows nothing," Green Bud said, head buried in her needlework. In her hands, she held a piece of vibrant red fabric that looked exceptionally festive.

Seeing Green Bud give the same answer again, Mo Siyu rolled her eyes in resentment. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the fabric in Green Bud's hands, and her delicate brows furrowed. "What you are making... aren't these infant clothes? Could it be that you are pregnant?"

Mo Siyu kept her wits about her, carefully observing Green Bud's reaction. In the Huanlan Continent, if a maid in a noble household was found to be pregnant through an illicit affair, she would be thrown into a pig cage to drown!

Hearing this, Green Bud's hand trembled in shock, and she pricked her finger with the needle. Panicked, she waved her hands and shook her head. "No! No! This servant is not! Second Miss, please do not spout such nonsense!"

Mo Siyu saw that Green Bud's reaction did not appear feigned, and besides...

"I'm only teasing you! I naturally know these infant clothes are being made for Big Sister. It’s just that I don't know when she will return." Mo Siyu lowered her head, feigning disappointment, while watching Green Bud from the corner of her eye to observe her reaction.

Upon hearing this, Green Bud let out a sigh of relief and happily picked up her needle and thread to continue embroidering.

Mo Siyu’s heart sank. Thinking of the letters that had arrived from the Demonic Cultivation Academy over the past few days, a nameless rage flared within her. She stood up abruptly and left the bamboo hut.

Green Bud did not look up as she left, assuming she was just throwing another tantrum. However, not long after, a commotion broke out outside the hut. Judging by the sound, quite a few people had arrived.

"It is one thing for Big Sister to be pregnant out of wedlock and run off with some wild man, but to have Third Sister enter the palace to take her place? If this comes to light, how are we sisters supposed to live from now on?"

Mo Siyu’s voice carried from afar. This time, Green Bud trembled so violently—hands and feet shaking—that she dropped the nearly completed little red garment onto the floor.

Mo Siyu was leading a large group of sisters, along with their parents and the elders, toward the hut. The three elders looked livid, clearly furious. Mo Yuan and Lady Leng looked guilty and unsteady, their lips pale. As for the other concubine-born daughters of the Mo family, they appeared shocked and indignant on the surface, but were secretly gloating!

So, the eldest daughter of the Mo family was finally going to meet her end? She had been the apple of everyone’s eye for sixteen years, enjoying the finest food and luxury without even showing her face, and now she had caused such a scandal! They couldn't wait to see how this noble lady, Mo Liuli, would manage to survive in the Huanlan Continent now!

Before arriving, Mo Siyu had already dispatched her confidants to spread the news of Mo Liuli’s loss of virtue and honor as quickly as possible! She believed that soon, the once-famed Mo Liuli would be disgraced and reviled by everyone!

Thinking of this, Mo Siyu hid behind the crowd and smirked to herself!

In just one day, news that Mo Liuli had lost her virtue, was pregnant out of wedlock, had sent her sister to marry in her stead, and had eloped with a man spread throughout the entire Huanlan Continent. Even the two neighboring continents received word!

In the Huanlan Imperial Palace, the Emperor of Huanlan was furious, his face twisted with rage as he faced the ministers reporting the truth about the fake Mo Liuli. The final outcome was to repudiate the fake Mo Liuli, strip her of her title as Crown Princess, and cast her back to the Mo family.

Mo Siyu, who had stirred up this massive trouble, quietly left the Mo family the very next day to head for the Demonic Cultivation Academy!

"Father, daughter already carries the Crown Prince’s flesh and blood! I cannot lose the Crown Prince! Please, think of a way for me!" Mo Ruyan, who had just been sent back, wailed and begged Mo Yuan, trying to get him to find a way to send her back!

She hadn't had enough of being the Crown Princess yet! She had only just become pregnant with the Crown Prince’s child; how could she be cast aside at a time like this?

Mo Yuan, already incensed, felt his rage boil over at his third daughter’s words. Without a second thought, he kicked Mo Ruyan directly in the stomach!

"You are all little sluts who can't live without men, ungrateful wretches! Even when no one wants you, you keep on breeding! See if I don't beat you to death this time!" Mo Yuan’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, and he kicked Mo Ruyan’s stomach again and again with ruthless force.

Lady Leng, sitting to the side, closed her eyes, not daring to look, forcing herself to stay seated despite the urge to flee.

The maids on either side were also crying in terror, but no one dared to step forward to plead for mercy. At a time like this, whoever stuck their neck out would be the first to die, and in the most miserable way! Even Mo Ruyan’s personal maid, who had returned with her, knelt on the ground crying, not daring to move an inch. Even as Mo Ruyan rolled in pain to her feet, the maid did not dare to reach out to help her.

"Save... save me... save me!" Mo Ruyan clutched her stomach desperately, crying and screaming, but her voice was faint.

Her skirt was already soaked red with blood, leaving a trail of stains across the floor as she convulsed...

Aunt Qing, who had arrived upon hearing the news, finally carried the unconscious Mo Ruyan out of the Mo family hall and out of the Mo estate with her frail body!

For a time, no one dared to provoke Mo Yuan’s wrath, fearing they would become the next Mo Ruyan.

"Tie Green Bud to the stone pillar in front of the Mo estate. Spread the word: if that wild man does not return Mo Liuli to me, then from this day forward, there will be no place for her in the Mo family!"...

In the end, Mo Yuan, as the head of the house, gave the order, pushing the situation to a boiling point.

In truth, within the Mo family, after the scandal involving Mo Liuli was exposed, the elders had already made a decision: if Mo Liuli returned, they would immediately hand her over to the royal family to be dealt with, regardless of whether she lived or died! They wanted to minimize the damage to the Mo family. Without Mo Liuli, they still had the hope that was Mo Siyu, the demonic cultivator!

If Mo Liuli did not return within three days, they would strike her name from the genealogy! Finally, they would issue a kill-on-sight order! As for Green Bud’s fate, she would be sold into a brothel...

At the same time the news was released, portraits of Mo Liuli’s true appearance were distributed to every corner of the land. As soon as she appeared, someone would recognize her from the portrait!

Deep within the palace of Huanlan City, the old, oppressive voice spoke again: "As soon as Mo Liuli appears in the Huanlan Continent, you must bring her here immediately! This matter concerns the safety of the royal family. This time, you must not make any mistakes."

"Yes, Grand Emperor! Lord Jing will see to it at once!"

The obese figure finally retreated rapidly from the deep palace...