CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER

After all the drama, the banquet finally came to an end.

The guests slowly made their way out of the Mo residence, still whispering about everything that had happened. Some shook their heads. Some laughed behind their fans. Others simply left in silence.

By the time the last guest stepped out of the gate, the entire place felt heavy and quiet again.

Lady Fu did not leave.

She remained sitting in the hall with a dark face, waiting.

Mo Ying stayed behind as well, standing with his arms crossed as the servants cleaned up the mess.

When the hall was finally empty, Lady Fu spoke first.

"Mo Ying," she said coldly, "come here. I want to talk to you."

Mo Ying walked closer, his expression calm but sharp.

Lady Fu stared at him for a long moment, then asked,

"Why... why do you like that concubine so much? When you already have a wife like San Na?"

Mo Ying’s jaw tightened.

"Lin Xu," he said slowly, "is the only woman I consider my wife."

Lady Fu slammed her hand on the table.

"Are you insane?! San Na is your legal wife! She has the position, the title, the respect—"

"And none of that matters to me," Mo Ying cut in coldly. "Lin Xu is the only one I want."

Lady Fu’s face twisted in disbelief.

"You sound exactly like your father."

Mo Ying’s eyes darkened immediately.

Lady Fu continued.

"Your mother also suffered because your father chased after another woman outside. A woman he said he ’loved’. A woman he put above the main wife. Your mother cried every day. And now look—you are doing the same thing to San Na!"

"No," Mo Ying said firmly. "I am not."

Lady Fu scoffed. "You are blind, just like your father was."

Mo Ying stepped closer, eyes hard.

"My mother," he said, voice steady, "was an innocent, gentle woman. She never hurt anyone. She never played games. She never lied. She never tried to control him."

He paused, his voice turning colder.

"San Na is nothing like her. San Na is a snake. She hides behind fake tears. She pretends. She manipulates. She forces herself on others."

Lady Fu glared. "Mind your words!"

"I am telling the truth," Mo Ying replied without fear.

Lady Fu pointed at him angrily. "And what about Lin Xu? You speak of her like she is perfect."

Mo Ying didn’t hesitate.

"Lin Xu is the most trustworthy woman any man could ever meet."

Lady Fu’s breath caught.

"She is loyal. She is honest. She doesn’t scheme. She doesn’t try to hurt others. She doesn’t pretend to be weak. She stands by those she cares for. I respect her. I trust her. I chose her."

Lady Fu stared at him with wide eyes, shocked by how certain he sounded.

"And one more thing," Mo Ying added, his voice dropping.

"I am nothing like my father. I am not blind. I know exactly who is true and who is false."

Silence filled the room.

Lady Fu clenched her fists, but she had no argument left.

Mo Ying’s eyes were firm, unshaking.

The talk ended with the two of them staring at each other both stubborn, both refusing to bend..

....

After everything finally ended, Lin Xu let out a long breath and walked back to her quarters.

Her steps were slow, her mind still tired from the chaos of the banquet.

The moment she pushed open the door—

"Lin Xu!"

Yan Mei rushed up to her, eyes bright and full of excitement.

Ru Lan, the only maid in the room, hurried right behind her with a relieved expression.

Before Lin Xu could even sit down, Yan Mei grabbed her hands.

"Tonight was perfect!" Yan Mei said, practically glowing. "You destroyed San Na and Chu Ming without even lifting a finger. I could barely hold back my laughter!"

Ru Lan nodded quickly. "Miss, truly, everything you said hit them right where it hurt. They didn’t even know how to defend themselves!"

Yan Mei folded her arms proudly. "And that argument with Lady Fu? You handled it better than any noble lady from the capital. Your mouth was flawless!"

Ru Lan added, "Lady Fu didn’t even have words to throw back at you. That’s how sharp you were."

Lin Xu blinked, overwhelmed by their excitement.

"...I wasn’t trying to win anything," she said calmly. "I only spoke the truth."

Yan Mei raised an eyebrow. "Xu Xu, don’t downplay it. If it was someone else on that seat, they would have fainted."

Ru Lan pointed toward her. "Miss, you even made San Na’s fake smile disappear for a second. I saw it. She almost cracked."

Lin Xu sighed, rubbing her forehead.

Yan Mei leaned closer with a teasing smile. "And... everyone also saw how General Mo Ying kept sticking to you."

Lin Xu froze.

Ru Lan nodded. "He didn’t let go of you for even a breath, Miss."

Yan Mei smirked. "Lin Xu, be honest... you felt shy, didn’t you?"

Lin Xu immediately looked away. "No. He was just being irritating."

Ru Lan and Yan Mei both exchanged a look.

Both nodded dramatically.

"Yes, very irritating," Yan Mei said.

"So irritating he couldn’t take his hand off your waist," Ru Lan added.

Lin Xu’s face reddened instantly.

"I said stop it," she muttered.

Yan Mei giggled softly. "I’m just saying what we all saw."

Ru Lan folded her arms. "After tonight, Miss... San Na and Chu Ming won’t dare step too far anymore."

Yan Mei smiled knowingly. "You won today, Lin Xu."

Lin Xu looked at the two of them her closest companion and her loyal maid both smiling warmly, both standing by her side.

Slowly, she relaxed and let out a small breath.

"Fine," she whispered. "Maybe I did do well."

Ru Lan’s grin widened.

Yan Mei laughed softly. "You did more than well."

But then Ru Lan’s smile faded slightly.

"Miss... this is only the beginning. Those women won’t stay quiet."

Lin Xu’s expression turned serious once more, though her voice stayed calm.

"I know," she said. "And that’s why we must stay prepareed."

Before Yan Mei or Ru Lan could say anything else, the air in the room suddenly stopped moving.

The candle flames froze.

The breeze outside stopped.

Yan Mei, who had been opening her mouth to speak, froze mid-movement.

Ru Lan, mid-smile, also stopped like a statue.

Lin Xu’s face changed instantly.

"...Susu?"

A soft glow formed beside her, spinning, and SuSu appeared inside her tiny blue bubble.

A system box appeared in front of Lin Xu:

[ MAIN TASK COMPLETED!

Task: Attend the upcoming Lady’s Banquet at the Mo residence and successfully complete your designated objective.

Status: SUCCESS

Evaluation: Excellent ]

Susu placed her little hands on her waist proudly.

"Host, you did amazing! You passed the main task without a scratch!"

Lin Xu sighed. "I almost died of stress."

Susu ignored her and snapped her fingers.

Another glowing box appeared:

[ Reward Granted: Mind Reading Ability ×5

Effect: Allows Host to hear the true thoughts of one person for 10 minutes.

Uses: 5

Condition: Must be close to the target.

Cooldown: None. ]

Five small glass beads appeared in SuSu’s hands. She floated over and carefully placed them on Lin Xu’s table.

"Host, with this, no one can trick you. Not even San Na!"

Lin Xu stared at the beads. "...This looks dangerous."

"No, no, it’s super useful!" SuSu said quickly. "If someone wants to harm you, you’ll know right away! Think of it as... anti-scheming medicine!"

Lin Xu rubbed her forehead. "Still stressful."

SuSu giggled. "But Host, stressful things build character—"

Lin Xu gave her a sharp look.

SuSu coughed. "Ahem... anyway, you did great! Keep going like this and you’ll complete future missions easily!"

Her bubble started floating backward.

"I’ll come back when there’s something new. Rest well, Host!"

With a tiny pop, Susu vanished

and time unfroze instantly.

Yan Mei blinked as if nothing happened.

Ru Lan took a breath again, unaware anything had changed.

Only Lin Xu knew her night had just taken another unexpected turn.

Later that night, after washing up and calming her mind, Lin Xu stepped out of her quarters.

The moon was high, the wind gentle.

She planned to go find Mo Ying, she hadn’t seen him since the banquet ended, and after everything, she just wanted a quiet moment with him.

But halfway through the garden path, she stopped.

Someone was standing under the plum tree.

San Na.

She turned slowly, her face cold but her eyes full of hidden fire.

"Well, look who’s strolling around like she owns the place," San Na said with a sharp smile.

Lin Xu didn’t reply. She didn’t need to.

San Na walked closer, her shoes tapping against the stone path.

"Feeling proud tonight?" she continued. "You embarrassed my people, made Lady Fu scold me, and even made Mo Ying yell at me. You must be very happy."

Lin Xu looked at her calmly. "You caused your own disgrace. You and Chu Ming."

San Na’s smile dropped.

"You think just because Mo Ying defends you now, you can talk to me like that?"

"I talk based on truth," Lin Xu said softly. "And the truth is, your tricks failed."

San Na’s eyes shook with anger.

She stepped even closer, almost face-to-face.

"Don’t get too comfortable. Mo Ying is my husband. You’re nothing."

Lin Xu raised a brow. "If I’m nothing, why are you this threatened?"

San Na froze.

Lin Xu continued calmly, voice steady:

"You know he doesn’t want you. You know he doesn’t trust you. That’s why you’re desperate. That’s why you scheme. Because deep down, you understand, nothing you do will make him look at you."

San Na trembled with rage.

"Shut up! You think he will stay by your side forever? You think you can take my place?"

Lin Xu tilted her head slightly.

"Your place? San Na, you lost your place the moment you tried to force feelings that weren’t there."

San Na gritted her teeth.

"You think you’ve won? You haven’t. I’ll make sure you fall. I’ll make sure Mo Ying regrets ever touching you."

Lin Xu’s eyes turned cold.

"You should be careful with threats. You aren’t in the position to make them anymore."

San Na opened her mouth to argue...

But suddenly footsteps echoed from behind, approaching fast.

Both women turned their heads...

Mo Ying was walking straight toward them.