CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER

The Prime Minister finally snapped after the relief faded from his face. He pointed angrily at Lady Xu, who was still weak and leaning on her maid.

"Look at her! Look at how fragile she’s become! Is this how the Mo residence takes care of my daughter?"

His voice boomed through the room.

"This is unacceptable! If anything had happened to her tonight, General Mo, I would have—"

"Prime Minister—" Mo Ying began, trying to stay calm.

But the man wasn’t listening.

"You allowed my daughter to be poisoned under your roof! What kind of husband are you?! What kind of protection is this?!"

Madame Mo stiffened in embarrassment. Grandma Mo frowned. Uncle Mo rubbed his forehead tiredly.

Just as the Prime Minister was about to explode again...

A soft, weak voice cut through the tension.

"Father... please stop."

Everyone turned.

Lady Xu, holding her maid’s arm, slowly stood from the bed. Her legs trembled, and Grandma Mo hurried to steady her. But she pushed through her weakness and walked forward until she reached her father.

But instead of facing him first, she turned to Lin Xu.

The entire room held its breath.

Lady Xu bowed her head deeply.

"Thank you," she said softly. "You saved my life. I’m sorry... I never meant to accuse you. I was afraid... and confused."

Lin Xu blinked, startled. She quickly stepped forward.

"You don’t need to apologize. You were in pain, I understand."

Lady Xu gave a small, tired smile before turning to her father and Mo Ying.

Then... slowly, painfully, she lowered herself to her knees.

Everyone gasped.

"Lady Xu!" her maid cried.

Grandma Mo tried to pull her up, but she refused, bowing her head to the ground.

"Please..." Lady Xu whispered, her voice trembling. "General Mo... Father... I beg you both."

Mo Ying’s brows pulled together.

"What are you doing? Get up first—"

"No!" she shouted weakly. "I... I don’t want this marriage anymore."

Silence slammed into the room.

Even Mo Lan’s jaw dropped.

Lady Xu’s shoulders shook as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I’m barren," she said quietly, painfully. "I cannot give the Mo family an heir. I cannot help the General in any way. I... only bring trouble."

Her voice broke.

"Please, General Mo... give me my freedom. Let me go. I don’t want to stand between you and someone else you clearly care for."

Her eyes flickered toward Lin Xu for just a moment.

The Prime Minister’s face turned pale. "Daughter—!"

But Lady Xu kept her forehead pressed to the floor.

Mo Ying stood frozen for a moment, looking at her... then at Lin Xu, then back at her.

There was no anger in his eyes, no coldness... only a quiet understanding.

He stepped forward and gently took Lady Xu’s arms, lifting her to her feet.

"If this is what you truly want," Mo Ying said softly, "then I won’t stop you."

He met her eyes, steady and sincere.

"I will give you your freedom back."

Lady Xu’s tears fell harder; not from sadness, but relief.

She bowed her head once more, whispering, "Thank you... General."

From the corner, San Na’s fingers tightened so hard her knuckles turned white.

And Lin Xu... Lin Xu felt her heart twist with something she couldn’t name. She didn’t know if what she felt was relief or guilt, it was all mixed together.

After all the drama, they all went back to their quarters as Lady Xu and her maids sorted out her things.

Lin Xu walked back to her quarters as Yan Mei and Ru Lan rushed out to greet her; they had heard about what had occurred earlier.

"Lin Xu, are you alright? I heard what happened?" Yan Mei asked, worry visible all over her face.

Lin Xu sighed, nodding slightly.

"I’m fine, I just need a warm bath. I am tired, Yan Mei, so very much tired," she whispered with a slow voice.

Hearing that, Yan Mei and Ru Lan exchanged looks before a mischievous smile appeared on their faces.

"Now that you talk about bathing, I just discovered that here at the Mo residence there is a hot spring just at the back... it’s very nice. Trust me, you gotta try it."

Smiling, Lin Xu nodded as they made their way inside to get ready.

Lin Xu checked up on the kids; the event wasn’t for kids, so they had been indoors all day. They were already asleep, and seeing them sleeping, Lin Xu felt unhappy.

"Since I stepped my foot into the mansion, I haven’t spent enough time with my children. Is this life truly what they need?" she asked herself as she stared at them through the small opened door.

Sighing, she turned and caught up with Yan Mei and Ru Lan.

They made their way to the spring at the back. It was wide, and it was as though the full moonlight was mixed with the spring water; it looked so magical.

Lin Xu exhaled.

"After such an exhausting day, this is truly what I need."

"We will leave you to it, bye." Yan Mei said, grabbing hold of Ru Lan’s hand and disappearing before Lin Xu could even say a single word.

Lin Xu just shook her head.

"Unbelievable."

Lin Xu entered the warm spring, and it immediately sent sensations down her nerves. She had never felt such relief since... her face immediately turned red.

Since Mo Ying had touched her, hehe.

She wasn’t completely naked in the spring; she had a white thin garment on. It hid her nipples but didn’t hide her curves, and Lin Xu was very curvy. After all, the original owner of this body was a complete beauty; in fact, the word beauty was an understatement.

While Lin Xu took her bath, unknown to her that certain eyes were watching her.

From the bushes at the corner of the spring, certain dark eyes didn’t leave her; they stared at her in a very hungry way, filled with fascination.

"Mo Ting, what are you doing here?" Mo Zen appeared, calling the attention of his brother who was currently staring at Lin Xu.

He tapped his head so hard that Mo Zen was seeing stars.

"What is it? Why are you following me?" Mo Ting replied as he staggered slightly, trying to stand straight while rubbing his aching head.

Mo Zen quickly covered his nose.

"Eww, you are full of alcohol. Didn’t Father tell you to stop drinking? You will be in so much trouble. And what are you doing here? Who are you watching again? You have to stop spying on maids when they take their bath," Mo Zen said as he shook his head, leaning forward to see who his brother was looking at... only for his eyes to widen in shock.

Mo Zen’s mouth hung wide open, his whole body freezing like someone poured ice water down his spine.

"That... that’s Lin Xu," he whispered first... then exploded, "THAT IS LIN XU, YOU BASTARD!!"

He grabbed Mo Ting by the collar, shaking him so hard the man’s drunken eyes rolled.

"That is Mo Shen’s new concubine, are you INSANE?! Do you... do you actually want to DIE tonight?!"

Mo Ting blinked slowly, swaying slightly, his eyes still glued to Lin Xu’s silhouette in the glowing spring water.

Her curves under that thin white cloth... the moonlight dancing on her skin...

He hiccupped.

"I’m... not spying..." he slurred, even though he absolutely, 100%, definitely was.

"I was just... looking. Just looking..."

Mo Zen slapped him... HARD.

"LOOKING?!" he whisper-yelled, terrified. "Looking at Mo Shen’s woman like that?! Brother, do you WANT to be buried alive? He will DIG YOUR GRAVE HIMSELF—"

Mo Ting shoved him weakly.

"Stop yelling... you’ll alert her..."

"ME?!" Mo Zen stared at him like he had grown three heads. "YOU’RE DRUNK AND TRESPASSING AND SPYING ON A WOMAN BATHING, AND I AM THE PROBLEM?!"

Mo Ting’s eyes softened again, drawn helplessly back to the spring.

Lin Xu moved slightly, water rippling around her waist, steam rising around her body like mist around a goddess.

Her hair floating behind her... that tired, relaxed expression...

He swallowed hard.

"She’s... beautiful," he murmured, almost dreamily.

Mo Zen froze.

He stared at his older brother.

Then stared again.

"...oh no."

A very bad realization hit him straight in the face.

"Brother."

"Mm?"

"You, you’re not... falling for her, right?"

Mo Ting didn’t answer.

Which meant the answer was yes.

Mo Zen silently screamed inside.

"BROTHER, PLEASE... ANY WOMAN! ANY WOMAN IN THIS WORLD! EXCEPT HER! MO SHEN WILL RIP YOU INTO PIECES, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!"

Mo Ting waved him off with the arrogance of a drunk who thought he was invincible.

"I’m not scared of Mo Shen..."

"You WILL BE!!!" Mo Zen whisper-shouted. "This isn’t just any concubine...HE LIKES HER. HE ACTUALLY LIKES THAT WOMAN. YOU ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE, NO, YOU ARE EATING FIRE!"

Mo Ting ignored him completely.

His gaze lingered on Lin Xu again.

Mo Zen felt his soul leave his body.

"Oh ancestors," he muttered, dragging his brother away by force, "please, PLEASE don’t let him die tonight..."