Volume One, Chapter Nine: Punishment

Xie Mengqi picked up a glass of wine, her voice trembling with panic.
"I'll drink!"
A dignified young lady of the Xie family—
How could she lower herself to do the work of a cleaning lady?
But the next moment, she spat out all the wine she had just swallowed.
It was terrible.
She had never tasted anything so foul before.
Meeting Mu Shaozhou's cold, menacing gaze,
she mustered her resolve, picked up another glass, and drank again.
Her face twisted with discomfort, almost as if she were wringing a towel.
She could no longer care about the airs of a wealthy heiress.
This time, no matter how awful it tasted, she dared not spit it out.
Soon, Xu Hong was slumped over, unable to continue.
Seeing Mu Shaozhou unmoved, Zhao Ming hurriedly called someone over to revive Xu Hong and force him to keep drinking.
Fu Yanting was not much better.
Two female attendants stood by his side.
Whenever his glass touched the table, they would refill it immediately.
The same happened with Xu Hong and Xie Mengqi.
And so the drinking went on for quite some time.
The wine on the long table noticeably diminished.
The three could drink no more.
Xu Hong collapsed on the floor, unable to get up, and the attendant had to feed him wine.
Xie Mengqi's stomach was so swollen she looked three months pregnant.
Fu Yanting fared slightly better but looked on the verge of vomiting.
Old Master Fu could stand it no longer.
"Your Highness, I believe they understand their mistake. This wine..."
Any more, and they'd be headed straight to the hospital.
Mu Shaozhou ignored the old master and turned to Yu Mo instead.
Behind the mask, his eyes seemed gentler than before.
His voice was cool and clear.
"Can it end now?"
The abruptness of the question left Yu Mo taken aback.
All eyes in the hall turned to her.
Meeting Mu Shaozhou's calm gaze, Yu Mo nodded slightly.
It was Old Master Fu's birthday, after all; it wouldn't do to create too much of a scene.
"Let it go," she said.
Mu Shaozhou raised his arm and rubbed his wrist,
then turned to Zhao Ming.
"Let it go."
With that, he rose and left.
As the prince departed, the guests in the banquet hall felt the tension lift and began to speak freely, their voices rising in lively discussion.
Some bolder ones even approached Yu Mo, exchanging pleasantries.
Their words danced around the question burning in everyone's mind—what exactly was Yu Mo's relationship with the prince?
Yu Mo offered no answer.
Even if she claimed to have just met him for the first time, no one would believe her now.
Old Master Fu drew her to his side,
asking her quietly.
Yu Mo answered honestly.

Old Master Fu, trusting her completely, asked nothing more.
The long table was cleared away, and Xu Hong was carried out of the hall.
Xie Mengqi dashed straight to the restroom.
Fu Yanting was in little better shape, hiccuping from too much wine.
Lin Hua helped him upstairs.
The banquet continued.
Yu Mo thought she might finally see the birthday feast come to a peaceful close.
But Xie Mengqi, now changed into fresh clothes, reappeared before her.
"Yu Mo, you really are ruthless!"
She had no idea when Yu Mo had managed to get close to the prince.
No wonder she was so cold to her cousin now—she'd found someone far more powerful to rely on.
Her eyes blazed with jealousy.
A woman like Yu Mo wasn't fit for the prince.
Sooner or later, she'd make sure the prince saw Yu Mo's true colors.
After her declaration, Xie Mengqi glanced around at the other guests, her words laced with mockery.
"Today’s birthday banquet was clearly organized by my cousin and Lin Hua. You just had to open your mouth and claim all the credit for yourself—shameless!"
Yu Mo's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Do those two even look like people capable of organizing a banquet?"
"So you have a new lover now, and my cousin no longer interests you?" Xie Mengqi pressed on.
"Your family background isn't even enough to polish my shoes. You're just a pathetic student of medicine, and you dream of reaching the prince? How laughable!"
"Xie Mengqi, the Xie family is hardly a notable clan in the city. The Yu family needs no judgment from you," Yu Mo replied with a derisive chuckle.
"You—!"
Xie Mengqi was furious. No one had ever dared speak to her like this before.
Yu Mo had once tried to buy her off with cheap handbags, hoping to use her to cozy up to her cousin. She would never fall for such tricks.
Taking two steps toward Yu Mo, she grabbed a bottle of champagne and poured it straight over Yu Mo's evening gown.
Tonight, Yu Mo wore a light blue skirt fit for easy movement. The champagne soaked the bodice, spreading in a large stain.
Yu Mo raised her head swiftly, fixing Xie Mengqi with a gaze as cold as starlight, the chill in her eyes rapidly intensifying.
Xie Mengqi showed not a hint of remorse—only triumphant satisfaction.
"Oh dear, your dress is ruined. Not that it matters—it's not designer. I'll have a waiter bring you a new one."
No sooner had she finished than a glass of chilled wine splashed across her own face.
Then another.
Yu Mo seized her by the collar and poured it down her front.
"Ah!!"
The icy wine made Xie Mengqi shudder violently.
She shrieked.
"Yu Mo, are you insane?"
Yu Mo sneered.
"I just learned from the best. If you want a wine-throwing festival, I'm happy to oblige."
Soaked from face to hem, the red wine stains covered Xie Mengqi’s dress, making her look far more disheveled than Yu Mo.
Ignoring her, Yu Mo headed upstairs to change.
As she passed a room, familiar voices drifted out.

She paused, listening closely.
Who else could it be but Fu Yanting and Lin Hua?
"Yanting, today is Grandpa’s birthday. Should we really be doing this here?" Lin Hua’s voice was soft and coy.
Even Yu Mo felt a tickle of discomfort at the sound.
Fu Yanting replied,
"What’s the harm? There are so many people in the hall, no one will notice if we’re missing. Besides, Yu Mo organized the banquet. After we’re done, we’ll just take a walk downstairs."
Yu Mo stepped into the adjacent guest room and ordered a new dress online.
It was delivered half an hour later.
All the while, the noises from next door grew increasingly fervent, drawing a subtle smile from Yu Mo.
She called hotel services.
"Hello, please send a bottle of '82 Lafite to Room 201 for Mr. Fu."
After hanging up, she listened for movement next door.
Within minutes, a waiter knocked on the door.
"Mr. Fu, your wine."
"Mr. Fu?"
Hearing the sounds from inside, the waiter frowned and left.
Yu Mo changed into her new dress and stepped out.
Back in the banquet hall,
a group of wealthy ladies were whispering excitedly.
She quietly moved closer.
"I just heard from a waiter—there was some mischief in one of the upstairs rooms. The man was apparently the eldest young master of the Fu family."
"Isn’t he engaged to that Miss Yu who’s here tonight? Then who was the woman with him?"
"Who else? It must be the woman who was at his side all evening. The nerve of him—broad daylight, at his grandfather’s birthday banquet, and he dares to behave so brazenly."
Yu Mo smiled and slipped away.
The butler whispered something in Old Master Fu’s ear.
"Scoundrel!"
Old Master Fu thumped his cane in anger.
His grandson was getting more outrageous by the day.
"Bring those two to me."
The butler took two attendants and went upstairs.
Before long,
he returned, followed by Fu Yanting and Lin Hua, both looking flustered.
They stood before Old Master Fu.
Fu Yanting was still vexed—having his fun interrupted halfway left him miserable, and the alcohol only made his temper flare.
"Grandfather."
Old Master Fu nearly fainted from rage.
The old butler quickly helped steady him.
Old Master Fu spoke through gritted teeth.
"And you still have the nerve to call me grandfather!"