Published: August 16, 2025
Chapter 110: Fox Seductress
Han Li had already read the letter several times. The content was not complicated—it said that Han Li, the messenger, was Doctor Mo’s close disciple and could be fully trusted. If the Mo Residence faced any trouble, Han Li could be sent to resolve it. As long as he guaranteed the safety of everyone at the Mo Residence, Madam Yan would choose one of the three daughters to marry Han Li, with the dowry specified as the “warm sun jade.” As for Doctor Mo himself, he claimed to have urgent matters to attend to and could not return to reunite with his wife and daughters, so Madam Yan and the others should not worry.
Though Han Li found nothing in the letter harmful to himself, he knew it had likely been tampered with by Doctor Mo and wasn't as simple as it appeared.
Since he couldn’t uncover the letter’s hidden meaning and wanted to gain trust from the Mo Residence early on, Han Li had no choice but to hand the letter to Madam Yan. Therefore, he paid special attention to her every move. He did not want this Fourth Madam to suddenly see through the letter and turn hostile, seeking revenge for Doctor Mo.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario Han Li imagined did not happen. After Madam Yan finished reading, she only furrowed her brows, then looked deeply worried, as if facing a difficult decision.
“Caihuan, go call Second Madam, Third Madam, and Fifth Madam. Tell them there’s news of the master!” Madam Yan turned around, speaking in a tone that brooked no argument.
“Understood, Mother! I’m going now.” Mo Caihuan knew the gravity of the situation and obediently left. Before leaving the room, she glanced at Han Li with a subtle smile, seeming quite interested in him.
“Your name is Han Li?” Madam Yan lifted her head, her expression becoming elegant and refined again.
“Yes, Mother!” Han Li answered honestly.
“Can you tell me how husband came to accept you as a disciple?” Madam Yan smiled.
“As you command!” Han Li hesitated briefly, but then felt there was nothing to hide about Doctor Mo’s acceptance of him as a disciple. He carefully and selectively recounted the story.
“Eight years ago, Master Mo, due to an old injury not healing, went into seclusion at Rainbow Cloud Mountain of the seven mysteries sect in Yuezhou. It just so happened to be when I first entered the mountains...” Han Li naturally narrated the process. His story was seventy percent true and thirty percent fabricated; all the details he couldn’t reveal to Madam Yan were either altered or lightly mentioned. Still, Madam Yan listened attentively and with great interest.
“...Three months ago, Master Mo was tied up with urgent matters and couldn’t attend to everything. Worried that leaving the Mo Residence too long might bring trouble to the madams, he asked me to come down first to find you all and await your instructions.”
“What urgent business does my husband have? He doesn’t even come home first?” After hearing Han Li’s partly true, partly false apprenticeship story, Madam Yan sighed, a trace of sorrow in her voice.
“What home? Master Mo has been dead for nearly two years! His corpse buried under the tree is reduced to bones!” Han Li replied with some self-mockery, but still answered cautiously.
“What urgent matter? Master Mo never told me, but it must be very important!” Han Li was vague.
“Hmph! Is your master making you keep secrets from us?” Madam Yan said with a half-smile, but her tone carried some dissatisfaction.
“Absolutely not!” Han Li said, though inwardly he bitterly laughed. Madam Yan was indeed quite suspicious!
She looked reluctant and seemed about to ask more when chaotic footsteps sounded outside. Before anyone entered, a very seductive feminine voice called out:
“Fourth sister, I heard there’s news of husband—is it true? That deadbeat ran off for over ten years, expecting us sisters to stay widows!”
Han Li was stunned by the sultry voice, then shocked by the words.
“This lady is awfully fierce!” Han Li thought in surprise.