The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 60: Chapter 060 I am the Evil Sister (Fifteen)

The night was slightly drunk with the new moon hanging high.

In the temple courtyard nestled in the mountains, an exceptional tranquility and artistic conception prevailed.

Under the large osmanthus tree, golden osmanthus blossoms quietly burst forth, filling the surrounding air with a rich fragrance.

Moonlight streamed through the branches, softly casting down its light, where a gentle silhouette quietly stood by the tree.

She picked up a fallen osmanthus flower from the ground and absentmindedly fiddled with it in her hand while her eyes gazed at the crescent moon in the deep night; her entire being seemed enveloped in a faint sorrow and yearning.

Kang Mo, after visiting his wife, saw that she still showed no signs of awakening; he silently sighed.

He walked out of the guest room, planning to cross the courtyard to either the main hall or step outside the temple for some air, when he happened to witness this scene.

The scene was beautiful, dreamlike, stirring Kang Mo’s heartstrings quietly.

”Third Lady?” Kang Mo didn’t realize that he had already quietly walked up behind He Yi and called out to her gently.

”Lord Duke?” Perhaps due to truly harboring other thoughts, upon seeing Kang Mo, He Yi’s first words uttered were ”Lord Duke,” unlike her usual call of ”brother-in-law.”

”... Have you, have you been well lately?” Kang Mo asked He Yi, looking deeply into her eyes.

He Yi looked back at Kang Mo, but didn’t speak; instead, she lightly tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing a smile tinged with bitterness.

Actually, the moment Kang Mo asked that question, he realized he shouldn’t have.

Because there was no need!

Rumors about He Yi in the capital were rife, and even he, a man who seldom dealt with ladies, had heard them; one could imagine the kind of ”fearsome public opinion” He Yi faced.

He actually asked He Yi if she was doing well?

Being the subject of idle gossip all day, shunned by noble ladies of her age when she went out, how could He Yi possibly be doing well?

It was precisely because he imagined that He Yi’s days were not easy that Kang Mo felt especially remorseful toward her.

Initially, when Lady He suggested that Kang Mo take He Yi as a concubine, he was not very supportive.

Because, in his subconscious, He Yi was still a child.

However, both his wife and Marquis Yongchang’s Mansion insisted, and even the Grand Madam relented.

As a husband who respected his wife and a dutiful son, Kang Mo could only tacitly agree.

Later, He Tian invited He Yi to the Duke Mansion, ostensibly to care for her sick cousin but in reality, to allow He Yi to develop affection with Brother Yuan in advance.

He Tian wanted He Yi to become a concubine for the sake of her own son, even committing wrongdoings for this reason.

He Yi was originally Brother Yuan’s aunt; if they could develop feelings for each other, the future relationship between this ”mother and son” could be more harmonious.

Although He Tian did not wish for her son to call another woman ”mother,” she had no choice.

She couldn’t be with her son as he grew up; once she closed her eyes, inevitably, another woman would become his stepmother.

If it were a close maternal aunt assuming this role, Brother Yuan might not be so resistant and could get along well with the stepmother.

It could be said that He Tian had considered everything for her son.

But the one thing she hadn’t considered, or rather, couldn’t control, was human nature.

Once He Yi arrived at the Duke Mansion, not only did she develop affection with Brother Yuan, but more importantly, her relationship with Kang Mo also shifted from that of sisters-in-law and brother-in-law to an awkward, ambiguous male-female relationship!

Perhaps neither of them realized it, but those emotions had quietly developed.

Although later, as ”He Tian” recovered, He Yi’s hopes of joining the Duke Mansion were dashed, and their relationship seemingly reverted to simply being relatives.

But what they truly thought at the bottom of their hearts, even they might not have understood.

And now, in the temple amidst the mountains outside the city, away from the crowds and scrutiny, He Yi and Kang Mo finally had the chance to be alone together.

Looking into each other’s eyes, they finally detected that unusual flicker in their hearts.

He Yi was shy but carried a little girl’s longing and fantasization about love, and Kang Mo, who had started at some point to see his younger sister-like impression as a woman, suddenly felt that the woman before him was so pure and lovely, so pitifully charming!

The two of them finally recognized their own hearts: I, I like her (him).

Another thing, it seemed again possible for them together—He Tian was critically ill again, it was uncertain if she could survive till the next day.

Kang Mo: ...He Tian got injured while saving me, thinking this way, I indeed feel somewhat conscience-stricken.

But he was helpless in his affection.

Besides, He Tian was pitiful, and He Yi was innocent too.

Moreover, in the pain He Yi suffered, there was also harm from He Tian.

Although He Tian had ”punished” herself, she also found her illness because of the misfortune, which offered her a chance to recover.

Looking closely at the whole matter, it was still He Tian who owed He Yi, her cousin.

Another point, although Kang Mo was not superstitious, He Tian’s recent experiences were too bizarre.

Kang Mo even had a premonition that it was He Tian’s fate to face a deadly calamity.

Previously, she had narrowly escaped, but it was only temporary.

Look, not even half a month had passed and his wife had, had suffered serious injuries again.

Kang Mo felt, this was perhaps destiny. He and his wife were not meant to be together forever, and He Yi was the one who could be his life-long partner.

Once he realized this, the guilt he felt towards He Tian seemed to dilute significantly.

Of course, he still felt pained and grateful towards his wife, even felt sorry for her.

But, fate could not be defied.

He, Kang Mo, was just a mortal, the only thing he could do was take good care of her while she was still alive.

Once she was gone, he would marry He Yi according to his wife’s wishes, and together with He Yi, raise Brother Yuan, allowing his wife to rest in peace below.

”Lady He is not doing well, it’s a matter of these few days...”

After a long silence, Kang Mo finally spoke.

”I, I just arrived this afternoon and have visited my sister!” He Yi said softly.

Although she wasn’t a doctor, seeing Nanny Seo’s grief-stricken appearance, He Yi had her suspicions.

This time, ”He Tian” was probably truly at her end.

And, He Yi also felt that her own fate shouldn’t be so bitter.

Heaven had tricked her once, it wouldn’t trick her a second time.

”...Wait, wait for her... Yiyi, rest assured, I, I will definitely not fail you!” Kang Mo spoke ambiguously, but the meaning he wanted to convey, both understood.

He Yi’s eyes brimmed with luminescent tears, she sniffed slightly, a bit bashfully, and responded softly, ”Okay! I’ll wait for you!”

The two didn’t speak much, but the deep, unspoken sweetness between them almost seemed to materialize.

Heart to heart, eye to eye they conveyed their affections... The two lingered under the osmanthus tree in silent tenderness for a long while, until the night grew deeper and the dew heavier, then they left reluctantly.

Kang Mo watched He Yi leave first, ensuring she safely returned to her guest room, then he turned and went to the front hall.

Kang Mo’s footsteps gradually faded.

From the other side of the osmanthus tree, in the bushes, a figure slowly moved out.

The Assistant Minister of Rites’ most favored youngest daughter, holding the edges of her skirt, her skirt lifted, filled with golden osmanthus flowers.

She was just greedy, wanting to secretly collect some osmanthus flowers to make pastries, but unexpectedly, she witnessed such a scene that made her blush and, and feel utterly nauseated...