Chapter 62: Pretentious
“Let’s go!”
While he was drifting in and out of consciousness earlier, he had vaguely heard his Mother Empressâs voice. He assumed his release from Qihua Hall had something to do with her.
Jun Mo agreed without hesitation. He also wanted to see what the Phoenix Empress would do after seeing him in this state!
It seemed, however, that the Second Prince of the Snake Clan was naturally ill-fated with the Phoenix Clan.
No sooner had he stepped out of Qihua Hall, supported by a maid and following Li Fengâs messenger, than he ran into Li Xuanyue and Jun He at Qionghua Hall.
Seeing Li Xuanyue was not surprising, but when Jun Mo saw Jun He, his face turned completely black.
Compared to his current wretched state, Jun He looked vibrant.
Especially considering Jun Mo was now pregnant with Li Qingheâs child, while Jun He, despite having been intimate with Li Xuanyue, had not been forced by her to conceive.
Based on this alone, Jun Mo felt the humiliation he suffered in the Phoenix Clan was beyond anyone’s comprehension.
“Greetings, Princess.”
Wuhua, leading the way, broke the stalemate first.
Jun He glanced at Jun Moâs gaunt face and frowned slightly. He hadn’t expected Jun Mo to deteriorate to this extent in just half a month.
A smile played on Li Xuanyueâs lips. “Are you taking him to see Mother Empress?”
Who else could “him” be but Jun Mo?
Wuhua glanced sideways at Jun Mo and nodded. “If Princess Xuanyue has no other business, this subordinate will take the Second Prince to Zhonghe Hall.”
Li Feng and Empress Lin were waiting in the great hall.
Li Xuanyue, however, didn’t want to let this good show pass. She chimed in, “It just so happens This Palace has business with Mother Empress at Zhonghe Hall as well. Letâs go together.”
Li Xuanyue ignored Jun Moâs ugly expression and walked ahead with Jun He.
At that moment, Jun Mo felt certain she was mocking him in her heart.
And why wouldn’t she? Back when he first arrived in the Phoenix Clan, acting high and mighty and bullying that trash Jun He in the Peach Blossom Grove, Li Xuanyue had stepped in to stop him and demand justice for Jun He.
Now that he had fallen so low, she must be gloating.
But why? Why was Jun He so lucky?
He was unwillingâutterly unwilling. Infinite jealousy and hatred swirled in the depths of Jun Moâs dark eyes.
Wuhua, seeing Li Xuanyue heading toward Zhonghe Hall, turned to Jun Mo, who was standing still.
“Let’s go, Second Prince. The Phoenix Empress and the others are waiting.” Wuhuaâs voice was indifferent.
With her prompting, Jun Mo masked his jealousy and followed.
The distance from Qihua Hall to Zhonghe Hall was neither far nor close. Jun Moâs body had not recovered; the small bowl of porridge he just ate did little for someone starved for days, other than slightly improving his mental state. It offered no physical strength.
Before long, sweat covered his face.
Li Xuanyue and Jun He, walking ahead, naturally noticed the footsteps behind them slowing down. They looked back simultaneously.
Jun Mo, supported by the maid, had legs that were trembling.
Was this the arrogant Second Prince they knew? Walking a few steps reduced him to this? One could imagine how miserably Li Qinghe had tortured him in Qihua Hall over the last half-month.
“Wuhua, go arrange for a sedan chair,” Li Xuanyue stopped and ordered.
If they let him continue walking, Jun Mo might faint before reaching Zhonghe Hall. Empress Lin was already displeased. If she found out Jun Mo had walked there and collapsed, she would likely make a scene in front of Li Feng.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, arranging a sedan chair was the most prudent choice.
To Jun Mo, however, Li Xuanyueâs kindness felt like deliberate humiliation. He rejected it without thinking.
“No need!”
Humiliation flashed across his face. He was the dignified Second Prince of the Snake Clan; walking a few steps was nothing. Why should he sit in a sedan chair like a woman? If word got out, wouldn’t people say he was less than a woman?
Li Xuanyueâs mind was truly poisonous.
Surprise flashed in Li Xuanyueâs eyes. She turned to face Jun Mo and saw the dissatisfaction and anger on his face.
“Surely the Second Prince doesn’t think This Palace is using this opportunity to humiliate you?” she asked with a faint smile, her eyes dancing.
The shame and indignation on Jun Moâs face seemed to say, Aren’t you?
He was a man, no matter how weak. Li Xuanyue offering him a sedan chair was implying he was inferior to a woman.
Li Xuanyue frowned, almost laughing at Jun Moâs determination to be offended.
“The Second Prince truly thinks highly of This Palace.” Li Xuanyue mocked herself, “If I wanted to humiliate you, I have plenty of ways. A sedan chair is merely to save your strength.”
“After all, in your current state, you really can’t support yourself all the way to Zhonghe Hall.”
As she spoke, Li Xuanyue looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, clearly implying his physical condition was terrible.
“Of course, if you don’t want to accept This Palaceâs kindness, I won’t stop you.”
In the end, it was his choice. It had nothing to do with her.
When had Jun Mo ever been looked at with such explicit scrutiny? It felt as if Li Xuanyue were assessing livestock. It made him feel both angry and embarrassed.
“This Prince knows his own body well enough,” Jun Mo retorted testily. “No need for Princess Xuanyue to worry.”
Even if he died walking, he wouldn’t take the chair.
Li Xuanyue raised an eyebrow. “Pretentious!”
“Since you want to walk, then walk. Just don’t blame me for not warning you if you faint.”
Driven by Li Xuanyueâs sarcasm, Jun Mo told himself he absolutely could not lose face in front of her and Jun He.
Thus, when he arrived at Zhonghe Hall, his face was as pale as paper, and he was gasping for breath. He looked incredibly weak, as if he might collapse at any moment.
“Mo’er!”
Empress Lin cried out upon seeing her sonâs pale face, her expression filled with heartache.
“Phoenix Empress, is this the sincerity of the people you sent to invite Mo’er?” Empress Lin turned to Li Fengâs stern face, her expression shifting to blame and dissatisfaction.
She didn’t wait for Li Xuanyue, Jun He, and the others to pay their respects before questioning Li Feng.
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