Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 167 -

The room was quiet after the bowl was set aside.

San Na slowly pulled her hands back and stood up. She did not look at Mo Ying. Her face was calm, but her eyes were cold.

"So," she said, breaking the silence, "is this what you wanted? To force me to eat so you can feel better about yourself?"

Mo Ying frowned. "I told you to sit because you needed food."

She laughed softly. There was no joy in it. "You didn’t do it for me. You did it because guilt finally caught up to you."

"That’s not true," he said, his voice firm.

San Na turned to face him at last. "Then tell me," she said. "Why now? Why today? I starved for years in this house. I waited for letters that never came. I waited for a husband who never looked back. Where was your concern then?"

Mo Ying’s jaw tightened. "I was at war."

"And I was your wife," she shot back. "Left behind. Forgotten."

Silence fell between them again, heavy and sharp.

"You think feeding me fixes everything?" she continued. "You think one meal can make up for years of cold nights and empty hopes?"

Mo Ying took a step toward her. "San Na—"

She raised her hand, stopping him. "Don’t say my name like you care. It’s too late for that."

His eyes darkened. "You’re wrong. I do care."

She shook her head slowly. "No. You only care because you were forced to see what you ignored."

Her voice lowered, each word cutting deep.

"You never loved me, Mo Ying. You just didn’t want to be the villain in your own story."

That hit him harder than any blade.

San Na took a breath, steadying herself. Then she said quietly, "And don’t worry. I won’t trouble you anymore."

She turned and walked toward the door.

Just before leaving, she stopped without looking back.

"Next time," she said softly, "save your kindness for the woman you truly want."

Then she left.

The door closed.

Mo Ying stood there, unmoving.

The room felt empty again.

He returned to the desk and sat down slowly. His eyes fell on the letters still spread before him. San Na’s handwriting stared back at him, neat and careful, filled with words she never sent.

For the first time, his chest felt tight.

The door opened quietly.

"General," a voice said.

Fuhan stepped inside and bowed. He held a letter in both hands.

"There is a message from the palace."

Mo Ying looked up. "Read it."

Fuhan opened the letter. "The Mo family has been invited to attend the annual Royal Hunting. It will take place at Yan Mountain in two days’ time."

Mo Ying’s fingers tightened on the edge of the desk.

Yan Mountain.

He looked back at the letters, then toward the closed door San Na had walked through.

"Prepare the arrangements," he said at last.

"Yes, General," Fuhan replied.

As Fuhan left, Mo Ying remained seated, deep in thought, knowing that the coming days would not be peaceful at all.

....

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as the Crown Prince had said, a carriage arrived early in the morning.

It waited quietly outside.

Inside the room, everything was in chaos.

"Lin Xu, where did you keep your earrings?" Yan Mei asked, moving boxes aside as she searched. "I swear they were here last night."

Lin Xu was already dressed, tying the ribbon of her sleeve. "Check the wooden box near the mirror," she said calmly.

Yan Mei rushed over. "Found them!"

She quickly brought them over and helped Lin Xu put them on. Outside, servants moved back and forth, calling out reminders. Time was short.

Yan Mei ran to the window, then back again. "The carriage is here already. Hurry!"

"I know," Lin Xu said. "Give me a moment."

She stood up and walked toward the inner room.

The children were already awake.

When they saw her, they quickly gathered around her legs.

"Mama, are you leaving again?" one of them asked.

Lin Xu knelt down and gently fixed the boy’s collar. "Yes, but I will come back."

"When?" another child asked softly.

"Soon," she replied. "You must listen to the the maids and Xu shi will come and stay with you guys while I’m gone."

They nodded, though their eyes were reluctant.

Lin Xu smiled faintly and patted their heads one by one. "Be good. I’ll bring you something next time."

Only then did she stand and turn away.

Yan Mei was already at the door, waving at her. "Lin Xu, if we don’t leave now, we’ll be late!"

Lin Xu took one last look at the children, then walked out.

Outside, a neatly decorated carriage waited. A maid stood beside it, dressed in palace colors.

Lin Xu and Yan Mei stepped inside.

The carriage doors closed.

With a soft shake, it began to move.

The road was smooth, and the sound of the wheels was steady.

Yan Mei peeked outside the curtain. "So this is Yan Mountain," she said later, eyes wide. "It’s far."

Lin Xu sat quietly, her hands folded. After a moment, she turned to the maid sitting across from them.

"Where are we going exactly?" she asked.

The maid smiled politely. "To Yan Mountain, Miss Lin. The annual Royal Hunt is being held there."

Lin Xu frowned slightly. "The Royal Hunt?"

"Yes," the maid replied. "It happens once every year. All noble families are invited."

Lin Xu thought for a moment. "Then why was I asked to come?"

The maid hesitated, then spoke carefully. "The Crown Prince will be attending."

Yan Mei’s eyes widened. "The Crown Prince?"

"Yes," the maid said. "He currently has no princess consort, so he invited you instead."

Lin Xu was surprised. "But most Crown Princes are already married."

The maid nodded. "That is true."

After a pause, she lowered her voice.

"The Crown Prince was married," she said. "But three years ago, his wife and child died in a terrible fire."

Lin Xu’s fingers tightened slightly.

"A fire?" she asked.

"Yes," the maid replied. "The palace said it was an accident. Since then, the Crown Prince has refused to take any consort. Not a single one."

Yan Mei covered her mouth. "That’s... so sad."

"He changed after that," the maid continued. "He became colder. Distant. No one has been able to get close to him since."

Lin Xu fell silent.

She thought of the man’s calm smile, his sharp eyes, and the way he spoke as if everything was already decided.

So he was married.

And he had lost everything.

The carriage continued forward, passing green hills and winding roads. In the distance, Yan Mountain slowly came into view, tall and grand under the morning sky.

Lin Xu looked out the window.

For some reason, her heart felt unsettled.

She did not know what awaited her at Yan Mountain but she knew this trip would not be simple at all.

The carriage slowly came to a stop.

Outside, voices filled the air. Horses neighed, servants moved quickly, and banners fluttered in the wind. The Royal Hunting Camp was already lively.

Yan Mei stepped down first.

She froze.

"So many people..." she whispered.

Lin Xu followed her down.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she felt it.

Eyes.

Too many eyes.

Nobles, generals, young ladies, servants almost everyone nearby turned to look at them. Some were curious. Some were shocked. Some whispered behind their sleeves.

Yan Mei leaned closer and whispered, "Why are they staring like this?"

Lin Xu kept her face calm. "Ignore them."

But the whispers grew louder.

"Who is she?"

"Isn’t that Lin Xu?"

"Why is she here?"

Before Lin Xu could take another step, a sharp voice cut through the noise.

"Lin Xu?"

Her steps stopped.

She turned.

Standing a few steps away was Mo Lan.

Beside her were familiar faces—Grandmother Mo, Uncle Mo, and Madame Mo. They were all dressed neatly, clearly here as invited nobles.

Mo Lan’s eyes widened first, then narrowed.

She walked forward quickly. "What are you doing here?"

Lin Xu met her gaze. "I was invited."

Mo Lan laughed in disbelief. "Invited? To the Royal Hunt?" She looked Lin Xu up and down. "By who?"

Yan Mei frowned and stepped forward. "Watch your tone."

Mo Lan ignored her and stared straight at Lin Xu. "Do you really think this is a place someone like you should be?"

Lin Xu’s eyes cooled. "I could ask you the same."

Mo Lan’s smile disappeared. "Don’t compare yourself to me."

Grandmother Mo stepped forward, her face dark. "Lin Xu, you should know your place."

Lin Xu bowed slightly, polite but distant. "I do."

Madame Mo spoke softly, but her words were sharp. "Then why are you here, causing rumors?"

Lin Xu answered calmly, "I did not force my way in."

Mo Lan scoffed. "Then tell us who invited you?"

Before Lin Xu could reply..

"Mo Ying has arrived!"

The announcement echoed across the camp.

Lin Xu stiffened.

Yan Mei felt it and quickly looked at her.

From the other side of the camp, three figures approached.

Mo Ying.

San Na.

And Chu Ming.

They walked together.

The moment Mo Ying lifted his eyes, he saw her.

Lin Xu.

He stopped.

His eyes did not move away.

San Na noticed immediately. Her steps slowed when she followed his gaze. When she saw Lin Xu, her expression changed.

Chu Ming blinked. "Isn’t that—"

Mo Lan turned and froze. "Brother?"

Mo Ying walked closer, his face unreadable.

Mo Lan quickly spoke, "Brother, why is she here?"

Mo Ying did not answer.

His eyes were still on Lin Xu.

Lin Xu felt his gaze, steady and heavy. She met it briefly, then looked away.

San Na clenched her fingers. "Lin Xu?" she said quietly, disbelief clear in her voice.

Yan Mei whispered, "This is bad..."

Mo Lan laughed sharply. "So this is it," she said. "You chased after my brother before, and now you’ve come all the way here?"

Lin Xu’s eyes flashed. "Watch your words."

Mo Lan stepped closer. "Or what?"

Mo Ying finally spoke. "Enough."

Everyone fell silent.

His voice was calm, but firm.

Mo Lan turned to him. "Brother, she doesn’t belong here."

Mo Ying said nothing.

Instead, he looked at Lin Xu and asked, "Why are you here?"

All eyes turned to her but instead they were focused on the figure that was coming from behind her.

"oh why she was brought by me."