Chapter 77: A Flawless, Good Show

By the time it was afternoon, half of the guests who had come to offer their well-wishes and gifts had left. The official birthday party would begin in the evening.

The Mo family stopped accepting guests from outside. Only the Mo family's direct relatives or relatives and friends who were very close to them stayed in the living room.

"Grandfather Mo, previously I didn't have the opportunity to speak up. This is the gift that the Ji family has prepared for you." By the table, Ji Mengran presented a delicately crafted, traditional box.

When she said this, she specially glanced at Ji Nuan.

Ji Nuan felt her gaze but showed no reaction.

The people around the table saw that someone had brought up this topic again. They all quickly brought out their meticulously chosen presents to place on the table. Rather than shoving it on the shelf carelessly, they were now taking the initiative to open the birthday presents for the Elder to see.

Ji Mengran saw that the opportunity was ripe and acted as though she was carelessly speaking, "Big sister, why don't I see you offering your gift? Quickly take it out for Grandfather Mo to see! I believe that your birthday present will be very special!"

She squeezed her eyes at Ji Nuan, smiling happily and appearing innocent.

"It is indeed special, after all, it wasn't easily obtained." Ji Nuan brought out a red sandalwood gift box out and placed it on the table. One could not tell what exactly was inside.

With one glance, Ji Mengran saw that the size of the box was the same as the chessboard she had given her previously. Her eyes held some excitement.

When Ji Hongwen saw the box Ji Nuan had brought out, his brows subconsciously furrowed.

"Grandfather, this is a surprise for you. I believe you will like it a lot." Ji Nuan placed the box before Elder Mo's eyes, smiling sincerely.

Elder Mo was still smiling. He had yet to speak when Ji Mengran suddenly glanced at the sandalwood gift box and spoke with a face full of shock, "It can't be, Big Sister! The gift you want to give to Grandfather Mo is this?"

Ji Nuan was calm and unhurried. "What about it?"

Ji Mengran retained her shocked expression. "Looking at the size of this box, could it be that what's inside is... could it be the chessboard from the Early Tang period in our house? Dad lost his most precious chess item a few days ago, who would have thought that you secretly took it! Big Sister, I know you want to win Grandfather Mo's affection, but you can't secretly take Dad's most precious antique to play 'borrowing the flower to offer to Buddha,' ah!"

Ji Hongwen appeared as though he could not remain sitting. "This one's daughter speaks without considering. Elder Mo, please don't take offense. Nuan Nuan would never do such a thing. As for this jade chessboard..."

Shen Heru suddenly opened her mouth. "That's why I was saying the antique shelf in your study appeared to be missing something. I never thought Ji Nuan would have secretly taken it."

Shen Heru shook her head and sighed. "Nuan Nuan wanted to gift something good to Elder Mo and her thoughts were good. However, a married daughter is like spilled water. When you return to your own home, you didn't even greet us and took such a precious antique item away. Although this isn't considered theft, it is indeed against the rules."

"Speak less!" Ji Hongwen saw that the Mo family were all present and did not lose himself with rage. However, he still harshly kicked Shen Heru from under the table, warning her not to speak as she pleased.

Shen Heru said nothing more, but her eyes carelessly glanced at Ji Nuan.

She refused to believe Ji Nuan could wash herself clean of the accusations seeing both her and the evidence were here. After all, her own family and her in-laws had no one who could help her. Although this issue could not be considered big, it also could not be regarded as small. Even if Ji Nuan explains herself until her tongue rots, it would still be useless.

Ji Nuan smiled lightly. "What chessboard? Meng Ran and Auntie Shen, why is it I can't understand a line of your words?"

What a surprising harvest.

This case was not Ji Mengran's work alone. She knew that this chessboard could not have been given up so easily. It seemed like Shen Heru had offered her help from the shadows.

It was indeed a well-matched, flawless good show. If she were Ji Nuan in her previous life, having no defense against Ji Mengran whatsoever, she most likely would have been wronged to death.

Such a thing, even if Elder Mo were to suppress it and help her with it, he would definitely also scold her after the celebration ended. For the rest of her life, relatives and friends would mock and criticize her.

"Big sister, quit acting dumb. The chessboard is right here. You can't take back the gift you have already given to Grandfather Mo." Ji Mengran raised the pitch of her voice.

Ji Nuan glanced at her, her eyes carrying a hint of mocking that no one could detect. "Meng Ran, why is it that your words today are so strange?"

"Big sister, I'm doing this for your own good. Quit acting already. You stole this early Tang Period's jade chess board to gift to Grandfather Mo. Even if Dad doesn't become mad, it still isn't right to use this as a gift!" While speaking, Ji Mengran sighed. "This chess board originally belonged to a eunuch who courted calamity in the early Tang period. He tried to rebel against the country and was eventually sentenced to death by a thousand cuts. After passing away, his relatives buried his bony corpse along with this chessboard. This is meant to accompany one to the grave! Even if it is a collector's antique with high value, such a thing cannot be used as a birthday gift ah!"

Ji Mengran's voice became lower as though she was not saying this on purpose. However, her voice was at the perfect volume for everyone by the table to hear. "Gifting such a thing, Big Sister, what intentions do you have..."

"Meng Ran!" Ji Hongwen originally was shocked and felt they should just admit their fault. He never expected that Ji Mengran would say such a thing. He really wanted to slap her to death.

Ji Mengran's words finished, so she could not take them back. She looked at Ji Nuan fearlessly. Yet, she saw no loss of composure or fear on Ji Nuan's face.

It was not easy to find an opportunity to stop Ji Nuan from being able to survive in the Mo family. She could not lose it easily.

All the relatives and friends present shifted their gaze around. However, because Elder Mo's face had been cold from start to finish, they said nothing. No one dared to speak casually. However, such a thing, even if Elder Mo insisted on protecting Ji Nuan, he would not be able to, would he? Gifting an item that belonged to a rebel's grave for the Elder's eightieth birthday, and it was a eunuch who died by a thousand cuts, this was simply... impossible to comprehend!

Mo Jingshen sat by the side with a calm expression from start to finish. Only when the show was finishing did he calmly and lightly sneer.

Ji Mengran saw that Mo Jingshen did not immediately speak to protect Ji Nuan and suspected that he also felt that Ji Nuan had gone too far. She continued to speak, "Brother Jing Shen, I didn't mean to say these words on purpose in such a situation. But compared to my sister's face, Grandfather Mo's health is more important. Sending such a thing is not very good, which is why I..."

Mo Jingshen still only smiled thinly. He did not look at Ji Mengran and instead, calmly and unhurriedly, glanced at the unopened sandalwood box in front of Elder Mo.

His tone was unhurried and lazy. "You've said so much that even I'm curious. Why not open it for us to take a look. What kind of unique antique is it to let the ignorant and incompetent Second Miss of the Ji family use her heart to remember it so well as though she has memorized a historical text."