Chapter 187: Xin’er, Will You Marry Me?
Mo Zichen obediently lay down and smiled weakly. “Father, I’m fine. I’m just too bored and wanted to read a book to pass the time. Don’t worry.”
“You child!” Mo Qilan looked at his youngest son, who was injured yet still comforting him, and thought of his eldest son who had been cold and hostile toward him. The balance in his heart tilted even more. Since the noble title was destined not to fall to his youngest son, he would give him more compensation from other places!
Watching Mo Qilan’s changing expression finally become firm, and seeing the gaze full of love and… guilt toward him, Mo Zichen’s heart completely settled.
The household physician arrived quickly. After taking the pulse, he also frowned tightly and said to Mo Qilan: “Duke, Second Young Master’s body is very weak. This old man suspects he has suffered not light internal injuries besides his neck. The organs have varying degrees of damage and need good recuperation to avoid leaving any root of illness in the future.”
“Son, tell Mother the truth. Who is so ruthless as to injure you like this!” Qi Shi did not know about Mo Zichen’s little actions. After hearing this, her vision went black. Her hope for the rest of her life was this son.
Mo Zichen pursed his lips and said nothing, only lowering his eyelids.
After letting the household physician prescribe the medicine and leave, Mo Qilan sat by the bedside. “Zi Chen, the person who injured you was really brought by your eldest brother?”
“No,” Mo Zichen blurted out, then as if remembering something, a layer of pain surfaced in his eyes, and he said firmly: “She just happened to be with Eldest Brother. Maybe she and Eldest Brother have nothing at all.”
With a “pa” sound, Mo Qilan forcefully slapped a palm on the small table by the bedhead. “That rebellious son, getting entangled with a woman for no reason. He’s simply lost all the face of the Duke’s Mansion.”
“Master, the Heir… he wouldn’t like that young lady, would he? Otherwise, why would he refuse all the matches this concubine arranged to the end?” Qi Shi naturally would not miss this good opportunity to badmouth Mo Ziyuan.
“He dares! As the Heir of our Duke’s Mansion, enjoying the treatment of someone above others, he should shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing our Mo family. Can the Heir’s wife of our Dingguo Duke’s Mansion be someone of unknown origin who casually attacks and kills people! Simply absurd!” Mo Qilan had never met Lin Xin, but at this moment, he had already labeled her as crude and unreasonable in his heart.
“No, he won’t. Eldest Brother wouldn’t be that muddle-headed. Maybe that young lady is just clinging to Eldest Brother!” Mo Zichen said softly.
“Hmph, I’ll go ask that rebellious son!” Mo Qilan suddenly stood up and looked at Mo Zichen as mildly as possible: “You just focus on recuperating your body. Don’t worry about your eldest brother’s matters anymore. Father is here!”
“Mm, son knows.” Mo Zichen replied obediently.
“Then rest well. Let your mother stay with you.”
“Okay.”
After Mo Qilan gave a few more instructions, he left with pent-up anger he could not suppress, not seeing the sinister smile on Mo Zichen’s face behind him.
“Son, although you’ve won this round, isn’t using your own body as bait too…” Qi Shi also understood her son’s intentions, but she extremely disapproved of this method of harming the enemy at a cost of a thousand while damaging oneself by eight hundred.
“Mother, rest assured. Son has it all figured out.” Mo Zichen planned not to tell even Qi Shi about using this method. He knew well that the fewer people who knew about such things, the better.
“Alright, anyway, it’s already like this. Later, Mother will have your father enter the palace to request an imperial physician to come and properly nourish your body. Rest assured, Mother absolutely won’t let your body have any problems.” Qi Shi said.
“Thank you, Mother! It’s son who is bad and made Mother worry.”
“What nonsense. You are Mother’s son. Doing anything for you is only right. But your sister there…”
“No need to tell sister about it. Her personality is too impulsive. If she does something irrational, son’s injury would be in vain.”
“Okay, Lan Zhi there is left to Mother. You first focus on recuperating your injury properly.”
The mother and son talked a bit more. Mo Zichen timely showed fatigue. After Qi Shi instructed him to rest well, she returned to her own courtyard.
“Mo Ziyuan, let’s see what tricks you have left to fight with this young master!” Once no one was left in the room, Mo Zichen’s expression became ferocious. “Just wait for your beloved beauty to writhe and moan under this young master! Hmph!”
Lin Xin, who was walking with Mo Ziyuan on the road out of the palace, suddenly sneezed hard. She felt all the hairs on her body stand on end, then quickly return to normal—so fast that she almost thought it was an illusion.
“What’s wrong? Caught a cold?” Mo Ziyuan stopped and looked caringly at Lin Xin rubbing her nose.
“No, probably someone is talking about me behind my back. Likely nothing good!” Lin Xin rubbed her arms vigorously and replied.
Mo Ziyuan frowned. “Be extra careful lately! With Your Highness found, some people’s paths are blocked. They may not dare clash head-on with Your Majesty, but they have no such scruples against you.”
“I know, but really can’t you have that Your Majesty give up on bestowing me some County Princess title? Can’t it just be a big house and gold, silver, and jewels? I really just want to be a low-key rich woman!” Lin Xin said somewhat helplessly.
“You!” Mo Ziyuan was even more helpless than her. He lightly poked her forehead. “Don’t fail to appreciate your happiness while in it. Do you know how many people would break their heads to get this County Princess title on themselves?”
Seeing Lin Xin’s expression still unconcerned, he added: “Besides, if you become County Princess, I can still snag a County Prince Consort position. How great is that!”
Lin Xin was amused by his winking expression. “Isn’t Heir of Dingguo Duke and future Dingguo Duke better than County Prince Consort?”
“Of course, Heir of Dingguo Duke still has a Dingguo Duke above him, and future Dingguo Duke is full of variables. But isn’t County Prince Consort of Chenxi already within reach?” Mo Ziyuan exaggeratedly widened his eyes.
“That’s not certain. Hey, no—who said I’d let you be County Prince Consort? I’m an independent woman. Living alone is pretty good. Hmph!” Lin Xin was extremely tsundere.
“No way, this County Prince Consort I pre-ordered long ago. Once the imperial decree comes down, I’ll go find Your Majesty to have him grant our marriage. You are mine. Unless I die, I absolutely won’t let you leave me.”
Mo Ziyuan’s expression became very serious. “Xin’er, will you marry me? In the future, I’ll shield you from any storms. We’ll raise Nan Nan together. You can still do what you like. Believe me—the title of Mo Ziyuan’s wife absolutely won’t become your shackles. Okay?”
Looking at his serious expression seeking an answer, Lin Xin suddenly felt he was like a big dog seeking its master’s affirmation, making her heart soften uncontrollably. She tried to raise her head and lightly hummed: “That depends on your performance.”
“Xin’er, rest assured. I absolutely won’t disappoint you!” Hearing Lin Xin’s answer, Mo Ziyuan beamed from inside out. His usually cold and stern face in front of her looked especially silly.
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