Chapter 192: Who Says You Can’t Marry Into The Dingguo Duke’s Mansion?
“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
The son of Dingguo Duke Mo Qilan, Mo Ziyuan, is of upright character, outstanding talent and learning, dignified in appearance, and deeply admired by Us. County Princess Chenxi Lin Xin is gentle and virtuous, intelligent and beautiful, accomplished in both virtue and talent, a worthy match.
Now as the lord of all under heaven, We shall seek fortune for Our ministers. We specially decree the betrothal of Mo Ziyuan and Lin Xin to form a fine union. May you two treat each other with respect and courtesy after marriage, manage the family well, govern the state, and contribute to the state.
All ceremonies shall be handled jointly by the Ministry of Rites and the Supervisor of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau; select an auspicious day for the wedding. Proclaim this to all within and without, let all hear it.
Respect this.”
Eunuch An read the imperial decree aloud in a resounding and passionate voice. After Mo Qilan took it with a constipated expression and set it aside, he smilingly walked up to him and said, “Dingguo Duke, before this old slave departed, Your Majesty instructed me to relay a message.”
Mo Qilan’s expression changed abruptly as he looked over in shock, only to hear Eunuch An continue, “Your Majesty said that the line of Dingguo Duke are all seeds of infatuation. Back then, shortly after the late Madam’s mourning period ended, Dingguo Duke eagerly welcomed in Qi Shi. Although the old Duke was displeased, he did not interfere. How is it that when it comes to the Heir, Duke has changed? Could it be that ‘Do not impose on others what you do not desire’ is just a joke?”
Eunuch An spoke in an extremely low voice, audible only to Mo Qilan himself. But not far away, Qi Shi was speaking perfunctorily with Madam Fu while diverting most of her attention to them. Seeing her husband’s face turn pale and green in distress, and Mo Ziyuan grinning ear to ear at the imperial decree, she felt both panicked and resentful. She grew very impatient with Madam Fu’s indirect probing.
Finally, after Eunuch An contentedly left with the sachet Mo Qilan had quietly slipped him, Qi Shi hurried over, wanting to ask what he had said.
But Madam Fu, with no tact whatsoever, blocked her. “Older Sister Qi, about what we just discussed…”
Madam Fu was also very troubled. She had clearly seen the particularly ferocious gaze in Qi Shi’s eyes after hearing the imperial decree, and noticed her perfunctory attitude toward her. She even realized that marrying Fu Qing off to Mo Ziyuan was probably not going to happen. But what if? She was unwilling to not ask clearly.
Sure enough, her words earned an angry glare from Qi Shi. “Madam Fu, although your Fu family has few officials left in court, even if you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve surely seen pigs run. Didn’t you hear the imperial decree? His Majesty has already intervened in the Heir’s marriage. Don’t you know to put away your little schemes?”
Qi Shi’s sharp and biting voice stunned Madam Fu. When they had plotted in secret outside before, she hadn’t been like this! Not even just now at the door!
The imperial decree we truly have no way around, but if it’s not possible, it’s not possible—can’t you just say it nicely? You’re completely taking it out on me! Why? Do you really think I’m easy to bully?
Thus, the little boat of friendship between Madam Fu and Qi Shi had just set sail and flipped over immediately.
However, Qi Shi had no mood to care about Madam Fu’s thoughts now. She had learned from the corner of Mo Qilan’s mouth what His Majesty had said through Eunuch An’s mouth—or rather, what he had said to her—and she felt utterly unwell.
She turned to look at Mo Ziyuan and saw him gazing joyfully at the imperial decree, then lowering his head in contemplation, seemingly calculating something.
Qi Shi felt extremely annoyed, but what followed was a sense of powerlessness as things slipped from her control. It seemed she truly had no way to deal with Mo Ziyuan! From his childhood until now.
“Oh, Older Sister Qi, the imperial decree has been issued. It looks like the mansion will be holding a joyous event. Shouldn’t this younger sister offer congratulations? That’s County Princess Chenxi! With title, rank, and fiefdom. It seems Dingguo Duke’s Mansion is rising with the tide. I wonder if our Fu family still has the honor of being in-laws with you?” Madam Fu had regrouped and charged back.
Hearing this, Qi Shi felt all her blood rush to her head, even hearing the “thump thump” of blood pounding her eardrums. After gritting her teeth through the darkness before her eyes, she unceremoniously unleashed on Madam Fu: “In-laws? What in-laws? You have the nerve to bring your daughter—who’s been seen by the entire Capital City—to climb into our Dingguo Duke’s Mansion? What a joke!”
These words stabbed into Madam Fu’s heart like a knife. Her daughter was naturally perfect in her eyes. Even after that incident at Ten Fragrance Pavilion, she believed the fault lay not with her own daughter but with the Heir of Marquis Zhaoyang. Now, for Qi Shi to state it so bluntly, she naturally could not accept it.
“What? Not admitting it now? I don’t know who was calling me ‘in-laws’ earlier, saying my Qing’er and your Heir are a perfect match, that all marriages in the world follow ‘parents’ orders and matchmaker’s words,’ and as long as the Heir calls you mother and father, you have the right to decide his marriage. How? Now with the decree of imperial marriage, you’re turning your back?” Madam Fu went full force, selling out Qi Shi directly.
As for their dog eat dog between them, Mo Ziyuan did not care. He had no fondness whatsoever for either of them—one was his stepmother who had suppressed him with various means since childhood, the other the “helicopter parent” who encouraged and indulged her daughter in pestering him relentlessly. It would be strange if he had any good feelings.
But when he heard them speaking of him, he was displeased. When he turned back and saw the embarrassed and awkward expression on his own father’s face, Mo Qilan, his heart chilled even more.
Thus, he spoke up: “Who says our Dingguo Duke’s Mansion is too high for you to climb? The Mo family has not just me but two others of marriageable age! If your Fu family tries hard, it might just work! Rest assured, as long as you don’t set your sights on me, I will absolutely support the others wholeheartedly!”
When Mo Ziyuan said this, not only did he not lower his voice, he deliberately amplified it. Not only did the nearest Mo Qilan hear it clearly, but even the full-force Madam Fu and Qi Shi caught every word.
Qi Shi exploded immediately, trembling as she pointed at Mo Ziyuan: “You, if you dare do anything to my children, I won’t let you get away with it!”
“Tch,” Mo Ziyuan responded with a cold laugh. “What? Can’t afford to lose? Since you had the nerve to meddle in my marriage, don’t blame me for striking back. It seems I was too merciful before, letting you and your children strut fearlessly before me. Now I tell you, no matter who it is, if anyone dares interfere in my affairs again, you will pay a thousandfold price. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and try!”
With that, he waved casually and left dashingly. Before departing, he specifically said to Madam Fu: “Keep your daughter in check, don’t let her disgust me again, or I won’t mind letting her experience what it means to be used by all!”
In the courtyard, whether Mo Qilan, Qi Shi, or Madam Fu, all looked ashen-faced toward the direction Mo Ziyuan left, each with their own malice in their gazes.
