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Mo Ziqian leaned over and whispered to Mo Ziling, “They say you have to be cunning to be a businessman, and Sister-in-law’s great at business, but her way with words and her smarts may be even better. But, what is she doing? Hasn’t she been saying over and over that she’ll be leaving the general’s estate in half a year? Didn’t she say she didn’t need to get close to Grandmother and Mother so that they wouldn’t be upset when she left? So why’s she acting so odd today?”
“Yeah. Women are unfathomable. What is Sister-in-law up to?” Mo Ziling stared captivated with her big, questioning eyes, as if she wasn’t a woman herself. If she had known Sister-in-law wanted to come she would have brought her along with her. Mo Ziling thought she didn’t want to come.
The old dowager to her side sighed faintly. “What heroic deeds? No need to mention those boring old stories. If you really want to hear them, Biluo, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about it later.”
“Mm, mm, as you wish, Grandmother,” Su Biluo responded agreeably as she took out the account book she had brought with her and presented it. “Grandmother, Mother-in-law, I haven’t called on you these past four months because I’ve been up to my ears with work. There’s 100,000 taels accounted for in this book. This is what I’ve earned these few months. Grandmother, Mother-in-law, please look it over. From now on I will show you the books every quarter, and your shares will increase as well, so please don’t worry.”
“Alright,” Mo Fengzhi said. “Seeing as you have a good reason, I’ll forgive you, Daughter-in-law. You can put it away. I’ll leave the accounting to you. I’m old and not keen to look at those things.” She waved the book away and gave a thin smile. “Rather, I’d like to hear Ku’er tell us why she’s suddenly decided to visit? How many years has it been? Your queen mother’s been holding a grudge over past events and never let you come here. Why have you suddenly come?”
“Oh yes, Little Sister Yuke, tell us, just what happened?” Mo Ziqian said. “Usually when you want to come over there’s a whole pile of handmaids and bodyguards, but why did you only bring Maka this time?”
Man Yuke’s eyes welled up, her teary eyes making her look pitiful and lovely. “Grandmother, you must support me. I don’t like that Eastern Ling crown prince. I don’t want to marry him! I don’t want to marry a man I’ve never seen.”
“The crown prince of Eastern Ling, Ling Yichen?” Mo Zichen’s handsome face was calm, but his eyes burned maliciously. “You mean the crown prince who’s rumored to drink breastmilk every day for nourishment, who kills a prisoner every day and who daily congregates with the palace maids?”
“Mm, mm, mm, that’s him.” Man Yuke nodded emphatically, her face suddenly blanched like snow. She couldn’t keep the quiver out of her voice when she said, “He’s really a pervert, but… but Queen Mother says it’s all just rumors and shouldn’t be believed. She said Ling Yichen is ambitious and full of lofty aspirations that are difficult to express, so that’s why he he has to vent like that.”
“Preposterous!” Mo Zichen roared and pounded his heavy fist on the table.
The plates and dishes clatttered and jumped.
“Venting like that? This general despises that! How can Cousin marry someone like that? Absolutely not!” Mo Zichen was filled with indignation, spitting out every word forcefully.
Su Biluo turned and stared at the blue veins popping out on his forehead and curled her lips in a faint sneer. Hmph, you’re indeed really bothered by this.
“That’s right.” Man Yuke was even more overcome with grief at these words of support, her face like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “I can’t believe it either. If I have to marry him, why not marry Big Cousin instead? Queen Mother always says Big Cousin is coldblooded and brutal and commands his men ruthlessly. But, as I see it, he’s a lot better than that dissipated, shameless crown prince. My big cousin is ruthless on the battlefield and brutal to his enemies and his men, but he doesn’t kill his own people indiscriminately, and he leads a clean and honest life. He’s a hundred times better than that crown prince. A thousand times, ten thousand times.”
Su Biluo looked on coldly. Looks like he likes her and she likes him! Were they childhood sweethearts who really had something going on between them? A state’s august princess fleeing her marriage? This was a really big deal.
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The Courtyard 