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Even so, Mo Zichen was quiet instead when he heard his cousin say those things.
He sat down, looking embarrassed and angry.
“This is Auntie retaliating,” Mo Ziling said. “She’s never had a good word to say about us siblings. If Old Dowager wasn’t here she likely would have severed contact with us long ago. Since we were little, when did she ever let Little Sis Yuke stay over for any length of time? Why not have Old Dowager say something?” Mo Ziling suggested this as if it were nothing.
Su Biluo glanced at Mo Ziling from the corner of her eye.
All along she had felt her little sister-in-law seemed cute and silly, naive and flighty. But it seemed great wisdom was buried deep within her, not showing itself until it was necessary.
“Yes, Grandmother.” Man Yuke flung herself into Mo Fengzhi’s arms. “Grandmother, say something to Father and Mother. I won’t marry someone like that. I… I’d rather die than marry him…”
Tears streamed down her face, staining Mo Fengzhi’s lapels.
Mo Fengzhi held Man Yuke tightly and cried with her. “Ke’er, my poor Ke’er. All these years, your cruel mother has never come to see this old woman, and now she wants to destroy my granddaughter. I don’t think so! I’m already old and can’t see my daughter who’s married off far away. Now, she wants to marry off my darling granddaughter far away in Eastern Ling so that I never get to see her either. Not… Not if I can help it. Come on…”
The old dowager suddenly tottered to her feet and snatched the dragon-head cane from her handmaid, Lucky’s, hands. Her vigorous agility made Su Biluo’s eyes shine.
“I’m going to Southern Man,” she declared angrily. “I want to personally ask this unfilial daughter just what she thinks she’s doing.”
“Grandmother, don’t make a fuss—”
“Grandmother, don’t get excited—”
Meng Zixian and Mo Ziling sprang up and held Mo Fengzhi back and Man Yuke frantically held onto her waist. “Grandmother, you mustn’t! It’s my fault; Grandmother, you’re getting on in years, how could I trouble you like this? As long as you’re willing to take me in and refuse to let Queen Mother take me back, I will shed tears of gratitude!”
Just like that, Mo Fengzhi was quiet.
A few words from Man Yuke were more effective than a miracle drug. Mo Fengzhi ceased struggling, an instead smiled like a chrysanthemum. “That’s right. It’s alright as long as Ke’er is here. Haha, that’s right. Ke’er is right, it’s better for her to marry our Zichen than that devilish crown prince of Eastern Ling. Once Ke’er becomes family it would not be appropriate for her to marry out again, and the crisis will resolve itself. Hahaha, what a great idea—”
Mo Fengzhi was beaming as she took her seat and pulled Man Yuke into her arms.
That was just what she wanted to hear. Man Yuke modestly nuzzled against Grandmother and pouted cutely, “Grandmother—”
“No no! Mo Zichen is my husband. He has a wife, me!” Su Biluo could take no more. She sprang to her feet and pulled on Mo Zichen’s broad shoulders, fervently defending her sovereignty.
Everyone was shocked by her sudden outburst, including Mo Zichen himself, who stared at Su Biluo as if he were looking at a ghost.
“However, this is not a difficult problem to solve. After all, my beautiful and mighty mother-in-law has two other peerlessly handsome sons. Neither Ziqian nor Zi’an are married yet; if Little Sister Yuke is willing, she can select one of them to marry. Heh—”
Su Biluo grinned at her own poised suggestion.
“As for my husband, I’m really sorry, but he’s already taken!”
She seized the moment and reached under Mo Zichen’s chin and bent down and decisively kissed him on the lips.
Mo Zichen’s eyes widened. Oh, no, make that everyone’s eyes widened, followed by gasps of surprise.
“Ah—”
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The Courtyard 