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“It’s reasonable to say that if Grandmother ordered me to step aside and vacate my position, I would do it. I’m happy as long as I can be with my husband. But, think about it. Is this matter really that simple? If you insist on letting the princess marry Zichen, do you think the crown prince of Eastern Ling will be okay with that and just let her go? And then there’s Auntie of Southern Man. She simply wants to marry off Yuke to Eastern Ling to form a marriage alliance so that she can draw support from the rich and populous Eastern Ling. If you spoil that fortuitous event, I fear…”
Su Biluo was showing off her virtue as a dutiful daughter-in-law, at the same time not batting an eye as she warned them of the consequences.
Mo Ziling inwardly gave her a big thumbs up in praise of Sister-in-law’s skillful way with words when doing business.
Everyone was silent. Not even Man Yuke herself could think of a retort because none knew better than she her father and mother’s strong position.
Su Biluo heaved a deep sigh. “Grandmother, your darling granddaughter is a hot potato you mustn’t catch. If you do, you can’t be slapdash in marrying her off, or else not only will the empress of Southern Man hate your family even more, I’m afraid the emperor of Southern Man and the crown prince of Eastern Ling, even the emperor of our Northern Mo might not let you off. This matter concerns the imperial family’s face, and conflicts over political marriages are never simple affairs.”
“Uh…” Mo Fengzhi sounded like she had her doubts, yet she still clutched Man Yuke to her bosom. “Don’t, don’t be such an alarmist. It’s not all that troublesome. We just won’t marry her off. It’s not like they can just snatch her back, right?”
“Right!” Mo Zichen, silent until now, suddenly took a resolute stand. “How can they just snatch her back? This general will catch this hot potato! And this general will bear the consequences, whatever they may be. Anyway, don’t marry Little Cousin to someone like that!”
With that, Mo Zichen walked out with his usual big strides, not even bothering to eat.
Su Biluo didn’t have much appetite either. She turned to Mo Fengzhi and Meng Zixian. “Uh, Grandmother, Mother-in-law, I have to go, too. I, I, I, I have to go wash my face. You all comfort Little Sister Yuke. Excuse me—”
She gave a formal curtsy.
“Go, go. As Zichen said, since he’s decided to keep his little cousin, what’s all the fuss? We’ll stop them from taking her back, and I will take responsibility for whatever happens along with him! I absolutely refuse to allow my Ke’er to suffer in Eastern Ling.” Mo Fengzhi was still intent on protecting her blood granddaughter.
“Yes yes yes, I’ll pass on the message.” Su Biluo flew out of there like a little sparrow.
As soon as Mo Zichen was back in his study in the east compound and had closed the door, he brought his finger to his lips and caressed them, as if the heat of her kiss still lingered. It had been a sudden and hasty kiss, but it had felt so real.
Ah… He couldn’t help but sigh to himself. His first kiss was over just like that, and it had been taken from him by a woman who he’d signed a contract with on his wedding night to not spend her days with him at any cost.
He suddenly felt embarrassed, and his cold, handsome face burned like it was on fire.
That damn unconventional woman.
Such a shrewd mind, says one thing and does another… Simply unfathomable.
BONK—
Shit, the door behind him suddenly banged open and slammed Mo Zichen, who was still lost in thought, in the back of the head with a muffled thump.
He winced and reached back and hauled the fool in and kicked the door shut.
“Ah ah ah, easy, easy, easy…” Su Biluo’s scalp felt like it was going to be ripped off as she hollered in pain and begged for him to go easy.
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The Courtyard 