Previous | Table of Contents | Next
Su Biluo stared at Mo Zichen as he accepted the bowl and thanked the girl gently. “Thank you, Little Sis Yuke. You must be tired from the journey, and you’ve probably suffered quite a fright through this whole ordeal. Go back and sleep early. We can talk more tomorrow.”
Su Biluo nodded, satisfied. That was more like it.
But Man Yuke had no intention of leaving just yet. Instead, she lowered her feathered lashes bashfully, as if she had something she wanted to say.
Finally, under Mo Zichen’s questioning eyes, she stammered, “I wonder what Big Cousin thinks about what was discussed in the north compound earlier? Yuke is really afraid of being married off to Eastern Ling. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep soundly tonight unless I get an answer from Big Cousin.”
Mo Zichen stared blankly and swallowed with some difficulty. He was about to open his mouth when Su Biluo gave a winsome smile and took the lead. “Little Sister Yuke, let Sister-in-law answer that. I was just discussing it wih your big cousin. Hear me out, and if what I say is reasonable, then do that; if you feel Sister-in-law is out of line then you can discuss it further with Old Dowager tomorrow. What do you say?”
Man Yuke bit her lip and threw Mo Zichen a glance. Her look turned gloomy when she saw him signal for her to hear Su Biluo out. “Please go ahead, Sister-in-law,” she said meekly.
“Little Sister Yuke, this is the first time we’ve met,” Su Biluo said candidly. “I was amazed as soon as I laid eyes on you. Later I learned you are a princess and was even more convinced that those who are qualified to be with you are truly few and far between.
“But, why do you disregard Ziqian and Zi’an and instead only look upon my husband? My husband already has a wife. That person is me. So, if you still want to marry Zichen, you will have to settle for concubine. That’s the first thing.
“Second, I’m fully aware that men have many partners; there’s no big deal about that. He has the authority to do as he likes, and he ought to. If he doesn’t, then the people will laugh at him and think something is wrong with him…”
Su Biluo was getting the stink eye from Mo Zichen, as if his eyes were knives ready to chop her in half. She chuckled and slid her eyes over to Man Yuke and looked at her in all sincerity.
“However, they don’t know, but there really is something wrong with your big cousin. But, it doesn’t have to do with his body, but his mind. He said he will only take the woman he loves. So, if you can make your big cousin love you, then you can come back and consider if you want to marry him or not.
“Third, it’s like I said back in the main hall. You’ve fled a marriage. You’re a princess, not a commoner’s daughter. If you get married without proper permission, then Mo Zichen, the new emperor’s son-in-law, might find it difficult to keep his head. If you sincerely love your big cousin, are you willing to put him or even the entire Mo family in danger? Taking you into his residence like this is already putting a price on his head, but what’s worse is it will damage your unblemished reputation if you marry without permission.
“Therefore, if you really respect my husband you should wait until Old Dowager discusses it with your emperor-father and empress-mother. If she can persuade them to renounce the engagement with the crown prince of Eastern Ling, then you can go to your parents and explain everything plainly, and if they agree, then come back here and seek your big cousin’s opinion. If he agrees, then…”
Su Biluo paused. “Then we’ll talk about it when the time comes…”
That’s all she could say. She couldn’t say “then you can marry him”, because she couldn’t guarantee that when the time came her jealous nature wouldn’t rear its head and make her renege on it, overcome with jealousy.
So it was best to play it conservatively.
Su Biluo was used to all kinds of business negotiations. Every word had to be tightly controlled. She was standing up for herself as legal wife.
The Courtyard 