The sound of water today could not calm Mo Zi’s heart.
Through the open window, she saw Xiao Wei and the other two surrounded by Kena and the envoys in conversation, unable to attend to anything else. Yang Qiao, who had originally been with her, had also been called to the adjacent room by Yueying, who said she liked the floral pattern on her official robe and wanted to sketch a copy of it.
“I thought you had already left the capital.” Thinking it was Kena who had something to say, she never expected it to be Wu Yan. “You captured someone but still haven’t left. If I rushed out now and shouted that the Daqiu King is here, what do you think would happen? You’re so fond of using people as hostages—I wonder if you’d still be so confident when you become the hostage?”
“A’Zi, can’t we have a calm conversation between us?” Wu Yan hadn’t left. Although he had Doulü in his hands and wasn’t afraid Mo Zi wouldn’t go to Daqiu, he still hoped to bring her back with him.
Mo Zi moved closer to the window. “You and I no longer have any need to say anything more. A real man should be able to pick things up and put them down. Don’t tell me you still lack women by your side. You’ve taken in both elder and younger sisters—how many more are in your harem? One princess from each tribe?”
“I am a nation’s ruler. My ministers cannot possibly allow me to have only one queen.” He didn’t understand why she always insisted on this matter without yielding. He also noticed her movement toward the window, completely distrusting his display. His brows couldn’t help but furrow deeper. “Although there will be other women in the palace, I can guarantee they cannot be compared with you at all. They’re merely to continue the Wu Yan bloodline and simultaneously keep the tribes loyal to me—it has nothing to do with feelings. Your and my son will certainly inherit my position, but he also needs brothers to help him secure the realm. If you fear I’ll change my heart, I can swear to the Eagle God that if I violate this oath, let me be unable to ascend to heaven after death.” This was the most solemn oath a king could make.
Mo Zi let out a long, long sigh. With the conversation having reached this point, it was actually her problem. She couldn’t be like other women who either genuinely and magnanimously accepted their husband marrying others, with all the sisters becoming united in purpose, or pretended magnanimity while engaging in open and covert struggles within the household. The lucky ones defeated their rivals; the unlucky ones were defeated by them. When you won, it wasn’t for the husband you once loved, but for pride—to the point where not a shred of genuine affection remained around you, leaving only your lonely self. Then you’d hold up the dignity of principal wife as a monument for future descendants to admire.
How ridiculous! If you couldn’t live freely and joyfully while alive, would you only become revered after death? Though she absolutely didn’t advocate selfishness, she believed one should see more of the world’s beautiful scenery, people, and stories during one’s lifetime, rather than being penned up like a sheep.
“Wu Yan, I can understand you, and I’m grateful for your feelings.” The year-plus separation allowed her to say thanks. This man had indeed done his utmost. “I acknowledge this is the best you can do.” Wasn’t he also helpless in the situation?
When Wu Yan heard the word “grateful,” his expression began to darken completely. Here it came again—that sense of alienation that left him at a loss and panicked.
“Then since you understand, can’t you tolerate a little for me, yield a little?” Panicked but not retreating. He was the Eagle God’s son, soaring through the sky, obtaining everything he wanted.
“I cannot.” Mo Zi shook her head gently. “Because I understand myself too well. That’s why when you became involved with Kena Yuexiang, I was furious. Thinking back now, my words then were too harsh, my emotions unstable. Actually, the matter could have been discussed calmly. Wu Yan, I have no way to share a husband with other women—whether in name or in reality, I can’t bear it. Before you said you would marry me as your wife, I could be indifferent to however many affairs you had. But after saying you’d marry me, you still did those intimate things with Yuexiang—it truly made my tolerance run out. It’s my pettiness, my jealousy, and my unchangeable fastidiousness. During these days, I’ve really thought it through clearly. You did nothing wrong, and I did nothing wrong—we’re just not suited to be together. Having understood this, I’ve let it go. Right now, seeing Kena Yueying so intimate with you, wearing a palace consort’s hairstyle and the pink phoenix stone accessories designated for consorts, I feel nothing at all.”
This relationship had its beautiful moments, but it would no longer make her heart race with excitement. It was truly over.
Raging fire burned in Wu Yan’s eyes. “A’Zi, whether we’re suited or not isn’t for you to decide. You’re jealous, you can’t tolerate my harem. Fine, you just go ahead and clear it out—I definitely won’t interfere. You don’t like me lying with other women—I simply won’t do that anymore. The life and death of the harem women are at your disposal. My body and heart belong to you—what more do you want? Say it today. As long as you leave me, Wu Yan, my life, I’ll agree to everything.”
“Wu Yan, your words always leave yourself plenty of room. Let me just go ahead and clear out your harem? Why should I clear out those you brought in—why don’t you act yourself? I just clear them out while you just keep bringing them in. Do you want to play the henpecked husband before your ministers while I bear all the blame and infamy? After the Yuexiang incident, you should have known what I detest most. But as I see it, you’re still doing as you please, unable to distinguish clearly between bed partners and lovers. You won’t change, but I have changed. I don’t want anything, because everything is already too late. As for you, I—” have no feelings left.
“A’Zi, don’t say words you’ll regret. Have you forgotten? Doulü is in my hands. Life and death—you as her elder sister will help her decide.” Wu Yan didn’t want to hear more. “I also don’t believe you’ve changed like that. Seeing you this time, you are indeed very different from before, but your upright character is still hard to conceal. You’re a persistent person, the same with feelings. I hurt you—you can be angry, you can be willful, but it’s been long enough. Don’t make me use force. I’ll give you two choices. One, leave with me now, and we’ll hold our wedding ceremony when we return. Two, before peach blossoms fill the branches, you come back yourself. Doulü will be fine, and Doulü’s husband will be fine.”
Mo Zi didn’t know what to say. To him, it seemed nothing she said would work.
“If you don’t speak, I’ll take it that you chose the second option. Then, I’ll wait for you in the royal city. If you don’t come, I’ll kill your only relative. A’Zi, you and I have been through so much—you should know I do what I say.” He could not let her go. It was absolutely impossible.
Kena came in with a smile, deliberately calling out loudly, “Ying’er, don’t pester the two lady officials. The ship is entering the great river mouth—we need to see them off the ship.”
Seeing Mo Zi, his gaze was cold as ice though his expression remained benign. “Miss Song, have you been well?”
Mo Zi no longer looked at Wu Yan. She walked out. “Lord Kena need not be hypocritical. If you dislike me, just show it openly. It would also help your king wake up. Tell him that if I enter the palace, how many plots to eliminate me are being prepared. Could it be that making me queen is meant to have me die early?”
Wu Yan growled lowly, “A’Zi, I will investigate the matter thoroughly. No one dares harm a hair on your head.”
“Wu Yan, you’d better also think carefully whether marrying me and losing so many people’s support is worthwhile. Are you abandoning your ambition to unify the realm? Are you willing to stay with me while giving up the dream your ancestors have pursued for generations?” She stepped one foot outside the door. “During the Qingming Festival, amid the drizzling rain—that’s when I will definitely meet with you. If you dare harm a hair on my younger sister or brother-in-law, don’t blame me for making your entire Daqiu accompany them in death! If I was too carefree and soft-hearted before, you’d better not take my words now as empty threats. If my only relative in this world dies, then there will be nothing left to care about.”
Peach blossoms blooming was too romantic. Changing it to Qingming meant she still had over two months of time. There was time—there would definitely be enough time.
The instant Mo Zi lifted the curtain, Xiao Wei saw that figure in the cabin. His handsome eyes lowered slightly. The reason Kena’s daughter brought Mo Zi and Yang Qiao inside was to see him? He was the Daqiu King, appearing repeatedly for Mo Zi’s sake. What exactly was their connection? Mo Zi had said she was from Yuling. Yuling and Daqiu were mortal enemies. For her to attract such concern from the Daqiu King, unless her status was also extraordinary. But the Daqiu King hadn’t forcibly taken her away as he had with Yuling’s Second Prince, indicating he showed restraint. A man of extremely noble status, a woman whose brilliance couldn’t be concealed even when serving as a maid—the two were clearly enemies yet seemed very familiar. This could only be explained by feelings between them.
His Majesty had said that regarding the Daqiu King entering the capital, it was best to pretend not to know.
Xiao Wei didn’t want to comply with such an order. If they could detain the Daqiu King, Daqiu would certainly fall into chaos, and the border would be peaceful for a period.
But His Majesty said the Daqiu King was cunning and had certainly prepared an escape route long ago. Not only would he be difficult to capture, but it would also give Daqiu an excuse to deploy troops. Current actions must be careful and meticulous.
How could this be what His Majesty said? It was clearly that old Grand Secretariat Director repeating Yuan Cheng’s words verbatim. His Majesty trusted Yuan Cheng even more, having long forgotten this person’s despicable deeds and wicked record in Nande. During this period when the two nations’ envoys were here, he almost exclusively heeded his words, causing the conservative faction to momentarily raise their momentum. And this person’s relationship with Mo Zi was also unclear and ambiguous. Although Yuan Cheng was indeed extraordinarily clever—when clearing Mo Zi’s name, he acted decisively, exposing the conspiracy before the hidden enemies could.
But he just couldn’t approve of him.
Such a woman—the first example in several dynasties—had become a female official with real power, yet was entangled unclearly with the two most ambitious and most capable men of the age. He should disdain her and distance himself from her, but he couldn’t do it. When he couldn’t see her, he could still deceive himself that everything was normal. Once she entered his sight, so spirited and confident, he couldn’t think or speak, his heart beating so powerfully that he didn’t know what to do. He wanted to pull her to his side, to tell her he was worthy of her trust. When there was no need for them to glare or look coldly at each other, at the bell-shooting event she had already shown magnanimity, as if completely letting bygones be bygones. Such an extraordinary woman whom he had to admire and appreciate.
His younger sister had entered the palace as a consort. The family had begun concerning themselves with his marriage. Yesterday, his parents asked if he had someone in mind, so they could request His Majesty to decree the marriage. What shocked him was that Mo Zi immediately came to mind.
Just as Lübi had said, he liked this woman. No matter how much he made himself think it impossible, now he had to admit that even when she was still Mo Gē, her image had been indelible in his heart. Because it couldn’t be erased, seeing her made him agitated. Thinking back now, from the very beginning she had often inadvertently revealed her feminine nature. It was he who had been too proud, resisting and deliberately viewing her in a dark light.
Now, she could choose her own marriage partner.
And he—why couldn’t he do the same?