The next day when Mo Zi returned to Yuan Mansion, Ming Nian said guests had come to the house, at the grass hut separated from Prince Jing’s household by a wall—that wild field where Yuan Cheng used to often host guests roasting rabbits.
Seeing those guests from afar, she blamed Ming Nian. “Just say directly Lord Huang is here—why be so mysterious?”
Lord Huang was the Emperor.
Ming Nian’s expression wasn’t good. “Not just Lord Huang—your fiancé is here too. I originally quite respected Lord Huang, but he casually arranged your marriage—” He snorted.
Mo Zi smiled. “That’s the Emperor.”
“What about the Emperor? The Emperor manages national affairs and people’s livelihoods—he’s not the God of Marriage, yet he randomly ties red strings for people.” Ming Nian was loyal to Lord Yuan but not to the Emperor—this was influenced by Yuan Mansion’s small environment.
Zan Jin suddenly shushed. “There are already experts ahead. Don’t say these things anymore.”
Ming Nian pursed his lips and surprisingly just turned and left like that.
“Incredible.” Mo Zi said to Zan Jin. “One after another with stubborn tempers reaching the sky, each thinking they’re supreme.”
Zan Jin didn’t move, his voice low and quiet. “They’re all sincerely thinking of you and the Young Master. Ming Nian is clever—just venting privately. In front of others he won’t speak like this.”
“How could I not know?” Regarding the Emperor’s arranged marriage, she’d privately complained plenty.
Just as she approached, guards stopped her. “His Majesty has decreed that no one may disturb his conversation with Lord Yuan.”
Mo Zi looked at those two figures in the grass hut, then saw Liu Ning hurrying toward her. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Miss Mo Zi, His Majesty says today’s weather is good. You and General Xiao can walk around, then return to share lunch. General Xiao is right behind that archway.” This was also an edict.
Mo Zi thought Ming Nian was right—this Emperor could change careers to become the God of Marriage, arranging even dates single-handedly.
She agreed. Taking a walk, having a conversation, still within Yuan Mansion—no need to offend the Son of Heaven over something that wouldn’t cause her loss.
Liu Ning saw she was sensible and nodded approvingly. “Miss Mo Zi has always known propriety. In the future you’ll have much good fortune.”
Mo Zi smiled shallowly. Walking to behind the archway and facing the tall, handsome man, her smile vanished without a trace. “Where does General Xiao want to stroll?”
Xiao Wei knew she was unhappy in her heart, so seeing her cold face and cold words, he naturally endured it. “Up to you.”
“If it’s up to me, let’s just not go anywhere and wait here to eat.” Mo Zi didn’t want to stroll the garden with him anyway. If the Emperor hadn’t arranged the marriage, perhaps she could still treat him as a friend. Now this awkward relationship wedged between them—she didn’t know how to interact.
“Then let’s still go to the lake pavilion.” Xiao Wei knew the way and lifted his legs to walk, certain Mo Zi would follow.
“General Xiao truly is a male chauvinist. Says it’s up to me, but the result is still me having to follow you?” She admitted Xiao Wei was changing, but some things were deeply rooted, like his control over his “fiancée.” “Now in your eyes, I’m no longer a comrade-in-arms, so you can ignore my words, right?”
“You’re overthinking. I had no such intention.” Xiao Wei’s steps paused.
Mo Zi curved her lips. “In the future, don’t say things like ‘up to you’ if you don’t really mean to follow me.” With a few quick steps, she walked ahead of him.
Xiao Wei wanted to catch her hand when suddenly a quick shadow inserted from behind, blocking his hand aside. He raised his eyes to look—it was Zan Jin.
“Please show self-respect, General.” After Zan Jin spoke, he turned to follow Mo Zi.
Xiao Wei deeply furrowed his brows. Why did all the people on her side have no good feelings toward him?
The lake pavilion, emerald waves rippling.
Xiao Wei hinted he had something to say alone with Mo Zi and wanted Zan Jin to leave, but Zan Jin didn’t move an inch.
“If General Xiao wants to chat, more people makes it livelier. Moreover, Zan Jin is my brother, not an outsider. There’s nothing I can hear that he can’t.” Mo Zi’s stance was naturally firm. “General Xiao, although His Majesty arranged our marriage, proper etiquette must still be observed. Zan Jin being present won’t cause gossip.”
“Can a brother listen when an engaged couple talks?” He didn’t want to be domineering, but Mo Zi’s attitude forced him to do so. “Mo Zi, I have not half a bit of ill intent. Why can’t you be calm?”
“Calm?” Mo Zi laughed coldly. “How am I not? Aren’t I speaking properly with you? Did I draw a blade or a spear?” Question marks pelted over.
“Zan Jin, don’t stand there—sit down and drink tea.” She picked up a cup and drank—plain water. This person either didn’t do something or did it thoroughly. Not only abstaining from alcohol, even tea had become rationed.
Xiao Wei sighed. “Mo Zi, I’m changing, aren’t I? The respect and freedom you want, I’ll give you. If you don’t like living in the Prince’s household, we’ll separate households like Third Brother and the others. The matter of Lu Bi and Hong Luo can also be discussed again. I’m actually not good at pleasing women. Sometimes my temper is straightforward and my mouth clumsy—what I say and what I mean in my heart easily diverge. If I make you feel unhappy, tell me. If I’m wrong, I’ll change.”
Xiao Wei lowered his posture, so Mo Zi couldn’t mock coldly. “You and I differ fundamentally in many ways. We can be friends but can’t become husband and wife.”
“For example—?” He couldn’t see any fundamental difference.
“I’ll ask you: if after marriage I don’t want to build ships anymore, but war breaks out and His Majesty insists I build warships, what would you do?” Examples were countless.
“…I would help you make excuses to His Majesty.” Hesitation came out.
“If you can’t make excuses? Would you resign and return to seclusion, living carefree leisurely days with me?” She gave him a decent choice.
Xiao Wei hesitated even longer this time. “Even if I wanted to, His Majesty might not allow it.”
Mo Zi’s smile deepened. “Then if His Majesty says that if I don’t build ships, he’ll charge your whole family with crimes, and then your grandfather and grandmother, parents and brothers all come to force me to build ships—what would you do then?”
Xiao Wei was speechless for a long while. “Such a thing would absolutely never happen. His Majesty is not a foolish ruler.”
“You’ve seen my warships, right?” Mo Zi raised her eyebrows. “Don’t want to claim them for your own use? If the Emperor threatened your whole family’s lives, and every person in your family wanted me to build ships to save their lives, but I just don’t want to—what would you do?”
“…You’re my wife. My family members are your family members. Would you really just watch them die because of you?” Xiao Wei knew this wasn’t the answer Mo Zi wanted, but he couldn’t speak honeyed words.
“Die because of me?” Mo Zi looked calmly at Xiao Wei, who struggled painfully with just a hypothetical question. “You still don’t understand? Your family burdens, responsibilities, shackles—they make me unable to like you from the start. After completely breaking with Daqiu’s king, I keep respectful distance from men carrying heavy burdens. Though you and he carry different things, you’re both people who, once decided, are very hard to change. You’ve changed your way of dealing with people, but can’t change your naturally arrogant character. This isn’t your fault, nor can we say this makes you not a good man—but you’re truly not suitable for me. I just won’t sacrifice myself for your whole family. I just don’t want to build ships for Great Zhou. Being this willful and unreasonable—can you stand by my side and remain unmoved facing everyone’s accusations together with me?”
He couldn’t! He would persuade her not to persist, persuade her to serve His Majesty, persuade her to think of family. Xiao Wei heavily closed his eyes and with difficulty spat out four words: “Upon marriage, follow the husband.”
Mo Zi gave a “ha” and said nothing more.
Over there, the Emperor played chess while talking to Yuan Cheng about the arranged marriage. “To me, you and Mo Zi seem more like close friends. Xiao Wei begged me earnestly to fulfill this, and I feel his character is steady—quite well-matched with that girl’s liveliness. What do you think?”
“If I say Your Majesty is biased, will Your Majesty cut off my head?” Yuan Cheng fiddled with a white piece, delaying placing it.
“I haven’t been less biased toward you either.” With only two people in the pavilion, the Emperor wasn’t afraid of true words spreading. “I do admire Mo Zi. That girl is no less capable than men. But precisely because of this, who can suppress her character? You? Even lawless, you still dote on her—in the end you’d just get the reputation of fearing your wife. Xiao Wei’s family discipline is strict. Xiao Wei alone dotes, but the whole family doesn’t—she must restrain herself. Jade uncut cannot become a vessel.
Also, Mo Zi’s true identity will be exposed sooner or later, but if she’s Prince Jing household’s daughter-in-law, I can certainly protect her life, and others won’t dare make random plans. After Yuan clan’s vindication, you must quickly rebuild Yuan family’s status among civil officials. Choosing a legitimate daughter from an aristocratic family can help you better. I’ve also been thinking for you—Miss Wang the Tenth is beautiful and clever, compatible with your character. When the assassination case is concluded, I’ll make the decision for you.”
“Good thing Your Majesty doesn’t want me to be an imperial son-in-law.” Yuan Cheng spoke absentmindedly—today he didn’t want to lose at chess.
After waiting a long while without seeing the Emperor place a piece, he raised his head to look. The Emperor’s gaze fell on his face yet seemed lost in thought, so he called, “Your Majesty? Your Majesty?”
“You… really look like your father.” The Emperor woke as from a dream and hastily lowered his head to place a piece. “Seeing you reminds me of those days when I studied here.”
“But when I was small, people all said I resembled Mother more.” Yuan Cheng lowered his eyes and quickly placed a piece.
“Really? But there’s also this—when small, resembling mother, when grown, more like father.” The Emperor looked clearly at the board and surprisingly was about to lose. He directly said he wanted to take back that last move.
Yuan Cheng still wouldn’t allow it.
When Mo Zi arrived at mealtime, the two were still in a standoff.
Liu Ning smiled and said to her, “Miss arrived just in time. Persuade Lord Yuan to give way, otherwise no one will get to eat.”
Mo Zi heard one saying “a real man doesn’t take back a move” and one saying “an expert doesn’t take advantage of others’ peril”—both speaking earnestly like holding a debate. Though arguing, neither was red-faced or hot-eared, both tones gentle. Looking at it this way, the Emperor seemed to truly trust Yuan Cheng.
“Eunuch Liu, no need for me to persuade—soon His Majesty will concede. A nation’s ruler with the world in his heart—what great magnanimity. Still afraid of losing another game of chess? Someone confined to such a small place, able only to look at chess manuals and play against himself daily—anyone with a bit of compassion wouldn’t go win against him.” When Mo Zi said this, her voice was somewhat loud, deliberately letting the two hear.
The Emperor then said, “Girl, since you’ve said so, if I don’t concede I’d become someone without magnanimity or compassion. Forget it, forget it, Minister Yuan, I’ll let you win once more.” Last year’s Mid-Autumn, Mo Zi had also talked him into losing.
Yuan Cheng bowed. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s magnanimity.”
During the meal, the Emperor said to Mo Zi, “Girl, since you’re already promised to someone, continuing to live in Yuan Mansion is inappropriate. Move back to the Grand Rectifier’s residence today to avoid gossip. With no one from your natal family, I’ll confer you as a county lady. Female officials from the palace will help arrange your marriage matters. You just need to memorize the rules and taboos.”
Beginning to forcibly separate Mo Zi and Yuan Cheng.