The Eldest Princess Is So Annoying! - Chapter 13

“Mu Xu is merely an ordinary woman. To receive such favor from His Majesty and Your Highness is truly a blessing cultivated over many lifetimes, and Mu Xu is deeply grateful. However, Jiang Huaisheng and I have known each other since childhood and have been together for nearly ten years. Our feelings have long been mutual, and we have already pledged ourselves in marriage. If Mu Xu were to betray him, it would be unfair to Your Highness and disloyal to Jiang Huaisheng. How could such a person ever be worthy of Your Highness?

“Your Highness is merciful. Should you refuse to hold this against Mu Xu, Mu Xu would feel deeply ashamed. Your Highness is Heaven’s favored daughter, noble beyond compare and benevolent at heart. Only the finest man among tens of thousands could possibly deserve Your Highness’s favor.”

A trace of amusement appeared in Qie Ge’s eyes.

Mu Xu was not merely bold—she was also rather clever. She knew she had angered Qie Ge just now, so she had begun showering her with flattery.

How very interesting.

But did Mu Xu truly believe that after appealing to both her emotions and her reason, Qie Ge would let her go?

How naive!

When Qie Ge remained silent, Mu Xu could only steel herself and speak again.

“Please choose another Prince Consort, Your Highness.”

Qie Ge laughed softly.

“What does your betrayal and faithlessness have to do with me?”

Mu Xu froze, clearly not expecting such a question.

“And what does the fact that the two of you love each other have to do with me?”

Mu Xu was rendered speechless.

Qie Ge was the reigning Eldest Princess. Mu Xu had assumed that, at the very least, she would be reasonable.

Everyone present broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this.

What did it have to do with her?

Was Her Highness not plainly determined to tear apart a pair of lovers?

Xiao Lezi and Qingqian, however, had long since become accustomed to this.

When Her Highness was in a good mood, she would reason with you. When she was not, she simply refused to be reasonable.

And what could anyone possibly do about it?

“You said earlier that the two of you are already betrothed?” Qie Ge asked.

Jiang Huaisheng had never imagined that Qie Ge could be so overbearing. She was stealing another person’s beloved, yet she acted as though she were completely justified.

If he continued hiding to one side now, what sort of man would he be?

Even more humiliating was the fact that the person competing with him for Mu Xu was another woman.

“Reporting to Your Highness Qie Ge, Mu Xu and this commoner are indeed betrothed.”

Qie Ge did not even look at Jiang Huaisheng.

Her voice rose slightly, carrying a quiet authority.

“Did I permit you to answer?”

The moment those words left her lips, the force of her presence weighed upon everyone so heavily that they could scarcely breathe.

Jiang Huaisheng lowered his head.

His fists clenched tightly, while anger and resentment burned in his eyes.

Afraid that Qie Ge might turn her anger upon Jiang Huaisheng, Mu Xu hurriedly answered, “Reporting to Your Highness, Mu Xu and Jiang Huaisheng are indeed betrothed.”

“Do you possess a marriage contract? Did you have an official matchmaker witness the agreement?”

With a single question, Qie Ge struck directly at the most crucial issue.

She had already ordered her hidden guards to investigate every detail of Mu Xu’s life from birth to the present. So long as Mu Xu personally clarified the matter of their engagement today, everything else would be easy to handle.

Mu Xu’s expression changed slightly.

The engagement arranged by her mother and Jiang Huaisheng’s parents had only ever been a verbal promise.

By the time the two reached marriageable age, Mu Xu’s stepmother, Madam Liu, had repeatedly interfered. As a result, they had never invited an official matchmaker to witness their engagement, much less drawn up a formal marriage contract.

“Answer me!”

Under the pressure of Qie Ge’s authority, Mu Xu had no choice but to reply.

“Reporting to Your Highness, we do not.”

Qie Ge raised one slender eyebrow.

“Then the engagement is void.”

Both Mu Xu’s and Jiang Huaisheng’s hearts trembled.

The engagement they had cherished for nearly ten years had been annulled by a single sentence from Qie Ge.

But until they reached the final dead end, who would willingly give up?

Mu Xu seized upon her last remaining hope.

“Your Highness, even if the engagement is declared void, Mu Xu still cannot become the Prince Consort. Throughout Canglan’s history, there has never been a precedent for two women to marry. If Mu Xu were to destroy the established order, she would become a sinner condemned throughout the ages. How could such a sinner be worthy of Your Highness?

“If Mu Xu’s disgrace were to implicate Your Highness and cause future generations to condemn you, Mu Xu would never be at peace. Please reconsider, Your Highness!”

Never be at peace?

Qie Ge certainly did not believe that.

Every sentence sounded as though Mu Xu were speaking for Qie Ge’s sake, but no matter how she dressed it up, she simply did not wish to become Qie Ge’s Prince Consort.

Mu Xu did not want to?

Then Qie Ge would insist that she did!

Qie Ge nodded.

“It is true that Canglan has no precedent for two women marrying.”

Mu Xu raised her eyes.

A smile involuntarily curved at the corners of her lips, and a glimmer of hope immediately ignited in her heart.

Perhaps there was still a chance to escape this imperial decree.

Qie Ge noticed every detail of her reaction and laughed inwardly.

She had long since anticipated this argument.

“However, the Marriage Code does not state that two women are forbidden from marrying.”

The smile on Mu Xu’s lips instantly froze.

For no particular reason, Qie Ge’s mood improved considerably.

“Lord Li, did you bring the Marriage Code?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, this subject brought it.”

“To your knowledge, does the Marriage Code explicitly state that a marriage must consist of one man and one woman?”

The Vice Minister of Justice found himself in a difficult position.

Since ancient times, had marriage not always been the union of a man and a woman?

Why would anyone have bothered to add such an obvious provision?

Besides, what man would marry another man, and what woman would marry another woman?

“This… Reporting to Your Highness, it does not.”

As though knowing that Mu Xu would still refuse to give up, Qie Ge smiled faintly.

“Give the Marriage Code to the Prince Consort and allow her to examine it carefully.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The Vice Minister handed the Marriage Code to Mu Xu.

When he looked at her, a trace of pity flashed briefly through his eyes.

Her Highness had summoned him because she had clearly anticipated the Prince Consort’s intentions in every detail.

Her Highness had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood and was personally raised by the late emperor. She was the most calculating among the calculating. Back when she supported the new emperor’s ascension, no one knew how many veteran officials she had defeated.

For the Prince Consort to attempt to contend with Her Highness now was truly an overestimation of her own abilities.

There was no telling how much she would suffer.

“Prince Consort, please.”

Mu Xu accepted the Marriage Code and rapidly began turning through it, desperately searching for anything that might favor her.

But no matter how she searched or how many times she flipped through the pages, she found nothing.

Eventually, even Jiang Huaisheng joined her.

Yet the two of them still failed to find a single useful provision.

Qie Ge idly turned the white jade bracelet around her wrist with her fingertips.

Apparently unwilling to waste any more time on Mu Xu, she asked, “Prince Consort, how is your search progressing?”

Mu Xu ignored her.

She continued frantically turning through the Marriage Code.

How could there be nothing?

How could there possibly be nothing?

No.

There had to be something.

There had to be!

She simply had not found it yet.

It was impossible for there to be nothing!

People said one would not give up until reaching the Yellow River. Mu Xu had already reached the Yellow River, yet she still refused to surrender.

Qie Ge beckoned to Qingqian.

Understanding immediately, Qingqian rose and supported Qie Ge by the arm.

Xiao Lezi had exceptionally sharp eyes.

Knowing Qie Ge was tired, he seized the opportunity to kick the young eunuch beside him and signal with his eyes.

The young eunuch crawled on his knees until he stopped behind Qie Ge.

Xiao Lezi said ingratiatingly, “Your Highness must be tired. This servant is to blame for hurrying here without thinking matters through properly. Your Highness, please sit!”

Xiao Lezi’s intentions were obvious.

He merely wanted to earn a reward.

“There is no need for me to sit. Still, it is rare for you to be so thoughtful. Qingqian, reward him.”

Qingqian immediately handed several gold ingots to Xiao Lezi.

Holding the gold in both hands, Xiao Lezi grinned so broadly that his mouth would not close.

“Xiao Lezi thanks Your Highness for the reward!”

At that moment, Mu Xu suddenly exclaimed, “I found it!”

Everyone’s attention immediately returned to her.

Qie Ge had personally read the Marriage Code. She knew perfectly well what it contained and what it did not.

It was impossible for Mu Xu to find anything useful.

Mu Xu read the passage aloud.

“Any citizens of Canglan who wish to become husband and wife must prepare the Six Rites and Three Documents: the presentation of betrothal gifts, the inquiry of names, the confirmation of auspiciousness, the presentation of formal gifts, the request—”

Before Mu Xu could finish, Qie Ge interrupted.

“Wait. Where does that passage state that marriage must be between a man and a woman?”

Mu Xu had already become somewhat agitated.

“The words ‘husband and wife’! Since ancient times, a husband has been a man and a wife has been a woman.”

“Husband and wife?”

Mu Xu looked at Qie Ge and nodded honestly.

“Mm!”

Qie Ge could no longer restrain herself and burst into laughter, as though she had just heard the greatest joke in the world.

Mu Xu did not understand.

What was Qie Ge laughing about?

Once Qie Ge had laughed enough, she walked over to Mu Xu.

Her slender fingers slid into Mu Xu’s palm and closed around her hand. With a slight pull, she brought Mu Xu to her feet.

Qie Ge met Mu Xu’s clear eyes, which were now veiled beneath a thin mist.

“Do you truly believe that a princess and her Prince Consort share the relationship of husband and wife?”

A faint, elusive smile lingered on Qie Ge’s lips.

She withdrew her hand from Mu Xu’s palm and gently smoothed the dark hair beside her ear.

“Prince Consort, you must remember this: the princess is the sovereign, and the Prince Consort is her subject.”

Those words made Mu Xu understand completely.

The matter had already been decided.

No matter what she did or said, there was no possibility of changing it.

Mu Xu bit her lip tightly, her heart tormented beyond measure.

If she became Qie Ge’s Prince Consort, she would not only betray Jiang Huaisheng but also violate her mother’s dying wish.

How could someone so disloyal and unfilial continue to exist in this world?

She did not fear being cursed by others.

But Jiang Huaisheng was different.

He still had to sit the imperial examination and earn an official title.

If others learned that he had once been betrothed to a woman like her, what would they say about him?

No.

She could not allow that to happen!

At this point, death was her only option.

Only if she died would Qie Ge finally relent, and only then would Jiang Huaisheng be spared the contempt of others.

Mu Xu steadied herself.

Her fingernails had already dug deeply into her palms.

Qie Ge vaguely sensed something was wrong.

Looking at Mu Xu again, she clearly wore the expression of someone preparing to die.

“Prince Consort, I am tired today as well. But let me ask you this: if rumors spread through the city tomorrow claiming that I forcibly seized an innocent woman and drove her to kill herself to preserve her chastity, whom should I hold accountable?”

Mu Xu looked at Qie Ge.

The mist in her eyes gathered more thickly, but still did not fall.

“If the Prince Consort does not know, I can tell you. Anyone who damages the reputation of the imperial family should have all nine generations of their clan executed!”

Qie Ge moved closer to Mu Xu’s ear and lowered her voice.

“Even Jiang Huaisheng would not escape death!”

Mu Xu’s heart sank.

The mist in her eyes finally overflowed, transforming into two tears that slid slowly down her cheeks.

She stared at the woman before her, resentment and hatred filling her heart.

Why was she not even permitted to decide her own death?

But what could she possibly do?

If she dared to die, Qie Ge would certainly carry out her threat.

Mu Xu could not implicate everyone else!

She clenched her teeth and stared at Qie Ge for a long time.

In the end, she still lowered herself to her knees.

“Mu Xu accepts the decree and thanks His Majesty for his grace.”