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墨書 Inktalez
“Retired Emperor, my sister has said that she will be the small one and Commoner will be the big one. Will this marriage be granted or not?”
She may be rough and fierce, but so what? They don't want them to marry, yet they are still worrying for no reason. Do they really think she is just a simple Girl from the countryside? It can only be said that Zhao Qiushui and Su Xiuning are too foolish; fighting against someone like her is truly pointless. It would be better to go home and farm or raise fish.
Moreover, this is her true nature. If they can accept it, then fine; if not, they can just poke their own eyes out.
“Um... Su Family young lady, are you going to marry or not?”
Tian Haoye stroked his beard, hesitating before throwing the question to Su Xiuning.
This girl looked to be under fifteen, her eyes clear as water, with a fiery personality that seemed unwilling to engage in petty schemes. Yet just now, she had dared to strike the daughter of the Deputy Minister of Revenue in front of all the officials in court. This courage impressed him, and he couldn't bring himself to dislike her actions.
The reason he directed the question at Su Xiuning was to make her aware that if she chose this marriage, she would have to bear the consequences herself. Although he had the power to force Shen Muhan to marry her, according to Shen Muhan's character, if it were forced upon him, even if he married her, it would only be in name and not in reality. Therefore, Su Xiuning's life would be no different from living as a widow.
Furthermore, Shen Muhan was not one to be easily bound; he despised the open and covert struggles within the court. He would only concern himself with matters at the border. As long as no one openly plotted rebellion or chaos within the court, he absolutely would not intervene.
“Reporting to Retired Emperor, I will marry.”
The ministers were extremely puzzled as to why the Retired Emperor had given this choice to Su Xiuning. After all, the Su Family was a noble family that understood propriety and etiquette, making them more suitable for the Regent than that countryside Girl. As for that countryside Girl, as long as she was given a title, she could easily find someone else for marriage. Wasn't this roundabout approach unnecessary?
However, after all this commotion, Su Xiuning still insisted on marrying. This determination moved many present.
Moreover, marrying as a secondary wife meant being trampled underfoot by that countryside Girl.
“Shen Muhan, what do you think?”
At this moment, both Retired Emperor and Tian Haoye were conflicted. The alliance between Shen Su posed a significant threat to the court; even if all factions united, they could not be toppled. He felt somewhat reassured about the Shen Family, but this Suo Ao...
“Who has ever seen my Shen Family take in a Concubine?”
Shen Muhan smirked, casting a cold glance around before sarcastically speaking.
Whether it was his grandfather or his father, there had always been only one legitimate wife. Even though his grandmother passed away early, his grandfather never took a concubine, nor did he have any secondary rooms. This was something the Shen Family took pride in, and it was also the reason why many young ladies were eager to marry into their family.
His meaning was clear: he would only marry one woman in this lifetime, and that woman was Xia Muxin.
"Retired Emperor, Your Majesty, the Shen Family has long been granted the title of An Ding Hou, with the freedom to marry as we please. Are you implying... what exactly? If so, I request that Your Majesty demote me to a commoner, and I will never set foot in this court again."
The An Ding Hou had once made a similar plea like Su Tian's; truly, like father, like son.
Moreover, before granting the title, the Retired Emperor had verbally promised not to interfere in any marriage matters of the Shen Family. Shen Muhan remembered this very clearly; it was even treated as a family decree that he had memorized. Of course, it was his mother Su Tian who had made such arrangements.
As soon as Shen Muhan spoke these words, the court erupted in a commotion, filled with both excitement and sighs.
When it came to contributions, no one could surpass the Shen Family. Besides Wei Family, who else would be willing to let their children step forward to face danger? Who else would achieve countless military merits and then retreat without seeking any fame or fortune? Only the Shen Family could accomplish such feats.
"Right, right! Look at my old memory; this was indeed authorized by me back then."
Upon hearing this, the Retired Emperor felt a tightness in his chest. Now that Rui Er had just ascended the throne, relying heavily on the support of the Shen Family behind him, and with Shen Muhan being someone who kept his word, if he resigned from his position, those remaining factions would immediately surface. At that point, true chaos would ensue.
He realized he had almost jeopardized their great Nation out of gratitude for his mentor; he nearly became a sinner of the dynasty.
Thus, he quickly slapped his forehead to ease the situation.
Hearing these words, Su Rong's eyes widened in disbelief. To refuse Ning'er, Shen Muhan could utter such outrageous words. In an instant, she felt an overwhelming disappointment and lowered her head...
*
"Uncle, does your family really have such a family decree?"
In the carriage, Xia Muxin sat in front of the Tea Table, resting her head on one hand while her gaze drifted outside the curtain. She noticed Shen Muhan sitting across from her, engrossed in his phone, and couldn't help but ask in disbelief.
The matter of the arranged marriage seemed to have come to an end, with the Retired Emperor providing a way out for himself. Who would dare to refute that? Yet she knew that Su Xiuning would not let this go easily. However, she wasn't anxious; she believed that whatever came her way, she could handle it. What intrigued her was the Shen Family's ancestral teachings. It was truly remarkable that such traditions existed in this day and age, passed down through generations.
Next to Shen Muhan were many items similar to what he held—papers resembling official documents but less refined. Some were just thin sheets of paper, while others might be strips of bamboo, covered with scribbles she couldn't decipher. She understood that these were part of his daily work since he responded to each piece of paper and every bamboo strip, though she had no interest in what he wrote back.
At that moment, Shen Muhan finished reading one of the papers and made a few strokes with his brush before tossing it into a small wooden box. He then looked up at her and pondered for a moment before saying, "Yeah, don't you think you've hit the jackpot?"
Xia Muxin felt a wave of frustration wash over her. Seriously? Was this what they meant by "birds of a feather flock together"?
But she certainly didn't fit that description.
Seeing Xia Muxin frown and pout, Shen Muhan silently chuckled before picking up another item to read.
Xia Muxin's clear eyes focused on the back of his hand, finding it dull, and soon she dozed off.
Three days later, early in the morning, spring rain began to fall.
Yet Xia Muxin still got up early because today was the day they would return to Daimiao Village.
It was also the day Shen Muhan would head to the countryside for an inspection. Of course, Wei Jianxu would accompany him, along with someone very much disliked—Su Xiuning.
The reason for this was that Su Xiuning felt she had been too willful and selfish, only viewing things from her own perspective. This trip was meant for her to gain experience and understand the various evils of the world.
The Su Family was undoubtedly reluctant about this arrangement. In the end, it was Su Xiuning who insisted on accompanying the Little Emperor. Tian Ming Rui was so exasperated by her persistence that he agreed despite the risk of being frozen out by Shen Muhan. However, it was not Shen Muhan who would be responsible for taking her; it was Wei Jianxu instead.
At first, Xia Muxin found Wei Jianxu to be quite strange, and even now, she still felt that way. However, she couldn't pinpoint exactly what was odd about him.
The Shen Family had grown accustomed to the brothers Shen Muhan being away for long periods. No matter how much they missed them, their farewells were usually brief, just a few words of concern to remind them to take care. Wei Jianxu was even simpler; he came alone without any fuss. As for Su Xiuning, it was different. Everyone who could come had arrived, including maids and servants, all crying as if someone had died, which made Xia Muxin feel quite nauseous.
Damn it, they said they were going out for experience—was this really what it meant?
This scene was even more spectacular than a wedding procession.
Yet they had to gather at the Shen Family's gate before setting off. Xia Muxin held an apple in one hand, eating it mindlessly. Just looking at the scene made her feel sick, so she was the first to board the carriage and wait for Shen Muhan.
The journey went smoothly without any mishaps. Wei Jianxu was a person of few words and seemed somewhat withdrawn; no matter what he did, he was always the fastest. Even when eating, he finished first and then disappeared from sight. Once everyone else was done, he would reappear. The same went for their stay at the inn; he was always the first to close his door and rest. Xia Muxin hardly ever saw him wash up or use the restroom, which piqued her curiosity about him.
Su Xiuning also seemed unusually quiet throughout the trip. She wouldn’t ask questions that weren’t hers to ask or eat anything she shouldn’t have; it was as if she had transformed into a completely different person.
“Tomorrow we’ll reach Zhushan County. Aren’t you excited?” At that moment, Shen Muhan added some dishes to Xia Muxin's bowl, breaking the silence at the table.
Instantly, everyone paused in their eating. Wei Jianxu returned to normal in an instant, while Su Xiuning found herself unable to swallow the bite of food in her mouth.
Xia Muxin, however, ate happily and mumbled a couple of indistinct sounds in response. She had never liked wasting food, so she didn’t put down her bowl and chopsticks until she had cleaned everything off her plate.
“General Wei, which village are you planning to visit first?” Shen Muhan asked as they stepped outside.
Wei Jianxu appeared taken aback by the question; he hadn’t expected such an inquiry and replied with a question of his own: “Does the Regent mean we will be inspecting separately?”
His voice was calm and cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuations, yet beneath the indifference lay an indescribable peculiarity that Xia Muxin couldn't quite articulate.
Shen Muhan did not shy away from it and candidly replied, "That's right."
"What about me...?" Su Xiuning, who had been standing aside and finally understood, pointed to herself and asked.
"Let it be."
"Let it be."
Shen Muhan and Wei Jianxu spoke almost in unison, and soon, the two began a silent contest with their gazes.
"She followed you here, not me. Farewell."
Wei Jianxu was even more straightforward; with a swift turn, he mounted his horse and coldly added a remark before spurring the horse forward and leaving.
Shen Muhan's lips curled slightly as he watched the retreating figure, muttering something under his breath. Just then, Xia Muxin leaned closer, looking up at Shen Muhan and suddenly asked, "Uncle, are you very familiar with him?"
Of course, he was familiar. To escape an arranged marriage, he could even disguise himself as his own brother. Shen Muhan thought to himself about how the Wei family would handle this aftermath, but he showed no sign of it on the surface. Instead, he changed the subject: "It's getting late; we should set off soon. We'll stay overnight in Zhushan County and head home tomorrow morning."
His mention of going home completely captured Xia Muxin's attention; she no longer pressed for answers and nodded excitedly.
Soon, Su Xiuning sat alone in the carriage while Shen Muhan rode with Xia Muxin. Upon arriving at Zhushan County, they found an inn and booked three rooms. After dinner, they each returned to their rooms early to rest.
The night was quiet and still.
Xia Muxin, however, was excited and restless, thinking about how she would be going home the next morning. She wished she could open her eyes and find it was already the next day.
The candle in her room remained lit, and the cold wind howled outside, causing the candlelight to flicker. Just as she tossed and turned in a daze, a sudden chill swept through the room, jolting her awake instantly.
"Da—"
"Shh..."
The visitor was none other than Shen Muhan. However, before Xia Muxin could finish calling out to him, he silenced her. In an instant, with a wave of his hand, the candle was extinguished. Xia Muxin barely had time to react before she felt herself being lifted into Shen Muhan's damp embrace.
Her first thought was that he had just bathed; no wonder he was still wearing a white undershirt. But before she could process anything further, she heard several whooshing sounds as something pierced through the window and shot toward the bed.
In the darkness, Xia Muxin caught a glimpse of a blinding flash of cold light heading straight for the bed. Moments later, all fell silent.
Something icy landed on her hand. Xia Muxin reached up to touch it and realized Shen Muhan's hair was still wet and dripping. Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
It was an assassination attempt...
- End of Chapter -
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