s.h.i.+ Junhe got stiffened and didn't dare to move.

But Mo Xiangbin looked at him with expectancy, so s.h.i.+ Junhe had to answer, “Yes, my little daughter is named Qingxue. She will have her sixteenth birthday in June.”

“She is a clever girl. I have seen her several times. She is obedient and witty and knows how to make my mother happy!” Mo Xiangbin said casually, but told the truth.

It was not easy for the busy emperor to remember a young girl with no official rank. It was true that s.h.i.+ Qingxue was extraordinarily capable.

But s.h.i.+ Junhe didn't feel happy to hear that. Instead, he was more terrified.

Then Mo Xiangbin spoke in a careless way again, as if he didn't fear that he would scare somebody to death. “I hear that your daughter is a friend of my fourth son Junhao. He is always picky, but he praised that girl in front of me for several times!”

s.h.i.+ Junhe responded in panic, “His Highness is so kind.”

Mo Xiangbin waved his hand and looked down, finding that s.h.i.+ Junhe was trembling with his head lowered. He believed that he had given enough hints and shouldn't push him too hard. Then he said, “We just talked about our children. Don't be overcautious. I will consider Infanta Baoning's marriage. Go back and think it over.”

“Yes!”

Although Mo Xiangbin didn't tell him what to think over, s.h.i.+ Junhe left in a hurry without asking.

After he walked out of the imperial palace, he finally sighed deeply and wiped the sweat emerging continuously on his forehead.

Probably it was his first time to feel so scared when facing the emperor. He was almost frightened to death.

In the carriage to his mansion, s.h.i.+ Junhe sat with his back straightened. Without any joy of a.s.surance on his face, he looked serious, as if he was facing many enemies.

In the beginning, he had thought Mo Xiangbin was dissatisfied with him being alone, so he wanted to drag him down into the mess of the royal family, but he hadn't expected the emperor to make the s.h.i.+ Family follow the fourth prince.

“Ah! Love is so tiring. That person would do such a thing, and it is so…” s.h.i.+ Junhe sighed helplessly.

It was said that the emperor Mo Xiangbin doted on his concubine Liu Yiyi, but it was normal for a man with supreme power to have one or two beloved concubines and even to be partial, but unexpectedly, that person would have gone so far.

If Mo Xiangbin just doubted the s.h.i.+ Family's loyalty, he could prove that he was loyal. After all, there were other choices to show the loyalty to the emperor except marrying his daughter to a prince, and it was even okay with him if Mo Xiangbin wanted him to help Mo Junhao.

Under the current situation, the crown prince was timid and not powerful enough, and the second prince was numb and powerless. The third prince had relatives who monopolized the power and there would be much future trouble… The fourth prince Mo Junhao could be considered as a choice, especially nowadays Mo Xiangbin was partial to him apparently.

But Mo Xiangbin shouldn't mention it in this way. Thinking that the emperor wanted s.h.i.+ Qingxue to marry Mo Junhao, Duke s.h.i.+ wrinkled his brows tightly.

Till now, he certainly wouldn't think that his daughter loved Mo Junhao. Moreover, especially when Mo Junhao had a side concubine, the duke didn't dare to tell Qingxue about Mo Xiangbin's intention.

He was so worried.

What happened in the emperor's study made s.h.i.+ Junhe have a headache as he didn't know how to refuse Mo Xiangbin's involvement. While the empress dowager Ling Ruiyin had a meeting with Mo Junyu after she got the news.

“Junyu, do you know your father wants Qingxue to marry your brother Junhao?” Ling Ruiyin didn't keep him in suspense but went straight to the point.

Mo Junyu was surprised and wanted to play dumb, but he saw his grandma's grim face. He had to nod, saying helplessly, “Father is always partial to Junhao, and it is not surprising that he wants to find Junhao a reliable wife.”

But their father chose s.h.i.+ Qingxue from so many ladies. He prayed for Mo Junhao in his heart.

While Ling Ruiyin asked, “Are you willing to let Junhao take advantage of you?”

Mo Junyu thought, “Don't worry. He wouldn't take advantage.”

However, he had to say worriedly, “You know that Father doesn't like me. Even if I am unwilling, I have to bear with it.”

Nowadays, no matter how unwilling he was, he had to hide his capabilities and wait.

“That's not necessary. I have a way to grab the advantage for you!” Ling Ruiyin suddenly said.

Mo Junyu was stunned and confused. “Grandma, do you mean…”

Ling Ruiyin smiled slyly. “Qingxue is so adorable, and none of you can compare with her. If I don't think that you are nice and would love her wholeheartedly after marrying her, I wouldn't be willing to marry her to you.”

The crown prince was speechless.

But Ling Ruiyin misunderstood him and put on a long face, reproaching him, “What? It's said that men are fickle in love and heartless, forgetting the old one after seeing a new one. You haven't married her, but you start to consider another woman as your concubine?”

Mo Junyu could neither laugh nor cry and hurriedly waved his hand, explaining, “No, I don't dare to. I know that if the wife's position is unstable, the household would be a mess.”

He was a tragedy caused by the unstable position of a wife. Even if he would be lucky and get the supreme position at last, no matter how he disliked his wife, he wouldn't humiliate her. That was his bottom line.

Ling Ruiyin got contented and said joyfully, “I didn't put the boot on the wrong leg. I am relieved to marry Qingxue to you. As long as the s.h.i.+ Family is related to you by marriage, and Junjiu and Junhao fight with each other, it wouldn't be difficult for you to keep the position as the heir to the throne.”

She got more excited while speaking, but Mo Junyu got more terrified to hear that, even with sweat on his back and a chill on his neck.

He was scared by his fear and hurriedly interrupted Ling Ruiyin's daydream. “Grandma, what are you talking about? I am eight years older than Qingxue, and she is a little sister in my eyes. She treats me like a big brother. How can I marry her?”

If possible, Mo Junyu wanted to take back what they had said.

What a joke!

If Mo Junyang knew that Ling Ruiyin dared to arrange Qingxue's marriage and wanted to marry her to him, would they live a good life?

The crown prince was so worried and thought, “Grandma, stop! If you say more, my most capable military counselor will kill his master!”

Ling Ruiyin didn't know Mo Junyu's worry at all and even thought he was ungrateful. She rebuked him, with a cold face, “What brother and sister? It's just a form of address. With this relations.h.i.+p, you will be closer after getting married. What's wrong if you are eight years older? I am nine years younger than your grandpa, but we loved each other.

A man should be older than his wife, so he knows how to love her. You don't have a wife, and you are talented and handsome. You are a good match for Qingxue.”

What she said made sense, and Mo Junyu couldn't reply.

He couldn't say, “Grandma, you misunderstand me. It's not that I don't want to marry Qingxue, but I don't have the nerve to!”

Ling Ruiyin was disappointed at Mo Junyu and glared at him. “What's so difficult? Do you have someone you love so you refuse to marry her? Tell me. What kind of woman attracts you? You even think Qingxue is not good enough?”

Since Ling Ruiyin got far away from what was normal, Mo Junyu explained in a hurry, “You misunderstand. It's not that I don't like Qingxue, but…”

He suddenly had a brain wave and found an excuse. “Grandma, you love Qingxue so much, so you will consider what she thinks. If you arrange her marriage without asking her and hurt her feelings, it would be bad. After all, marriage is a matter of two people.”

Hearing that, Ling Ruiyin didn't push him anymore but showed a sad face, sighing. “I really like that girl. How would I ignore what she thinks? But your father is determined to make her his daughter-in-law. If she doesn't marry you, could I bear to see that she marries Junjiu or Junhao?”

She had no choice but to tell Mo Junyu about Mo Xiangbin's suspicion on the s.h.i.+ Family. Mo Junyu was surprised but then understood on second thoughts. That was his father's suspicious style.

But neither of them had expected that Mo Xiangbin would bring it up at this crucial time. Did something wrong happen?

Mo Junyu kept silent, lost in thought.

Ling Ruiyin guessed that he was still hesitating and then threatened, “Junyu, tell me frankly, do you really have no interest in Qingxue?

If you really don't like her, I won't force you. Like I said, Qingxue is so attractive. If you don't want to marry her, somebody else thinks of her every day.”

“Who?” Mo Junyu got alert and asked.

Ling Ruiyin was satisfied with his reaction and seemed to win. “The ninth prince. He is only 13 years old, but he knows about love early. Since s.h.i.+ Qingxue showed her beauty and talent at the party on July 7th three years ago, that boy would mention his sister Qingxue every time he came to see me. He even asked me to let her marry him.

If I don't care about you for the sake of your mother, the empress, I am unwilling to let Qingxue marry you, such a short-sighted guy! Huh…”

The last word “huh” was so harsh that Mo Junyu was desperate. He couldn't get rid of her misunderstanding, no matter what he would say.

At last, he had to smile bitterly. “Grandma, my brother is just a kid.”

In Mo Country, the man became an adult at the age of 20 and could get married at the age of 18 at least. The ninth prince Mo Junzhan was only 13 years old and indeed a kid. Ling Ruiyin was so absurd as to think about such a match.

However, Ling Ruiyin was more courageous with sufficient reasons. “Marrying an older wife can make the man get more wealth. The wife is three years older than the man, and it is a perfect match. Although it is still early to get married now, we can make them engaged. Anyway, if somebody else regrets, he will find a place to cry.”

She intentionally stressed the words “somebody else”, which made Mo Junyu unable to laugh or cry.

He admitted defeat. “Grandma, we can't act rashly to arrange the marriage. No matter if I will marry her, I need to think it over. Please give me some time.”

Ling Ruiyin was generous and agreed, “Okay. Go back and think it over. Don't let me down!”

Mo Junyu nodded instantly and was still worried in the end. He told her, “Grandma, please don't arrange the marriage randomly before I make a decision. Or…”

It would be done!

Ling Ruiyin glanced at him with a smile and asked leisurely, “Do you have a sense of crisis now?”

No. He was terrified today!

After saying goodbye to Ling Ruiyin, Mo Junyu rushed to King Rui's mansion.