Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Qi Qingyao was suspicious. “Who am I bestowed to?”
Li Ruoxuan pursed his lips and answered, “Lu Yan.”
Qi Qingyao was stunned for a moment. Returning to her senses, she asked, “Why Lu Yan?” If it were part of the empress’s schemes, should she not be married off to some random minister’s son, especially one who already had a lawfully wedded wife? Why would she wed a widow like her off to Lu Yan and have this pure and chaste man take the fall? This did not make any sense. Could it be that the little empress had a grudge on Lu Yan?
Li Ruoxuan calmly said, “The little empress read about you and Lu Yan being close when she looked through the intelligence report. She wants to marry you off to him to undermine the Lu family’s power since she is afraid that the Lu family will eventually own all the sinews of gold and silver in Northern Liang. If both Jiang Yeqian and I fancy you, we might even take vengeance on the Lu family after losing you! That would result in the balance being maintained, and it’s something the empress would be delighted about.”
A little maid had brought some freshly boiled goat’s milk to the door and Zhu Shen went over to receive it. After bringing it over, Qi Qingyao scooped a large bowl of goat’s milk for herself. She took a sip before saying, “So, I am a sacrificial pawn of the legends?”
“You’re just a chess piece that has the power to keep everything in check and balanced.”
Li Ruoxuan only noticed that her movements looked unhurried after he said this and asked, “Weren’t you all appalled and anxious just a moment ago? Why are you suddenly so calm?”
“Why should I be anxious?” Qi Qingyao asked with a smile as she took a sip of her milk calmly.
“Don’t tell me you’re really going to go through with the marriage?” Li Ruoxuan asked, instantly stunned.
Qi Qingyao smiled even wider. “The empress has bestowed marriage onto me, how am I to refuse?”
“You actually plan on marrying!!” Li Ruoxuan stood up abruptly, a look of disbelief in his eyes.
Qi Qingyao glanced at his surprised expression. She was the one getting married, not him. “I was bestowed with this marriage. Any other person would put up a bit of resistance but the one I’m being married off to is the legendary richest man of Northern Liang. Why should I refuse when I’m not losing out on anything?”
Exasperated, Li Ruoxuan cursed, “You really are a money-worshiping woman!!”
Confused at the verbal lashings, Qi Qingyao blinked her eyes. Looking unperturbed, she said, “You men love power, we women love money, what of it? That said, Lu Yan is pretty handsome! I’m losing out on nothing. In fact, Lu Yan is.”
“Is that how you really feel?” Li Ruoxuan felt like there was something lodged in his chest making it hard for him to breathe.
Qi Qingyao said in a self-deprecating manner, “I was a little outraged just now because I thought I was being married off to some minister’s son. But to think it was to the wealthiest man in Northern Liang, huh.”
An unspeakable emotion had begun to fester in Li Ruoxuan’s heart, gradually consuming him. Livid, he said, “Just because of money, you’re not even going to offer an ounce of resistance??”
Qi Qingyao finished drinking the piping hot goat’s milk. She looked confusedly at the agitated Li Ruoxuan. “Why are you so angry and anxious?”
“I…”
Right.
Why was he so angry?
LI Ruoxuan suddenly calmed down a little. His tone suddenly devoid of joy and anger, he said, “You’re the mother of my disciple, it’s natural that I’m anxious about this! What’s so weird about it?”
With a smile, Qi Qingyao said, “Then congratulate me!”
“…”
Why the hell would he congratulate her!
Li Ruoxuan felt the heat in his heart rising all the way to the peak. He stormed off, flicking his sleeves with displeasure.
Qi Qingyao was left sitting there. She licked the milk bowl, looking absolutely perplexed, and asked Zhu Shen, “Why did he leave?”
Zhu Shen glanced at Qi Qingyao silently.
His expression had also turned serious.
Then he turned to leave the front hall.
After licking the bowl clean, Qi QIngyao scratched her head. “Why did everyone leave?”
The moment she put down the bowl,
A little maid came forward and reported,
“Missus, the master of the Lu family has requested to see you.”
“Let him in quickly.” Finally, he was here.
After a while.
A beautiful man strode into the front hall with large strides, a white cat in his arms.
She watched him enter through the door.
Qi Qingyao widened her eyes a little and asked faintly, “You received the edict?”
Still carrying the cat, Lu Yan sat down where Li Ruoxuan was previously sitting and said anxiously, “Indeed, I came looking for you because I received the edict”
Qi Qingyao noted the beads of sweat on his forehead and knew that he had also been thoroughly shocked, which was why he had made his way over at first notice. Skipping the pleasantries, she immediately asked, “Do you want to reject the marriage, or…”
A hint of panic flashed through Lu Yan’s gaze. He did not answer her, but instead asked back, “Do you want to reject it?”
An ironic, self-deprecating smile hooked around the corners of Qi Qingyao’s lips. “I’m just a chess piece to keep everyone in check. I have no leverage to refuse this at all. What am I supposed to bring to the table to bargain with the empress?”
“You’re surrendering?” Lu Yan was feeling really conflicted.
This was because he not only felt shocked, but also a hint of joy when he received this edict.
Although he did not understand why the little empress bestowed marriage onto Qi Qingyao out of nowhere, this… to him, was a good thing.
Qi QIngyao got up, crossing her hands behind her back as she stood by the door. She gazed at the rising sun outside and said softly,
“Looking at this from a strategic standpoint, only the guillotine awaits me if I don’t surrender. Refusing is a crime. On the other hand, if I give in, I won’t be losing out on anything by marrying you. Instead, you are the one who is losing out. As such, I have no reason to reject this at all.”
Saying that, the corners of the young girl’s lips hooked up into a rather teasing smile. “However, from a tactical standpoint, she is merely bestowing a marriage, even giving us a month to get it done. She didn’t specify if we need to remain married or if we’re not allowed to divorce.”
Saying this.
She turned around, her back against the light, and smiled at Lu Yan prettily, “So, you don’t have to worry about us being husband and wife forever and disgracing the Lu family.”
Lu Yan could not quite make out the young girl’s face with the light shining out from behind her. He could only tell she was beginning to scheme from her tone.
Stunned, he asked, “You are already thinking about divorcing?”
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Qi Qingyao shrugged. Unabashed, she said, “Since the little empress now sees me as a thorn in her side, I have neither the power nor the right to go against her. I can only obey her.”
She would cross whatever hurdle that was in her way.
She knew the consequences of going against the little empress.
Hence, this was the best solution for now!
However, Qi Qingyao did not realize that the optimal solution to her…was a huge shock to others..