Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: Response
Chapter 409: Response
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Xiuyuan held the note in his hand with a calm expression, but Rong Xuan knew that he was angry.
Curious, he asked, “What did the letter say?”
When Qi Xiuyuan handed the note to him, Rong Xuan was shocked. “How will this do? What is the Emperor thinking?”
Qi Xiuyuan took a deep breath and said, “Prepare the betrothal gifts. I’ll go to the Mu family to propose marriage immediately.” A strange smile appeared on Qi Xiuyuan’s face. “Isn’t Minister Qin putting on a pretense? Then let’s get them married while he’s still pretending.”
“But your parents are in Lin’an Prefecture. If the Emperor insists on marrying Minister Qin’s daughter to your younger brother, Miss Mu can only be a concubine. Don’t forget, even if they get married, she won’t be able to enter the genealogical tree.” Rong Xuan was very fond of Mu Yangling and didn’t want this to happen to her.
■Who says so?” Anger surged in Qi Xiuyuan’s chest as his mind worked quickly. “Spread the word that I’m seriously injured and am about to die. To counteract the bad luck, our family is holding a wedding©. Tomorrow, bring Zijin and Haoran to the Mu family to arrange the betrothal. Set the wedding date as soon as possible. Then, go back to Lin’an Prefecture at full speed and get the elders to write Ah Ling’s name on the genealogical tree.”
Qi Xiuyuan sneered. “Quietly. Wait until her name is on the genealogical tree before announcing it. Since Haoran is just a small assistant commander, the Emperor won’t grant him a marriage, right? This way, even if he reveals his intention to marry the Qin and Qi families, it will take a long time for this news to reach here. If he and Minister Qin don’t find it embarrassing, I don’t mind Haoran having a noble concubine.”
Stunned, Rong Xuan asked, “Send who back?”
Qi Xiuyuan revealed his white teeth. “Zijin. Get Zijin to go back personally and bring Haoran’s letter. Tell them that I’m about to die and am counting on using their wedding to counteract the bad luck. We should really be glad that we released the news that I’m seriously injured in order to let the Jin Kingdom and the spies relax.”
Although Qi Xiuyuan could already walk, in order to keep the Jin Kingdom in the dark and make it easier to find the spy, he had always claimed that he was seriously injured. Until today, he had never appeared outside the residence.
There were few servants in the Qi residence, and they were very strictly managed. Even the Li family, as in-laws, only saw Qi Xiuyuan lying on the bed twice.
Therefore, it was much simpler for him to pretend that his condition had worsened and that he needed a wedding to counteract the bad luck.
Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes lit up. Originally, he said that due to being forced, but now, he felt that this idea was brilliant. His younger brother could get married as soon as possible. Because he was dangerously sick and needed the wedding to counteract the bad luck, this also forced the elders and his father to add Mu Yangling’s name to the genealogical tree without her and Haoran being present.
Because of this reason, all unreasonable actions could become reasonable.
Qi Xiuyuan snorted and said to Rong Xuan, “Open the storeroom and add 30% to the original betrothal gift. This wedding is too rushed, but we can’t let
Haoran and Ah Ling suffer.”
Rong Xuan held his forehead and said with a headache, “Do we really have to use this method? I’m afraid the soldiers of the West Camp will be swayed. Also, don’t forget that the spy planted by Your Majesty is still watching us.” However, Qi Xiuyuan leaned back in his chair and said in a good mood, “I suddenly thought of something. If my injuries are so serious that I need a wedding to counteract the bad luck, what do you think they will do?” Rong Xuan’s eyes flickered. Qi Xiuyuan lowered his voice and smiled. “Yuan Hui said that I’m the next Ziwei Star©. I didn’t believe it in the past and didn’t have that intention. Jinyu©, if I say that I want to become the person Yuan Hui said, what will you do?”
Rong Xuan looked up and met Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes. Then, he slowly got up and knelt in front of him. He said in a low voice, “I’m willing to follow your orders.” With a smile, Qi Xiuyuan strode forward to help him up. He held his hand tightly and said, “Then let’s take the opportunity to see how many people are willing to serve me.”
With his serious injuries and someone stirring up trouble, how many people were willing to stand on his side?
Qi Xiuyuan looked at the starry sky outside with a cold aura.
Equally emotional, Rong Xuan’s mouth was dry as he clenched his fists. He didn’t expect Qi Xiuyuan to openly say such things to him tonight.
When he returned to his room, Rong Xuan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The next day, he woke up with dark circles. He took the key to the storeroom and retrieved many precious items under Steward Zhu’s guidance to include in the betrothal gifts.
Knowing that they were going to be betrothed today, Qi Haoran ran over with a grin and rushed into the storeroom to pull out a large box. “Brother Rong, include this too. Let Ah Ling have these jewelry.” Inside was a large box that contained complete sets of jewelry. The moment he opened it, the pearls and gems almost blinded him. This was the spoils of war that Qi Xiuyuan had obtained during the war. He was the main general, so the best jewelry was naturally here.
Qi Haoran remembered that Mu Yangling liked jade accessories, so he rushed in and pulled out a box. Smiling, he said, “These are all jade bracelets. Ah Ling will definitely like them. Include them, too. Oh right, I remember that Big Brother was given a coral tree in the past. Where is it? Include that, too…” Holding the pen in his hand, Steward Zhu was dumbfounded. After a while, he remembered to pull Qi Haoran back. With a bitter expression, he said, “Fourth Young Master, Eldest Young Master prepared 86 betrothal gifts for you previously. They’re very expensive. If… if we add these to the list…
“If we bring these things over, the Mu family will definitely return them as dowry. Isn’t it just making another trip? Big Brother said that the betrothal gifts will be increased to 120 items.”
But what if they didn’t return it? Pfft, no, the key problem was, “But it can’t surpass Master’s by much.”
Back then, when Qi Xiuyuan gave the Li family betrothal gifts, he gave them 86 items. In terms of value, they couldn’t compare to the ones prepared for Qi Haoran. Not only did Qi Haoran’s betrothal gifts surpass Qi Xiuyuan’s in value, but now, he was increasing it to 120 items, and all precious items to boot. Wouldn’t this bring about disharmony between Eldest Madam and Fourth Madam in the future?
Rong Xuan closed the booklet and said with a smile, “Alright, so be it. Your master dotes on Fourth Young Master. Who else can he give these things to? Move the coral tree out. Haoran, go and see if there’s anything else you want to add. Just like you said, it’s just a trip.”
Qi Haoran immediately cheered up and rushed in to continue digging.
Steward Zhu said in a low voice with a bitter expression, “Young Master Rong, how is this the same? If these things go out and come in again, it will become Miss Mu’s dowry. It’ll be considered Miss Mu’s belongings.”
Smiling, Rong Xuan said, “Just note it down. That silly boy Haoran is too excited. When he comes back to his senses later, he’ll naturally ask you to remove it.”
Steward Zhu was instantly relieved when he saw the Fourth Young Master shouting so loudly that he could not tell north from south. That made sense. When the Fourth Young Master came back to his senses, he would naturally ask to have the items crossed out.
Qi Haoran originally thought that he would have to wait for more than a year before he could marry Mu Yangling. He did not expect to be able to get married now. Although he was also very annoyed that the old Emperor was interfering, Qi Haoran decided to forgive him for the time being on account that he was helping to bring forward the wedding.
Qi Haoran excitedly dug out nearly a third of the things in the storeroom, all spoils of war that Qi Xiuyuan had brought back. The Qi residence had a total of five such storerooms. The exasperated Steward Zhu looked at the ground full of gems and noted down their names and quantities.
Finally, when Qi Haoran was exhausted, he finally came back to his senses and said with a flushed face, “All of these can be crossed out. Just choose some suitable ones to add.”
Smiling, Steward Zhu said, “Fourth Young Master, don’t worry. Miss Mu will marry over in glory with these betrothal gifts.