Chapter 540: If She Doesn’t Agree, Who Do I Get Engaged To?
Chapter 540: Chapter 540: If She Doesn’t Agree, Who Do I Get Engaged To?
Noticing everyone’s eyes on her, Ye Shangyi quickly cleared her throat. "I mean, this tea is no good. Waiter, how many times did you brew this pot today? Why does it still have a stale, bitter taste?"
The waiter hurried over. "How can that be, miss? This pot is a premium pre-Qingming Longjing."
Ye Shangyi waved her hand and had her maid give him a silver ingot.
"Bring us a fresh pot. This one isn’t to my taste."
The waiter could only take the teapot and head to the kitchen, looking resigned.
Not understanding, Qi Xiuwei lifted her cup and took a small sip. "Hm? It’s not bitter at all. In fact, it has a refreshing, sweet aftertaste."
Ye Shangyi felt a little guilty. Thankfully, the teahouse had already returned to its previous lively chatter.
"Maybe I’m just a little under the weather, which is leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I’ll order a pot of chrysanthemum tea later."
Shen Ningning watched her for a long moment before she finally saw what was going on.
The young woman sipped her tea leisurely and tutted. "Xiao Wei, you don’t understand. It’s Changyi who’s feeling bitter, so no amount of Longjing tea will taste good to her."
Qi Xiuwei blinked in confusion. "Ah? Changyi, is something weighing on your mind?"
"I do not!" Ye Shangyi’s denial was swift, her guilty gaze darting about. "Ningning is just teasing us, can’t you tell?"
Shen Ningning set down her teacup. "If you like him, you shouldn’t avoid it."
Ye Shangyi’s face turned red. "Ningning! Don’t talk nonsense! I just think marriage is a major event in one’s life. Shouldn’t he give it more thought? I hope he doesn’t end up with the wrong person, like I almost did."
Their cryptic exchange left Qi Xiuwei completely baffled.
"What on earth is this charade you two are playing at?"
Shen Ningning said quickly, "Changyi likes my third brother and is worried about his marriage prospects, but she’s too afraid to admit it."
"I do not!" Ye Shangyi stomped her foot anxiously, her entire plump, delicate face turning red as a cherry.
"You don’t? Then why did you look so unhappy the moment you saw Miss Meng? And why did you say ’no’ when I mentioned my third brother might like her too?"
It dawned on Qi Xiuwei. "Changyi, if that’s true, then Ningning is right. You have to make the first move. If you miss this chance, you might regret it."
Ye Shangyi was so mortified by her two friends that she wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
She covered her scalding face. "I told you, it’s not like that! Ugh... fine. I don’t really know if I like him or not. I just think... Xu Jingxi is a good man."
"He helped me expose Wu Ke for who he truly is, so of course I want him to marry a good, virtuous wife. That Miss Meng... she’s notorious for being extravagant and wasteful."
"So, I don’t think she’s a good match for Xu Jingxi. I wouldn’t even want her as Ningning’s sister-in-law. She’s just not suitable."
Upon hearing this, Qi Xiuwei immediately added, "I’ve heard about that, too. This Miss Meng supposedly loves gold more than anything. I heard even the handle of a writing brush she once used was wrapped in gold foil."
Shen Ningning considered this carefully.
’That does sound familiar.’
Miss Meng had been doted on by her parents since childhood, so she was naturally a spendthrift. Her love for extravagance was certainly real.
’However...’
"But if my third brother likes her, what does a little extra spending matter? My father, my second uncle, and all three of my brothers are very generous. When a new sister-in-law joins the family, of course we have to treat her well!"
’Liking gold isn’t such a big deal, after all.’
’But if she’s a bad person, then I wouldn’t want a sister-in-law like that either.’
"Still, the next time I see my third brother, I’ll remind him to think it over carefully."
After all, marriage is a matter of utmost importance.
After hearing this, Ye Shangyi finally couldn’t hold back any longer. "Let’s do this, Ningning. Ask Xu Jingxi to meet me, and I’ll ask him about it myself!"
Thrilled by her friend’s courage, Qi Xiuwei clapped her hands and laughed.
"Changyi has finally seen the light! But what are you going to ask him?"
"I’ll just ask if he likes Miss Meng. If he’s truly fond of her, then I won’t have to worry for him anymore. That way, I won’t be constantly thinking about repaying my debt to him or being overly concerned with his marriage... as if... as if I have feelings for him."
Shen Ningning blinked her long lashes. "Oh, so that’s how it is. Well then, isn’t your grandfather’s birthday banquet in a few days? My third brother will be there, so you could find a good opportunity to ask him then."
Ye Shangyi quickly waved her hands in dismissal.
"It’s not convenient at my home. If my grandfather finds out... he already adores Xu Jingxi. I’m afraid he’d misunderstand my intentions and try to make Xu Jingxi my husband. That would be utterly mortifying!"
Shen Ningning thought hard. ’What should they do, then?’
Qi Xiuwei’s eyes lit up as she remembered something.
"The eighth day of the second lunar month is the festival where the legendary Matchmaker descends to the mortal realm. The city will be holding a Lovers’ Lantern Festival, and there will be dragon and lion dances at the Matchmaker Temple. Why don’t we plan for that day? Ningning can ask her third brother to come out, and the occasion itself has a wonderful meaning."
Shen Ningning agreed in a heartbeat. "That’s a wonderful idea! Changyi, it’s settled, then!"
For some reason, even though the day had not yet arrived, Ye Shangyi’s heart was already pounding like a drum.
「Meanwhile.」
In the Emperor’s Imperial Study Room, Mo Lingwei, dressed in a Purple Dragon Robe and wearing a Jade Crown, sat on a chair to the side.
His sharp, handsome face was cold and pale, radiating blatant displeasure.
Nearby, the Emperor paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back, his brow also furrowed.
Neither father nor son spoke, but the Chief Eunuch standing by the door was terrified.
The father and son had just had a massive argument.
’He was genuinely afraid the Crown Prince would one day anger the Emperor to death.’
’It was just a request for him to get engaged. Why was he acting like it was a death sentence?’
Suddenly, the Emperor’s voice rose in anger once more. "You keep putting me off! How long are you going to drag this out?"
"Last time I asked your opinion on marriage, you said you had to wait until Ningning’s coming-of-age ceremony. She’s had her ceremony, and now you say you have to wait until this matter with Wu Ke is resolved."
"I even helped you investigate this Wu Ke, and what do you do? You change your mind again, now saying you want to wait until after the Spring Festival next year. Mo Lingwei! You are my son, and you are the Crown Prince of Cangyun Country! How can you go back on your word like this?"
This time, his anger was real.
Mo Lingwei merely glanced at him, looking perfectly composed.
"She won’t agree. Who am I supposed to get engaged to?"
"Have you even asked her? How can you just assume she won’t agree?"
"How am I supposed to ask? Don’t you know that feelings have to be mutual?" Mo Lingwei’s brow furrowed.
The Emperor was taken aback. "What do you mean? Are you saying Ningning is unwilling? What is there to be unwilling about? You two are childhood sweethearts who grew up together, practically inseparable. What’s more, you are the Crown Prince. She would become a concubine upon marrying you. What’s not to like about that?"
Mo Lingwei’s brow tightened instantly, his sharp gaze fixed on his father.
"Concubine? If I marry her, it will be for the position of main wife, nothing less."
"Absolutely not!" The Emperor waved a hand dismissively, his face turning ashen. "Ningning is a fine girl. I say nothing about how close you two are on a normal day. I have no problem with you wanting to marry her. But for her to be the Crown Prince’s main wife—the future Empress—that is not appropriate given her current status."
"How is it not appropriate? Do you find her family background lacking? Chancellor Xie holds immense power, her eldest brother Xie Mingxu commands thousands of soldiers, and her second brother, Xie Ming’an, is a pillar of the Ministry of Justice. There isn’t a single unimportant person in the entire Xie family. Furthermore, Shen Ningning has saved Cangyun Country from crisis on numerous occasions. Besides her, who else is worthy of the position of main wife?"
Mo Lingwei’s expression grew cold as well.
The Emperor pointed at him, shaking his head again and again. "You are still too young. You don’t understand. Ningning’s greatest flaw is that her family is too powerful. They have prestige among the common folk and are adored by the masses. Don’t you realize that an Empress like that, should she decide to allow her family to amass power, would pose a threat to your throne!"
Mo Lingwei shot to his feet, his expression glacial, and spat out two words: "Utter bullshit."