Chapter 553: What If I Don’t Agree?
Chapter 553: Chapter 553: What If I Don’t Agree?
The matter was settled quickly, and word spread just as fast through the Capital City: the Xie family had actually agreed to a marriage alliance with the Lu family.
Shen Ningning went to the National Academy to attend the graduation banquet.
Everyone who saw her said, "Congratulations, Princess, truly, congratulations!"
Meng Wanning even made a point to approach Shen Ningning.
"Princess, how... how did you come to favor my second uncle?" Her eyes were full of gossipy curiosity.
With many of their classmates around, Shen Ningning maintained a dignified yet distant smile.
"What’s so wrong with him that would make Miss Meng speak of him that way?"
Her words turned the question right back at her. Meng Wanning’s smile stiffened. "Princess, please don’t misunderstand. I was only joking."
Ye Shangyi and Qi Xiuwei stood protectively by Shen Ningning.
Ever since the Matchmaker Festival, Meng Wanning had been sensible enough not to bother Xu Jingxi anymore.
But Ye Shangyi still scowled whenever she saw her.
"Marriage is a matter of mutual consent. Ningning herself is willing, so as an outsider, you should hold your tongue and not say such unpleasant things."
Meng Wanning’s lips tightened. She now held a grudge against Ye Shangyi.
’The Princess hasn’t even said anything, so why is Ye Shangyi trying to steal the show?’
But she couldn’t afford to offend them right now. All she could do was swallow her resentment and excuse herself.
Qi Xiuwei took Shen Ningning’s arm, glancing at the young woman with a worried expression.
"Ningning, after the banquet, let’s find a quiet place to have a proper talk."
Ye Shangyi quickly added, "You must be hiding something from us. Is this like before? Are you and Lu Shaoyuan just putting on an act? Like that time you and Xiao Wei teamed up to trick that group from Changliu Country—you were so serious you almost fooled me, too."
Qi Xiuwei gave a helpless smile. "Shangyi, this is different."
But Shen Ningning’s heart was pounding like a drum.
Ye Shangyi always seemed so carefree; Ningning was shocked that one of her casual remarks had just revealed the entire truth.
Unfortunately, Shen Ningning couldn’t possibly confess to her friends.
She could only say, "You’re overthinking it. I’ve just recently realized that the person I like is Lu Shaoyuan."
Ye Shangyi and Qi Xiuwei exchanged a look.
"You like Lu Shaoyuan... Then what about the Crown Prince...?" Ye Shangyi stammered.
’It was easy to imagine how furious the Crown Prince must be.’
’How come there’s been no news of him causing trouble these past few days?’
’Could it be that he’s already accepted this outcome?’
Shen Ningning told them calmly, "I’ll find a chance to make it clear to my brother. My feelings for him are just the affection between siblings."
Ye Shangyi’s mouth fell open. "Huh? But... alright. I guess I was mistaken. I saw you with the Crown Prince before, you were all smiles. I really thought you would become the Crown Princess Consort."
Shen Ningning lowered her head and said no more.
Qi Xiuwei smoothed things over, saying, "Let’s head to the front courtyard for now."
Just then, a little book boy came running over, out of breath.
"Princess, this is terrible! The Crown Prince and Mr. Lu are fighting in the front courtyard!"
Shen Ningning’s expression changed. She quickly hiked up her skirts and ran toward the front courtyard.
Ye Shangyi grabbed the little book boy. "What’s going on?"
The little book boy said frantically, "I’m not sure! The Crown Prince started fighting the moment he arrived! It’s chaos up front, and Third Young Master Xie is trying to hold them back."
Qi Xiuwei quickly pulled Ye Shangyi along. "Let’s go see."
Shen Ningning ran frantically to the front courtyard, holding her skirts and pushing through the chaotic crowd. "Move aside, move aside!"
She saw at once that it wasn’t a fight between Lu Shaoyuan and Mo Lingwei. Rather, Lu Shaoyuan wasn’t fighting back at all, simply letting Mo Lingwei hit him.
When Shen Ningning arrived, Mo Lingwei was gripping Lu Shaoyuan by the collar, his piercing eyes bloodshot.
Lu Shaoyuan’s mouth was already bruised and flecked with blood, but that wasn’t enough for Mo Lingwei. He raised his right fist, his aura terrifying.
Xu Jingxi was at their side, pulling at them and trying to separate them.
Lu Shaoyuan’s eyes were calm as he looked at Mo Lingwei. He said, "Have you let out enough of your anger? If not, you can have a couple more punches!"
"You think I wouldn’t dare? Forget just hitting you—I could take your life today, and I would do it!"
The crowd gasped. The teachers all hurried over but didn’t dare to step forward, only offering anxious words of persuasion from the sidelines.
Mr. Han hadn’t arrived yet; otherwise, someone might have dared to step in and break up the fight.
Mo Lingwei despised this attitude of Lu Shaoyuan’s more than anything.
If Lu Shaoyuan had fought back and had a proper, hearty brawl with him, he wouldn’t have been this angry.
However, Lu Shaoyuan’s current expression suggested he was letting Mo Lingwei beat him, knowing full well that Mo Lingwei couldn’t change the fact of their engagement.
Mo Lingwei caught a hint of pity in Lu Shaoyuan’s eyes.
It shattered the last of his self-control.
Just as his fist was about to come crashing down, Shen Ningning’s sharp rebuke came from behind him.
"Mo Lingwei, stop!"
The vicious force of the punch halted just before it could connect with Lu Shaoyuan’s eye socket.
Lu Shaoyuan glanced to the side, a crack finally appearing in his calm expression.
"Ningning, why are you here? Go back! This is between the two of us."
But Shen Ningning had already hiked up her skirts and was walking over quickly.
Mo Lingwei didn’t let go of Lu Shaoyuan’s collar. He just turned his head, his bloodshot, piercing eyes fixed coldly on Shen Ningning.
"Didn’t you say you were going to explain things to me?" he began, his voice low and hoarse.
"So where is your explanation?" Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow. "How is it that you say nothing, and the next thing I hear is that you’re already preparing for an engagement? Is that the explanation you wanted to give me? Hm?"
Shen Ningning pressed her lips together. Her gaze fell on the blood frothing at the corner of Lu Shaoyuan’s mouth, and she knitted her fine brows in worry.
From the moment she appeared, Mo Lingwei’s eyes had not left her.
So naturally, he didn’t miss the look she gave Lu Shaoyuan.
’Is she feeling sorry for another man?’
There were too many people around; this wasn’t a convenient place to talk.
Shen Ningning said, "Let him go first. We can go over there and talk alone."
Mo Lingwei sneered. "At a time like this, you still think you can bargain with me?"
Despite his words, he released Lu Shaoyuan’s collar.
"Ningning..." Lu Shaoyuan started to follow, only to receive a warning glare from Mo Lingwei.
It was as if Mo Lingwei would actually kill him if he didn’t take the hint.
Shen Ningning gently shook her head at Lu Shaoyuan. "It’s fine. There are some things I really do need to make clear to my brother. None of you need to follow."
Then, with Mo Lingwei following behind her, she went into the library, separated from the courtyard by a wall.
Countless books from the National Academy’s collection were stored here. After the two of them entered, Mo Lingwei slammed the door shut with a BANG.
He leaned his back against the door, blocking the exit. Mo Lingwei’s piercing eyes were dark and dangerously heavy.
"Why Lu Shaoyuan? If you choose him, then what does that make us?"
Shen Ningning stood where light and shadow intertwined. The sunlight from outside filtered through the latticed windows, illuminating the young woman’s beautiful but somewhat pale face.
She tried to keep her voice calm. "Ever since we were little, I’ve always called you brother..."
"Don’t try to fob me off with that nonsense!" Mo Lingwei cut her off coldly.
’Brother?’
’She was the one who liked calling me that, so I allowed it.’
’It’s not like I ever really thought of her as my sister.’
Mo Lingwei didn’t want to waste words. His voice low and hoarse, he said bluntly, "In a moment, you will go out there and tell Lu Shaoyuan that the engagement is off. I can pretend none of this ever happened. I won’t hold it against the Lu family, and I won’t make things difficult for Lu Shaoyuan."
Shen Ningning shook her head. "I’m going to marry him. I like Lu Shaoyuan."
As she said this, she didn’t even realize that her own voice was trembling slightly.
Hearing this, Mo Lingwei’s sharp brows drew down low, and his piercing eyes turned crimson.
"Like him? Marry him?" He scoffed. "Shen Ningning, what in the world is wrong with you? Have you ever liked him? In the ten-plus years I’ve been by your side, when have you ever liked Lu Shaoyuan? When have you ever given him so much as a second glance!"
Shen Ningning closed her eyes. "Brother, please don’t be like this, or we won’t be able to talk at all. I want your understanding, not to fight with you over this."
Seeing her like this, Mo Lingwei could no longer hold the cold sneer on his lips.
His handsome, sharp-featured face was a maelstrom of turbulent emotion.
After a long moment, he spoke again, his voice now chilling and laced with a cold, bloodthirsty aura.
"And what if I forbid it? If I forbid you from marrying him—or else I don’t know what I might do—will you still insist on having your own way?"