If it had been any other year, being the subject of such a jest would have mattered little, but with the woman he loved present, there was no way he could allow any misunderstanding to take root between them, no matter how indifferent she seed; he could not tolerate a third person intruding on their feelings.
The words Xiao Ruiyuan spoke were extrely skillful. Aside from the few who knew of the mutual affection between him and Mo Yan, others took him at his word, and couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
If Xiao Ruiyuan truly took a liking to one of the dancing girls, it would an he had finally seen sense. Then, with a little extra effort, they could arrange for their own eligible daughters to be married to him, wouldn’t that be splendid?
Emperor Huian’s gaze intensified, and with an almost imperceptible glance over Mo Yan, who was still enjoying the dance, he subtly shifted his attention to Xiao Ruiyuan and said affectionately, "Next year you will be twenty-four; it is ti for you to marry! Why don’t I decide for you today and grant you a talented and virtuous lady for a wife, thus resolving a concern of mine that has lasted for many years!"
At these words, not only did Xiao Ruiyuan’s brow twitch, but Mo Yan, who was pretending to watch the dance, couldn’t keep up the act anymore. She stared at Xiao Ruiyuan nervously, afraid that a single wrong response from him would result in Emperor Huian granting him a truly capable and noble lady. She was keenly aware that she was leagues away from the virtue and nobility the Emperor spoke of!
The Ministers and Ladies with eligible daughters at ho were even more excited, longing for him to issue the marriage decree imdiately. The lady graced with the marriage would be their own daughter.
Xiao Ruiyuan understood Emperor Huian far better than Mo Yan did. This talk of an arranged marriage, rather than a solicitation for his opinion, seed more like the Emperor had already made up his mind, and that so-called noble lady was certainly not the woman he liked.
Knowing full well about his relationship with Yanyan, yet speaking of arranged marriage, Xiao Ruiyuan mulled over Emperor Huian’s intentions in his heart, thinking rapidly of how to respond. He could indeed reveal the woman he truly loved, but once spoken, it would not bother him, while Yanyan would inevitably be criticized for favoritism, so he must not declare it publicly.
With that thought, Xiao Ruiyuan turned to Emperor Huian and declared resoundingly, "Your majesty, in front of my mother’s grave, I vowed to marry only the woman I loved, to stay faithful for life, or else to remain alone. When I et the woman of my heart, I shall ask for your blessing!"
The statent was addressed to Emperor Huian, but it was also ant for the one he wished to tell. He would never want the tragedy of his mother to befall the woman he loved.
The Ministers watched Xiao Ruiyuan, with his resolute face, in disbelief, finding it difficult to comprehend his "may I have her heart and never part" philosophy. It’s one thing for a woman to uphold such fidelity, but for a man, having multiple wives and concubines was the norm, wasn’t it? To spend a lifeti with a single woman, was he even a man?
The Ladies in attendance, however, were deeply moved. They had thought that General Xiao, known for his early fa and cold deanor, was like the many arrogant n who treated won with contempt, caring only for the so-called greater endeavors of n. They never imagined he would be willing to offer a woman the lifelong affection that all won seek and cherish. How many n in this world could do such a thing?
No one doubted that in the presence of Emperor Huian, he would risk the cri of deceiving the emperor with false words. Otherwise, if he were to break his promise one day, that very declaration could condemn him to hell.
In essence, Xiao Ruiyuan’s words wove a beautiful dream for the Ladies present. They might not turn this dream into reality for themselves, but they hoped their daughters would et such a husband.
No matter how divergent the thoughts of the Ministers and Ladies were, they agreed on one point: that they should work even harder to tie Xiao Ruiyuan to their boat. So what if he had rejected them countless tis? He wasn’t married yet, was he? Bringing their daughters before him to show their faces might just catch his eye one day, right?
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