Originally, Chu Heng had looked down upon Mo Yan, believing she was not a worthy match for Xiao Ruiyuan. He felt that Mo Yan, coming from a poor background, had not been nurtured ticulously by a great family and would have difficulties adapting to various aspects of a great family’s life, which could, inevitably, lead to conflicts between the couple over ti.
Although his opinion of Mo Yan had changed later and he acknowledged this future sister-in-law, that concern still remained. He had Xiao Ruiyuan take two nurses back ho with him, partly with this in mind.
Moreover, there wasn’t really any elder at Lord Wei Yuan House who genuinely had Xiao Ruiyuan’s best interests at heart. Regarding the matter of the Mo Family presenting the betrothal gifts, it was also Chu Heng who had entrusted his own Crown Princess Consort to handle it.
The Crown Princess Consort was exceedingly virtuous and deeply grateful for Xiao Ruiyuan’s unwavering support of her husband over the years. She truly regarded him as a brother and thus managed all the details impeccably. All that was required was for Xiao Ruiyuan to take the betrothal gifts and dowry and accompany the matchmaker to the Mo Family.
However, while the initial betrothal and three subsequent gift-givings were relatively simple procedures, the subsequent customs were far more complicated. It wouldn’t do to bother the Crown Princess Consort every ti; after all, she was in charge of the whole Prince’s Mansion and was not likely to be idle every day.
After much consideration, it was decided by Chu Heng to gift Xiao Ruiyuan with two nurses skilled in handling such worldly affairs. It could truly be said that he had put much thought into this gesture!
Xiao Ruiyuan gratefully accepted his cousin’s kindness and took in the two nurses. It wasn’t just because he was worried that Mo Yan would struggle with those worldly tasks, but purely because he himself didn’t have the patience for them. He also knew that Mo Yan enjoyed simplicity. With the presence of experienced nurses, managing things would be much easier for them, and any additional ti they could spend together was always a good thing.
Chu Heng, who had nothing but his cousin’s best interests at heart, would surely have regretted sending those two nurses if he knew Xiao Ruiyuan’s true thoughts.
The two brothers discussed the details of presenting the betrothal gifts at the Mo Family on the third day of the third month and then their conversation turned to the matter of Xiao Ruiqing and Princess Ruining.
"You were right to follow the Old Marquis’s dying wish, but as long as Xiao Ruiqing is alive, Xiao Xiong and Lady Wei won’t give up. They’ve gone to great lengths to connect with Princess Ruining, and with Father’s attitude being what it is, you must be careful," Chu Heng said to Xiao Ruiyuan with a solemn reminder.
Chu Heng had felt it was a mistake when Xiao Ruiyuan had spared Xiao Ruiqing earlier. However, he too respected the deceased Old Marquis and understood Xiao Ruiyuan’s predicant. If it were him, he would have found it difficult too, and so at the ti, he had not said anything.
Xiao Ruiyuan nodded: "People are keeping an eye on Xiao Ruiqing, he won’t be able to cause any trouble. It’s The Emperor and Princess Ruining that are more challenging to deal with."
Previously, Emperor Huian, knowing that Xiao Ruiyuan was devoted to Mo Yan, had intended to grant him a marriage, sothing Xiao Ruiyuan could never make sense of. And now, there seed to be indications of favoring Xiao Ruiqing again, which made him feel even more uneasy.
He had previously threatened Xiao Xiong and Lady Wei with Xiao Ruiqing’s life and death, wishing to prevent them from facilitating the marriage between Princess Ruining and Xiao Ruiqing. Now, with Emperor Huian’s inscrutable stance, if Xiao Ruiqing were to gain the favor of Princess Ruining, it would spell endless trouble. For the sake of future peace, he could not allow Xiao Ruiqing to leave the Clan’s tomb alive.
Upon hearing this, Chu Heng rembered the proposal from Emperor Huian on his thirtieth birthday and, with a darkening expression, spoke, "Princess Ruining can be dealt with easily. It’s just that Father’s intentions are hard to discern; you must be extrely cautious! In any case, be prepared for all eventualities. You just keep an eye on Xiao Ruiqing and his few; leave the rest to , your cousin."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan stood up seriously and, holding a fist to his chest, bowed to Chu Heng: "Hanzhang is deeply grateful to my cousin!"
Chu Heng stepped forward, clapped him hard on the shoulder, and laughed out loud, "You call cousin, how could I stand by and watch you suffer? No matter what, you and I are the closest of brothers."
Xiao Ruiyuan’s expression softened, inwardly thankful for having such a brotherly figure. Even though there were differences between sovereign and subject, this brotherly bond would never fade.
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