Chapter 1541: Chapter 1521: Moral Coercion, Huh?
"Isn’t that great? Your Du Family will become Imperial Kin too, and your own marriage will be even more secure." Luo Qianqian pulled open the door, looking at Du Yuwei with open puzzlement. "So what are you doing here looking for Shiliu? To give blessings? Then wait till they actually get married, we’ll naturally send a gift."
"We can’t afford to climb up to the Eldest Princess." Seeing Luo Qianqian come out, Du Yuwei’s brows twitched slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable as she asked, "Is Miss Shiliu in?"
"What do you want with Shiliu?" Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes. Better not tell her she wants He Wenyu to go with her to beg the Southern Li Emperor to revoke his decree, right?
Du Yuwei froze for a moment but still raised her voice and said, "My second brother is utterly sincere toward Miss Shiliu and is willing to marry Miss Shiliu into the Du Residence with proper three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts..."
"No, no, stop, stop. Do you seriously feel your conditions are pretty good, so Shiliu should be eternally grateful?" Luo Qianqian curved her lips, amused, and raised her voice a bit so the people in the courtyard could all hear her clearly.
Hearing Luo Qianqian’s words, Du Yuwei reflexively retorted, "Even if our Du Residence isn’t Imperial Kin, we are a noble clan of scholars. My father is already the third generation of the Du Family serving in court. Though the Du Residence can’t compare to the Royal Family, General’s Mansion, Prime Minister’s manor or prince’s mansion and the like, we are in no way inferior either, how is it..."
"Miss Du, for an Eldest Princess your Du Family already says you can’t afford to climb up, so on what basis do you claim you can climb up to our Shiliu? Sorry, but even a Princess has to salute when she sees Shiliu. Don’t take a good temper as a ladder for you to push your luck, inch after inch, again and again. Did the Matchmaker not make it clear enough yesterday?" Luo Qianqian spat on the ground without the slightest regard for her ladylike image. Seeing Du Yuwei about to say something, the moment she opened her mouth, Luo Qianqian continued, "Forget Du Lanming, even if it were Huangfu Huang you still have to see what Shiliu thinks. What, just because your second brother likes Shiliu, Shiliu must marry no one but him? Then if you like Eleventh Brother, does he have to marry you?" Watching Du Yuwei’s face turn red, Luo Qianqian directly rolled her eyes. So she really does have feelings for Luo Yanhai? No wonder she punished Du Yulan.
"Come, come, let’s skip the rest for now and talk about the rules of our Nine Heavens Pavilion first. First, one lifetime, one couple. The man doesn’t take concubines, the woman doesn’t take additional husbands. Equal and considerate, happily ever after." As soon as Luo Qianqian finished, she caught sight of Du Yuwei’s slightly excited cheeks, so she immediately continued, "And, you must sever all ties with your secular family. From then on, life and death no longer concern one another."
Hearing this, Du Yuwei’s face instantly turned a few shades uglier.
So even if they formed a marriage alliance with the Nine Heavens Pavilion, they still wouldn’t become the power backing the Du Family. No matter what happened to the Du Family, they wouldn’t intervene? That was fine; just having the name would still...
"Of course, if a family that has severed ties is found to have done anything to harm the vital interests and reputation of the Nine Heavens Pavilion, the Pavilion will directly eliminate the one causing the harm. The right of final interpretation belongs to the Nine Heavens Pavilion."
Luo Qianqian, are you a Devil? Can’t you see how awful her face already looks?
Luo Shufan and Luo Yanhai were both watching Luo Qianqian with great interest.
"Don’t you think you’re going too far? You’re a woman too; you’ll get married someday! When you meet someone you like, you’ll know what true love is! How can you shackle great feelings with all these rules?" Du Yuwei glared, her whole face full of unwillingness.
He Wenyu also shook her head slightly, somewhat confused. Was this the Du Yuwei she knew? How had she never noticed... She always thought Du Yuwei should be a shy, demure girl, but no matter how she looked now, she was worlds apart from that first impression.
"Great feelings?" Luo Qianqian immediately let out a derisive laugh. "The premise is that you actually know what that is, okay? What you’ve got here is nothing but lust dressed up as weighing pros and cons. Shiliu is easy to talk to and seems simple, but that is absolutely not a reason for you to scheme about her! Cut down on the plotting, will you? With too many little schemes, no one will truly like you. A pretty face is just mirage in the mirror, it has an expiration date."
"This whole thing started because of Shiliu. She must come with me to the palace to explain things to the Emperor. Feelings can be cultivated slowly; that’s my bottom line!" Looking at Luo Qianqian, Du Yuwei was furious. Why did this woman seem nothing like the amiable Shiliu? She’d come here intending to solve her brother’s imperial engagement problem; as long as she dumped all the blame on Shiliu, her brother would be fine!
"Why should she? Your ideas are crap but your wishful thinking is impressive. God gave you a head so you could think with it; you’re using it as a decoration? A zombie cracked open your skull, left in disappointment, and a passing dung beetle burst out laughing? Heh-heh-heh, I won’t see you out. I’m pretty gentle toward women; don’t force me to get physical." With that, Luo Qianqian slammed the door shut with a snap, leaving Du Yuwei standing outside, eating a faceful of dust.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Applause suddenly sounded around them. Luo Qianqian looked at the crowd in surprise. "What are you all doing?"
The people around her all wore expressions of open admiration. Luo Shufan’s eyes were even a bit red, with a faint "my little girl is all grown up" feeling.
"I wasn’t planning on going anyway, but I still have to say this: baby, I love you to death!" He Wenyu, still holding a kitchen knife and half a radish, rushed over and gave Luo Qianqian a fierce hug, making everyone else watching break out in a cold sweat.
Sis, that’s a kitchen knife—could you not wave it around? It’s creepy.
"It’s not like I said anything wrong. Isn’t that just moral blackmail? Her brother likes you so you have to marry him? Then since I really like the Imperial Palace, does that mean I can buy it and live there myself? She’s nuts." Luo Qianqian rolled her eyes and shoved He Wenyu away in disgust. "Go cut your radish. Who are you trying to scare holding that kitchen knife?"
"The Imperial Palace isn’t impossible either." Huangfu Yihui muttered off to the side, but no one else noticed.
"By the way, darling, remember to send that someone some good food later." She called in He Wenyu’s direction, and saw a raised kitchen knife indicating that she’d heard...
"The people outside haven’t left yet." Even without going out, Luo Xihan could feel them. Lately they had all been practicing controlling their spiritual power; being aware of the surrounding environment was the best way to train. So basically everyone had their spiritual power spread out.
"’Don’t give up till you get what you want’, huh?" Luo Qianqian curled her lip. "Honestly, I kind of like that stubborn streak; pity she’s using it in the wrong place. Feelings can’t be forced. A relationship with a clear agenda will only make people stay respectfully away. But... actually, Big Brother, I wouldn’t mind if you married her, you know..."
She blinked lightly at Luo Yanhai, her smile bright and lively.
"Mm, marry her and give her to you to play with—exercise your brain in palace intrigue? You think the Nine Heavens Pavilion is too peaceful, is that it?" Luo Yanhai rolled his eyes and casually tossed an Apple at Luo Qianqian.
Luo Qianqian caught it in one hand, took two bites, and nodded. "Tastes good. Crisp and refreshing. I can give it five stars."
