Chapter 122:122. Appropriate Candidate (Second Revision)
Translator: 549690339
Duanmu Chen’s face darkened, gesturing for Chang’an to leave.
At the moment the door closed, Chang’an was not worried about how Su Liang might be treated impulsively by Duanmu Chen, but rather worried if Su Liang would harm Duanmu Chen.
“Sit.” Duanmu Chen coldly snorted.
Su Liang sat down, looking indifferent. “Fourth prince, can we talk properly now?”
“I do not care what your relationship is with Lin Xueqing; the things you are seeking will not be possible,” Duanmu Chen said with a stern face.
Su Liang’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Everything depends on people’s efforts. As long as His Highness is willing, I don’t think it’s completely impossible.”
“If you had come yesterday, even if it was just before I went into the palace, we might have been able to discuss it for the sake of our past friendship,” Duanmu Chen said. “But now, I have already asked my father for the Imperial Matrimonial Decree. Can I go back into the palace and tell my father that I was just talking nonsense before? Or is it that in just half a day, I suddenly changed my mind, and the Imperial Matrimonial Decree is no longer needed? Do you think I can bear the consequences?”
Duanmu Chen wanting to marry Lin Xueqing had nothing to do with affection; it was purely for the sake of benefit and advancement.
What he talked about now was the awkward situation at hand.
If he had never sought the decree in the palace, it could have been as if nothing had happened.
However, since the decree had been issued but not yet made public, it had indeed happened in reality and could not be easily cancelled if he wanted to.
su Llang trownea, “YOU neecl a sultaD1e reason.”
Duanmu Chen sneered, “Would you kindly tell me what reason would make my father understand my wavering actions?”
Su Liang fell silent.
From a practical and rational perspective, she could understand Duanmu Chen’s motive for wanting to marry Lin Xueqing.
As an ambitious prince, his actions served to expand and consolidate his power. Furthermore, he had good judgment in choosing a family that was currently not of high status but had great potential.
But Su Liang couldn’t accept it because the Lin family didn’t want to climb the social ranks, and she was friends with Lin Xueqing. Lin Shuzhi had even personally sought her help.
That was why she had appeared before Duanmu Chen.
There was a certain impulsive aspect to it, but when she calmed down, she knew it would be difficult to resolve the current predicament.
Since it had been initiated by Duanmu Chen, it was not something that could be easily ended.
Su Liang proposed a deal, but the precondition for Duanmu Chen’s agreement was that it had to benefit him more than marrying Lin Xueqing would.
The problem was, once he agreed to Su Liang, he would have to bear serious consequences first.
In other words, Su Liang could not offer a price that satisfied Duanmu Chen.
Moreover, this matter could not be evaluated solely in terms of right or wrong. As a prince with his sights on the Dragon Throne, his actions were in perfect accordance with his own interests.
Duanmu Chen sighed, “Su Liang, don’t blame me for not giving you face. At this point, even if you really want to take Lin Xueqing’s place and marry me, it wouldn’t help.”
Su Liang nodded, “I understand your thoughts. I just want to ask, if I had stopped you before you entered the palace, would you have given me face?”
Duanmu Chen was straightforward, “If the price you had offered at that time was satisfactory, I wouldn’t have minded selling you face.”
Give, no.
But to “sell,” yes.
Su Liang nodded, “Alright. What if I give you a suitable reason to call off the marriage later and it won’t affect you?”
Duanmu Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly, “You’re not thinking of making Lin
Xueqing pretend to be sick, are you? Or perhaps, really make her sick?”
Su Liang was silent, which meant Duanmu Chen had guessed correctly.
Duanmu Chen glared at Su Liang and said irritably, “So being sick for a long time and not being able to recover is better than marrying me? In your eyes, am I a catastrophe?”
Su Liang’s expression was calm, “Fourth Prince, let’s have a proper talk. Talking about feelings is a waste of time, especially when there aren’t any to begin with.”
With a dark face, Duanmu Chen said, “If you really want to do it that way, I can’t stop you. If you can offer a suitable price later, I can even cooperate with your acting. But I hope you won’t be so naive. If she doesn’t want to be my
Imperial Concubine, the next person who takes action against her might be
Duanmu Ao.”
“That would be simple,” Su Liang snorted lightly. “Just kill her.”
Duanmu Chen was speechless, “So I should thank you for showing mercy to me then?”
Su Liang shook her head, “It’s not the same thing. I won’t think you should die just because you want to marry Xueqing. You have your stance, and I am willing to compensate for your ‘loss’ and continue working together later.”
Duanmu Chen’s expression lightened slightly, “I can’t stop the Imperial Matrimonial Decree. For the matters afterward, come and talk to me once you have a plan.”
Su Liang got up, preparing to take her leave, when she heard Chang’an’s voice outside the door, “Master, someone from the palace has arrived. The emperor has ordered you to enter the palace immediately.”
The faces of Duanmu Chen and Su Liang both changed.
“Fourth Prince, please,” Su Liang bowed.
Neither she nor Duanmu Chen knew why the emperor had summoned him to the palace.
Su Liang’s intention was to have Duanmu Chen seize the opportunity and cancel his marriage to Lin Xueqing no matter what.
Duanmu Chen ignored him, changed his clothes, and left the house.
After Duanmu Chen left, Su Liang secretly left the Fourth Prince’s mansion. She wanted to see Lin Xueqing, but with the current situation unclear, she decided to return home and find Duanmu Chen later to ask about the situation.
The Imperial Palace.
When Duanmu Chen met Emperor Duanmu Yi, he noticed that Marquis Zhong Xin, the former Bei Jingwang, Xing Ji was also present.
Duanmu Chen sensed that something was not right. Xing Ji had been present when he had requested the Imperial Matrimonial Decree.
After bowing, Duanmu Chen asked respectfully, “May I ask, Father, what you have instructed me to come for?”
Duanmu Yi glanced at Xing Ji, “Marquis Zhong Xin, you explain it to Chen!”
Xing Ji slightly turned to face Duanmu Chen, restrained his eyes and said, “Earlier today, when I returned to my mansion from the palace, I met with my mother and mentioned the good news of the Fourth Prince’s marriage. I learned that Miss Lin was the one my mother had chosen to be the wife of her eldest grandson.”
Duanmu Chen was stunned. This was completely beyond his expectations.
Xing Ji continued, “My son is stubborn and said he would become a monk if he couldn’t marry Miss Lin. I had no choice but to come before the emperor and ask for his grace.”
Duanmu Chen never expected that someone competing with him for the same woman would be from the Marquis Zhong Xin Mansion, which ought to keep a low profile!
Although Xing Ji claimed it was his mother and son who pressured him, the fact that he stood here and spoke these words showed that he believed the not yet public Imperial Matrimonial Decree could be withdrawn, and it would be better for Lin Xueqing to marry his son instead!
For a moment, Duanmu Chen began to doubt whether Xing Ji had lost his mind, or ate bear hearts and leopard guts, thinking that Duanmu Yi wouldn’t dare to kill him.
On second thought, Duanmu Chen realized that Xing Ji’s actions might not be unintentional. He was straightforward, without any twists and turns, just like the time he went to battle without military power, unafraid to expose his strength and courage.
The Lin Family, however promising, and Lin Xueqing, a mere woman, were not worth Duanmu Yi’s attention.
Just as Duanmu Chen began to wonder what Duanmu Yi’s intentions were, Duanmu Yi spoke, “Xing Loyal Minister is filial and loves his son, which I can understand. However, it’s a matter of who comes first when it comes to a woman being courted by two families. After all, there is no marriage agreement between the Xing and Lin Families, but I have already promised to grant Chen a marriage. This matter is up to Chen!”
Duanmu Chen’s heart leaped!
“If Chen is willing to give up, I would be happy to fulfill Xing Crown Prince. But if Chen is unwilling, Xing Loyal Minister must not say more!” Duanmu Yi said.
“Yes.” Xing Ji nodded.
Duanmu Chen was unsure whether Duanmu Yi wanted him to stick to his guns or let go, but he was certain that Xing Ji was not someone Su Liang had invited, and Su Liang probably didn’t know about Xing Family’s move either.
But as long as he gave up the marriage, he would be doing Su Liang a favor.
Whether Su Liang was satisfied with Xing Yusheng marrying Lin Xueqing, or whether she would negotiate with Xing Yusheng again, had nothing to do with Duanmu Chen anymore.
With this thought, Duanmu Chen respectfully said, “Father, I am willing to let
Marquis Zhong Xin’s son and Miss Lin marry.”
Duanmu Yi’s expression did not reveal any emotions, “That’s very good. I will grant the marriage between Xing Crown Prince and Miss Lin.”
Xing Ji knelt down to express his gratitude.
Duanmu Yi looked at Duanmu Chen again, “Your second brother was attacked and injured in the back mountain of Huguo Temple. This matter has been handed to you, and you must find the real culprit.”
With mixed feelings, Duanmu Chen accepted the task and left the palace with Xing Ji.
“Thank you, Fourth Prince, for your kindness,” Xing Ji said.
Duanmu Chen shook his head, “It is my father who takes pity on Marquis Zhong Xin.”
As they were about to leave the palace gate, Duanmu Chen suddenly said, “Father has ordered me to investigate the attack on the Second Prince. I heard that Xing Crown Prince was also at Huguo Temple at the time. I would like Marquis Zhong Xin to inquire if Xing Crown Prince has any clues, please inform me.”
Xing Ji agreed, and the two parted ways.
Once seated in the carriage, Duanmu Chen rubbed his forehead, “Chang’an, check everyone who went to Huguo Temple today. I just sold Su Liang a favor, but I haven’t received any benefits yet, so I can’t sell her out. We need to find a suitable person to take the blame, who is skilled in martial arts and might have a conflict with Duanmu Ao.”
Chang’an, who was driving the carriage, had a thought, “I can think of someone suitable!”
“Who?” Duanmu Chen asked.
Chang’an lowered his voice, “Miss Nian Ruxue, the fourth daughter of the Nian family. Recently, there have been rumors that she will participate in this year’s Military Exam, so she must be skilled in martial arts, even though we’ve never seen her. The Second Prince encountered Miss Nian Ruxue, who was alone admiring the scenery in the back mountain of Huguo Temple, and attempted to assault her. Miss Nian defended her chastity and had no choice but to fight back, injuring the Second Prince and escaping.”
Duanmu Chen chuckled, “It sounds reasonable.”
“But was it really the Second Prince who attacked Miss Su? What if the Second Prince tried to assault Miss Su, and she fought back, wouldn’t the Second Prince know who hurt him?” Chang’an said.
Duanmu Chen snorted, “You think Duanmu Ao hasn’t woken up yet? Father naturally knows he’s awake, and since he claims he doesn’t know who attacked him, that’s why there needs to be an investigation.”
Chang’an suddenly realized, “Yes! The Second Prince must be hiding something and doesn’t dare to tell the Emperor!”
Duanmu Chen’s eyes were deep, “The real culprit would then be temporarily set as Nian Ruxue. Find good evidence and witnesses. Su Liang owes me another favor..”
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