Chapter 30. The marriage can’t wait, this king will propose tomorrow, you just…

“Ah, I lost. The Regent is formidable, formidable.”

After a series of flashy maneuvers, Gu Sui covered his chest and retreated a few steps, putting on a weak and injured appearance as he spoke seriously.

Mu Jiulu lowered her gaze to look at her own hands, raising an eyebrow.

She hadn’t even used much strength!

It hadn’t even been half a cup of tea’s time, less than three rounds, and he had already conceded defeat.

Wasn’t he afraid others would look down on him as the young general!

The little emperor watched, utterly speechless.

She had originally held out one last hope that maybe the Regent wouldn’t be able to defeat Gu Sui, wouldn’t that be a happy outcome for all.

But what was this, what was this!

Flirting and banter?!

Where was the intensity and heart-pounding excitement from when the Regent had dueled with Su Tong earlier! Where had it all gone!

Gu Sui couldn’t care less about others’ opinions. What did it matter losing to his own darling? He couldn’t beat her anyway.

The young man continued clutching his chest, his peach blossom eyes gleaming as he walked towards Mu Jiulu.

“Now that it’s over, can we get engaged?”

Seeing this, Wan Qi Xingyin at the front of the hall couldn’t help but laugh lightly, while Gu Tingsong helplessly rubbed her forehead.

“Mm.”

Mu Jiulu was equally helpless as she nodded, a trace of doting flashing through her dark eyes.

Gu Sui completely removed the hand covering his chest and excitedly snapped his fingers, his eyes curving into joyful arcs.

There wasn’t a hint of injury left in his appearance.

Everyone: “……”

First there was the Winter State prince Jinying publicly professing his love, and now the young general Gu conceding after three moves just to get engaged. This court session had truly been an eye-opener for all the court officials.

After the court session dispersed, Su Tong and the others returned to the Four Directions Pavilion, accompanied by the imperial physician Mu Huan had sent to treat her injuries.

She had actively provoked the fight yet lacked the skill to win. This imperial physician was Mu Huan’s way of addressing her serious injuries.

“Mu Jiulu, one day I’ll make you pay!”

Watching helplessly as Mu Jiulu snatched away Gu Sui, Su Tong was furious. She clutched the signed peace treaty, her expression somewhat twisted.

“Elder Sister Su Tong, I feel uneasy.”

Jinying said with furrowed brows. Su Tong shot him a cold glance.

“What, are you scared? Weren’t you so impressive before?”

Jinying shook his head: “It’s not because of Mu Jiulu, it’s that Wan Qi Xingyin.”

Ever since leaving the palace, he had been restless, constantly thinking about the scene when he saw Wan Qi Xingyin in front of the Hall of Golden Chimes.

His eyes were naturally clairvoyant, able to see through people’s destinies at a glance. Even for uncommon fates like Mu Jiulu, Mu Huan, and Gu Sui, he could comprehend them.

But it didn’t work on Wan Qi Xingyin.

“She was shrouded in dense fog, and that fog gave me an intense sense of pressure. In that moment, I felt like my eyes were about to fail me. I couldn’t even clearly see what she looked like.”

This was an extremely terrifying thing for him.

Su Tong’s eyes narrowed: “Then could she see through you?”

Jinying paused, then after a long while, shook his head in frustration.

“I don’t know.”

*

In the imperial study, Mu Huan, Mu Jiulu, Wan Qi Xingyin and Gu Tingsong were all present. The atmosphere was somehow strange.

Mu Huan looked left at Gu Tingsong, then right at Mu Jiulu, and after several glances, sighed calmly.

Wan Qi Xingyin: “Your Majesty is still young, why such sighs?”

“We…”

Was there even a need to ask?!

“General, has Young Master Gu’s marriage really been decided so hastily?”

Mu Huan looked earnestly at Gu Tingsong, who averted her gaze and coughed lightly into her fist.

“How can you call it hasty? It was Your Majesty who personally approved Young Master Gu’s martial arts spouse selection competition.”

Mu Jiulu spoke coolly. In that instant, Mu Huan wished she could go back in time and beat up her past self who had issued that order.

“The王府 will go to the General’s mansion tomorrow to propose. Since the Imperial Advisor is also here, why not calculate an auspicious date and set the wedding date as well? It would be one less thing to worry about.”

Mu Jiulu continued. Wan Qi Xingyin lowered her head slightly and calculated with her fingers.

“The first day of the fifth month is an excellent auspicious date.”

Hearing this, Gu Tingsong hurriedly spoke up: “That won’t do!”

Mu Huan immediately sat up straight, her eyes brightening.

Could there still be a chance?

Gu Tingsong spoke seriously: “Sui’er’s birthday is on the thirtieth day of the fourth month. It must be before then.”

Mu Huan: “……”

Mu Jiulu gave Wan Qi Xingyin a meaningful look. The latter suddenly seemed to recall something and calmly changed her words.

“This poor Taoist was careless. In that case, the tenth day of the fourth month is also an auspicious date, equally suitable for weddings.”

Mu Jiulu nodded: “Then the tenth day of the fourth month it is.”

Gu Tingsong hissed: “Isn’t the tenth a bit early? Aren’t the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth auspicious dates? Can you calculate again?”

Wan Qi Xingyin: “The General jests. Only the tenth is an auspicious date in the fourth month.”

Gu Tingsong sounded somewhat regretful: “Ah, well then, the tenth it is.”

Mu Huan could no longer bear it and abruptly stood up.

“Do you still have any regard for me as the emperor in your eyes?!”

Three gazes suddenly fell upon her. An awkward silence spread.

After shouting that sentence, Mu Huan held her breath. A few moments later, she stiffly sat back down, lowering her head and pretending to look at memorials.

“This is the imperial study. Is it not somewhat inappropriate for the three of you to be discussing marriage matters here?”

The little emperor softened her tone, but her voice was dry. Mu Jiulu’s lips curved slightly.

“Wasn’t it Your Majesty who first brought up Young Master Gu’s marriage?”

Mu Huan: “……”

The little emperor secretly glared at Mu Jiulu, feeling extremely vexed and no longer wishing to pay her any attention.

“Imperial Advisor, you suddenly left the Imperial Advisor’s residence. Is there some important matter?”

Mu Huan asked. A trace of gravity arose in Wan Qi Xingyin’s calm expression as she slowly spoke.

“In response to Your Majesty, there is indeed one matter. That youth among the Winter State envoys must not be allowed to leave the Central Plains and return to Winter State.”

“Why?”

“This person was born with spirit eyes and has an indeterminate fate. This humble one has only deduced that if he is allowed to return, he will surely become a great calamity in the future.”

Mu Huan frowned, instinctively looking towards Mu Jiulu, her lips parting slightly.

However, upon meeting those dark inky eyes, she suddenly paused and swallowed the words in her mouth.

She had just been thinking about ignoring the Regent, so why did she immediately want to ask for her opinion as soon as something came up?

How could this be!

Mu Huan felt a sense of strangeness. Mu Jiulu suddenly spoke.

“If he will surely become a calamity, why not just kill him now?”

Mu Huan sucked in a sharp breath. How brutal!

Wan Qi Xingyin’s brows furrowed slightly, her voice somewhat heavy.

“Although it’s impossible for there to be no killing in the world, it’s still best to create less karmic retribution, especially unwarranted killing.”

As soon as the words fell, Wan Qi Xingyin slightly raised her eyes, her gaze inadvertently falling on the door of the eastern warm chamber in the imperial study.

Gu Sui had not returned directly to his residence after today’s grand court session, but had stayed behind waiting for Gu Tingsong and Mu Jiulu. He was currently in the warm chamber.

Catching her gaze, Mu Jiulu pressed her lips together, her eyes dark.

Gu Tingsong spoke at this time: “Didn’t he originally want to form a marriage alliance? If so, wouldn’t it be fine to just keep him here?”

Mu Huan: “The General’s words are very true, but who should he marry?”

Mu Jiulu was the first to wave her sleeve: “This king will not marry him.”

Mu Huan: “……”

“The Regent is indeed not the best candidate.”

Gu Tingsong hurriedly spoke up. She couldn’t possibly find trouble for her own son.

“But which of the court officials would be suitable to marry Winter State? That Jinying even publicly professed his love for the Regent. Ai, this matter is difficult.”

Mu Huan’s young face wrinkled like a bitter melon. Mu Jiulu gave her an exasperated look.

“Then just have him stay as a hostage.”

The cold and aloof voice rang out. Mu Huan pondered for a moment.

“If he’s in the capital, what if he secretly communicates with Winter State and gathers intelligence?”

The two countries had already made peace. Keeping him as a hostage could only be done through indirect methods. They couldn’t strictly monitor him – how would that be any different from house arrest? The people of Winter State wouldn’t agree.

“In that case, why not simply keep him in the palace? The palace rules are strict, and one cannot go out without reason. Even if he has any small schemes, he won’t be able to succeed.”

Gu Tingsong suggested. Hearing this, Mu Huan’s eyes lit up.

“Indeed, it’s not good to keep him under house arrest in the capital, but it would be perfectly justified in the palace.”

“This is a solution, but Your Majesty must still be cautious. In the future, do not let that foreign youth steal your heart.”

Mu Jiulu spoke indifferently. Mu Huan was somewhat displeased.

“What kind of person does the Regent take me for? I am not that kind of benighted ruler who indulges in sensual pleasures!”

“It’s good that Your Majesty understands.”

*

Creeeeak.

The door of the warm chamber suddenly opened. Gu Sui, who had been sitting in a chair biting his thumb and grinning stupidly, was startled. He stood up, his peach blossom eyes dazzlingly bright.

“Are you finished talking?”

“Mm.”

Mu Jiulu walked in, her voice light.

“Were you bored?”

The young man shook his head: “Not at all. I’ve even thought of what to name the child.”

Mu Jiulu: “???”

She asked with interest: “What name?”

“It’s called…”

Gu Sui was just about to speak when he saw Gu Tingsong also walk in, and instantly swallowed his words.

Mu Jiulu could barely hold back her smile, but she still tried to suppress it.

“Mother, you’re not opposed anymore, are you?”

Gu Tingsong walked over and patted his shoulder.

“Mother hopes to see you happy. Mother doesn’t ask that your wife-master be wealthy and noble, or high-ranking and powerful. I only want her to treat you well. Other than that, Mother has no other wishes.”

Gu Sui’s mouth twitched slightly as he glanced at Mu Jiulu beside him.

Why did he feel like those words weren’t meant for him?

Mu Jiulu, who had been hinted at, narrowed her eyes, her expression serious.

“Jiulu will only take one husband in this life, and will naturally treasure and care for him to the utmost.”

Gu Tingsong’s loving gaze turned much deeper.

“You’d better keep your word. Otherwise, even if you are the Regent, if you dare to bully my son, I will surely raze your王府 to the ground!”

“The General won’t have that opportunity.”

Gu Sui hurriedly interrupted the confrontation between the two.

“Wait a moment, who’s marrying whom? Wasn’t I the one who won the martial arts spouse selection? Shouldn’t I be the one doing the marrying?”

Grandfather had even helped him prepare the betrothal gifts!

Gu Tingsong gave her son a look that spoke volumes.

Mu Jiulu’s expression was equally meaningful, her voice decisive.

“No.”

Gu Sui was unconvinced: “Why not?!”

“Because you were the one who lost. You admitted it yourself.”

Gu Sui’s mouth fell open: “I…”

“Then I take it back.”

“It’s too late. This king will propose tomorrow. You just wait patiently.”

Gu Sui puffed out his cheeks in anger: “Mu Jiulu!”