Chapter 21

Mu Yugang hummed in agreement, finding Mu Zhaoshi's words particularly pleasing to the ear today. He couldn't help but glance at her with admiration: "Your mother is an experienced woman; she knows better than anyone the importance of marrying a good man."

Since the topic had turned to herself, how could he avoid launching into a long-winded speech: "Isn't the most important thing for a woman in her life to marry into a good family? If you can find a responsible and good man like your mother, bear children for him, and manage the household, then you will have someone to rely on in this life."

He sighed: "In the end, it's your mother who didn't discipline you properly, letting you run wild and ruining your reputation in the capital. Otherwise, with your looks and family background, you should have been engaged a year or two ago. Why did it take until you were about to come of age to propose marriage?"

Seeing that the conversation had turned to Mu Zhaoshi again, she quickly replied, "However, the person who proposed marriage was actually Prince Mu. Although Xiaolu's marriage process was tortuous, the result was unexpectedly good. With Prince Mu's help in the capital, Master's business will surely reach new heights."

She didn't forget to flatter Mu Yugang: "It's true that I didn't raise Xiaolu well. Not only did she ruin her reputation, but she also jeopardized Wanyi and Xingzi's marriage. Actually, I know that Prince Mu wouldn't have come to propose marriage just for her. It must be thanks to you, sir. If your business hadn't grown bigger and bigger, and our Mu family's status in the capital hadn't become more and more prominent, why would Prince Mu have thought of winning us over?"

Mu Zhaoshi's flattery was perfectly timed, and Mu Yugang was very pleased. He nodded happily and continued to say to Mu Yulu, "Although there are only a handful of good men like your father in the world, and your mother was lucky enough to meet him, Prince Mu is also a rare and excellent son-in-law, and I am still very satisfied."

The couple, working together in this way, finalized Mu Yulu's marriage.

Mu Yulu was naturally unconvinced. She wiped the smile off her face and decided to stand her ground: "No matter how good Prince Mu is, I will not marry him even if you argue with me until the end. I no longer love him. If I am to marry in this life, I will marry the person I truly love. Even if you are my parents, you cannot force me to get into the bridal sedan chair and enter the palace."

Mu Yulu's words were very impolite, and Mu Yugang's good mood vanished instantly. He immediately turned cold and roared, "How dare you talk back to your parents? You haven't even married into the Prince's mansion yet, and you haven't even become the Prince's concubine, yet you dare to speak to me like that?"

Mu Yulu sneered, "How I speak to you has nothing to do with whether I've married into the Prince's mansion or not. Scholars speak out when they feel injustice; can't my daughter even say a few words when she's been treated unfairly?"

Mu Yugang was so angry he almost rolled his eyes. He smashed all the cups and teacups on the table to the ground, the sound of shattering ceramics mingling with his roar: "What sins did I commit in my past lives to raise such an unfilial daughter like you? Well, you've got guts, daring to talk to your father like that before you've even married into the royal family. What will you do when you actually enter the royal family? Will you tear me apart alive?"

Mu Yulu stood firm, not yielding an inch: "What are you saying? Unless we are enemies, why would my daughter want to tear you apart for no reason?"

Mu Yugang sneered angrily, while Mu Zhaoshi quickly called in servants to clean up the broken pieces on the floor. At the same time, she said to Mu Yugang, "Master, don't be angry. It's not worth getting sick over this ignorant girl. I think it's getting late. You must be hungry after saying so much. I'll go to the kitchen and have someone prepare some of your favorite dishes."

After saying this, she curtsied and quickly withdrew, taking the opportunity to escape the battlefield.

Everyone in the Mu family knew Mu Yugang's temper well. He was a man of his word, and everyone could only go along with him. No one dared to disobey him.

Today, Mu Yulu is so ignorant of her place, daring to argue with him to his face. There's bound to be more trouble between the father and daughter later, and Mu Yugang might even resort to violence. If Mu Zhaoshi doesn't back down now, when will she?

Mu Zhaoshi dared not linger in such a scene, and the servants naturally dared not stay any longer either. They carefully picked up the broken pieces on the ground and quickly retreated with Mu Zhaoshi.

In an instant, only Mu Yulu and Mu Yugang remained in the study, still locked in a standoff.

Just as Mu Yugang was about to explode, Mu Yulu suddenly changed the subject and said, "How about this, we can simply throw a bridal bouquet to choose a husband on my coming-of-age day."

Her words silenced the insults Mu Yugang was about to unleash. He stared at Mu Yulu for a long time: "Are you out of your mind? My daughter, Mu Yugang's daughter, does she need to throw an embroidered ball to choose a husband?"

Then he said angrily, "Besides, Prince Mu came to the Mu residence to propose marriage, and we threw the embroidered ball right afterward. Isn't this a blatant slap in the face to the prince? Please, Your Excellency, show some mercy and give the Mu family a way out."

Mu Yulu ignored Mu Yugang's sarcastic tone and said sincerely, "You don't need to be like this. Now that things have come to this, I'll tell you the truth. In fact, Sanzhou Jinse fell in love with me at first sight and made it clear that he would marry no one but me. It's just that I was still hesitant before and hadn't officially agreed to his proposal."

Mu Yugang's first reaction upon hearing these words was to laugh. He laughed so hard that he bent over backwards, and the flesh on his stomach jiggled with his movements.

He laughed for a long time before straightening up and wiping away his tears: "I told you you lied and didn't do your homework, and you really didn't even bother to write a draft. She'll marry no one but you in this lifetime?"

He gave an exaggerated "ha!" and said, "You should at least memorize their names first."

Mu Yulu was not angered by Mu Yugang at all. Her voice was calm and firm: "He fell in love with me at first sight, not the other way around. Why should I deliberately remember his name?"

She sighed: "But say whatever you want, you can take a gamble if you don't believe me."

Her attitude made Mu Yugang hesitate: "What kind of bet?"

Mu Yulu smiled and said confidently, "I've already said that I will marry no one but Sanzhou Jinse in this life. If you insist on putting me in the bridal sedan chair to marry Prince Mu, he will definitely come to steal me away."

At this point, Mu Yulu paused, subtly observing the changes in Mu Yugang's expression: "Should we refuse Prince Mu now to prevent future trouble, or wait until Sanzhou Jinse kidnaps me and then slowly explain to the prince? You are the head of the family, so this matter is naturally up to you to decide."

Before Mu Yugang could speak, she continued, "Of course, you don't have to believe me. It just depends on whether you dare to gamble with the lives of everyone in the Mu family."

Mu Yugang nodded with a cold smile, pointing a finger at Mu Yulu: "Do you think you're all grown up now? Who are you threatening?"

Mu Yulu stopped talking, but just curled her lips in a defiant smirk.

At this moment, silence is more effective than any rebuttal; the more silent she is, the more confident she appears.

She seemed truly fearless.

After a long stalemate, Mu Yugang finally put down his aching hand: "Since he insists on marrying you, why bother throwing the embroidered ball? Why not just let him come to propose?"

Mu Yulu inherited Mu Yugang's ability to read people's expressions. Seeing that her father was backing down, she stopped pressing him and smiled, saying, "Father, you don't know this, although Sanzhou Jinse is interested in me, I didn't agree before. Out of respect for me, he didn't rush to propose marriage."

When she mentioned the word "respect," she emphasized it, subtly criticizing Mu Qinhan before continuing her outrageous lie without changing her expression: "However, he is usually elusive and doesn't stay in the Vermilion Bird Kingdom often, so we can't always keep in touch. Therefore, he made an agreement with me."

Mu Yugang seemed engrossed in listening and pressed for more information, asking, "What agreement did you make?"

Mu Yulu said in a serious tone, "He said that he is usually far away in another country and his whereabouts are unpredictable, so he cannot receive my letters. If one day I realize my true feelings and decide to marry him, then I will spread the news that I will throw a bridal bouquet to choose a husband. He will definitely rush back to snatch the bouquet after hearing the news."

She nodded firmly as she spoke: "So we not only have to throw the embroidered ball, but we have to do it in a big way, so that everyone in the capital knows about it, and that we can get the news to him faster."

Mu Yugang listened with a frown, feeling that what she said seemed to make sense, but something seemed off.

Mu Yulu wouldn't give him a chance to seriously consider and find loopholes in her words. Taking advantage of Mu Yugang's current confusion, she quickly pressed on, saying, "Time is of the essence. Don't hesitate any longer. If you refuse Prince Mu now, everything will still be in time. If you delay any longer, it may be difficult to explain."

Mu Yugang was still hesitant, his mind a jumble of thoughts, but Mu Yulu's urging made him irritable and angry. He put his hands behind his back and said, "Fine, you've grown wings and I can't control you anymore. I'll send someone to the Mu Prince's Mansion right now. But you'd better think it through. This is your own decision. If you regret missing the opportunity to marry into the Mu Prince's Mansion, don't blame your parents for not advising you!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves, slammed the door, and left angrily.

Mu Yulu still smiled, standing there watching Mu Yugang's departing figure, her gaze completely calm: "Father, rest assured, your daughter will never regret it."

She will not only have no regrets, but she will also be grateful for her courageous resistance today for the rest of her life.

She had already made up her mind: if she absolutely had to marry, she would go anywhere as long as she didn't marry into the Mu family.

The claim that Sanzhou Jinse would marry no one but her was obviously a lie to Mu Yugang. As long as he was coaxed into throwing the embroidered ball to choose a husband, it wouldn't matter whether Sanzhou Jinse came or not.

Once someone accepts the embroidered ball, no matter who that person is, Mu Yugang will not back out under the watchful eyes of everyone. Whether it's a commoner or a peddler, as long as that person isn't Mu Qinhan, she'll accept whoever it is.

She closed her eyes and gave a relieved smile.

In this lifetime, she will completely sever all ties with Mu Qinhan.