Chapter 225 Forbidden
Li Li stared intently at Mu Xun, saying, "The King has already said that whoever I choose will be chosen. According to the previous agreement, as long as that person is not yet married and has a family, it will be fine. As far as I know, the Second Young Master is still unmarried, so there is no problem."
Mu Xi moved further to block Li Li's view: "Since you're choosing a husband, you should at least ask him if he's willing. Mu Xun isn't willing, are you still going to force him?"
"How do you know he's unwilling?" Li Li tilted her head and asked Mu Xun, "Would you like to be my husband? In the future, you can also sit on the title of Lord Qingyang?"
Mu Xun, unwilling to hide behind Mu Xi, stepped forward and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but I cannot comply."
"Why?" Li Li looked at Mu Xun, her lychee eyes turning from round to crescent moon, and casually pointed to the Burning Sea Mermaid Pearl necklace around her neck. "Do you know what I just wished for? I wished that I would find my ideal husband tonight. Heaven has already granted my wish, and the King has also granted my wish. What else can't be done?"
Mu Xi's heart tightened, and she once again shielded Mu Xun tightly behind her: "No means no. Even if he himself is unwilling, as his brother, I disagree. The princess cannot force the marriage."
Li Li's fiery red eyes sharpened: "I'm afraid your word doesn't count. As long as the King..."
“Princess Qingyang…” Mu Xun stepped forward again to interrupt, “Although I am not yet married, I already have someone I love. Surely the princess would not want to force me to do something against my will?”
"You have someone else in your heart?" Li Li narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her with disbelief. "Who do you have someone in your heart? Is she stronger, better, or able to give you more than me? I doubt there's a woman like that in the entire Yan Sheng."
Mu Xun smiled faintly: "How could there not be? In my heart, she is better than any other woman in the world. I don't need her to give me anything, and I am willing to give her everything."
When Mu Xun spoke these words in public, his voice was not as gentle as usual, but his words pierced straight into people's hearts, causing them to be deeply moved.
“Your Majesty…” Shen Lun, his face ashen, stepped forward to speak, “Although Princess Qingyang is very kind to us, Mu Xun is of Jin Fangjun’s bloodline and bears the heavy responsibility of inheriting the ancestral temple. It is absolutely inappropriate for him to marry into the family. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider and Princess Qingyang to make the wise decision.”
While Mu Xi, Mu Xun, and Li Li were arguing, King Yu had already turned back to the head of the table.
Before Mu Ji could say anything, Queen Gao smiled slightly and said, "Lord Yongguo is mistaken. Princess Qingyang has a good eye for him, and it is a blessing that many people would rather die than marry into the East Sea. As for the matter of the succession of the Jin Fang family... Although the heir of the Jin Fang family is weak and sickly, the Jin Fang family not only has two sons, but also a third son, Mu Chong. How can he not be the successor?"
Mu Xi felt a chill run down her spine; Queen Gao had clearly been prepared for this.
If Mu Xun were to marry into the Donghai family, and given that she is now truly "weak and sickly," it would be equivalent to making room for Mu Chong.
The Gao family's plan was quite clever.
Sure enough, Gao Quan immediately followed up: "That's the position of Lord Qingyang! The Crown Prince insists on not letting his second brother marry into the family. Is it because he is weak and sickly and unable to lead troops into battle, and wants to keep his brother by his side for life as a beast of burden? This is a bit too much... Speaking of which... it's the Fourth Marquis, Mu Dong, who shares the same mother as Lord Jin Fang, who has been silently guarding the Western Border for so many years, also taking on this responsibility for Lord Jin Fang, who is seriously injured and unable to recover. Is it possible that now, like father, like son, he's continuing this charade?"
XXX, that's a really harsh thing to say.
But as soon as he said that, Gao's supporters immediately started to jeer.
Grand Minister Tao Jin was the first to loudly agree: "Marrying into the Eastern Sea is a good thing; it's a match made in heaven. Princess Qingyang is of noble birth, and the Li Clan of the Eastern Sea is powerful. If the Jin Fang Monarch's Mansion can form a marriage alliance with them, it will also solidify the eastern and western defenses of our Great Yu. This is a move that benefits the country and its people. As the heir apparent, the Crown Prince should prioritize national affairs. How can he shirk the king's orders for his own selfish reasons?"
"What are you saying, Lord Tao?" Shen Lun immediately retorted. "Does it mean that without a marriage alliance, the barrier cannot be secured? The Eastern and Western Regions are not adjacent and do not rely on each other. However... this person is unwilling. As the saying goes, 'a forced marriage is not sweet.' Princess Qingyang should think twice about this important matter of marriage."
"Lord Shen, you are mistaken." Gao Quan's loud voice was like a war drum. "The princess has a discerning eye. Since she has taken a liking to the second young master, that is the second young master's good fortune. How can it be called a 'forced marriage'? Moreover, the princess of Qingyang is a dragon among men, a match for the second young master that is even better than her. As they become husband and wife, they will grow to love each other over time. Who can say that they won't be as sweet as honey?"
"Grand Marshal, as I just said, my heart belongs to one woman, and all other women in the world, no matter how beautiful, are nothing but dirt in my eyes. Lord Gao, please don't judge others by your own standards." Mu Xun's voice was colder than ever before.
Shen Lun only spoke to the Prince of Yu and the Princess.
Turning to King Yu, he said, “Your Majesty, the Book of Rites says: ‘The heirs of the feudal lords inherit the ancestral temple and continue the state, and should not be easily removed from their positions.’ The heir of Jin Fang is weak and sickly, and his brothers are also of royal blood. How can they be easily abandoned? Marriage is a major event, and it is decided by parents and matchmakers. Now, Lord Jin Fang is seriously ill and bedridden, and his life hangs in the balance. Although the heir is willing to take on this responsibility, he ultimately cannot make the decision.”
"How can you not make the decision? If we're talking about kinship, isn't His Majesty the Crown Prince and the Second Prince's uncle?" Gao Quan was really going all out.
Mu Xi couldn't argue with these people about etiquette, but she had to be firm in her stance: "Regardless of who has the final say, marriage is a matter between two people. If one of them is not acting voluntarily, suspicion will inevitably arise in the future. Can outsiders take responsibility for their comments now?"
Grand Minister Tao Jin, always willing to "help others achieve their goals," continued to chime in: "Oh dear, the young prince is still young and unmarried, which is why he says such things. Who in the world isn't like this? Does everyone necessarily harbor resentment? As a subject, the young prince should naturally share the emperor's burdens and serve the country. Instead of advising the second young master, he stands here and blindly opposes him. What kind of logic is that?"
Mu Xi was filled with righteous indignation: "Heh, the Four Lords guard the border to ensure the peace of Yan Sheng and the survival of Dayu. This is their responsibility. Now, they want me, a dignified young master of the Lord's Mansion, to marry into the family in order to serve the country? What kind of logic is this, Grand Minister Tao? And what about all these generals who have fought on the battlefield?"
"Uh..." Tao Jin was speechless after being rebuked.
Gao Quan retorted, "I am a general who has fought on the battlefield, so what? The Crown Prince's marriage into the family is to consolidate the alliance, but the Crown Prince of Jin is doing everything he can to obstruct it. Is he thinking of the country or for his own selfish interests?"
It's that same old accusation again. Why do they always use the same trick?
Faced with Gao Quan's blatant slander and coercion, Mu Xi was furious and her mind was clouded. Unable to think of any words, she could only forcefully declare: "No matter how much you, Grand Marshal Gao, slander me, I will not allow it."
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