"No need." Situ Jingyan's tone was domineering and brooked no argument, yet the smile on his lips remained as captivating as ever.
The young ladies from official families felt their hearts were about to leap out of their throats, each clutching their handkerchiefs and staring intently at Situ Jingyan.
"Why?" Shangguan Hao asked, somewhat puzzled. Could it be that the Emperor of Tianmo was deliberately provoking them? He had clearly said he wanted a marriage alliance, but now he was saying it wasn't necessary. Thinking of this, Shangguan Hao's expression turned rather grim.
If that's really the case, then Qi Yue Kingdom is not to be trifled with!
“I mean, Emperor Qi Yue doesn’t need to bestow a marriage upon the Third Prince.” Situ Jingyan said unhurriedly, his gaze slowly turning to Shen Qianmo, his smile deepening, a hint of triumph in his eyes, “Because Shen Qianmo, she is my Empress!”
One sentence uttered, and the entire audience was stunned.
Shen Qianmo once again became the focus of everyone's attention. The gazes directed at her were ten times more venomous than before. The daughters of officials wished they could pounce on her and tear her to pieces.
Why did this ugly, unattractive, and uneducated woman win Situ Jingyan's favor? Why did both Shangguan Che and Situ Jingyan fall for her?! Are all handsome men blind?!
Before Shangguan Hao could react, Situ Jingyan had already walked up behind Shen Qianmo and whispered in her ear, "Mo'er, you promised me that if I could stop Shangguan Che from marrying you, you couldn't stop me."
Shen Qianmo naturally remembered saying those words and understood that she had been tricked by Situ Jingyan. She had a premonition when Situ Jingyan mentioned the marriage alliance, which was why she had questioned him with her eyes. But this guy completely ignored her question! Humph!
Thinking of this, Shen Qianmo smiled alluringly, her eyes gleaming with cunning as she looked at Situ Jingyan, "Does the Emperor of Tianmo not know that Qianmo has always been untrustworthy?"
"Does Mo'er want to marry Shangguan Che?" Situ Jingyan asked Shen Qianmo with a hurt expression.
Seeing Situ Jingyan's adorable feigned injury, Shen Qianmo couldn't help but chuckle, completely unconcerned about the murderous glares directed at her by those noble ladies.
"Emperor Tianmo, Shangguan Che has already pledged his life to Qianmo. How can you take away someone else's love?" Shangguan Che reacted before Shangguan Hao, striding up to Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan, speaking gently but not in an oppressive manner.
"My Mo'er is engaged to you for life? How come I didn't know?" Situ Jingyan ignored Shangguan Che's sharp words, a lazy smile on his face, and didn't even give Shangguan Che a second glance.
Even with his excellent self-control, Shangguan Che was still furious at being humiliated by Situ Jingyan in front of everyone, and his words carried a hint of anger, "It was clearly I who asked my father for the marriage decree first! Is the Emperor of Tianmo here to provoke my Qiyue Kingdom?!"
"Judging from the Third Prince's words, it seems he wants to fight for Mo'er and my Tianmo?" Situ Jingyan's smile slowly turned cold, and his eyes, filled with domineering and intimidating power, looked at Shangguan Che. He slowly said, "Then, I don't mind accepting the challenge!"
Shangguan Che was stunned by Situ Jingyan's gaze, and upon hearing Situ Jingyan's words, he was even more at a loss for words. He had only said those words to make Situ Jingyan back down, but he had not expected Situ Jingyan to respond in this way.
Although Qi Yue's national strength is slightly greater than that of Tian Mo and Lin Wei, Shangguan Hao's weakness and incompetence have led to Qi Yue's considerable decline. Meanwhile, Tian Mo and Lin Wei are growing stronger day by day, and there is even a tendency for them to unite against Qi Yue.
If this incident gives Tianmo and Linwei a reason to join forces against Qi Yue, it would be a huge loss.
"That's not what I meant." Thinking of this, Shangguan Che's anger softened, and he said gently.
Situ Jingyan smiled lazily, "If that's the case, then please ask Emperor Qi Yue to grant us the marriage."
"This..." Shangguan Hao looked at Shangguan Che with difficulty. He did not want to take away his son's love, but for Qi Yue's sake, a marriage alliance was indeed a good solution. He could only say with difficulty, "The third young lady of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Shen Qianmo, is dignified and virtuous. Today, she will represent Qi Yue in the marriage alliance with Tian Mo."
"Qianmo, are you really going to marry him?!" Shangguan Che knew that there was no way to change the situation, but he still said to Shen Qianmo with some reluctance.
"Mo'er wants to marry me, is there any problem?!" Situ Jingyan frowned slightly, displeased. He hated this man who was connected with Shen Qianmo.
"You." Shangguan Che was enraged by Situ Jingyan's arrogant attitude.
"What do you mean, 'you'? Third Prince, mind your manners!" Situ Jingyan glanced at Shangguan Che with disdain, seemingly not taking him seriously at all, before turning to Shen Qianmo, "Mo'er."
Shen Qianmo looked at Situ Jingyan lazily, seemingly oblivious to the tenderness in his eyes, and said nonchalantly, "Just because the imperial decree has been issued doesn't mean I'll obediently marry you."
“You.” Situ Jingyan knew that with Shen Qianmo’s personality, she would not be threatened in any way. He did not want to force Shen Qianmo. He just wanted the world to know that he loved her and wanted her, even if she might run away from this marriage and he might lose face because of it. He still wanted to do it.
"What do you mean, 'you'? Is the Emperor of Tianmo a stutterer? I don't like stutterers at all." Shen Qianmo's eyes held a sly smile, and the anger she had just feigned had completely dissipated.
When Situ Jingyan saw Shen Qianmo's smile, he smiled too. His Mo'er wasn't angry; did that mean she was actually willing to marry him?
Chapter 42 Undercurrents, Sweetness
Although Shangguan Che did not hear the conversation between Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan, he saw Shen Qianmo smiling so brightly at Situ Jingyan from afar, and he clenched his hands tightly.
Shen Qianmo, the first woman to capture his heart, was actually snatched away by Situ Jingyan! Once he becomes emperor, he will definitely not let Situ Jingyan off the hook!
But now that I've offended Yao Shan because of Shen Qianmo, it's impossible for me to ask Shangguan Hao for a marriage decree. What should I do?
Shangguan Che turned to his mother, Yao Xuekong, for help. Only Yao Xuekong could ease the situation by persuading Shangguan Hao to marry Yao Ruoqin to him.
"Your Majesty, since the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion has been betrothed to Emperor Tianmo, then I would like to arrange another marriage for Che'er." After seeing Shangguan Che's gaze, Yao Xuekong calmly bowed to Shangguan Hao and said.
Shangguan Hao felt bad for Shangguan Che after betrothing Shen Qianmo to Situ Jingyan. Now that Yao Xuekong said she would arrange another marriage, he was naturally happy to see it happen. He asked with a smile, "Does the Empress have any preferred candidates?"
"My niece, Yao Ruoqin, is someone I've watched grow up since she was a child. Che'er and she are childhood sweethearts. I would like to ask Your Majesty to grant her a marriage, so that Ruoqin can marry Che'er and become his principal wife." Yao Xuekong's face still wore a proper smile.
"Since that's the case, I'll make the decision. Yao Ruoqin, the daughter of the Grand General, is virtuous and generous. She shall be bestowed upon the Third Prince, Shangguan Che, as his principal wife." Shangguan Hao glanced at Yao Ruoqin and Shangguan Che and said with a smile.
"Your subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty." Shangguan Che knelt down gracefully to receive the imperial decree, his face still bearing a gentle smile, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at Yao Ruoqin.
Yao Ruoqin was blushing. She had thought she would never have the chance to marry Shangguan Che as his principal wife, but unexpectedly, the Emperor of Tianmo appeared out of nowhere and interfered, allowing her to marry Shangguan Che as she wished. She knelt beside Shangguan Che with a red face and said, "This subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace."
Now the banquet has become lively again.
The daughters of officials kept glancing between the newly betrothed couples. They knew a little about the intricate relationships behind these marriages, and therefore their gazes towards the newlyweds carried a hint of ambiguous uncertainty.
"Today is truly an auspicious day. Four happy events have been arranged at once. It's quite a coincidence that you all managed to arrange your marriages on the same day. Sit down together and have a good chat." Shangguan Hao's face was flushed with joy as he looked at the four newly betrothed couples with satisfaction.
After listening to Shangguan Hao's words, they sat down together in a corner on the side.
Shen Qianmo wore a half-smile on her face, her dark eyes unreadable, like a deep whirlpool. She calmly looked at the people in front of her.
Shen Qianxin leaned against Shangguan Jin with a blissful expression, while Shangguan Jin wore a gentle smile. They appeared happy, but Shen Qianmo could see the coldness behind Shangguan Jin's gentle gaze. Shen Qianxin, now you'll taste the bitterness of betrayal by your loved ones!
Yao Ruoqin clung tightly to Shangguan Che's arm, her eyes filled with infatuation as she looked at him. However, she would occasionally cast venomous glances at Shen Qianmo, but Shen Qianmo pretended not to notice and simply smiled calmly.
Yao Yuanshan's gaze followed Shen Qianxin the whole time. When he saw the smile on Shen Qianxin's face, a hurt expression appeared in his eyes. Shangguan Pian saw this scene but said nothing. She just sat quietly next to Yao Yuanshan.