Chapter 52: I Can Choose Not to Marry

Watching the two of them interact with such intimacy, Xiao Jinglin felt a deep sense of displeasure twisting in his heart.

Maintaining a gentle and flawless expression, he said, "Qiaoqiao, you certainly know how to joke. Our betrothal was arranged when we were children, and even His Majesty is aware of it. It cannot be broken so easily. Just yesterday, His Majesty mentioned this union again, so I imagine the imperial decree for our marriage will be issued shortly."

"Then His Majesty must be mistaken. In any case, I am heading to the palace to see the Emperor, and I will clarify the matter with him myself. I would never want to wrong the Third Prince."

Luo Yunqiao’s attitude remained ice-cold. Reaching out to link her arm with Xiao慕渊 (Xiao Muyuan), she smiled and said, "Your Highness, let us hurry along. We must not keep His Majesty waiting."

Xiao Muyuan naturally complied, and the two walked all the way toward the Imperial Study.

Once they had walked far enough that Xiao Jinglin was out of sight, Luo Yunqiao immediately pulled her hand away from Xiao Muyuan and gave a formal, graceful bow. "The situation earlier was sudden, so I must ask Your Highness not to take offense. Since Your Highness also spoke so wildly just now, I suppose we are even."

Her expression remained composed, utterly devoid of any guilt. She had never intended to rely on men to get through the second half of her life, and naturally, she had no fear of offending Xiao Muyuan.

"What if this Prince refuses to call it even?" Xiao Muyuan teased playfully. "Eldest Miss Luo wants to run away the moment she finishes using me? That is rather irresponsible. As it happens, this Prince is in need of a Princess Consort. I shall bring this up with His Imperial Brother shortly, and I imagine he will not refuse."

"Your Highness, mind your words!"

Luo Yunqiao was just about to invent an excuse when she was suddenly pulled by the wrist and dragged straight into the Imperial Study.

The interior of the Imperial Study was solemn and imposing.

Luo Yunqiao kept her head lowered, not daring to take a deep breath.

The Emperor lowered his gaze to look at her and chuckled. "I often hear Noble Consort Duan say that you are willful and reckless, having committed many deeds that brought shame upon the family, and that you are extraordinarily bold. Seeing you today, however, you appear to be nothing special."

"This subject's daughter is seeing the Sacred Countenance for the first time, so naturally she dares not act presumptuously. Furthermore, the previous incidents were merely the result of someone framing this subject's daughter. Now that my name has been cleared, I beseech Your Majesty not to tease me any further."

The Emperor nodded. Seeing that her etiquette was flawless and her demeanor poised—so entirely different from the rumors outside—he understood just how many grievances she had suffered, and he said repeatedly, "Since you were wronged, I must naturally return justice to you. I will issue an imperial decree praising your virtuous conduct as a maiden, so that no one in the future will ever dare to mock you with the past again."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Luo Yunqiao expressed her gratitude, but she did not forget the marriage arrangement between the Marquis of Jing'an's Estate and Xiao Jinglin. Emboldened, she said, "This subject's daughter has one more request, and I beg Your Majesty's gracious permission."

"It is about the marriage to the Third Prince, no doubt," the Emperor said with a smile. "Early this morning, the Third Prince came to the palace and spoke to me about it. Although there were unpleasantness between the two of you in the past, this match was decided long ago. I have already given him a stern reprimand. Since the eighth of next month happens to be an auspicious day, you might as well be wed as soon as possible so that you can slowly grow accustomed to one another afterward."

Luo Yunqiao straightened her back and spoke every single word with distinct clarity: "This subject's daughter is unwilling."

"The Third Prince and Luo Yunzhen grew up together as childhood sweethearts, deeply devoted to one another. Now that her body is not yet cold, Your Majesty expects me to marry the Third Prince. That is far too heartless. Moreover, the Third Prince and I are not people of the same path; to bind us together by force will only bring endless vexation. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider."

As her words fell, the Emperor's expression darkened.

A flash of murderous intent was clearly visible in his eyes, but upon meeting Xiao Muyuan's gaze, he forced a smile once more. "Indeed. Lately, the outside has been filled with wild rumors; I had thought them to be groundless. But seeing how attentive the Prince of Yan is toward you today, I believe the two of you are truly of one heart. How about I bestow a marriage between you and the Prince of Yan instead?"

"This subject's daughter..."

Before Luo Yunqiao could utter her refusal, Xiao Muyuan had already pulled her down to express their gratitude for the imperial favor.

As the two brothers conversed, she was given absolutely no opportunity to interject.

Once they boarded the carriage, Luo Yunqiao could no longer hold it in. Furious, she snapped, "Why must Your Highness play me around in the palm of your hand, agreeing to the Emperor's bestowal of marriage without regard for my wishes? Do you not fear regretting this in the future?"

She did not deny that she held some lingering affection for Xiao Muyuan. Whenever she encountered trouble, he was always the first person to come to mind, yet she herself could not yet distinguish whether what she felt for him was merely gratitude or actual love. Not to mention the fact that he had unilaterally settled their marriage without discussing it with her first—how could Luo Yunqiao possibly endure that?

"This Prince is clearly helping you, yet you refuse to appreciate it. If that is the case, why don't you go tell the Emperor yourself that you are unwilling to marry me?" Xiao Muyuan crossed his arms over his chest and said, "In the heart of the Marquis of Jing'an, you are not a daughter at all; you are nothing more than a chess piece. Even if you do not marry this Prince, you will eventually be sent to someone else's bed. When that time comes, those men will not be as easy to reason with as this Prince."

Luo Yunqiao knew very well that this was true.

She clenched her fists. "I can choose not to marry!"

"Matters of marriage are decided by the command of one's parents and the words of a matchmaker. You are merely a woman, lacking power, influence, and wealth—what do you have to contend with the Marquis of Jing'an? The only reason the Marquis has been wary of you and spared you some face these days is because of this Prince's standing. Do you truly believe you possess the ability to make him fear you?" Xiao Muyuan stared fixedly at her.

"You thought the Emperor praised your maidenly conduct today? That was merely to save face for the Marquis of Jing'an's Estate. Without the backing of the Estate, you are nothing."

Though the words were harsh, they were the absolute truth.

Luo Yunqiao lowered her head, never realizing her future path would be so arduous. She had originally thought that simply proving her innocence would allow her to leave her past life behind, but now she understood ever more clearly that everything she possessed was merely due to her identity as the eldest miss of the Marquis's Estate.

Tears were clearly swirling in her eyes.

Seeing this, Xiao Muyuan could not help feeling a pang of heartache. His tone softened considerably as he said, "This Prince naturally does not wish to force you, but the imperial decree has already been issued, and neither of us can defy it. However, this Prince can make you a promise: as long as you help me find the evidence regarding the late Emperor's demise and my mother's death, three years from now, this Prince will grant you a divorce."

"Very well!"

Luo Yunqiao agreed without a moment's hesitation.

The Marquis of Jing'an's Estate was unusually desolate.

Although Luo Yunzhen was dead, she had committed grave offenses, so naturally the Marquis's Estate would not hold a grand funeral for her. They merely claimed she was unwell and had been sent to a countryside estate to recuperate. After some time had passed, they would simply use the excuse that she had died of illness, and the matter would be swept under the rug.

As for Luo Zefeng, since he was a male heir, he was merely packed off to the military camp to undergo rigorous training.

Upon entering the estate, Luo Yunqiao intended to go thank the Dowager Marchioness for all the trouble she had taken on her behalf, but to her surprise, she found Luo Zeting waiting right at the entrance.

"Qiaoqiao," he said with an unnatural expression. "I know you harbor resentment toward me in your heart, but I truly had no idea that Yunzhen was deliberately plotting to harm you. Had I known..."

"First Brother need not say these things to me."

Luo Yunqiao interrupted him. "When I tried to explain back then, none of you were willing to believe me, and you stubbornly insisted on driving me away. I did feel resentment at the very beginning, but it is all in the past now, and I no longer hold any grudges. The imperial decree bestowing my marriage to the Prince of Yan has already been issued. Once I am married off to the Prince of Yan's Estate, we need not maintain ties. Just pretend you never recognized me as family in the first place."

Suddenly, she felt deeply grateful that Xiao Muyuan had accepted the imperial marriage decree.