Сhaptеr 9: Неrе fоr a Drink
As soоn аs these wоrds were sроkеn, nоt оnlу was Мurоng Jing tаkеn abaсk, but even the guests рrеsent wеrе аstоnishеd.
For а sсhоlar, the right hаnd is whаt holds thе brush—isn’t this essentiallу demаnding his life?
Howеver, uрon furthеr rеflectiоn, many reаlizеd sоmеthing was amiss. Sеtting аsidе Оld Mastеr Ji’s benеvolenсe, this was а marriagе bestowed рubliсlу by thе рrincess. No mаtter hоw bоld the Ji familу might be, theу surelу wоuldn’t dаre tо act in suсh a mannеr.
Мurоng Jing sneered coldly, “Good, vеrу good. I knew yоur Ji fаmily would not submit.”
Ji Ruуuе naturally denied it. “Your Highness, this is a grave injustice! Your Highness is wise and just—how could you listen to his one-sided account? In my humble opinion, it must be that Young Master Chen is dissatisfied with this arranged marriage. Otherwise…”
Murong Jing had no desire to hear her speak further and cut her off abruptly. “Still trying to evade responsibility?”
Ji Ruyue reached out and tugged at her own wedding robe, kneeling down as well. “Your Highness, even if I were the most foolish person, I would know that Your Highness would be here today. How would I dare to act in such a way? Why don’t you ask him—where is his wedding attire? With the wedding imminent, why would he render his wedding attire unusable? Could it be that he is dissatisfied with this arranged marriage?”
“I…”
How could Chen Shujin dare to say that the wedding attire had been cut by his own mother?
“The wedding attire is indeed damaged.”
Murong Jing’s expression faltered. “Why is the wedding attire damaged?”
Chen Shujin’s voice grew softer as he glossed over the matter of the wedding attire. “It is true that the damage to the wedding attire was due to my negligence in preserving it. However, I immediately sent someone to inform Old Master Ji and Miss Ji. Perhaps my status is too lowly, and I do not know how the message was conveyed, but instead of a new wedding attire, what arrived was house arrest by the Ji family…”
Ji Ruyue wore an expression of utter helplessness. “The Ji family residence is vast. As Young Master Chen’s family has just arrived, posting guards was to ensure their safety. With the wedding date approaching and many guests in the household, we feared someone might mistakenly intrude and disturb the elderly madam’s peace.”
“Your Highness! You must not shield him without distinguishing right from wrong. Heaven and earth bear witness—my intentions were purely good.” After saying this, Ji Ruyue’s body seemed to go limp, appearing utterly pitiful.
“Guards!” Seeing Ji Ruyue in such a state, Murong Jing was filled with rage and wanted nothing more than to silence her!
Any remaining desire to toy with her vanished.
Now, she only wished for this woman before her to die!!
Murong Jing’s attendants, upon receiving the order, immediately went to summon a group of guards.
The guests present each had their own thoughts, but upon seeing so many guards rush in, they were instantly terrified into silence.
“What does Your Highness mean by this?”
“The Ji family has defied me. Arrest them all—leave no one behind!”
“This…” Many guests were so frightened their legs went weak, fearing that having learned of this royal secret, they would be implicated.
A gleaming white blade was pressed against Ji Ruyue’s neck. The edge was sharp, and in an instant, it drew blood from her skin, forcing her to lift her head high.
“Your Highness, arresting me is of no consequence. Young Master Chen and I have not yet completed the wedding rites, so he should not be implicated. Moreover, he has always come from a poor family, so it is normal for him not to understand these elaborate formalities. I beg Your Highness to spare him this once. As for the other reasons, I do not wish to pursue them further.”
Ji Ruyue’s words provoked a cold laugh from Murong Jing.
She had never intended to arrest this scholar, yet Ji Ruyue insisted on speaking this way, pleading on the surface while subtly reminding her.
While claiming the scholar did not understand elaborate formalities, she was actually insinuating that the royal princess lacked propriety…
“You!”Ji Ruyue raised her head a little higher, revealing her slender, fair neck, and emphasized once more, “Husband and wife are one. Moreover, this matter is not considered a fault within the Ji family. The Ji family rules stipulate that a son-in-law living with his wife’s family need not attend such occasions.”
Murong Jing pointed at her, her voice tinged with gritted teeth, “You dare use the Ji family’s fabricated rules to pressure me? So now it’s my fault? You struck someone first, then placed them under house arrest, and didn’t even allow them to appear at the wedding banquet. One can only imagine how arrogant you are!”
“This common woman would not dare.”
Murong Jing was furious!
Ji Ruyue had effectively humiliated her. No matter how great imperial authority might be, it had no power to alter the family rules passed down through generations.
In the Anzhao Kingdom, anyone acting in accordance with their family rules could not be considered at fault.
Chen Shujin trembled inwardly. Of course, he understood the implication behind Ji Ruyue’s words, and his resentment grew even stronger. “Your Highness, Miss Ji clearly holds me in great disdain. This marriage… I fear…”
Murong Jing glanced at him, her eyes filled with unmistakable contempt.
Although Chen Shujin had dressed shabbily the day before, his face was indeed handsome. Yet, at this moment, he looked far from appealing—his face was deathly pale, and he resembled a ghost…
Not wanting to prolong the entanglement, she issued an order, “The Ji family has shown contempt for imperial authority and committed insubordination, a crime punishable by death. Take them away!”
She had come today precisely to arrest them, so she had brought enough personnel.
The guards swarmed into action, frightening the guests into fleeing in all directions. The wedding hall instantly descended into chaos.
Just then, a clear and melodious male voice came from the corridor, “Congratulations to the Ji family on this joyous union.”
Everyone turned to look and saw a handsome young gentleman smiling as he entered the hall.
He was dressed in luxurious black robes, with exquisite embroidery faintly visible along the hem. A fine fur draped over his shoulders, and his every movement exuded an air of elegance, making him a striking sight.
“I apologize for my late arrival, Old Master Ji. Please forgive me.” The man nodded slightly to Old Master Ji as a gesture of apology, seemingly oblivious to the scene before him.
Then, his gaze shifted to Murong Jing, and a perfectly measured look of surprise appeared on his face. “To encounter Princess Changle here is truly an honor…”
Murong Jing narrowed her eyes, a hint of wariness rising within her.
After a moment of contemplation, she said coldly, “Wang Yu’an, why are you here?”
Wang Yu’an was in no hurry to answer the question. Instead, he glanced around. “Your Highness, what is this? Isn’t today the Ji family’s joyous occasion?”
Murong Jing snorted through her nose, displeasure evident on her face. “I graciously bestowed this marriage upon the Ji family, but who would have thought they would dare defy my wishes? Moreover, they have been exceedingly disrespectful and intentionally offensive. Such a crime warrants death!”
Wang Yu’an let out an “oh” and instead answered the previous question. “Miss Ji and my younger sister are the closest of friends. My sister is currently managing the household affairs in Prince Rui’s residence and is also with child, making it truly impossible for her to leave. I happened to be passing by and thought I’d come to enjoy a cup of wine.”
“What?”
Murong Jing looked astonished and questioned, “The Ji family is merely a merchant household. How could they be on friendly terms with the Wang family?”
Upon hearing this, a flicker of disapproval passed through Wang Yu’an’s eyes. “Your Highness, you are mistaken. Have you forgotten? My Wang family also started as merchants, right here in Jizhou City.”Murong Jing was left speechless by Wang Yu’an’s words. After a moment’s hesitation, she cut straight to the point: “Are you trying to oppose me? I merely wish to deal with a lowly merchant, and you insist on interfering? Is this your own intention, or my imperial brother’s?”
Wang Yu’an looked puzzled. “Your Highness must be mistaken. Prince Rui is occupied with countless affairs of state, assisting His Majesty in handling crucial matters of governance every day. How could he possibly be aware of such trivialities?”
“So it is you who wishes to oppose me?”
Wang Yu’an shook his head. “Not at all, not at all. I wasn’t even aware Your Highness was here.”
“Then get out of my way!” Murong Jing’s delicate brows furrowed tightly, her patience utterly exhausted.
Not only did Wang Yu’an not step aside, but he also approached with a light chuckle. “Your Highness, please do not be angry. However… I’m afraid you cannot take this person away.”