Murong Jing let out a cold laugh, her tone carrying an unquestionable authority. "Master Ji, do not bully the young and poor! Since this princess declares him a worthy match for Miss Ji, he is deserving. I have bestowed this marriage—do you dare defy me?"
As soon as her words fell, Murong Jing lightly clapped her hands, and another team of guards marched onto the stage in perfect unison, instantly intensifying the tension.
Now she had laid her cards on the table, leaving no room for negotiation.
Master Ji’s breath suddenly hitched, and his body swayed slightly.
Ji Ruyue’s eyes flickered. Her original plan could no longer proceed due to Wei Zizhang’s appearance.
She was not afraid of death, but she could not recklessly implicate others or her father.
She had thought that in this second life, she could avoid this marriage, at most enduring some punishment, but now… it seemed impossible.
Suppressing the indignation in her heart, Ji Ruyue spoke with surprising calmness. "Father, do not worry. In my view, since the princess has bestowed this marriage, we have no right to refuse. She is the ruler, and we are her subjects."
Whispers of discussion once again rippled through the surrounding crowd. No one dared to speak openly, but indeed, she was the ruler, and they were merely dust in her eyes.
A subtle trace of mockery flashed in Murong Jing’s eyes. "Now you no longer question my authority?"
Ji Ruyue gave a slight nod in response, choosing not to dwell further on the matter.
Seeing that the Ji father and daughter were finally willing to speak properly, Murong Jing waved her hand. "All of you, rise."
As thoughts raced through her mind, Ji Ruyue turned to Chen Shujin and said calmly, "Young Master Chen, although this marriage is bestowed by the princess, I still wish to ask you: Are you truly willing to become the son-in-law of the Ji family?"
Though her words were plain, everyone around could sense a deeper meaning.
Not a marriage of taking a wife, but of taking a husband!
Indeed, although Master Ji had not explicitly stated it, the Ji family had only this one daughter. This matchmaking was originally meant to recruit a son-in-law.
Chen Shujin’s face paled. "This… this…"
He looked toward Murong Jing as if seeking help.
Just as Murong Jing was about to speak, Ji Ruyue cut her off first. "What? Could it be that Young Master Chen, like ordinary men, looks down upon women?"
Murong Jing swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
She had always held herself in high regard and despised those who belittled her for being a woman. Moreover, she was different from ordinary women and could not stand the coy, affected mannerisms of some.
Thus, she did not speak further but instead fixed a deep gaze on Chen Shujin.
In her previous life, the Ji family had been helpless against the princess’s wishes. What was meant to be a recruitment of a son-in-law turned into a marriage, and Ji Ruyue was forced to marry Chen Shujin as his wife.
How laughable it was.
Though it was called a marriage, the entire Chen family moved into the Ji residence, daily flaunting their status as a scholarly family while looking down upon the Ji family’s merchant background. They nitpicked and criticized Master Ji and Ji Ruyue at every turn, and were quick to scold or beat the servants.
Seeing that Murong Jing did not step in to defend him, Chen Shujin hesitated, glancing at Ji Ruyue several times.
Murong Jing gradually lost her patience and asked directly, "Scholar, do you have any brothers in your family?"
"This humble scholar has two younger brothers."
"In that case, there is no harm in you becoming the Ji family’s son-in-law. Besides, the Ji family only has Miss Ji as their sole daughter…"
She stopped there, saying no more.
Chen Shujin was a clever man—how could he not understand the implication?
Seeing him put on such an act, Ji Ruyue could not help but feel a wave of disgust.
Chen Shujin sighed deeply and bowed deeply to Murong Jing, "Thank you, Princess, for bestowing this marriage."
Ji Ruyue understood in her heart.
Indeed! His actions were exactly the same as in her previous life, unchanged.
However, Ji Ruyue keenly noticed a difference…
The way he looked at Murong Jing was completely different from before!
Seeing that the situation was settled, Murong Jing felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, and her mockery of the Ji family continued unabated.
"My father has always praised my discerning eye. I never thought today I would help bring about a good match. Your Ji family has been merchants for generations. Now that you have this scholar as a son-in-law, perhaps you can even change your family's status. Remember to cherish this."
Master Ji clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly.
Seeing this, Ji Ruyue leaned close to his ear and whispered soothingly, "Father, please calm down."
She then turned and performed a standard half-curtsy to Murong Jing, "Thank you, Princess, for making this possible. Since Mr. Chen has gained your favor, I hope you will support him in the future. High official positions and generous salaries are surely not far off…"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of delight flashed in Chen Shujin's eyes, and he quickly followed with a bow.
Murong Jing's smile stiffened. She felt as if she had been outmaneuvered by this mere merchant's daughter, and her dissatisfaction rose again, remembering the girl's earlier defiance!
She suddenly took two steps forward and raised her hand to deliver a fierce slap. "How dare you, lowly commoner, speak such insolence!"
"Slap~"
Ji Ruyue turned her head slightly, and Murong Jing's slap landed on her jaw, the sharp nails instantly leaving a bloody scratch.
Ji Ruyue could have dodged this slap, but she could not; she had to endure it!
Otherwise, the next act of the play could not continue.
Ji Ruyue let out a soft cry and fell heavily to the ground.
"Yue'er!" Master Ji immediately stepped forward to help her up, only to find his daughter motionless, with no intention of getting up at all.
Chen Shujin trembled and stood there dumbfounded.
The Princess was so capricious!
Murong Jing glared at Ji Ruyue, her eyes filled with venom. "A mere lowly commoner dares to presume to tell this Princess what to do? Are you worthy?"
Ji Ruyue's eyes shifted. She raised her hand to gently brush the corner of her eye, tears falling like broken pearls. Her words lost their earlier strength. Leaning against Master Ji, she looked pitiful and fragile, yet her voice was not soft. "This common girl does not know what she did wrong to anger the Princess so, that you would humiliate me in public. This person was chosen by the Princess, and it was also the Princess who spoke of granting him high office and generous salary…"
"Nonsense! When did this Princess ever say she would grant him high office and generous salary?"
Ji Ruyue sobbed. "But it was the Princess who said Mr. Chen could change my Ji family's status. Could it be that this common girl misheard?"
Ji Ruyue glanced at the people in the room, her eyes full of anguish. Soft weeping sounds rose again. "Forget it. This common girl does not know what has displeased the Princess, that you would treat me this way. Perhaps… I should just die!!"
After saying this, Ji Ruyue struggled as if to get up and seek death.
The room immediately erupted into chaos, and even the many guards could not control the situation.
"Miss Ji, you must not! This is a joyous red occasion; it must not turn into a mournful white one!"
"Yes, the Princess's word is as good as gold. She would not deceive you. You must have misunderstood."
"Miss Ji, your actions would place the Ji family in a difficult position. If you die, everyone will think the Princess drove you to death. This would tarnish the Princess's reputation. You must not!"
Many participants began to offer words of comfort one after another, while others quietly blocked Ji Ruyue’s path to self-harm. Though their words were filled with blame, their underlying message was subtly directed at Murong Jing.
Ji Ruyue understood it well.
Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.
Her voice alone was insignificant, but what about ten, a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand people?
What could Murong Jing do then?
She was currently isolated and had no choice but to resort to this method.
Murong Jing’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Clenching her fists tightly, she roared in anger, "How dare you! Did I permit you to die? Truly an ignorant woman—not only shortsighted but also constantly weeping and seeking death. It is utterly tiresome!"
She then pointed at Chen Shujin and said, "I have always kept my word. If one day this scholar achieves the rank of Jinshi on the Jiabang list, I will ensure his future is secure."
Upon hearing this, even Chen Shujin fell silent.
If one could become a Jinshi on the Jiabang list, would they still lack a future?