"Ning'an, what do you say?"
Princess Ning'an's face turned deathly pale, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Shen Junlin. "Imperial Uncle…"
"Hmm?" Shen Junlin emphasized the questioning tone.
Ning'an trembled, her voice quivering as she spoke. "Imperial Uncle and… Imperial… Aunt are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful."
After saying this, she wiped her tears, stood up from the ground, and fled in disarray.
Useless!
Mu Bailian, who had been hiding outside the hall witnessing everything, could not conceal the flash of hatred on her face.
She never expected Princess Ning'an to be so incompetent, unable to even contend with a good-for-nothing.
But what surprised her even more was that Mu Nanyin possessed such exceptional skill in playing the qin.
Had her usual unruly behavior and illiteracy all been an act?
"Your Highness, who would have thought Elder Sister could play the qin, and so beautifully at that…"
"Indeed, it is truly unexpected." His tone was light, his reply absent-minded.
Mu Bailian: ??
She looked up to see Shen Sichen, who had been furious over the failed plan just moments ago, now gazing distractedly at Mu Nanyin in the hall, lost in thought.
"…"
Hatred surged through Mu Bailian, rising to the crown of her head.
That wretched woman, that damned wretch!
So what if she can play the qin? What's so impressive about that?
When Princess Ning'an challenged her to a calligraphy contest, didn’t she cower and refuse to accept? If she’s so capable…
Wait—calligraphy?!
Mu Bailian suddenly realized something, her eyes lighting up.
…
At the same time, Shen Junlin was discussing this very issue with her.
"Earlier… you didn’t dare to compete with Ning'an in the second round."
Mu Nanyin’s hand, linked with Shen Junlin’s, trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
"That’s right, my handwriting is ugly. I truly can’t compare to her."
Shen Junlin gave her a deep look but said nothing.
Her demeanor earlier hadn’t resembled the flustered embarrassment of someone ashamed of poor handwriting. On the contrary, the confidence in her eyes had remained, just as it had while she played the qin.
When Ning’an proposed the calligraphy contest, the glance she gave him… seemed more like she was hiding something.
Or perhaps, what was she afraid of?
Mu Nanyin felt uneasy under his gaze and pouted in response.
"What, do you want to see me make a fool of myself?"
Shen Junlin shook his head. "Of course not…"
"Then that settles it. I am your Princess Consort now. If my handwriting were as messy as a dog’s scratch, wouldn’t that embarrass you?"
Embarrass him?
Shen Junlin raised an eyebrow, about to say more, when Emperor Jialin, who had been silently watching the spectacle, suddenly spoke.
"Since Ning’an has already fled, today’s contest ends here. Miss Mu, you have won. As the Emperor, my word is law. You may ask me for one favor, or choose this Gold-dissolving Shortsword."
The surrounding ministers held their breath upon hearing this.
Although the Gold-dissolving Shortsword presented as tribute by foreign envoys was precious, compared to a promise from the Emperor, it was far less significant.
Anyone with even a shred of sense would know which choice to make.
General Mu, standing nearby, was so excited he could hardly keep from slapping his thigh.
Provisions!
Troops!
Military funds!!
Given his years of training Mu Nanyin and her upbringing and experiences growing up on the frontier, he could almost see countless provisions and troops beckoning to him.
He had even begun planning how to allocate these resources once they were secured.
How many battalions did he currently command? How much could be distributed to each battalion…
General Mu frantically began counting on his fingers.
Just as he was calculating, he heard Mu Nanyin’s voice beside him.
“Your Majesty, I have made my decision. I want that Gold-dissolving Shortsword!”
General Mu: ??
Wants what?!
“Yin’er, what did you say you want?” He jumped up from his seat, disregarding all decorum.
“I want that Gold-dissolving Shortsword presented by the foreign envoy!”
General Mu tried to salvage the situation: “Father knows you like such things. I recently acquired an excellent flexible sword that can cut through iron as if it were mud. I…”
“Father—” Mu Nanyin interrupted him, her tone exceptionally firm. “I want that Gold-dissolving Shortsword.”
General Mu: “…”
He rolled his eyes, nearly fainting on the spot.
Ungrateful daughter!
This ungrateful daughter!!
He had thought she had seen the light, no longer seeking to break off the engagement with Prince Lin, so he, as the elder, would not hold a grudge against the younger, reluctantly forgiving her for her earlier outrageous declaration of severing ties with him.
But now…
Where is the family register?
Where is his family register?!
Meanwhile, the other ministers were also pounding their chests in frustration.
What’s so good about that worthless sword?
Does she not know what a promise from the Emperor means?
Vast wealth?
Troops and provisions?
Supreme power?
Or perhaps a city?
Any one of these would be better than that cold, worthless piece of metal!
Even Shen Junlin looked at Mu Nanyin in surprise.
“The Emperor has always been true to his word. Whatever you desire, you need only ask, and he will surely grant it, even…”
Even if she were to propose an engagement with Shen Sichen right then and there, it would not be impossible.
Mu Nanyin knew what he meant to say. She took his hands in hers, intertwining their fingers.
“I don’t want that. For me, the Gold-dissolving Shortsword is what I want most right now.”
Shen Junlin’s gaze fell on their intertwined hands, his expression dark and unreadable.
“Mu Nanyin, this is your last chance to change your mind…”
Mu Nanyin’s face was resolute. “Shen Junlin, I am very clear about the decision I am making now, and I never regret my choices.”
Shen Junlin looked at her with a complicated expression.
“Miss Mu, have you made up your mind? You want the Gold-dissolving Shortsword?” Emperor Jialin spoke up to confirm with her.
Mu Nanyin nodded. “Your Majesty, I have made my decision.”
“Very well.” Emperor Jialin waved to the eunuch beside him.
The young eunuch respectfully carried the tray and presented it to Mu Nanyin.
Mu Nanyin took the shortsword in her hand and drew it from its sheath.
The cold, sharp blade gleamed with a chilling light amidst the clinking of cups.
Mu Nanyin narrowed her eyes. In the white glow, she saw a flash of her past self lying in a pool of blood, and… Shen Junlin, who had taken his own life with this very sword for her sake.
Now, with the Gold-dissolving Shortsword in hand and the matter of breaking off the engagement resolved satisfactorily, neither she nor Shen Junlin would meet the tragic fate of their previous lives.
As for Shen Sichen…
Next, it would be time to settle accounts with Shen Sichen and Mu Bailian.
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Shen Sichen and Mu Bailian entered the hall one after the other, with a maid following behind Mu Bailian, carrying a tray.
Seeing the tray, Mu Nanyin’s hand holding the Gold-dissolving Shortsword trembled involuntarily.
She had slapped both of them several times in the imperial garden. Given Mu Bailian’s nature, she would certainly not let the matter rest.
She just didn’t know what mischief the two of them were planning now.
“Your humble subject pays respects to the Emperor.”
Mu Bailian gracefully performed a bow to Emperor Jialin.
"Lian'er, why are you only arriving now? And with the Third Prince? Come here quickly!" General Mu frowned and beckoned to her.
"Father, I actually arrived earlier. I happened to overhear Princess Ning'an outside the hall saying she wanted to compete in calligraphy with Elder Sister. Coincidentally, I had just acquired a fine purple-gold wolf-hair brush two days ago, originally intended as a wedding gift for Elder Sister, so I specifically returned home to fetch it."
As she spoke, she gestured to the maid behind her, who stepped forward and lifted the red cloth covering the tray.
On the plate lay a distinct purple-gold wolf-hair brush.
Mu Nanyin's face instantly turned cold.