"No, I will not break off the engagement."
Beside her, General Mu, who had been restless and uneasy, saw Mu Nanyin and assumed she had come for Shen Sichen's sake. His expression shifted repeatedly.
"Yin'er, what are you doing? Don't do anything foolish, come here quickly!"
Given the Emperor's favor toward Prince Lin, if this rebellious daughter dared to utter even half a word about Shen Sichen at this moment, wouldn't that be like dancing on the grave of his old bones?
It would be the death of him.
Mu Nanyin looked at General Mu, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.
In her past life, she had believed that by severing ties with Father and voluntarily removing herself from the family register, none of her actions would implicate Father or the concubines.
But she had forgotten—blood is thicker than water. Family is family; even if bones are broken, the sinews remain connected.
In her past life, Father had repeatedly declared that he was cutting all ties with her, yet behind the scenes, he had helped her assist Shen Sichen in his bid for the throne, ultimately leading to that tragic outcome.
She had been the one to harm them all.
Now that she had been reborn, she would never again allow Father, Seventh Concubine, or the entire Mu family to repeat the mistakes of the past.
"Father, rest assured, your daughter will not do anything foolish. I will make amends for my own actions. Once this matter is resolved, I will come to you to apologize and seek your forgiveness."
She wiped away her tears and turned to look at the person seated on the high throne.
"Your Majesty, everything that happened today is this humble subject's fault alone. It was my unreasonable and willful behavior that disrupted the wedding banquet. His Highness was so angered by me that he lost his composure, offending Your Majesty and speaking out of turn. It is all my fault. If Your Majesty wishes to punish or even execute me, I accept it fully. I only beg Your Majesty not to cancel the marriage between me and Prince Lin."
Upon hearing her words, the Emperor let out a soft sound of surprise, a flicker of astonishment quickly crossing his dignified face.
"You do not wish to break off the engagement?"
He had clearly heard that this young lady of the Mu family was involved with his unfilial son and had caused today's scene for his sake.
Mu Nanyin nodded. "Yes, this humble subject does not wish to break off the engagement."
"Huh?" General Mu was utterly astonished, wondering if he had misheard.
What new mischief was this rebellious daughter up to now?
Xiaolian comforted him from the side. "Master, don't worry. The young lady has come to her senses. Earlier in the imperial garden, she completely severed ties with the Third Prince and even slapped him a few times."
General Mu's eyes widened. "What? She struck the Third Prince?"
Seeing his shocked expression, Xiaolian stifled a laugh. Fortunately, she had already been surprised earlier, so now, witnessing the young lady desperately trying to salvage the marriage, it no longer seemed strange to her.
"Yes, the young lady must have come to her senses completely after today's commotion."
General Mu was half-convinced, but seeing her resolute refusal to break off the engagement, he let out a long sigh of relief and slumped weakly into his chair.
Whatever schemes she might be harboring in her heart…
As long as she wasn't making a scene about breaking off the engagement now, it was fine.
His old life had nearly been scared out of him.
In the grand hall, Shen Junlin raised his head, looking at her with a complex and somber expression. "Mu Nanyin, I have done as you wished and come to the palace to break off the engagement, yet you change your mind at the last moment. What trick are you playing now?"
He knelt upright, his deep eyes fixed on her, filled with pain and suspicion as cold as ice.
He did not believe her words.
He only thought she was playing tricks.
Mu Nanyin's heart ached. Trembling, she reached out to touch his forehead, but he turned his head away, avoiding her touch.
"Shen Junlin, I'm sorry, everything was my fault before. What I said to you in the bridal chamber today is all true. I don't want to break off the engagement with you. I want to be with you, to live a good life together. Believe me just once, okay?"
To be with him.
To live a good life together with him.
These were words he once dreamed of but could never obtain.
Yet now, after causing a scene at the wedding for another man and threatening death, she had effortlessly spoken them to him.
A flicker of struggle crossed Shen Junlin's face, quickly replaced by pain.
He coldly shook off her hand: "Mu Nanyin, stop playing tricks. Once I break off the engagement, you can be with Shen Sichen. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
After speaking, he took a step aside: "Imperial Brother…"
"Husband!" In her desperation, Mu Nanyin gritted her teeth and wrapped her arms around his waist: "We have already bowed to heaven and earth, entered the bridal chamber. If you reject me now, how will I, your humble wife, face the world hereafter?"
Shen Junlin trembled all over, the words on his lips successfully swallowed back.
What had she just called him?
Husband?
The ministers cowering like quails around them, upon hearing this, cautiously lifted their heads from under the tables.
What? What?
Had the Mu family's young lady already entered the bridal chamber with Prince Lin, consummating their marriage?
Could it be that Miss Mu's disruption of the wedding banquet had angered Prince Lin, who then forcefully took her?
So now that the deed was done, Miss Mu had suddenly changed her attitude?
No… Miss Mu's disruption occurred at noon, and only an hour has passed since then, plus the travel time from Prince Lin's residence to the palace…
Tsk tsk tsk tsk…
Prince Lin… isn't very capable, is he!
As the ministers' minds raced, General Mu beside them darkened his face, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
Oh dear, how did he raise such a shameless daughter?
How could such a thing be blurted out in public?
Later… later he must go to the treasury and pick out a fine Dragon Whip for Prince Lin!
The emperor at the head of the hall coughed uncomfortably: "Prince Lin, do you have anything more to say?"
"Imperial Brother—"
Shen Junlin still wanted to protest, but the small hands tightly clinging to him mischievously scratched at his waist.
The tingling sensation spread throughout his body, and he involuntarily shivered, looking down at the woman beside him.
His gaze met hers as she lifted her head.
Their eyes locked.
Her face clearly showed pleading, her deer-like moist eyes pitifully gazing at him.
"Shen Junlin, please, don't break off the engagement, okay?" she entreated him with fragrant breath.
Shen Junlin froze, and somewhere in the deepest, softest part of his wounded heart stirred.
Could he still believe her?
Even though he knew full well that her current words were likely another scheme and deception.
Even though he knew that what awaited him afterward might very well be a new cycle of utter ruin and abyss.
But… but he still shamefully felt moved.
"Mu Nanyin…" Shen Junlin's voice was hoarse, his gaze toward her filled with clearly visible struggle and anguish.
Mu Nanyin lowered her voice, drawing out her tone as she continued to coquettishly plead: "Husband~"
"Believe me, just this once. This time, let me be the one to love you, okay?"
She called him husband.
She said she would love him instead.
…Love him.
Just these two words were enough to make the high walls Shen Junlin had built in his heart come crashing down.
All the struggle and pain in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a desperate madness.
Like a gambler who knows the path ahead leads to ruin, yet still bets all his chips without hesitation.
"Mu Nanyin, if you deceive me again this time, I won't wait for you to act—I will personally take your life," Shen Junlin threatened fiercely.
Mu Nanyin, however, was nearly moved to tears of joy. He had agreed.
He was willing to give her another chance.
"Don't worry, I will prove it to you."
She smiled, wiped away her tears, rose from him, and knelt upright.
"Your Majesty, this matter concerns me alone. As long as you do not annul the marriage, I am willing to accept all punishment."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, glanced at Shen Junlin, and seeing his silence, understood his meaning.
So, she had managed to placate him for now?
"Very well, since you said it yourself. Mu Nanyin, you have disregarded the dignity of the imperial family, disrupted the wedding banquet, and recklessly attempted to annul the marriage. According to the law, you shall be punished with fifty lashes."