Unlike Mo Jinglin’s fury, Mo Canglan appeared relaxed and amused.
His deep gaze fell on Yun Zi’rao’s exposed wrist, and his eyes darkened slightly.
As if something had suddenly occurred to him, he turned toward Mo Jinglin.
A mocking smile flashed across his eyes.
Interesting.
Beneath that delicate and fragile appearance hid the cunning of a fox, an unshakable will, and a hatred for the Crown Prince so subtle that most people would never notice it.
Marrying her would likely make life very entertaining.
He was genuinely curious to see how many tricks she had up her sleeve.
“Yun Zi’rao.”
Mo Canglan rose and walked over.
Taking her arm, he gently lowered her sleeve.
“You are this prince’s future wife.”
“You may not casually expose your wrist for other men to see.”
“I forbid it.”
Yun Zi’rao lowered her eyes timidly.
“This subject dares not deceive Your Highness.”
“My body is covered in ugly scars.”
“Won’t Your Highness find them repulsive?”
Mo Canglan clicked his tongue.
“I’ve spent years on the battlefield.”
“I’ve seen brains splattered across the ground.”
“What are a few scars compared to that?”
His voice was casual.
“Once you enter my household, I’ll take good care of you.”
“I’ll raise you until you’re fair and pampered again.”
Mo Jinglin stared at Yun Zi’rao.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade, as if he wanted to cut open her heart and see what was inside.
“Zi’rao.”
His tone deepened.
The threat within it was unmistakable.
“My imperial uncle spends all his time on the battlefield. I’m afraid he doesn’t understand how to cherish a woman—”
“You’re right.”
Mo Canglan interrupted him immediately.
“I don’t particularly understand ‘cherishing women.'”
His tone carried obvious contempt.
“But I am a general.”
“And a general keeps his word.”
“I do not say one thing and do another.”
He looked directly at Mo Jinglin.
“I can give Rao’er the honored position of principal wife and Princess Consort.”
“I can make her your imperial aunt.”
“I can ensure that no one ever bullies her again.”
“She will live in comfort and luxury.”
“She will never touch laundry water with her own hands.”
“If she makes a mistake, I will teach her how to correct it.”
“I will never use punishment as a lesson.”
“If I must return to the frontier, I will leave enough trusted people behind to protect her.”
“No one in the capital will dare look down on her.”
“The affairs of Prince Zhan’s residence will belong to Yun Zi’rao.”
“If she wishes to manage them herself, she may.”
“If she does not, she may appoint someone trustworthy.”
“The wealth of my household will be hers to spend.”
He continued calmly:
“If foreign kingdoms offer tribute in the future, the finest jewels, silks, and treasures will go to Rao’er first.”
“Everyone else can wait.”
A faint smile curved his lips.
“Because she is my wife.”
“I will treasure and protect her.”
How domineering.
Yun Zi’rao lowered her gaze to his hand.
His fingers were long and well-proportioned.
Though years of campaigning had left them tanned rather than refined like those of noble young masters, the calluses on his palms spoke of strength.
For some reason, they inspired a sense of security.
As for his promises…
Whether he could actually fulfill them remained to be seen.
But hearing them felt incredibly satisfying.
Watching Mo Jinglin’s expression shift from confidence to gloom and finally to outright fury—
Yun Zi’rao felt wonderful.
Then she glanced at Prime Minister Yun’s equally dark expression.
She almost wanted to shout:
“Your Highness is magnificent!”
As expected, power and authority were the greatest source of confidence.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s favor.”
Yun Zi’rao lowered her head and deliberately avoided looking at Mo Jinglin’s dark face.
“This subject is of humble status and unworthy of such regard.”
“I only hope that after I marry into Prince Zhan’s residence, I can have a hot meal to eat.”
“That I won’t have to survive on spoiled leftovers every day.”
“That I won’t have to rise before dawn to work.”
“That I won’t have to sleep in damp bedding.”
“That I won’t have to wash clothes with freezing water in winter.”
“That I won’t be beaten daily by matrons.”
“If I can have that much…”
“I’ll already be satisfied.”
Each sentence struck Madam Yun’s heart like a knife.
By the end, her eyes had turned red.
“Rao’er has suffered so much.”
Her voice trembled.
“It is my failure as a mother.”
“I couldn’t protect you.”
Mo Canglan stared at Yun Zi’rao’s pale face.
His eyes deepened.
Yet a trace of tenderness appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Do you take me for some inhuman beast?”
“Would I ever allow a delicate woman to endure such torment?”
Mo Jinglin suddenly shot to his feet.
“Yun Zi’rao!”
His face was filled with anger.
“Are you accusing me?”
An inhuman beast?
Who exactly was Mo Canglan insulting?
Unable to direct his anger toward Mo Canglan, Mo Jinglin turned all of it on Yun Zi’rao.
“Back then, you were too willful and spoiled!”
“That’s why I sent you to the Laundry Bureau!”
“I only wanted to temper your character!”
“Everything I did was for your own good! I wanted you to—”
“Silence.”
Mo Canglan lazily raised a finger.
His voice was calm.
Yet it carried unquestionable authority.
“From this moment forward, Yun Zi’rao is my fiancée.”
“She is your imperial aunt.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Mo Jinglin.”
“Try shouting at her one more time.”
Mo Jinglin froze.
Slowly turning toward Mo Canglan, his face became stiff and iron-gray.
His hands clenched tightly.
“Imperial Uncle…”
“You are stealing your own nephew’s fiancée—”
“The engagement has already been dissolved.”
Mo Canglan cut him off.
His eyes flashed with cold menace.
“Mo Jinglin.”
“If you continue making such claims…”
“This prince will punish you for disrespecting your imperial aunt.”
Mo Jinglin’s expression twisted.
He felt both furious and humiliated.
He was the Crown Prince.
The future ruler of Qi.
Did Mo Canglan have any regard for him at all?
Disrespecting an imperial aunt?
What a joke.
Even if Yun Zi’rao eventually married Mo Canglan, both husband and wife would still address the emperor as subjects.
Yet Mo Canglan acted as though military power placed him above imperial authority itself.
Of course…
These thoughts remained firmly inside Mo Jinglin’s head.
He didn’t dare voice them aloud.
The emperor had many sons.
The imperial clan was filled with princes eager for the throne.
The emperor’s health had been declining for years.
At such a critical moment, provoking Mo Canglan would bring him no benefits whatsoever.
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly oppressive.
It felt like a storm was about to break.
Prime Minister Yun sat with a dark expression.
He wanted to intervene but had no idea whom to persuade.
Persuade Mo Canglan to give up Yun Zi’rao?
Impossible.
Once Mo Canglan made a decision, not even death threats could change his mind.
Persuade Mo Jinglin?
Equally impossible.
The Crown Prince was determined to make Yun Zi’rao his concubine.
He wanted both sisters serving the same husband.
Now Prince Zhan had suddenly appeared and ruined his plans.
At this moment, Mo Jinglin was consumed by rage.
Who could possibly talk sense into him?
If the sisters were marrying ordinary noblemen, Prime Minister Yun would never have agreed.
But the groom was the Crown Prince—the future emperor.
What was wrong with both sisters entering the palace together?
After all, Yun Zijun would be the official wife.
During her pregnancies, Yun Zi’rao could simply help maintain the emperor’s favor.
That had always been his thinking.
He believed Yun Zi’rao truly loved the Crown Prince.
Even after three years in the Laundry Bureau, perhaps she would resent him somewhat.
Perhaps she would be more cautious and restrained than before.
But surely her feelings remained.
That was why the Crown Prince had confidently sent a maid to summon her.
He expected Yun Zi’rao to personally reject Prince Zhan’s proposal.
In that way, nobody would offend Prince Zhan.
Yet to everyone’s astonishment—
Yun Zi’rao had agreed immediately.