By handing the choice over to Yun Ziyao, they had also handed her the initiative.
Now, there wasn’t even an excuse to backtrack.
Prince Zhan had openly treated Ziyao as his fiancée and publicly declared his claim over her. He had even bestowed upon her the identity of the Crown Prince’s future imperial aunt by marriage.
It was obvious that he intended to leave no room for refusal.
Neither Chancellor Yun nor Mo Jinglin was pleased.
But neither could openly declare the marriage invalid.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall became unbearably tense.
Mo Jinglin stared fixedly at Yun Ziyao.
His lips were pressed tightly together.
The emotions hidden in his eyes were dark and unreadable.
After a while, Madam Yun broke the silence.
“Since Ziyao is willing, then as her parents, we naturally respect—”
“Marriage is a matter that should be decided by one’s parents and a proper matchmaker.”
Mo Jinglin interrupted.
“I’ve never heard of children deciding such matters themselves.”
Yun Ziyao lowered her eyes.
“The maid who barged into Mother’s courtyard earlier said she came on Your Highness’s orders to summon me here.”
“I assumed the Crown Prince intended to respect my decision.”
Mo Jinglin’s expression immediately stiffened.
Anger flashed across his face as he glared at her.
He had been absolutely certain she would refuse.
That was why he had summoned her—to reject Prince Zhan in person.
Had he known she would so eagerly agree to marry him, he never would have given her the opportunity.
Chancellor Yun turned to Mo Canglan.
“Ziyao and Zijun are sisters.”
“If Ziyao marries Prince Zhan, won’t the family hierarchy become awkward in the future?”
“They can address each other however they like.”
Prince Zhan’s tone was indifferent.
Clearly, he cared little for either the Crown Prince’s thoughts or the Chancellor’s excuses.
“If the Chancellor is truly concerned, I have many excellent officers under my command who remain unmarried.”
“Finding Yun Zijun the position of a principal wife would not be difficult.”
The Chancellor’s face changed instantly.
Without hesitation, he rejected the suggestion.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Thank you for Your Highness’s consideration.”
Mo Canglan let out a faint laugh.
His eyes were cool and distant.
“Chancellor.”
“Since neither this prince nor my princess has any objections, this marriage is settled.”
“I will soon have an auspicious wedding date selected.”
“If anyone deliberately interferes with my marriage…”
His gaze swept across the room.
“I will not let them off.”
With that, he rose lazily to his feet.
Moments earlier he had appeared relaxed and carefree.
Yet the instant he stood, his tall figure radiated overwhelming authority.
An invisible pressure descended upon everyone present.
When his cold gaze swept across the room, even Mo Jinglin instinctively felt a suffocating weight pressing down on him.
“Little Rao’er.”
Mo Canglan’s eyes curved slightly.
He reached out and casually patted Yun Ziyao’s head.
His deep voice carried a strangely seductive warmth.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“If anyone dares bully you, send someone to inform me.”
“I’ll ride through the night, flatten their residence, and remove their head.”
Yun Ziyao looked up at him.
Uneasy emotions shimmered in her dark eyes.
“I… I’m not worth that.”
“Whether you’re worth it is for me to decide.”
His tone remained casual.
“You need only prepare to become my bride.”
Biting her lip, Yun Ziyao nodded gently.
“Once the date is chosen, I will send the betrothal gifts immediately.”
Turning slightly, Mo Canglan nodded toward Chancellor Yun and Madam Yun.
“I’ll take my leave.”
Then he strode out of the hall.
The moment his figure disappeared, Mo Jinglin turned toward Yun Ziyao.
His face was dark and menacing.
“Yun Ziyao.”
“I never expected you to be this calculating.”
“You’ve truly opened my eyes.”
“Your Highness.”
Madam Yun stood and offered a formal salute.
“Prince Zhan proposed marriage.”
“Ziyao has no existing engagement.”
“Accepting his proposal is entirely reasonable and proper.”
“I hope Your Highness can respect her choice.”
Mo Jinglin looked at Madam Yun with displeasure.
“I have shared years of affection with Ziyao.”
“Do you now consider Prince Zhan a better match simply because he commands military power?”
Madam Yun neither bowed nor yielded.
“Your Highness.”
“Zijun is my biological daughter.”
“According to proper custom, her marriage should indeed be decided by my husband and me.”
“As for Ziyao… although we raised her for fourteen years, once we learned she wasn’t our biological daughter, neither the Chancellor nor I treated her as our own.”
“Otherwise, we never would have allowed her to suffer in the Laundry Bureau three years ago.”
A trace of bitterness entered her voice.
“Since we forfeited our qualifications as parents…”
“Her marriage should naturally be her own choice.”
Mo Jinglin immediately understood the implication.
His gaze turned icy.
Rage surged within him uncontrollably.
Looking at Madam Yun, he gave a cold laugh.
“So Madam blames me?”
Madam Yun lowered her eyes.
“I would never dare.”
“Yun Ziyao.”
Mo Jinglin shifted his gaze toward her.
His voice was filled with displeasure.
“You were spoiled and willful.”
“That is why I sent you to the Laundry Bureau to temper your character.”
“And now you dare resent me?”
“It seems three years weren’t enough to teach you obedience.”
“If anything, you’ve become even worse—”
Yun Ziyao raised her eyes slightly.
“Is Your Highness angry because you couldn’t have me?”
The entire hall fell silent.
Madam Yun stared at her in shock.
Chancellor Yun exploded with fury.
“Yun Ziyao! How dare you speak to the Crown Prince like that?”
“Insolence!”
Mo Jinglin’s face instantly darkened.
Raising his hand, he swung toward her face.
“Today I shall properly teach you a lesson—”
“Teach whom a lesson?”
A lazy voice suddenly drifted in from outside.
Mo Jinglin’s hand froze in midair.
Everyone turned.
The man who had supposedly left—
Had somehow returned without anyone noticing.
Mo Canglan stood casually against the doorway in his black brocade robes.
Mo Jinglin’s pupils contracted.
“Royal Uncle… you haven’t left?”
“I wasn’t at ease.”
Mo Canglan stepped inside.
“So I came back to take another look.”
His gaze settled on the hand Mo Jinglin had raised.
His eyes grew colder.
“What was it I said earlier?”
Mo Jinglin’s expression tightened.
Instinctively, he withdrew his hand.
“I—”
Smack!
Without warning, Mo Canglan slapped him across the face.
The sound rang through the hall.
Loud.
Sharp.
Mo Jinglin was completely stunned.
“Prince Zhan!”
Chancellor Yun’s expression changed dramatically.
“What are you doing?”
Even Madam Yun was startled.
She had never expected Prince Zhan to strike the Crown Prince in public.
“Does that feel good?”
Mo Canglan casually shook out his hand.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he looked at Mo Jinglin.
Mo Jinglin’s face was ashen.
His voice emerged through clenched teeth.
“Royal Uncle.”
“I am the Crown Prince. You—”
“A future emperor should be dignified.”
“Magnanimous.”
“Broad-minded enough to embrace the world.”
Mo Canglan’s smile remained.
But his eyes were cold enough to freeze bone.
“You broke off the engagement yourself.”
“You sent her to the Laundry Bureau afterward.”
“And now you intend to use your status to strike a defenseless woman.”
“Mo Jinglin.”
“You claim to be Crown Prince.”
“Tell me—what part of your behavior resembles one?”
Humiliation.
Resentment.
Shame.
All of it twisted across Mo Jinglin’s face as he glared at Mo Canglan.
“In my opinion…”
Mo Canglan’s tone was calm.
“You are entirely unqualified to be Crown Prince.”
“You would do better to step down and make way for someone more worthy.”
Then his voice suddenly turned cold.
“Guards!”
Two maidservants immediately entered.
“Your Highness.”
“You two will remain at Miss Yun’s side from now on.”
Mo Canglan issued the order calmly.
“Starting today, she is your mistress.”
“Soon she will become the lady of Prince Zhan’s residence.”
“If anyone dares bully her…”
“Return it tenfold.”
He paused.
His gaze swept across every person present.
“No matter who it is.”
“I will bear all consequences.”
The two maids bowed deeply.
“Yes, Your Highness.”