Chapter 432: Co-Wives (3)
Editor: Atlas Studios
However, the Emperor shifted his gaze to Mu Yangling and asked, “Madam Mu, if I insist on letting Qi Haoran marry a co-wife, what will you do?”
As Mu Yangling looked up at the Emperor, the sense of danger in her bones told her that it was best to tell the truth. Otherwise, this Emperor might really willfully assign him a co-wife.
So what if it was against the law? This was a society governed by humans. Moreover, there were several famous examples in the Tang Dynasty in the past.
Smiling, Mu Yangling said, “If Your Majesty really bestows a co-wife to him, then of course I can only acknowledge her. However, how we live our lives in the future is our own business.”
“Oh? Then how do you plan to live your lives?”
“It’s very simple. We’ll split the house into two and let the co-wife live alone on one side. Qi Haoran won’t meet her, let alone sleep with her and have children. If she behaves herself, we’ll live in peace.”
The Emperor frowned. “This is so unfair to that woman. Won’t you feel guilty?”
Mu Yangling shook her head. “No, it’s not me and Qi Haoran who caused her to be in such a tragic state. We’ve already objected to this.”
In other words, the culprit was the Emperor.
The Emperor looked at her speechlessly. Was she really not afraid that he would kill her by saying this in front of him, or was she deliberately mocking him?
“What if Qi Haoran develops feelings for her?” The Emperor asked maliciously.
Unexpectedly, Mu Yangling’s expression became even happier. “That’s even easier. I’ll go to the government office to lodge a complaint against Qi Haoran first, then divorce him and take away all his assets.” Seeing the Emperor’s shock, Mu Yangling explained with a smile, “Your Majesty, it’s not easy to find a four-legged toad in this world, but there are two-legged men everywhere. Considering I’m rich and beautiful, I have my pick of men. Since he’s heartless, why should I feel sad over his betrayal? In the end, it’s still my own heart that will be hurt.”
Before the Emperor could say anything about her shocking words, Qi Haoran had already glared at Mu Yangling angrily and shouted, “Don’t even think about it. When did I say that I would sleep with another woman? Don’t wrong me. I won’t marry a co-wife.” As he spoke, he said angrily, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have signed that darned contract back then.”
Mu Yangling comforted him gently. “Of course I know you won’t. I’m just replying in response to His Majesty’s hypothetical question. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made this hypothesis.”
Then, everyone saw that Qi Haoran, who was originally furious, was appeased and obediently knelt beside her again.
Everyone came to a realization. So he was henpecked!
Fan Zijin almost wanted to cover his face and leave. He knew that it was a terrible idea to marry Minister Qin’s daughter as a co-wife, but there was no need to make the ‘henpecked act’ so realistic, right?
If he had to resort to this, he might as well marry Minister Qin’s daughter.
Satisfied, the Emperor concluded, “So you’re rejecting the marriage not because having a co-wife is illegal and unethical, but because Madam Mu is easily jealous, right?”
Mu Yangling looked at the Emperor in a daze. So the final responsibility was on her?
However, Qi Haoran immediately said, “No, Your Majesty. Madam Mu is actually very virtuous. Even if she allows me to marry a co-wife, I won’t. I won’t take a concubine either. Really, it’s not her fault.”
The Emperor looked at him disdainfully, then turned to Mu Yangling and asked, “Madam Mu, I’m asking you a question.”
Mu Yangling thought about it seriously and said, “Your Majesty, if you must put it that way, I guess it’s true. But I think the most fundamental reason is that I love my husband.”
Everyone was stunned. They felt that this woman was too bold to actually confess her feelings in front of so many people. Even the Emperor was embarrassed for her.
However, Qi Haoran grinned and looked at Mu Yangling gleefully.
Mu Yangling continued, “Because I love him, I can’t tolerate this. If I marry a stranger, I’m afraid I won’t even bat an eyelid if the Emperor casually bestows him with a co-wife, as long as I’m still the first wife.”
The Emperor murmured, “You’re fine with it if you’re married to someone else?”
Mu Yangling nodded. “Yes, it’s fine as long as I don’t love him. Without love, I won’t be sad or angry no matter how many girls he’s with. As long as my status is guaranteed, I can turn a blind eye and get along harmoniously with everyone. But if that person is Qi Haoran, I’d rather divorce him and not see him for the rest of my life, than live under the same roof and watch him be intimate with other women.”
Qi Haoran hurriedly said in a low voice, “Other than you, I won’t look at other women, nor will I flirt with other women.”
The Emperor, who was about to speak, smashed his wine cup angrily and said angrily, “Shut up. I’m talking to Madam Mu.”
The princes, concubines, and ministers under the palace banquet were already stupefied. Even the Empress, who had been wanting to stop them from continuing, had given up at this moment. It didn’t matter. So what if this was embarrassing? Anyway, they were the royal family. At most, they would discuss this in private. Would they dare to make fun of them in their faces?
After smashing the wine cup, the Emperor asked, “Then what if I keep pressuring Qi Haoran and the co-wife to sleep together? If Qi Haoran was forced to do this against his will, are you going to forgive him?”
Mu Yangling pursed her lips and asked, “Your Majesty, would you interfere in such a senseless matter?”
The Emperor choked and insisted, “I’m asking you a question. Answer me.”
Mu Yangling gave up and said, “It’s okay. I’ll follow him to the bridal chamber. The three of us will spend the night counting the stars together. If you make them do this again, we’ll just keep counting the stars together.”
Someone in the venue burst out laughing, and then low laughter sounded intermittently at the banquet.
Probably feeling embarrassed, the Emperor waved his hand and said, “Alright, the two of you can leave. Since Madam Mu is easily jealous, let’s forget about the co-wives thing.”
Mu Yangling stopped Qi Haoran, who was about to rebut. Although this ended with her being the scapegoat, they had finally survived this crisis. There was no better time to retreat to their seats than now.
The two of them returned to their seats and sat down. Qi Haoran squeezed Mu Yangling’s hand and realized that her palm was sweaty. He was stunned for a moment before his heart ached. He had thought that she was very bold, but in the end, she was also a paper tiger.
The palace banquet continued, but no one was in the mood to watch the song and dance performance anymore. The Emperor lowered his head, seemingly thinking about something.
The others were gossiping about Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling’s words. Those who were less thoughtful only felt that their relationship was hard to come by. Those who were upright only felt that Qi Haoran was too henpecked. Some had all kinds of thoughts. However, they all analyzed the duo’s words and hidden meanings at the same time.
Minister Qin, who nobody had been paying any attention to, put down the wine cup in his hand. A cold glint flashed across his eyes as the cup cracked. Though it was true that he didn’t want to marry his daughter to Qi Haoran, that did not mean that he would allow Qi Haoran to reject her.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhen had been kneeling in the corner and had not yet been given permission to get up. His heart was in turmoil. Since the Emperor had pushed the responsibility to Mu Yangling, he should come out of this unscathed, right?