90 Then Damn It, You Marry Her (2/2)

”But Yuqui will most likely be dragged into another useless war if you don't,” An Ning pointed out.

”I don't give a fuck about any of that,” the emperor said explosively. ”I'd rather abdicate than be forced into doing something I don't want to do. An Ning, you can't really be serious about this, can you?”

”But I see no other alternative,” she insisted.

”Why do I have to marry him? He's a kid, for god's sake,” Xiang Yun suddenly inserted herself in the conversation in a spectacular way. ”He's what? Twelve years old?”

The emperor eyed her with fulminating eyes.

”Excuse me? For your information, I am nearly sixteen years old,” he corrected stiffly.

”A kid,” Xiang Yun was dismissive. ”I don't like to marry him either.”

”Who asked you?” Gu Sheng totally lost it and almost screamed at her. ”I'd rather marry a boa constrictor!”

”Oh, you'll marry one alright. With your temper...,” Xiang Yun sneered.

”So help me, An Ning,” the emperor transferred the blaze of fury in his eyes on his snickering stepmother.

”But, Little Gu, even if you abdicate, there's still the threat of war. We can't get away from that even if all of us were to leave Yuqui.”

”No! Everyone else but me! I won't do it!”

”Why do I have to marry him or anyone for that matter?” Xiang Yun said, eyeing the emperor with disgust. ”Will you please stop bawling like a brat and let the grownups talk?”

Gu Sheng was so stunned and so angry at her words, he gritted his teeth and again turned thunderous eyes at An Ning.

”Because it's the only way Yuqui can protect you,” An Ning said, chuckling. ”Single, you're the property of your father who can decide your entire future. Married, you belong to your husband who will make the decisions for you. That's why it's important who you marry. Gu Sheng is a reasonable man. He will not bully you or force you to give up on your dreams.”

”Oh yes I will.If that's the only I can get out of marrying this brat, I promise to bully her every day and even forbid her to go outside. If she doesn't listen to me, I'll have her whip into submission,” the emperor said with an evil glint in his eyes.

”Hah! I bet my martial arts are better than yours. I'll have your ass whipped even before you could say anything. Baby,” Xiang Yun jeered.

”I. Am. Not. A. Baby!” The emperor was so provoked by her words his face was turning purple in his anger.

”This is hopeless,” An Ning sighed, shaking her head.

”What happens when she gets married, your grace? Surely that will only provoke her dad even more,” Mu Xing asked worriedly.

”And if she marries the emperor and she and he gets into a fight...I mean, will the kingdom even be safe with a cat and dog relationship like that?” Kang Jun said, frowning and looking at the two people like he can already see into the future and predict the downfall of the capital under their reign of terror.

Xiang Yun and Gu Sheng glared fiercely at him.

”It won't come to that,” An Ning laughed. ”As for the benefits of marriage, as I said, it's a transfer of ownership, from dad to husband. Besides, this marriage is going to be her safety net. Who looks kindly at a father who forbids his married daughter to go and live with her lawfully wedded husband? In marriage, the bride follows the husband and acquires his legal identity, so to speak. Including his nationality.”

Her words stunned them into silence. Xiang Yun looked at her like she was a god.

”That actually makes a lot of sense,” she conceded, praising An Ning with her eyes.

”Of course it does. That's why it's important that you find the right man to marry. Look, I know this is not something you like to do. This is basically forcing and blackmailing you but, girl, you have no choice.First of all, the law is against you. Your father owns you, plain and simple. Not a good thing to hear but there's no getting around it.

”So, what I'm actually proposing is the transfer of that ownership to someone who will not abuse you, hurt you or cheat on you. Someone who will find you special enough to allow you to do as you want without being threatened by it. That's why it is very important who you marry. This way, we can avert this war and you can continue to live your life as you see fit, under the protective watch of a husband who will take good care of you. Make sense?”

Xiang Yun was thinking hard. She didn't like the word ownership one bit but the empress was right. As things stand now, she didn't have any rights at all. Even if she was independent and can take care of herself financially, her future was still subject to her father's approval, and that includes the person and family she marries into. Her beauty was also its own burden. Marry her off to a rich old man who can further increase her father's worth and social standing. That must be the reason why the bitch was insistent on having her back. There was something about this old man that she wanted to have.

”I don't agree with all you've said but I recognize the sense in the proposal. I don't like it but yes, I concede,” Xiang Yun said. ”But the choice of husband is going to be decided by me not anyone else,” she added, looking directly at the emperor.

”As I said, I'd rather abdicate than marry you,” the emperor said, without apology. ”This is as repugnant to me as you thinking the same. I'm sorry but I decline.”

”But your majesty, you must marry her,” Mu Xing said, his face pale. ”The alternative is war.”

”Then damn it, you marry her!” The emperor nearly shouted. ”I don't want to be a part of any of this. If you're that concerned about her and Yuqui's future then marry her. Because I certainly won't.”

”Okay, I will,” Mu Xing said, exhaling a deep breath.

Everyone looked at him disbelievingly.

”What?” The emperor was caught off balance by his simple words of consent.

”You can't! You're too old for her,” Kang Jun's words suddenly provoked another unexpected response from Mu Xing.

”Twenty is not old,” he glared. ”I'm only what, three or four years older than her?”

”Try a hundred years,” Kang Jun smirked.

Mu Xing almost fried him with his fiery stare.

”Are you sure, Mu Xing?” An Ning asked worriedly.”I mean, we still have Kang Jun here in the running.”

”This idiot?” Mu Xing mocked. ”He doesn't even have enough sense to cross the road unaided. He's a total moron who will only make Shao Wu unhappy.”

Kang Jun sputtered but failed to make a comeback. Mu Xing eyed him with triumph then suddenly met Xiang Yun's eyes and he blushed, caught in the act of almost sticking out his tongue at a rival.

An Ning smothered a laugh then asked Mu Xing, ”Are you sure about this? I mean, there's still enough time to find a more suitable candidate to be her husband.”

”No!” Mu Xing almost shouted. ”I mean, I'm sure, your majesty. I'm willing to be Shao Wu's husband if she'll have me,” he said almost shyly.

”Well, since I have no choice...” Xiang Yu said in less enthusiastic tones which seemed to crush Mu Xing.

The emperor looked at them both and suppressed a smile.

”That's it then. Since you've both agreed, then this engagement is now official. When do you plan on having the wedding?” he asked, turning to An Ning.

”As soon as possible,” she answered. ”It has to be done before we meet her father.”

”Meet my father?” Xiang Yu asked, surprised.

”Because he's already here. We have exactly five hours before his deadline ends so I suggest we make this marriage happen before all hell breaks lose again in Yuqui.”