Chapter 94: Chapter 89: The Dispute of Two Women, My Two Fathers-in-Law?

“It seems the moment she was knocked off the stage coincided with the incense stick burning out. What are we to do?”

Wang Zhaoyan asked, troubled.

The Champion Marquis also rubbed his temples. He could tell his daughter had done her best to reveal openings in her defense.

It wasn’t obvious at first, but those last few exchanges were definitely suspicious.

’In the end, she still didn’t lose. He truly hadn’t expected it could end in a draw!’

Just then, Lu Mingyuan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

“Miss Huo’s martial prowess is truly astonishing. I am no match for you. I will concede defeat!”

Huo Hongling was stunned to hear this.

’Concede on his own? Is that even allowed?’

’You want to avoid marrying me that badly?’

’No, absolutely not! Father’s plan cannot fail. This is a crucial step for the Huo Family’s protection!’

’No matter what.’

’You can’t just concede on your own! I already gave you an easy way out. It’s like I held out my face for you to slap, and you surrendered instead?’

Huo Hongling felt deeply indignant and cut in coolly, “Rules are rules. Being knocked off the stage isn’t part of the rules, so it doesn’t count. The incense has burned out, which means I lost.”

Lu Mingyuan gave a wry smile. “Miss Huo, surely we can’t do this.”

“And why not? Weren’t you the one who tried to concede first?”

Huo Hongling frowned.

“Miss Huo, that’s not what you said initially.”

A graceful woman with a gentle temperament approached them.

Qi Muxue held her pale hands before her, dressed in an ink-wash-colored pleated skirt, her bearing poised and dignified.

Huo Hongling glanced at her and snorted coldly. “This is a matter between the two of us. Why must you interfere, Miss Qi?”

Hearing this, Qi Muxue’s expression also soured.

When she first heard that Lu Mingyuan was getting engaged, she had been plunged into a state of self-blame and turmoil.

’I was the one who came first, the one who met His Highness first, yet Lu Mingyuan got engaged to someone else before me.’

The thought had tormented her for a long time.

She secretly blamed herself for being too reserved.

She had also silently wished Lu Mingyuan well and had even gone to investigate what kind of person the Huo family’s young miss was, only to unexpectedly learn that the engagement had been called off.

But now, things were different. She and Lu Mingyuan had sworn a Celestial Dao Oath.

Naturally, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Faced with Huo Hongling’s direct confrontation, a flash of displeasure crossed Qi Muxue’s face. She wasn’t some clay Bodhisattva; she could get angry too.

She exposed her without mercy.

“The one who said she wouldn’t marry was Miss Huo, and now the one who insists on marrying is also Miss Huo. Don’t you find your actions a bit outrageous?”

Faced with such ridicule, Huo Hongling grew even more furious and wronged.

’It’s not like *I* wanted to marry him! It was Father’s decision, and the marriage was decreed by the Holy Emperor.’

’Did I even have a choice?!’

’But I can’t show these emotions and expose my father’s intentions to everyone.’

Huo Hongling bit her red lip. “My heart is my own to decide. Besides, this is a marriage decreed by the Holy Emperor.”

“If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t…”

Seeing the two women begin to argue, Lu Mingyuan felt a headache coming on.

The Champion Marquis felt the same. He hadn’t expected Qi Muxue to suddenly step forward and clash with his daughter.

Seeing his daughter was about to lose her composure and give the game away, he took over the conversation, speaking seriously to Qi Muxue:

“This is a marriage decreed by the Holy Emperor. The duel was merely a formality. I hope Miss Qi will not meddle. My daughter was rash before, and I have already disciplined her.”

’Me? Meddling?’

Hearing that word, Qi Muxue felt an inexplicable sense of grievance, and a look of astonishment filled her beautiful eyes.

Her pleading gaze turned to Lu Mingyuan.

Lu Mingyuan could only scratch his head helplessly, feeling the matter was extremely tricky.

On one side was the woman he loved and their Celestial Dao Oath; on the other was the Imperial Court’s scorching-hot favorite, the Champion Marquis, armed with an imperial command.

He thought for only a moment before making his decision.

’No matter what, I cannot see Mu Xue being wronged.’

Just as he was about to speak,

“My, so lively this late in the afternoon?”

A hearty laugh came from outside the vermilion gates.

An elegant, gray-templed old man in a scholar’s robe strode in, golden characters flowing in the air around him.

Everyone present, regardless of their status, bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Elder Mr. Qi.”

The newcomer was none other than Qi Xingyan, the Advisor of the Imperial Censorate. The bureau’s Government Office was located within the Imperial Palace, so it wasn’t unusual for him to be here after hearing the commotion.

“Greetings, Master Qi.”

Even the Champion Marquis had to show him some respect.

Although his Huo Family was currently prominent, in terms of deep-rooted heritage, the Qi Family was still superior. They were, after all, descendants of a Confucian Saint, enjoying hereditary grace for generations, with disciples spread throughout the Great Yan empire.

But what he didn’t understand was, why was Qi Xingyan here?

’Shouldn’t he be at the Advisory Platform Bureau?’

“May I ask what brings Master Qi here?”

The Champion Marquis inquired.

Qi Xingyan smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over his daughter, Qi Muxue, and Lu Mingyuan with profound meaning.

He was, of course, here to resolve today’s predicament.

Ever since seeing his daughter return home beaming with joy yesterday, he knew the matter was settled.

It was no surprise to encounter such a conflict today.

It was true he was a Great Scholar, but he was also a father. How could he possibly sit by and watch his daughter be wronged?

Nor could he watch the Sixth Prince be trapped in this passive stalemate.

He had to turn this deadlock into a viable situation.

’Since I’ve agreed to enter the game…’

’I can no longer just stand by and watch.’

Qi Xingyan chuckled. “I won’t hide it from you, Champion Marquis. The truth is, my daughter and the Sixth Prince have already privately pledged their lives to each other. So, the Holy Emperor’s decree came just a bit too late.”

Lu Mingyuan couldn’t afford to offend the Champion Marquis.

But he, Qi Xingyan, had no such worries.

His words, however, sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Everyone who heard it was stunned, their faces soon filled with utter disbelief, mouths agape!

’Qi Muxue and the Sixth Prince have privately pledged their lives to each other?’

’Is that true?!’

’Since when!’

Although gossip about Qi Muxue and the Sixth Prince’s closeness occasionally circulated within the palace, wasn’t a private lifelong pledge a bit too outrageous?

’What right does a profligate like Lu Mingyuan have?’

Qi Muxue was the number one talented woman in the Imperial Capital. In the future, she might even take over her father’s position.

Great Yan had no laws preventing women from becoming officials. In fact, it opened the door wide for them, hoping for more Female Scholars to emerge and bring fortune to Great Yan. It encouraged the daughters of officials and noble clans to study at academies and delve into the Confucian Dao, treating them as a hidden source of strength.

Qi Muxue had such bright prospects, why would she choose a profligate destined to spend thirty years in the Cold Palace?

Numerous Concubines, eunuchs, Palace Maids, and captains were all screaming internally, not daring to voice their thoughts aloud. With Qi Xingyan present, speaking out would be suicide.

It wasn’t just the onlookers.

As the daughter of the Champion Marquis, Huo Hongling was also shocked.

She had assumed that Qi Muxue and the Sixth Prince were merely close, perhaps with a hint of affection, and that she was just speaking up for him.

She never imagined they had already reached the point of pledging their lives to each other!

’No wonder Qi Muxue’s reaction was so strong!’

’This would also explain why Lu Mingyuan was so desperate to lose.’

’Was it because he was unwilling to offend Master Qi?’

Huo Hongling didn’t believe Lu Mingyuan conceded willingly; he must have been forced.

’A lecher like him, how could he possibly like only Qi Muxue?’

Only two people present understood the other’s intentions clearly.

Those two were Qi Xingyan and the Champion Marquis.

Qi Xingyan believed the Champion Marquis wanted to avoid the struggle for succession, which was why he sought to ally with the Sixth Prince through marriage.

And the Champion Marquis clearly thought the same.

’From what I know, Qi Xingyan was nearly thrown into the Imperial Prison during the Eldest Prince’s rebellion. He shouldn’t want to get involved in the succession struggle again. Choosing the Sixth Prince is likely also a move to avoid disaster.’

’Mr. Qi’s thinking should be similar to my own.’

“It seems the Champion Marquis is determined to have this marriage,” Qi Xingyan said with a smile.

He had seen through the Champion Marquis’s thoughts.

The Champion Marquis said solemnly, “I have my own reasons for doing so. I hope Elder Mr. Qi can understand.”

In short, that was it.

Neither of them was willing to back down.

Qi Xingyan stroked his beard, unhurried, and gave a faint smile. “If that’s the case, the solution is simple. Let His Highness the Sixth Prince marry both women.”

The moment he spoke, the entire area fell silent.

This time, it wasn’t just the surrounding Concubines; even the Champion Marquis was stunned. Lu Mingyuan himself was dazed for a moment.

Only after a moment did he realize that this was indeed a solution.

Though absurd, it was the best way to resolve the current situation.

It would avoid offending either side, neither violating the Celestial Dao Oath and wronging Qi Muxue, nor defying the imperial decree. It killed two birds with one stone.

’In that case, don’t I suddenly have two fathers-in-law?’

’One is the reigning Great Scholar and Academy Mountain Master of Shengjing Academy, and the other is Great Yan’s brilliant rising star general, the Champion Marquis.’

’Marrying two at once… wouldn’t that be too conspicuous? Could it bring a fatal disaster upon me?’

Lu Mingyuan mused.

He quickly smacked his forehead, cursing himself for being an idiot.

’With these two backing me, so what if I attract attention? Who would dare to provoke these two titans directly?’

’Anyone who wants to kill me would have to get past the Champion Marquis and the Shengjing Academy first.’

However, this possibility was predicated on both sides being willing to take a step back.

“What does the Champion Marquis think?” Qi Xingyan asked with a smile.

The Champion Marquis thought for a moment. He couldn’t come up with any other solution, so he could only sigh. “We shall do as you say, Mr. Qi.”

Huo Hongling and Qi Muxue were both stunned to hear they were both to marry Lu Mingyuan.

However, neither was willing to take that final step back.

Lu Mingyuan, as cautious as he could possibly be, looked at the two of them and whispered a question:

“Then… who will be the Main Consort?”

“Me!”

Huo Hongling and Qi Muxue turned their heads and spoke at almost the exact same time.

The former’s tone was unquestionable, the latter’s gaze unyieldingly firm.

In Huo Hongling’s view, she was already suffering the indignity of marrying the Sixth Prince; was she now expected to be an inferior concubine?

Although in the Great Yan dynasty, a Prince could have two Consorts in addition to his Main Consort, in her eyes, wasn’t that the same as being a concubine?

Only the Princess Consort was the true wife.

Qi Muxue felt the same.

Given her disposition, the fundamental condition for her to accept Lu Mingyuan marrying two women was that she would be the Main Consort.

She would never be a concubine. The position of Princess Consort had to be hers.

’As the saying goes, a wife and a concubine are worlds apart.’

’A Main Consort must be formally wedded, with proper betrothal gifts exchanged. A concubine, on the other hand, is essentially bought for a hefty price. It’s almost like dealing with human traffickers; once the money is paid, the daughter has almost no connection to her family.’

’The Celestial Dao Oath I swore was to marry Lu Mingyuan as his Main Consort, not a concubine.’

Seeing this, the Concubines in the Harem looked at one another, staring blankly, their eyes filled with a mixture of confusion, surprise, and astonishment.

They were all at a loss for words.

Everyone felt the scene before them was utterly surreal. Both women were among the most sought-after and brilliant young ladies in the Capital City.

Why would they both marry Lu Mingyuan at the same time?

And now they were fighting over the position of Main Consort.

What has the world come to?

「…」

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