Chapter 470: This Is the Way to Go About it
Otherworldly Evil Monarch
Translator: Novel Saga Editor: Novel Saga
"However, she did both these things on her own initiative. And, the consequences it led to were irreparable and grave. What had happened that day was very unlucky for me, but it didnât harm me much. But, Guan Qing Han was nearly forced to commit suicide by those rotten scholarsâ accusations. What would happen to the relationship between our two families if that issue was brought to the table of discussions? There wouldnât be any margin for leeway in that case!
"Iâll be faced with an existential question if I accept this wedding. But, the two families will fall out if I donât accept this marriage. Itâs fortunate that Iâve always had a favorable opinion of this little girl. So, accepting this marriage wouldnât be too difficult. But, what if I hadnât liked her in the first place? It could be assumed that our families wouldâve become mortal enemies, and wouldâve skirmished for years without an end! And, that wouldnât have led to the Jun Familyâs end. However, it wouldâve marked the end of the Dugu Family! And, these consequences are something which neither of us could bear!
"Moreover, this is something that can be avoided! And, I must say this even though Xiao Yi is here right now... Sheâs willful! She acts rashly without caring about the consequences. So, how can I ever be relieved while leaving the first wifeâs position in her hands?"
Jun Mo Xie had spoken these serious words in a very gentle yet solemn manner.
Dugu Xiao Yi had lowered her head in shame. In fact, her small head was nearly buried in her chest right now. After all, she was a very smart girl. And, she had long ago realized that her rash actions had brought-about very vile consequences. Therefore, she didnât have much to say in her defense...
Old Lady Dugu opened her mouth with the desire to speak something; she wanted to give an explanation for her granddaughter. But, she couldnât say a single word, and only sighed in the end. Dugu Zong Heng and Dugu Wu Di also looked at each other. They tried to put themselves in othersâ shoes, and realized that even they wouldnât want such a bold wife.
"But, Xiao Yi is still young..." It was the lady at the Old Ladyâs side... the same one who had been staring at Jun Mo Xie the most intently since the start. She was Dugu Xiao Yiâs mother. So, she had hastily butted-in to give an explanation for her daughterâs actions.
"Yes, this girl is very young. But, that isnât a reasonable excuse for what she has done! Sheâs the youngest child of the Dugu Family. The Dugu Family has spoilt her, and that has led to such terrible and lamentable consequences. This little girlâs behavior represents the very upbringing of the Dugu Family! Kindly pay attention to what Iâll say now..."
Jun Mo Xie sternly continued, "Letâs suppose that your seven grandsons create a huge disaster and land themselves in a lot of trouble because of it. The older generation of your family wouldnât get involved in that mess. They would let these youngsters handle things on their own unless the matter if extremely serious. Now, letâs suppose that something bad happens to Xiao Yi instead... The Dugu Family wouldnât even care about right or wrong in that case. In fact, the young and old would rush into battle alike. Moreover, it wouldnât even matter if itâs right or wrong. It would be justifiable to get involved as long as it concerned this little girl. However, itâs fortunate that this girl is good-natured. Otherwise, she wouldâve giving rise many irreparable consequences by now!
"Furthermore, Dugu Xiao Yiâs present behavior stems from the fact that the Dugu Familyâs power is supporting her at the back. But, imagine what will happen if she marries into my Jun Family, and gets our power in her support her as well? Her support will have increased by many folds! I reckon that a few noble Xuan Families might be able to resist. But, most noble families would be pushed to destruction because of her rashness in case she foolishly did something against them!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Perhaps she has the potential to be a first wife in the future. But, I canât agree right now. In fact, I canât dare to agree!"
Jun Mo Xie spoke upright and unafraid, "Letâs exchange our positions. Would you ever agree to it if you were faced with something like this? So, why should I be forced into doing so?"
"I wonât take another wife for now. And, I already have Guan Qing Han! Guan Qing Han was forced to pay the ultimate price to save my life because of Xiao Yiâs mistake. And, that has resulted in such a tangled situation! It wonât sound pleasant... But, I wouldâve died if it werenât for her. And, how would you have faced the Jun Family if something like that had happened to me? Moreover, how unfair would it be to Qing Han if I decided to take Xiao Yi as the first wife? Qing Han ended-up at the receiving end of those rotten scholarsâ accusations because she covered for Xiao Yiâs mistake. In fact, she couldâve been consigned to eternal damnation! Would she be able to withstand if we still propped this little girl above her...?!"
"But, Guan Qing Han has always been known as your elder sister-in-law. So, how can she be your first wife?" Old Lady Dugu pondered on Jun Mo Xieâs words at first. Then, she asked him that question.
"The Old Lady speaks of what was before. But, that is a matter of the past now! Guan Qing Han is now my third uncleâs adopted daughter. And, Iâm sure that this isnât a secret anymore. So, why canât I marry her now? Moreover, I donât wish to divide their standings. The aspect of elder and smaller are akin to fighting for a position... However, youâll be considered an elder sister as long as everyone accepts you. And, this stands true even if youâre the youngest!"
Jun Mo Xie smiled faintly, "Iâve always had a passive position on this matter when we come back to main issue... And, I donât wish to be this passive. But, the talks for this marriage are happening too hastily right now."
"So, what you mean to say is that... you wonât make Xiao Yi your first wife?" Dugu Zong Heng looked very fiercely at Jun Mo Xie. His body slight stooped forward, and he emanated huge pressure as he spoke-up in a dangerous tone.
"Hehe... Iâve tried to give a reasonable analysis. Iâm a man who handles things with principle. I donât like being threatened no matter what... Nor do I care where the threats come from!" Jun Mo Xie replied in a subdued voice, "Iâll lose interest if people start giving me threats in matters that are so important as far as my life is concerned. So, I might as well break the marriage instead..."
Jun Mo Xieâs tough and unyielding reply upset Dugu Zong Heng. So, he glared back wide-eyed with his ox-like eyes. In fact, it seemed as if his beard would burst into flames.
"Good. Thatâs very good! Letâs not entangle ourselves in this issue any further!" The Old Lady suddenly broke into a smile. She then continued while beaming, "Xiao Yiâs position hasnât been determined yet. But, Iâm sure that Mo Xie wonât think about this matter any time soon. So, this matter is like getting engaged for now. And, Iâm certain that the young ones will do fine on their own when it comes to matters of the future. So, why should we worry so much? Everything will be fine as long as Mo Xie is good to Xiao Yi. Itâll be fine as long as he loves Xiao Yi.
"Moreover, Mo Xie hasnât yielded despite facing the pressure from the entire Dugu Family at once. His words were certainly unpleasant to hear. But, it has to be said that we canât deny any of them. Everything he said was true. And, everyone has heard them very clearly. However, this leaves me to see him as a praiseworthy man! Heâs mighty and unyielding; heâs a real man! I wouldâve considered Mo Xie to be a spineless man if he had gotten swayed by our roars and had agreed to anything we wouldâve said... In fact, I wouldâve had doubts about going ahead with this marriage in that case. This boy Mo Xie looks good to me. He looks very good to me. My old self canât help but admire him..."
Dugu Zong Heng and Dugu Wu Di were left baffled by this. [Make up your mind. It was you who had said that he isnât good. But, what can we father-and-son do in any case? It was your idea to test him here. Now, youâre only telling us to not test him. But, whoâll dare to say anything even if they have something to say since youâve passed this notion...?
"You two men will make an appointment with Jun Zhan Tian in a few days. And, you will settle this matter quickly. The first or whatever else can be left for later. But, we must quickly seal this engagement first."
The Old Lady made slight gestures towards the two men while she made her plans. But, she didnât even look at them, "Ah, you will personally go in order to show good faith. Then, youâll send a wedding planner after youâve made a proper agreement. Youâll then exchange the relevant documents, and set an auspicious date. You must see what time is most suitable. But, we must quickly arrange an engagement ceremony."
She pondered for a while. Then, she again spoke-up, "This ceremony will mean a great bustle since the Imperial Family, the nobles, and officials will arrive for it. Moreover, weâll be recovering the money weâll have gifted them for a few years. However, Iâll record the names of everyone whom we will have gifted something. And then, you two will go and recover the money weâve spent on these gifts over time. Itâll be a very thick and detailed record. Youâll memorize the names of everyone weâll gift something on Xiao Yiâs wedding. And, Iâll write each one of their names down. We wonât let even one of them off! We must at least recover the money weâll have spent on the celebrations...
"Weâll also make a list of people whom we donât consider important. After all, weâll have to give them some face. Therefore, the way to deal with this matter is this â weâll wait for these two to get married. Then, weâll send out the invitations to those not-so-important people. But, we donât need to make it extravagant for the wedding. Weâll only invite a few hundred people to the marriage. But, we can expand the scale if the Jun Family also pays for the marriage. After all, this is also related to the Jun Familyâs honor...
"The number we invite must be clear. Letâs say that we couldâve given four hundred gifts. But, weâll only make do with giving out four hundred gifts by that analogy. And, thereâs no need to call people who wonât be able to return the gifts. Moreover, weâll invite everyone who has birthdays or namedays in the coming weeks. Weâll go and say, âHey, isnât it your birthday as well? Great, weâll just be exchanging gifts in that case. After all, the dates are very closeâ!"
Even Jun Mo Xieâs head got drenched in cold sweat this time around.
[This Old Lady thinks things over to the greatest extreme!]
[This isnât a family... this isnât a normal family by any means. Theyâre insane!]
Dugu Wu Diâs big mouth curled into a smile. He continued to nod with the expression of a miser, "Correct, thatâs absolutely correct! Mother is brilliant!" [We can quickly repay the debt we owe to the Jun Family once weâve collected some money in this manner...]
"Inform the astrologers to select a propitious date! And, you must tell him to stagger that date with the time of birthdays! Then, inform Kong Ling Yang to come and preside over the wedding..."
Dugu Wu Di interrupted her the moment she said that, "Mother, Kong Ling Yang is dead," he glanced at Jun Mo Xie as he said this. [Kong Ling Yangâs murder was either this kidâs doing... or it mustâve been a ghostâs!]
"Heâs dead? Thatâs such a pity. He was a talented person!" However, the Old Ladyâs expression didnât even change when she sighed. It seemed as if she didnât pity that a great talent had been lost. In fact, she was more mournful on the passing of the best wedding overseer instead of the death of an excellent scholar, "Go and find someone from the greatest institutes of learning in that case. And, be courteous to them..."
Dugu Zong Heng nodded and replied, "This is easy. We donât get along with those chaps. But, it doesnât matter in this case. Weâll tie them up with a rope and bring them here if they donât agree willfully. And, Iâd like to see if they have the guts to not show us respect once we bring them here in ropes!"
"Thatâs good." Old Lady Dugu nodded in a relieved manner. "You men must sort out the other matters on your own. After all, mixing women with those issues isnât a good thing."
Jun Mo Xie violently rolled his eyes. [Whatâs all this?! And, you still call it ânot mixing in mattersâ?! Youâre basically running the show here... Moreover, that Dugu Zong Heng ordered to bring those people by binding them with rope! And, this old woman has commented "thatâs good," to such an outrageous thing...]
Jun Mo Xie collapsed...