Mu Fengqie looked at the crowd, hiding her little schemes well. On the surface, she appeared meek and submissive. After a long while, she finally spoke up, "Actually, I have an idea in mind. I'm not sure if I should say it."
"What idea can you possibly have? You're just a country girl. When did it become your turn to speak?" Yuan Yuze glared at Mu Fengqie angrily.
He still hadn't gotten over what had happened last time. Seeing Mu Fengqie at this moment, he naturally felt annoyed and wished he could kill her on the spot.
Yuan Yuchuan frowned and scolded Yuan Yuze, "Third brother, she's one of us. Put away your petty thoughts. Personal grudges should be set aside for now. Everything should be for the greater good."
Hearing this, Yuan Yuze shut his mouth, but he was far from convinced. He had grown up with the Crown Prince since childhood, and the Crown Prince had never spoken to him so sternly before. It was all because of that hateful woman!
Yuan Yuchuan, born into the imperial family and being the Crown Prince, naturally inherited the emperor's suspicious nature. Since Mu Fengqie's "well - intentioned" reminder last time, a knot had formed in his heart, and now he also had a slight sense of estrangement towards Yuan Yuze.
"You can speak your mind. As long as you whole - heartedly consider the Crown Prince's interests, I'll treat you like my own granddaughter," the Empress Dowager said.
The Empress Dowager could see Mu Fengqie's capabilities and was willing to listen to her ideas. After all, they were currently at a loss. They couldn't just sit there waiting for death.
Mu Fengqie nodded with a smile and slowly began to share her idea, "I've heard that General Lou has a daughter who is now of marriageable age..."
Mu Fengqie stopped halfway and then gave the Empress Dowager a meaningful smile. She believed that with the Empress Dowager's wisdom, she would surely understand what she meant.
Sure enough, the Empress Dowager thought for a while and then broke into a smile. She looked at Mu Fengqie happily, "I knew I wasn't wrong about you! The position of the Crown Princess is currently vacant. It's time for Chuan'er to get married and start a family."
"Grandmother, do you mean for me to marry General Lou's daughter?" Yuan Yuchuan's handsome face was filled with reluctance.
Everyone in the imperial city knew that General Lou's daughter had been practicing martial arts since childhood. Although she looked no different from other noble ladies on the surface, when she got angry, she could easily knock down a bull. He didn't want a woman like this who lacked femininity.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but compare Lou Yueying with Mu Fengqie. Leaving aside Mu Fengqie's appearance, her elegant and generous demeanor made her seem more like a noble lady than those of high birth. Which man in the world didn't like gentle women?
The Queen also understood what was going on. In the current situation, this was indeed the only way. As long as his daughter could be used as a bargaining chip, presumably he wouldn't act so recklessly.
"Chuan'er, I know you're reluctant, but there's no other way now. This is the only way to restrain Lou Mingkou. For the greater good and for your future throne, you have to marry her even if you don't want to!"
The Queen was also very satisfied with Mu Fengqie's suggestion and increasingly liked this little girl. At least for now, it seemed that she was whole - heartedly considering the Crown Prince's interests, so she wasn't their enemy.
Little did they know that Mu Fengqie's purpose wasn't for Yuan Yuchuan at all. Now, Lou Mingkou must have set his sights on her, so she came up with this idea to divert his attention.
Yuan Yuchuan pouted. Although he was extremely reluctant, for the greater good, he chose to endure it. Only in this way could he firmly grasp Lou Mingkou's weakness.
Hearing this, the Emperor didn't participate much and directly issued an imperial decree for the marriage. After all, the Queen was the apple of his eye, and he naturally obeyed her words.
The imperial decree for the marriage soon arrived at the General's Mansion. Lou Mingkou and the Lou family knelt down in surprise to receive the decree. In fact, Lou Mingkou didn't want to marry his precious daughter into the royal family. He intended to sit on the throne himself in the future. He had even thought about marrying his daughter off to a foreign country for a political marriage, which would not only strengthen his position but also bring great honor to his daughter.
But now his foundation wasn't very solid yet, and the imperial decree for the marriage had already arrived. He had no way to refute it, so he had to accept it reluctantly.
The moment Lou Yueying heard the imperial decree, she was completely stunned. She had already passed the age of adulthood. The reason she hadn't married yet was that there had always been someone in her heart.
Even though this person had never liked her, she didn't want to marry anyone else. Even if she had to spend her whole life alone, she wouldn't marry a man she didn't love.
But now that the imperial decree for the marriage had been issued, how could she escape this fate?
After the eunuch who delivered the decree left the General's Mansion, Lou Yueying ran crying into Lou Mingkou's study.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Lou Yueying searched for Lou Mingkou's figure while shedding tears.
Seeing his daughter crying like a tearful mess, Lou Mingkou's heart ached. He had three sons and only this one daughter. He had always doted on her like a little princess since she was a child, afraid that she would fall if he held her in his hands and afraid that she would melt if he put her in his mouth. That's why she had developed such a spoiled personality.
"My little princess, what's wrong? Why are you crying so sadly?" Lou Mingkou asked knowingly.
Lou Yueying sobbed and acted coquettishly with Lou Mingkou, "Daddy, I don't want to marry the Crown Prince. You know I've always liked Brother Jing. I'd rather never get married than marry someone else!"
Everyone in the General's Mansion knew that she liked Jing Xunche, but now she couldn't marry the Crown Prince no matter what.
Hearing the name Jing Xunche, a look of unease flashed across Lou Mingkou's face, and his tone was no longer as gentle as before, "The imperial decree has been received. Even if you don't want to marry, there's nothing you can do. Resisting the imperial decree is a great crime that will implicate the whole family!"
Lou Mingkou also didn't want to marry his daughter into the Yuan family. When he rebelled, all those related to the Yuan family would be killed. So he didn't want his daughter to get involved. But now wasn't a good time to start a rebellion. He had to bide his time, let his daughter marry the Crown Prince first, and then think of other ways.
Lou Yueying cried even more bitterly, "I don't care. I just don't want to marry! If you force me to marry the Crown Prince, you're forcing me to die! If I die, the whole family won't be implicated!"