At last, he had persuaded Lü Yue. After Lü Yue went off to rest, Ao Bing asked with curious eyes,
"Just as Lü Yue said, why didn't you go form a marriage alliance with that girl named Shanhua yourself? I don't believe you held back because you were afraid the women in your household would be jealous."
Ao Bing now understood Meng Zhao quite well. Setting everything else aside, at least when it came to women, Meng Zhao still had a certain degree of autonomy. He rarely let so-called women's issues interfere with his decisions. He was not the sort of man henpecked by his wife.
Meng Zhao took Ao Bing's fair little hand and led her beneath the shade of a tree in the courtyard, where they sat down.
"Of course not. There were many factors at play.
"First, although Shanhua is indeed exceptionally beautiful, she still cannot compare to you, Bing'er, in beauty that could topple a nation and captivate a city. She simply cannot truly move my heart.
"Second, Shanhua's Grandfather is indeed a capable man, someone who can be put to great use. He hopes that his granddaughter's husband will be wholeheartedly devoted to her. Clearly, I cannot do that. To avoid creating a rift, I naturally declined with thanks.
"Of course, most importantly, I think highly of this marriage between A-Le and her. It will benefit Shanhua, and it will also greatly benefit A-Le."
Man was not wood or stone; how could he be without feeling? Toward those around him, Meng Zhao combined favor with authority. Those who did well were rewarded, while those who did poorly were punished. Beyond this method of controlling others, there were naturally genuine feelings involved as well.
Lü Yue was one of the more special ones.
Back then, when