Xue Lie hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
The Prince of Jin was growing impatient—at this moment, Tang Zhuyun was surely waiting for him to come home.
Instead of staying with his wife and children, he came to see Xue Lie, a grown man, being so sentimental?
Holy crap! Is this guy going to say he likes Tang Zhuyun?
Then the Prince of Jin would consider killing him to silence him.
Just as he was sharpening his knife, he heard Xue Lie say, "The person I love is already married..."
Prince of Jin: "..."
Alright, we've matched up, draw your sword!
No matter how good the other person is, if they are already married, to steal someone else's partner is utterly depraved.
See Zong Heng.
Even if it's a close relative, it's still not acceptable; relatives shouldn't be involved in inappropriate relationships.
But she's a widow.
The Prince of Jin sheathed his forty-meter-long sword.
He's still alive! So it's not Tang Zhuyun.
"What do you intend to do?" Despite this, the Prince of Jin still asked coldly.
The Prince of Jin thought to himself: Well, it seems alright.
Even the imperial court doesn't object to widows remarrying, so what can others say?
However, Xue Lie changed the subject. "Actually, it's not really widowhood. Her husband is still alive, but he's practically dead. It's just a matter of time."
Prince of Jin: "Then you're saying that who lives and who dies isn't just a matter of time?"
Xue Lie: "Brother-in-law, I'm in a bad mood, just let me finish."
He wanted to find someone to talk to properly.
However, the Prince of Jin did not have the awareness to act as a dumping ground for the trash.
He said coldly, "She's already married. Even if her husband is sick, she should share his hardships. If you take the opportunity to seduce her and succeed, it means she's not worth it at all; if you can't succeed, why are you being so conflicted?"
Xue Lie: "She has no feelings for him, so why should she share hardships with him? Let me be frank with you, brother-in-law, the person I like has entered the Prince of Min's Residence to bring good fortune to the Heir to the Prince of Min's heir."
Shar Pei at the door: Woof woof woof!
I'm not dead yet! Who dares say my woman is a widow?
The Prince of Jin frowned deeply, "The Heir to the Prince of Min is not dead yet."
Shar Pei: I didn't even realize I had a brother until after I became a dog.
"... You should at least wait until after the anniversary of his death to say anything."
Shar-Pee: My friendship, it was so short-lived.
"However," said the Prince of Jin, "It won't be so easy for the Crown Prince's wife to remarry..."
"The Crown Prince's wife?" Xue Lie was taken aback, then waved his hands repeatedly, "No, I'm not interested in the Crown Prince's wife."
Who is that?
"She was one of the concubines chosen to bring good fortune to the Crown Prince." Xue Lie felt distressed as he mentioned it. "Brother-in-law, really, I was the one who liked her first. Who knew she would suddenly go to marry the Heir to the Prince of Min to bring him good luck!"
Hurry up and kill him quickly, he's waiting in line!
Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin asked, "Does she have feelings for you?"
Xue Lie: "... I don't know."
The Prince of Jin was speechless, thinking to himself that if this person wasn't from Tang Zhuyun's maternal family, he would have beaten her up long ago with his fiery temper.
The Prince of Jin tapped his finger on the table and said, "I don't have time to beat around the bush with you. Just say what you want!"
Xue Lie downed the strong liquor in his glass in one gulp, gritting his teeth as he said, "I've figured it out. A man who doesn't achieve anything is no better than a dog."
Shar Pei: I've accomplished so much, why did I end up as a dog?
"The biggest obstacle came from my mother; otherwise, she wouldn't have entered the Prince's residence as a concubine to a living dead man."
Shar-Pee tried to scratch at the door.
No, it can't. Although it has transformed into a dog, it still retains human dignity.
--Who would scratch at a door like that?
"You want me to speak to your mother for you?" Prince of Jin flatly refused, "No way! How will your sister face your mother after that?"
We can't put Tang Zhuyun in a difficult position.
Most women are petty and narrow-minded; he didn't want Lady Deng to hold a grudge against Tang Zhuyun.
"No." Xue Lie, flushed from the alcohol, pressed his face against the table and slumped down, saying dejectedly, "My mother won't agree, and no one can persuade her otherwise."
He knew better than anyone how stubborn Lady Deng.
I didn't intend to ask anyone to help persuade my mother.
"So what do you want? Just say it. Your sister is waiting for me at home, I don't have time to waste with you."
"Brother-in-law, I want to go to Liaodong." Xue Lie looked intently at the Prince of Jin.
Prince of Jin: "Elope with her?"
Before Xue Lie could speak, Qu Nian outside—no, the Shar Pei—was shocked.
--Is this the Prince of Jin you are now?
They casually mention eloping as if it were commonplace.
That's the woman who kidnapped him!
Although he thought it was a good idea to abduct her—he was fed up with so many strange women in the manor—young Prince of Jin, your values are warped!
"No, I want to achieve great things and let my mother know that I don't need to rely on my in-laws to succeed!"
After a pause, Xue Lie said sadly, "My father is gone, and my grandfather and uncles have all been very good to me; but I know my mother's unresolved issue. She always feels that I lack support, so she wants to find me a powerful in-law family..."
What kind of family could a woman who could only be a concubine even when marrying to bring good fortune have?
"I don't blame my mother; I feel sorry for her and have disappointed her. But brother-in-law, this time I'm truly in love!"
The Prince of Jin remained calm. "First, what can you do in Liaodong? Second, even if you do achieve great things, how will you resolve the issue of the woman's identity?"
Showing off one's own abilities is only one aspect; the other party is Qu Nian's concubine, and even if Qu Nian is gone, whether or not to release her is still up to Princess Consort Min.
"I grew up in Liaodong and made my name there. It's no exaggeration to say that I dare to go back because I have a plan in mind."
"As for her identity, that's what I want to ask my brother-in-law for today..."
Xue Lie had thought it over carefully. If Qu Nian could return safely, it shouldn't be difficult to ask the Prince of Jin to ask for a concubine he had never met before.
If Qu Nian doesn't come back, then he'll have more time to fight for it himself.
The Prince of Jin was someone he kept in case of emergency.
The Prince of Jin was considering it, because he didn't know whether Xue Lie's actions were impulsive or if he had truly committed himself to the relationship.
After all, this person seemed to have been quite close to Nanxing not long ago.
Outside, Qu Nian's inner monologue was frantic: Say yes! Say yes!
He knew from a very young age that women were troublesome creatures who could only slow him down when he drew his sword, so he always kept his distance.
Now look what's happened! There are suddenly five more women in the manor, and they're all his.
Xue Lie, take whichever one you like, it's on me!
Unfortunately, he's a dog now and can't say anything.
What terrible things has he done?!
How could such a dignified and upright man turn into a dog?
Qu Nian couldn't understand whether he was being reincarnated or experiencing an astral projection...
After thinking for a moment, the Prince of Jin said, "I will try my best to help you, but I cannot guarantee the outcome."
Since she wasn't his woman, he couldn't make decisions about the affairs of the Prince of Min's Residence; he could only do his best.
Xue Lie quickly bowed and thanked him.
"Will your mother agree to the trip to Liaodong?" the Prince of Jin asked.