CHAPTER 90: POLITICAL MARRIAGE

At the Mo Mansion,

The entire house was decorated lavishly as different servants went around from one place to another, serving guests who had arrived for the celebration of Princess San’s pregnancy.

Dancers were everywhere, while there was chatter and music from the drummers and guqin players.

While such was occurring outside, inside the main hall a bunch of noblemen with frowning faces were seated in accordance.

Six at the left and six at the right, while at the main front, Madame Mo, Mo Lan, and Uncle Mo were seated, their faces unbothered by the pending argument that was occurring.

Mo Ying was seated at the head seat, and beside him was Princess San. Dressed in pink, her hair was decorated with golden hairpins and jewelry.

Mo Ying, dressed in a black robe, sat there, his face icy cold as he stared at the men in front of him.

A heavy silence lingered until one of the noblemen slammed his palm on the table.

"General Mo, it is improper!" he barked. "You cannot continue to refuse the Prime Minister’s proposal. His second daughter is of noble birth and would make an excellent concubine. It’s a political alliance that benefits not just your household, but the empire itself!"

Another nobleman nodded in agreement. "Indeed. To reject such an offer could be seen as arrogance or worse, disloyalty to the throne."

A man from the opposite side scoffed. "Nonsense! The general has just married the princess. The household is already bound to the royal family. What more alliance do we need?"

"The princess is a hostage!" one of the elders countered sharply. "She is not of our empire. Who knows how long her father will remain submissive to His Majesty? If war breaks out again, what then? The general will have nothing to anchor him here!"

Mo Ying’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening.

"I am already anchored," he said coolly.

"Anchored by what?" another man sneered. "A woman who is not even of our bloodline? Don’t be naive, General. Emotions don’t build legacies. Marrying the Prime Minister’s daughter ensures your family’s place in court. It would be foolish to ignore such an opportunity."

The hall fell silent for a moment. Then, Mo Ying leaned back slowly, his cold gaze sweeping over them all.

"I have no intention of marrying another woman," he said firmly.

The men exchanged uneasy looks, muttering among themselves.

Princess San Na glanced at him, her lips parting slightly in surprise.

One of the elders frowned. "General, you cannot let emotions cloud your judgment. No man of your rank lives with just one wife."

"I am not ’every man,’" Mo Ying replied, his tone calm but cutting.

A younger nobleman tried to reason. "General, it is not about emotion. It is about balance. You have your duty to the empire, to strengthen ties—"

Mo Ying raised his hand, silencing him. Then he reached for San Na’s hand, clasping it gently in his own.

"She carries my child," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "How can I, as a husband, bring another woman into this house while the mother of my child bears the weight of pregnancy? What kind of man does that make me?"

The statement sent a murmur across the hall. Some men looked uncomfortable, others skeptical.

"She’s lucky to have a husband who can speak so well," one of them mocked. "But words don’t change politics, General. The Prime Minister will not take rejection lightly."

"That," Mo Ying said coldly, "is my problem, not yours."

One of the older officials turned toward Madame Mo. "Madame Mo, surely you have something to say. Do you agree with your son defying a political marriage?"

Madame Mo’s calm eyes shifted briefly to Mo Ying, then back to the men. "A man’s home is his own to govern," she said sternly, "but when it comes to household matters, I, as the head mistress of this house, have rights on such matters concerning the intake of concubines."

Giving Mo Ying a sharp look, a faint smirk appeared on her lips as she then said aloud, "I don’t see anything wrong in Mo Ying marrying the Prime Minister’s daughter. After all, which man can stay with only one wife? His father couldn’t do it; what makes him think he can?"

She laughed aloud, the entire hall going silent as the men whispered to themselves.

Mo Ying stared at her, his hands, which he used to hold San Na, shaking slightly.

"It’s true what the rumors say after all, Madame Mo and Mo Shen’s relationship is truly based on just formality. They hate each other?" one man whispered as the other nodded in agreement.

Taking a sip of tea, Mo Lan voiced out, "Oh, come on, mother, at least let’s see from brother’s perspective. He’s a young man in love, after all. Uncle Mo, what do you think?"

Stroking his beard, Uncle Mo gave Mo Ying a brief glance before voicing out, "Love is a fine thing for poets and scholars, but for men of power, it is a dangerous luxury. The Prime Minister’s proposal is not one to be ignored. Our Mo family has prospered because we’ve made wise alliances, not emotional decisions. Marrying the Prime Minister’s daughter would strengthen our roots in the court. It is the logical choice."

A few of the noblemen nodded approvingly. "Elder Mo speaks wisely," one said. "The general should consider the long-term prosperity of his family and clan."

Madame Mo’s smirk widened slightly as she leaned back in her seat. "You hear that, my son? Even your uncle agrees. You can still keep your little princess close, but don’t let sentiment blind you. The Prime Minister’s daughter will only elevate your status, not diminish it."

With all that said, he stood up and faced the noblemen.

"Since we have settled this, we should go and enjoy the rest of the ceremony."

"Yes, yes."

They all nodded and made their way out, including Madame Mo and her daughter.

With them gone, Mo Ying just sat there, his eyes fixed on the air.

"You are very good at pretending, you know," San Na suddenly said.

Standing up, she looked at Mo Ying with sharp eyes. "Acting like you love me, holding my hands and using me as an excuse just so you won’t get married. General, why do you treat me so?"

She then took hold of his hands, placing them on her belly.

"I am pregnant with your child, General. In me lies your child... your heir. At least... just at least give me the respect I deserve as your wife." She cried out softly as Mo Ying yanked his hands away from her belly.

"Respect?" He stood up, facing her head-on.

"What respect don’t you have here? I married you and made you my wife. All the maids report to you. You eat, sleep, and bathe in luxury. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME, SAN NA?!"

He shouted, grabbing hold of her shoulders. He continued, "Despite not loving you, I’ve never mistreated you, always giving you the life and respect you deserve. But what did you do, huh? You drugged me and slept with me forcefully!"

He pushed her gently as she sat back on the chair, staring at him with watery eyes.

"What exactly did I do wrong, General!? You are my husband, yet I had to drug you just to sleep with you... how am I wrong?"

San Na’s voice trembled. "How am I wrong for wanting my husband to look at me? To touch me willingly, just once?"

Mo Ying’s jaw clenched. "You crossed a line, San Na. You took what wasn’t freely given."

She laughed bitterly through her tears. "Freely given? You never even looked at me long enough to give me a chance! Every day I wake up beside a man who treats me like a stranger. Do you know what that feels like?"

Mo Ying’s gaze hardened. "You were a political marriage. You knew that from the start."

Her voice broke. "And you think I wanted that? You think I enjoy being here, being your duty instead of your choice?"

He looked away, his silence sharper than anger.

San Na stood, clutching her stomach protectively. "I may be a hostage, but I’m still a woman with a heart. You can hate me all you want, but this child, your child, didn’t ask for any of this."

Mo Ying’s eyes flicked briefly to her belly before he turned his back. "I’ve never hated the child."

"But you hate me," she whispered.

He didn’t answer.

She took a shaky breath. "Tell me something, General... if it were her in my place, would you have treated her this way too?"

That made him freeze.

San Na smiled faintly, tears running down her cheeks. "I thought so."

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the door, her soft sobs echoing in the vast, empty hall.

Mo Ying stood still, his fists tightening at his sides, the echo of her words burning in his mind.