Chapter 33 Refusal

"What! A marriage decree?!" Ling An stood up abruptly and spoke without realizing it. He looked around and sat down silently after realizing his outburst.
Everyone present was surprised, including Ling Mu and Mu Ling.
The Emperor couldn't help but wonder if An'er also liked her when he saw Ling An's performance.
Ling Mu was naturally happy in his heart. He originally thought that the Emperor wanted to bring Ling Ling into the imperial harem, but he didn't expect that he was actually going to arrange a marriage for himself.
At this moment, Ling Mu knelt down and paid tribute to the emperor, saying, "Your son has many..."
"Replying to the emperor, your daughter is still unwilling to get married." Just as Ling Mu was speaking, Mu Ling suddenly knelt down and said. The people present were also shocked. Could Mu Ling resist the imperial edict?
Qu Changmeng coughed to signal Mu Huan, who quickly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this humble woman is ignorant of the rules and hopes for Your Majesty's forgiveness."
After all, Miss Ling has just returned and may not be willing to marry the Third Prince because she may not want to leave her mother. Please forgive the Third Prince."
皇上心里不解，嫁给凌慕难道不是一个很好的选择吗？况且这凌慕是自己最宠爱的儿子，皇上实在想不通。
不过这慕绫是自家儿子看中的姑娘，又是慕家的女儿，就算抗婚也不能直接责罚啊。
“慕爱卿不必惊慌。”说完，随即眼睛看着慕绫道“朕不会责罚你，只是你要告诉朕为何不嫁？”
慕绫缓缓地说道“回皇上，臣女并非不愿意嫁给三殿下。正如父亲所说，臣女自小流落在外，刚刚才回到慕家，还未与家人好好相聚。
三殿下是臣女的救命恩人又帮臣女找回亲人，臣女感激三殿下，臣女不比那些大家闺秀，臣女现在实在是高攀不起。”
"What kind of person is out of your reach? You are the woman that Mu Er likes, and I think you can see that. Moreover, you are the legitimate daughter of the Mu family."
The Emperor knew that Mu Ling did not want to marry Ling Mu, but he still insisted on it. The Empress must have been unhappy in her heart. For the sake of Ling Mu, the Emperor wants Mu Ling to marry him?
Why has this good fortune never occurred to her son, Ling Huo? After all, he is the eldest prince and also the Prince Yu. Even if it is because of her own decision to not compete for power, Ling An, who has been raised under her care since childhood, did not receive the same treatment as Ling Mu. Why? Thinking of this, the Empress has been clenching her hands.
Since Mu Ling is unwilling to marry Ling Mu, she must fight for Ling An and make sure Mu Ling and Ling An have more time together.
However, Empress Yun Gui looked at Mu Ling with a puzzled expression. Why wouldn't Mu Er marry her? This is an opportunity that cannot be obtained by begging. She looked at Mu Ling, thinking that she did not seem like someone who didn't understand this principle.
Ling An also tightly clenched his fists, with a gaze full of hatred as he looked at Ling Mu. Why! Why did you get everything from when we were young! Why does Father always side with him?
He feels unwilling! They are both sons of the emperor, why is there such a difference in status!
Mu Ling and Mu Ling both looked at each other when Mu Ling said, "I'm sure Prince Mu Wang only had a passing interest in me…" Then she gave a slight smile to Ling Mu.
慕绫的这一个微笑的确非常迷人，但在凌慕看来却不是。
慕绫和凌慕说话的时候，凌慕感觉到自己的血管微微不适，又看向慕绫，便知道她的意思了。
The contract...was to help her become the Crown Princess. If she were to marry herself and not the Crown Prince, who is not yet in power, it would be a violation of the contract. The discomfort in her body serves as a warning to herself.
Ling Mu said to the emperor, "Father, it is true that I have feelings for Miss Yi Huan, but...she does not reciprocate my feelings. I do not wish to force her and am willing to pursue her."
在场的人倒吸一口凉气，慕王殿下要追慕绫？在外人看来慕王是个不近女色，不苟言笑的人。
可世人不知，慕王不近女色，是因为他有心爱之人。慕王不苟言笑，但谈及慕绫总是露出笑颜。
凌络也起身附和道“这个主意好！怎可让我三哥这么容易就娶了易欢姐姐，追求再好不过了！”
皇上仔细思考。其实，皇上并没有不把凌安当做自己的儿子，只不过凌安这样觉得罢了。看这情况，凌安也是心属慕绫，何不让他们去追求慕绫？谁能得到这慕家小姐的心就为谁赐婚。
At this moment, Yun Guifei stood up and said, "Muer has always been a slow-warming person since childhood, and I'm afraid this personality is not favored by the Princess. However, it's still good to get to know each other for a while."
Yun Guifei also likes this daughter-in-law candidate, but she won't force anything in matters of the heart. If forced, both parties may not be happy, and the harem... isn't it the best example?
"In that case, we won't force it. Let the young people make their own trouble."
"I apologize, Your Majesty," said the court lady.
The emperor waved his hand and let Ling Mu and Mu Ling sit down. Xiao Tao handed Chilian and Xingyun over to Mu Ling. Just as Mu Ling sat down, Gu Lan, who was sitting behind her, came to her table to toast and said, "Congratulations, Princess."
Mu Ling smiled slightly and said, "There's nothing to congratulate about. I never liked being a princess of this county, nor do I like this marriage. Yunyi can just treat me as her older sister as before."
慕绫拿起酒杯与顾岚对饮，顾岚的心里对慕绫充满嫉妒，但她仔细想一想，凭自己的身份，一个已故大将军的女儿，自然做不了慕王府的正妃，倒不如和最有可能成为正妃的慕绫搞好关系。
只听席间一位女子突然说道“臣女白兰香擅吹箫，愿意为大家助兴。”
白兰香，字妙音，左谏议大夫白轲之女。凌箫身边的白竺，便是白家的大少爷。小时候凌箫救了白竺一命，白竺便寸步不离，他也算是天机门中人，且记录在册。
白竺和他这位妹妹不是很亲近，且少有往来。俗话说得好，无巧不成书？他的妹妹白兰香竟喜欢的是凌箫。
这些官家中人红袖早已打探青春，便早就告诉慕绫。喜欢她五哥的女人，倒是有点意思。
皇后陪笑道“如此再好不过。”
白兰香走到中间便开始吹奏，不得不说，白兰香的箫吹的还不错，只不过吹的曲目有欢乐喜悦之感，倒与她手里那箫不太符合。
从白兰香手里那箫中，慕绫看出，这箫的制作者多了几分戾气与孤独，而白兰香吹的曲目欢乐，便没有了此箫的韵味。总的来说，吹的还可以。
曲罢，众人鼓掌，皇上笑道“好！这箫吹的不错，赏！”
“谢皇上。”白兰香不自觉的眼神看向凌箫，可凌箫却没直视她，白兰香的眼神闪过了一丝哀伤。
突然，白兰香的眼神看向了慕绫，这让慕绫有一种不好的预感。
“清乐郡主那把玉箫一看便知不俗，不知可否吹奏一曲？”