The peerless and dark princess

Chapter 166 Choosing a Husband for Mo Xuan

Chu Moxuan fled, leaving Su Linqing standing there alone, feeling helpless, his eyes a mixture of loneliness and doting: Who made him so obsessed with her so blind? Little did he know that Chu Wange had already cleverly helped him break through the window paper that had not yet been opened to each other's feelings.

As Chu Moxuan's mother, Yu Yan'er has become increasingly restless recently. Seeing that the girls around her have all found their homes, and her niece Mu Wange has been married for a year, her own precious daughter is still in the boudoir and has not found her marriage yet. How can she not be anxious?

One day, Yu Yan'er found a moment and quietly discussed this with her sister-in-law Huang Qinya. Her tone was filled with helplessness and anxiety: "Sister-in-law, look, we've been married for a year now, and Mo Xuan's still hanging around. I feel like I'm being scratched by a cat. I'm so anxious."

Yu Yan'er knew clearly that Su Linqing was interested in her daughter, and it was almost written on his face. But who would have thought that these two people were like two pieces of wood, deadlocked for a whole year without any progress. She really had no choice but to think of finding another way out.

Huang Qinya frowned slightly, and after pondering for a moment, she said, "Sister-in-law, Mo Xuan is indeed a few months older than Wange, so it's time to hurry up. However, we can all see that Su Linqing definitely has feelings for Mo Xuan. Otherwise, why don't we wait and see? Maybe one day these two will come to their senses." Huang Qinya felt that Su Linqing was a good destination. She selfishly hoped that her sister-in-law could keep her cool and give these two some more time.

"Sister-in-law, it's been more than a year, and you see no progress at all? My Mo Xuan is heartless and carefree. I'm afraid it will take forever to expect her to take the initiative to break that layer of window paper. As a mother, I can't just sit there and watch." Yu Yan'er knew very well how good Su Linqing was, but the deadlock of more than a year made her a little discouraged. She really didn't want her daughter's marriage to be delayed like this.

Huang Qinya's lips curled up into a faint smile, and she leaned close to Yu Yan'er and whispered, "I think Mo Xuan hasn't really figured out her feelings yet. She's usually carefree and naive about matters of the heart. Maybe she's already had feelings for Su Linqing, but she just doesn't know it yet. If we can find a way to subtly bring them together and give them some time alone, maybe this window paper will be broken in an instant."

Yu Yan'er's eyes lit up when she heard this. "Sister-in-law, you're right, but what should we do? We have to strike a balance between not being too deliberate and causing Mo Xuan to resent it, and yet still allowing them to truly get closer to each other."

A few days later, the capital was like a heavy stone dropped, sending ripples through the air. News spread like a spring breeze, reaching every corner. Yu Yan'er, wife of Prince Chu of the Prince of Yan's mansion, had unexpectedly begun seeking a husband for her daughter, Chu Moxuan. Most strikingly, her selection criteria disregarded the conventional emphasis on family background, prioritizing talent and character.

As soon as this news broke, the ladies of the aristocratic families throughout the capital were in an uproar. Those whose sons were still unmarried and engaged suddenly became excited, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope for their sons' rapid rise to prominence. For a time, the gates of the Prince of Yan's mansion were filled with visitors, all holding their sons' engagement letters, full of anticipation.

Some wives made careful preparations several days in advance, displaying their sons' daily poems and excellent works, striving to fully demonstrate their children's excellence; others took their sons by the hand and repeatedly urged them on the way to show their best side and not miss the opportunity; some even went so far as to inquire about Chu Moxuan's preferences and prepare a gift that suits her in order to stand out among many competitors.

When Su Linqing heard the news, it was like a bolt of lightning. He was completely stunned, his whole body spinning, as if a heavy hammer had struck him in the heart. He had been thinking about her for a long time, and his thoughts were pouring out, but their relationship remained stagnant, without any substantial progress. Now, the Prince of Yan's Mansion had already made a grand plan to select a husband for Chu Moxuan. This was a fatal blow to him. His hands clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white, and a voice in his heart screamed frantically: Had he just passed her by like this, completely missed the opportunity?

While Su Linqing was consumed by grief, Chu Moxuan, upon hearing the news, was even more flustered. Her pretty face flushed crimson, her eyes filled with panic and bewilderment. Previously unaware of Su Linqing's feelings for her, she had only recently come to realize her own special feelings for him. She was delighted to find the right moment to confess her feelings to him, and that she, too, was attracted to him. Who could have foreseen that her mother would unexpectedly surprise her at this critical juncture? She paced the room, her heart aching. What if Su Linqing misunderstood her intentions? Would he become disheartened and give up on her? The thought of this ache in Chu Moxuan's heart felt like an invisible hand gripping her.

"Sister-in-law, you see how serious this matter is. I'm so worried and unsure. If we plan this way, do you think there will be any progress for the two children?" Yu Yan'er was also worried. She only had this one daughter, so naturally she wanted her to marry the person she liked.

"Let's just do our best and leave the rest to fate. Who can say for sure about matters of the heart?" Huang Qinya couldn't guarantee that she could promote the relationship between Chu Moxuan and Su Linqing.

Yu Yan'er frowned slightly, her eyes filled with helplessness and pity. She slowly walked to the round table in the room, her fingers lightly brushing the textured surface. Her voice was filled with determination, "Sister-in-law, look at the current situation. If there's still no progress, my heart is truly tormented. If Mo Xuan is willing, I seriously intend to grit my teeth and carefully select a suitable one for her from all the marriage proposals. Although our family has always been open-minded and doesn't stick to the old-fashioned rules of parents' orders and matchmakers' words, we can't just watch Mo Xuan's marriage hang in the balance like this, with no future."