The Ju Family started trying to control the Third Princess's marriage prospects after binding the Min Family, attempting to draw in allies by selecting a good husband.
The Jiang Family and Dou Family were still the best targets, but Jiang Chengyuan's life or death on the battlefield was unknown, and Jiang Chengfeng was the only remaining adult male of the Jiang Family who could stand in court, so he certainly could not marry the princess.
The Dou Family's adult males had just turned ten years old, so they were even more impossible.
With this in mind, the He Family not only had suitable adult males, but was also safely neutral, so naturally they would be targeted.
The Ju Family quietly grew stronger, secretly reaching out to the Fang Family, Zhu family, and Tao Family to get on board, and now tied up the Min Family and He Family as well. In court, they were quite capable of accomplishing things easily.
Even if the Jiang Family and the Dou Family joined forces, they still might not be able to contend with them.
No wonder the Ju Family did not care about the existence of the Fifth Prince, who was the eldest legitimate son, not even reaching out to poke holes in his excuse for being sick. It turns out they had long been prepared to control half of the country, using power to overwhelm others.
"The Eldest Prince's ambition is too obvious." Even Zheng Ruqian, who did not understand politics, was shocked. "Then what should we...what should we do next?"
What could they do?
Xu Mo smiled. Of course it was to defeat them one by one.
First of all was the He Family.
He signaled to Zheng Ruqian to continue fiddling with the lamb legs, smelling the mutton fragrance drifting through the small courtyard. In the mouth it was tender and sweet, with a slightly charred taste, the fat and lean perfectly combined. The oil was forced out by the heat while moistening the drier parts.
Jiang Sheng was already eating with oil dripping down his mouth, his little belly slightly bulging out like an unripe watermelon.
"How can you still eat..." Zheng Ruqian pouted angrily. Seeing his eldest brother safe and sound made him furious, wishing he could throw the lamb leg at his head.
But in reality, Zheng Er carefully placed the lamb leg in front of him, fawningly asking, "How’s the taste, big brother? Is it good, big brother?"
Xu Mo elegantly tore off a piece, slowly chewing it with composure. "Not bad."
"Then big brother, in Fengjing I'll open a..." He didn't get to finish speaking before the small courtyard gate was frantically pounded on.
The last time this rhythm appeared was when Qi Huai regretted pitting his father.
Zheng Ruqian slowly stood up straight, signaling to Jiang San to open the door, while holding up the fire poker as a weapon.
The person outside must have really been anxious. As soon as the door bolt fell, he rushed in impatiently, pressing his voice hoarsely, "Brother Xu, Brother Xu, save me, save me!"
Xu Mo sat unmoved, even having the leisure to turn the lamb leg over to eat the crispiest outer skin.
"Big brother," Jiang Sheng was particularly interested, "I want to eat it too."
He changed to a new pair of chopsticks, clipped a piece and stuffed it into the girl's mouth, seeing her close her eyes contentedly, and he also laughed lightly.
"Brother Xu..." the guest was almost crying, "hurry up and stop eating, help me first, save my dog life!"
Only then did Xu Mo put down his chopsticks and look at the slightly darker-skinned teenager, "So it turns out to be Brother He. What a coincidence today. My younger brother personally grilled lamb legs. Why don't you sit down and try them?"
"How could I be in the mood!" He Yunyao blurted out. Seeing the leisurely brother and sister opposite, he gradually calmed down again.
He plopped down next to Xu Mo, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and started gnawing on the lamb leg.
While eating, whether it was because the taste was too delicious or his mood had completely flattened out, he actually nodded in satisfaction.
Xu Mo put down his bowl and chopsticks with a faint smile beside him.
That was more like it. The young master of a prestigious family, even when encountering things, could not be anxious, but should be poised, stable, calm and unperturbed, and deal with changes with constancy.
After gnawing through half a lamb leg, He Yunyao had started to burp before he said while drinking the fragrant wheat leaf tea, "I was wrong to reject you last time. This time, misfortune has befallen me. Yunyao doesn’t dare to guarantee much, but can pat his chest and tell Brother Xu that I will do my best to accomplish what you want."
When he said misfortune, it was not really so.
The He Family's head had three sons in total. The eldest had already had a grandson, the second also had a marriage arrangement but was not yet married, leaving only the sixteen-year-old youngest son He Yunyao alone, so the duty of marrying the princess naturally and fittingly fell on him.
If he really had no ambition for the court, being an idle rich son-in-law would not be bad.
"Brother Xu, it doesn't hurt you to make such remarks." He Yunyao was anxious when he heard this. "Who hasn't bitterly studied for decades in hopes of making outstanding political achievements? Am I supposed to study literature just to make a woman happy by marrying up to be a son-in-law?"
Moreover, the He Family never wanted to get involved in the fight for the crown prince position.
At first they were able to refuse Xu Mo. Naturally, they also wanted to refuse the Third Princess now.
It was just that the two couldn't be mentioned in the same breath. He could bluntly refuse Xu Mo in two sentences, but he couldn't turn against the Third Princess, and even less willing to offend the Ju Family behind her.
"So you rushed here desperately today, aren't you trying to get involved now?" Xu Mo's tone was gentle, but his words hit the nail on the head.
He Yunyao was rendered speechless.
"After I returned home and thought about it, your proposal means getting involved in trouble, but not fighting for the crown prince position." He weighed carefully. "Marrying Princess San is different, that would be tying oneself to the Eldest Prince's ship."
The He Family didn't want to advance and retreat together with the Eldest Prince.
In addition to seeking peace and stability by remaining neutral, the ability that the Eldest Prince himself displayed also worried the discerning. Truly wise and keen family heads, who couldn't see through Grand Secretary Zhu's mediocre nature?
The Fang Family was able to, so they supported the Second Prince behind the scenes.
The He Family was also able to, so they refused to tie themselves to the Eldest Prince.
As for the other families who were desperately loyal, they probably placed their bets based on the favor the Noble Consort received, as well as the Eldest Prince's position as the eldest legitimate son.
In other words, it wasn't that the Eldest Prince was particularly outstanding, but that the others' chances were too low.
When there was no way to back out, one could still walk along the riverbank.
When there was no bet to place, even a corner was still a path.
Once the Ju Family occupied the overall situation, the Ju Noble Consort enjoyed favor for twenty years, and took the lead in giving birth to the eldest son, the imperial family's bias was already unconcealed.
Looking back through history, which prestigious family had ever let a consort give birth first?
Yet not only did the Ju Noble Consort give birth first, she also tormented the Empress to death, wantonly suppressed the other princes, and did not receive any punishment.
With such favor, whose heart wouldn't tremble?
He Yunyao was anxious. He wanted to shirk the marriage while also not offending the Ju Noble Consort and Eldest Prince.
With the He Family's capabilities, could they really not think of any way out?
Were the words he just said really what he himself thought, and not what the He Family thought?
Xu Mo took a sip of the fragrant wheat tea, inwardly becoming more and more certain. "It seems the He Family head has agreed to my proposal."
He Yunyao was dumbfounded, as if he still hadn't caught on.
The youth set the tea cup back on the table and found there was still lamb oil remaining on his fingers. Unhurriedly, he took the delicate pink handkerchief from his sister's lapel and cleanly wiped his hands. His actions were elegant with a hint of refinement, relaxed yet composed.
It vaguely resembled the ministers who made plans behind the scenes at court, but he was far, far younger than them.
He Yunyao finally regained his senses, stripping away all pretense and evasiveness. "Brother Xu's insight is penetrating. After careful consideration, the He Family would rather wade into courtly trouble than tie themselves to the Ju Family's warship.
"The He Family is willing to consent to what you proposed earlier. If Brother Xu encounters difficulties, the He Family is also willing to lend a hand, but only limited to Brother Xu alone."
The words were awkwardly phrased, but the meaning was very clear.
The He Family could cooperate with you to squeeze out the Fang Family and replace their position, or even quarrel with the Jiang Family and Dou Family.
But the He Family wasn't your subordinate. Even more wouldn't support you fighting for the crown prince position.
