After returning to the capital, Mo Xiu Yao was busy dealing with court politics and the emperor’s constant probing, while Ye Li was occupied with managing the estate’s affairs and training the elite group at Black Cloud Peak, putting other matters aside. It wasn’t until Murong Ting and Leng Haoyu came to visit that Ye Li remembered the battle in Yongzhou hadn’t finished yet. Murong Ting and Leng Haoyu naturally came under the pretext of visiting the Princess Consort. At the border city, Murong Ting had finally married Leng Haoyu at Murong Shen’s insistence, and now back in the capital, she had transformed from the young miss of the Murong General’s mansion to the second young madam of the Leng family. Mo Xiu Yao had a hand in Murong Ting’s quick marriage to Leng Haoyu. Ye Li felt quite guilty about this toward Murong Ting until she saw Murong Ting still radiant and vibrant, which finally put her mind at ease. It seemed Murong could keep herself happy and cheerful under any circumstances. Given Leng Haoyu’s devotion to Murong Ting, he surely wouldn’t mistreat her.
“Murong, Young Master Leng, I’m sorry I missed your wedding,” Ye Li said apologetically, looking at Murong Ting who still wore red and appeared as spirited as ever. Murong Ting waved it off carelessly and smiled, “What’s there to be sorry about? It’s all Father’s fault for insisting that I…” As she spoke, she shot a glare at Leng Haoyu sitting beside her, though that glance contained a different kind of coquettishness and a uniquely feminine charm she’d never shown before. Leng Haoyu good-naturedly smiled at Murong Ting without arguing. Ye Li watched and just shook her head with a slight smile – for Leng Haoyu to be so tolerant of Murong’s temperament showed he truly was deeply in love, especially since Leng Haoyu wasn’t known for having much patience.
Leaving Mo Xiu Yao and Leng Haoyu to discuss business, Ye Li pulled Murong Ting aside to chat. Murong Ting looked somewhat puzzled at Leng Haoyu and Mo Xiu Yao sitting not far away. She wasn’t a fool – though she’d been married to Leng Haoyu for less than a month, she vaguely felt that the private Leng Haoyu was quite different from the person she had known before. Now seeing him sitting with the Prince and talking, with an expression of seriousness and focus she had never seen before, Murong Ting became even more certain. If Leng Haoyu were truly a good-for-nothing playboy, even for Ye Li’s sake, the Prince would never sit there talking with him.
“Murong, what’s wrong?”
Murong Ting looked at her with confusion and said, “A’Li… are you all hiding something from me?”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled at her, “Who do you think is hiding something from you?”
Murong Ting said somewhat troubledly, “I feel like Leng Haoyu is different from the person I knew before. Sometimes I even doubt if I knew him at all.” Although back at the estate Leng Haoyu still acted as usual – loving food, drink, and play while ignoring worldly affairs. But as his wife, how could Murong Ting not know that many times Leng Haoyu was busy in his study until midnight, though no one knew exactly what he was busy with?
Ye Li looked at Murong Ting with calm eyes and asked softly, “Is Murong happy after marriage? How are things with the Second Young Master Leng?”
Murong Ting was startled, her face reddening as she avoided Ye Li’s gaze, hesitating before saying, “Well… it doesn’t seem so bad… They were right, I had to marry someone eventually anyway. He was Father’s choice, and although he’s always fooling around, Father never said anything bad about him, so he… probably isn’t that bad. And he treats me well.” Ye Li smiled – it seemed Second Young Master Leng’s years of persistent pursuit hadn’t been entirely ineffective. Glancing back at Leng Haoyu, who was talking with Mo Xiu Yao while still keeping an eye on this side, Ye Li smiled and said, “Since you’re so curious, why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Murong Ting said resentfully, “He’s been playing the fool in front of me all these years, and now you want me to go ask him? This young lady doesn’t like that idea at all.”
Ye Li didn’t interfere in others’ marital affairs, just smiled and asked, “Are you getting used to life in the Leng estate?”
Murong Ting’s face immediately fell, looking at Ye Li plaintively, “There aren’t many people in this world as lucky as you, A’Li. Now I understand why Leng Haoyu doesn’t like the Leng family. That place is simply not somewhere a normal person can stay.” At the mention of her new in-laws, Murong Ting was full of complaints, and now finally having someone to confide in, she naturally didn’t hide anything from Ye Li. She rattled off everything that had happened since returning to the capital. The Leng family was considered a prestigious clan in the capital, and this generation had produced Leng Jingyu, who became the commander of the Imperial Guard at just twenty-six, said to be the emperor’s most trusted confidant, so naturally the entire Leng family had high hopes for him. In comparison, Second Young Master Leng Haoyu, infamous as a playboy, was naturally not valued. But it wasn’t until Murong Ting married into the Leng family that she understood just how little respect Leng Haoyu had as the second young master. Even the servants with some status in the household dared to gossip about Leng Haoyu – if the heads of the household didn’t encourage it, how would the servants dare behave this way?
Murong Ting’s personality had never been one to swallow her pride, so naturally, she couldn’t stand these people, and in just a few days she had caused no small number of disturbances. Yet the Leng family matriarch, Leng Haoyu’s nominal mother, never seemed inclined to take their side regardless of right or wrong. The previously much-admired Elder Young Master Leng’s cold indifference and disdain toward his brother also frustrated Murong Ting greatly. Even she, as unobservant as she was, could see that there was simply no place for Leng Haoyu in the entire Leng estate – living in such an environment, who could maintain a good temperament?
Listening to Murong Ting’s complaints, Ye Li smiled curiously and said, “I remember you used to have a good impression of Elder Young Master Leng, didn’t you?” In their few meetings, it seemed that every time Murong Ting couldn’t help but compare Leng Jingyu with Leng Haoyu. Ye Li had never interacted with Leng Jingyu, but she had heard much about this cold-faced young master famous in the capital. However, since the Leng family was loyal to the emperor, and not aligned with the Prince’s estate, there was no need for contact.
Murong Ting slumped powerlessly in her chair, looking pitifully at Ye Li, “Isn’t there a saying… ‘Better admired from afar than known up close’? From a distance, of course, he seemed fine, but if someone looked down on you from head to toe three meals a day, if even their glance at you was like looking at something dirty, you couldn’t stand it either.” Ye Li raised an interesting eyebrow and asked, “Is that how Leng Jingyu treats Second Young Master Leng?” Murong Ting shrugged and said, “Actually, except for Leng Haoyu’s father, their whole family treats him that way. That ghostly place – I really can’t stand it at all, but unfortunately… now I can’t just run back to the Murong estate to live. If outsiders heard about it, who knows what rumors would spread. But Leng Haoyu told me that after the newlywed period is over, he’ll tell his father we’re buying a courtyard outside and moving out to live on our own.”
“Will General Leng agree?” Ye Li asked. Everyone knew the Leng family was very particular about their family reputation and traditions, though except for Leng Haoyu being such a rebellious son who often made Old General Leng furious enough to see Buddha. The most impressive thing about the Leng family in the capital was that Old General Leng was the only one among so many officials and nobles who had no concubines. Both his sons were born to Madam Leng. Similarly, many people also knew that Second Young Master Leng wasn’t born to Madam Leng. Second Young Master Leng’s mother was Madam Leng’s dowry maid, who died after giving birth to Leng Haoyu, so Leng Haoyu was raised under Madam Leng’s name from birth, technically a legitimate son of the Defender General’s mansion. However, Madam Leng’s excessive indulgence of the Second Young Master spoiled him into becoming the capital’s number one playboy.
Murong Ting pursed her lips and said, “If Leng Haoyu says it’s no problem, it should be fine. I don’t want to go pay my respects every morning just to be pulled aside to lament about how useless and terrible Leng Haoyu is.” Those people thought she, Murong Ting, was a fool. Not only was Leng Haoyu not as bad as they said, but even if he were a good-for-nothing playboy, she was already married to him – couldn’t she tell the difference between close and distant relations? At worst, she could throw Leng Haoyu to her father’s army and let her father discipline him thoroughly. She had no interest in joining a group of idle women to discuss how bad her husband was.
Ye Li nodded, looking at Murong Ting with a smile, “It’s good that you can trust him. If Second Young Master Leng told you this, it means he can truly resolve it. Trust between husband and wife is most important.”
Murong Ting blinked her eyes, looking at Ye Li with a sweet smile, “Like you and the Prince? Hehe… that time in Yonglin when the Prince appeared on the battlefield at the crucial moment and happened to save the Princess Consort. When I was in Yonglin, I heard many people telling the story vividly. I’m sure all of Jiangnan has heard it by now. When we were in Yonglin City, those young ladies were so envious of the Princess Consort.”
Ye Li gave her a helpless look.
Over there, Mo Xiu Yao and Leng Haoyu had finished their discussion, and Leng Haoyu was preparing to take his leave. Although Murong Ting was somewhat reluctant to part, she also understood that they were both married women now, and especially since Ye Li was very busy with affairs, she didn’t linger and rose to leave with Leng Haoyu. Leng Haoyu looked at Mo Xiu Yao standing to the side, then smiled at Ye Li and said, “Princess Consort, I’ve heard that the Han family’s new head is now preparing some rather interesting new business ventures. I wonder if this one might have a chance to participate?” Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiu Yao and smiled, “Second Young Master Leng’s information network is quite efficient.” Leng Haoyu wasn’t concerned, smiling as he said, “As businesspeople, we naturally have some business channels. I hope the Princess Consort won’t laugh at me.”
Ye Li smiled graciously and said, “Since Young Master Leng is interested, why not discuss it with Young Master Han? I’m just a hands-off boss who knows nothing.”
Leng Haoyu smiled and said, “The Princess Consort’s talents and ideas never cease to amaze – how could you say you know nothing? With that, this one thanks the Princess Consort. We take our leave.”
“No need to see us out.”
Murong Ting looked curiously at the two, not quite understanding what kind of business Leng Haoyu wanted to do, and if it was business with the Han family, why he needed to ask A’Li. But at least it proved Leng Haoyu intended to do something productive.
After seeing Murong Ting and Leng Haoyu off, Ye Li turned to look at Mo Xiu Yao’s somewhat displeased expression and raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong? Did Leng Haoyu say something unpleasant?”
Mo Xiu Yao pulled her into his arms and let out a light snort, “What else could it be besides the situation in Yongzhou? Liu Jingyun and Guan Ting, those two wastrels – with over a hundred thousand troops at their disposal, they’re being thoroughly beaten by Mu Jingli’s mere hundred thousand men without any ability to fight back.” Ye Li raised an eyebrow, “A hundred thousand men? Mu Jingli split his forces to advance east?” Mo Xiu Yao nodded, “Indeed. Mu Jingli recruited two hundred thousand troops from Lingzhou, wanting to occupy all lands south of the Yunlan River in the shortest time possible. Originally it wasn’t much of a concern… but according to news from Yongzhou, it seems a formidable figure has appeared in Mu Jingli’s army. In recent days fighting with Liu Jingyun and Guan Ting, those two wastrels lost three battles in a row. If General Murong hadn’t sent reinforcements in time, Yonglin City might have been destroyed in their hands.”
“The Emperor is determined not to let the Mo family army go south to quell the rebellion. No matter how angry you get, it won’t help,” Ye Li said, patting his arm consolingly.
Mo Xiu Yao sighed deeply, “I know.” He certainly knew that Mu Jingqi would rather give the entire region south of the Yunlan River to Mu Jingli than allow the Prince’s estate’s forces to get involved. So now the situation had become one of continuous defeats in the south, with two incompetents commanding over a hundred thousand troops yet achieving nothing. While those aligned with the Prince’s estate, from Mo Xiu Yao down, could only watch helplessly despite their desperate desire to deploy south.
“Liu Jingyun has never fought in battle, let alone commanded over a hundred thousand troops, and Guan Ting is also useless. The Defender General is now ill and resting at home, the elderly Grand Duke Hua is advanced in years and doesn’t have the Emperor’s trust. As for the commanders under the Prince’s estate, even if Mu Jingli occupied the entire south, the Emperor wouldn’t let them take the field,” Ye Li mused quietly.
Mo Xiu Yao said in a deep voice, “With General Murong watching over that waste Guan Ting, as long as he doesn’t try to be too clever, he can hold out for a few months. But… once Mu Jingli truly occupies the south and turns back to deal with him, that will be his end.” Ye Li frowned and said, “At Mu Jingli’s speed, by that time you should still be in the Northern Rong, right?” Mo Xiu Yao shook his head and snorted angrily, “Forget it, if they want to make trouble, let them. This Prince has no time to deal with them now – at least it gives Mu Jingqi something to do besides staring at the Prince’s estate all day.” Ye Li smiled helplessly, “I’m afraid no matter how much else he has to do, he won’t forget about the Prince’s estate.”
“Since he likes to keep watching the Prince’s estate, this Prince will give him something worth watching. A’Li, let’s go for a walk,” with one arm around Ye Li’s slender waist, Mo Xiu Yao said softly with a smile as he led her out. Ye Li looked puzzled at the darkening sky outside, “It’s almost dark – where are we walking to?” Mo Xiu Yao smiled, “You’ll know when we get there.”
Walking in the flowing crowds, Ye Li, who had lived in Chu Capital for so many years, never knew the city’s nights could be so lively. This wasn’t where the nobles liked to go, but rather where ordinary citizens gathered. As night fell and lanterns were first lit, the streets were hung with all kinds of lanterns, both simple and elaborate. On the streets, people strolled and laughed in twos and threes. It was truly a scene of peace and prosperity. Ye Li looked down at their clasped hands – although lanterns were everywhere, it still wasn’t as bright as daytime. Most people on the street were common folk, so the two of them walking in the crowd didn’t attract much attention. At most, some people would look at Mo Xiu Yao’s mask and marvel at their graceful bearing.
“What day is today?” Ye Li asked curiously, leaning in Mo Xiu Yao’s embrace as she watched the joyful, bustling crowd.
Mo Xiu Yao raised his hand, carefully sheltering her in his arms, and said softly with a smile, “It’s not any special day. The capital has a night market lantern festival one day each month when the curfew is two hours later than usual. So this is one of the capital’s liveliest days. It’s a tradition of the capital – didn’t A’Li know?” Ye Li was silent; she hadn’t known the capital had such a day. Mo Xiu Yao turned to look at her and smiled, “Playing and enjoying with these common folk is completely different from being with those officials and nobles. In my youth, I came here almost every month. So I’ve always wanted to bring you here to see it too.” Ye Li looked up at him and smiled gently, “Then if we have time in the future, let’s come every month. The capital can be quite boring otherwise.”
Looking at Ye Li’s beautiful face in the lantern light, Mo Xiu Yao pulled her into his embrace and laughed softly against her shoulder, “Alright, if A’Li likes it, we’ll come every month from now on.”
Passing pedestrians saw a distinguished man carefully sheltering a delicate and graceful woman in his arms. Judging from the woman’s clothes and hairstyle, she was married – to the onlookers, this beautiful couple must be newlyweds. They couldn’t help but show kind smiles.
Mo Xiu Yao led Ye Li skillfully through the crowds. Although he hadn’t been here for many years, the lantern festival hadn’t changed much, and Mo Xiu Yao still easily found his target – a simple-looking stall selling lanterns. The vendor was a white-haired old man, carefully hanging his finished lanterns one by one on the rack beside him. But the old man was quite elderly, and after several trembling attempts, he still couldn’t hang an elaborate lotus lantern in the highest spot. Mo Xiu Yao stopped beside him and reached out to take the lantern from the old man’s hands and hung it up. The old man was startled at first, then turned to see the uncommonly elegant couple standing before him. The old man looked at Mo Xiu Yao and frowned slightly, saying, “Thank you, young master… you look somewhat familiar, this old one seems to have seen you somewhere before…” Mo Xiu Yao smiled calmly and said, “I used to come here often some years ago, and bought quite a few lanterns from you, sir. No wonder you find me familiar.”
The old man waved his hands awkwardly and said, “This old one doesn’t deserve to be called ‘sir’. Young master, are you here with your wife to enjoy the lantern festival? Would you like to buy a lantern to appreciate?”
The word “wife” clearly pleased Mo Xiu Yao greatly. He turned to look at Ye Li and pointed to a pair of plain lanterns piled to one side, “We’ll take these two.” The old man looked at them somewhat worriedly – though these two weren’t dressed extremely luxuriously, the old man had sold lanterns for most of his life and had seen many people come and go. He could tell at a glance these two were noble people, and they didn’t seem like the type who would be interested in such simple lanterns. Ye Li also understood the old man’s thoughts and smiled gently, “Let’s take these two. They look clean and elegant, quite distinctive.”
Seeing that the couple truly wanted these two simple lanterns, the old man finally nodded and took them down to hand over. When Ye Li received them, they were indeed very ordinary lanterns – the craftsmanship was fairly delicate, but compared to the various uniquely shaped flowers and birds, they were just conventional. Even the outer paper was ordinary white paper with some flowers and grass pasted on. They might have been made from leftover materials after finishing the other lanterns. Mo Xiu Yao took a lantern from Ye Li’s hands, looked at it, smiled at her, then turned to pick up the brush and ink the old man had set aside and began to draw. After a moment, he stopped writing, nodded quite satisfactorily, and handed the lantern back to Ye Li. Ye Li looked down – in the blank spaces among the original flower and grass patterns were painted various graceful ladies. Some held scrolls, some frowned in thought, some picked flowers, and some gripped swords. Through just a few strokes, they made the ladies’ graceful beauty come alive on the paper. The originally plain and uninteresting lantern instantly became an exquisite beauty lantern.
Ye Li looked at the lantern in her hands, then at the other one set aside, and smiled slightly. She took up the brush and began to sketch on the other lantern. She clearly took longer than Mo Xiu Yao had, but he didn’t mind, patiently standing beside her waiting for her to finish. When Ye Li handed him the finished lantern, Mo Xiu Yao raised his eyebrows in surprise. On the lantern, a man leaped on horseback with a spear in hand, magnificent in bearing. Unlike Mo Xiu Yao who had drawn several scenes, Ye Li’s entire picture showed only one man leaping through the air on horseback, as imposing as a war god descending to earth. This was the scene from that day outside Yonglin City, and looking at the lantern in his hands, Mo Xiu Yao’s smile deepened, “Was this how I appeared in A’Li’s eyes at that time?”
Ye Li’s fair face reddened slightly as she picked up her beauty lantern herself, “I’m not as skilled as you at capturing likeness. If you don’t like it, never mind.”
Mo Xiu Yao smiled and said, “How could I not like it? I will certainly treasure it well.” Looking at the figure on the lantern, even more pleasure appeared in Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes – he had never known that in A’Li’s eyes, he appeared so magnificent and imposing.
After taking out money to pay the old man who had been watching them paint their lanterns, Mo Xiu Yao took Ye Li’s hand again and walked on. The old man who had been watching in a daze looked down at the silver pieces in his hand, enough to match his entire night’s income from selling lanterns. His eyes flickered and suddenly as if remembering something, his expression became somewhat excited, “It’s… so it was…” but what exactly it was, he didn’t say. The old man stared after their gradually retreating figures in a daze. Several years ago, there had also been a spirited young man in fine clothes who would come to his stall every month to buy lanterns. But each time, the young man would only choose the most ordinary and poorest made one, yet would always pay the price of a fine lantern. After some time, he finally understood – that young man had seen he was old and alone, and worried that his poorly made ones wouldn’t sell, so he chose the worst one. But several years ago, that young man had stopped appearing…