Both being keen-eyed and skilled individuals, they naturally caught the old man’s murmurs after walking just a few steps. Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiu Yao with a smile, saying, “Seems someone recognized you, Your Highness.” Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly, “It’s nothing. I used to come here often, though I hadn’t expected that old gentleman to recognize me.” Mo Xiu Yao’s life could be divided at age seventeen, with two completely different appearances before and after. Unless one knew him well, it was nearly impossible to connect the two personas.
Ye Li looked down at the newly painted lantern in her hands, still fragrant with ink, a faint smile lifting the corners of her lips.
The pair strolled down the street carrying their lanterns, like many other young couples. Though their distinguished looks and bearing drew curious and admiring glances, these were far more pleasant than the probing, calculating gazes they endured at court and among the nobility. Ye Li curiously examined the various stalls lining both sides of the street. The items for sale weren’t particularly fine, being meant for common folk, but their simplicity made them feel more natural and approachable. Mo Xiu Yao smiled and led Ye Li to stop at a stall selling accessories and cosmetics. The small stand naturally had no precious items. The middle-aged couple running the stall could tell the pair before they were no ordinary people, and though they might not be interested in their wares, they still enthusiastically promoted their goods.
Mo Xiu Yao picked up an elegant pearl hairpin and held it up to Ye Li, but shook his head and put it back.
A delicate jade-like hand picked up the hairpin again. Meeting Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes, Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, “What is it?”
Mo Xiu Yao sighed softly, “This hairpin would only be dimmed by A’Li’s radiance. A’Li deserves the most brilliant pearls. I ordered some luminous pearls from Fenghua Tower the other day. Would A’Li like to go tomorrow to see what style you’d prefer them made into?” Ye Li held the simple pin, examining it as she smiled, “Even if you’re not afraid I’ll squander your fortune, I fear the noble ladies of the capital would kill me with their glares.” Fenghua Tower’s accessories were famously expensive in the entire capital of Chu. Even noble young ladies considered it worth showing off to own a few pieces. Others might not know, but Ye Li herself was well aware that since their wedding, almost all her accessories had been ordered from Fenghua Tower. No wonder that even though Ye Li rarely went out and tried to choose understated pieces when she did, people still noticed her ornaments.
“If merely buying a few accessories could squander our fortune, it would only mean our family wealth is too thin,” Mo Xiu Yao smiled, taking the pin from Ye Li’s hands and gently fixing it in her hair as he softly said, “I want A’Li to have only the best.”
Ye Li smiled gently, “What one likes is the best. Even the finest things are worthless if disliked.”
A faint smile flickered in Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes as he asked softly, “Then does A’Li like it?” Was he asking only about liking it, and was he referring to the hairpin or something else? Ye Li’s face flushed slightly as she turned away, softly saying, “It’s not bad.” After paying, and hearing the vendor couple’s flattering words, neither paid much attention as they walked away hand in hand. As they walked, Mo Xiu Yao kept glancing at the woman beside him. The unremarkable pearl hairpin seemed to shine with a moving radiance in her black hair.
“What’s happening over there?” Ye Li looked ahead where noisy crowds were surging forward. All she could see was a dense sea of moving people. Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling, “Probably some excitement. We’ll know if we go look.” Handing their two lanterns to the guard following behind, Mo Xiu Yao led Ye Li toward the flowing crowd. Ye Li looked back at the unfamiliar guard holding their lanterns, frowning slightly as she said, “I’d almost forgotten – I haven’t seen A’Jin since we returned.” A’Jin had always been quiet, usually following Mo Xiu Yao silently while pushing his wheelchair. Now that Mo Xiu Yao’s legs were fine, A’Jin seemed to have been forgotten.
Mo Xiu Yao looked back with a smile, “I sent him to handle other matters. He’s grown up now; he can’t always stay by my side as a guard.” Ye Li nodded. A’Jin was Steward Mo’s nephew. Steward Mo had spent his life serving the prince’s manor without sons or daughters, and A’Jin’s parents had died for Prince Ding’s manor as well. It was only right for Mo Xiu Yao to take special care of A’Jin.
Only after pushing into the crowd did they see a stage set up at the street corner, decorated brilliantly with colorful silks. Though no one was on stage yet, the crowd below was excited. Ye Li looked at the red-faced, excited middle-aged man beside her and asked softly, “What’s happening here?” The man turned to see a beautiful woman of distinguished bearing beside him and was startled, but replied pleasantly, “The capital’s top courtesan, Miss Yao Ji, will dance here, and she’ll throw an embroidered ball that…” Halfway through, seeming to realize he was speaking to a beautiful woman, the man’s face reddened and his explanation became vague. Though he hadn’t finished, Ye Li understood. Slightly startled, she turned back to look questioningly at Mo Xiu Yao, asking, “The Yao Ji he mentioned… it couldn’t be the one I know?”
“It seems to be,” Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly.
Ye Li frowned. Though she’d only met Yao Ji twice, she had quite a good impression of the woman. Come to think of it, Yao Ji wasn’t just a dancer but also the owner of the capital’s premier Qingcheng House. Though dancers were of low status, Yao Ji’s wealth likely rivaled some of the capital’s rich merchants. Such a woman did not need to either throw an embroidered ball to find a husband or choose a patron. Moreover, she’d chosen this location – though crowded, most here were ordinary common folk. If Yao Ji wanted to marry an ordinary person and live a simple life, she shouldn’t make such a high-profile display.
Seeing her frown, Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly and said in a deep voice, “It’s said Yao Ji has a close relationship with Mu Yang. Next month, Mu Yang is to marry the granddaughter of Minister Sun from the Ministry of Rites. I wonder if there’s any connection?”
“Yao Ji and Mu Yang?” Ye Li remembered seeing Mu Yang two or three times – though they’d never spoken, even from afar he’d appeared an exceptional man. Ye Li had also heard rumors about Yao Ji, Mu Yang, and Feng Zhi Yao, but knowing Feng Zhi Yao as she did, these rumors were likely exaggerated. Yet while the Feng Zhi Yao connection proved false, the one with Mu Yang had some truth to it. Mo Xiu Yao nodded, “Yao Ji became famous in the capital at thirteen, nearly ten years ago now. These years, if not for Feng San and Mu Yang’s protection, it wouldn’t have been easy for her as a weak woman to maintain Qingcheng House without harassment from the powerful. Those with power and influence in the capital aren’t easy to deal with.” Ye Li nodded in understanding. Yao Ji’s beauty certainly ranked among the capital’s top five, and more importantly, compared to the dignified grace of ordinary noble ladies, the accomplished dancer Yao Ji possessed an additional bewitching, alluring quality. Such a stunning beauty in the entertainment world would naturally become the target of competition among high officials and noble young masters. Even if Yao Ji maintained her virtue, how could a powerless woman resist such an aggressive pursuit without help?
Ye Li couldn’t understand Yao Ji’s thinking. Even if she truly had a relationship with Mu Yang, using this method to decide her future seemed rather irresponsible to herself. If it were a martial arts competition or literary contest to select a spouse, at least that would test the candidates’ abilities. But throwing an embroidered ball was purely a game of chance. Ye Li vaguely remembered some TV dramas from her previous life where noble ladies threw embroidered balls only to have them caught by beggars – such melodramatic plots. Yao Ji had specifically chosen this location; even if a beggar didn’t catch it, it would most likely be caught by some ordinary commoner. But whether a commoner properly married Yao Ji or not, neither party would benefit.
“Don’t worry, Mu Yang couldn’t be unaware of this,” Mo Xiu Yao said softly.
Ye Li nodded, looking around but failing to spot Mu Yang. Matters between men and women were complicated – whether Mu Yang appeared here or not, no one could say if he was right or wrong. After all, he was to be married next month. He had responsibilities not only to the Mu Yang Marquis Manor but also to his fiancée.
“Miss, is this man beside you your brother or…” the man standing next to Ye Li suddenly asked softly. Ye Li turned to look and realized many men around them were eyeing Mo Xiu Yao with unfriendly gazes, which made her smile. Though Mo Xiu Yao wore a mask, the visible half of his face was uncommonly handsome, and his tall, distinguished bearing made him stand out from the crowd – how could the surrounding men not feel hostile? Taking Mo Xiu Yao’s hand, Ye Li smiled faintly, “We’re just here to watch. My husband won’t try to catch the ball.” The crowd’s eyes were filled with disbelief. Though the woman before them was hardly inferior to Miss Yao Ji, what man would complain about having more beautiful women? This lady was elegant and noble, obviously a proper main wife from a good family – wouldn’t she be missing a bewitching, charming concubine like Yao Ji to complete the collection?
Mo Xiu Yao was in a good mood and didn’t mind their rudeness. Drawing Ye Li close, he smiled at the questioning man, “Rest assured, I’m not here to catch the embroidered ball. My wife can be quite fierce…”
Ye Li’s face immediately darkened, and she discreetly reached out to pinch him hard. Mo Xiu Yao’s expression remained unchanged, as if Ye Li hadn’t pinched him at all, and smiled at the man, “Besides, I don’t like women who are too alluring. I prefer someone gentle and graceful like my wife.” The “gentle and graceful” wife secretly grabbed a bit of flesh at his waist and twisted hard. Mo Xiu Yao smiled helplessly and caught Ye Li’s hand, “Wife, I truly won’t like any other woman.”
Ye Li rolled her eyes and silently let go. What was that saying – educated scoundrels are the worst? When normally gentle and elegant people decide to be thick-skinned, no one can handle it.
The watching men finally seemed reassured, collectively giving Mo Xiu Yao understanding smiles. Mo Xiu Yao graciously accepted everyone’s goodwill with a smile and nod.
“Ah, Miss Yao Ji is coming out!” someone exclaimed. Ye Li turned to look – the stunning woman on stage wore a five-colored cloud robe, her makeup exquisite, her smile alluring. Her appearance immediately drew a wave of exclamations from the crowd. Yao Ji nodded slightly to those below with a bewitching smile, exciting the men into shouting. When Yao Ji’s gaze swept over where Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao stood, she paused slightly, giving Ye Li a faint smile before turning back and sweeping up her long water sleeves. Music began playing at the edge of the stage, and Yao Ji swayed her waist to the melody, dancing with flowing sleeves like floating clouds, drawing another round of cheers from below.
Ye Li frowned, watching the smiling woman on stage and sighing inwardly. Yao Ji wasn’t trying to throw an embroidered ball – she was deliberately ruining her reputation. Yao Ji’s reputation in the capital wasn’t bad; though there were rumors about her relationships with Feng San and Mu Yang, they were just rumors with no witnesses. Moreover, few people had seen Yao Ji in person. But after dancing and throwing an embroidered ball in such a place today, probably half the men in the capital would know what Yao Ji looked like. After today, whether noble officials want her as a concubine or commoners want her as a wife, their opinion of her would surely drop to another level. Seeing the flash of darkness and sorrow on the woman’s face, Ye Li shook her head – was it really because of Mu Yang?
As the dance ended, people below began shouting, urging Yao Ji to throw the embroidered ball quickly. A middle-aged woman with a heavily powdered face and broad smile walked onto the stage, raising her hand quietly while saying, “You’re all in luck today! Miss Yao Ji herself will throw an embroidered ball to choose a husband. Whoever catches it will be Miss Yao Ji’s bridegroom tonight. This old woman wishes you all good fortune.”
Ye Li’s heart sank – she’d heard the madam’s words about “bridegroom tonight.” This meant Yao Ji wasn’t seeking marriage but choosing a patron. It meant that after tonight, Yao Ji would no longer be a pure entertainer who sold art but not her body. Looking at the beautiful woman standing on stage with bright, clear eyes, Ye Li sighed regretfully. Mo Xiu Yao asked softly, “A’Li, what’s wrong?”
Ye Li shook her head, “Miss Yao Ji’s actions are too extreme, why must she…” If asked whether she could do what Yao Ji was doing for a man, Ye Li knew she absolutely could not. Not because of insufficient love, but because… her love had boundaries. If one could abandon even their dignity, such love was too heavy for Ye Li.
Mo Xiu Yao leaned close to Ye Li’s ear and whispered with a smile, “I would never let A’Li do this. I will remove all obstacles to make A’Li Mo Xiu Yao’s only wife.”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow, “Your Highness is particularly good with words today.”
“If my wife likes it, I can say such things every day,” Mo Xiu Yao smiled, “Don’t worry, Mu Yang may be a bit slow-witted, but he’s decent at heart. He’ll come.”
Ye Li nodded. But what difference would his coming to make? Mu Yang couldn’t marry Yao Ji as his wife, nor could he give up the Mu Yang Marquis Manor for her. And that Miss Sun – she was the most innocent one in all this.