HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 120: A Shock

Chapter 120: A Shock

“Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Prince Ding’s mansion has no plans to hold a wedding.”

As these words were spoken, the great hall instantly fell silent, with almost everyone’s gaze focused on Ye Li. The most intense stares came from Helian Huimin and Noble Consort Liu on the dais. Helian Huimin probably hadn’t expected her to dare reject the marriage in the palace before all the noble ladies and the Empress Dowager – this left her in an awkward position. If Prince Ding’s mansion persistently refused to marry Helian Huimin, she would completely lose face. Meeting Helian Huimin’s gaze filled with anger and shock, Ye Li returned a faint smile. Could it be that she usually appeared so gentle that Miss Helian thought she wouldn’t dare refuse the marriage publicly?

“Princess Ding, what did you say?” The Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure as she stared at Ye Li. The Empress Dowager now wanted nothing to do with Prince Ding’s mansion. Ever since her younger son started a rebellion without even giving her notice, leaving her in an impossible position, she understood this son couldn’t be relied upon. For a woman in the palace, without sons to rely on, even heaven-defying abilities would be useless. Although her power had been stripped away now, the Empress was still consistently respectful to her, so she just wanted to spend her remaining years peacefully in the palace. Unfortunately, though she wanted to step back, her Emperor son didn’t want to let her. So after Mo Jingqi met resistance from Mo Xiuyao, he brought her out hoping to work through the Princess instead. The Empress Dowager, now viewing things from the outside, saw more clearly and naturally understood that this Princess wasn’t someone easily led by the nose. Although she didn’t want to offend Ye Li, she was now helpless and couldn’t stay uninvolved.

Ye Li smiled and glanced at Madam Xu nearby, then turned back to look at the Empress Dowager, her voice clear and firm, “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Prince Ding’s mansion has no plans for a wedding recently. As long as this princess remains Princess Ding, His Highness will not take any concubines.”

The great hall instantly erupted in commotion.

“Princess Ding, how dare you!” Princess Zhaoren suddenly stood up, pointing at Ye Li, “As a woman, how dare you so recklessly prevent Prince Ding from taking concubines, showing no wifely virtue whatsoever. How can such a jealous woman be worthy of Prince Ding?” Princess Zhaoren’s only beloved daughter had been sent to Northern Rong for a diplomatic marriage, and her heart was still unsettled. She had long been dissatisfied with Ye Li, so naturally, she was the first to step forward with criticism.

Ye Li looked lazily at Princess Zhaoren – it seemed Princess Zhaoren had disliked her from the beginning. No, it should be said that Princess Zhaoren strongly disliked Mo Xiuyao and by extension disliked her too. Usually, when nothing was at stake, Ye Li didn’t mind yielding, but today’s matter wasn’t something she could yield on. So Ye Li had no intention of apologizing to her. With a faint smile, Ye Li said, “Princess Imperial should watch her words. Our Prince doesn’t wish to take concubines, and as his wife, I naturally should follow my husband’s lead. Surely you’re not suggesting we should force the Prince against his will? Princess Imperial speaks of wifely virtue – do you know about following one’s husband after marriage?”

Princess Zhaoren’s face alternated between pale and flushed. Everyone in the capital knew that Princess Zhaoren couldn’t bear sons and restricted her Prince Consort from getting close to concubines and serving maids, leading to her Prince Consort still being without a son at over forty. Fortunately, Prince Consort was only a second son – if he had been the eldest son and heir, even Princess Zhaoren’s high status might not have been able to suppress the noble families’ dissatisfaction. At this moment, words about wifely virtue coming from her mouth carried a hint of irony. Princess Zhaoren’s face darkened as she snorted, “Even so, as Princess of Prince Ding’s mansion, you should think about the Prince’s descendants and continuing the family line. Even if the Prince is momentarily confused and bewitched into refusing concubines, as his Princess you should know to advise him – you don’t deserve to be called virtuous.”

Ye Li raised her eyes and smiled faintly, “When did this princess ever claim to be virtuous? If being a virtuous princess means spending every day finding beautiful concubines for one’s husband, sorry, this princess is indeed not virtuous, and has no plans to become so.”

“You… you…” Princess Zhaoren was so angry she could barely speak, her finger pointing at Ye Li trembling for a long while without forming words. Ye Li showed no avoidance, just smiling and raising an eyebrow at her.

The Empress on the dais, seeing the Princess Imperial looking like she might faint from anger, had a flash of amusement in her eyes and spoke up, “Enough, whatever needs to be said can be said properly. Princess Imperial, don’t get angry. Princess Ding, you mustn’t be disrespectful of your elders’ teachings.”

Ye Li nodded and said respectfully, “The Empress’s instruction is correct. Ye Li will certainly remember the elders’ teachings and take Princess Imperial as an example, not daring to disobey.”

The Empress Dowager frowned and coughed lightly, looking at Ye Li, “Princess Ding, this time the Emperor’s bestowal of marriage to Miss Helian is both a family matter and a state affair. Princess Ding should prioritize state affairs and not act willfully.”

Ye Li felt a surge of anger in her heart – what was wrong with these people? If men were naturally unfaithful that would be one thing, but these women couldn’t even stay quiet and kept trying to push women into other people’s households, clearly forcing men to be unfaithful. If they liked being virtuous and gentle that was fine, but why did they have to force her to be the same? Ye Li stood up and said coldly, “The Empress Dowager jest. How can a diplomatic marriage between two countries be so hasty? When the marriage alliance was made, the Northern Rong king never mentioned sending someone to marry into Prince Ding’s mansion. If this is truly a state affair, where is Northern Rong’s diplomatic letter about the marriage? If there is no diplomatic letter, then this must be someone’s private decision. Does the Empress Dowager think Prince Ding’s mansion is a place anyone can enter as they wish? If Miss Helian wants to enter Prince Ding’s mansion, she can – the position of cleaning maid is available. With just the unclear status of an adopted daughter wanting to enter Prince Ding’s mansion – Miss Helian, first, give a clear status before speaking with this princess!”

Helian Huimin stood up, her beautiful face full of anger, “Even if you are Princess Ding, I am still a noble lady of Northern Rong. How dare you insult me so freely!”

“A noble lady of Northern Rong?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow disdainfully, “This princess has never heard of a noble lady whose status is just being someone’s adopted daughter. A noble lady who can’t reveal her birth parents’ background?”

Everyone present understood Ye Li’s meaning. In Great Chu, even if one’s adoptive father’s status was much higher than one’s birth parents when speaking with others one should still first mention one’s birth parents, at most adding afterward that one was so-and-so’s adopted daughter. But Helian Huimin had never mentioned her birth parents’ identity at all, which could only prove that Helian Huimin’s parents’ status was likely not just low but extremely low. Thinking about certain Northern Rong customs, Northern Rong nobles who looked as dignified as Yelv Ye were not common – most Northern Rong nobles were not considered attractive by Great Chu standards. In contrast, the attractive people in Northern Rong were often slaves, many of whom were descendants of people from other countries who had been sold or captured and taken to Northern Rong, including many descendants of Great Chu people. Therefore, Helian Huimin not mentioning her birth parents’ identity at all inevitably made people suspect she might be descended from Northern Rong slaves. If that were true, it would be an enormous joke for Prince Ding’s mansion to take her even as a concubine. The noble ladies’ gazes toward Helian Huimin became subtle, with that subtlety including several parts of disgust and contempt. Northern Rong slaves had an even lower status than Great Chu’s servants and maids. Not only could they be killed at will and made to do rough work others wouldn’t do, but they didn’t even receive monthly wages, and many female slaves were arbitrarily played with and abused by their masters.

Helian Huimin was an extremely clever person – how could she not notice the change in everyone’s gazes? Looking at Ye Li, her eyes held even more hatred.

The Empress Dowager hesitantly glanced at Helian Huimin – she didn’t know Helian Huimin’s true identity either. If it were as suspected, revealing Helian Huimin’s true identity would only cause the court to resent the Emperor’s marriage decree, and might even make the military think the Emperor was deliberately trying to humiliate Prince Ding’s mansion. “The Princess might be overthinking it. Since Northern Rong is on good terms with our Great Chu, they naturally understand our customs. The woman sent for the diplomatic marriage must be of noble birth. Perhaps Miss Helian lost both parents young and grew up in General Helian’s mansion, so she’s used to it?”

Ye Li hadn’t originally planned to fixate on Helian Huimin’s status – if Helian Huimin’s background was truly unsavory, spreading that wouldn’t benefit Prince Ding’s mansion either. Standing up, Ye Li glanced at Helian Huimin, then looked directly at the Empress Dowager, “Empress Dowager, let me be clear: unless His Highness personally agrees to take a concubine, this princess will not agree to anyone entering the mansion.”

The Empress Dowager was secretly annoyed – if they could have succeeded through Prince Ding, why would they waste time talking so much with his Princess? “Princess Ding, the Emperor’s decree has been issued. Don’t you know imperial orders cannot be defied? Do you want the Emperor to go back on his word and withdraw the decree?”

Ye Li smiled and raised her head, “Then there’s only one solution – please have the Emperor and Empress Dowager decree this princess’s death. With this princess gone, the Princess position will be vacant and His Highness can naturally take concubines. Then whoever His Highness marries or takes in, this princess won’t be able to interfere.”

“Princess Ding!” The Empress Dowager was furious. Ye Li remained composed, her expression unchanging. The Empress Dowager laughed coldly in anger, “What if I insist Miss Helian must enter the mansion?”

A faint smile passed over Ye Li’s face as a cold glint flashed in her hand, “Then surely the Empress Dowager won’t mind if Prince Ding’s mansion holds a wedding and a funeral together. This princess guarantees the funeral will be more lively than the wedding.”

Those present couldn’t help but gasp, looking at the gleaming short dagger in the Princess’s hand. The few who had been harboring other thoughts quickly extinguished their wild fantasies. Even if an unwanted concubine’s daughter married into a lesser family, she could still help her family somewhat, but marrying into Prince Ding’s mansion would not only offend the Princess but also be a futile endeavor. Looking at the woman before them who still maintained her gentle smile, they didn’t dare doubt that she was merely joking. Ye Li smiled as she swept her gaze across everyone, stopping on Helian Huimin, and said with a smile, “Well? Does Miss Helian still insist on entering Prince Ding’s mansion?”

Helian Huimin secretly took a breath, looking at Ye Li defiantly, “Princess, I’m afraid you can’t kill me. You think a mere dagger can frighten me?” What Northern Rong daughter didn’t grow up wielding weapons and riding horses? Although Helian Huimin’s birth was humble, she had been adopted by Helian Zhen from childhood, so her martial arts were naturally not weak. She drew out her jewel-encrusted curved blade and pointed it at Ye Li.

“Miss Helian, how dare you draw weapons before the Empress Dowager? Put it down at once,” the Empress frowned and rebuked.

Noble Consort Liu said indifferently from the side, “Just now when Princess Ding drew her blade, I didn’t see the Empress rebuke her.”

The Empress smiled faintly, “Sister, have you forgotten? Our ancestors decreed that Prince Ding and his Princess may carry weapons in the palace.”

Noble Consort Liu snorted lightly and turned away, no longer acknowledging the Empress, who also didn’t bother with her and just smiled faintly.

Looking at Helian Huimin pointing that ornately decorated curved blade at her, Ye Li smiled slightly.

Helian Huimin frowned, “What are you smiling at?”

Ye Li smiled and said, “Come to think of it… quite a few women are eyeing my Prince. Today, this princess will make an example of you!”

“Such boasting!” Helian Huimin sneered disdainfully, swinging her curved blade horizontally at Ye Li. Ye Li casually stepped aside to dodge, but Helian Huimin didn’t relent, her blade strokes coming continuously. Helian Huimin truly lived up to being a woman raised on the great grasslands – compared to Central Plains women, her blade work was fierce and powerful. Ye Li waited until she had struck more than ten times before laughing crisply, “Has Miss Helian had enough? Now it’s this princess’s turn.” Compared to Helian Huimin’s overwhelming force, Ye Li’s moves seemed unremarkable. The onlookers couldn’t even clearly see what happened, only that Ye Li had suddenly closed in, one hand gripping Helian Huimin’s returning arm, one foot kicking away her incoming leg. Her other hand flashed cold light as she thrust mercilessly toward Helian Huimin’s chest.

“Princess Ding, show mercy!” The Empress Dowager and Empress called out together.

Finding herself unable to break free from Ye Li’s grip, Helian Huimin could only close her eyes and await death. She was unwilling – she had thought her martial arts were among the best even among Northern Rong women, but she had been confusingly defeated by a Great Chu woman. She hadn’t even had time to see clearly what moves were used, but none of that mattered now – however unwilling she was, having lost, death awaited her…

After waiting a moment, the expected pain didn’t come. Helian Huimin opened her eyes in confusion to see Ye Li unceremoniously pushing her aside and calmly sheathing her short dagger. Having walked to death’s door and back, Helian Huimin still couldn’t quite process what had happened. She could feel that just now the Princess hadn’t merely been trying to scare her – that killing intent had been enough to make her realize she had just gotten back a life that was nearly lost.

Suffering such a shock, Helian Huimin couldn’t say anything for a while, just standing dazed in the great hall.

The Empress Dowager’s face turned green with anger. She stood up and said, “Princess Ding, how dare you! Enough… I am old and can’t manage these things anymore. Empress, the rest is up to you to handle. I’m returning first.” With that, the Empress Dowager rubbed her chest while calling her palace maids to support her as she left.

With the Empress Dowager dropping the matter, the Empress could only smile bitterly. Noble Consort Liu looked at the Empress and asked, “Empress, how will this matter be handled?”

The Empress smiled and said, “Naturally it must be reported to the Emperor for his decision. However, after today… this Empress thinks this matter won’t be difficult to resolve. Sister, don’t you agree?” If Helian Huimin still dared to think of marrying into Prince Ding’s mansion, she could only admire her courage.

Noble Consort Liu lowered her head to look at Ye Li below, her eyes showing even more complexity and depth. The Empress ignored her and simply smiled, “This Empress still likes Princess Ding’s character. When silent she’s silent, but when she acts, she shocks everyone. She handles matters cleanly and decisively – surely those thinking of marrying their daughters into Prince Ding’s mansion will have to think thrice now.” She smiled faintly at Ye Li below, her eyes showing admiration and envy.

Under everyone’s gazes, Ye Li played with the blade in her hand unconcernedly – since such matters couldn’t be yielded on, better to resolve them completely in one go.

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