Madam Xu was indeed swift in her actions, eager to acquire a daughter-in-law. Within two days, she sent a message from the Xu mansion to Ye Li indicating that everything was prepared and they were just waiting for Xu Qingchen to return home to meet the prospective brides. Receiving Madam Xu’s earnest letter, Ye Li smiled helplessly and had to go to the study to find Xu Qingchen.
Prince Ding’s front courtyard had been divided by Ye Li into office areas. Besides the main hall for receiving guests and the council hall for meetings and discussions, there were several studies of various sizes established systematically for the civil officials of Prince Ding’s mansion to work in. As soon as Ye Li stepped into the study, seeing Xu Qingchen sitting behind his desk leisurely drinking tea while reading through documents, she couldn’t help but admire her elder brother’s grace. The title of “World’s First Young Master” wasn’t given without reason – even while handling tedious government affairs that should have been exhausting, Xu Qingchen appeared as elegant and otherworldly as if he were a refined young master composing poetry.
“Elder Brother,” Ye Li called softly as she entered the study.
Xu Qingchen put down the document and stood up smiling, “Li’er, why have you come to Elder Brother’s place at this time?” Ye Li waved her hand and smiled, “Elder Brother needn’t be so formal with Li’er, let’s sit and talk.” Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow, and without ceremony slowly sat back in his chair, smiling as he waited for her to speak. Ye Li thought for a moment and asked, “How many days has Elder Brother not returned to the Xu mansion?” Xu Qingchen was already a quick-witted person, and as soon as Ye Li spoke, he understood her intention, smiling as he asked, “Did Mother ask you to persuade me to go back and meet young ladies?”
Ye Li felt somewhat embarrassed – there was nothing wrong with these words, but somehow when they came from Xu Qingchen’s mouth, they felt particularly awkward. After some thought, she still handed Madam Xu’s letter to Xu Qingchen, saying with a gentle smile, “Although Li’er shouldn’t meddle in Elder Brother’s affairs, but… Elder Brother should at least give Aunt an explanation if only to set her mind at ease. Elder Brother continuing to delay like this isn’t like your usual self? It’s needlessly making Aunt upset.”
Looking at Madam Xu’s letter, Xu Qingchen’s handsome face showed traces of helplessness and guilt. Ye Li looked at him and said softly, “Whatever reasons or thoughts Elder Brother has, it’s better to explain them clearly to Aunt. From Li’er’s perspective, Aunt, Uncle, and Grandfather aren’t unreasonable people. If Elder Brother truly has his thoughts, the elders won’t force Elder Brother to marry. Then Elder Brother wouldn’t need to avoid Aunt every day like now, right?”
Xu Qingchen startled, then smiled bitterly with some helplessness, “Li’er has seen through it?”
Ye Li smiled, pressing her lips together, “Isn’t it very obvious? Even though Xiuyao likes to be lazy, he wouldn’t push all matters onto Elder Brother – he still knows what’s important and what isn’t. But Elder Brother has rarely returned to the Xu mansion lately, hasn’t he?”
Xu Qingchen put away the letter and sighed lightly, looking at Ye Li and saying, “Elder Brother understands. I’ll go back in a while.” Ye Li blinked her eyes, smiling as she looked at Xu Qingchen and asked, “Does Elder Brother need Li’er to accompany you back for moral support?” Xu Qingchen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
After sending Xu Qingchen off, Ye Li turned back to her study, entering to find Mo Xiuyao lounging in a chair, reading a document with great interest. Hearing Ye Li’s footsteps entering, Mo Xiuyao quickly waved to her and smiled, “Ali, come quick and look at this…” Ye Li walked forward curiously, “Look at what?” Looking down, she saw it was a report from the secret guards about Xu Qingchen’s life experiences. She lowered her eyes to glance at Mo Xiuyao, raising an eyebrow and saying, “You had people investigate Elder Brother?”
Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and said, “I’m doing this to help Ali. Aren’t the Xu family worried about Xu Qingchen’s marriage? Ali has been preoccupied these past few days thinking about his situation, right?” Ye Li nodded slightly, barely accepting this explanation, and asked, “So what did you find?” Mo Xiuyao raised his head and looked at Ye Li somewhat sympathetically. Ye Li started – could Elder Brother have some issue?
“Ali, you need to stay strong,” Mo Xiuyao patted Ye Li’s hand, comforting her: “I think we need to consider marrying off your Elder Brother.”
“What do you mean?” Mo Xiuyao waved the document in his hand and said, “Everything Young Master Qingchen has done these past twenty-some years is recorded here in detail, but… there’s never been any mention of him having anything with any young lady, not even showing particular interest in any girl.” Ye Li narrowed her eyes and said through gritted teeth, “So you think Elder Brother prefers men?” Mo Xiuyao tossed the document to the edge of the desk and stretched lazily, “What else could it be? Young Master Qingchen will be thirty in another two years. Would you believe that in nearly thirty years, Young Master Qingchen hasn’t even held a girl’s hand?”
Ye Li tried to stay calm, “You could say Elder Brother has high standards and isn’t interested in ordinary women.”
Mo Xiuyao rolled his eyes heavenward, clearly showing he didn’t believe Ye Li’s self-consoling words. Ye Li irritably pinched Mo Xiuyao’s perfectly restored cheeks, pulling them this way and that, “Stop trying to make trouble for Elder Brother. If this kind of thing gets out, it won’t be good for Elder Brother’s reputation.” Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li’s hands away from his face in pain, holding them in his own, and rubbed his stretched cheeks asking, “Does Ali dislike men who prefer men?” Ye Li glared at him fiercely, “I don’t dislike it, but… stop making wild accusations! Even if Elder Brother does prefer men, it should be for him to say himself!”
Mo Xiuyao nodded obediently: So Ali, you also agree that Xu Qingchen prefers men? The misled Ye Li completely forgot that while the secret guards’ report didn’t mention Xu Qingchen having any special interest in any woman, it also didn’t mention him having any special interest in any man. It’s unknown how Xu Qingchen persuaded Madam Xu, but afterward, there seemed to be no rumors in Licheng about the Xu family’s eldest young master going on arranged meetings. However, Xu Qingchen suddenly felt that every time his cousin looked at him, her expression carried some inexplicable strangeness and worry.
If one were to ask what was the Northwest’s most important event this year, it would undoubtedly be the metropolitan examination held in June. This was the first metropolitan examination to select talents in the five years since the Northwest’s independence, naturally drawing attention from all directions. It also once again demonstrated the Northwest’s position of having no more connection with Great Chu. What made people even more interested was that this Northwestern metropolitan examination wasn’t limited to scholars within the Northwest’s borders – scholars from Great Chu and Xiling with genuine talent and learning were not rejected. Although the hot month of June wasn’t a good time for imperial examinations, scholars from all over the Northwest and some overlooked talents from Great Chu and Xiling traveled thousands of miles in an endless stream to arrive at Licheng. And because the annual Licheng Merchant Assembly would be held half a month after the examination, merchants from various countries brought their goods from afar hoping to sell at better prices, so people’s enthusiasm for this city rose as fiercely as the summer heat.
After five years, today’s Licheng could no longer be compared to what it was before. Just the city’s area alone was at least one time larger than five years ago, and the merchants and various dazzling goods on the streets were no less impressive than those in Great Chu’s capital. From time to time, people from the Western Regions with strange clothing and different hair colors, skin tones, and eyes from the Northwest’s people would pass by on the main streets.
In the Lingxiang Pavilion, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li sat across from each other in a window room, enjoying a rare leisurely moment drinking tea and chatting, occasionally looking down at the surging crowds in the street below, showing a scene of prosperity. Seeing this filled Ye Li with incomparable gratification and satisfaction – this city’s current prosperity and peace came from their five years of hard work. Just like the Northwest territory, they all worked together to protect this land and the common people living on it. Looking at the man sitting across from her, Ye Li’s heart was filled with tenderness and sweetness. They weren’t just husband and wife, but partners walking side by side and relying on each other, sharing common ideals and responsibilities.
“What is Ali thinking about that makes you so happy?” Mo Xiuyao put down his teacup and looked tenderly at his wife’s gentle and content smile across from him. Ye Li smiled softly, “Nothing much, just feeling happy seeing the scene before us.”
Following Ye Li’s gaze downward to the street flowing with people: A young couple set up a stall selling cosmetics, their clothes simple but their faces radiating happy smiles. A family of three – parents holding their few-year-old child – walked down the street, the child pointing at a candy-gourd seller by the street wanting to buy some. An elderly person in their sixties walked steadily through the crowd, and many young scholars were passing by, each face seeming to bloom with a strange brilliance and smile. Ye Li nodded, saying softly, “Actually, common people don’t want much. As long as they can live peaceful lives, and have enough to eat and wear, they’ll be grateful to you.” Mo Xiuyao smiled, “Isn’t that so? Aren’t the Northwest’s people now most respectful of my Ali? Without Ali, how could they have such good lives now?”
The plan for foreign trade in the Northwest was proposed by Ali, and cultivating grain in the northern plains was also Ali’s suggestion. His words were not empty flattery – Ali had done so much for the Northwest, for the Mo family army, for him. Mo Xiuyao had always been incredibly grateful that he married such a remarkable wife. Ye Li smiled, pressing her lips together, “Your Highness praises me too much. I merely moved my mouth and pen – others did the real work.” Mo Xiuyao smiled, “Although many people could do these things, no one had ever thought of them. So Ali still deserves the primary credit.”
“Your Highness, Princess Consort, Yaoji requests an audience.”
“Come in,” Mo Xiuyao said calmly, his sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed. Yaoji pushed open the door and entered. Five years had passed, and the former premier dancer of the Chu capital, once known for her peerless beauty, had gained more mature charm and allure. However, having washed away her makeup, today’s Yaoji wore only a plain dress with a jade hairpin, less of the pride of her former status as the premier dancer and more of a peaceful, tranquil air.
Ye Li looked at the jade lotus hairpin in Yaoji’s hair, raising her elegant eyebrows and smiling, “It’s been some time since we met. Yaoji seems to have grown even more beautiful.” Yaoji smiled brilliantly and said, “Is the Princess Consort teasing me? How could I compare to the Princess Consort who grows ever more graceful?”
Ye Li smiled at her, saying playfully, “That jade hairpin is quite nice. This Princess finds it somewhat familiar.”
Yaoji uncomfortably touched the hairpin in her hair and said, “This hairpin is quite ordinary, the style is quite common.” Ye Li shook her head and smiled, “That’s not quite right. Although this hairpin’s jade quality, carving, and style aren’t considered supreme grade, this type of jade was brought by Western Region merchants. There are probably only three such hairpins in all of Licheng. I kept one with a lotus design, gave one with an orchid design to the Second Young Madam of the Xu family, and one was requested by someone, so it turns out…”
Meeting Ye Li’s teasing gaze, even Yaoji, who had seen countless people in her time, couldn’t help but blush, inwardly grinding her teeth at the person who had given her the gift. When that person had given her the hairpin, she naturally refused to accept it, but that person had just tossed it to her, saying someone had given him the wrong gift and he had no use for it – if she didn’t want it, he’d throw it away. She hadn’t expected this seemingly unremarkable hairpin to have such a history.
Ye Li, seeing her face growing redder, knew she shouldn’t tease any further. Ruining a subordinate’s romance would earn lifelong resentment. As they said in her previous life, those who interfere with others’ relationships will be kicked by horses.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Do you have some business?” Ye Li asked seriously. Seeing Ye Li give her a way out, Yaoji was naturally happy to change the topic, quickly saying, “The list of problematic individuals among the examination candidates is here. Should we arrest them now?” Yaoji respectfully presented a list. Taking it and looking it over before passing it to Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao said, “It seems Lei Zhenting and Mo Jingqi think highly of us, trying to slip people into Licheng at every opportunity. At least half of the candidates from Great Chu and Xiling this time are their people.”
Ye Li thought for a moment and said to Yaoji, “Leave them alone for now. We’ll deal with them after the examination. I also want to see what kind of excellent talents the Southern Marquis and Mo Jingqi have sent.” If candidates disappeared in large numbers before the examination, it would be easily noticed and cause an uproar. But after the examination was different – if people disappeared, most would assume they had failed and left in disappointment.
Yaoji acknowledged this, then after some thought added, “There’s one more matter. Yaoji had originally ordered someone to report to Lord Mo Hua, but since Your Highness and the Princess Consort are here, I’ll report to you first. I heard from people in the taverns below that things seem somewhat unsettled in the Chu capital recently.” Mo Xiuyao’s eyebrows furrowed, “Did they say what the matter was?” Yaoji shook her head and said, “The source wasn’t any high official or noble, so they probably don’t know much.”
Ye Li smiled, “It seems our people in the Chu capital have become somewhat ineffective.” Mo Xiuyao wasn’t surprised, saying coolly, “Mo Jingqi’s extreme suspicion is appalling. Additionally, after being fooled by Tan Jizhi for nearly ten years, he probably suspects everyone of being a traitor now. Even if it means harming eight thousand of his own, he would clean out anyone around him who might be suspicious.” Although Prince Ding’s mansion still had some hidden pieces in the palace, they were deeply concealed and couldn’t be easily used unless it concerned life or death matters for the Prince’s mansion.
“It seems everyone has grown tired of peaceful days. Ali, later select a suitable person to return to the capital to assist Cold Haoyu,” Mo Xiuyao said with a cold smile.
Ye Li nodded, and Yaoji, standing at the door, bit her lip before suddenly speaking, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, if you trust me, Yaoji is willing to go to the capital.”
“You?” Ye Li frowned, “But your identity, and the dangers of entering the capital – have you thought it through?” Yaoji nodded firmly and said, “Yaoji has thought it through. Although I’ve been in Licheng these past years, I’ve rarely appeared in public, and few in Licheng would recognize me. Moreover, Yaoji is no longer the Yaoji of before. If nothing else, Yaoji can at least protect herself.”
Ye Li looked at her determined expression and sighed helplessly, “You still can’t let go?” Yaoji forced a smile and said, “Perhaps after this return, I’ll be able to let go. Yaoji will not fail Your Highness and the Princess Consort’s tasks. Please grant my request.”
Ye Li thought for a moment and said, “Go back first. I’ll consider it and give you an answer.” Yaoji thanked them and turned to leave, gently closing the door behind her.
“Yaoji would be a good choice,” Mo Xiuyao said, looking at Ye Li, “Though I fear she still has lingering feelings for Mu Yang.”
Ye Li frowned and said, “I don’t believe she’s completely let go of Mu Yang, but I also don’t believe she would betray Prince Ding’s mansion for him. Her child is still in the Northwest – if only for the child’s sake, she would never betray us. Moreover… even if she has feelings for Mu Yang, she probably hates the people of the Mu Yang Marquis’s mansion. Yaoji is clear in her loves and hatreds…” Mo Xiuyao found it somewhat strange, “Since Ali knows she still has feelings for Mu Yang, why did you agree to her and Qin Feng?”
“What do you mean I agreed to her and Qin Feng?” Ye Li said, looking sideways, “I simply don’t like interfering in subordinates’ private lives. As long as it doesn’t affect official business, whoever Qin Feng likes is his own business. Don’t tell me that as Princess Consort I should also work as a matchmaker?”
Mo Xiuyao was equally uninterested in subordinates’ private matters, “If that’s the case, why don’t you agree to Yaoji going to the Chu capital?”
Ye Li sighed lightly, shaking her head and asking, “Am I being too soft-hearted?” She was no stranger to undercover work and naturally understood what an undercover agent had to endure. With Yaoji’s identity, the best approach after returning to the capital would be to find a way back to Mu Yang’s side. This way, whether Yaoji was eventually discovered and killed by Mu Yang, or when things finally came to a head, Yaoji and Mu Yang would inevitably have to stand on opposing sides. For a man and woman who had been in love and had a child together, this was too cruel and equally cruel to Yaoji.
“My Ali has always been kind-hearted,” Mo Xiuyao said softly, secretly raising the corners of his lips when Ye Li wasn’t looking. Cruel to Mu Yang? He didn’t feel that way at all. He only remembered that when Ali fell from the cliff between life and death, the old dog Mu Yang Marquis had played a part in it. When he let Mu Yang go back then, it wasn’t so he could go back and enjoy family life with the Mu Yang Marquis. Although the main course couldn’t be served yet, they could start with some appetizers. As for Yaoji? That was her request, and besides, hadn’t Prince Ding’s mansion saved her life? Shouldn’t she repay that debt?