Noble Consort Liu’s face alternated between pale and flushed. She had come with complete confidence, but now not even a shred remained. Yet she couldn’t accept it – she couldn’t understand why Mo Xiu Yao would refuse her. Anyone else in this world would have accepted her proposal without hesitation, so why did Mo Xiu Yao still refuse? She forgot that no one else in this world was Mo Xiu Yao himself. And she hadn’t fallen in love with anyone else in this world either.
“You’re refusing me because of her?” Noble Consort Liu stood up, pointing at Ye Li.
Mo Xiu Yao replied coldly, “With or without A Li, this Prince would never agree to such a mindless proposal.”
“I don’t believe it!” Noble Consort Liu shouted. Mo Xiu Yao looked down at the now-sleeping Mo Xiao Bao and shifted him in his arms to prevent Noble Consort Liu’s voice from waking him and causing another commotion. He turned to Ye Li with a smile and said, “A Li, would you help your husband explain to her why this proposal is mindless?” Ye Li smiled faintly and looked at Noble Consort Liu, saying softly, “Noble Consort Liu, do you know what Mo Jing Qi is to our Prince’s Manor? Or rather… what is the relationship between the Great Chu royal family and the Prince’s Manor?”
Noble Consort Liu was stunned, but she quickly understood Ye Li’s meaning, and her face turned pale. Two hundred years ago, Great Chu’s founding emperor and the Prince were blood brothers from the same parents. For these two hundred years, the Great Chu royal family and the Prince’s Manor shared the same ancestral blood, working together as wise rulers and loyal ministers. But now, Mo Jing Qi and Mo Xiu Yao had a blood feud of murdered father and brother between them. The Great Chu royal family owed the Mo family army tens of thousands of loyal souls. No one knew how much blood kinship remained between the royal family and the Prince’s Manor, but the deep hatred between them was certain. In fact, given Mo Xiu Yao’s temperament, many people found it strange that he hadn’t immediately led his army to attack the capital when he first received the news. And her son… was of Great Chu royal blood, and she… was Mo Jing Qi’s consort.
Seeing her pale face, Ye Li smiled and said, “Does Noble Consort Liu understand now? The Prince’s Manor cannot possibly cooperate with either Noble Consort Liu or Prince Li. Because it would be meaningless.” Though there are no eternal friends, why force a friendship with someone you know to be an enemy? Rather than helping one enemy defeat another enemy, they preferred to watch from the sidelines as tigers fought, waiting until both were wounded before dealing with the aftermath. Or did Noble Consort Liu think that Prince Manor’s lack of action these years meant they had forgotten their grudge?
“Mo Jing Qi’s feud with the Prince’s Manor has nothing to do with me,” Noble Consort Liu said, trying to maintain her composure as she stood by the table.
Ye Li smiled without speaking. The saying that punishment should not extend to family members didn’t work in this era – there were countless examples of families being implicated in crimes. Moreover, even if they were truly innocent, the Prince’s Manor would never support Mo Jing Qi’s direct bloodline. Looking at Noble Consort Liu, Ye Li said softly, “Since we’ve finished discussing this matter, please leave, Noble Consort Liu. During our stay in the capital, we won’t participate in any court affairs, and we ask Noble Consort Liu not to disturb us again.”
Noble Consort Liu shook her head and stared at Mo Xiu Yao, asking, “Why?”
Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding what she meant. Noble Consort Liu bit her lip and said, “Why can you never see me? Whatever you want, I can bring it before you and give it to you. What’s wrong with me compared to Ye Li? Could she love you more than I do? Would she die for you? I can do all of that! Is it just because my surname is Liu that you look down on me?” She seemed to grow more agitated as she spoke as if releasing years of suppressed emotions. By the end, Noble Consort Liu was almost screaming. Mo Xiu Yao frowned and raised his hand to cover Mo Xiao Bao’s ears. But Mo Xiao Bao was still startled awake by the sudden sharp voice. He drowsily rubbed his eyes in Mo Xiu Yao’s arms, looking confused at the white-clad woman with her twisted expression.
“Why do you treat me like this? Xiu Yao, I’m the one who loves you most, I’m the one who knew you first! I met you before Su Zui Die or Ye Li, why won’t you even look at me once?!” Noble Consort Liu said hysterically.
Ye Li raised her teacup to her lips, thought for a moment, and then set it down again. Such an intense declaration of love would have been explosive even in her previous life. She hadn’t expected Noble Consort Liu, who appeared so cold and frosty on the outside, to harbor such intense feelings inside. Unfortunately, she couldn’t appreciate such intensity – not only could she not appreciate it, but it made her particularly angry. What was wrong with this world? It was bad enough that men liked to be scoundrels, but when she finally found a good man who wasn’t a scoundrel, it seemed heaven couldn’t tolerate it.
She set her teacup down on the table with a bang, the sound sharp and heavy enough to startle everyone present.
Ye Li looked at Noble Consort Liu with a cold expression and said, “Your Highness, even if you want to declare your love, at least show some respect for me as the principal wife. Saying such things in front of me – do you think I, Ye Li, am made of wood?”
Having already spoken out, Noble Consort Liu had naturally thrown caution to the winds and didn’t care if Ye Li was angry. Besides, she had never feared Ye Li’s anger. She looked at Ye Li with a cold smile and said, “This Consort is speaking to Xiu Yao – what business is it of yours? Do you think This Consort will show you any courtesy just because you’re the Princess Consort?” Ye Li lowered her eyes, calmly examining her fingers while a storm began brewing in her eyes. She had always thought that fighting with women over men was beneath her dignity, but some women could be described in one word – cheap!
“This Consort doesn’t need your courtesy. This Consort just wants to warn you – it’s one thing to be cheap yourself, but don’t bring your cheapness to my man. You can’t afford to damage our Prince’s reputation!” Ye Li said coldly.
“How dare you! You dare insult This Consort?!” Noble Consort Liu flew into a rage. No one had ever dared to call her cheap before.
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Don’t tell me you still think you’re noble. When a man likes having multiple wives and concubines and you throw yourself at him, This Consort might consider you two of a kind. But when a man doesn’t like you and you still throw yourself at him, that’s called willingly debasing yourself! Do you know why our Prince doesn’t like you?” Before Noble Consort Liu could speak, Mo Xiu Yao quietly reminded from the side, “A Li, this Prince isn’t unpleasant. This Prince is as fragrant as A-Li.” Hearing Mo Xiu Yao’s words, Noble Consort Liu’s face grew even uglier, but her gaze toward Ye Li carried a hint of confusion. Though she knew Ye Li wouldn’t say anything nice, she truly couldn’t understand why Mo Xiu Yao didn’t like her. Even if she couldn’t compare to Ye Li, she was at least no worse than Su Zui Die – why had she lost to that woman back then?
Ye Li gave a cold laugh and slowly spoke several words, “Because you are – cheap. If you had maintained your original noble and aloof manner, our Prince might have spared you a few more glances. Also, you’re not just cheap – you’re already a wife and mother, yet you shamelessly chase after another woman’s man. You need another word added – shameless.” After saying this, Ye Li let out a long breath. She had never used such vicious words to curse anyone in this life. Even the former Ye Ying and Su Zui Die hadn’t made her this angry. Having said her piece, Ye Li lowered her eyes and spoke no more.
A cup of tea was placed before her, and Mo Xiu Yao looked at her with a gentle smile in his eyes, “Is A Li tired from speaking? Have some tea.”
Ye Li was startled, then couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t like losing her composure in front of Mo Xiu Yao, but since it had already happened, so be it. She took the tea and had a sip, then set down the cup and reached out both arms toward Mo Xiao Bao. Mo Xiao Bao happily jumped into his mother’s embrace, his eyes curved in smiles as he said softly, “Mother is mighty.” Ye Li gently patted his little head and said, “Don’t learn from this.” Children love to imitate adults – if Mo Xiao Bao started going around calling people cheap and shameless someday, she would regret it for life.
“You…” Noble Consort Liu was trembling with anger from head to toe. She pointed at Mo Xiu Yao and said in a shaking voice, “You… you just let her insult me like this?”
Mo Xiu Yao looked up and said puzzledly, “How could this Prince’s beloved consort insult you? She was guiding you just now. Didn’t you say you would do anything for this Prince? This Prince only wants you to do one thing.” Noble Consort Liu looked at Mo Xiu Yao in panic, feeling uneasy in her heart, and couldn’t help but shake her head. Mo Xiu Yao said coolly, “Never appear before this Prince again.”
Ye Li, seeing Noble Consort Liu’s incredulous expression, smiled gracefully and said, “Noble Consort Liu, you said you would do anything for Xiu Yao. Then… do you dare to go out into the street right now and tell everyone loudly that the person you love is the Prince?”
Noble Consort Liu hadn’t yet recovered from Mo Xiu Yao’s heartless words when she was stunned by Ye Li’s question. She reflexively looked at Mo Xiu Yao. If Mo Xiu Yao would accept her, of course, she would dare to say it, but if Mo Xiu Yao would never accept her, then even as the Crown Prince’s birth mother, she would lose everything after saying those words. Seeing her expression, Ye Li understood and smiled mockingly, “It seems Noble Consort Liu’s love isn’t as deep as she claims.”
Noble Consort Liu had no response. After a long while, she looked at Mo Xiu Yao with deep resentment in her eyes and said, “You’ll regret this.”
Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, his expression indifferent. Though she wasn’t injured from the fall, Noble Consort Liu came to her senses. “Your Highness, are you alright?”
Noble Consort Liu looked back at the empty staircase and said through gritted teeth, “Return to the palace!”
Upstairs, Mo Xiu Yao looked at Ye Li’s cold pretty face with great amusement and said, “Is A Li angry?” Ye Li gave him a faint glance and said, “Is the Prince pleased?” Mo Xiu Yao raised his hand to tap his forehead, smiling broadly, “Not bad. This Prince just learned that A Li can be so sharp-tongued.”
“Feeling sorry for her?” Ye Li asked, narrowing her eyes.
“How could I? You cursed her well! There’s no such thing as too harsh – next time you see her, curse at her even more fiercely, curse at her in front of everyone. Then she won’t dare covet your husband anymore!” Mo Xiu Yao hurriedly declared his stance. Ye Li gave him an ambiguous smile and said, “Covet? Isn’t it the Prince himself who attracts bees and butterflies?” Mo Xiu Yao made a suffering face, “With such a fierce wife at home, this Prince wouldn’t dare.”
“Fierce wife…”
“Slip of the tongue… with such a virtuous wife at home, this Prince doesn’t want to,” Mo Xiu Yao said righteously. Seeing Mo Xiu Yao deliberately acting silly, Ye Li smiled helplessly and said, “Thank you for the Prince’s praise.” Mo Xiao Bao emerged from his mother’s embrace, pointing at Mo Xiu Yao, and said, “Mother, Father is lying, he’s the one attracting bees and butterflies. Last time he even said all women in the world would fall for his charm!”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled at Mo Xiu Yao, who wanted nothing more than to pull the little provocateur out of her arms and throw him downstairs. Finally unable to endure it anymore, Mo Xiu Yao grabbed Mo Xiao Bao into his arms and started pinching and kneading his chubby little cheeks!
“You little brat! What good does it do you to disrupt your parents’ relationship? You don’t want a stepmother, but do you think a stepfather would be good for you? Your father has enemies all over the world, any decent man would want to squeeze you to death, don’t you know?” Mo Xiao Bao’s joy turned to sorrow as he was bullied to tears. Ye Li covered her face and glared at Mo Xiu Yao, “What nonsense are you telling Xiao Bao?”
Mo Xiu Yao stared at the teary-eyed Mo Xiao Bao and said with a cold smile, “This Prince is telling him that except for his birth parents, following anyone else would cost him his little life. Yet he still wants to cause trouble all day long.”
“Mother, wuu wuu… your child was wrong… save me…” Unable to resist Mo Xiu Yao, Mo Xiao Bao could only appeal to Ye Li for help. Ye Li smiled as she took Mo Xiao Bao from Mo Xiu Yao’s arms, patting him gently and saying, “See if you dare to speak nonsense again.”
“Mmm mmm mmm…” Never again. Mo Xiao Bao quickly buried himself in Ye Li’s embrace, afraid his father would find another chance to pinch him. Though Mo Xiao Bao’s whimpering could still be heard on the empty second floor, the scene was particularly warm and peaceful.
Outside the tea house’s back door, Noble Consort Liu got into the elaborate sixteen-bearer sedan chair waiting there with a gloomy expression and said coldly, “To the Chancellor’s mansion!”
Inside the sedan chair, Tan Ji Zhi was comfortably reclining on the wide soft couch, sampling fresh fruit from a small table. Seeing Noble Consort Liu enter, he smiled and said, “The royal palace is indeed a fine place, to have such delicious fresh fruit in early February.” Noble Consort Liu coldly swept all the fruit off the table with one hand. One of them rolled out of the sedan door, but the people outside didn’t dare to question or pause, as if nothing had happened.
Tan Ji Zhi glanced at her lightly and said, “Mo Xiu Yao refused you.”
Noble Consort Liu remained cold and silent; she certainly wouldn’t tell Tan Ji Zhi about the humiliation she suffered upstairs. But who was Tan Ji Zhi? He had been Mo Jing Qi’s confidant for ten years without ever being suspected. He could even make the Holy Maiden of the Southern Borderlands follow his every word without showing his hand. Whatever his scheming abilities might be, at least in reading people’s hearts and faces, few in the world could match him. Just looking at Noble Consort Liu’s expression, Tan Ji Zhi knew it wasn’t as simple as Mo Xiu Yao refusing her, and the Princess Consort wasn’t someone to be trifled with either. Just thinking about what Noble Consort Liu might have done, he could roughly guess what had happened.
“Were you put down by the Princess Consort? Or perhaps more seriously… were you mocked by her? And the Prince took her side?” The reality was far worse than he imagined – Ye Li had directly cursed at her.
“Shut up!” Noble Consort Liu raged. Just thinking about the humiliation she suffered at the tea house made Noble Consort Liu want to tear Ye Li to pieces. But she couldn’t kill Ye Li, at least not now. So she could only endure and force herself to temporarily forget about it.
Tan Ji Zhi shrugged and, as she wished, stopped mentioning it. He asked, “Since Mo Xiu Yao won’t help, what are Your Highness’s plans?”
Noble Consort Liu gave a cold snort and said, “My son is the rightful Crown Prince. What does it matter if Mo Xiu Yao won’t help? Once my son ascends the throne…” Then she would return today’s humiliation a hundredfold. Tan Ji Zhi raised an eyebrow and said, “What does being rightful matter? Isn’t the current Emperor Xi Ling the rightful emperor? What good did that do him?”
“How could my son be the same as the Emperor of Xi Ling? I have the Liu family behind me,” Noble Consort Liu said.
Tan Ji Zhi sneered inwardly – that made it even worse. Even if they overthrew Prince Li, there would still be the Liu family controlling the new emperor.
“Your Highness shouldn’t forget that the south is Prince Li’s territory. Moreover, Prince Li is a Regent who truly holds military power. Honestly… compared to Prince Li, the former Regent Mo Liu Fang was nothing. No matter how capable he was, he had no ambition to usurp the throne. But Prince Li and Prince Yan genuinely covet the throne. Does Your Highness have confidence that Prince Li won’t force a coup in the future?”
Noble Consort Liu frowned and said, “He won’t… His Majesty must have some leverage over him.”
“What makes you think so?”
Noble Consort Liu smiled coldly and said, “What kind of person do you think Mo Jing Li is? How could the mere position of Regent satisfy him? He had victory in his grasp, yet in the end was only named Regent by His Majesty, while my son became Crown Prince. His Majesty must have some fatal leverage over him. Only under such circumstances would he step back to create today’s situation. If we could know what that leverage is…”
“Your Highness hasn’t visited His Majesty for some time, correct?” Tan Ji Zhi asked.
Noble Consort Liu frowned and said, “He hasn’t summoned me. What’s there to see in a sickbed?”
Tan Ji Zhi shook his head inwardly – Mo Jing Qi marrying this woman must have been the result of eight generations of bad luck plus being blind. Mo Xiu Yao’s rejection of her was a wise decision. “Your Highness should go see His Majesty. I’m afraid… His Majesty may not trust Your Highness and the Liu family as much now. When the time comes… don’t let the fisherman benefit while the snipe and clam fight each other.”
Mo Jing Qi was naturally suspicious, and lying in his sickbed made him even more paranoid. Noble Consort Liu’s current attitude might have seemed naturally aloof in the past, but now in Mo Jing Qi’s eyes, it might seem like she was hoping for his early death. “Also try to find out what leverage Mo Jing Qi has over Prince Li.”
Noble Consort Liu pondered for a moment before nodding and saying, “This Consort understands.”