“What are you doing here?” Noble Consort Liu, unable to sleep from the pain, lifted her head to see Princess Zhenning standing pale-faced at the doorway and spoke irritably.

Princess Zhenning walked in, silently placing the medicine bottle by the bedside. Noble Consort Liu glanced at her and said flatly, “Apply the medicine for me.”

Princess Zhenning bit her lip, wanting to say something. Seeing Noble Consort Liu lying face down, covered in bloodstains, she ultimately went to tend to the wounds first. Noble Consort Liu’s injuries were extremely severe, not only from the bloody caning but also from the whipping she received at Prince Ding’s mansion. Though the pain had been bearable at Prince Ding’s mansion, after returning it gradually worsened until it seemed to penetrate to her bones. This caused Noble Consort Liu immense suffering. Having some martial arts knowledge herself, she suspected the guards who carried out her punishment at Prince Ding’s mansion had used hidden techniques on her. This thought only intensified her hatred for Ye Li and Prince Ding’s household.

Princess Zhenning carefully tore away the tattered clothing on her body. Being a princess, she had never dealt with such matters and inevitably caused Noble Consort Liu pain. Fortunately, Noble Consort Liu knew she had no one else to help her besides Zhenning and could only grit her teeth and endure.

After cutting away the dark blood-stained clothes, the mangled flesh before her nearly made Princess Zhenning vomit. She could only treat the wounds with trembling hands, hastily cleaning them before applying medicine. Then she began treating the seemingly less severe whip wounds. By the time she finished, the delicate young woman was drenched in sweat.

The medicine Princess Zhenning brought was high-quality healing medicine. After its application, though still painful, Noble Consort Liu found it gradually becoming bearable. Lying face down, she closed her eyes, growing drowsy. “You can go back now. Come again tomorrow night and bring some clean clothes.”

Princess Zhenning bit her lip and said softly, “Mother, Zhenning… cannot come tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?” Noble Consort Liu opened her eyes and asked coldly.

Princess Zhenning said, “When I returned just now, I met Xiao’er. Mother… Mother, you must be careful. The Empress Dowager wants to kill you.”

Noble Consort Liu stared steadily at her daughter and asked, “Who told you this?” Princess Zhenning shook her head and said, “I just overheard passing eunuchs in the Imperial Garden. They said… Mother, you’ve offended Prince Ding, and the Empress Dowager… the Empress Dowager wants to kill you.”

Noble Consort Liu narrowed her eyes and said hatefully through gritted teeth, “So it was him! What did your brother say?”

Princess Zhenning shook her head, refusing to speak. How could Noble Consort Liu not understand? Though a flash of dejection crossed her heart at her son’s heartlessness, she quickly pushed it aside. Looking at Princess Zhenning with a strange smile, she said, “Now that I’ve fallen from grace, you siblings fear being implicated by me, so you want to distance yourselves, is that it?”

Princess Zhenning gazed sadly at the woman before her who, though smiling like a flower, somehow felt ice-cold to her. Perhaps they wanted to distance themselves for this reason, but more so because of their birth mother’s heartlessness. And those things she had done – how could they, as her children, accept them without reservation?

Soon, Noble Consort Liu’s smile faded as she looked at Princess Zhenning and sighed softly. Speaking with gravity, she said, “I understand your reasons for doing this. As your mother, I never showed you much care from childhood. Take care of yourselves.”

“Mother…” Princess Zhenning looked at her sadly.

Noble Consort Liu pulled her close and said in a low voice, “Mother only asks that you bring me two sets of clean clothes in a few days. Mother has been proud all her life – even if I must die, I will die clean and dignified. I won’t let those lowborns laugh at me!”

“Mother…” Princess Zhenning sobbed, “Mother, don’t worry. Tomorrow night… tomorrow night Zhenning will bring the clothes.”

A gleam of satisfaction flashed in Noble Consort Liu’s eyes as she said softly, “No need to rush. Coming out two nights in a row might get you discovered. Isn’t the new Emperor’s enthronement in a few days?”

“Three days. In three days, Tenth Brother will ascend the throne,” Princess Zhenning answered.

Noble Consort Liu nodded and said, “Good, come then. As for your grandfather and brother… no need to tell them, lest they become unhappy.” Princess Zhenning nodded, saying, “Daughter understands. Mother, please don’t worry. Daughter will leave now.”

“Go then.” Watching Princess Zhenning disappear step by step through the doorway, Noble Consort Liu’s previously gentle eyes gradually turned ice-cold, and the smile on her lips grew increasingly cruel and strange. Want me dead… it won’t be so easy!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During these three days, everyone was busy preparing for the new Emperor’s enthronement ceremony. Naturally, no one had time to concern themselves with a woman demoted to Noble Lady and confined to the Cold Palace.

On the day of the ceremony, the entire Great Chu imperial city was filled with jubilation, even washing away the grief of the late Emperor’s recent passing. Though many scholars and officials disapproved of such grand celebrations during the mourning period, the Emperor’s enthronement was a grand national ceremony. Moreover, the new Emperor was still young, with everything being managed by the Regent. With Great Chu currently beset by internal and external troubles, they needed some joyous events to lift spirits, so many people accepted it.

Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li, as Prince and Princess Ding and leaders of the Mo family army, naturally had to attend the enthronement ceremony. However, they attended not as subjects or hosts, but as guests alongside other congratulatory envoys. While this disappointed many of Great Chu’s old ministers, it also put many others at ease.

Though Great Chu’s national power was far from its former glory, it remained a great nation. Nearly every country that could make it in time sent envoys to offer congratulations. Although people like the Southern King, Princess An Xi, and the Northern Rong Emperor didn’t come personally, they still sent high-ranking envoys, which was considered appropriate.

Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao sat side by side in the front of the special section prepared for foreign envoys, both wearing white clothes embroidered with silver patterns. Their mere presence was enough to draw the attention of everyone present. Moreover, each held an exquisite child. Though no one knew the identity of the white-clad, jade-like child in Ye Li’s arms, most people recognized the similarly handsome black-clad child in Mo Xiu Yao’s arms, who already showed traces of proud bearing – the heir of Prince Ding’s mansion, Mo Xiu Yao’s only successor, and young master of the Mo family army – Mo Yu Chen. A child whose very name exuded majesty and was destined from birth to be the focus of the world’s attention.

“Grand Princess.” With still quite some time before the ceremony officially began, the Grand Princess was helped over by palace maids. Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao quickly rose to greet her. The Grand Princess waved her hand and said, “Enough, since you come as guests, there’s no need for such a ceremony.” Wisdom flickered in the wrinkled eyes of the elderly woman, along with deep regret, helplessness, and a touch of sorrow.

“Little Yu Chen, do you still remember this old one?” the Grand Princess asked with loving kindness, looking at the child in Mo Xiu Yao’s arms.

Little Mo blinked and nodded, “Greetings, Imperial Great-Aunt.”

“Ah…” the Grand Princess responded with delight, “Little Yu Chen still remembers his Imperial Great-Aunt? Why haven’t you come to play with your Imperial Great-Aunt? Do you think she’s too old?”

Little Mo looked at the Grand Princess and said seriously, “Yu Chen must study and learn martial arts, can’t go out to play. Imperial Great-Aunt should come to our home to play, then Yu Chen will have time to accompany Imperial Great-Aunt.”

“You clever little thing,” the Grand Princess said with mock reproach. She gazed at Little Mo with great regret, lamenting that the imperial family had no such intelligent children.

“Imperial Great-Aunt, this is my new friend, you can call him Little Dai,” Little Mo introduced very maturely, thoughtfully omitting Leng Jun Han’s surname. The Grand Princess squinted her eyes to look carefully and smiled, “This child looks well-behaved too.” Ye Li smiled faintly and said, “Little Bao isn’t so young anymore, so the Prince and I thought to find him a playmate.”

The Grand Princess didn’t inquire about Leng Jun Han’s identity, just nodded with a smile and said, “It’s good to have company. It’s not good for a child to be lonely. I was thinking that after the Tenth Prince ascends the throne, we should select several children of suitable age from noble families to be the Emperor’s study companions.”

Ye Li smiled silently. The Grand Princess’s idea was certainly good. If the Tenth Prince had the ability, these children would all become his trusted advisors in the future, but that wouldn’t be easy. However, since they were attending as guests, naturally they couldn’t comment on many matters. The Grand Princess was just making conversation. Having participated in state affairs in her early years, she wasn’t a secluded palace lady ignorant of worldly affairs. She naturally understood the current situation and its difficulties.

“Xiu Yao, I heard you intend to protect that one from Zhangde Palace?” the Grand Princess asked, looking at Mo Xiu Yao.

Mo Xiu Yao smiled and said, “Imperial Aunt, where did you hear such rumors? What do these matters have to do with our Prince Ding’s mansion? Since I said I wouldn’t interfere, naturally I’ll keep my word.”

The Grand Princess had watched him grow up since childhood and wasn’t so easily fooled. She stared at him and said, “Tell me honestly, what use do you have for keeping her? I don’t believe you have any fondness for her.” Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes with a smile, and without concealing anything, said quietly, “Though Imperial Aunt cares for the new Emperor, living outside the palace means your influence is limited. The new Emperor needs protection… otherwise…”

“Her? Can she do it?” the Grand Princess frowned.

Mo Xiu Yao smiled and said, “As long as she knows that her well-being depends on the new Emperor’s, naturally she can. Though the one in Zhangde Palace is inexperienced in state affairs, she has lived in the inner palace all her life. In matters of the back palace, she might be even more experienced than you, Imperial Aunt. When she could protect those two brothers to grow up safely and reach the position of Empress Dowager in such an environment, how do you know she can’t do it this time?”

Seemingly convinced, the Grand Princess nodded slightly, “Even so… Xiu Yao, why do you care so much about the new Emperor?”

Mo Xiu Yao laughed openly, “I just don’t like Mo Jing Li, that’s all. The mother-son bond between them has nearly dissolved after recent events. As long as Imperial Aunt offers her satisfactory terms, as long as she lives, Mo Jing Li will forever remain just Prince Li.”

Hearing this, the Grand Princess appeared thoughtful. She naturally knew about the tense relationship between the Empress Dowager and Prince Li, but she wasn’t confident whether the Empress Dowager could restrain Prince Li.

Several heavy drum beats sounded, signaling the auspicious time for the enthronement ceremony had arrived. Those who had been whispering among themselves straightened up and turned their attention to the end of the massive red carpet embroidered with dragon patterns.

A child of only six or seven years approached, surrounded by a large group of people. The Empress Dowager, wearing magnificent ceremonial robes, walked beside Mo Xu Yun, holding the hand of the timid child. From this moment on, she would no longer be the Empress Dowager, but the Grand Empress Dowager.

Seeing so many adults staring at him, Mo Xu Yun instinctively wanted to shrink back. But one hand was firmly held by the Empress Dowager, unable to move. The Empress Dowager looked down at him and said softly, “Don’t be afraid, Imperial Grandmother will be with you.”

The small child wore imperial yellow dragon robes but looked pitiful, like an abandoned little one. Though it was progress that he didn’t cry on such an occasion. The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered slightly as she reminded him gently, “Do you remember what the Grand Princess taught you?”

“Yes…” Mo Xu Yun said quietly, looking somewhat fearfully at his Imperial Grandmother. Seeming to remember the very kind Grand Princess gave him a bit more courage, and he nodded seriously. The Empress Dowager said, “Good, let’s go. The Grand Princess is watching you from below.”

Mo Xu Yun nodded, allowing the Empress Dowager to lead him toward the elevated dragon throne. Though still very afraid, he no longer just wanted to run away like before. Passing the table where the Grand Princess, Mo Xiu Yao, and Ye Li sat, Mo Xu Yun’s eyes brightened as he looked at the Grand Princess, wanting to speak. The Grand Princess smiled at him lovingly and shook her head. The child bit his lip somewhat dejectedly and continued walking with the Empress Dowager.

“The Tenth Prince has changed considerably. Imperial Aunt’s teaching these past days hasn’t been wasted,” Ye Li remarked softly.

The Grand Princess shook her head and said, “He still has far to go.” Though better than when they first met him days ago, the child still had an incredibly long road ahead to become a ruler. Along the way, he would need guidance and support from wise teachers – no one is born a wise ruler. Only, who knows… if they would give him this chance.

Mo Xu Yun was led up the high steps by the Empress Dowager, while officials from the Ministry of Rites and Imperial Astronomers performed various complicated ceremonies. Even from afar, Ye Li could see the child’s small body tensing up, swaying from exhaustion. However, he didn’t cry or say anything, instead enduring silently.

Ye Li glanced around and asked with some confusion, “Why isn’t Lady Li here?” By rights, Lady Li was the new Emperor’s birth mother and would become the legitimate Empress Dowager after the new Emperor’s ascension – she couldn’t possibly be absent from such an occasion.

The Grand Princess shook her head and said, “To make the child obedient, the Regent had Lady Li confined.” Speaking of this, the Grand Princess’s snow-white eyebrows furrowed as she glanced at Mo Jing Li sitting in the front, her eyes full of disapproval.

For the new Emperor’s enthronement, to confine his birth mother, the nation’s Empress Dowager – even for the Regent, even for the smooth running of the enthronement ceremony, this was going too far.

The ceremony, which lasted nearly two hours, finally ended, and the exhausted new Emperor was taken away to rest. Next came the banquet, and with the new Emperor being young, this was naturally hosted by Regent Mo Jing Li. Watching Mo Jing Li spiritedly raise his cup to toast the guests and court officials, everyone could sense that Great Chu’s vast empire, at least temporarily, belonged to Prince Li.

The lengthy banquet wasn’t to Ye Li’s taste, and the two children not yet six years old couldn’t sit still either. After sitting for just a while, Little Mo insisted on going out to play. Ye Li informed Mo Xiu Yao and took the two children to the Imperial Garden.

In the third month, the Imperial Garden was in full bloom with flourishing grass, flying orioles, and competing flowers, their fragrance filling the air. Countless butterflies danced among the flowers, causing Leng Jun Han to stare wide-eyed, transfixed. Seeing Leng Jun Han mesmerized by the flowers and butterflies, Little Mo snorted disdainfully. Little Dai was too inexperienced. What was so special about these red and green flowers and randomly flying butterflies? The scenery in their Northwest was much better, like Great-grandfather’s bamboo-filled Lishan Academy and Uncle Han’s villa built outside Crystal City – those were a hundred times more beautiful than this Imperial Garden.

After instructing the guards to follow closely, Ye Li let the two children play freely in the Imperial Garden while she sought quiet in a secluded pavilion. Looking at the familiar scenery, she couldn’t help but recall her first palace visit when she was betrothed to Mo Xiu Yao, and their occasional palace visits after their marriage. Back then, Prince Ding’s mansion was constrained in every way, but now they could move freely without concern for anyone or anything. And that ambitious emperor of those days had now departed, his grand aspirations turned to dust.

The Imperial Garden gradually grew crowded, mostly with noble ladies and maidens. Though the banquet was lively and interesting, it eventually became tedious for the men to sit for long, so many came to stroll in the Imperial Garden in small groups.

The pavilion where Ye Li sat wasn’t particularly hidden, so naturally many people saw her. But due to Prince Ding’s special status, few dared to approach and speak. Ye Li didn’t mind – she didn’t know many people in the capital anyway and preferred being alone to meaningless small talk.

“Princess…”

Looking up, she saw a familiar face – the wife of Censor Qin, Qin Zhong’s mother. Ye Li smiled warmly and said, “Lady Qin, please sit.”

Lady Qin sat down somewhat nervously. Although the Prince and Princess had brought back Qin Zhong’s letter when they first returned to the capital, reading about it wasn’t as reassuring as hearing about it in person. However, given their families’ positions, they couldn’t simply visit each other’s homes freely, so seeing Ye Li in the Imperial Garden, Lady Qin naturally wanted to inquire about her daughter’s news.

Ye Li understood her thoughts and smiled, “Please rest assured, Lady Qin. Zhong’er and Second Brother are living very well. Their children have started their education and are quite clever. Even if you don’t trust my words, you should trust the Xu family’s reputation – they certainly won’t let Zhong’er suffer.” Far from suffering, the entire Xu family now doted on Qin Zhong tremendously. The Xu family’s main wife practically treated Qin Zhong like her own daughter. There was no help for it – of the Xu family’s five young masters, four refused to marry. This made the main wife and second wife regret not arranging more childhood betrothals. As the Xu family’s only daughter-in-law, and one who had given them their only great-grandson so far, how could they not cherish Qin Zhong?

Lady Qin smiled somewhat embarrassedly and said, “Princess jests. How could I not trust you? It’s just…” Ye Li smiled and patted her hand comfortingly, “I understand. Parents’ hearts are the same everywhere – which parents don’t worry about their children? Please be at ease. The Xu family and Second Brother will certainly treat Zhong’er well. If not, forget about you and Censor Qin – I wouldn’t stand for it either.” Though Xu Qing Ze’s personality was somewhat cold, he was genuinely a good husband. In all these years, he hadn’t even quarreled with Qin Zhong once, their harmony making even Ye Li envious. She still occasionally bantered and argued with Mo Xiu Yao.

Lady Qin smiled gratefully and said, “It’s Zhong’er’s fortune to have such a friend as the Princess.”

“You jest, Lady Qin. Having Zhong’er as a friend is my fortune as well.”

The two chatted pleasantly, and seeing this, several ladies watching nearby also gathered around. Lady Qin and Ye Li tacitly changed the topic, joining these noble ladies in casual conversation. Accompanying these noble ladies were flower-like young maidens. Looking at these blooming young ladies’ shy manner, Ye Li’s heart stirred, and she secretly smiled.

So these noble ladies had ulterior motives. Making conversation was just a pretext – their real intention was to promote their daughters. It made sense – though Prince Li held power now, Prince Ding’s influence wasn’t easily erased. If any family’s daughter caught Prince Ding’s eye, gaining his household’s support would be beneficial, and even if they failed, they would only lose a daughter. These nobles certainly didn’t lack a concubine’s daughter or even a legitimate daughter to spare.

These young ladies had grown up hearing stories about Prince Ding’s household and naturally admired the successive Princes Ding. Moreover, Mo Xiu Yao’s unwavering devotion to Ye Li over the years has become a beautiful tale. Gaining the favor of such a man was naturally every young lady’s most splendid dream.

Ye Li rarely encountered such situations. Over the years, there had been women showing interest in Mo Xiu Yao, but he usually handled them himself. The only one she had personally dealt with was Noble Consort Liu. But these young ladies weren’t as shameless and persistent as Noble Consort Liu, so Ye Li naturally couldn’t use the same sharp tongue she had used on Noble Consort Liu to deal with these young ladies and noble women.

Just as she was inwardly blaming Mo Xiu Yao for attracting these admirers, a piercing scream came from the distance. Ye Li’s heart jumped as she suddenly stood up – Little Mo and Leng Jun Han had gone in that direction. Excusing herself hastily, she used her lightness skill to leap from the pavilion and rushed toward the source of the sound.

The noble ladies crowded in the pavilion were startled by this sudden development, and when they came to their senses, they only saw Ye Li’s white figure flutter away like a butterfly.

“What… what happened?”

“Something must have happened over there,” someone said softly.

“Let’s go take a look,” someone suggested. Soon, everyone moved toward the direction of the scream. The previously bustling pavilion suddenly fell silent. Lady Qin, walking last, watched the crowd following the Princess’s direction and shook her head with a smile before following along.