“Prince Li, do you have some objection to my future Princess Consort?”

The entire second floor fell silent, even the clamor from downstairs seemed very distant. Everyone’s gaze fixed stunned on a youth in brown combat garments who had firmly grabbed Li Jingli’s wrist just a step away from Ye Li. However, none present, including Li Jingli, had seen where this youth had come from. Li Jingli glared fiercely at the youth before quickly shooting his gaze toward the source of that voice. Ye Li didn’t look at the person blocking Li Jingli – at the same instant that voice rang out, she had turned her gaze toward the straight-backed figure in plain clothes by the stairs.

Only then did people notice this person wore unremarkable plain clothes, yet he sat not in the restaurant’s chair but in an elegant wheelchair. Because he had arrived early and one side of his seat was partially hidden behind a waist-high vase, few had noticed this detail. He had been observing the situation in the hall below through the carved railings, and only now slightly turned his head, revealing half of his elegant countenance. He lifted his hand and exerted force on the wheelchair, slowly turning to face everyone.

The man seated in the wheelchair wore ordinary cloth garments, yet lacked the dejection and destitution common to those with disabled legs. Even those standing before him seemed somehow shorter as if they could only look up at him. Some people need neither fine clothes and precious jewels, nor supreme power and clouds of guards – merely by being present, they exist above all others. Half of the man’s face was elegant and handsome, naturally possessing an innate noble dignity. The left side of his face bore a mask of some frost-colored material, covering the entire left half though it only made people more curious to peek beneath, even knowing terrible scars must lie underneath.

“Mo. Xiu. Yao!” After a long while, Li Jingli finally slowly spat out these three words.

The three words “Mo Xiu Yao” seemed to possess magical power, finally snapping the stunned onlookers back to their senses as they gazed in surprise at this Prince Ding who hadn’t appeared in public view for many years, yet still maintained his dignity even in a wheelchair. Looking at this man so different from their imagination, people who had grown accustomed to thinking of Prince Ding as a useless cripple suddenly recalled what an exceptionally brilliant youth he had once been.

This former favored second son of the Ding Kingdom Manor had once been the envy of all young men in Great Chu. His literary talent and bearing were acclaimed alongside the number one young scholar of the realm, while his martial arts were extraordinary. Like his ancestors, his military strategy was divine – at fifteen he had campaigned victoriously through several southern states. He had once been engaged to the most beautiful and talented woman in the capital, a perfect match admired by all. However, his good fortune seemed to suddenly end at eighteen. His only brother died of illness, and after hastily inheriting the title of Prince Ding, the youth went to war again only to nearly meet with devastating defeat. Though the young man ultimately turned the tide, he paid an indelible price – grave injuries, a disfigured face, and disabled legs. As if heaven hadn’t afflicted this favored son enough, three months later his beloved fiancée of many years died of illness. Since then, very few in the capital had caught even occasional glimpses of Prince Ding.

If the youthful Mo Xiu Yao had been brilliant and spirited, dazzling like fierce flames, then years later he appeared refined and proper as jade, quiet and elegant as water. How much suffering lay between these transformations, who could know?

“Jingli, it’s been many years – you’ve made something of yourself,” Mo Xiu Yao glanced at Ye Li who was staring at him before turning his gaze to Li Jingli.

Li Jingli’s already expression-poor face grew even more rigid as he said harshly, “How I am is none of your concern.”

Mo Xiu Yao nodded in agreement, “I indeed had no intention of minding how you conduct yourself, however… even if you don’t wish to mind your status, you’d best mind others’ status.”

Li Jingli’s sword-like eyebrows furrowed. He looked at Ye Li, his face showing a trace of mockery, then shook off the youth restraining him and turned back to Mo Xiu Yao: “You want to stand up for her? Mo Xiu Yao, surely you haven’t taken a fancy to this woman?”

“You know our tastes have always been worlds apart since childhood,” Mo Xiu Yao showed no anger, his face even gaining a faint smile. “Additionally, showing disrespect to the future mistress of Ding Kingdom Manor – Jingli, are you certain you want to do this?”

Li Jingli’s face darkened as he shot Ye Li a fierce glare. He sneered at Mo Xiu Yao: “Ha! The future mistress of Ding Kingdom Manor? Mo Xiu Yao, are you certain you’re speaking of this woman?” Princess Consort of Ding and Mistress of Ding Kingdom Manor meant two entirely different things to the royal family. If she were merely Princess Consort it could be dismissed, but if this woman truly controlled Ding Kingdom Manor… Li Jingli suddenly realized that urging his royal brother to assign this woman to Mo Xiu Yao had been a grave error.

“Your Highness Prince Li, mind your words!” The brown-clad youth who had retreated to the side glared hostile at Li Jingli.

Li Jingli snorted, not even bothering with a farewell as he turned and went downstairs. Princess Qixia at his side looked confused at the scene before her, furrowed her brow, and hurriedly followed.

The show over, many people stimulated by today’s revelations also departed in twos and threes, feigning nonchalance. Before long, the entire second floor had only Ye Li’s table and Mo Xiu Yao’s table remaining. Ye Li smiled wryly inside – after today, the capital would certainly be abuzz with gossip.

“Ahem, greetings to Your Highness. I suddenly recalled some items I need to purchase – Zheng, Murong, come with me?” Hua Tianxiang cleared her throat, quite disloyally preparing to flee.

Qin Zheng and Murong Ting also quickly nodded. Seeing Mo Xiu Yao’s nod of permission, they hurried downstairs, though Qin Zheng didn’t forget to cast Ye Li a worried yet encouraging look. Watching her friends’ figures disappear down the stairs, Ye Li sighed somewhat amused. Surely they didn’t think she would be shy like other young ladies? Well, meeting one’s unknown fiancé in such circumstances probably should warrant displaying some degree of bashfulness. After consideration, Ye Li decided to abandon such a challenging performance. She raised her head to directly face Mo Xiu Yao, who was similarly appraising her: “Your Highness, shall we speak elsewhere? After all… this establishment needs to conduct business.”

Surprise flashed in Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes as he silently nodded. Thus, the two relocated to a private room on the third floor of Chu Xiang Pavilion.

“Miss Ye… you surprise me,” Mo Xiu Yao sat by the open window in the third floor’s only private room, addressing the unrestrained young woman in green before him.

Ye Li’s lips curved in a smile, “Your Highness surprises me as well.” If this man before her was truly the supposedly useless crippled Prince Ding of popular rumor, it showed just how unreliable the capital’s gossip had become.

“All these years… it seems Jingli’s judgment has indeed become problematic,” Mo Xiu Yao sighed softly, his gentle eyes flickering with amusement.

Ye Li smiled faintly, “It’s Your Highness’s attitude that makes me sigh. I had always thought I would receive a second letter breaking off the engagement.”

“Are you not afraid?”

“Afraid?” Ye Li looked at him puzzled, then quickly realized: “I will be as careful as I can. Besides, imperial orders are as immutable as mountains. Rather than resist, why not try moving forward? Perhaps another kind of splendor awaits.”

Mo Xiu Yao raised his hand to remove the mask from his face, immediately exposing the fierce scars beneath Ye Li’s view.

Those somewhat horrific scars did mar the aesthetics, but for Ye Li who had seen severed limbs and bodies torn apart by explosives, they didn’t even rate surprise. So she merely blinked, asking somewhat apologetically: “Was Your Highness trying to frighten me?”

Mo Xiu Yao started, the faintest smile tugging at his lips: “No, actually I dislike wearing this.” Even with half his face ruined, when alone Mo Xiu Yao never wore the mask. He was not afraid to face himself.

Ye Li nodded in agreement, “I also dislike people who wear masks.” Through a layer of masks, it’s very difficult to see people’s expressions and thoughts.

Mo Xiu Yao was struck speechless. The young woman before him was completely different from Feng Zhiyao’s many investigations and his suppositions. Looking at that composed and peaceful lovely countenance, Mo Xiu Yao suddenly felt Feng Zhiyao was right – Ye Li was indeed a very interesting woman, and the best choice he could make. A woman very suitable to be the future mistress of Ding Kingdom Manor.