Looking at Yao Ji’s paper-white face, Qin Feng’s gaze softened as he calmly asked her, “Do you have any concerns?”

Yao Ji was startled, forcing a smile, “I… what concerns would I have?”

Qin Feng spoke indifferently, “I overheard your conversation with Mu Lie earlier. Mu Lie was right – if you’re feeling uncomfortable, I can report to the Princess Consort and let you leave first.”

Yao Ji quickly shook her head, “No need, I’m fine.”

Qin Feng looked at her seriously, “You’d better think it through carefully. If in the future, you ruin the Prince and Princess Consort’s plans because of a moment of weakness…”

Meeting Qin Feng’s steady gaze, Yao Ji’s heart trembled. She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, they were filled with tranquility. She nodded, “I understand. My son is still in Li City – I won’t do anything to harm him.”

“That’s for the best.” Qin Feng gave Yao Ji one last deep look before turning and quickly disappearing into the Mu Yang Marquis Manor.

Not far from the manor, Lin Han was hanging like a bat from the eaves, swaying as he watched. Seeing Qin Feng approach, Lin Han slid down from the eaves and shook his head at Qin Feng, “Why did you do that? Acting this way will only make her hate you.”

He had specifically come to the Mu Yang Manor thinking Qin Feng was going to confess his feelings to Yao Ji but instead witnessed a mixture of soft and harsh threats and warnings. Did Qin Feng truly love Yao Ji? Lin Han was confused.

Qin Feng spoke coolly, “The Princess Consort was right – better to be clear now than lose one’s life later.”

“So in the end, you still don’t trust her?” Lin Han raised an eyebrow.

Qin Feng turned his head thoughtfully and said, “What should I trust? Trust that Yao Ji has no thoughts of betraying the Prince’s Manor? I believe now that Yao Ji won’t betray the Prince’s Manor, but… I don’t know if Yao Ji still loves Mu Yang.” As long as Yao Ji held even the slightest feeling for Mu Yang, no one could guarantee what she might do when the time came. “Right now, we just need to ensure the Princess Consort’s plans and safety don’t go awry.”

Watching Qin Feng walk ahead without a backward glance, Lin Han shrugged and followed, asking, “Should we have someone watch her?”

“Mu Lie will keep an eye on her,” Qin Feng’s voice drifted back faintly.

Behind him, Lin Han sighed. Matters of the heart were truly too troublesome. Fortunately, he didn’t have such worries yet. Otherwise, wouldn’t he suffer terribly like Qin Feng and Yao Ji, or like the Third Prince Feng? Better to wait a few years until times were peaceful, then find a suitable good girl to marry.

In the Mu Yang Marquis Manor, Yao Ji sat alone in her room, lost in thought. Today’s events had indeed given her a great shock. After the initial panic, Yao Ji gradually understood the Princess Consort’s meaning. She couldn’t help but admire how the Princess Consort could think of even these small details. She had never thought of betraying the Prince’s Manor, just as she had never thought of returning to how things were with Mu Yang. But similarly, she had never imagined that one day she would want Mu Yang dead. Perhaps the Princess Consort didn’t want Mu Yang’s life, but for someone like him, destroying the Mu Yang Marquis Manor would be no different from taking his life.

The Princess Consort had thought things through thoroughly, so Yao Ji didn’t blame her for the test. She was even grateful – if she had only learned of these things when the crucial moment arrived, she truly wasn’t sure if she could have done it. Although it was still difficult and painful now, it gave her enough time to think and decide. Though painful, it reduced the possibility of accidents.

“Yao Ji, I heard you weren’t feeling well?” Outside the door came Mu Yang’s voice. Yao Ji quickly composed herself, turning calmly to look at the man in the doorway. Now past thirty, his appearance had gained more of the steady bearing of a mature man compared to his youth. He was no longer that elegant, gentle-eyed young noble of the capital, nor the helpless heir to the marquis manor who had struggled painfully between love and parents only to compromise. Now he had gained more forcefulness and dominance.

Yao Ji stood up, smiling faintly, “It’s nothing, just not in a good mood.”

Mu Yang looked at her with concern, his face apologetic, “Did the Madam give you trouble again? I’ll speak to her later, tell her to behave and not bother you anymore.”

Yao Ji smiled slightly, a hint of mockery curling at her lips as she said calmly, “After all these years, what good would saying anything do?”

“Yao Ji…” Mu Yang sighed helplessly, “Are you still angry with me? Lie’er is so grown up now, can’t we just live well together? I’ll give you anything you want, and no one will bully you mother and son anymore.”

Yao Ji’s smile turned bitter. After so many years, she had grown numb to such words. Although her return to the Mu Yang Manor had ulterior motives, she gradually came to be grateful for these ulterior motives. If back then she hadn’t been rescued by Qin Feng but was directly captured and brought back to the Mu Yang Manor, if the son who stayed in the manor wasn’t Mu Lie who had been trained by the Prince’s Manor from childhood but her son, with Mu Yang’s attitude, could they have survived until now?

Mu Yang loved her very much, but he also loved other things just as much. Even for her and their child, he wouldn’t be willing to give up anything, not even the slightest bit. Even though she no longer had the position to blame him, she still couldn’t help but feel heartbroken at his attitude, for her child’s sake.

“Do you remember? The serious illness Lie’er had in autumn the year before last?” Yao Ji asked softly.

Mu Yang frowned slightly, “Yao Ji, what’s wrong with you?”

Yao Ji ignored him and continued, “And last year when he fell from horseback. And this spring, when he fell into the lake…” Yao Ji recounted intermittently the various dangers Mu Lie had encountered over these years, as well as some of her own experiences, both obvious and subtle. Although Mu Lie wasn’t her son, all these things he suffered were genuinely endured for her child’s sake. What made Yao Ji even more disheartened was that besides killing those servants and maids, Mu Yang had never dealt with any of the masterminds behind the scenes.

“Yao Ji, what’s wrong with you? Lie’er is fine now, why bring this up today? You know that we wronged…” Before he could finish, Yao Ji cut him off with a cold look, “Not we, you. Mu Yang, it’s you who wronged those women. If I had left the Mu Yang Manor and never returned, you wouldn’t have wronged anyone. It was you who insisted on fighting with your parents, who neglected and resented your wife. After time passed, you felt you had wronged them. But… even if I wronged them, my son never wronged them.”

“Yao Ji…” Mu Yang looked with surprise at the cold-faced woman before him. Since Yao Ji and Mu Lie were brought back to the Marquis Manor by him several years ago, Yao Ji’s personality has been different from before. He had always thought Yao Ji was still blaming him for letting her and their child suffer so much, so he had been carefully nurturing and accommodating her in every way. But only now did he realize that Yao Ji was no longer the bright-eyed, sweetly smiling, charming, and graceful Yao Ji from the Chengcheng Quarter. On her originally beautiful face was now a coldness and determination completely foreign to him. Mu Yang suddenly felt a trace of panic – had he never truly known Yao Ji all these years?

Yao Ji looked at him calmly, and after a long while finally sighed softly, “Just now Concubine Liu sent word that she might be with child. You should go see her.”

Mu Yang’s expression softened, seeming to understand something. He smiled and embraced Yao Ji’s thin shoulders, somewhat embarrassed yet somewhat proud, “I was wrong, I shouldn’t have hidden it from you… but you know, Concubine Liu’s father…”

Yao Ji lowered her eyes and said faintly, “I know. Besides Lie’er, the manor now only has two girls. It’s a good thing that Concubine Liu is with a child. You should go.”

Mu Yang looked at Yao Ji, repeatedly confirming that her expression was normal and she wasn’t angry, before releasing her and saying, “Then I’ll go check on her first. I’ll come to keep you company for dinner.”

Yao Ji listlessly nodded, watching Mu Yang leave.

As soon as Mu Yang left, the window beside her moved slightly, and Mu Lie climbed in from outside. Looking at Yao Ji, he shook his head, “I just don’t understand why you keep hanging onto him. You’re needlessly carrying the title of his favorite, yet how many women in this manor are there fewer than in other households? If it weren’t for us protecting you, you wouldn’t even know how you’d die.”

Yao Ji looked at him helplessly, “Why do you keep climbing through windows instead of using the door? You’re still a child, what do you understand… There’s nothing between him and me anymore, it’s just that he…”

Mu Lie rolled his eyes as he climbed into a chair, saying, “This young master just doesn’t like taking the ordinary path. I know what you’re thinking – even if you have no feelings for him anymore, he’s still the father of that brother of mine whom I’ve never met. If the child grows up and learns that it was his mother who caused his father’s death, it would be hard for you to explain to him, right? Why not just not tell him? There are no walls that wind cannot penetrate unless he never knows his true identity his whole life.”

Yao Ji looked at Mu Lie silently. A child who had never been a parent, no matter how clever, how could he understand a mother’s feelings? Mu Lie waved his hand, “Alright, worst case you and Commander Qin can have another child later. As for my little brother, isn’t it enough to know that he’s living well? Better than letting him know his current identity, right?”

These past few years, Mu Lie was well aware of just how awkward his position was. On one hand, he was the eldest son of the Mu Yang Marquis Manor and is currently the only son. If things went smoothly, he might inherit the marquis title in the future. But on the other hand, he was a son born to a concubine, and his mother had been a dancer and had him before officially entering the manor. If not for the Mu Yang Manor’s lack of male heirs, he wouldn’t even have been entered into the family genealogy. This made him ostracized by legitimate sons of his age from other families. Fortunately, he didn’t have to constantly stay here pretending to be the young master of the Mu Yang Manor. Otherwise, after a few more years, even his marriage would be awkward – great families wouldn’t want to marry their legitimate daughters to a dancer’s son, while smaller families or daughters of concubines wouldn’t match the status of the Mu Yang Manor’s heir. If Yao Ji’s young son had grown up together in the Mu Yang Manor, Mu Lie dared guarantee that if he wasn’t killed by others or spoiled by Mu Yang, he would probably become twisted in personality himself.

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Yao Ji glared at him in annoyance – this child was becoming more and more outspoken as he grew up. Mu Lie smiled, “No need to be embarrassed. Commander Qin came to see you just now, right?”

Yao Ji gave him a faint glance, her expression growing even more gloomy at the mention of Qin Feng. Mu Lie patted her sympathetically, “Actually, you coming to the Mu Yang Manor was just asking for trouble. If you had married Commander Qin back then, even if our Prince hated the Mu family, for the sake of the Princess Consort and Commander Qin, he wouldn’t have felt right causing trouble for my brother.”

Yao Ji smiled bitterly – things weren’t as simple as he thought. While the Princess Consort might not have minded, the Prince would not let the Mu family off so easily. The Prince could have killed the Marquis of Mu Yang long ago if he wanted to; the reason he hadn’t acted was because he wanted to torture the Marquis and destroy the Mu family. How could the Prince let go of a chess piece like her? These past few years, although the Mu Yang Manor hadn’t been destroyed, it had been in constant turmoil.

“Lie’er, you don’t need to worry about me. I know what to do,” Yao Ji said with a faint smile. In this world, nothing was more important than her son. Even if she couldn’t be by his side to watch him grow up, she had to do her best to ensure he lived without worry.

In the Li Prince’s Manor, Ye Ying was heading towards the outer gate with two people beside her. But just as they reached the main hall, they were stopped. Ye Ying frowned as she looked at Dong Fang You before her, saying displeased, “What are you doing?”

Dong Fang You stared at Ye Ying, looking her up and down, and asked, “Where are you going?”

Ye Ying’s pretty face darkened as she said displeased, “What business is it of yours where I go?” Dong Fang You said indifferently, “I’m in charge of the Li Prince Manor now. No one can leave without my permission.”

Ye Ying gave a cold laugh, “Who do you think you are? You’re a Princess Consort and I’m a Princess Consort too. Can you control where this Princess Consort goes? Moreover… I’ve already requested permission from the Dowager Consort, and she has agreed. What right do you have to disagree?” These days, the direction of the Li Prince Manor has changed somewhat. Dong Fang You, who originally didn’t manage anything, had suddenly taken over many affairs of the Li Prince Manor, and there were even subtle hints that she wanted to strip power from Dowager Consort Xian Zhao. While Dowager Consort Xian Zhao indeed disliked Ye Ying, compared to the currently overbearing Dong Fang You, the docile and harmless Ye Ying seemed particularly lovable. So when Ye Ying occasionally went to ask her for something, Dowager Consort Xian Zhao would usually agree.

Hearing this, Dong Fang You sneered disdainfully, “I said, I’m in charge of the Li Prince Manor now. Never mind Dowager Consort Xian Zhao, even if the Empress Dowager herself came, it would be useless.” No wonder Dowager Consort Xian Zhao disliked Dong Fang You. Compared to Ye Ying, apart from having a worse reputation, Dong Fang You surpassed Ye Ying in every other way. Similarly, Dong Fang You’s temperament was also incomparable to Ye Ying’s. Perhaps because she had no interest in Mo Jing Li, or perhaps because she didn’t take Mo Jing Li seriously at all, Dong Fang You spoke of the Dowager Consort and Empress Dowager without a trace of respect. Dowager Consort Xian Zhao had lived a life of supreme nobility – how could she tolerate such disrespect from a junior?

“I’m going out anyway, what can you do about it?” Ye Ying said firmly.

Dong Fang You raised an elegant eyebrow, surprised that Ye Ying, who had seemed so docile these days, could be so forceful. Compared to her third sister Princess Consort Ye Li, this Ye Ying didn’t seem like family at all. Dong Fang You had never taken her seriously. Now being confronted by Ye Ying naturally made her even more displeased, “Ye Ying, for Princess Consort Ye’s sake, this Princess Consort has given you some face. But you’d better not take advantage of my kindness!”

Ye Ying was furious and ignored Dong Fang You, turning to walk towards the door. She didn’t believe Dong Fang You would dare kill her in the Prince’s Manor!

“Seize her!” Dong Fang You commanded coldly from behind.

Two men in blue robes flashed before her eyes, appearing on Ye Ying’s left and right to block her path. Dong Fang You said arrogantly, “Take this woman back to her courtyard. If she dares make trouble again, throw her in the dungeon!”

“Yes,” the two men responded respectfully.

“You dare!” Ye Ying was shocked – these two men were not guards of the Li Prince Manor. Seeing them approach to grab her, Ye Ying began to scream, “Dong Fang You! You’ve gone too far! Your Prince won’t let you get away with this!”

Dong Fang You gave a disdainful snort, “Just stay obediently at home. Dare to go out and see if I don’t break your legs. You think this is Li City where you have your Princess Consort sister backing you up?”

“You dare! Prince… Prince save me!” Ye Ying struggled and screamed.

“What’s all this commotion?” Mo Jing Li came in from outside, looking at the scene before him with displeasure. Seeing Mo Jing Li enter, Ye Ying quickly broke free from those restraining her and hid behind Mo Jing Li, “Prince… Prince save me! Dong Fang You want to break my legs!”

Mo Jing Li looked at Dong Fang You with displeasure, frowning as he said, “What are you causing trouble about now? Don’t go too far.”

Dong Fang You frowned equally displeased, “How am I going too far? I’m just having people escort her back to her room.”

The recent affairs of the Li Prince Manor naturally couldn’t be hidden from Mo Jing Li. Mo Jing Li looked at Ye Ying and asked, “What happened?” Ye Ying hadn’t expected Mo Jing Li would actually ask her and quickly seized the opportunity, “I just reported to the Dowager Consort that I wanted to go out for a walk, but who knew she would go crazy and stop me in the main hall, not letting me leave. She even threatened to throw me in the dungeon and break my legs if I went out again. Prince, I didn’t know… that as the Li Princess Consort, I couldn’t even go out anymore? If the Prince is truly tired of Ying’er, why not just divorce me and be done with it? Why must I suffer today’s humiliation?” After all this time, Ye Ying had grown somewhat cleverer. She used the tactic of retreat to advance quite skillfully.

Although Mo Jing Li no longer had his former affection for Ye Ying, she had been with him for over a decade after all. And having made promises to Ye Li, he naturally wouldn’t mistreat her too badly. He swept a displeased glance at Dong Fang You and said, “What business is it of yours if Ying’er wants to go out for a walk? Mother Consort has already agreed, what are you making trouble about?”

Dong Fang You’s face darkened as she said, “I don’t care. No one in the Li Prince Manor is allowed to leave these days without my orders.”

Hearing this, Mo Jing Li’s face also darkened as he said coldly, “Dong Fang You, don’t go too far! Are you saying I need your permission to go out too? I haven’t settled accounts with you yet about how you’ve been defying Mother Consort these past few days. Don’t be presumptuous!” Dong Fang You laughed coldly, “That’s your mother, what’s it got to do with me? This young lady doesn’t need to accommodate that old woman.”

Mo Jing Li was about to fly into a rage but seemed to think of something and finally held back, glaring at Dong Fang You as he said, “You won’t let Ying’er go out – there must be a reason, right?”

Dong Fang You faltered, then said forcefully, “Because I want to. If I say she can’t go out, she can’t go out!”

“Crazy woman!” Mo Jing Li couldn’t be bothered with her anymore. He grabbed Ye Ying’s hand and walked towards the door, calling his guards, “Escort the Princess Consort out. I’d like to see who dares stop her!”

No matter how formidable Dong Fang You was, Mo Jing Li was still the true master of the Regency Prince Manor. In the end, Ye Ying naturally left the Li Prince Manor under the personal escort of Mo Jing Li’s guards.

In the main hall, Mo Jing Li threw a displeased “take care of yourself” at Dong Fang You before returning to his study without looking back.

Dong Fang You stared at the empty doorway with a gloomy expression, silent for a long while. It secretly alarmed those following her. The people now following Dong Fang You were all former subordinates from Cang Mang Mountain. After Cang Mang Mountain’s destruction, they naturally followed Dong Fang You, who had been their young mistress. Many of them had grown up with Dong Fang You on Cang Mang Mountain. But looking at Dong Fang You’s current appearance, they could hardly believe this was the clever yet somewhat naive and unworldly young mistress from Cang Mang Mountain. In the end, they could only assume that the sudden catastrophe at Cang Mang Mountain and her mother’s sudden death had dealt too great a blow to Dong Fang You, completely changing her personality, and they could only sigh secretly in their hearts.

“Princess Consort, Noble Consort Rong has already left. Should we…” the blue-robed man who had tried to seize Ye Ying earlier asked in a low voice.

Dong Fang You snorted lightly, “Forget it. If we do too much, it will only arouse Mo Jing Li’s suspicions. Have people watch Ye Ying – if she dares contact anyone from the Prince’s Manor, kill her!”

The blue-robed man said somewhat doubtfully, “It’s well known that the relationship between Princess Consort Ye and Noble Consort Rong isn’t good. Even if people from the Prince’s Manor come looking for Young Master Qing Chen in the future, they probably wouldn’t approach Noble Consort Rong. Besides, even the Li Prince doesn’t know – what could she know?”

Dong Fang You was silent for a moment before saying, “You have a point, but it’s better to be careful. The people of the Prince’s Manor are always full of schemes. That foolish woman Ye Ying might help others count their money even while being sold out.”

The blue-robed man nodded, “This servant understands. This servant will have people follow Noble Consort Rong.”

After leaving the Li Prince Manor, Ye Ying sent Mo Jing Li’s guards back. Originally these guards were just escorting her out of the manor to prevent Dong Fang You from making trouble, and naturally wouldn’t follow her around. Ye Ying walked around Nan Jing city randomly before turning towards a prosperous temple in the city. Ye Ying came to the temple every month to pray for her long-lost child. Seeing her arrive, the temple’s abbot hurried out personally to welcome her into the temple. As usual, Ye Ying lit incense, then dismissed the young novice monks attending in the Buddha hall to kneel alone and pray for her child.

These past two years, Ye Ying had often come here, and the young novice monks in the temple all knew that the Li Princess Consort was praying for her son. Although some didn’t understand why the Li Princess Consort prayed for the living when her son was dead, these people also knew what should and shouldn’t be said. Therefore, they didn’t think anything of Ye Ying’s behavior.

In the quiet Buddha hall, Ye Ying knelt on the meditation cushion, devoutly praying silently to the Buddha statue above. Until gentle footsteps from behind startled her, and turning around she saw a white-robed young man walk out from the rear hall. This young master in white robes was incomparably handsome, his eyes containing a smile that made it impossible to feel any dislike, only feeling as if bathed in spring breeze with every part of one’s heart soothed. Ye Ying had naturally seen many handsome men, but she had never seen a man who so easily inspired goodwill as the one before her. Even that otherworldly Young Master Qing Chen had more of an unapproachable distance compared to him.

“Fourth Sister, how have you been?” the white-robed young master asked with a smile.

Ye Ying was stunned, saying in surprise, “Third… Third Sister? How did you…?” Looking more carefully at that handsome face, wasn’t there indeed a four or five-part similarity to Ye Li’s features? Only compared to Ye Li’s original gentle grace, there was more of a scholarly elegance and dash.

Ye Li played with the folding fan in her hand, smiling, “Indeed it’s me. Fourth Sister doesn’t recognize me?”

Ye Ying smiled somewhat embarrassedly. Ye Li’s current appearance was too different from her memory – if they had passed each other on the street, she might not have recognized her. After the shock, Ye Ying asked somewhat uncertainly, “Why did Third Sister come to Nan Jing personally?” Originally she had thought Yao Ji wanted to see her, but unexpectedly it was Ye Li who had come personally.

Hearing Ye Ying’s words, the smile on Ye Li’s face dimmed slightly as she sighed softly, “Naturally because something has happened. Some days ago you had Yao Ji deliver a secret letter back to Li City – what was written in it?”

Ye Ying was stunned, “Has some problem arisen?”

Ye Li shook her head, “It’s not your problem. That letter was delivered to Big Brother’s hands, but now… Big Brother has disappeared. So I want to know what was written in that letter.” Only then did Ye Ying relax, quickly saying, “After Dong Hui died, Mo Jing Li went to find Dong Fang You. Now all of Cang Mang Mountain’s remaining forces are in Dong Fang You’s hands. Mo Jing Li made a deal with Dong Fang You – Dong Fang You would help Mo Jing Li with all her might, and Mo Jing Li would help Dong Fang You obtain Young Master Qing Chen.”

“Obtain?” Ye Li frowned – this word being used on Xu Qing Chen always made people feel somewhat uncomfortable. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Then… is it possible that Mo Jing Li kidnapped Big Brother?”

Ye Ying thought for a moment, then finally shook her head, “Probably not… Mo Jing Li did send people across the river, but they returned empty-handed. Mo Jing Li was very angry about it and had another argument with Dong Fang You. These days, although Dong Fang You helps Mo Jing Li suppress the Empress Dowager, she’s also very arrogant in the Manor, not even showing respect to Dowager Consort Xian Zhao. Mo Jing Li has had several arguments with her about this, and today she wouldn’t even let me go out.”

Ye Li furrowed her brows in thought for a long while before asking, “What about Dong Fang You? Has she left the manor these days?”

Ye Ying shook her head, then after a moment realized something and looked at Ye Li in surprise, “You think Dong Fang You kidnapped Young Master Qing Chen?” Ye Li sighed, “It’s just a guess.” Ye Ying said, “These days, Dong Fang You hasn’t gone out. But she has many subordinates, and there are quite a few people from Cang Mang Mountain in the Prince’s Manor these days. Mo Jing Li hasn’t said anything, and others can’t control it.” Hearing Ye Li’s words, Ye Ying was also shocked by Dong Fang You’s audacity. Kidnapping a man she liked but who didn’t like her back – Ye Ying knew she could never do such a thing herself.

Ye Li played with her folding fan while thinking. After a good while, she said, “After you go back, find a way to let Mo Jing Li know that Dong Fang You kidnapped Young Master Qing Chen.”

Ye Ying was stunned, saying somewhat bewildered, “How should I tell Mo Jing Li? Why would he believe my words?” Truth be told, after all this time, Ye Ying had become somewhat afraid of Dong Fang You. Especially after Dong Hui’s death, every time she saw Dong Fang You, she gave her a creepy, terrifying feeling. But she also understood that she would certainly have to do as Ye Li said. Not only did she need Ye Li’s help to find her child, but if Ye Li didn’t have people secretly protecting her, she probably wouldn’t know what kind of life she’d be living if Dong Fang You didn’t outright kill her. Just look at how the originally proud and aloof Princess Qi Xia was being suppressed by Dong Fang You these days.

Ye Li thought for a moment, realizing it wasn’t appropriate to have Ye Ying say it. Not only would it be questionable how she knew about Young Master Qing Chen’s disappearance, but Ye Ying’s mind couldn’t come up with such complex matters. If she spoke up, Mo Jing Li would probably suspect Ye Ying first. After thinking for a while, Ye Li asked, “How is Princess Qi Xia doing now?”

Ye Ying snorted lightly with schadenfreude, “Her days are naturally more difficult than mine.” Thinking of how Princess Qi Xia had pressed above her for so many years without any official status, and now seeing how Princess Qi Xia was being dealt with by Dong Fang You, Ye Ying couldn’t help feeling a sense of satisfaction from the bottom of her heart.

Ye Li’s expression remained calm as she said, “But Mo Jing Li still favors her more, right?” Regardless of how one felt about Princess Qi Xia, at least compared to Ye Ying, Princess Qi Xia was better at pleasing men. Just looking at Ye Ying’s expression of schadenfreude and jealousy, it was clear that Princess Qi Xia hadn’t completely lost favor. And with Dong Fang You around, Princess Qi Xia wouldn’t completely lose favor anyway. Dong Fang You might be very capable, but she was too easy for men like Mo Jing Li to dislike. Ye Li could be certain that the more Dong Fang You suppressed Princess Qi Xia, the more Mo Jing Li would favor her.

“You can find a way to let Princess Qi Xia know about this. When the time comes, she’ll be very willing to analyze it for Mo Jing Li to hear. But be careful, don’t let her suspect you,” Ye Li instructed.

Ye Ying thought for a moment. Although now because Dong Fang You controlled the Li Prince Manor, many of the former Prince’s Manor people could no longer be used, what Ye Li instructed wasn’t too difficult to accomplish, so she nodded in agreement.

Seeing her looking at herself with words held back, Ye Li thought for a moment and said, “Oh right, there’s news of your child.”

“Wh-what?” Ye Ying’s heart trembled as she looked at Ye Li in shock. Tears of excitement glistened in her eyes, and forgetting their current appearances, she grabbed Ye Li’s hand, “There’s news? Really… is he still alive?”

Ye Li nodded calmly. Looking at Ye Ying’s uncontrollably excited appearance, a flash of pity crossed her heart. She said softly, “Indeed there’s news. Mo Jing Qi didn’t kill that child back then. In a few more days, there will be definite news.”

Ye Ying could hardly care about anything else, repeatedly nodding, “I understand, I’ll wait. Third Sister, thank you… I’ll help you do anything you want me to do, as long as I can see my child.”

Ye Li sighed softly, “I won’t ask you to do anything dangerous. Don’t worry, after we find Big Brother, I’ll take you to see that child.”

The tears in Ye Ying’s eyes finally fell as she collapsed onto the meditation cushion, sobbing. Originally when that child was still there, although she treated him well, she didn’t feel particularly attached to him. She even used the child to compete for favor. But when she learned that child wasn’t her own, and her biological son was missing, whom she hadn’t even seen once, Ye Ying truly felt her heart being cut like a knife. She felt that as long as she could find her child, she would be willing to give even her life.

Ye Li patted her back, “Alright, wipe your tears and go back. People are watching outside, it’s not good to stay too long.” Ye Ying finally stopped crying, wiped her face, and got up to leave.

Ye Li sat in the empty Buddha hall, looking up at the compassionate Buddha statue gazing upon all beings, and smiled bitterly in helplessness.

“Princess Consort.” Zhuo Jing appeared silently in the Buddha hall, reporting in a low voice, “There are people following the Li Princess Consort outside, people from Cang Mang Mountain.” Ye Li nodded, “We’ll leave later. Don’t mind them.”

Zhuo Jing nodded silently. After a good while, Zhuo Jing asked, “Princess Consort wants to cause internal strife between Mo Jing Li and Dong Fang You – will this work?”

Ye Li sighed, “Whether it works or not, we have to try. We all think Dong Fang You captured Big Brother. But if she doesn’t move, we can’t find him. Since that’s the case… we might as well stir up trouble. Mo Jing Li is much more familiar with Nan Jing than we are. If Dong Fang You captured Big Brother, I don’t believe she could have hidden him too far from herself. If not in Nan Jing city, it should be nearby.”

Zhuo Jing nodded in agreement. Now this was the only way. The Jiangnan region wasn’t particularly large or small, and Cang Mang Mountain had been established for several hundred years – no one knew in what remote corner Dong Fang You might hide Young Master Qing Chen.

“Have people watch the Li Prince Manor. Dong Fang You won’t plan to never see Big Brother,” Ye Li instructed in a low voice.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Zhuo Jing replied softly.

Regency Prince Manor

Dong Fang You sat alone in the study, staring absently at a portrait spread on the desk. Her gentle eyes were filled with infatuation and melancholy. It had to be said that Dong Fang You’s painting skills were quite good – the man in the portrait had white robes and black hair, his expression calm like an immortal from the ninth heaven.

Raising her hand to lightly touch the incomparably handsome face of the man in the portrait, a trace of a joyful smile passed through Dong Fang You’s eyes.

“Bang!” The study door was kicked open from outside. Dong Fang You’s eyes turned cold as she raised her head with displeasure to look at the furious man standing in the doorway, “What are you doing?”

Mo Jing Li strode into the study, seeing the portrait on the desk and sneering disdainfully. He stepped forward and grabbed Dong Fang You’s collar in anger, “Wicked woman! You have such nerve, daring to play tricks on this Prince!”

Dong Fang You was stunned, raising her hand in displeasure to brush away his hand gripping her collar, “I don’t know what madness you’re spouting! Mo Jing Li, don’t think I’m afraid of you. Want to bet this young lady will kill you right now?!”

Mo Jing Li smiled contemptuously, “Kill me? In this world beyond this Jiangnan region under my control, where else could your Cang Mang Mountain find a place to exist? If you kill me, do you think you can leave the Li Prince Manor alive? Moreover… now that you have the handsome man in hand, are you willing to die?”

Dong Fang You’s face changed slightly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Mo Jing Li laughed coldly, “Don’t know? This Prince sent people to help you capture Xu Qing Chen, but you had people intercept them halfway? This Prince took the blame for you, but all the benefits fell to you alone? Then you’ll just leave, living freely and happily, leaving this Prince to fight to the death with the Prince’s Manor? You certainly planned well. Dong Fang You, if you had been this clever back in Li City, how could you have fallen to this state today?”

Dong Fang You’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged as she said, “I don’t know where you heard such nonsense. What interception? You couldn’t capture Young Master Qing Chen yourself – this young lady not breaking the agreement is already doing right by you. Don’t push your luck!”

Mo Jing Li’s expression twisted as he sneered, “You think this Prince will still believe you? From today onwards, you will stay obediently in the manor and not go anywhere.”

“You want to put me under house arrest?” Dong Fang You glared at him with a gloomy expression.

Mo Jing Li raised an eyebrow, “Tell me where Xu Qing Chen is now?” He hadn’t dared to capture Xu Qing Chen just to let this woman moon over him. Dong Fang You remained unmoved, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Mo Jing Li didn’t mind, pushing Dong Fang You aside and picking up the portrait from the desk, laughing mockingly, “You haven’t left the Prince’s Manor these days, have you? How is it? Afraid to see Young Master Qing Chen? That’s right… Young Master Qing Chen is as pure as the bright moon, called the immortal young master – how could he look upon a worn-out flower like you? You can only stare at his portrait in infatuation.”

Dong Fang You’s face changed slightly as she reached out to grab the portrait in Mo Jing Li’s hand, “Mo Jing Li, give it back to me!”

Mo Jing Li stepped aside to dodge her. Knowing he was no match for Dong Fang You, Mo Jing Li didn’t tangle with her. He turned to walk out, warning as he went, “I advise you to stay obediently in the Li Prince Manor and not act rashly. Do you think Young Master Qing Chen knows it was you who captured him? You don’t dare to see him, right? Haha… Young Master Qing Chen’s wisdom is unmatched in the world, how could he not guess? What do you think – would Qing Chen rather die than have a woman like you? If I were Young Master Qing Chen, I would certainly rather die than have a woman like you, needlessly sullying the Xu family’s centuries of reputation. Haha…”

“Mo Jing Li!” Dong Fang You was furious, grabbing the inkstone from the desk and throwing it at Mo Jing Li’s back. Mo Jing Li was prepared and dodged, already out the door as the inkstone crashed against the study door with a loud bang.

Glaring at the door she had struck, which was now swaying back and forth, Dong Fang You’s expression was so sinister and twisted it chilled one’s heart. After a long while, she finally ground out two words through gritted teeth, “Qi Xia…”