Upon returning to Li City, Ye Li set aside all other matters to focus on caring for the children. Although they had been separated from their parents shortly after their first month, perhaps due to the natural bond between mother and child, the two little ones quickly grew attached to their mother. Their clingy behavior made it seem as if they had never left her side since birth.

Speaking of which, Ye Li had been a soldier in both of her lives. Soldiers who had been on the battlefield often carried an unavoidable aura of killing intent. Yet Ye Li was different – no matter how brutal the fighting had been on the battlefield, once she changed out of her battle garments, she transformed into a gentle lady who seemed to have stepped out of a scholarly family. Even her brow carried a faint warmth and tenderness, no wonder the children were especially happy to see their mother. Young children naturally gravitate toward gentler, warmer presences.

In the main courtyard of Prince Ding’s mansion, thick carpets from the Western Regions covered the spacious room. All the furniture corners had been smoothed and covered with cotton cloth. Various toys were scattered on the floor, and the two babies were allowed to play freely. Though only eleven months old, they were already learning to walk. Lin’er, the firstborn, could already toddle about steadily. Xin’er, born later and slightly weaker, preferred sitting on the floor to play. Seeing her brother walking around, she would reach out her little hands to pull at him. The thick carpet cushioned Lin’er when he was pulled down to sit, and he didn’t cry but instead broke into a happy smile at his sister.

Ye Li sat on the floor too, watching her babies giggle, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

“Your Highness, Second Madam Xu, and Madam Leng have arrived,” a maid announced softly from outside.

Before anyone entered, Murong Ting’s voice carried in from outside, “Li’er, you seem quite leisurely!” Ye Li looked up to see Murong Ting, Qin Zheng, Hua Tianxiang, Mo Wuyou, and Gu Yunge all standing at the doorway. She smiled, “What brings you all here? Please come in.”

Qin Zheng glanced inside and said with a covered smile, “It’s quite lively outside, while you’re so relaxed here. Why don’t you come out instead? There are too many of us to go in.” The room had been kept pristinely clean for the children, and with so many people, they would surely dirty the snow-white carpet. Though they were all ladies, aside from Murong Ting and Gu Yunge, none of the well-bred ladies would feel comfortable removing their shoes in front of others.

Ye Li smiled gracefully, picked up both babies – one in each arm – and handed them to Qin Zheng and Murong Ting before walking out herself. Both Murong Ting and Qin Zheng had children of their own and had become familiar with the two little ones over the past half year. The babies showed no signs of stranger anxiety in their arms. Holding the pink and tender Xin’er, Murong Ting expressed her wish for a daughter of her own.

“Sister Li, oh no, I mean Your Highness!” Yunge approached Ye Li and performed a graceful curtsy, appearing more demure and composed than during their time in Jiangnan. Ye Li took her hand and said with a smile, “Just call me Sister Li. Do you see any of them standing on ceremony with me? Are you comfortable living in Li City?”

Gu Yunge nodded, “Both Elder Madams Xu have been very kind to me, and Sisters Tianxiang, Qin Zheng, Ting, and Wuyou have all treated me well. Also… I now have an adoptive father.”

“Adoptive father?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Mo Wuyou smiled and explained, “It’s my master. Didn’t he mention it to Your Highness when he went to Flying Hong Pass? Master says Yunge has far more talent for medicine than I do – he’s delighted with her. So he adopted her as his daughter.” Ye Li raised her eyebrows, remembering that Shen Yang seemed to have some family connection to Yunge’s father, though the generational relationship… But then she realized that in this world, Shen Yang and Yunge only had each other as a family now. What relationship could be closer than father and daughter? Since Shen Yang had made this decision, he must have his reasons, so she thought no more of it.

Gu Yunge nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, my adoptive father’s medical skills are amazing, even better than my father’s. He says if I study hard, I’ll become as skilled as him someday.” Perhaps due to her family background, Yunge had a natural talent and interest in medicine, and her eyes sparkled when speaking about it.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” Ye Li smiled. Looking at the young ladies before her, she continued, “Last night at dinner, both my aunts mentioned that now that peace has finally been achieved, they’re eager to arrange the marriages for Third Brother and Fourth Brother.”

Qin Zheng nodded, “You’re right, Mother and First Aunt are truly getting impatient. It doesn’t help that Third Brother has been away fighting and Fourth Brother is far away in Xiling, rarely coming home. Mother says that this time, she won’t rest until Third Brother is married.”

“Zheng’er!” Hua Tianxiang’s face turned bright red as she glared at Qin Zheng. “You usually appear so refined, how can you be so…”

Murong Ting gave her a look and said, “If you’re happy, just be happy. We won’t tease you. Yesterday when Third Young Master Xu returned, didn’t we all see him rushing to bring you gifts?” She glanced meaningfully at the elegant pearl hairpin in Hua Tianxiang’s hair, her face full of good-natured teasing. Mo Wuyou, who was also soon to be a bride, carefully moved aside to avoid being caught in the crossfire with Hua Tianxiang. It wasn’t that she lacked sisterly affection, but she simply couldn’t handle Sister Ting’s sharp tongue.

The clear-minded Gu Yunge, however, was full of joy. “Sister Tianxiang is getting married? I must give you a wonderful gift.” Murong Ting burst out laughing and looked at Gu Yunge, “Yunge, you’re not planning to give medicine pills again, are you?”

Gu Yunge blinked, “Is there something wrong with that?”

Ye Li was also confused, “What’s wrong?” Yunge’s pill-making skills were exceptional, and her medicines were certainly not ordinary. Qin Zheng covered her mouth and laughed, “Last New Year, Yunge gave everyone in our family a bottle of pills. Then for Uncle’s birthday in October, it was another bottle of pills. And for Big Brother’s birthday this year, yet another bottle of pills. Also… among everyone in our family, Big Brother has received the most pills. Now his face stiffens at the mere sight of medicine pills.”

The others wore expressions that seemed caught between laughter and sympathy, and Ye Li couldn’t help but join in the laughter. She was quite curious to see what Young Master Qingchen looked like when his face turned pale at the sight of a small bottle of pills.

Gu Yunge pouted, looking bewildered at everyone. What was wrong with giving pills? She had given health-maintaining pills to both Madame Xus, beauty-enhancing pills to Sister Qin Zheng and the others, and wellness pills to both uncles and Xu Qingchen. As it turned out, seeing the young girl’s innocence and considering that she had personally made these pills with sincere intentions, the Xu family didn’t have the heart to explain the etiquette of gift-giving. Besides, the Xu family didn’t care much for such formalities – weren’t gifts given with true sincerity more precious than those given out of mere obligation? Though it was Young Master Qingchen who suffered the most – Miss Yunge was convinced he still had lingering effects from his serious injury, so whenever he had even a slight headache or fever, the young lady would stuff various pills into his hands. Now when anyone in the Xu family fell ill, they didn’t bother seeing a doctor or getting prescriptions – they just asked Xu Qingchen for pills. After all, Young Miss Yunge’s medicine was always more effective than what regular doctors prescribed.

Ye Li smiled and patted her head, “It’s nothing. Yunge’s medicine is very good, and your medical skills must have improved considerably these days.”

Yunge’s eyes brightened, “Oh? Sister Li, have you used my medicine too?”

Ye Li nodded, “Master Shen brought some to Flying Hong Pass. They worked very well.” Yunge proudly declared, “That’s good! Yunge will become the most famous divine doctor in the world. Then, like the adoptive father in his youth, I’ll travel and heal people, saving many, many lives.”

Travel and heal? What a grand idea. Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, “What does Big Brother say about this?”

Gu Yunge blinked in confusion, “Xu Qingchen? What should he say? Oh… he said I’ll become a very powerful divine doctor.”

Looking at the young girl’s innocent and happy face, Ye Li couldn’t help but sigh behind her hand. She had thought too much into it – who would have guessed that the marriage of the ethereal young master would become everyone’s biggest headache? Even she had unconsciously tried to match him with other young ladies. Since Xu Qingchen showed no interest, Ye Li simply nodded and smiled, “Big Brother is right, Yunge will certainly become a great female divine doctor.”

Murong Ting gave Ye Li a look and said, “What do you mean ‘right’? Isn’t Yunge a year older than Wuyou? At this age, young ladies should be thinking about marrying into good families, not about becoming female divine doctors.”

Ye Li glanced at Qin Zheng, who was holding Lin’er and suppressing her laughter. Ye Li smiled inwardly, caught Mo Wuyou’s eye, and gave her a signal. Mo Wuyou immediately understood and took Yunge out to play.

Watching the two young ladies leave hand in hand, Ye Li smiled, “Wuyou and Yunge get along very well.” Hua Tianxiang laughed, “Indeed they do. They both have good temperaments, and they study medicine together under Master Shen daily. Though it hasn’t been long, outsiders might think they’re the real sisters rather than Wuyou and me being cousins.”

“About Yunge…” Ye Li frowned, unsure how to continue.

Murong Ting laughed, “Madam Xu is quite pleased with the idea of Yunge as the eldest daughter-in-law, but one of the parties involved is truly naive while the other pretends to be confused. Madam Xu doesn’t dare speak directly to the young lady for fear of frightening her. Meanwhile, Young Master Qingchen shows no interest whatsoever, which has greatly frustrated Madam Xu.”

Ye Li thought for a moment and said, “Perhaps… Big Brother truly has no such intentions?”

Murong Ting rolled her eyes, “If he has no such intentions, he shouldn’t waste the young lady’s time. Master Shen’s adopted daughter and future divine doctor – how many families are eagerly waiting to propose?” Murong Ting wasn’t joking. Yunge was beautiful, skilled in martial arts, and had a bright, pure personality. Such a character might not suit the grand noble houses and royal families, but she was exactly what the generals of the battlefield desired. Many Mo family army generals wished to have such a daughter-in-law, and countless young officers of the Mo family army admired such a beautiful and cheerful young lady.

Not to mention, Yunge’s medical skills, which earned high praise from Shen Yang, were enough on their own to attract countless suitors bearing engagement gifts, even if she had neither beauty nor family background. Unfortunately, beside this beautiful and lovable young lady, there frequently appeared a snow-white-robed, ethereally handsome immortal-like young master. This caused numerous potential suitors to retreat in disappointment before they could even make their move.

This was what irritated Murong Ting most about Xu Qingchen – if he had feelings for the girl, he should be direct about it. If not, he should keep his distance and not interfere with others’ pursuit. He shouldn’t take advantage of the fact that she grew up in the mountains and was naive about worldly matters. After all, Yunge was truly not young anymore. Except for cases like Hua Tianxiang who was constrained by circumstances, weren’t most young ladies already married by fifteen or sixteen?

“Zheng’er, what exactly are Big Brother’s intentions?”

Qin Zheng covered her smile and said, “Li’er, don’t ask me, I rarely see Big Brother either. However… I feel that Big Brother… must treat Yunge differently.” After all, though Young Master Qingchen had been so busy these past months that even Madam Xu often couldn’t find him, he still made time to occasionally accompany Yunge on outings. It certainly didn’t seem like he had no interest at all. However… Young Master Qingchen’s thoughts weren’t something ordinary people like them could fathom.

Seeing the three discuss Young Master Qingchen’s personal affairs, Hua Tianxiang forgot her shyness and said with a smile, “In my opinion, if Young Master Qingchen truly has feelings for Yunge, he might face a big problem.”

“How so?” the three asked curiously. There weren’t many things in this world that could pose a big problem for Young Master Qingchen, so their curiosity was understandable.

Hua Tianxiang laughed, “Yunge grew up in the mountains, her nature is as pure as a child’s. If any other young lady had Young Master Qingchen frequently accompanying her, if not wildly delighted, she would at least feel honored. But look at Yunge’s troubled expression every time.”

Murong Ting and Qin Zheng exchanged glances and couldn’t help but laugh. For some reason, though Young Master Qingchen appeared as gentle as could be, Yunge seemed truly afraid of him. In front of Young Master Qingchen, she didn’t act like a young lady experiencing first love, but rather like a poor student who had made a mistake standing before her teacher. If Xu Qingchen truly had feelings for Yunge, the young master’s path to love wouldn’t be easy.

Ye Li took Lin’er, who was reaching out to her, from Qin Zheng’s arms and said with a smile, “Never mind, I’ll ask Big Brother about this later. What do First Aunt and Second Aunt think about Third Brother and Fourth Brother’s marriages?”

Qin Zheng smiled, “Mother and First Aunt want to hold both Third Brother and Fourth Brother’s weddings together this August. They’ve discussed it with Madam Yang, who has no objections.”

Ye Li smiled, “That’s good, it seems our family will indeed have many celebrations this year. When the time comes… Tianxiang and Wuyou can marry directly from Prince Ding’s mansion.”

“Li’er!” Hua Tianxiang’s face turned crimson as she glared at Ye Li, “We heard Lin’er and Xin’er were having their first birthday celebration and came to see if we could help. Why do you keep teasing me?” Ye Li sighed softly and smiled, “Others will handle those matters. Tianxiang, you should focus on being a bride. These years… you’ve suffered.”

Indeed, while they had married in Prince Ding’s mansion early, Qin Zheng and Murong Ting had married in succession, and even though little Mo Bao was almost ten now, Hua Tianxiang’s marriage had been delayed until now. Though twenty-six or twenty-seven wasn’t considered old in her previous life, in this era, an unmarried woman of twenty was already called an old maid. One could imagine the pressure Hua Tianxiang had endured.

Hua Tianxiang’s beautiful eyes reddened slightly as she said softly, “What nonsense, I’m fine.”

Ye Li patted her hand and smiled, “Yes, and things will only get better.”

“Li’er… are you going to become Empress?” Seeing the atmosphere growing heavy, Murong Ting quickly changed the subject with a teasing smile.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Who says I’m going to be Empress?” Murong Ting looked at her with a mischievous smile, “Now that Prince Ding has defeated the Northern Rong and overcome both Mo Jingli and the Southern King of Xiling, shouldn’t he ascend the throne? When that happens, if you’re not the Empress, who would be? We won’t tease you – having a close friend become Empress would be quite glorious.”

Ye Li smiled gently, “Then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, I won’t be becoming Empress anytime soon.”

“Why not?” Murong Ting was bewildered. If Prince Ding became Emperor and Li’er wasn’t Empress, no one in the world would accept it.

Hua Tianxiang rolled her eyes and said, “It must be because Prince Ding isn’t planning to take the throne yet. But Li’er… is Prince Ding…” Ye Li smiled helplessly, it seemed Mo Xiuyao’s ascension to the throne was indeed what everyone expected. Even ladies like Hua Tianxiang and Murong Ting didn’t believe otherwise.

After receiving Ye Li’s confirmation, everyone fell silent for a moment. Murong Ting sighed and looked at Ye Li, “Actually, there are advantages to Prince Ding not ascending the throne. These days I’ve heard quite a few people planning how to send their daughters into the palace as consorts. Zheng’er, there must be many people approaching the Xu family too, right?”

Qin Zheng nodded silently. Indeed, many people have been coming to the Xu family lately to establish connections. After all, though Princess Consort’s surname was Ye, Prince Ding’s mansion only recognized the Xu family as her natal relatives. However, since Ye Li had just returned, the Xu family didn’t want to trouble her with these matters, so they didn’t tell her.

Such matters were expected. Previously, when Prince Ding’s position wasn’t stable and he was still fighting for the realm, the situation changed constantly and anything seemed possible. Naturally, no one cared whether Prince Ding had just one wife or a palace full of beautiful concubines. Even if Prince Ding refused to make political marriages to form alliances, people would only say he was too proud to rely on marriage connections. But once the realm was stabilized, whether for the sake of propriety and tradition, the interests of the nobility, or to balance various powers, having a full palace of consorts would become inevitable. No matter how powerful Mo Xiuyao was, he couldn’t kill all opposing officials, and this vast empire couldn’t be supported by the Xu family alone. These people, understanding this clearly, naturally assumed that once Mo Xiuyao ascended the throne, he would follow the precedent of previous rulers and take multiple consorts. Historically, there were examples of emperors deeply in love with their empress during the conquest period, but once they truly ascended the throne, which emperor didn’t have three palaces and six courts of consorts?

“Li’er…” Qin Zheng looked at Ye Li with concern.

Ye Li smiled faintly, “Don’t worry, Xiuyao will handle these matters well.”

Murong Ting said worriedly, “Prince Ding…” It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Prince Ding’s character – she had witnessed how Li’er and Prince Ding had walked their path together over the years and greatly admired them. But the imperial throne often meant countless inevitable compromises and a lack of choices.

Ye Li said softly, “I trust him. Whatever comes, we will face it together.”

Seeing Ye Li so calm, Murong Ting also relaxed and nodded firmly, “Whatever happens, Li’er, we support you.”

“Thank you,” Ye Li smiled.

“Mother…” The little princess in Murong Ting’s arms wiggled and reached out to Ye Li, who had no choice but to hand Lin’er to Qin Zheng and take Xin’er into her arms, smiling as she asked, “Xin’er, what is it?”

Watching Xin’er sit in Ye Li’s arms with a big smile on her tender little face, Murong Ting said with mock sourness, “Madam Xu was right, you little ingrate. When your mother wasn’t here, Aunt Murong held you every day, but now that your mother’s back, you don’t want me anymore.”

“Auntie… Mother…” The little princess laughed even more happily in Ye Li’s arms, completely missing Murong Ting’s complaint.

While playing with Lin’er, Hua Tianxiang thoughtfully said, “Lin’er, could this be why Prince Ding refuses to ascend the throne?” Not surprisingly, coming from a military family, Hua Tianxiang understood many things more clearly than Qin Zheng and Murong Ting.

Ye Li started, then smiled, “He says he doesn’t want to attend morning court.”

Everyone was speechless – what kind of reason was that?

“Your Highness, Young Master Qingchen requests your presence in the study,” a guard hurriedly reported from outside.

Hearing this, Ye Li raised an eyebrow, immediately noticing something unusual. Mo Xiuyao was in the study at this time, so why was Young Master Qingchen requesting her presence rather than the Prince’s? “What’s happened?”

The guard looked at Ye Li with difficulty and said, “His Highness… His Highness is in a rage in the study. Young Master Qingchen asks that you come to take a look.”

“I understand, you may go.” Ye Li sighed, stood up, and placed Xin’er in Qin Zheng’s arms with a smile, “I’ll be back soon.” The little princess grabbed Ye Li’s hair and wouldn’t let go, making incomprehensible sounds. Ye Li frowned helplessly and shook her head with a smile, “Alright then, you can come with me. Xin’er misses Father too, doesn’t she?”

“Li’er, let me take care of Xin’er,” Qin Zheng said. Though she had never seen Prince Ding angry, she had heard about it. It wouldn’t be good to frighten the child. Besides, Qin Zheng had a good idea of what had made Prince Ding so angry. She said softly, “Don’t mind what others say.”

Ye Li nodded, “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.” After much coaxing, she finally convinced the little princess to let go. Ye Li went to change her clothes before heading toward the outer study.