When Han Mingxi entered, he looked completely different from his usual playful and flamboyant self. The handsome smile that always carried a hint of devilishness had vanished. Now, he appeared more weary and gloomy, seemingly bearing the hurt and disappointment of abandonment. Ye Li could only sigh silently in her heart. Mo Xiuyao had made what he thought was the most appropriate decision, and Han Mingyue had chosen who he considered most important. As for Han Mingxi… he was the most innocent one from start to finish.

“Your Highness, Princess Consort,” Han Mingxi said stiffly.

Mo Xiuyao nodded slightly and said calmly, “Please be seated, Young Master Han.” Han Mingxi sat down wordlessly. His gaze swept briefly over Ye Li before settling on Mo Xiuyao. “Your Highness knew about my elder brother’s plans all along?” Han Mingxi asked bluntly, staring at Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao nodded slightly and said, “Han Mingyue understands me, and I understand him as well. Therefore… I could somewhat guess what decisions he would make for certain people and matters. However, he probably didn’t expect me to arrive so quickly.”

Han Mingxi fell silent. Indeed, if Mo Xiuyao hadn’t suddenly arrived in Guangling, Han Mingyue might have simply disappeared one night or day after arranging everything. But now, with his plans completely disrupted, Han Mingyue could only launch a surprise attack on Han Mingxi before fleeing in haste. Yet he left behind a huge mess for the younger brother he had doted on since childhood.

“So, what are Young Master Han’s intentions in seeing me now?” Mo Xiuyao asked gravely.

Han Mingxi stared at him and asked, “If I have no intentions at all, what does Your Highness plan to do?”

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze and said, “All of Tianyi Pavilion’s secret agents within Guangling City and throughout Da Chu will be eliminated within three days. As for the Han family, I have no authority to deal with them, but Young Master Han should know full well what the imperial decree from the capital will contain if it truly arrives.”

“Execution of nine kinship degrees…” Han Mingxi muttered bitterly. Brother, for that woman, have you truly decided to disregard me and the Han family completely?

After a long silence in the hall, Han Mingxi finally raised his head and said to Mo Xiuyao, “The Han family has already expelled Han Mingyue. From now on, Han Mingyue is no longer a member of the Guangling Han family!”

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow slightly. Who said Han Mingxi was useless? Just this decisive mindset alone made Han Mingxi far more suitable to lead the Han family than Han Mingyue. Mo Xiuyao nodded, “In that case, I will also write to His Majesty to affirm the Han family’s innocence.”

Han Mingxi lowered his gaze and said quietly, “Thank you, Your Highness.” Though he had never liked Mo Xiuyao, Han Mingxi couldn’t help but thank him. Even if the Han family severed ties with Han Mingyue, once Han Mingyue truly served Xi Ling in the future, the Han family still wouldn’t escape punishment. Even if they could somehow escape, the expenses needed to negotiate and maintain relationships would be enough to destroy the Han family. But with just one word from the Prince of Ding Guo, even the Emperor wouldn’t question the Han family’s innocence. The Prince of Ding Guo’s mansion had a deep-seated hatred for the three surrounding countries – even if the Emperor himself committed treason, the Prince would never do so.

“I have one more request, seeking the grace of Your Highness and the Princess Consort.”

“Please speak freely,” Mo Xiuyao said.

A flash of determination appeared in Han Mingxi’s eyes as he looked at Ye Li and said, “As the head of the Han family, Han Mingxi is willing to follow Your Highness and the Princess Consort.” Following as the head of the Han family meant that the entire Han family would support the Prince of Ding Guo’s mansion.

“What are your conditions?” Mo Xiuyao asked. Han Mingxi wouldn’t place such a big bet without conditions.

Han Mingxi said solemnly, “I only ask… if my elder brother falls into Your Highness’s hands in the future, please show mercy and spare his life.” Han Mingxi knew very clearly that given Han Mingyue’s future position and stance, conflict with the Prince of Ding Guo’s mansion would be inevitable. Similarly, he was even more certain that his elder brother was far from being the Prince’s match. Not only because his martial arts and wisdom were slightly inferior to the Prince, but more importantly… he didn’t have support like the Princess Consort. That woman would only cause trouble for his elder brother.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly and said, “Young Master Han truly values loyalty and righteousness. Since you have such confidence in me… I shall grant your wish. In the future, Young Master Han can handle matters directly according to A’Li’s wishes.” Han Mingxi glanced at Mo Xiuyao with some surprise, then looked at Ye Li sitting beside him before bowing his head and saying, “This subject obeys. I’ve disturbed Your Highness and the Princess Consort, farewell.”

Seeing Han Mingxi rise to leave, Mo Xiuyao thought for a moment and suddenly said, “Han Mingyue dared to let go and leave so readily because he equally understands how I handle matters. He knows that I won’t harm the Han family’s foundation.”

Han Mingxi’s footsteps paused for a moment, but he left the hall without looking back.

“Why did you tell him that? And why let him follow my orders?” Ye Li asked Mo Xiuyao puzzledly. Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, “Han Mingyue values emotions, and so does Han Mingxi. However, Han Mingyue places more importance on personal feelings while Han Mingxi values brotherly bonds more. Rather than let him harbor resentment one day upon learning that I was manipulating the Han family’s power, it’s better to tell him straightforwardly now. He’s a smart person and knows how to choose. As for… A’Li, since you’re already involved in this conflict, no one can withdraw anymore. A’Li, you need to have enough power to protect yourself. Power that makes people dare not move against you easily, even without me. Moreover, Han Mingxi is proud and somewhat calculating. If he doesn’t submit to me, even if he pledges loyalty, he can’t avoid paying lip service while harboring different intentions. I don’t think he would harm you. However, A’Li…” Seeming to think of something, Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li seriously.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, and Mo Xiuyao said in a gentle and refined voice, “You mustn’t be too kind to him. Otherwise…”

“Otherwise what?” Feeling uncomfortable under his somewhat strange gaze, Ye Li asked.

“Otherwise I’ll kill him!” Mo Xiuyao said softly, but Ye Li could hear the seriousness in his words, “At least not while I’m alive.”

Ye Li’s heart trembled. She reached out to hold his hand and said seriously, “Nothing will happen to you.” Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and changed the subject, “Alright, A’Li. Let’s continue our previous topic.” Ye Li’s memory was certainly not poor. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Mo Xiuyao, asking, “What kind of woman could make someone like Han Mingyue so obsessed?” Not to mention how many outstanding women Han Mingyue had met, just considering his position as the master of Mingyue Tower – every woman in Qingfeng Mingyue Tower was talented and beautiful. What kind of devastatingly beautiful woman could bewitch a man like Han Mingyue to such an extent?

Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li and solemnly uttered three words, “Su Zuidie.”

“Su Zui… Su Zuidie?!” Ye Li was somewhat shocked, “Su Zuidie isn’t dead?”

Mo Xiuyao nodded slightly, seemingly unconcerned about his former fiancée being alive. He also appeared completely indifferent to the fact that Han Mingyue, his former good friend, was infatuated with his former fiancée. In just a moment, countless thoughts and ideas had already passed through Ye Li’s mind. After a while, she finally asked, “Was Su Zuidie the one who ordered Han Mingyue to kidnap me last year? She’s now in Xi Ling… and has connections with the Xi Ling royal family?”

Mo Xiuyao looked apologetically at Ye Li and nodded.

Ye Li couldn’t help but massage her temples while analyzing the information she knew in her mind. Su Zuidie had supposedly died three months after Mo Xiuyao was severely injured, but now she was in Xi Ling and very likely connected to the Xi Ling royal family. Han Mingyue and Mo Xiuyao were good friends, but he was devoted to Su Zuidie. After Su Zuidie’s death, Han Mingyue and Mo Xiuyao had a falling out, but it seemed that Han Mingyue had wronged Mo Xiuyao. This meant… Han Mingyue and Su Zuidie had done something to betray Mo Xiuyao. However, it probably wasn’t that these two had any private relationship. Judging from Han Mingxi’s attitude and evaluation of Su Zuidie, she must have been using Han Mingyue. “Was it Han Mingyue who helped Miss Su… fake her death?”

Mo Xiuyao raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly and smiled faintly, “A’Li is indeed quick-witted.”

Ye Li smiled lightly, “It’s not hard to guess. For Miss Su to be able to fake her death and deceive so many people would require enormous power, but although Lord Su is highly respected, the Su family doesn’t have much influence in the capital. If you didn’t help Miss Su fake her death, then only the master of Tianyi Pavilion, who was close to her and harbored affection for her, could have accomplished it. You… wouldn’t do something so pointless, would you?” Looking at his current attitude toward Su Zuidie, he didn’t seem like someone who would easily let his fiancée fake her death to escape marriage.

Mo Xiuyao’s expression darkened slightly, but there was no anger or hatred, just pure unwillingness to discuss it. Ye Li tilted her head in thought, “Actually, more than why Miss Su faked her death, I’m more curious about why she went to Xi Ling afterward?” If she simply didn’t want to marry a severely injured and disabled Mo Xiuyao, with her beauty she could have easily found a suitable husband in Da Chu after faking her death or simply been with Han Mingyue. Setting aside certain aspects, Han Mingyue was one of the most desirable matches in women’s eyes. Given Mo Xiuyao’s attitude toward Su Zuidie and Han Mingyue over these years, even if they had gotten together, Mo Xiuyao probably wouldn’t have sought revenge. For a young lady who had grown up in the capital’s elite society to fake her death and travel thousands of miles to Xi Ling…

“Would it be convenient to tell me Miss Su’s current identity?” Ye Li asked curiously.

“Qing Rong Noble Consort of Xi Ling, Bai Long.”

“Qing Rong Noble Consort?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Even with limited knowledge, she remembered that a Noble Consort’s title usually only had one character, which meant Su Zuidie’s position in Xi Ling was quite high. Looking at Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li decided not to ask further. She only needed to know that between her and Su Zuidie, Mo Xiuyao would stand on her side. As for that Xi Ling Noble Consort who clearly couldn’t let go of her feelings for Mo Xiuyao or perhaps felt some regret… she’d figure that out herself. Discussing her husband’s former fiancée with him was not a good topic.

Though Ye Li decided to stop talking, Mo Xiuyao had different thoughts. He spoke calmly, “The Bai family is one of Xi Ling’s four great clans. Most of Xi Ling’s empresses and noble consorts throughout history have come from the Bai clan, including the current Xi Ling Empress. Bai Long entered the palace seven years ago, initially titled Consort Rong, and was quite favored by the Xi Ling Emperor. After the Empress passed away, she was elevated to Qing Rong Noble Consort. If not for the dying Xi Ling Empress personally requesting the Emperor to make Hui Noble Consort, who was also from the Bai clan, the new Empress, she would be the Xi Ling Empress now.”

Ye Li remained silent. In less than ten years, she had gone from being the fiancée of Da Chu’s Prince of Ding’s second son to nearly becoming Xi Ling’s Empress. One had to admit that Miss Su’s life journey was quite extraordinary. Seeing Mo Xiuyao’s forthcoming manner, Ye Li hesitated before asking, “Did you find out she wasn’t dead later, or did you know all along?”

Mo Xiuyao’s lips turned down slightly as he said, “My injuries hadn’t healed at the time. When I found out, Han Mingyue was about to help her leave the capital.”

“You didn’t do anything?” Ye Li was curious. Given Mo Xiuyao’s original personality, even if he didn’t immediately kill Han Mingyue and Su Zuidie, he wouldn’t have let them leave the capital unscathed. Or if Mo Xiuyao truly loved Su Zuidie, he wouldn’t have let her leave the capital at all.

Mo Xiuyao glanced at her, “I was in a very bad mood at the time and did indeed plan to kill them. However… Old Master Su rushed over afterward and personally knelt before me to beg. Old Master Su was my enlightening teacher, Su Zuidie’s father had saved my elder brother’s life, and her brother had died saving me in that battle. After I calmed down, I let them go.”

Ye Li nodded silently. If anyone ever told her that Mo Xiuyao loved Su Zuidie to the bone, she would throw them in water to wash their eyes. This man’s voice was as calm as if speaking about strangers. However, couldn’t even a beauty like Su Zuidie move Mo Xiuyao? “Did you… ever like Su Zuidie?” Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li with some surprise and nodded with a faint smile, “Of course I liked her.”

Ye Li frowned slightly, ignoring the slight discomfort in her heart, “Then why now…”

Mo Xiuyao interrupted her, “She was my fiancée, we grew up together, and she might have become my wife. Moreover, she was very beautiful, talented, and had a nice personality. Why wouldn’t I like her? However… she always seemed to think I wasn’t good enough for her. After I was injured, she wanted to fake her death and leave. Because of her father and brother, I let her go free. Then we had no relationship anymore, right?”

Ye Li nodded. Summarizing Mo Xiuyao’s words, meant that he once thought Su Zuidie was a perfect fiancée. The men of the Prince of Ding’s mansion were traditionally faithful, but it wasn’t just about love. They would be good to whoever they acknowledged as their wife, so this was the truth behind the capital’s rumored mutual love. Since Su Zuidie ultimately chose to leave, naturally she had no connection to Mo Xiuyao anymore. Therefore, in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes now, Su Zuidie was just a stranger, and perhaps… even a potential enemy.

There weren’t many matters to handle in Guangling City itself, but Han Mingxi moved very swiftly. That same day, news spread throughout Guangling City about Han Mingyue being expelled from the Han family and the second young master taking over. The common people of Guangling City didn’t know much about Han Mingxi, only that the Han family had such a second young master, but nothing else. Now that the Han family had changed leadership, the city’s merchants and officials naturally paid attention. Amid this somewhat unexpected commotion, Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li, and their group quietly left Guangling for the capital.

Just after returning to the capital, Mo Xiuyao was summoned to the palace by the Emperor for a meeting. Before Ye Li could even consider how Mo Xiuyao would explain her initial disappearance and appearance in Yonglin City, she was already surrounded by concerned people in the mansion who wouldn’t let her go. After finally appeasing her wet nurse and Lady Lin, and listening to Butler Mo and Lady Sun’s reports about recent affairs in the Prince of Ding’s mansion, just as Ye Li was thinking about checking on the still-recovering Qing Luan and Qing Yu, a servant came to report that Lord Ye and Old Madam Ye were requesting an audience.

Compared to last spring’s prosperity, this year could be said to be completely overcast for Minister Ye. At the beginning of the year, not only did his third daughter, the Princess Consort of Ding, disappear from the palace, but his second daughter, who was a Noble Lady, and young grandson were burned to death. Before two months had passed and the Ye family hadn’t recovered, his fourth son-in-law suddenly raised troops in rebellion. Although the Emperor hadn’t yet blamed the Ye family for this, Minister Ye’s days weren’t easy either. Sometimes the minister couldn’t help but wonder if the heavens had something against him to treat him this way. So, upon hearing the news that the Prince and Princess Consort of Ding had both returned to the capital, Minister Ye didn’t bother maintaining his fatherly dignity by waiting for Ye Li to pay her respects at home. He directly brought Old Madam Ye to visit.

When Ye Li entered the flower hall and saw Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye’s notably aged and haggard appearance, she raised her eyebrows in surprise, “Father, Grandmother.”

“Li’er, you’ve finally returned safely, Grandmother was so worried,” Old Madam Ye held Ye Li’s hand, tears flowing freely. Ye Li smiled faintly and said, “I’m sorry for worrying Grandmother, it was my fault.”

Minister Ye examined his daughter somewhat strangely, feeling something wasn’t quite right. Although he hadn’t wanted to interact much with this daughter since his wife’s passing, this didn’t prevent him from knowing some things about Ye Li. This third daughter had always been quiet and reserved since childhood, but like her mother, she seemed naturally born with the dignity and elegance of a noble family. But this time upon seeing her, Minister Ye keenly discovered that something seemed different in her bearing. Even just sitting quietly, letting Old Madam Ye hold her hand while smiling serenely, Minister Ye felt a sharpness and pressure that hadn’t existed before. He couldn’t help but recall the rumors he’d heard earlier about the Princess Consort of Ding suddenly appearing in Yongzhou and helping the commander under General Murong defend Yonglin. Although not many people knew about this news, as the father-in-law to the Emperor, Prince Li, and Prince Ding, Minister Ye naturally had certain unknown information channels. The reliability of the information he received was much more accurate than outside rumors. Looking at the gentlewoman before him with a smile on her lips, Minister Ye felt a mix of emotions. He had a daughter who kept her abilities deeply hidden, a daughter who even deceived him as her father, yet he had treated her as a disposable piece.