The First Jasmine - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: A Miserable Newlywed Life

"Prince Li and the Princess Consort of Prince Li are here as well? This old servant pays respects to the Prince and the Princess Consort." The old State Duke of Hua swept his gaze across the crowd in the hall, pausing slightly on Ye Li before paying his respects to Mo Jingli and Ye Ying.

Mo Jingli nodded. Shifting his gaze away from Mo Xiuyao, who had entered right behind the State Duke of Hua, he knit his brows and asked, "What is the meaning of this, Old State Duke?"

The State Duke of Hua stroked his white beard, laughing with immense pride. "This old body has come to act as a matchmaker for Xiuyao, to deliver the betrothal gifts. Old Madame Ye, come quickly and look over this betrothal inventory to see if there is any area with which the Ye Manor is dissatisfied? Third Miss, you should take a look as well; if anything is lacking, we will immediately have people supplement it." Old Madame Ye had already scanned the long list of betrothal gifts roughly once, so how could she dare to harbor any dissatisfaction? She hastily replied with a face full of smiles, "Since it was personally orchestrated by the Old State Duke and the venerable Elder Master Su, how could there possibly be any error?" Passing the inventory list smoothly to Ye Li, Ye Li merely glanced at it casually before turning around to hand it to Qingluan at her side, offering a shallow smile. "I have troubled the State Duke and Elder Master Su."

The State Duke of Hua re-evaluated Ye Li for a moment, then turned back to Mo Xiuyao, nodding with a smile. "The Ye family indeed knows how to raise a daughter; Xiuyao, you are a man of good fortune."

Mo Xiuyao cast a glance at Ye Li, smiling without a word.

Su Zhe also nodded in deep agreement, laughing. "The Old State Duke speaks correctly. The Third Miss's poetry, calligraphy, and painting can all be considered the pinnacle among the young ladies of the capital. The Ye family possesses excellent upbringing."

Amidst another round of praises and modest responses, the old Madame of Hua used the rationale that the betrothed couple ought to cultivate their feelings before the wedding to dismiss the two prospective newlyweds. Standing outside the Rongle Hall, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao could not help but look at each other, their gaze ultimately dissolving into a shallow smile.

"Let me do it." Ye Li walked behind Mo Xiuyao to take over A-Jin's position. A-Jin hesitated for a moment and did not let go immediately. Mo Xiuyao raised his hand and commanded, "A-Jin, you may withdraw first." A trace of astonishment surfaced on the youth's face as he looked at Ye Li, followed by a depth of respect that hadn't been there before. He respectfully handed the wheelchair over to Ye Li, turned around, and vanished before their eyes with a single leap.

Ye Li slowly pushed the wheelchair along the flat path toward the garden. Mo Xiuyao tilted his head slightly, speaking in a soft voice, "If you are tired, you can stop. In truth... I can manage by myself."

"I know, but you ought to know as well that I am not a delicate, fragile young lady from a grand household," Ye Li laughed. The wheelchair was clearly meticulously crafted, requiring very little strength to push. Ye Li also absolutely believed that even without anyone pushing the wheelchair, Mo Xiuyao himself was definitely capable of moving around completely at will; otherwise, he would never have dismissed his trusted confidant. Hearing Ye Li's words, Mo Xiuyao seemed to recall something and let out a light cough, breaking into a low laugh. "Be a bit careful recently. While Jingli's other flaws are manageable, he is exceptionally vindictive—one could say he never fails to seek revenge for the smallest grievance. Having suffered several massive tumbles at your hands recently, he will not let the matter rest willingly."

 

Ye Li nodded, stating with a touch of helplessness, "I still do not understand exactly how I provoked him."

A trace of mockery flickered within Mo Xiuyao's flatly smiling eyes. "If you had appeared somewhat wretched, downcast, or even attempted to take your own life after the betrothal was annulled, he likely wouldn't have targeted you. In fact... he might even have compensated you with something due to certain reasons." Ye Li was speechless. "So, the reason he treats me this way is solely because my performance did not align with his desires?"

"Evidently so."

"...He truly begs for a beating!"

Walking to the stone table by the edge of the lotus pond, Ye Li stopped and smiled. "Let us rest here for a moment." It was precisely the weather of early May; the lotus pond held only a blanket of jade-green, yet it left people feeling refreshed and comfortable. The maids following far behind cleverly brought over tea and pastries before immediately withdrawing, leaving only Qingshuang and a few others standing at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, waiting to be summoned. Mo Xiuyao spoke with a gentle smile, "The people around you are all quite excellent. Is that maid the one from outside the city that night? Her martial arts are decent."

Ye Li turned her head to look at Qingluan, who was currently speaking with Qingshuang, and replied with a trace of embarrassment, "Qingluan and Qingyu both came along with Eldest Maternal Uncle. Only Qingshuang has consistently followed me." She did not explicitly clarify which one was Qingyu and which one was Qingshuang; she believed that Mo Xiuyao already possessed a general understanding of the people by her side. Mo Xiuyao laughed, "So they are people from the Xu clan, no wonder. A-Li'er's foresight is also excellent. This way, I won't have to worry once you arrive at the Prince Ding Imperial Manor in the future."

Ye Li knit her brows slightly. "You aren't speaking to me about the future affairs of the Prince Ding Imperial Manor, are you?" Letting her manage a group of extraordinary special operations soldiers would pose no issue; she could even competently manage a battalion of soldiers. But asking her to manage the internal affairs and properties of an imperial manor—even with her learning and practice over these past days—still left her feeling somewhat apprehensive in her heart. Ye Li's tangled expression clearly amused Mo Xiuyao, the laughter in his eyes growing even more pronounced as he spoke, "You are the future managing mistress of the Prince Ding Imperial Manor; speaking to you about the manor's affairs ahead of time to keep you from being thrown into utter chaos when the time comes—is there anything incorrect about that?"

"No." Ye Li shook her head. She still understood the principle that one must fulfill the duties of the position they occupy. "I merely hope I will not turn the imperial manor into an absolute mess."

"I possess confidence in A-Li," Mo Xiuyao spoke with a gentle smile.

Ye Li raised her brows helplessly. "For the sake of your confidence, it seems I possess no rationale to decline either." In her private heart, Ye Li liked this feeling very much. In truth, her interaction with Mo Xiuyao wasn't particularly like that of an engaged couple; instead, it resembled friends more closely. Both understood each other's thoughts and were clear on each other's bottom lines. Perhaps their affection wasn't deep at present, but interacting together felt far more natural and comfortable than a genuine betrothed couple. Perhaps they could only possess the affection of friends for a lifetime, or perhaps one day they would become each other's family; but who could say for certain what lay in the future? Yet, it was worth anticipating, was it not?

"My current circumstances are not quite suitable to pay visits to Master Xu and Minister Xu. I can only hope the two elders will not take offense." Mo Xiuyao placed the teacup in his hand onto the table, looking toward Ye Li with a trace of apology.

"Eldest Maternal Uncle already knows the current state of the Prince Ding Imperial Manor; they are not individuals who fuss over those hollow courtesies. However... last time, Eldest Brother seemed to mention that he had visited the Prince Ding Imperial Manor?" Ye Li looked at him inquisitively, her heart genuinely filled with curiosity as to how an elegant, gentle, and refined gentleman like Xu Qingchen would express his pickiness and dissatisfaction toward his future brother-in-law.

Mo Xiuyao let out a helpless, flatly bitter smile. "Having not met for many years, Young Master Xu's demeanor remains as enviable as ever."

"Greetings to Prince Li, greetings to the Princess Consort of Prince Li." At the nearby intersection, Qingluan and Qingshuang together blocked the path.

Mo Jingli let out a cold laugh. "What? This Prince cannot walk along this path?"

Qingluan and Qingshuang exchanged a glance. This small path only led to the lotus pond; there was fundamentally no other road ahead. Prince Li clearly saw their mistress and Prince Ding here yet insisted on moving forward—was he not deliberately looking for trouble? Just as Qingshuang was about to speak, Mo Xiuyao had already opened his mouth from over there, stating, "Please invite Prince Li and the Princess Consort of Prince Li to come over." Only then did the two maids lower their heads, speaking respectfully, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, please."

Mo Jingli let out a cold snort, walking with rapid strides toward the pair of peerless individuals sitting quietly by the edge of the lotus pond. Ye Ying followed behind him, biting her lip with absolute resentment.

 

Standing by the edge of the table, Mo Jingli looked down from a superior height, staring at Ye Li. Ye Li knit her brows, immensely disliking Mo Jingli's completely unbridled gaze.

"Jingli, take a seat," Mo Xiuyao spoke flatly, simultaneously extending his hand toward Ye Li. Ye Li cooperatively grasped his hand, rising to sit right beside Mo Xiuyao, relinquishing the opposite seats to Mo Jingli and Ye Ying. Mo Jingli sat down without a single word, and only then did Ye Ying arrive before the three individuals, carrying a slight panting breath. Clearly, Mo Jingli's entirely reckless pace was not something a woman of such delicate health as Ye Ying could keep up with.

"Third Sister, Prince Ding," Ye Ying spoke in a soft voice.

Ye Li nodded, smiling as she replied, "Fourth Sister, take a seat. Have things been well over these past few days?"

Ye Ying lowered her eyes slightly, stating softly, "I must trouble Third Sister for your concern; Little Sister is well in all aspects."

Ye Li nodded. Seeing Ye Ying speak in this manner, she refrained from asking further questions. Although Ye Ying's appearance truly failed to show that she was well in all aspects, she wasn't genuinely concerned about her either. If Ye Ying truly began to pour out her grievances to her, she would instead be at a loss for what to do.

Mo Jingli let out a light snort, stating, "Ying'er is naturally doing exceedingly well, but I do not know if Li'er has been well over these past few days?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, casting a side-long glance at Mo Xiuyao before laughing, "Many thanks for Your Highness's concern. Aside from being a bit busy over these past days, everything is well."

Mo Jingli's face turned cold, his gaze staring darkly at Ye Li for a long duration, before he spoke to Mo Xiuyao, "This Prince possesses some words he wishes to speak with the Third Miss Ye alone."

Ye Li could not help but find it amusing in her heart. In truth, from the first time she met Mo Xiuyao, she had discovered that Mo Jingli particularly loved to put on airs in front of Mo Xiuyao. For instance, whenever Mo Xiuyao was present, Mo Jingli bound to prefer tilting his chin up even more than usual, looking at people with a face full of disdain. In reality, Ye Li really wanted to inform him that since Mo Xiuyao sat in a wheelchair, most of the time he would only see Mo Jingli's nostrils. Therefore, Mo Xiuyao actually rarely raised his head to look at him. Furthermore, whenever he spoke with Mo Xiuyao, he bound to use self-references like this Prince, as though speaking in this manner could make him superior to others. In truth, everyone knew that although Mo Jingli was the son of the late Emperor and the younger brother of the current Emperor, unless he assassinated his brother to become the Emperor himself, his noble rank for the rest of his life would remain beneath that of a first-rank Imperial Prince of Ding.

"Ying'er shall withdraw first; Your Highness and Sister may chat slowly." Ye Ying was the first to rise in response to Mo Jingli's words, even though the gaze she cast toward Ye Li was already so full of resentment it could practically distill poison. Watching Ye Ying's departing figure—which carried a trace of lingering attachment and unwillingness—Ye Li let out a soft sigh in her heart. In a short span of two or three days, had Ye Ying already transformed from a proud young lady of a grand household into a resentful woman of a wealthy family? Looking at it this way, Mo Jingli might not necessarily like Ye Ying as much as the legends claimed. Since it was so, for what exact reason had Mo Jingli preferred to violate the late Emperor's testamentary decree just to marry Ye Ying as his wife back then? Was it truly merely a moment of impulsive spite?

"Mo Xiuyao!" Beholding that both Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li appeared completely unmoved by his words, Mo Jingli let out a furious, low growl.

"Jingli, your etiquette truly ought to be thoroughly learned!" Mo Xiuyao flatly stared at Mo Jingli's dark and grim countenance, an invisible aura of pressure causing Mo Jingli to involuntarily stiffen. "Did the Emperor permit you to speak to this Prince in such a manner? Hmm?" Compared to Mo Jingli's dark, cold, and cruel countenance, Mo Xiuyao's tranquil expression—even while wearing half a mask—was unknown how many times more amiable. Yet even so, Mo Jingli discovered to his shock and fury that he actually experienced a hidden sliver of fear toward the man before him. This left him both furious and ashamed, and even more unable to believe it. His final impression of Mo Xiuyao was an affair from eight or nine years ago. Back then, their identities and situations were very similar; they were born from the most noble families of Great Chu, and they both possessed an elder brother. His elder brother was the Emperor, and Mo Xiuyao's elder brother was the Prince of Ding. They didn't need to inherit noble titles and lacked any burdens; even if they simply idled away their days, they could enjoy fine clothing and rich food for a lifetime. Except for the fact that no matter what Mo Xiuyao did, he was always more excellent than him!

 

Consequently, he had found Mo Xiuyao unpleasing to the eye since childhood. While he buried his head in bitter study wanting to obtain his imperial father's praise, Mo Xiuyao had already obtained the praising gazes of everyone, including his imperial father. While he secretly felt proud of his supreme martial arts skills, Mo Xiuyao had already traversed the battlefields, adding more glory to the Prince Ding Imperial Manor's reputation as an undefeated God of War. During his youth, he detested Mo Xiuyao, but he did not fear him. If he found him unpleasing to the eye, they would simply have a fight; even if he lost, it didn't matter, as he would win eventually one day. But... he had never imagined in his wildest dreams that eight years after he had already categorized Mo Xiuyao as a useless cripple, he—actually feared him!

What a supreme humiliation!

"Your Highness Prince Li." Ye Li knit her brows as she looked upon Mo Jingli's sinister and savage expression. She harbored no doubt that if they were in a different location with a different person, Mo Jingli at this moment would absolutely have ripped the person opposite him to shreds. "If Your Highness possesses any matter, feel free to speak directly. There is no matter between myself and Xiuyao that cannot be spoken of openly."

"No matter that cannot be spoken of openly?" Mo Jingli quickly calmed down, adopting a mocking expression. "Ye Li, are you certain?"

Ye Li looked at him with bewilderment, but Mo Jingli clearly believed he had grasped Ye Li's weakness. "Then, shall we discuss the occurrences on the night before this Prince's grand wedding, as well as the day of the wedding itself?"

Ye Li looked at him with a trace of pity. This fellow absolutely didn't know that Mo Xiuyao had contributed a share of effort toward his humiliating, on-the-spot fainting on the day of his wedding. "The day of the grand wedding? Is Your Highness referring to the affair where you fainted on the spot and delayed the wedding ceremony? At this moment... Ye Li expresses deep regret. And pity."

"Ye Li!" Mo Jingli ground his teeth, glaring at the woman opposite him who wore a face entirely full of innocence and pity. "Was this Prince's inability to complete the wedding ceremony not precisely according to your desires?"

Ye Li appeared blank. "What is the meaning of Your Highness's words? Although Ye Li usually experiences some unpleasantness with Fourth Sister, I wouldn't be so malicious as to hope she fails to complete her wedding ceremony. For Your Highness to slander Ye Li in this manner, how... how can I possess any face left to see Fourth Sister again?" Wanting to frame her so Mo Xiuyao would misunderstand? Mo Jingli's level was clearly still insufficient. Carrying a trace of shallow grievance, Ye Li stubbornly glared back at Mo Jingli, perfectly portraying the role of a wronged young lady from a grand household.

Mo Xiuyao, who had originally intended to open his mouth to clear the predicament for Ye Li, sat leisurely as he looked upon the clear and beautiful maiden before him. Even he could not help but want to applaud her brilliant performance. It appeared Ye Li indeed didn't require him to offer any pointers; she herself was capable of handling the majority of affairs far better than he had anticipated. Lowering his eyes in thought, only when Mo Jingli was about to flare up with fury once more did Mo Xiuyao open his mouth, stating, "A-Li need not be this way. No matter what others say, this Prince will always believe in A-Li."

Ye Li lowered her eyes, speaking softly, "For Xiuyao to be able to believe in me, that is truly wonderful. Otherwise... I truly wouldn't know what to do."

"Ye Li, you are something else!" Mo Jingli finally flung down a single sentence, whistling away like a gust of wind.

Ye Li shrugged her shoulders helplessly, letting out a light sigh. For someone like Mo Jingli, if you offended him even a single fraction, he could remember the grudge until death. Unless you were willing to trample yourself into the mud, deliver yourself to his doorstep to offer apologies, and allow him to humiliate you to his heart's content, a standard retreat was absolutely insufficient. "Regrettably, this individual still possesses an exceptionally powerful backing—the current Emperor and the current Empress Dowager. It seems I have created an enemy for you?"

"No, he and I have never been on friendly terms to begin with," Mo Xiuyao spoke flatly.

Ye Li blinked. "Could you tell me about it?"

"During our childhood, he hid my schoolwork, causing me to be beaten by my royal father once. I returned the favor by getting him a round of the late Emperor's paddle. During our youth, he suspected me of enticing his sweetheart, so he had someone drug my wine at a banquet; ultimately, that cup of wine was consumed by himself. Once during a martial arts competition, I accidentally kicked him off the arena stage; the next day, I was ambushed and beaten with clubs by a dozen imperial masters. Ten days later, Feng Zhiyao and I hung him from a massive willow tree inside the capital. Hmm... it happened to be witnessed by his sweetheart."

"As expected... an enmity as deep as the sea," Ye Li was speechless. Although she had long since heard others speak of how high-spirited and brilliant Mo Xiuyao was during his youth, looking upon the current gentle and serene man, it remained difficult for Ye Li to imagine that Mo Xiuyao also possessed an age where he engaged in mischievous pranks.

"Feng Zhiyao informed me that on the day of the grand wedding, he picked up an unconscious Prince Li from behind a rockery in the garden of the Prince Li Manor." With the obstructive individuals gone, Mo Xiuyao looked toward Ye Li with a smile.

Ye Li smiled with a face full of pure innocence. "It appears Mo Jingli has indeed offended many people." She could absolutely guarantee that nobody had witnessed her taking action against Mo Jingli; even Feng Zhiyao ought to have merely deduced it through speculation. A smile flashed within Mo Xiuyao's eyes, and he nodded. "Indeed so. However... although Jingli has consistently been somewhat lacking in brains, those two inside the palace as well as Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao are not lacking in brains. Therefore..."

Ye Li nodded seriously. "I understand." Those two inside the palace, as well as Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao, could be said to have carved a path of blood out from among the late Emperor's dozens of concubines and over a dozen sons. Naturally, they were not something a prince who had been too well-protected like Mo Jingli could compare to. Snaring their attention too heavily was absolutely disadvantageous and without benefit. Lowering her head in thought, Ye Li stated, "I am afraid... I have already been targeted by someone."

 

Mo Xiuyao swept a thoughtful glance toward the few maids standing in attendance not far away, nodding slightly as he spoke, "No matter who it is, they will never be at ease. It is not targeted specifically at you; it is merely that you are more liable to draw their attention. Before the grand wedding, the palace ought to find an excuse to summon you once. When the time comes... bring that maid of yours named Qingyu along." Ye Li looked at him with confusion, and Mo Xiuyao explained in a soft voice, "The Eldest Young Master Xu informed me that this maid seems to possess decent medical skills."

Ye Li understood, raising her hand to lightly touch the space between her brows, feeling a bit of a headache. Mo Xiuyao poured a cup of hot tea for her with a smile, laughing, "A headache?"

Ye Li nodded honestly. "I feel that I am likely still not adept at these things. These schemes and calculations of plotting against one another truly give one a headache. Do these people not know exhaustion?"

"My apologies," Mo Xiuyao flatly looked at her.

Ye Li waved her hand, stating with a lack of concern, "I estimate that even if the Emperor didn't bestow me to you, he would have bestowed me to some household he found unpleasing to the eye. The background of the Xu clan is simply too distinct; no matter whom he bestows me to, the Emperor wouldn't be at ease." Just like the various young masters of the Xu clan; Xu Qingchen was already twenty-two years of age, yet he neither possessed a marriage nor a marriage contract, yet the Emperor had never considered the affair of bestowing a marriage upon him. She even suspected the Emperor wished for Xu Qingchen to never marry for the rest of his life; even if he did marry, it would be best to marry a woman from a family that possessed an empty reputation without any power, just like Xu Qingze. Otherwise, it would be marrying a princess. Thinking to this point, Ye Li raised her head and inquired, "Are there currently any unmarried princesses inside the palace?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded, replying, "The late Emperor's youngest princess, Princess Linlang, as well as the current Emperor's eldest princess, Princess Fangfei, are both twelve years of age this year. Why do you ask?"

Ye Li shook her head, hoping she was merely overthinking things. It was highly unlikely for Xu Qingchen to marry a twelve-year-old little girl. But there were still Xu Qingbai and Xu Qingyan...

The moment he looked upon Ye Li's expression, Mo Xiuyao guessed what she was thinking in her heart. He nodded and stated, "Years ago, the Emperor—and even the late Emperor—had indeed drop hints wanting to marry a princess to Xu Qingchen, but it was declined by Master Qingyun." The Xu clan refraining from marrying imperial women could also be counted as a peculiar anomaly among Great Chu's grand households and influential clans. One must know that although marrying a princess signified that from then on, one would share no further relation with the court and political power—capable only of holding an empty title of an Imperial Son-in-Law while living a life of fine clothing and rich food—which was absolutely a nightmare for ambitious and high-spirited sons of grand households, many grand clans and powerful families were still pleased to have their legitimate second sons who lacked inheritance rights marry a princess back. After all, this signified that the clan's lineage would henceforth dissolve with the imperial family, implying the Emperor's favor and glory. However, throughout the history of the Xu clan, which had endured through two dynasties and spanned hundreds of years, at least five sons had declined to wed a princess. A century ago, the Head of the Xu Clan had even established a family rule that sons of the Xu clan were forbidden from intermarrying with the imperial family, even if they were concubine-born sons. Consequently, the imperial family no longer brought upon themselves the boredom of proposing to marry a princess into the Xu clan.

"The palace ought to already know the affair of Eldest Maternal Uncle and the others entering the capital, correct?" Ye Li inquired.

Mo Xiuyao nodded, stating, "Although it was said to be a private entry into the capital, Master Hongyu did not deliberately conceal his tracks. If such an affair is genuinely investigated, it cannot be hidden anyway; Minister Ye possesses a heart of absolute sincerity and loyalty toward the current Emperor. Concealing and hiding it would instead draw suspicion from others."

Ye Li laughed, "What you say is reasonable. Turning back, I still require making a trip to pay respects to Eldest Maternal Uncle; it just so happens I also possess many matters to entreat him for guidance."

"Pass along my regards to Master Hongyu."

Within Wang-shi's Fangyi Pavilion, Ye Ying nestled in Wang-shi's embrace, weeping and sobbing with absolute wretchedness. Wang-shi dismissed the maids in the room, holding her daughter with deep heartache as she comforted her, "Ying'er, what is the matter? Everything was well, yet you have only just completed the marriage; how did it turn out like this? Could Prince Li have mistreated you?" Ye Ying raised her head to look upon her mother's worried and affectionate face; sorrow welled up from within as she wept even more grief-strickenly, "Waa... Mother, Ying'er's life is so bitter..."

"Exactly what has occurred? Could Prince Li truly be unkind to you? Good daughter, do not fear; we will turn back and inform your father. Your father cherishes you the most; he will bound to stand up for you," Wang-shi hastily stated.

Ye Ying wiped her tears and wept, "What utility can Father possibly possess? Does he dare to act against the Prince Li Manor? Back then, when the Prince Li Manor delivered the betrothal gifts so casually, he still said absolutely nothing! Father fundamentally does not cherish me at all."

Wang-shi was left without words to reply. To say the Prince Li Manor's betrothal gifts were poor was merely in comparison to the magnificence of the Prince Ding Manor. For betrothal gifts personally orchestrated by Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao, no matter what was said, it was impossible to lose the face of the Prince Li Manor; furthermore, Ye Ying herself had been very satisfied at the time. It was merely that seeing the Prince Ding Manor so solemnly entreat the State Duke of Hua and Elder Master Su to deliver the betrothal gifts today left Ye Ying feeling that she could not compare to Ye Li, causing her to lose face. Although Wang-shi herself also experienced a modicum of discomfort in her heart, she still understood some priorities. Gently patting Ye Ying's back, which was shaking slightly from weeping, she spoke, "Silly child, how can this matter blame your father? Back then, there wasn't anything incorrect with the Prince Li Manor's betrothal gifts; you yourself were clear on this, were you not? If there truly were any incorrect area, how could your father and grandmother have allowed you to marry just like that? It is merely that the wedding date of that girl Ye Li was fixed after yours; even if it were purely to uphold appearances, the Prince Ding Manor had to ensure her betrothal gifts were thicker than yours. But you must think carefully: aside from the betrothal gifts, what else does she possess? Prince Li is the Emperor's biological younger brother, complete in both civil and military virtues, and his appearance is also among the topmost inside the capital. That Prince Ding is currently nothing more than an idle prince without power or influence, still sitting in a wheelchair, and even disfigured. No matter how it is said, you are far better off than her, are you not?"

 

Ye Ying bit her cherry lips with grievance, speaking in a low voice, "But... His Highness already possesses several concubines inside his manor."

Wang-shi was startled, before immediately breaking into a wide smile. Holding Ye Ying, she laughed and said, "Silly daughter, which man's chambers do not possess a few women? You must remember that you are the legitimate Princess Consort of Prince Li. Look at our own household—do we not also possess quite a few women? Yet what can that change? Have they not still been managed by Mother to be thoroughly submissive? Come, you must thoroughly inform Mother: exactly how did you spend these past few days?"

When it came to referencing Ye Ying's newlywed life, it simply could not be described by the mere two characters for miserable. On the day of the grand wedding, the bridal procession missed the auspicious hour, and the groom fainted on the spot before completing the bows—let alone these matters. After Mo Jingli fainted, he was sent back to the bridal chamber; an imperial physician was summoned and medicine was consumed, yet he consistently failed to wake up. Conversely, Ye Ying, in her capacity as the newlywed wife, could only lift the red bridal veil herself, and then tend to her comatose husband with an empty stomach. By the time Mo Jingli woke up, it was already approaching the fifth watch of the night; let alone a consummation night, Ye Ying didn't even have time to rest a single bit before hastily washing, combing, and dressing up to go pay respects to Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao. Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao was already dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law to begin with; looking upon Ye Ying's unsightly countenance—which could not be masked even with heavy makeup—she flared up on the spot. She criticized Ye Ying from her clothing and adornments down to her conduct and behavior as possessing not a single redeeming quality; what left her most unable to endure was that the individual Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao used as a comparison was precisely Ye Li, whom Ye Ying detested the most. Originally full of self-confidence, Ye Ying listened to Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao ramble about how dignified and elegant Ye Li's behavior had been when she saw her yesterday, while Ye Ying was frivolous and rude; how Ye Li's speech was appropriate, while Ye Ying knew not when to advance or retreat. Ye Ying finally could not contain herself, exploding and talking back. This action consequently provoked Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao into a towering rage; during the offering of tea, she made Ye Ying kneel for a full quarter of an hour. Ultimately, it was only because Mo Jingli grew impatient from waiting that he allowed Ye Ying to rise. If it were Ye Li, she would absolutely have informed Ye Ying: Poor child, you have fallen into Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao's trap. She did it solely to deliberately torment you. Having lived like a fish in water within the deep palace for decades, how could Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao truly be angered so easily? She was blatantly choosing Ye Ying's weaknesses and piercing them with absolute force, so as to borrow the opportunity to flare up at Ye Ying. It could also be said that she wished to give her a disciplinary warning.

If the unfortunate matters had stopped there, Ye Ying wouldn't have been reduced to such a state. However, after finally attending to the Grand Dowager Consort through breakfast and returning to her own courtyard, upon beholding four or five women who had been waiting for a long duration—clothed in bright, beautiful attire and each possessing their own unique charms—Ye Ying nearly spat out a mouthful of heart's blood. She had actually never known that Mo Jingli already possessed five concubines long before the grand wedding. Furthermore, she couldn't do anything to these concubines, because they were either bestowed by the Grand Dowager Consort or bestowed by the Empress Dowager. They were either the legitimate daughters of minor officials or the concubine-born daughters of high-ranking officials. Ye Ying continuously recalled her grandmother's teachings to her, utilizing the entirety of the strength in her body to suppress her fury as she finished dealing with those women. Returning to her room, what awaited her wasn't a gentle newlywed husband, but the icy-cold account ledgers held by the head steward and managers of the manor. Ye Ying was indeed a talented maiden skilled in the arts of the zither, go, calligraphy, and painting, but that didn't signify she was adept at managing a household and calculating accounts. In the past, she had disdained these vulgarities, believing they would tarnish her elegant and ethereal aura. Yet under the frowning and lip-curling expressions of the Grand Dowager Consort and the stewards, for the first time, she felt that she was a fool. Two days later, before she could even thoroughly clarify those account ledgers that appeared as though they could never be completely finished, Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao coldly informed her that she no longer needed to manage these accounts in the future. While Ye Ying let out a sigh of relief, she still understood in her heart: she had lost the right to manage the Prince Li Manor.

After listening to Ye Ying's words, Wang-shi's countenance also could not avoid turning unsightly. If Ye Ying lacked the right to manage the imperial manor, then she, the Princess Consort of Prince Li, was completely a mere ornament. For the first time, Wang-shi regretted that she had coddled and indulged this daughter too heavily; if she had taught her more back then, she wouldn't have encountered such a problem. However, what Wang-shi failed to understand was that compared to Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao, let alone teaching a bit more, even if she personally went herself, it would be of no utility. From the very beginning, Ye Ying was destined to be unable to obtain the rights an imperial manor's managing mistress ought to possess.

"Then... what is Prince Li's meaning?" Wang-shi pulled Ye Ying and inquired.

Ye Ying shed tears, stating, "The Prince stated that the Grand Dowager Consort pities my youth, which is why she is aiding me in managing the imperial manor. He said after a couple of years once we possess a child and I have learned sufficiently, it will not be too late to take over."

A flash of inspiration struck Wang-shi. "Right, a child. The Prince speaks correctly; Ying'er, you indeed ought to give birth to the legitimate eldest son for the Prince as quickly as possible. You must remember, it must be the legitimate eldest son. You must absolutely never allow those women to give birth to Prince Li's lineage before you." Ye Ying was startled, looking at Wang-shi with some hesitation. Wang-shi spoke in a soft voice, "Good child, do not fear. Mother will inform you on what ought to be done. You are Prince Li's legal wife; giving birth to a legitimate son for Prince Li is a matter of absolute course. Therefore, those women must absolutely never become pregnant before you. Do you understand?" Looking upon the cold gleam within Wang-shi's eyes, Ye Ying rapidly nodded her head. Only then did Wang-shi exhibit a satisfied smile, pulling Ye Ying to sit down and speak in detail.

The mother and daughter pair—one teaching and one learning—were speaking with absolute absorption when a maid attending outside the door came to deliver word that the Master had arrived.

Wang-shi was overjoyed, pulling Ye Ying as she laughed, "Look at that, your father still concerns himself with you." She hastily pulled Ye Ying along as they together rose to welcome Minister Ye. Upon entering and seeing Ye Ying, Minister Ye was first startled before speaking, "Why is Ying'er here?" Ye Ying lowered her head with absolute resentment, stating, "Ying'er has made her ceremonial return; naturally, I am here speaking within Mother's quarters. Where did Father believe his daughter to be?" Minister Ye knit his brows slightly, unable to resist casting a few extra glances at Ye Ying. He consistently felt that this daughter appeared somewhat different after not seeing her for a few days. However, it was very quickly categorized by him as the growth of a daughter who had already completed her marriage and wed to become someone's wife, so he refrained from asking further questions.

Once Minister Ye had taken a seat and tea had been served, Wang-shi finally inquired, "The Master is not accompanying the State Duke of Hua and Elder Master Su; for what reason have you come over at this hour?"

Minister Ye stated, "The Old State Duke and Elder Master Su have already departed after consuming the banquet wine; I came to discuss the affair of Li'er's dowry with you." A trace of an unfavorable premonition surged within Wang-shi's heart. "Li'er's dowry? Has it not already been prepared thoroughly? Does the Master feel there is still some problem?" Minister Ye nodded his head, casting a glance at Ye Ying who sat to one side as he spoke, "Mother and I have discussed the matter; we shall additionally supplement Li'er's dowry with another two rural estates, one residential courtyard, two shops, and eight thousand taels of silver."

"What?!" Wang-shi could not contain a sharp cry, nearly overturning the teacup before her. Ye Ying also stared at Minister Ye with a face completely full of disbelief.

Minister Ye knit his brows with dissatisfaction, stating, "This is the Old Madame's meaning."

Wang-shi exerted her utmost effort to keep herself from screaming, staring at Minister Ye with reddened eyes as she spoke, "Why? Yue'er and Ying'er are also the Master's legitimate daughters, the biological granddaughters of the Old Madame. The Old Madame is simply favoring one over the other too heavily. Yue'er is inside the palace so let us leave that aside, but how does this allow Ying'er to establish her footing inside the Prince Li Manor in the future?" Minister Ye spoke with impatience, "What nonsense are you babbling? Exactly what went on with Ying'er's dowry—you understand it perfectly in your own heart. Exactly how much you dipped into the family funds to pad it—do you believe Mother and I are unaware?"Wang-shi spoke with some unwillingness in a soft voice, "Could it be that Li'er didn't have extra padded into hers? Back when Eldest Sister wed, her dowry didn't even amount to a fraction of Li'er's."

Minister Ye spoke coldly, "Where the dowry left behind by Li'er's mother for Zhen'er went—are you unaware? Furthermore, the extra portions of Li'er's dowry were left to her by her mother; they were provided by the Xu clan. Ying'er's extra portions were all derived from the Ye family!"

"Master..." Wang-shi stared at Minister Ye with a face full of deep sorrow, her body also adopting a swaying appearance as though about to collapse. "I knew it... Master, you have always looked down upon me. Just because my maternal family's background is humble and cannot compare to the prominent background of Sister..." Before she had finished speaking, Wang-shi was already weeping with streaming tears, "Waa... Had I known it would be like this, to the point of implicating my daughter to be slighted by the Master, I... I might as well have died back then..."

"What nonsense are you babbling?!" Looking upon his wife's deeply sorrowful appearance, Minister Ye's heart softened. Recalling that he had consistently neglected her over these past days for the sake of the Zhao clan, he spoke with helplessness.

Holding her tears, Wang-shi stared at Minister Ye with absolute grief. "Has the Master not looked down upon me?"

Minister Ye stated, "Do not let your thoughts wander wildly when everything is well; when have I ever looked down upon you?"

Only then did Wang-shi check her tears, staring at Minister Ye with absolute emotion. "Bi'er knows the Master will bound to treat Bi'er well forever."

Minister Ye cast a glance at Ye Ying, letting out a somewhat uncomfortable hum of response. Seated to one side, Ye Ying was also lost in thought; she remained highly astonished toward her mother's methods of monopolizing her father. Although watching her mother adopt this bashful appearance of a young maiden on the spot left her feeling that it was somewhat difficult to endure, her father was blatantly highly susceptible to this tactic. She also remembered the former First Madam. One could say that since childhood, Ye Ying had striven with the goal of becoming a woman like the former First Madam. Therefore, she had actually consistently failed to understand why her father would relinquish a woman as beautiful, elegant, and brimming with talent as the former First Madam to instead favor her own mother more heavily. For a time, she had even suspected whether she had genuinely striven in the incorrect direction. However, after growing up, the praises among the young ladies of the capital and the admiring gazes of men allowed her to understand that she was not incorrect.

"Master, then... Li'er's dowry..."

Minister Ye knit his brows and stated, "This is a matter decided by the Old Madame. If you still possess an opinion, go and speak with the Old Madame." Although Minister Ye was somewhat unable to distinguish clearly when it came to the private affairs of his own chambers, he wasn't too dizzy regarding proper affairs. He immediately pushed Old Madame Ye forward to serve as a shield.

 

Wang-shi naturally didn't dare to go inquire of Old Madame Ye. If she possessed the courage to challenge Old Madame Ye, she would have found a way over these years to poison that old crone to death—the one who consistently looked at her through her nostrils and loved to point fingers at everything.

Beholding that both his wife and daughter wore expressions of grievance yet didn't dare to speak, Minister Ye let out a sigh and stated, "You also know what the betrothal gifts delivered by the Prince Ding Manor look like. Although there is the dowry left by Li'er's mother to prop things up so that outsiders cannot discern anything, which of the capital's powerful families doesn't know everyone else's background inside out? If any unsavory rumors spread, our Ye family won't be able to face anyone in the capital anymore. Greedy for the son-in-law's thick betrothal gifts yet unable to produce a corresponding dowry—that is bound to have people poking at our spinal cords and pointing fingers."

Recalling the immensely long inventory list of betrothal gifts from the Prince Ding Manor, Wang-shi also had to admit that even if the Prince Ding Imperial Manor had declined, it remained a massive family estate with a deeply substantial foundation.

"If word of this spreads, the ones to look bad will not be the Prince Ding Manor and Li'er. Instead, it will be our Ye family, as well as Her Ladyship Lady Zhaoyi inside the palace," Minister Ye continued.

The moment Lady Zhaoyi of the palace was mentioned, Wang-shi's expression wavered even further. It was merely that the thought of suddenly having to give away another few tens of thousands of silver taels caused another bout of twitching pain in her heart. Pondering over the matter for a duration, she finally spoke in a melancholic tone, "The Master and the Old Madame have considered things thoroughly; it was I who thought erroneously for a moment. I must ask the Master not to take offense. Let us simply proceed according to what the Master has stated; I currently no longer possess the state of mind to manage these affairs either."

Hearing this, Minister Ye looked at her with astonishment. "What? Did an incident occur with Ying'er?"

Wang-shi pulled Ye Ying, recounting the occurrences within the Prince Li Manor meticulously from beginning to end. Hearing it caused Minister Ye to be unable to restrain a towering surge of fury as well. Perhaps Ye Ying could not discern that Grand Dowager Consort Xianzhao had deliberately intended to strip her of her household management rights, but how could Wang-shi and Minister Ye fail to discern it? Who had ever heard of a new daughter-in-law being required to manage a household and calculate accounts on her very first day of entry? Furthermore, to directly conclude two days later that Ye Ying was unsuited to manage the household? Even the most harsh and wicked mother-in-law wouldn't act in such a manner.

"This is bullying people too heavily! I shall go find Prince Li; he must absolutely give my Ye family an explanation!" Minister Ye stated in fury.

Ye Ying hastily pulled Minister Ye to prevent him from leaving. Minister Ye knit his brows and asked, "Ying'er, what are you doing?" Ye Ying spoke in a low voice, "Father, let us delay this matter for a bit first. The Prince has already agreed to the Grand Dowager Consort; even if we go speak of it now, it will only cause the Prince to be displeased." After a bout of weeping, coupled with Wang-shi's explanations, Ye Ying understood perfectly that her sole current backing was Mo Jingli, so she absolutely could not cause him to be displeased.

"Could it be that we simply let it rest as such?" Minister Ye stated. Comparing the cultured and courteous Mo Xiuyao with the supercilious Mo Jingli, Minister Ye felt even more dissatisfied toward this son-in-law. Why did Prince Ding have to occupy such an identity and situation? Minister Ye thought with no small amount of regret.

"Ying'er will find a method; if it still fails, I shall entreat Father to make the decision then."

Minister Ye let out a light sigh, speaking to his daughter with pity, "Very well. Although Prince Li is the biological son of the Empress Dowager, we still need not fear him to that extent. The Emperor is not an unreasonable individual; if it truly fails, we can simply entreat the Emperor to make a decision for us. Turning back, let us prepare a bit more silver for Ying'er to hold in reserve."

"Yes, this concubine offers thanks to the Master on Ying'er's behalf."