The First Jasmine - Chapter 50
Chapter 50: The Shifted Rumor
The news that Third Miss Ye, the future Princess Consort of Ding, had been abducted by bandits was undeniably earth-shattering within the capital. Not long after Ye Li was taken, it had already begun circulating across various social gatherings throughout the city. Attempting to forcibly suppress rumors of this nature would only draw greater attention and exacerbate the issue. Consequently, neither the Ye family, the Xu family, nor the Li King Manor made any public comments on the matter. However, by the following morning, when Ye Li returned to the Ye estate from the Xu family villa in a carriage laden with various imperial rewards—escorted by the second and third young masters of the Xu family—the rumors in people's hearts began to waver. After all, those who happened to pass by, whether by chance or design, caught glimpses of Third Miss Ye looking completely composed and healthy; she truly did not resemble someone who had just been abducted. Furthermore, the two young masters of the Xu family displayed no unusual behavior whatsoever, even the third young master, who was reputed to possess the fiercest temperament and the least capacity for concealing his thoughts. Could it be that yesterday's news was merely a malicious rumor?
Ye Li listened indifferently as Qingshuang rambled on about the outside commentary, laughing silently to herself. Naturally, her third cousin could present a perfectly calm front to the public today, given that he had already unleashed the vast majority of his fury upon those short-sighted bandits the previous night. Recalling the heavy scent of blood that pervaded the mountain stronghold when she descended with Mo Xiuyao last night, as well as her third cousin's overwhelming, murderous aura, Ye Li felt certain that the scholarly Xu family, famous for generations of literati, was indeed about to produce a military general. She had no intention of inquiring into how Mo Xiuyao dealt with those bandits; whether they were a band that had drifted into the capital from elsewhere or were homegrown locals, the elimination of such a group was ultimately a positive development.
"Third Miss Ye."
A clear masculine voice echoed from outside the window. Qingluan instantly drew her sword, pointing it at the young man who had suddenly materialized. Ye Li pressed down on Qingluan's arm with a gentle smile, turning back to laugh, "Young Master Han, I trust you have been well since we last parted?" Standing outside the window was Han Mingyue, the abductor she had separated from just last night. Han Mingyue offered a helpless, bitter smile. "Third Miss, looking at my current state, can I truly be considered well?" The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he could sense gazes watching him intently from the shadows. He harbored not a shred of doubt that if he made any rash movements now, the Master of Tianyi Pavilion would silently vanish from this world without a trace.
Extracting a carved wooden box from his sleeve, Han Mingyue placed it upon the windowsill and said, "This is to calm the Third Miss's shock, and it may also serve as a congratulatory wedding gift for the upcoming marriage between the Third Miss and Xiuyao. I know not whether I shall be capable of rushing back in time to partake in a cup of wedding wine when the day arrives."
Ye Li nodded. Without glancing at the box, she inquired, "Young Master Han prepares to depart from the capital?"
Han Mingyue smiled and said, "I have suffered a few too many frights of late. Remaining in Jiangnan will grant me greater peace of mind. Miss Ye is welcome to accompany Xiuyao to Jiangnan whenever she possesses the leisure; at that time, this specialized host shall certainly fulfill the duties of hospitality." Ye Li laughed and said, "Young Master Han's words leave us somewhat ashamed." Han Mingyue arched his brows. "Then... the previous misunderstanding is wiped clean?" Ye Li’s eyes flickered slightly as she smiled. "The misunderstanding between you and me is wiped clean. As for whatever misunderstanding remains between you and Mo Xiuyao, that is entirely your own affair." Han Mingyue felt a touch of disappointment, yet he also understood that forcing the matter would be unreasonable. Furthermore, he appreciated Ye Li's sense of propriety, so he refrained from delaying any longer, cupping his hands. "With this, I shall take my leave."
"Take care, I shall not see you out."
Once Han Mingyue departed, Qingluan stepped forward to retrieve the box from the windowsill, speaking with dissatisfaction, "Miss, why must you be so courteous to an individual of that sort?" Ye Li turned and sat down, laughing. "He was also exceptionally courteous to us yesterday." Ye Li understood clearly in her heart that had Han Mingyue not been cautious of her connection to Mo Xiuyao from the very beginning, they might not have possessed the opportunity to escape entirely unscathed. She believed Han Mingyue held Mo Xiuyao in high regard, but she didn't entirely believe he was truly terrified of him.
"Were it not for him, how could the Miss... those individuals outside are still spreading word of the Miss's abduction, and the language used is utterly repulsive..." Qingluan did not consider Han Mingyue to have been courteous to them in the slightest. Were it not for him, how could her mistress be subjected to the idle gossip and ridicule of others? Ye Li stated flatly, "Even without him, it might very well have been someone else. Not everyone happens to be an acquaintance of the Prince." Accepting the box delivered by Qingluan, Ye Li opened it and felt a touch of surprise. Neatly arranged inside was a thick stack of silver notes: two gold notes of ten thousand taels each, along with over a dozen silver notes of one thousand taels each. Glancing inside, Qingluan could not resist crying out in astonishment, "Miss... this..."
Ye Li arched her brows, her expression turning somewhat conflicted. Two gold notes of ten thousand taels were equivalent to over two hundred thousand taels of silver. Such a staggering sum of money left even Ye Li feeling uneasy about truly accepting it. Beside the notes lay a pair of exquisite white jade dragon-and-phoenix pendants; one look at the quality of the jade revealed its extraordinary value. After a moment's consideration, Ye Li closed the lid and handed the box to Qingshuang. "Prepare yourself, I must pay a visit to the Ding King Manor."
Qingshuang held the box with absolute caution. She had also glimpsed the contents just now; from her childhood to the present, she had never witnessed so much wealth. Ooh, I am so terrified...
"Yes, Miss."
"Ah Li! Ah Li..." Murong Ting's voice drifted in from the outside before she even crossed the threshold. Ye Li beamed with a smile, rising to welcome her guests. Qin Zheng, Hua Tianxiang, and Qin Yuling—the sister of the Capital Governor Qin Muzhi, whom Ye Li had only met twice before—had come in a group to visit her. Murong Ting was the first to dash into the chamber, grasping Ye Li as she spoke repeatedly, "Ah Li, are you unharmed?" Ye Li smiled charmingly. "If something had happened to me, how could I be standing here? Why have you all come?"
Qin Zheng covered her lips and smiled softly. "Ting'er ran over at the break of dawn, dragging Tianxiang and me along to find you. I explicitly informed her that absolutely nothing had happened to you, yet she insisted she could not rest easy without seeing you for herself. We encountered Miss Yuling on the road, so we came together." Murong Ting held Ye Li, waving her delicate fist with resentment. "If this young lady discovers which bastard recklessly spread those rumors, I shall certainly thrash him until even his own parents cannot recognize his face! It is simply too outrageous—ten thousand times more outrageous than that scoundrel Leng Haoyu!" The group could not help but burst into laughter. Ye Li smiled at Qin Yuling and said, "Miss Qin, thank you for making a special trip to see me."
Qin Yuling offered a somewhat timid smile. "In truth... I have come on behalf of my older brother to offer an apology to Miss Ye. He has not long held the position of Capital Governor, yet such an event occurred, implicating Miss Ye's reputation..."
Ye Li shook her head. Looking at Qin Yuling's expression, she knew the girl must have come on her own accord without Qin Muzhi's knowledge. In reality, attempting to place the blame for such an occurrence on Qin Muzhi as the Capital Governor was entirely illogical. Even in areas with advanced technology in her past life, crime was never absent, let alone in this era where human energy was limited. How could one oversee every single corner?
"Lord Qin is the parental magistrate of the capital's citizens, entirely dedicated to the people and long known as the Iron-Faced Judge. This is merely a trifling rumor; Miss Qin need not pay it any mind. Rumors end when they reach the wise; if one ignores them, those individuals will find it tedious and naturally cease spreading them."
Hearing Ye Li's words, Qin Yuling let out a sigh of relief. She had depended on her older brother since childhood; though her brother hadn't spoken of it, she knew this matter involved the Ding King Manor, the Minister's estate, and the Xu family. Her brother was merely a governor of the third rank, and the Qin family possessed no powerful backing to support them. A single misstep could easily result in him being utilized as a scapegoat. "Thank you, Miss Ye."
Hua Tianxiang laughed and said, "Miss Qin, you need not thank her. Those petty individuals harbor jealousy toward Ah Li and wish to ruin her reputation; Lord Qin could not possibly manage the mouths of every single person, correct? Ah Li, observing your attire, do you prepare to go out?" Noticing Ye Li's clothing and adornments, Hua Tianxiang inquired, "Could it be that our arrival is ill-timed?"
"I had intended to visit the Ding King Manor just now, but it is nothing of grave importance. It will not be too late to proceed after I return," Ye Li stated.
"Oh?" Murong Ting's eyes flickered with a mischievous smile. "It turns out our Ah Li is already so well-acquainted with Prince Ding."
Ye Li shot her an annoyed glare, but Murong Ting paid it no mind, stating merrily, "Why must you personally visit the Ding King Manor? Simply dispatch an invitation to request Prince Ding to step out for a meeting, would that not suffice? It will also serve to let those talkative, insidious scoundrels know that no matter how much effort they expend, they cannot tear Ah Li and Prince Ding apart!" Qin Yuling looked at Murong Ting with a touch of confusion. "Does Miss Murong know who executed this deed?"
"Just call me Murong," Murong Ting stated with absolute confidence. "Who else could it be? It must certainly be that Prince Li, who cannot bear to see Ah Li live well. I have truly never witnessed a man with a narrower mind than his in my entire life; he and Ye Ying are an absolute match!"
Ye Li remained silent. This time, Mo Jingli was truly wrongly accused. However, this ought to be considered a result of his poor character, which made him so easily suspected. The other three looked at one another, but beholding Murong Ting's thoroughly certain expression and considering the grievances between Mo Jingli and Ye Li, they unanimously agreed with Murong Ting's suspicion in their hearts. Even Qin Yuling wore an expression that suggested she had never expected Prince Li to be such an individual.
Prince Li's foul temperament was no secret among the nobility of the capital. However, if anyone observed closely, they would discover that after his grand wedding, His Royal Highness Prince Li—who ought to be in the midst of marital bliss and riding a wave of success—possessed a temperament even worse than before his marriage. Especially when he stepped out early this morning, listening to others discuss that woman Ye Li ought to have put him in an incomparably magnificent mood. Instead, he discovered that whenever he passed by, people would invariably cast bizarre glances at him, or swiftly shut their mouths to change the subject to something entirely unrelated. Even when drinking tea, he could feel the gaze of everyone in the entire teahouse surreptitiously drifting toward his person. Ye Li was the one who suffered a mishap, so the one ridiculed and viewed as a laughingstock ought to be Mo Xiuyao! Why did he feel as though everyone was viewing him as the laughingstock?
The vast majority of the capital's citizens were still fundamentally kind-hearted. Consequently, the instant they witnessed Mo Jingli's appearance, even while knowing they could not afford to offend the Emperor's biological younger brother, they still granted him looks of utter disdain. Tsk! What manner of individual is he? Breaking off a young lady's engagement without rhyme or reason is one thing, but he cannot even bear to see her live well. Not only did he tarnish her reputation previously, but now he even spreads such a malicious rumor? If this were a maiden from an ordinary household, would she not be driven to take her own life? An individual of this sort, even if a member of the imperial family, is still universally classified as scum!
"Prince... Your Highness..." The attendants following beside Mo Jingli were thoroughly terrified by the low pressure radiating from their prince.
"Exactly what is going on?!" Mo Jingli demanded through gritted teeth.
Guard A looked left and right, sorrowfully discovering that he was the closest to the Prince. Guards B, C, and D had long since vanished to the side. Trembling with fear, he stated, "Rep... Replying to Your Highness, everyone is discussing the matter regarding the Th... Third Miss Ye."
"This Prince knows they are discussing that woman! What does discussing that woman have to do with this Prince?! Why must they look at this Prince with those looks reserved for scum? Do they believe this Prince hasn't noticed? Ought they not be ridiculing and mocking that woman, laughing at that cripple Mo Xiuyao for being cuckolded?!" (Do you even recognize that you are scum?)
"This... some individuals claim... claim that Your Highness cannot bear to see Third Miss Ye live well, hating that she is about to joyfully enter the Ding King Manor, and because she was discourteous to you at the Chuxiang Pavilion previously, you deliberately circulated rumors... cough cough... to tarnish Third Miss Ye's reputa... reputation... intending to..." Attempting to state the words clearly with the utmost speed, Guard A's face flushed crimson. Before he could finish his speech, he watched with terror as his prince crushed the folding fan in his hand into complete powder.
"What did you say?!" A sinister aura radiated from Mo Jingli's body, causing passersby to deliberately take a wide detour around him.
"Prince... Your Highness... these are not my words; they are the words of the vast masses of the capital's citizenry," Guard A grumbled aggrievedly in his heart. In short, following his pursuit of his fiancée's younger sister and purchasing items without paying, the reputation of the Prince Li Manor had once again reached a new low.
"Ah Li, Zheng'er, come up quickly. There are few individuals upstairs, so let us sit outside." A crisp female voice rescued the nearly frozen Guard A. Upon witnessing his prince's gaze swiftly shift toward the entrance of the staircase, Guard A rolled himself into a ball even faster, hiding in a secure location. Murong Ting, clad in flamboyant red attire, was the first to ascend to the second floor, turning back to beckon her friends behind her. The waiter leading the way before her practically wished to weep. Miss Murong, how can you claim there are few individuals upstairs? Our establishment is one of the finest teahouses in the capital. Everyone was frightened away by Prince Li!
"Eh?" Turning her head, Murong Ting immediately beheld Mo Jingli, whose face was as black as inkstone. She could not resist looking back at her companions, considering whether to switch to a different teahouse. However, within this brief instant, Hua Tianxiang and the others had already ascended, leaving the group of five young maidens to helplessly stare at one another. Ye Li felt even more helpless; she truly wondered if she shared some sort of karmic grievance with Mo Jingli from a past life. No matter where she went, it seemed she would encounter him whenever she stepped out. Ye Li did not know that this was actually not particularly strange; although the capital was the most prosperous city in Great Chu, it was not particularly large compared to the massive cities in her memories. Furthermore, the nobility could not possibly visit the same locations as ordinary citizens; the places they could frequent were essentially limited to a specific few. Therefore, unless one rarely stepped out like Ye Li, individuals who frequently ran about like Murong Ting would essentially encounter acquaintances in every shop they entered.
"Ah Li..." Murong Ting looked at Ye Li apologetically. She truly hadn't expected Prince Li, who was newly wed, to leave his charming bride at home during the broad daylight to drink tea alone in a teahouse.
"No matter, let us remain here." Ye Li also understood that Murong Ting was not to blame, and furthermore, she had no intention of deliberately avoiding Mo Jingli. They were all within the same capital, both belonging to noble households, and even shared a relational connection; where could she possibly hide? Nodding serenely to Mo Jingli, Ye Li pulled Qin Zheng and Qin Yuling toward a quieter position in the corner.
Murong Ting poked out her tongue, hastily dragging Hua Tianxiang along to follow them.
"Sigh, do you think Prince Ding will truly arrive?" Murong Ting inquired in a low voice. She hadn't grown up in the capital and was truly unfamiliar with Prince Ding. Hua Tianxiang was filled with confidence, nodding as she said, "Rest your heart, my grandfather stated that Prince Ding is a decent individual. Since he received the invitation, he will certainly arrive."
Qin Yuling spoke softly, "Then let us withdraw early to avoid disrupting the conversation between Ah Li and Prince Ding."
Murong Ting giggled and said, "It is still early. We stepped out ahead of schedule, so Prince Ding certainly hasn't emerged yet. It will not be too late to change locations once he arrives. Hehe, did you all observe the expressions of those individuals downstairs just now? The moment they witnessed us entering, their faces turned so peculiar. I was truly afraid their eyeballs would pop out into their teacups." Hua Tianxiang let out a light snort. "Those individuals likely assumed Ah Li was currently hiding at home and weeping; suddenly witnessing our appearance naturally gave them a fright."
Qin Zheng covered her lips and laughed. "I have also never witnessed so many individuals simultaneously dumbfounded; this is the first time in my life I have been the center of such attention."
Watching her close friends chatter about their experiences upon stepping out today, Ye Li could only shake her head with amusement. In truth, the rumors appeared far less fierce than she had anticipated; Mo Xiuyao and her eldest maternal uncle must have executed some countermeasures in the shadows. At minimum, the gazes the majority of people directed at her were filled with surprise or sympathy, rather than the disdain and contempt she had originally expected. It appeared the vast majority of people did not believe the news of her abduction.
Seated in a somewhat remote corner, Ye Li and her companions chatted among themselves. Mo Jingli sat alone in a position by the window, his face dark as he drank his tea as though it were wine.Because of the distance, he could not discern what they were discussing, yet he could still perceive their excellent atmosphere and fine mood. It appeared they were entirely unaffected by the rumors. Mo Jingli could not help but grit his teeth with fury; Ye Li was clearly the one who had suffered a mishap, yet she herself acted as though nothing had occurred, leaving him to bear the black pot instead. However, attempting to storm over and argue with Ye Li now was an action that even Mo Jingli felt would cause him to lose face. Consequently, he could only allow his chilling aura to frighten away the surrounding patrons, continuing to pour tea into his mouth.
"Ah, Ah Li! Prince Ding has arrived!" In the midst of his resentment, Murong Ting's loud voice echoed from not far behind him, loud enough to be heard across the entire second floor. Everyone raised their heads to look, beholding Murong Ting excitedly leaning over the windowsill to peer down. Qin Zheng helplessly pulled her back, turning to smile at Ye Li. "Li'er, you should go down to welcome the Prince." Hua Tianxiang covered her lips and snickered, waving her hand to tease her, "It matters not if you do not return; after we finish our pastries, we shall go shopping on our own. In any case, there are no extra seats here for Prince Ding."
Hearing this, the few remaining patrons on the second floor began to regret choosing positions closer to the interior out of fear of Prince Li's chilling aura; now they could only prick up their ears and exert their utmost effort to listen to the maidens speaking at that corner table. Ye Li looked on, unable to resist feeling amused; gossip was indeed an indispensable trait shared by individuals across every era. Under the explicit or implicit watch of the crowd, Ye Li rose and walked downstairs. As she passed Mo Jingli's table, she clearly perceived his venomous glare fixed upon her. Ye Li felt helpless; some individuals were simply naturally incompatible, and it could not be forced.
Watching Third Miss Ye calmly descend the stairs, the diners upstairs directed even more complex gazes and expressions toward Mo Jingli. Beholding Third Miss Ye appearing so serenely in public and calmly keeping her appointment with Prince Ding, she truly did not resemble someone who had suffered any mishap. Conversely, Prince Li's countenance was dark and his expression ferocious, clearly resembling the fury of someone whose sinister schemes had failed to bear fruit. People secretly exchanged glances, engaging in silent discussions. Mo Jingli finally seemed incapable of enduring this bizarre atmosphere; he slammed his teacup back onto the table, stood up, cast a dark look at the street below through the half-opened window, and descended the stairs with a heavy expression.
The instant Ye Li emerged from the stairs, the entire main hall downstairs fell into immediate silence. Once Ye Li walked out with a gentle, smiling expression, people were just about to open their mouths to discuss the matter when they witnessed Mo Jingli descending with a dark face, leading to another wave of silence. However, observing the behavior of these two, the individuals present were at least far more inclined to sympathize with Ye Li.
When Ye Li walked out of the teahouse, the carriage of the Ding King Manor had just come to a halt. Ah Jin was preparing to lift the curtain to invite Mo Xiuyao down. "Xiuyao," Ye Li called out softly. Upon seeing Ye Li, Ah Jin stood to the side with immense respect. Ye Li nimbly stepped onto the low stool to enter the carriage. Mo Xiuyao looked at her and arched his brows. "Why have you come down?" Ye Li sat across from him, laughing. "Tianxiang and the others claimed it was too crowded with no place to sit, so they drove me down. It is all their mischief; originally, I intended to visit the Ding King Manor tomorrow."
Mo Xiuyao smiled. "Their mischief was exceptionally timely."
"What do you mean?" Ye Li inquired in confusion. Outside, Ah Jin had already restarted the carriage to move forward. Ye Li pondered for a moment, leaning her head out to state a location name, just in time to see Mo Jingli standing at the entrance of the teahouse, staring at their carriage with a gloomy gaze. Mo Xiuyao stated, "Early this morning, the entire capital was abuzz with word that yesterday's rumor was deliberately spread by Jingli to cause you embarrassment."
Ye Li froze, understanding somewhat why Mo Jingli's countenance had been so wretched. Given his personality, being wrongly accused would certainly make him feel thoroughly uncomfortable. Recalling Murong Ting's thoroughly certain suspicion earlier, it turned out she hadn't fabricated it out of thin air.
"Did Ah Li seek me out because you possessed some matter to discuss?" Mo Xiuyao inquired, looking at Ye Li's charming face, which had drifted off to parts unknown.
Ye Li snapped out of her thoughts, nodding her head as she said, "This morning, Han Mingyue delivered two gold notes of ten thousand taels, along with over ten thousand taels in silver notes and a pair of jade pendants. Originally, I intended to bring them along when I visited the Ding King Manor tomorrow, but it was inconvenient to carry them on my person while stepping out with Tianxiang and the others." Mo Xiuyao shook his head with complete indifference. "Those were delivered to you by him, so simply keep them." Ye Li was speechless; a single gesture amounted to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. Han Mingyue dared to deliver it, but she felt uneasy about accepting it. "I shall have someone deliver it to the Ding King Manor tomorrow; it is better for you to handle it. My funds are sufficient." Mo Xiuyao let out a helpless sigh. "Ah Li... since Han Mingyue delivered the items to your location, they belong to you. Simply accept them with a rested heart. You need not feel that you owe him any personal favor; an individual like Han Mingyue will feel physical pain from spending an extra tael of silver. Since he was willing to deliver those items to you as compensation, he naturally deemed them worth sending. You also need not promise him anything."
Ye Li laughed and said, "I indeed had no intention of promising him anything." Ye Li secretly surmised that Han Mingyue must have once executed some matter that wronged Mo Xiuyao, and had now become entangled in this current affair. She hadn't expected Mo Xiuyao to simply release him like this; Han Mingyue was likely feeling guilty or remorseful, yet finding no method of compensation, he had curried favor with her regardless of the cost. Unfortunately, Ye Li had no intention of meddling to cultivate the flowers of friendship to reconcile past companions, so Han Mingyue's funds were likely spent in vain.
"Therefore, your invitation to me today was truly entirely for this matter?" Mo Xiuyao inquired.
Listening to Mo Xiuyao's low, pleasant voice, Ye Li's heart inexplicably skipped a beat while she was deep in thought. Feeling a touch embarrassed, she said, "It was indeed nothing of grave importance; have I disrupted you?" Observing that Mo Xiuyao truly appeared entirely uninterested in the items delivered by Han Mingyue, Ye Li could not help but feel a touch curious regarding exactly how wealthy and powerful the Ding King Manor truly was.
"I am also exceptionally idle on ordinary days," Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Since we have already emerged, would you accompany me to a certain location?"
Ye Li nodded. "I am also not particularly familiar with the capital; you may make the decision."
Receiving Ye Li's permission, Mo Xiuyao gave an instruction to Ah Jin, who was driving the vehicle. Ah Jin instantly turned the carriage toward another direction.
Within the carriage, Ye Li inquired with curiosity, "Fenghua Lou? You cannot possibly intend to gift me some jewelry, correct? I personally own a shop that specializes in jewelry."
Mo Xiuyao looked at her with a smile. "Gifting jewelry to one's fiancée is an entirely normal occurrence, is it not? Could it be impermissible?"
Ye Li shut her mouth and remained silent. Could she possibly state, Why not patronize my Cangzhen Ge instead, keeping the fertile water within our own fields? Even if she hadn't seriously engaged in a romantic relationship before, she knew such words would be thoroughly mood-spoiling. However... was Mo Xiuyao attempting to please her? Ye Li inexplicably felt a touch of irritation within her heart, yet beholding Mo Xiuyao's gentle, composed expression, she could discern nothing of his thoughts. She could only abandon the attempt helplessly. Having a man who was not disliked, and who was furthermore her future husband, gift jewelry to please her was ultimately something that ought to bring joy.
Fenghua Lou was an exceptionally famous jewelry establishment within the capital, primarily offering items crafted from jade. The reason it was deeply adored by the cloistered young ladies of the capital was not merely due to its exorbitant prices and exquisite merchandise, but more importantly, because the jewelry offered here never featured identical styles. Every single piece was unique under heaven, a trait that drew immense favor from noble young ladies and wealthy matrons who detested sharing matching items with others. Ye Li had previously considered steering Cangzhen Ge toward such a high-end route, but unfortunately, Cangzhen Ge lacked exceptionally brilliant design and carving masters, and Ye Li herself possessed only a superficial understanding of jewelry design, leaving her to abandon the idea helplessly.
Upon entering Fenghua Lou, the shopkeeper immediately stepped forward to welcome them. Even when witnessing Mo Xiuyao entering in a wheelchair, he only stiffened for an incredibly brief instant before displaying a proper smile to greet them. "So it is Prince Ding and Third Miss Ye. The presence of you two at Fenghua Lou truly brings immense splendor to this humble establishment. Prince, Miss Ye, please enter within."
Welcoming the two into an inner chamber, a young maiden possessing clean, elegant features immediately offered fresh spring tea. Ye Li sipped her tea with a smile, evaluating the elegant and comfortable arrangement of the room. She could not resist letting out a soft sigh; this was indeed the enjoyment reserved for distinguished guests. No wonder Fenghua Lou could become the establishment most favored by the capital's nobility. With service this meticulous, why would they ever fear failing to earn a profit from their patrons?
Perhaps due to Mo Xiuyao's status, the shopkeeper personally stood before them to serve. "Does the Prince wish to select jewelry for the Third Miss Ye? The Third Miss appears to be patronizing our humble establishment for the first time; I wonder what manner of jewelry she favors?"
Ye Li looked toward Mo Xiuyao. Sipping his tea, Mo Xiuyao spoke softly, "First select a few fine pieces and bring them over for us to evaluate."
The shopkeeper voiced his compliance, turning to personally retrieve the items. Ye Li inquired in confusion, "Have we truly come to purchase jewelry?"
Mo Xiuyao laughed and said, "Ah Li, you ponder too much. Since we have emerged, what harm is there in purchasing a few pieces if they catch your eye?"
Ye Li inquired with a touch of suspicion, "Could it be that my ordinary attire causes you to lose face?" Thinking about it, it was truly not entirely impossible; Ye Li's jewelry was not sparse, all of it left behind by the late Lady Xu. However, Ye Li had always disliked cumbersome adornments, so her styling—especially her hair ornaments—was generally maintained at a level that would avoid discourtesy. Any more flamboyant styling was something she found somewhat unacceptable. Given the status of the Ding King Manor, if the future Princess Consort dressed too simply, it was indeed possible for him to feel a lack of splendor.
Mo Xiuyao shook his head helplessly, looking at Ye Li with absolute earnestness as he said, "If you truly piled your head full of pearls and emeralds, I would instead find it unendurable. In truth, I also knew not where to proceed, so I brought you here to take a look. Feng Zhiyao stated that the jewelry here is decent."
Ye Li looked at him suspiciously, attempting to locate a trace of awkwardness upon his face. Yet a certain individual was far too calm; even while uttering words that sounded thoroughly pure to the ears, his countenance remained as elegant and serene as though he were reading an ancient volume in his study. Ye Li could only inform herself that she was overthinking. Thinking about it, although a certain individual currently appeared gentle, refined, and as upright as gentlemanly jade, it was said that he had also once experienced youthful frivolity—riding a horse past a slanting bridge, drawing the attention of red sleeves across an entire building.
Very quickly, the shopkeeper returned cradling two boxes. Placing them upon the table, he opened them with absolute caution, stating as he did so, "It is rare for the Prince and Third Miss Ye to patronize our humble establishment. This particular suite of jewelry was recently designed and personally crafted by our proprietor. Furthermore, I am afraid this is the sole suite available this year; Miss Ye, take a look at how it appears?"
Hearing the shopkeeper speak with such gravity, Ye Li also felt a touch of curiosity.
This was a suite of supreme-grade blue jade jewelry. Blue jade did not command the highest value among jade artifacts, yet the supreme quality of the suite before her eyes was something Ye Li had never witnessed a superior match for, even within Shende Xuan or Cangzhen Ge. More importantly, the minimalist yet elegant style resembled a refined magnolia flower quietly blossoming beneath a moonlit night, causing a sense of tranquility and gentle elegance to rise from the depths of one's heart. No woman under heaven could escape the temptation of exquisite jewelry, Ye Li sighed in her heart.
"This entire suite consists of two magnolia hairpins, a bracelet, a bangle, and this forehead ornament." Beholding the appreciative gaze in Ye Li's eyes, the shopkeeper immediately opened the other box to display the forehead ornament within. The pale blue beautiful jade featured no complex patterns or embedded gemstones; it was merely an ornament composed of beautifully shaped magnolia flowers, resting quietly within a silk-lined brocade box and radiating a faint, gentle luster.
"Do you like it?" Mo Xiuyao glanced at Ye Li, speaking with a smile, "It suits Ah Li exceptionally well."
"It is indeed beautiful," Ye Li nodded.
"We shall take this suite. Return to my manor later to retrieve the silver notes."
Seeing that both were thoroughly satisfied, the shopkeeper, having secured a massive transaction, was clearly also overjoyed. "Yes. Shall Miss Ye take it along now, or shall our establishment deliver it over?" Mo Xiuyao stated flatly, "Deliver it directly to the Ye estate."