The First Jasmine - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: The Day of the Grand Wedding

After Murong Ting finished expressing her utter contempt for the crowd of vulgar individuals, she cradled her own hand—the very hand that had brushed against the relic of the late Prince Ding—and retreated to indulge in solitary self-appreciation. Meanwhile, Minister Ye, overflowing with immense joy, praised Ye Li with great enthusiasm. He could almost foresee the massive wave of renown and prestige that would wash over the Ye family once the news spread that Ye Li had secured the return of the Lanyun Sword as part of her marriage. As for whether the Lanyun Sword truly contained hidden treasures or secret military texts, that had conversely become secondary. Minister Ye possessed at least a modicum of self-awareness; even if a real treasure existed, he would not receive a single fraction of it. Compared to that, a grand reputation secured entirely without cost held far more practical meaning.

"Third Sister truly possesses boundless good fortune. For Prince Ding to rush over the very instant he received word of the Crown Prince of Zhennan’s visit fully displays his deep, heavy devotion toward Third Sister," Ye Ying remarked softly, her watery eyes fixed upon Ye Li with a melancholic glint.

Ye Li offered a shallow smile. "Is Fourth Sister not similarly sharing a deep, harmonious love with Prince Li?"

Ye Ying shot a fleeting glance at Mo Jingli, then lowered her head with an expression fraught with grievance.

Minister Ye took all of this in, his brow furrowing slightly. Could it be that Ying'er truly suffered grievances within the Li King Manor? With this thought in mind, Minister Ye kept a casual eye on Mo Jingli while inquiring of Ye Ying in a warm tone, "Ying'er, have you grown accustomed to life within the Li King Manor these past days?"

"Everything is well with Ying'er. I thank Father for his kind concern," Ye Ying murmured with downcast eyes.

Only then did Minister Ye put his mind at ease. Turning to Mo Jingli with a smile, he remarked, "Ying'er has been pampered and spoiled since her youth. If there is anything she executes poorly, I hope Your Highness will display broad forbearance."

Mo Jingli responded, "Father-in-law may rest assured. This prince shall cherish Ying'er properly."

"That is excellent. In just a few days, Li'er shall also celebrate her grand wedding. Haha, our Ye family can truly be said to enjoy a double alignment of joy this year," Minister Ye laughed with immense satisfaction. The three individuals present harbored entirely different expressions, though Ye Li merely nodded with a shallow smile. "Father speaks the truth."

The Twentieth Day of the Fifth Month

Long before the sky broke into dawn, Ye Li was dragged from her slumber. Although she had always maintained a habit of sleeping early and rising early, she still felt somewhat helpless as she cast a glance out at the pitch-black night. The time for the groom's procession to receive the bride was set just before noon, yet she was forced to climb out of bed at the fourth watch of the night to be meticulously fussed over.

By the time she emerged from a fragrant bath of flower petals under the attendance of her maidservants, her second maternal aunt, the primary wife of Lord Hua's Manor, Qin Zheng’s mother Madam Qin, and her clan aunt Madam Ye—who had previously assisted in organizing her dow dowry—were already waiting within Qingyi Xuan alongside Murong Ting, Hua Tianxiang, Qin Zheng, and Qin Yuling.

Hua Tianxiang walked inside with a beaming smile, carrying the wedding gown fashioned from the shimmering Phoenix Brocade. The radiant, jewel-like luster of the Phoenix Brocade accented her delicate, beautiful face, making her appear even more captivating. "Congratulations," Hua Tianxiang whispered, offering a silent, radiant smile as she gazed at Ye Li.

Ye Li offered a shallow smile, raising her arms like a puppet to allow the group to assist her into the wedding gown. Under the candle-glow, the majestic, noble phoenixes seemed to flow alongside the shifting light, flickering gracefully amidst the meticulously embroidered peonies. Accented by the brilliant crimson wedding gown, Ye Li’s normally somewhat pale and elegant countenance gained a few points of joyous color.

"So beautiful... it truly is worthy of the Phoenix Brocade..." someone murmured softly. The entire crowd found themselves momentarily dazed by the sight.

Madam Hua glanced at Madam Xu, who was watching Ye Li with a face full of proud smiles, and gained an even deeper realization regarding the status the Third Miss Ye held within the Xu family. Patting her dazed daughter, she laughed, "Alright, if you wish to admire her, stand to the side. Do not disrupt our application of her cosmetics." Without allowing any room for argument, she pulled Ye Li to sit before the bronze mirror, joining Madam Xu and Madam Qin to deliberate upon exactly what manner of hair arrangement would be most fitting.

Ye Li sat speechlessly before the mirror, permitting them to manipulate her appearance while simultaneously enjoying the sight of Murong Ting leading the other girls to one side, pulling faces and winking at her. By the time the various madams—each holding fast to their own opinions—finally settled the matter of the hairstyle, the sky outside had already begun to turn white. Ye Li could not help but look toward the heavens within her heart, finally comprehending why they needed to commence preparations so early. If they had waited for daybreak to begin, the groom’s procession would likely have arrived before they were even finished.

Once her hair was fully arranged, several quick-witted maidservants brought forth multiple sets of pre-arranged headpieces and jewelry. Madam Hua did not rush to pin them onto Ye Li, instead instructing the maidservants with a smile, "Hurry and bring some food for your young mistress to pad her stomach. Once the final cosmetics are applied shortly, she will not be permitted to consume anything more today." Qingshuang pulled a face, giggling as she dragged Qingyu along to prepare the food. The various madams also stepped outside together to catch a brief rest.

The moment the adults departed, the remaining young ladies instantly swarmed around Ye Li. "How is it, Ah Li? Are you nervous?" Murong Ting asked, propping her chin in her hands as she leaned over the table with immense curiosity.

Ye Li pursed her lips and smiled. "Whether I am nervous is not for me to say, but when your turn arrives in the future, I can certainly observe whether you feel nervous."

Murong Ting’s delicate face flushed instantly crimson, and she gritted her teeth. "I will not... I definitely will not be nervous!"

Hua Tianxiang looked at her with a beaming smile. "You are already stammering, yet you still dare claim you won't be nervous. You will certainly be far more nervous than Ah Li. Ah... next in line ought to be Zheng'er. Zheng'er must truly prepare herself well."

Qin Zheng shot an exasperated glare at Hua Tianxiang, her small face turning red as she whispered, "Why bring me into this out of nowhere?"

Qin Zheng’s bashful appearance prompted Ye Li to stretch out a hand, pinching her small face as she teased, "Tianxiang makes an excellent point, does she not, future Cousin-in-law?"

"You all... Li'er, today is your wedding day! How can you... how can you..." Qin Zheng looked helplessly at her sisters, who had dissolved into a fit of laughter, and at Qin Yuling, who was snickering quietly to one side. The one who truly ought to be displaying bashfulness remained entirely unbothered, while she, an unrelated bystander, was left thoroughly flushed and embarrassed.

Wiping away tears of laughter, Hua Tianxiang cried, "Good Zheng'er, do not be angry. She is an eccentric individual, so do not expect her to display any standard maidenly bashfulness." Turning her gaze back to size up Ye Li, Hua Tianxiang nodded with immense satisfaction. "Our Ah Li truly is a great beauty."

A row of black lines virtually manifested across Ye Li’s forehead. "Are you not trying to imply that the clothes make the person?"

"How could that be? It is simply that you normally pay far too little attention to adorning yourself. Look at you now—even without the jewelry and cosmetics fully set, you are already radiant. Hehe... Prince Ding will certainly look upon you until he is utterly dazed."

Ye Li shrugged, offering no comment. If a beauty of Noble Consort Liu’s caliber had failed to catch Mo Xiuyao’s eye, it was truly difficult to imagine what manner of beauty could ever leave him utterly dazed.

Qingshuang and the others soon brought in a light breakfast. Once she finished eating and rested for a short while, the various madams returned to select the accessories and complete the makeup. Because a wedding gown could neither be tried on beforehand nor possess a duplicate, the matching jewelry, hairstyle, and makeup could only be finalized after donning the attire, tailored to the specific effect of the gown. Consequently, three distinct sets of jewelry had been prepared in advance for selection. Ultimately, the madams unanimously selected a set of gold-filigree peony hairpins inlaid with rubies and matching cascading tassels, supplemented by several gemstone gold pins. Next came the drawing of her eyebrows and the application of a light touch of rouge. Madam Qin even displayed a stroke of unique ingenuity, painting a tiny, half-bloomed peony right between Ye Li’s brows.

Ye Li gazed somewhat abstractedly at the elegant, radiant woman reflected within the bronze mirror, briefly failing to recognize herself. Her raven hair was coiled into an elegant knot, and the jewel-encrusted tassels of her hairpins swayed gently under the candle-glow, imparting a touch of alluring charm to the dignified, majestic crimson wedding gown. Within her heart, Ye Li offered a faint smile; she had never imagined that terms like alluring or radiant could ever be associated with her person.

"So beautiful. Even Li'er herself has looked until she is dazed, has she not?" Hua Tianxiang teased.

Ye Li shot an exasperated glare at her. Madam Hua had already begun nudging the young maidens outside with a smile. "Alright, everyone step outside first. Let the bride rest for a brief moment; the groom's procession will arrive shortly." The crowd offered their congratulations to Ye Li once more before happily departing.

Only Madam Xu remained behind. She handed Ye Li a slim booklet with a face full of smiles, instructing her to examine it carefully before she too stepped outside. Ye Li could only look at the booklet before her eyes in absolute speechlessness. She required virtually no thought to comprehend exactly what manner of material was contained within. After a brief deliberation, Ye Li stood up and tucked the booklet away into a chest she rarely utilized.

The Ding King Manor was clearly far more reliable than the Li King Manor. The moment the third watch of the late morning passed, Qingyi Xuan erupted into bustling noise once more. Madam Hua and Madam Qin personally lowered the Phoenix Brocade veil over Ye Li’s head, supporting her as she was escorted by the crowd to bid farewell to Old Madame Ye, Minister Ye, and the ancestral tablet of the late Madam Xu.

The aspect of this wedding that naturally drew the absolute maximum attention was the groom, whose appearance was entirely logical yet fundamentally unexpected. Long ago, many individuals had been secretly speculating exactly who the Ding King Manor would dispatch to receive the bride on behalf of the groom, but absolutely no one had imagined that Prince Ding would personally arrive.

Along the entire path from the grand entrance of the Ye estate to the Ding King Manor, the citizens of the capital had gathered early to view the commotion. Beholding Prince Ding appearing before the populace clad in brilliant red wedding attire, the citizens involuntarily recalled the dashing, uninhibited youth of years past who had broken into a gallop upon his steed, and their hearts filled with a few extra points of sighing lamentation.

Similarly, the grand display of the Ye family’s bride-escorting procession was extraordinary. Normally, the sole male sibling of the Ye family, Ye Rong, ought to escort his sister out the door. Yet entirely unlike the scenario when Ye Ying wed, six exceptionally handsome and uniquely distinguished men materialized outside the grand entrance of the Ye estate. Leading them were naturally Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingze, followed closely by Xu Qingfeng and Xu Qingbai, with Xu Qingyan and Ye Rong bringing up the rear. The various young masters of the Xu family were either elegantly transcendent, coldly majestic, gallantly spirited, or dashingly uninhibited. Even the youngest, Xu Qingyan, possessed a bright and intelligent demeanor. Consequently, Ye Rong was instantly completely ignored by the populace, left to follow silently by Xu Qingyan’s side.

Supported by Hua Tianxiang and Qin Zheng, the bride walked out of the grand entrance. The Phoenix Brocade wedding gown, which shimmered with radiant colors under the sunlight, once again elicited waves of awe from the crowd.

This day was without a doubt the most bustling day within the capital. Whether due to the status of the Ding King Manor or because the guests attending this wedding were far too exceptional, even the Emperor arrived personally alongside the Empress and the Empress Dowager. They arrived to attend the wedding, not to preside over it, because the individual presiding over the ceremony this time was Grand Eldest Princess Xifu, whom even the Emperor was required to respectfully address as Great-Aunt.

The Ding King Manor, which had not hosted a single guest for seven or eight years, was currently packed to the brim. The Grand Eldest Princess sat high upon the main seat, exchanging pleasantries with the guests who arrived to offer congratulations. Mo Jingqi and the Empress sat to one side to keep her company. Although the Grand Eldest Princess had not involved herself in worldly affairs for over twenty years, the iron-fisted majesty of this princess—whom even the late Emperor had deeply revered—remained entirely unassailable.

"Reporting to the Emperor and the Grand Eldest Princess, the auspicious hour has arrived."

The head steward of the manor entered to report, and the entire hall of guests instantly fell into absolute silence. Mo Jingqi looked at the silver-haired yet still remarkably spirited Grand Eldest Princess, smiling as he remarked, "Since that is the case, let the ceremony commence. Imperial Great-Aunt?"

Grand Eldest Princess Xifu nodded slightly, rising to address the crowd, "Will the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the various guests please accompany this princess to witness the ceremony."

The ceremonial hall located within the main palace of the manor had long been properly arranged, with red candles burning high and a joyous atmosphere filling the air. The Grand Eldest Princess sat high upon the central seat, with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager seated to her left and right. The remaining guests sat sequentially according to their respective ranks.

Under the collective gaze of the crowd, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li entered the ceremonial hall, escorted by the bridal attendants. It ought to have been a perfect match of a talented groom and a beautiful bride, yet the groom was bound to a wheelchair, forcing many individuals to secretly lament the tragedy. Similarly, even more people were sighing within their hearts; if Prince Ding were not in his current state, he would have long ago wed a talented and beautiful daughter of equal status. How could he have waited until now merely to wed a completely unknown daughter of a minister's estate?

"Prince Ding's legs are inconvenient; executing the ceremony in this manner surely lacks a few points of sincerity, does it not?" A mocking voice suddenly echoed within the hall, acting like a basin of ice water poured directly into a fiercely blazing fire. The entire ceremonial hall instantly became deathly silent.

Every single person turned their eyes in astonishment toward the source of the voice. Seated there were the foreign envoys who had arrived to witness the ceremony, and a burly young man among them was currently staring at Mo Xiuyao with a face full of arrogance. The words just spoken had clearly emerged from his mouth. He obviously did not consider his behavior impolite; seeing everyone’s gaze gather upon his person, he conversely became increasingly unbridled.

"That is the Eleventh Prince of Northern Rong. I hear he is an absolute fool; why would the King of Northern Rong dispatch him as an envoy to Great Chu?" Ye Li stood quietly by Mo Xiuyao’s side, the low whispers of the guests drifting into her ears.

"Have you forgotten that Northern Rong and the Ding King Manor can be said to share a hatred as deep as the sea? Although they have reconciled with our Great Chu these past years, I am afraid they still harbor deep resentment over past affairs. They likely dispatched this fool deliberately to cause Prince Ding to forfeit face."

"How can the Emperor permit such an individual to witness the ceremony..."

"He is the envoy of a nation who traveled thousands of miles to arrive; it is impossible to bar him from witnessing the ceremony."

Amidst the continuous ripples of discussion, Mo Jingqi looked down toward the Northern Rong prince and stated in a clear voice, "Eleventh Prince, our Great Chu weddings do not utilize the ritual of prostration; therefore, Prince Ding experiences no inconvenience whatsoever."

However, the Northern Rong prince clearly had no intention of granting face to the Emperor of Great Chu. He furrowed his thick, long brows, shouting with displeasure, "Back in Northern Rong, this prince had long heard of the majestic renown of Great Chu’s Prince Ding. Who could have known I would behold a cripple bound to a wheelchair today?! The Emperor of Great Chu could not possibly be playing a trick on us, could he?" The moment these words were uttered, not only Mo Jingqi, but every single civil and military official of Great Chu present underwent a massive shift in countenance.

Seated beside the Northern Rong prince, the Crown Prince of West Ling's Prince of Zhennan, Lei Tengfeng, let out a light cough and smiled. "Eleventh Prince, this individual is indeed Great Chu’s Prince Ding. It is merely that Prince Ding suffered an unfortunate accident seven years ago. We arrived today to witness a ceremony, certainly not to disrupt the venue. Come, this prince offers you a toast."

Northern Rong was fundamentally a barbaric tribe, and this Eleventh Prince was considered a thoroughly reckless fool even among the Northern Rong people. How could he possibly drop the matter merely due to Lei Tengfeng’s toast? He scanned Mo Xiuyao up and down a few times, let out a chuckle, and shouted, "This prince recalls now—Prince Ding's injuries seem to have been inflicted by our Northern Rong's Flying Cavalry Grand General. In the past, I frequently heard the Flying Cavalry Grand General lamenting to this prince that he was a mere fraction away from capturing..."

"Enough!" Grand Eldest Princess Xifu’s face had already turned black with rage.She could no longer care whether the Northern Rong prince was a foreign envoy, stating in a cold voice, "If the Northern Rong prince arrived to witness the ceremony, sit quietly. If not, depart immediately!"

The Northern Rong prince blanked out for a moment, opening his mouth with the intent to speak back to the Grand Eldest Princess. However, the two attendants accompanying him acted with quick eyes and fast hands, forcing him back down into his seat. Although the Northern Rong prince’s face was filled with displeasure, he ultimately did not speak further. Seeing that the Grand Eldest Princess’s countenance was poor, the remaining crowd did not dare utter anything more either.

Mo Jingqi let out a light cough and stated, "Imperial Great-Aunt, it is time to execute the ceremony."

Grand Eldest Princess Xifu’s eyes darkened slightly, and she nodded to the master of ceremonies standing to one side.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Second bow to the Ancestors!"

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Beneath the brilliant crimson bridal veil, Ye Li subtly shifted her gaze, catching sight only of the hand of the man beside her gripping the red silk ribbon with absolute intensity. Within her heart, only a single sigh remained. In truth, from the moment she met Mo Xiuyao until now, she had always felt his perfection possessed a touch of unreality. As an individual whose legs were crippled, whose face was disfigured, and who reportedly suffered from poor health, his demeanor was far too flawless. He displayed no inferiority, no self-pity, and no self-abandonment. No matter the occasion, he kept his spine perfectly straight; even while seated in a wheelchair, he appeared to stand a level higher than anyone else. Recalling the rumors of the youth who had reportedly been like a blazing fire, the current Mo Xiuyao appeared increasingly illusory and ethereal. To transition from a blazing fire to a gentle jade, what manner of agonizing tempering must he have endured? It was only at this exact moment that Ye Li truly perceived a sliver of Mo Xiuyao’s raw emotion: a volatile mix of fury and murderous intent.

Ye Li smiled bitterly. At her own wedding, within the ceremonial hall, she was perceiving such negative emotions from her husband. Even if it was not directed at her, it still left a person feeling a tiny bit depressed.

"The ceremony is concluded! Escort the couple to the bridal chamber!"

Within the bridal chamber overflowing with festive crimson decorations, the dragon and phoenix candles burned quietly. Ye Li sat silently upon the bridal bed, which was embroidered with patterns of dragons and phoenixes presenting auspicious omens. She knew Mo Xiuyao was seated not far from the bedside gazing at her, apparently harboring no immediate intention to step forward.

"May I remove this?" Failing to see the groom make a move, she could only speak up to inquire herself.

After a brief pause, Mo Xiuyao slowly moved forward. Her vision brightened as the bridal veil was lifted, and both individuals blanked out simultaneously upon beholding the other. Having grown accustomed to Mo Xiuyao clad in plain, simple attire, Ye Li felt remarkably unaccustomed to suddenly seeing him dressed in brilliant crimson robes. However... this man did not appear unappealing in any color whatsoever. Mo Xiuyao experienced only a momentary lapse of focus, a trace of breathtaking astonishment flitting across his serene eyes before instantly vanishing without a trace. The two faced each other in silence, momentarily experiencing a touch of awkward constraint.

Ye Li leaned her body forward slightly, reaching out to draw Mo Xiuyao’s left hand toward herself. Mo Xiuyao blanked out, instantly attempting to withdraw his tightly clenched fist.

"Release it," Ye Li stated calmly.

His fingers gradually uncoiled. The broad, large hand did not resemble those of pampered, elite nobles; it bore quite a few thin calluses and scars, though they were not grotesque. Ye Li recalled a childhood friend from her past life who had once mentioned to her what a man’s hand ought to look like. It ought to possess some thin calluses, indicating that the man was not entirely unversed in labor; it might additionally bear one or two unobtrusive scars, showing he was not a helpless male cloistered away; and furthermore, it had best look appealing. Only such a hand could grant a woman a sense of security while remaining pleasing to the eye.

At this exact moment, the palm of this hand was stained with a startling, brilliant crimson. Four deep crescent marks were still slowly seeping blood, yet the man before her acted as though he could perceive absolutely no pain whatsoever, leaving his hand unfurled for her inspection.

Ye Li lowered her head to gaze at his battle-scarred palm, extending a finger to tap it lightly, and then... pressed down with significant force. Raising her head to look at the man whose countenance did not alter in the slightest, she inquired, "Does it not hurt?"

Mo Xiuyao offered a faint smile, his gaze toward Ye Li unexpectedly gaining a few extra points of warmth. "What manner of pain is this? I have endured far worse."

Ye Li thoroughly agreed; for an individual who had been upon a battlefield, this minor injury truly amounted to nothing. She stood up and walked to one side, retrieving a familiar small chest from her dowry and carrying it back. Seated at the bedside, she opened the chest and extracted clean cotton, white gauze, and medicinal liquid to apply to his wounds. "Even if you are enraged, there is no need to inflict damage upon your own body. I assumed you had long since grown accustomed to it?"

A trace of bitterness hovered at the corners of Mo Xiuyao’s lips, and he smiled faintly. "You see it now—in truth, I have not yet grown accustomed to it." He too had assumed he had long since grown accustomed to it; in fact, he had utilized seven full years to force himself into submission. Accustomed to the fact that he could never again spur his steed to gallop across battlefields; accustomed to the requirement of bearing a mask whenever appearing before the populace, lest the scars upon his face elicit looks of either terror or pity from everyone; accustomed to the frequent bouts of severe illness that caused his past life to appear like a mere dream. He had always believed he had adapted exceptionally well, but only today, standing within the ceremonial hall and listening to the Northern Rong prince’s unvarnished, deliberate humiliation, did he comprehend that he was still a vast distance away. Consequently, today he had not only brought shame upon himself, but had additionally caused his newlywed wife to endure humiliation alongside him, even if his wife harbored no blame toward him.

Ye Li clearly deciphered the guilt within the man’s eyes, and she could not help but offer a faint smile. "I assumed you knew that from the exact moment we resolved to accept this marriage, I had already prepared myself for any scenario."

Mo Xiuyao inquired, "You long knew such a situation would manifest?"

Ye Li shook her head and laughed. "Even if this exact situation did not manifest, another scenario would. Could I possibly expect that upon marrying, I would henceforth remain entirely safe, harmonious, and worry-free for a lifetime? Even among common civilian households, every family possesses its own difficult scripture to read, let alone a noble house of this caliber."

Mo Xiuyao gazed at her silently, speaking in a soft voice only after a long moment, "Perhaps I cannot guarantee a lifetime free of worries for you, but so long as I exist, I shall certainly execute everything within my capability to grant you the life you desire."

Ye Li arched her brows. "I believe you." Having slowly finalized the application of the medicine, Ye Li put away the supplies with a smile.

"Having endured an exhausting day, you ought to rest early," Mo Xiuyao stated calmly as he looked at Ye Li.

Ye Li blanked out for a fraction of a second, but swiftly smiled once more. "Very well, you ought to rest early as well."

Mo Xiuyao nodded, summoning Ah Jin to maneuver his wheelchair away, and thoughtfully instructed Qingshuang and the others waiting outside to enter and attend to her.

By the time Qingshuang and the others entered, Ye Li had already removed all the ornaments from her person, placing them into the jewelry box upon the dressing table.

Qingshuang furrowed her brows, stating with a touch of dissatisfaction, "Miss, why did the King depart? Grand Eldest Princess Xifu explicitly declared on the spot that no disruptions to the bridal chamber would be permitted, nor does Prince Ding require keeping the guests company for drinking; therefore, at this hour, Prince Ding ought to remain within the bridal chamber keeping Miss company. How could he arrive merely to depart again?"

Ye Li turned her head and laughed. "This is the Ding King Manor; are you afraid he lacks a place to rest?"

Qingluan and Qingyu had prepared warm water, inviting Ye Li to bathe, though the expressions upon their faces were similarly not particularly pleasant. Ye Li had no leisure to manage whether the maidservants’ countenances were appealing; in fact, from her perspective, Mo Xiuyao’s resolution was extraordinarily considerate. Although she had no intention of remaining nominal spouses with him for a lifetime, if she were forced to execute intimate acts with a man she was entirely unfamiliar with and had only met a handful of times, she truly harbored some concern regarding whether she could adapt. In this aspect, she felt she ought to admire the adaptive capabilities of ancient women. Normally, even holding hands with a man was impermissible, yet upon marriage, they were expected to roll about the sheets with a man they had essentially never laid eyes upon.

Having shed the heavy ornaments and the magnificent wedding gown, Ye Li relaxed her body with satisfaction, preparing to bathe and rest. By the time she lay within the soft, comfortable bed and drifted into dreamland, a shallow smile still lingered at the corners of her lips: Mother, Grandfather, Father, Mother, and the massive crowd of cousins... I have married myself out...

Within a certain study of the Ding King Manor, Mo Xiuyao—who had already changed into plain, simple attire—sat behind the writing desk, his countenance displaying a rare veneer of gloomy, icy intensity.

Clad in brilliant crimson robes, Feng Zhiyao leaned lazily against the doorway, laughing as he teased, "Why put on such an expression on the day of your grand wedding? Are you not afraid of terrifying Sister-in-law?"

Seated in a corner of the room was a young man bearing the complete appearance of a profligate noble, who chuckled as he looked at him. "From my perspective, Sister-in-law’s courage is likely far greater than we imagine."

"Have you spoken enough?" Mo Xiuyao raised his head, casting a cold gaze upon the two improper individuals before him.

Feng Zhiyao shrugged his shoulders. "The fool tonight is the Eleventh Prince of Northern Rong, Yelu Ping. He is the son of Consort Xiao, the most favored consort of the Northern Rong King, and the full younger brother of the Seventh Prince of Northern Rong, Yelu Ye. He is additionally the biological nephew of Northern Rong’s Flying Cavalry Grand General, Helian Zhen. You could not possibly have forgotten what you executed against Helian Zhen seven years ago, right?"

"Helian Zhen’s surname is Helian, Consort Xiao’s surname is Xiao; how could Yelu Ping possibly be Helian Zhen’s nephew?" the profligate young man to one side inquired in confusion.

"The relationships among the Northern Rong people are chaotic enough to cause a headache; who knows how they managed to establish a connection?" Feng Zhiyao snapped with irritation. "Leng Haoyu, should this not be your department of affairs?"

The young man was precisely the individual reported to be the most worthless second young master of the Northern Border General’s estate, Leng Haoyu. "The intelligence I secured from Northern Rong suggests that Yelu Ye is actually Helian Zhen’s illegitimate son."

"Can intelligence that has already managed to spread all the way to Great Chu truly be believed?" Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes, turning back to look at Mo Xiuyao. "Seven years ago, your older brother suddenly perished from illness. Originally, Helian Zhen could have seized the opportunity to establish peerless military merit, perhaps even sweeping across Great Chu. In the end, because you slashed your way out from the side at the Ghost Sorrow Valley, a massive fire nearly incinerated half of Helian Zhen’s life. Helian Zhen suffered devastating losses of troops and generals, leaving Northern Rong completely terrified to raise forces for three full years. By the time they recovered, our Great Chu had similarly restored its vitality. From then on, Helian Zhen fell from favor with the Northern Rong King, which simultaneously caused the influence of Yelu Ye and Consort Xiao within Northern Rong to suffer a massive discount. It is already a blessing that they did not charge directly into Great Chu to risk their lives against you."

Mo Xiuyao remarked serenely, "Which is to say, Yelu Ping was dispatched by Yelu Ye specifically to cause this prince embarrassment?"

Feng Zhiyao stroked his chin. "Everyone knows Yelu Ping is a reckless fool; even if he offends you, you would feel too embarrassed to calculate accounts with him. The outcome is glaringly obvious, is it not?"

Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh. "Today they can actually be considered polite, with only Yelu Ping alone leaping out to cause a scene. The others have likely grown entirely impatient from waiting as well, have they not?"

Feng Zhiyao tapped his forehead, pondering for a moment. "Who could have known our Emperor would appear at the Ding King Manor alongside the Empress and the Empress Dowager? In front of the Emperor, it is unseemly to display behavior that is far too impolite, is it not? Since a fool had already stepped forward, those who pride themselves on intelligence naturally would not open their mouths further. However... the foreign envoys are still scheduled to remain within the capital for half a month. On Sister-in-law's side..."

"No one is permitted to disturb her!" Mo Xiuyao stated calmly.

Feng Zhiyao and Leng Haoyu exchanged a glance. Leng Haoyu blinked his peach-blossom eyes, inquiring, "Your Highness, you could not possibly be telling us that you intend to execute a scenario of concealing your golden house, keeping the new princess tucked away within the Ding King Manor to prevent anyone from laying eyes upon her? Could the Third Miss of the Ye family truly possess such extraordinary charm that Prince Ding fell in love at first sight, and desired to conceal and shelter her with absolute caution, nurturing her with care?"

Mo Xiuyao responded, "Ah Li dislikes the social engagements among the nobility; if there is no vital matter, do not go to bother her."

Feng Zhiyao tapped his folding fan against his hand, furrowed his brows, and remarked, "Ah Yao, even when a common family weds a wife, she is expected to manage the inner courtyard and handle social relations. Let alone the primary mistress of the Ding King Manor. If she were a cloistered lady lacking capability, that would be one matter, but the Third Miss Ye is absolutely not some frail, incompetent woman. If she can assist you, it would naturally yield twice the result with half the effort, and you could similarly relax significantly."

"Third Feng speaks the truth. Ting'er praises the Third Miss Ye without absolute restraint," Leng Haoyu chimed in agreement.

Mo Xiuyao furrowed his brows slightly. "We shall deliberate upon this matter further in the future."

Feng Zhiyao arched his brows slightly. Unbeknownst to anyone, a thought crossed his mind and he suddenly smiled. "Very well, since you have already resolved the matter, we shall not manage this affair further. What was the Emperor’s meaning in personally arriving alongside the Empress Dowager today? Could he still be guarding against you?"

Mo Xiuyao responded, "When has he ever not guarded against me? Now that the Lanyun Sword has returned to the Ding King Manor, there have been at least a dozen batches of individuals attempting to infiltrate the manor these past few days. Among them, at least three batches emerged from the imperial palace."

Leng Haoyu’s eyes brightened. "Our Emperor’s personnel?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Unconfirmed, but his personnel are definitely among them."

Feng Zhiyao looked at Leng Haoyu with a beaming smile, laughing as he teased, "Second Leng, go back and keep a close eye on that stone-faced general of your house. If our Emperor consistently fails to infiltrate the manor, there is an eighty percent chance he will dispatch your brother. Who allowed him to be the childhood friend who grew up alongside the Emperor, and the core confidant among core confidants?"

Leng Haoyu curled his lips, stating, "Rest assured, no matter who arrives, they can forget about escaping this manor with a single strand of hair." Recalling his own stone-faced older brother, Leng Haoyu's heart was filled with absolute dissatisfaction. An arrogant idiot who only knew how to revolve around the Emperor, yet every single time Ting'er beheld him, she displayed an expression of absolute admiration, while looking upon himself as though looking upon trash. It was truly unpleasant. That fellow had best come to infiltrate the manor; if he managed to capture him and deliver a severe thrashing, Ting'er would finally comprehend exactly who was truly heroic and magnificent, and who was the profligate fool!

"Your Highness, someone has infiltrated the manor!" The heavy stone door was opened by a crack, and Ah Jin darted inside with rapid speed.

Mo Xiuyao’s gaze turned instantly icy. "Where did they proceed?"

"The Princess's courtyard."

Crack!

"Not a single one is permitted to escape. Since today is the grand wedding and unsuitable for witnessing blood, we shall entertain them tomorrow instead."