The First Jasmine - Chapter 55
Chapter 55: The Female Family Members of the Prince of Ding's Manor
Report to the Princess Consort, the Side Dowager Consort has arrived. Inside the study, Ye Li was organizing the account books she had brought over from the Ye Residence when a maid entered from outside to report. Ye Li raised her head and blinked in surprise upon seeing the maid standing at the door. Qing Shuang had already spoken up: "Jing Wen, why are you here?" This maid was none other than Han Qing, the girl Ye Li had banished to the needlework room back at the Ye Residence, now renamed Jing Wen. The maidservants of the Prince of Ding's Manor all wore uniform moon-white dresses tied with plain-colored sashes. Such simple and elegant attire was somehow worn by her with an undeniable hint of seductive charm.
Jing Wen looked at Ye Li with a measure of trepidation and said in a low voice, "The managing governess said that the Princess Consort does not wear clothes made with Jing Wen's embroidery skills. Since the needlework room already has four top-tier embroideresses, they sent Jing Wen out here to serve." Although she was glad to leave that dreadful needlework room, a flash of humiliation crossed Jing Wen's face at having her embroidery skills criticized as utterly worthless. Ye Li sighed inwardly. This maid had stayed in the embroidery room for a month or two, yet she still hadn't learned to be any smarter. Did she truly believe that possessing a beautiful face meant she would never have to worry about anything in life?
"Very well, you may go down first. Please invite the Side Dowager Consort in," Ye Li said with a wave of her hand.
"Yes, Princess Consort." Jing Wen curtsied and respectfully withdrew.
Qing Shuang complained layout her dissatisfaction, "How could Nanny Lin and Nanny Wei put her right in front of Milady? One look and you can tell she's not the restless, law-abiding sort." Qing Luan and Qing Yu had both arrived later and were unfamiliar with Jing Wen, who had been confined to the embroidery room; they only felt she looked a bit too enchanting. Hearing Qing Shuang say this, they immediately looked over. Qing Shuang stamped her foot in frustration, "It's all my fault. I actually forgot to mention it to Nanny Lin." Qing Xia smiled gently, "Alright, Qing Shuang. Nanny Lin is an old nanny who followed the late Madam from the very beginning. Do you really think she couldn't see what kind of person Jing Wen is? Besides, she is currently just a second-class maid serving outside. She can't even compare to Yun'er and Cui'er. In a completely unfamiliar place like the Prince of Ding's Manor, she won't be able to stir up any trouble."
Ye Li put down her book and laughed, "Qing Shuang, you should learn more from Qing Xia. Don't be so rash and hot-headed about everything."
Qing Shuang stuck out her tongue, "Yes, I shall reverently obey the Princess Consort's command."
The moment she stepped into the flower hall specifically designated for receiving female guests, Ye Li froze. Sitting in the host's seat was a middle-aged woman in her fifties. She wore an opulent gown of cloud brocade and an elaborate set of kingfisher-feather inlaid gold jewelry studded with precious gems, looking thoroughly imposing and aristocratic. Had she not known her identity beforehand, Ye Li might have mistaken this lady for the principal consort of the old Prince of Ding rather than a side consort. At this moment, the Side Dowager Consort was leaning back in her chair with her eyes closed, resting her mind. Standing behind her were two maids—one was massaging her shoulders, while the other held a palace fan, gently fanning her. Ye Li could not help but want to laugh. It was not even the sixth lunar month yet, and given the weather in Chu Capital, it could hardly be considered hot. Was she not afraid of catching a cold from all that fanning?
"Princess Consort." Seeing Ye Li enter, everyone quickly stood up to salute.
"Dismissed. I have kept the Side Dowager Consort waiting." Ye Li waved her hand to dismiss the attendants, frowned slightly, and walked over to sit on the other side. Only then did Side Dowager Consort Yang slowly open her eyes, looking Ye Li up and down with a hypercritical gaze. With a faint smile on her lips, Ye Li allowed herself to be scrutinized. She turned her gaze toward a young lady dressed in white sitting below them. The girl seemed exceedingly timid; meeting Ye Li's eyes, she immediately shrank back and averted her gaze in a flurry.
"Is there a reason the Side Dowager Consort has graced me with her presence?" Ye Li retracted her gaze and turned toward Side Dowager Consort Yang.
Side Dowager Consort Yang narrowed her eyes displeasurably, and her face, which had clearly lost its youthful bloom, darkened further. She let out a soft snort and said, "The Princess Consort puts on quite the grand air. Even after marrying into the house, you do not know to pay respects to your elders. This Dowager Consort had no choice but to come to your door to visit the Princess Consort myself." Ye Li understood immediately—the woman was here to find trouble. She knitted her brows in slight amusement, looking at the Side Dowager Consort with a gentle smile. "If that is the case, then this Consort has indeed been discourteous. However, when this Consort inquired with the Prince yesterday, the Prince only mentioned that after the traditional return visit to my parental home, we would need to pay respects to Sister-in-Law. He did not mention that there was anyone else in the manor whom this Consort needed to personally visit and pay respects to."
The expression on Side Dowager Consort Yang's face stiffened. It took her a long while to recover before she glared at Ye Li and said, "The Prince has been in a poor mood these past years, so it is inevitable that he has omissions. As the Princess Consort, it is bad enough that you failed to remind him, yet you dare to be so insolent!"
Remind him? Mo Xiu Yao didn't even mention you, which clearly shows he doesn't care for you. I would have to be out of my mind to remind him.
Long before the wedding, Ye Li had already memorized the identities of the members of the Prince of Ding's Manor. For instance, regarding this Side Consort Yang before her, her background was actually quite peculiar. Not only was she the sole side consort of the old Prince of Ding, Mo Liu Fang, but she was also the maternal aunt of Mo Xiu Yao and Mo Xiu Wen—the biological younger sister of the previous Princess of Ding. However, such an identity did not earn her any greater respect within the manor. In fact, whether it was when Mo Liu Fang was alive, during Mo Xiu Wen's time, or now under Mo Xiu Yao, they basically treated her like thin air and completely ignored her. Side Dowager Consort Yang was not yet fifty years old, roughly the same age as Grand Princess Zhao Yang. Yet, looking at these two women who were both widowed, one would think based on their appearances that they were at least ten years apart.
But Ye Li would not pity her for it; it could only be said that she brought it all upon herself. Side Dowager Consort Yang had married into the Prince of Ding's Manor when the previous Princess of Ding was giving birth to Mo Xiu Wen. After giving birth to Mo Xiu Wen, the Princess of Ding's health deteriorated significantly, and her originally affectionate relationship with the Prince grew somewhat distant. Then, shortly after giving birth to Mo Xiu Yao seven years later, she passed away. Furthermore, compared to Mo Xiu Yao's indifference toward Side Dowager Consort Yang, Mo Xiu Wen—who was universally renowned for being gentle, refined, and elegant—had an attitude toward her that could straight up be described as loathing. Therefore, Ye Li had ample reason to believe that Side Dowager Consort Yang had utilized some highly unconventional methods to marry into the manor back then, directly causing the breakdown of affection between Mo Liu Fang and his principal consort. Even setting all of this aside, even if Mo Xiu Yao were to take concubines in the future, she would absolutely never accept either Ye Shan or Ye Lin. If sharing a husband with another woman was difficult for her to accept, sharing a husband with her own biological sister would completely cross the limits of her tolerance.
"This Consort... truly did not know that it was necessary to personally go and pay respects to a side consort," Ye Li said calmly, her clear eyes half-lowered.
"You! How presumptuous!" Side Dowager Consort Yang's face turned crimson with rage. She pointed a finger at Ye Li, unable to utter a word for a long time. Her status as a side consort could be described as the lifelong pain of her existence. When she initially married into the manor, she was a side consort; she hadn't been disappointed then, as she was born to a concubine. After her older sister died, she thought she would have the chance to become the principal consort since the Prince had no other side consorts but her. However, until the Prince passed away, he never gave her so much as a second glance. Ever since Mo Liu Fang died, she knew she would never have the chance. Until the day she died, she could only be a side consort, and she wouldn't even be buried with Mo Liu Fang after death.
"The Side Dowager Consort cannot possibly be ignorant of the manor's rules. Just who is being presumptuous?" Ye Li raised her head and stared at her coldly. In the Prince of Ding's Manor, the Prince held supreme authority externally, while the Princess Consort held primary authority internally. Let alone a mere side consort, even a properly wedded Dowager Consort could not humiliate the Princess Consort. This was why, after Mo Xiu Wen passed away, the servants of the manor no longer referred to Princess Consort Wen as "Princess Consort" but instead called her "First Madam," signifying that her status was that of the elder sister-in-law to the Prince and Princess Consort, rather than the ruling Princess Consort of the Prince of Ding's Manor.
Having suppressed Side Dowager Consort Yang's arrogant flame, Ye Li's expression softened slightly as she asked with a faint smile, "Side Dowager Consort Yang has come over so early; is there something you wish to discuss?"
Stunned by her sudden shift in demeanor, the Side Dowager Consort snapped out of her daze. Her expression twisted as she prepared to flare up in anger, but the white-clothed young lady sitting beside her called out anxiously in a soft voice, "Aunt..."
The Side Dowager Consort looked at the white-clothed girl and unexpectedly managed to force down the surge of fury in her chest. Turning her head toward Ye Li, she said, "This is my maternal niece, Qian Ru."
The young lady in white stood up, bowed gracefully to Ye Li, and said softly, "Qian Ru pays respects to Cousin-in-Law. Greetings, Cousin-in-Law."
Ye Li frowned slightly. A daughter of the Yang family and the niece of the Side Dowager Consort would make her Mo Xiu Yao's cousin. Ye Li was completely unfamiliar with this cousin. This was primarily because the Yang family was not a prestigious or prominent clan to begin with. In fact, except for the first generation Prince of Ding, Mo Lan Yun, who had married a princess of the previous dynasty, the family backgrounds of the successive generations of the Mo family's princesses consort had not been prominent. This was certainly because the men of the Mo family did not require matrimonial alliances to maintain their position, but on the other hand, it was likely to avoid triggering the imperial family's suspicion. To her knowledge, Princess Yang's maternal family had no legitimate sons, and their only concubine-born son had passed away several years ago. Thus, this Yang Qian Ru was the orphaned child of the Yang family's concubine-born son. "Cousin need not be so formal, please take a seat. The Prince must have forgotten earlier, as I haven't heard him mention Cousin before, so I didn't have time to prepare a meeting gift. I hope Cousin won't take offense." As she spoke, Ye Li slid off an ice-species floating-flower jade bracelet she always wore on her wrist and placed it into Yang Qian Ru's hand. Turning her head, she asked the Side Dowager Consort with a smile, "Is Cousin residing in the same courtyard as the Side Dowager Consort?"
The Side Dowager Consort glanced at Ye Li and nodded. "Qian Ru is still young and has no other relatives, so I brought her over to stay by my side so I could look after her a bit. She is, after all, not a daughter of the Prince's manor, so there is no issue with her sharing a courtyard with me."
Ye Li had no intention of meddling by arranging a separate courtyard either. She nodded and smiled, "As long as Cousin and the Side Dowager Consort do not feel slighted, it is fine. If you lack anything, feel free to send someone to let me know. There is no need to be embarrassed." The Side Dowager Consort's eyes flickered, and she said, "It just so happens that my intention in bringing her to see you today aligns with that. Qian Ru is already nearly seventeen this year; it is long past time to consider her marriage. Yet the Prince is usually nowhere to be found, and an old woman like me lacks worldly knowledge. Since you are Qian Ru's cousin-in-law, do look out for her carefully. Furthermore, for a young lady to dress so plainly all day long is simply improper. Her clothing and accessories need to be augmented as well."
As the Side Dowager Consort spoke entirely of her own accord, Yang Qian Ru, who sat beside her, had already flushed a deep crimson and kept her head lowered, refusing to look up at anyone. Ye Li leaned back comfortably in her chair, listening to the Side Dowager Consort state her demands. While there had been a slight air of discussion at the beginning, by the end, it had transformed entirely into a commanding tone. Looking at Yang Qian Ru's snow-white attire, Ye Li could not help but knit her brows. Had the manor been shortchanging the cousin's stipends? Even if Mo Xiu Yao disliked the Side Dowager Consort, he wouldn't go so far as to shortchange a young girl's living allowances, would he? Looking at Yang Qian Ru's starkly plain white dress—where even her hair was decorated simply with a white silk ribbon—anyone who didn't know better would think she was in mourning for someone. Even the maids with slightly higher status in the manor dressed far more appropriately than she did.
Yang Qian Ru abruptly raised her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears and panic. She spoke in a rush, "No... the Prince's manor has never mistreated Qian Ru. Please do not misunderstand Cousin, Cousin-in-Law... It is Qian Ru, Qian Ru's own shortcoming..." Ye Li could not help but press a hand to her forehead. What on earth was all this drama? Massaging her temples, she turned to Qing Luan beside her and said, "Go see if Nanny Sun is free, and ask her to come over for a moment."
Nanny Sun arrived very quickly. Qing Luan had evidently given her a brief overview of the situation, so she had also brought along the manager in charge of the inner manor's accounting office and the governess directly responsible for the manor's daily expenditures.
"Greetings, Princess Consort. Greetings, Side Dowager Consort." The three of them saluted in unison.
Ye Li nodded. "Nanny, you may rise."
Nanny Sun stood up and said, "Thank you, Princess Consort. Hearing that the Princess Consort summoned this old servant regarding the expenditures of the Side Dowager Consort's courtyard, this old servant took it upon myself to bring along Manager Wang of the accounting office and Nanny Zhang, who manages expenditures. I beg the Princess Consort's forgiveness." Ye Li smiled, "Nanny need not be so formal. I have just arrived at the manor and am not yet familiar with these matters. Since the Side Dowager Consort brought up the young lady's expenses, I merely wished to invite you over to inquire. Since that's the case, Nanny Zhang, how are the young lady's allowances structured? If the young lady were to suffer any grievances and outsiders found out, it would reflect poorly on our Prince's manor." Nanny Zhang quickly stepped forward, her expression looking somewhat strained as she reported, "To inform the Princess Consort, the young lady's allowances have always been issued according to the standards of a concubine-born daughter of the Prince's manor. Although our household hasn't had a young lady for several generations, the regulations of the past have always been maintained. This old servant and the others would never dare to shortchange the young lady's allowances."
"In that case, what exactly are the young lady's monthly allowances? If the past fixed allocations are truly insufficient, it wouldn't hurt to adjust them appropriately. Alternatively, we can directly allocate a portion from the Prince's and my own stipends," Ye Li said.
Nanny Zhang stole a glance at Yang Qian Ru, who sat to the side, and said, "The young lady receives thirty taels of silver each month for her personal expenses, and the cosmetics and items she uses daily are purchased separately by the manor. She receives four sets of clothing for each of the four seasons, and two sets of headpieces and jewelry at the beginning of winter and summer respectively. During festivals and holidays, her special holiday silver is never shorted by a single fraction. Our families have served in the Prince's manor for generations; we absolutely would never dare to mistreat the young lady."
The manager of the accounting office standing to the side also spoke up, "May the Princess Consort discern clearly. For the grand wedding of the Prince and Princess Consort, the entire manor received bountiful rewards. The First Madam's courtyard received an extra five hundred taels, the Side Dowager Consort's courtyard received two hundred taels, and the young lady received one hundred taels. The servants in the manor also received their respective rewards. This subordinate dared not delay, and I can present the account books as evidence." The moment these words were spoken, everyone's gaze landed squarely on Yang Qian Ru. Looking at that stark white dress and her frail appearance, which looked as though she might collapse at the slightest gust of wind, she truly did not look like someone who hadn't been mistreated. A flash of displeasure crossed Nanny Sun's upright and severe face. Putting aside the fact that the Prince's manor hadn't mistreated her, even if you had truly been mistreated, the Prince's manor has still provided for you all these years, hasn't it? The Prince and Princess Consort have just celebrated their grand wedding, so what is the meaning of you dressing entirely in white?
The maids who had accompanied Ye Li from the Ye family also held quite a strong opinion against this delicate young lady. Their Fourth Miss was already pitiable and moving enough, but this one was even more fragile than the wind. Moreover, the treatment this young lady received from the Prince's manor was hardly any different from that of a legitimate daughter of the Ye family. When their own lady was back at the Ye family, her monthly stipend was only thirty taels. Furthermore, this Miss Yang possessed not a shred of reputation within the capital city, which showed that she never went out to socialize and naturally had no expenses to speak of. Their lady had just newly wed, yet this girl had rushed over to cry poverty; it was simply too much.
Ye Li frowned as she looked at the Side Dowager Consort. It wasn't that she was stingy, but having just arrived at the manor, it was impossible for her to flagrantly violate the regulations established by predecessors to raise Yang Qian Ru's treatment. Even if the Prince of Ding's Manor possessed immense wealth and a grand estate, they couldn't recklessly draw silver without any constraints. Without rules, there could be no order. Besides, the manor's treatment of Yang Qian Ru was truly considered quite decent. Unfortunately, the Side Dowager Consort clearly did not see it that way. Seeing Ye Li's hesitant expression, she could not help but flare up in anger, "What is the meaning of this, Princess Consort? Qian Ru is, after all, the Prince's own biological cousin. Is it such a crime for her to spend a few taels of silver? If outsiders learn that our Prince of Ding's Manor mistreats an orphaned girl who has lost both parents, it won't look good on the Prince's reputation either." In short, the Side Dowager Consort was determined to pin the reputation of mistreatment onto Mo Xiu Yao's head.
"In that case, what amount does the Side Dowager Consort believe would be reasonable?"
The Side Dowager Consort knit her brows, an expression of profound dissatisfaction on her face as she said, "At the very least, it should be eighty taels a month. And as for headpieces and jewelry, how could two sets possibly be enough? Qian Ru has been unable to go out and see people all these years, and now even her marriage has been delayed. In the future, when she accompanies you to socialize outside, the occasions will certainly not be few. Have Feng Hua House send over another four sets." Seeing the Side Dowager Consort's completely entitled expression, Ye Li could not help but roll her eyes inwardly. When had she ever agreed to let Yang Qian Ru accompany her? To blame the manor even for the fact that she hadn't socialized much outside over the years was absurd; had she not been living in the Prince of Ding's Manor, given the Yang family's background, she might not have even matched up to a concubine-born daughter of the Prince's manor.
"Side Dowager Consort, please be careful with your words. The Princess Consort is the ruling mistress of the Prince of Ding's Manor. When socializing outside, it is utterly impossible for her to bring along an unmarried young lady. Even if she did, it should be a daughter of the Prince's manor or a legitimate younger sister from the Princess Consort's maiden family instead," Nanny Sun said with a stern face. Ye Li could not help but praise her inwardly—well said! She had absolutely no desire to drag a fragile woman who wept at falling flowers and grieved at the rain all over the place for matchmaking. Hearing Nanny Sun's words, Yang Qian Ru's face flushed deep with shame. She let out a soft cry, clutching her chest as tears welled up and swirled within her eyes, seemingly on the verge of falling at any moment. Before the Side Dowager Consort could erupt in fury, Ye Li knit her brows and addressed the three attendants, "Since the matter has been clarified, Manager Wang and Nanny Zhang may return first. Additionally, allocate an extra ten taels to the young lady each month from my personal stipend. A guest is a guest, and we cannot allow the young lady to feel slighted."
"Yes, we shall reverently obey the Princess Consort's instructions." Manager Wang and Nanny Zhang complied and withdrew.
Ye Li continued, "The Side Dowager Consort and the young lady may also return first. As for the young lady's marriage, I shall discuss it with the Prince later before giving the Side Dowager Consort a reply."
The Side Dowager Consort was deeply unwilling, but seeing the clear expression on Ye Li's face indicating she was dismissing her guests, she did not dare to truly defy Ye Li's meaning. She could only lead the deeply aggrieved Yang Qian Ru away, storming out in a fit of rage.
Having sent the two away, Ye Li looked at Nanny Sun and said, "Nanny Sun, add another ten taels to Manager Wang's and Nanny Zhang's monthly stipends this month, to be drawn directly from my account."
Nanny Sun complied, then looked at Ye Li and said, "In truth, the Princess Consort had no need to pay any heed to the Side Dowager Consort and the young lady. Our manor has never shortchanged the young lady, and we haven't touched a single cent of the inheritance the Yang family left for her." Ye Li said helplessly, "Look at what she was wearing today; if outsiders saw her, what would you expect them to think?" Nanny Sun curled her lip and said, "The Princess Consort is unaware, but this young lady is incredibly bizarre. It is said that she possesses an extreme preference for the color white. Originally, the garments we sent over for the four seasons were all colors that young girls adore, yet the young lady claimed they were vulgar. She insists on wearing nothing but white dresses; if the clothes sent over do not include white, she would rather wear her old, worn-out garments. It has actually wasted quite a lot of clothing for nothing. The managers of the manor had no choice but to try their best to select white clothes to send over. For the Prince and Princess Consort's grand wedding this time, Nanny Zhang specifically instructed people to make a peach-pink set and a light purple set to send over. Who would have thought..."
Vulgar? That might not necessarily be the case. Ye Li recalled another certain someone who loved to wear plain-colored clothes.
"In the future, the guests at the Prince's manor will likely not be few, so we cannot allow her to come out and see people looking like this anymore. After all, the Prince of Ding's Manor basically had no interactions with outsiders in the past, but now that Mo Xiu Yao is married and has stepped forward to meet people, continuing to close our doors to guests is definitely out of the question. I shall ask the Prince later to see if he wants to completely replace all plain-colored clothing." After a moment of thought, Ye Li said with a micro-smile. Nanny Sun blanked for a moment, then immediately caught on. "The Princess Consort's meaning is...?"
"I didn't say anything, I simply happen to dislike white clothes, that is all," Ye Li laughed.
"Princess Consort, the Prince requests your presence."
Mo Xiu Yao had no maids serving by his side, so the one who came to deliver the message was a guard close to him. Ye Li nodded, stood up, and asked, "Where is the Prince right now?" The guard replied, "The Prince is waiting for the Princess Consort at the water pavilion."
"Understood, you may go."
The Prince of Ding's Manor could be described as the largest estate in the capital city, which was naturally tied to the family's status within Great Chu. Though the estate's boundaries had not expanded over the past hundred-plus years of modifications by successive generations of princes, the scenery within the manor could well be hailed as the crown jewel of the capital. In the southwest corner of the manor lay a natural lake that took up a full one-sixth of the entire estate. A wooden corridor was constructed over the water, winding all the way to the heart of the lake, where a substantial three-room water pavilion stood. The lake's surface was blanketed with lush green lotus leaves, casting a clear, emerald ripple over the water. The moment one stepped near, a faint, refreshing coolness washed over them, making it clearly an excellent sanctuary to escape the summer heat.
Waving her hand to signal her maids to halt their steps, Ye Li stepped onto the lakeside corridor alone and walked toward the water pavilion at the center of the lake. Sure enough, she saw Mo Xiu Yao sitting before an open window, lost in thought. Hearing her footsteps, Mo Xiu Yao snapped out of his daze and smiled, "Ah Li." Ye Li walked inside. "What were you thinking about?" Mo Xiu Yao shook his head and laughed, "I've been busy with some trivial matters these past two days and haven't had the chance to ask if you've grown accustomed to things yet?"
Ye Li shrugged, found a seat opposite him, sat down, and smiled, "My ability to adapt has always been excellent. The people in the manor are also very good, so I am quite accustomed to it." Seeing Mo Xiu Yao gazing at her with a somewhat peculiar expression, Ye Li blinked her eyes and teased, "Could it be that you are the one who isn't accustomed to it yet?" Unexpectedly, Mo Xiu Yao actually nodded and chuckled softly, "I am indeed somewhat unaccustomed. It seems... for many years now, I have always felt as though I were the only person in this vast manor."
"Um... do I need to excuse myself?" Ye Li felt slightly apologetic, not expecting that her presence would actually cause Mo Xiu Yao distress. Mo Xiu Yao broke into a helpless laugh, shaking his head. "How could that be? Ah Li, I thought we were husband and wife."
"And so?"
"I feel that we require more time spent together," Mo Xiu Yao said.
Ye Li understood. Some people would habitually retreat and avoid things they weren't accustomed to, while others would choose to meet the challenge head-on. And Mo Xiu Yao clearly belonged to the latter category. For a couple like them who clearly possessed no affection prior to marriage, they indeed needed to cultivate their feelings post-wedding. "Do you have any good suggestions?" Mo Xiu Yao replied, "If you are free, you can keep me company to chat or read books. Or, if you don't feel it would cause you to lose face, I can also accompany you to go out for a stroll."
"Go out?" Ye Li felt a slight stir of excitement. She seemed to have forgotten that marrying brought along another benefit—it was far more convenient to leave the house than before.
"No problem." Ye Li nodded, effectively agreeing to Mo Xiu Yao's proposition.
Seeing her completely unhesitating manner, Mo Xiu Yao went rigid for a moment before a faint curve lifted the corner of his lips. "Yesterday I mentioned that I would paint a portrait for Ah Li. Ah Li, come over and take a look at how this one turned out." Surprised, Ye Li walked over. "You've finished painting it so quickly?"
On the table before Mo Xiu Yao lay an unfurled scroll. Depicted on the canvas was a woman in red standing tall with a sword in hand. Ye Li recognized at a single glance that the attire and the ornaments upon her head were precisely her styling from the day of the grand wedding. However, the red garments upon her body were not the intricate, heavy bridal gown of phoenix-embroidered peony brocade from the wedding day, but rather a soft, minimalistic red dress bordered with gold cloud patterns, cinched at the waist with a golden belt. The peony between her brows had been replaced by a stroke of vivid red flame. The woman held her weapon as if poised to dance, her expression bright, beautiful, and dignified, yet infused with an extra hint of proud, piercing sharpness.
"Is this me?" Ye Li stared blankly at the woman in the painting, murmuring softly. The woman in the portrait possessed a countenance she was deeply familiar with, yet it also felt vaguely unfamiliar. However, that precise sense of unfamiliarity felt as though it was what she was truly well-acquainted with. For some unknown reason, Ye Li felt that the woman in the painting was exceptionally beautiful—a hundred times more beautiful than the self she usually saw in the mirror.
Mo Xiu Yao smiled, "As the ancient tales tell of a beauty's dance, a single sword move shakes the four quarters. Ah Li possesses the air of the young Princess Qing Yun of yesteryear."
"I haven't..." Ye Li shook her head; she had never danced with a sword in front of anyone. To be precise, she didn't know how to wield a sword at all. Ye Li stared fixedly at the chilling, gleaming Lan Yun Sword held in the hand of the woman in the portrait.
Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly and said, "I feel that this is the true Ah Li."
Ye Li remained silent, but her eyes simply could not tear themselves away from the face of the woman in the painting. Indeed, upon another familiar face of the past, she had once worn such an expression. The carefree unruliness of moving freely through a hail of bullets and a storm of artillery, the sharp pride of slaying enemies barehanded amid blood and wind. That was a life entirely distinct from her present one. Ever since accepting reality, she had constantly strived to make herself conform to the standards of a woman of this era, and she had believed that she was gradually forgetting that woman who laughed with wild abandon amidst mud and sweat. But... if she had truly forgotten, if she had truly accepted it, how could she possibly possess the hidden martial skills she held now?
"That day when Ah Li held the Lan Yun Sword... I felt that Ah Li was more beautiful than at any other time I have ever witnessed." Mo Xiu Yao spoke almost like a sigh. The moment Ye Li drew the Lan Yun Sword flickered before his eyes; though it was but a fleeting instant, that piercing aura completely unlike any ordinary woman, and the free, easy heroism of her swinging the blade—in that split second, Mo Xiu Yao thought he had laid eyes upon a renowned general who dominated the battlefield.
"Can you... can you give this painting to me?" Ye Li asked hesitantly.
Mo Xiu Yao laughed, "This was originally meant as a gift for you." Ever since the topic of painting was casually brought up yesterday, Mo Xiu Yao knew that Ah Li had in fact merely treated it as a joke. Yet, his mind's eye could not stop visualizing the bright, moving, and enchanting appearance of Ye Li on the wedding night, as well as the scene of her drawing her sword in the main hall of the Ye Residence that day. Therefore, even though the manor had no shortage of trivial matters to handle these past two days, he had nonetheless stayed up through the night to paint this portrait. "However, it hasn't been inscribed with calligraphy yet. What does Ah Li think would be appropriate to write?"
Ye Li shook her head, hesitated for a brief moment, and said, "There is no need, right? It doesn't need to be taken out for others to admire anyway." She liked this painting very much; if it were inscribed with text and ruined instead, what would she do?
Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, then nodded, "Very well, even if we forgo an inscription, a signature is still required." Picking up a brush from the brush rack resting on the table, he instructed, "Help me grind the ink."
Ye Li was also rather curious about Mo Xiu Yao's calligraphy. Judging strictly from the artistic skill of this painting, what Mo Xiu Yao had said previously about his painting being no inferior to Han Ming Yue's was indeed no boast. She simply didn't know how his writing fared. Mo Xiu Yao looked at her and smiled, "Ah Li's calligraphy is uniquely styled; I'm afraid I might disappoint you." Ye Li watched him with a smile as he dipped the brush in ink, raised his hand, and left a line of characters along one side of the portrait: Presented to Wife Ah Li by Prince of Ding Xiu Yao. Mo Xiu Yao's characters were upright, tall, and handsome; they looked sharp without lacking momentum, yet they wouldn't make one feel as though his sharp edges were overly exposed. Ye Li was immensely satisfied. She carefully lifted the portrait over to one side to air-dry so it could be safely stored away. Scanning over the words Presented to Wife Ah Li on the painting, a sudden, inexplicably peculiar sensation washed over her. Raising her head to look at Mo Xiu Yao, she found him staring right back at her. If she were to look away just like that, wouldn't it make her seem as though she had a guilty conscience? Ye Li had no choice but to widen her eyes and stare back. Mo Xiu Yao gave a faint smile and was the first to avert his gaze.
The atmosphere grew peculiar enough to make Ye Li want to extricate herself and leave, yet the portrait on the table held her fast, making her reluctant to part with it. Furthermore, leaving just like that wouldn't it mean she was admitting defeat? She had just promised a moment ago to spend more time with him. Her mind spun rapidly, and Ye Li quickly shifted the topic, "Right, I wanted to discuss something with you just now. Could you possibly replace all of your white clothing?" Seeing Mo Xiu Yao raise an eyebrow in confusion, Ye Li asked, "Or do you happen to particularly favor white clothes?"
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, "I have no preference for colors; it has simply become a habit, that is all. Only, how did you come to think of this?" Given his understanding of Ye Li, she would absolutely have no interest in interfering with what colors of clothing he wore.
Ye Li smiled and recounted the events that had transpired in the courtyard just now. Mo Xiu Yao stared at her speechlessly, "So, you believe that because I wear white clothes, she insists on wearing nothing but white dresses?"
Ye Li nodded, "That is precisely what I believe."
"But I do not wear white clothes day in and day out." Although his garments tended to be mostly plain colors, it wasn't as if he lacked other colors entirely.
"But it is highly obvious that every time you appear before her, it likely just so happens that you are clad in white," Ye Li shrugged lazily.
"Haha... Ah Li, are you acting jealous?" Mo Xiu Yao stared at her for a long time before chuckling softly in a low voice.
Jealous?!
Ye Li's face could not help but darken. She snapped to her feet, her expression blank as she said woodenly, "My apologies, my humble residence is short on jealousy!" Finishing her sentence, she didn't even have time to worry about the portrait; she turned right around and marched outside.
"Prince?"
Within moments, Ah Jin appeared at the doorway, looking at Mo Xiu Yao. Nanny Sun was right—the Prince really didn't know how to interact with the Princess Consort. It had only been a short while, yet he had already driven the Princess Consort away in a fit of pique.
Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly, "In a little while, have this portrait delivered over to the Princess Consort."