The First Jasmine - Chapter 58
Chapter 58: The Farce of Princess Ling Yun
The instant she plummeted into the water, Ye Li still could not help but want to curse first. Although she had consistently persisted in training her movements and physique to the best of her ability over these years, it still lacked a certain distance compared to her past life's training of enduring winds and rains, and crawling and rolling through the mud. Furthermore, even if this current body was unfavored, it was definitively an eldest young lady raised in pampered luxury. The moment she entered the water, she still could not prevent a slight muscle cramp. Fortunately, Ye Li was long since psychologically prepared; she adjusted very quickly, moving toward Princess Ling Yun's direction and successfully grabbing the struggling Princess Ling Yun to drag her toward the bottom of the lake.
With merely a single glance, she could discern that this Princess Ling Yun simply did not know how to swim at all, and Ye Li could not resist a cold sneer. Very well, ought she to praise this princess's courage in sacrificing herself for love? Not knowing how to swim yet possessing the audacity to leap into the water! Then allow her to properly experience what drowning felt like; she believed that afterward, the princess would understand what it meant to act according to one's capabilities. Originally, Princess Ling Yun was not particularly frantic, as she knew someone would come to rescue her very soon. However, she very quickly discovered that she was rapidly sinking toward the bottom of the lake, causing her to struggle even more violently in terror. Ye Li let out a soft snort in her heart. Sensing the vibrations in the water clearly and knowing someone had entered the pool, Ye Li swiftly shifted behind Princess Ling Yun and knocked the frantic girl unconscious. She then dragged her to swim toward the opposite side, only pushing her back once she estimated Princess Ling Yun was nearing her absolute limit.
As though it were merely an instant, the people of the entire Imperial Garden gathered by the lakeside. The guards of the Western Liang Kingdom who arrived first, along with the imperial guards of the Imperial Garden, had already plunged into the water to rescue the individuals.
"The people are over there!" Someone by the lakeside suddenly shouted. The crowd quickly looked over and indeed saw a splash of colorful brocade surface from the water, followed by the Princess Consort of Ding surfacing right after, with one hand still supporting Princess Ling Yun. In the eyes of the crowd, it was patently a scene of the Princess Consort of Ding rescuing Princess Ling Yun. Ye Li watched the guards who discovered their figures swimming over swiftly, and she smiled at the still-unconscious Princess Ling Yun, "Princess, wake up. Princess... someone has come to rescue us." Originally, Ye Li's strike was not heavy, so Princess Ling Yun, upon being dragged to the water's surface, opened her eyes very quickly. However, discovering that Ye Li was smiling mockingly at her, and disregarding the environment they currently occupied, Princess Ling Yun shrieked, "Release this Princess!" She then struggled with all her might.
"Princess, do not move. Be careful..."
"This Princess doesn't need your interference!" Seeing that the guards had already arrived before them, Princess Ling Yun, secure in her backing, threw a powerful push against Ye Li.
Very well... Wearing an expression of terror, Ye Li sank back into the water along the direction of Princess Ling Yun's push under the collective gaze of the crowd.
The moment Princess Ling Yun reached the shore, the palace maids waiting on the bank immediately brought dry clothes to drape over her. Qing Yu and Qing Xia glared at Princess Ling Yun with fury, stating, "Princess, our Princess Consort kindly rescued you, why did you push her!"
Princess Ling Yun lifted her head, only to blank for a moment upon seeing that many individuals present were indeed looking at her with condemning eyes. This was entirely different from her original plan! "This Princess did not push her!" Hua Tian Xiang sneered, "A grand princess dares to act but dares not admit it. Even if you wish to concoct a lie, please trouble yourself to invent one that can actually deceive people, alright? Or does the Princess assume that the eyes of so many of us present are blind?" Princess Ling Yun said in rage, "It was she who pushed this Princess down, this Princess did not require her rescue." Grand Princess Zhao Yang stated with a darkened expression, "The Princess's meaning is that the Princess Consort of Ding pushed you into the water, and then she herself leaped down to rescue you? In the end, you are safe and sound, while she has still not emerged up to now? The Princess had best pray that the Princess Consort of Ding is unharmed; otherwise, even if you are a princess of Western Liang, our Great Chu will by no means let the matter rest!"
"Princess Consort... the Princess Consort has been found..." shouted Qing Yu, who was waiting anxiously on the shore. Within the lake, Qing Shuang and Qing Luan, one on each side, supported the clearly unconscious Ye Li as they surfaced. The people on the bank hurriedly assisted in pulling her up and draping dry clothes over Ye Li, while Qing Yu took her hand to check her pulse. Grand Princess Zhao Yang looked at Ye Li with anxiety, asking, "How is it? Why hasn't the imperial physician arrived yet?" Qing Yu lifted her head and said, "Many thanks for the Grand Princess's concern. The Princess Consort swallowed a few mouthfuls of water, which is why she lost consciousness; it shouldn't be anything of great gravity. However... the Princess Consort currently requires a place to rest." Grand Princess Zhao Yang looked around and stated decisively, "This place is closest to the Palace of Morning Glow, send the Princess Consort of Ding there." The crowd surrounded the unconscious Ye Li and proceeded toward the Palace of Morning Glow under the guidance of Grand Princess Zhao Yang, while Princess Ling Yun, who had similarly fallen into the water but was completely safe and sound, was naturally and unintentionally ignored by the crowd. Watching the hurriedly departing crowd, Princess Ling Yun's face turned an alternating shade of green and white.
"Princess..." the Western Liang palace maid standing beside her called out with extreme caution.
"Scram!" Princess Ling Yun raged.
The atmosphere within the Palace of Morning Glow was utterly solemn. Inside the inner chamber, Mo Xiu Yao sat by the bedside with a grave expression, fixedly watching the sleeping woman on the bed as the imperial physician cautiously stepped forward to check her pulse. The Grand Princess sat to one side, knitting her brows as she inquired, "How is the Princess Consort of Ding?" The imperial physician pondered for a moment, casting a glance at Mo Xiu Yao before stating, "Replying to the Prince and the Grand Princess, the Princess Consort is free of any major gravity. It is merely... she has likely suffered a modicum of fright. This minister will turn back to prescribe some medicinal decoctions to calm the spirit and dispel the cold, and that will suffice." The Grand Princess said, "Since she is unharmed, why hasn't the Princess Consort awakened yet?" The imperial physician stated, "This... the Princess Consort is a woman after all. I fear that in the haste of the moment, she suddenly choked on water, which caused her breath to be blocked. However, the choking is not severe; after a brief period of rest, she will awaken." The Grand Princess could not avoid recalling that sudden push by Princess Ling Yun when Ye Li supported her to the water's surface, and her expression became even heavier. She nodded and said, "Go down and brew the medicine."
"This minister takes his leave."
Only Grand Princess Zhao Yang and Mo Xiu Yao remained within the chamber. Grand Princess Zhao Yang stood up and said, "Xiu Yao, care for the Princess Consort well. This Grand Princess will naturally demand justice on behalf of the Princess Consort of Ding regarding Princess Ling Yun's side." Mo Xiu Yao nodded calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Aunt. However, let us still wait until Ah Li awakens before making a final resolution on this matter." The Grand Princess let out a soft sigh, nodding as she said, "It shall be as you wish then. Accompany your Princess Consort; this Grand Princess shall depart first." Watching the Grand Princess leave, Mo Xiu Yao finally rolled his wheelchair forward. Staring at the sleeping woman on the bed for a long moment, he finally asked in a leisurely manner, "Ah Li, do you intend to directly sleep through tonight's palace banquet?" Ye Li's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. "How did you discern it?" Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, stating calmly, "Instinct. If even the imperial physician could be deceived, how could I discern it?" Recalling the imperial physician's expression, which was alternatingly peculiar and puzzled, and who in the end could only firmly claim she was unconscious due to fright, a faint trace of amusement surfaced in Mo Xiu Yao's eyes.
"Ah Li, I never knew you enjoyed rescuing people from peril to such an extent?" Mo Xiu Yao looked at Ye Li and stated calmly.
Ye Li said helplessly, "I had no alternative either. Had I not rescued her, by this time it would likely have become a case of me pushing her into the water."
Mo Xiu Yao's eyes flashed, "Just now outside, Princess Ling Yun indeed maintained resolutely that it was you who pushed her into the water."
"Outside... she truly is tenacious. To still be capable of making a scene after such a tossing?" Ye Li marveled. Beneath the water, she had truly given that Princess Ling Yun quite a severe tossing; she hadn't expected the girl would refuse to see an imperial physician and instead follow along to make a scene. Recalling the main culprit behind this ordeal of hers, Ye Li's clear and elegant eyes narrowed slightly. Staring at the exposed half of Mo Xiu Yao's handsome face, she said, "Speaking of which, Prince... today's matter can also be considered to have arisen because of you. Do you possess any words to say?"
Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, looking at her questioningly. Ye Li let out a soft snort, saying, "That Princess Ling Yun possesses a heart entirely devoted to you, Prince, and she even swore with absolute certainty that she will definitely become the principal princess consort of the Prince of Ding's Manor."
"Princess Ling Yun of Western Liang?" Mo Xiu Yao knitted his brows. Ye Li stared at him with a dangerous gaze, "You couldn't truly possess some agreement after many years or something similar with this princess, right? To be capable of laying hands on and deceiving a seven or eight-year-old little girl—such a bastard... ought to be beaten to death!"
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, looking at Ye Li as he stated seriously, "I can be certain that Princess Ling Yun and I should have never met before."
"If you have never met before, how could she cry and make a scene about wanting to marry you, even going so far as to leap into the lake herself? Could it be... because of the status of the Prince of Ding's Manor?" Ye Li was puzzled. She had not suspected that Mo Xiu Yao would deceive her on this issue; in truth, the probability of Mo Xiu Yao and Princess Ling Yun knowing each other was fundamentally not high to begin with. Logically speaking... marrying into the Prince of Ding's Manor did not seem to align with the interests of a princess of the Western Liang Kingdom. If Western Liang desired a marital alliance, the optimal choice would still be to marry Princess Ling Yun to the Emperor.
Mo Xiu Yao cast a glance at her, appearing somewhat surprised, "How do you know Western Liang desires a marital alliance?"
"Otherwise, for what purpose would they bring a princess across such vast distances? To pay a casual visit?"
Mo Xiu Yao said, "Western Liang and our Great Chu have consistently been at odds. Even if these few years can be considered peaceful, everyone knows clearly in their hearts that we will still trade blows sooner or later. Generally speaking, it is impossible for Western Liang to truly allow a princess to come to Great Chu for an imperial marriage alliance. Under such circumstances, an imperial marriage alliance is equivalent to a hostage. Once the two nations engage in warfare, regardless of whether you are a princess or a princess royal, you can only be a pathetic sacrificial victim." Ye Li knitted her brows. That is also true; under such circumstances where both sides are fully aware in their hearts, even if the Emperor of Western Liang possessed so many daughters he had nowhere to place them, there would be no necessity to deliver one to his own enemy.
Mo Xiu Yao looked at her as she leaned against the head of the bed with knitted brows in deep contemplation, his gaze turning slightly warm, "There is no need to contemplate excessively. Whether they desire a marital alliance can be learned during tonight's palace banquet."
When Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao walked out from the inner chamber, the crowd within the hall who had originally been whispering in secret instantly fell dead silent. Clearly, the events that transpired within the Imperial Garden had alarmed quite a few people; not only the Empress, but even the Emperor had arrived. Accompanying them were the envoys of various nations, with the exception of Bei Rong. Seeing the two emerge, Mo Jing Qi's gaze first landed upon Ye Li, and it was only after a brief moment that he inquired, "Prince of Ding, how is the Princess Consort of Ding?" Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly, "Many thanks for the Emperor's concern; Ah Li is free of any major gravity now." The Empress nodded with relief, "It is good that the Princess Consort of Ding is unharmed. Princess Consort of Ding, please take a seat."
The two expressed their gratitude to the Emperor and Empress, and Ye Li proceeded to seat herself. Opposite them, the Heir of the King of Zhennan of Western Liang, Lei Teng Feng, stood up and said in a clear, resonant voice, "Princess Consort of Ding, Ling Yun suffered a fright just now and inadvertently made an error that caused the Princess Consort to suffer a fright. I request the Princess Consort to grant forgiveness." Before his words could completely fall, Princess Ling Yun beside him had already stood up in pain, shrieking, "Royal Brother, I have already said it was she who pushed me down!" Grand Princess Zhao Yang knitted her brows, looking at Princess Ling Yun as she said, "Princess, everyone present saw clearly that the Princess Consort of Ding desired to rescue you; instead, it was you who pushed the already-exhausted Princess Consort of Ding into the water, which led to the Princess Consort of Ding losing consciousness." Princess Ling Yun's face turned red with rage as she said, "I possess a witness."
Grand Princess Zhao Yang knitted her brows and stated calmly, "This Grand Princess is aware; the Princess stated just now that your maidservant witnessed with her own eyes the Princess Consort of Ding pushing you into the water. However... regarding your performance toward the Princess Consort of Ding within the Feng De Palace and the situation within the water, I fear the words of your maidservant are highly difficult for people to believe."
Princess Ling Yun shrieked, "Are you saying this Princess is lying!" Grand Princess Zhao Yang cast a calm glance at her; though she did not answer, that expression was already sufficient to demonstrate it.
"Ling Yun, cease your willful nonsense!" Lei Teng Feng rebuked in a deep voice.
Princess Ling Yun wept out loud from rage, stating with deep hatred, "Fine! You do not believe this Princess, this Princess shall prove it with death!" Having spoken, she pulled a golden hairpin from her head and aimed it directly at her own heart to stab downward.
"Princess, you must not—!"
"Ling Yun—!"
Lei Teng Feng, quick of eye and swift of hand, grabbed Princess Ling Yun's arm and snatched the hairpin away. He looked at this willful cousin of his with an immense headache, while simultaneously casting a somewhat suspicious glance toward Ye Li opposite them. Although this cousin had consistently loved to make a scene, she had never had such a violent reaction before; could it be that she was truly wronged?
"Princess Consort of Ding, I wonder if we could request you to speak on exactly what transpired at that time?" Lei Teng Feng inquired, staring into Ye Li's eyes.
Ye Li faced his gaze calmly, stating softly, "I am also unaware of what transpired. Princess Ling Yun was speaking with me, and for some unknown reason, she suddenly tumbled into the lake. Afterward, I followed and tumbled down as well."
Lei Teng Feng's brows knitted even tighter, staring at Ye Li with a touch of vigilance as he said, "You also tumbled down? Then do you know how you tumbled down?"
Ye Li shook her head, "Princess Ling Yun suddenly fell downward. I suffered a fright, and before I could recover my senses, I had already tumbled into the lake."
"The Princess Consort of Ding appears to know how to swim," Lei Teng Feng said.
Ye Li offered a shallow smile, "It cannot be considered knowing how, it is merely that I nearly drowned when I was young, which is why I studied it a little. It is just that I lack experience after all, which is why..."
Ye Li appeared to have said nothing, yet in the ears of the people seated within the hall, she had indeed said everything. They even successfully outlined the profile of the entire matter within their minds. Everyone had witnessed with their own eyes that it was Princess Ling Yun who insistently dragged the Princess Consort of Ding to speak with her; presumably, the two were speaking of something unpleasant, and Princess Ling Yun, in a moment of agitation, failed to pay attention and tumbled into the lake, bringing the Princess Consort of Ding down along with her. Had it merely been thus, it could barely be regarded as an accident and dropped, yet the Princess Consort of Ding had clearly rescued Princess Ling Yun, only for Princess Ling Yun to return kindness with enmity by pushing the Princess Consort of Ding back under the water, causing her to lose consciousness. Furthermore, she took advantage of the victim's unconscious state to claim that the other party had pushed her into the water. Instantly, the gaze with which the people of the entire hall viewed Princess Ling Yun and the Western Liang envoys altered completely. Originally, the nobles and high officials of Great Chu harbored no good feelings toward the Western Liang people, and now they disliked them even more. What exactly was the moral character of these Western Liang people?
"In truth, Princess Ling Yun also has no necessity to seek death and life in this manner. This is after all the imperial palace of Great Chu; if any mishap were to occur to the Western Liang princess, wouldn't that harm the friendship between Western Liang and our Great Chu? Although this Princess Consort is a mere woman, I would definitively never perform an act so detrimental to the peace of the two nations." Ye Li looked at Princess Ling Yun, speaking with an unhurried tone. "However, this Princess Consort harbors a modicum of perplexity. Princess Ling Yun and I came from the Imperial Garden, and we both left our maidservants behind. Logically speaking, at that position... regardless of whether the Princess tumbled down herself or this Princess Consort pushed her down, unless your maidservants stood directly by the lakeside, they would be incapable of witnessing it. I wonder how they witnessed with their own eyes this Princess Consort pushing the Princess down? Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, could we request to summon my maidservant and Princess Ling Yun's maidservants to enter together?"
The Emperor turned his head to cast a glance at Mo Jing Qi. Seeing that he displayed no signs of objection, he nodded and said, "It shall be as the Princess Consort says."
Qing Luan and the others entered very quickly, and entering alongside them were the maidservants Princess Ling Yun had brought from Western Liang. It was still the Grand Princess who opened her mouth to inquire, "Were you few following the Princess Consort and the Princess at that time?"
Qing Yu took a step forward and said, "Reporting to the Grand Princess, at that time Princess Ling Yun stated that she wished to converse with our Princess Consort alone, and she took the lead to dismiss her own palace maids. Therefore, the Princess Consort also commanded us servants that there was no need to follow." Grand Princess Zhao Yang raised her eyebrows and continued to inquire, "Then, did you see exactly what occurred by the lakeside at that time?" Qing Yu shook her head and said, "Between the lakeside and the Imperial Garden sits an artificial rockery. We servants stood somewhat further away and were blocked by the rockery, so we did not see what occurred at that time." Princess Ling Yun's maidservant stepped forward and said, "We servants witnessed it; it was the Princess Consort of Ding who pushed our princess down."
The Grand Princess said, "This Grand Princess is also aware of that artificial rockery by the lakeside. When this Grand Princess was young, I even used to play inside it. If you stood behind the rockery, it is absolutely impossible for you to witness what occurred by the lakeside at that time."
"We were not behind the rockery at that time!" the maidservant blurted out.
The Grand Princess raised her eyebrows, casting a smile that was not a smile at Princess Ling Yun as she inquired, "Oh... then where were you at that time?"
"We... we were by the edge of the peach blossom grove near the lake." The maidservant appeared to feel she had spoken erroneously, anxiously casting a glance toward the Western Liang side as she offered a strained reply.
The Grand Princess nodded, "If it were over there, it is indeed possible to witness it. However, this Grand Princess wishes to know, why would you—who were originally supposed to wait behind—circumvent nearly half of the Imperial Garden to appear beside the peach grove? This Grand Princess remembers that between the peach grove and the lakeside rockery lies a small river, and the bridge appears to be somewhat distant." Under the gaze of so many individuals, and furthermore in the presence of the Emperor and Empress of Great Chu, even if this maidservant possessed the audacity of heaven, she dared not refuse to answer the Grand Princess's words. She could only say, "It was... the Princess commanded us servants to go over there... to go over there..."
The Grand Princess smiled, "To go over there for what? If it were during the third lunar month to pluck a few sprigs of peach blossoms, it would be logical, but now that it is nearly the sixth lunar month, ordinary individuals would not go over there."
"This servant... this servant..." The maidservant frantically wished to seek help from Princess Ling Yun. Regrettably, by this point, Princess Ling Yun herself could not think of any reason to justify her words, and she merely argued stubbornly, "Regardless of how this Princess's maidservants came to be there, it can at least prove that they indeed witnessed this Princess being pushed into the lake by her."
The Grand Princess had been born within the deep palace since childhood and was not so easily hoodwinked. Her phoenix eyes fixedly watched the maidservant without shifting for an instant as she said, "Since you claim it was the Princess Consort of Ding who pushed Princess Ling Yun, then how did the Princess Consort of Ding push her? At that time, was Princess Ling Yun facing the Princess Consort of Ding directly, or was her back turned, or was she sideways? Did the Princess Consort of Ding use her left hand to push or her right hand to push? Did Princess Ling Yun, upon being pushed into the water by the Princess Consort of Ding, shriek? If so, what exactly did she shriek?" The maidservant's face stiffened, and it was a long while before she said, "This servant remembers... the Princess was facing away from the Princess Consort of Ding at that time. The Princess Consort of Ding... the Princess Consort of Ding used her left, right hand to push the Princess. After the Princess was pushed down, she still struggled and shouted for help."
To one side, Lei Teng Feng's expression darkened, and he silently cursed the fool in his heart.
Grand Princess Zhao Yang's expression altered, and she rebuked sharply, "Presumptuous! You dare to utter falsehoods in the presence of the Emperor and Empress! The guards on patrol who rushed to the lakeside at that time stated they heard no sounds of calling for help whatsoever; it was merely upon hearing your screams that they rushed over. It was only upon seeing the water's surface rippling incessantly that they knew someone had fallen into the water. Why is it that you heard Princess Ling Yun's voice calling for help? Could it be that your martial arts are profound and your ears and eyes are more acute than the imperial guards within the palace?"
"I... I..." That maidservant had forced herself to invent such a long string of responses and was long since at her wit's end. Rebuked by the Grand Princess, her body went limp and she instantly collapsed to the ground, "Princess, spare my life! Princess, spare my life! This servant, this servant is..."
"Shut your mouth!" Lei Teng Feng suddenly spoke up, "You clearly did not hear Ling Yun calling for help. When the Grand Princess questions you, answer honestly what you know; do not add oil and vinegar to speak of non-existent matters." The maidservant blanked, hurriedly nodding her head, "Yes... yes... this servant knows her error, this servant did not hear the Princess's voice calling for help..."
Lei Teng Feng turned around, cupping his hands to Ye Li with a smile as he said, "May the Princess Consort grant forgiveness. This girl has followed Ling Yun since childhood and has never witnessed any grand spectacles; in a moment of nervousness, she must have seen erroneously and thus wrongly accused the Princess Consort. Ling Yun has consistently trusted this girl, and having suffered a fright today, she was thus misled by her... I hope the Princess Consort possesses a magnanimous heart." Ye Li looked at Ling Yun's expression of refusing to admit her error to the death, her smile turning slightly cool, "The Heir speaks too heavily; originally it was not any matter of great gravity. It is merely... that such a loophole occurred during this Princess Consort's very first attendance at a palace banquet truly brings shame upon the Prince of Ding's Manor. Perhaps... what Princess Ling Yun stated also possesses some reasoning. Don't you agree, Princess?"
Princess Ling Yun let out a snort, turning her head away to avoid looking at Ye Li.
Seated beside the Grand Princess, Princess Royal Rong Hua suddenly raised her eyebrows and smiled, inquiring, "What words did Princess Ling Yun speak that caused even the Princess Consort of Ding to express agreement?"
Ye Li let out a quiet sigh, stating, "This Princess Consort was so discourteous, losing the countenance of the Prince of Ding's Manor and the Prince. Perhaps tomorrow the Prince will grant this Princess Consort a letter of divorce, and this Princess Consort of Ding will likely have to be replaced by another individual."
The Empress rebuked softly, "Nonsense, this is merely an accident and nothing more. How could the Prince of Ding be so unreasonable?"
Mo Xiu Yao, who had been sitting idly watching the play all along, nodded with a solemn expression, "What Her Majesty the Empress says is correct." He then turned his head to smile at Ye Li, "Rest assured, Ah Li. No matter what occurs, you are the principal wife wedded through proper channels by my Prince of Ding's Manor. Whoever dares to question Ah Li is questioning my Prince of Ding's Manor!" Grand Princess Zhao Yang also smiled and said, "Xiu Yao's words are correct. Whoever dares to question the Princess Consort of Ding is crossing this Grand Princess. The Princess Consort of Ding needs only to set her heart at ease; regarding today's matter, everyone knows you suffered a grievance."
"Prince, Princess Consort, my Imperial Sister is ignorant and misunderstood the Princess Consort. This personage offers an apology on her behalf here. I request the Princess Consort to grant forgiveness."
Ye Li lowered her eyes and remained silent, wearing a respectful posture that indicated the Prince would make all the decisions.
Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly, "Heir, regarding an act like an apology, it appears to display more sincerity if the involved party performs it personally. Don't you agree?" Lei Teng Feng blanked. Mo Xiu Yao demanding Ling Yun to apologize personally was completely slapping Ling Yun's face, stubbornly refusing to leave even a shred of consideration. Looking at Ye Li speculatively, Lei Teng Feng said, "Ling Yun is still young of age, and it is due to the lack of proper guidance from this personage as her elder brother; it is entirely natural for this personage to apologize personally." Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips lifting slightly, "Perhaps the Heir ought to teach the Princess what it means to be responsible for one's own actions, and how to be accountable for one's behavior. Today's matter... can this Prince view it as a provocation from Western Liang toward my Prince of Ding's Manor?" Princess Ling Yun, being rebuked in such a manner to her face by the sweetheart she had admired for so long, had eyes that had long since turned red with grievance.
Lei Teng Feng's heart gave a leap. Had he known that Mo Xiu Yao's attitude would be so unyielding, he would have directly compelled Princess Ling Yun to apologize from the very beginning. Losing face was always better than losing one's life! Ling Yun was definitively going to remain within Great Chu; if she offended Mo Xiu Yao, while he himself was within Great Chu he could still protect her to some degree, but once he departed, he feared she wouldn't even know how she perished. Regarding today's matter, Lei Teng Feng believed it was indeed Ling Yun who wished to target the Princess Consort of Ding, but if one claimed this Princess Consort of Ding was truly so innocent, Lei Teng Feng disbelieved it by ten thousand measures. Even more fatal was that Mo Xiu Yao directly elevated this matter to the level of the Western Liang Kingdom's attitude toward the Prince of Ding's Manor. Although Mo Xiu Yao was currently a cripple, the influence of the Prince of Ding's Manor and the Black Cloud Cavalry, which caused the world to alter its countenance, were both still present. Had Mo Xiu Yao demonstrated a weaker demeanor it would be fine, but Mo Xiu Yao's unyielding attitude caused him to harbor even greater apprehension. The Western Liang Kingdom currently did not stand in need of warfare.
"Ling Yun! Apologize to the Princess Consort of Ding!" Almost instantly, Lei Teng Feng made a prompt decision, speaking to Princess Ling Yun.
"What? You want me to apologize to her!" Princess Ling Yun shrieked. The crowd present could not avoid knitting their brows, and even Princess Royal Rong Hua curled her lip in disdain. Even if she was known as the most arrogant princess royal within the capital city, she would absolutely disdain to display such a lack of courtesy in such a setting. The upbringing of the Western Liang Kingdom's princess truly caused people to view them in a whole new light.
Princess Ling Yun glared at Ye Li with deep hatred, stating, "On what basis should this Princess apologize to her? This Princess is the most noble princess of Western Liang; if this Princess apologizes, can she endure the weight of it?"
Ye Li knitted her brows, "The Princess refuses to apologize because she looks down upon this Princess Consort?"
"Do you possess anything that allows this Princess to look up to you?" Princess Ling Yun lifted her chin arrogantly, slanting her eyes to look at Ye Li. These past days she had long since inquired about Ye Li thoroughly—a young lady of a Minister's Manor who had been neglected for many years, and furthermore the capital's renowned lady of the 'Three Lacks': lacking talent, lacking virtue, and lacking appearance. Even the Prince of Li could not tolerate her reputation and abandoned her. It was merely due to good luck that she was decreed by the Emperor to the Prince of Ding. As for the matter of the champion of the Grand Feast of a Hundred Flowers, in Princess Ling Yun's eyes it fundamentally did not merit half a shred of attention; Ye Li was merely lucky and nothing more.
A trace of cold light flashed through the depths of Ye Li's eyes, and she continuously comforted herself within her heart: She is still small, there is no need to lower oneself to her level... To hell with her being small! This girl simply lacks proper discipline. If she were still within the military, a fellow who so ignored gravity would have had a layer of skin stripped off by her long ago. "Then... is the Princess looking down upon this Princess Consort, or looking down upon the identity of the Princess Consort of the Prince of Ding's Manor?" Ye Li inquired.
"You are fundamentally completely unworthy of the identity of the Princess Consort of Ding!" Princess Ling Yun shouted. Ye Li pursed her lips, looking at Princess Ling Yun with a beaming smile. The people present all praised her good temper and excellent cultivation within their hearts. "Then whom does the Princess feel can be worthy of the identity of the Princess Consort of Ding? If you have the nerve to state that it is yourself... this Princess Consort will completely defer to you."
Princess Ling Yun was choked, swiftly casting a glance at Mo Xiu Yao. Regrettably, falling flowers possess intent while the flowing water lacks emotion; Mo Xiu Yao merely watched the Princess Consort beside him with a faint smile, entirely failing to perceive Princess Ling Yun's melancholy gaze. Even if Princess Ling Yun was capable of declaring her designs on the position of the Princess Consort of Ding to Ye Li's face, she still lacked the face to express in front of so many individuals that only she herself was worthy of the Prince of Ding. On the contrary, Ye Li marveled at her melancholy expression; this girl had never met Mo Xiu Yao before, yet during their very first meeting she was actually capable of performing in such a... deep-seated emotional manner... Had it been the Mo Xiu Yao of eight years ago, one could still claim it was love at first sight, but the current Mo Xiu Yao truly lacked the conditions to cause an individual to fall in love at first sight. Could hero worship truly allow a young girl to be infatuated to such an extent? Even if it were so, she ought to worship the hero of her own nation, correct?
Or was this princess a citizen without borders?
"Had it been in the past, it wouldn't matter if the Princess looked down upon me. But now... this Princess Consort is unable to allow the successive ancestors of the Prince of Ding's Manor to suffer shame because of this Princess Consort." Ye Li stared at Princess Ling Yun and stated. Princess Ling Yun said with overbearing pride, "This Princess will absolutely never apologize to an individual who is inferior to this Princess!" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, "Previously, the Princess invited this Princess Consort to compete in swordplay, and this Princess Consort declined. Why don't we compete once again now? If this Princess Consort loses, regarding today's matter... it shall be treated as this Princess Consort pushing the Princess, and I shall allow the Princess to handle me as she pleases. If the Princess loses..."
"Impossible!" Princess Ling Yun said, "This Princess will absolutely never lose to you!"
Ye Li paid her no heed, continuing to state, "I want the Princess, during the palace banquet, to kneel and apologize in the presence of the entire civil and military officials of the court and the titled ladies."
"You! Fine, this Princess agrees." Before Lei Teng Feng could intervene to stop her, Ling Yun had already spoken in a loud voice, "If you lose, this Princess wants you to perform three prostrations and nine kowtows all the way from the palace gates to the most bustling location within the capital city, and then acknowledge to all the people that you are unworthy to be the Princess Consort of Ding!"
Ye Li nodded calmly, "It is a deal."
"Hold on!" Grand Princess Zhao Yang stood up and said, "This Grand Princess remembers that the Princess Consort of Ding is fundamentally unversed in sword techniques."
Ye Li smiled and said, "What the Grand Princess says is correct. Therefore, we shall not compete in swordplay; we shall compete in archery. I believe Princess Ling Yun will definitely know how as well, correct?"
"Ha! You wish to compete in archery with this Princess?!" Princess Ling Yun behaved as though she had heard some joke, looking at Ye Li with an expression entirely of contempt as she laughed out loud. "This Princess studied archery at seven years of age, and by ten years of age I could shoot without a single miss. You... can you even draw open a bow?"
Ye Li lowered her brows and offered a shallow smile, "Does the Princess's meaning indicate that we shall not compete?"
"This Princess is merely afraid you will lose far too unsightly. Since you are so incapable of estimating your own strength, this Princess shall simply fulfill your wish. Speak, how shall we compete?"
Ye Li smiled with satisfaction, standing up to speak to Mo Jing Qi and the Empress, "Thus, we trouble the Emperor and Empress to act as witnesses." Mo Jing Qi looked at her and inquired, "Princess Consort of Ding, have you set your resolve? You must consider it clearly." Ye Li smiled, "I request the Emperor to fulfill this wish. The dignity of the Prince of Ding's Manor does not brook trampling."
Mo Jing Qi's expression shifted. Staring at Ye Li for a long moment, he finally stated in a deep voice, "Very well, We grant it."
Ye Li offered a respectful obeisance, "Ye Li expresses many thanks for the Emperor's fulfillment." Only then did she turn around to look at Princess Ling Yun, smiling as she said, "Princess, please."
"Hmph!" Princess Ling Yun took the lead to turn around and proceed outside the hall. Ye Li's smile was calm and gentle, and she ambled up to follow.
Following behind them, Lei Teng Feng watched the straight and resolute silhouette of the woman ahead, and for some unknown reason, a trace of an unfavorable premonition surfaced within his heart.