The First Jasmine - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: A Single Arrow Decides the Match

A bustling crowd packed a clearing in the Imperial Garden, and even from a distance, many idle palace maids and eunuchs craned their necks to catch a glimpse of this rare spectacle within the imperial palace. Mo Jing Qi and the Empress, along with the imperial concubines, court officials, and noble ladies who had come to attend the palace banquet, gathered to serve as witnesses for the Princess Consort of Ding and Princess Ling Yun. The Imperial Garden was filled with an unprecedented clamor. Because there were too many people, only the Emperor, the Empress, the imperial concubines, and a few royal nobles of prominent status could sit; everyone else had to stand to watch. Yet patently, no one minded such a trivial matter; every person was staring at the two individuals in the clearing with keen interest. The Princess Consort of Ding had not requested any archery targets, so how exactly were they going to compete?

Noble Consort Liu sat beside the Emperor with a cold expression. Her aloof gaze swept casually over Ye Li, carrying a hint of scrutiny. Mo Jing Qi lowered his head to observe his beloved consort's expression and chuckled softly, "What is Beloved Consort looking at? It seems Beloved Consort likes the Princess Consort of Ding quite a lot?" Noble Consort Liu knitted her brows and stated coldly, "The Emperor jests. This consort is merely a modicum curious, nothing more." Mo Jing Qi smiled meaningfully, "There are not many people who can make Beloved Consort feel curious. However, from what We see, the Princess Consort of Ding likely has no chance of victory." Noble Consort Liu raised her eyebrows, maintaining her frostily aloof demeanor. A trace of burning, dark shadow flashed through the depths of Mo Jing Qi's eyes, and he continued, "Princess Ling Yun is the beloved daughter of the Western Liang Emperor, and has trained in both cultural and martial arts since childhood. In Western Liang, her archery is even more renowned than her swordplay."

"What benefit does her defeat bring to the Emperor?" Noble Consort Liu stated calmly.

Mo Jing Qi smiled without a word. He shifted his gaze toward Mo Xiu Yao, who sat peacefully not far away, and his eyes darkened.

"Prince..." Beside Mo Xiu Yao, Qing Shuang watched Ye Li anxiously as she made preparations in the center of the clearing. Having followed her young lady for so many years, how could Qing Shuang not know that her young lady had fundamentally never really studied archery? At most, she had only played around with the Third Master when visiting the Xu family. How could that possibly compare to Princess Ling Yun's archery, which had been bitterly practiced since childhood?

Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly, "Be at ease."

Lei Teng Feng sat nearby, and seeing Mo Xiu Yao's utterly serene expression, he could not help but knit his brows. Could it be that the Princess Consort of Ding truly possesses some hidden trump card? Yet regardless of whether she won or lost, this matter brought absolutely no benefit to their Western Liang. Lei Teng Feng could not resist cursing silently in his heart. Has Imperial Uncle gone senile with age? How could he choose a girl like Ling Yun to come to Great Chu? Even the most unfavored princess in the Western Liang imperial palace is a hundred times more sensible than this girl. "Prince of Ding, this matter is entirely due to this girl Ling Yun being insensible. This personage has heard that the Princess Consort of Ding is the number one talented lady of the capital and does not excel in martial arts. This competition is somewhat unfair to the Princess Consort."

Mo Xiu Yao smiled calmly, "Since it is Ah Li's own choice, whether it is fair or not is no longer important. Is it not?"

"But in the event that the Princess Consort..." Is Mo Xiu Yao absolutely certain that the Princess Consort of Ding can win, or does he fundamentally not care if the Prince of Ding's Manor loses face?

"If Ah Li loses, this Prince shall kneel beside her to Princess Ling Yun!" Mo Xiu Yao replied calmly. Hearing these words, Lei Teng Feng's heart gave a violent jolt, and an expression of lost composure was almost unmaskable on his face. He shifted his gaze toward the elegant woman in the clearing, who was dressed in moon-white brocade just like the Prince of Ding. The hand gripping his wine cup tightened unconsciously, and his handsome brows knitted in deep thought.

In the clearing, Ye Li and Princess Ling Yun were each inspecting the bows and arrows in their hands. Princess Ling Yun checked her bow and arrow with agile, practiced movements; with a single glance, it was clear she was someone who used arrows regularly in the capital. Conversely, Ye Li was unhurriedly examining the bow and arrow in her hands, testing it here and touching it there, causing the surrounding onlookers to feel anxious on her behalf. Given the Princess Consort of Ding's slender build and her slow, somewhat raw movements, it made people suspect that, let alone shooting an arrow, whether the Princess Consort of Ding could even draw the bow open was still a question.

"Speak, how shall we compete?" Princess Ling Yun was already prepared, and she tilted her chin to look down upon Ye Li arrogantly.

Ye Li also put down her bow and arrow very quickly, lifting her head to look at Princess Ling Yun with a smile, "One arrow each. A single arrow decides the match!"

"As you wish," Princess Ling Yun said, gripping her bow and arrow. "Speak, where shall we shoot? Piercing a willow leaf from a hundred paces, or shooting the flying birds in the sky?"

Hearing Princess Ling Yun's words, the crowd grew even more astonished, gaining a deeper understanding of this princess's archery skills. To be able to speak of piercing a willow leaf from a hundred paces with such confidence indicated that this princess was indeed an expert. Standing behind Madame Hua, Hua Tian Xiang tightly clutched her sleeves, breaking into a cold sweat for Ye Li.

Ye Li unhurriedly raised her bow and arrow, stating calmly, "Bows and arrows are weapons of war; they are not meant for shooting leaves and flying birds. Therefore... we shall compete by shooting a person!" Having spoken, she lifted her bow, notched an arrow, and pointed it steadily at Princess Ling Yun.

What?!

The crowd was shocked, watching the woman in the clearing hold the bow and arrow in a standard but absolutely unpracticed posture, pointing it directly at Princess Ling Yun.

"You... are you mad? What kind of joke is this?" Princess Ling Yun shrieked out loud. The position where they stood was less than fifty paces apart. Ling Yun was an archery expert, so she could naturally see that even if Ye Li's posture was unfamiliar, she had definitely studied it. At this distance, the probability of either her or Ye Li missing was not high. Therefore, Ye Li did not want to compete in archery skills with her at all, but wanted to compete in courage. Ye Li smiled calmly, "Whether it is a sword or an arrow, both are weapons of war. Weapons are instruments of evil. Since it is a competition, we naturally cannot involve others. Therefore, I must trouble Princess Ling Yun and this Princess Consort to shoot one arrow at each other. Death, injury, at, one's, own, risk!"

No... She did not want to marry the Emperor through an imperial marriage alliance and become one of the concubines in the imperial harem; she wanted to marry the Prince of Ding and become the Princess Consort of Ding. But she did not want to die, nor did she want to experience the sensation of being pierced by an arrow.

"Princess Consort of Ding! Is this not a modicum too severe? In the event that some mishap occurs..." Lei Teng Feng stood up to stop it. Ye Li turned her head to cast a glance at him, saying with a smile, "Did this Princess Consort not state it? Death and injury are at one's own risk. What is more, the Emperor has already permitted the competition between this Princess Consort and Princess Ling Yun. Could it be that the Heir wishes this Princess Consort to break her word in the presence of the Emperor, the Empress, and our Great Chu's civil and military officials? If so, with what face will my Prince of Ding's Manor establish itself in the capital in the future?" Lei Teng Feng felt bitterness in his heart. You didn't state beforehand that we would be gambling with lives.

"Of course, if Princess Ling Yun is afraid, she can admit defeat at any time," Ye Li added calmly at the end. This single sentence undoubtedly blocked all of Princess Ling Yun's retreats. In the presence of so many people, how could she possibly admit defeat to Ye Li? Spurred by a surge of unyielding rage, she blurted out, "This Princess will by no means admit defeat. This Princess accepts the gamble!"

"Very well, let us begin." Ye Li nodded and smiled with satisfaction. For some unknown reason, Princess Ling Yun suddenly dared not look into her eyes, shifting her gaze away in a modicum of panic.

Mo Jing Qi was also caught somewhat unprepared by this sudden turn of events. Looking at Ye Li's silhouette, Noble Consort Liu's eyes revealed a trace of barely perceptible admiration, and she said, "This consort actually feels that the Princess Consort of Ding's chances of victory are not small." The Empress also knew that although Noble Consort Liu was born into a family of civil officials, she was a rare woman who excelled in both cultural and martial pursuits. She inquired curiously, "The Noble Consort feels the Princess Consort of Ding will win?" Noble Consort Liu said, "This Princess Ling Yun's courage is not as grand as she makes it out to be."

"Since that is the case, we shall proceed according to the Princess Consort of Ding's meaning." Mo Jing Qi stood up and stated, "A single arrow decides the match. Missing the target or dodging will both be counted as a loss. Begin."

The Imperial Garden instantly fell into absolute silence. The eunuch acting as the master of ceremonies stood at the midpoint between the two individuals and shouted in a shrill voice, "Princess Consort, Princess, please prepare." He then quickly retreated from the clearing. "One—"

The two individuals drew their bows simultaneously. What surprised people was that the seemingly elegant and gentle Princess Consort of Ding appeared to draw that bow without much difficulty.

"Two—"

Princess Ling Yun drew her bow to its absolute limit, the tip of her arrow aiming precisely at the woman opposite her. She possessed absolute confidence; as long as she shot this arrow, she would definitively send this incapable Princess Consort of Ding to the afterlife. As long as... she shot this arrow! Suddenly, Princess Ling Yun's hand gripping the feathered arrow trembled slightly. She clearly saw the eyes of the woman opposite her. Those eyes, as aloof and cold as snow, caused her heart to plunge into an ice house almost in an instant. In Princess Ling Yun's eyes, the Ye Li before her seemed to have transformed into a completely different person; her entire being was filled with an unstoppable aura of slaughter and the confidence of hitting the mark with a single strike. She merely looked at her calmly, behaving as though she fundamentally did not take that arrow pointed directly at her seriously at all. It was as though she was absolutely certain that the arrow could not hit her in the slightest. The more she thought this way, the more Princess Ling Yun's gaze shifted uncontrollably toward the tip of Ye Li's arrow, discovering with a touch of despair that if she did not dodge, even if Ye Li was a novice, that arrow would definitively hit her.

Fine beads of sweat had broke out on Princess Ling Yun's forehead at some unknown point.

Ye Li calmly experienced the feeling of the bow and arrow in her hands. Although it was still not entirely smooth, and far from the sense of compatibility she had with the sniper rifle that had followed her for several years, entering such a shooting duel for the first time since arriving in this world still brought a modicum of delight and pleasure to her heart, even if it was merely teasing a little girl. Looking along the tip of her arrow, she clearly saw the unmaskable terror in the depths of Princess Ling Yun's eyes, and a faint smile hooked at the corners of her lips.

Almost everyone held their breath, waiting for the arrival of this final moment. Lei Teng Feng stared fixedly at Princess Ling Yun. Because of the direction, he could not see Ye Li's face, but judging by her physical posture, he could tell that Ye Li was not very familiar with this kind of bow and arrow. With Ling Yun's capabilities, success should be absolutely certain; why was she performing with such nervousness?

Mo Xiu Yao sat calmly in his wheelchair, his hands resting casually on the armrests. However, if anyone were to observe meticulously, they would discover that something was hidden beneath his right hand. His gaze also rested upon Princess Ling Yun, though it was not on Princess Ling Yun's face, but rather on the tip of her arrow.

"I will not lose..." Princess Ling Yun exerted her utmost effort to keep her gaze from paying attention to Ye Li's arrow, secretly swallowing her saliva and continuously pumping herself up in her heart. Yet her eyes always drifted unconsciously toward the tip of Ye Li's arrow.

"Three—!" The shrill voice rang out in their ears. Ling Yun clearly saw the smile at the corners of Ye Li's lips deepen. As Ye Li pulled the bow back further to prepare to release the arrow, Ling Yun, who had already drawn her string to the full, reflexively released her shot.

Swoosh— The feathered arrow grazed Ye Li's shoulder and flew out, landing on the ground not far behind her.

"How can this be!" Princess Ling Yun was instantly stunned. What shocked her even more was that Ye Li had fundamentally not even released her arrow yet, while she herself had completely lost her opportunity. Staring blankly at Ye Li's smiling face directed at her, she clearly saw the other party silently smile to her: It is my turn... She saw even more clearly that there was not half a shred of mirth in the eyes of that smiling face, only a cold light and an aura of slaughter that was even icier than the edge of an arrow. She watched Ye Li exert force backward, slowly drawing the bowstring to its absolute limit, and release the arrow—

Swoosh—

"No!" Ling Yun suddenly shrieked out loud, even holding her head and squatting down to the ground without a care for her image. The feathered arrow thudded straight into the ground one pace away from her. Princess Ling Yun stared blankly at the slightly vibrating fletching before her, and suddenly burst out crying with a wah.

Amidst the mutual blank stares of the crowd, Ye Li leisurely put down the bow and arrow in her hand, saying to Princess Ling Yun with a pleasant smile, "Princess, in truth, my arms were very sore; you completely didn't stand in need of worrying that I would shoot you."

"You... you..." Princess Ling Yun wept so hard her voice became choked with tears, pointing at Ye Li for a long while without being able to speak. Ye Li looked at her with a beaming smile, merely feeling that the depression she had suffered today was entirely released in an instant. Indeed, disciplining an disobedient brat was truly the most mood-lifting thing of all.

"Good!" Mo Jing Qi clapped his hands and laughed, "This match is won by the Princess Consort of Ding. What does the Heir think?"

Lei Teng Feng looked at the smiling woman not far away with a complex expression. He stood up and said, "The Princess Consort of Ding truly is a heroine who does not yield to men; this personage is convinced from the bottom of his heart. Naturally, it is the Princess Consort who has won. Ling Yun, kneel down and apologize to the Princess Consort." Lei Teng Feng made a prompt decision, speaking to Princess Ling Yun. What Ye Li had requested was an apology in the presence of the entire civil and military officials during the palace banquet, but Lei Teng Feng directly intercepted the latter half of the sentence, demanding Ling Yun to apologize immediately. This could both make people feel that the Western Liang princess dared to act and dared to admit her actions, and since Ling Yun was currently crying so miserably, it could also make people feel a modicum of sympathy for her. By the time the palace banquet arrived in the evening, everyone would also tactfully cease mentioning this matter. But if it were dragged out until the palace banquet, the matter of Ling Yun's defeat by the Princess Consort of Ding would have long since spread through the entire imperial palace; after everyone had gossiped a modicum, their internal evaluation of Ling Yun would only be lower. Even if Ling Yun knelt to apologize at that time, it would not leave people with a very good impression of her. More importantly, it would affect his subsequent actions.

"Kneel..." Princess Ling Yun's face turned pale. She had never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would suffer defeat at the hands of a weak woman of Great Chu in the domain she was most proud of. Recalling the promise she had agreed to in a moment of impulse earlier, even if she regretted it now, it was already too late. She directed her gaze toward Lei Teng Feng to seek help, but only received a warning glance from him. Looking again at the surrounding onlookers—the Emperor, Empress, and concubines of Great Chu, the ministers and noble ladies, as well as the envoys and princess of Nanzhao—Princess Ling Yun knew that if she truly knelt down, her reputation would be considered completely and utterly ruined.

"Kneeling is unnecessary; the Princess needs only to apologize to this Princess Consort." Ye Li suddenly opened her mouth to speak.

Princess Ling Yun blanked. In her heart, she ultimately still understood that continuing to make a scene brought absolutely no benefit to herself; she was isolated and without support in Great Chu, and her Royal Brother refused to assist her, so she fundamentally could not defeat this Princess Consort of Ding.

Biting her teeth and offering a slight bow, Princess Ling Yun said, "It was Ling Yun who was insensible and offended the Princess Consort of Ding. I request the Princess Consort of Ding to grant forgiveness."

Ye Li smiled, nodding as she said, "The Princess is a guest from afar; there is no need to keep it on your mind." Having spoken, she turned around and ceased paying attention to Princess Ling Yun, walking toward Mo Xiu Yao's direction. Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes, and the item beneath his right hand instantly vanished before he lifted his head to look at Ye Li, who had arrived before him. Although Ye Li's expression remained as gentle and calm as usual, Mo Xiu Yao was certain he saw a different splendor within her eyes.

Lei Teng Feng cupped his hands to Ye Li to express his gratitude silently. Ye Li nodded calmly and seated herself beside Mo Xiu Yao, doing her utmost to ignore the gazes casting over from all directions. Princess Ling Yun returned to Lei Teng Feng's side with a lost soul, seating herself down with no further mind to seek trouble with Ye Li.

Sensing Mo Xiu Yao's gaze staring at her consistently, Ye Li lifted her head and said in puzzlement, "What is it?" Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly, "Just now was very dangerous." If it were not for Princess Ling Yun's unstable state of mind, and it had been replaced by any ordinary archer, that arrow would have directly shot onto Ye Li's body; at best, it would have merely been a result where both sides suffered injuries. Ye Li shook her head, shrugging her shoulders as she smiled, "There wouldn't be danger. If it were not for Princess Ling Yun, I would fundamentally not have competed in archery with her." The reason she chose the event of archery was precisely because she discerned accurately that Princess Ling Yun's state of mind was fundamentally insufficient to duel with a sniper, even if it was merely within a brief instant. Even a little princess born within the deep palace who was protected to the point of being arrogant and willful could fundamentally not maintain a stable standard before her. Of course, if Princess Ling Yun's hand had truly not trembled and she had shot the arrow directly toward her, she also possessed other methods to cope. "What is more, the Prince would not allow an accident to happen to me, correct?" Looking into Mo Xiu Yao's disapproving eyes, Ye Li offered a shallow smile.

Mo Xiu Yao blanked, nodding gently as he said, "What you say is correct." If Princess Ling Yun's arrow had not missed its mark, he would not have allowed that arrow to land upon Ah Li's body either.

"Princess Consort of Ding, have you studied archery?" On the principal seat, Mo Jing Qi asked in a loud voice. Ye Li stood up and replied respectfully, "Reporting to the Emperor, no. It was merely when visiting my maternal uncle's manor that my elder brother taught me for amusement. I have never studied it seriously." Mo Jing Qi smiled meaningfully. To be able to defeat an expert like Princess Ling Yun who had studied for many years without having studied seriously, Ye Li's talent and state of mind were undoubtedly exceedingly excellent. Mo Jing Qi pulled Noble Consort Liu into his embrace and smiled, "It seems the Princess Consort of Ding and Beloved Consort are both extraordinary women who excel in both cultural and martial pursuits." Noble Consort Liu replied calmly, "What the Emperor says is correct."

Having seen off the Emperor, Empress, and Noble Consort, Ye Li was disinclined to pay attention to the people coming forward to flatter or probe her. Together with Mo Xiu Yao, she sought a quiet location within the Imperial Garden to sit and rest. The majority of people were tactful enough not to disturb the couple's time together, yet there were always one or two exceptions. After rejecting a palace maid sent by Concubine Ye to invite her for a brief gathering, Ye Li finally looked at Mo Xiu Yao, who had been staring at her consistently, and smiled, "What is it, Prince?"

Mo Xiu Yao held a teacup in one hand, playing with it mindlessly as he said, "Ah Li possesses a great talent for studying martial arts, and it looks like your foundation is also not bad."

Ye Li did not mind her skills being known by Mo Xiu Yao. Mo Xiu Yao was a very cautious individual, and though he appeared gentle, his defensiveness was very heavy; living long-term within a single manor, it was virtually impossible to keep it from his knowledge. Furthermore, Ye Li did not intend to conceal this day; she stood in need of space to train herself, and even study more formidable things to reinforce her capabilities. Meeting Mo Xiu Yao's eyes, Ye Li smiled frankly and harmlessly, "To be able to make the Prince feel it is not bad, then it should truly be not bad."

Mo Xiu Yao patently had no intention of probing to the root of the matter either. Smiling as he shook his head, he said, "If Ah Li likes, there are some martial arts manuals in the study that you can take to read." Seeing Ye Li's eyes light up upon hearing his words, Mo Xiu Yao continued to smile, "Since Ah Li stated you do not know sword techniques, I can also find someone to give Ah Li some guidance."

"Is it truly possible?"

"The higher Ah Li's self-defense skills are, the more at ease this Prince will naturally be. What is there that is impossible?" Mo Xiu Yao smiled.

Ye Li instantly felt that marrying a husband with an abundant family background, who was understanding and open-minded, was simply far too blissful.

"That is wonderful, thank you," Ye Li smiled.

Mo Xiu Yao shook his head calmly, "We are a family. Whatever you stand in need of, you can directly inform me; what necessity is there to express thanks?" Looking at the genuine smile on Ye Li's face that had never appeared before, Mo Xiu Yao could not avoid feeling in his heart that finding someone to teach Ah Li the sword was truly a pretty good idea.

The evening palace banquet proceeded within a somewhat bizarre atmosphere. When Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao entered the grand hall together, the gaze of the entire hall concentrated upon her body in an instant. Clearly, the competition in the Imperial Garden this afternoon had caused Ye Li to make a considerably grand splash; in just a brief afternoon's time, it was not merely the nobles and high officials who had been present in the Imperial Garden—now, every person attending the banquet had already heard of the afternoon's events. Looking at Mu Rong Ting, who sat together with Qin Zheng, making faces at her, and Xu Qing Feng's unmasked admiration, Ye Li harbored no doubts that this matter had already spread through the entire capital city by now. It was just that she did not know how it would be transmitted—would they say the Princess Consort of Ding excelled in both cultural and martial pursuits, or would they say the Princess Consort of Ding was so fierce she actually scared the incomparably arrogant Western Liang princess into crying?

Recalling the latter possibility, Ye Li could not resist lowering her head to laugh silently.

The so-called palace banquet was nothing outside of fine wine, exquisite delicacies, singing, and dancing amidst a peaceful reign. Ye Li listened with half a mind to the Emperor above exchanging pleasantries with the envoys of various nations, or the low murmurs of conversation from the surrounding officials. Meanwhile, she picked some dishes she felt were pretty good to eat; at any rate, you could not count on eating your fill with the items at this kind of banquet, and it would suffice to eat a midnight snack after returning to the manor.

It was not until a flash of vibrant red raiment appeared amidst the singing and dancing in the hall that Ye Li looked at the dancer's incomparably superb dance posture with a modicum of surprise. Turning her head, she inquired, "How can Yao Ji be here?" Mo Xiu Yao smiled softly, "She should have been specially invited into the palace to perform. Yao Ji was born into the imperial music academy, and her dance artistry can be termed peerless in the capital. Last year during the Empress Dowager's birthday, she was also once specially invited into the palace to perform."

Ye Li raised her eyebrows and inquired, "What does the Prince think?"

Mo Xiu Yao said, "Naturally it is good. What does Ah Li think?"

Ye Li turned back to watch for a long while, nodding as she said, "It is indeed good." She had also heard of Yao Ji's reputation on several occasions; she could be termed an extraordinary woman within the capital city. Born into the imperial music academy, she astounded the capital with her zither skills and dance artistry, and before she even reached twenty-five, she became the owner of the Qincheng Courtyard, the number one brothel in the capital. She maintained associations with many nobles and high officials in the capital; it was said that the Heir of the Marquis of Muyang, Mu Yang, was her intimate guest, and the Third Young Master Feng also called her a friend. Since ancient times, extraordinary women have emerged from the demimonde; in such an era, only such a woman could live in this kind of carefree and unrestrained manner.

The dance of the number one courtesan of the capital was naturally sufficient to be astounding. Gazing out, at least seventy percent of the men present revealed covetous expressions, while the women one after another revealed expressions of jealousy and resentment. Naturally, there were also gazes of pure appreciation, but they were merely an extremely small minority of individuals. Once the dance concluded, Yao Ji vanished outside the hall very quickly, leaving behind only a trace of lingering fragrance that caused people to be reluctant to part. Watching the bustling individuals with varying expressions within the hall, Ye Li merely felt even more bored. Mentioning to Mo Xiu Yao that she was going out to get a breath of fresh air, Ye Li then quietly retreated from the palace hall with Qing Luan and Qing Shuang.

The night wind outside the hall blew gently, gradually dispersing the rouge and alcohol scent brought from within the hall, and Ye Li took a deep breath. Disregarding the sounds of stringed and woodwind instruments from the hall, the imperial palace at night appeared exceptionally tranquil. Strolling slowly along the quiet path, Ye Li's previously somewhat agitated mood gradually calmed down. Just as she was preparing to sit a modicum within the pavilion ahead, an unfamiliar palace maid blocked the path of the three individuals, "This servant pays respects to the Princess Consort of Ding."

Qing Luan guardedly blocked the front of Ye Li, inquiring, "What person are you?"

The palace maid offered a bow and said, "This servant is a palace maid from Concubine Ye's palace. Concubine Ye requests the Princess Consort of Ding to proceed to the Yaohua Palace for a conversation."

Ye Yue was currently pregnant, and therefore did not attend the evening palace banquet. She had already sent a palace maid to invite her during the afternoon, and Ye Li had declined her invitation on the spot. Ye Li naturally knew Ye Yue's designs, but even if they were sisters, she had no intention of allowing Ye Yue and the Ye family to utilize her. Main because Ye Yue's designs and thoughts were a modicum too unreliable. If she were a modicum cautious and minded her own place, it was still possible to give birth to the child safely and have a reliance in the future. If she harbored non-existent thoughts... even though they had not met many times, Ye Li still felt that the pregnant Ye Yue was fundamentally not as favored as the Ye family assumed.

"This Princess Consort is a modicum tired today. You inform Concubine Ye that if there is any matter, this Princess Consort will converse with her when entering the palace to pay respects in a few days. Let it be for today."

That palace maid's face displayed a modicum of anxiety, and she said, "May the Princess Consort grant forgiveness. Her Ladyship the Concubine indeed possesses an urgent matter she wishes to discuss with the Princess Consort."

Ye Li stated calmly, "Even if there is truly an urgent matter, I fear discussing it with this Princess Consort is of no use either. That is right, Concubine Ye's mother, Madame Wang, is also within the hall at this moment. Why don't this Princess Consort send someone to assist you in inviting her out? What do you think?"

"Princess Consort, Her Ladyship the Concubine only invited the Princess Consort to proceed for an audience!" the palace maid said. Speaking the word 'audience' already carried a hint of enforcement. Ye Li's face darkened, and letting out a cold sneer, she stated calmly, "This Princess Consort was not aware that a mere Concubine requires this Princess Consort to personally proceed for an audience in the dead of night!" She bit the word 'audience' extremely heavily. The status of the Princess Consort of Ding was immensely noble; even within the palace, she only stood in need of performing grand courtesies to the Empress and Empress Dowager, and the Noble Consorts only received half a courtesy from her. Let alone a mere Concubine; if they truly encountered each other, it would conversely require Ye Yue to perform half a courtesy to Ye Li to demonstrate respect for the Prince of Ding's Manor.

"This... this servant spoke erroneously, I request the Princess Consort to grant forgiveness. Concubine Ye indeed possesses an urgent matter; please, for the sake of the sisterly bond with the Concubine, make the trip."

Ye Li looked at that palace maid with a touch of suspicion, saying in a leisurely tone, "Speaking of which, this Princess Consort has also once been to the Yaohua Palace; you appear a modicum unfamiliar." The palace maid offered a strained smile, "This servant's appearance is ordinary; it is normal if the Princess Consort does not remember." Ye Li shook her head and said, "Incorrect. This Princess Consort is certain that among Concubine Ye's six chief palace maids and eight palace maids serving in the inner chamber, you are not among them. Could it be that Concubine Ye would send a palace maid responsible for sweeping and cleaning to invite this Princess Consort?"

"I..." That palace maid's face displayed panic, and she turned around wishing to flee. Ye Li directed a glance at Qing Luan, and Qing Luan took a step forward, delivering a hand-chop to the back of her neck without the slightest expenditure of effort. The palace maid's body went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

"Princess Consort." Qing Yu knitted her brows, lifting her eyes to look at Ye Li while awaiting instructions.

Ye Li knitted her brows slightly, suddenly turning around as her gaze shot toward the flower bushes by the roadside, "What person?"

"Princess Consort of Ding." A slender silhouette walked out, her seductive countenance under the moonlight adding a touch of serenity.

"Miss Yao Ji," Ye Li said. "Why are you here?"

Yao Ji smiled charmingly, "I dare not accept the title of Miss; the Princess Consort of Ding needs only to call me Yao Ji."

Yao Ji walked forward, sweeping a glance over the unconscious palace maid on the ground, raising her eyebrows as she smiled, "Princess Consort of Ding, this is?" Ye Li smiled, "Did Miss Yao Ji not hear it just now? It is nothing; within the deep palace and grand courtyards, there will always be a few strange occurrences." Signaling toward the back, a dark shadow appeared behind Ye Li like a phantom, "Princess Consort." Ye Li pointed to the palace maid on the ground and said, "Take her away. Do not scare people." The dark shadow nimbly lifted the person, and with a few leaps, vanished into the night scenery.

"I have long since heard Third Young Master Feng state that the Princess Consort of Ding acts decisively; seeing you today, it truly matches your reputation," Yao Ji smiled.

"Third Young Master Feng mentioned me to you?" She recalled that she was not very familiar with that capital-renowned Third Young Master Feng.

Yao Ji covered her lips and smiled, her eyes rippling, "Third Young Master Feng's evaluation of the Princess Consort is quite high, and Yao Ji has consistently admired his discernment as well. Meeting the Princess Consort today is truly the fortune of three lifetimes."

Ye Li lowered her eyes and smiled, "To be able to witness Miss's city-toppling dance is also Ye Li's fortune."

"Regarding what just occurred, I shall maintain the secret on behalf of the Princess Consort." Yao Ji blinked her charming eyes, her seductive countenance adding a touch of playfulness as she inquired. Ye Li smiled, "Many thanks. It is so late, why is Miss still here?" Yao Ji let out a helpless, soft sigh and said, "Some people and matters are far too annoying; I merely found a location to hide, nothing more. I didn't think I would share a fate with the Princess Consort."

Ye Li understood. Yao Ji excelled in both appearance and artistry, so presumably quite a few people present had harbored lascivious desires. Yet those who dared to entangle her within the imperial palace grounds were presumably not simple characters either. "Why don't I send someone to escort Miss out of the palace, what do you think?"

Yao Ji revealed a grateful expression, saying, "Thus, many thanks to the Princess Consort."

"A minor effort." After issuing a few instructions to Qing Yu, Ye Li then bid farewell to Yao Ji and returned to the grand hall filled with singing and dancing amidst a peaceful reign.

Seeing her return, Mo Xiu Yao delivered a questioning gaze, and Ye Li shook her head to express her helplessness. Seating herself down by Mo Xiu Yao's side, she roughly recounted what had just transpired in the Imperial Garden in a low voice. Mo Xiu Yao nodded, "I shall send someone to investigate a modicum later; Ah Li had best remain together with me tonight." Ye Li nodded indifferently, and only then did she discover that the atmosphere within the grand hall appeared even stranger than when she departed. The original singing and dancing had long since ceased, and everyone's gaze was casting toward the direction of the Western Liang and Nanzhao envoys with varying degrees of subtlety; even Ye Li's quiet entry did not attract the attention of many individuals.

Hua Tian Xiang directed a peculiar smile toward Ye Li, her chin pointing covertly toward the direction of the Western Liang Kingdom. Ye Li gazed over, only to see that Western Liang princess, Ling Yun, shedding tears with red eyes. Today was patently not Princess Ling Yun's lucky day; it had only been how long, and she was crying once more.

"What is it?" Ye Li inquired in a low voice.

Mo Xiu Yao's smile was dark and cold, "The Heir of the King of Zhennan expressed that the Western Liang Kingdom wishes to establish a marital alliance with Great Chu. Before he could finish speaking... Princess Ling Yun voiced her opposition. The result... the Emperor agreed to the marital alliance with Western Liang, but Princess Ling Yun will not enter the imperial harem."

"And then?"

"And then Nanzhao presented the Nanzhao King's state letter, expressing a willingness to marry Princess Qi Xia into Great Chu."

"..."

"The Emperor's meaning is that Princess Qi Xia shall enter the imperial harem, while Princess Ling Yun is decreed to the Prince of Li."