The First Jasmine - Chapter 108

Chapter 108 - A Clean Break

Until Yelu Ye's figure vanished from sight, Ye Li paused her steps and frowned. Over the past six months, she had gained a basic understanding of the political situations across various nations. Though Yelu Ye appeared open, bright, and bold on the surface, he was the only prince among the Northern Rong King's dozen-plus sons capable of vying for the crown prince's position against Crown Prince Yelu Hong, meaning ruthlessness and cunning were naturally second nature to him. Unless absolutely necessary, Ye Li had no desire to provoke such a man.

"Princess Consort, that person..." Qing Shuang asked with a trace of worry upon seeing Ye Li's less-than-pleasant expression.

Ye Li shook her head and replied, "It's nothing." Qing Luan and Qing Shuang exchanged a covert glance, each seeing the shared concern in the other's eyes. The Princess Consort had been walking ahead and might not have noticed, but both of them had clearly caught the look in that prince's eyes. After a moment of thought, Qing Luan spoke up, "That prince is no good; the Princess Consort would do well to avoid him." Ye Li smiled faintly. "Silly girl, there are some people you simply cannot avoid just because you want to. Unless we stop doing everything altogether—rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

"This maid was overthinking," Qing Luan smiled. She had yet to encounter a situation where the Princess Consort wasn't fully in control. Presumably, the Princess Consort already knew how to handle the matter; all she needed to do was protect her well.

"Don't overthink it. Let's head over to Fenghua Pavilion and take a look," Ye Li smiled lightly.

The moment she stepped inside Fenghua Pavilion, the crisp sound of shattering porcelain brought Ye Li to a halt. The proprietor of Fenghua Pavilion was already quite familiar with the Princess Consort of Ding, and he hurried forward with eager, attentive smiles to welcome her. "This humble person greets the Princess Consort. Please, come inside." Ye Li nodded, stepping into the shop, and glanced around as she asked, "Is everything alright?" The proprietor forced a somewhat troubled smile as he replied, "Two distinguished guests had a slight disagreement, which startled the Princess Consort. Please, come sit in the private parlor this way, Princess. A few days ago, the Prince sent word that he wanted some fine pearls. I originally planned to have them delivered to the Prince of Ding's Estate in the next couple of days, but I didn't expect the Princess Consort to grace us with your presence today." As he spoke, he led the way to guide Ye Li toward a private room on the other side. Ye Li nodded indifferently. Anyone who frequented Fenghua Pavilion was either immensely wealthy or of noble standing, and conflicts between such people naturally weren't the sort of trivial marketplace squabbles that ordinary commoners turned into town gossip.

Once they entered the private room and she was seated, the proprietor personally presented several boxes of pearls before Ye Li. When Ye Li opened them, she saw that they were indeed top-tier pearls. Among them was a box of light purple pearls containing exactly nineteen pieces. What made them truly extraordinary was that each pearl was the size of a pigeon's egg, perfectly uniform in size, color, and shape. The moment the box was opened, a soft purple radiance cast a mysterious glow over the entire parlor. Ye Li looked surprised. "Are these night-shining pearls?" A single night-shining pearl was not particularly rare, but an entire box of nineteen pearls completely identical in size and luster was exceptionally precious. The proprietor smiled with considerable pride. "The Princess Consort has discerning eyes; indeed, they are night-shining pearls. A single one of these pearls is worth a city, let alone an entire set. Moreover, they are the rarest shade of purple. I wonder if the Princess Consort is satisfied?" Ye Li nodded with a smile. "The proprietor has certainly put in a great deal of effort." Seeing that Ye Li was pleased, the proprietor's smile broadened even further. Truth be told, he had spent a small fortune and gone to great lengths to acquire these pearls, but such treasures weren't something just anyone could afford. If he sold them individually, their value would drop significantly. The Prince of Ding's Estate was neither short on wealth nor lacking in power; if the Princess Consort fancied this box of night-shining pearls, closing this single transaction meant he wouldn't have to worry about business for at least the next half-year.

Capitalizing on the moment, the proprietor eagerly produced several design sketches for Ye Li to inspect. "Please take a look at these, Princess Consort. These are custom designs drawn up specifically for this box of pearls by our finest artisan at Fenghua Pavilion. Do you find them to your liking?" Ye Li examined the blueprints; the pieces were indeed exquisitely crafted, and if manufactured, they would undoubtedly stir immense envy among all the noble ladies of the capital. However, Ye Li had no intention of turning them into wearable ornaments. While brilliant beauty was universally appealing, wearing an accessory made of night-shining pearls in the dead of night effectively turned the wearer into a walking target. Nonetheless, though their practical utility for daily wear was limited, items of this caliber were still exceptional for collection or gifting. After a moment of thought, Ye Li instructed the proprietor, "I will take this box of pearls as well. I'll have someone send the designs over later, and you can have them crafted according to the drawings. Also, make a few additional everyday accessories." Though slightly disappointed that Ye Li hadn't chosen his custom designs, the proprietor was still thoroughly delighted upon seeing her select a few more pearl ornaments. Top-tier gems of this caliber were priceless and rarely found on the market—they were difficult to source and even harder to sell. True to rumor, the Prince of Ding was exceptionally generous toward his Princess Consort.

Having finished selecting her jewelry, Ye Li was just about to ask the proprietor if Fenghua Pavilion carried any fine jade when another sound of shattering porcelain echoed from the adjoining room. Before Ye Li could speak, a woman's cry of pain followed, clearly indicating that physical altercation had broken out. "Proprietor, who on earth is in the next room?"

The proprietor's expression turned ugly as well. He lowered his voice and said, "Replying to the Princess Consort, it is the Heir of the Marquis of Muyang's Manor and the young lady of the Minister of Rites Sun family. And... and Lady Yao Ji of Allure House. This humble person will immediately ask them to leave."

After a moment of thought, Ye Li raised a hand to stop him, stood up, and said, "I know all of them. I'll go take a look."

Not daring to object, the proprietor hurried to lead the way, guiding Ye Li toward the neighboring private room.

The moment the door was pushed open, the occupants inside simultaneously turned their heads toward the entrance. Standing behind the proprietor, Ye Li peered into the room. A scattering of porcelain shards littered the floor; a delicate young lady in yellow silk was sobbing softly in Mu Yang's embrace, while nearby sat a middle-aged noblewoman wearing light makeup yet radiating utter fury. Clad in brilliant crimson robes, Yao Ji stood off to one side with a face as pale as paper, teacups broken into pieces around her feet. "What is going on here?" Ye Li stepped into the room and casually closed the door behind her. Upon seeing Ye Li enter, Mu Yang's expression shifted slightly as he gently steadied the young woman leaning against his chest and nodded toward Ye Li. "Princess Consort."

Startled by the interruption, the middle-aged noblewoman glared angrily toward the doorway, but upon recognizing Ye Li's features, she hurriedly reined in her temper, stood up, and offered an apologetic smile. "This humble wife, née Sun, greets the Princess Consort." Ye Li nodded indifferently. "Pardon the intrusion, Madam." She held no particular impression of this Madam Sun; she was the daughter-in-law of Minister of Rites Lord Sun, and her husband merely held a fifth-rank post as an imperial secretary, meaning she naturally didn't move in circles that allowed her to converse with Ye Li at formal banquets. Madam Sun was well aware that when the Princess Consort spoke of an intrusion, it was likely because her side had been making entirely too much noise and disturbed the peace. She hurriedly invited Ye Li to be seated, smiling deferentially. "You jest, Princess Consort. It is likely we who have disturbed your quiet, and I beg your forgiveness." Ye Li briefly appraised Madam Sun and the young Miss Sun standing beside Mu Yang; neither possessed breathtaking looks, yet the scholarly, refined, and graceful demeanor characteristic of distinguished literary households made them exceptionally pleasing to the eye, entirely devoid of the haughty arrogance found among certain aristocratic families. Sensing Ye Li's gaze upon her, Miss Sun's cheeks flushed red, and she instinctively lowered her head as she stood behind Mu Yang.

Offering a faint smile, Ye Li looked at Mu Yang and said, "Marquis Heir, what a coincidence to find you here accompanying Miss Sun to select jewelry. I hadn't crossed paths with Miss Sun previously, but seeing her today, truly a talented youth and a graceful maiden make a match made in heaven. When the grand wedding takes place, don't forget to send a formal invitation to the Prince and me so we can come share in the auspicious joy." Miss Sun's lovely face flushed a deep crimson; she cast a swift glance at Ye Li before quietly catching hold of one of Mu Yang's sleeves. Mu Yang's expression, however, turned somewhat gloomy. Glancing toward Yao Ji standing off to the side, he said flatly, "You flatter us, Princess Consort. Should the Prince and Princess Consort honor us with your presence when the time comes, it will naturally be the utmost honor for the Marquis of Muyang's Manor."

Though his glance had been subtle, it could not escape the notice of Madam Sun—who had been watching him closely—and Ye Li. Madam Sun's expression instantly plummeted as she let out a cold snort. "We thank the Princess Consort for your auspicious words, though whether this wedding can even proceed remains a matter of great uncertainty."

"Mother..." Miss Sun whispered in panicked reproach upon hearing this.

Acting as though she had seen nothing amiss, Ye Li arched an eyebrow with a smile. "What is Madam Sun saying? Everyone in the capital knows the Marquis of Muyang's Manor and the Sun family are generations-long family friends. Surely a minor tiff couldn't possibly damage the profound ties between the two houses?"

Madam Sun was well aware that the marriage could not simply be called off just like that. Directing a look of utter disdain toward Yao Ji, she sighed to Ye Li, "I care not if the Princess Consort laughs at us. While we stay cooped up within our inner courtyards, rumors of the relationship between the Marquis Heir and this young woman have reached our ears. In the past, we simply dismissed it as the youthful indiscretions of the Marquis Heir. But now, before our girl has even crossed the threshold as a bride, the Marquis Heir is already making a fuss about taking a concubine. Princess Consort, our Sun family is not an unreasonable household; once our daughter marries into the family, it is out of the question for us to entirely forbid the Marquis Heir from taking concubines. But this so-called Yao Ji? Absolutely not! She was entangled with the Marquis Heir before their marriage, not to mention bearing the title of the capital's premier dancer. Leaving aside whether the Marquis of Muyang's Manor and the Sun family can afford to lose face like this, if she were truly allowed to cross our threshold, where would a poorly endowed girl like mine ever find a place to stand?"

Internally, Ye Li sighed. Were these two people destined enemies from past lives? They had only parted ways last night, so how on earth did they manage to bump into each other here today?

"Why is Lady Yao Ji here?" Ye Li asked softly.

Yao Ji's face was deathly pale, yet her spine remained rigidly straight. Hearing Ye Li's words, she let out a cold laugh. "Does the Princess Consort believe that Yao Ji is barred from entering Fenghua Pavilion? Why doesn't the Princess Consort ask the Marquis Heir and Miss Sun why they are here? Or does the Princess Consort believe that Yao Ji deliberately calculated this encounter just to rush over here and humiliate herself?" Ye Li started slightly, feeling a twinge of guilt as she gazed into Yao Ji's anger-filled eyes. She couldn't deny that she had harbored a trace of suspicion regarding Yao Ji's intentions earlier, but with Yao Ji stating it so openly and publicly, it only proved that running into Miss Sun here at Fenghua Pavilion was genuinely a coincidence. If Yao Ji had arrived first, then this encounter was either pure chance or intentionally orchestrated by someone else. "My apologies," Ye Li said softly.

Yao Ji stared blankly for a moment before letting out a scoff. "Never mind, it doesn't matter. People of our standing are inherently inferior to others, aren't we? Since the Princess Consort happens to be here today as well, let's settle this clearly once and for all. I, Yao Ji, swear an oath that I will never enter the Marquis of Muyang's Manor as a concubine. Furthermore, after what happened last night... Yao Ji's reputation in the capital is practically ruined anyway, isn't it? Even if the Sun family were willing to relent now, the Marquis of Muyang would certainly never consent, isn't that right? Marquis Heir, the kindness of your protection—while I dare not claim our accounts are settled, let us consider that Yao Ji owes you a debt of gratitude in this lifetime, to be repaid in the next. As for this present life, you and I shall have no further relations whatsoever. Madam Sun, are you satisfied?"

Hearing Yao Ji's words, a ripple stirred in Ye Li's heart; she frowned, yet ultimately remained silent. Mu Yang looked in agonizing distress at the peerless beauty before him, whose radiant crimson attire was rendered desolate against her pale visage, a mix of pain and helplessness flashing deep within his eyes. As the sole male heir of his generation for the Marquis of Muyang's Manor, he carried the rise and fall of the entire household upon his shoulders. Yet he had been powerless to stop himself from falling for this beautiful, resilient woman. He had simply underestimated Yao Ji's intense pride, as well as the fierce backlash from both his own family and the Sun family, thereby trapping himself in his current dilemma. Today's incident had caught him completely unawares; he had originally only been obeying his mother's instructions to accompany his fiancée and future mother-in-law out shopping—ostensibly to cultivate affection between the young couple. He had never anticipated running into Yao Ji as she finished buying her jewelry and prepared to leave Fenghua Pavilion. And when Madam Sun proposed stepping inside to speak, though he felt a pang of unease, he harbored a shred of hope and failed to stop them. But Yao Ji, for all her alluring charm, possessed a fiercely unyielding temperament; it took only a few words to incense Madam Sun and inadvertently draw in the Princess Consort of Ding, who happened to be visiting the pavilion at the same time.

"Yao Ji..." Seeing Yao Ji's resolute expression, Mu Yang instinctively stepped forward, wanting to pull her back, but the moment he moved, his sleeve was tugged from behind. "Marquis Heir..." Miss Sun's delicate face was etched with shock and panic, causing Mu Yang's heart to plunge into ice and instantly snap back to reality. He was already betrothed to Miss Sun; should anything go awry with this match, given the rigid and severe family rules of the Sun family, even if Miss Sun didn't do something drastic like ending her life, she would likely spend the rest of her days drifting away behind temple doors and dim butter lamps. At this thought, Mu Yang's feet felt glued to the floor, unable to take another step forward.

Watching from the sidelines, Ye Li shook her head inwardly. Neither the Sun family nor the Mu family would ever accept Yao Ji—not merely because of her demimonde background, but because she was far too dazzling and because of the depth of Mu Yang's feelings for her. As for Mu Yang, he wasn't a malicious man, nor was he unbridled or promiscuous by nature, yet he was utterly incapable of resolving the present crisis. If he were a habitual rake, he could easily have married Miss Sun while continuing his wild escapades outside; even without Yao Ji, given his status, finding women just as stunning would pose no difficulty. Alternatively, if he possessed ruthless resolve, he could have directly annulled the engagement with Miss Sun. Since he was the sole heir of the Mu family, even if the Marquis of Muyang vehemently objected, he would eventually have had to yield.

Lowering her gaze to veil a bitter smile, Yao Ji turned her head slightly to address Ye Li. "Princess Consort, thank you for saving my life last night. Yao Ji takes her leave." Sweeping her cold gaze across the other three occupants in the room, she added indifferently, "Yao Ji is merely a woman of the demimonde, unworthy of everyone making such a grand fuss. I also ask the Marquis Heir and the rest of you never to come and disturb me again. Farewell."

"Lady Yao Ji..." Miss Sun suddenly lifted her head, calling out to stop Yao Ji. When Yao Ji turned back, Miss Sun glanced hesitantly at Madam Sun before speaking in a low, gentle voice, "Lady Yao Ji, if... if the Marquis Heir truly is devoted to Lady Yao Ji, once our wedding is concluded, we ask only that the Marquis Heir welcome Lady Yao Ji into the manor. We merely request that the Marquis Heir leave a shred of dignity for Lian'er and the Sun family."

"Lian'er!" Madam Sun rebuked in a low, angry hiss.

Mu Yang stared in astonishment at the petite, graceful young girl before him, a flicker of pleasant surprise crossing his eyes—he hadn't expected her to be the first to concede.

Yao Ji let out a cold huff, turned around, and walked out.

Such an indifferent and dismissive attitude deeply enraged Madam Sun, who was already displeased. "Audacious! What kind of attitude is that?!" Yao Ji paused, turning back to offer a mocking, contemptuous smile. "This lady has stated clearly that she will never enter the Marquis of Muyang's Manor. Did Madam Sun and Miss Sun honestly believe I was playing hard to get? It is true that I am a woman of the demimonde, but I am not so utterly cheap. The Marquis of Muyang's Manor is far too high for me to climb, nor do I wish to climb it. As for Miss Sun's profound benevolence, Yao Ji cannot accept it either, so I'll spare you my thanks."

"Yao Ji, you..." Mu Yang frowned, anger and displeasure clouding his features. Yao Ji had always been gentle and understanding; when had she ever thrown such an unreasonable tantrum? Seeming entirely unconcerned by his displeasure, Yao Ji cast a cold, dismissive glance toward Miss Sun standing nearby. "Madam Sun is entirely correct. If I followed you, it would only be to enter the Marquis of Muyang's Manor as the mistress of the house. Since you cannot marry me as your primary wife, what business do you have coming here? You expect me to lower my head and bow in servitude as a concubine to this little girl who lacks looks, lacks talent, and has nothing going for her except a decent family background? I, Yao Ji, haven't fallen that low. There are plenty of men who want me, and I am bound to find someone willing to take me as his legitimate wife..."

"Enough!" Mu Yang's face turned livid. Pulling Miss Sun—who had been reduced to tearful, aggrieved trembling by Yao Ji's barbs—close to his side, he addressed Madam Sun, "Mother-in-law, let us return."

Madam Sun shot Yao Ji one final glare, nodded, and smiled apologetically at Ye Li. "We have let the Princess Consort witness a farce. This humble wife will take her leave."

Ye Li nodded. "I won't see you out; take care on your way, Madam."

The trio pushed open the door and departed, and from start to finish, Mu Yang did not cast a single glance back at Yao Ji. Naturally, he failed to notice a faint thread of blood slowly welling from the corner of Yao Ji's pale lips. The moment the sound of footsteps outside faded away entirely, Yao Ji's body swayed as though about to collapse. Qing Shuang and Qing Luan, who had been standing guard nearby, rushed forward to support her, guiding her to a nearby chair to sit down. After recovering slightly, Yao Ji lifted her gaze to look at Ye Li with a faint smile. "Has the Princess Consort not seen enough of the show yet?" Ye Li shook her head and asked softly, "Why must you do this? Is it truly worth debasing yourself like this for Mu Yang?"

Yao Ji froze for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh. "Feelings arise without a reason... and grow ever deeper. If I had a choice, why would I..."

Ye Li waved a hand with a faint smile. "I understand—'Once you've seen the vast ocean, other waters pale; once you've stood by Mount Wu, other clouds are mere vapor.' Such dramatic whining of poets and scholars. Let hunger leave you unable to afford three meals a day or proper clothing, and you'll quickly realize that notions of 'exclusive devotion' are entirely empty illusions. Ordinary commoners spend their days scrambling for food and warmth; do they stop living just because they lack grand romantic tragedies?" A strange look flickered in Yao Ji's eyes as she remarked, "For the Princess Consort to be a descendant of the Xu family and former Leader of the Hundred Flowers, why are your views so..."

Ye Li arched an eyebrow, smiling. " Vulgar?"

Yao Ji remained silent, though her expression clearly betrayed her thoughts. Ye Li smiled unconcernedly. "Back when I was young in my maiden household, I foolishly thought I would become the Princess of Li. When Prince Li later called off the engagement, I figured it was no great matter. At worst, I'd find someone of a slightly lower family background in the future—as long as his character was sound, living a plain, ordinary life would be fine. And later, when I was mandated by imperial decree to marry the Prince of Ding... could I possibly defy an imperial edict by pitting the entire Ye and Xu families against it?" Yao Ji naturally knew the circumstances under which Ye Li had entered the Prince of Ding's Estate; back then, she had even sighed in pity for this Third Miss Ye, never imagining that in barely a year, Miss Ye would become the widely envied Princess Consort of Ding, while she herself was the true object of pity. "What was the Princess Consort thinking at the time?"

"What could I think? Do your best to live a good life afterwards, of course. Did you expect me to lose my mind and hang myself out of despair?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow at her. Yao Ji furrowed her brows, looking unconvinced. "Surely the Princess Consort never harbored any romantic aspirations?" How could she not know that she and Mu Yang had no future together? Yet living in the demimonde, having witnessed the fickle warmth of human relations, she couldn't help trying to grasp at any shred of warmth and sincerity she found. She knew Mu Yang truly loved her; his love simply lacked the capacity to let him cast aside his familial responsibilities. Therefore, the only return she could offer him was to let him marry in peace and cut ties forever.

Ye Li sighed softly. "Very well, I shouldn't mock you. However, I believe... relationships require mutual maintenance and effort on both sides. No matter how much a single person invests, that kind of bond cannot endure."

"Mu Yang loves me, I know that. And I love him," Yao Ji stated firmly.

Ye Li propped her chin on her hand, looking at her. "Matters of the heart concern two people, but your situation involves three. You love him and he loves you, but what about Miss Sun? She is the most innocent party in all of this."

Yao Ji bit her lip, glaring at her. "You think that Miss Sun is truly so weak and innocent?"

Ye Li waved a hand dismissively. "This has nothing to do with whether she is weak or not. She is Mu Yang's fiancée; in this world, not every woman whose engagement is broken off is as indifferent to it as I am. I've heard the family rules of the Sun family are exceptionally strict. If Mu Yang breaks off the engagement, Miss Sun will have nowhere left to turn except a life of monastic quietude behind temple doors. Therefore, even if she is acting, she is merely defending her lawful status. Furthermore, she has neither committed murder nor broken the law. We may not like her, but we cannot claim she is in the wrong. Without the mess between you and Mu Yang, she could have lived out her life as a genuinely delicate, refined young lady, smoothly entering into a proper marriage, and becoming an ordinary wife and the mistress of the Marquis of Muyang's Manor. Did you honestly expect her to be overjoyed upon discovering right before her wedding that her fiancé's heart belonged to another? The fact that Miss Sun hasn't turned things upside down out of sheer hatred already proves her character isn't bad."

Hearing this, Yao Ji looked somewhat dazed. "So... was I truly the one in the wrong?"

Ye Li rubbed her nose awkwardly; calling Yao Ji out as the one in the wrong was a bit much for her to say aloud. Yao Ji and Mu Yang had known each other for at least seven or eight years, whereas Mu Yang's engagement was less than two months old. In terms of who arrived first, Yao Ji was naturally blameless, yet the person forced to bear the consequences of this mistake was solely her. "Well... this is probably just capricious fate playing tricks on mortals. Don't take it too hard; Lady Yao Ji is talented, stunning, and financially independent—with a clear head, you'll have no trouble living a good life. Who hasn't run into a few scumbags in their youth?"

Hearing Ye Li use the word "scumbag" to describe Mu Yang, Yao Ji glared at her with slight displeasure. Ye Li laughed, "I know he isn't a bad person, I was just speaking loosely."

Yao Ji couldn't help breaking into a grin as well. "Though the Princess Consort's words are rather blunt, I know you are comforting me. Yao Ji thanks you. Still, given your status, why would you go out of your way to comfort someone like me?"

"I don't make a habit of comforting people; forgive me if my words sounded harsh," Ye Li apologized with a smile. "As for my status... since you are friends with Feng San, and I can be considered a friend of Feng San's as well, for Feng San's sake alone I couldn't just stand by and ignore it." Yao Ji stood up and bowed. "Then many thanks, Princess Consort. I must take my leave." Frowning, Ye Li looked at her and said, "Your complexion is terrible; shouldn't you rest a bit before leaving?"

Yao Ji shook her head with a smile. "It's nothing, I'm just rather exhausted these past few days. I plan to leave the capital to rest for—" Before she could finish her sentence, Yao Ji's legs went weak, and she slumped toward the floor. Qing Luan, standing nearby, reacted with nimble quickness, catching her and pulling her back up into a seat. Startled, Ye Li immediately told Qing Shuang to fetch Qing Yu from outside to take a look. Moments later, Qing Yu hurried in, checked Yao Ji's pulse, and gave Ye Li a rather peculiar look.

Anxious, Ye Li asked, "What is it? Speak plainly if there's something to report."

Qing Yu looked at the crimson-robed woman unconscious in the chair, then raised her eyes to Ye Li. " Slipping pulse. She's three months pregnant. She must have agitated her fetal Qi, which is why she collapsed..."

Agitated her fetal Qi—those four words exploded in Ye Li's mind like a bolt of thunder, making her head spin. So... she had just been attempting to break up a pair consisting of an unborn child's mother and father? Meddling in other people's business truly brought immediate karmic retribution...

Although Qing Yu wasn't a formal physician, she adhered strictly to the healer's code of benevolence and examined Yao Ji earnestly, her delicate brows furrowed in deep annoyance. "This person... is simply too careless. She's already three months pregnant yet still tossing herself into such dramatic scenes; it's pure divine providence that this child was even preserved."

Ye Li arched an eyebrow. "Perhaps she didn't even know it herself."

Qing Yu rolled her eyes in disapproval. "Not knowing you're three months pregnant—just how clueless can someone be? In another few weeks her belly will start showing; you won't be able to hide it even if you try!"

Ye Li nodded in understanding. Ah, a baby bump. Looking with a headache at the unconscious person before her, she wondered: What on earth should I do now?

Meddling in other people's business...