The First Jasmine - Chapter 118
Chapter 118 - Helian Huimin
Having bid farewell to Princess Ronghua, Ye Li turned back to handle the training schedules she needed to prepare, handing them over to Qin Feng before setting off the next morning to take her leave of the Grand Princess and head back to the city. The Grand Princess looked at Ye Li with a knowing, profound smile and said, "It is indeed time to return. What kind of picture does it paint for a dignified Princess Consort of Ding to be cooped up outside the city keeping an old woman company? Besides, without a wife to assist him on the home front, Xiunyao always finds himself facing numerous inconveniences." Hearing the Grand Princess's words, Ye Li felt a slight flicker of bewilderment, growing increasingly convinced that something was transpiring in the capital that she remained entirely unaware of. Taking her leave of the Grand Princess and stepping outside, she spotted Qin Feng waiting for her by the entrance and cast a sidelong, half-amused glance at him. "Has something happened in the capital that I've been kept in the dark about?"
Qin Feng's expression stiffened as he offered an ingratiating smile. "If a matter of any true importance had occurred, who would ever dare keep it from the Princess Consort?"
Narrowing her eyes and tilting her head as she regarded him, Ye Li smiled and said, "Ah, so it's merely a matter of minor importance, then? Do tell."
Seeing Ye Li turn and walk away, Qin Feng hurried to keep pace, explaining as he walked, "It really isn't any major crisis, you see... Didn't the Northern Rong betrothal envoys arrive in the capital a few days ago? Well, Prince Yelu submitted a formal memorial to the Emperor arguing that since the two nations are entering a matrimonial alliance, there should be both a bride given and a bride welcomed to truly manifest mutual friendship." Ye Li stopped, turned back to look at him, and asked in a flat tone, "So this time a Northern Rong princess has arrived, and they expect the Prince to marry her? Just what kind of establishment does the Emperor think the Prince of Ding's Manor is, shoving any random person they please into our estate?" Qin Feng shrunk his neck instinctively. Is the Princess Consort actually feeling jealous? he thought. If the Prince learns of this, he'll undoubtedly be thrilled. Reading the look on Ye Li's face, Qin Feng hastily clarified, "It's not a Northern Rong princess... It's Helian Huimin, the adopted daughter of Northern Rong's Flying Cavalry Great General Helian Zhen."
Ye Li couldn't help the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. Helian Zhen's adopted daughter... Who didn't know that Helian Zhen and the Prince of Ding's Manor were locked in a blood feud? And as for this adopted daughter... It seemed the opposing party was certainly overflowing with confidence to dare show up in Great Chu under such an identity. "Why wasn't I informed?"
"Please forgive this subordinate, Princess Consort." Qin Feng hurriedly sought to plead guilty. Ye Li gave him an unamused sidelong glance, prompting Qin Feng to suddenly remember that the Princess Consort detested such useless pleas for absolution from her subordinates. He hastily explained, "It was the Prince's instruction. The Prince said that since the Princess Consort was tending to matters outside the city, there was no need to bother you with such trivial nonsense; a mere Northern Rong woman is not something the Prince holds in any regard." Ye Li nodded slightly, accepting his explanation as she asked, "If that is the case, why has it spread to the point where the entire city is talking about it?" It was one thing for Princess Ronghua to remain cooped up in the capital, but even the Grand Princess—who had retired to a suburban villa outside the city walls—was already aware of the news, meaning the affair had clearly blown up into a massive spectacle. Qin Feng replied, "The Emperor and the Empress Dowager claimed that since the Princess Consort and the Prince have been married for over a year yet you... have yet to conceive any news of an heir, they granted Prince Yelu's request under the guise of helping the Prince's estate branch out and multiply its progeny." Having spoken, Qin Feng cautiously peeked at Ye Li. This, precisely, was the real reason they hadn't dared report the matter to her.
"A magnificent excuse about branching out and multiplying progeny!" Ye Li let out a cold laugh. "Taking in a Northern Rong woman to expand the family line for the Prince of Ding's Manor? Let's return to the city!" She held no racial prejudices, but even if she truly proved incapable of bearing children, the common folk of Great Chu and the Mojia Army would never accept a future ruler of the Ding estate carrying Northern Rong blood in their veins. This was fundamentally a political issue. Mo Jingqi was playing a clever game indeed; did he honestly take the entire world for fools?
Before they even re-entered the manor gates, Ye Li heard numerous rumors circulating along the streets regarding the Prince of Ding and Helian Huimin. Among them were no shortage of malicious whispers claiming that the Princess Consort had failed to conceive an heir over a year of marriage and yet stubbornly refused to take in secondary consorts for the Prince, branding her as jealous and lacking in virtue. The moment she stepped into the manor, Chief Steward Mo hurried over to invite Ye Li to the main reception hall. Raising an eyebrow inquiringly, Ye Li listened as Chief Steward Mo explained, "Prince Yelu and Miss Helian Huimin are currently visiting, and the Prince is entertaining the two of them in the main hall. As the mistress of the Prince of Ding's Manor, it is only proper for the Princess Consort to step forward and receive the guests." Wearing an amused expression, Ye Li looked at Chief Steward Mo and asked, "Does Steward Mo have nothing to say about the rumors outside?" Although those messy speculations left Ye Li deeply displeased, they had hit upon one undeniable truth: over a year into her marriage, she had produced no heirs and showed zero intention of taking concubines for Mo Xiunyao. In the eyes of people living in this era, such a stance indeed appeared fiercely jealous and unvirtuous.
Chief Steward Mo replied with steady composure, "As a subordinate, what right do I have to pass judgment on my masters' affairs? Besides... a majority of the rumors circulating outside were deliberately released by the Prince himself."
"Oh? What is the Prince playing at?" Ye Li felt a flicker of genuine surprise. Yet upon deeper reflection, it made complete sense; within just a few days, the rumors had swept through the entire capital and even showed signs of intensifying. If the Prince of Ding's Manor hadn't been pulling strings behind the scenes, matters wouldn't have escalated to such a degree. Clearly, not only had Mo Xiunyao made no effort to quell these rumors, but he had actively fueled the flames from the shadows.
Chief Steward Mo stated, "The Prince mentioned that once the Princess Consort returned, you would naturally understand his intentions. The Princess Consort, now..."
Ye Li broke into a bright, radiant smile. "Since our guests have personally delivered themselves to our doorstep, how could this consort be so discourteous as to refuse to see them?"
Just as she reached the outer doors of the main hall, she heard the crisp, melodious voice of a young woman ringing out from within: "Your Highness, I wonder if Huimin might have the honor of paying her respects to the Princess Consort?"
Mo Xiunyao's voice remained as coolly refined and gentle as ever as he replied, "A-Li has gone outside the city to visit my Imperial Aunt, so I am afraid you will miss the chance to meet Miss Helian today."
"You jest, Your Highness. How could we possibly miss each other?" Prince Yelu laughed heartily. "There's no need to be impatient, Huimin; the Princess Consort is gentle, refined, and stands as a true exemplar of womanhood in Great Chu. She will certainly not make things difficult for you."
"His Highness speaks the truth, My Lord. Huimin has long admired the Princess Consort's prestigious reputation and grew a bit too impatient, so please forgive this unseemly eagerness," Helian Huimin chimed in with a bright laugh. Her tone was poised and open, completely devoid of the shyness and panic typically displayed by Great Chu maidens when discussing their own impending marriages.
"Marrying into the Prince of Ding's Manor?" Mo Xiunyao asked with a tone of feigned bewilderment. "The Prince of Ding's Manor has no collateral branches, and my late father and elder brothers passed away many years ago. I wonder which of the estate's predecessors Miss Helian is claiming a betrothal with?"
"Pfft—" Ye Li couldn't help letting out a chuckle. The rumors had already blown up into a full-scale storm across the city, yet Mo Xiunyao was still playing dumb—the act was laying it on a bit too thick. Giving a light cough to announce her presence, Ye Li stepped across the threshold into the hall.
The moment Mo Xiunyao caught sight of Ye Li, his face lit up with undisguised delight. He personally rose from his seat, stepped forward to take Ye Li's hand, and smiled, "A-Li, you've finally returned! Have your spirits settled, and are you no longer angry with your husband?" Giving him a faint smile, Ye Li replied, "Does the Prince believe he has done nothing wrong?" Behind Helian Huimin's back, she reached out and viciously pinched Mo Xiunyao's arm, while Prince Yelu—whose back was turned to the exchange—flashed a look that seemed to say: What on earth are you pulling here? Ye Li's grip was by no means light. Mo Xiunyao's body stiffened, and a look of mock grievance washed over his face as he lamented, "Is A-Li still angry? Your husband knows he was in the wrong! Whatever my wife deems incorrect is inherently wrong; even if the entire world claims it's right, they are the ones who are mistaken. Come, wife, take a seat."
The half-mask of cold silver still covered one side of his handsome face, which, combined with the towering prestige of the Prince of Ding, made this domestic scene of a husband placating his wife look exceptionally bizarre to outside eyes. Both Helian Huimin and Prince Yelu involuntarily exchanged bewildered glances, utterly failing to comprehend how the formidable Prince of Ding could display such a submissive posture right in front of outsiders.
A spark of keen interest dancing in his eyes, Prince Yelu raised an eyebrow and greeted Ye Li with a smile, "Princess Consort, it has been many days, yet your grace and elegance remain unchanged."
With a polite smile, Ye Li nodded. "Prince Yelu is far too kind. May I ask who this young lady is..."
Before Prince Yelu could make introductions, Helian Huimin rose from her seat, performed a formal Great Chu greeting to Ye Li, and smiled, "This younger sister, Helian Huimin, pays her respects to the Elder Sister Princess Consort."
Ye Li frowned slightly, stepping aside to deftly dodge the formal bow as she replied, "Miss Helian need only address this consort as the Princess Consort. Come to think of it, Miss Helian should be a few years my senior; I certainly cannot bear to accept the title of 'Elder sister'." Only now did Ye Li properly take in Helian Huimin's appearance. As a daughter of Northern Rong, Helian Huimin stood noticeably taller than typical Great Chu women, yet her figure was exquisitely proportioned and entirely devoid of the bulky, sturdy frame commonly associated with Northern Rong females. Instead, her facial features were exceptionally delicate, carrying much of the striking beauty typical of Great Chu maidens. However, dressed in peach-red Northern Rong aristocratic attire, with a radiant smile dancing across her features, she radiated a much stronger aura of heroic, martial vigor. She bore a vague resemblance to Murong Ting at first glance, yet a single look told Ye Li that Helian Huimin was entirely different from the innocent, straightforward Murong Ting. That outward display of bright, breezy charm was merely a facade; judging by the intensely focused gaze locked onto her face, Ye Li knew full well that this innocent demeanor was simply a smoke screen adopted until Helian Huimin could properly suss out her opponent's background.
Hearing Ye Li's words, Helian Huimin froze momentarily before quickly recovering her composure and smiling, "Perhaps the Elder Sister Princess Consort is unaware, but Huimin has already received an imperial decree from the Emperor of Great Chu to enter the Prince of Ding's Manor shortly. Although I am unfamiliar with Great Chu customs, in Northern Rong, whoever enters the household first takes precedence as senior. Therefore, addressing you as elder sister is entirely appropriate."
Pondering the words for a moment, Ye Li turned her gaze to Mo Xiunyao and said, "Your Highness, congratulations on receiving a personal bestowment of a beauty from the Emperor himself. Must the Prince be overjoyed?"
Mo Xiunyao shook his head vigorously. "My wife has misunderstood; this husband has never received any decree regarding a bestowal of marriage. Just now, I was actually pondering whether Miss Helian might have a pre-existing betrothal with my late father or my elder brother. If that is the case... although my father and brother have long since passed away, the Prince of Ding's Manor can certainly afford to host a posthumous ghost marriage. It's just that I would have to trouble my wife to manage the preparations. Tell me... is Miss Helian intended to be my revered stepmother... or perhaps my junior sister-in-law?"
As soon as these words dropped, even someone as composed as Prince Yelu suffered a violent twitch of his facial features. While Northern Rong women were uninhibited by petty conventions, hearing the man she had designated as her future husband mock her so blatantly caused Helian Huimin's complexion to turn decidedly ugly. What did he mean by claiming he had never received an imperial marriage decree? The Emperor had bestowed the marriage on the spot without leaving time for a formal written imperial edict to be drafted, and Mo Xiunyao had simply turned on his heel and walked out, showing zero intention of giving face to either the Emperor or Northern Rong. Afterward, he had even directly had the imperial decree bearer locked outside the estate gates—meaning no formal edict of bestowal existed whatsoever. Ye Li's clear eyes arched slightly. "Is that truly the case?"
Mo Xiunyao replied with a solemn, righteous expression, "This husband's devotion to A-Li is as evident as the sun and moon, absolutely free of falsehood. If I were to abandon my honor and shameless marry Miss Helian, may Heaven strike me down with thunder and leave me without descendants!" In any case, he had zero intention of ever marrying Helian Huimin, so swearing toxic oaths brought him no psychological pressure whatsoever.
Hearing this, Ye Li's expression softened noticeably as she murmured gently, "I believe you, so stop blurting out such poisonous curses. Since that is how matters stand, I'll have people prepare for the wedding shortly. However... whether she belongs to Father or Elder Brother, should we send for First Sister-in-law to return to the capital for the occasion?" Don't accuse her of ruining Helian Huimin's reputation; Northern Rong people didn't care much for such formalities anyway. Besides, toward any woman attempting to steal her man, she had no intention of showing the slightest courtesy.
Mo Xiunyao was clearly deeply satisfied with Ye Li's cooperation, turning his head to look at Prince Yelu sitting nearby, effectively demanding that the prince clarify whether Helian Huimin was meant to marry the previous-previous Prince of Ding or the previous Prince of Ding. Prince Yelu's face turned livid. Mo Xiunyao had effortlessly tied marrying Helian Huimin to notions of basic morality, shame, and propriety, making it crystal clear that he was dead-set on dumping Helian Huimin onto a dead man. If he allowed himself to be played like this, they would truly end up losing both the battle and their prestige. Giving a cold huff, Prince Yelu stated, "Prince of Ding, you surely understand the intentions of both myself and the Emperor of Great Chu. Is it not a breach of decorum for you to continue playing these absurd word games?"
Mo Xiunyao adopted an expression of grievance far deeper than his opponent's, sighing softly, "Prince Yelu is unaware of our family traditions. My ancestors left down a strict family precept forbidding any alliance with foreign women, or else one is unworthy of being a descendant of the Prince of Ding's Manor. However, for the sake of friendship between our two nations, since my father and elder brothers passed away prematurely, they aren't bound by the restrictions of the Ding family rules. Wouldn't that resolve everything perfectly for all parties?"
Resolve everything perfectly my foot! Prince Yelu cursed silently in his heart.
"Your Highness, Huimin holds nothing but deep admiration for you. Why must Your Highness humiliate me in such a manner?" Helian Huimin stood up, looking toward Mo Xiunyao with a gaze brimming with grievances.
Mo Xiunyao replied indifferently, "This Prince has no intention of humiliating Miss Helian."
Helian Huimin persisted, "If that is the case, why does Your Highness repeatedly push me away? You and I were granted a marriage bestowal by the Emperor of Great Chu in full accordance with proper propriety. Although I, Helian Huimin, do not hail from the imperial family, I am nevertheless a Northern Rong noble who has studied literature and martial arts since childhood. I venture to say I am fully worthy of standing beside Your Highness without bringing shame upon you."
Mo Xiunyao glanced at Helian Huimin before lowering his gaze to look at Ye Li sitting beside him, his voice softening. "In this lifetime, having A-Li as my sole wife is more than enough. Where does this leave my beloved wife if Miss Helian forces her way in?"
All three individuals in the hall froze. Helian Huimin cast a complex look at Ye Li before asking, "Does Your Highness intend to disregard Great Chu entirely just for the sake of the Princess Consort?"
Frowning, Ye Li looked at Helian Huimin and countered, "What kind of remark is that, Miss Helian? Surely you aren't suggesting that if our Prince refuses to marry you, Northern Rong will dispatch troops to invade our country?"
Helian Huimin was naturally not foolish enough to step into that conversational trap. Instead, she kept her eyes fixed on Mo Xiunyao as she argued, "I have heard that the Prince of Ding's Manor has always remained fiercely loyal to the imperial court. Could it be that the Prince intends to defy an imperial edict simply because of the Princess Consort? Is the Prince truly unafraid that court officials will brand the Princess Consort as a woman who brings ruin to the country?"
Mo Xiunyao's expression darkened slightly, finally shedding the playful act he had maintained until now. He looked coldly at Helian Huimin and stated, "Judging by your eloquence, Miss Helian, you sound far less like a Northern Rong native and far more like one of our smooth-tongued people here in Great Chu. Miss Helian, I have only one question for you."
Helian Huimin was startled. Although she couldn't quite fathom why the Prince of Ding—who had answered her every remark with gentle civility over the past two days—had suddenly turned hostile, she still nodded. "Please go ahead, Your Highness."
To the side, Prince Yelu frowned, fixing a wary, vigilant stare on Mo Xiunyao, sensing that whatever was about to leave the man's mouth would not be pleasant.
Fixing his icy, piercing gaze upon Helian Huimin's delicate features until she flushed with embarrassment and averted her eyes, Mo Xiunyao let out a cold, flat statement: "Miss Helian, are you truly that utterly unable to find a husband?"