The First Jasmine - Chapter 120

Chapter 120 - Startled

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Prince of Ding's Manor has no intention of holding any wedding."

As soon as those words fell, the main hall plunged into a profound silence. Nearly every gaze in the room converged upon Ye Li. The most blazing among them undoubtedly belonged to Helian Huimin and Consort Liu, who sat upon the dais. Helian Huimin likely never expected that Ye Li would dare openly reject the marriage in the imperial palace right before the Empress Dowager and an assembly of court noblewomen, a move that left the Northern Rong woman thoroughly cornered and riding a tiger she could not dismount. If the Prince of Ding's Manor maintained its stubborn refusal to marry her, her face and dignity would be completely and utterly ruined. Meeting Helian Huimin's gaze, which flickered with residual anger and shock, Ye Li offered a calm, gentle smile. Did the woman truly think that because she usually presented a mild and gentle demeanor, she wouldn't dare refuse a marriage publicly?

"Princess Consort of Ding, what did you just say?" The Empress Dowager frowned, fixing a displeased stare on Ye Li. In truth, the Empress Dowager wanted nothing to do with the Prince of Ding's Manor. Ever since her youngest son had launched a rebellion without so much as a word of warning, plunging her into an impossible dilemma, she had understood that this son was entirely unreliable. For a woman residing within the imperial palace, having no son to depend on meant that possessing heaven-shriving abilities was utterly useless. Although her authority had long since been hollowed out, the Empress at least maintained a customary level of respect toward her, leaving her with only one desire: to peacefully enjoy her remaining years in the palace. Unfortunately, while she wished to step back from the board, her emperor son had no intention of letting her retire. Thus, after hitting a brick wall against Mo Xiunyao, Mo Jingqi had dragged her out, hoping to maneuver through the Princess Consort of Ding. Situated outside the immediate fray, the Empress Dowager actually saw things with greater clarity, making her acutely aware that this Princess Consort of Ding was not someone easily led by the nose. Though she preferred not to cross paths with Ye Li, she now found herself trapped by circumstance, completely unable to remain uninvolved.

Ye Li cast a smiling glance toward Madam Xu not far away, then turned back to look at the Empress Dowager, her voice clear, resonant, and resolute. "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Prince of Ding's Manor has no plans to hold any wedding recently. In fact, for as long as this consort remains the Princess Consort of Ding, the Prince will never take any secondary consorts into the household."

An immediate uproar broke out across the grand hall.

"Princess Consort of Ding, how impertinent!" Princess Zhaoren rose abruptly, pointing an accusing finger at Ye Li. "As a woman, you are utterly lawless in your attempts to prevent the Prince of Ding from taking secondary consorts, completely devoid of female virtue! How could such a jealous shrew ever be considered a worthy match for the Prince of Ding?" Princess Zhaoren's only beloved daughter had been shipped off to Northern Rong for a political marriage, leaving her in a foul temper. Furthermore, she had long harbored a great deal of dissatisfaction toward Ye Li, so naturally, she was the first to stand up and launch an attack.

Ye Li cast a lazy, dismissive glance at Princess Zhaoren. It seemed that from the very beginning, Princess Zhaoren had looked upon her with extreme disfavor—or rather, Princess Zhaoren despised Mo Xiunyao so intensely that her animosity naturally bled over onto Ye Li. Under normal circumstances, Ye Li wouldn't mind yielding or showing forbearance over trivial matters, but today's affair was not something she could back down on. Therefore, she had no intention of apologizing to the princess. With a faint, indifferent smile, Ye Li replied, "The Princess should choose her words carefully. Our Prince has no desire to take secondary consorts or concubines, and as his wife, it is only natural for me to follow his lead. Surely you don't expect me to side with outsiders and pressure my own husband? Since the Princess speaks so loftily of female virtue, does she happen to know that a wife should follow her husband's will upon marriage?"

Princess Zhaoren's face flushed a mottled shade of green and white. Everyone in the capital knew that Princess Zhaoren had failed to produce a son and kept her驸马 (consort) strictly barred from approaching secondary consorts or bedchamber maids, resulting in the consort reaching his forties without a single male heir. Fortunately, the consort was merely a secondary branch's legitimate son; had he been the eldest son and primary heir of a prominent noble house, even the supreme majesty of a princess would not have been enough to suppress the discontent of a powerful clan. Hearing her preach about female virtue carried a rather heavy dose of irony under the circumstances. Glaring with a dark expression, Princess Zhaoren let out a cold huff. "Even so, as the Princess Consort of Ding's Manor, you ought to consider the continuation of the family line and help expand the estate's progeny. Even if the Prince is temporarily muddled and bewitched by some vixen into refusing concubines, the fact that you, as his primary wife, fail to offer proper admonishment proves you are utterly unworthy of the title of a virtuous spouse."

Raising her eyes, Ye Li smiled faintly. "When did this consort ever claim to be worthy of the title of a virtuous spouse? If being a virtuous wife means having nothing better to do all day than hunt for beautiful concubines for one's husband, then I apologize—this consort is indeed lacking in virtue, and I have no intention of cultivating any."

"You... you..." Princess Zhaoren was shaken with rage, her trembling finger pointing directly at Ye Li as she choked on her words for several moments. Without a shred of evasion, Ye Li met her gaze and arched a brow with a faint smile.

Upon the dais, the Empress watched the princess, who looked on the verge of fainting from fury, a flicker of amusement crossing her eyes as she intervened, "Enough. Speak civilly if you have something to say; Princess Zhaoren, do not let your temper flare. Princess Consort of Ding, one must not show disrespect toward the teachings of elders."

Ye Li nodded and said respectfully, "This consort accepts Her Majesty the Empress's instruction. Ye Li will certainly keep the elders' teachings in mind and take Princess Zhaoren as an exemplary model so as not to transgress."

The Empress Dowager frowned, gave a light cough, and looked toward Ye Li. "Princess Consort of Ding, this marriage bestowed by His Majesty involves both family and state affairs. You must prioritize matters of state and avoid acting with such willful recklessness."

A wave of genuine irritation welled up inside Ye Li. What on earth was wrong with these people? If a man wanted to play the field, that was one thing, but these women refused to let up, actively shoving other females down a man's throat as if deliberately trying to force him into infidelity. They could obsess over being virtuous and demure all they liked, but she had never asked to be dragged into their games. Rising to her feet, Ye Li stated coldly, "The Empress Dowager jests. How can a matrimonial alliance between two nations be treated so casually? When the alliance was originally formed, the Northern Rong King never once mentioned sending anyone to marry into the Prince of Ding's Manor. If this is truly a matter of state, where is the official diplomatic state letter from Northern Rong regarding this alliance? If there is no official state letter, then this is merely a decision made privately by certain individuals. Does the Empress Dowager take the Prince of Ding's Manor for a public inn where anyone can waltz in as they please? Miss Helian is welcome to enter the Prince of Ding's Manor, provided she is content with the vacant position of a floor-sweeping maid. To expect entry into the manor on the vague credentials of a mere adopted daughter's status is absurd—Miss Helian, come back and speak with this consort only when you can present a clear and proper status!"

Helian Huimin shot to her feet, her delicate face twisted with fury. "Even if you are the Princess Consort of Ding, I am still a Northern Rong noblewoman! How dare you subject me to such arbitrary humiliation!"

"A Northern Rong noblewoman?" Ye Li arched her brows in open disdain. "This consort has never heard of a noblewoman whose background begins and ends as someone's adopted daughter—a noblewoman whose very biological parents are deemed too unmentionable to reveal?"

Everyone present fully grasped the implication behind Ye Li's words. In Great Chu, even if an adoptive father held a much higher social standing than one's biological parents, one was still expected to acknowledge one's true bloodline first when introducing oneself to others, appending the adoptive title merely as a secondary note. Yet Helian Huimin had never once mentioned the identity of her biological parents. This could only mean one thing: her parents' status was far more than just ordinarily low—it was likely abysmal. Considering certain customs in Northern Rong, true Northern Rong nobles did not frequently possess refined appearances like Prince Yelu; the vast majority of Northern Rong aristocrats fell well short of Great Chu aesthetic standards. Conversely, those in Northern Rong who possessed striking looks were predominantly slaves—individuals sold or captured from other nations, among whom many were descendants of Great Chu captives. Consequently, the fact that Helian Huimin dared not even utter the identities of her birth parents immediately raised suspicions as to whether she was descended from Northern Rong slaves. If that were truly the case, for the Prince of Ding's Manor to take her in—even as a concubine—would be a monumental joke. The noblewomen present cast subtle, sideways glances at Helian Huimin, their gazes tinged with a fresh layer of disgust and contempt. In Northern Rong, slaves held an even lower status than maids and servants in Great Chu; they could be killed at a whim, were relegated to the most grueling physical labor that ordinary people refused to touch, and received no monthly wages whatsoever. Countless female slaves were treated as mere playthings and subjected to arbitrary abuse and torment by their masters.

As an exceptionally sharp-witted woman, Helian Huimin could hardly fail to perceive the sudden shift in the crowd's collective gaze, and the hatred she harbored toward Ye Li deepened significantly.

The Empress Dowager cast a hesitant glance at Helian Huimin, for she herself had no clear inkling of the girl's true background. If those suspicions proved correct, letting such a background leak out would only leave the entire court dissatisfied with the Emperor's marriage decree, and might even convince the military that the Emperor had deliberately sought to humiliate the Prince of Ding's Manor. "The Princess Consort is surely letting her imagination run wild," the Empress Dowager said. "Since the nation of Northern Rong is on friendly terms with our Great Chu, they naturally understand our customs. The women sent for political marriages are naturally of elevated and pure status. No doubt Miss Helian lost both parents at a young age and grew up within the General's household, causing her to simply overlook these details."

Ye Li had never intended to trap Helian Huimin permanently on the issue of her lineage; if the girl's origins truly proved squalid, letting that reputation spread wouldn't necessarily benefit the Prince of Ding's Manor either. Rising fully to her feet, Ye Li glanced at Helian Huimin, lifted her chin, and stared directly into the Empress Dowager's eyes. "Empress Dowager, let me make this crystal clear: unless the Prince himself personally gives his consent to take in a secondary consort, this consort will not permit a single person to cross that threshold."

A wave of secret vexation rippled through the Empress Dowager. If they could get through to the Prince of Ding, they wouldn't have bothered wasting so many breath-wasting words with the Princess Consort. "Princess Consort of Ding, His Majesty's imperial decree has already been issued. Do you not know what it means to defy an imperial command? Or do you expect His Majesty to go back on his word and retract the decree?"

Ye Li smiled, lifting her head. "Then there is only one remaining option: please have His Majesty and the Empress Dowager issue a decree to grant this consort a swift death. Once I am gone and the position of Princess Consort stands vacant, the Prince will naturally be free to take secondary consorts. At that point, whoever he chooses to marry or take in will be completely beyond my control."

"Princess Consort of Ding!" The Empress Dowager shook with fury. Ye Li's expression remained calm, unyielding, and completely unfazed. A cold, mocking smirk playing on her lips, the Empress Dowager snapped, "What if I insist that Miss Helian enter that household?"

A fleeting, delicate smile crossed Ye Li's face as a flash of cold steel materialized in her hand. "Then the Empress Dowager will surely not mind if the Prince of Ding's Manor holds a wedding and a funeral simultaneously. This consort guarantees that the funeral will be far more lively than the wedding."

A collective sharp intake of breath echoed through the room. Staring at the gleaming, razor-sharp dagger resting in the Princess Consort's hand, the few individuals who had previously harbored ulterior motives quickly extinguished any lingering delusions. Even an unloved secondary daughter from an ordinary family could provide some utility to her household if married off decently; marrying her into the Prince of Ding's Manor, however, would not only offend the Princess Consort but also invite a meaningless, self-inflicted disaster. Looking upon the woman who still wore a gentle, amiable smile, not a single person doubted for a second that she meant every word she had just uttered. Smiling, Ye Li swept her gaze across the crowd, letting her eyes linger finally on Helian Huimin. "Well then? Does Miss Helian still insist on forcing her way into the Prince of Ding's Manor?"

Drawing a silent breath, Helian Huimin stared back at Ye Li with an unyielding glare. "If the Princess Consort wishes to take my life, I doubt you possess the capability. Do you honestly think a mere short dagger can frighten me?" Which Northern Rong daughter had not grown up dancing with blades and riding horses across the open steppes? Although her origins were somewhat humble, Helian Huimin had been adopted and raised by Helian Zhen since childhood, meaning her martial arts were by no means weak. With a swift twist of her wrist, she drew her own jeweled scabbard-sheathed curved saber and leveled it straight at Ye Li.

"Miss Helian, how dare you casually draw a weapon in the presence of the Empress Dowager! Lower your blade this instant," the Empress chided with a frown.

Off to the side, Consort Liu remarked indifferently, "I didn't notice Her Majesty the Empress issuing any reprimand when the Princess Consort drew her blade just moments ago."

The Empress offered a light smile. "Perhaps my younger sister has forgotten our imperial ancestors' strict precept: the Prince of Ding and his Princess Consort are granted the privilege of bearing weapons within the imperial palace."

Consort Liu let out a soft huff, turned her head away, and ignored the Empress entirely, while the Empress simply smiled faintly and let the matter drop without taking offense.

Watching Helian Huimin point an ornate, glittering curved saber straight at her, Ye Li curled her lips into a smile.

Frowning, Helian Huimin demanded, "What are you smiling at?"

Ye Li smiled back. "Come to think of it... there truly are quite a few women casting covetous eyes toward my husband. Today, this consort shall use you to test my blade!"

"Shameless braggart!" Helian Huimin sneered in contempt, swinging her curved saber horizontally toward Ye Li. Casually side-stepping to evade the blow, Ye Li watched as Helian Huimin followed up with an unbroken, continuous torrent of razor-sharp slashes. True to her upbringing on the vast grasslands, Helian Huimin wielded her saber with fierce, sweeping momentum and formidable explosive power that far surpassed typical Central Plains women. Waiting until after the other woman had unleashed a dozen or so ferocious strikes, Ye Li smiled crisply, "Has Miss Helian finished warming up? It is this consort's turn now." Compared to Helian Huimin's grand, imposing momentum, Ye Li's movements appeared utterly ordinary and unpretentious. Before the onlookers could even clearly track the mechanics of her technique, Ye Li had already closed the distance in a flash, her hand snapping out to clamp firmly around the wrist holding Helian Huimin's saber while her foot kicked out to intercept an incoming strike. A flash of cold light erupted from her other hand, stabbing ruthlessly and directly toward Helian Huimin's chest.

"Princess Consort, show mercy!" the Empress Dowager and Empress cried out in unison.

Realizing she could no longer break free from Ye Li's iron grip, Helian Huimin could only close her eyes and await her fate. She refused to accept this; she firmly believed her martial arts were top-tier even among Northern Rong women, yet she had somehow blundered into defeat against a woman of Great Chu. She hadn't even managed to clearly discern the other's moves. But none of that mattered anymore; unwilling though she was, once defeated, the only thing waiting for her was death...

Yet after a moment of waiting, the anticipated agony never arrived. Opening her eyes with a measure of bewilderment, Helian Huimin found herself unceremoniously shoved aside as Ye Li calmly and gracefully sheathed her short dagger. Having just walked one foot through the gates of the netherworld, Helian Huimin remained momentarily dazed and unable to process reality. She could vividly feel that the Princess Consort hadn't merely been trying to scare her; the suffocating killing intent washing over her had made it painfully clear that she had just clawed her way back from the jaws of death.

Stunned by such a brutal blow to her confidence, Helian Huimin stood frozen in the center of the grand hall, utterly speechless and lost in a daze.

The Empress Dowager's face turned livid with rage as she stood up and snapped, "Princess Consort of Ding, how audacious! Enough... I am old and can no longer manage these tiresome affairs. Empress, handle whatever follows as you see fit; I am retiring to my quarters." With that, pressing a hand against her heaving chest, she summoned her palace maids and swept out of the hall.

With the Empress Dowager abandoning the field, the Empress could only manage a bitter smile. Turning to Consort Liu, she asked, "Your Ladyship, how should this matter be handled?"

The Empress smiled faintly. "Naturally, we report everything to His Majesty and let him render the final judgment. However, after today... this palace doubts this matter will prove difficult to resolve anymore. Sister, wouldn't you agree?" If Helian Huimin still possessed the sheer audacity to attempt marrying into the Prince of Ding's Manor after this, the Empress would have no choice but to admire her sheer tenacity.

Consort Liu lowered her gaze toward Ye Li standing below the dais, her eyes carrying a deeper, vastly more complex layer of emotion. Ignoring her entirely, the Empress continued with a serene smile, "I must admit, I rather admire the Princess Consort of Ding's temperament. She remains silent until the moment arrives, then startles the world in a single stroke. Her efficiency in handling affairs is remarkably crisp and decisive; no doubt anyone in the future harboring ambitions of marrying their daughters into the Prince of Ding's Manor will have to think very, very carefully." Casting a mild, approving smile toward Ye Li down below, her eyes flashed with a hint of subtle envy and admiration.

Enduring the collective gaze of the entire hall, Ye Li unconcernedly twirled the sharp blade between her fingers. Since matters of this sort could not be resolved through compromise, she might as well settle them completely in one clean sweep.