The First Jasmine - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: A Chance Encounter with the Heir of the King of Zhennan

Although Old Madame Ye and Minister Ye still carried dark countenances, Ye Li could still discern a trace of delight within their eyes. It appeared that the matter of Mo Jing Li personally coming to receive Ye Ying back still left the two exceptionally satisfied. After all, their daughter had already consummated marriage and departed; even if the Ye family were anymore enraged, it was fundamentally impossible to truly let Ye Ying move back to the Ye Manor to let the Ye family nurture her for a lifetime, just as Ye Li had spoken.

Before long, Mo Jing Li strode inward, his face still as cold, detached, and gloomy as it had always been. In reality, Ye Li virtually could not recall ever seeing a time when Mo Jing Li’s countenance was good; it seemed he forever possessed an appearance as though someone owed him several hundred taels of silver and refused to return it. The moment he entered the doors, he caught sight of Ye Li and paused for a brief instant before shifting his gaze toward Ye Ying. Ye Ying bit her lip corner in grievance, letting out a soft snort as she turned her head away to pay him no heed. The countenances of Minister Ye and Old Madame Ye were also淡淡的, completely devoid of the former diligence and attentiveness. The Wang clan carried an even darker face; if it had not been for Old Madame Ye covertly casting a fierce glance at her, she feared she would have directly opened her mouth to cross-examine him.

Witnessing this situation, Mo Jing Li’s eyes darkened, his mood patently not overly beautiful either.

In truth, regarding this marriage alliance, Mo Jing Li felt even more aggrieved in his heart than Ye Ying. It was not as if he desired to marry that whatever Princess Ling Yun; what was he to do by marrying a defeated opponent of that woman Ye Li back into his manor? The Emperor elder brother himself did not want that woman, yet without even asking a single question, he directly stuffed her over to him. After returning home, Ye Ying had been constantly throwing tantrums with him, while that ignorant woman Princess Ling Yun actually still dared to create a great uproar within the diplomatic embassy, refusing to marry. Who did she assume he was? Did she assume he could not marry anyone but her? Having been annoyed to the extreme by Ye Ying and Princess Ling Yun, Mo Jing Li had directly entered the palace to speak to his Emperor elder brother, stating he wished to annul the marriage and would not marry Princess Ling Yun, only to be reprimanded a modicum and driven out by his Imperial Brother. Then, he was further lectured a modicum by the Empress Dowager and his birth Imperial Concubine. The more he pondered it, the more unsightly Mo Jing Li’s countenance became. Seeing things were not right, Minister Ye also quit while he was ahead, letting out a light cough as he said, "Ying'er, the Prince has arrived to receive you back. Sit properly and speak some words with the Prince."

Only then did Ye Ying turn her body around with red eyes, looking at Mo Jing Li in a pitiful, touching manner, "Prince..."

The sorrowful, resentful voice caused Ye Li to involuntarily shudder a micro-fraction. She watched Mo Jing Li walk over to pull Ye Ying into his embrace, saying in a low voice, "Let us depart. Return to the manor with this Prince."

"Prince... Ying'er is so sorrowful... Woo woo..." Ye Ying whimpered as she collapsed into Mo Jing Li’s embrace and began to weep. Mo Jing Li encircled Ye Ying’s waist, listening in silence as Ye Ying narrated her own grievances; although he spoke nothing, his countenance clearly took a turn for the better by a great deal.

"Returning." Mo Jing Li lifted Ye Ying up horizontally, nodding toward Minister Ye and Old Madame Ye, directly ignoring Ye Li as he turned to stride outward. On the contrary, he left behind a brain full of doubts for Ye Li; in reality, up until now, she had still not looked clearly to comprehend whether he truly cared about Ye Ying, and exactly how much he cared. Presumably... the thoughts of a poker-face were all not that easy to guess, even if Mo Jing Li was a slightly deformed poker-face. Relying against the chair while propping up her chin, Ye Li pondered silently.

Declining the polite detention of Old Madame Ye and Minister Ye, Ye Li brought her people out of the Minister’s Manor. Seeing that the weather was still early, Ye Li recalled that ever since marrying into the Prince of Ding’s Manor, she seemed to have never departed the doors alone yet. It just so happened that Nanny Sun’s various explicit indications and implicit hints resounded; in a few more days, it would be Mo Xiu Yao’s birthday. Ye Li decided to go inspect whether there were any suitable gifts. Having made up her mind, she brought Qing Luan and Qing Shuang along and headed toward the most bustling street market within the capital.

Walking through the bustling, jostling streets and browsing several shops without picking out anything suitable, Ye Li could not resist letting out a bit of distress. She did not know what caliber of gift would be considered suitable. Seeing Ye Li’s patently distressed appearance, Qing Shuang opened her mouth to inquire with a bold posture, "Princess Consort, do you wish to purchase some item?" Feeling a micro-embarrassment, Ye Li looked at the two young maids who were curiously opening their bright, sparkling eyes, hesitating for a brief moment before speaking, "Nanny Sun stated that in a few days it will be Mo Xiu Yao’s birthday; I wish to find a gift to send to him." Qing Shuang rolled her eyes straight toward her, "Young Lady! For you to send the Prince a gift, does it stand in need of running onto the great streets to find?"

Ye Li was blank, "Do you mean to send something ready-made? Will it appear to lack sincerity?" Furthermore, the treasures within her room were not few, but except for calligraphy and paintings, the majority consisted of a daughter’s jewelry and the like. Could it be that she truly must pick out a piece of calligraphy or painting to send to him?

Qing Luan pursed her lips in a secret smile, blinking her eyes as she said in a low voice, "The Prince does not lack any treasures either. If the Princess Consort wishes to possess sincerity, it would be better to personally perform a piece of gift. Even if it is a mere pouch, in the Prince’s view, it is feared to be more valuable than sending an antique."

"A pouch?"

Qing Shuang waved her hand, "How can a pouch suffice? How about the Princess Consort performs a piece of clothing for the Prince?"

"Performing clothing..." Ye Li lowered her head to look at her own hands. Ever since marrying to the Prince of Ding’s Manor, she seemed to have never touched needle and thread. However... this appeared to be a decent idea.

"Princess Consort of Ding?"

Having taken up her mind, Ye Li was just preparing to execute a turn to return to the Prince’s Manor, but her path was blocked by a voice arriving from the rear. Ye Li turned around to see that pair of paternal cousins standing within the crowd, wishing nothing more than to utter a phrase: enemies cross narrow paths.

"Heir, Princess." Ye Li nodded with a detached demeanor to express her regards. Yet Lei Teng Feng appeared as if he had not seen Ye Li’s cold, detached, and distant expression, stepping forward with a smile as he said, "What a true coincidence. Is the Princess Consort of Ding browsing the streets alone?" Ye Li smiled, "Qing Luan, Qing Shuang, greet the Heir and the Princess." Had this Heir of the King of Zhennan’s eyes suffered a window-detachment? Had he not seen that two large, living individuals were still standing beside her?

The corner of Lei Teng Feng’s eye twitched a micro-fraction, and he smiled, saying, "In a few days, this internal person must set out to rush back to Western Liang; therefore, I desire to purchase some items for Ling Yun. I wonder... if the Princess Consort could perhaps assist in advising a modicum or two."

 

Ye Li looked with a skin-deep smile at the sibling pair before her—one enthusiastic, one cold—speaking, "I fear I cannot render any assistance."

"How could that be? The Princess Consort is entirely complete in civil and military virtues, and is furthermore this year’s top talent of the Hundred Flowers; your vision must definitively be out of the ordinary," Lei Teng Feng smiled.

With the words spoken up to this point, Ye Li was not well-positioned to refuse further, only capable of saying, "Since it is so, Heir, Princess, please."

Princess Ling Yun cast a glance at Ye Li, her countenance haggard, appearing a modicum listless. It appeared that ever since the marriage assignment, her days had also not been overly easy to pass; it was merely unknown what method Lei Teng Feng had utilized to cause a character like Princess Ling Yun to actually listen to his words obediently. The three individuals brought their attendants to walk upon the street. Princess Ling Yun carried a completely absent-minded appearance; even when walking, she stood in need of the young maid beside her supporting her from time to time to not result in colliding with the coming and going crowd. Ye Li watched the previously domineering young girl transform into a piece of dried bean sprout in a matter of no days. Taking advantage of Princess Ling Yun being directed by Lei Teng Feng to try on clothing, Ye Li then inquired, "Princess Ling Yun appears to be not too well."

Lei Teng Feng raised his eyebrows, measuring Ye Li with an interested posture as he said, "Is the Princess Consort feeling sympathy for Ling Yun?"

Ye Li cast a glance at him, "You, the Heir performing the task of a paternal cousin, do not feel sympathy for her; does it turn to the turn of an outsider like me to meddle in unnecessary business?"

Lei Teng Feng smiled with an unconcerned posture, "It is nothing; a child throwing a tantrum and playing at a hunger strike, that is all."

A child throwing a tantrum and playing at a hunger strike?

Ye Li nodded, "I hope the Princess will not faint during the wedding."

Lei Teng Feng was full of confidence—or to say, he fundamentally did not care a shred—smiling, "The Princess Consort may set her heart at absolute peace; our Western Liang absolutely will not allow such an ill-mannered matter to occur. On the day of the wedding, Ling Yun definitively will be radiant to perform the role of a new bride." Ye Li turned her face away to measure the decorations within the shop; she possessed not a single half-shred of good impression toward an individual like Lei Teng Feng. She did not believe Lei Teng Feng was unaware of what caliber of ending Princess Ling Yun would face by remaining within Great Chu to marry Mo Jing Li; he simply did not care, that was all. An individual who could push his own paternal cousin toward a dead end with a beaming smile while concurrently smiling to state 'I am doing it for your own good'—in reality, this type of individual was even more cold-blooded and ruthless than Mo Jing Li. The distance within Ye Li’s demeanor was entirely perceived within Lei Teng Feng’s eyes. Holding a smile by his lips, he looked at Ye Li and said, "The Princess Consort of Ding appears to possess some opinion regarding this internal person?"

Ye Li cast a detached glance at him, saying, "No, I never possess any opinion regarding strangers."

"Strangers?" Lei Teng Feng smiled in a meaningful manner, "How could it be a stranger? Speaking of which... do the Prince of Ding and the Princess Consort still like the new marriage congratulatory gift this internal person sent?"

Ye Li said, "The Cloud-Grasping Sword possesses immense significance toward the Prince of Ding’s Manor; how could we not like it? On the contrary, it has caused the Heir to expend care."

"No, no..." Lei Teng Feng shook his head and smiled, "The Cloud-Grasping Sword was a gift sent to the Princess Consort. As for the congratulatory gift for the Prince of Ding and the Princess Consort, this internal person patently dispatched individuals to send it to the Prince of Ding’s Manor on the second day of the grand wedding; could it be the Princess Consort did not receive it?"

Ye Li blanked, her elegant brows knitting slightly as her demeanor stared coldly at Lei Teng Feng, saying, "The Heir possesses excellent methods; such a famous painting is something many individuals seek yet cannot obtain, yet the Heir can send it out easily." Lei Teng Feng smiled, "This internal person is a coarse individual; a famous painting still stands in need of an elegant scholar to appreciate, is it not so? It appears... the Prince of Ding and the Princess Consort are both very satisfied." Ye Li stared at him, suddenly letting out a detached smile, "The Heir has expended such care; how could the Prince and I not be satisfied? Speaking of which, Han Ming Yue’s Capital Elegance has long since vanished without a trace by now; to be capable of witnessing the posture and countenance of the number one beauty of the capital in yesteryears is Ye Li’s fortune."

"Interesting," Lei Teng Feng praised, looking at Ye Li with a似笑非笑 posture as he said, "Princess Consort, this internal person does not believe the Princess Consort would be unclear that the woman within that painting was originally the Prince of Ding’s fiancée."

Ye Li looked at him, "Therefore, the Heir sent that piece of painting preparing to cause Ye Li to feel ashamed of her own unworthiness?"

"How would I dare," Lei Teng Feng smiled. "The Princess Consort is complete in talent and appearance; Teng Feng admires you immensely, how would I dare to possess such an intolerable thought? However... the Princess Consort ought to admit after all that, at times... what cannot be obtained is precisely the best. Is it not so?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows and said, "The items that cannot be obtained within this world are many; this type of thought of the Heir must not be possessed." Lei Teng Feng laughed playfully, "Why must it not be possessed? This Heir feels that as long as it is something desired, one ought to utilize every method to grasp it securely. Otherwise, allowing others to gain a bargain, would it not be a regret?"

Ye Li lowered her eyes, sipping her tea with a peaceful demeanor, "The Princess is about to emerge, is she not? Is the Heir certain he wishes to engage in idle chatter with this Princess Consort here?"

Lei Teng Feng blanked for a brief instant, smiling with a touch of helplessness, "The Princess Consort truly is a straightforward individual; Teng Feng is inferior."

Ye Li raised her eyebrows, looking at him while remaining silent and uttering nothing. Lei Teng Feng smiled, "In reality, it is also no great matter. Someone... wants this internal person to convey a sentence to the Princess Consort. In addition, I also possess a sentence I wish to inquire of the Princess Consort."

"I am listening cleanly."

"Someone let me inform the Princess Consort... other people’s items are, in the end, other people’s." Lei Teng Feng looked at Ye Li and smiled.

Without shifting her expression, Ye Li countered, "This sentence... I wonder what connection it possesses with the congratulatory gift sent by the Heir?"

Lei Teng Feng shrugged, "Do not know; this internal person is only responsible for conveying the words. In addition, does the Princess Consort not wish to hear what this internal person wishes to inquire?"

"The Heir please speak."

"This internal person just stated... this internal person admires the Princess Consort immensely. I wonder... if the Princess Consort possesses interest in traveling to Western Liang for a tour?"

Ye Li’s eyes darkened; had she been flirted with? Or did Lei Teng Feng feel that abducting the Prince of Ding’s wife to elope was a matter that possessed a great sense of achievement? Having stared fixedly at Lei Teng Feng for a long while, Ye Li let out a faint sigh, saying, "Heir... this Princess Consort conversely possesses the intent to travel to Western Liang for a tour, it is merely feared..."

"Feared what?" Lei Teng Feng’s gaze was deep and inscrutable.

"Feared—before this Princess Consort even steps into the borders of Western Liang, she would already die at the Heir’s hands, right?" Ye Li let out a cold sneer, calmly connecting the subsequent words. The expression upon Lei Teng Feng’s face froze in an instant, appearing as though he had not thought through for a time what expression he ought to display, capable only of carrying a stiff face as he let out a dry laugh, "What caliber of words are these from the Princess Consort? This internal person is inviting you with a sincere heart." Ye Li rose and smiled, "Since it is so, if there is an opportunity in the future, this Princess Consort definitively will head toward Western Liang along with our Prince to pay a visit to the Heir. Today I will not disturb the sibling interaction of the Heir and the Princess; farewell."

Without going to pay heed to what expression Lei Teng Feng possessed as he sat there, Ye Li rose and strode outward.

Within the inner parlor, the left-behind Lei Teng Feng stroked his chin, looking with a thoughtful posture toward the pearl curtain at the entrance that was swaying slightly due to someone exiting. The smile upon his face gained a few more fractions of unbridled wildness and ambition compared to just now; an interesting woman, no wonder Mo Xiu Yao would marry her.

Princess Ling Yun strode out from within, still wearing that same outfit she had entered with. Standing by the side of the door, she looked toward Lei Teng Feng with a sorrowful, resentful demeanor. Lei Teng Feng raised his eyebrows, lowering his eyes to conceal the disdain within them as he said, "Ling Yun, dispense with thinking further. Royal Brother was also doing it for your own good; compared to that Princess Consort of Li who can be discerned to lack much of a brain at a single glance, this Princess Consort of Ding is simply difficult to deal with to an extreme. Even if you entered the Prince of Ding’s Manor, you absolutely would be unable to contend against her. Was the loss suffered that day not enough? You are clear in your own heart as well; even if there were no Ye Li, you could not enter the Prince of Ding’s Manor either."

Princess Ling Yun stared fixedly at him, "You are speaking on behalf of Ye Li?"

 

Lei Teng Feng let out a scoff, saying, "Just treat it that I spoke nothing. If you feel you possess the skill to go provoke Ye Li, then feel free to go ahead. See if she dares to directly shoot through your head next time. I do not care what you wish to perform; three days from now, climb into the marriage sedan obediently for me to marry into the Prince of Li’s Manor. Do not force me to administer medicine to you."

"I am a princess; you dare!"

"I assumed that when you clamored to arrive at Great Chu, you already knew your own utility." Lei Teng Feng looked at her with a mocking gaze, "You could not possibly assume you arrived at Great Chu to select a consort, and whoever you took a fancy to would be whoever it was, right? No matter how favored a princess is, she is still merely a princess, a princess sent for a marriage alliance... to actually still dare to put on airs before him?"

The Western Liang Diplomatic Embassy

Having dispatched individuals to return Princess Ling Yun to her room, only then did Lei Teng Feng turn around to return to his own room. The moment he closed the room doors, Lei Teng Feng’s gaze darkened, his vision shooting toward a certain location within the room like the sharp edge of a knife. Because no lamps were lit within the completely enclosed room, it appeared exceptionally dark and inscrutable. Beside the fine sandalwood round table sat a black, graceful silhouette. Lei Teng Feng’s gaze darkened, staring at the back silhouette of the black-clothed woman as he said, "What did you come here to perform?" The black-clothed woman turned her face, revealing a pair of moving, star-like eyes within the dim light. It was merely that within those eyes that originally ought to have been smile-laden like water, they currently carried clear rage, "Why did you want to ruin my business?"

Lei Teng Feng let out a light snort, sneering, "Ruin your business? What business of yours did this Heir ruin?"

"The matter of Ling Yun!" The black-clothed woman gritted her teeth and said, "Were it not for you creating obstacles from within, how could Ling Yun marry into the Prince of Li’s Manor?"

Lei Teng Feng relaxed his physical body with a somewhat scattered posture, walking to the chair to one side to sit down as he said, "You still possess the face to speak; if it were not for you speaking of those items that exist or do not exist with Ling Yun from morning till night, how could Ling Yun marry the Prince of Li?" Their originally planned scheme was not to marry a princess to a prince who lacked much of a brain; unfortunately, with Ling Yun making such an uproar, the Emperor was unwilling to have her no matter what. The black-clothed woman let out a light snort and said, "If Ling Yun had entered the Prince of Ding’s Manor, would it not be even better?"

"Dispense with dreaming. Ling Yun was hoodwinked into stupidity by you; could it be that you yourself have also lost your mind?" Lei Teng Feng said with disdain, "Who do you assume Mo Xiu Yao is? Is he some individual with a merciful heart and soft hands? If Ling Yun entered the Prince of Ding’s Manor, before a month passed, we would have to retrieve her corpse on her behalf. Even if she luckily did not die, do you assume that relying on Ling Yun’s brain, she would not be deceived by Mo Xiu Yao into turning around to confront us?" Seemingly enraged by Lei Teng Feng’s mocking tone, the woman said in fury, "My performing it this way, was it not to assist you!" Lei Teng Feng scoffed, the expression upon his face clearly writing out disbelief, "Assist me? To assist me, why did you not let Rou Yun arrive? Are you not just certain that with Ling Yun’s caliber of character, it is fundamentally impossible for Mo Xiu Yao to fall in love with her? What a pity... this Heir feels that Mo Xiu Yao is very likely to fall in love with Ye Li instead."

"Impossible!" The woman shouted in fury, and quickly discovered her own loss of composure once more. The black-clothed woman slowed her breath, switching to an even more stable and relaxed tone as she smiled and said, "You can forget about deceiving me. Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes are higher than the summit; how could he take a fancy to a woman who is completely devoid of merit like Ye Li?"

"Completely devoid of merit..." Lei Teng Feng grew thoughtful, scanning that black-clothed woman in a careless manner before speaking, "Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes are higher than the summit? That also may not be seen."

"Enough, I did not arrive to bicker with you."

Lei Teng Feng looked at her in a lazy manner, saying, "Then you may directly state what matter you possess by arriving in my room at this time."

"I desire to remain within Great Chu for a period of time," the black-clothed woman said.

"Acceptable; just do not return to Western Liang henceforth, that will suffice." Lei Teng Feng waved his hand, indicating with an unconcerned posture that she could exit.

"You!" The black-clothed woman stared at him in fury, unable to speak a single word for a long half-hour. Lei Teng Feng sneered, "Do you assume I am unaware of what you wish to perform by remaining within Great Chu? Women capable of being greedy to your current degree truly are not many to be seen. However, you had best be a modicum careful, lest in the end you obtain fundamentally nothing." Beneath the veil, the black-clothed woman bit her crimson lips hatefully, "Lei Teng Feng, does it leave you unhappy if you do not perform cold mockery and burning satire toward me?" Lei Teng Feng let out a cold snort, the gaze looking toward the woman opposite him faintly flitting with a strand of hatred amidst the icy coldness, "Can you not live your days without going around hooking up with men? Dispense with wild imagination; Mo Xiu Yao will not want you."

"Do you know where that piece of painting you had individuals send has gone?" Lei Teng Feng looked at her, a strand of malicious smile suddenly adding to his face.

The black-clothed woman stared at him with vigilance. Lei Teng Feng measured her with an interested posture; watching her gaze gradually become frantic under his vision, only then did he smile and say, "It was dispatched by Mo Xiu Yao to be sent to Su Zhe on that very day. No matter how much Su Zui Die is national grace and celestial fragrance, toward Mo Xiu Yao, she is merely a dead person, that is all. What do you assume you can perform? Shall we take a gamble or not? I feel Mo Xiu Yao definitively will fall in love with Ye Li."

If it were possible, the rage within the black-clothed woman’s eyes wished nothing more than to burn Lei Teng Feng into ashes. This time, she utilized an even longer time before calming her rage, smiling beautifully toward Lei Teng Feng as she said, "Then what about you? The Heir of the King of Zhennan of the Western Liang state, why do you possess such interest toward Ye Li?" Lei Teng Feng’s eyes flashed, and he swiftly smiled, saying, "Because she is Mo Xiu Yao’s woman; from this aspect, her value is patently far higher than yours." The black-clothed woman’s eyes shifted, letting out a soft, charming laugh as she said, "Then... do you not wish to obtain Mo Xiu Yao’s woman? Hehe... think about it, if the entire world were made to know that Mo Xiu Yao’s wife ran away following another man, what an interesting matter that ought to be."

Lei Teng Feng’s sword-brows knitted together, staring at the black-clothed woman with disgust as he said, "Knowing you is feared to be the most unfortunate matter in Mo Xiu Yao’s lifetime. To defeat Mo Xiu Yao, this Heir will naturally defeat him in a fair and honorable manner; there is no standing in need of utilizing this type of method."

"Hehe, how could that be? Encountering me ought to be the most fortunate matter in his lifetime instead. Of course, I also hold this opinion." The black-clothed woman spoke in soft, delicate words, several strands of reminiscence floating upon her enchanting, watery eyes, "Furthermore, Mo Xiu Yao is already crippled. He will never step onto the battlefield again for a lifetime. From another aspect, he will forever never be defeated. You actually still fantasize about being capable of defeating him in a fair and honorable manner? The century-long uncollapsed myth of the Prince of Ding’s Manor..."

"Enough, roll out. Set out to rush back to Western Liang three days from now; you may feel free to try remaining within Great Chu yourself. According to what I know, Han Ming Yue has already returned to Jiangnan; you might as well see whether Mo Xiu Yao will show mercy toward you again." Lei Teng Feng darkened his face and said in a cold voice. The black-clothed woman stood up, her pair of eyes looking at him with grievance, "I know why you are so bad toward me; you are eating vinegar, correct? Or do you feel I do not look good wearing the veil...?" While speaking, the woman lifted her hand, wishing to take off the veil upon her face. Lei Teng Feng suddenly grabbed the teacup upon the table and smashed it over, "Roll out!"

"You... humph!" Being reprimanded by him with such discourtesy, the black-clothed woman put down her hand, glaring at the man within the chair before flicking her sleeve and departing.

Ye Li returned to the Prince of Ding’s Manor; Mo Xiu Yao was currently reading a book within the room. Only upon hearing the footsteps did he lift his head to look toward her, saying, "Returned? Did Old Madame Ye possess some matter?" Ye Li waved her hand, saying with a lack of interest, "What matter could be possessed at this time? Fourth Sister returned home to cry and throw a tantrum; Grandmother wanted me to return to advise a few words. She and I have always fundamentally not gotten along; where could she listen to my words? On the contrary, while on the street, I encountered that Heir of the Western Liang state and Princess Ling Yun." Mo Xiu Yao looked at her and raised his eyebrows. Ye Li pondered a bit, feeling this topic also lacked anything good to chat about, turning around to go inside to change into a outfit of light, convenient clothing. When emerging, seeing Mo Xiu Yao still sitting within the room with his head lowered to read a book, she then called Qing Xia and the others to bring out some fabric of plain, clean colors.

Qing Shuang had always been a clever one; not long after Ye Li gave the order and before she had even sat down, she had already brought the fabric over with a beaming smile. They were all light, pale colors like moon-white, light green, beige, and the like. And she considerately presented various utensils. Ye Li took the fabric, looking toward the man opposite her, her shallow, elegant brows all knitting into a lump.

Mo Xiu Yao lifted his head with a touch of strangeness to look at her entangled appearance, smiling calmly, "What is the matter? Disappointed with the clothing performed by the manor? I heard there are two embroidery workshops within the capital whose items are not bad; looking back, just have them send some over to inspect, that will suffice. There is no standing in need of being so vexed." Ye Li was wordless, "If I were to purchase clothing from the outside to send to you, would Nanny Lin and my nurse not lecture me to death?" Looking further at the clothing upon her own body, was she that fastidious?

Gritting her teeth, Ye Li said, "Borrow me a piece of your former old clothing."

 

Mo Xiu Yao raised his eyebrows, looking with some confusion at Ye Li’s effort to maintain an expressionless appearance. Slowly shifting his vision to the fabric upon the table, the light within his eyes moved slightly as he looked at Ye Li and smiled, "Go inside to take it yourself." Ever since he was conveyed into this courtyard to nurse his injury, Chief Steward Mo had ordered individuals to move all the clothing and items originally within his room over to this side. However, his new bride seemed to possess an absolute good habit of not casually moving other people’s items, even if this other person was her husband. Therefore, although their items were placed together, in reality they were indeed placed separately, neither moving the other's.

Ye Li let out a soft snort, rising to go inside the room; having walked not a few steps, she suddenly stopped again. Turning her body back, she picked up the soft measuring tape utilized for measuring dimensions placed within the needle and thread box and strode inside.

Mo Xiu Yao stared at the elegant fabric upon the table, falling into a brief trance before suddenly letting out a calm smile. Within the depths of his originally slightly clear, cold eyes, a few more strands of real warmth also added.

A matter was either not performed, or if performed, it ought to be performed as quickly and best as possible. Therefore, Ye Li’s daily life added one more item: performing needlework. Regarding this, the two old nannies felt deeply gratified; watching their own young lady engage in brandishing swords and spears all day long ever since she married out, the hearts of the two nannies had long since been anxious to the extreme. Although the Prince spoke nothing, what caliber of appearance did it display for a perfectly fine princess consort to be companions with swords and blades all day long? Within the Xu family—except for the Third Master—not a single military man had emerged for several hundred years. It must definitively be the Third Master who taught the young lady bad! The two nannies, unaware of the truth, silently blamed Xu Qing Feng, who was about to enter the military, within their hearts.

Their own princess consort was performing clothing for the Prince for the first time; this caused everyone—from the nannies above to the young maids beside her below—to be exceptionally attentive. Only after commencing did Ye Li discover a matter that left an individual very depressed: she fundamentally did not know how to perform clothing worn by men. When her mother was still alive, she had still not reached the age to stand in need of learning to cut clothing; after her mother departed the world, first, no one taught her, and second, there was no requirement, so she had actually unexpectedly forgotten this matter. In the end, being helpless, she could only have Nanny Lin teach her hand-by-hand how to cut clothing.

Having cut the clothing well, the young maids encircled Ye Li once more to discuss what pattern ought to be switched to, what color of embroidery thread ought to be utilized, and what caliber of pouch ought to be matched. Speaking all at once, chirping and chattering without a pause. Uniquely, Mo Xiu Yao did not know what was going on; his current location for reading books had switched from the study to their room. Although it was within the outer room, Ye Li, who was encircled within the room by the young maids, always felt that Mo Xiu Yao definitively could hear what they were muttering about, involuntarily becoming both angry and vexed, wishing nothing more than to slap these few talkative, gossiping young maids into unconsciousness.

"Princess Consort..." Seeing Ye Li pick up the cloud-pattern outline preparing to match the thread, Qing Shuang called out in disapproval, that appearance wishing nothing more than to step forward to destroy the outline within her hand to eliminate the evidence.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows to look at her, and Qing Shuang said, "Princess Consort, this is for you to send to someone. How can you bring yourself to present such a too-ordinary outline?"

The veins on Ye Li’s forehead twitched directly; just performing a piece of clothing, would this young maid possess too many opinions? Qing Shuang did not care a shred about Ye Li’s dissatisfied expression, swiftly placing a stack of outlines and patterns before Ye Li, containing various dragon patterns, eagle patterns, tiger patterns, as well as complex various flower and grass patterns, auspicious patterns, and so forth. Qing Shuang looked at Ye Li’s gloomy countenance, hastily bringing out one of them to curry favor as she said in a low voice, "Qing Shuang assisted the Princess Consort in inquiring; the Prince likes this one."

Staring at the image before her of a majestic eagle soaring across the skies, she wished nothing more than to prick Qing Shuang with a needle. Seeing her own young lady’s demeanor was not benign, Qing Shuang hastily presented an expression of begging for mercy and ran out in a flash. Ye Li stared blankly at the pattern upon the table; falling into a brief trance, she suddenly let out a sigh, reaching over to the embroidery thread basket placed to one side to begin matching the threads. Qing Xia, serving to the side, spoke, "The young maid Qing Shuang truly is playful, but she is also considering on behalf of the Princess Consort; it is best if the Princess Consort does not become angry at her." Ye Li lifted her head to cast a glance at her, saying with helplessness, "This young maid is usually spoiled too much, messing around the entire day." Qing Yu pursed her lips in a secret smile, "Qing Shuang truly is exceptionally energetic; why does the Princess Consort not penalize her to go perform embroidery work as well?"

Qing Xia covered her lips in a secret smile, saying, "This penalty of Qing Yu is excessively harsh, but if the Princess Consort can appease her anger, compared to that, Qing Shuang is also happy to accept the penalty." Qing Shuang’s character was lively and loose; what she had always been least patient with was precisely performing needlework. Usually, requiring her to finish embroidering a single handkerchief seemed as though it would claim her life. Ye Li’s eyes rotated, several fractions of smile adding to her face as she said, "Very good; go inform Qing Shuang to embroider a piece of Winter Plum Celebrating the New Year for me, it must absolutely be embroidered well within half a month. Otherwise... let her see to it herself."

Qing Luan and the others blinked their eyes, complying with a smile, silently mourning for Qing Shuang within their hearts. Knowing clearly that the Princess Consort is shy, you still insisted on running to inquire of the Prince; is this not delivering yourself to the door to let the Princess Consort penalize you?

"What does Ah Li want to embroider?" Mo Xiu Yao’s voice resounded clearly as it entered from the outside. Everyone hastily turned their bodies to execute a greeting, "Prince."

Mo Xiu Yao cast a glance at the three young maids whose faces were full of smiles, saying, "Descend."

The three performed a blessing and bowed to express their withdrawal, leaving the space to the Prince and the Princess Consort.

Seeing Mo Xiu Yao come over, Ye Li looked at the item within her hand with some embarrassment, saying, "Is the Prince already so idle? Revolving within the room all day long." Mo Xiu Yao smiled, "Since I do not stand in need of attending the court assembly, nor do I possess any matters to handle, I am naturally very idle. Ah Li, on the contrary, has been very busy these past two days." Ye Li gave him a white eye with a bad temper; had he not seen what she was busy with? The wheelchair came to a stop beside Ye Li, and Mo Xiu Yao let out a soft laugh, "Ah Li does not stand in need of feeling embarrassed; even if you embroider poorly, this Prince will not mock you either."

Very good! Ye Li hatefully drove a needle into the clothing. Daring to state she embroidered poorly—her embroidery skills were something even her Second Maternal Aunt praised with added addition. Turning her head to look at Mo Xiu Yao, Ye Li carried a face full of a fake smile, "Where, I embroider poorly; how would I dare to defile the Prince’s eyes? It is better to have the individuals of the needlework room perform it; I also save myself from expending care."

Mo Xiu Yao was helpless to compensate a smile, "The meaning of this Prince is that no matter what caliber of appearance Ah Li embroiders it into, it is all the best within this Prince’s eyes."

Ye Li let out a soft snort, too lazy to pay heed to him, turning her body back to lower her head to do her work. Mo Xiu Yao sat quietly to one side, silently watching Ye Li’s gradually focused expression, a strand of warm smile lifting by his lip corners.