The First Jasmine - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Your Majesty, Your Concubine Has Been...

Ah!

Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing it with one’s own eyes was another entirely. Finally snapping out of their daze, the noble young ladies could no longer contain themselves and erupted into a chorus of piercing shrieks. Ye Li felt a helpless urge to rub her ears. Poor girls, you'll need to drink quite a few bowls of calming tea when you get home. Fortunately, although the couple inside had been thoroughly engrossed, the massive commotion of the door being crashed open and someone rushing in was impossible to ignore. In the blink of an eye after the door flew open, the person inside moved with remarkable speed, seizing the quilt to wrap both of them tightly within its folds. Though truth be told, it hardly mattered, Ye Li thought silently. There was still a translucent gauze screen standing in front of the window, partially obscuring the view.

But the maidservant who had barged in clearly had no intention of letting her master’s reputation survive. She instantly let out an even more shrill and agonizing scream: "Your Highness, what have you done to the Princess?!"

Did she even need to ask?

The maidservant's piercing cry instantly silenced the shrieking ladies outside. Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Which prince and which princess was it this time? They couldn't help but feel that the Prince of Li’s Manor must have completely neglected to consult the almanac before choosing their wedding dates!

"What happened here?" Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao finally arrived in a rush with a crowd in tow, her voice dropping into a stern demand as she beheld the people gathered at the door. At the very least, she had guessed that it was likely nothing good, so she hadn't brought many people along—only a few who were apparently too difficult to refuse. To Ye Li, however, it made little difference.

"Grand Imperial Concubine, here..." Ye Li hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "It might be best to let the young ladies leave to rest first."

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Ye Li, nodding. "The Princess Consort speaks wisely. Our apologies for startling you all, young ladies. Please go ahead to the courtyard for some tea and rest a while." The crowd naturally agreed in unison, and the sheltered young ladies practically flew on foot to flee the bizarre and suffocating atmosphere of the place. Ye Li followed behind the crowd, preparing to blend in and depart with the rest, but she was suddenly grabbed firmly by Ye Ying, who stood beside Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao. "Third Sister, can you stay? We... we don't know what has happened here either..." Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao nodded as well. "Indeed, it is good for the Princess Consort of Ding to remain. If anything happens, it will be good to have a witness. Let us step inside and inspect first."

Ye Li no longer knew what expression she ought to make. Forcing a dry smile, she said, "If that is the case... perhaps it is still better to invite the two inside to present themselves after they have finished tidying up."

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao’s countenance shifted slightly, and she barked toward the interior in a stern voice: "Presumptuous! Out with you this instant!"

A muffled sob echoed from within, followed by a flurry of panicked, hurried movements. Before long, a tall silhouette emerged from behind the screen, followed by the petite figure of a woman.

"Li'er, why are you here?!" Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao demanded sharply. The tall man stood with disheveled robes and a visage as black as iron. Who else could it be but Mo Jing Li, who was supposed to be hosting guests in the front courtyard?

"Your Highness!" Ye Ying shrieked, pointing at the two who had emerged, her delicate frame swaying as if about to collapse. The crowd shifted their gazes from Mo Jing Li to the woman behind him. The woman was in the exact same state of disarray, her silky black hair tangled and wild. Tears still pooled in her seductive eyes, and a scattering of ambiguous light-red marks extended from her neck down beneath her collar. "Princess Qixia..." The Madame of Southern Marquis, standing beside the Grand Imperial Concubine, spoke with a trembling voice. Although the Emperor had not yet officially inducted Princess Qixia into the imperial harem, how could noble families with their own channels of information not know that the palace was already preparing for her consort-induction ceremony? Even the Ministry of Rites had already drafted her formal title.

Casting a glance at the Princess Consort of Ding, who was currently supporting Ye Ying, the Madame of Southern Marquis instantly made up her mind and said, "Grand Imperial Concubine, Princess Consort of Ding, this place is truly somewhat inconvenient. Let us head outside before speaking further." Ye Li nodded. "The Madame speaks correctly. Grand Imperial Concubine, whatever the matter may be, let us discuss it outside." Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao swept an ugly glare over Mo Jing Li and Princess Qixia, nodding. "The Princess Consort of Ding is right. Let us head out first. You two tidy yourselves up and come out immediately!"

By the time they returned to the main hall, the other female guests had already been sent by the Grand Imperial Concubine’s orders to rest in separate courtyards. For the time being, Ye Li and the others naturally could not leave. Seeing the rigid, unsightly complexions of the Madame of Southern Marquis and the other ladies who had accompanied the Grand Imperial Concubine, Ye Li felt a sense of balance restored to her heart. In any case, none of this had anything to do with her; she was merely watching a play.

Ye Ying sat beside Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao, weeping and wailing continuously, which added an extra layer of chilling depression to the already heavy and stagnant atmosphere of the flower hall. Annoyed by her constant crying, Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao swept a cold glance over her and snapped, "Shut your mouth! You know nothing but how to cry!" Ye Ying, however, did not care that the Grand Imperial Concubine was furious; the sudden blow of this event was what devastated her most. What could cause a woman to collapse more than seeing her beloved, her own husband, rolling in bed with another woman on the very day he was marrying his secondary consort? "The Prince is the one who did such a thing, so why is the Grand Imperial Concubine scolding me? It wasn't my fault..."

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao said with irritation, "Hold your tongue and sit to the side!"

With an incident of this magnitude, it was impossible for Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao to hide it even if she wished to. Furthermore, there were simply too many people present today. Just looking at the expressions of the female guests on their way back, she knew most of them had already guessed exactly what had transpired. Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao was not about to plug her own ears while stealing a bell. She immediately sent people to the front courtyard to invite a few royal clan elders close to the Prince of Li's Manor, while simultaneously dispatching a rider on a swift horse to report to the Empress Dowager, who had not yet departed the palace to oversee her son's wedding.

By the time the clan elders arrived from the front courtyard, Mo Jing Li and Princess Qixia had finished tidying up and walked out one after the other. The moment Ye Ying saw Princess Qixia—who, despite having carefully washed and combed her hair, still bore a gaze brimming with affection and a face full of the bashful flush that follows an intimate encounter—she wished nothing more than to rush over and tear her to pieces. "You slut!" Princess Qixia shrieked in fright at Ye Ying charging toward her, taking a panicked step back and falling straight into Mo Jing Li's arms. Ye Ying's eyes turned red with fury at the sight. "You adulterous pair... You slut, I'll kill you..." The crowd hurriedly held Ye Ying back, offering words of comfort and pacification. The chaotic mess caused the elders who had just entered the room to knit their brows.

 

Turning her head, Ye Li caught sight of Mo Xiu Yao walking in. She offered a shallow smile and paid no more heed to the chaos beside them, stepping forward unhurriedly to meet him. "Why did you come?"

Mo Xiu Yao raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao, whose face was black with rage as she sat in the seat of honor. Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao had invited several of Mo Jing Li’s uncles and imperial brothers, and among them, the Prince of Ding, who held the highest noble rank, certainly could not be omitted. Besides, with the Princess Consort of Ding already present, adding the Prince of Ding made no difference.

"Jing Li! What on earth is this nonsense?!" An old prince with a snow-white beard and a formidable aura was so enraged that his whiskers practically bristled. Snorting, he pointed at the weeping and raging Ye Ying. "Is this the Princess Consort you insisted on marrying even at the cost of your own life? And this... today is your wedding! You invited so many guests, and now you pull a stunt like this? You have utterly disgraced the faces of your late Imperial Father and Imperial Brother!"

Mo Jing Li’s face was dark as iron. His lips twitched, but in the end, he failed to utter a word. This old prince was a surviving elder brother of the late Emperor, and the sole remaining uncle to Mo Jing Qi and his brother. Naturally, his accumulated authority was immense, and even Mo Jing Li did not dare to easily defy this uncle. Another prince, a few years younger, pulled the furious old prince back, saying, "Second Brother, appease your anger. Let us sit down first and hear what Jing Li has to say. Don't frighten the children." This one was clearly of a much milder temperament, though his gaze toward Mo Jing Li was equally filled with displeasure. The remaining two were Mo Jing Li's older brothers. In the early years, their relationship with Mo Jing Qi and Mo Jing Li had naturally been less than stellar due to the struggle for the throne. Hearing their uncles' words, they indifferently found places to sit down, treating it entirely as watching a play.

"Why is Ah Li here?" Mo Xiu Yao asked softly.

Ye Li looked at him helplessly. "I just happened to run into it."

Mo Xiu Yao offered a faint smile. Without asking further, he pulled Ye Li down to sit beside him.

Everyone in the hall, with the exception of Ye Ying, who wept continuously, and Mo Xiu Yao, who sat composed with his face partially concealed, was probably experiencing immense embarrassment. After all, the matter they had to discuss was rather unconventional, and what made it even more extraordinary were the individuals involved. One was the biological younger brother of the reigning Emperor, and the other was a woman the Emperor had personally designated as his future imperial concubine. It was true that the royal family had seen all manner of hidden filth and depravity, but at the very least, everyone knew to find a piece of cloth to cover their shame. To have something like today occur in broad daylight, spreading to almost every noble lady in the capital within moments, was truly rare.

"Shut up! What are you crying for?!" The old prince was also thoroughly vexed by the endless, ghost-like weeping. He slammed his palm onto the table and barked a fierce reprimand.

Startled, Ye Ying’s crying instantly ceased. Her face covered in tears, she stared blankly at the old prince, not daring to speak. The old prince gave a soft snort before turning to Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao. "Grand Imperial Concubine, what exactly happened here? With an incident like this, how... how are we to give an account to the Emperor?" The old prince knew full well why Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao had invited them over. The Emperor would undoubtedly fly into a towering rage upon hearing of this. Committing adultery with the Emperor's designated concubine was an offense for which executing Mo Jing Li would be considered a light punishment. But... Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao certainly did not want the Prince of Li to die, the Empress Dowager certainly did not want it either, and the Emperor... likely did not want it either. Furthermore, the Emperor probably had no wish to offend Nanzhao at this juncture. Therefore, they had to plead for the Prince of Li, providing the Emperor with a graceful way out!

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao let out a sigh and said, "This Consort does not know what occurred either. I merely heard that something went wrong over here and rushed over, only to behold..."

Ye Ying snorted, her voice shrill as she injected, "What else could it be? It was this slut who seduced the Prince..."

"Ye Ying!" Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao knit her brows, staring at Ye Ying with severe intensity. "Mind your own status! Do not act like one of those uneducated, vulgar shrews! If you do not wish to remain here, return to your own room." Ye Ying bit her lip, turning her head away and falling silent. The old prince frowned and looked toward Mo Jing Li, who stood in the center of the hall, demanding, "Jing Li, at this hour you ought to be in the front courtyard hosting the guests. Why did you appear in the resting quarters of the female guests? Have you forgotten even basic etiquette after getting married?" Mo Jing Li had always possessed a cold and proud disposition; he had likely never encountered a situation that brought him such intense humiliation in his entire life. Moreover, it was happening right before Mo Xiu Yao, his lifelong rival, and Ye Li, whom he believed he had discarded. This realization made the humiliation even harder to bear, and his entire face was written with a tempest of rage. "Someone passed a message inviting this Prince here."

"And so? After coming over, you proceeded to frolic in bed with the Emperor's concubine?" The young prince sitting to one side sneered, the mockery in his eyes plain to see. Ye Li had seen all of these princes once before; the speaker was Prince Yi, Mo Jing Yi, Mo Xiu Yao's half-brother by a different mother. Mo Jing Li threw a dark, chilling glare at him. Mo Jing Yi did not mind in the slightest, letting out a cold chuckle before lifting his head to inspect the ceiling.

"Who passed the message? Whom did you come to meet? The resting quarters of the female guests are not a place you may enter or leave at will, even as a prince. Do you not know this rule?" The royal uncle on the side also pressed with a frown; no one’s mood was particularly pleasant. To attend a wedding only to run into such a farce—if it had been an ordinary noble lady, it wouldn't have mattered much; at worst, Mo Jing Li could have just taken her in. But it had to be a princess, and a princess already designated to be an imperial consort at that. Having been dragged into this by Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao, they had no choice but to wade through this muddy water. By this time, the gazes the crowd cast toward Princess Qixia were no different than those reserved for a wanton harlot. Princess Qixia knew exactly what their expressions meant and shook her head hurriedly. "No... it wasn't me. I never sent any message to the Prince."

The old prince gave a soft snort, stroking his white beard as he looked askance at Princess Qixia. "No? Then how did the Prince of Li happen to end up in the Princess's room? At that hour, the female guests were either gathering to sip tea and converse, or the young ladies were amusing themselves in the garden. Why did the Princess also happen to be in her room? More importantly... Princess Zhaoyang does not seem to have attended the wedding banquet, so why is the Princess here?" The old prince threw out one question after another, appearing somewhat aggressive. But with everyone currently in a foul mood, they clearly had no leisure to sympathize with this foreign princess. Princess Qixia shook her head in a panic, entirely stripped of the arrogant and overbearing demeanor she had displayed in the past. Looking in terror at the expressionless crowd in the flower hall, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed in a certain direction. "It's her! It must be her who framed the Prince and me!"

Finding herself shot while merely lying down, Ye Li felt that her previous suspicion was correct—the brains of these foreign princesses truly had issues.

"Lower your hand. Otherwise, this Prince does not mind ensuring you never have to use that hand again in this lifetime." Mo Xiu Yao looked at the agitated Princess Qixia with calm eyes, speaking in a detached tone. Princess Qixia could not help but shudder, unconsciously leaning closer to Mo Jing Li, utterly blind to the flash of deep resentment in Ye Ying's eyes.

"In Great Chu, she is the only one I have a grudge against," Princess Qixia said, biting her lip. "And the Prince of Li—the Prince of Li has a grudge against her as well. This is something everyone knows." Princess Qixia was not genuinely stupid; she understood very well that if she were deemed to have actively seduced and plotted against the Prince of Li, given her status as a future imperial consort, Great Chu would execute her, and Nanzhao would not lift a finger to defend her. Therefore, she had to clear herself of any responsibility. However, she truly could not figure out who wanted to harm her at the moment, and among those present, only Ye Li held a grudge against her. Thus, shifting the blame onto Ye Li was her best option.

"The Princess Consort of Ding?" The crowd blanked.

Ye Li let out a helpless sigh, speaking in a soft voice: "Princess, the Prince and I only arrived at the Prince of Li’s Manor around the third quarter of the Wei hour (1:45 PM). Afterward, we went to pay our respects to the Grand Imperial Concubine and the various ladies. It was approximately the start of the Shen hour (3:00 PM) when my Fourth Sister and I left together. We chatted casually in the garden for less than fifteen minutes before meeting up with the three young ladies from the Hua manor, the Qin manor, and General Murong’s manor. From then on, we remained in the garden chatting. There were many young ladies in the garden who can testify to this. Furthermore, when we discovered the two of you... well, it was not yet the second quarter of the Shen hour (3:25 PM). In other words, less than an hour passed from my arrival at the Prince of Li's Manor to the occurrence of the incident. In reality, the only time that could arouse suspicion is the period I spent with my Fourth Sister—from the start of the Shen hour to the first quarter of the Shen hour (3:00 PM - 3:15 PM). Princess Qixia does not seem to have received an invitation, yet she arrived at the manor before the Prince and me. May I ask how the Princess believes this Consort could have discovered your presence and exact location within the Prince of Li's Manor in a mere fifteen minutes, and then sent a message to draw the Prince of Li here? Hmm?"

With this explanation, Ye Li not only accounted clearly for her own movements but also completely dissolved any suspicion of conspiring with Ye Ying.

"Haha, the Princess Consort missed one point... we must also deduct the time Prince Li and the Princess spent... hm-hn... so, the Princess Consort of Ding didn't even have those fifteen minutes." Mo Jing Yi chuckled, fanning himself.

With that said, the gazes the crowd directed toward Princess Qixia grew even more hostile. To have committed such a shameless act and then turn around to make a false accusation against the Princess Consort of Ding.

Princess Qixia choked. She hadn't truly expected to convict Ye Li with just that; she had only hoped to buy some time to catch her breath. She hadn't anticipated that Ye Li would dismantle her lie so calmly and thoroughly on the spot. At a loss for what to do, Princess Qixia could only break into bitter wailing. "Waaah... it really has nothing to do with me..."

"Enough!" Mo Jing Li, who had remained silent all this time, stared at Ye Li for a long while before suddenly speaking in a low voice: "There is no need to press her further. This Prince will take responsibility."

Bang! The old prince slammed the table in fury, his face turning green and white as he glared at Mo Jing Li. His finger trembled continuously as he pointed at him. "You bastard! You'll take responsibility? What responsibility can you take? What do you think you're doing, acting like a real man who dares to face the consequences?" Mo Jing Yi stepped forward with a grin to support the old prince, saying smoothly, "Imperial Uncle, appease your anger. The Prince of Li has likely forgotten for a moment that Princess Qixia is the Xia Consort-to-be personally chosen by our Imperial Brother—making her our imperial sister-in-law. Appease your anger, appease your anger..." Had he said nothing, the old prince might not have been so enraged. Hearing this, the old prince’s fury instantly soared to a brand-new height. "You bastard! Have you fed all your sense of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame to the dogs?! Forget it... this Prince washes his hands of this matter; I cannot manage it anyway. Do as you all please!" In a fit of rage, the old prince threw up his hands.

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao hurriedly pacified him: "Prince, appease your anger. Jing Li is ignorant to have uttered such absurd words. As his uncle, please do not hold it against him. The Emperor... regarding the Emperor's side..."

The old prince glanced at her, giving a soft snort. "Ignorant? He is indeed ignorant. It is all because of your pampering. Look at the things he has done this year—which one of them could a normal person do? This Prince sees that sooner or later, he will poke a hole right through the sky." From the moment Mo Jing Li insisted on annulling his engagement, the old prince had been highly dissatisfied with this nephew. The marriage had been bestowed by the late Emperor while he was alive, and the lady was the maternal granddaughter of the Xu family. As long as Miss Ye had committed no major fault, you should have endured it even if you were dissatisfied. Looking at it now, this Third Miss Ye was perfectly fine, while the Fourth Miss Ye he had fought tooth and nail to marry was the one who couldn't rise to the occasion.

Hiding the displeasure in her eyes, Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao could only do her best to offer smiles to the old prince. They still needed these elders to speak for them before the Emperor. If Mo Jing Li were to face the Emperor like this, the imperial wrath would likely strip a layer of skin off him even if it didn't kill him.

Finally, once the old prince's anger had subsided a fraction, he continued his questioning: "Where is the person who passed the message? Surely you haven't forgotten what they looked like? And furthermore, who exactly brought Princess Qixia inside?" Rumors regarding the Prince of Li and Princess Qixia had already been circulating in the capital days ago. Princess Zhaoyang was a strict observer of etiquette, and after the Emperor issued his decree, she had constantly restricted Princess Qixia from leaving the estate. Princess Zhaoyang hadn't even attended Mo Jing Li’s wedding this time, so how had Princess Qixia managed to come?

"I... I..." Princess Qixia said aggrievedly, "When I arrived, the people at the gate did not stop me." She had arrived early, and having visited the Prince of Li’s Manor many times in the past, many servants recognized her. Thus, even though she lacked an invitation, the manor's staff had not barred her entrance.

 

The head steward of the Prince of Li’s Manor entered to report that they had discovered certain aphrodisiac incense used to heighten pleasure inside the room. The room full of people was left speechless. Princess Qixia had run to the Prince of Li’s Manor on her own, yet the servants had failed to report it, leaving the masters completely oblivious. Meanwhile, Mo Jing Li, entirely unaware of what was happening, had completely ignored the segregation of the sexes upon hearing a message and entered the resting area of the female guests. And then...

This isn't a coincidence; it's pure drama, Ye Li thought silently. It appeared that this time, the beauty the Emperor had yet to lay his hands on was destined to fly away.

"Fine, we shall wait until the Empress Dowager arrives to make a decision. Also, quickly send someone to notify Princess Zhaoyang to take Princess Qixia back!" the old prince said with irritation. Turning his head to look at Mo Xiu Yao, he added, "Xiu Yao, what do you think?" Mo Xiu Yao’s smile was gentle and courteous. "The Prince is our elder; everything shall be as you decide." The others also hurriedly expressed that they would follow the old prince's lead.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager indeed cared immensely for her younger son. Princess Zhaoyang had not yet arrived, but the Empress Dowager had already made her entrance. Of course, this was also because the Prince of Li’s Manor was the closest princely manor to the imperial palace. Dressed in a brilliant yellow phoenix robe, the Empress Dowager strode in furiously, demanding, "Before Our carriage could even leave the palace, people were sent to report that something went wrong. On a perfectly auspicious day of great joy, what on earth happened? Was the face lost during the last wedding not enough?!"

To one side, Ye Ying’s face turned pale. Regrettably, she did not dare to clash directly with the Empress Dowager's sharp edge, and could only hide to one side without making a sound.

The crowd rose to pay their respects. Once the Empress Dowager sat down, she listened to the old prince and Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao recount the sequence of events. Before the two could even finish, the Empress Dowager flew into a towering rage, giving Mo Jing Li a severe and furious tongue-lashing. Since it was a mother scolding her son, the others naturally didn't dare to interject and could only listen. The few noble wives who were entirely unrelated wished nothing more than to plug their ears, swearing silently in their hearts that they would never set foot in the Prince of Li’s Manor again in the future.

By the time the Empress Dowager finally spent her anger, Mo Jing Li and Princess Qixia were already kneeling on the ground, begging for her forgiveness. The Empress Dowager stared at Mo Jing Li for a long while, her expression finally softening a fraction. Letting out a long sigh, she addressed the old prince: "Royal Brother, what do you think should be done about this matter?" The old prince stroked his beard and said, "Since the Empress Dowager has graced us with her presence, this matter naturally falls to you to handle." The Empress Dowager sighed with a touch of sorrow. "This matter... truly damages the Emperor's honor. Even if We personally step forward to plead for leniency, We fear it will be difficult to extinguish the fury in his heart." The old prince understood perfectly what the Empress Dowager meant. "To speak of it, for Jing Li to commit such an absurd act is also due to a lack of discipline from us uncles. My royal brother and I will personally enter the palace shortly to plead for Jing Li, hoping the Emperor will grant us this face."

The Empress Dowager smiled gratefully. "Royal Brother is the uncle the Emperor respects most; he will certainly not deny you this face. Li'er, quickly thank your uncle."

Mo Jing Li said in a deep voice: "Jing Li thanks Uncle, and thanks Royal Uncle."

The old prince gave a soft snort, ignoring him. Having secured the old prince's promise, the Empress Dowager was naturally very satisfied. Although the old prince no longer meddled in court affairs, his prestige among the imperial relatives was immense. As long as he was willing to plead, the majority of the princes would grant him face, and the Emperor would find it difficult to impose a severe punishment even if he were furious. Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao was equally satisfied. Looking at Mo Jing Li and Princess Qixia, she asked softly, "Empress Dowager Sister, regarding Princess Qixia, what do you think..."

The Empress Dowager knit her brows. "We shall return to discuss it with the Emperor, and find a way to let her enter the manor in a few days." The Empress Dowager did not hide these words from the noble wives present. Princess Qixia’s identity was unique; unless she were hidden away from the world for the rest of her life, this matter would eventually get out. Now that she had spoken openly, those present were all intelligent people and naturally knew what should and shouldn't be said.

"I do not agree!"

"I do not agree either!" Two female voices rang out, one from inside the hall and one from outside, causing everyone to blank once more. The one inside was naturally Ye Ying, whose face was deathly pale as she swayed on the verge of collapse. Outside, Princess Ling Yun stood dressed in wedding robes as crimson as fire. Her red bridal veil was flipped upward but had not been pulled off, and her almond eyes were flashing with absolute fury. Standing at the entrance with her chin held high, she glared at the crowd in the flower hall and said, "This Princess does not agree! Your Eastern Chu can forget about humiliating this Princess in this manner!" Beside Princess Ling Yun, Lei Tengfeng swept a dark, cold gaze over the listening crowd, his voice dropping into a chill: "Empress Dowager, is Eastern Chu's behavior not a bit too excessive?"

Before one wave could settle, another arose.

Before anyone could speak, Princess Ling Yun strode into the hall, marching straight to Mo Jing Li and Princess Qixia. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she delivered a swift, harsh slap across Princess Qixia’s face. "Slut!" Half of Princess Qixia’s face instantly flushed crimson, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of her lips. Seemingly unsatisfied, Princess Ling Yun raised her hand to strike again, but her wrist was caught firmly by Mo Jing Li. "Have you not thrown enough of a tantrum?"

Princess Ling Yun let out a disdainful sneer, flinging Mo Jing Li’s hand away. "No matter how much of a tantrum this Princess throws, I have never shamelessly seduced a groom at someone else’s wedding banquet. For a creature like this to actually be the princess of a nation is truly a disgrace to all princesses! I heard you used to cling to the Prince of Li in the past? Whom you loved to hook up with back then was none of this Princess's business, but doing such a thing at my wedding is an outright provocation against me!"

The Empress Dowager knit her brows, speaking in a heavy voice: "Princess Ling Yun, the Prince of Li and Princess Qixia were also innocently framed in this matter. If you have any dissatisfaction, We shall have the Prince of Li offer you a formal apology afterward. Do not throw a tantrum now in front of so many princes and ladies." Princess Ling Yun let out a cold laugh, reaching up to yank the red veil off her head and hurl it to the floor. "An apology? This Princess cannot afford it! I am no longer marrying! You all can do as you please. In any case, if she is here, I am not; if I am here, she is not!" Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao asked, "Then what does the Princess want?" Princess Ling Yun said proudly, "Have the Prince of Li execute this slut with his own hands, and this Princess can act as though nothing happened."

"What?!" The crowd was greatly shocked. Mo Jing Li shielded Princess Qixia behind his back, staring at Princess Ling Yun. "You are insane. She is the Princess of Nanzhao."

"What of it? This Princess is the Princess of Xiling. Do you think I would fear a mere tiny country like Nanzhao?" Princess Ling Yun arched an eyebrow.

Lei Tengfeng looked coldly at the crowd. "It seems Ling Yun is correct; Eastern Chu indeed does not place my Great Ling in its eyes. Since that is the case, this Prince sees no necessity for today's wedding to proceed. Prince of Li, wouldn't you agree?" Mo Jing Li remained silent. Princess Ling Yun gave a cold snort. "Royal Brother, you see it now, don't you? They simply don't care about us at all."

Lei Tengfeng cast a detached glance at Princess Ling Yun before addressing the Empress Dowager: "Pack our belongings, we are returning. We shall enter the palace immediately to take our leave of the Eastern Chu Emperor, and we shall depart shortly after."

"Yes." Princess Ling Yun shot a disdainful look at Princess Qixia and Mo Jing Li, her eyes entirely devoid of the humiliation of a wedding aborted halfway through. Clearly, she was highly satisfied with this outcome.

"Heir Apparent, this matter can be discussed. This concerns the diplomatic relations between our two nations; please do not act on impulse." The old prince let out a sigh, rising to offer words of persuasion. Lei Tengfeng replied indifferently, "Thank you for your concern, Prince, but this matter is indeed too much on Eastern Chu's part. It is not my Xiling that is being discourteous first. I believe even before the Eastern Chu Emperor, we would not be the ones in the wrong. Prince of Ding, Princess Consort of Ding—may I ask the two of you to uphold justice? Would the two of you not agree?"

Ye Li secretly cursed Lei Tengfeng for his cunning in dragging them into this. Under the gaze of the crowd, she offered a somewhat reserved smile. "Heir Apparent, the Prince of Li and Princess Qixia are indeed at fault in this matter, but there are still many unanswered questions within it. More importantly, this event was entirely an accident, and our Eastern Chu's sincerity toward your esteemed nation is absolutely beyond doubt. Surely the Heir Apparent does not deny this?" You brought Princess Ling Yun over precisely for a marriage alliance; I don't believe for a second you'd actually take her back.

The old prince cast an appreciative glance at Ye Li, smiling as he said, "The Princess Consort of Ding speaks correctly. We will certainly do our utmost to compensate Princess Ling Yun for where the Prince of Li has wronged her. If our bilateral relations are affected because of this, it would be highly inappropriate. Please reconsider, Heir Apparent."

Seeing a look of contemplation appear on Lei Tengfeng’s face, Princess Ling Yun knit her brows, saying with some anxiety, "Royal Brother!"

Lei Tengfeng swept a detached glance over her before looking at the Empress Dowager. "Ling Yun is the princess my Imperial Uncle dotes on most; back home, no one could bear to let her suffer the slightest grievance. I wonder how Eastern Chu intends to compensate Ling Yun?" Princess Ling Yun shuddered slightly, a faint look of disappointment appearing on her face, but under Lei Tengfeng’s indifferent gaze, she did not dare to speak further.

The Empress Dowager asked in a heavy voice, "What compensation does the Heir Apparent desire?"

A light flashed in Lei Tengfeng's eyes, and he said clearly, "The future Heir of the Prince of Li must be borne of Ling Yun. Most importantly, Princess Qixia must never hold any rank, including that of a secondary consort or above, for the rest of her life. And she must never bear any offspring for the Prince of Li."