The First Jasmine - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: The Princess Consort of Ding's "Playground"

"Come quickly, someone! The Prince of Li has fallen into the water!"

Upon the Beauties Lake, where the music of string and wind instruments had just been drifting elegantly and joyfully, a shrill scream suddenly rang out. From their painted pleasure boats not far away, spectators watched in dumbfounded shock as a tall figure tumbled out of a spacious, magnificent vessel, plunged straight toward the lake's surface, and fell into the water with a loud splash. By the time everyone registered the meaning of that scream, they all received a massive fright—the Prince of Li had fallen into the water! The nearby painted pleasure boats began to gather one after another. Those who held a grudge against the Prince of Li found positions to watch the theater unfold, while those who shared a friendly acquaintance with him hurriedly commanded their servants to leap into the lake to rescue him.

Having caused such a massive commotion, the people outside the boat cabin naturally heard it all as well. Murong Ting and Leng Hao Yu were the first to rush inside. "Ah Li, Ah Li, are you alright?" Murong Ting pulled at Ye Li, sizing her up with a face full of tension. Only after confirming that Ye Li was entirely unharmed did she let out a sigh of relief, speaking in dissatisfaction, "What on earth is wrong with this Prince of Li? Ah Li, did he bully you?" Bearing a hint of panic as though she had been startled by the fright, Ye Li smiled gently and said, "I am fine... it was the Prince of Li. He... somehow tumbled into the lake."

"The Prince?!" Ye Ying and Princess Qixia were greatly alarmed, hurriedly throwing themselves toward the window to look out. Quite a few people had already gone down into the lake to rescue him, but Mo Jing Li's figure was still nowhere to be seen. Ye Ying said anxiously, "How could the Prince tumble into the lake? He... he does not know how to swim. Third Sister..." This time, Ye Ying actually didn't suspect Ye Li. After all, in Ye Ying's heart, Mo Jing Li was still a great man fully accomplished in both literary and martial arts; no matter what, it was impossible for him to be thrown into the water by Ye Li so silently. Ye Li didn't mind comforting her thoroughly frightened younger sister at a time like this, saying, "It is fine, so many people have gone down to rescue the Prince of Li. Surely nothing will happen." Bearing tears in her eyes, Ye Ying stared at the lake water without even blinking, completely lacking the mind to say anything more to Ye Li. On the other hand, Princess Qixia sized up the crowd within the boat cabin, turning around with the intention of walking outward. Ye Li spoke detachedly, "Young lady, where are you going?"

"This Prin—I am going to rescue the Prince, what does it have to do with you!" Princess Qixia naturally knew that Ye Li had recognized her. Recalling the extremely disheveled state in which Ye Li had witnessed her previously, Princess Qixia felt uncomfortable just looking at Ye Li, and she wished even less to stay within the same boat cabin as her. Ye Li pulled Ye Ying over, saying, "Fourth Sister, take this young lady back to your own boat. Since this young lady is someone of the Prince of Li's party, you, as the Princess Consort of Li, must take good care of the guest, lest something goes amiss."

"But..." Ye Ying hesitated; she loathed Princess Qixia. Furthermore, with the Prince of Li's life or death currently uncertain, how could she possess the mind to care about these things?

"Enough, do not forget your status," Ye Li spoke with furrowed brows. "The Prince of Li will be fine, do not throw yourself into a frenzy first."

Having persuaded Ye Ying to depart, Ye Li only then smiled toward the other three individuals, sitting down leisurely to watch the salvage work below. After another brief moment, the Prince of Li was finally rescued from beneath the water's surface. Upon the lake beneath the sunlight, one could clearly see that a large bruise had formed upon the forehead of Mo Jing Li's usually cold and severe face. Likely because he had stayed underwater for quite a long duration, his nose temporarily didn't show anything amiss. Amidst a frantic rush of hands and feet, the crowd delivered the man onto the Prince of Li's Manor's boat, which was moored not far away. The people watching the excitement also gradually gathered over there, leaving Ye Li's side considerably quiet and peaceful.

Leng Hao Yu looked with deep thought at Ye Li, who was leaning leisurely against the window, saying, "Is the Princess Consort not worried in the slightest?"

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "Worried about what? Young Master Leng may rest assured; the Prince of Li possesses great fortune and a grand destiny, so nothing will happen to him. Young Master Leng saw it just now as well—he is still alive, is he not?"

Supporting her chin, Murong Ting inquired curiously, "How did the Prince of Li tumble into the lake out of nowhere? It is true that during the peak season for boat rides every year, there are always one or two people who fall into the lake, but those are generally ignorant children or weak young mistresses. How could a man like the Prince of Li, who has practiced martial arts since childhood, fall into the lake?" Ye Li answered with a solemn face, "Just as a man may slip, a horse may stumble. The Prince of Li... likely rose up so suddenly that because the boat was unsteady, he pitched forward headfirst."

Was the boat ever unsteady? Murong Ting, who had been staying outside the entire time, wondered secretly in her heart. His lightness skills ought to be quite good, right?

"The Prince of Li dreads water; he likely forgot about it for a moment," Ye Li answered without changing her expression. "Lightness skills are not omnipotent, particularly when a certain leg suddenly turns numb. Unless he possesses someone's ability to fly up entirely without using legs. However... next time I want to fix Mo Jing Li, it likely won't be that easy." Ye Li pondered silently within her heart that she must definitely be careful when she met Mo Jing Li again in the future. Hua Tian Xiang was not interested in how Mo Jing Li fell down, speaking with some anxiety, "Li'er, for the Prince of Li to suffer an accident upon your boat, the Empress Dowager and the Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager's side..." Ye Li blinked her eyes innocently. "An occasional unsteadiness upon a boat is a frequent occurrence. Must I also be held responsible if the Prince of Li drank wine himself and failed to stand firmly? Well... it seems to be my fault for not closing the windows properly." Leng Hao Yu's gaze swept over the only two open windows within the boat cabin, speaking with a smile, "Although it is only early summer, the lake's surface is still somewhat hot. The Princess Consort forgetting to close the windows properly is surely something everyone can comprehend."

"Many thanks for Second Young Master Leng's understanding," Ye Li said with a smile.

Hua Tian Xiang shook her head and said, "Li'er, it is naturally nothing between us. But that Prince of Li has consistently been at odds with the Prince of Ding, and he also possesses a grudge against you. He can find trouble out of nothing, so you had still better be a bit careful." Ye Li smiled and said, "Thank you, Tian Xiang, I will pay attention." If Mo Jing Li truly had the face to inform everyone that he had been beaten by a woman, then she wouldn't mind having a thorough discussion with him either. Without considering everything thoroughly, she would not strike rashly. Recalling Mo Jing Li's miserable face just now, Ye Li suddenly felt that her fists were still a bit itchy, secretly regretting within her heart that she hadn't delivered a few more punches.

The Prince of Li’s Manor

Mo Jing Li was awakened by a burst of sobbing and weeping. Originally, his entire body felt unspeakably uncomfortable, and that rising and falling sound of crying caused his brain to feel as though it were about to explode. "Shut... shut up!"

"Prince, you are finally awake..." Ye Ying threw herself over in pleasant surprise. To one side, Princess Qixia also hurriedly squeezed over. "Brother Jing Li, how are you? Is there any place where you feel uncomfortable?"

Mo Jing Li closed his eyes, finally recalling what had happened to him. A breath of air blocked within his chest failed to release, triggering another earth-shattering bout of coughing. Ye Ying hurriedly supported Mo Jing Li to help soothe his breathing. "Prince, are you a bit better?" Gazing at Ye Ying's tear-streaked, delicate face, and then recalling that cold, unruffled face of a certain detestable woman, Mo Jing Li felt a wave of irritation. "Stop crying, this Prince isn't dead yet. Where is Ye Li?" Princess Qixia let out a light snort and said, "Brother Jing Li, what are you saying? Ye Li naturally returned to her Prince of Ding’s Manor long ago. You suffered an accident upon her boat, yet she didn't even come to take a single look. Truly lacking in manners!" Ye Ying glared at Princess Qixia. "Third Sister is far more well-mannered than certain people no matter what. Men and women are distinct; with the Prince upon a sickbed, how could Third Sister come to visit?" Ye Ying was not foolish either; Princess Qixia's entry into the Prince of Li’s Manor was something even her own father could not block. Although Ye Li had been at odds with her since childhood, she also held a feud with Princess Qixia; compared to Princess Qixia, Ye Li was definitely standing on her side as her sister. Recalling how Ye Li had reminded her today to watch Princess Qixia and not let her run around wildly, and how even the Imperial Concubine Dowager—who had consistently picked on her for every little thing—had exceptionally praised her with a couple of sentences upon their return, Ye Ying felt that sometimes listening to this Third Sister's words wasn't wrong either. After all, no matter how powerful and clever Second Sister was, she was inside the palace and could not help her. Grandmother was right; after they sisters married out, they ought to support one another.

"You!" Princess Qixia was greatly enraged. That incident was destined to prevent her from ever raising her head among the noble ladies of the capital again, and she would even lose her status as the Princess of Nanzhao. Although she could cast all this aside to return to Nanzhao—where even if she weren't Princess Qixia, she would still remain a high-and-mighty Princess of Nanzhao—she truly loved Brother Jing Li. Even without the status of a princess, she wished to remain together with Brother Jing Li forever. "Brother Jing Li, look at her..."

"Enough! Qixia, Ying'er, you two head out first. This Prince is tired!" Mo Jing Li stated impatiently. Although the two women were usually no easy targets, they were still completely submissive to Mo Jing Li's words. Seeing his face darken, they could only silently rise, turning around to depart with faces full of reluctance.

"Li'er." The room had only been quiet for a brief moment when the Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager walked inside. Mo Jing Li hurriedly wished to rise, but the Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager pressed down upon his shoulder a step ahead, sitting down by the bedside with furrowed brows as she said, "How could you be so careless?" Mo Jing Li spoke in a deep voice, "This child has caused Mother Consort to worry." The Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager still stared at him without letting go, inquiring, "How did you fall into the water out of nowhere? And it was even upon the Prince of Ding’s Manor's boat. How many times has Mother Consort told you not to go and provoke that Ye Li again? Tell Mother Consort, was your falling into the lake caused by Ye Li?"

Mo Jing Li's face turned black. Only after a moment of silence did he say, "It was I who fell down carelessly."

"Carelessly? What time is it now, yet you are still careless?" The Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager reprimanded in dissatisfaction. "Mother Consort won't ask you exactly what happened this time. But... from now on, stay far away from the people of the Prince of Ding’s Manor. You are also not permitted to provoke the Prince of Ding, understood?" Mo Jing Li raised an eyebrow in disdain, saying, "Mother Consort, you and the Empress Dowager overrate Mo Xiu Yao a bit too much." Gazing at his disdainful expression, the Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager let out a light sigh and said, "You have fought with the Prince of Ding since childhood; Mother Consort knows you do not hold him in your regard. But you must remember clearly: you can treat Mo Xiu Yao as nothing, but you absolutely cannot treat the Prince of Ding’s Manor as nothing. We can currently neither win over nor offend the Prince of Ding’s Manor and the Xu family. Therefore, Mother Consort will not question today's matter. Even if you truly suffered a loss, you must swallow it down for me!"

Mo Jing Li fell silent for a brief moment, before speaking in a deep voice: "This child has caused Mother Consort to worry. This child understands."

The Virtuous Imperial Concubine Dowager nodded, looking at Mo Jing Li as she spoke gently: "Mother Consort knows you are a good child. Sometimes, one cannot do everything based on one's own preferences. When you obtain everything, won't whatever you wish to do depend entirely on your own mind? Before that, you must definitely endure."

"Many thanks for Mother Consort's teachings; this child understands," Mo Jing Li nodded respectfully.

 

The clothing that Ye Li had spent quite some time making was presented to Mo Xiu Yao as a gift on the day of his birthday. Of course, given her rather unbeautiful impression of Beauties Lake and the reason that Mo Xiu Yao might have obtained another heart's desire, Ye Li did not accept Hua Tian Xiang's suggestion regarding inviting Mo Xiu Yao to view the lake. Though she was relatively curious as to where on earth his intended one had come from, considering he stayed indoors even more than she did throughout the four seasons. Since he possessed an intended one, why did he marry her, or did he only possess this intended one after marrying her? Whichever thought it was caused her mood to be exceptionally displeased. Because she also didn't know which was considered more unfortunate: being married in to be used as a shield, or having her husband stray less than a month after the wedding. Consequently, the servants of the entire Prince of Ding’s Manor could not comprehend why the relationship between their Prince and Princess Consort appeared to have slowly returned to the state of those first few days after the wedding. It ought to be said that the Princess Consort was unilaterally distancing herself from the Prince. Could it be that they had quarreled? Yet watching the two still get along with calm and peaceful minds, it didn't resemble the appearance of a quarrel either.

Mo Xiu Yao naturally also knew that Ye Li was distancing herself from him without leaving a trace. It shouldn't be called distancing, but rather that she was trace-lessly causing their relationship to retreat to the very initial state. But clearly, it wasn't too successful. Because not only had Mo Xiu Yao discovered it, but even the senior maid beside Ye Li and Nanny Sun, who was usually quite busy, had discovered it as well. However, Mo Xiu Yao hadn't managed to think through exactly why for the time being. It seemed... to have begun from that afternoon when Yang Qian Ru came to deliver the birthday gift. While alone in the study, Mo Xiu Yao pondered silently. He didn't believe Ye Li was angry because of Yang Qian Ru's matter; not only were they both entirely clear that Yang Qian Ru was fundamentally nothing at all, but given Ye Li's disposition, she wouldn't throw a tantrum because of such a woman either. Then... it was because of their conversation? Holding the book, Mo Xiu Yao failed to register it into his eyes, instead recalling silently every single line of dialogue from that day...

While Mo Xiu Yao was lost in thought within the study, Ye Li had already departed the manor having changed into a suit of male attire, bringing Qing Luan and Qing Shuang along. Her status as the Princess Consort of Ding predestined that she would attract attention wherever she walked, so Ye Li could not escape the conventional practice of learning disguised alteration either. Fortunately, Ye Li's disguise skills were still very up to standard. Of course, it wasn't the kind that fashioned human skin masks or the like; she merely applied minor modifications to her skin tone, eyebrows, and so forth, alongside handling detail issues such as the Adam's apple and ear piercings. A clear and handsome youth with a slightly dull skin tone was thus produced. Coupled with Ye Li's aura, which was distinct from the fragile disposition of the women of this era, unless it was someone familiar with her, it was very difficult to recognize her without a careful look. Thus, amidst the surprised expressions of Qing Luan and Qing Xia, Ye Li satisfactorily left the two within the Hidden Treasure Pavilion to calculate accounts, swaggering out of the door while shaking a folding fan she had casually picked up.

The two secret guards following Ye Li secretly broke into a cold sweat for their own Prince in the dark. What kind of Princess Consort did the Prince marry exactly? If they hadn't been staring without the slightest deviation at the room the Princess Consort had entered, and then witnessed that clear and handsome youth walk out from within, prompting them to appear and take a look inside for the sake of caution, they would have almost lost track of the Princess Consort. They were the most senior secret guards of the Prince of Ding’s Manor; if they lost track of the Princess Consort, how could they still possess the face to stay within the secret guards? They would directly return to the military camp to be remolded and drilled. Yet... looking at the elegant gentleman strolling leisurely ahead, Third Brother, does he resemble a woman?

Completely unrecognizable, Fourth Brother.

Ever since she could practice martial arts openly and without restraint, Ye Li felt as though she increasingly disliked her past manner of life. What was feigned remained feigned after all; within her very bones, she had never possessed the disposition of a sheltered young mistress, though she absolutely couldn't be counted as lively and active either. However, entertainment and leisure that satisfied normal human preferences were still required. Regarding Mo Xiu Yao's question, after contemplating for two or three days, it was thrown to the back of her mind by her. If Mo Xiu Yao truly possessed a heart's desire and resolved to part ways with her peacefully, she wasn't incapable of accepting it either. At any rate, she possessed money, and she believed Mo Xiu Yao wouldn't be stingy regarding the issue of alimony either. But in this manner, the matter regarding cultivating affection and bearing children in the future must be shelved first. She didn't possess the hobby of bearing children with someone while knowing perfectly well that the counterpart's heart belonged elsewhere. Therefore, Ye Li, who considered that there was no further need to cultivate affection, possessed even more leisure time and resolved to head out to walk around more. A married woman didn't need to be locked up at home every day.

"Third Brother, where is the Princess Consort going?" within the dark, Secret Guard Fourth, who followed silently, inquired in a low voice.

"How would I know? The Princess Consort appears to wish to head out of the city," Secret Guard Third answered.

"The Prince and Princess Consort appear to be having a falling out; the Princess Consort wouldn't be planning to run away from home, right?" Secret Guard Fourth suddenly recalled that when changing shifts yesterday, First and Second seemed to have mentioned that the relationship between the Prince and Princess Consort had been a bit strange these past few days.

"This... probably not?" Secret Guard Third hesitated. "How about I follow the Princess Consort, and you go back to report to the Prince to see?"

"In case the Princess Consort truly runs away from home, can you block her? What if we lose track of her?" Although they hadn't personally tested exactly how high the Princess Consort's martial arts value was, it was absolutely distinct from those superficial showy moves.

"This... we have already lost track!" Secret Guard Third cried out that things had gone bad. They had just exited the city; how did the Princess Consort disappear out of nowhere? Could it be that they had been too invested in speaking just now?

"What nonsense, hurry up and search!" The two secret guards emerged from the dark, looking around in all directions for the Princess Consort's whereabouts. Although they hadn't dared to follow too closely just now, they hadn't stayed too far away either. Within just this brief moment, it was impossible for the Princess Consort to have walked too far.

Ye Li sat upon a tree trunk, watching the two secret guards muttering down below. Their ability to conceal their tracks is decent, it's just that their personalities are a bit scatterbrained. "I say... do you two never look upward?" The two passing secret guards gazed with embarrassed faces at the clear and handsome youth leaning and sitting upon the tree. That was because a Princess Consort capable of climbing trees had never appeared within the Prince of Ding’s Manor. Furthermore, they had circled beneath the tree for a long time without hearing even a sliver of breath. "Prin... Princess Consort..." The two secret guards wept silently within their hearts, having already resolved to report to the commander the moment they returned today. They were unworthy of being secret guards; they must retrain themselves.

Ye Li leaped lightly down from the tree, landing before the two. "It has been hard on you."

"Your subordinates dare not."

"I have no plans to run away from home." Ye Li looked with a smile at the two secret guards whose faces were full of tension. Secret Guard Third quietly let out a breath of relief, inquiring cautiously, "Then... Princess Consort, what are you exiting the city for?"

"I merely wished to see how long you could follow me." Ye Li smiled, nodding in praise, "Generally speaking, it is still decent. However, if you could control your eyes a bit, it would likely be even better. Less than a mile after exiting the Hidden Treasure Pavilion, your gazes made it impossible for me to even pretend I didn't know."

"Many thanks for the Princess Consort's teachings." Discovered less than a mile out; is this counted as praise?

Ye Li looked with a joyful mood at the faces full of dejection on the secret guards before her, saying, "You may follow me, but... you shouldn't tell anyone else about what I do every day, right?" The two secret guards were overjoyed. "Many thanks, Princess Consort. Ever since the first day of the Prince and Princess Consort's grand wedding, we two and another two have been the secret guards exclusive to the Princess Consort. Unless the Princess Consort encounters a life-threatening danger, otherwise we will not disclose any matter of the Princess Consort to anyone. Including the Prince," Secret Guard Fourth explained. Ye Li nodded. Mo Xiu Yao had spoken to her regarding the issue of the Prince of Ding’s Manor's secret guards, and these past days she had also confirmed that these people indeed hadn't told Mo Xiu Yao anything regarding her. However, it wouldn't matter even if they did, because what she would allow them to see were naturally all matters not counted as secrets.

"Just right, this gentleman requires a few laborers; you come with me."

Secret Guard Third and Fourth exchanged glances. Had they mentioned that they were secret guards?

Secret Guard Third and Fourth's perception of the title 'Princess Consort of Ding' finally transcended the word 'woman' on this day. The Princess Consort could ride a horse? That was nothing. Most women of Xiling and Beirong could ride horses. The Princess Consort possessed martial arts? That was also nothing; they had known it in the manor long ago. But who could tell them why the Princess Consort would bring two people to bravely charge into a bandit stronghold? Well, there were no bandits here now. As early as the night the Princess Consort was abducted, Feng Third Young Master had brought the Black Cloud Cavalry to thoroughly sweep clean this bandit stronghold called Black Cloud Peak. The brothers of the Black Cloud Cavalry had been very depressed; for blind bandits to dare name themselves Black Cloud Peak and dare provoke the Prince, wasn't that smearing dirt on their Black Cloud Cavalry?

Watching Ye Li ride a horse for over a hundred miles and then walk up the mountain as though strolling in a courtyard, without showing the slightest sense of feeling tired, Third and Fourth—who had transformed from secret guards into explicit guards—were extremely depressed. Ye Li turned her head, looking at the two with raised eyebrows in incomprehension. "Why aren't you walking? Tired?"

 

The heads of the two shook like rattle-drums. Secret Guard Third mustered his courage to inquire, "Princess Consort, what are we here for?"

Ye Li turned back to look at the two with a smile. "Climbing mountains, strolling, picnicking, relaxing, or slaughtering you two to sell?"

"Princess Consort..."

Secret Guard Third and Fourth had both been to Black Cloud Peak before, but upon ascending the mountain, they discovered this place was entirely different from the last time they came. The original stronghold upon the mountain was not damaged; on the contrary, the mechanisms and traps originally used to ascend the mountain had all been dismantled, and the road up the mountain was also much easier to traverse. Although this was counted as nothing to people of high martial arts like them, to ordinary people, there was clearly a massive difference. Furthermore, there were actually people residing within the stronghold. They could see cooking smoke from afar. The Princess Consort wouldn't be wishing to take to the hills as a bandit, right? Or has another wave of bandits gathered at Black Cloud Peak, and the Princess Consort plans to bring the two of them to suppress the bandits?

Just as the three approached the stronghold, a burst of dog barking floated from ahead. After a short while, a high-spirited elderly man of sixty years, leading a few old people and children, came to greet them. Seeing Ye Li, his face immediately filled with a smile as he came forward. "Young Master Chu."

Ye Li nodded. "Old Man Wang, how have things been recently?"

Leaning on his cane, the elderly man nodded repeatedly and said, "This old man is doing very well, all thanks to the Young Master's care. Young Master, please come inside."

Ye Li invited the elderly man to walk first, walking ahead of the old man while asking as they walked, "I cannot come over here frequently. Is Old Man Wang living comfortably here?"

The elderly man said, "This place is neither too near nor too far from the capital; everything is well. The matters the Young Master commanded have also been consistently carried out according to the Young Master's intentions. Would the Young Master care to take a look first? Ah... it is now close to the time for lunch. The Young Master has traveled from afar and likely hasn't eaten yet. If you do not mind the crudeness of the stronghold, why not use lunch first before speaking?" Ye Li had indeed come out in the morning and hadn't eaten lunch, so she nodded in agreement. The elderly man was extremely happy to command people to prepare lunch, and he personally invited Ye Li to rest inside a plain yet exceptionally clean room.

"Princess Consort... this, how is this place..." The moment the elderly man left, Secret Guard Third could not wait to inquire, but for a long while he couldn't figure out exactly what to ask.

Ye Li sat within the chair with an entirely relaxed face, saying, "You wish to ask about this place? After my tour here last time, I felt this place was quite decent. So I found a way to buy it. This place is not far from the capital, nor is it a desolate area without human habitation. These mountain forests naturally all possessed owners, it was merely because there were bandits entrenched here that ordinary people didn't dare to manage it." Secret Guard Fourth said in incomprehension, "What did the Princess Consort buy this mountain for? This place looks like... it doesn't possess much value." Neither the trees nor the plants upon the mountain possessed any excessively high value, and this mountain didn't look like a place containing any gold or silver mines either.

Ye Li blinked her eyes. "I fundamentally didn't plan for it to possess any additional value; this is just an ordinary mountain. It is merely that a manor and a few households have been added upon the mountain and at the foot of the mountain."

"At the foot of the mountain?" Secret Guard Third recalled that there was indeed a not-so-small manor not far below the mountain.

Secret guards were not fools; they naturally knew that even if the manor below the mountain belonged to the Princess Consort, what the Princess Consort valued must definitely still be something upon the mountain. Otherwise, she wouldn't have specially climbed up the mountain. Two pairs of eyes looked silently at the handsome youth before them. Ye Li helplessly closed the fan she used to feign elegance, saying, "Well, I will take you to take a look after eating. I trust you understand how to abide by the professional ethics of a secret guard. If you do not understand, this gentleman will personally teach you until you do." Secret Guard Third and Fourth could not help but shudder, answering almost instinctively, "Your subordinates understand."

Having eaten a somewhat simple lunch, Ye Li thanked the elderly man and brought the two secret guards toward the back mountain by herself.

Not long after, Secret Guard Third and Fourth finally understood why the Princess Consort had told them she required laborers. Climbing down from the cliff of the back mountain, the interior was a very massive valley. The valley was filled with towering trees, and although it was broad daylight, one could even hear the howling of wolves from afar. How could there be this kind of place near the capital? Ye Li brought them to circle around within the gloomy forest for a while, finally locating a group of busy people. These people were currently busy constructing some crude houses, alongside some items they had seen upon the martial arts training field in the manor, and even more items they completely didn't comprehend. What caused them to feel most strange was that they had been following the Princess Consort these past days, yet they hadn't seen the Princess Consort do anything at all. What on earth was going on here?

Coming forward to greet them was a sturdy man of around thirty years. Seeing Ye Li, he immediately welcomed her. "Young Master Chu."

Ye Li nodded and said, "How is the work going?"

The sturdy man's face was filled with a simple and honest smile as he said, "Young Master, rest assured, we dare not make even a single mistake. It is all done according to your commands. Take a look at how it is?" Ye Li nodded satisfactorily with a smile, "I have already looked; you have done exceptionally well." The sturdy man scratched his hair and smiled, "Although we do not know what these gadgets are used for, Young Master Chu has been kind to us and gave us work to do; we will definitely do it well for you." Ye Li smiled and said, "No need to be polite, you are also earning money with your own strength. Today I brought new blueprints; take a look to see if there is any place you do not understand, so we can speak about it carefully." Ye Li extracted a thick stack of blueprints and handed them to him. The sturdy man opened and looked through them once, smiling, "The Young Master's drawings are all clear; I will take them to let a few old masters take a look. Does the Young Master want to head over together?"

"I will look around first, and head over after they are done with their work."

That fellow departed high-spiritedly cradling the blueprints, and only then did Ye Li glance at the two individuals with sluggish expressions, saying, "If you wish to ask anything, you may ask now."

Secret Guard Fourth looked around the surroundings and said, "Princess Consort... is the Princess Consort constructing a martial arts training field? Many items are very similar to those in the manor."

Ye Li nodded satisfactorily with a smile, "You possess eyesight; you can say I am constructing a fun playground."

"The Princess Consort's hobby is truly special."

"How did the Princess Consort locate this place?" Secret Guard Third inquired.

"Ah, I asked a certain someone if there was any place near the capital that was both secluded and fun; he recommended this place. I came once and also felt it was indeed a decent place."

Secret Guard Third furrowed his brows, raising his head to look above as he said, "This place is very easy to be broken into, right?" They had just come straight down from the cliff just now. Furthermore, last time the Master of the Heavenly One Pavilion had escaped from below, demonstrating that the roads to enter and exit were more than one. Ye Li smiled and said, "If you are speaking of the road exiting below, it has already been blocked dead by me. If one wishes to exit or enter from this piece of forest over here, I have checked—the edge of this forest is beyond fifty miles or even further in all directions. One side below is an even deeper cliff. Furthermore, there are swamps, various toxic plants, birds, and beasts within the forest. Did you not see that snake-repelling medicine is deployed everywhere near here? It is simply a naturally endowed hunting ground. To be able to locate such a place near the capital is truly too difficult. If you plan to come down from above just like we did just now... by the time this place is completed, that road leading up will also disappear. And... those who do not fear death can try jumping down using lightness skills to see."

Secret Guard Third and Fourth unconsciously leaned closer to each other's side. Hearing the Princess Consort's tone, the consequence of jumping down from above might be even more severe than breaking in from the forest.

"What is the Princess Consort constructing such a place... for?" Secret Guard Third swallowed his saliva, inquiring with some difficulty.

Ye Li spoke with a smile overflowing her face, "Did I not say so? To play. The conditions in the manor are limited and too boring. After it is completed, when I feel bored, I will come here to stroll around a bit; my mood will definitely be doubly excellent." Secret Guard Third and Fourth had faces full of terror; they should have known long ago that a Princess Consort with such a special interest was absolutely not a normal person. The people of the entire capital had been deceived by the Princess Consort... even if the old Prince were to return to life, he would probably be frightened by such a fierce daughter-in-law, right?

Watching the surrounding arrangements with satisfaction, the smiling gaze within Ye Li's eyes dimmed slightly. Days would not remain peaceful forever, so it was impossible for her to truly act as though she knew nothing and be a carefree Princess Consort of Ding. Eldest Brother had gone to the Southern Border, Third Brother had gone to the military camp... if it weren't for predicting that the future crisis was unavoidable, Eldest Uncle wouldn't have let Eldest Brother involve himself in the affairs of the court. The reputation of Young Master Qing Chen was too resounding, and the Xu family did not require more reputation. Then... before the matter occurred, she must also make her own preparations, so as to be able to protect her family in the future, using her own method.