Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 111. Night Feast (2)
111. Nighttime Banquet (2)
The Emperor’s easy acceptance of the Prince of Beirong’s request unsettled all the ministers present. After all, the influential officials close to the Emperor knew his personality well; he valued his reputation greatly. Such an action, which could be seen as lowering his own status, was truly inconsistent with the Emperor’s usual conduct. Regardless of what others thought, Yelv Ye was extremely pleased with the Emperor of Great Chu’s agreeableness. He turned to face Ye Li, raised his glass in a distant toast, and laughed heartily, "In that case, I look forward to receiving much guidance from Princess Consort Ding in the future."
Ye Li looked up and replied with a composed smile, "Guidance is too strong a word. Prince Yelv, you are also of noble birth. I trust you would not commit any tactless acts to offend the young ladies of Great Chu."
Yelv Ye smiled without speaking and sat down to drink.
Her Highness, the Empress, sat beside Mo Jing. She glanced sideways at the Emperor and then at Noble Consort Liu, who was next to him, clad in snow-white robes and as coolly elegant as a pear blossom. The Empress’s fine brows knitted slightly as she said softly, "Noble Consort Liu usually doesn’t involve herself in affairs. It’s unusual that she’s interested in the matter of the Princess Friendship today."
Noble Consort Liu lowered her gaze to the wine cup before her and said faintly, "This concubine overstepped. Your Highness Empress, please forgive me."
Mo Jing looked from his wife to his beloved consort, then smiled at the Empress, "The Noble Consort is also concerned about the relations between our two nations. Your Highness, please don’t blame her."
A flicker of anger crossed the Empress’s brow, but she quickly composed herself and said indifferently, "Very well. I hear that a young lady from the Liu Family is also among the candidates this time. If Noble Consort Liu is doing this for the good of the nation, I am not one to misunderstand priorities. However, Your Majesty... that girl Tianxiang has been keeping me company in the palace these days, so she will not participate. If Your Majesty selects her as the Princess Friendship, a single imperial edict will be sufficient. Neither the Hua Family nor I will have any complaints."
Mo Jing was taken aback. He and the Empress had been husband and wife for nearly ten years, and she had never spoken to him in such a clearly angry tone. On second thought, he understood: the Empress was angry about the reputation of her only niece. Thinking back over their decade together, while there hadn’t been passionate love, his principal wife was, after all, different. Mo Jing couldn’t help but wonder if his idea of sending Hua Tianxiang to Beirong as the Princess Friendship was too much. The Empress had only this one niece, and Changle only this one older female cousin. In truth, Mo Jing knew that sending Hua Tianxiang to Beirong as the Princess Friendship, apart from irritating the Hua Family, served no significant purpose. It wouldn’t even succeed in sowing discord between the Hua Family and Prince Ding’s Mansion. He had just embarrassed the Empress for Noble Consort Liu’s sake; a little compensation was nothing. Looking at the Empress’s beautiful face, still holding a trace of anger, Mo Jing’s expression softened. He patted her hand gently and said, "Rest assured. I will have Tianxiang’s name removed from the list later."
The Empress lowered her eyes, a very faint smile appearing on her lips. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she said.
Below the dais, Ye Li casually withdrew her gaze from those seated above. She turned to Mo Xiuyao and said with a quiet smile, "It seems we no longer need to worry about Tianxiang." Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. Ye Li smiled and explained, "It seems Her Highness Empress has convinced His Majesty on Tianxiang’s behalf." The Empress, despite having neither favor nor sons, has held her position securely for many years in a palace teeming with rivals. Even a consort as favored as Noble Consort Liu wouldn’t dare offend her lightly. Clearly, she’s not a simple person. Just now, Noble Consort Liu bypassed the Empress to speak out of turn, and the moment the Empress showed the slightest displeasure, the Emperor relented. However, Noble Consort Liu... Ye Li’s clear eyes swept over the woman in white across the hall, and she frowned thoughtfully.
"Her Highness Empress’s strategic mind is certainly not inferior to anyone’s; she simply lacks the inclination. As for Ah-Li, you seem to possess some rather unique abilities," Mo Xiuyao remarked quietly. Although they were seated at the very front, there was still a considerable distance to the dragon throne on the dais. One could observe the expressions and gazes of those above, but Mo Xiuyao admitted to himself that he couldn’t possibly hear their whispers in this bustling, noisy hall.
Ye Li pursed her lips, shot him a glance, and said frankly, "That’s right, I can read lips. Is that a problem? Do you want to learn?"
Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "No need. It’s enough that my wife knows how."
Ye Li glanced at him, then lowered her gaze to the wine before her. She knew she had exposed too many of her secrets to Mo Xiuyao. Initially, these were occasional, unintentional slips, which she could attribute to letting her guard down after over a decade of peaceful, uneventful life. Later, however, she found herself increasingly unwilling to conceal things from him. Sometimes, she even deliberately revealed aspects of herself that set her apart from ordinary people. This was, in a way, a test. Yet, Mo Xiuyao never reacted strangely to her differences, as if her being this way was the most natural thing in the world. This both surprised Ye Li and filled her with a secret sense of joy. After all, who would want to spend their entire life wearing a mask and hiding their true self?
As this was a banquet to welcome the Prince of Beirong, the festivities didn’t conclude with dinner in the main hall. Instead, the Emperor led all the imperial consorts, princes, princesses, and ministers to the Starry Pavilion, the highest structure in the palace. There, they were to enjoy a specially arranged fireworks display and a grand song and dance performance.
Sitting high up in the pavilion, Ye Li observed the enthusiastic Emperor ahead and raised her eyebrows with a touch of skepticism. This deliberately grand welcoming banquet... did they truly believe it could intimidate an ambitious Prince of Beirong, or perhaps deter him from aspiring to conquer the Central Plains? That was pure wishful thinking. It was more likely to fuel his ambitions. After all, Beirong was arguably the poorest of the four major states. Its people would feel no awe for Great Chu, which occupied the most fertile lands. Their harsh living conditions and fierce, valiant nature would only drive them to plunder recklessly.
"Princess Consort Ding... Uncle Prince..."
Up in the Starry Pavilion, the atmosphere was much more relaxed and casual than in the grand hall. Princess Changle, having been seated for only a short while, had already quietly slipped over to Ye Li’s side. Most eyes were on the fireworks blooming in the sky or the captivating song and dance performance below, so hardly anyone noticed her.
Ye Li looked down at her and smiled faintly. "Princess, what brings you here?"
Princess Changle blinked her eyes, then leaned close to Ye Li’s ear and whispered, "My mother asked me to tell you: be wary of Noble Consort Liu."
Ye Li was startled. She looked up towards the Empress, who was not far off. A faint smile touched the Empress’s lips, and she gave a slight nod. Ye Li nodded her thanks to Princess Changle, then patted the little girl’s head with a smile. "So, you came to deliver a message from Her Highness Empress. Thank you, Princess."
Princess Changle waved her small hand grandly. "No need to thank me. This princess doesn’t like Noble Consort Liu either."
"Why?" Ye Li asked curiously. Noble Consort Liu had a cold personality, but surely she wouldn’t go so far as to offend a child of only a few years. Noble Consort Liu had helped her on two occasions before and had shown no animosity. But this time... Ye Li had a distinct feeling that Noble Consort Liu’s attitude towards her had subtly shifted since their last meeting in the palace. It was a very faint change, not outwardly apparent at all, something she could only describe as intuition. And Ye Li had always trusted her intuition; it had saved her life countless times on the battlefield.
Princess Changle pouted. "She always looks as if no one can please her, but Father Emperor always listens to everything she says. She’s not nice at all! She even ignored Zhenning when Zhenning cried. My mother would never treat me like that. Mother dotes on Changle the most!" The last sentence was clearly a boast.
"Zhenning?" Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao, puzzled.
Mo Xiuyao explained nonchalantly, "The Emperor’s second daughter, Princess Zhenning. She is Noble Consort Liu’s daughter."
Ye Li gazed towards the front. Only then did she realize something seemed to be missing beside Noble Consort Liu, who was dressed in snow-white. By the Emperor’s grace, all imperial consorts, princes, and princesses were permitted to come and watch the fireworks. Thus, nearly every consort in the palace who had rank and children had brought their sons and daughters along. If etiquette had prevented children from attending the earlier banquet, that was no longer the case; now, even little princes and princesses barely a year old were being held by their wet nurses. It was rather strange, then, that Noble Consort Liu’s two sons and one daughter were nowhere in sight. Princess Zhenning, in particular, should be seven or eight years old this year—certainly not an uncomprehending toddler. Could it truly be as Princess Changle suggested, that Noble Consort Liu didn’t like her own children?
"Do you often play with Princess Zhenning?" Ye Li asked with a smile.
Princess Changle shook her head, looking a little dejected. "Zhenning doesn’t like to play with me either. She only likes playing with her younger brothers, and she won’t let me go watch them. Mother Empress says it’s because I’m still too young to look after my little brothers. But... Zhenning is younger than I am!"
Ye Li gently pinched Princess Changle’s small cheek, sighing inwardly. The Empress truly has protected Princess Changle very well.
"Assassins!" A sudden, sharp cry pierced the air. Several dark figures burst from the shadows of the night, charging straight for the upper floor of the Starry Pavilion.
Ye Li rolled her eyes, utterly speechless, and swiftly pulled Princess Changle to her side. The Starry Pavilion instantly plunged into chaos. Large numbers of guards rushed to the front to shield the Emperor, Empress, princes, and princesses. Below, the ministers and their female relatives scrambled in disarray, each seeking a hiding place.
One glance was enough for Ye Li to understand. These black-clad assailants were far more skilled than those incompetents she’d encountered the other night. Each was an expert, one in a hundred. In the initial clash, the guards upstairs immediately suffered heavy losses. The sight of blood sent the ladies into terrified shrieks, and the entire upper level descended into pandemonium.
Princess Changle hid beside Ye Li, only her small head peeking out cautiously. Ye Li patted her forehead. "Don’t look. You might get scared."
Princess Changle quickly ducked back and asked worriedly, "Princess Consort Ding, will my Mother Empress and Father Emperor be alright?"
Ye Li smiled. "Don’t worry. Even if everyone else here ran into trouble, they would be safe." With so many guards surrounding them, if anything still happened, then everyone on this floor would deserve to be slaughtered by the assassins.
Among the assembled officials, those skilled in martial arts also stepped forward to engage the black-clad assassins. This was not only for their own safety and that of everyone else but also an opportunity to impress the Emperor. Mo Xiuyao sat calmly beside Ye Li. Hidden guards, who had materialized at some unknown point, steadfastly protected their immediate area. Any occasional assassin who managed to break through their defenses was swiftly dealt with by Qingluan, Darky Two, and Darky Three, who stood ready at their side. Amidst the pandemonium on the upper floor, their corner remained eerily calm.
"I say, Prince, shouldn’t you go up and protect His Majesty?" Ye Li asked Mo Xiuyao softly, her tone teasing.
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled. "If I were to go over now, His Majesty wouldn’t think I was trying to protect him. I’m afraid he’d suspect me of trying to assassinate him."
Ye Li tilted her head, glanced in Mo Jing’s direction, and shook her head, bored. They said the Emperor was once accomplished in both scholarly and martial pursuits. Just how afraid of death must he be to have practically all the guards on this level surrounding him? While supposedly keeping an eye on the assassins, he was still dividing his attention to watch their corner. It wasn’t just Mo Xiuyao; anyone connected to Prince Ding’s Mansion who approached now would likely be treated as an assassin.
"Oh? For the Prince and Princess Consort to be so leisurely in such a chaotic place, doesn’t that look a bit off?" Not far away, Yelv Ye was effortlessly fending off assassins, yet still found the time to turn and grin at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li.
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "If even a few mere assassins cannot be handled, what is the use of the palace guards?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Yelv Ye laughed heartily. "The Prince is right! A few petty thieves are indeed not worthy of Prince Ding dirtying his own hands."
"Prince Yelv, if you please, move aside a little. You’re drawing all the assassins this way," Darky Three, standing before Ye Li, said impassively as he casually dispatched an assassin.
Yelv Ye raised an eyebrow. His gaze paused for a moment on the assassin who had just collapsed before Darky Three, then he chuckled. "My apologies. This prince also has no idea why these assassins are so fond of pestering me. The guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion are truly extraordinary."
The fallen assassin had no visible wounds, save for an incredibly fine line on his neck. Very little blood had flowed, yet the man had dropped dead without so much as a struggle. Such skill—even a professional killer might not have done better. This man before him, dressed in ordinary guard attire, displayed utter calm and composure amidst the bloody chaos.
Watching the melee unfold, Ye Li raised a delicate eyebrow and asked quietly, "Are these assassins targeting Yelv Ye?" A large number of them did seem to be heading for him. While it was possible this was because he appeared to be the strongest, his attire was so distinctly different from that of Great Chu; the assassins couldn’t possibly fail to recognize him.
Mo Xiuyao, his gaze fixed on the handsome man who kept subtly drawing nearer to them, replied, "It might be partly related to him. However... the assassins are all from the Central Plains. Neither Yelv Ye himself nor Yelv Hong would dispatch Beirong men to cause trouble in the palace. Yelv Ye is likely luring the assassins this way intentionally to probe your strength." Mo Xiuyao’s own capabilities were renowned; there was no need for a few assassins to test them. Yelv Ye certainly couldn’t expect a handful of assassins to kill him. Therefore, his true target could only be Ye Li, sitting beside him.
Ye Li smiled faintly. "In this situation, do I need to make a move?"
From the front, Darky Three replied softly, "Of course not, Your Highness. If you had to personally deal with a few mere assassins, wouldn’t that imply we subordinates are entirely useless?"
Ye Li glanced at Darky Three and chuckled. "You’re my right-hand man now, not a hidden guard. Could you please try not to be so eager to charge into the thick of things?"
Hearing this, Darky Three’s face fell. He still missed his days as a hidden guard. Back then, when enemies appeared, he would just rush forward and thrash them soundly. It wasn’t like now, where he had to wait for the small fry that slipped past the other hidden guards before he got a chance. To make matters worse, the hidden guards of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion were exceptionally competent; practically no fish ever slipped through their net.
Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "I don’t think he wants to test Ah-Li’s martial skills. I believe he’s trying to test her courage."
