Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 113. Dense Fragrance in the Peach Forest
113. Secret in the Peach Grove
Ye Li moved swiftly through the somewhat dimly lit palace, as familiar with its layout as if she had navigated it a thousand times before. Her slender figure landed deftly under the eaves of a palace building. She halted and looked up at the eaves behind her, saying lightly, "Prince Yelv, is there a reason you’re following me at this hour?"
Having been discovered, Yelv Ye did not hesitate, leaping gracefully down from the roof. He smiled, "Is the Princess Consort going to find Prince Ding? Do you know where he is?"
Ye Li responded indifferently, "That seems to have nothing to do with Prince Yelv. Instead of wasting time on this, perhaps Prince Yelv should consider how you’re going to explain the assassination attempt that occurred as soon as you arrived in Great Chu."
Just moments ago at the Starry Pavilion, the assassin had directly called out Yelv Ye’s name; undeniably, many people heard it. Though fewer people knew about the assassination attempt during the lantern festival, it did not mean word would not spread. If there were any significant casualties tonight, the powerful aristocratic families would most likely hold Yelv Ye accountable.
Yelv Ye said innocently, "I came all this way, only to discover that Great Chu is even more dangerous than our Beirong."
Ye Li scoffed, "Compared to Beirong, I think Prince Yelv is more like one of us from Great Chu." With that, she paid no more heed to Yelv Ye’s expression and hurried onward.
The two walked through the imperial palace, one following the other, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far. Perhaps because of the assassins, most of the guards had gone towards the Starry Pavilion; consequently, the palace grounds were less heavily guarded than usual. If someone were to infiltrate the palace and hide at this moment, the consequences would be unthinkable, Ye Li mused, frowning.
Yelv Ye casually followed Ye Li. He had already discerned that Princess Consort Ding was not wandering aimlessly but was heading in a specific direction. Yet, despite his keen eyesight, he had not detected any traces Mo Xiuyao might have left along the way. After pondering for a long time, he could only attribute it to some secret sign of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion that he was not yet aware of, he concluded.
Soon, they reached the edge of the peach grove by the Imperial Garden.
Yelv Ye frowned. "Princess Consort, are you sure this is the right place?"
Ye Li leaped gracefully across the stream blocking their path and retorted coolly, "I never asked you to follow me, Prince." The moment her feet touched the ground, Ye Li entered the peach grove without hesitation.
Yelv Ye shrugged and followed with a smile. "The Princess Consort seems quite confident. Aren’t you afraid I might launch a sneak attack from behind?"
"You’re welcome to try."
Yelv Ye rubbed his nose, speechless. Though bold, he wasn’t one to court death. Setting aside Princess Consort Ding’s own abilities, he had vaguely sensed someone following them ever since they entered the Imperial Garden. If it were only that, it might have been fine. However, he could never pinpoint who was following them; it was purely an intuition honed from countless near-death experiences since childhood. Since Princess Consort Ding had said so, Yelv Ye had a good idea: Those following them must be from Prince Ding’s Mansion. He couldn’t help but secretly resent the formidable power of Prince Ding’s Mansion. The palace is already in complete chaos, yet I’d wager that not even the most inconspicuous guard from Prince Ding’s Mansion shows the slightest hint of panic, he mused.
Not long after entering the grove, Yelv Ye heard voices in the distance. However, it didn’t sound like fighting, more like a woman’s voice raised in argument. Glancing at Ye Li ahead, whose expression was unreadable, Yelv Ye smiled with amusement. It seems I was right to follow this woman, he thought.
Inside the peach grove, Princess Zhenning sat on the ground, gazing blankly at her mother consort, who seemed entirely different from usual. She had just been terrified and desperately wanted to throw herself into her mother consort’s arms and weep, but she could only sit there numbly, not daring to even whimper. Her mother consort hadn’t even spared her a glance. Though still young, Princess Zhenning was extremely perceptive and knew intuitively that her mother consort did not want to be disturbed.
Mo Xiuyao frowned as he looked at the woman in white before him. "Since Princess Zhenning is unharmed, I shall take my leave."
Shortly after chasing them from the Starry Pavilion, he had realized that the assassins who abducted Princess Zhenning had no intention of harming her; they merely wanted to lure him away. What Mo Xiuyao hadn’t expected was that the person who orchestrated Princess Zhenning’s abduction was the very woman standing before him. And she had even calculated that Mo Jing would ask him to rescue Princess Zhenning. It seems I’ve underestimated Noble Consort Liu’s influence over Mo Jing, he thought.
"Do you hate me that much?" Noble Consort Liu murmured, her usually cold and indifferent voice now tinged with a profound sorrow.
Mo Xiuyao frowned and looked back at Noble Consort Liu. "Between you and I, Noble Consort, the question of hatred or lack thereof is irrelevant."
Hearing this, Noble Consort Liu’s face turned pale. She bit her lip, speechless. Such an answer is actually more cutting than outright hatred, she thought. In Mo Xiuyao’s eyes, I don’t even qualify for his disdain, because we simply have no significant relationship.
"Why... Why do you treat me like this?" Noble Consort Liu asked, her voice trembling. Her icy, snow-like beauty was now tinged with a fragility and sorrow, lending a delicate helplessness to her usual lofty demeanor. She looked up at Mo Xiuyao and asked resentfully, "Why would you never even look at me? First, it was Su Zuidie, and now it’s Ye Li. I have never been inferior to either of them! Xiuyao... why won’t you even look at me?"
Whether in family background, appearance, or talent, I have never been inferior to anyone. Even Su Zuidie, hailed then as the most stunning beauty in the world, I never felt she was much more beautiful than I. Yet, since our youth, this man, whom I fell for at first sight, has never spared me a second glance. Before, his eyes were only for Su Zuidie. He would only smile gently at her, only accompany her in playing the qin, reciting poetry, and painting. He would never see that there was also me by his side. I originally thought that once Su Zuidie was gone, he would no longer treat anyone with such special attention. But now... As a woman deeply in love with Mo Xiuyao, I am more sensitive than anyone. He treats Ye Li with even more special care than he ever showed Su Zuidie.
Mo Xiuyao frowned, somewhat displeased. He was not unaware of Noble Consort Liu’s feelings for him. It was just that he had paid them no mind in his youth. As the Second Young Master of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, the dream of countless maidens in the Capital City, the number of women who secretly adored him was immeasurable. Furthermore, due to his mother and father, and already having a fiancée, he wouldn’t pay attention to other women around him. After Noble Consort Liu entered the palace, it became even more impossible for him to entertain such thoughts. No matter how much he despised Mo Jing, he wouldn’t stoop so low as to seduce his consort. Therefore, he genuinely couldn’t understand the reason for Noble Consort Liu’s current sorrowful complaints. "Noble Consort Liu, watch your words. My given name is not for just anyone to use."
Noble Consort Liu gritted her teeth. "Why would you never look at me? Am I truly so unworthy in your eyes?"
Mo Xiuyao frowned. "I can only advise you to remember your station, Noble Consort."
"I don’t want the title of Noble Consort!" Noble Consort Liu cried out, her voice holding a tearful edge. "Do you think I enjoy being this Noble Consort? None of this was my choice! As long as you... as long as you... I can give up everything!"
Mo Xiuyao looked at the clearly distraught woman in white, his expression indifferent as he turned to leave.
"Don’t go!" Noble Consort Liu cried, lunging forward to grab Mo Xiuyao’s sleeve. Though her martial skills were not weak, she was no match for Mo Xiuyao. Not intending to hurt her, Mo Xiuyao simply flicked his sleeve lightly, pushing her away. Noble Consort Liu stumbled and fell to the ground. "Don’t go... Xiuyao, I have something important to tell you! Mo Jing... Mo Jing harbors ill intentions towards Prince Ding’s Mansion! He’s plotting against you!"
Mo Xiuyao looked down at her and said coolly, "When has His Majesty ever harbored good intentions towards Prince Ding’s Mansion? You defended Ah-Li several times before, and today I rescued Princess Zhenning. Consider this my repayment of any debt I owed you. Noble Consort, you should look out for yourself. Our Emperor is not a magnanimous man."
"Why..."
"TSK... What a heart of stone. Noble Consort Liu is quite a rare beauty, you know." From the shadows of the peach grove, Yelv Ye chuckled with schadenfreude beside Ye Li.
Ye Li glanced at him coolly. Seeing Noble Consort Liu here is indeed quite surprising. When I came down from the Starry Pavilion, Noble Consort Liu was still with Mo Jing. How did she manage to get away and appear in this peach grove in such a short time? I’ve long known about Noble Consort Liu’s feelings for Mo Xiuyao, and I’m also very clear about Mo Xiuyao’s thoughts. So, seeing these two together doesn’t particularly anger me. I’m just a little surprised by the depth of Noble Consort Liu’s affection for Mo Xiuyao and her recklessness.
Looking at Princess Zhenning, still sitting on the ground, too scared to speak, Ye Li inwardly shook her head. It’s not wrong to be deeply devoted to a man, but it’s not good if one disregards everything else for it. How little must Noble Consort Liu care for her own daughter to declare her feelings for Mo Xiuyao in her presence? Princess Zhenning is only eight, but an eight-year-old in the imperial family is no longer completely ignorant.
"Well, Princess Consort, care to go out and take a look?" Yelv Ye grinned. "Seeing Noble Consort Liu’s profound affection, doesn’t the Princess Consort have any thoughts at all? What if Prince Ding is moved..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Ye Li cast him a bored glance. "If you wish to provoke me, Prince, at least use a more sophisticated pretext." Go out now? Am I a fool? Right now, Noble Consort Liu is likely just heartbroken and sad. If I were to appear before her, her sorrow would probably instantly transform into overwhelming hatred. Of course, that’s not to say she doesn’t hate me already. Ye Li made a mental note to be more wary of Noble Consort Liu in the future. Even after being disfigured, she can still attract men. Clearly, the disfigurement wasn’t thorough enough, Ye Li silently plotted.
In the peach grove, Mo Xiuyao inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at the tear-stained Noble Consort Liu and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.
Mo Xiuyao walked out of the peach grove and stood by the riverbank for a moment before turning back with a faint smile. "Ah-Li, since you’re here, why don’t you show yourself?"
Ye Li strolled out from the peach grove with a slight smile. "I was afraid of interrupting your business, my Prince."
Mo Xiuyao was silent for a long moment, then said, "Just now, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. Ah-Li, you weren’t thinking of disfiguring my face again, were you?"
Ye Li shot him a fierce glare. I absolutely will not admit he guessed my thoughts!
Yelv Ye strolled out leisurely behind Ye Li and said to Mo Xiuyao with a laugh, "Prince Ding, you truly have an extraordinary air. This humble prince admires you."
Mo Xiuyao said coolly, "Prince Yelv is too kind. I am no match for Prince Yelv..." Before he could finish his sentence, Mo Xiuyao turned to look towards the other end of the Imperial Garden.
Yelv Ye remarked, "It seems someone is looking for Prince Yelv..." He looked up and saw several figures hurrying in their direction. They were clearly palace guards. It seemed that Mo Jing, for all his fear of death, hadn’t forgotten about his distinguished guest. Yelv Ye clicked his tongue (TSK) and grinned brightly at Ye Li. "This prince won’t trouble the palace guards then. Princess Consort Ding, we shall meet again tomorrow." With that, he leaped and vanished into the peach grove.
"Your subordinates greet Your Highness, and Your Highness the Princess Consort!" Several guards approached. Seeing Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li standing side by side, they were momentarily stunned before hurrying forward to salute.
Mo Xiuyao nodded. "What are you doing?"
The leading guard replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, during the earlier chaos, it was discovered that Prince Yelv and Princess Consort Ding were missing. Your subordinates were ordered by His Majesty to search everywhere."
Mo Xiuyao nodded again. "The Princess Consort was worried about me, so she came to check. Send someone to inform His Majesty that the Princess Consort is with me. As for Prince Yelv... you may continue your search."
The guards naturally dared not delay. After taking their leave of the two, one went to report to Mo Jing, while the others continued searching for Yelv Ye.
Ye Li looked back at the peach grove, frowning. "Noble Consort Liu..."
Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li’s hand and started walking back, chuckling softly. "Noble Consort Liu has nothing to do with your husband, my dear. Don’t wrong me."
Ye Li rolled her eyes at him. "Will it be alright to leave Noble Consort Liu in there?"
Mo Xiuyao said, "Noble Consort Liu is not as simple as you think. Do you think an ordinary woman with common skills could have come here from the Starry Pavilion in such a short time? If you are on good terms with the Empress, you should remind her to be wary of Noble Consort Liu."
Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao strangely. He just said he owed Noble Consort Liu a favor. Even if it’s repaid, he can’t just turn his back on her like this, can he?
Mo Xiuyao looked at her with a smile. "Did you really think that if I had accepted her just now, she would truly give up everything to follow me?"
Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t that the case?
Mo Xiuyao said coolly, "How could a great aristocratic family raise a woman who would abandon everything for love? If she truly meant what she said about giving up everything, how could she have borne two sons and a daughter and become the most favored in the imperial harem? She doesn’t genuinely want to be with me. She simply cannot tolerate that I ignored her in the past but treat you well now."
Ye Li frowned slightly. I believe Noble Consort Liu does have genuine feelings for Mo Xiuyao. At least, not entirely driven by ulterior motives. For such a proud woman to plead with a man like that, knowing her chances were slim, there must have been some sincerity and hope.
However... even genuine feelings are useless. Mo Xiuyao belongs to me now. Others are forbidden to covet him.
