Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 115. Farewell

115. Farewell

On the martial arts training ground of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, Yelv Ye intently stared at the woman in white across from him. Neither of them made the first move. The woman was serene but sharp, and though Yelv Ye’s face showed no expression, he was secretly surprised inside. Now, he perhaps understood why the exceptional archer, Princess Ling Yun, lost to Princess Consort Ding last year—a woman who wasn’t even proficient at using a bow. When masters crossed swords, they were judged not only by their strength, speed, techniques, and inner energy, but more importantly by their determination to win and their commanding aura. Yelv Ye was unclear about the woman’s martial arts prowess. However, based on her unflappable disposition and the sharp demeanor reflected in her calm eyes, he could tell that Princess Consort Ding was already in the ranks of top martial arts experts.

The atmosphere on the martial arts ground gradually became tense. Frowning, Yelv Ye drew a soft sword from his waist and said, "Princess Consort, please."

Ye Li stood with her hands behind her back and indifferently said, "Prince, after you."

Yelv Ye couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. It seemed that Princess Consort Ding had made up her mind to let him make the first move. When he previously mentioned competing in martial arts with Ye Li, it was actually more of a pretext to start a conversation than a genuine request, but now it was too late to backtrack. Shrugging helplessly, Yelv Ye said with a smile, "Well then, I shall make a move without further ado." He flicked his soft sword in the air, creating a whirl of sword flowers, and lunged at Ye Li with a very ordinary opening stance. Ye Li frowned slightly and sidestepped quickly. A cold light flashed from her sleeve as she stabbed a dagger towards Yelv Ye’s chest. After exchanging a few moves, Yelv Ye finally realized why Ye Li had casually let him make the first move. It wasn’t out of arrogance or ignorance; rather, she indeed possessed enough strength to keep pace with her opponent. In a few moves, he realized that he could not defeat the seemingly delicate woman in white if he continued with this bland swordsmanship. Ye Li’s moves were sharp and swift, each carrying a deadly threat. Her style was completely unlike the typical woman’s—all soft and graceful. She did not care how her moves looked; all that mattered was their effectiveness. His initial underestimation of her capabilities made Yelv Ye feel unusually constrained.

Having understood Ye Li’s strength, Yelv Ye also stopped holding back. His sword moves became sharper as he brandished his soft sword. The people of Beirong were naturally valiant and not typically suited for learning to use a soft weapon such as a soft sword, but Yelv Ye was exceptionally good at it. Ye Li also noticed from his spar with Mu Yang that Yelv Ye was not purely inclined towards the soft style—his hard and masculine technique was equally extraordinary, making him a rare master of both hard and soft martial arts.

On the martial arts ground, the two fought fiercely, neither able to gain an upper hand. Chief Steward Mo intently observed the two combatants from the sidelines. His aged eyes filled with both concern and satisfaction. The current King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion seemed to be thriving on the surface, but it was fraught with hidden dangers that needed a decisive and wise Princess Consort. Now, it seemed that not only was the Princess Consort smart and resolute, but her martial arts could also be considered top-tier. This was a surprise that brought Chief Steward Mo great relief, prompting him to thank the ancestors of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion for their blessings.

In the blink of an eye, they had already exchanged a hundred moves. Yelv Ye looked at the calm woman opposite him, her breath not even slightly chaotic. He couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. It seemed that she could still surprise him every time. He had thought that although Ye Li’s moves were sharp, she was ultimately a woman, naturally lacking a man’s physical strength. Moreover, Yelv Ye had noticed from the beginning that her inner strength was not profound. As long as the fight dragged on, even if her movements were ingenious, it would be in vain. Unexpectedly, despite so much time passing, she didn’t seem a bit tired, as if she could fight endlessly. Yelv Ye’s eyes darkened; he swiftly swung his long sword, which flashed like a rainbow, as he retreated. Ye Li’s eyes flashed, but she stood her ground, not pursuing him. Seeing her hold back, Yelv Ye felt a secret relief. His intention was not to cause harm or even kill; fighting any longer would put him in an awkward position, regardless of victory or defeat.

"I did not expect Princess Consort Ding to be so nimble. I am impressed," he said, returning the soft sword to his waist, and laughed out loud.

Ye Li frowned slightly and said, "Prince, if you feel it’s enough, please head to the front hall for a cup of tea. We’ll talk business there."

Yelv Ye nodded nonchalantly. Chief Steward Mo, who was standing to the side, then came forward to escort Yelv Ye to the front hall.

Ye Li returned to her room and changed her clothes. Her conversation with Yelv Ye was a sharp exchange of witticisms. This Prince of Beirong bore no resemblance to the crude image of the Beirong people held by the people of Great Chu. On the contrary, his cunning and sharpness, his refusal to yield an inch where interests were involved, made him seem more like people from Great Chu and Xiling. They debated back and forth over the list of names Ye Li had previously organized. Ultimately, they determined the candidates for the marriage alliance: Commandery Princess Ronghua; Liu Yu, the niece of Noble Consort Liu from the Liu Family; and Commandery Princess Qingyi, the youngest granddaughter of Old Prince Jia, Mo Jing’s only paternal uncle. Commandery Princess Qingyi was Old Prince Jia’s only surviving granddaughter and was only thirteen this year. Her inclusion in the list was merely for the sake of appearances, given the pervasive male dominance and a scarcity of presentable princesses and commandery princesses in the imperial family of Great Chu. However, whether out of consideration for the Old Prince’s reputation or Commandery Princess Qingyi’s frailty due to her young age and delicate health, the final choice would likely boil down to Commandery Princess Ronghua and Miss Liu from the Liu Family.

In the end, Yelv Ye would have to meet these three individuals personally before a decision could be made. Ye Li was indifferent to this, satisfied that she had been able to persuade Yelv Ye to meet only three candidates. If Yelv Ye were to meet all potential candidates, the noble families of the Capital City would have no peace. Presumably, once the Beirong delegation departed for the wedding, there would be a flurry of celebrations in the Capital City.

Having seen off Yelv Ye, before Ye Li could return to her room, word came that Miss Yaoji was seeking an audience. Given Yaoji’s status, she would naturally not be treated like Yelv Ye, who was invited into the mansion to wait. She would have to wait at the side entrance for the Princess Consort to grant her an audience or not. Ye Li was startled to hear this, recalling she had forgotten about Yaoji amidst the busyness of the past few days. She frowned, saying, "Let her come in."

Before long, Yaoji entered, led by a maid. Contrary to her usual seductive attire, Yaoji was dressed in a simple autumn-colored outfit, presenting a less vibrant but more refined look that resembled an ordinary, well-bred lady.

"Greetings, Princess Consort." Yaoji bowed her head slightly.

Ye Li waved her hand in dismissal. "No need. Have a seat and tell me what’s on your mind."

Yaoji looked at her and softly gave her thanks. "I really didn’t think you would see me."

Ye Li chuckled lightly. "If you were so sure that I wouldn’t see you, why did you come?" Although they had not interacted much, Ye Li could tell that Yaoji was a very proud woman, the type who would never court a rebuff.

Yaoji paused upon hearing this, smiled bitterly, and nodded. "You’re right, Princess Consort." Seeing Yaoji’s haggard and pale face, Ye Li hesitated before asking, "Are you alright?"

Yaoji replied with a faint smile, "What is there to be alright about? I’ve come to you today because there’s a favor I’d like to ask."

Ye Li nodded and said, "Go ahead and tell me. If it’s within my power to help, I won’t refuse."

Yaoji said, "I plan on closing the Qingcheng Workshop, but... while I myself would be okay, there are still many girls in the workshop... All of them have tough lives. If left unattended, some might end up in other brothels, while others might end up anywhere. In truth, I owe them... so I would like to ask the Princess Consort, is Prince Ding’s Mansion willing to buy the Qingcheng Workshop? I’m willing to sell it for half the price, as long as the older ones at the Qingcheng Workshop are taken care of."

Ye Li furrowed her eyebrows slightly. "The Qingcheng Workshop is known as the top brothel in Capital City. There will be many eager to buy it if you want to sell. Why would you..."

Yaoji looked at Ye Li with a bitter smile. "What kind of people do you think are in the business of running brothels in Capital City? I know them well enough. If the Qingcheng Workshop were to fall into their hands, who knows how it would be devastated? Besides... I hope the news of the Qingcheng Workshop changing owners can be kept secret for at least half a year."

Ye Li frowned as she immediately understood Yaoji’s intentions. "What are you planning to do?"

In response, Yaoji absentmindedly stroked her still-flat belly. Looking down, she replied with a shallow smile, "Perhaps I’ll go south. The climate in the south is much more comfortable than it is in Capital City, isn’t it? I’ve saved quite a lot of money over the years, enough to live comfortably for a lifetime even if I want to eat the finest food and drink the best wine."

Ye Li frowned slightly; her concerns were naturally not about money. Even for a dancing girl of Yaoji’s standing, money wasn’t an issue anymore. But with the current instability in the south, her body was not in a fit state to travel a thousand miles to Jiangnan. Rubbing her temples, Ye Li changed the topic and asked, "Third Feng has returned to the capital. Have you met him yet?"

Yaoji replied with a smile, "He visited me yesterday morning, but he has been quite busy. So... Princess Consort, there is no need to inform him of my trivial matters."

Ye Li said, "I thought you had a good relationship with Third Feng."

Yaoji smiled and said, "Third Young Master Feng is my friend, my only...real friend. Princess Consort, there’s no need to test me. Third Young Master Feng does not have those kinds of feelings for me, and I truly consider him a friend. We are...I guess, companions in distress."

Ye Li whispered an apology. She knew that there was someone in Feng Zhiyao’s heart, but she had never heard Third Feng or anyone else mention this person. Perhaps Mo Xiuyao knew, but this was ultimately Third Feng’s private matter. Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t take the initiative to tell her, and she wouldn’t ask.

Yaoji shook her head generously and laughed. "I know the Princess Consort cares for me, but there truly is no need to tell Third Feng about this matter. Although Third Young Master Feng appears nonchalant about everything, he deeply despises evil. He originally wanted to find Heir Mu, but I’ve already told him that we’ve made things clear, so the marriage between Marquis Muyang’s Mansion and the Sun family has nothing to do with me."

"You want to keep the child?" Ye Li frowned. After all that Yaoji had said, if she didn’t understand her intentions, then all her years of experience would have been wasted. It wasn’t that she was cruel, but in this age, not to mention Yaoji’s status, even an ordinary woman would find it difficult to have a child out of wedlock. It would be even harder for the child in the future.

Yaoji looked at her, a hint of gentle warmth crossing her beautiful face. She nodded. "Yes, it’s my child. Princess Consort, you can rest assured that as I’ve broken off all ties with Mu Yang, I will definitely not use this child as leverage to entangle him in the future. After leaving the capital this time...I don’t plan on coming back. Living under a false name in a place where nobody knows me, I can still lead a life."

Ye Li shook her head and said, "That’s not what I meant. Have you considered what will happen after the child is born? What about your future? Even if you raise the child alone and have enough money to spend, what happens when the child grows up? Be it a daughter’s marriage or a son’s future, all require a respectable family background. Yaoji, the world is not tolerant towards women." In fact, she was speaking of distant concerns; more immediately, Yaoji’s beauty and talent wouldn’t be easily hidden in a remote area. And in a bustling city, a beautiful woman living alone would find it even harder to survive.

Yaoji’s expression turned gloomy, her eyes filled with sadness and helplessness. Her jade-like hand gently caressed her abdomen as she gritted her teeth, "I know all of this, but...but this is my child..." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Ye Li was speechless. Women of this era were not like those from her previous world, for whom abortion was a trivial matter. Even someone like Yaoji, despite her life in the demimonde, would be soft-hearted towards her own child, especially since this was the child she shared with the man she loved. To have given herself to Mu Yang, she must have loved him deeply. Alas, even such a woman had her irrational moments.

After a moment of silence, Yaoji lifted her head and said to Ye Li, "I understand everything the Princess Consort has said. I thank you for your concern, but...I have already made my decision about the child. I wonder about the Qingcheng Workshop..."

Ye Li sighed slightly and nodded. "I’ll buy the Qingcheng Workshop. Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t say much more. Take care of yourself. I’ll have the silver bills sent to you later."

Gratefully, Yaoji said, "Thank you, Princess Consort."

Ye Li gently shook her head. "Take care."

"I shall take my leave."

After seeing Yaoji off, Ye Li remained seated in the flower hall in a daze, so much so that she didn’t even notice when Mo Xiuyao came in.

"What are you so engrossed in thinking about, Ah-Li?" Mo Xiuyao asked with a smile.

Ye Li shook her head, telling him about purchasing the Qingcheng Workshop, but left out the part about Yaoji’s pregnancy. Mo Xiuyao naturally wouldn’t concern himself with what happened to a courtesan. He nodded and said with a laugh, "The Qingcheng Workshop is indeed a good place. Although Third Feng often used it to gather information, it ultimately belonged to someone else, and he had to be mindful of his friendship with Yaoji. Our purchase is fine, but it can’t be registered under Prince Ding’s Mansion’s name."

Ye Li nodded. She had never intended for Prince Ding’s Mansion to purchase it. "I’ll let Mingxi handle it later." Putting it under Chu Junwei’s name would neither attract attention nor raise suspicion. If anyone were to check, they would discover that Chu Junwei owned a few small and medium-sized shops in various places, the most profitable of which was in Guangling City.

Mo Xiuyao didn’t care about such trivial matters. He sat next to Ye Li and said, "Today, did Yelv Ye spar with you?"

Ye Li replied with a light smile, "We just had a casual exchange. But this Prince Yelv really doesn’t act like a Beirong."

Raising his eyebrows, Mo Xiuyao said, "Regardless of whether one is part of the imperial family in Beirong or Great Chu, one cannot avoid scheming. To stand out among the King of Beirong’s many sons, his cunning and tactics cannot be underestimated. But...daring to act so brazenly in Prince Ding’s Mansion, I underestimated him. I just don’t know if he’s prepared for the consequences of offending me."

Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao in surprise, but quickly understood his intentions and replied with a faint smile without dissuading him. "The choice for the marriage alliance has probably been decided. It will either be Commandery Princess Ronghua or Miss Liu, but I think Commandery Princess Ronghua’s chances are higher. There will be more drama then." In terms of status, Commandery Princess Ronghua was higher than Miss Liu, and in terms of beauty, Commandery Princess Ronghua was also considered one of the beauties in the capital. Moreover, given the Liu Family’s current rising status, they probably wouldn’t want to marry their legitimate daughter out. After all, even if she became the Crown Princess, with the capital being so far away, it wouldn’t provide much substantial help to the Liu Family. What the Liu Family likely needed more now was to form marriage alliances with various influential noble families. As for Commandery Princess Ronghua, although she was Princess Zhaoren’s beloved daughter, so what? Princess Zhaoren couldn’t even choose her own marriage, let alone her daughter’s.

Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "They can make as much fuss as they like; you can ignore it. If it really becomes troubling, you can push it onto the Emperor. If you get bored, you can go visit Aunt Empress; we can leave the capital for a few days."

Ye Li thought about the elites she had left in Black Wind Mountain Valley and couldn’t help but smile. "That sounds good. I have some things to attend to outside in the next few days."