Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 120. Scare
120. Shock
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has no plans to host a wedding banquet."
As these words were spoken, a hush fell over the grand hall, and almost every pair of eyes focused on Ye Li. None more so than those of Helian Huimin and Noble Consort Liu seated on the dais. Helian Huimin had likely not expected Ye Li to dare refuse the marriage in public, before all the noble ladies and the Empress Dowager in the palace. This, in turn, put Helian Huimin herself in a difficult position. If the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion remained resolute in its refusal to marry Helian Huimin, then her reputation would be utterly ruined. Meeting Helian Huimin’s gaze, which was filled with barely concealed anger and shock, Ye Li offered a faint smile in return. Could it be that my usual gentle demeanor led this Miss Helian to believe I wouldn’t dare refuse the marriage in public?
"Princess Consort Ding, what did you say?" the Empress Dowager asked, her gaze fixed sternly on Ye Li. Actually, the current Empress Dowager had absolutely no desire to get entangled with the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. She had realized her son was unreliable long ago, when her youngest son launched a rebellion without even informing her, placing her in an untenable position. A woman in the palace, without a son to depend on, would find even heavenly abilities useless. Although her current authority was mostly titular, fortunately, the Empress had always treated her with due respect. Therefore, all she wanted now was to live out her remaining years peacefully in the palace. Regrettably, while she wished to retire, her son, the Emperor, was unwilling to let her do so. So, after Mo Jing hit a wall with Mo Xiuyao, he dragged her out, hoping to make a breakthrough with Princess Consort Ding. Now, being somewhat removed from the center of power, the Empress Dowager saw things more clearly. She naturally understood that this Princess Consort Ding was not someone who could be easily led by the nose. Although she didn’t want to offend Ye Li, she was now in a position where she couldn’t help herself and could no longer remain uninvolved.
Ye Li smiled, glanced at Madam Xu who was not far off, then turned back to the Empress Dowager, her voice clear and firm. "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has no plans to host a wedding in the near future. In fact, as long as I, this Princess Consort, am Princess Consort Ding for even a day, the Prince will not marry any other secondary consorts."
The hall instantly erupted into an uproar.
"Princess Consort Ding, you are insolent!" Princess Zhaoren shot up, pointing at Ye Li. "As a woman, you so brazenly prevent Prince Ding from taking a secondary consort! You have no wifely virtue to speak of. How can such a jealous woman be a worthy match for Prince Ding?" Princess Zhaoren’s only beloved daughter had been sent to Beirong for a political marriage, and her heart was still simmering with resentment. She had always harbored considerable dissatisfaction towards Ye Li, so naturally, she was the first to stand up and launch an attack now.
Ye Li lazily glanced at Princess Zhaoren. It seemed Princess Zhaoren had taken a strong dislike to her from the very beginning. No, it would be more accurate to say Princess Zhaoren intensely disliked Mo Xiuyao, and by extension, disliked her as well. On ordinary days, Ye Li might have let it pass, but today’s matter was not something she could concede. Thus, Ye Li had no intention of placating her. With a faint smile, Ye Li said, "Eldest Princess, it would be best for you to speak cautiously. Our Prince is unwilling to take secondary consorts or concubines; as his wife, I naturally must follow his lead. Am I supposed to collude with outsiders to coerce the Prince? Since the Eldest Princess speaks of wifely virtue, do you know the principle of ’a married woman follows her husband’?"
Princess Zhaoren’s face alternated between shades of green and white. Everyone in the Capital City knew that Princess Zhaoren had failed to bear a son and rigidly controlled her Prince Consort, forbidding him from getting close to secondary consorts or other serving women, which resulted in the Prince Consort still being without a son despite being over forty. Fortunately, the Prince Consort was only a second son of his main lineage. If he had been the eldest son and heir, it’s likely that even her esteemed status as an Eldest Princess would not have been enough to suppress the discontent of the powerful aristocratic families. For her to speak of ’wifely virtue’ at this moment carried a certain ironic sting. Princess Zhaoren’s face darkened, and she snorted coldly. "Even so, as the Princess Consort of King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, you should consider the matter of heirs for the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and ensure the continuation of its lineage. Even if the Prince is temporarily confused and bewitched by some vixen into not taking concubines, as the Princess Consort, if you do not even know to admonish him, you are unworthy of the title ’virtuous’."
Ye Li raised her eyes and said with a faint smile, "When did I ever say I could bear the title ’virtuous’? If being a ’virtuous consort’ means spending my days idly searching for beautiful concubines for my husband, then I apologize. This Princess Consort is indeed not virtuous and has no intention of becoming so."
"You... you..." Princess Zhaoren was so infuriated that she could hardly speak, her finger trembling as she pointed at Ye Li. Ye Li, without evading her gaze, met it with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
The Empress, seated on the dais, watched the Eldest Princess, who looked as if she were about to faint from anger. A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes. She spoke up, "Alright, if there’s something to say, say it properly. Eldest Princess, don’t be angry. Princess Consort Ding, one must not be impolite when an elder offers guidance." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
Ye Li nodded and said respectfully, "Her Highness Empress’s instruction is noted. Ye Li will certainly remember the elders’ teachings and take the Eldest Princess as an example, daring not to act contrary."
The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, coughed lightly, and looked at Ye Li. "Princess Consort Ding, this marriage bestowed by His Majesty for Miss Helian is both a family matter and a state affair. Princess Consort Ding should prioritize state affairs and not act willfully."
A surge of anger rose in Ye Li’s heart. What is wrong with these people? If it were just men being philanderers, that would be one thing. But these women themselves relentlessly try to stuff other women into people’s mansions, clearly forcing men to be unfaithful! They themselves enjoy being ’virtuous and magnanimous’; must they drag me into it too? She stood up and said coldly, "The Empress Dowager jests. How can a marriage alliance between two nations be handled so carelessly? When the alliance was initially formed, the King of Beirong never mentioned sending someone for a marriage alliance with the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. If it is truly a matter of state, where is the state document from Beirong regarding this marriage alliance? If there is no state document, does that mean this was decided privately by certain individuals? Does the Empress Dowager believe that the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion is a place where anyone can just enter as they please? Miss Helian wishes to enter the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion? Fine. The position of a sweeping maid in Prince Ding’s Mansion is vacant and awaits her. With merely the dubious status of a goddaughter, you wish to enter Prince Ding’s Mansion? Miss Helian, first present a clear and proper status before you speak to this Princess Consort!"
Helian Huimin stood up, her beautiful face filled with anger. "Even if you are Princess Consort Ding, I am a noble lady of Beirong! How can I allow you to humiliate me so wantonly!"
"A noble lady of Beirong?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow disdainfully. "This Princess Consort has never heard of a noble lady whose status is ’someone’s goddaughter’. A noble lady whose biological parents’ background cannot even be revealed?"
Everyone in the room understood Ye Li’s insinuation. In Great Chu, even if one’s adoptive father’s status was much higher than one’s biological parents, when speaking to others, one would first mention their biological parents, at most adding ’the adopted daughter of so-and-so’ afterwards. But Helian Huimin had never mentioned the identity of her biological parents at all. This could only mean that her parents’ status was likely not just ordinarily low, but exceedingly so. Considering some of Beirong’s customs, not many Beirong nobles possessed an imposing appearance like Yelv Ye. From Great Chu’s aesthetic perspective, most Beirong nobles were not considered good-looking. Conversely, many of the good-looking people in Beirong were slaves—that is, people sold or captured from other nations, many of whom were descendants of Great Chu people. Therefore, Helian Huimin’s refusal to even mention her biological parents’ identities couldn’t help but make people suspect if she was a descendant of Beirong slaves. If this were true, even if the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion took her in as a concubine, it would be a colossal joke. The noblewomen looked at Helian Huimin with an increasingly subtle gaze, now tinged with more disgust and contempt. The status of slaves in Beirong was even lower than that of servants and maids in Great Chu. Not only could their lives be taken at will, and they were made to do coarse labor that ordinary people wouldn’t, but there was also no such thing as a monthly allowance. Many female slaves were even subjected to the whims, play, and abuse of their masters.
Helian Huimin was also extremely intelligent; how could she not perceive the change in the crowd’s eyes? The look in her eyes as she gazed at Ye Li held even more hatred.
The Empress Dowager looked hesitantly at Helian Huimin; she too was unsure of Helian Huimin’s true identity. If it was truly so, and Helian Huimin’s real identity spread, it would not only cause dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s marriage decree throughout the court but might even lead the military to believe the Emperor was intentionally trying to humiliate the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. "Princess Consort, you might be overthinking this. Since Beirong is on good terms with our Great Chu, they naturally wouldn’t be ignorant of our Great Chu’s customs. The woman sent for the marriage alliance would naturally be of noble status. Presumably, Miss Helian’s parents passed away when she was young, and she grew up in General Helian’s mansion, so she became accustomed to it?"
Ye Li hadn’t originally intended to press the issue of Helian Huimin’s identity. If Helian Huimin’s origins were truly disgraceful, spreading it would do the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion no good either. She stood up, glanced at Helian Huimin, then looked directly at the Empress Dowager and said, "Empress Dowager, this Princess Consort will state it plainly here: unless the Prince personally agrees to take a Secondary Consort into the mansion, this Princess Consort will not consent to anyone else entering."
The Empress Dowager was secretly annoyed. If they could get through to Prince Ding, why would they need to waste so much breath talking to Princess Consort Ding? "Princess Consort Ding, His Majesty’s imperial decree has already been issued. Don’t you know that an imperial command is difficult to defy? Or do you want His Majesty to go back on his word and retract the order?"
Ye Li smiled and, tilting her head up, said, "Then there is only one way. Please, Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, issue an edict to grant this Princess Consort death. Once this Princess Consort is no longer here, the position of Princess Consort will be vacant, and the Prince can naturally take a Secondary Consort then. At that time, whomever the Prince marries or takes as a concubine will no longer be this Princess Consort’s concern."
"Princess Consort Ding!" the Empress Dowager exclaimed, enraged. Ye Li’s expression was composed and unmoved. The Empress Dowager, furious, sneered coldly, "What if I insist that Miss Helian enter the mansion?"
A faint smile flickered across Ye Li’s face, and a cold light glinted in her hand. "Then the Empress Dowager presumably wouldn’t mind if the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion holds a wedding and a funeral simultaneously. This Princess Consort guarantees that the funeral will definitely be more bustling than the wedding."
Everyone present couldn’t help but gasp, looking at the dagger glinting coldly in Princess Consort Ding’s hand. The few among them who still harbored other intentions also quickly extinguished their fanciful thoughts. Even a less favored daughter from their family marrying into a slightly inferior household could be of some help to her natal family. But marrying into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion would not only offend Princess Consort Ding but also be a senseless act of courting disaster. Looking at the woman who still wore a gentle smile, they didn’t dare doubt for a moment that she was merely joking. Ye Li smiled as she swept her gaze over the crowd, her eyes finally stopping on Helian Huimin. She chuckled, "Well? Miss Helian, do you still insist on entering Prince Ding’s Mansion?"
Helian Huimin secretly took a deep breath and looked at Ye Li defiantly. "Princess Consort, if you want to kill this young lady, you probably don’t have the ability. Do you think a mere short dagger can scare this young lady?" Which daughter of Beirong isn’t raised on horseback, learning to wield blades and swords from a young age? Although Helian Huimin’s origins were somewhat low, she was adopted by Helian Zhen from a young age, so her martial arts skills were naturally not weak. With a flick of her hand, she also drew the scimitar from the jewel-adorned scabbard at her waist, pointing it at Ye Li.
"Miss Helian, how can you casually draw your weapon before the Empress Dowager? Put it down!" the Empress chided with a frown.
Nearby, Noble Consort Liu said faintly, "Just now, when Princess Consort Ding drew her dagger, I didn’t see Her Highness Empress reprimand her."
The Empress smiled faintly. "Has Younger Sister forgotten? The ancestors decreed that Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding may carry weapons in the palace."
Noble Consort Liu snorted lightly, turned her head away, and stopped paying attention to the Empress. The Empress didn’t pursue the matter with her, just smiling faintly.
Looking at Helian Huimin pointing that ornately decorated scimitar at her, Ye Li pursed her lips into a smile.
Helian Huimin frowned. "What are you laughing at?"
Ye Li chuckled. "Speaking of which... there are quite a few women who covet my Prince. Today, this Princess Consort will use you to set an example!"
"Shameless boasting!" Helian Huimin sneered disdainfully, her scimitar slicing horizontally towards Ye Li. Ye Li casually leaned to the side, dodging it. Helian Huimin didn’t relent, her blade attacks flowing continuously. Helian Huimin, having grown up on the great grasslands, wielded her scimitar with impressive force and vigor, far surpassing the women of the Central Plains. Only after Helian Huimin had executed about ten strikes did Ye Li laugh crisply. "Miss Helian, have you had enough? Then it’s this Princess Consort’s turn." Compared to Helian Huimin’s imposing momentum, Ye Li’s moves seemed utterly unremarkable. The onlookers hadn’t even seen clearly what happened before Ye Li had already closed the distance, one hand gripping Helian Huimin’s retreating hand, while a kick sent Helian Huimin’s attacking leg aside. In her other hand, a cold light flashed as the dagger thrust mercilessly towards Helian Huimin’s chest.
"Princess Consort Ding, show mercy!" Both the Empress Dowager and the Empress exclaimed in unison.
Finding herself unable to break free from Ye Li’s restraint, Helian Huimin could only close her eyes and await death. She was unreconciled. She believed her martial arts were first-rate even among Beirong women, yet she had lost so inexplicably to a woman from Great Chu. She hadn’t even had time to see her opponent’s moves clearly. But none of that mattered now. Even if she was unreconciled, what awaited her was death...
After waiting for a moment, the anticipated pain did not arrive. Helian Huimin opened her eyes in confusion. She saw Ye Li unceremoniously push her aside and calmly sheathe her short dagger. Having walked through the gates of hell and back, Helian Huimin still couldn’t quite regain her senses. She could feel that Princess Consort Ding hadn’t just been trying to scare her. The overwhelming killing intent that had washed over her was enough to make her clearly realize she had truly just narrowly escaped death.
Having received such a blow, Helian Huimin couldn’t utter a word for a long moment, just standing dazedly in the main hall, lost in thought.
The Empress Dowager’s face was ashen with anger. She rose to her feet. "Princess Consort Ding, you are truly audacious! Enough... I am old, I can no longer manage these affairs. Empress, I’ll leave the subsequent matters for you to handle. I am returning first." After saying this, the Empress Dowager, rubbing her chest, beckoned a palace maid beside her to support her as she left.
With the Empress Dowager having dropped the responsibility, the Empress could only smile bitterly. Noble Consort Liu looked at the Empress and asked, "Her Highness Empress, how should this matter be handled?"
The Empress smiled. "Naturally, we will report it to His Majesty for a decision. However, after today... I think this matter won’t be difficult to resolve. Younger Sister, don’t you agree?" If Helian Huimin still dared to want to marry into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, then she could only admire her.
Noble Consort Liu looked down at Ye Li in the hall below, a more complex and profound look in her eyes. The Empress paid her no heed, merely smiling to herself. "I still prefer Princess Consort Ding’s temperament. She doesn’t make a sound, but when she does, it’s astonishing. She handles matters cleanly and decisively. Presumably, from now on, those who wish to marry their daughters into Prince Ding’s Mansion will have to think thrice." She smiled faintly at Ye Li in the hall below, a touch of admiration and envy in her eyes.
Ye Li, enduring everyone’s gazes, nonchalantly played with the sharp blade in her hand. Since such matters cannot be avoided, it’s best to resolve them completely in one go.
