Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 193 - 192. Express Feelings
192: Baring Intentions
The three sons of the Xu family arrived in Ruyang City early the next morning, just as Feng Zhiyao had said they would. Their marked fatigue showed that they had clearly traveled through the night. The fact they had arrived so quickly, and he hadn’t yet told Ye Li about their impending visit, secretly annoyed Mo Xiuyao. Why did they feel the need to rush? Ah-Li isn’t going to run away, after all. What he refused to consider, however, was the sheer joy the Xu family must have felt upon learning that Ye Li was still alive. That they hadn’t moved the entire family to the Northwest was only because the current situation did not allow it. Otherwise, he would have had far more to worry about.
Ye Li, however, was extremely pleased by the arrival of her cousins. She had been terribly idle in recent days. The two physicians had forbidden her from handling any official business. Mo Xiuyao had become even stricter, not even allowing her to do any needlework. Every day, apart from eating and sleeping, she was only allowed to take a stroll in the mansion’s garden and read books occasionally. I’ve never been this idle in my two lifetimes combined, Ye Li thought.
Having endured an ordeal between life and death, seeing her relatives naturally filled her with indescribable excitement and joy. "Second Brother, Third Brother... Fifth Brother, you..."
"Sister Li!" Xu Qingyan, the youngest, couldn’t hold back his joy and rushed forward to take Ye Li’s hand and talk, as he usually did. Mo Xiuyao, standing beside Ye Li, raised a hand to gently block him, smiling faintly. "Fifth Brother, Ah-Li is with child now. Please be careful."
Eh? Only then did Xu Qingyan seem to notice that his cousin was no longer the slender, light figure she used to be. Her still relatively slim frame made the distinct roundness of her belly even more apparent, a sight that startled him. He became flustered and looked pitifully at Ye Li, completely ignoring the somewhat odd way Mo Xiuyao had addressed him. Xu Qingze, seated to the side, merely raised an eyebrow and cast an indifferent glance at Mo Xiuyao. Ye Li smiled, patted Xu Qingyan’s shoulder, and said, "It’s been a while, Fifth Brother. You’ve grown quite a bit taller. Let’s sit and talk."
As Mo Xiuyao helped Ye Li to the main seat, Xu Qingyan blinked, looking at Ye Li with a hint of resentment, before reluctantly taking a seat below Xu Qingfeng. Among the Xu siblings, Xu Qingyan was the youngest. Even Xu Qingbai, who was about half a year older than Ye Li, was considered an elder brother to her. Only Xu Qingyan was truly Ye Li’s younger brother. They were close in age and had practically grown up together. Unlike his other brothers who had always protected Ye Li, Xu Qingyan was the one Ye Li had often looked after since childhood. He never thought of Ye Li as just a cousin; to him, she was his biological elder sister. When the Xu family moved from Capital City, he had thrown a tantrum because Ye Li couldn’t go with them, almost staying behind in the capital himself. Though Xu Qingbai was young, he had clearly registered Mo Xiuyao’s possessiveness. Witnessing this, Xu Qingyan’s dissatisfaction with Mo Xiuyao multiplied instantly. This guy not only made Sister Li do all sorts of things for him, almost costing her her life, but now he actually dares to try and keep me away from her?! Little Lord, indeed! The desire for revenge in a young man could be formidable. Right then and there, Xu Qingyan decided that if Mo Xiuyao tried to stop him from being around Sister Li, he would stick to her even more determinedly!
Mo Xiuyao certainly noticed Xu Qingyan’s provocative glare. His phoenix-like eyes narrowed dangerously as he shot a cold, threatening look back at Xu Qingyan. Far from being intimidated, Xu Qingyan simply raised an eyebrow and flashed Mo Xiuyao a defiant grin.
While a silent battle of glares raged on one side, Ye Li was happily conversing with Xu Qingze and Xu Qingfeng on the other. Ye Li looked at Xu Qingfeng, noting he seemed much more composed and mature after their time apart. "Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother, how did you all end up traveling together?" she asked curiously.
Xu Qingfeng laughed heartily. "I was already in the Northwest. It was actually Fifth Brother here. After hearing about your... incident, he rushed towards the Northwest alone but ended up getting lost and wandering into the south. Fortunately, I found him and brought him along to the Northwest with me." What Xu Qingfeng didn’t mention was that he and Xu Qingyan had spent a month or two searching around Hongzhou, clinging to the slimmest hope of finding Ye Li. They eventually encountered Xu Qingze, who was on his way to take up his post in Hongzhou, and thus the three brothers were reunited. However, since it wasn’t advisable for outsiders to know the whereabouts of Xu Qingfeng and Xu Qingyan, Xu Qingze hadn’t mentioned them even to Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao, distraught and agitated during those months, naturally hadn’t paid attention to such matters.
"Isn’t Third Brother in the military?" Ye Li frowned. Xu Qingfeng’s status was special; leaving his post would undoubtedly attract attention from his superiors. Could he have deserted? she wondered. Xu Qingfeng waved his hand dismissively and chuckled. "His Majesty doesn’t truly want our Xu family to produce another military commander. I simply reported that Fifth Brother had run away from home and I needed to find him. My leave was approved within a few days." Ye Li felt a pang of apology. She understood that Xu Qingfeng must have faced considerable ostracism in the military, not only because he was a son of the Xu family but also because he was the cousin of Princess Consort Ding.
"How are Grandfather Xu and Uncle? And where are Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother now?" Ye Li asked anxiously. Of course, the secret agents had relayed some news, but hearing it directly from her own relatives was much more reassuring.
"There’s currently a war in the Southwest, and Fourth Brother has been summoned back to Capital City," Xu Qingze said calmly. "Eldest Uncle’s intention is for him and Father to find an opportune moment to resign from their official posts and retire from court life. However, His Majesty might not approve. Grandfather and Father are both well. As for Eldest Brother..." Xu Qingze frowned slightly. "Eldest Brother only sent word that he’s in the south, but we don’t know exactly where he is or what he’s doing." The whereabouts of Young Master Qingchen were notoriously elusive. Even the secret agents and Tianyi Pavilion couldn’t reliably locate him. Unless he chose to reveal himself, no one could be certain of his location.
Ye Li frowned slightly. "So, it seems only Fourth Brother’s whereabouts are currently known to Mo Jingqi. Will he become more suspicious of the Xu family because of this?" Xu Qingfeng snorted. "When has His Majesty *not* been suspicious of our family? As long as Grandfather is still around, and as long as the Xu family doesn’t openly rebel, he wouldn’t dare to harm Grandfather, Eldest Uncle, or Father—if only for the sake of his own reputation."
"Third Brother," Xu Qingze interjected with a frown, casting a disapproving glance at Xu Qingfeng, who merely huffed and fell silent. Ye Li’s delicate eyebrows drew together tightly. Understanding the Xu family’s history, she began to grasp the intentions of her maternal grandfather and uncles. With Eldest Brother in the south, and Second, Third, and Fifth Brothers all in the Northwest, even if His Majesty wanted to move against the Xu family, he couldn’t possibly capture everyone at once. And as long as Grandfather and Eldest Maternal Uncle remain in Yunzhou, and Second Maternal Uncle stays in Capital City, then despite the countless ties between the Xu family and the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion through me, His Majesty wouldn’t dare to rashly accuse the Xu family of disloyalty. After all, the Xu family, as the foremost leaders among the empire’s scholars and literati, wields an influence that is truly far-reaching. If Mo Jingqi were to actually force the Xu family into rebellion, he himself wouldn’t escape unscathed. Grandfather and Eldest Maternal Uncle... they are buying time for the Northwest.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Li resolved inwardly, When I go to Capital City to retrieve the Bilo flower, I absolutely must make a trip to Yunzhou.
They had been talking for about an hour when Mo Xiuyao stood up and smiled at Ye Li. "Ah-Li, it’s time for Mr. Shen to check your pulse. Let’s also allow Qingze and the others to rest for a bit; they traveled through the night without stopping. We can hold a welcome banquet for them this evening, shall we?" Ye Li glanced at her three travel-worn cousins, her expression chagrined. "Oh, I completely forgot that Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother have had such an arduous journey, and I just kept you all talking. Second Brother, your courtyard is still reserved for you. Please, go with Third Brother and Fifth Brother to freshen up and rest. We can talk more later."
Xu Qingyan blinked, looking earnestly at Ye Li. "Sister Li, Fifth hasn’t had a proper chance to talk with you yet."
Ye Li smiled at the young man, who now stood a head taller than her. "Second Brother’s courtyard is right next to the main residence; we’ll have plenty of time. Once you’ve rested, you can come find me to chat whenever you like." Xu Qingyan’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed joyfully, "Really?" He then cast a subtly doubtful glance towards a certain someone. "And when that time comes, there won’t be anyone who... disallows Qingyan from talking with Sister Li, will there?" Ye Li patted his forehead and chuckled. "How could that be? Fifth is your sister’s only younger brother. Who would dare stop you from talking with me?" Xu Qingyan shot a triumphant look at Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over Xu Qingyan before he chuckled. "Ah-Li is right. Fifth Brother can come chat with Ah-Li whenever she wishes. After all, Fifth Brother is still young and has plenty of time." The clear implication was that, aside from chatting with Ye Li, Xu Qingyan was an idle good-for-nothing. Xu Qingyan gritted his teeth, his smile becoming even brighter. "Brother-in-law is absolutely right! I will make sure to frequently keep Sister Li company, especially when Brother-in-law is busy with state affairs and Sister Li might feel lonely or bored!"
After personally escorting Xu Qingze and the others to their courtyard to rest, Ye Li turned to Mo Xiuyao, whose face was visibly gloomy. She regarded him with amusement and sighed lightly. "Fifth is still just a boy. Why are you getting so worked up over him?" She had, of course, noticed the earlier silent battle between Xu Qingyan and Mo Xiuyao but had chosen not to comment. Now, seeing Mo Xiuyao’s expression so dark it looked as if ink might drip from it, his thin lips pressed into a tight line, he seemed more like a pouting child himself. Mo Xiuyao huffed, and after a long pause, retorted, "He’s already fifteen! How is that still a child?"
Ye Li reached out and gently caressed his tense, handsome face, chuckling. "Even if he were twenty, he’d still be my younger brother." She then tilted her head, appraising Mo Xiuyao. "Speaking of which, Mo Xiuyao, have you developed an addiction to jealousy recently? If you keep consuming all this ’vinegar,’ aren’t you afraid you’ll sour yourself to death?" It was one thing to be critical and find fault with Han Mingxi; Ye Li was somewhat aware of Han Mingxi’s unexpressed feelings for her, and because of that, she had always maintained a certain distance, not as close to him as she was to Feng Zhiyao or Qin Feng. But to be so critical of Xu Qingyan was going a bit too far. More importantly, Ye Li truly didn’t understand the source of Mo Xiuyao’s current vigilance. In her eyes, very few in the world could compare to Mo Xiuyao in terms of martial arts, intellect, or authority. He had never seemed to lack confidence before. If this was a lingering effect from her recent near-death experience, well, she had been back for nearly half a month now. For him to still be like this seemed a bit excessive.
Mo Xiuyao pulled her into his embrace, trapping her there. He bent down and lightly nipped her fragrant lips, murmuring, "So what if I am jealous? Ah-Li, you are not allowed to be nice to other men. It will make me angry."
Ye Li sighed in exasperation. "Fifth isn’t ’other men.’ He’s my brother, someone I’ve doted on like my own flesh-and-blood younger brother since we were children."
"Any man who isn’t me is an ’other man’," Mo Xiuyao declared domineeringly. Ye Li almost rolled her eyes. She grabbed his hand, placed it on her round belly, and asked with a laugh, "Then what about him? Both Mr. Shen and Doctor Lin said it’s a boy. Is he an ’other man’ too?" Mo Xiuyao stated matter-of-factly, "Of course. As soon as he’s born, we’ll just toss him— I mean, entrust him to Mr. Qingyun to raise and dote upon. A child taught by Mr. Qingyun will undoubtedly be exceptional." Exceptionally so, enough to make one resentful. If I hadn’t known long ago that Ah-Li only regards those Xu brothers as her own, and they her as their own sister, I would have died from all the vinegar I’ve consumed by now. Under Ye Li’s threatening glare, Mo Xiuyao reluctantly swallowed the word "toss" and opted for a more diplomatic phrasing.
Ye Li felt that one day this man would surely drive her to death from sheer exasperation. She twisted in his arms to face him fully, reaching up to pinch his cheek. "Mo Xiuyao, he is your son!" Mo Xiuyao squinted at her protruding belly and snorted coldly. "Another man!" I’ve found that thing an eyesore for a long time now. If it weren’t for this pregnancy, Ah-Li wouldn’t have been so immobile and nearly lost her life. If it weren’t for this pregnancy, I wouldn’t have to... keep enduring and be unable to be intimate with Ah-Li. All because that scoundrel Shen Yang said... Remembering Shen Yang’s gloating, elderly face, Mo Xiuyao found the creature lurking in Ah-Li’s womb even more detestable. Of course, I’m also at fault. I swear, once this one is born, I will absolutely never let Ah-Li get pregnant again. It’s dangerous, troublesome, and utterly annoying!
Ye Li felt utterly helpless in the face of such childishness. Yet, looking at his aggrieved but stubborn expression, she found him inexplicably endearing and couldn’t bring herself to feel any real anger. She pulled Mo Xiuyao down to sit, then casually settled onto his lap, turning his face towards hers. "My lord, can we please not be so immature?" Mo Xiuyao grumbled, then playfully nipped her slender finger before releasing it. "This Prince is not being childish! And even if I were, you’re not allowed to find me disdainful, Ah-Li."
Leaning against Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li sighed softly. Shen Yang had discreetly mentioned Mo Xiuyao’s state to me when he took my pulse. In ordinary times, under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t find this problematic. His strong possessiveness would simply be proof of his deep love for me. Even now, though a part of me is worried, there’s also a flicker of joy. But I can’t let him continue to be so insecure. I know my fall from the cliff unleashed a torrent of his deeply buried negative emotions—inferiority, resentment, powerlessness—amplifying them immensely. Though Mo Xiuyao outwardly blames the child, or Southern Garrison Prince Mo Jingqi, or even Su Zuidie for what happened, deep down, he truly believes it was all his own fault. He thinks his inability to protect me led to the danger I faced. Ye Li had wanted to talk to him about this for a long time, but whenever she faced him, she never knew how to begin.
"Xiuyao." She reached up and removed his mask. Doctor Lin’s medicine was truly effective; though only a few days had passed, the scars on Mo Xiuyao’s face already showed visible improvement. Even if they might not vanish completely, Ye Li believed they would fade considerably. Lifting her hand to encircle his neck, she gently pressed a kiss onto the scar on his left cheek. Mo Xiuyao started, his arms around Ye Li, freezing for a moment as if unable to process what was happening. Ye Li continued to kiss his scarred cheek, whispering softly, "Xiuyao, no matter how many other people there are in this world, in my heart, you are the most outstanding, the very best. Do you understand?"
Mo Xiuyao’s long eyelashes fluttered. He gazed at the beautiful, smiling woman before him—his wife, the sole and greatest love of his life. She said that in her heart, I am the most excellent, the best. Her gentle words filled him with an immeasurable joy, a delight that surpassed even the elation he’d felt from his royal father’s praise in his youth. Yet, at the same time, they stirred a profound sense of guilt and bitterness within him. Why couldn’t I have met you when I was at my best?
"Xiuyao, this world has many handsome, talented men of high status and power. But I met *you*... I didn’t meet the dashing young heir of Prince Ding’s Mansion from all those years ago. I met *you*, Mo Xiuyao, the Prince of Ding Kingdom. Do you understand?" Ye Li murmured softly. "Xiuyao, if I had met you ten years earlier, I certainly wouldn’t have fallen in love with you." The Mo Xiuyao of ten years ago was too young, so young that to someone like me, who has lived through two lifetimes, he would have seemed little more than a boy. Back then, such a brilliant, dazzling youth would have been someone I’d only try to avoid. And the Mo Xiuyao of that time would likely not have paid any attention to an unremarkable young lady from a high minister’s household. It’s not that the young Mo Xiuyao was shallow; rather, at that age, he probably hadn’t taken any woman seriously. That’s why even Su Zuidie, acclaimed as the world’s greatest beauty, was merely a treacherous former fiancée in his heart—no love, therefore no hatred. Without the experiences of these past ten years, I wouldn’t have fallen for Mo Xiuyao, and he wouldn’t have loved me. We met when we were both arguably at our worst, yet I believe we still found the right person at the right time.
"So, does Ah-Li love me now?" Mo Xiuyao asked in a low voice, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her serene, beautiful face. I know what Ah-Li says is true, but I can’t even imagine what would have become of me if I had missed her in this lifetime.
"I love you," Ye Li confessed without hesitation, her voice soft. I love this man. I fell in love with him unknowingly, at some point along the way. That’s why I’m willing to painstakingly plan for him, willing to do anything for him. That’s why I take pride in his excellence and brilliance, and also why I ache for his pain and vulnerability. When a woman is willing to indulge a man unconditionally, she must truly love him.
"Ah-Li," Mo Xiuyao breathed, a contented sigh. He lowered his head and captured the lips he had coveted for so long, gently parting her teeth, coaxing her tongue to dance with his. "Ah-Li, I love you... In this life, Mo Xiuyao will love only you..."
"Your Highness, from Capital City—"
An urgent male voice shattered the passionate atmosphere in the room. Feng Zhiyao, standing frozen at the doorway, had only one thought: I’m doomed! I actually interrupted an intimate moment between the Prince and Princess Consort! More importantly, damn it, if you two want to be intimate, couldn’t you at least go further inside? Even a screen would have been something! Mo Xiuyao, do you have to be so damn impatient? The Princess Consort is pregnant, you beast!
