Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 238 - 237. Nagging endlessly
237. Persistently Annoying
"Reporting to Your Highnesses, Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding: Noble Consort Liu and Princess Changle of Great Chu seek an audience," a guard from outside announced.
The mere thought of Noble Consort Liu made Ye Li feel vexed. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Mo Xiuyao’s feelings for her. It was more like a fly constantly buzzing around, yet you couldn’t simply swat it dead. This always left her feeling rather agitated.
For the first time, Ye Li realized that compared to Noble Consort Liu, Su Zuidie, whom she detested, and Ye Ying, whom she disliked, were insignificant. Su Zuidie was just narcissistic and vain, and Ye Ying was merely self-righteous with a touch of common selfishness. These traits hardly compared to Noble Consort Liu’s persistent nuisance. Even after Mo Xiuyao had treated her so rudely, she still had the audacity to show up; Ye Li wondered where she found such impressive mental fortitude.
Although some say that only foolish women concern themselves with other women, while smart women focus on men, when confronted with someone like Noble Consort Liu, even the most disciplined men were rendered helpless.
Seeing the unpleasant expression on Ye Li’s face, Mo Xiuyao, on the contrary, seemed pleased. Ye Li shot him a sidelong glance and said lightly, "If Your Highness is so pleased, why don’t you go and see Noble Consort Liu yourself?"
Xu Qingchen nodded. "Li’er is right. Noble Consort Liu received the news as soon as you returned and came over specifically. It’s highly unlikely she’s here to see Li’er. Don’t waste your energy on that. Li’er must be exhausted from the past few days; go back to your chamber and rest."
At these words, Mo Xiuyao shot Xu Qingchen a resentful glare, his hands clinging to Ye Li, refusing to let go. "No, Ah-Li, don’t go..."
Xu Qingchen wordlessly observed the man before him, who seemed to grow more childish with age, and his helpless younger sister, before rising and departing. Even knowing Mo Xiuyao was putting on an act, what could he do if Li’er couldn’t bear to leave him? He was tired of being a third wheel. As the saying goes, ’An upright official has difficulty resolving domestic disputes.’ Since one was willing to play along with the other’s antics, there was truly nothing for him to do. Glancing back at the couple snuggling sweetly together, Young Master Qingchen sighed helplessly. Having lived half a lifetime without experiencing romantic entanglements, Young Master Qingchen truly couldn’t comprehend such mutual affection. What is love in this world? How would this Young Master know?
Mo Xiuyao spent a good while cooing sweet words to appease his wife, silently vowing to himself that even if he felt pleased by Ah-Li’s concern for him, he absolutely couldn’t show it in front of her, or Ah-Li would become shy. The guards in the courtyard had long grown accustomed to their Prince shamelessly fawning over the Princess Consort, his dignified image completely forgotten. Third Young Master Feng was right; being henpecked was indeed quite common.
By the time Noble Consort Liu and Princess Changle were ushered in, their expressions were already quite strained. Prince Ding’s skill at coaxing people wasn’t yet up to par, so Noble Consort Liu had to wait nearly an hour before being allowed in. Princess Changle, however, saw Ye Li give her a twinkling wink, and she returned a light smile and a nod.
Extending her hand, Ye Li beckoned Princess Changle to sit beside her. Princess Changle, without any reservation, walked over and sat down next to Ye Li, laughing softly. "Princess Consort Ding, were you and Uncle Prince Ding out having fun? I wanted to visit you yesterday, but Third Young Master Feng said you weren’t in."
Ye Li nodded with a smile. "I was indeed out these past few days. Did Your Highness the Princess just arrive yesterday?"
Princess Changle nodded. "You travel so quickly; our carriage couldn’t keep up."
Noble Consort Liu approached, glanced at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, and asked, "Has Prince Ding been well these past few days?"
Mo Xiuyao, leaning against Ye Li, ignored her words.
Noble Consort Liu’s expression faltered, and she clenched her teeth, continuing, "Princess Consort, this palace has matters to discuss with Prince Ding. Could you please give us some privacy?"
Ye Li lazily glanced at Noble Consort Liu, then lowered her gaze to Mo Xiuyao, who was leaning on her. Mo Xiuyao looked up at her pitifully, his dark eyes shining brightly beneath his snow-white hair. "My dear, I haven’t spoken to her. Don’t leave me..."
"PFFT..." Sitting to the side, Princess Changle couldn’t help but burst out laughing, nearly choking on the tea she had just swallowed. She coughed incessantly. "Princess Consort... Uncle Prince Ding..." Princess Changle was speechless. In her mind, Uncle Prince Ding had always been heroic, awe-inspiring, and aloof. But was this man, looking so pitifully at Princess Consort Ding, truly the formidable Uncle Prince Ding?
Ye Li shot Mo Xiuyao a helpless glance, then said to Princess Changle, "He’s acting up. Don’t mind him."
Mo Xiuyao, displeased, rubbed his handsome face against Ye Li. "My dear, this woman has ill intentions towards your husband. You must protect me."
"There, there..." Ye Li patted him perfunctorily. Looking up at Noble Consort Liu, Ye Li said solemnly, "Noble Consort, you’ve frightened our Prince."
Noble Consort Liu’s stunning face twisted for a moment before she forced a smile. "Miss Ye, you jest. How could a Prince as wise and valiant as ours be frightened by me?"
Ye Li replied casually, "That’s not necessarily true. Persistently annoying women are the most terrifying, and our Prince has always been most afraid of shameless ones. Look, isn’t he frightened?"
Mo Xiuyao nodded repeatedly. Although his face wasn’t visible, his unhesitating nod thoroughly humiliated Noble Consort Liu.
"Ye Li, you—" Noble Consort Liu finally snapped, her carefully maintained composure shattering. She cried out sharply, but before she could say more, an icy gaze cut her words short.
Mo Xiuyao rested his head on Ye Li’s shoulder, turning his face so that his silver hair veiled most of it. But his eyes, fixed on Noble Consort Liu, glinted with a chilling ferocity that seemed to emanate from the depths of hell. Noble Consort Liu had once endlessly yearned for this man to spare her a glance. But now that Mo Xiuyao’s gaze truly fell upon her, she felt as if her entire being was frozen. Fear almost consumed her, yet she was too rigid to even twitch. Those handsome, profound eyes held an unprecedented killing intent. Noble Consort Liu even wondered if her eyes were deceiving her; had she seen a fleeting flash of blood-red light in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes?
"Since... since Prince Ding is busy, this palace will take its leave first." With that, as if fleeing a pursuing demon, Noble Consort Liu hurried out of the courtyard, even forgetting to call Princess Changle to leave with her.
Ye Li and Princess Changle exchanged bewildered glances, unable to understand why Noble Consort Liu, who had been so stubbornly persistent just moments before, had suddenly fled as if she’d seen a ghost.
"Prince Ding, what did you do?" Ye Li asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mo Xiuyao blinked innocently. "What would I do to her? Ah-Li, you and Changle have a good chat. I’ll go find Third Feng for a drink."
Ye Li knew he had matters to discuss with Feng Zhiyao, so she nodded and watched him rise and depart.
Only when Mo Xiuyao was out of sight did Princess Changle, who had been holding her teacup, lower it to the table and start giggling uncontrollably.
Ye Li looked at her, somewhat perplexed. "Is it that funny?"
Princess Changle’s eyes crinkled with laughter. Looking up at Ye Li, she said, "Of course, it’s funny! If you weren’t here, Princess Consort, I truly wouldn’t believe that was Uncle Prince Ding."
Ye Li patted her hand and smiled faintly. "What did you imagine Prince Ding to be like? Always exuding an air of dominance? People have to live their lives; naturally, they’re more casual in private. But what about you? We haven’t had a chance to talk properly. For Princess Anxi’s wedding, no princes from Great Chu are attending. Why would a princess like you come?"
The smile on Princess Changle’s face gradually faded. With a wan smile, she said, "Naturally, it’s because Father Emperor ordered me to represent the imperial family at the Nanzhao princess’s wedding."
Ye Li snorted coldly. "Have all the princes of Great Chu perished? Forcing a princess like you to come alone? And Noble Consort Liu—since she’s an imperial concubine, according to the rules of Great Chu, she has even less reason to be here than you."
Princess Changle said, "I heard Noble Consort Liu herself begged Father Emperor to come. In recent years, Father Emperor has increasingly trusted the Liu Family and doted on Noble Consort Liu, so it’s probably not strange that he agreed to such a request from her. However... I only now realize that Noble Consort Liu begged Father Emperor to come because she wanted to see Uncle Prince Ding."
Ye Li took Princess Changle’s delicate hand and said seriously, "Changle, don’t change the subject. Tell me, why did your Father Emperor really send you to the Southern Border? Does he intend for you to have a marriage alliance?"
Princess Changle paused, then bit her lip and smiled faintly. "As expected, I can’t hide anything from Princess Consort Ding and Uncle Prince Ding. Father Emperor... Father Emperor doesn’t want me to have a marriage alliance; he wants to... gift me to the King of Nanzhao."
Hearing this, Ye Li’s expression darkened. "Has Mo Jingqi lost his mind? You are the legitimate Eldest Princess of Great Chu! A marriage alliance would be one thing, but what does he mean by ’gifting’ you to the King of Nanzhao?"
Princess Changle squeezed Ye Li’s hand and smiled faintly. "I know the Princess Consort cares for me. However... whether it’s being ’gifted’ or a marriage alliance, is there really much difference? Isn’t this the purpose of a royal daughter?"
Looking at the faint, sad smile on the young girl’s face, Ye Li felt a pang in her heart and asked softly, "What did your mother, the Empress, say?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Princess Changle frowned. "Mother naturally disagreed. Mother said that even if it were a marriage alliance, it must be conducted according to protocol. But Father Emperor insisted. Before I left, Mother quarreled with Father Emperor and was confined to the palace by him. When I was about to leave... Father Emperor forbade me from seeing Mother. I don’t even know..."
At this point, the young girl, who had been trying so hard to mask her feelings with a smile, finally couldn’t hold back her tears. Remembering the apologetic look in her mother’s eyes the last time she saw her, Princess Changle felt her eyes well up, and tears streamed down her face.
Ye Li understood then. Mo Jingqi’s move was not merely to secure an alliance with Nanzhao; he clearly intended to use this to humiliate the Empress and the Hua Family. But even if Mo Jingqi was so dissatisfied with the Empress and the Hua Family, had he forgotten that Changle was his own flesh and blood?
Looking at the beautiful young woman before her, Ye Li sighed lightly and asked, "Do you truly intend to follow your Father Emperor’s arrangements? Although I don’t have a daughter, I am a mother. If my child were to encounter such a thing, how heartbroken would the mother be? Let’s not speak of your Father Emperor. But your mother... if you are truly ’gifted’ to the King of Nanzhao like this, I fear your mother will be consumed by guilt for a lifetime."
Princess Changle wiped her tears and choked out, "I once told the Princess Consort that if Great Chu ever needed a marriage alliance, as a princess, I would naturally consider it my duty. But now I realize... that so-called ’princess’s responsibility’ was just my own presumptuousness. Father Emperor doesn’t need me, his daughter, to forge a marriage alliance for him, to link the friendship of two nations. He merely wants to see my maternal grandfather and Mother unhappy; he wants to disgrace the Hua Family. That day, when Mother went to speak with Father Emperor about my marriage, I overheard from outside the door. Father Emperor said he would not let me have a grand, official marriage alliance, nor would he let me stay in the Capital of Great Chu. With my status, if I were to marry into another country through an alliance, I would at the very least be a prince’s Princess Consort. He said that if I were to side with outsiders in the future, I would inevitably help others against him. If I married within the Capital of Great Chu, I would inevitably rally my husband’s family to support the Hua Family and cause him trouble. That’s why he wants to send me to Nanzhao, ensuring I can never become the Queen of Nanzhao, only a concubine of low rank."
Hearing Princess Changle’s words, Ye Li felt an overwhelming urge to give Mo Jingqi a piece of her mind. She sighed and asked, "Your Highness, shall I arrange for someone to help you leave this place?"
Princess Changle shook her head. "Thank you, Princess Consort, but there’s no need. Since Changle promised Father Emperor to come to Nanzhao, I will not flee midway. I only ask that if the Princess Consort has the opportunity in the future, you might look after my mother and the Hua Family a little."
Just as Ye Li was about to try and persuade Princess Changle further, a guard came to report that a palace maid from Great Chu was looking for Princess Changle. Presumably, after Noble Consort Liu fled in a panic, she realized upon returning to her courtyard that Princess Changle was still here, and so dispatched someone to find her.
Princess Changle stood up and smiled. "Princess Consort, I must take my leave. By the way, be careful of Noble Consort Liu. That woman is quite mad."
Ye Li nodded and advised softly, "You be careful too. If you need any help, just send someone to let me know."
"Thank you, Princess Consort. Farewell."
Princess Anxi’s wedding was only a day or two away, and the people of Nanzhao held great respect for this Eldest Princess. The entire Nanzhao Royal City was extraordinarily lively, with many Nanzhao citizens traveling from other regions specifically to join the grand occasion.
In a teahouse clearly frequented by people from Great Chu, Ye Li sat by the window, leisurely sipping her tea. Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair, coldly eyeing two extremely unwelcome men. "What are you two doing here?"
Han Mingxi elegantly sipped his fine wine, his demeanor lazy, his smile charming. "Your Highness, what kind of question is that? Princess Anxi’s wedding is no small affair. I am a merchant; merchants pursue profit. Why shouldn’t I be here?"
Mo Xiuyao narrowed his eyes dangerously and said coldly, "If that’s the case, then go about your business. Why come looking for us?"
Han Mingxi set down his wine cup and said sincerely, "Your Highness misunderstands. I didn’t come looking for you; I came to see the Princess Consort. You’re the one who tagged along."
"HA-HA..." Sitting beside Han Mingxi was indeed Han Mingyue, Young Master Mingyue. Although he no longer possessed the elegance of Young Master Mingyue of old, it was evident that Han Mingxi had taken good care of his elder brother these past few years. Han Mingyue had a somewhat weathered look about his brow, but his spirits seemed quite good.
Seeing Mo Xiuyao’s expression darken, Han Mingyue couldn’t help but smile. Worried that Mo Xiuyao might vent his anger on his younger brother, he spoke up, "It’s been many years. It’s rare to see Your Highness lose his composure." Although Han Mingyue had been living in Licheng for several years and Su Zuidie was long dead, their former brotherly bond could not be restored. Calling him ’Prince’ now signified the current distance and nature of their relationship.
Han Mingxi snorted and raised an eyebrow. Wasn’t the Prince often losing his composure? So much for his elder brother’s judgment of character.
"Alright, Mingxi, you came all the way to Nanzhao. Is there something important?" Ye Li quickly interjected, seeing Mo Xiuyao was about to erupt.
Han Mingxi’s expression turned serious, and he nodded. "Indeed. After I escorted Yaoji back to the Capital of Great Chu, I met with Leng Haoyu. It was he who had something he wanted me to relay to you, Prince Ding, and to the Princess Consort."
Seeing Han Mingxi’s gravity, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li knew it must be something extremely important. Otherwise, Leng Haoyu wouldn’t have asked Han Mingxi to deliver the message instead of sending someone directly to Licheng.
Ye Li frowned slightly. "Has something happened in the Capital of Great Chu?"
Han Mingxi shook his head. "The Capital of Great Chu itself is fine. However, Mo Jingqi is likely to be in trouble."
Mo Xiuyao snorted disdainfully. Was it so surprising that Mo Jingqi was heading for trouble? Even his own younger brother wanted him dead; it just showed how much he had incurred divine wrath and public indignation. It would be stranger if he *didn’t* run into trouble.
Seeing their expressions, Han Mingxi somewhat understood and smiled. "It seems more than one group wants to deal with Mo Jingqi, eh? Has Your Highness also heard something? Let me guess... Is it Mo Jingli?"
Ye Li didn’t answer, instead asking with a smile, "What you want to discuss surely isn’t Mo Jingli, then?"
Han Mingxi smiled. "Of course not. It’s the Liu Family."
The Liu Family? Ye Li was somewhat taken aback. Although they had previously guessed that the Liu Family harbored great ambitions, why would they target Mo Jingqi? Currently, Mo Jingqi trusted the Liu Family implicitly and doted on Noble Consort Liu. What could they possibly gain by moving against him?
Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly, then quickly reacted, asking, "Does the Liu Family intend to install Noble Consort Liu’s son on the throne?"
A glint of appreciation flashed in Han Mingxi’s eyes. He nodded. "Precisely. Speaking of which, Mo Jingqi has had a stroke of luck. Originally, the Liu Family planned to make their move soon. However, Mo Jingqi suddenly dispatched Prime Minister Liu to Nanzhao. This threw the Liu Family’s plans into disarray, which is how our people noticed something was amiss. Otherwise, the news we’d be receiving might have been that Great Chu has a new emperor and Mo Jingqi is dead."
Ye Li couldn’t help but press her forehead. Just how did Mo Jingqi manage to alienate everyone around him to such an extent?
Mo Xiuyao remained unmoved. "This counts as important news? Is Leng Haoyu that bored, with nothing better to do?"
What did Mo Jingqi’s life or death have to do with him? The more miserably Mo Jingqi died, the happier he would be. Although it was somewhat regrettable that he wouldn’t be the one to do it, he didn’t mind if someone else took on the task.
Han Mingxi rolled his eyes. "If that were all, naturally, no one would care. But Leng Haoyu said this matter doesn’t seem to be solely the Liu Family’s doing. There appear to be traces of Beirong and some northern tribes involved. He fears the day of Mo Jingqi’s death will be the day these forces launch an all-out invasion of Great Chu."
"Beirong and the northern tribes are also involved?"
Han Mingxi nodded. "Otherwise, given the Liu Family’s capabilities, how would they dare plot a coup d’état without external support?"
Ye Li’s brow furrowed, and she said gravely, "Princess Changle... might be in danger."
Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Someone wants to sow discord between Mo Jingqi and the Hua Family. Targeting Princess Changle is indeed the best way."
