Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 267: Family of three

265. Family of Three

Ye Li sat leisurely sipping tea as she watched the two men engage in a verbal duel. Evidently, Mo Jingli couldn’t compete with Mo Xiuyao, not just in terms of martial ability but also in a war of words. Many people had told Ye Li about how Mo Xiuyao had been so arrogant in his youth. Yet, the Mo Xiuyao that she saw, especially the one who was now well past thirty, was usually quite composed and measured. But now, she could truly see a trace of a young man’s defiant arrogance in Mo Xiuyao’s casual, unhurried demeanor. No wonder Mo Jingli’s face had turned black with anger.

Mo Jingli drew in a deep breath and stared at Mo Xiuyao. "Alright, I’ll trust your word. I won’t interfere with your affairs in the Capital City, but you’d better not do anything unnecessary."

Mo Xiuyao looked at him disdainfully. "Do you think those little games you and Mo Jingqi play are very attractive? The more I see them, the more I worry they might damage my brain."

Mo Jingli didn’t engage Mo Xiuyao in a verbal battle anymore. He also knew that he couldn’t win against Mo Xiuyao. Since he had gotten Mo Xiuyao’s promise, he naturally didn’t want to stay here and suffer his taunts. He stood up, glanced at Ye Li sitting beside him, and turned to walk towards the courtyard entrance.

"Ah-Li, you see, he can’t even win an argument against me. Don’t you think marrying me was the best decision ever? Isn’t it a match made in heaven, right?"

Regardless of whether Mo Jingli had left the courtyard yet, Mo Xiuyao, full of complacency, reached across the chessboard and grasped Ye Li’s hand. Ye Li helplessly watched Mo Jingli, who, upon hearing Mo Xiuyao’s boastful words, stumbled and then quickened his pace out of the courtyard. She then asked Mo Xiuyao, "Is beating him in an argument really something to be proud of?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded, proclaiming proudly, "Of course. I need to let Ah-Li know that your husband is better than others in every way, including arguing."

Ye Li rubbed her forehead thoughtfully and then sincerely looked at the man opposite her. "If you want to win an argument, you shouldn’t pick Mo Jingli. He’s no match for you."

"Then who should I choose?" Mo Xiuyao asked, squinting as he basked in the sun.

"Madam Wang from South Park Street in Licheng," Ye Li answered with a beam.

Mo Xiuyao looked blank. He had no idea who she was.

Ye Li explained with a smile, "Madam Wang is known as Licheng’s foremost sharp-tongue and top shrew. It’s said she once berated three grown men on the street until they cried. How about it, Prince? Want to try arguing with her after we return?"

Mo Xiuyao fell silent. After a while, he raised his head, quirked an eyebrow, and asked, "Would she even dare to argue with me?"

Ye Li was speechless. Indeed, no matter how formidable Madam Wang was, she would turn mute before Prince Ding. Seeing this, Prince Ding laughed smugly. "You see, Ah-Li, those more powerful than me aren’t as good at arguing, and those better at arguing aren’t as powerful as me. Your husband is still the most capable one."

Ye Li covered her face, utterly defeated by his shamelessness.

Of course, the news of Prince Ding’s return to the Capital City wouldn’t be known only by Mo Jingli. As the Regent Prince living outside the palace, he had merely gotten the news a step faster. Barely two hours after Mo Jingli’s departure, Prime Minister Liu also came seeking an audience, only to be told that Prince Ding had gone out with the Princess Consort and the heir.

The ancestral tablets of Prince Ding’s Mansion were all enshrined in the family temple, Wuyue Nunnery, located outside the city. Although Mo Jingqi had ordered Prince Ding’s Mansion to be sealed, he dared not allow anyone to rashly disturb Wuyue Nunnery for fear of startling the spirits of the past Princes Ding. Wuyue Nunnery was still maintained and cared for, and some citizens of the Capital City would even occasionally come to its outer hall to offer incense. Thus, even though Prince Ding’s Mansion was currently unoccupied, the incense before the ancestral tablets never ceased.

Seeing Prince Ding and his party arrive to pay their respects, the soldiers guarding the nunnery naturally did not dare to stop them. They respectfully let them pass.

Leaving their guards outside, the couple took their son, Mo Xiaobao, into the innermost hall. The Buddhist altar room there housed the ancestral tablets of Prince Ding’s Mansion through the generations. The highest tablet belonged to the first Prince Ding, Mo Lanyun. At the very bottom were those of Mo Xiuyao’s father and elder brother, Mo Liufang and Mo Xiuwen. Without needing any instruction, Mo Xiaobao respectfully approached, offered incense, and kowtowed to his ancestors.

After paying respects to their ancestors, the family of three had just walked out of Wuyue Nunnery’s main gate when they came face to face with a large entourage. Standing beside Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "At this hour, are there still people coming specifically to pay respects to the ancestors of Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

Ever since Prince Ding’s Mansion and Great Chu had fallen out, apart from ordinary citizens, most dignitaries and influential figures who came to pay respects did so quietly. Such a grand display was indeed rare. Mo Xiuyao frowned and said coolly, "They’re from the palace. Stop them and send them back!" The last command was naturally directed at their attendant guards. It was clear to everyone who could be coming from the palace at this time. If they weren’t here with sincere intentions to pay respects, Prince Ding’s Mansion didn’t need their incense.

Following this order, a few guards stepped forward and blocked their path before the large group reached the foot of the stairs.

These people were indeed from the palace and, naturally, were all arrogant, looking down on everyone. Seeing the two guards suddenly blocking their path, one man immediately stepped forward and demanded sharply, "How dare you! Do you know who is in the sedan chair? How dare you obstruct the way?"

The guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion were even more arrogant. One scoffed coldly, "We don’t know who is in the sedan chair. Before Wuyue Nunnery, one must dismount or alight from their sedan chair a hundred paces away. Anyone daring to be carried in a sedan to the foot of the stairs—Prince Ding’s Mansion does not require your respects. Please return the way you came!"

"Impudent! How dare you be disrespectful before Her Highness Noble Consort! Seize them!"

"Hold on." A cold female voice sounded from the luxurious and ornate sedan chair. The curtain was lifted, and Noble Consort Liu, dressed in white, stepped out with the assistance of a palace maid. The eunuch who had been blustering outside immediately rushed forward and greeted her with a fawning smile, "Your Highness, please forgive me. These two insolent fellows have eyes but failed to recognize Your Highness and blocked your path. This servant will have them seized at once."

Noble Consort Liu frowned and ordered icily, "Step back!"

The eunuch’s attempt at flattery had backfired; he could only retreat dejectedly. Noble Consort Liu then walked up to the two guards, inquiring, "Is Prince Ding here?"

The guards did not answer, only saying, "Your Highness, please return."

Noble Consort Liu knitted her eyebrows and said, "I only wished to come and pay respects to the past Princes of Prince Ding’s Mansion."

The two guards remained silent, their refusal unspoken but clear. They only needed to execute the Prince’s orders; they didn’t need to know the reasons for others’ visits. Noble Consort Liu had been pampered since childhood, and more than a decade as Noble Consort had accustomed her to people obeying her every command. Seeing the unyielding attitude of these two men, a flash of anger crossed her face, but she still suppressed it, saying, "Go inform Prince Ding. I have matters to discuss with him."

The two guards exchanged a glance and said, distantly but politely, "The Prince, Princess Consort, and the young heir have already returned to the Capital City. The Prince left word: if one is not sincerely here to pay respects, there is no need to disturb the ancestors’ peace."

Noble Consort Liu’s face darkened slightly, but her usual expressionless demeanor masked her momentary embarrassment. Indeed, she hadn’t originally intended to sincerely pay respects to the ancestors of Prince Ding’s Mansion. She had only rushed here after hearing Prince Ding had left the city, guessing he would surely bring his child to pay respects to the ancestors. But she hadn’t expected to be stopped here by Mo Xiuyao’s men, leaving her in a rather awkward situation.

After a long moment, Noble Consort Liu finally composed herself and said, her brow furrowed, "In that case, I will return to the city and see Prince Ding there."

"Thank you. Your Highness, please return," the guard replied, cupping his hands.

Back in her sedan chair, Noble Consort Liu’s expression was grim. Her beautiful, icy face seemed as if it would freeze over. She knew Mo Xiuyao was inside; he was just unwilling to come out and see her. At this thought, a trace of bitter resentment ignited in her eyes. Is he so disgusted by me that he won’t even grant me a meeting? Her fingers, as flawless as jade, clenched the silk handkerchief tightly. A determined glint flashed in Noble Consort Liu’s eyes. Mo Xiuyao... one day, you will be mine!

Her mood ruined by Noble Consort Liu’s sudden appearance, Ye Li was no longer interested in sightseeing. Of course, she knew Noble Consort Liu’s ostentatious visit to pay respects at this time meant her true intentions lay elsewhere. Ye Li could now be certain that the person she disliked the most in this life was definitely Noble Consort Liu. Not even Mo Jingqi, Mo Jingli, Lei Zhenting, or even Su Zuidie could arouse such aversion in her. Su Zuidie was, at most, narcissistic, selfish, and outwardly shameless. This Noble Consort Liu, however, seems to have no concept of what ’face’ is. Su Zuidie confidently pestered Mo Xiuyao because she believed he still loved her. But this Noble Consort Liu clearly knows Mo Xiuyao has not the slightest interest in her, yet she can still firmly believe that only she is worthy of him, that she and Mo Xiuyao are a perfect match, made in heaven. What kind of mental fortitude, bordering on the perverse, does that require?

"Ah-Li, I am innocent..." Seeing his beloved wife’s gloomy expression, Prince Ding could only carefully appeal to her. In the past, he used to feel very unhappy when Ah-Li didn’t get jealous, feeling that she didn’t love him enough. But when Ah-Li actually looked displeased, he couldn’t help but want to carefully make amends and coax her until she was happy, wishing Ah-Li would never be jealous in her entire life. Too much jealousy is bad for one’s health!

Ye Li turned and slanted a look at him. "Hmm?"

Mo Xiuyao hastily said, "It was that woman who came on her own. I made it clear to her a long time ago that my only wife is Ah-Li. Who knew she couldn’t understand plain language?"

Ye Li chuckled lightly. "Isn’t this because our Prince Ding is so exceptionally charming?"

Mo Xiuyao was pleasantly surprised. "Ah-Li also thinks I am exceptionally charming?"

Ye Li nodded and earnestly tallied, "Of course. Su Zuidie, Princess Ling Yun, and Noble Consort Liu. Although the number isn’t too large, they are, after all, ranked as the top one or two beauties of Great Chu and Xiling. Their quality is definitely top-notch. Compared to Prince Ding’s charm, those so-called handsome men are simply dregs, right?"

Mo Xiuyao was instantly dejected; Ah-Li was still angry. "Ah-Li, your husband understands. In the future, if anyone dares to even look at your husband, I’ll gouge out her eyes!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked quizzically, "Why not disfigure your face? That’s the root of the problem, isn’t it?"

Mo Xiuyao sternly refused, "If your husband were disfigured again, even you, my dear wife, wouldn’t find it pleasing to the eye."

Mo Xiaobao peeked out from his father’s arms, blinked, and said, "Father, you can ruin your face, don’t worry. Your son will grow up to be a world-shakingly handsome man. Mother can just look at me."

Mo Xiuyao irritably pushed his son, who was raining on his parade, back into his embrace. "You misused a term! Go back and copy ’world-shakingly’ five hundred times."

Mo Xiaobao wiggled his little bottom in his father’s arms and grumbled with a muffled humph, "Mother, Father is bully—OOF!"

Upon their return to the city, following Prince Li’s visit to the inn and Noble Consort Liu’s hurried trip out of the Capital City, by now, everyone in the Capital City knew that Prince Ding and the Princess Consort had returned with their young heir.

The moment they stepped through the city gates, countless eyes were drawn to them. However, due to the relationship between Prince Ding’s Mansion and the imperial family, the commoners didn’t dare to approach and say anything. But the excitement was evident from their expressions. Although the influential figures at court focused all their energy on the struggle for power and profit, many ordinary people still remembered that a war was raging just hundreds of *li* away.

Mo Xiaobao stood up in Mo Xiuyao’s arms and curiously looked around at the streets. Such gatherings of onlookers were not uncommon in Licheng, so Mo Xiaobao felt no stage fright at all. In fact, he actually seemed to revel in the attention. Nestled in Mo Xiuyao’s embrace, he stuck his head out and flashed an incredibly bright smile at the passersby, instantly melting the hearts of countless onlookers.

"The young heir is so adorable!"

"As expected of Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding’s child, truly as pure and lovely as ice and snow."

"Such courage at such a young age, truly a descendant of Prince Ding’s Mansion. Prince Ding’s Mansion has a successor!" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Mo Xiaobao, of course, heard all these praises and became even more spirited.

Ye Li walked beside Mo Xiuyao. She looked at their spirited son, then raised an eyebrow at Mo Xiuyao. "People always said that when you were young, your personality was flamboyant. I never quite believed it, but now I finally do." She pointed at Mo Xiaobao with an amused smile. "He’s only this old and already so ostentatious. What will he be like in a few more years?"

Mo Xiaobao pouted and defended himself, "Mother, your son is doing this for Father’s face! Don’t people say, ’a tiger father will not beget a dog son’? If your son were as listless and foolish as Leng Xiaodai, wouldn’t that be losing face for Father?"

Mo Xiuyao looked at him with a half-smile. "How come I didn’t know when my face became so important in your eyes?"

Mo Xiaobao chuckled foolishly. Ye Li flicked his forehead. "Junhan is much more well-behaved than you. Be careful, Uncle Second Leng might punish you if he hears what you said."

Mo Xiaobao hid in his father’s arms, rubbing his smarting forehead and muttering, "I’m not wrong. Uncle Second Leng wouldn’t dare punish me." If he were as soft and silly as Leng Xiaodai, he’d definitely be bullied to death by Father. Leng Xiaodai should really be glad he became Uncle Second Leng’s child and not a child of Prince Ding’s Mansion! Touching his forehead, Mo Xiaobao looked up at the sky, feeling deeply that his own birth was truly great.

Puzzled, Ye Li looked at her son gazing up at the sky with a troubled expression like a little old man and asked, "What are you thinking about now?" This son of hers always liked to ponder strange and bizarre things, sometimes leaving his parents not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Discreetly, Mo Xiuyao pinched Mo Xiaobao’s bottom and smiled. "Hungry, are we? Look at those listless eyes. You ate too little at noon..."

Mo Xiaobao glared at him. You’re the one with listless eyes! You’re the glutton! You’re the rice bucket!

Mo Xiuyao smiled. As if this Prince doesn’t know you’re thinking ill of me?

The family of three—a tall, handsome, white-haired man carrying a cherubic boy dressed in black, accompanied by an elegant woman in a light-colored cape—walked slowly along the main street. They chatted as they went, faint, soft smiles on their faces. This warm and tranquil scene left many onlookers awestruck; even one or two acquaintances who wanted to step forward and greet them felt too shy to intrude. People quietly watched the couple stroll by, and the usually bustling street seemed to fall into a serene hush.

In a teahouse by the street, Noble Consort Liu, dressed in white and wearing a snow-fox fur cape, stood quietly by an open window. From her elevated position, she gazed from afar at the man and woman slowly approaching. The palm of her tightly clenched hand was scratched and bleeding from her nails.

"Truly a perfect couple," Tan Jizhi remarked with a faint smile from behind her. "And the Heir of Prince Ding. When he grows up, his charisma will surely surpass Prince Ding’s by threefold."

Noble Consort Liu turned around abruptly and cast a cold gaze at Tan Jizhi, who shrugged and stopped talking.

Seeing he had stopped talking, Noble Consort Liu turned back and fixed her gaze on the white-haired man again. Thinking about why that head of black silk had turned white, another wave of resentment surged in Noble Consort Liu’s heart. Back then... back then, if she had known Ye Li could win Mo Xiuyao’s heart, she would never have allowed Ye Li to remain by his side. Unfortunately, one wrong step led to another. In the beginning, to gain Mo Xiuyao’s goodwill, she had even helped Ye Li. Thinking of this, Noble Consort Liu felt she had done the stupidest thing in the world.

"Why..." she murmured. "Why won’t he love me? What is it about me that falls short compared to Ye Li?"

She stared from afar at the woman in cyan beside the white-haired man. Her appearance could be called elegant, but Noble Consort Liu considered herself still much more beautiful than her. As for family background, she was the Prime Minister’s daughter. Even if Ye Li had the Xu Family as maternal relatives, those were, after all, maternal relatives. Strictly speaking, Ye Li was now merely the daughter of a commoner.

Tan Jizhi looked at the woman before him with a smile. When it comes to matters of love, if one invests too much, becomes too fixated, one falls into obsession. Besides, did Noble Consort Liu truly love Mo Xiuyao as much as she imagined? It was likely more out of an unwillingness to accept defeat. Think about it: a beautiful and proud woman, one who had even captivated the monarch of a nation, how could she tolerate a man having not even the slightest trace of her in his eyes?

"Send someone to invite Prince Ding and the Princess Consort up for a talk," Noble Consort Liu ordered coldly.

Tan Jizhi frowned. "Is this appropriate? It’s hardly good news for Your Highness to have left the palace without permission."

"Go!"

Shrugging, Tan Jizhi responded, "If Your Highness insists."

Down on the street, Ye Li had long since sensed a gaze filled with resentment continuously watching her from afar. Raising her head, she saw the silhouette of a woman in white by the window on the second floor of a building not far ahead.

Noble Consort Liu was undoubtedly the foremost beauty in the Capital of Great Chu after Su Zuidie. Now over thirty, she remained as beautiful as a pear blossom in ice and snow. Standing there for just a short while, she had already attracted the gazes of many passersby, but she seemed not to care, merely gazing infatuatedly at the distant pedestrians, like a beautiful white jade statue.

"Greetings, Prince Ding. Greetings, Princess Consort. Her Highness Noble Consort requests your presence," said a man who looked like a guard, stepping into the street and speaking with respect.

A dangerous glint flashed in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. He lowered his gaze and said faintly, "Ah-Li must be thirsty. Let’s go have some tea."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Very well."