Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 286 - 284. When feelings run deep - deserve a beating
284. When Love Runs Deep—A Masochistic Streak?
"What? Those two beasts!" Feng Huaiting growled, gritting his teeth. The Feng Family’s allegiance to Mo Jingqi was not without reason. Years ago, the Feng Family had faced near annihilation, and it was Mo Jingqi, then a prince, who had come to their aid. Regardless of how others criticized Mo Jingqi’s character, he had undeniably saved the entire Feng Family and their vast fortune. This was also why Feng Huaiting had initially banished Feng Zhiyao—who was close to Prince Ding—from the family, and not merely out of fear of royal suspicion. For members of the Feng Family to then ally themselves with Mo Jingli, despite knowing full well that Mo Jingli had harmed Mo Jingqi, was, in the eyes of Feng Huaiting—a merchant who still upheld a sense of integrity—the conduct of ungrateful beasts.
Mo Xiuyao glanced at the silent Empress, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Old Master Feng, no need to be angry. After all, your son was merely thinking of the lives of the entire Feng Family." Of course, I also helped things along, Mo Xiuyao thought. He didn’t regret handing over the better part of the Feng Family to Mo Jingli. Money could always be earned, but the people who earned it... Two legitimate sons are enough for the Feng Family to maintain what they have, he mused. The truly capable one is right before me. The Feng Family only achieved its current prestige and wealth under his management.
Prince Ding’s Mansion possessed countless diverse assets. Mo Xiuyao no longer trusted Han Mingyue, and Han Mingxi and Leng Haoyu were gradually finding it strenuous to manage everything. Moreover, the Northwest, after years of development, was slowly hitting a bottleneck. He desperately needed a genius in commerce. So... what does one Feng Family matter? With enough talent, I could soon have two, three, or even ten Feng Families. The Mo Family may not excel at business, but they have never lacked money—because they excel at using others to make money for them.
Feng Huaiting, capable enough to make the Feng Family flourish under his hand, was naturally no fool. He gave a helpless, wry smile. "I’m afraid Prince Li has long had his eyes on the Feng Family’s assets, hasn’t he? It’s widely known that the Feng Family served the late Emperor. While Mo Jingli might not be as suspicious as Mo Jingqi, he would never allow the Feng Family to slip from his control. Not to mention the Feng Family’s coveted wealth. This incident... rather than saying it was caused by Feng Zhiyao’s actions, it’s more accurate to say it was brought about by the Feng Family’s fortune."
Mo Xiuyao chuckled but didn’t reply. He enjoyed conversing with intelligent people.
"Your Highness, Noble Consort Liu requests an audience," Zhuo Jing announced from the moon-shaped doorway.
Mo Xiuyao smiled at Feng Huaiting. "Isn’t she here already? Is Third Feng present?"
Zhuo Jing hesitated, glancing at those present, then nodded. "Yes, but Third Young Master Feng..." He doesn’t look too good, he implied.
"What’s wrong with him?" two voices asked in unison. As the words left their mouths, both speakers looked at each other, a little embarrassed. Ye Li smiled, gently patted the Empress’s hand, and said reassuringly, "From the way Zhuo Jing put it, it shouldn’t be anything too serious." Though a little suffering is unavoidable, Ye Li thought. Of course, she wouldn’t mention that Mo Xiuyao had instructed Qin Feng to take Feng Huaiting away earlier precisely to deal with Feng Zhiyao. The string of troubles Feng Zhiyao had caused this time had thoroughly displeased His Highness Prince Ding. If Third Feng had been straightforward from the beginning, it would have merely been a matter of a few words from Mo Xiuyao. Now, with all this fuss, the Prince was naturally unhappy.
"Let’s go. I want to see just how much courage Noble Consort Liu possesses to dare detain one of my men." Everyone present, except for Ye Li and Mo Xiaobao, couldn’t help but shiver at the chilling tone in his voice. Even the youngest, Leng Junhan, cleverly hid his little head in Ye Li’s embrace. Ye Li picked up Leng Junhan and stood. Mo Xiuyao glanced at the little imp buried in his wife’s bosom, let out a soft "HMPH," and then plucked him up. Dangling in mid-air, Leng Junhan stared blankly at the white-haired man, pouted, and stretched his small hands towards Ye Li. "Auntie, hold..."
Nearby, Zhuo Jing looked at the small bundle held by Mo Xiuyao with admiration. Who said Leng Haoyu’s son was timid? This child clearly has the heart of a lion and the courage of a leopard!
Mo Xiaobao also broke out in a sweat. Leng Xiaodai isn’t going to be killed by Father, is he? He’s my first designated future subordinate...
In the main hall of Prince Ding’s Mansion, Noble Consort Liu sat ramrod straight in a carved sandalwood chair, her brows furrowed in deep thought. Opposite her, the dashingly handsome Third Young Master Feng was bound and unceremoniously dumped onto another chair. Behind Feng Zhiyao stood two tall men, their gazes focused inward, the veins on their temples faintly protruding—clear signs of internal martial arts experts. Initially, Noble Consort Liu would never have brought Feng Zhiyao to Prince Ding’s Mansion, as he was, after all, one of her bargaining chips. However, upon reaching the mansion, she discovered she couldn’t even gain entry without him.
Feng Zhiyao leaned back in his chair, the sensation of being trussed up like a rice dumpling making him extremely uncomfortable. The stinging pain from the whip lashes he’d received earlier still burned. It had been a long time since Feng Zhiyao had suffered any injury, and he couldn’t help but curse inwardly, his glare towards Noble Consort Liu growing increasingly venomous. I will definitely kill this woman!
A long time passed, but Mo Xiuyao still hadn’t appeared, nor had anyone come to serve tea. Noble Consort Liu, however, was in no mood to find fault with Prince Ding’s Mansion’s hospitality. Her delicate brows were tightly knitted as if she were pondering some critical matter.
"The Prince and Princess Consort..." The voices of guards and maids bowing came from outside the door. Noble Consort Liu’s head snapped up, her eyes shining, and the hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly.
Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li entered side by side, Mo Xiuyao still carrying the rosy-cheeked boy dressed in white. Following them was Mo Xiaobao, the Heir of Prince Ding’s Mansion, whom Noble Consort Liu loathed to her very core. Upon seeing Noble Consort Liu, Mo Xiaobao’s eyes lit up, and Noble Consort Liu immediately felt a sense of foreboding. Before she could utter a word, she heard Mo Xiaobao exclaim cheerfully, "Auntie, why are you here again?"
"Auntie?" Leng Junhan tilted his head, looking at Noble Consort Liu with curiosity and blinking in confusion. This ’auntie’ is very beautiful, not at all like the elderly ’aunties’ in the mansion.
"Stupid Leng Xiaodai! The elderly aunties in the mansion are called ’Momo’. This one is called ’Auntie’," Mo Xiaobao declared with disdain. Apparently, Leng Xiaodai had voiced his confusion aloud. Listening to Mo Xiaobao’s nonsensical explanation and seeing Noble Consort Liu’s expression grow increasingly livid, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Perhaps because Mo Xiuyao suppressed him too much, Mo Xiaobao’s skill in spouting nonsense had advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, even Ye Li found it hard to tell if he was being serious or deliberately trying to provoke people.
"Prince Ding!" Noble Consort Liu’s face darkened. If this went on, she feared she would truly lose control and strike the little brat.
Mo Xiuyao strode into the hall with an air of indifference, casually placing Leng Junhan on a chair beside Feng Zhiyao. He then swept his gaze over the two men standing behind Feng Zhiyao and ordered, "Get out."
The two men tensed, only to realize in horror that they couldn’t move at all. Not only could they not act against Feng Zhiyao or the child in the chair who was curiously watching them, but they couldn’t even lift a finger, as if their entire bodies had instantly turned rigid. It was terrifyingly clear that Prince Ding’s power far exceeded their imagination. Is this the might of one of the Four Great Experts? Sweat beaded on their foreheads, then streamed down as if they were caught in a downpour.
Mo Xiuyao let out a soft snort and then led Ye Li to the main seats at the head of the hall.
Only after Mo Xiuyao had walked several paces away did the two men finally manage to breathe again. The moment they found they could move, their bodies went limp, and they collapsed to the ground. Without needing another word from Noble Consort Liu, they scrambled out, practically rolling and crawling. Seated in his chair, Leng Junhan cheerfully waved at Mo Xiaobao, only to receive a disdainful eye-roll in return. Undeterred, Leng Junhan curiously poked Feng Zhiyao, who was tied up tightly beside him. "Yoyo... Uncle Feng, what happened to you?"
Feng Zhiyao gave a bitter laugh, his gaze pleadingly seeking out Ye Li. He wouldn’t dare ask Mo Xiuyao for help; he had no desire to experience whatever methods Mo Xiuyao might employ to "untie" him. Ye Li chuckled, and with a flick of her wrist, a silver glint shot from her fingertips. Feng Zhiyao felt a cool sensation on his arm, and the ropes binding him instantly slackened. He glanced back to see a silver blade embedded a third of its length into the wall. His hair stood on end. Alright, this was another person he couldn’t afford to offend.
"Third Feng, are you alright?" Ye Li asked, looking at the rips on Feng Zhiyao’s clothes from the whipping and the bloodstains on them. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"I’m fine," Feng Zhiyao said, shaking his head. He’d only been whipped a few times. For someone like Feng Zhiyao, who had been on battlefields, it wasn’t even a minor injury. It was just a blow to his pride.
"Prince Ding, I..." Noble Consort Liu began, frowning, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Mo Xiuyao raised a hand, silencing her. The words that issued from his elegant, thin lips sent a shiver down Noble Consort Liu’s spine. "Drag her out and give her ten lashes. Then she can talk." With just one look, Mo Xiuyao had clearly seen the whip marks on Feng Zhiyao.
"Prince Ding, you..." Noble Consort Liu’s face turned deathly pale. "What did you say?"
Mo Xiuyao stated indifferently, "Third Feng is a man of my Prince Ding’s Mansion. Even if he commits a grave error, my Prince Ding’s Mansion will take responsibility. Since when... was it your place, a mere concubine from the inner palace, to deal with him? I don’t care what you have to say; you will receive these lashes whether you want to or not." The guards outside, hearing the command, immediately entered and walked towards Noble Consort Liu without hesitation. Can’t whip the reigning Noble Consort? The consequences would be severe? The Prince’s anger has even more severe consequences! And as it happens, the Prince has been in a rather foul mood these past few days.
"Stop!" Noble Consort Liu shrieked. "You can’t touch me! I am the reigning Noble Consort!"
Mo Xiuyao sneered. "You are a widowed consort of the late Emperor. So what if I have you flogged? Who would dare come to your rescue? Your father? Mo Jingli?"
"I have something to tell you... something beneficial to Prince Ding’s Mansion! If you don’t listen, you will definitely regret it!" Noble Consort Liu cried out anxiously, biting her lips, which were dry from fear.
"Drag her out. Don’t make me say it a second time," Mo Xiuyao ordered coldly.
Two guards efficiently seized Noble Consort Liu, one on each arm, and started dragging her towards the door. Noble Consort Liu knew some superficial martial arts, but she was no match for the two guards and was hauled away with barely any resistance. A moment later, the sharp CRACK of a whip slicing through the air came from outside. Mo Xiaobao’s eyes widened with curiosity. Why isn’t she screaming?
Ye Li covered her face. Is it really okay to do this in front of the children? More importantly, why was Mo Xiaobao craning his neck to look outside without any fear, and why was even the usually well-behaved Leng Junhan watching with wide, curious, and excited eyes? Is there really a problem with my child-rearing methods? When Leng Haoyu and Murong Ting return, how am I going to explain how their adorable son became so... ferocious?
The ten lashes were over quickly. Noble Consort Liu was dragged back in and dumped onto her original chair. This time, however, her white robes were stained crimson with blood. She could no longer maintain her graceful posture and could only lie weakly against the chair, looking far more wretched than Feng Zhiyao had.
Feng Zhiyao gazed at the even more miserable state of Noble Consort Liu with a satisfied expression; suddenly, the pain from his own wounds seemed to lessen. But the moment he met Mo Xiuyao’s faintly smiling, mocking eyes, Feng Zhiyao immediately flinched and shrank back. He was still worse off than Noble Consort Liu. He could foresee that his future would definitely be fraught with misfortune.
"Now, you may speak," Mo Xiuyao said, seeming to be in a much better mood as he took a leisurely sip of his tea.
Noble Consort Liu was trembling violently from the pain; how could she possibly speak? She wasn’t like the thick-skinned and resilient Feng Zhiyao. Moreover, the guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion had shown no mercy with those ten lashes. She could still sit there only because the men who flogged her knew she still had to speak with the Prince afterward and had shown a sliver of mercy.
Gasping for breath, Noble Consort Liu watched as Mo Xiuyao, a smile in his eyes, passed a teacup to Ye Li, who sat beside him. Even while addressing her, he didn’t spare her even half a glance, sending a chill through her entire body. "You... you’re ruthless..." she managed to choke out.
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "This Prince isn’t here to listen to your nonsense."
After suffering such a harsh ordeal, if Noble Consort Liu still didn’t realize that her previous tactics were useless against Mo Xiuyao, then she would have truly lived these decades in vain. Biting her lip, she said, "I can help you seize the three northern prefectures of Great Chu, those bordering Beirong, without you lifting a finger."
"Oh?" Mo Xiuyao glanced at her, his expression skeptical.
Seeing this, Noble Consort Liu knew Mo Xiuyao was interested. A flicker of triumph in her eyes, she said in a low voice, "But I have one condition."
Mo Xiuyao leaned back slightly, resting against Ye Li. "Let’s hear it."
"I want you to marry me as your consort!"
"PFFT—" Feng Zhiyao choked, coughing repeatedly, and shot a resentful glare at the woman opposite him. He hadn’t had a sip of water all day and night, and this woman actually made him choke!
Ye Li, beside him, couldn’t help but lean back, startled. Mo Xiuyao, who had been leaning against her, had to sit up straighter and loop an arm around her slender waist, pulling her closer. "Ah-Li..." Ye Li offered an apologetic smile. She wasn’t angry, nor did she distrust Mo Xiuyao; she was simply flabbergasted by Noble Consort Liu. The woman had just been given ten lashes by Mo Xiuyao’s order, yet she was still so hopelessly fixated on marrying him. Isn’t she afraid Mo Xiuyao will dispose of her once he’s used her? Is she a masochist? Perhaps the reason Noble Consort Liu never loved Mo Jingqi was that Mo Jingqi was too good to her.
Seeing Ye Li’s smile, Mo Xiuyao contentedly nuzzled against her. "Ah-Li, what do you say?"
Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Isn’t this something he should handle himself? Why is he pushing it onto me?
"Isn’t the matter of taking concubines usually decided by the Princess Consort?" Mo Xiuyao asked innocently.
Taking concubines? Ye Li’s lovely eyes narrowed slightly, her voice calm but laced with amusement. "Does the Prince wish to take a concubine?"
"This Prince is a good husband. Affairs of the inner household are for my beloved consort to decide," Mo Xiuyao declared magnanimously.
"Prince Ding, I am not talking about becoming a concubine," Noble Consort Liu said, her face turning ashen. "I want you to marry me... as Consort Ping!" Originally, I wanted to demand the position of Principal Consort, but looking at Prince Ding’s attitude towards Ye Li, I know that’s impossible, she thought, deciding to retreat a step for now. As long as I become Prince Ding’s consort... then, in time...
"TSK..." Feng Zhiyao scoffed. "Noble Consort Liu, surely you’re not unaware? A Consort Ping in relation to the Principal Consort is just like a Noble Consort in relation to the Empress. They are all concubines!"
Noble Consort Liu’s eyes flashed fiercely as she glared at Feng Zhiyao. "Third Feng, shut your foul mouth! Otherwise, this Noble Consort will see to it that you and she are both ruined and discredited!"
Feng Zhiyao raised his eyebrows. "Ruined and discredited? Like you, Noble Consort Liu? Coming here personally to coerce the Prince into taking you as a concubine? Ah... let me think, the bargaining chip you’re using is the land of three northern prefectures of Great Chu. What is such behavior called again... Treason?"
Noble Consort Liu trembled with rage. The pain wracking her body made it impossible for her to even attempt to rise. She took several deep breaths to suppress her fury before turning to Mo Xiuyao. "Prince Ding, what is your decision?"
Mo Xiuyao calmly replied, "This Prince never concerns himself with matters of the inner household."
Feng Zhiyao snickered inwardly. What an amusing statement. Are there any ’inner household affairs’ in Prince Ding’s Mansion to speak of?
Noble Consort Liu, however, believed she understood Mo Xiuyao’s meaning: whether or not he married her depended on Ye Li’s decision. This greatly displeased her, but since Mo Xiuyao had said as much, she could only console herself that Prince Ding was only giving Ye Li face because of the Xu Family. Lifting her chin slightly, she looked at Ye Li with disdain. "Miss Ye, surely you understand the benefits this Noble Consort can bring to Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Mo Family Army?"
Ye Li raised an eyebrow, subtly stopping Mo Xiaobao, who was about to jump up and protest beside her. A faint smile touched her lips. "With Noble Consort Liu’s intellect... she couldn’t have come up with such a plan, right? Whose idea was this? Tan Jizhi’s?"
Seeing Noble Consort Liu’s darkening expression, Ye Li chuckled softly. "Tan Jizhi is currently a captive in Prince Ding’s Mansion. Does Noble Consort Liu think it’s meaningful to use this as a bargaining chip? However, this Princess Consort should still thank the Noble Consort for providing such an interesting piece of information. Furthermore..." Noticing Noble Consort Liu about to interject, Ye Li’s voice turned grave. "The three prefectures Noble Consort Liu mentioned all border Beirong, with a boundary line stretching for thousands of li. Once the Mo Family Army takes over, they will have to face Beirong’s attacks from the front, and endure the denunciation and criticism from the subjects of Great Chu from the rear. Is the Noble Consort trying to help Prince Ding’s Mansion, or harm it?"
Noble Consort Liu opened her mouth but couldn’t form any words. She truly didn’t understand these matters; this was merely what she had pieced together after listening to some of Tan Jizhi’s analysis.
"You... you’re spouting nonsense! The Mo Family Army would hardly fear Beirong and a bunch of commoners!" Noble Consort Liu retorted, her face pale.
Ye Li merely smiled and didn’t reply. Discussing popular sentiment with this woman, who was crazed over a man and disregarded everything else, was purely a waste of time. She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked at Noble Consort Liu, her smile faint. "It seems Noble Consort Liu is unable to offer any constructive suggestions. In that case, please take your leave. If you lack the capability, don’t covet another woman’s man. If you’re truly that... desperate, there’s Qingfeng Pavilion in the west of the city."
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." Feng Zhiyao’s expression twisted as he hastily put down his teacup, staring at Ye Li in terror. Qingfeng Pavilion... Isn’t that a house of male courtesans? How on earth would the Princess Consort know about such a place?!
