Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 31. First Meeting
31. First Encounter
"Prince Li, do you have some dissatisfaction with this prince’s future princess consort?"
The entire second floor fell silent; even the clamor from downstairs seemed incredibly distant. All eyes were transfixed on a youth in brown attire standing a step from Ye Li, firmly gripping Mo Jingli’s wrist, which he had extended towards Ye Li. However, no one present, including Mo Jingli, had seen where this youth came from. Mo Jingli shot the youth a furious glare, then swiftly directed his gaze towards the source of the voice. Ye Li did not look at the person obstructing Mo Jingli; the moment that voice sounded, she had turned her attention towards the straight-backed figure at the head of the stairs. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
Only then did people notice this plainly dressed man, who was not seated on one of the tavern’s chairs but in an elegant wheelchair. Because he had arrived early and his seat was partially obscured by a vase half a man’s height, not many had noticed him. He had apparently been observing the main hall below from the carved railings, only now slowly turning his head to reveal one side of his handsome face. He applied pressure to the wheelchair with one hand, and it slowly swiveled to face the crowd.
The man seated in the wheelchair was dressed in common cloth, yet he exuded none of the despair or destitution typical of those with crippled legs. Even those standing before him felt as if they had to look up, as though he were taller. There are some individuals who require neither luxurious attire, nor overwhelming power with an entourage of guards; their mere presence sets them above all others. One side of his face was refined and handsome, possessing an innate noble dignity. A frost-colored mask of unknown material covered the entire left side of his face. This concealment added a mysterious allure, tempting one to unveil what lay beneath, even knowing it must be horrific scars.
"Mo... Xiu... Yao!" After a long moment, Mo Jingli finally, slowly, spat out the three words.
The name "Mo Xiuyao," as if possessing some magical power, finally snapped everyone from their daze. They stared in astonishment at the man who had vanished from public view for many years, Prince Ding, still seated with such regal composure in his wheelchair. Seeing this man, so different from their imaginings, those accustomed to the idea of Prince Ding as a crippled good-for-nothing were suddenly reminded of the breathtakingly brilliant young man he once had been.
This once-favored legitimate second son of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion had been the envy of all young men in Great Chu. His literary talent was renowned, earning him acclaim as a peer to the empire’s foremost young Top Scholar; his martial prowess was exceptional, and like his ancestors, his mastery of the Art of War was god-like, rendering him undefeated across the Southern Border nations by the age of fifteen. He had once been engaged to the most beautiful and talented woman in the Capital City; their perfectly matched talents and looks were the envy of the world. However, his good fortune seemed to end abruptly at eighteen. His only elder brother passed away from illness, and shortly after his hurried succession to the title of Prince Ding, he led his troops out once more, only to nearly meet a crushing defeat. Although the young man managed to turn the tide in the end, he paid an indelible price: grievous injuries, disfigurement, and crippled legs. As if Heaven deemed this blow insufficient for its favored son, three months later, his fiancée of many years, with whom he shared deep mutual affection, passed away from illness. Since then, only a select few in the Capital City had occasionally caught a glimpse of this Prince Ding.
If the Mo Xiuyao of his youth had been dazzling and vibrant, as brilliant as a blazing fire, then the Mo Xiuyao they saw years later was as gentle and upright as jade, as tranquil and elegant as still water. And how much suffering had wrought this transformation, who could truly know?
"Jing Li, it has been many years. You’ve certainly made something of yourself." Mo Xiuyao glanced at Ye Li, who was staring at him, before turning his gaze to Mo Jingli.
Mo Jingli’s already expressionless face grew even more rigid. He retorted harshly, "What I do is none of your concern."
Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement. "Indeed, this prince has no intention of meddling in your affairs. However... even if you choose not to be mindful of your own status, you should at least be mindful of others’."
Mo Jingli’s brow furrowed. He glanced at Ye Li, a trace of derision on his face, then brushed away the youth restraining him. Turning back to Mo Xiuyao, he said, "Are you trying to stand up for her? Mo Xiuyao, don’t tell me you’ve actually taken a liking to this woman?"
"You know very well, our tastes have always been worlds apart." Mo Xiuyao did not become angry; in fact, a faint smile touched his lips. "Moreover, being disrespectful to the future Mistress of House of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, Jing Li, are you sure you want to do that?"
Mo Jingli’s face darkened as he shot a harsh look at Ye Li. He sneered at Mo Xiuyao, "Ha, the future Mistress of House of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion? Mo Xiuyao, are you sure you’re talking about this woman?" The titles of Princess Consort Ding and the Mistress of House of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion held entirely different implications for the imperial family. If she were merely Princess Consort Ding, it might be overlooked. But if this woman were to truly take charge of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion... Mo Jingli suddenly realized that his earlier act of encouraging his Brother Emperor to betroth this woman to Mo Xiuyao had been a grave error.
"Your Highness Prince Li, please watch your words!" the youth in brown, who had stepped aside, warned, his gaze fixed on Mo Jingli with displeasure.
Mo Jingli snorted, then turned and descended the stairs without even a word of farewell. Princess Qixia, who had been beside him, looked somewhat bewildered by the unfolding events but quickly hurried after him.
The spectacle had concluded. Many of those present, still reeling from the day’s revelations, feigned nonchalance as they departed in twos and threes. Before long, the entire second floor was empty save for Ye Li’s table and Mo Xiuyao’s. After today, the Capital City will certainly be lively, Ye Li thought with a bitter inward smile.
"Ahem, greetings, Prince Ding. I’ve just remembered something I need to purchase. Zheng’er, Murong, would you accompany me?" Hua Tianxiang coughed lightly, clearly preparing to make a hasty, rather unheroic, retreat.
Qin Zheng and Murong Ting nodded eagerly. After receiving an assenting nod from Mo Xiuyao, they quickly headed downstairs. As Qin Zheng was leaving, she cast a worried yet encouraging glance at Ye Li. Watching her friends disappear down the staircase, Ye Li sighed in amusement. Surely they don’t think I’d feel embarrassed like other young ladies do?
Well, it seems appropriate to show some measure of shyness in this situation upon meeting my previously unseen fiancé, Ye Li considered, but ultimately decided to abandon such a high-level performance. She looked up directly at Mo Xiuyao—who was also scrutinizing her—and said, "Prince, perhaps we could find a more suitable place to talk? After all... these people still need to conduct their business."
A flicker of surprise crossed Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. He nodded silently. Thus, the two adjourned to a private room on the third floor of Chuxiang Pavilion.
"Miss Ye... you are rather surprising," Mo Xiuyao remarked. In the sole private room on the third floor, he sat leaning against an open window, observing the composed and unconstrained young woman in azure before him.
Ye Li smiled slightly. "Prince, you also surprised me." If the man before me is the rumored invalid Prince Ding, crippled by his disability, then it’s clear how unreliable the Capital City’s gossip has become, she thought.
"After all these years... it seems Jing Li’s judgment truly has issues," Mo Xiuyao sighed softly, a hint of amusement in his gentle eyes.
Ye Li smiled faintly. "It is Your Highness’s attitude that makes me sigh. To be honest, I always thought I would receive a second letter breaking off the engagement."
"Aren’t you scared?"
"Scared?" Ye Li looked at him in confusion, then quickly understood his meaning. "I’ll try to be careful. Besides, an imperial decree is like a mountain. Rather than defy it, why not try to move forward? Perhaps there will be a different prospect awaiting."
Mo Xiuyao raised his hand and removed the mask from his face, revealing the hideous scars beneath to Ye Li.
The rather grotesque scars did somewhat mar his handsome features, but to Ye Li, who had seen severed limbs and bodies blown apart by bombs, they were not even enough to elicit a surprised reaction from her. So, she simply blinked and asked apologetically, "Prince, are you trying to scare me?"
Mo Xiuyao was taken aback, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "No, I actually don’t like wearing this." Even though half of his face was ruined, when he was alone, Mo Xiuyao never wore a mask. He was not one to fear confronting himself.
Ye Li nodded in agreement. "I also dislike people who wear masks." Behind a mask, it’s hard to discern a person’s expressions and thoughts, she mused.
Mo Xiuyao was momentarily speechless. The young woman before him was completely different from what Feng Zhiyao’s meddlesome investigation had revealed, and vastly different from his own conceptions. Contemplating her calm and composed beautiful features, Mo Xiuyao suddenly felt that Feng Zhiyao had been right. Ye Li is indeed an interesting woman, he thought, and the best choice I could have made. A most suitable woman to become the Mistress of House of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion.
