Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 310 - 308. Beauty’s Favor, Staying in the Study

308. A Beauty’s Favor, Sleeping in the Study

"Ye Li, I challenge you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly fell silent. It took quite a while before Feng Zhiyao’s laughter echoed, starting with a low chuckle and gradually bursting into hearty laughter. His laughter angered Princess Ling Yun, who glared at him in fury. "What are you laughing at?!"

Feng Zhiyao wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing, I just felt like laughing." He then silently mouthed a phrase at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. Ye Li, an expert in lip-reading, clearly saw what he said: "A handsome face spells disaster." Mo Xiuyao didn’t know what Feng Zhiyao was saying, but he could guess from his expression and chose to ignore him with a dangerous glare.

Actually, Princess Ling Yun’s challenge had been spontaneous. However, having declared it, she felt emboldened. She raised her chin to look at Ye Li and asked, "Well? Do you dare accept?"

Ye Li gave a helpless smile and asked Princess Ling Yun, "Your Highness, why should I accept your challenge?" Years ago, she had accepted a challenge for Mo Xiuyao’s sake, for Prince Ding’s Mansion, and for her dignity as Princess Consort Ding. Now, however, Ye Li couldn’t think of a single reason to accept Princess Ling Yun’s challenge. Princess Ling Yun appeared to be married, so she surely wasn’t still infatuated with Mo Xiuyao, was she? As for the dignity of Prince Ding’s Mansion, there was no longer a need for her, the Princess Consort, to prove it by defeating a princess from an already conquered nation.

"Are you scared?!" Princess Ling Yun scoffed at Ye Li.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I don’t have to." She didn’t have to accept Princess Ling Yun’s challenge. No one in this world dared to say she was unworthy of Mo Xiuyao or unfit to be Princess Consort Ding.

Hearing this, Princess Ling Yun’s expression turned even uglier. Ye Li was right; she didn’t need to accept her challenge. To put it more bluntly, given Princess Ling Yun’s current reputation and status, she simply wasn’t qualified to challenge Princess Consort Ding.

The Emperor of Xiling, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly intervened. "Ling Yun has been spoiled by me since she was little, and she doesn’t know the proprieties. Please forgive her, Princess Consort."

Princess Ling Yun opened her mouth to say something more, but the Emperor of Xiling shot her a fierce glare and snapped, "Don’t you see where you are? Get out!"

Mo Xiuyao stood up, pulling Ye Li with him, and smiled at the Emperor of Xiling. "Emperor Xiling, since we’ve reached an agreement, the Princess Consort and I will return to the official guesthouse to rest. Ah-Li has been quite exhausted these past few days."

The Emperor of Xiling quickly replied with a smile, "Why don’t Prince Ding and the Princess Consort stay in the palace? I have already ordered some palaces to be cleaned out for Prince Ding and his entourage."

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and smiled. "That won’t be necessary. I’m not picky about accommodations. We’ll take our leave now."

"But... I have prepared a welcoming feast for Prince Ding and the Princess Consort..."

Ye Li smiled gently. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Emperor Xiling, but I am indeed rather tired. For today, we can only decline your kind offer."

Since both Prince Ding and the Princess Consort had said so, the Emperor of Xiling could not insist on them staying and had someone escort them out. As Mo Xiuyao, holding Ye Li’s hand, passed by Princess Ling Yun, he paused momentarily before continuing outward. After Mo Xiuyao and his party had left the main hall, the Emperor of Xiling finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned his gaze to Princess Ling Yun, frowning unhappily. "Ling Yun, you?!"

Princess Ling Yun’s face turned deathly pale, and suddenly, with a SPURT, she spat out a mouthful of blood. The Emperor of Xiling was startled and quickly ordered someone to support Princess Ling Yun, asking, "What’s wrong?" Although this daughter had just caused him to lose face, she was, after all, his own flesh and blood. Seeing her suddenly vomit blood, the Emperor of Xiling was still somewhat worried.

The imperial physician arrived quickly. After taking Princess Ling Yun’s pulse, he asked with some confusion, "How did the Princess suddenly sustain an internal injury?" The others were naturally mystified as well. Although Princess Ling Yun had declared her intention to challenge Princess Consort Ding, they hadn’t actually fought. No one else in the hall had even touched Princess Ling Yun in the slightest. How could she have suddenly sustained an internal injury?

"Prince Ding!" Princess Ling Yun wiped the blood from her lips and said through gritted teeth.

「These days, the entire Imperial City of Xiling was rife with hidden undercurrents.」

While the official guesthouse occupied by the people from Prince Ding’s Mansion was much quieter due to the Mo Family Army soldiers standing guard outside, all sorts of people still came daily for various reasons, whether to request an audience or even just to spectate. Although the Xiling imperial family and the imperial court were still nominally in charge of the Imperial City of Xiling, everyone knew that the Imperial City of Xiling already belonged to Prince Ding’s Mansion. Those who were quick-witted and didn’t plan on following the Emperor of Xiling south to Ancheng City naturally couldn’t help but try to curry favor with Prince Ding’s Mansion to secure a good future for themselves.

In the guesthouse courtyard, the September weather in the Imperial City of Xiling already carried a hint of early winter’s desolation. Fortunately, residences in Xiling typically had few plants, so it didn’t appear too dreary or deserted. Beside the rockery in the courtyard, Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingbai were seated across from each other, playing chess. Ye Li sat beside Mo Xiuyao, observing the game. Even the usually restless Feng Zhiyao and Xu Qingfeng were sitting quietly to one side, watching. Neither Mo Xiuyao nor Xu Qingbai had an aggressive style of play; their unhurried moves back and forth created quite a leisurely atmosphere. Feng Zhiyao, finding it dull, turned to look at Ye Li, who was sitting beside Mo Xiuyao, and smiled. "Princess Consort, have you heard about a strange incident in the Imperial City of Xiling these past two days?"

Ye Li glanced at him, somewhat puzzled.

Feng Zhiyao smiled. "I heard yesterday was some Autumn Moon Gathering in the Imperial City of Xiling. It’s probably some kind of festival or gathering for the noblewomen and young ladies of official families in the city. Didn’t they send you an invitation?" Feng Zhiyao seemed rather surprised. Logically, those influential figures in the Imperial City of Xiling, especially those who had no intention of following the Emperor of Xiling south, wouldn’t be so tactless.

Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "I did receive a few invitations, but I declined them. Did something happen?"

"It’s a good thing you declined. I heard that yesterday Princess Ling Yun tried to attend the Autumn Moon Gathering but was blocked at the door and not allowed in." Feng Zhiyao’s smile was filled with absolute schadenfreude. Who could blame him? That woman, Princess Ling Yun, wasn’t just harsh; she also carried herself with her nose in the air. Wasn’t she just asking for resentment? Third Young Master Feng had never been a magnanimous person.

"Blocked at the door? Why?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. No matter how arrogant Princess Ling Yun was, she was still a princess of Xiling and indeed had the capital to be proud. Ordinary dignitaries wouldn’t usually confront her directly, let alone deliberately slap her in the face like this.

Feng Zhiyao chuckled. "Who knows how it happened, but the news of Princess Ling Yun challenging Princess Consort Ding in the palace has now spread throughout the city. And speaking of which, the dignitaries of Xiling all know about what Princess Ling Yun did in Great Chu back then. Now it’s being brought up again. Coincidentally, the ones responsible for organizing this year’s Autumn Moon Gathering are the Sun Family, wealthy merchants in Xiling City. The Sun Family rose extremely quickly after the fall of the Murong family and can now be considered the wealthiest family in the Imperial City without exaggeration. They were originally old Xiling officials who abandoned their posts for commerce and have never gotten along well with Princess Ling Yun. Now that the Imperial City has changed hands, why would they still pay any heed to Princess Ling Yun?"

"The Sun Family?" Xu Qingbai, who was playing chess, looked up and asked.

Feng Zhiyao raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Oh? Does Fourth Young Master have an impression of them?"

Xu Qingbai nodded. "Soon after I arrived in Xiling, the Sun Family Head sent someone to deliver gifts. These past two days, the Sun Family should have sent quite a few gifts to the guesthouse, right?"

Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and continued to ponder his chess moves, while Ye Li and Feng Zhiyao looked towards Zhuo Jing, who was standing nearby. These matters were handled by Zhuo Jing and Lin Han. Zhuo Jing thought for a moment and said, "Indeed, the Sun Family Head has sent many gifts these past few days. Additionally, a Young Master Zhang of the Sun Family came personally to request an audience. However, as the Prince and Princess Consort had said they would not see anyone, your subordinate turned him away."

Ye Li asked, somewhat puzzled, "Fourth Brother, is there a problem with the Sun Family?"

Xu Qingbai shook his head. "Not really. I just feel that the Sun Family Head has a unique insight. When I first arrived in Xiling, they were the only ones in the entire Imperial City who came forward to establish ties."

Feng Zhiyao said dismissively, "Perhaps he wanted to play both sides. Merchants... they always dislike putting all their chips in one basket."

Xu Qingbai shook his head. "With the Sun Family’s current wealth and status, it doesn’t allow them to make rash moves. If you all hadn’t arrived so quickly, perhaps in a few more days, the Sun Family would have met with misfortune. Even now... do you think the Emperor of Xiling would be willing to leave the Sun Family’s vast assets to Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

Ye Li pondered for a moment. "So... the Sun Family Head should be requesting an audience again soon. Yesterday’s incident was just a gesture from the Sun Family to Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

Xu Qingbai placed a chess piece with a CLACK and smiled. "You could say that."

"This matter... what does the Prince think?" Feng Zhiyao looked at Mo Xiuyao with a grin. These past few days, they had received countless gifts. The gold, silver, jewels, rare antiques, and curiosities were a given, and even rare treasures weren’t considered uncommon. But the numerous peerless beauties were somewhat exasperating. Among these beauties were certainly some famous courtesans and dancers, but even more were the sisters, daughters, and so on, of Xiling’s dignitaries and wealthy merchants. Although everyone knew that Prince Ding was deeply devoted to Princess Consort Ding, there were always some who wanted to try their luck. Thus, His Highness Prince Ding experienced being kicked out of the bedroom by the Princess Consort to sleep in the study for the first time in his life. Feng Zhiyao, observing from the side, couldn’t help but remark: The Prince is truly being wronged.

Mo Xiuyao shot Feng Zhiyao a cool glance, casually dropped the chess piece in his hand, and said nonchalantly, "Didn’t I say these trivial matters could be left to Qingbai to handle?" After saying this, he subtly glanced at Ye Li, who was sitting beside him. Xu Qingbai is Ah-Li’s maternal cousin, so of course, he knows how to handle things without upsetting Ah-Li. Actually, my idea is to just kill those who diligently send gifts, especially those tactless enough to send beauties. But clearly, not only would my subordinates object to such an idea, even Ah-Li wouldn’t agree.

Seeing that Mo Xiuyao had no intention of continuing the game, Xu Qingbai also put down his chess piece with a smile. He glanced at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao with a smile that was not quite a smile. Of course, I know about Prince Ding being kicked out to sleep in the study for two days. I’m also rather surprised. In all these years, this couple has always been deeply affectionate, never even blushed from arguing. Given Mo Xiuyao’s status, it’s impossible for there to be no beautiful women trying to tempt him. But I’ve never seen Li’er get jealous because of it. This time... could it be that Mo Xiuyao really had some other thoughts? Xu Qingbai’s clear, handsome eyes flickered slightly, and he asked with a smile, "Prince, you speak too seriously. How could I dare to make decisions on such important matters alone? Third Young Master Feng, you look so happy. Were there really some world-stunning beauties sent this time?"

Feng Zhiyao’s lips twitched slightly. What does he mean, ’you look so happy’? It makes me sound like some kind of lecherous fiend. However, the joy of seeing Mo Xiuyao in a predicament instantly overcame the faint displeasure in his heart, and he said cheerfully, "Fourth Young Master, don’t say it, but there really were. The day before yesterday, Marquis Changning of Xiling sent over a pair of exquisite beauties. Although they couldn’t be called nation-toppling, they were definitely rare peerless beauties. What’s more, they’re twins who look completely identical. Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and I looked at them for a long time and still couldn’t tell them apart."

Zhuo Jing, standing to the side, rubbed his nose, silently grumbling in his heart: Third Young Master Feng, you were the one who stared for half a day, and you were the one who couldn’t tell them apart. Can you please not drag us innocent bystanders into this? We’ve undergone specialized training and instruction from the Princess Consort. How could we possibly not be able to distinguish a pair of twins?

Mo Xiuyao listened as Feng Zhiyao enthusiastically described to Xu Qingbai and Xu Qingfeng the beauties who had been sent over these past few days. Then he looked at the smile on Ye Li’s lips beside him, which was almost identical to Xu Qingbai’s, and a chill involuntarily ran down his spine. Actually, I don’t understand why Ah-Li suddenly got angry. But I know it’s definitely not just because of those women who aren’t worth mentioning at all. In all these years, Ah-Li has never been angry with me. Even if there were occasional moments, they were more like playful banter. But this time, I can genuinely feel that Ah-Li is truly unhappy. But... what exactly is the reason?

Looking at the faint smile on Ye Li’s lips, Mo Xiuyao felt increasingly conflicted and irritable.

He nonchalantly turned his gaze to the extremely excited Feng Zhiyao and said, "Third Feng, listening to you speak so happily..." Feng Zhiyao blinked, looking blankly at Mo Xiuyao, who was looking at him with a cold sneer. He heard Mo Xiuyao’s slightly cool voice say, "That pair of twin sisters sent by Marquis Changning, this Prince will bestow them upon you. Marquis Changning, although his bloodline is distant, is still a member of the Xiling imperial family. We should give him some face, more or less. You must... treat those twin beauties well." Mo Xiuyao said the words "treat well" with particular emphasis and a low tone. Feng Zhiyao’s heart immediately lurched, as if a ladle of cold water had been poured over his head, instantly sobering his somewhat excited mind.

Joy turns to sorrow when taken to an extreme. It’s not so easy to enjoy the spectacle of one’s superior’s troubles. The ancients truly did not deceive me, Feng Zhiyao thought with a mournful face.

Since two had already been sent away, Mo Xiuyao also thought about how to place the others. Who made Ah-Li dislike me killing people casually? But keeping them in the guesthouse would make Ah-Li unhappy. Mo Xiuyao stroked his chin, thinking with satisfaction, and said to Feng Zhiyao, "Pass down the order: based on the magnitude of their military achievements... reward those women to the military officers."

The expressions of Xu Qingfeng and Qin Feng, who were beside him, changed slightly. Xu Qingfeng hastily said, "Um... Your Highness, your subordinate doesn’t need it." I’m going to marry Tianxiang as soon as I get back. What would it look like if I brought a woman back? Even if Tianxiang didn’t get angry with me, my father and her mother would break my legs.

Qin Feng coughed lightly and followed, "Your subordinate also thanks the Prince for his kind intentions."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, looked at Qin Feng, and said, "It’s understandable if Qingfeng doesn’t want one, but Qin Feng, are you sure you don’t? You’re over thirty, aren’t you? You should have married and had children long ago. I remember one of them is the di daughter of a scholarly family. How about this Prince has Third Feng give that young lady to you?"

Qin Feng shook his head repeatedly, saying with a pained expression, "Thank you, Prince. Your subordinate appreciates the sentiment." The Prince’s ’favors’ are truly hard to bear.

"Qingbai?" Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingbai with a smile.

Xu Qingbai smiled calmly. "Thank you for your kind intentions, Prince. According to Xu Family rules, before marriage, and after marriage if one is under forty and childless, one cannot take concubines."

Mo Xiuyao nodded with a smile. "This Prince knows that. Taking two back as maids wouldn’t be bad either."

"I wander around all year long; I’m afraid I would be slighting the young ladies," Xu Qingbai replied, his smile unwavering.

Having dismissed all his subordinates who were unwilling to accept the favor of the beauties, Mo Xiuyao finally turned back to Ye Li. He reached out, lifted her small face, and asked softly, "Ah-Li, are you still angry?"

Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao with a faint smile. "Prince, what are you saying? When was I angry?"

Mo Xiuyao pulled her into his arms, buried his face in her fragrant hair, and said in a muffled voice, "Ah-Li, don’t be angry, alright? If you’re unhappy... I’ll go kill all those women!" When he said ’kill’, Mo Xiuyao’s tone unconsciously carried a hint of killing intent.

Ye Li’s heart trembled slightly. She sighed softly, somewhat helplessly. "Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve just occupied the Imperial City of Xiling. If we want to stabilize things quickly, we shouldn’t make things too tense with the local dignitaries of Xiling. If you kill them all, it will be even worse than directly sending them back in the first place." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Actually, I don’t understand why I’m unhappy either. Of course, I know Mo Xiuyao’s feelings for me, and I believe he is wholeheartedly devoted to me. But seeing so many beauties sent by others, seeing so many beauties casting admiring gazes upon Mo Xiuyao, the displeasure in my heart just welled up, almost uncontrollably.

Perhaps I had never realized before just how many women’s gazes and affections my husband could attract. Although there were figures like Su Zuidie, Noble Consort Liu, and even Princess Ling Yun in the past, I never felt that these people could cause any harm to my relationship with Mo Xiuyao. Perhaps as Mo Xiuyao’s future status grows higher and higher, it’s destined that more and more women will be attracted to him, and even more people will continuously send all sorts of peerless beauties. Furthermore, if one day Mo Xiuyao reigns over the world... the ministers would absolutely not tolerate only me in the imperial harem. Perhaps this has nothing to do with these seemingly distant matters. I just inexplicably feel vexed and weary of the current situation.

"If you don’t like them, just kill them. What’s the big deal?" Mo Xiuyao said sullenly, lifting his head to stroke Ye Li’s lovely face, his eyes deep and resolute. "If those so-called dignitaries make Ah-Li unhappy, then so what if we drive them all away? Here, in Prince Ding’s Mansion, who dares to say this Prince is wrong? Ah-Li, don’t be upset with me. I feel bad..."

Ye Li let out a soft, melancholic sigh and leaned into Mo Xiuyao’s embrace, whispering, "I’m not angry because of this. Actually..." She sighed again, a bit frustrated. "I don’t know why. I just feel a bit vexed in my heart, that’s all." This kind of uncontrollable emotion is also very troubling to me. In both my past and present lives, I’ve rarely had times when I couldn’t control my emotions like this.

Mo Xiuyao reached out to touch Ye Li’s forehead and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Should I have a physician come take a look?"

Ye Li shook her head. "I’m fine, it’s nothing... Maybe it will be better in a few days."

"Really nothing?" Mo Xiuyao asked, still worried, but seeing that Ye Li’s complexion was normal, she indeed didn’t look like she was unwell anywhere.

"Really, it’s nothing."

"Then... can your husband return to the room to sleep tonight?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Ye Li looked at him for a long moment, then stood up and shook her head. "My mood is still not good, so... I’ll have to trouble the Prince to sleep in the study for another two days."

Watching Ye Li’s figure as she turned and strolled away, a hint of faint warmth and helplessness appeared in Mo Xiuyao’s usually indifferent eyes.

"Prince." In the quiet garden, only Mo Xiuyao remained. The warmth in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by more coldness and killing intent. Qin Feng appeared silently behind Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao lowered his eyes and asked, "Has the Princess Consort been uncomfortable anywhere these past two days? Or has she encountered any upsetting matters?"

Qin Feng thought for a moment and shook his head. "No, the Princess Consort’s food, clothing, lodging, and travel are all normal, and she hasn’t encountered any unpleasant incidents." Although it was rather rare for the Princess Consort to banish the Prince to the study this time, Qin Feng didn’t think it was a major issue. What couple doesn’t have little spats? Although he had never married, he had heard some of the older married men in the army talk about it. For a man to occasionally sleep in the study or kneel on a washboard or something, it’s perfectly normal.

"Go. Protect the Princess Consort well. Her spirits have been a bit low these past two days..." Mo Xiuyao instructed.

"Yes, your subordinate obeys."

"Reporting to the Prince, the Bai Family has just sent some things over," Lin Han came in and reported.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. If it were just ordinary things, there would be no need to specifically report to me.

Lin Han said, "The Bai Family sent many lavish gifts, including... four beauties and four... page boys." Lin Han’s face also looked a bit contorted when he mentioned the page boys. The Bai Family truly lives up to its reputation as a renowned noble family of Xiling; their thinking is indeed more thorough than others. Perhaps they heard that Prince Ding is not interested in beauties, so they took a different approach: the four page boys they sent were actually handsome youths.

"The Bai Family?" Mo Xiuyao’s voice was ice-cold.

Lin Han nodded. "Yes, the head steward of the Bai Family personally delivered them. He also left an invitation card, inviting the Prince and Princess Consort to a banquet at the Bai residence."

"Kill them!" A bloody glint flashed through Mo Xiuyao’s eyes, gone in an instant. He slowly added, "Don’t tell the Princess Consort."