Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 339: Prince Ding’s Calculations in 338
338. Prince Ding’s Calculations
Only after Ye Li finished her discussions with Queen Helan and they reached a preliminary agreement that satisfied both parties did Queen Helan, laden with a pile of newly acquired jewelry, gleefully descend the stairs with Ye Li. After their deep conversation, the two had gained a deeper understanding of each other, and their mutual appreciation and admiration had grown.
As they came downstairs, they saw Mo Xiuyao and the others waiting for them in the floral hall. Not only Mo Xiuyao and Ren Qining, who had come looking for them, but Yelv Ye and Noble Consort Liu were also present.
Seeing the large and small boxes in Queen Helan’s arms and the exquisite jewelry adorning her hair, styled in a popular fashion among Central Plains women—the "flying immortal" bun—both Noble Consort Liu and Consort Yun couldn’t help but show a hint of surprise.
Fenghua Pavilion was originally a property under Prince Ding’s Mansion and was also one of the top jewelry establishments in the entire Great Chu. Naturally, their creations were extraordinarily exquisite, and no woman could resist beautiful adornments.
Seeing them descend, Mo Xiuyao stood up, took Ye Li’s hand, and smiled at Queen Helan. "It appears the Queen is quite satisfied with the jewelry here?"
Queen Helan beamed. "Yes, the jewelry of the Central Plains is truly beautiful. Princess Consort Ding said these can all be gifted to me. Is that true?"
Mo Xiuyao chuckled lightly. "If Ah-Li said so, then naturally it is possible. It is Princess Consort Ding’s honor that the Queen likes them." Queen Helan, cradling the boxes, her affection for the jewelry evident, replied, "Then I won’t be polite. Thank you, Prince Ding, and Princess Consort."
"You are too kind, Your Majesty."
Ye Li watched the two exchange pleasantries, a hint of confusion in her eyes as she asked, "Why are you all here?"
Mo Xiuyao replied softly, "We heard you came to Fenghua Pavilion, so we came to wait. How is it that only Queen Helan has chosen something? Did Ah-Li not find anything to her liking?"
Ye Li waved her hand. "I have no use for those. Just leave them for now." Indeed, she owned a considerable amount of jewelry, but she rarely used much of it. Most pieces were either kept as decorations or given away as gifts.
Mo Xiuyao didn’t mind, smiling as he said, "Fenghua Pavilion recently acquired an excellent piece of white jade. I’ll have it carved into a hairpin for you later."
Prince Ding’s gentle and considerate nature stirred both envy and jealousy among the other women present. Consort Yun couldn’t help but praise, "The affection between Prince Ding and the Princess Consort is truly wonderful. Your Majesty, wouldn’t you agree?" she asked, turning to Ren Qining.
Ren Qining nodded impatiently. "Now that the Princess Consort and the Queen have finished their conversation, we should return to the posthouse."
Although Queen Helan was still somewhat reluctant to leave, she noted the time and smiled at Ye Li. "Princess Consort Ding, thank you for gifting me so many things. I have many beautiful pearls. How about I have someone send them over to you later?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Although the Northern Territory was situated far to the north, parts of it were near the sea. Pearls were not uncommon there, and many were even finer than those from the Central Plains. Ye Li did not stand on ceremony and smiled. "Then I must thank Queen Helan."
Ren Qining departed with Queen Helan and Consort Yun. Noble Consort Liu, who initially seemed to have something more to say, was also led away by Yelv Ye. Only then did Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li joyfully leave Fenghua Pavilion, heading towards Prince Ding’s Mansion. The satisfied expressions on their faces indicated that the negotiations had been highly satisfactory for both sides.
Before they even reached the entrance of Prince Ding’s Mansion, they heard an unusual commotion, a stark contrast to the usual tranquility and solemnity of the place. As they drew closer, they saw a very familiar figure.
The blond young man also spotted them and immediately flashed a wide, toothy grin, rushing towards them.
"Beautiful Princess Consort, it’s wonderful to see you here!"
Mo Xiuyao’s face darkened. "Is that so? Why don’t I feel the same? What are you doing at Prince Ding’s Mansion?" It would be great if you’re here to cause trouble. I’d have a reason to capture you and then... Mo Xiuyao inwardly delighted, contemplating various means of torture.
Although the blond man couldn’t perceive Mo Xiuyao’s thoughts, instinct still made him shiver, and he edged closer to Ye Li.
Ye Li smiled helplessly. "Who might you be? Do you have business at Prince Ding’s Mansion?"
The blond man grinned with excitement. "Of course, I do! I am a merchant from the Jialan Kingdom in the Western Regions. My name is Lans. I wish to do business with the master of this city."
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, addressing him lightly, "Aren’t you already doing business in Licheng? Or do you have something special you wish to sell to me?"
The blond man shook his head vehemently. "No, no, I want to conduct very, very big business! The East has many unique items that I intend to sell in the far west. I visited those places with my father when I was young. The people there have plenty of gold, but they lack beautiful silks, exquisite porcelain, and magical tea leaves. If I sell these items to them, I’ll become a wealthy man very quickly." Noticing Mo Xiuyao’s displeased expression, he quickly added, "Of course, you too, Sir! We’ll both become the wealthiest men!"
When excited, the blond man gesticulated wildly as he spoke.
Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li exchanged a glance. Prince Ding’s Mansion was already wealthy, but they didn’t mind becoming even wealthier. After all, waging wars and maintaining an army had always been costly endeavors.
"Why don’t you come inside with us, and we can discuss this in detail?" Ye Li suggested with a gentle smile.
"Of course! It would be my honor, beautiful Princess Consort," the blond man responded joyfully. His employees had warned him he might be driven away, but he was lucky enough to get an opportunity on his very first try. Fortune truly favors the diligent who know how to seize opportunities! he thought happily, already imagining countless shimmering gold pieces beckoning him.
"Beautiful?" Walking ahead, Mo Xiuyao scoffed and summoned a guard. "Call Han Mingyue and Han Mingxi over. And Young Master Qingchen as well. This fellow... let them handle him."
The young Western Regions merchant named Lans enthusiastically followed the guard, wandering through the vast Prince Ding’s Mansion. The white-haired king (Mo Xiuyao) had told him that he himself wasn’t savvy with business matters and would have specialists negotiate. In the meantime, he suggested Lans could tour the mansion’s flower gardens.
This greatly improved Lans’s impression of Prince Ding. After encountering countless superiors who pretended to know everything, this king who dares to acknowledge his own shortcomings is truly remarkable! No wonder this city is more prosperous and peaceful than any other I’ve ever seen.
In June, many flowers were still blooming in Prince Ding’s Mansion. Lans curiously admired these unique Eastern flora, wondering if he could take some back to the Western Regions to cultivate.
While admiring the beautiful scenery in the flower garden, he saw two people walking towards him. Two figures, one in red and one in white, stood out particularly strikingly amidst the blooming flowers.
Lans’s gaze locked onto the figure in red. A tall, slender figure and a beautiful face. Dark hair, casually tied with a ribbon, framed a lazy smile playing on those lips. Everything about this person exuded a unique charm.
Although this person seemed less gentle and refined than the beautiful Princess Consort, they possessed a different kind of grace. Once again, Lans failed to notice the man in white beside the figure in red as he approached with a flower in hand.
"Beautiful Eastern lady, may I have the honor of having afternoon tea with you? If you are not married like the beautiful Princess Consort, please consider accepting my deepest affection."
The two people in front of him were stunned, clearly startled by this sudden declaration of love. After a moment, the person in red asked in a deep voice, "What did you say?"
Lans was taken aback; this lady’s voice seemed a bit rougher than the beautiful Princess Consort’s. But a beauty as perfect and flawless as the Princess Consort is probably rare, he mused. Nevertheless, this beauty in red is also exceptionally rare.
"If you are not married, please accept my deepest affection," Lans said earnestly, lifting his head.
"THUMP!"
His answer was a hard, ruthless punch. The blow made Lans dizzy for a moment; he couldn’t react in time and shook his head. "Beautiful la—"
"THUMP!"
Han Mingxi, holding nothing back, threw another punch, turning the blond man’s previously smug face into something resembling a national treasure—complete with rapidly forming black eyes. "Are your dog eyes blind? Damn it, I’m a man!"
Huh? Lans, who had initially felt aggrieved by the overly violent Eastern lady, was now utterly shocked. He took another hard look at Han Mingxi, dressed in red with handsome features. Only then did he notice that this ’beauty in red’ was almost as tall as himself. And also...
Nearby, Han Mingyue glanced at his furious younger brother, then at the blond man, now sporting a pair of rapidly swelling black eyes. He couldn’t help but lower his head and chuckle.
"Bro!" Han Mingxi, his embarrassment turning to rage, tried to pull away from Han Mingyue’s restraining hand. "Don’t hold me back! I’ll fucking kill him!"
"Alright, he’s probably a guest of Prince Ding’s Mansion. A couple of punches to vent your anger should be enough. Isn’t Princess Consort Ding still waiting for you to discuss matters?" Han Mingyue advised.
Hearing his older brother’s words, Han Mingxi grudgingly abandoned his plan to continue beating Lans. He shot Lans a fierce glare before storming off towards Ye Li’s study.
Trailing behind, Lans looked dejected. I just confessed my feelings to a man! The mere thought made his skin crawl. Shuddering, Lans decided he would definitely heed his employees’ advice: hire a matchmaker to introduce him to a gentle and beautiful lady to be his wife. This Eastern world is simply too terrifying! I can’t even distinguish between men and women, especially since they all have long hair!
Poor Lans would never understand exactly why he had received those two punches.
「In Ye Li’s study」
When Han Mingxi and the others arrived, Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen were already there.
Seeing Lans’s new appearance, Ye Li was somewhat taken aback and stared for a moment. Similarly, when Lans saw Xu Qingchen—whose features were even more refined and striking than Han Mingxi’s—and then glanced at the still-irate Han Mingxi waiting nearby, he blinked and lowered his head dejectedly.
The pitiful look in Lans’s eyes made Young Master Qingchen’s mouth twitch, and he raised an eyebrow in confusion.
No one noticed the person sitting beside Ye Li lower his head to sip tea, a faint smirk of triumph playing on his lips.
Although the matter concerning Lans was important, it didn’t hold much immediate significance for Prince Ding. Even if they collaborated with Lans, they wouldn’t see returns in the short term. Therefore, after briefly outlining the plan, the matter was directly entrusted to Han Mingxi. Han Mingyue had been kept in this lukewarm state for years, and Mo Xiuyao didn’t particularly care about his intentions. After all, Han Mingyue would naturally step in to help Han Mingxi if he got into trouble. While Mo Xiuyao didn’t have much of a personal connection with Han Mingyue, he acknowledged that Han Mingyue was quite intelligent. Why not make use of a free resource?
After dismissing the three—Han Mingxi, Han Mingyue, and Lans—Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li, and Xu Qingchen sat down again to discuss serious matters. After Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li recounted their day’s activities, Eldest Young Master Xu’s attention indeed fixated first on the phoenix qin—still out of reach—rather than on how many people Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li had schemed against. Staring at Mo Xiuyao, he asked, "Will Mo Jingli really give you the item?" Losing the Capital of Great Chu was already deeply embarrassing. If he also lost Great Chu’s national treasure, Regent Prince Mo Jingli’s reputation would be utterly trampled.
Mo Xiuyao smiled with satisfaction. "Compared to a few inanimate objects that one can neither eat nor use, isn’t a living, breathing son more important?"
Young Master Qingchen was silent for a moment. Mo Jingli was indeed not the sort of person to act with great moral righteousness. "Give me the phoenix qin," he stated.
Mo Xiuyao’s grin widened. "Brother Xu, this is Great Chu’s national treasure. Even for you, I can’t just hand it over casually, can I?" Xu Qingchen looked at him coolly. "Can you play the qin?"
"Slightly." Compared to Young Master Qingchen, Prince Ding’s qin skills could only be described as ’slight.’ Besides, Prince Ding’s interests didn’t lie in music, so he naturally didn’t care whether the instrument in his hands was crafted last year or a renowned ancient qin. But it was different for Young Master Qingchen. To him, the White Jade Phoenix Qin was likely far more attractive than any peerless beauty. How could someone as intelligent as Young Master Qingchen not understand Mo Xiuyao’s meaning? He merely let out a light snort and dropped the subject of the qin. Just because he couldn’t get it didn’t mean others couldn’t either. Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled at Xu Qingchen. While he couldn’t guarantee others wouldn’t obtain it, he could ensure Young Master Qingchen definitely wouldn’t touch it.
Watching the silent battle of wills between the two, Ye Li helplessly interjected, "Let’s wait until Mo Jingli actually delivers the item before discussing it further. Big Brother, Xiuyao, shouldn’t we first discuss the people here in Licheng?"
Xu Qingchen didn’t want to continue confronting Mo Xiuyao on this matter either. After all, they would each rely on their own abilities. He pondered for a moment and said, "So, Beirong wants to negotiate peace with us, or better yet, form an alliance to deal with Xiling and Yelv Hong? Does Yelv Ye think everyone in Prince Ding’s Mansion is a fool?" If this were before, Yelv Ye’s proposal might have held some credibility. However, since the Mo Family Army seized control of Xiling, all regions bordering Beirong now belong to Prince Ding’s Mansion. This means any direct conflict between Beirong and Xiling is highly unlikely. As the saying goes, ’Befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones.’ Yelv Ye’s reverse approach is utterly meaningless and offers no benefit to Beirong.
Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Aren’t they treating all of us like fools? I guess such an idiotic idea wasn’t Yelv Ye’s own. However, Beirong experienced a severe drought this summer. The northern regions they occupy have also been ravaged by war, leaving them with only a tenth of their usual grain stores. It’s understandable that Yelv Ye wants to trade with Prince Ding’s Mansion. If he could control Beirong’s grain supply, he would immediately gain the upper hand in his conflict with Yelv Hong."
"Unfortunately, the Prince has already decided to help Yelv Hong," Xu Qingchen said with a faint smile.
"In any case, Yelv Hong can be considered a son-in-law of our Central Plains. As long as Princess Ronghua remains the Princess Consort, I don’t mind helping him," Mo Xiuyao said with a laugh.
Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow. "Is that your condition for Yelv Hong?" Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "It’s something everyone understands implicitly; voicing it aloud would just make things unpleasant."
Xu Qingchen nodded. "Then what about the Northern Territory? Does Queen Helan stand a chance against Ren Qining?"
Ye Li smiled faintly. "Given that Ren Qining still hasn’t seen through Queen Helan’s true nature, I think it’s a gamble worth taking." After all, there’s not much to lose even if the gamble fails. Xu Qingchen nodded, pondering. "In that case, we must be wary of Yelv Ye and Ren Qining truly joining forces." Previously, their alliance was merely a temporary cooperation to capture the Capital of Great Chu; they were bound to turn on each other once that was achieved. However, if the Mo Family Army chooses to assist Yelv Hong and Queen Helan, Yelv Ye and Ren Qining’s alliance might, paradoxically, become more solid.
Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, "It doesn’t matter. In any case... I never planned on letting them go." The Beirong forces that have entered Great Chu’s territory and the Mo Family Army are destined for a life-or-death battle. As for Ren Qining, who constantly yearns for the restoration of his kingdom, Mo Xiuyao naturally wouldn’t let him escape either.
Xu Qingchen nodded. "As long as you have a plan. I will discuss Yelv Hong’s situation with Second Uncle. As for Queen Helan’s side, Li’er will have to work hard." Ye Li smiled. "It’s my duty, Big Brother. There’s no need to speak of hardship."
"What do you plan to do with that Ye Yue from the Ye Family?" Xu Qingchen asked, frowning. He had no favorable impression of anyone from the Ye Family, especially this Ye Yue. Even if Ye Yue had been coerced in the past, it couldn’t alter the fact that she had once plotted to murder Ye Li. Even in a scholarly family like the Xu Family, distinctions of kinship were clearly drawn. In their eyes, Ye Li was naturally a thousand times more important than the unrelated Ye Yue. Previously, they might have thought it was settled if Ye Yue was dead. But now she had reappeared in Licheng, perfectly fine, and was still relentlessly scheming for advantage. This was beyond what Young Master Qingchen could tolerate. He was even somewhat displeased with Mo Xiuyao for not having dealt with this matter cleanly and decisively.
Mo Xiuyao smiled leisurely. "Don’t worry. Someone will naturally help us dispose of her." A sharp glint flashed in his smiling eyes. How could I ever let go of someone who once tried to harm Ah-Li?
「In the most secluded wing of the Ye Mansion」
Ye Yue sat disconsolately on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. Being discovered by Prince Ding’s Mansion means all my plans are thoroughly finished, she knew. But I can’t just give up. I’ve endured so much pain over these many years to get to where I am today. To avoid pursuit by Prince Ding’s Mansion, I had to constantly and carefully conceal any trace that might link me to the Ye Yue of the past. I made it this far with such difficulty... A faint regret surfaced. If I hadn’t tried to take shortcuts, if I had gone straight to Jiangnan, perhaps I could have arrived safely. Maybe I wouldn’t have been discovered by the Empress Dowager’s people... But now, it’s too late for regrets.
"Ye Yue." A cold voice reached her ears. Ye Yue, startled, turned to see Mo Jingli standing at the doorway.
"Prince Li, why are you here?" Ye Wenhua had long since ordered the room and courtyard doors to be guarded, allowing no one in except her mother who brought her meals. Mo Jingli stared at her coldly. "If I want to come in, I can come in." A flicker of joy lit Ye Yue’s eyes. "Are you here to take me away?"
Mo Jingli stared at her. "Where is the medicine I asked for?"
Ye Yue’s face changed slightly. She forced a smile. "We agreed... after we reached Jiangnan... after it was done, then I could give it to you." Mo Jingli flung his hand, violently shoving her back onto the bed. "Did you give the medicine to Mo Xiuyao?"
Hearing this, Ye Yue’s expression changed. Mo Jingli was instantly enraged. "Bitch!" He had come harboring only a slim hope, but truly hearing this fact, he still couldn’t suppress his overwhelming rage. Everything was ruined by this bitch! Because of her self-righteous cleverness, I now need to offer tens, even hundreds of times the original price to obtain something that was once within my grasp!
"Prince Li..." Ye Yue cried out. Mo Jingli was utterly furious. "Do you know what Mo Xiuyao demanded from me? The Four National Treasures! All because of you..." Mo Jingli grabbed her by the collar, shaking her until her head spun. The Four National Treasures... she knew of them. They were the four most precious treasures once housed in the Palace of Great Chu. Once, during her period of greatest favor, she had merely mentioned wanting to see them and was harshly reprimanded by Mo Jingqi, falling out of favor for more than half a month. These treasures were said to be peerless artifacts that even the most favored Noble Consort Liu had no chance to see. For years, these treasures represented not just incalculable value, but also the face and dignity of the Great Chu imperial family.
Ye Yue knew Mo Jingli must hate her to the core now. She quickly said, "Prince Li, take me away from here. Even without the medicine... I can help you deal with the Empress Dowager..."
Mo Jingli sneered. "Deal with the Empress Dowager? Do I need you to personally do it? Who do you think you are? I’ve realized... the reason I couldn’t get the item from you before was because I was too gentle with you. I won’t make that mistake again. Tell me what you know, honestly, and I’ll let you suffer less."
"Impossible!" Ye Yue gritted her teeth. This was her last and only bargaining chip. If she spoke, her death would surely come. Mo Jingli revealed a cruel smile. "Impossible? Seeing this person, do you still think it’s impossible?" With a wave of his hand, two guards at the door dragged in a child no older than ten.
"My son!" Ye Yue was aghast. She had hidden her son in an extremely secret location outside the city, how could they...
Mo Jingli smiled with satisfaction. "Ye Yue, you are too clever for your own good. Did you really think I would help you support this brat to take the throne? Mo Jingqi’s son? I wish I could... kill every single one I see! She’s yours. Use whatever methods you must to get what I want from her." After saying this, Mo Jingli cast a disgusted glance at Ye Yue and turned to leave.
From the secluded courtyard, a woman’s miserable cries could be heard intermittently. In less than an hour, the guards who had remained inside emerged. Inside the room, Ye Yue knelt on the floor, her body covered in bruises. She quietly cradled the dying child in her arms and couldn’t stop herself from sobbing aloud. At this moment, she truly regretted everything. If I had just stayed in my old village home, even if it meant a lifetime of poverty, it would have been better than this...
"Second Sister." At the doorway, Ye Ying stood gracefully, dressed in light-colored clothes. She gazed at Ye Yue with a smile, her eyes filled with a tender, pitiable, and moving expression.
"Ying’er!" Ye Yue came to her senses and scrambled over, grabbing Ye Ying’s hand. "Ying’er, please get a doctor. My child, my child is injured..." Ye Ying gently pulled her hand away, a cold, triumphant sneer appearing on her delicate face. "Second Sister, the Prince has ordered that no one is to call a doctor. Little Sister cannot make that decision."
"Ying’er..." Seeing the expression on Ye Ying’s face, Ye Yue stared at her gentle, frail younger sister in shock. "Why?"
"Why?" Ye Ying sneered. "Second Sister, when you wanted to climb into the Prince’s favor, why didn’t you think about ’why’ then? What did you say at the time? ’Anyway, the Prince doesn’t dote on me. With you there, you can help me out a bit?’ How did you help me... by snatching my husband? Is that how you help me?"
"I didn’t..." Ye Yue said with difficulty. I never meant to snatch Mo Jingli from her. It was just a temporary expedient! Why can’t Ying’er understand? "Ying’er, I beg you, he’s your nephew. Help me save him..." A look of venomous resentment crossed Ye Ying’s face. "Where did his father take my son? My son’s whereabouts are unknown; let this one die too!" With that, Ye Ying pushed Ye Yue away and turned to leave without a shred of mercy.
"Ying’er..." Ye Yue cried out weakly, but could only watch helplessly as her sister walked further and further away.
