Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 56. Returning Home

56. The Bridal Return Visit

Qingluan and the others followed behind Ye Li, watching their usually gentle lady storm off with a darkened face, exchanging bewildered looks. The Lake Heart Pavilion was too far from the shore for them to overhear what the Prince and Princess Consort had discussed. Qingxia asked uncertainly, "Could it be... that the Prince bullied the Princess Consort?"

Qingshuang’s face immediately fell. "What? The Prince bullied our lady?"

Qingluan and Qingyu helplessly restrained the agitated Qingshuang. Qingluan couldn’t help the corner of her mouth from twitching. She had personally witnessed the Princess Consort’s skills; she could easily knock out a robust man without even panting. With the Prince confined to a wheelchair, how could he possibly bully the Princess Consort?

Qingyu mused for a moment, then said, "Let’s ask Ah-Jin later. He would definitely know."

Qingshuang pouted. "He stayed on the shore with us, what could he possibly know?"

Qingxia also agreed. "He’s been with the Prince since childhood. He must know how the Prince angered the Princess Consort. Let’s go, the Princess Consort is getting far ahead."

As Ye Li strode briskly towards her courtyard, she was mentally raining curses down upon Mo Xiuyao. She must have been blind to think that man was gentle-tempered, and she even once thought he was innocent? That scoundrel actually dared to flirt... no, to tease her! Jealous! Jealous... Ridiculous, how could she be jealous over a man she had only known for a short time? At most, she just disliked others coveting her possessions.

"What’s wrong, Princess Consort?" Upon returning to the courtyard, Nanny Wei came out to greet her and saw Ye Li’s gloomy expression, asking with concern. Having been separated from the young lady she had raised since childhood for several years, Nanny Wei was now showering Ye Li with all the affection that had been missing during those years, caring more about her mood and health than anyone else.

Being questioned by her nanny, Ye Li suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed. She knew she had overreacted and was too ashamed to admit she had stormed off in a huff because Mo Xiuyao had teased her. So, she quickly took Nanny Wei’s hand and said, "Nanny, didn’t I tell you to rest well? If you keep hovering around me all day, your little grandson might not even recognize you anymore."

Nanny Lin’s and Nanny Wei’s families had all come with Ye Li to Prince Ding’s Mansion. Ye Li had placed their competent male family members as stewards in her shops or on her manors, while the womenfolk remained in her courtyard. She usually tried to let them rest and not attend to her too much, especially Nanny Lin, who was getting on in years. Serving a young mistress like herself, who was always on the move, was undoubtedly taxing.

Nanny Wei looked at her rather sadly and said, "Our young lady has grown up and doesn’t want her old nanny around anymore, is that it?"

"Nanny..." Ye Li felt a headache coming on. Here we go again with this tactic! However, it had at least diverted the conversation from the earlier incident. She led Nanny Wei inside and continued to coax her with soft, comforting words until Nanny Wei was all smiles.

"Princess Consort, Ah-Jin is here," Qingshuang entered, her pouting, pretty little face still looking sulky. She was clearly still angry with Ah-Jin from whatever happened outside.

"Let him in," Ye Li said, smiling playfully. "Who upset our dear Qingshuang?"

Qingshuang’s face flushed red, and she stomped her foot. "My Lady! It’s that wretched Ah-Jin! Just because he’s one of the Prince’s men, he goes around with a long, funereal face all day, as if someone owes him five hundred taels of silver and hasn’t paid up!"

Ye Li sighed in resignation. "Qingshuang, you’re the one being unreasonable, aren’t you? Ah-Jin is just reserved; he’s far from having a ’dead man’s face’. Mo Jingli is the one with a ’dead man’s face’. Ah-Jin is, at most, taciturn. That somewhat youthful, cold face of his can’t even compare to Second Brother’s."

Ah-Jin entered carrying a box and gave Qingshuang a glance, his face devoid of expression. Qingshuang, knowing she’d been caught badmouthing someone to their face, guiltily averted her gaze. Ye Li chuckled inwardly but maintained a serious expression as she looked at Ah-Jin. "Ah-Jin, what is it?"

Ah-Jin placed the box on the table, took two steps back, and then said, "This was sent by the Prince. The Prince... the Prince said he didn’t mean to make the Princess Consort angry. Please, Princess Consort, with your great magnanimity, don’t take offense." He stammered through the sentence.

Ye Li knew what was going on and, with a charming smile, asked Ah-Jin, "Ah-Jin, who taught you that last phrase?"

Ah-Jin’s face turned red, and he stared at Ye Li, at a loss. Both the Princess Consort and the Prince were intelligent people; telling lies in front of them would always be exposed. Ah-Jin silently committed this fact to memory.

Ye Li added with a smile, "Your Prince definitely wouldn’t say such a thing. Besides, I’m not angry either. I’ll accept the item. You may go back."

Ah-Jin silently withdrew. In a good mood, Ye Li opened the box. Inside, just as she expected, lay the portrait she had been very much thinking about. She had just been wondering what excuse to use to get the portrait back when, to her surprise, Mo Xiuyao had been so perceptive and immediately sent Ah-Jin over with it. Unrolling the painting on the table, Ye Li gazed at the woman in the portrait and sighed softly. Mo Xiuyao’s voice echoed in her mind—"I think this is the real Ah-Li."

"It’s so beautiful..." Qingshuang, standing nearby, exclaimed excitedly. "My Lady, did the Prince paint this? It’s so beautiful."

Nanny Wei also nodded with great satisfaction and smiled. "The Prince truly has feelings for our lady. It seems the Old Master and the Eldest Young Master indeed didn’t misjudge the person. Hehe..."

Ye Li remained silent. Was a portrait really that important?

「In the blink of an eye, it was time for the bridal return visit.」

Over the past three days, Ye Li had adapted well to life in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Even Nanny Lin and Nanny Wei, who had initially been anxious, had set their minds at ease. The only thing that dissatisfied the two nannies was that the Prince and Princess Consort had yet to consummate their marriage. However, they weren’t the only ones worried and dissatisfied about this. There was also Nanny Sun from the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Nanny Sun had watched Mo Xiuyao grow up, knew her master’s temperament well, and had no complaints about the new Princess Consort. She even hinted to Nanny Lin and Nanny Wei that they would find a way. Everyone in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion was harmonious and also treated their lady with great respect. After returning from the bridal visit, their lady would formally take charge of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. What more could the nannies be dissatisfied about? Therefore, when it was time for the bridal return visit, their faces were beaming as if flowers could bloom from their smiles.

The Ye Family’s welcome was exceptionally grand. Not only did Minister Ye and Ms. Wang lead Ye Shan, Ye Lin, and Ye Rong, but even Ye Zhen and Ye Ying, who were already married, had returned with their respective husbands. Ye Li wasn’t surprised that Ye Ying would come back for the excitement, but Ye Zhen, a secondary consort to the Heir of South Marquis, bringing the Heir of South Marquis with her, was rather intriguing.

Once they entered and paid their respects to Old Lady Ye, Ye Li was pulled away by her sisters for a private chat, while Mo Xiuyao remained in the main hall conversing with Minister Ye and Mo Jingli.

The Qingyi Pavilion, where Ye Li used to live, had been kept for her. The sisters sat around a stone table in the Qingyi Pavilion’s courtyard to chat. Ye Zhen glanced at the maids standing not far off, then at Ye Li. Dressed in a pale purple gown, with a pearl tassel hairpin in her hair, pearl drop earrings, and a top-quality lotus-patterned warm jade bracelet on her wrist, Ye Li appeared serene, a faint smile on her lips. She seemed to carry an added air of nobility compared to when she was at home. Ye Zhen sighed with envy, "It seems Third Sister is faring very well in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion?"

Ye Li smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Eldest Sister. Everything is fine."

Ye Shan chattered animatedly, asking endless questions: Was the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion large? Was it beautiful? Who lived there? Were the people there easy to get along with? And so on. Ye Li wasn’t flustered, waiting until Ye Shan had asked her fill before picking a few questions she could answer. Ye Shan, not getting all her answers, wanted to ask more, but Ye Lin, sitting beside her, tugged her sleeve, forcing her to reluctantly close her mouth.

"I heard that there’s a former Princess Consort and a Secondary Grand Consort in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Have you met them, Third Sister?" As Ye Shan had been chattering nonstop, Ye Ying hadn’t been able to get a word in and had to sit by with a cool expression. It was only now that she fixed her gaze on Ye Li and asked.

Ye Li looked at Ye Ying in surprise, then frowned. "Has Fourth Sister been unwell lately?" They hadn’t seen each other for long, but Ye Ying seemed to have changed quite a lot. She seemed even thinner and more frail. Previously, at the Ye residence, although Ye Ying was delicate, Ms. Wang had actually managed her health well, and her complexion always had an alluring rosy hue. But now, without that hint of rosiness, her whole person seemed much duller. Although she wore rouge, it ultimately lacked the natural beauty she had before, even without makeup.

Ye Ying’s gaze flickered, and she lowered her eyes, saying faintly, "Thank you for your concern, Third Sister. I’m just a little tired."

Ye Li sighed softly in her heart. Ye Ying really had changed a lot. It seemed Grand Consort Wise Zhao’s ability to ’train’ people was indeed something Old Lady Ye couldn’t hope to match. "If you’re tired, then rest more. After all, health is the most important thing. Without good health, you have nothing." After offering a few words of advice, she answered Ye Ying’s question, "Eldest Sister-in-law spends her years practicing Buddhism; I went to pay my respects after I settled in. As for the Secondary Grand Consort..." Recalling the eccentric Secondary Grand Consort in the mansion, Ye Li couldn’t help but frown, saying indifferently, "She is the Prince Father’s secondary consort; we don’t need to meet often."

Ye Shan exclaimed, "Then in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, aren’t you and the Prince the only two masters?"

At this remark, not only Ye Shan, Ye Zhen, and Ye Lin, but even Ye Ying couldn’t help but show a hint of envy in their eyes. There were no elders above them to exert pressure, no sisters-in-law or the like, and not even any unmarried sisters of her husband to deal with. It was practically the dream of every new bride. However, when Ye Ying thought of Mo Xiuyao’s condition, she vaguely felt a sense of balance restored. Compared to being ridiculed and pitied when out in public, enduring a few grievances at home was probably tolerable, right?

"It seems Third Sister and the Prince’s relationship is also very good. Third Sister truly has good fortune," Ye Zhen said with a sigh, wistfully.

Ye Ying was somewhat skeptical. "Is Prince Ding really that good-tempered?" she asked doubtfully. "People say that those with physical disabilities often have peculiar tempers."

Ye Li frowned slightly. "The Prince is not difficult to get along with." She didn’t know if Mo Xiuyao had a good temper, but they were currently getting along harmoniously.

Ye Ying could tell Ye Li was somewhat displeased by her words, but she had never been accustomed to yielding to Ye Li, so the atmosphere became somewhat stiff for a moment. Ye Zhen looked at the two of them and had to change the subject. "In a few days, the palace will hold a banquet to bid farewell to the envoys from various countries. Have Third Sister and Fourth Sister received invitations?"

Ye Li shook her head. "No."

Ye Lin laughed. "The foreign envoys came primarily to celebrate the marriage of Third Sister and the Prince. Even if others don’t attend, the Prince and Third Sister must surely attend. But how did Eldest Sister know before Third Sister and Fourth Sister?"

Ye Zhen smiled. "His Majesty entrusted this matter to the Heir of our Marquis’s Mansion, so naturally, I knew some things in advance."

Ye Shan’s eyes lit up. "Then will Eldest Sister be going too?"

Ye Zhen nodded, somewhat shyly yet joyfully. "The Heir said he would take me to the palace this time." After saying this, she even glanced gratefully at Ye Li. Clearly, the Heir of South Marquis had decided to take her, a secondary consort, to the palace banquet because her sister had just become Princess Consort Ding. Although she was only a secondary consort, Ye Zhen now felt a little more secure in the Marquis’s Mansion. After all, even the Heir’s Principal Consort didn’t have a sister who was a Zhaoyi and two sisters who were Princess Consorts. From this perspective, if she could bear a son, she might even have a chance to contend with the Consort of the Heir in the future.

"Humph, even if Eldest Sister can go, you certainly can’t," Ye Ying glanced at Ye Shan and said coldly.

Ye Shan immediately blushed. "Fourth Sister, I... I wasn’t thinking that."

Ye Ying didn’t even look at her. "Who has time to care what you’re thinking? It’s just that some people can’t see their own status clearly."

"You!" Ye Shan, her eyes red and tears welling up, finally got up and ran out. Ye Ying’s words were too harsh. Although they were aimed at Ye Shan, Ye Lin also felt uneasy. She looked at the departing Ye Shan and also got up to follow her. Even Ye Zhen’s expression wasn’t good.

Ye Li looked curiously at Ye Ying, then at Ye Zhen. Ye Zhen sighed helplessly. "Fourth Sister, even if you’re in a bad mood, don’t take it out on Sixth Sister."

Ye Ying clutched her handkerchief and sneered, "I’m in a bad mood? Eldest Sister, have you asked if Third Sister is in a good mood?"

"Greetings, Young Ladies. Old Lady Ye invites Princess Consort Ding over for a talk," a maid from Rongle Hall came to announce.

Ye Ying glanced at Ye Li and sneered, "Third Sister, weren’t you wondering what’s wrong with me? You’ll find out once you go."

Ye Li shook her head, stood up, and looked at Ye Ying. "Fourth Sister, this temper of yours might be acceptable at home. But you’re already married... Do you think Mother can protect you at all times and in all places?"

Ye Ying’s expression dimmed, but she stubbornly turned her head away without speaking. Ye Li didn’t press further. Although they were blood sisters, her feelings for these sisters were far weaker than for her former paternal cousins, and not even comparable to her feelings for her several male cousins from the Xu Family. She would offer a few words of advice if she could; if they didn’t listen, she was helpless.

In Rongle Hall, Old Lady Ye, dressed in festive attire, sat in the flower hall. Seeing Ye Li enter, her face broke into a wide smile. "Li’er, come, let Grandmother take a look at you..."

Ye Li walked over and sat beside Old Lady Ye. Old Lady Ye examined Ye Li for a while, then nodded with satisfaction. "How have you been settling in at Prince Ding’s Mansion these past few days? Are the servants in the Prince’s Mansion easy to command? Has anyone given you trouble?"

Ye Li smiled. "Grandmother, you can rest assured, Li’er is doing well. The servants in the Prince’s Mansion are all very respectful."

Old Lady Ye nodded repeatedly. "That’s good, that’s good. Then, you and the Prince..."

Ye Li replied, "The Prince is also easy to get along with."

Old Lady Ye seemed a bit troubled, looked at Ye Li, and then said, "Grandmother means, you and the Prince... you and the Prince, when do you plan to have a child? The Prince is not young anymore."

Ye Li was slightly embarrassed; so Old Lady Ye had been mulling this over for a long time, wanting to ask if they had consummated their marriage. Old Lady Ye stared at her. "Don’t you try to deceive Grandmother. If Grandmother couldn’t even see this, I would have lived all these years in vain. You and the Prince haven’t consummated your marriage, have you?" Old Lady Ye clearly understood that this granddaughter was somewhat different from the others, so she quickly gave up beating around the bush and asked directly.

She could tell even that? Ye Li thought for a moment, then calmly replied, "Grandmother, you need not worry. The Prince and I both feel that we are not yet familiar with each other. Spending some time getting to know each other before... it won’t be too late. Moreover, we are getting along very well now, so we are not in a hurry."

Old Lady Ye looked at Ye Li’s calm and composed demeanor and secretly shook her head. "Then... who manages the affairs of Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

"The Prince naturally handles external affairs, and the household affairs will be handed over to me after I return," Ye Li replied.

Old Lady Ye’s expression eased slightly; at least this granddaughter knew to grasp the power within the Prince’s Mansion. Old Lady Ye was truly quite exasperated with these two legitimate granddaughters, Ye Li and Ye Ying. Ye Ying, seemingly clever, was actually clueless; after marrying into Prince Li’s Mansion, instead of grasping power, she spent her days bickering jealously with concubines, turning herself into a shrew. In comparison, the unobtrusive Ye Li was clearly much smarter. Just by looking at the attitude of the servants who came with her from Prince Ding’s Mansion, one could tell she was doing well there. However, she seemed too indifferent towards Prince Ding. She must understand that even as Princess Consort Ding, to enjoy lifelong honor and wealth, she still had to rely on Prince Ding.

"Li’er, tell Grandmother honestly. Is it... is it because of Prince Ding’s leg that you..." Old Lady Ye waved away the nearby attendants, grasped Ye Li’s hand, and asked in a low voice.

Ye Li was speechless, which in Old Lady Ye’s eyes, confirmed her suspicion. Old Lady Ye sighed. "Poor child, Grandmother knows your fate is bitter... but things are as they are, and you’ve already married into Prince Ding’s Mansion. What else can be done? Even as Princess Consort Ding, you still need to hold onto the Prince tightly. The most important thing is offspring. Once you have offspring, no one can shake your position as Princess Consort. Do you understand? Does the Prince have any concubines?"

Ye Li shook her head.

Old Lady Ye’s smile widened. "In that case, it seems the Prince still values you. It’s even better that there are no concubines. As long as you bear the Prince a child first, as for future matters..." Seeing Old Lady Ye’s hesitant expression, Ye Li pondered for a long while and finally understood her meaning. It turned out Old Lady Ye was advising her that even if she couldn’t stand Mo Xiuyao’s crippled legs, she absolutely had to bear a child first. As long as she had a child, if she really couldn’t accept Mo Xiuyao, she could push him off onto other women. Anyway, she was the Princess Consort, she had status; having an heir was all that mattered. A man’s favor was mostly unreliable.

Why doesn’t she suspect that Mo Xiuyao is incapable? Ye Li thought with a touch of dark humor.

"Thank you for Grandmother’s teachings. Li’er understands," Ye Li quickly replied, wanting to prevent Old Lady Ye from continuing to lecture her with her experiences.

Old Lady Ye was very satisfied with her receptiveness and nodded. "Good child, Grandmother knew you see things more clearly than Ying’er. Normally, I shouldn’t have said this on your bridal return visit today, but once you become Princess Consort Ding, you’ll have little opportunity to return home. So Grandmother will tell you now. In a few days, if you have some free time, invite your Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister to Prince Ding’s Mansion to keep you company."

Ye Li paused, her brow faintly furrowed.

Old Lady Ye continued, "Shan’er and Lin’er are good children, and you sisters grew up together. If they could... it would also be a support for you and Ying’er. What Grandmother means is that Lin’er is more composed; it would be best if she could go with Ying’er to Prince Li’s Mansion. Shan’er has a lively personality, and your temperament can keep her in check. What do you think?"

What do I think? What do I think? Ye Li felt an urge to tear her hair out. This old lady was being far too presumptuous, wasn’t she? She’d even assigned the personnel already, one for Prince Li’s Mansion and one for Prince Ding’s Mansion? No wonder Ye Ying’s expression was so unsightly earlier. She was already aggrieved enough fighting with Mo Jingli’s concubines in Prince Li’s Mansion; now her own family was sending her sisters to add to her vexation. Anyone would be frustrated.

Clearing her throat, Ye Li composed her expression and smiled faintly. "Grandmother, isn’t it a bit too early to talk about this? The Prince and I haven’t even... and we’re already rushing to bring my younger sisters from home into the mansion. What would the Prince think?"

Old Lady Ye chuckled. "Grandmother isn’t saying you have to do it now. Anyway, Shan’er is still young; waiting another year or two won’t matter. As long as you have an idea in mind, that’s enough."

Ye Li twitched the corners of her lips and asked, "Although Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister were born of concubines, our Minister’s Residence is not of low standing. Wouldn’t it be a grievance for them to become secondary consorts in a Prince’s Mansion?"

Old Lady Ye waved her hand dismissively. "Their marriages are decided by their parents; what grievance could they have? Becoming a secondary consort in a Prince’s Mansion, isn’t that more honorable than marrying some minor official or a concubine’s son as his principal wife? Li’er, you don’t need to worry about those two. Shan’er and Lin’er have always been obedient; they won’t have any objections."

I have an objection. Ye Li thought for a moment, then said after some hesitation, "Li’er understands Grandmother’s and Father’s intentions. However... apart from Second Sister who entered the palace, the other daughters have all married into princely mansions. This way... it’s not beneficial for Second Sister. This matter... have Grandmother and Father discussed it?" Actually, upon careful consideration, Ye Li understood what Old Lady Ye was so painstakingly planning for – it was all for the sake of that imperial bloodline in Second Sister’s womb, whose gender was still unknown. Never mind now that she had married into Prince Ding’s Mansion; even if she were still unmarried and waiting at home, Ye Li never intended to cooperate with Old Lady Ye’s wild schemes. It was truly incomprehensible that Minister Ye, a man seasoned in officialdom, would actually agree to a plan conceived by an old woman who sat at home and never went out.

Old Lady Ye was taken aback and squinted her aged eyes, sizing Ye Li up before asking, "What do you mean by that?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Li’er is also a daughter of the Ye family. If Second Sister is well, then Li’er will naturally be well too. However... Grandmother cannot only focus on the two princely mansions. You must know... the Prince has always been unconcerned with worldly matters, and the support of court officials is also very important."

"This..."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Li’er doesn’t know about Fourth Sister’s situation. However, as for King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, Grandmother should rest assured that Li’er doesn’t need any assistance."

Old Lady Ye reflected for a moment and knew Ye Li had a point. Let’s not even talk about Ye Li’s confidence in managing the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, which indeed meant the Ye family wouldn’t need to sacrifice another daughter. But if Ye Li was unwilling and they forcibly sent someone over, it would look bad if it led to conflict between the sisters. And in Old Lady Ye’s opinion, neither Ye Shan nor Ye Lin was a match for Ye Li.

Having thought this through, Old Lady Ye no longer insisted and said with a smile, "What Li’er said makes sense. Grandmother was not thoughtful enough. Just pretend Grandmother never mentioned it." Although the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has an illustrious reputation, the Princes of Ding Kingdom throughout history have indeed never interfered in matters of the imperial family. From this perspective, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion’s role was actually less significant than that of Prince Li’s Mansion.

"Yes, Grandmother said nothing, and Li’er heard nothing," Ye Li replied softly. Of course, it was best to dispel Old Lady Ye’s notion. In the future, Prince Ding’s Mansion would be her home, and she didn’t want to see anything there that would make her feel awkward or repulsed.

After chatting with Old Lady Ye for a while, a servant came to invite the two of them for the meal. As it was a family banquet, there were no outsiders. Only Old Lady Ye, Minister Ye and Ms. Wang, Mo Jingli and his wife Ye Ying, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, and the Heir of South Marquis, Fu Zhao, were present.

At the dining table, Ye Li could distinctly feel an icy gaze sweeping over her from time to time. Without even needing to look up, Ye Li could guess who it was. Ye Ying was diligently serving food to Mo Jingli. Mo Jingli still wore an expression as if someone owed him several thousand taels and hadn’t repaid him, and he kept staring at Ye Li from time to time. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li ate leisurely and comfortably, occasionally picking up some of each other’s favorite foods. Fu Zhao, with a thoughtful expression, looked from one side to the other, drinking and eating as if nothing was amiss. In contrast, Minister Ye’s expression was somewhat awkward and comical. It was clear he was trying hard to make the atmosphere at the banquet more harmonious and natural, but he couldn’t afford to offend any of his three sons-in-law. Apart from the Heir of South Marquis who still gave him some face, Mo Xiuyao himself wasn’t too difficult to get along with. Mo Jingli’s face, however, clearly spelled out his displeasure.

"Ahem, Prince Ding, it’s been several years since we last met. I offer you a toast." In the end, it was Fu Zhao who broke the strange atmosphere. He stood up to toast Mo Xiuyao. "And a toast to the Princess Consort. Wishing the Prince and Princess Consort a harmonious union for a hundred years."

Mo Xiuyao raised his wine cup and smiled gently. "May your auspicious words come true. When you married, this Prince was unable to attend and offer congratulations, please don’t take offense." He then tilted his head back and drank the wine Fu Zhao had toasted.

Fu Zhao’s smile became more genuine. "No matter, we’ve all known each other since childhood. And now we are relatives. When I came, my mother also instructed me to invite the Princess Consort to visit the Marquis’s Mansion when she has time." This Heir of South Marquis was clearly adept at social interactions. Everyone in the Capital City knew that although he had yet to inherit the title, the Marquis’s Mansion was already effectively managed by the Consort of the Heir. Yet, at this moment, he made no mention of the Consort of the Heir, only referring to Marchioness South.

Ye Li raised her glass in return and said with a smile, "Heir, please convey my gratitude to Marchioness South."

Mo Jingli looked at the people chatting and laughing animatedly around him, snorted lightly, stood up, and said, "Since Fu Zhao has made a toast, Mo Xiuyao, this Prince will also toast you."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "This Prince also hasn’t had a drink with Jingli for a long time. Shall I also toast you and Princess Consort Li as well?"

Mo Jingli snorted lightly, waved away the maid who was about to pour wine, and personally poured a full cup for Mo Xiuyao and himself. He tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp, then stared provocatively at the cup before Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao smiled without saying a word, picked up his cup, and drank it all.

"Again!" Mo Jingli lifted the wine pot and refilled both glasses. The two of them actually started a drinking contest right there at the table.