Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 62. An Unexpected Encounter with the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince
62. A Chance Encounter with the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince
Although Old Madam Ye and Minister Ye still wore stern expressions, Ye Li managed to detect a trace of delight in their eyes. It appeared that Mo Jingli personally coming to fetch Ye Ying was an act that had satisfied them immensely. After all, their daughter had already been given away in marriage. No matter how angry the Ye family was, it was implausible, as Ye Li had suggested, for Ye Ying to move back to Ye Mansion and be taken care of by the Ye family for the rest of her life.
After a while, Mo Jingli stepped in, his countenance as cold and gloomy as ever. In fact, Ye Li could barely recall a time when she had seen him in a good mood. He seemed to consistently maintain an expression that suggested someone owed him hundreds of taels and had yet to repay them. The moment he entered, his gaze fell on Ye Li for a moment before shifting to Ye Ying. Ye Ying bit her lip in grievance, let out a slight huff, and turned her head, refusing to acknowledge him. Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye’s expressions were indifferent, entirely devoid of their usual solicitude and consideration. Ms. Wang’s face was even more serious. Had Old Madam Ye not shot her a warning glance, she probably would have started questioning him directly.
Mo Jingli’s eyes darkened at the sight; his mood was clearly no better.
In reality, regarding this marriage, Mo Jingli felt far more aggrieved than Ye Ying. It wasn’t as if I wanted to marry that Princess Ling Yun! Why would I bring home someone defeated by that woman, Ye Li? Brother Emperor didn’t want that woman himself, so he just foisted her on me without even asking.
After returning to his residence, Ye Ying had been causing a fuss, while Princess Ling Yun, an ungrateful woman, had actually dared to make a scene in the embassy, refusing to go through with the marriage. What does she think she is? Does she think I can’t find anyone else to marry? Mo Jingli, thoroughly annoyed by both Ye Ying and Princess Ling Yun, went directly to the palace to tell Brother Emperor that he wanted to break off the engagement and would not be marrying Princess Ling Yun. Yet he ended up being lectured by his imperial elder brother and was driven out.
Then he was lectured again by his Empress Mother and his mother consort. The more he thought, the gloomier Mo Jingli’s face became. Seeing something was amiss, Minister Ye chose to quit while he was ahead, coughed lightly, and said, "Ying’er, the Prince is here to take you back. Sit down and have a talk with him."
It was only then that Ye Ying, with tear-stained eyes, turned to look at Mo Jingli, pitifully complaining, "Prince..."
Her dejected voice made Ye Li tremble involuntarily. She watched as Mo Jingli walked over to Ye Ying and pulled her into his arms, whispering, "Let’s go, return to the mansion with this prince."
"Prince...Ying’er is so upset... BOO HOO..." Ye Ying whimpered, collapsing into Mo Jingli’s arms and crying. Mo Jingli, holding Ye Ying’s waist, silently listened as she poured out her grievances. Although he didn’t say a word, his expression had visibly softened considerably.
"Let’s go back." Mo Jingli scooped up Ye Ying in his arms, gave a nod to Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye, completely ignored Ye Li, and left. Ye Li was left with a mind full of questions. Until now, I still haven’t figured out whether Mo Jingli really cares about Ye Ying, or how much he cares. Perhaps... it’s not that easy to guess what’s on the mind of someone with facial paralysis, even if Mo Jingli’s version is somewhat peculiar. Ye Li sat leaning against the chair, propping up her chin, deep in thought.
Politely rejecting Old Madam Ye and Minister Ye’s pleas for her to stay, Ye Li led her people out of the Minister’s mansion. Seeing that it was still early, Ye Li suddenly realized that she had not been out on her own since she married into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. It also occurred to her what Nanny Sun kept hinting at: in a few days, it would be Mo Xiuyao’s birthday. So Ye Li decided to see if there were any suitable gifts. Having made up her mind, she headed for the liveliest street market in the Capital City, bringing Qingluan and Qingshuang with her.
Walking down a bustling street and having browsed several shops without finding anything suitable, Ye Li was a bit frustrated. She didn’t know what kind of gift to offer. Observing Ye Li’s apparent distress, Qingshuang gathered the courage to ask, "Princess Consort, are you looking to buy something?" Ye Li looked somewhat troubled at the two maids watching her with curious, sparkling eyes. After hesitating for a second, she said, "Nanny Sun told me that Mo Xiuyao’s birthday is in a few days, so I wanted to find a gift for him." Qingshuang rolled her eyes at her. "Miss! Do you really need to go out to the streets to find a gift for the Prince?"
Ye Li was a bit confused. "Are you suggesting I give something I already have? Wouldn’t that seem insincere?" Moreover, while I do have quite a few treasures in my room, aside from paintings and calligraphy, most are jewelry and such, fit for a lady. Am I really supposed to choose a painting to gift him?
Qingluan stifled a chuckle, winked, and murmured, "The Prince doesn’t lack treasures. Princess Consort, if you want to show sincerity, why not make a gift yourself? Even if it’s just a sachet, the Prince would probably value it more than an antique."
"A sachet?"
Qingshuang waved her hand dismissively. "A sachet? How could that be enough? Princess Consort, why don’t you make a piece of clothing for the Prince?"
Make a piece of clothing, huh... Ye Li looked down at her own hands. It seemed that since arriving in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, she hadn’t touched a needle and thread. However... this does sound like a good idea.
"Princess Consort Ding?"
Having made up her mind, Ye Li was preparing to turn back to the mansion when a voice from behind stopped her. Upon turning around, she found herself face to face with a pair of cousins, and all she could think was what they say about enemies meeting on a narrow road.
"Heir, Princess," Ye Li acknowledged them with a cool nod. However, Lei Tengfeng seemed to have overlooked Ye Li’s indifferent and distant demeanor. He walked over with a smile and said, "What a coincidence! Is Princess Consort Ding shopping by herself?" Ye Li gave a faint smile. "Qingluan, Qingshuang, greet the Heir and the Princess." Is this Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince blind? Can’t he see the two living people by my side?
Lei Tengfeng’s eye twitched at her response. He laughed and said, "In a few days, I will be setting off back to Xiling, and thus wanted to buy some things for Ling Yun. I wonder... could Princess Consort Ding lend me her help with this matter?"
Ye Li gave a forced smile as she looked at the enthusiastic man and the indifferent young woman—the siblings standing before her. "I’m afraid I can’t be of much help."
"How could that be? Princess Consort Ding is proficient in both literature and martial arts, and moreover, is this year’s First Beauty. Your taste must be extraordinary," Lei Tengfeng laughed.
With things having come this far, Ye Li found it hard to refuse his request any longer. She merely said, "In that case, Heir, Princess, after you."
Princess Ling Yun glanced at Ye Li, her face haggard and her spirits evidently low. It seemed her days after the announcement of the engagement hadn’t been easy. Yet, Ye Li couldn’t figure out what measures Lei Tengfeng had taken to make Ling Yun, with her temperament, listen to him so obediently. The three of them walked down the street with their attendants. Princess Ling Yun appeared completely disinterested and would have collided with the bustling crowd had it not been for the maid beside her helping to steady her. Seeing how the previously arrogant young girl had transformed into a wilted sprout within days, Ye Li took the opportunity to ask when Princess Ling Yun was directed by Lei Tengfeng to try on clothes, "Princess Ling Yun doesn’t seem too well."
Lei Tengfeng raised a brow, scrutinizing Ye Li with interest. "Is Princess Consort Ding sympathizing with Ling Yun?"
Ye Li glanced at him. "If you, as her cousin, do not sympathize with her, is it my place as an outsider to meddle?"
Lei Tengfeng laughed nonchalantly. "No big deal. Just a kid throwing a tantrum with a hunger strike."
A kid throwing a tantrum with a hunger strike?
Ye Li nodded. "I hope the princess won’t faint on her wedding day."
Lei Tengfeng, full of confidence, or rather, completely indifferent, laughed. "Don’t worry, Princess Consort. We from Xiling won’t let such a disrespectful incident occur. On the wedding day, Ling Yun will definitely be radiant as a new bride." Ye Li turned her head to look at the shop’s decorations. I have no good feelings for people like Lei Tengfeng. I don’t believe he’s unaware of the kind of fate Princess Ling Yun would face being left in Great Chu to marry Mo Jingli. He just doesn’t care. An individual who could happily push his own cousin toward a dead end while smiling and saying it’s ’for her own good’ is, in reality, crueler than Mo Jingli. Ye Li’s indifference towards Lei Tengfeng did not escape his notice. A smile lingering on his lips, he watched her and said, "Princess Consort Ding seems to have some opinions about me?"
Ye Li glanced at him lightly. "No, I do not have opinions about strangers."
"Strangers?" Lei Tengfeng smiled meaningfully. "How can we be strangers? Speaking of which... did Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding like my wedding gift?"
Ye Li replied, "The Cloud Grasping Sword is of great significance to Prince Ding’s Mansion. How could we not like it? You are very thoughtful, Heir."
"No, no..." Lei Tengfeng shook his head, laughing. "The Cloud Grasping Sword was a gift for Princess Consort Ding. The wedding gift for Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding was sent by me to Prince Ding’s Mansion the day after the wedding. Didn’t Princess Consort Ding receive it?"
Ye Li was stunned, her elegant brows furrowed as she stared at Lei Tengfeng coldly. "You are quite capable, Heir. That painting is something many desire but cannot obtain, yet you gave it away so casually." Lei Tengfeng laughed. "I am a simple person. A painting like that should be appreciated by a connoisseur, shouldn’t it? It seems... both the Prince of Ding Kingdom and his Consort are quite satisfied."
Staring back at him, Ye Li suddenly smiled faintly. "Since you, Heir, went to so much trouble, how could the Prince and I not be satisfied? Speaking of which, Han Mingyue’s beauty as the ’Capital of Great Chu’s National Beauty’ has long since vanished. To be able to see the foremost beauty of the Capital City from years past is Ye Li’s good fortune."
"Interesting," Lei Tengfeng praised, looking at Ye Li with a smirk. "Princess Consort, I don’t believe you don’t know that the woman in the painting was originally Prince Ding’s fiancée."
Ye Li looked at him. "So, by giving me that painting, you meant to make me feel ashamed of myself?"
"How dare I?" Lei Tengfeng laughed. "I deeply admire Princess Consort Ding, who is both beautiful and talented. How could I harbor such unworthy thoughts? However... Princess Consort Ding must admit, sometimes... what you cannot get is the best. Isn’t it?"
Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "There are many things in this world one can’t get. You shouldn’t harbor such thoughts, Heir." Lei Tengfeng laughed mischievously. "Why not? I believe that if you want something, you should use any means necessary to hold onto it tightly. Otherwise, isn’t it a regret if someone else benefits?"
Ye Li lowered her eyes and calmly sipped her tea. "The princess should be coming out soon, Heir. Are you sure you want to chatter with me here?"
Lei Tengfeng was taken aback and laughed helplessly. "Princess Consort Ding is indeed a straightforward person. Tengfeng cannot compare."
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and remained silent, looking at him. Lei Tengfeng laughed. "Actually, it’s nothing serious. Someone... asked me to deliver a message to Princess Consort Ding. Also, I have a question to ask Princess Consort Ding."
"I’m all ears."
"Someone asked me to tell Princess Consort Ding... what belongs to others will always belong to others." Lei Tengfeng looked at Ye Li and laughed.
Ye Li remained composed. "This sentence... I wonder what it has to do with the congratulatory gift the Heir gave?"
Lei Tengfeng shrugged. "I don’t know. I’m just responsible for delivering the message. Also, doesn’t Princess Consort Ding want to hear what I want to ask?"
"Please speak, Heir."
"As I just said... I deeply admire Princess Consort Ding. I wonder... does Princess Consort Ding have any interest in visiting Xiling?"
Ye Li’s eyes darkened. Is he flirting with me? Or does Lei Tengfeng think that abducting Prince Ding’s wife and eloping would be a great achievement? After looking directly at Lei Tengfeng for a while, Ye Li sighed heavily and slowly said, "Heir... I would love to visit Xiling, but I fear..."
"What are you afraid of?" Lei Tengfeng’s eyes were deep and unreadable.
"I fear—that I wouldn’t even have stepped into Xiling territory before being killed by your hand, Heir?" Ye Li let out a cold laugh and casually added the rest. Lei Tengfeng’s expression froze instantly. It seemed he hadn’t decided what expression to wear for a moment, so he just kept his face stiff and laughed dryly. "What is Princess Consort Ding talking about? I was genuinely inviting you."
Ye Li got up, laughing. "If that’s the case, should the opportunity arise, my husband the Prince and I will definitely visit Xiling to meet you, Heir. For now, I won’t disturb you while you spend time with your cousin. Excuse me."
Ignoring the expression on Lei Tengfeng’s face, Ye Li rose and left.
In the inner hall, Lei Tengfeng, who had been left behind, stroked his chin. He gazed thoughtfully at the glimmering bead curtain at the entrance, which swayed gently as someone exited. His smile carried more impudence and ambition than before. "An interesting woman," he muttered. "No wonder Mo Xiuyao married her."
Princess Ling Yun walked out from the inner room, still wearing the same clothes she had on when she went in. She stood by the door, gazing resentfully at Lei Tengfeng. Lei Tengfeng raised his eyebrows and looked down to conceal the contempt in his eyes. "Ling Yun, give up. Brother Wang is looking out for you. Compared to that Princess Consort Li, who is so obviously dim-witted, this Princess Consort Ding is incredibly difficult to deal with. Even if you entered Prince Ding’s Mansion, you wouldn’t be able to compete with her. Haven’t you suffered enough already from that day? You know very well yourself, even without Ye Li, you cannot enter Prince Ding’s Mansion."
Princess Ling Yun stared at him. "Are you speaking up for Ye Li?"
Lei Tengfeng scoffed. "Consider it unsaid. If you think you have what it takes to provoke Ye Li, then go ahead. Let’s see if she dares to shoot an arrow straight through your head next time. I don’t care what you want to do, but three days from now, you better behave and ride the bridal sedan chair to Prince Li’s Mansion. Don’t force me to drug you."
"I am a princess! You dare!"
Lei Tengfeng mocked, "I thought you knew your purpose when you insisted on coming to East Chu." He looked at her with scorn. "You didn’t actually believe you came to East Chu to choose your own Prince Consort, did you? That you could have anyone you set your sights on?" No matter how favored, a princess is only a princess... a princess for a marriage alliance, and she dares to be haughty in front of me?
「Xiling Embassy」
After ensuring Princess Ling Yun was sent back to her room, Lei Tengfeng returned to his own. As soon as he closed the door, his eyes darkened, his gaze as sharp as a knife, shooting towards a certain spot in the room. The completely sealed room was unlit and appeared dim and mysterious. Beside a high-quality mahogany round table sat a slender figure dressed in black. Lei Tengfeng’s gaze hardened as he stared at the back of the woman in black. "What are you doing here?" The woman in black turned her face, revealing a pair of stunning, star-like eyes in the dim light. However, her eyes, which should have been as gentle as water, were filled with evident anger. "Why did you spoil my plans?"
Lei Tengfeng snorted coldly. "Spoil your plans? What exactly did I do to spoil your plans?"
"It’s about Ling Yun!" the woman in black gritted her teeth. "If it weren’t for your interference, how would Ling Yun have ended up marrying into Prince Li’s Mansion?"
Lei Tengfeng relaxed his posture somewhat casually and walked to a nearby chair to sit. "You really have the nerve to say that. If you hadn’t filled Ling Yun’s head with all sorts of nonsense day in and day out, how would she have ended up marrying Prince Li? Our original plan wasn’t to marry a princess to a dim-witted prince. Unfortunately, after Ling Yun caused such a fuss, the Emperor was completely unwilling to have her." The woman in black snorted disdainfully. "Wouldn’t it be better if Ling Yun entered Prince Ding’s Mansion?"
"Stop dreaming! You’ve fooled Ling Yun into being silly; don’t tell me you’ve become silly yourself?" Lei Tengfeng said with contempt. "Do you think Mo Xiuyao is some soft-hearted person? If Ling Yun entered Prince Ding’s Mansion, we’d be collecting her corpse within a month. Even if she were lucky enough to survive, do you think, with Ling Yun’s intellect, she wouldn’t be tricked by Mo Xiuyao into defecting to his side?" Apparently enraged by Lei Tengfeng’s mocking tone, the woman retorted angrily, "I did all of this to help you!" Lei Tengfeng scoffed, his expression clearly showing disbelief. "Help me? If you wanted to help me, why didn’t you let Rou Yun come? Weren’t you just certain that Mo Xiuyao could never fall in love with someone of Ling Yun’s personality? Too bad... I think Mo Xiuyao might very well fall in love with Ye Li."
"Impossible!" the woman cried out angrily, then quickly realized her loss of composure. The woman in black took a breath and, in a calmer, more relaxed tone, said with a smile, "Don’t even try to fool me. How could the high-and-mighty Mo Xiuyao fall for a worthless woman like Ye Li?"
"Worthless, huh..." Lei Tengfeng murmured, then casually glanced at the woman in black before saying, "Mo Xiuyao, high-and-mighty? Not necessarily."
"Enough. I’m not here to argue with you."
Lei Tengfeng looked at her lazily. "Then you can tell me directly why you’re in my room at this hour."
"I want to stay in Great Chu for a while," the woman in black said.
"Alright. Just don’t ever go back to Xiling," Lei Tengfeng waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to leave.
"You!" The woman in black glared at him, unable to utter a word for a long moment. Lei Tengfeng scoffed. "You think I don’t know why you want to stay in East Chu? It’s rare to see a woman as greedy as you. But you better be careful, or you might end up with nothing." Under her veil, the woman in black bit her lip in anger. "Lei Tengfeng, do you feel better only when you’re sneering at me?" Lei Tengfeng snorted coldly, his frosty gaze on the woman opposite him holding a hint of hatred. "Can’t you survive without seducing men everywhere? Stop daydreaming. Mo Xiuyao will never want you."
"Do you know where the painting you had someone deliver went?" Lei Tengfeng looked at her, a malicious grin suddenly appearing on his face.
The woman in black watched him warily. Lei Tengfeng observed her with amusement, watching as her eyes grew increasingly flustered under his gaze, before he laughed. "On that very day, Mo Xiuyao sent it to Su Zhe. No matter how divinely beautiful Su Zuidie was, to Mo Xiuyao, she’s nothing but a dead person. What do you think you can do? Shall we make a bet? I bet Mo Xiuyao will definitely fall in love with Ye Li."
If looks could kill, the fiery rage in the woman in black’s eyes would have burned Lei Tengfeng to ashes. It took her even longer this time to calm her anger. She turned to Lei Tengfeng with a sweet smile. "Then what about you? Why is the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling Kingdom so interested in Ye Li?" Lei Tengfeng’s gaze flickered, and he quickly grinned. "Because she’s Mo Xiuyao’s woman. In that respect, her value is clearly much higher than yours." The woman in black’s eyes glinted, and she giggled softly. "So... you don’t want Mo Xiuyao’s woman? Hehe... Just imagine, if everyone in the world knew that Mo Xiuyao’s wife ran off with another man, how interesting would that be?"
Lei Tengfeng frowned, looking at the woman in black with disgust. "Mo Xiuyao knowing you is probably the unluckiest thing that ever happened to him in his life. If I want to defeat Mo Xiuyao, I, this Heir, will defeat him openly and honorably. I don’t need to resort to such methods."
"Hehe, how could that be? Meeting me should be the happiest thing in his life. Of course, I believe so too," the woman in black spoke softly, her enchanting, watery eyes filled with a hint of nostalgia. "Besides, Mo Xiuyao is already crippled. He will never step onto a battlefield again in this life. In another sense, he will never be defeated. And you still fantasize about defeating him openly and honorably? The centuries-old undefeated myth of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion..."
"Enough! Get out! We set off for Xiling in three days. You can certainly try staying in East Chu. As far as I know, Han Mingyue has already returned to Jiangnan. You might as well see if Mo Xiuyao will show you mercy again," Lei Tengfeng said coldly, his face dark.
The woman in black stood up, her eyes full of hurt as she looked at him. "I know why you’re so mean to me. You’re jealous, aren’t you? Or do you think I’m unattractive with this veil..." As she spoke, she lifted her hand to remove her veil. Suddenly, Lei Tengfeng grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it at her. "Get out!"
"You... Hmph!" Reprimanded so rudely, the woman in black lowered her hand, shot the man in the chair an indignant glare, then turned and swept out.
Upon returning to Prince Ding’s Mansion, Ye Li found Mo Xiuyao engrossed in a book. Only at the sound of her footsteps did he look up. "Back already? Did Old Madam Ye need something?" Ye Li waved him off, uninterested. "What could possibly be happening at this hour? Fourth Sister went home to cry and make a fuss. Grandmother wanted me to go back and talk some sense into her. She and I have never gotten along; why would she listen to me? On a different note, I ran into that Heir of Xiling Kingdom and Princess Ling Yun on the street."
Mo Xiuyao glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. Ye Li figured there wasn’t much to say on that topic, so she turned and went inside to change into more comfortable clothes. When she came out, she saw Mo Xiuyao still sitting in the room, engrossed in his book. She then asked Qingxia and the others to bring out some plain, light-colored fabrics.
Qingshuang was always quick-witted. No sooner had Ye Li given the order, and before she had even sat down, Qingshuang returned, all smiles, with the fabrics. They were of light, pastel hues: moon white, light cyan, beige, and the like. She also thoughtfully delivered a variety of sewing tools. Ye Li took the fabrics, glanced at the man across from her, and her beautifully arched eyebrows furrowed together.
Looking up at Ye Li’s troubled expression, Mo Xiuyao couldn’t help but chuckle. "What’s the matter? Not happy with the clothes made in the mansion? I’ve heard that two embroidery shops in the Capital City have some pretty decent things. We can have them send some samples over later. No need to stress yourself out like this." I’m speechless. If I were to buy clothes from outside to gift you, wouldn’t Nanny Lin and my wet nurse nag me to death? And looking at my own clothes, am I being that picky?
Gritting her teeth, Ye Li said, "Lend me one of your old robes."
Mo Xiuyao raised his brows, looking with some curiosity at Ye Li, who was struggling to maintain an expressionless facade. He slowly shifted his gaze to the fabrics on the table, a flicker in his eyes. He then looked at Ye Li and smiled. "Go get one yourself from inside." Ever since I was sent to this courtyard to recuperate, Chief Steward Mo had all my clothes and other things moved here from my original rooms. However, my new wife seems to have a firm habit of never casually touching other people’s belongings, even if that ’other person’ is her husband. So, although our things are kept together, they are actually stored separately, neither touching the other’s.
Ye Li snorted lightly, stood up, and went into the inner room. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned back, picked up the soft measuring tape from the sewing box, and then went inside.
Mo Xiuyao stared at the elegant fabrics on the table for a moment, lost in thought, then suddenly a gentle smile spread across his face. The slight coolness in his eyes was replaced by a genuine warmth.
One either doesn’t do something, or does it quickly and to the best of one’s ability. Thus, Ye Li’s daily routine now included needlework. The two old nannies were deeply gratified by this. Seeing their young miss, who had been preoccupied with swords and weapons since her marriage, finally taking up feminine chores, had long made the two nannies anxious. Although the Prince hadn’t said anything, what kind of image did it project for a Princess Consort to be constantly handling weapons? Apart from Third Young Master Xu, the Xu Family hadn’t produced a warrior in hundreds of years. It must be Third Young Master who led Young Miss astray! The two nannies, unaware of the truth, silently grumbled in their hearts about Xu Qingfeng, who was about to join the army.
Their Princess Consort making clothes for the Prince for the first time was an event that garnered considerable attention, from the nannies down to the maids closest to her. Only after starting did Ye Li discover a very frustrating fact: she had no idea how to make men’s clothes. When her mother was alive, she was too young to learn tailoring. After her mother passed away, firstly, there was no one to teach her, and secondly, there was no need. Thus, she had completely forgotten about it. In the end, she had no choice but to have Nanny Lin teach her step-by-step how to cut the fabric for clothes.
Once the fabric was cut, the maids gathered around Ye Li, chattering endlessly as they discussed what patterns to use, what color embroidery thread to choose, and what kind of sachet to match. To her dismay, Mo Xiuyao, for some unknown reason, had changed his reading spot from the study to their room. Although he was in the outer chamber, Ye Li, surrounded by the maids in the inner room, always felt that Mo Xiuyao could surely hear their mutterings. This made her both annoyed and exasperated, wishing she could slap these overly talkative maids a few times to silence them.
"Princess Consort..." Seeing Ye Li reaching for a cloud-patterned design and about to choose thread, Qingxia voiced her disapproval, looking as though she wanted to rush forward and destroy the pattern in Ye Li’s hands.
Ye Li looked at Qingxia questioningly. Qingxia said, "Princess Consort, this is a gift, after all. How can you present something with such an ordinary pattern?"
A vein throbbed on Ye Li’s forehead. It’s just making a piece of clothing; does this girl have to have so many opinions? Qingshuang, ignoring Ye Li’s displeased expression, quickly placed a stack of pattern diagrams before her. There were various designs: dragons, eagles, tigers, intricate floral patterns, auspicious symbols, and more. Seeing Ye Li’s gloomy face, Qingshuang quickly tried to curry favor by singling out one design and whispering, "Qingshuang asked on behalf of the Princess Consort; the Prince likes this one."
Staring at the image of a soaring eagle before her, Ye Li felt like poking Qingshuang with a needle. Seeing her mistress’s dark expression, Qingshuang quickly made a pleading face and scurried out of the room.
Ye Li stared blankly at the patterns on the table for a moment, then sighed and began selecting threads from the embroidery basket beside her. Qingxia, attending to her, said, "Qingshuang is indeed a mischievous girl, but she meant well, for the Princess Consort’s sake. Princess Consort, please don’t be angry with her."
Ye Li looked up at her and said helplessly, "That girl is usually spoiled and messes around all day." Qingyu, pursing her lips to hide a smile, said, "Qingshuang certainly is very spirited. Why doesn’t the Princess Consort punish her by making her do embroidery too?"
Qingxia covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. "Qingyu, that punishment is too harsh. However, if it can appease the Princess Consort’s anger, I’m sure Qingshuang would gladly accept it." Qingshuang had a lively disposition and had always detested needlework the most. Normally, asking her to embroider even a single handkerchief felt like torture to her. Ye Li’s eyes lit up, a smile playing on her lips. "Very well. Go tell Qingshuang to embroider a ’Winter Plum Heralding Spring’ for me. It must be finished within half a month. Otherwise... let her face the consequences herself." The ’Winter Plum Heralding Spring’ pattern looks simple, but for Qingshuang, it’s incredibly difficult. With this lesson, that little minx will surely learn what to say and what not to say in the future!
Qingluan and the others blinked, smiling as they agreed, privately offering a moment of silence for Qingshuang. Knowing the Princess Consort is shy, why did you still insist on asking the Prince? Weren’t you just serving yourself up for punishment?
"What is Ah-Li embroidering?" Mo Xiuyao’s clear voice came from outside. Everyone quickly turned and bowed. "Your Highness."
Mo Xiuyao glanced at the three smiling maids. "You may leave."
The three curtsied and withdrew, leaving the room to the Prince and Princess Consort.
Seeing Mo Xiuyao approach, Ye Li looked somewhat awkwardly at the items in her hands. "Is the Prince so idle already? Wandering around the room all day." Mo Xiuyao smiled. "Since I don’t have to attend court and have nothing to deal with, naturally I’m very idle. Ah-Li, on the other hand, seems very busy these past two days." Ye Li shot him an exasperated look. Can’t he see what I’m busy with? The wheelchair stopped beside Ye Li. Mo Xiuyao glanced at the pattern she hadn’t had time to put away and chuckled softly. "Ah-Li, you don’t need to be embarrassed. Even if your embroidery isn’t perfect, I won’t laugh at you."
Excellent! Ye Li resentfully jabbed her needle into the fabric. How dare he say my embroidery isn’t good? My needlework skills were even praised by my Second Aunt-in-law! Turning to look at Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li put on a forced smile. "Not at all. If my embroidery is poor, how would I dare offend Your Highness’s eyes? It would be better to have the sewing staff do it; I’d save myself the trouble."
Mo Xiuyao smiled apologetically. "What I meant was, no matter how Ah-Li’s embroidery turns out, in my eyes, it will be the best."
Ye Li snorted dismissively, too annoyed to bother with him, and turned back to her work. Mo Xiuyao sat quietly to one side, peacefully watching Ye Li’s increasingly focused expression, a warm smile gracing his lips.
