Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 69. Seriously Ill

69. Severely Ill

With Ye Li’s consent, Darky Three and Darky Four revealed what had happened at Black Cloud Peak to their partners, Darky One and Darky Two. Ye Li hadn’t mentioned whether it was permissible to inform Mo Xiuyao about this matter. However, after some pondering about the professional ethics mentioned by the Princess Consort, Darky One, Two, Three, and Four decided to be shadow guards who adhered to their professional ethics. After all, being abandoned by their master was a disgrace for a shadow guard. From the moment they became shadow guards for the Princess Consort of Great Chu, their first and only loyalty was to the Princess Consort, not the Prince. Ye Li was quite satisfied with these shadow guards who had professional ethics; after all, people who were highly skilled, capable, and trustworthy were not so easy to find. She also didn’t want to waste time finding new bodyguards herself.

Ye Li maintained her frequency of visiting Black Cloud Peak roughly twice a month, always in disguise. The people from the manor at the foot of Black Cloud Peak and those on the mountain all referred to her as Young Master Chu, Chu Junwei. Sometimes she would take Darky One and Darky Two with her; other times, Darky Three and Darky Four. All four of them clearly showed a particularly keen interest in the strange training field under construction, occasionally even fighting amongst themselves for the chance to accompany Ye Li. Mo Xiuyao was, of course, aware that Ye Li frequently went out, but he never inquired about her destinations. Ye Li was quite appreciative of his tolerance, and occasionally, when she went shopping with Hua Tianxiang and others, she would remember to bring back some nice pastries or other things for him. However, the relationship between the two seemed to have unwittingly grown much more distant amidst Ye Li’s busyness. Occasionally, upon noticing the disapproving glances from Nanny Wei and Nanny Lin, a faint, inexplicable sense of guilt would stir within her, but she quickly pushed it aside. After all, she was busy—very busy.

Not only did she have to manage the affairs within the Prince’s Mansion, but she also had to manage her own dowry. The shops accompanying her dowry were still conducting mediocre business overtly, but covertly, Ye Li had withdrawn nearly all the ready taels of silver from her dowry, including those sent by Han Mingyue, to purchase other properties. These included two residences and three shops acquired under the name Chu Junwei in a city outside the capital, as well as two shops within Capital City. She had asked Xu Qingze to personally arrange for people to handle these matters. Although Xu Qingze was somewhat puzzled about her intentions, he still carried out her instructions without asking any questions.

In less than half a month, the deeds for the residences and shops were all delivered to her. To outsiders, Ye Li seemed to be a perfect Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom, managing the affairs of the Prince’s Mansion methodically every day and periodically attending various gatherings among the Capital City’s elite. Little did they know that, in secret, Ye Li also had to consolidate and organize various pieces of intelligence, searching for useful clues among them. Thus, she coolly observed the schemes between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the power struggles among court officials, and the hidden gossip of the nobility as it all flowed before her eyes. She also gained a deeper understanding of the intricate social dynamics of Capital City and the situation in the imperial court.

"Princess Consort! Princess Consort! The Prince has fainted..." Qingxia rushed in, calling out frantically.

Shocked, Ye Li stood up immediately. "What happened?"

Qingxia, usually calm, now sounded panicked with a hint of a sob in her voice. "The Prince just returned to his room... and asked for your whereabouts. We told him you were in the counting house. Before the Prince could say anything more, he suddenly spat out a lot of blood... and then he fainted."

Ye Li’s heart trembled. She dropped the pen in her hand and rushed out, asking as she went, "Have you called for a doctor?"

"Ah-Jin... Ah-Jin and Qingluan have gone to do that," Qingxia replied. "Qingyu, who knows a bit of medicine, and Qingshuang stayed in the room to look after the Prince..."

Before Qingxia could finish, Ye Li had already disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Returning to the courtyard, the maids were clearly terrified; upon seeing Ye Li, they even forgot to curtsy. Ye Li stepped into the room, and upon walking around the screen, she saw Mo Xiuyao lying on the bed, his face as pale as paper, his lips still stained with dark red blood.

"Princess Consort." Qingyu, who was checking Mo Xiuyao’s pulse, rose and said in a low voice.

"How is he?"

Qingyu spoke with concern, "The Prince previously suffered a very severe injury, and it seems he didn’t recuperate properly, so his body is actually very weak. The sudden vomiting of blood is also due to overexertion, but... he vomited too much blood, which is likely very detrimental to the Prince..." Following Qingyu’s gaze, Ye Li saw a large patch of not-yet-completely-dried bloodstains not far from the bed, an incredibly jarring sight. The sheer volume of blood almost made Ye Li feel terrified. "For now... he’s alright, isn’t he?"

Qingyu shook her head. "This servant specializes in medicine and poisons; I’m afraid I’m somewhat at a loss regarding the Prince’s condition. However, he should be alright for the time being."

Ye Li took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand. Go and see if the doctor has arrived. Also, please ask Chief Steward Mo to come here."

Qingyu and Qingshuang acknowledged and left. Ye Li sat by the bed, silently looking at the man lying there. She had always heard others say that Prince Ding was disabled and gravely ill. But from the first time Ye Li saw Mo Xiuyao, he had always appeared healthy. Even when she caught a cold for two days in early autumn, she hadn’t heard him cough even once. Therefore, Ye Li had long since dismissed the phrase "gravely ill" from her mind, considering it nothing more than baseless rumors spread by outsiders. For the past few months, they had seemingly seen each other every day, but only now did Ye Li realize that Mo Xiuyao appeared much thinner and more haggard than some time ago. The faint bluish shadows under his closed eyelids were now clearly visible.

Ye Li was lost in thought when she sensed a slight movement from the unconscious man on the bed and quickly looked up. She saw Mo Xiuyao slowly opening his eyes. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Ye Li felt utterly speechless.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Ah-Li, what’s wrong?"

After a good while, Ye Li finally looked at him and said, "You just vomited blood."

Mo Xiuyao paused, then smiled. "I’ve been a little tired these past two days. It’s nothing serious."

"Nothing serious?!" Ye Li felt a surge of anger rise from the bottom of her heart. "Vomiting blood like that is nothing serious? Then what is serious? Do you think you have so much blood to waste like this?" Mo Xiuyao seemed pleased to see Ye Li angry, the light in his eyes growing brighter and softer. "It’s really nothing serious; I’m used to it. It’s always like this when winter comes. As long as I rest well, nothing will happen. Ah-Li, believe me."

I’d be a pig if I believed you! Ye Li shot him an irritated glance, simultaneously shocked by his words. Used to it? How does one get used to vomiting such large amounts of blood? "You should rest first. We’ll talk more when the doctor arrives."

Before long, Ah-Jin and Qingluan rushed in, one on each side, escorting an elderly doctor—the same one from Wuyue Nunnery last time. Seeing Mo Xiuyao already awake on the bed, the old Doctor waved away Ah-Jin’s and Qingluan’s supporting hands and said leisurely, "This old man already said he would be fine. You young people are just too excitable." Ye Li stood up, making way for the old Doctor to take the pulse. The old Doctor stepped forward, took the pulse, and stroked his beard with a frown. Ye Li asked, "Doctor, how is he?"

The old Doctor shook his head. "He’s fine, but it would be best for the Prince to be more careful. Just because he’s alright this time doesn’t mean he’ll be alright next time."

Ye Li frowned. "If I recall correctly, last time the Doctor said the Prince’s health was excellent."

The old Doctor raised his graying eyebrows. "This old man did not misspeak. At that time, the Prince’s health was indeed very good. However, now it is clearly very poor."

Ye Li stared at him speechlessly. Could it be that some people are healthy for half the year and weak for the other half? Even if one fell ill, how could there be such a drastic difference in such a short time?

The old Doctor continued, "The Prince’s constitution cannot withstand the cold, so he must be careful as soon as winter begins. However... it shouldn’t be this severe at this point. This time... how long has it been since the Prince took his medicine? How long has it been since he rested?"

Under Ye Li’s scrutinizing gaze, Mo Xiuyao gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Your medicine... it seems to have no effect anymore," Mo Xiuyao said faintly, taking a small medicine bottle from his sleeve.

The old Doctor’s brow furrowed deeply. He took the medicine bottle from Mo Xiuyao’s hand, opened it to examine its contents, and said, "Impossible. This medicine was prepared less than two months ago. How could it have lost its efficacy?"

Ye Li said, "Doctor, I believe what the Prince means is that your medicine no longer has any effect on his body."

The old Doctor’s expression turned grave. He once again took Mo Xiuyao’s hand to check his pulse, this time for a noticeably longer period. After a good while, the old Doctor finally released his hand and said with a frown, "I will prescribe a temporary formula for the Prince to use. He should be fine for now. I need to go back and study the prescription further."

Ye Li understood that such matters couldn’t be rushed, so she nodded. "Then we shall trouble you, Doctor."

The old Doctor nodded and looked at Ye Li. "This old man will say it again: the Prince must absolutely not overexert himself given his condition. The colder it gets, the more careful he must be. If he had taken proper care of himself and rested quietly these past few years, his condition wouldn’t be this severe now."

Ye Li nodded solemnly. "I understand. Rest assured, Doctor."

Ye Li arranged for someone to go with the old Doctor to fetch the medicine. After settling Mo Xiuyao, she was about to get up when someone gently pulled her back from behind. Ye Li turned her head to look at the man on the bed, who was watching her with a calm expression. Her gaze fell on his somewhat pale and thin hand, and her heart involuntarily clenched. "What’s wrong? Are you still uncomfortable somewhere?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head, smiling faintly. "Is Ah-Li very busy?"

"Well... not really." There were indeed some matters to attend to in the study, but nothing urgent. She was just accustomed to finishing the tasks at hand.

"Then... can Ah-Li stay and keep me company for a while?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly. His eyes, as he looked at Ye Li, were still gentle, without a hint of coercion, yet Ye Li found herself unable to refuse. Silently, she sat back down by the bedside. Seeing the amusement in the man’s eyes deepen as he lay on the bed, Ye Li glanced at the dark red blood on the floor that hadn’t been cleaned yet and asked with concern, "Don’t you want to sleep for a while?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head, saying softly, "It’s a bit cold; I can’t sleep."

Ye Li recalled that people who had lost a lot of blood did indeed feel exceptionally cold; perhaps someone who had vomited blood would feel the same. She unconsciously reached out to pull the quilt up for him and asked, "Do you need a charcoal fire?"

It was only early winter and not yet bitterly cold, but many households had already started lighting charcoal fires. Many wealthy families had prepared large quantities of high-quality silver charcoal. Because Ye Li herself had a strong constitution, she had basically not used charcoal fires in winter since Ms. Xu passed away. Since they hadn’t lit one in their room, she hadn’t paid much attention to this issue, especially since Mo Xiuyao was a martial arts master with internal energy far superior to hers.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head helplessly. "I can’t stand the smoke from charcoal fires. Even though the specially made silver charcoal is said to be smokeless and odorless... Ah-Li, do you understand now? Once winter arrives, I truly am a cripple." As he said this, a hint of bitterness and sorrow crept into Mo Xiuyao’s eyes.

Ye Li got up, took another brocade quilt from the cabinet, and covered Mo Xiuyao with it before frowning and asking, "What kind of injury did you actually sustain? Why is it so strange?" Typically, even if one’s legs were crippled, or even amputated, they might experience occasional phantom limb pain. But Mo Xiuyao’s aversion to cold and his physical weakness every winter surely had nothing to do with his legs. And his inability to inhale dust or smoke probably indicated a problem with his respiratory system or lungs.

Mo Xiuyao said, "I don’t know exactly what injuries I sustained. By the time I woke up, more than a month had passed. My body was already like this." Mo Xiuyao’s expression was faint, as if he were merely stating a fact. But Ye Li had seen such expressions many times. Some of her former comrades-in-arms, who had been severely injured and disabled on the battlefield, wore such calm expressions after they had awakened and calmed down from extreme frenzy. Yet, this calmness was even more heart-wrenching than their furious roars. Ye Li didn’t know what expression Mo Xiuyao wore when he first woke up and found himself in this state, but his current calm demeanor still made her feel very distressed.

"Alright then, follow the doctor’s instructions. Your Highness Prince Ding, it would be best for you to rest more recently. I hear you’ve been spending an average of more than fourteen hours a day in the study lately?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

Mo Xiuyao paused, then sighed softly. "Ah-Li... I will be careful, but..." Now was not the time for rest. The situation in the court had become increasingly strange over the past six months. The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion currently seemed to be detached from court affairs, but a single misstep could plunge it into an abyss. And as Prince Ding, he had an undeniable duty to shoulder certain responsibilities.

Ye Li shot him a dangerous glance and said coolly, "Is there anything you can do that I can’t? Even if that were true, we can deal with it when it actually becomes unmanageable. Pardon my bluntness, Your Highness Prince Ding. Even if you exhaust all your efforts and take ninety-nine steps, if you die on the last one, it’s still a failure. So, before you take those ninety-nine steps, you should first consider whether you’ll live to take the hundredth."

Mo Xiuyao was silent for a long moment before looking at Ye Li and chuckling. "Ah-Li is right. Then... I’ll have to trouble Ah-Li from now on."

"I am the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom, after all," Ye Li stated calmly.

Mo Xiuyao said softly, "Of course, you will always be my Princess Consort."

And so, Ye Li became even busier. She handled not only the internal affairs of the Prince’s Mansion but also its external affairs. With Mo Xiuyao guiding her from the side, Ye Li learned quickly. Her decisive and efficient style gradually earned the admiration of the stewards both inside and outside the mansion. The way old retainers like Chief Steward Mo and Nanny Sun looked at Ye Li held more gratification and respect.

To prevent Mo Xiuyao from feeling bored while confined to bed, Ye Li moved her workspace for handling most affairs from the study to their room, only meeting with some stewards elsewhere. This way, she could manage affairs and chat with Mo Xiuyao, and ask him questions whenever they arose.

Mo Xiuyao was amazed to find that his Princess Consort was like an inexhaustible book; he could never guess the extent of her knowledge or the limits of her abilities. If such a capable person by his side were anyone else, Mo Xiuyao would undoubtedly feel threatened and would employ various methods to test, or even eliminate, them. But facing this woman—who could write swiftly with her brush while simultaneously chatting and laughing with him—he felt as if a faint flame had been lit in his icy heart. Though small, it gave a man who felt like he was in a world of ice and snow during winter an inexplicable warmth and comfort. He only wanted to indulge her in doing whatever she wished, to quietly watch her occasional faint smiles. He knew that one day, she would blossom with a splendor that would astonish the world. A pearl will not remain covered in dust forever; one day, she would surely soar above the nine heavens. And by then... he might no longer be there.

"Your Highness, Princess Consort. Chief Steward Mo says Doctor He has arrived with the medicine," Qingyu entered and reported.

Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao, who was sleeping soundly on the bed, nodded to Qingyu, and said in a low voice, "Please ask Doctor He to wait in the flower hall for a moment." Although only a few days had passed, Ye Li could already feel that the colder the weather became, the more detrimental it was to Mo Xiuyao’s health. It was probably because the medicine could no longer control Mo Xiuyao’s condition; even after two days of rest, Mo Xiuyao’s spirits had not improved much.

Upon entering the flower hall, Doctor He and Chief Steward Mo hurriedly came forward to greet her. Ye Li waved her hand. "Doctor, Chief Steward Mo, there’s no need for such formalities. Please sit down and talk."

Only after Ye Li was seated did the two men thank her and sit down on either side. Doctor He took out a prescription and handed it to Ye Li. "This is the prescription this old man has readjusted over the past few days. Please review it, Princess Consort."

Ye Li took the prescription and glanced at it, noticing that most of the ingredients were not for treating illness or healing injuries, but rather for detoxification. "Doctor He, what is this? If this Princess Consort is not mistaken, using this medicine too much will lead to addiction." Ye Li put down the prescription and asked solemnly. The last ingredient listed on the prescription was Ah-Furong; Ye Li knew very well what it was and what consequences its use would entail.

"I didn’t expect the Princess Consort to also be proficient in pharmacology. The Princess Consort is correct; Ah-Furong is an excellent analgesic, but prolonged use can indeed lead to addiction. That is why this old man has been hesitating whether to add it," Doctor He said with a grave expression. Ye Li nodded, accepting his explanation. "Does the Prince require a large dose of painkillers?"

"He desperately needs them. The previously prescribed medicine is no longer effective because it can no longer suppress the pain caused by the toxins in the Prince’s body. If we don’t prescribe some painkillers, the Prince’s spirit will deteriorate further, and his body will weaken. He might not even make it until the poison can be detoxified... Moreover, his current physical state cannot endure severe pain; it could cause his original old wounds to relapse," Doctor He said heavily, his somewhat aged face filled with exhaustion. Clearly, the past few days had not been easy for him either. Hearing about Mo Xiuyao’s condition, Chief Steward Mo’s face also turned grim. "Princess Consort, this..."

Ye Li shook her head. "Ah-Furong cannot be used. The dosage you’ve prescribed is too high. At most, he would become addicted within a month. Once addicted, it would be even more harmful to his body, with no benefit."

Doctor He gave a helpless, bitter smile. He didn’t want to prescribe so much either, but too small a dose would be completely useless. Unless one experienced it personally, an ordinary person could simply not comprehend the agony the Prince endured when the poison in his body flared up.

"Why was he fine during the summer?" Ye Li asked.

Doctor He shook his head. "It’s not that he was fine in the summer, but rather that his condition was relatively much easier to manage. The Prince was afflicted with a type of cold poison. In the summer, the weather is warm, and coupled with the medicine I prepare to suppress the cold poison, he appears no different from an ordinary person as long as he takes it on time. However, once the weather turns cold, the cold poison rages with doubled intensity. The Prince’s entire bloodstream seems to almost congeal. During the most severe periods in the first two years, he would even fall into prolonged comas. It has been under control these past few years, but this year, I’m afraid..."

"Is it a weather issue..." Ye Li pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. Doctor, please reconsider the prescription. Also, the antidote for the cold poison?"

Doctor He shook his head. "Currently, there is no cure. The Prince’s cold poison was inflicted when he was ambushed by the Beirong people at the border back then. At that time, we invited the contemporary Divine Doctor, Mr. Shen Yang, to treat the Prince. That cold poison originates from a perennially snow-capped mountain peak at the border of Beirong and Xiling; it can be said to be a kind of frigid fluid from the most yin and coldest place in the world. It is said to grow in a cold pool at the summit of that snowy mountain. That cold pool is bone-chillingly cold; any human or beast that falls into it will surely not survive. However, a flower called the ’Fire Lotus’ grows in that cold pool, and only its seeds can suppress the cold poison in the Prince’s body."

Before Doctor He finished speaking, Chief Steward Mo interjected, "But that Fire Lotus blooms once every ten years and bears seeds once every fifteen years. Starting six years ago, the Black Cloud Cavalry dispatched men to lie in wait at the foot of the mountain. Unfortunately... it will be at least another two years before the lotus seeds mature." Chief Steward Mo didn’t mention the terrible price the Black Cloud Cavalry would have to pay to bring the lotus seeds back to Great Chu, whether they passed through Beirong or Xiling. But no matter what the cost, the Black Cloud Cavalry would definitely obtain the Fire Lotus and ensure its safe return to Great Chu, even if it meant sacrificing the lives of every single member of the Black Cloud Cavalry.

"Does that Divine Doctor Shen have no other solution?" Ye Li frowned. The fame of Divine Doctor Shen Yang—a medical master whom even the Emperor might not necessarily be able to summon—had reached her ears even during her secluded upbringing.

Doctor He said, "A year ago, Divine Doctor Shen heard that there is a medicinal herb called spider brake in an Island Country of the Eastern Sea, which is said to be remarkably effective against cold poison. He set out to sea with his people at the beginning of this year. I’m afraid the earliest he could return would be the end of December."

Ye Li nodded. "I understand. Then I shall trouble Doctor He further."

Doctor He rose and took his leave. Chief Steward Mo remained in the hall, looking at Ye Li’s tightly furrowed brows, her mood clearly very somber. "Princess Consort..."

Ye Li looked up and saw Chief Steward Mo’s serious yet uncontainable worried face. She sighed. "Chief Steward Mo, you have worked hard all these years."

Chief Steward Mo shook his head in some trepidation. "Princess Consort, what are you saying? This old servant only wishes he could take the Prince’s place and suffer these pains. The Prince, back then..." Seeing the spirited young master he once knew become like this, how could Chief Steward Mo not feel pain? But now he was more worried about this young Princess Consort. Over the past six months, the Princess Consort’s performance had exceeded everyone’s expectations. The people of King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion genuinely admired their new mistress. The Princess Consort of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion didn’t need to be devastatingly beautiful, exceptionally talented, or even adept at social maneuvering; she only needed to be strong enough. But even the strongest woman would likely find it hard to bear the current situation. That was why the Prince had always concealed his physical condition, and why they, the servants, had never mentioned it in her presence.

Ye Li stood up and smiled faintly. "Chief Steward Mo, don’t worry too much. As long as a person is still alive, there will always be a way. Later, Chief Steward Mo, please find some people for me who are proficient in architecture. I have a use for them."

Watching Ye Li’s figure slowly depart, Chief Steward Mo’s dim eyes couldn’t help but brighten a little. This Princess Consort... perhaps she really is different.

"This old servant understands."

When Ye Li returned to their room, Mo Xiuyao was already awake. As soon as she entered, Ye Li clearly saw Mo Xiuyao’s left hand, which was outside the quilt, trembling and clenching spasmodically. But the moment he saw Ye Li enter, his hand relaxed, and then he casually drew it back under the quilt. Ye Li knew he was enduring the pain. Her resolve in telling Doctor He to remove the painkillers wavered slightly. But seeing Mo Xiuyao’s gentle yet firm eyes, Ye Li suppressed her hesitation. Mo Xiuyao would absolutely not want to become someone who had to rely on a certain drug to live.

"Ah-Li, you’re back."

Ye Li sat down by the bed. "If it hurts, you can cry out."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Will it stop hurting if I cry out? Don’t worry, it’s just a little pain. It’s just a bit annoying to be lying in bed all day, unable to get up."

"I won’t laugh at you," Ye Li said.

Mo Xiuyao looked at her quietly for a long time before asking in a deep voice, "Ah-Li, can I hug you?"

Ye Li was taken aback, then leaned down and hugged Mo Xiuyao, quilt and all, smiling. "You mustn’t get chilled right now, so this will have to do."

Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly. After a good while, he stopped and said in a low voice, "Actually... the pain is truly bearable. But that chilling sensation... it’s like falling into a pool full of ice water, and feeling like you’re destined never to climb out. I’ve gotten used to the pain after so long, but I can never get used to that icy feeling. Sometimes... I even think it’s okay to feel a bit of pain. I’m just afraid that one day I won’t even be able to feel pain anymore, and only that icy sensation will be left. If that really happens... Ah-Li, I really don’t know if I can hold on anymore."

"That won’t happen," Ye Li said softly, holding him. "Didn’t Divine Doctor Shen go to the Eastern Sea to find spider brake? And in another two years, the Fire Lotus will bear seeds. By then, the cold poison will be cured, and everything will be alright. You’ve managed to hold on until now, so what’s waiting another two years?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Of course, I will wait. Ah-Li, if I don’t die, you can never leave me. Aren’t you afraid?"

"Before I married you, I wasn’t planning on you dying early so I could inherit your estate," Ye Li said lightly.

"I definitely won’t die, Ah-Li." Mo Xiuyao reached out a hand and wrapped it around Ye Li’s slender waist. Ye Li stiffened, then expressionlessly pulled his hand away and tucked it back under the quilt. "If you can’t stand the cold, don’t fidget." Did I just make some kind of promise? But it feels like I didn’t say anything... Ye Li silently pondered in her heart.

Once winter set in, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion declined all invitations to banquets and gatherings, including those from the palace. The reason given was the same as usual: Prince Ding was gravely ill. The hearts of those who had been somewhat restless after seeing traces of Prince Ding during the summer gradually calmed down. After the imperial physicians from the palace came and went several times, all helpless, and aside from a continuous stream of various tonics and medicinal herbs flowing into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion from the palace, no one else came to disturb them. The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion seemed to have returned to the quiet silence of the previous two years.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely without visitors. Feng Zhiyao, for example, was one of them.

"Third Young Master Feng, the Princess Consort and the Prince invite you to the side hall." Feng Zhiyao, who was waiting in the study, raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Ah-Yao is sick again? But isn’t he living with the Princess Consort? Why has he moved to the side hall?"

A very faint smile appeared on Chief Steward Mo’s serious face. "Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master Feng. The Prince has been fairly well these past few days. A few days ago, the Prince and Princess Consort moved to the side hall."

Feng Zhiyao looked envious and jealous. "It’s great to have a large residence! You can live in the main hall if you wish, or the side hall if you prefer. When you tire of both, you can even rotate among several other courtyards."

Chief Steward Mo had long been familiar with Feng Zhiyao’s temperament and didn’t take offense, smiling faintly. "If Third Young Master Feng finds his own residence too small, he can mention it to the Prince. The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has two other residences in the Capital City that could be made available for Third Young Master Feng’s use."

Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes. "No, thank you. A large house means more people and more trouble; it’s terribly annoying."

"Third Young Master Feng ought to start a family," Chief Steward Mo said, following behind Feng Zhiyao.

"I know, your Prince married a good Princess Consort. But this young master hasn’t had enough fun yet," Feng Zhiyao waved his hand, indicating that the matter of marriage could be discussed later. His own father wasn’t even concerned about such things for him, yet these elderly folks in the Prince’s Mansion were quite enthusiastic. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite bear their enthusiasm.

The side hall where Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were staying was a detached building in the southern wing of their main courtyard. Situated in the inner garden of the main courtyard, it was only two side rooms smaller than the main hall. It appeared even more tranquil and elegant. As soon as Feng Zhiyao stepped into the main hall, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. A wave of warmth washed over him; the entire hall was as comfortable as if it were March or April. Feng Zhiyao knew about Mo Xiuyao’s physical condition and was also aware that in winter, charcoal fires were never lit in any place Mo Xiuyao might be within the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. But this place...

Chief Steward Mo followed behind him. "Third Young Master Feng, the Prince and Princess Consort are waiting for you in the small study."

Feng Zhiyao couldn’t help but turn back and ask, "Just how many studies does your King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion have?"

Chief Steward Mo replied in all seriousness, "There is a library and a study in both the outer and inner courtyards. In the main courtyard, the Prince and Princess Consort each have their own study. The study in this side hall was set up temporarily."

"I detest studies, and I detest discussing matters in a study even more," Feng Zhiyao declared.

"Then... shall this subordinate go and ask the Princess Consort and the Prince to come out?"

"...No need. I wouldn’t dare make them come out to see me personally." Feng Zhiyao waved his hand and swaggered off, fan swinging.