Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 98. Secret meeting?

98. Secret Meeting?

"How have Father and Grandmother been recently?" Ye Li asked softly, only after the servants had served tea and withdrawn.

Minister Ye was taken aback, only answering after studying Ye Li’s expression, "They are all well, but your Fourth Sister is..."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t Prince Li take Fourth Sister with him when he left the Capital City?"

Minister Ye shook his head. It was fortunate Mo Jingli hadn’t taken Ye Ying with him; otherwise, the Ye Family could not possibly have escaped the charge of treasonous conspiracy with Prince Li. Now, although Ye Ying was under house arrest, it had at least convinced the Emperor that the Ye Family wasn’t in cahoots with Prince Li.

Ye Li pondered for a moment before asking, "Who did Prince Li take with him when he left the Capital City?"

Seeing no reason to hide anything, Minister Ye responded gravely, "He only took that woman from the Southern Border. Even Grand Consort Wise Zhao was left in the Capital City. The Empress Dowager has now taken the Grand Consort into the palace, but with Prince Li having turned traitor, the Empress Dowager’s days are not going so well either." Recalling this, Minister Ye couldn’t help regretting his actions. Indeed, he was loyal to the Empress Dowager, and privately, he favored Prince Li a little more. But he hadn’t expected Prince Li to suddenly instigate a rebellion. If he had known Prince Li was going to act so erratically, he would have been better off wholeheartedly following the Emperor. At least then he would still have had a daughter who was a Zhaoyi and an imperial prince as his grandson. Now, he had nothing left.

"Fourth Sister is under house arrest by the Emperor?" Ye Li asked, her eyebrows raised. "Why didn’t Prince Li take her with him? After all, she is his legitimately married wife. Prince Li must have known what would happen if he left Fourth Sister in the Capital City."

Minister Ye sighed helplessly. "Ying’er is already two months pregnant. It’s simply unsuitable for her to travel such a long distance."

A thought flashed through Ye Li’s mind. She looked up at Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye with a faint smile. "Prince Li doesn’t know that Fourth Sister is pregnant, does he?" No matter how ruthless Mo Jingli was, he would not abandon his own flesh and blood, especially when the child Ye Ying was carrying was currently his only offspring. The only explanation was that he didn’t know Ye Ying was pregnant; she must have made an excuse to stay.

Seeing her expression, Old Madam Ye felt somewhat exposed and said awkwardly, "That Princess Qixia is not a kind soul, and Prince Li dotes on her excessively. With Ying’er’s limited cunning, I’m afraid the child would have been lost before she even reached Lingzhou. Anyway, Prince Li spends most of his time in the Capital City each year, so we thought Ying’er should stay in the Capital City to give birth."

Ye Li fully understood Old Madam Ye’s intentions. Ye Zhaoyi and the young imperial prince in the palace had died. Now that Ye Ying was carrying Prince Li’s child, they naturally wanted to keep the child in the Capital City to foster a closer bond between the child and the Ye Family in the future. However, they hadn’t expected Mo Jingli to raise troops without even thinking to notify them. Still, this unintentional act had inadvertently saved the Ye Family. Of course, the Emperor’s current reluctance to punish the Ye Family was likely also partly due to the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion’s influence.

Ye Li sighed softly and looked at Minister Ye. "Father, I’m afraid the Emperor already knows about Fourth Sister’s pregnancy. The only reason he hasn’t acted against her yet is probably that he wants to use her child to threaten Prince Li."

Minister Ye had, of course, thought of this long ago. His hurried visit to the Prince Ding’s Mansion was not entirely for Ye Ying’s sake. "Then, we..."

Ye Li raised her hand, stopping him. She looked earnestly at Minister Ye and said, "Father, I may not understand the ways of officialdom, but I do know that those in power detest nothing more than subordinates with divided loyalties. Do you truly believe the Emperor is unaware of your actions these past two years? As I see it, in terms of strategy, Prince Li is likely no match for the one in the palace."

Minister Ye’s expression changed slightly. "You mean..."

Ye Li lowered her head and sipped her tea, not answering, leaving Minister Ye to sit there, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Old Madam Ye, however, grew restless and quickly asked, "Li’er, what should we do now?"

Ye Li said calmly, "Father should submit a petition as soon as possible, detailing Prince Li’s crimes and pleading for the Emperor’s forgiveness. As for the future... the Emperor will no longer trust the Ye Family. So, Father, it would be best to simultaneously request that the Emperor relieve you of your ministerial post. From now on, it’s better to keep a low profile and focus on properly teaching Younger Brother Rong."

"This..." Both Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye were taken aback, reluctance clear on their faces. After a moment’s thought, Old Madam Ye looked cautiously at Ye Li. "Li’er, Prince Ding has just performed meritorious service in quelling the rebellion in Yongzhou. Could we ask him to..."

Seeing Old Madam Ye’s hopeful expression, Ye Li gave a cold laugh. "Prince Ding has performed meritorious deeds many times. Grandmother may not know, but surely Father is aware of the current situation of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Minister Ye could only sigh in dejection. It was precisely because the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion had rendered great service that it was even more impossible for Prince Ding to plead on his behalf. The more Prince Ding interceded, the more the Emperor would suppress the Ye Family. Minister Ye didn’t know whether to feel resentful or not. Because the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion existed, the Emperor would absolutely no longer favor the Ye Family. But, by the same token, it was precisely because the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion existed, and because his daughter was the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom, that the Ye Family had been spared utter ruin.

"Father, one must know when to hold on and when to let go. Fight when it’s time to fight, and retreat when it’s time to retreat. Can fame and fortune ever be more important than one’s own life?" Ye Li said softly.

Minister Ye flinched, a look of struggle on his face. He looked at Ye Li. "If, in the future, I..."

Ye Li interrupted him. "Father, choose your words carefully."

Minister Ye finally lowered his head in resignation, sighing deeply and saying no more. Old Madam Ye also understood that Ye Li was unequivocally refusing to ask Prince Ding to intercede, thereby dashing the Ye Family’s last hope. The thought that she would no longer be the Old Madam of a Minister’s Mansion, and that the Ye Family would henceforth decline, filled her with resentment. "Li’er, how can you be so heartless? No matter his faults, he is still your father! And the Ye Family is still your natal family. What good will the Ye Family’s decline do you? The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion has few relatives; will you not want anyone to support you in court in the future?"

"Support?" Ye Li murmured, looking up at Old Madam Ye’s pained expression. "Have Father and Grandmother been to see Elder Sister and the Heir of South Marquis?"

Old Madam Ye was speechless. They had gone to Marquis South’s Mansion as soon as Prince Li’s troubles began. Unfortunately, the doors were closed to them; they hadn’t even seen Marquis South or the Heir of South Marquis. A few days ago, Ye Zhen had secretly visited the Ye Mansion, and her words implied that Marquis South’s Mansion could do nothing to help. After all, rebellion was something no subject dared to get involved with.

"Last year, my eldest maternal uncle mentioned that Father had been cautious all his life, but in recent years, he had become somewhat complacent. I also mentioned this to Grandmother. But I suppose at the time, both Grandmother and Father probably thought I was merely resentful and jealous of Second Sister and Fourth Sister because I had been married into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Now, not only is it impossible for Prince Ding to plead for Father, but Father, have you considered how you will establish yourself in court in the future? On my way back, I heard that the Emperor is currently doting on Consort Yun and Wang Zhaorong, and there are even hints that he intends to make Noble Consort Liu’s son the Crown Prince. It seems he plans to heavily utilize the Yun Family and Wang Family, and the Liu Family’s influence is growing stronger by the day. Father, both the Liu Family and the Yun Family and Wang Family are renowned families with deep roots. More importantly... they are all at odds with the Ye Family. Don’t you understand the Emperor’s intentions yet, Father?"

Minister Ye seemed to age ten years in an instant. He said hoarsely, "I understand... When I return, I will submit a petition of apology to the Emperor."

Looking at Minister Ye’s dejected and aged appearance, Ye Li inwardly shook her head but did not feel much. Some people are born to value fame and fortune above their own lives; there is no cure for that.

"The Prince has returned."

The atmosphere in the reception hall was somewhat somber when a maid’s voice came from outside. Before she finished speaking, Mo Xiuyao had already entered the hall. After returning to the Capital City, he had been summoned to the palace before he even had a chance to change his clothes. Mo Xiuyao was still dressed in white, a hint of fatigue in his brow that was imperceptible to most.

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness!" Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye quickly rose to pay their respects.

Mo Xiuyao nodded curtly, walked over to Ye Li, and sat down beside her. "Minister Ye, Old Madam, are you here to see Ah-Li?"

Minister Ye nodded awkwardly. "Indeed. Li’er was missing for several months, and my mother and I were extremely worried. So, as soon as we heard Your Royal Highness had brought Li’er back, we hurried over to see her."

Mo Xiuyao nodded indifferently, clearly unimpressed by this explanation. If they had been truly worried, they would have shown it long ago, not waited until now. In the past one or two months, the Ye Mansion hadn’t sent anyone to search for her, nor had they even sent anyone to the Prince Ding’s Mansion to inquire. Even Marquis South’s Mansion had sent people to ask twice. To outsiders, the Ye Family appeared not just coolly indifferent, but utterly heartless.

"Nanny Sun said you’ve been busy with household affairs since your return. If you’re tired, you should rest first. Those trivial matters can wait a few days," Mo Xiuyao said softly to Ye Li, turning away from Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye.

Ye Li smiled and shook her head. Minister Ye, seeing Prince Ding was displeased with him, felt too awkward to stay any longer and rose to take his leave. Looking at the man sitting beside Ye Li—graceful yet possessing an undeniable, imposing aura, half his face concealed by a silver mask—where was any sign of the weak, disabled invalid? If Prince Ding were to fully recover, the resurgence of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion was truly inevitable. To his regret, he had overlooked them due to the Emperor’s wariness and Prince Ding’s poor health. Now, it was too late for regrets.

Once Minister Ye and Old Madam Ye had been shown out, Ye Li turned to ask, "Why did the Emperor summon you to the palace so urgently?"

Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples, frowning. "The Emperor plans to marry a princess to Beirong for a political alliance."

"A marriage alliance?" Ye Li couldn’t help but think of the farcical marriage last year involving Princess Ling Yun of Xiling, and she frowned in puzzlement. "Who is the Emperor planning to send for the marriage?" All the late Emperor’s princesses were already married, and among the current Emperor’s own daughters, the eldest seemed to be Princess Changle, whom the Empress cared for, and she was only eight this year.

Mo Xiuyao said blandly, "Naturally, someone will be chosen from the influential families or the imperial clan in the Capital City. State Duke Hua’s granddaughter is also on the list of candidates."

"Tianxiang?" Ye Li frowned. Beirong is a bitterly cold land. Moreover, everyone knows the Emperor’s current decision for a marriage alliance is merely to free his hands to deal with Prince Li. Once Prince Li’s matter is resolved, who will remember a woman married off to distant Beirong? If war were to break out between the two nations, the princess sent for the alliance would be nothing but a sacrifice.

Mo Xiuyao said, "You needn’t worry too much. The Emperor must give face to State Duke Hua and the Empress. And if a marriage alliance with Beirong truly proceeds, the most likely choice will still be someone from the imperial clan. After all, the Beirong people are not so easily fooled."

Ye Li nodded and asked curiously, "For a matter like a marriage alliance with Beirong, does the Emperor need to specifically summon you to the palace for discussion?"

A mocking smile touched Mo Xiuyao’s lips. "When the princess is married, the Emperor wants me to represent Great Chu in escorting her and, incidentally, to attend the King of Beirong’s sixtieth birthday celebration in September."

If the Prince of Ding Kingdom himself escorted the princess, the significance of this marriage alliance would be somewhat unexpected. Ye Li frowned in thought for a moment, then raised her head. "Why does the Emperor want to send you away from Great Chu?" Beirong’s capital city is in the far north. To arrive in time for the King of Beirong’s birthday in September, the escort party would have to depart by mid-July at the latest. Even if Mo Xiuyao rushed back immediately after the wedding, he wouldn’t return to the Capital City until October at the earliest. That means Mo Xiuyao would be away from Great Chu for nearly three months. Who knew what could happen during that time?

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "The Emperor has made many preparations over the years. For now, I truly cannot guess what he intends to do." The thoughts of a clever man are not hard to guess, nor are the thoughts of a fool. It is precisely the thoughts of someone with a wild and unpredictable mind that are difficult to fathom. Take Mo Jingli, for example; even those as astute as Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen would never have imagined he would rebel at that particular time, because it was obvious to any of them that success was impossible. In fact, even if Mo Jingli had truly allied with the Southern Border and broken through Broken Snow Pass, he wouldn’t have gained much. It would only have brought suffering to the people on the border. And as for the Emperor, how much does he truly care about the hardships of his people?

"Then you agreed?" Ye Li asked.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "It is difficult to disobey an imperial decree."

Ye Li shrugged helplessly. "I understand. I’ll stay in the Capital City."

Mo Xiuyao shook his head and smiled. "No, you will go to Yunzhou then."

Ye Li looked at him, a questioning frown on her face.

Mo Xiuyao smiled. "Prince Ding is not the Emperor, and the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion is not the Imperial Palace; it doesn’t require someone to guard it at all times. This Mo Jingqi... when cornered, he sometimes resorts to tactics that harm others without benefiting himself. I’ll feel more at ease if you go to Yunzhou." The true core of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion is not in this residence in the Capital City, but its people. Even if the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion were razed to the ground, as long as its master remained, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion would still be the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion.

Ye Li shook her head. "That’s even more unacceptable. If I go to Yunzhou, won’t I be putting my maternal grandfather and his family in danger? Don’t tell me the Emperor won’t touch Yunzhou. Since they dared to make a move against the Prince Ding’s Mansion, why would they hesitate to target the Xu Family? Besides, the opponents of the Prince Ding’s Mansion are not limited to the one in the palace."

Mo Xiuyao gazed at Ye Li silently for a long moment before sighing. "Ah-Li, it seems I can never give you a peaceful and tranquil life."

Ye Li chuckled. "Of course, I can have a peaceful and tranquil life. You could find some unknown place and hide me away. But I don’t like that, understand? Take this trip to the Southern Border, for instance. It wasn’t absolutely necessary for me to go. Someone else could have been sent, or even if no one went, my eldest brother would have been fine. Even if I couldn’t appear in public for a while, I could have easily found a secluded place to live. I went because I wanted to get out and see things, and I find I prefer life outside." Out there, even with danger, at least the objectives were clear, and friends were distinct from foes. Returning to the Capital City, the mere thought of once again facing those exchanges of pleasantries on the surface while dealing with hidden daggers and schemes gave Ye Li a headache. It wasn’t that she couldn’t handle it; she simply disliked it.

"I also think Ah-Li is more... stunning when she’s out and about," Mo Xiuyao said softly, a laugh in his voice. In the Capital City, Ah-Li always wore a faint smile, appearing gentle and elegant, the very picture of a well-bred Princess Consort from a scholarly family. Mo Xiuyao would never tell anyone that at the moment he loosed that arrow beneath the walls of Yonglin City, he saw before him a woman clad in black, indistinguishable from the Black Cloud Cavalry. The cool, proud aura she exuded as she glanced back, the dazzling starlight in her eyes... Never before had he realized so clearly that his Princess Consort was not just the graceful woman who read scrolls by lamplight, but also this extraordinary, commanding figure on the battlefield. Mo Xiuyao suddenly recalled a vow he had made many years ago before his father and elder brother, a vow almost forgotten: ’My wife, Mo Xiuyao’s wife, must be like the ancestral Commandery Princess Qingyun, to march with me to the four corners of the earth, to sweep across the six realms, to stand shoulder to shoulder with me and gaze upon the vast lands together.’ That arrow, Mo Xiuyao felt, had perhaps not only saved Ah-Li’s life but also carried a piece of his heart.

Ye Li’s face flushed slightly. Since their reunion in Yonglin City, her interactions with Mo Xiuyao had felt somewhat strange. When they were busy, she didn’t think much of it, but in quiet moments, she often felt a little uneasy. She wasn’t an unfeeling block of wood; after that kiss outside Broken Snow Pass, she naturally understood that their relationship was no longer the part-familial, part-friendly bond it once was. Yet, when facing Mo Xiuyao, she found it impossible to be as carefree and casual as she had been when dating in her previous life. This feeling of emotions she couldn’t quite control made her somewhat annoyed with Mo Xiuyao as well. Mo Xiuyao seemed to understand her feelings and didn’t provoke her excessively. But when they were alone, there was always a greater degree of intimacy and tenderness between them than before.

"How are Qingluan and Qingyu? Can they be released yet?" Ye Li turned her head and asked in a low voice.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "There was nothing serious to begin with. Not letting them out was for their own safety. Now that you’ve returned safely, they’re naturally fine. I’ll have them released later."

「Back in her own courtyard」

Qingluan and Qingyu indeed looked well, apparently having suffered no hardship these past one or two months. Qingxia and Qingshuang bustled around Ye Li, offering tonics and new clothes, as if she had endured terrible suffering while away. Ye Li felt helpless and allowed the maids to fuss over her. Only when they had quieted down somewhat did she dismiss Qingxia and Qingshuang, keeping only Qingyu and Qingluan with her.

"We were negligent. Please punish us, Princess Consort." Once the room was quiet, Qingyu and Qingluan both knelt.

"Get up." Ye Li frowned, looking at them. "Have you two been well these past two months?"

Qingyu and Qingluan couldn’t help but shed tears. Qingluan nodded repeatedly. "We have been well, Princess Consort, but we were terribly worried about you... If anything had happened to you, we would die a thousand deaths and still be unable to face the Old Master and the Eldest Young Master."

Seeing the clear joy and relief in their eyes, Ye Li understood how much these two maids must have worried over the past two months. She sighed softly. "What exactly did you hide? I understand the Prince’s temperament. You are my personal maids. If you hadn’t truly concealed something significant, he wouldn’t have kept you confined these two months. Was it something inconvenient to tell the Prince, or something even I cannot be told?"

The two maids glanced at each other, then looked at Ye Li with some hesitation. Ye Li didn’t press them, merely watching them quietly. After a long moment, Qingyu looked at Ye Li, as if having made a decision. "We... we were indeed derelict in our duty. Actually... I had already left before the fire at Yaohua Palace. Afterward, Qingluan also left to save me. That’s why the secret guards couldn’t find us after the fire at Yaohua Palace."

Ye Li nodded. "So... where did you go?"

"This servant saw someone and followed them," Qingyu said in a low voice.

"This servant followed after hearing Qingyu’s cry of alarm," Qingluan added.

Ye Li frowned. "Who did you see?"

Qingyu whispered, "Su Zuidie... and... the Prince."

"Su Zuidie and the Prince?" Ye Li blinked in surprise. "You mean you saw Su Zuidie and the Prince together in the palace, so you followed? Are you sure you saw Su Zuidie?"

Qingyu thought for a moment. "This servant has seen the Portraits of National Beauties from the Capital of Great Chu that were given as wedding gifts when you and the Prince married. She was at least seventy to eighty percent similar to the woman in the portrait. A lady of such beauty is rare, even in the palace. And it was the Prince... Because it was the Prince, this servant then..."

Ye Li nodded slightly, understanding why these two maids had been unwilling to tell Mo Xiuyao the truth. "So, you saw the Prince meeting a woman who greatly resembled Su Zuidie in the palace, and then, coincidentally, Yaohua Palace caught fire and I disappeared. That’s why you deliberately concealed the truth from him."

Qingyu bit her lip and nodded.

Ye Li pondered for a moment and asked, "But have you considered... if the Prince’s legs were injured at the time, wouldn’t meeting a woman in the palace have been too conspicuous? And with the Prince’s martial arts skills, he shouldn’t have let you get too close. If you weren’t close, how could you be certain the people you saw were Su Zuidie and the Prince?"

Qingyu replied, "This servant cannot be certain if that woman was Su Zuidie. But the man’s voice was definitely the Prince’s."

Ye Li frowned. She knew Qingyu’s hearing was exceptionally keen. Qingyu had possessed excellent hearing since childhood, even better than Qingluan, who had trained in martial arts. She wouldn’t forget a voice she had heard once, let alone Mo Xiuyao’s, whom she practically saw every day as she was by my side.

"And Qingluan?"

"This servant heard Qingyu’s cry of alarm. Although Qingyu knows how to use poisons, she doesn’t know martial arts, so I immediately rushed over. But I fainted as soon as I saw Qingyu’s back."

Qingyu frowned. "This servant was startled to hear the Prince’s voice and was then knocked unconscious. But... it was a very soft sound, it couldn’t possibly have alerted Qingluan."

Ye Li smiled gently. "You’ve both suffered these past two months. Tell me, what were your thoughts?"

The two looked at each other. Qingluan glanced cautiously at Ye Li before saying, "This servant... this servant didn’t think anything..."

Qingyu said, "This servant suspected at the time... that the Prince was with someone... and then she heard the Princess Consort had gone missing, so..."

Ye Li smiled. "So you suspected the Prince conspired with someone to harm me?"

Qingyu blushed. Qingluan’s eyes widened at Qingyu, looking frightened. Ye Li believed they were likely telling the truth. After all, Qingluan and Qingyu had been housed separately for the past two months and had no opportunity to meet. The secret guards had also found them in different locations. Unless they had coordinated their stories before being found, their accounts should be credible. During these two months, Qingluan had been very quiet, though she cried daily at first. In contrast, the usually gentle Qingyu had repeatedly tried to escape and had shown hostility towards the people of the Prince’s Mansion. This would make sense if it was because Qingyu had seen Mo Xiuyao while Qingluan had not.

After thinking for a moment, Ye Li nodded. "I understand. Qingyu, do not mention this matter again. I trust the Prince, understand?"

Qingyu frowned slightly, wanting to say more.

Ye Li said calmly, "Sometimes, what you hear isn’t necessarily true. Have you ever thought, if it really was the Prince, given his meticulous nature, would he have appeared in the palace on the very day he knew I was going there? Besides, there’s a major flaw in that theory: you are both still alive. You were knocked unconscious because you discovered the Prince. Qingluan’s case might be different, but why are you still safe and sound? This is the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. If the Prince wanted to silence someone, even I, the Princess Consort, couldn’t escape, let alone you two. Do you understand?"

Qingyu’s face paled. "Princess Consort, do you mean to say..."

Qingluan asked in confusion, "If the other party wanted to sow discord, did they know the Princess Consort was actually unharmed in the fire at Yaohua Palace?"

Ye Li nodded and smiled. "Very likely. However, if something had happened to me, and the Prince knew you two were innocent, he would naturally have released you. What would Qingyu have done after being released?"

Qingyu said resolutely, "Naturally, this servant would have reported the matter to the Old Master and the Eldest Young Master, to seek justice for Milady!"

Qingluan exclaimed, "So the other party wants to sow discord between the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and the Xu Family?!"

Ye Li rested her forehead on her hand. "Whether they wanted to sow discord between me and the Prince, or between the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and the Xu Family, depends on whether they knew about the fire at Yaohua Palace. Actually, it amounts to the same thing. If my relationship with the Prince shatters, how could the relationship between the Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Xu Family remain good?"

Qingyu’s face was pale. "This servant... this servant suspected the Prince... Was I mistaken?" However, she was completely baffled as to who that person could have been. She had far more confidence in her ears than in her eyes.

"It doesn’t matter. Thankfully, the Prince suspected you knew something dangerous and placed you under confinement. No real harm has been done. As for the ’Prince’ you mentioned... I will investigate it later," Ye Li said with a light smile, a cold glint in her eyes. As expected, troubles arose one after another as soon as she returned to the Capital City. Well then, let her see if there truly was a second Su Zuidie and a second Mo Xiuyao in the Capital City.

Qingyu nodded earnestly. "This servant also wants to know who could possibly deceive my ears."

Ye Li smiled faintly. Even what one sees with one’s own eyes can be deceptive, let alone what one hears. But... she, too, was curious to find out who possessed such a thorough understanding of her and those around her.