Mo Li

Both of them possessed keen senses and extraordinary skills, so they naturally overheard the old man’s murmurs after just a few steps. Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao with a faint smile. "Your identity has been exposed, Your Highness."

Mo Xiuyao replied calmly, "It’s nothing. I used to come here often, but I didn’t expect that old gentleman to recognize me." Mo Xiuyao’s life could be divided by the year he turned seventeen—before and after were like night and day. Unless one knew him well, it would be difficult to connect the two versions of him. Ye Li lowered her gaze to the freshly painted lantern in her hand, its ink still fragrant, and a soft smile touched her lips.

Holding their lanterns, they strolled leisurely down the street like many other young men and women. Their striking looks and refined demeanor drew curious and admiring glances, but compared to the probing, calculating stares in the palace and among the nobility, these gazes were far more pleasant.

As they walked, Ye Li curiously examined the various stalls lining the street. The goods sold weren’t particularly exquisite—just everyday items for ordinary folk. Though simple and unadorned, they felt more natural and relatable.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and gently pulled Ye Li to a stop in front of a stall selling jewelry, cosmetics, and perfumes. Naturally, such a small stall didn’t carry anything of great value. The middle-aged couple running it could tell at a glance that this pair was no ordinary folk, but they still enthusiastically promoted their wares, even if the couple might not be interested.

Mo Xiuyao picked up an elegant pearl hairpin and studied it against Ye Li before shaking his head and putting it back.

A slender, jade-like hand reached out and picked up the hairpin again. Meeting Mo Xiuyao’s gaze, Ye Li raised a brow. "What’s wrong?"

Mo Xiuyao sighed softly. "This hairpin would only pale in comparison to A Li. You deserve the most radiant pearls. A few days ago, I ordered some luminous pearls from Elegance Pavilion. Would you like to go tomorrow and see what designs you prefer?"

Ye Li twirled the simple hairpin in her fingers and chuckled. "Even if you aren’t afraid of me bankrupting you, I’m afraid the noble ladies and young misses of the capital might kill me with their glares."

Elegance Pavilion’s jewelry was famously expensive throughout Chu Jing. Even noblewomen considered owning a few pieces a great privilege. But while others didn’t know, Ye Li was well aware—ever since their wedding, nearly all her jewelry had been custom-made at Elegance Pavilion. No wonder, despite rarely going out and deliberately choosing understated pieces, many still fixated on her accessories whenever she appeared in public.

"If buying a few pieces of jewelry could bankrupt us, then our family’s wealth must be pitifully thin," Mo Xiuyao teased. Taking the hairpin from her hand, he gently tucked it into her hair and murmured, "I want A Li to have only the best."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "What I like is the best. If I don’t like it, even the finest treasure is worthless."Mo Xiuyao's eyes flickered with a faint smile as he asked softly, "Then does A Li like it?" Just a simple 'like'—it was unclear whether he was referring to the hairpin or something else. Ye Li's delicate face flushed slightly as she turned her head away and murmured, "It's not bad." After paying, they ignored the flattering words from the stall-keeping couple, holding hands as they walked away. As they strolled, Mo Xiuyao tilted his head to glance at the woman beside him. The unremarkable pearl hairpin nestled in her raven-black hair seemed to shimmer with a captivating glow.

"What's going on over there?" Ye Li gazed ahead where the clamor of voices rose, and the crowd surged forward in a dense, bustling tide. Mo Xiuyao raised a brow lightly and chuckled, "Probably some excitement. We’ll find out if we go take a look." Handing the two lanterns to the attendant following them, he led Ye Li toward the commotion. She glanced back at the unfamiliar guard carrying the lanterns and frowned. "Come to think of it, I haven’t seen A Jin since we returned." A Jin had always been taciturn, often pushing Mo Xiuyao’s wheelchair with an impassive expression. Now that Mo Xiuyao no longer needed it, A Jin seemed to have faded into obscurity.

Mo Xiuyao turned with a smile. "I sent him on another task. He’s grown up—he can’t stay by my side as a guard forever." Ye Li nodded. A Jin was Head Steward Mo’s nephew. The steward had dedicated his life to the estate without children of his own, and A Jin’s parents had died serving Prince Ding's Estate. It was only natural that Mo Xiuyao showed him extra care.

Pushing through the crowd, they saw a stage set up at the street corner, adorned with vibrant silks that dazzled the eye. Though no one stood on the platform yet, the audience below was already electrified. Ye Li turned to a middle-aged man beside her, his face flushed with excitement, and asked softly, "What’s happening here?" The man, startled by the elegant and striking woman next to him, replied kindly, "The capital’s top courtesan, Yao Ji, is performing here today—and she’ll be tossing an embroidered ball..." He trailed off, blushing as he remembered he was speaking to a beautiful woman. Though his explanation was incomplete, Ye Li understood. Pausing in surprise, she turned to Mo Xiuyao and asked, "The Yao Ji he mentioned… surely it’s not the one I know?"

"Seems so," Mo Xiuyao replied with a faint smile.Ye Li frowned. Although she had only met Yao Ji twice, she held quite a favorable impression of the woman. Speaking of which, Yao Ji was not just a dancer but also the owner of the Alluring City Quarter, the premier entertainment house in the capital. Though dancers belonged to a lowly social status, Yao Ji’s wealth likely rivaled that of some wealthy merchants in the capital. For a woman like her, neither throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband nor selecting a favored guest would be necessary. Moreover, she had chosen this location—while there were many people here, most were ordinary commoners. If Yao Ji truly wished to leave her profession and marry an ordinary man to settle down, she shouldn’t have made such a public spectacle of it.

Noticing her furrowed brows, Mo Xiuyao gave a faint smile and said in a low voice, “It’s said that Yao Ji has a close relationship with Mu Yang. Next month, Mu Yang is set to marry the granddaughter of Minister Sun from the Ministry of Rites. I wonder if this has anything to do with it.”

“Yao Ji and Mu Yang?” Ye Li recalled having seen Mu Yang two or three times before. Though they had never spoken, from a distance, he appeared to be an exceptionally outstanding man. She had also heard rumors about Yao Ji’s connections with both Mu Yang and Feng Zhiyao. However, based on her understanding of Feng Zhiyao, those rumors were likely exaggerated. Yet she hadn’t expected that while Feng Zhiyao’s involvement was fabricated, Mu Yang’s seemed to have some truth to it.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. “Yao Ji became famous in the capital at the age of thirteen. It’s been nearly ten years since then. Over these years, if not for the protection of Feng San and Mu Yang, it wouldn’t have been easy for a vulnerable woman like her to manage the Alluring City Quarter without facing harassment from the powerful. Those with influence in the capital are hardly easy to deal with.”

Ye Li nodded in understanding. Yao Ji’s beauty undoubtedly ranked among the top five in the capital. More importantly, compared to the dignified grace of typical noble ladies, Yao Ji, with her mastery of song and dance, exuded an alluring charm. Such a stunning beauty, especially one in the entertainment profession, was bound to become the target of high-ranking officials and wealthy playboys. Even if Yao Ji remained chaste, how could a powerless woman fend off such persistent suitors without help?

Ye Li couldn’t comprehend Yao Ji’s reasoning. Even if she truly had a relationship with Mu Yang, deciding her future in this manner seemed far too irresponsible. If it were a martial contest or a literary competition to select a spouse, at least the suitor’s abilities could be assessed. But throwing an embroidered ball was purely a gamble on luck. Ye Li vaguely remembered a melodramatic plot from a past-life TV drama where a noble lady threw an embroidered ball, only for it to be caught by a beggar. Yao Ji had deliberately chosen this location—even if a beggar didn’t catch it, the most likely recipients would still be ordinary commoners. Yet, if a commoner were to formally marry Yao Ji, it would hardly benefit either party.

“Don’t worry. Mu Yang couldn’t possibly be unaware of this,” Mo Xiuyao said softly.

Ye Li nodded and glanced around, but she didn’t spot Mu Yang anywhere. Matters between men and women were always complicated. Whether or not Mu Yang appeared here, no one could definitively say whether he was right or wrong. After all, he was set to marry next month—he had responsibilities not only to the Marquis Muyang Manor but also to his fiancée."Miss, is this gentleman beside you your brother or..." The man standing next to Ye Li suddenly asked in a low voice. Ye Li turned her head and noticed many men around casting rather unfriendly glances at Mo Xiuyao, which made her chuckle. Although Mo Xiuyao wore a mask, the half of his face that was visible was exceptionally handsome, and his tall, distinguished figure made him stand out like a crane among chickens. How could the men around not feel a surge of hostility? Holding Mo Xiuyao's hand, Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "We're just here to watch the fun. My husband won't be competing for anything." The disbelief in everyone's eyes was evident. Though this woman was no less beautiful than Yao Ji, what man would ever complain about having too many beauties? This lady was elegant and noble, clearly a proper wife from a prestigious family—wasn’t she just missing a bewitching and alluring concubine like Yao Ji to enjoy the pleasures of having both?

In a good mood, Mo Xiuyao didn’t mind their rudeness. He pulled Ye Li closer and said to the questioning man with a smile, "Rest assured, I’m not here to compete for the embroidered ball. My wife is quite fierce..."

Ye Li’s face darkened instantly, and she subtly reached out to pinch him hard. Mo Xiuyao remained unfazed, as if she hadn’t just pinched his flesh, and continued smiling at the man, "Besides, I don’t care for overly seductive women. I prefer my wife’s gentle and refined nature." The so-called gentle and refined wife secretly grabbed a bit of flesh at his waist and twisted it with all her might. Mo Xiuyao gave a helpless smile and pressed his hand over hers. "Wife, I truly wouldn’t fancy another woman."

Ye Li rolled her eyes and silently let go. As the saying goes, a rogue isn’t scary—what’s scary is a cultured rogue. When someone usually mild-mannered and elegant became shameless, no one could handle it.

The surrounding men finally seemed to relax, exchanging knowing smiles with Mo Xiuyao in unison. Mo Xiuyao accepted their goodwill with a gracious nod.

"Ah! Yao Ji is coming out!" someone suddenly exclaimed. Ye Li turned to look. The stunning woman on the stage was dressed in a dazzling multicolored gown, her makeup radiant, and her smile bewitching. Her entrance alone drew gasps from the crowd. Yao Ji gave a slight nod and a charming smile to the audience, stirring up waves of excitement among the men below. When her gaze swept past where Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao stood, she paused briefly, offering Ye Li a faint smile before turning back. With a graceful flick of her long, flowing sleeves, the music began to play softly from the stage. Yao Ji swayed her waist gently to the melody, her sleeves fluttering like clouds as she danced, earning another round of cheers from the crowd.Ye Li frowned, watching the woman on the stage with a dazzling smile and sighed inwardly. Yao Ji wasn’t truly intent on throwing the Embroidered Ball—this was clearly a deliberate attempt to tarnish her own reputation. Yao Ji’s reputation in the capital wasn’t bad. Though rumors circulated about her ambiguous relationships with Feng San and Mu Yang, they remained just that—rumors, with no one having witnessed anything firsthand. Moreover, very few had actually seen Yao Ji in person. But now, dancing and throwing the Embroidered Ball in such a place, by the end of the day, half the men in the capital would know exactly what Yao Ji looked like. After today, whether it was high-ranking officials wanting to take her as a concubine or commoners wishing to marry her as a wife, their opinions of her would undoubtedly drop another level.

Lifting her gaze, Ye Li caught a fleeting glimpse of sorrow and desolation on the woman’s face before it vanished. She shook her head inwardly—was this really because of Mu Yang?

As the music ended, the crowd below erupted in cheers, urging Yao Ji to throw the Embroidered Ball. A middle-aged woman with heavily powdered skin and a beaming smile stepped onto the stage, raising her hand to quiet the audience. “Gentlemen, today you’re in for a treat,” she announced. “Miss Yao Ji herself will throw the Embroidered Ball to choose her groom. Whoever catches it will be her bridegroom tonight. I wish you all the best of luck.”

Ye Li’s heart sank. The madam’s words— tonight’s bridegroom —were unmistakable. This meant Yao Ji wasn’t truly seeking marriage but merely selecting a temporary companion for the night. In other words, after tonight, Yao Ji would no longer be the pure and untouchable courtesan who only performed and never sold her body. Watching the stunning woman standing on stage with her bright eyes and radiant smile, Ye Li sighed in regret.

Mo Xiuyao leaned in and whispered, “A Li, what’s wrong?”

Ye Li shook her head. “Miss Yao Ji’s actions are too extreme. Why must she go this far…?” If asked whether she could go to such lengths for a man, Ye Li knew with absolute certainty she could never do what Yao Ji was doing. Not for lack of love, but… her love had its limits. If even one’s dignity could be discarded, such love was far too heavy a burden for Ye Li.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly by her ear. “I would never let A Li do something like this. I’d sweep away all obstacles to make you Mo Xiuyao’s one and only wife.”

Ye Li arched a brow. “His Highness is especially good at sweet talk today.”

“If my wife likes it, I’ll say it to you every day,” Mo Xiuyao teased. “Don’t worry. Mu Yang might be a bit slow-witted, but he’s decent at heart. He’ll definitely come.”

Ye Li nodded. But what would it change if he came? Mu Yang could never marry Yao Ji as his wife, nor would he abandon the Marquis Muyang Manor for her. And then there was Miss Sun—she was, in truth, the most innocent one in all of this.