Mo Li

Only when Yelv Ye's gaze disappeared behind her did Ye Li stop and frown slightly. Over the past six months, she had gained a basic understanding of the political situations in various countries. This Yelv Ye appeared open and bold on the surface, but as the only prince among the Northern Rong king's dozen sons capable of rivaling Crown Prince Yelv Hong, his ruthlessness was beyond question. If possible, Ye Li preferred not to provoke such a person.

"Princess, that man..." Qingshuang asked with concern, noticing Ye Li's troubled expression.

Ye Li shook her head. "It's nothing." Qingluan and Qingshuang exchanged a glance, both seeing the worry in each other's eyes. The princess might not have noticed, but they had clearly seen the unsettling look in that prince's gaze. After a moment's hesitation, Qingluan said, "That prince is no good. It would be best for the princess to avoid him."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Silly girl, some people aren't so easy to avoid. Unless we give up everything, there's no escaping them. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"This servant overthought things," Qingluan replied with a smile. She had yet to encounter anything the princess couldn't handle. Surely, the princess already knew how to deal with this—she just needed to focus on protecting her.

"Don't dwell on it. Let's go take a look at Elegance Pavilion," Ye Li said lightly.

As soon as she stepped into Elegance Pavilion, the crisp sound of shattering porcelain made Ye Li pause. The shopkeeper, already familiar with Princess Ding, hurried forward with an ingratiating smile. "This humble one greets the princess. Please, come inside."

Ye Li nodded and entered, glancing around. "Is everything alright?"

The shopkeeper forced an awkward smile. "Just a minor conflict between two esteemed guests. My apologies for disturbing the princess. Please, have a seat in the private room. A few days ago, Prince Ding sent word requesting some fine pearls. I was planning to deliver them to Prince Ding's Estate soon, but since the princess is here today..." He gestured for her to follow him to a secluded chamber.

Ye Li nodded indifferently. Those who frequented Elegance Pavilion were either wealthy or noble, and conflicts among such people were hardly the trivial squabbles of commoners that could be aired publicly.

Once seated in the private room, the shopkeeper personally presented several boxes of pearls. Ye Li opened them and found each containing exquisite specimens. Among them was a box of pale purple pearls—nineteen in total, each the size of a pigeon's egg, perfectly matched in size, hue, and shape. When opened, the soft purple glow suffused the room with an ethereal radiance.

Surprised, Ye Li asked, "Are these night pearls?" A single night pearl was rare enough, but nineteen identical ones were practically unheard of.

The shopkeeper beamed with pride. "Indeed, Your Highness. These are night pearls. A single one is priceless, let alone an entire box—and of the rarest purple variety, no less. Does the princess find them satisfactory?"

Ye Li smiled approvingly. "You've truly gone to great lengths."

Pleased by her praise, the shopkeeper grinned even wider. Acquiring these pearls had cost him a fortune and considerable effort, but such treasures weren't meant for just anyone.Affordable. If sold separately, the value of the treasure would be greatly diminished. The Ding Royal Palace lacked neither money nor influence, and if Princess Ding took a liking to this box of night pearls, then this deal would ensure his business thrived for at least half a year without worry.

Thinking this, the shopkeeper eagerly took out several design sketches for Ye Li to examine. "Your Highness, please take a look. These were drawn by our finest craftsmen at Elegance Pavilion specifically for this box of pearls. I wonder if they meet Your Highness’s approval?" Ye Li glanced over the designs—they were indeed exquisite jewelry pieces that, once crafted, would undoubtedly be the envy of all noblewomen in the capital. However, she had no intention of turning them into wearable ornaments. While beauty and brilliance were universally admired, pearls fashioned into accessories would make the wearer a glaring target in the dark. Though their practicality was limited, they were still excellent for collection or gifting.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said to the shopkeeper, "I’ll take this box of pearls. I’ll have someone send over the designs later, and you can proceed accordingly. Also, make a few pieces of jewelry as well." Though disappointed that Ye Li didn’t choose his designs, the shopkeeper was still pleased when she selected some pearl ornaments. These rare treasures were priceless and hard to come by—proof that Prince Ding was indeed exceedingly generous toward his princess.

Having chosen the jewelry, Ye Li was about to ask the shopkeeper if Elegance Pavilion had any fine jade when the sound of shattering porcelain came from the next room. Frowning before she could speak, a woman’s pained moan followed—clearly, someone had resorted to violence. "Shopkeeper, who exactly is next door?"

The shopkeeper’s expression darkened as he whispered, "Your Highness, it’s the heir of Marquis Muyang Manor, a young lady from the Sun family of the Ministry of Rites, and... also Miss Yao Ji from Alluring City Quarter. I’ll ask them to leave at once."

Ye Li considered for a moment, then raised a hand to stop him. Rising, she said, "I know them all. I’ll go take a look."

Not daring to argue, the shopkeeper quickly led the way to the adjacent private room.

As the door opened, everyone inside turned to look. Standing behind the shopkeeper, Ye Li surveyed the scene—broken porcelain littered the floor, a delicate young woman in yellow sobbed in Mu Yang’s arms, and a middle-aged noblewoman with understated makeup but a face full of fury sat nearby. Yao Ji, clad in red, stood pale-faced to the side, shattered teacups scattered at her feet. "What’s going on here?" Ye Li stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

At her entrance, Mu Yang’s expression shifted slightly as he gently steadied the young woman in his arms and nodded to Ye Li. "Your Highness."

Startled by the interruption, the noblewoman glared toward the door but quickly masked her anger upon recognizing Ye Li. Rising, she forced a smile. "This humble wife, Sun, greets Your Highness." Ye Li nodded faintly. "My apologies for the disturbance." She had no particular impression of this Madam Sun—she was the daughter-in-law of Minister Sun of the Ministry of Rites, and her husband...Her husband was merely a fifth-rank official, so naturally, he wouldn’t have had much interaction with Ye Li during usual banquets. Mrs. Sun also understood that when Princess Ding said she was disturbing them, it was likely their own commotion that had startled the princess. She quickly invited Ye Li to sit, smiling apologetically, “Your Highness flatters us. It’s surely us who disturbed you. Please forgive our offense.”

Ye Li subtly observed Mrs. Sun and Miss Sun beside Mu Yang. While neither possessed striking beauty, their refined and gentle demeanor, characteristic of scholarly families, made them pleasant to behold—unlike the haughty arrogance often seen among the nobility. Noticing Ye Li’s gaze, Miss Sun blushed and quickly lowered her head, stepping behind Mu Yang.

With a faint smile, Ye Li turned to Mu Yang. “Young Master Mu, what a coincidence to see you here accompanying Miss Sun to select jewelry. I hadn’t met Miss Sun before, but seeing the two of you together, you truly make a splendid pair. Don’t forget to send an invitation to His Highness and me for the wedding—we’d love to share in your joy.”

Miss Sun’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she shyly glanced at Ye Li before discreetly clutching Mu Yang’s sleeve. Mu Yang, however, seemed subdued. His gaze flickered toward Yao Ji standing nearby before he replied flatly, “Your Highness jests. It would be an honor for Marquis Muyang Manor to welcome you and His Highness.”

Though fleeting, that glance didn’t escape Mrs. Sun or Ye Li. Mrs. Sun’s expression darkened instantly. “We appreciate Your Highness’s kind words,” she said coldly, “but whether this wedding proceeds remains to be seen.”

“Mother…” Miss Sun whispered anxiously.

Ye Li pretended not to notice the tension, raising a brow with a smile. “What do you mean, Mrs. Sun? Everyone in the capital knows Marquis Muyang Manor and the Sun family have been close for generations. Surely a minor disagreement wouldn’t damage such a bond?”

Mrs. Sun knew the marriage wouldn’t be called off so easily. She shot Yao Ji a disdainful look before sighing to Ye Li. “I don’t mind if Your Highness finds this laughable, but even though we seldom leave home, we’ve heard of Young Master Mu’s… association with this woman. We dismissed it as youthful folly before, but now—before our daughter has even crossed their threshold—he insists on taking a concubine! Your Highness, our Sun family isn’t unreasonable. Once married, we’d never forbid him from taking concubines. But this Yao Ji? Absolutely not! Entangled with him before marriage, flaunting her title as the capital’s top dancer—how could Marquis Muyang Manor and the Sun family bear such disgrace? And if she enters their household, where would my poor girl find her place?”

Ye Li sighed inwardly. Were these two destined to clash? They’d only parted ways last night—how had they crossed paths again today?

“Miss Yao Ji,” Ye Li asked gently, “what brings you here?”

Yao Ji’s face was pale, but her posture remained rigid. She gave a bitter laugh. “Does Your Highness believe Elegance Pavilion is beneath me? Why not ask Young Master Mu and Miss Sun why they’re here? Or do you assume I schemed to humiliate myself?”

Ye Li paused, taken aback by her sharp retort.Yao Ji's eyes smoldered with suppressed anger, making Ye Li feel somewhat guilty. She couldn't claim she had absolutely no suspicions about Yao Ji's involvement, but Yao Ji's forthright declaration now proved that encountering Miss Sun at Elegance Pavilion had nothing to do with her. If Yao Ji had arrived first, then this was either coincidence or someone else's deliberate arrangement. "My apologies," Ye Li said softly.

Yao Ji was momentarily stunned before letting out a derisive laugh. "Forget it, it's nothing. People like us are naturally beneath others, aren't we? Since Princess Ding happens to be here today, let's make everything clear. I, Yao Ji, swear I will never become a concubine in Marquis Muyang Manor. Moreover, after last night... my reputation in the capital must be thoroughly ruined by now, right? Even if the Sun family were to relent now, Marquis Muyang would never agree, would he? Young Master Mu, I dare not say the kindness you've shown me is now repaid—consider it a debt I'll carry into my next life. As for this lifetime, we are done. Madam Sun, are you satisfied?"

Hearing Yao Ji's words, Ye Li felt a pang but ultimately remained silent, only frowning slightly. Mu Yang looked helplessly at the stunning woman before him, whose pale face made her red dress seem dull in comparison, his eyes filled with pain and resignation. As the only male heir of Marquis Muyang Manor, he bore the responsibility for his family's rise and fall. Yet he couldn't help being drawn to this beautiful, resilient woman. He had underestimated both Yao Ji's pride and the backlash from his own family and the Suns, leading to this impossible situation. Today's events had caught him completely off guard—he had merely been accompanying his fiancée and future mother-in-law on a shopping trip at his mother's request, ostensibly to "build rapport." Running into Yao Ji at Elegance Pavilion had been unexpected, and when Madam Sun suggested they talk, though uneasy, he hadn't objected, clinging to some faint hope. But Yao Ji, for all her enchanting charm, had a fiery temper, and within moments, her words had provoked Madam Sun, drawing the attention of Princess Ding, who happened to be present.

"Yao Ji..." Mu Yang couldn't stop himself from stepping forward to reach for her, but after just one step, his sleeve was tugged. "Young Master Mu..." Miss Sun's delicate face was a picture of shock and alarm, and Mu Yang's heart turned cold, his mind clearing instantly. Miss Sun was already his betrothed—if this engagement fell through, given the strict traditions of the Sun family, she would either take her own life or resign herself to a secluded Buddhist existence. At this thought, his feet refused to take another step forward.Ye Li sat to the side, watching the scene unfold while inwardly shaking her head. Neither the Sun family nor the Mu family would ever accept Yao Ji—not because of her courtesan background, but because she was too extraordinary and because of Mu Yang's feelings for her. As for Mu Yang, he wasn't a bad person, nor was he a philanderer, but he simply couldn't resolve this situation. If he were truly a libertine, he could have married Miss Sun and continued his indulgent lifestyle outside, and even without Yao Ji, given his status, he could easily find women as beautiful as her. If he were ruthless enough, he could have simply broken off the engagement with Miss Sun. As the sole heir of the Mu family, even if Marquis Muyang was unwilling, he would eventually relent.

Yao Ji lowered her eyes slightly, concealing a trace of bitter amusement, then turned to Ye Li and said, "Your Highness, thank you for saving my life last night. I shall take my leave." Her cool gaze swept over the other three people in the room as she added indifferently, "A mere courtesan like me is not worth all this trouble. I also ask that Young Master Mu and the rest of you refrain from disturbing me in the future. Farewell."

"Miss Yao Ji..." Miss Sun, who stood beside Mu Yang, suddenly called out to stop her. When Yao Ji turned back, Miss Sun glanced at Madam Sun before speaking softly, "Miss Yao Ji, if... if the Young Master truly loves you, then after we are married... he may bring you into the manor. I only ask that the Young Master grant me and the Sun family some dignity."

"Lian'er!" Madam Sun hissed in anger.

Mu Yang looked at the petite, gentle girl in surprise, a flicker of delight flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to be the first to relent.

Yao Ji let out a soft scoff and turned to leave.

Her dismissive attitude further enraged the already displeased Madam Sun. "How insolent! What kind of attitude is this?!" Yao Ji turned back and smiled disdainfully. "This lady has already said she will never enter Marquis Muyang Manor. Could it be that Madam Sun and Miss Sun think I'm playing hard to get? I, Yao Ji, may indeed be a courtesan, but I'm not so lowly as to grovel for entry. Marquis Muyang Manor is beyond my reach—and I have no desire to reach for it. Miss Sun's generosity is also something I cannot accept, so I won't thank you for it."

"Yao Ji, you..." Mu Yang frowned. He knew asking her to enter as a concubine was unfair, but it was the best compromise he could think of.

Yao Ji stared at him coldly, her demeanor a stark contrast to her usual gentle charm. Mu Yang sighed softly. "Yao Ji, can't you make this sacrifice for me?"

The room fell into silence for a long moment before Yao Ji suddenly laughed faintly. "Mu... my dear Mu, do you even know my real name?"

Mu Yang froze, staring at her in confusion. Yao Ji shook her head and flicked her sleeve decisively. "Unless you marry me properly and openly, we need never meet again in this lifetime!"

"Marry you?" Madam Sun glared at Yao Ji and sneered. "What status do you have to demand a proper marriage into the Mu family? Even if Young Master Mu weren't engaged today, you still wouldn't qualify. Lian'er's willingness to accept you is already her magnanimity and your good fortune. Don't overstep and humiliate yourself." Yao Ji lifted her chin proudly. "So what if I do? Since you can't fulfill my condition, Young Master Mu, you may leave. Or... do you also wish to stay here and watch me be humiliated?""Yao Ji, you!" Mu Yang frowned, his face dark with displeasure. Yao Ji had always been gentle and understanding—when had she ever been so unreasonable? Yao Ji seemed utterly indifferent to his displeasure. She cast a disdainful glance at Miss Sun standing nearby and said coolly, "Madam Sun was right. I followed you because I wanted to marry into Marquis Muyang Manor and become the marquis's wife. Since you can't marry me, why bother coming here? Do you expect me to lower myself and serve as a concubine to this little girl who has neither beauty nor talent, whose only merit is her decent family background? I, Yao Ji, am not that cheap. There are plenty of men who want me—surely one of them will marry me as his proper wife..."

"Enough!" Mu Yang's face turned livid. He took the tearful Miss Sun, who had been humiliated by Yao Ji, by the hand and said to Madam Sun, "Mother-in-law, let's go back."

Madam Sun glanced at Yao Ji, then nodded and smiled apologetically at Ye Li. "Princess, please excuse this embarrassing scene. I shall take my leave now."

Ye Li nodded. "I won't see you out. Take care."

The three of them left, and from start to finish, Mu Yang never looked back at Yao Ji. Naturally, he didn't notice the faint trace of blood slowly seeping from the corner of Yao Ji's pale lips. Only when the sound of footsteps outside faded did Yao Ji sway, on the verge of collapsing. Qingshuang and Qingluan, who had just entered, hurried forward to support her and helped her sit on a nearby chair. After catching her breath, Yao Ji looked up at Ye Li and forced a smile. "Has the Princess had enough of this spectacle?" Ye Li shook her head and said softly, "Was it worth it? To degrade yourself like this for Mu Yang?"

Yao Ji was momentarily stunned, then smiled bitterly. "Love comes unbidden... and runs deep. If I could choose, why would I...?"

Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. "I understand. 'No water's wide enough when you have crossed the sea; No cloud is beautiful but that which crowns the peak.' The idle lament of the refined. Starve you for three meals or leave you in tattered clothes, and you'll realize how empty such devotion is. Common folk toil all day just for food and shelter—do they stop living because they can't indulge in love?" Yao Ji gave her a strange look. "The Princess is a descendant of the Xu family and once the queen of flowers. How can your thoughts be so...?"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Vulgar?"

Yao Ji didn't answer, but her expression made her opinion clear. Ye Li smiled unconcernedly. "When I was still a young maiden, I thought I would become Princess Li. Later, when Prince Li broke off the engagement, I thought it didn’t matter. At worst, I could marry someone of lower status, as long as he was a good man, and live a simple life. Then I was betrothed to Prince Ding—could I defy the imperial decree and gamble with the fate of the entire Ye and Xu families?" Yao Ji naturally knew the circumstances of Ye Li's marriage into Prince Ding's Estate. Back then, she had pitied this Third Miss Ye, never expecting that in just a year, Third Miss Ye would become the Princess of the State, envied by all the noblewomen in the capital, while she herself became the object of pity. "What did the Princess think at the time?""What else can I think? Just try to live a better life in the future. Or do you expect me to be so distraught that I hang myself?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow at her. Yao Ji frowned at Ye Li, somewhat disbelieving, "Could it be that the princess consort has never yearned for love?" How could she not know that she and Mu Yang would never have a happy ending? But living in the world of pleasure quarters, having witnessed the fickleness of human nature, she couldn't help but want to grasp at any shred of warmth and sincerity. She knew Mu Yang truly loved her, but his sincerity couldn't make him abandon his responsibilities. So, all she could give him in return was to let him marry in peace and never entangle with him again.

Ye Li sighed softly and said, "Alright, I shouldn't have mocked you. But I believe... love requires effort and maintenance from both sides. No matter how much one person gives, the relationship won't last if it's one-sided."

"Mu Yang loves me, I know. And I love him too," Yao Ji said solemnly.

Ye Li rested her chin on her hand and looked at her. "Love is a matter between two people, but there are three of you. You love him, he loves you, but what about Miss Sun? She's the most innocent one in this."

Yao Ji bit her lip and glared at her. "Do you really think that Miss Sun is as weak and innocent as she seems?"

Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. "This has nothing to do with whether she's delicate or not. As Mu Yang's fiancée, in this world not every woman who suffers a marriage annulment can be as indifferent as I am. I've heard the Sun family has extremely strict rules—if Mu Yang breaks off the engagement, Miss Sun would have no choice but to live a secluded Buddhist life. So even if she's putting on an act, she's only protecting her rightful position. Moreover, she hasn't committed any crimes like murder or arson. We might dislike her, but we can't say she's wrong. Without this situation involving you and Mu Yang, she could have remained a truly gentle and elegant young lady, smoothly marrying into a good family to become an ordinary wife and the mistress of Marquis Muyang Manor. Do you think she'd be happy to suddenly learn before her wedding that her fiancé has fallen for someone else? The fact that Miss Sun hasn't tried to make your lives miserable shows she's not a bad person at heart."

After hearing this, Yao Ji asked somewhat blankly, "So... was I really in the wrong?"

Ye Li rubbed her nose awkwardly—she truly couldn't bring herself to say Yao Ji was at fault. Yao Ji and Mu Yang had known each other for at least seven or eight years, while Mu Yang's engagement had lasted less than two months. Chronologically speaking, Yao Ji wasn't to blame, yet now she was the one who had to bear the consequences. "Well... you could say it's just fate playing tricks. Don't dwell on it too much. With your beauty, talent, and wealth, you'll surely live well if you look on the bright side. Who hasn't encountered a few scoundrels in their youth?"

Hearing Ye Li describe Mu Yang as a scoundrel, Yao Ji shot her an unhappy glare. Ye Li chuckled, "I know he's not a bad person—I was just saying that for effect."

Yao Ji couldn't help but smile, revealing her teeth. "Though Your Highness's words aren't very pleasant to hear, I know you're trying to comfort me. Yao Ji thanks you. But given your status, why would you go out of your way to console someone like me?"

"I don't often comfort people, so forgive me if my words aren't very tactful," Ye Li said apologetically. "As for status... since you're Feng San's friend, and I suppose I'm also somewhat his friend, I couldn't just ignore this for Feng San's sake." Yao Ji stood up and smiled, "Then I thank Your Highness. Farewell." Ye Li frowned, studying her. "You look terrible. Wouldn't you like to rest before leaving?"

Yao Ji shook her head with a smile. "It's fine. I've just been very tired these past few days. I plan to leave the capital to rest—" Mid-sentence, Yao Ji's legs gave way and she collapsed. Qingluan, standing nearby, swiftly caught and steadied her. Startled, Ye Li called for Qingshuang to summon Qingyu from outside. Soon, Qingyu hurried in and checked Yao Ji's pulse, then gave Ye Li a peculiar look.

Anxious, Ye Li urged, "What's wrong? Just say it straight."

Qingyu glanced at the unconscious woman in red, then met Ye Li's gaze. "Slippery pulse—she's three months pregnant. She might have suffered a threatened miscarriage, which is why..."

The words "threatened miscarriage" struck Ye Li like a thunderbolt, leaving her dizzy and dazed. So... had she just been trying to separate a child's father and mother? Meddling in others' affairs really does bring retribution...Although Qingyu wasn't a physician, she still conscientiously examined Yao Ji with a healer's compassion. Her delicate brows furrowed tightly as she said somewhat disapprovingly, "This lady... has been far too careless. To still be so reckless when already over three months pregnant—it's truly heaven's blessing that the child is still intact."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps she didn't know herself yet."

Qingyu rolled her eyes in disagreement. "Not knowing after three months of pregnancy—how foolish would one have to be? In a little while, the belly will start showing and there'll be no hiding it!"

Ye Li nodded in understanding—yes, a baby bump. She looked somewhat troubled at the unconscious woman before her. What should be done now?

Meddling in others' affairs...

------ Author's Note ------

Well now... Mu Yang and Yao Ji won't end up together, even if the plot is this melodramatic... Honestly, I don't really think Mu Yang is a scumbag, though he certainly doesn't have the mindset of "one love for a lifetime." Yao Ji isn't a homewrecker either, and Miss Sun isn't some innocent white lotus—though she hasn't done anything wrong. Mu Yang loves Yao Ji but can't abandon his responsibilities; Yao Ji loves Mu Yang but can't accept being a concubine; Miss Sun has done nothing wrong and is the most innocent party, yet she must protect her position and marriage. So... this is just a pot of tragic melodrama~