As Feng Zhiyao had predicted, the three young masters of the Xu family arrived in Ruyang City early the next morning. Their dust-covered and exhausted appearances clearly showed they had traveled through the night. This made Mo Xiuyao, who hadn't yet informed Ye Li of their arrival, secretly displeased. Why rush so fast? A Li wasn't going anywhere. He completely refused to consider how overjoyed the Xu family must have been upon suddenly learning that Ye Li was still alive. That they hadn't all come rushing to the northwest was only due to the current political situation—otherwise, he'd have even more to worry about.
Ye Li was utterly delighted by her brothers' arrival. Recently, she'd been extremely idle—both physicians forbade her from handling any official duties, and Mo Xiuyao had gone even further by prohibiting her from doing needlework. Her days consisted only of eating, sleeping, strolling through the mansion's gardens, and occasionally reading. Ye Li felt she'd never been this idle in both her lifetimes.
Having survived another brush with death, reuniting with family brought indescribable excitement and joy. "Second Brother, Third Brother... Fifth Brother, you..."
"Elder Sister Li!" The youngest, Xu Qingyan, couldn't contain his happiness and moved forward as usual to take Ye Li's hand and chat. Mo Xiuyao, standing nearby, raised his hand to separate them, smiling faintly. "Fifth Brother, A Li is with child now—we must be very careful."
Eh? Xu Qingyan seemed to notice only now that his cousin was no longer as slender as before. Her still-not-plump figure made the roundness of her belly all the more noticeable, startling him into awkward hesitation as he gazed pitifully at Ye Li, even overlooking Mo Xiuyao's somewhat odd form of address. Meanwhile, Xu Qingze, seated to the side, raised an eyebrow and gave Mo Xiuyao a calm look. Ye Li patted Xu Qingyan's hand with a smile. "It's been so long—you've grown so much taller, Fifth Brother. Let's sit and talk."
Watching as Mo Xiuyao helped Ye Li to the seat of honor, Xu Qingyan blinked somewhat unwillingly at her before reluctantly taking a seat below Xu Qingfeng. Among the Xu sons, he was the youngest. Even Xu Qingbai was half a year older than Ye Li and thus considered an elder brother—only he was truly Ye Li's younger brother. The small age gap meant they'd practically grown up together. Unlike the other brothers who protected Ye Li, Xu Qingyan had always been the one protected by her. He never saw her as just a cousin—to him, she was a true elder sister. When the Xu family left the capital, he'd cried and made such a fuss about Ye Li not coming with them that he'd nearly stayed behind in the capital too. Though young, Xu Qingyan didn't miss a single hint of Mo Xiuyao's possessiveness, and his dissatisfaction with the man instantly multiplied. This guy had not only made Elder Sister Li do everything for him but had nearly gotten her killed—and now he dared to block Little Master Xu?! A young man's vengeance was fearsome. Right then, Xu Qingyan decided that if Mo Xiuyao didn't want him clinging to Elder Sister Li, he'd cling to her all the more!
Mo Xiuyao naturally caught Xu Qingyan's provocative, ill-intentioned gaze. His phoenix eyes darkened as he swept a cold, threatening glance at the youth. But who was Xu Qingyan to be intimidated by a mere look? Raising an eyebrow, he bared his teeth at Mo Xiuyao in a grin.While the silent battle of gazes raged on one side, Ye Li was engaged in a lively conversation with Xu Qingze and Xu Qingfeng. Noticing how much more composed Xu Qingfeng seemed after their long separation, Ye Li asked curiously, "How did Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother end up traveling together?"
Xu Qingfeng laughed heartily, "I was already in the northwest. As for Little Five, when he heard about your incident, he rushed off alone toward the northwest in the middle of the night but somehow got lost and ended up in the south. I happened to find him and brought him along to the northwest." What Xu Qingfeng didn't mention was that he and Xu Qingyan had wandered around Hongzhou for a month or two, clinging to a sliver of hope that they might find Ye Li.
Eventually, they ran into Xu Qingze, who was on his way to take up his post in Hongzhou, and the three brothers reunited. However, since Xu Qingfeng and Xu Qingyan's whereabouts weren't something outsiders should know, Xu Qingze hadn't even mentioned it to Mo Xiuyao. During those months, Mo Xiuyao had been too distracted to pay attention to such matters.
Frowning, Ye Li asked, "Third Brother, weren't you in the military?" Given Xu Qingfeng's special status, leaving without notice would have been impossible. This made her suspect that he might have deserted. Xu Qingfeng waved his hand dismissively and smiled, "The Emperor didn't really want another military officer from the Xu family. I just said Little Five had run away from home and I needed to find him. The approval came within days." Ye Li felt a pang of guilt, realizing that Xu Qingfeng must have faced considerable ostracism in the army—not just because he was a son of the Xu family, but also because he was the cousin of Princess Ding.
"How are Grandfather and Uncle? Where are Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother now?" Ye Li asked anxiously. Although the shadow guards had relayed some information, hearing it directly from her family was far more reassuring.
Xu Qingze replied calmly, "There's fighting in the southwest now, so Fourth Brother was recalled to the capital. Uncle's intention is for him and Father to resign and retire when the opportunity arises, but the Emperor might not agree. Grandfather and Father are doing fine. As for Eldest Brother..." He frowned slightly. "Eldest Brother only sent word that he's in the south, but we don't know exactly where or what he's doing." Qingchen Gongzi's whereabouts were elusive—even the shadow guards and the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity might not be able to track him down reliably. Unless he chose to reveal his location, no one could be certain where he was.
Ye Li frowned slightly. "From the looks of it, only Fourth Brother's whereabouts are within Mo Jingqi's grasp. Could this make him suspicious of the Xu family?" Xu Qingfeng sneered, "When has the current Emperor ever not been suspicious of the Xu family? As long as Grandfather is alive and the Xu family hasn't openly rebelled, he won't dare do anything to Grandfather, Uncle, or Father—if only to protect his own reputation."
"Third Brother," Xu Qingze chided with a disapproving glance. Xu Qingfeng snorted and fell silent. Ye Li's delicate brows remained furrowed. Having learned more about the Xu family's history, she felt she understood her grandfather and uncle's stance better. With Eldest Brother in the south, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fifth Brother in the northwest, even if the Emperor truly intended to act against the Xu family, he wouldn't be able to wipe them all out at once.As long as her grandfather and eldest uncle remained in Yunzhou, and her second uncle stayed in the capital, even if the Xu family and the Ding Royal Palace were intricately connected because of her, the emperor wouldn’t dare to easily accuse the Xu family of disloyalty. After all, the Xu family stood at the forefront of the nation’s scholarly elite, their influence reaching far and wide. If the Xu family were truly driven to rebellion, Mo Jingqi himself wouldn’t escape unscathed. Her grandfather and eldest uncle… were buying time for the northwest.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Li silently resolved to visit Yunzhou when she went to the capital to retrieve the Underworld Flower, no matter what.
Their conversation lasted only half an hour before Mo Xiuyao stood up and said to Ye Li with a smile, “A Li, it’s time for Shen to check your pulse. Let Qingze and the others rest—they traveled through the night. We can hold a banquet tonight to welcome them properly.” Ye Li glanced at the three travel-worn men and said apologetically, “I completely forgot how tired you must be after your journey, yet I kept talking nonstop. Second Brother, your courtyard is still as it was. Go freshen up with Third Brother and Fifth Brother and rest. We’ll talk more later.”
Xu Qingyan blinked at Ye Li. “Sister Li, I haven’t even had a chance to talk to you properly yet.”
Ye Li smiled at the young man, who was now a head taller than her. “Second Brother’s courtyard is right next to the main residence—we’ll have plenty of time. Once you’ve rested, you can come find me anytime to chat.” Xu Qingyan’s eyes brightened. “Really?” He shot a suspicious glance at someone nearby and added, “But will someone try to stop me from talking to Sister Li?” Ye Li patted his head. “Of course not. You’re my only little brother. Who would dare?” Xu Qingyan smirked triumphantly at Mo Xiuyao, who narrowed his eyes and sent a sharp glance his way before smiling. “A Li is right. You can chat with Fifth Brother anytime. After all, Fifth Brother is still young—he has all the time in the world.” The implication was clear: apart from chatting with Ye Li, Xu Qingyan was nothing more than a freeloader. Xu Qingyan gritted his teeth but smiled even brighter. “Brother-in-law is absolutely right. I’ll make sure to keep Sister Li company often, so she won’t feel lonely when you’re busy with politics!”
After personally escorting Xu Qingze and the others to their courtyards, Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao’s darkened expression and sighed in amusement. “Little Five is still a child. Why bother with him?” She had naturally noticed the exchange between Xu Qingyan and Mo Xiuyao earlier but chose not to comment. Now, seeing Mo Xiuyao’s face so stormy it seemed about to drip ink, his lips pressed tightly together, he looked more like a sulking child himself. Mo Xiuyao snorted. “He’s fifteen—hardly a child anymore.”Ye Li reached up and tugged at his tightly drawn handsome face, smiling, "Even if he's twenty, he's still my little brother." After saying this, she looked Mo Xiuyao up and down, tilting her head as she added, "Speaking of which, Mo Xiuyao, have you developed an addiction to jealousy lately? Aren't you afraid of souring yourself to death with all this vinegar you're drinking?" It was one thing to nitpick and find fault with Han Mingxi—though his feelings had never been explicitly stated, Ye Li was aware of them to some extent, which was why she had never been as close to him as she was with Feng Zhiyao or Qin Feng. But if even Xu Qingyan was going to be subjected to such scrutiny, that was going too far. More importantly, Ye Li genuinely couldn't understand where Mo Xiuyao's sudden vigilance was coming from. In her eyes, whether it was martial prowess, intellect, or power, few in the world could compare to Mo Xiuyao. He had never been this insecure about himself before. If it was because she had just returned from a life-threatening ordeal, it would be excessive for him to still be like this nearly half a month later.
Mo Xiuyao trapped her in his embrace, lowering his head to lightly nip her fragrant cherry lips before murmuring, "What if I just want to be jealous? A Li, you're not allowed to be nice to other men. I'll get angry."
Ye Li sighed helplessly. "Xiao Wu isn't just any other man." Xu Qingyan was her younger brother, someone she had doted on like her own since childhood.
"Any man other than me is another man," Mo Xiuyao declared imperiously. Ye Li nearly rolled her eyes at him. Grabbing his hand, she placed it on her round belly and asked with a laugh, "Then what about him? Both Shen and Doctor Lin have confirmed it's a boy. Is he another man too?" Mo Xiuyao answered matter-of-factly, "Of course. Once he's born, we'll toss—no, hand him over to Mr. Qingyun to raise and bring joy to his later years. Any child taught by Mr. Qingyun is bound to be outstanding." So outstanding it would make him resentful. If not for the fact that he knew A Li only saw the Xu family members as elder brothers, and they in turn treated her as a younger sister, he would have long been consumed by jealousy. Under Ye Li's threatening gaze, Mo Xiuyao reluctantly swallowed the word "toss" and replaced it with a more diplomatic phrasing.
Ye Li felt that one day, this man would be the death of her. Turning in his arms to face him directly, she reached up to pinch his cheeks. "Mo Xiuyao, he's your son!" Mo Xiuyao narrowed his eyes, casting a glance at the round bulge before scoffing. "Another man." He had long harbored displeasure toward that thing. If not for the pregnancy, A Li wouldn't have nearly lost her life due to restricted movement. If not for the pregnancy, he wouldn't have had to... endure being unable to be intimate with her. All because that bastard Shen Yang had said... The memory of Shen Yang's gloating face only made the little intruder nestled in A Li's belly seem even more irritating. Of course, he was partly to blame too. He swore that once this one was born, he would never let A Li get pregnant again—it was dangerous, troublesome, and downright annoying!Ye Li was utterly exasperated by such childish behavior from a man, but as she looked into his aggrieved yet stubborn eyes, she found him inexplicably adorable and pitiable, making it impossible for her to stay angry. Pulling Mo Xiuyao to sit down, she didn’t hesitate to perch on his lap, turning his face toward hers. "Young Master, can we not be so childish?" Mo Xiuyao responded by opening his mouth to bite her slender fingers, but he couldn’t bring himself to use any real force, releasing them after a gentle nip. "This prince is not childish. Even if I were, A Li, you’re not allowed to dislike me."
Leaning into Mo Xiuyao’s embrace, Ye Li sighed softly. Shen Yang had inadvertently mentioned Mo Xiuyao’s condition while checking her pulse. Under normal circumstances in an ordinary household, she wouldn’t have minded—his possessiveness only proved how deeply he loved her. Even now, though she felt a faint unease, there was also a trace of joy. But she couldn’t let Mo Xiuyao continue doubting himself like this. She knew that her fall from the cliff had unleashed and amplified the hidden negative emotions in his heart—self-doubt, resentment, and helplessness. Though Mo Xiuyao outwardly blamed their child, Zhennan Wang Mo Jingqi, or even Su Zuidie for the incident, deep down, he truly believed it was all his fault. He thought his inability to protect her had led to the danger she faced. Ye Li had wanted to talk to him about it, but whenever she faced him, she never knew how to begin.
"Xiu Yao." She reached up and removed his mask. Doctor Lin’s medicine was indeed effective—though only a few days had passed, the scars on Mo Xiuyao’s face already showed improvement. Even if they didn’t disappear completely, Ye Li believed they would fade significantly. Looping her arms around his neck, she pressed a tender kiss to the scar on his left cheek. Mo Xiuyao stiffened in surprise, holding her but momentarily frozen. As she kissed his cheek, Ye Li whispered, "Xiu Yao, no matter how many people exist in this world, in my heart, you are the most outstanding and the best. Do you understand?"
Mo Xiuyao’s long lashes fluttered slightly as he lifted his gaze to the beautiful woman smiling before him—his wife, the only woman he had ever loved and would ever love in this lifetime. She had said that in her heart, he was the most outstanding and the best. Her gentle words filled him with boundless joy, even more overwhelming than the praise he had received from his father in his youth. Yet, at the same time, they stirred deeper guilt and resentment within him. Why couldn’t I have met you at the best time of my life? "Xiu Yao, there are many men in this world who are exceptionally handsome, talented, and hold high positions of power. But I met you... The one I met wasn't the young Prince Ding's son who once leaned against a bridge on horseback, but you—King Ding, Mo Xiuyao. Do you understand? Xiu Yao, had I met you ten years earlier, I certainly wouldn't have loved you." Ye Li murmured softly.
Ten years ago, Mo Xiuyao had been too young—so young that someone like her, who had lived two lifetimes, would have seen him as little more than a child. Back then, that dazzling, radiant youth would have been someone Ye Li would have avoided at all costs. And the Mo Xiuyao of that time would never have spared a glance for an obscure daughter of a minister's household.
Not that the younger Mo Xiuyao judged by appearances—it was simply that, at that age, he likely hadn't regarded any woman with real interest. Even someone like Su Zuidie, the most peerless beauty in the world, had been nothing more than a former betrothed who betrayed him—no love, hence no hatred.
Without the experiences of these past ten years, Ye Li wouldn’t have taken notice of Mo Xiuyao, and Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t have fallen in love with Ye Li. They met at the worst possible time in each other’s lives, yet Ye Li still believed they had found each other at the right moment.
"Then, A Li, do you love me now?" Mo Xiuyao asked in a low voice, his gaze unwavering as he studied her delicate features. He knew she was right, yet he couldn’t imagine what his life would have been like had he missed meeting her in this lifetime.
"I love you," Ye Li answered without hesitation, her voice soft but firm. She loved this man—had fallen for him without even realizing it. That was why she was willing to scheme and labor for him, to do anything for him. She took pride in his brilliance and excellence, yet also ached for his pain and vulnerability. When a woman was willing to indulge a man unconditionally, it could only mean one thing—she loved him.
"A Li..." Mo Xiuyao sighed in contentment, lowering his head to capture the lips he had long coveted, coaxing her to part them and dance with him. "A Li, I love you... In this lifetime, Mo Xiuyao loves only you..."
"Your Highness, the capital—"
A hurried male voice shattered the heated intimacy in the room. Standing at the doorway, Feng Zhiyao had only one thought— I'm doomed! He had just interrupted the prince and his consort in a private moment. And more importantly— Damn it, couldn’t you two have gone inside? Even a screen would’ve helped! Mo Xiuyao, are you really that desperate? She’s pregnant, you beast!
Author’s Note:
Had they met ten years earlier, A Li wouldn’t have loved Mo Xiuyao, and Mo Xiuyao wouldn’t have loved A Li. Back then, A Li wouldn’t have been drawn to a spirited youth like Mo Xiuyao—her psychological age was already too mature, and the Mo Xiuyao of ten years ago would have seemed like a child to her. No matter how dazzling his achievements, he was still just a boy who hadn’t yet grown up.
As for Mo Xiuyao ten years ago—he wouldn’t have loved A Li, not because he looked down on her, but because, at that age, his heart had no room for romance. His mind was occupied by his friends, his brothers, and the battlefield—striving to build unparalleled achievements.
Ah, and also—I really wanted to read a few long reviews but haven’t had the chance yet. Thank you, Little Xiang!
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