Mo Li

Consort Liu's face turned pale and then flushed with anger. She had arrived with full confidence, but now not a shred remained. Yet she couldn't accept it—she couldn’t understand why Mo Xiuyao would reject her proposal. Anyone else in this world would have agreed without hesitation, so why was Mo Xiuyao refusing? She had forgotten that no one else in this world was Mo Xiuyao himself. And she had never loved anyone else in this world.

"Is it because of her that you're rejecting me?" Consort Liu stood up, pointing at Ye Li.

Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "Whether A Li is here or not, this foolish proposal would never gain my approval."

"I don’t believe you!" Consort Liu shrieked.

Mo Xiuyao glanced down at the sleeping Mo Xiaobao in his arms and adjusted him slightly to shield him from the noise, lest the boy wake up and cause another fuss. Turning to Ye Li, he smiled and said, "A Li, would you kindly explain to her why this proposal is so foolish?"

Ye Li smiled faintly and looked at Consort Liu. "Consort Liu, do you know what Mo Jingqi is to Prince Ding's Estate? Or rather… what is the relationship between the Chu imperial family and Prince Ding's Estate?"

Consort Liu froze, but realization quickly dawned on her, draining the color from her face. Two hundred years ago, the founding emperor of Chu and Prince Ding were brothers born of the same parents. For generations, the Chu imperial family and Prince Ding's Estate had been bound by blood—rulers and their most loyal ministers. But now, Mo Jingqi bore the guilt of slaughtering Mo Xiuyao’s father and brother. The Chu imperial family owed the Mo Family Army the lives of tens of thousands of fallen soldiers. No one knew how much familial affection remained between the royal house and Prince Ding's Estate, but it was certain that the enmity between them ran deep. In fact, given Mo Xiuyao’s temperament, many had been surprised that he hadn’t immediately marched his army to the capital when he first learned the truth.

And her son… was of the Chu imperial bloodline. She herself… was Mo Jingqi’s concubine.

Seeing her pallor, Ye Li smiled. "Do you understand now, Consort Liu? Prince Ding's Estate will never cooperate with you or Prince Li. Because it would be meaningless."

While it was true that there were no eternal friends, why force a friendship with those who were clearly enemies? Rather than helping one enemy defeat another, they much preferred to watch the tigers fight from the safety of the mountain, waiting to clean up the aftermath when both sides were weakened. Did Consort Liu truly believe that Prince Ding's Estate had forgotten the past grievances just because they had remained silent all these years?

"The feud between Mo Jingqi and Prince Ding's Estate has nothing to do with me," Consort Liu insisted, standing stiffly by the table.

Ye Li smiled but said nothing. The notion that punishment shouldn’t extend to family members didn’t hold in this era—countless innocents had been implicated for the crimes of their kin. And even if someone were truly blameless, Prince Ding's Estate would never support a direct descendant of Mo Jingqi.

Gazing at Consort Liu, Ye Li said softly, "Since the matter has been settled, Consort Liu, you may leave. During our stay in the capital, we will not involve ourselves in any court affairs. Please do not disturb us again."

Consort Liu shook her head, staring blankly at Mo Xiuyao. "Why?"Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the meaning behind Consort Liu's words. Consort Liu bit her lip lightly and said, "Why do you never see me? Whatever you desire, I can bring it to you and offer it with my own hands. What is it about Ye Li that I lack? Could she possibly love you more than I do? Would she die for you? I would do all that for you! Is it just because I bear the Liu name that you dismiss me without a second glance?" She seemed to grow more agitated as she spoke, as if venting years of pent-up frustration. By the end, Consort Liu was nearly screaming. Mo Xiuyao frowned and raised a hand to cover Mo Xiaobao's ears. But the sudden shrill noise still startled Xiao Bao awake. Rubbing his eyes sleepily in Mo Xiuyao's arms, he blinked in confusion at the white-robed woman whose face was twisted with emotion.

"Why must you treat me this way? Xiu Yao, I am the one who loves you most, the one who knew you first! I met you before Su Zuidie, before Ye Li—why won't you even look at me?!" Consort Liu's voice was bordering on hysterical.

Ye Li brought her teacup to her lips but paused, setting it back down after a moment's thought. Such a passionate confession would have been considered explosive even in her past life. She truly hadn't expected Consort Liu, who appeared as cold as ice on the outside, to harbor such fervent emotions within. Unfortunately, she couldn't appreciate this intensity—not only that, it made her exceptionally angry. What was wrong with this world? It was bad enough that men were often scoundrels, but now that she'd finally found a good one, it seemed the heavens wouldn't allow it.

With a sharp clink, she set the teacup back on the table, the sound crisp and heavy enough to startle everyone present.

Ye Li regarded Consort Liu with cool detachment. "Imperial Concubine, even if you wish to declare your love, you could at least show some respect to me, the lawful wife? Saying such things right in front of me—do you truly think I, Ye Li, am made of wood?"

Having already laid her feelings bare, Consort Liu was beyond caring whether Ye Li was angry. Besides, she had never feared Ye Li's temper in the first place. She sneered at Ye Li. "This consort is speaking to Xiu Yao—what business is it of yours? Do you really think being Princess Ding means I'll defer to you?" Ye Li lowered her gaze, calmly examining her fingers, but a storm was brewing in her eyes. She had always believed that quarreling with another woman over a man was beneath her dignity. But some women could only be described with one word—shameless.

"This princess doesn't need your deference. I merely wish to warn you—be as shameless as you like, but keep it away from my man. You can't afford to tarnish my Wang Ye's reputation!" Ye Li said icily.

"How dare you! You dare call this consort shameless?!" Consort Liu was livid. Never in her life had anyone dared to call her such a thing.Ye Li raised an eyebrow with a mocking smile. "Do you still think you're noble? When men like having multiple wives and concubines, you throwing yourself at them can be considered birds of a feather flocking together. But when a man doesn't want you and you still cling to him, that's called willingly degrading yourself! Do you know why our Wang Ye doesn't like you?" Before Consort Liu could respond, Mo Xiuyao quietly reminded from the side, "A Li, this prince doesn't stink. This prince is as fragrant as you." Hearing Mo Xiuyao's words, Consort Liu's expression darkened further, but her gaze toward Ye Li held a trace of confusion. Though she knew Ye Li would never say anything pleasant, she truly couldn't understand why Mo Xiuyao didn't favor her. Even if she couldn't compare to Ye Li, at the very least she was no worse than Su Zuidie—why had she lost to that woman back then?

Ye Li let out a cold laugh and slowly uttered a few words: "Because you're—despicable. Had you maintained your originally aloof and noble facade, our Wang Ye might have spared you a few more glances. Moreover, not only are you despicable, but as a married woman and mother, you shamelessly pursue another woman's man—that makes you another word: wanton." After saying this, Ye Li exhaled deeply. Never in her life had she used such venomous words to insult someone. Not even Ye Ying or Su Zuidie from the past had provoked her to this extent. Once finished, she lowered her eyes and fell silent.

A cup of tea was handed to her. Mo Xiuyao looked at her with faint amusement in his eyes. "Tired from speaking, A Li? Have some tea."

Ye Li was momentarily stunned before breaking into a soft smile. Truthfully, she didn’t particularly like losing her composure like this in front of Mo Xiuyao, but since it had already happened, so be it. Accepting the tea, she took a sip before setting the cup down and extending her arms toward Mo Xiaobao. The little boy happily threw himself into his mother's embrace, his eyes curved in delight as he whispered, "Mother is mighty." Ye Li lightly tapped his little head. "Don't imitate that." Children loved copying adults, and if Mo Xiaobao ever started spouting words like "despicable" and "wanton," she would regret it for the rest of her life.

"You—!" Consort Liu was trembling with rage, pointing a shaking finger at Mo Xiuyao. "You... you just let her insult me like this?"

Mo Xiuyao lifted his gaze, feigning confusion. "How could this prince's beloved consort insult you? She was merely offering you guidance. Didn't you say you'd do anything for this prince? There's just one thing this prince asks of you now." Consort Liu stared at him uneasily, an inexplicable dread creeping over her, and she instinctively shook her head. Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, "Never appear before this prince again."

Watching Consort Liu's disbelieving expression, Ye Li smiled gracefully. "Consort Liu, you claimed you'd do anything for Xiu Yao. Then... would you dare to walk onto the streets right now and loudly proclaim to everyone that the man you love is Prince Ding?"

Before Consort Liu could recover from Mo Xiuyao's merciless words, Ye Li's question left her stunned. Reflexively, she looked at Mo Xiuyao. If he were willing to accept her, of course she would dare—but if he rejected her outright, declaring such a thing would strip her of everything, even as the birth mother of the Crown Prince. Seeing her hesitation, Ye Li smirked derisively. "It seems Consort Liu's love isn't as deep as she claimed."

Consort Liu had no retort. After a long silence, she fixed Mo Xiuyao with a resentful glare, her eyes brimming with hatred. "You'll regret this."Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, his expression calm and indifferent. Consort Liu looked at the family of three before her, realizing there was no longer any place for her here. Finally, she mustered her pride and turned to descend the stairs. Earlier, for the sake of conversation, Consort Liu had dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs to the first floor. Now, as she stumbled down the stairs in a daze, her foot slipped on the last step, sending her tumbling downward. The startled attendants rushed forward in a panic to catch her, creating a chaotic scene below.

Though unharmed, the fall snapped Consort Liu out of her stupor. "Your Highness, are you alright?" someone asked.

Glancing back at the empty stairway landing, Consort Liu clenched her teeth and said, "Return to the palace!"

Upstairs, Mo Xiuyao watched with amusement as Ye Li's pretty face remained cold. "A Li, are you angry?" he asked cheerfully. Ye Li gave him a sidelong glance. "Wang Ye seems quite pleased?" Mo Xiuyao tapped his forehead lightly, grinning. "Not bad. This is the first time I’ve seen A Li wield such sharp words."

"Does it pain you?" Ye Li narrowed her eyes.

"How could it? It was brilliant! The sharper, the better. Next time you see her, scold her mercilessly in front of everyone—that way, she won’t dare covet your husband!" Mo Xiuyao quickly declared his loyalty. Ye Li smirked. "Covet? Or is it Wang Ye who attracts admirers like bees to honey?" Mo Xiuyao grimaced. "With a fierce wife at home, this prince wouldn’t dare."

"Fierce wife…?"

"A slip of the tongue… With a virtuous wife, this prince has no such desires," he corrected solemnly. Watching Mo Xiuyao’s playful antics, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle. "Thank you for the praise, Wang Ye." Mo Xiaobao, nestled in his mother’s arms, suddenly pointed at Mo Xiuyao. "Mother, Father is lying! He’s the one attracting admirers! Last time, he even said all the women in the world would fall for his charm!"

Ye Li arched an eyebrow, smiling at Mo Xiuyao, who now wished he could pluck the smug little troublemaker from her arms and toss him downstairs. Unable to resist, Mo Xiuyao snatched Mo Xiaobao into his own embrace and began pinching and squishing the boy’s chubby cheeks.

"You little rascal! What good does it do you to sabotage your parents’ relationship? You don’t want a stepmother, but do you think a stepfather would treat you kindly? Your father has enemies everywhere—any halfway decent man would want to strangle you, understand?" Mo Xiaobao, now tearful from the rough treatment, whimpered pitifully. Ye Li covered her face, glaring at Mo Xiuyao. "What nonsense are you filling his head with?"

Mo Xiuyao smirked at the teary-eyed boy. "This prince is teaching him that aside from his real parents, anyone else he ends up with would mean his doom. Maybe then he’ll stop trying to stir up trouble."

"Mother, wuwu… I was wrong… Save me…!" Unable to fend off Mo Xiuyao, Mo Xiaobao turned to Ye Li for rescue. She took him back with a smile, patting him gently. "See if you dare spout nonsense again."

"Mmm… mmm…!" Never again! Mo Xiaobao buried himself in her arms, terrified his father might seize another chance to torment him. Though the occasional whimper still echoed in the empty second-floor room, the atmosphere was warm and peaceful.Outside the teahouse's rear entrance, Consort Liu boarded the ornate sixteen-man palanquin that had been waiting there, her face dark with anger. "To the Prime Minister's residence!" she ordered coldly.

Inside the palanquin, Tan Jizhi lounged comfortably on the spacious cushioned seat, leisurely sampling fresh fruits from a small table. Seeing Consort Liu enter, he smiled and remarked, "The imperial family truly lives in luxury. Even in early February, one can enjoy such delicious fresh fruits." Consort Liu's expression remained icy as she swept her hand across the table, sending all the fruits crashing to the floor. One even rolled out of the palanquin's door. Yet the attendants outside dared not react or pause, as if nothing had happened.

Tan Jizhi gave her a faint glance and said, "Mo Xiuyao refused you."

Consort Liu remained silent, her face cold. Of course, she wouldn't tell Tan Jizhi about the humiliation she had suffered upstairs. But Tan Jizhi was no ordinary man. He had served as Mo Jingqi's trusted aide for ten years without ever arousing suspicion. He had even managed to make the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border obey him unquestioningly. Regardless of his strategic prowess, few in the world could match his ability to read people's emotions and intentions. Just one look at Consort Liu's expression told him that Mo Xiuyao's refusal wasn't the only issue. Moreover, Princess Ding was no pushover. Considering what Consort Liu might have done, he could roughly guess what had transpired.

"Did Princess Ding outmaneuver you? Or perhaps something worse—did she mock you? And did Prince Ding take her side?" The reality was far worse than he imagined—Ye Li had directly insulted her.

"Shut up!" Consort Liu snapped. The mere memory of the humiliation she endured in the teahouse made her wish she could tear Ye Li to pieces. But she couldn't kill Ye Li—at least, not yet. So she had no choice but to endure and force herself to temporarily forget the incident.

Tan Jizhi shrugged and, as she wished, dropped the subject. Instead, he asked, "Since Mo Xiuyao refuses to help, what are your plans, Your Grace?"

Consort Liu scoffed. "My son is the rightful Crown Prince. What does it matter if Mo Xiuyao won't assist? Once my child ascends the throne..." She would repay today's humiliation a hundredfold. Tan Jizhi raised an eyebrow. "Rightful or not, what does that matter? The current Xiling Emperor is the rightful ruler, isn't he? And look how that turned out."

"How could my son be compared to the Xiling Emperor? I have the Liu family behind me," Consort Liu retorted.

Tan Jizhi smirked. That only made things worse. Even if Prince Li were overthrown, the Liu family would still restrain the new emperor.

"Your Grace must not forget that the south is Prince Li's domain. And he is a true regent with military power. Frankly... compared to Prince Li, the former regent Mo Liufang was nothing. No matter how capable he was, he never harbored ambitions to usurp the throne. But Prince Li is undeniably eyeing the imperial seat. Can Your Grace truly guarantee that Prince Li won't forcefully seize the palace in the future?"

Consort Liu frowned. "He wouldn't... the Emperor must have leverage over him."

"What makes you so sure?"Imperial Concubine Liu sneered, "What kind of person do you think Mo Jingli is? How could the mere title of Regent Prince satisfy him? He clearly had victory within his grasp, yet in the end, the Emperor granted him the position of Regent Prince while my son became the Crown Prince. That must mean the Emperor holds some fatal leverage over him. Only under such circumstances would he have conceded to the current arrangement. If only we could find out what that leverage is..."

"Your Highness hasn’t visited the Emperor in quite some time, has she?" Tan Jizhi inquired.

Imperial Concubine Liu frowned. "He hasn’t summoned me. What’s the point of seeing him lying sick in bed?"

Tan Jizhi inwardly shook his head. Mo Jingqi must have had the worst luck and been utterly blind when he married this woman. Mo Xiuyao’s rejection of her was undoubtedly a wise and discerning decision. "Your Highness should still pay him a visit. I fear... the Emperor may no longer trust you or Liu Jia as much as before. If this continues... we mustn’t let others profit from our strife."

Mo Jingqi had always been a suspicious man by nature, and his illness had only made him more paranoid. Imperial Concubine Liu’s current attitude, which might have once been seen as aloof and natural, could now appear to Mo Jingqi as if she were eagerly awaiting his demise. "And while you’re there, try to find out what leverage Mo Jingqi holds over Prince Li."

After a moment of contemplation, Imperial Concubine Liu nodded. "I understand."