Mo Li

"What are you doing here?" Consort Liu, unable to sleep due to the pain, lifted her head and saw Zhenning standing pale-faced at the door, staring at her. She spoke irritably.

Princess Zhenning stepped inside and silently placed a medicine bottle by the bedside. Consort Liu glanced at her and said indifferently, "Apply the medicine for me."

Princess Zhenning bit her lip, wanting to say something. But seeing Consort Liu lying on the bed, covered in blood, she ultimately moved forward to tend to the wounds first. Consort Liu’s injuries were severe—not only the lacerations from the flogging but also the whip marks she had received at Prince Ding's Estate. While the pain had been bearable at Prince Ding's Estate, it had gradually worsened after her return, as if the agony had seeped into her bones. This tormented Consort Liu greatly. Being somewhat skilled in martial arts herself, she suspected that the guards who had carried out the punishment at Prince Ding's Estate had secretly inflicted additional harm. The thought deepened her hatred for Ye Li and Prince Ding's Estate.

Princess Zhenning carefully peeled away the tattered clothing stuck to Consort Liu’s body. As a princess, she had no experience in handling such matters, and her clumsy movements inevitably caused Consort Liu more pain. Fortunately, Consort Liu knew she had no one else to rely on besides Zhenning, so she gritted her teeth and endured it.

Once the blood-soaked garments were removed, the sight of the mangled flesh made Princess Zhenning nearly retch. With trembling hands, she hastily cleaned the wounds and sprinkled medicine over them before moving on to the less severe whip marks. By the time she finished, the delicate young girl’s face was drenched in sweat.

The medicine Princess Zhenning had brought was of the highest quality. Though the pain persisted, Consort Liu gradually found it bearable. She lay on the bed, closing her eyes as drowsiness overtook her. "Go back now. Bring me some clean clothes tomorrow night."

Princess Zhenning bit her lip and whispered, "Mother, Zhenning… won’t be able to come tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Consort Liu opened her eyes, her voice cold.

Princess Zhenning replied, "On my way back just now, I ran into Xiao’er. Mother… you must be careful. The Empress Dowager wants to kill you."

Consort Liu stared fixedly at her daughter. "Who told you that?"

Princess Zhenning shook her head. "I overheard some passing eunuchs talking in the Imperial Garden. They said… you offended Prince Ding, and the Empress Dowager… the Empress Dowager wants you dead."

Consort Liu narrowed her eyes, grinding her teeth in hatred. "So it’s him! What did your brother say?"

Princess Zhenning shook her head again, refusing to speak. Consort Liu understood immediately. Though a pang of sorrow flickered in her heart at her son’s indifference, she quickly dismissed it. With a mocking smile, she said to Princess Zhenning, "Now that I’m in disgrace, you and your brother fear I’ll drag you down, so you want to distance yourselves from me, is that it?"

Princess Zhenning gazed sorrowfully at the woman before her, whose smile was as beautiful as a flower yet inexplicably chilling. Perhaps their desire to pull away stemmed partly from self-preservation, but more than that, it was because of their birth mother’s cruelty. And the things she had done—how could they, as her children, ever accept them with peace of mind?Soon, Consort Liu suppressed her smile and gazed at Princess Zhenning with a sigh. Speaking earnestly, she said, "I understand the reasons behind your actions. As your mother, I never showed you much affection growing up. You must take care of yourselves from now on."

"Mother..." Princess Zhenning looked at her sorrowfully.

Consort Liu reached out and pulled her closer, whispering, "I only ask one thing of you—bring me two sets of clean clothes in a couple of days. Your mother has always been proud. Even if I must die, I will die clean and dignified. I won’t give those vile people the satisfaction of mocking me!"

"Mother..." Princess Zhenning sobbed. "Don’t worry, tomorrow night... tomorrow night, Zhenning will bring the clothes."

A glint of satisfaction flashed in Consort Liu’s eyes as she replied softly, "No need to rush. If you come out two nights in a row, you might be discovered. In a few days, the new emperor will ascend the throne, won’t he?"

"In three days. The tenth brother will be crowned in three days," Princess Zhenning answered.

Consort Liu nodded. "Good. Come then. As for your grandfather and your brother... there’s no need to tell them. No point in upsetting them." Princess Zhenning nodded. "I understand, Mother. Rest assured. I must go now."

"Go ahead." As she watched Princess Zhenning disappear beyond the door, the tenderness in Consort Liu’s eyes gradually turned icy, and the smile on her lips grew increasingly cold and eerie. You want me dead? It won’t be that easy!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, everyone was busy preparing for the new emperor’s coronation ceremony. Naturally, no one had the inclination to spare a thought for a woman demoted to a lowly consort and imprisoned in the cold palace.

On the day of the ceremony, the entire capital of Great Chu was filled with jubilation, washing away even the lingering grief from the late emperor’s recent passing. Such extravagant celebrations during the mourning period inevitably drew criticism from scholars and refined gentlemen. However, a new emperor’s ascension was a grand state occasion, and given that the new ruler was still young, with the regent overseeing everything, many turned a blind eye. With Great Chu beset by internal and external troubles, a joyous event was sorely needed to lift spirits.

As Prince Ding and Wang Fei, as well as leaders of the Mo Family Army, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li naturally attended the coronation. However, they did not participate as subjects or hosts but as guests, alongside other foreign envoys who had come to offer congratulations. While this disappointed many of Great Chu’s elder statesmen, it also put many others at ease.

Though Great Chu was no longer the formidable power it once had been, it remained a major kingdom. Nearly every nation that could make it in time had sent envoys to extend their congratulations. While figures like Zhennan Wang, Princess Anxi, and the Northern Rong emperor did not attend in person, they still dispatched high-ranking representatives, ensuring no breach of etiquette.Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao sat side by side in the frontmost seats reserved for envoys from various nations, both dressed in white robes embroidered with silver patterns. Even their casual posture was enough to draw the gaze of everyone in the hall. Moreover, each held an exquisitely adorable little child in their laps. While the identity of the fair-skinned, jade-like child in Ye Li’s arms was unknown to most, the handsome black-clad boy in Mo Xiuyao’s embrace—already showing hints of an imposing aura—was widely recognized. The heir of Prince Ding’s Estate, Mo Xiuyao’s sole successor, and the young master of the Mo Family Army—Mo Yuchen. A child whose very name exuded extraordinary majesty, destined from birth to be the center of attention.

"Grand Princess," Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao rose to greet the elderly woman as she approached, supported by palace maids, long before the ceremony officially began. The Grand Princess waved her hand dismissively. "Enough. Since you are guests, there’s no need for formalities." The wrinkles on her face framed eyes that shimmered with wisdom, yet beneath them lay deep regret, helplessness, and a faint trace of sorrow.

"Little Yu Chen, do you still recognize this old woman?" the Grand Princess asked affectionately, smiling at Mo Xiaobao, who was nestled in Mo Xiuyao’s arms.

Mo Xiaobao blinked and nodded. "Greetings, Imperial Grand Aunt."

"Ah…" the Grand Princess responded delightedly. "Little Yu Chen still remembers his Imperial Grand Aunt? Why haven’t you come to visit me? Do you think I’m too old?" Mo Xiaobao studied her solemnly before replying, "Yu Chen must study and practice martial arts. There’s no time for play. Imperial Grand Aunt should come to our home instead—then Yu Chen can accompany you."

"You little imp," the Grand Princess chuckled, though her gaze lingered on Mo Xiaobao with regret. How unfortunate that the imperial family lacked such an intelligent child.

"Imperial Grand Aunt, this is my new friend. You can call him Xiao Dai," Mo Xiaobao introduced with the air of an adult, deliberately omitting Leng Junhan’s surname. The Grand Princess squinted slightly, examining the boy before smiling. "This child seems well-behaved too." Ye Li smiled faintly. "Xiao Bao isn’t so young anymore. Wang Ye and I thought it time he had a companion."

Without inquiring further about Leng Junhan’s background, the Grand Princess nodded cheerfully. "It’s good for children to have company. Being alone is no good. I was thinking—once the Tenth Prince ascends the throne, I’ll select a few suitable children from noble families to serve as his study companions."

Ye Li remained silent, her smile unchanged. The Grand Princess’s idea was sound in theory. If the Tenth Prince had the capability, these children could become his trusted aides in the future. But things were rarely so simple. As guests, they had no place to interfere, and the Grand Princess, having once participated in state affairs herself, was no sheltered palace woman ignorant of the world. She understood the current situation and its difficulties all too well.

"Xiu Yao, I heard you intend to spare the one in Zhangde Palace?" the Grand Princess turned to Mo Xiuyao and asked.

Mo Xiuyao smiled. "Where did you hear such rumors, Imperial Aunt? What does this matter have to do with Prince Ding’s Estate? Since I’ve vowed not to interfere, I mean to keep my word."The Grand Princess had watched him grow up since childhood and was not so easily fooled. She fixed her gaze on him and said, "Speak honestly—what purpose do you have in keeping her? I don’t believe for a moment that you harbor any goodwill toward her." Mo Xiuyao lowered his eyes with a faint smile, not bothering to conceal his thoughts as he replied calmly, "No matter how concerned Your Highness is about the new emperor, you still reside outside the palace and are too far removed to intervene directly. The young emperor needs someone to protect him... otherwise..."

"Her? Is she capable?" the Grand Princess frowned.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "As long as she understands that her own well-being depends on the emperor’s, she will manage. Though the one in Zhangde Palace may be inexperienced in state affairs, she has spent her entire life in the depths of the imperial harem. When it comes to palace intrigues, she might even be more adept than you, Grand Princess. If she could protect those two brothers in such an environment and secure her position as Empress Dowager, who’s to say she can’t do it again this time?"

Seemingly persuaded, the Grand Princess nodded slightly. "Even so... why are you so concerned about the new emperor?"

Mo Xiuyao laughed heartily. "I simply dislike Mo Jingli. The bond between him and his mother has nearly dissolved over this period. As long as Your Highness offers her a satisfactory bargain, so long as she lives, Mo Jingli will forever remain Prince Li."

Hearing this, the Grand Princess fell into thought. She was well aware of the tension between the Empress Dowager and Prince Li, but she had little confidence in whether the Empress Dowager could truly restrain him.

The heavy toll of ceremonial drums sounded, marking the auspicious hour for the enthronement ceremony. Those who had been whispering among themselves now sat upright, their gazes fixed on the far end of the vast red carpet embroidered with the Dragon Pattern.

A child of barely six or seven years old approached slowly, surrounded by a large entourage. The Empress Dowager, dressed in resplendent court robes, walked beside Mo Suoyun, holding the visibly timid child’s hand. From this moment onward, she would no longer be the Empress Dowager but the Grand Empress Dowager.

Faced with so many adults staring at him, Mo Suoyun instinctively shrank back. But his hand remained firmly clasped in the Empress Dowager’s grip, leaving him no room to retreat. She glanced down at him and whispered, "Don’t be afraid. Your grandmother will stay with you."

The small child, clad in bright yellow imperial robes, looked pitifully fragile, like a helpless little creature abandoned to its fate. Yet, to his credit, he did not burst into tears on such an occasion. The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered faintly as she reminded him softly, "Do you remember what the Grand Princess taught you?"

"I remember..." Mo Suoyun murmured, gazing up at his grandmother with trepidation. The memory of the kind and gentle Grand Princess seemed to lend him some courage, and he nodded earnestly. "Good," the Empress Dowager said. "Then let us proceed. The Grand Princess is watching you from below as well."

Mo Suoyun nodded and allowed himself to be led toward the lofty dragon throne. Though fear still gripped his heart, he no longer thought only of fleeing as he had moments before. As they passed the table where the Grand Princess, Mo Xiuyao, and Ye Li sat, Mo Suoyun’s eyes brightened, and he looked at the Grand Princess as if to speak. She smiled at him warmly but shook her head. The child bit his lip in disappointment but continued forward with the Empress Dowager.

"The Tenth Prince has changed quite a bit. Your Highness’s guidance these past few days has not been in vain," Ye Li remarked quietly.The Grand Princess shook her head and said, "He still has a long way to go." Compared to when she had first seen him a few days ago, he had indeed improved, but the road to becoming a ruler of a nation was still incredibly distant for that child. Along the way, he would need the guidance and support of wise mentors—no one was born a great monarch. The only question was... whether those people would give him that opportunity.

Mo Suoyun, led by the Empress Dowager, ascended the high steps as officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory conducted the elaborate ceremonies. Even from a distance, Ye Li could see the child's small frame trembling with exhaustion. Yet he did not cry or complain, silently enduring instead.

Ye Li glanced around and asked with some confusion, "Why isn't Li Shi here?" By all rights, as the birth mother of the new emperor, Li Shi would rightfully become the Empress Dowager after his ascension. She should not have missed such an occasion.

The Grand Princess shook her head. "To ensure the child's obedience, the Regent Prince had Li Shi imprisoned." At this, the Grand Princess's snow-white brows furrowed, and she cast a disapproving glance toward Mo Jingli, seated prominently at the front.

For the new emperor's enthronement, to imprison his birth mother—the rightful Empress Dowager—was excessive, even for the Regent Prince, even if it was to ensure the smooth proceedings of the ceremony.

After nearly an hour, the rituals finally concluded, and the exhausted young emperor was taken away to rest. What followed was the banquet, which, given the emperor's young age, was naturally presided over by the Regent Prince, Mo Jingli. Watching Mo Jingli raise his cup with pride to toast the guests and court officials, everyone could clearly sense that, for the time being, the vast realm of Chu now belonged to Prince Li.

Lengthy banquets were not to Ye Li's taste, nor were they suitable for two children under six who could hardly sit still. Before long, Mo Xiaobao began clamoring to go out and play. After informing Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li took the two children to the Imperial Garden.

In the third month of spring, the Imperial Garden was alive with lush grass, singing orioles, and a riot of blooming flowers, their fragrance filling the air. Countless butterflies flitted among the blossoms, captivating Leng Junhan's round eyes. Watching Leng Xiaodai seemingly mesmerized by the flowers and butterflies, Mo Xiaobao snorted disdainfully. How uncultivated Leng Xiaodai was! What was so special about these gaudy flowers and fluttering butterflies? The scenery of the northwest was far superior—not to mention the Mount Li Academy, where the Grand Tutor's bamboo groves thrived, or the estate outside Li Cheng built by Uncle Han. Those were a hundred times more beautiful than this Imperial Garden.

After instructing the guards to keep watch, Ye Li let the children run freely in the garden while she retreated to a secluded pavilion for some quiet. The familiar sights before her stirred memories of her first visit to the palace after being betrothed to Mo Xiuyao, as well as the many occasions they had entered the palace during their early marriage. Back then, Prince Ding's Estate had been constrained at every turn, but now, they could move freely without regard for anyone or anything. And that once-ambitious emperor, full of grand aspirations, had long since passed away, his dreams turned to dust.The Imperial Garden gradually became more crowded, mostly with noblewomen and young ladies from various families. While the banquet was lively and entertaining, it wasn't the kind of place where men could linger for long without feeling bored, so many had come in small groups to stroll through the garden.

The pavilion where Ye Li sat wasn’t particularly secluded, so naturally, many people noticed her. However, due to the special status of Prince Ding's Estate, few dared to approach and strike up a conversation. Ye Li didn’t mind—she didn’t know many people in Chu Jing to begin with, and she much preferred the freedom of being alone over meaningless small talk.

"Wang Fei..."

Looking up, she saw a familiar face—Madam Qin, the mother of Qin Zheng. Ye Li smiled warmly and said, "Madam Qin, please have a seat."

Madam Qin thanked her somewhat nervously. Although Prince Ding and Wang Fei had brought back Qin Zheng’s letter when they first returned to the capital, hearing about her daughter firsthand was far more reassuring than reading a letter. However, given the status of their families, they couldn’t visit each other openly. Now that she had spotted Ye Li in the Imperial Garden, Madam Qin naturally wanted to inquire about her daughter.

Understanding her thoughts, Ye Li smiled and said, "You needn’t worry, Madam. Zheng'er and Second Brother are doing very well. Their child has already begun early education—a clever little one indeed. Even if you don’t trust my words, you should trust the Xu Family’s upbringing. They would never let Zheng'er suffer any grievances." Far from suffering, Qin Zheng was practically doted on by the entire Xu Family. Madam Xu treated her like her own daughter. With five sons in the Xu Family, four of whom refused to marry, Madam Xu and Madam Xu the Second often lamented not arranging more childhood betrothals back in the day. As the only daughter-in-law of the Xu Family—and the one who had borne the family’s only great-grandson—Qin Zheng was cherished like a treasure.

Madam Qin smiled sheepishly. "Wang Fei jested. How could I not trust your words? It’s just..." Ye Li patted her hand reassuringly. "I understand. No parent can help worrying for their child. Rest assured, the Xu Family and Second Brother will take good care of Zheng'er. Otherwise, not just you and Master Qin, but even I wouldn’t stand for it." Though Xu Qingze was somewhat reserved by nature, he was a devoted husband. In all these years, he and Qin Zheng had never even quarreled, living in such harmony that Ye Li couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. After all, she still occasionally bickered and sulked with Mo Xiuyao.

Madam Qin smiled gratefully. "For Zheng'er to have a friend like you is truly her good fortune."

"You flatter me, Madam. To have a friend like Zheng'er is my good fortune as well."

The two chatted happily, and seeing this, several other observing ladies gradually gathered around. Naturally, Madam Qin and Ye Li smoothly shifted the topic, engaging in idle chatter with the noblewomen. Accompanying them were their lovely, blushing daughters. Watching these young maidens with their shy, demure expressions, Ye Li couldn’t help but feel amused.It turned out these noblewomen had ulterior motives. Their attempts at conversation were merely a pretense—what they truly wanted was to promote their own daughters. And it made sense. Though Prince Li currently held power, the influence of Prince Ding's Estate wasn't something that could be easily erased. If any young lady caught Prince Ding's eye, gaining the estate as a future ally would naturally be advantageous. Even if they failed, the loss would only be a daughter—after all, these nobles had no shortage of daughters, whether legitimate or otherwise.

These young ladies had grown up hearing tales of Prince Ding's Estate, harboring an innate admiration for its successive lords. Moreover, Mo Xiuyao's unwavering devotion to Ye Li over the years had become a celebrated love story. To win the affection of such a man was undoubtedly the most splendid dream in every maiden's heart.

Ye Li rarely encountered such situations. Over the years, there had been women who tried to court Mo Xiuyao, but most of the time, he handled them himself. The only one she had personally dealt with was Consort Liu. However, the young ladies before her now were not as shamelessly persistent as Consort Liu, so Ye Li naturally couldn’t use the same sharp tongue she had employed against Consort Liu on these young girls and noblewomen.

Just as she was helplessly blaming Mo Xiuyao in her heart for attracting unwanted attention, a shrill scream echoed from the distance. Ye Li’s heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly stood up—Mo Xiaobao and Leng Junhan had gone in that direction earlier. Without another word, she excused herself and immediately used her Light Body Skill to dart out of the pavilion, rushing toward the source of the scream.

The noblewomen crowded in the pavilion were startled by the sudden commotion. By the time they regained their composure, all they saw was Ye Li’s white figure fluttering away like a butterfly.

“What… what happened?”

“Perhaps something occurred over there?” someone murmured.

“Let’s go and see,” another suggested. Soon, everyone began moving toward the direction of the scream outside the pavilion. The once noisy and bustling pavilion fell into silence. Madam Qin, walking at the back, watched the crowd chasing after Princess Ding’s figure, shook her head with a faint smile, and followed along.