Mo Li

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were stealing a rare moment of leisure in the study when Head Steward Mo hurriedly came to report, "Wang Ye, Wang Fei, Prince Li is fighting with someone in the front courtyard." Hearing this, a trace of annoyance flashed in Mo Xiuyao's eyes as he frowned and said, "Are the guards of Prince Ding's Estate just idling around? Throw them out on my behalf—no need to spare any face!"

Head Steward Mo hesitated slightly before adding, "But... the person fighting with Prince Li is the Royal Consort of Nanzhao."

Ye Li stood up and smiled at Mo Xiuyao. "How did these two even end up fighting? Since they are guests, we should go take a look." Since Ye Li had spoken, Mo Xiuyao had no choice but to reluctantly follow her with a dark expression as they headed toward the front courtyard.

The fight was taking place in the large courtyard just beyond the main gate of Prince Ding's Estate. The front courtyard was arranged with simple yet dignified elegance, divided by an enormous screen wall carved with nine soaring dragons. The lifelike dragons exuded an awe-inspiring majesty that commanded respect the moment one entered. Behind the screen wall stood the grand hall at the forefront of the estate's central axis. Outside the hall, two men were locked in combat. The most astonishing part was that they weren't sparring with martial arts—instead, they were brawling like ordinary commoners, throwing punches and kicks without restraint. There was no trace of the dignified demeanor one would expect from the Regent Prince of Great Chu and the Royal Consort of Nanzhao.

Not far away, Princess Anxi, Qixia Princess, and Ye Ying stood watching. Two black-clad guards shielded Princess Anxi to prevent the fighters from accidentally harming her, as she was with child. Unlike Ye Ying and Qixia Princess, who wore expressions of anxiety, Princess Anxi appeared utterly composed, as if she had no concern that her husband might lose or get injured. On the other hand, Qixia Princess burst into tears when she saw Pu A land a ruthless punch on Mo Jingli's face. Clutching Princess Anxi's sleeve, she pleaded, "Elder Sister, stop him! He's hurting Wang Ye!"

Princess Anxi cast a cool glance at her sister and gently pried her fingers from her sleeve, frowning. "What does a little injury matter to a man? But Qixia, after all these years in Great Chu, I thought you would have learned some of their customs. It seems you’ve regressed even from your time in Nanzhao."

Qixia Princess cried anxiously, "But... but, Elder Sister—"

Princess Anxi's expression darkened. "You were already stripped of your royal status in Nanzhao. I am no longer your elder sister." Her loathing for Mo Jingli was no less than anyone else's. Back then, Mo Jingli and Shu Manlin had caused her endless trouble by conspiring together, and even her own sister had sided with them against her. The hardships she endured at that time were something Princess Anxi would never forget. If not for Xu Qingchen's covert assistance, she might have long been killed by these people. Seeing Qixia Princess tugging at her sleeve for Mo Jingli's sake now only deepened her displeasure and intensified her hatred for him.

"Elder Sister, how can you be like this?" Qixia Princess glared at her with reddened eyes, furious. "The throne is already yours—what more do you want? Why must you keep causing trouble for Wang Ye and me?""Looking for trouble with you?" Princess Anxi sneered coldly, "Does this prince need to look for trouble with you?" What did she mean by saying the throne was already hers? She had been named Crown Princess since childhood and had shouldered the responsibilities that came with it. While Qixia was playing and indulging in leisure, she pored over strategies of governance, studying diligently. While Qixia was pining desperately for Mo Jingli, she stayed up all night handling the affairs of Nanzhao. Did Qixia really think the throne of Nanzhao was something she had graciously handed over?

A guard from Prince Ding's Estate, standing nearby to protect Princess Anxi, couldn't hold back and spoke up, "Miss, it was Prince Li who first caused trouble for the King of Nanzhao's consort."

Princess Qixia choked on her words, simultaneously displeased by the guard's address. Without a legitimate title, others only called her "princess" out of respect for Mo Jingli. But the people of Prince Ding's Estate wouldn't give her that courtesy, addressing her simply as "miss." No matter how radiant and charming Princess Qixia might be, it couldn't change the fact that she was already twenty-five or twenty-six. Being called "miss" at that age was hardly a compliment.

"Even so, he shouldn't have hit Wang Ye!" Princess Qixia gritted her teeth.

The two guards exchanged exasperated glances at the sky. What did she mean by "hit Wang Ye"? The two men were clearly brawling—it wasn't as if Prince Li was being unilaterally beaten up.

"What's going on here?" Amidst the fighting and quarreling, the sudden voice of Qingchen Gongzi sounded like heavenly music to the onlookers. Turning around, they saw the white-robed Qingchen Gongzi strolling over. Even though he was already past thirty, he looked just as he had seven or eight years ago. The years of toiling over documents hadn't diminished his elegance in the slightest. His handsome, ethereal face bore a faintly puzzled smile, making the hearts of the three women present skip a beat.

Princess Qixia awkwardly fell silent. Though deeply in love with Mo Jingli, no woman would willingly appear rude in front of such a peerlessly graceful man.

For a fleeting moment, Princess Anxi's eyes flickered with nostalgia, but she quickly regained her composure. Smiling, she nodded at Xu Qingchen and said, "Qingchen, it's been a long time."

Xu Qingchen glanced at Princess Anxi, his gaze lingering on her slightly protruding abdomen. A trace of warmth flashed in his eyes as he smiled. "It has been a while. It seems you've been doing well—congratulations." These past few days, Xu Qingchen had been swamped with work. Though Princess Anxi had arrived yesterday, he hadn't had the chance to meet her. He hadn't expected to return to the estate and witness such a scene. Raising an elegant brow in puzzlement, he turned his attention to the two men, now brawling without a shred of dignity.Princess Anxi smiled somewhat sheepishly and briefly recounted the incident to Xu Qingchen. It turned out that after leaving the estate, she realized she had left behind a sachet she usually carried with her at Prince Ding's Estate. Normally, this wouldn’t have been a big deal, but the sachet contained a token from the King of Nanzhao. Thus, she returned with her husband to search for it. Upon entering the courtyard, they encountered Mo Jingli, who was storming over in a rage. Mo Jingli, too preoccupied with his own thoughts, nearly collided with the pregnant Princess Anxi. Under normal circumstances, an apology from Mo Jingli would have sufficed, but he was in a foul mood and not only refused to apologize but also hurled insults, mocking the princess for wandering around despite her condition. Princess Anxi was not one to tolerate such disrespect and fired back, taunting him for being childless in his advanced age and jealous of others’ children. This remark struck a nerve, and Mo Jingli’s expression darkened as he moved to strike her. Naturally, her husband, Pu A, wouldn’t stand by and let his wife be bullied, so the two men ended up brawling right there in Prince Ding's Estate.

After the scuffle, Princess Anxi’s anger gradually subsided. She signaled Pu A in the Southern Border dialect to stop fighting, and he immediately complied, rolling away. Seeing this, Mo Jingli also ceased his attacks, standing up and wiping the blood from his lips.

By the time Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao arrived, the two men had already stopped fighting, though they continued to glare at each other defiantly. Both bore numerous injuries—Pu A’s face was badly swollen, while Mo Jingli’s lip was bleeding and one of his eyes was blackened. The sight left everyone present speechless. Standing beside Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to scholars resolving conflicts with words and warriors settling disputes through martial arts. Even ordinary soldiers in the barracks didn’t resort to such crude, brawling tactics. Seeing Mo Jingli in this state was unexpectedly amusing.

"Prince Ding, Wang Fei, my apologies," Pu A stepped forward, offering a stiff apology in halting Chu language.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "No harm done. Are you injured, King Consort of Nanzhao?" Pu A shook his head and moved to stand beside Princess Anxi. She examined his swollen cheek, then used her handkerchief to wipe the dust from his face before addressing Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. "We were discourteous. We hope Prince Ding and Wang Fei can forgive us."

Having heard the details from Head Steward Mo on their way, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao naturally didn’t blame Pu A. Ye Li smiled gently. "It was our oversight to have nearly let the Queen come to harm within Prince Ding's Estate."

Meanwhile, Qixia Princess and Ye Ying had gathered around Mo Jingli, fussing over his injuries. Glancing at the harmonious scene around Princess Anxi, Mo Jingli impatiently pushed away Qixia Princess and Ye Ying, who were tending to him, and stormed off without a word. Qixia Princess hesitated for a moment, then stamped her foot and hurried after him. Left behind, Ye Ying stared blankly at Mo Jingli’s retreating figure, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. She nodded politely to Ye Li and the others before turning to leave.Watching Mo Jingli leave, Princess Anxi asked, "Who provoked him?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Someone like Prince Li can fly into a rage for no reason even without being provoked. Are you alright? Should we call a physician?" Princess Anxi shook her head. "I'm fine. He just pushed me a little—no harm done." Only then did Ye Li relax, nodding with a smile. "Good, that's a relief."

Princess Anxi glanced toward the doorway, lost in thought. After a moment's hesitation, she said to Ye Li, "You should still be careful. That temper of Prince Li's might lead to trouble."

Ye Li appreciated the warning and thanked her again before inviting Princess Anxi and her husband to stay for lunch before returning.

At the Great Chu Embassy in Li Cheng, Ye Ying entered the main hall to find Mo Jingli sitting there drinking tea. His expression alone made it clear he was in a foul mood. After all these years, Ye Ying was no longer the naive girl who once harbored foolish dreams and had no desire to approach him now. Past experience had taught her that getting too close at such times would only make her his punching bag. Pausing briefly, she turned to leave.

"Where are you going?!" Mo Jingli's cold voice rang out behind her.

Startled, Ye Ying turned back to look at him. "I was going to my room to rest."

"Why are you only returning now?" Mo Jingli demanded. Ye Ying couldn't help but smile bitterly. Mo Jingli had stormed off in anger earlier, and Qixia Princess had hurried after him. By the time Ye Ying stepped out, the entire entourage from Prince Li's Palace had already left with them. In the end, she had no choice but to walk back alone. For the esteemed Wang Fei of Prince Li to be ignored to this extent was truly rare.

"I took a walk outside and returned a little late," Ye Ying replied calmly.

Even as he asked, Mo Jingli recalled what had happened earlier. Yet seeing Ye Ying's delicate, pitiful appearance now only served as a constant reminder of what he had lost—especially after just encountering Ye Li and being mercilessly mocked by her. Countless times, Mo Jingli had wondered how different things might have been if he had never been with Ye Ying, if he had married Ye Li instead. He didn't know when it had started, but every time he saw Ye Li standing beside Mo Xiuyao, smiling radiantly, it felt like a venomous snake was gnawing viciously at his heart.

After a long silence, Mo Jingli finally asked, "A few days ago, Ye Li pulled you aside to talk privately. What did you discuss?"

A chill ran through Ye Ying's heart. Lowering her gaze, she replied indifferently, "Nothing much. Princess Ding mentioned that my grandfather and father are also in Li Cheng and suggested I visit them if I had time."

"That's all?" Mo Jingli frowned in dissatisfaction. Ye Ying nodded. "That's all. My relationship with Princess Ding isn't good, so there wasn't much to talk about."

"Is that so?" Mo Jingli pondered for a moment before saying, "In that case, you should go and see them." Ye Ying nodded silently. "Understood. I'll go rest now." Only after Ye Ying had left did Qixia Princess emerge from inside and sit beside Mo Xiuyao. "Wang Ye, do you really believe what she said?" Mo Xiuyao turned his head slightly to look at her and asked coolly, "What do you mean?"Qixia Princess was startled inwardly but quickly forced a smile, saying, "What could I possibly mean? I merely thought it odd that after chatting with Princess Ding for so long that day, she only spoke about the Ye family matters." Mo Jingli snorted lightly, "No matter what she discussed with Ye Li, it won't escape my grasp." He knew Ye Ying's capabilities all too well—he had never considered her a threat to him. Giving Qixia Princess a casual glance, he added, "You should behave yourself too and stop provoking her. After all, she remains the legitimate consort of Prince Li's Palace and is Ye Li's own sister. I must still give Ye Li some face."

Qixia Princess's smile froze momentarily as she suppressed her hatred for Ye Li, forcing a coquettish laugh, "I understand. I've followed you all these years without any status or title—have I ever complained?" Mo Jingli nodded in satisfaction, "Good. Rest assured, I will never treat you unfairly in the future." Qixia Princess managed a faint smile, "I know you've always been the best to me."

Obediently nestling into Mo Jingli's embrace, Qixia Princess's beautiful face twisted with hidden fury, her once-bright eyes now filled with resentment. She had abandoned her royal title as a princess for Mo Jingli, following him namelessly for ten years. To say she had never regretted it would be a lie—she was no longer the reckless Nanzhao princess who had chased Mo Jingli all the way to Great Chu. But what use was regret? She had already been stripped of her royal status by the Nanzhao court; returning would only invite scorn and disdain from her people. She had no choice but to stay by Mo Jingli's side. Yet, for the sake of Ye Li, he kept finding excuses to delay deposing Ye Ying as his consort. Jingli-gege, how could you treat me like this?

Meanwhile, Mo Jingli, holding Qixia Princess absentmindedly, toyed with her hair while lost in thought. He remembered... he still had one more chess piece left unused.

Regardless of the schemes and calculations brewing in the guesthouse, Li Cheng itself was a scene of revelry and celebration. Early the next morning, the final delegation of distinguished guests arrived at the gates of Prince Ding's Estate. As usual, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao personally came out to greet them. Watching the group dressed in Northern Rong attire—so starkly different from Central Plains fashion—Mo Jingli's lips curled into an icy smile.

"Prince Ding, Princess Ding, what a pleasure to meet again after all these years!" Yelv Hong, the Northern Rong crown prince, stepped forward first, clasping his hands in greeting with a hearty laugh. In contrast, Yelv Ye, standing to the side, wore a cold and solemn expression, exuding arrogance and hostility. With Northern Rong's army still locked in a standoff against the Mo Family Army in the north, and Yelv Ye himself being the commander, it was no surprise he showed no warmth toward Mo Xiuyao.Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and said, "The Crown Prince is too kind. It has been many years, and Your Highness's dignity has grown even more." Yelv Hong looked at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li with genuine envy and sighed, "Not as ageless as Wang Ye and Wang Fei." The people of Northern Rong, being from the harsh frontier, tended to age quickly. When they had met years ago, the difference in their ages hadn't seemed so stark. But now, after six or seven years, the former Northern Rong Crown Prince had grown a short beard, and even his once tall and straight figure had lost some of its former vigor. Yet Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li still appeared as youthful as if they were in their early twenties, ethereal and untouched by time. Standing together, they resembled an immortal couple, making it impossible not to feel a pang of envy.

"You flatter us, Crown Prince," Ye Li replied with a light smile. When she noticed Xu Hongyan, who had returned with them, her expression warmed with genuine delight. "Second Uncle, you’re finally back. The journey must have been hard. Was everything alright on the road?"

Compared to the Central Plains, Northern Rong was a harsh land. Even after just a few months there, Xu Hongyan had visibly lost weight. He smiled at Ye Li and said, "Everything was fine. I regret not being able to return in time when Li'er gave birth. How are the two children?" Ye Li smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. They’re both doing well."

Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li's hand and said warmly, "A Li, perhaps we should invite Crown Prince Yelv and the Seventh Prince inside for tea before continuing our conversation? Uncle must be tired from the journey—let him rest first before we talk further." Ye Li nodded apologetically. "Crown Prince Yelv, Seventh Prince, please come in." Yelv Hong smiled in acknowledgment, but as Yelv Ye passed by Ye Li, he cast her a disdainful glance from his superior height, his expression filled with unmistakable aversion. This reaction piqued Ye Li's curiosity—though she and Yelv Ye had never been on good terms, he had never displayed such open hostility toward her before. In fact, no one had ever shown such blatant dislike in her presence, which naturally made her all the more intrigued.

Once inside the palace, Xu Hongyan excused himself to freshen up and rest. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li led their guests to the main hall for tea. Ye Li's gaze lingered on the veiled woman in white seated beside Yelv Ye, momentarily overlooking Ronghua Princess, the Crown Princess of Northern Rong. Noticing Ye Li's scrutiny, Yelv Ye shot her a fierce glare, his expression darkening. Across from him, Yelv Hong frowned slightly, clearly displeased with his brother's behavior.

Mo Xiuyao reclined in his chair, one arm casually draped around Ye Li's waist, his expression calm as he observed the group before him.

Setting down her teacup, Ye Li nodded politely at Ronghua Princess and asked with a smile, "It’s been nearly ten years since we last met in Chu Jing. I hope life in Northern Rong has treated you well, Princess."

Ronghua Princess smiled gracefully, her demeanor now bearing the boldness of the frontier while still retaining the dignity of a Central Plains royal. "Thank you for your concern, Wang Fei. I have been well in Northern Rong. His Highness has treated me with great kindness." As she spoke, she glanced at Yelv Hong, who returned her smile warmly. Their marital harmony seemed unaffected by Northern Rong’s recent military campaign against Great Chu.

"That’s good to hear," Ye Li replied. She then turned her attention to the veiled woman beside Yelv Ye and raised an eyebrow. "Seventh Prince, might this be your consort?"Yelv Ye nodded and said, "Indeed, this is my beloved consort, Qing Yina."

Ye Li smiled faintly and remarked, "If I recall correctly, 'Qing Yina' means the most beautiful woman in the Northern Rong language. It seems your Wang Fei must be a peerless beauty." Yelv Ye did not deny it, nodding in agreement, "Indeed, my beloved consort is a rare beauty seldom seen in this world." He turned slightly to take the Seventh Wang Fei's hand, his eyes filled with a gentle tenderness and affection, as if trying to compete with Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao in marital bliss. However, Yelv Ye had always held himself in high regard, so for him to be so devoted to a woman, her appearance must undoubtedly be extraordinary.

Unfazed by Yelv Ye's somewhat provocative words, Ye Li smiled and said, "It is truly a pity that I cannot witness the peerless beauty of the Seventh Wang Fei."

On the other side, Ronghua Princess smiled faintly and said, "Wang Fei need not feel regret. The Seventh Prince's consort is indeed a peerless beauty, but the Great Chu has never lacked such beauties. When Wang Fei was still in Chu Jing, didn’t you also see many stunning figures?" Ye Li's eyes flickered slightly as her gaze swept lightly over the woman in white. She smiled and replied, "What the Princess says is true. To say nothing of others, just the peerless beauties depicted by Young Master Mingyue in Chu Jing—any one of them could topple cities and kingdoms. What a pity... Ah, never mind. Since His Highness the Seventh Prince’s wedding was unknown to this consort and Wang Ye, we must later ask the Seventh Prince for a cup of celebratory wine."

Yelv Hong laughed and said, "Wang Fei need not worry. The celebratory wine is not late. You may ask for it when my seventh brother and his bride hold their wedding." The implication was that Yelv Ye and this woman were not yet married, and thus she could not be considered the rightful Seventh Princess Consort.

With so many hints, Ye Li had a rough idea of the woman’s identity. Lowering her eyes with a faint smile, she said, "In that case, I shall congratulate the Seventh Prince in advance. I hope he will not begrudge us a cup of wine when the time comes."

Yelv Ye studied Ye Li intently for a long moment before finally speaking, "When the time comes, we will certainly invite Prince Ding and Wang Fei to grace us with your presence. I hope you will not disdain our humble arrangements."

Ye Li turned to Mo Xiuyao with a soft smile. "Wang Ye, the Seventh Prince has invited us to his wedding. Do you say we should go or not?"

Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, his gaze tender as he looked at Ye Li, and replied gently, "A Li, if you say we go, we go. If you say we don’t, we don’t."

Ye Li smiled in satisfaction, and sure enough, she caught a fleeting trace of resentment in the beautiful eyes beneath the white veil.

—————Author's Note—————

Apologies for accidentally deleting comments while removing spam ads on my phone. If it was an important question, please repost. Also, spam ads have been rampant lately—I heard one reader in the forum was scammed or something. In short, these online ads are highly unreliable. If you're looking for online part-time work, it’s best to choose reputable websites.

PS: Those reading pirated copies, please keep a low profile and refrain from popping up randomly. Ignore any demands.