Mo Li

“Second Sister, are you leaving just like this after so many years apart?”

Ye Yue, who had already reached the door, stiffened at the words. Glancing at the expressionless black-clad guards standing outside, she finally turned back, her face pale. Looking at Ye Li, who sat calmly in the main seat with a serene smile, she said faintly, “Third Sister, it’s been many years.” Indeed, it had been nearly a decade since their last meeting. The girl who had once seemed slightly immature in Ye Yue’s eyes had now grown into the renowned Princess of the State, capable of standing her ground in any situation.

Even in terms of appearance alone, the beauty Ye Yue had once prided herself on now seemed frail and laughable in comparison to Ye Li. Ye Li might not be the most beautiful woman in the world, but she was undoubtedly the most uniquely captivating—graceful yet composed, dignified yet resilient, with a sharpness even most men could not match. Such contrasting qualities should never coexist in one person, yet it was precisely this that set Ye Li apart from any other woman in the world. No wonder Mo Jingli still clung to his obsession with her, even harboring endless resentment toward Mo Xiuyao.

Prince Ding truly had excellent fortune and discernment—a sentiment many had expressed. Even someone as proud as Ye Yue had to admit that her half-sister was indeed worthy of making the illustrious Prince Ding bow his head.

Noticing Ye Yue’s composure, a flicker of appreciation flashed in Ye Li’s eyes. “How have you been all these years, Second Sister?”

Ye Yue lowered her gaze, smiling faintly. “What does it matter? I’ve merely been surviving.”

As Ye Yue observed Ye Li, Ye Li did the same in return. No wonder the spies Prince Ding’s Estate had placed in the Ye household hadn’t recognized her. Not only had Ye Yue lived in seclusion, rarely seen by others, but her appearance had also changed drastically from the radiant Ye Zhaoyi of years past. The once alluring and charming Ye Yue now carried an air of quiet melancholy and fragility. If the old Ye Yue was like a beguiling begonia, the current one resembled osmanthus—less dazzling at first glance, but lingering in memory upon closer inspection. Had it not been for prior knowledge, even those who knew her might have mistaken her for someone merely resembling Ye Yue.

“If you’re just barely surviving, why not simply die?” Mo Xiuyao remarked idly from beside Ye Li. Though his tone was almost devoid of emotion, the words carried an unmistakable killing intent.

Ye Yue’s face paled further. Of everyone in Li Cheng, she feared Mo Xiuyao the most. With Ye Li, she could still engage in verbal sparring, but against Mo Xiuyao, she was utterly powerless. If possible, she would have preferred never to face Mo Xiuyao or Ye Li again—or even have any connection to Prince Ding’s Estate. Yet from the moment she arrived in Li Cheng, it was perhaps inevitable that she would eventually confront them.Not only Ye Yue, but Ye Wenhua, Ye Laofuren, and Wang Shi standing nearby also turned deathly pale. Wang Shi forced down her fear and shielded Ye Yue, saying, "What does Wang Ye mean by this... Yue Er is a daughter of the Ye family. Can she not be here?"

Mo Xiuyao held Ye Li's hand with one hand while leisurely tapping the rosewood armrest with the other, making everyone present tense up. After a long pause, Mo Xiuyao finally smiled faintly, "It seems Madam Ye has forgotten what your daughter did to A Li back then?" Ye Wangshi trembled slightly, "That was so long ago, and besides... Ye Li wasn't harmed, was she?"

Mo Xiuyao narrowed his handsome eyes, laughing in extreme anger, "Well said... In that case. Let this prince take one swing at Ye Yue. If she doesn't die, we'll consider the matter of harming A Li settled."

Hearing this, Wang Shi nearly screamed in fright, while Ye Yue clenched her teeth, unable to speak. If Prince Ding wanted someone dead, how could one swing not kill them? Ye Yue was no martial arts expert—in fact, she was just a weak woman without any strength to restrain a chicken. In terms of combat ability, she couldn't even compare to Murong Ting and Hua Tianxiang from military families, or the famously talented Consort Liu who excelled in both arts and martial skills.

"Li'er," Ye Laofuren frowned and spoke up, "What happened back then was indeed Yue Er's fault, but she was forced into it. She's suffered enough these years. Considering your sisterhood, why not let it go?" Ye Li turned her head, looking at Ye Laofuren with an amused expression. Though framed as a plea, the old lady's tone carried none of that—instead, it held the commanding air of an elder speaking to a junior. While Ye Laofuren was indeed her elder, she seemed to have forgotten that Ye Li was no longer someone she could order around. "Grandmother, Second Sister nearly killed me back then. Though you've always favored her since childhood, isn't your partiality too obvious when we're both your legitimate granddaughters?"

Ye Laofuren froze. Of course she knew she was biased—she'd always considered her favoritism perfectly justified. Compared to Ye Li, who spent half her childhood with the Xu family and the other half with Xu Shi, Ye Yue was the one who grew up by her side. Ye Yue was beautiful, clever, and knew how to please her—why shouldn't she favor her? This was just the first time Ye Li had openly pointed it out. Her graying brows furrowing, Ye Laofuren said sternly, "I know you've been wronged, but now the Ye family only has you sisters left. Can't you be more generous?"

Ye Li blinked, barely suppressing a laugh. Did Ye Laofuren actually think she was complaining about not being favored? She glanced at Mo Xiuyao, who raised an eyebrow in confirmation—that was exactly what the old lady meant.

With a slow smile, Ye Li asked deliberately, "Grandmother, if I spare Second Sister, how do you plan to handle this?"

Before Ye Laofuren could respond, Ye Wenhua spoke solemnly from the side, "As your father, I will build a Buddhist shrine in the estate. She will live there practicing vegetarianism and chanting scriptures, never setting foot outside again.""Nonsense!" Old Lady Ye's face darkened as she glared displeasedly at Ye Wenhua. All her efforts to persuade Ye Li weren't meant to add another Buddhist hall in the estate or support another idle person. Ye Li raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ye Wenhua with amusement. "Then what does Grandmother suggest?" Old Lady Ye lifted her eyes and said, "Since you and Prince Ding don't welcome us, your father and I plan to go south with Ying'er. Considering your sisterly bond with Yue'er, let her come with us."

"Father, is this your wish as well?" Ye Li asked Ye Wenhua calmly. She didn't believe Ye Wenhua was unaware of the relationship between Prince Ding's Estate and Mo Jingli. If he chose to leave with them, it would mean he intended to oppose Prince Ding's Estate from now on, and she wouldn't hold back either.

"No," Ye Wenhua shook his head. "I won't leave Li Cheng, and neither will Ye Rong. I have no other desires—only to see Rong settle down, marry, and have children." Ye Li was quite satisfied with Ye Wenhua's decision. No matter how much she disliked him, she couldn't change the fact that he was her biological father. Nor was she the type to disregard familial bonds—her upbringing in a military family in her past life had instilled strong moral principles in her. As long as Ye Wenhua didn't threaten Prince Ding's Estate, she had no issue ensuring his peaceful old age. But that was all.

While Ye Li was satisfied, others were not. Ye Wangshi and Old Lady Ye glared at Ye Wenhua furiously, shrieking in outrage.

Ye Wenhua, who had always yielded to his mother and wife in the past, remained uncharacteristically firm this time. No matter how Old Lady Ye raged, he clenched his jaw and refused to speak. Having spent half his life navigating officialdom, Ye Wenhua's instincts were far sharper than Old Lady Ye's, Ye Wangshi's, or even Ye Yue's. If he showed any willingness to leave with them, he feared it would spell doom for the entire Ye family. He believed Ye Li might spare his life out of filial duty, but Mo Xiuyao's ruthlessness was renowned throughout the land.

Mo Xiuyao, who had been lounging idly while watching the drama, seemed to tire of the farce. He sat up and smiled faintly at the group. "Old Lady Ye... do you know that Prince Ding's Estate holds a grudge against the Great Chu?"

Old Lady Ye froze, clearly not understanding what he meant.

Mo Xiuyao continued nonchalantly, "Since the Ye family has settled in Li Cheng, you are now under Prince Ding's jurisdiction. Now you tell me you plan to take this man—who once attempted to assassinate my beloved consort—and your entire household south to join Prince Li's Palace. Should I interpret this as... treason?" Old Lady Ye's eyes widened in terror, unable to comprehend how this could be linked to treason. But that didn't stop her from recognizing the severity of such a crime.

"How can this be treason?! We are not your people!" Wang Shi shrieked.Mo Xiuyao curled his lips into a faint smile. "Not from Prince Ding's Estate? Then you must be Mo Jingli's people. In that case... this prince can treat you as spies. How about it? For A Li's sake, I'll allow you to choose your preferred method of death." This time, Ye Laofuren and Ye Wangshi were truly terrified, trembling uncontrollably as they gazed at Mo Xiuyao's handsome yet mocking face. "N-no... please don't..."

Ye Yue, who had remained silent until now, took a step back and collapsed weakly into the chair behind her. She had ultimately underestimated Prince Ding's Estate's capabilities. Everything had been meticulously planned—she had survived the war, followed Wang Shi to Li Cheng, met Mo Jingli, and successfully persuaded him. Yet she never expected to fail at the final hurdle. After all, she was just a helpless woman with no strength to restrain a chicken. No matter how clever her schemes, without sufficient leverage, she was no match for the behemoth that was Prince Ding's Estate. Clearly, Ye Yue belonged to the category of those without enough leverage. The only value her chips held was for Mo Jingli; to others, they were nothing more than worthless scraps.

Mo Xiuyao stood up and leisurely walked over to Ye Yue. Looking down at her, he lifted her chin with his fingers and studied her for a long moment before speaking indifferently, "You're the first person who dared to lay a hand on A Li. This prince... has always remembered you." Hearing this, Ye Yue felt no joy—only a shiver of dread, her beautiful eyes brimming with unmistakable fear.

However, Ye Yue had managed to evade the Empress Dowager and the imperial family's attempts to silence her, escaped Prince Ding's Estate's pursuit, traveled thousands of miles from the capital back to the Ye family's ancestral home in the southwest, and even lived peacefully for so many years. Naturally, she wasn't someone easily intimidated. Steadying herself, she tried to keep her voice calm as she addressed Mo Xiuyao, "Wang Ye, what happened to Third Sister back then... the Empress Dowager forced me into it. I had no choice. I beg you to show mercy. If you spare me, Ye Yue will repay your kindness even if it means knotting grass or holding a ring in my mouth."

"Forced you?" Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh and disdainfully released her chin. "Do you think this prince would let that old hag off? I don't care whether you were forced or not—those who harm A Li deserve death. Even if someone forced you, you should have chosen to die. Why didn't you? If you had died, perhaps this prince would have avenged you and even made your son emperor."

Ye Yue had encountered many unreasonable people in her life, but this was the first time she had met someone who so casually asked, "Why didn't you die?" For a moment, she was too stunned to react. After a long pause, she shuddered and asked, "Wang Ye means... when the Empress Dowager forced me to kill Third Sister, I should have killed myself instead?"

"Exactly." Mo Xiuyao nodded approvingly. "All of you could have died—only this prince's A Li must never be harmed. Whoever dares to hurt her will regret being alive. You've lived many extra years—you should be satisfied."

"Madman!" Ye Yue trembled, turning her head to look at Ye Li, who sat nearby. With a bitter smile, she asked, "Third Sister, aren't you afraid to follow such a madman?"Mo Xiuyao's face darkened, a trace of brutality flashing in his eyes. He raised his hand to strike Ye Yue's head, but Ye Li behind him caught his wrist and pulled his raised arm back, interlacing their fingers tightly. Watching Ye Yue's stunned expression, Ye Li smiled faintly, "Why should I be afraid? I believe if there's only one person in this world who would never harm me, it must be him. Don't you think having such a companion is a very happy thing?"

"Happy?" Ye Yue stared blankly at the two standing side by side, confusion flickering in her eyes. Looking back, she realized she had never experienced what happiness truly meant in her entire life. The only vaguely pleasant days were during her maiden years before entering the palace—specifically after Madam Xu passed away and Wang Shi was elevated to the main wife's position, because before that she was merely a concubine's daughter in the Ye family. Those days lasted barely two or three years. Once she entered the palace, every step was like treading on thin ice—where was there any happiness to speak of? Mo Jingqi had never loved her, and of course she had never loved Mo Jingqi either, so she couldn't comprehend the happiness Ye Li spoke of. Yet seeing their tightly clasped hands, she felt an overwhelming envy and loneliness.

"Second Sister, tell me, what did you exchange with Mo Jingli?" Ye Li asked softly.

Ye Yue closed her eyes and remained silent. Unfazed, Ye Li smiled lightly, "Second Sister, I don't wish to resort to torture. With your frail health, I doubt you could endure it." Ye Yue replied coldly, "What difference does endurance make? Would Prince Ding ever spare me?" Mo Xiuyao chuckled, "No, but... I seem to recall the coroner reporting back then that the child burned to death in the fire wasn't the Fifth Prince. Hmm?"

Ye Yue's face finally twisted in distress. "Mo Xiuyao, how dare you!"

"Is there anything in this world I wouldn't dare?" Mo Xiuyao countered. "You're clever—you didn't bring that child to Li Cheng. How much does he resemble Mo Jingqi? But you weren't clever enough, because you shouldn't have brought him to the northwest at all."

Pale-faced, Ye Yue gritted her teeth. "I'll speak... Back then, the Emperor gave Mo Jingli a certain drug. I have the antidote..."

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "Antidote? I was told there wasn't one." Back then, he had even asked Shen Yang to study the drug, but Shen Yang took one look and tossed it aside, declaring it incurable.

Ye Yue said, "Nothing in this world is truly incurable. Even the vicious poison in Your Highness's body was eventually cured, wasn't it?"

"You're quite well-informed," Mo Xiuyao remarked, raising an eyebrow. Had this woman not crossed his bottom line, he might have actually admired her resourcefulness. Ignoring his comment, Ye Yue continued, "The reason that drug was considered incurable is because both the poison and its antidote were extracted from the same herb—and it's irreplaceable. This means even if you found an identical herb to refine another antidote, it would only work for the poison derived from that same plant. Therefore, each dose of poison and its antidote is unique. The antidote for the poison Mo Jingli took is in my possession.""If that's the case, no wonder Mo Jingli dares to make trouble right under my nose," Mo Xiuyao remarked with a raised brow and a smile. For Mo Jingli, even if Ye Yue had no other use, this alone would be enough for him to spare no effort in taking her away. After all, having no heir was perhaps Mo Jingli's greatest hidden pain and weakness besides the throne. "Where is the medicine?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Ye Yue clenched her teeth, but Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "I don’t need that medicine. I just need to ensure Mo Jingli doesn’t get it. Tell me… if I kill you right now, would that achieve my goal?"

Faced with such an opponent, there was no path but endless retreat. In the end, Ye Yue could only reluctantly pull out an inconspicuous hairpin from her hair and toss it to Mo Xiuyao. He casually threw it to Qin Feng at the door, saying, "Take it to Shen Yang for examination."

Having lost nearly all her bargaining chips, Ye Yue seemed to relax somewhat. Slumping into a chair, she looked at Mo Xiuyao and asked, "I have nothing more to say. What else do you want from me?"

Before Mo Xiuyao could respond, a guard outside announced, "Your Highness, Wang Fei, Prince Li has arrived."

Leaning against Ye Li’s shoulder, Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly, "Truly hitting Mo Jingli’s weak spot. He arrived just in time."

Ye Li gave him a helpless look. Was it really appropriate to take such delight in others' misfortunes?

After laughing his fill, Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li’s hand and turned to Ye Wenhua. "Father-in-law?" Ye Wenhua had rarely heard Mo Xiuyao address him as such, and at this moment, he wished he never had. Trembling, he stepped forward as Mo Xiuyao said, "Ye Yue is temporarily in your custody. If anything goes wrong… none of your family will live."

"Yes… I understand. I won’t let them act recklessly," Ye Wenhua replied, almost relieved. He had hardly expected a peaceful resolution today, assuming Ye Yue was doomed. Yet Mo Xiuyao had surprisingly relented, and he quickly agreed. After all, Ye Yue was still his daughter.

Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction and left with Ye Li.

In the study, only after all the guards outside had departed did Ye Laofuren and the others finally catch their breath.

Wang Shi clutched Ye Wenhua’s sleeve, weeping. "Husband, what should we do now?" Ye Wenhua’s expression darkened as he stared at her for a long moment. Just as Wang Shi thought he might speak, he slapped her hard across the face—this blow even fiercer than before. Her head struck the edge of a table, and blood immediately gushed out.

"Husband?!"

"Father!"

"Huá'er, what are you doing?" the three cried out in shock. Ye Wenhua glared at Wang Shi with a venomous gaze. "Stay quietly in your room. If you dare step outside again, you can take your divorce letter and leave."

"Husband…" Wang Shi was too stunned to even cry. Ye Wenhua ignored her and turned to Ye Yue. "And you—if you don’t want to die, stop scheming. Don’t drag the entire Ye family down with you." Ye Yue lowered her eyes, her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves. "Father, I understand."

"You’d better," Ye Wenhua said grimly."Hua'er..." Old Lady Ye frowned, displeased with her son's forceful actions. Before she could finish, Ye Wenhua said sharply, "Mother, do you truly wish to see the Ye family cut off from descendants before you're satisfied?" The old lady was shocked. "How could that be? You're Ye Li's birth father—would she dare..."

Ye Wenhua gave a bitter smile. "Li'er might not, but when has Prince Ding ever truly regarded me as his father-in-law? How many people has Prince Ding killed over these years—does Mother not know? Or do you think he wouldn't go that far?"

Old Lady Ye fell silent. Over the years, not to mention how many Mo Xiuyao had slain on the battlefield, just the number he had killed for Ye Li alone... At this thought, she couldn't help but shudder.

Ye Wenhua snorted coldly, ignoring the hesitant old lady, turned, and strode away with a flick of his sleeve.

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao left the study and walked side by side toward the front hall. Ye Li couldn't help but ask curiously, "How do you plan to deal with Ye Yue?" It wasn't that she didn't trust Mo Xiuyao, but letting her off so easily didn't seem like his nature at all. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, his gaze gentle and amused as he looked at Ye Li. "Considering she entertained this prince for a moment, I'll let her enjoy herself for a couple of days first."

"Ye Yue doesn't seem like the type to resign herself to fate." Back in the imperial palace, she had managed to scheme her way out of certain death—let alone now. Moreover, Ye Yue was clever enough to realize Mo Xiuyao wouldn't truly let her go. Leaving her unchecked might just invite more trouble later.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "This prince would be disappointed if she simply resigned herself to fate. Back then... didn't she try to burn A Li to death? Dying so easily would be too merciful for her. A Li, don't bother with her. Come with me to tease Mo Jingli for a bit." Without giving Ye Li time to think, he pulled her along toward the front courtyard.

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin, following behind them, couldn't help but shiver, exchanging a glance. Would Wang Ye really plan to burn Ye Yue alive? If so, they couldn't help but pity her—it would have been better if she had just been killed outright earlier. And as for that bit about "teasing Prince Li"... Wang Ye, are you sure you meant Prince Li and not that little white foreign dog raised by Madam Xu's family?