Age is undoubtedly the most sensitive topic for any woman, especially for a stunning beauty who is no longer young. The fading of beauty and the graying of a general's hair are among the most lamentable things in this world. Thus, even the haughty Consort Liu, who usually disdained to engage with foreign women like Queen Helan, was provoked into fury.
"You wretch, what did you say?!" Consort Liu trembled with rage, glaring at Queen Helan as she spat out the words.
Queen Helan was only sixteen or seventeen this year—truly the age of a blooming flower. Though she lacked the delicate, fair complexion of Central Plains women, her youthful skin radiated a striking health and refinement under the sunlight, something Consort Liu, at her age, could no longer possess. No matter how meticulously she applied her makeup or how diligently she maintained her appearance, a woman in her thirties could never regain the dewy freshness of a maiden’s skin. Moreover, Consort Liu had endured considerable hardship in recent years, nearly undoing all her years of careful upkeep. Despite her efforts over the past two years, her beauty could never return to its former peak. Queen Helan’s words were nothing less than merciless salt rubbed into her wounds.
"How dare you!" Queen Helan’s expression darkened as she lifted her chin, staring down at Consort Liu with disdain. "Out of respect for your status as Prince Yelv’s woman, I’ve shown you some courtesy. But don’t think I won’t slap that face of yours! You’re not even the Northern Rong King’s consort yet—do you really think he’d trouble me over you?" Consort Liu’s glare was venomous, but Yelv Ye frowned and interjected sternly, "Enough. Queen Helan, Qing Yina misspoke. Please forgive her. However, you were also the first to speak out of turn. Why not let this matter rest?"
Queen Helan glanced at Ren Qining, who clearly had no intention of standing up for her, and snorted before turning her head away in silence.
Consort Liu, though unwilling to back down, also fell quiet under Yelv Ye’s warning gaze.
"Oh? Isn’t that Prince Ding and Princess Ding?" Queen Helan tilted her head toward the window, where she spotted Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li strolling hand in hand through the crowd. Amid the sea of black-haired people, Mo Xiuyao’s silver-white hair stood out vividly. At her words, the others turned to look as well. Indeed, they saw an extraordinary couple walking side by side, chatting and laughing as they moved leisurely through the throng.
Mo Xiuyao wore a pale blue robe embroidered with silver patterns, a jade belt cinching his waist, his long silver hair cascading freely. As he gazed down at the dark-haired woman beside him, his gentle laughter was a stark contrast to his usual cold and detached demeanor.
The woman beside him had lustrous black hair loosely gathered into a casual updo, adorned with a simple hibiscus hairpin and an exquisite silver hairpin that swayed delicately by her ear, accentuating her elegant and graceful beauty. Ye Li wore a plain white robe trimmed with silver, a silver belt fastened with a pale purple jade pendant. Though neither was dressed formally, their presence effortlessly drew the eyes of everyone around them.Not knowing what Mo Xiuyao had said, Ye Li shot him an annoyed glare and reached out to snatch the item from his hand. But Mo Xiuyao deftly avoided her with a smile, one hand supporting her waist while the other brought the object to her lips. Only then did the crowd realize what Mo Xiuyao was holding—a stick of candied hawthorns. Ren Qining and Yelv Ye couldn't help but twitch their lips. Given their status, no matter how much they doted on a woman, they would never engage in such behavior. Yet Mo Xiuyao carried himself with such ease and naturalness, clearly enjoying himself.
"It's long been said that Prince Ding and his Princess share an unbreakable bond. Seeing it today, the rumors truly don't do it justice," Yun Fei sighed softly, unable to conceal her envy toward the Princess.
Queen Helan, for once, agreed with Yun Fei. "Prince Ding is indeed an extraordinary man."
Yelv Ye's lips twitched again. Was the standard for a good man now buying candied hawthorns on the street? Noticing his dismissiveness, Queen Helan frowned. "Seventh Prince, could you ever go out on the street holding candied hawthorns for a woman?"
Yelv Ye curled his lip disdainfully. How could a prince of his stature demean himself like that for a woman? Queen Helan scoffed even harder. "I thought only Central Plains men were so hypocritical and obsessed with face. Turns out you Bei Rong people are no different. The men of our northern borders aren't as pretentious as you. Every one of them is as good as Prince Ding."
Just as Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were about to pass beneath the building, Queen Helan stood up and called down cheerfully, "Prince Ding, Princess Ding..."
Below, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao looked up to see Queen Helan waving at them enthusiastically. Of course, they also noticed Ren Qining and Yelv Ye, whose expressions were far from pleasant. Given that Ren Qining and Yelv Ye had allied against the Mo Family Army, their simultaneous presence in the same teahouse wasn’t entirely surprising. But for them to collude right under the Mo Family Army’s nose in Li Cheng was practically spitting in the face of Prince Ding's Estate. A faint smile touched Ye Li’s lips as she nodded at Queen Helan. "What a coincidence to see you here, Your Majesty." Queen Helan leaned over the windowsill and grinned. "Prince Ding and the Princess out for a stroll? Why not join us upstairs?"
"Since you insist so graciously," Ye Li replied with a smile, pulling Mo Xiuyao into the teahouse.
The moment they entered, the teahouse owner rushed forward, flustered with excitement. Though Prince Ding and the Princess resided in Li Cheng, they rarely ventured out. Their visit to this humble establishment was nothing short of a miracle for the owner. Seeing the man’s nervous excitement, Ye Li smiled gently. "No need to trouble yourself, proprietor. We’ll find our own way up." The owner nodded repeatedly, stealing a cautious glance at Prince Ding standing beside the Princess. A prince holding candied hawthorns was simply beyond the comprehension of ordinary folk. Not daring to engage further, he could only watch as Ye Li led Mo Xiuyao upstairs.Ren Qining and his party were not seated in a private room, but the manager knew their status was special. The place they occupied offered the best view and was the quietest spot in the entire teahouse. Separated by an eight-panel landscape screen, it formed a secluded world of its own, a tranquil haven amidst the bustle. As the two arrived hand in hand, both Ren Qining and Yelv Ye couldn't help but notice what was in Mo Xiuyao's other hand. Though the candied hawthorns from earlier were gone, seeing Prince Ding carrying a box of pastries was equally jarring. It felt like witnessing a celestial being worshipped by all suddenly revealed to have mundane human needs.
Facing their peculiar gazes, Mo Xiuyao remained unperturbed. He casually placed the pastry box on the table, revealing the "Pinlian Zhai" label—the most famous pastry shop in Li Cheng. Queen Helan's eyes immediately lit up. "Are these from Pinlian Zhai? Their pastries are the best! I went twice and had to wait in such long lines."
Of course, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li didn't need to queue—even if they were willing, the customers ahead would immediately yield. Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Indeed. A Li likes them too. If Her Majesty enjoys them, please feel free to try some."
Queen Helan didn't stand on ceremony and said cheerfully, "Then thank you, Prince Ding. You truly are a kind man."
Everyone present twitched at this. Prince Ding, a kind man? How many true villains could there be left in the world? Oblivious to their reactions, Queen Helan happily began eating the pastries, naturally sharing half with their original owner.
"In just a few short years, Li Cheng has flourished to this extent. Prince Ding and Wang Fei are truly skilled in governance," Yelv Ye remarked solemnly. Having attended Mo Xiaobao's full moon celebration years ago, he had witnessed the city's transformation firsthand. Its area alone had more than doubled. Moreover, with the decline of the Western Mausoleum Imperial City and Chu Jing, Li Cheng could now be considered the most prosperous city in the world. The Northern Rong lands were barren, its people nomadic. Even their few cities were modest in scale—their grandest, the Northern Rong royal court, might not compare to a second-tier city in the Central Plains. Thus, the prosperity of the Central Plains filled the Bei Rong people with envy. Though they now held several cities seized from Da Chu, the Bei Rong excelled in warfare, not governance. Once-thriving cities under Yelv Ye's rule had withered into desolation, their decline palpable.
Mo Xiuyao replied mildly, "You flatter me, Seventh Prince. Compared to Chu Jing and the Jiangnan region, the northwest remains impoverished. I've merely done my best."Both men were unimpressed by his humility. No matter how prosperous and wealthy Mo Jingli's territory in the south of the Yangtze River was, something that could be lost at any moment was as good as nonexistent. But Mo Xiuyao was different—at least for the time being, no one dared to take anything from him. Although the dignitaries from various countries had avoided much interaction in Li Cheng these days to show respect for their host and avoid suspicion, they all had their own sources of information. At present, Western Liang, despite losing vast territories yet compensating with gains from Chu, remained strong and had no intention of provoking Mo Xiuyao. Instead, Lei Zhenting had turned his focus to Mo Jingli in the south. If that were the case, they would need to think twice before challenging Mo Xiuyao. After all, whether they could win was one thing, but if they ended up paving the way for others, it would be a futile effort.
Yelv Ye, for his part, had also temporarily abandoned any plans to wage war against Mo Xiuyao. News from Northern Rong indicated that his elder brother, the crown prince, was making frequent moves. Coupled with the prolonged stalemate in battles against the Mo Family Army, his previously victory-intoxicated mind had sobered somewhat. If his elder brother gained the upper hand at home, even if he defeated Mo Xiuyao once or twice on the frontlines, it would be meaningless—unless he could annihilate the Mo Family Army entirely, otherwise he would only be depleting his own strength. Recalling that Yelv Hong had a far more amicable relationship with Prince Ding's Estate than he did, Yelv Ye felt a slight stirring in his heart. His gaze toward Mo Xiuyao grew sharper and more profound. "Prince Ding, I have a business proposition I’d like to discuss with you. What do you say?"
"Business?" Mo Xiuyao seemed to find this amusing. "Seventh Prince, your Northern Rong army of several hundred thousand is still poised menacingly at the border, and you want to discuss business with me?"
Yelv Ye smiled indifferently. "You Central Plains folk have a saying: there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. Similarly, there are no eternal enemies, are there?"
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "That does sound reasonable. Seventh Prince, care to elaborate?" Across from them, Ren Qining’s expression darkened when he saw Yelv Ye attempting to strike a deal with Mo Xiuyao right in front of him. After all, the Northern Border and Northern Rong were supposed to be allies. Yelv Ye, of course, had no intention of offending Ren Qining and said with a smile, "Actually, this matter would benefit everyone. Would the King of the Northern Border be interested?"
Ren Qining replied coolly, "I’m all ears."
Beside them, Queen Helan frowned. "What’s wrong with you men? Didn’t we come out to have fun? Now you’re sitting here talking about these tedious matters again. I don’t want to listen to this nonsense." At her words, Ren Qining frowned in displeasure. "If that’s the case, Your Majesty may return to the embassy first."
"Return? I haven’t had enough fun yet," Queen Helan retorted bluntly, further souring Ren Qining’s expression. Ye Li stood up and said with a gentle smile, "In that case, why doesn’t Queen Helan accompany me for a stroll? It would be my pleasure to fulfill my duties as hostess." Queen Helan’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly took Ye Li’s arm. "Where will you take me, Wang Fei? Li Cheng is so lively, with so many interesting things—I want to buy lots to take back!" Ye Li smiled. "When it’s time for Your Majesty to leave, I’ll have someone send you whatever you like as a gift.""Princess Ding, you're truly kind. Let's go quickly!" Without waiting for any response from the others, she eagerly grabbed Ye Li's hand and dashed downstairs. Ye Li waved at Mo Xiuyao to signal she was fine before following Queen Helan down. Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly, watching from the window as the guards outside the teahouse trailed after them, only relaxing once they were in sight.
"Prince Ding's devotion to his princess is truly enviable," Consort Liu said through gritted teeth, staring at Mo Xiuyao. His striking features and silver hair still carried an imposing aura. The sight filled her with bitter resentment, like a venomous snake gnawing at her heart. Though Mo Xiuyao was a year or two older than her, two years ago they might have appeared close in age. Now, if Consort Liu removed her veil, despite her lingering beauty, she would seem several years older than him.
Mo Xiuyao ignored her, sipping his tea before addressing Yelv Ye. "Prince Yelv, state your business."
The woman left unheard seethed beneath her composed facade, her lovely features twisting into something ugly.
Not far from the teahouse, in a quiet upstairs room of Elegance Pavilion, a jewelry shop, Ye Li and Queen Helan sat facing each other. Ye Li leisurely savored the fresh tea brought by the shopkeeper while smiling at Queen Helan, who was curiously examining the exquisite jewelry on the table. After a while, Ye Li asked softly, "Queen Helan, was there something you wished to discuss with me?"
At this, Queen Helan set down the jewelry in her hands. The bright, inquisitive smile faded from her face, replaced by a resolve uncommon among Central Plains women and a rare wisdom and composure unusual for a woman of the Northern Border. The sudden transformation lent the previously spirited young woman an air of authority. Queen Helan nodded with a smile. "I knew I couldn’t hide anything from Princess Ding."
Ye Li smiled faintly. "Your Majesty sought my goodwill from the very first day. It would have been disappointing if I hadn’t noticed. But what matter requires you to speak with me away from the King of the Northern Border?" Queen Helan met Ye Li’s gaze intently and said solemnly, "I wish to collaborate with Prince Ding's Estate. No—to be precise, we, the people of the Northern Border, wish to collaborate with Prince Ding's Estate."
"The people of the Northern Border?" Ye Li paused. "Not the Northern Border Kingdom?" The Northern Border was home to two groups: the native Northern Border people and those who identified as descendants of the former dynasty—Central Plains people. These so-called descendants were merely Great Chu citizens who had defected or been absorbed into Ren Qining’s forces over the years. Ren Qining trusted Central Plains people far more. His ambition to restore the former dynasty’s legitimacy meant that, as time passed, he would inevitably suppress the Northern Border people, even to the point of abandoning them entirely. Otherwise, his claim to Central Plains orthodoxy would ring hollow, unacceptable to Central Plains scholars. Unless he was willing to rule as a foreign monarch under the banner of the Northern Border—but doing so would multiply resistance by hundreds and risk alienating even his loyal Central Plains followers. From the start, the two peoples had been locked in an irreconcilable conflict. That was why Mr. Qingyun had told Ren Qining he had been wrong from the very beginning.
After a moment of contemplation, Ye Li asked curiously, "Can Queen Helan truly decide such matters?"Queen Helan lifted her chin proudly and declared, "Since I am here, naturally I can make decisions. Our northern lands are not like your Central Plains, where daughters are confined to boudoirs. We can do anything men can do. Our family line has always had few children, and I have no siblings. After my father passes, I will inherit the position of clan leader. And after my cousin's death, her branch of the family should also pass to me or my children according to tradition. But those detestable Central Plains people around Ren Qining have seized control of our northern people's rights. We only want to reclaim what rightfully belongs to us."
Ye Li had considered using Queen Helan for certain purposes, but she hadn't expected this young queen to be such an important figure. For a moment, she was genuinely surprised, though her usual composure prevented Queen Helan from noticing her thoughts. Ye Li said softly, "I heard the previous queen of the northern lands was also an extraordinary woman. What a pity we never had the chance to meet."
At this mention, Queen Helan's eyes reddened with anger. She gritted her teeth and said, "If not for Ren Qining, why would my cousin have humiliated herself like that? She gave up her position as clan leader for him, yet he constantly distrusted her, letting other women provoke her. He even found opportunities to kill all the people my cousin trusted. If my cousin hadn't saved him back then, how could this ungrateful wretch have achieved what he has today?"
Seeing Queen Helan's fury, Ye Li sighed inwardly. With Ren Qining's martial skills and influence, how could he have coincidentally been in danger in the northern lands? That initial encounter was likely a calculated scheme from the start. Still, Ren Qining had certainly invested heavily for his so-called grand ambitions. "Your Majesty, I believe you must know... about your cousin's death..." This wasn't exactly a secret, and Ye Li thought it best to clarify matters upfront. She had no desire to be stabbed in the back midway through any cooperation.
Queen Helan said firmly, "I know. My father said these grievances can be set aside for now. We northerners keep our word. As long as Wang Fei helps us drive out Ren Qining, we won't oppose Prince Ding's Estate." Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, "In that case, what benefits would I gain?"
Queen Helan replied, "The northern army will withdraw completely to our original border with Great Chu. Your Central Plains may be prosperous, but our northern lands with their white mountains and black rivers are no less. We only wish to live our own lives." It wasn't that northerners lacked ambition entirely, but rather that their development hadn't yet reached a stage to sustain such ambitions. Before Ren Qining appeared in the north, the region consisted of scattered tribes. Northerners lived by fishing and hunting—they didn't farm like Central Plains people, nor did they herd horses and sheep like the Northern Rong. The people were naturally simple and honest. Ren Qining had brought too many changes. But not everyone could adapt well to such earth-shaking transformations in less than twenty years—from occasional tribal skirmishes to full-scale battles against Great Chu's regular armies and the Mo Family Army. The northerners bore the heaviest losses. They weren't fools either; it was clear that continuing down this path, even if Ren Qining someday unified the realm, the northern people might well be nearly extinct by then.So, they decided to drive out Ren Qining and his close associates, reclaiming the rights that belonged to the people of the Northern Frontier. Perhaps one day they too would join the battle for contending for world domination, but that was a matter for the distant future—certainly not now.
Ye Li remained silent for a long while before finally nodding and saying, “Queen Helan’s proposal is quite appealing to me. If Her Majesty is sincere in her cooperation, then I believe we can proceed.”
Such a prompt reply took Queen Helan by surprise. In her impression, people from the Central Plains always preferred to think thrice before acting. Someone as decisive as Ye Li was truly rare. “Can Wang Fei make the decision?” Ye Li smiled faintly. “If I couldn’t make the decision, wouldn’t Your Majesty have wasted your time by coming to me?”
Queen Helan looked somewhat apologetic. “I originally intended to ask Wang Fei to relay a message to Prince Ding for me. Moreover, I’ve heard that Wang Fei is quite formidable. Perhaps you could help persuade Prince Ding. He might not be willing to cooperate with me. You people from the Central Plains always seem reluctant to let women meddle in such matters.”
Ye Li chuckled. “I can indeed make the decision. However… Your Majesty must first show me the sincerity of the Northern Frontier. Otherwise, how can I trust Your Majesty?”
Queen Helan nodded solemnly and carefully took out a box, placing it before Ye Li. "This contains the sacred relic of our Northern ancestors. Possessing it grants you the right to request any one task from all twenty-six tribes of the Northern Territories. Whatever you ask, every Northerner will brave fire and water to fulfill it. This is our most treasured artifact. For now, I entrust it to Wang Fei's care."
Ye Li opened the box. Inside lay a piece of brown-patterned animal hide, resembling tiger skin. Upon it rested a short knife—crude in appearance, its many engravings worn smooth with age. The blade was neither iron nor bronze, nor the usual ornamental jade knife, but seemed carved from some kind of stone. Though Ye Li generally didn't put much stock in the binding power of tokens, she understood some peoples' profound faith in so-called sacred objects.
"Your Majesty isn't afraid I might not return it?"
Queen Helan replied gravely, "Should that occur, the Northern Territories would spare no effort to reclaim our sacred relic. But I believe neither Wang Fei nor Prince Ding are such people."
Ye Li closed the box and nodded. "By tomorrow at the latest, His Highness and I will give Your Majesty our answer."
Only then did Queen Helan show a faint smile. "Then I thank Wang Fei."
–––––– Author's Note ––––––
New Work Recommendation: Autumn Moon Water Pavilion—"The Distinguished Medical Maiden, Splendid Farmlands"
Synopsis: This is a standard one-on-one romance where the male lead dotes on the female lead to the core.
An inspirational growth story about a rural medical girl's heartwarming journey of agricultural entrepreneurship.
Waking one day, she—born into a prestigious medical family—finds herself transmigrated as a peasant girl;
Orphaned young with only a younger brother, two meager fields, and three ramshackle rooms;
Her fiancé's family bullies the weak, demanding marriage annulment, while her maternal relatives take advantage, grafting blame;
Worst of all, she's framed, gaining a notorious reputation that leaves her unmarriageable;
Enraged!
Rolling up her sleeves, she roars: This lady isn't made of clay or paper! Anyone wanting to bully these orphaned siblings must first face this reincarnated Hua Tuo of a medical maiden!
OpenNovel