Mo Li

Watching Ye Ying leave without a shred of mercy, Ye Yue wanted to chase after her, but the pain from her wounds left her immobilized. She could only clutch her unconscious child and sob bitterly. If she hadn’t been so desperate to regain a status even more prestigious than before by clinging to Mo Jingli, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a state. Yet, no amount of regret could change her current predicament.

Before long, a raging fire broke out in the most secluded courtyard of the Ye residence.

At the front courtyard, Ye Wenhua and Ye Laofuren, along with Ye Wangshi, were politely seeing Mo Jingli off. Though Ye Wenhua maintained a courteous expression, inwardly he wished Mo Jingli would never set foot in their home again. Initially, when Mo Jingli had returned and demanded to see Ye Yue, Ye Wenhua had been reluctant to agree. However, Ye Laofuren, unwilling to let go of the opportunity, had insisted on allowing Prince Li to meet Ye Yue one last time. Now, faced with Mo Jingli’s dark expression and Ye Laofuren’s disappointed look, Ye Wenhua didn’t know what to say.

"Master! Something terrible has happened—the rear courtyard is on fire!" A servant rushed forward in panic. Ye Wenhua froze. "Where exactly?"

The servant stammered, "It’s… the courtyard His Highness Prince Li and Wang Fei just visited." The answer was peculiar. Had they simply mentioned the courtyard where the Second Young Lady was confined, it might have taken everyone a moment to connect it to Mo Jingli. But by specifying it as the courtyard Prince Li and Princess Li had just left, it was obvious—even a fool would suspect Mo Jingli’s involvement.

Everyone turned to look and saw thick smoke billowing from the direction of the rear courtyard.

Wang Shi shrieked, "Yue Er!"

Ye Wenhua’s voice was grim. "Send people to put out the fire immediately!" Without another glance at Mo Jingli, he hastily cupped his hands in farewell and hurried toward the rear courtyard. Wang Shi, snapping out of her daze, followed closely behind.

Standing at the main gate, Mo Jingli’s expression darkened. He glanced at Ye Ying beside him and said coldly, "Return to the posthouse." Ye Ying nodded obediently. "Yes, Wang Ye."

In an instant, the previously lively entrance fell deathly silent. Ye Laofuren stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened. How… could this be?

When news of the fire at the Ye residence reached Prince Ding’s Estate, Mo Xiuyao merely smiled faintly. "Confirmed this time? That woman won’t be resurrecting again, will she?"

A Jin, standing at the door, nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Wang Ye. A Jin personally verified it. It was definitely Ye Yue."

Mo Xiuyao smiled in satisfaction. "Good. You’ve just returned, and I’ve already sent you on such a task. You’ve worked hard. Go see Uncle Mo now." A Jin nodded and left without further questions. Behind him, Mo Xiuyao’s voice drifted softly, "No need to inform Wang Fei about this matter."

A Jin paused briefly before continuing on his way. Wang Ye probably thought such a trivial matter wasn’t worth mentioning to Wang Fei.

The study was quiet. Mo Xiuyao gazed at the letter on his desk, a faint smile of contentment on his lips.

Meanwhile, Ye Li’s courtyard was bustling with activity. Not only were Xu Er Furen and Qin Zheng present, but also Madam Xu, Empress Hua, Murong Ting, and other close female companions had gathered. Joining in the lively atmosphere were the children—Mo Xiaobao, Leng Junhan, Xu Zhirui—as well as the recently born month-old twin bundles of joy.There were only two days left until Mr. Qingyun's birthday celebration, and everything in Li Cheng had been prepared accordingly. The entire Prince Ding's Estate had been bustling with preparations for this event over many days, but now that the time had finally arrived, they found themselves with rare leisure. A group of ladies gathered at Ye Li's place to visit the two little dumplings.

The two Madams Xu each held one of the babies in their arms, utterly enchanted by the soft, pink little bundles. So far, the Xu Family had only one child in this generation—Xu Zhirui—so the two madams naturally adored these little ones. Moreover, ever since the babies opened their eyes, they had been exceptionally well-behaved and clever. One giggled at the sight of anyone, while the other, though quieter, was equally obedient. They were even easier to care for than Mo Xiaobao had been as a baby. Even Mo Xiuyao had to admit that these two little ones combined weren’t half as much trouble as Mo Xiaobao had been alone.

"Oh, my sweet little Lin'er… What a precious little face…" Madam Xu (the elder) was especially fond of Lin'er and refused to put him down once she had him in her arms. Though still tiny, it was already clear that Lin'er took more after the Xu Family in appearance. Having never had a grandson of her own, Madam Xu naturally doted on this little one. Meanwhile, Madam Xu (the younger) was equally smitten with Xin'er in her arms. Though she already had a grandson, she had no granddaughter—in fact, the entire Xu Family lacked any daughters at all. Seeing such a sweet and lovely little girl, Madam Xu couldn’t help but adore her.

Ye Li watched the babies lying obediently in the arms of the two madams, their big eyes wide open, and covered a laugh with her hand. "If you both love children so much, why not urge Third Brother and Fourth Brother to marry sooner?"

At these words, Hua Tianxiang and Mo Wuyou, who were sitting nearby, immediately blushed. Mo Wuyou hid behind Empress Hua in embarrassment, while Hua Tianxiang, with nowhere to hide, could only glare at Ye Li with flushed cheeks. "Li'er, you—!"

Qin Zheng covered her mouth with a quiet laugh. "Li'er is right, Tianxiang. I’ve been waiting for you to join the Xu Family and keep me company."

Murong Ting, cradling her own precious son, added with a smile, "Exactly! My Junhan is almost five years old already."

"You—you’re all so shameless!" Hua Tianxiang stomped her foot in mortification.

Madam Xu (the younger), who was quite satisfied with Hua Tianxiang as her future daughter-in-law, quickly intervened to spare her further embarrassment. "Alright, enough of this teasing in front of the young ladies. Your uncles, grandfather, and Madam Yang have already discussed this. Since the late Duke sacrificed himself for the country, it was impossible to hold weddings during the mourning period. We’ll have to postpone the ceremonies until next year. By then, both Tianxiang and Wuyou can marry into our Xu Family—it’ll be a joyous occasion."

Wuyou was still young, but Hua Tianxiang was already of marriageable age. Ideally, they could have wed during the mourning period, but Xu Qingfeng had been away fighting in Chu Jing at the time, so they had no choice but to wait until the mourning period ended. Madam Xu had initially worried about finding suitable brides, but now that the matches were settled, her concerns had eased. Besides, once Mr. Qingyun’s birthday banquet was over, they could leisurely begin wedding preparations—by next year, everything would be ready.Empress Hua gazed affectionately at her blushing niece and daughter. Marrying into the Xu Family was undoubtedly a rare and excellent match for them, and she could rest assured. Although the Hua family's reputation was illustrious and their lineage noble, everyone knew that after the passing of Duke Hua, the family had somewhat declined. Even if the descendants were ambitious, it would likely take a decade or two to regain their former standing. The Xu Family had a simple household structure and did not place much importance on lineage, so Hua Tianxiang and Mo Wuyou would naturally not suffer any grievances after marrying in.

Hua Tianxiang was fortunate—she and Xu Qingfeng had taken a liking to each other, making it a match of mutual affection. As for Mo Wuyou and Xu Qingbai, Madam Xu had played a more significant role in arranging their union. Moreover, Xu Qingbai was not as expressive as Xu Qingfeng, making it difficult to discern his true feelings. Mo Wuyou was still young; even if she had begun to develop feelings for Xu Qingbai, it was all rather vague, and she had been betrothed before fully understanding her own emotions. It wasn’t that she was unwilling, but she couldn’t help feeling somewhat bewildered and at a loss.

Ye Li noticed Mo Wuyou’s expression but chose not to comment. Xu Qingbai certainly had some fondness for Wuyou—otherwise, given his gentle yet resolute nature, he wouldn’t have acquiesced to Madam Xu’s wishes. And the way Mo Wuyou spoke of Xu Qingbai didn’t suggest dislike either. In any case, both were still young and had plenty of time to grow into their relationship.

"Wang Fei, Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning request an audience," Qingshuang announced as everyone was chatting and laughing.

The group was taken aback, with Empress Hua and Mo Wuyou looking particularly conflicted. While the others merely found it odd, these two had deeper ties to Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning. Murong Ting couldn’t help but ask curiously, "What brings them to Prince Ding’s Estate at this time?" Since moving to Li Cheng, Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning had kept a low profile, rarely venturing out except for their initial visit to pay respects to Ye Li. It was no wonder Murong Ting was puzzled.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Li said, "Please show them in."

As Qingshuang went to carry out the order, Madam Xu asked, "If Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning have business with you, should we excuse ourselves?" Ye Li shook her head. "They’ll be living in Li Cheng long-term—are we to avoid each other forever? They’re likely here regarding Consort Liu."

"Consort Liu?!" The ladies were startled. To them, Consort Liu had long been considered deceased.

Ye Li nodded and paused before explaining, "Consort Liu is not dead. She is currently in Li Cheng. Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning must have received word and come to verify the news." Shortly after, Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning were escorted in. Both appeared to be in good spirits, suggesting they had settled comfortably in Li Cheng. Yet, the sight of Princess Zhenning’s half-lowered face, marred by a hideous scar on one side, couldn’t help but evoke silent sighs of pity."Greetings, Princess Ding." The two siblings showed no arrogance typical of the royal princes and princesses of Great Chu, instead offering respectful bows and greetings upon seeing Ye Li. Ye Li smiled warmly and said, "Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning, there's no need for such formality. Please come and sit. Have you been settling well in Li Cheng these days?"

Mo Xiaoyun nodded composedly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Wang Fei. My sister and I have been doing well." Though polite, his words were sincere. Though they were powerless prince and princess in Li Cheng, after enduring the hardships and suffering of the past two years, such a life was not unbearable. Moreover, Prince Ding's Estate had treated them fairly. Despite his young age, Mo Xiaoyun understood clearly—apart from Li Cheng and Prince Ding's Estate, there was no place in the world where he and his sister could find refuge. His youth and abilities were far from sufficient to establish the strength needed to protect themselves against the various forces of the realm.

Ye Li nodded, pleased with Mo Xiaoyun's clarity and pragmatism.

After thanking Ye Li, the two took their seats on the empty stools nearby, only to notice familiar faces beside them. They couldn't help but startle. "Mother… Eldest Sister…" Though Consort Liu and Empress Hua had always been at odds, Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning bore no ill will toward the Empress. At most, Princess Zhenning had once been intensely jealous of Mo Wuyou, but now, such envy seemed utterly meaningless.

Mo Wuyou, who had initially disliked the siblings due to Consort Liu, now softened upon seeing them. Knowing that their past two years in Li Cheng had been no better than her own suffering, and recalling how they had conducted themselves during the siege of Chu Jing, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. After all, they were siblings by blood. She nodded slightly and asked, "Are you both well?"

Princess Zhenning's eyes reddened as she bit her lip and nodded, lowering her head in shame. Back then, she had secretly gloated when Mo Wuyou was sent to the King of Nanzhao. Now, seeing that Mo Wuyou neither mocked her ruined appearance nor pitied her—the very thing she despised most—she felt only deeper remorse.

"Eldest Sister…"

Mo Wuyou smiled faintly. "Just call me Wuyou. I'm no longer a princess."

Mo Xiaoyun understood and nodded, addressing Empress Hua and Mo Wuyou, "Mother, Sister Wuyou." Though calling Empress Hua "mother" might seem unusual, it was not improper. As the principal wife of Mo Jingqi, she was the legal mother of all the imperial children. Empress Hua gave a slight nod and said calmly to Mo Xiaoyun, "You've suffered these past two years. Now that you've endured it, let go of the past and live well with your sister."

Mo Xiaoyun nodded. "Thank you for your guidance… Madam.""Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning have come to Prince Ding's Estate. Is there something you need?" Ye Li asked. Mo Xiaoyun glanced at the many ladies present but did not conceal the truth, nodding as he replied, "Wang Fei, my sister and I heard rumors that the Seventh Prince of Northern Rong has a woman by his side who bears an uncanny resemblance to... our mother. We wanted to know if it's true." Seeing the earnest looks on their faces, Ye Li sighed softly and nodded. "Indeed, the woman by Yelv Ye's side is named Qing Yina, said to be the Seventh Prince's betrothed. Though I haven't seen her true appearance, according to Ronghua Princess, she is the spitting image of Imperial Concubine Liu. If you have doubts, you may visit the posthouse and ask her yourselves."

Mo Xiaoyun's expression darkened as he said solemnly, "My sister and I have requested an audience at the posthouse twice, but both times we were refused. That's why... we came to seek your help, Wang Fei, hoping you could verify this for us..." After a moment of thought, Ye Li replied, "Qing Yina is a guest brought by Prince Yelv. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to directly send someone to question her. However, you could seek out Ronghua Princess for more information. She frequently visited the palace in her youth and should be more familiar with that person than I am."

Hearing this, the siblings were already certain of Imperial Concubine Liu's identity. Mo Xiaoyun's face was shadowed with gloom, while Princess Zhenning clutched her handkerchief so tightly her knuckles turned white, trembling faintly.

Ye Li looked at them and spoke earnestly, "Regardless of whether it's her or not, you must think carefully before acting. Do not act rashly. If you encounter any difficulties, come to the estate and speak with Wang Ye and me. Though this is Li Cheng, Yelv Ye is still a powerful prince of Northern Rong with considerable influence. You must not act recklessly."

After a brief silence, Mo Xiaoyun nodded. "Thank you for your advice, Wang Fei. We understand. We won't trouble you further—my sister and I will take our leave now." Ye Li gave a slight nod and said gently to Princess Zhenning, "Don't stay cooped up indoors all the time. Come out for walks more often—the outside world isn't so bad." Princess Zhenning bit her lip, nodded, and hurriedly followed Mo Xiaoyun out.

Watching the siblings depart, the mood in the room grew somber. Hua Tianxiang frowned and asked, "Was Princess Zhenning's face truly ruined by Imperial Concubine Liu?" She had often visited the palace in the past but had little impression of Princess Zhenning. In truth, none of Imperial Concubine Liu's three children resembled her much. As a daughter, Princess Zhenning was neglected by her own mother, while Mo Jingqi doted more on Mo Wuyou, leaving her with little presence in the palace—hardly befitting the daughter of a favored imperial concubine. Seeing the once-delicate face now marred by a hideous scar, Hua Tianxiang couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.

Ye Li shook her head. "No one knows for sure what happened. By the time we rescued her, Imperial Concubine Liu had already disappeared—only Princess Zhenning remained in the cold palace. Had we not arrived in time to save her, everyone would have assumed the one who perished in the fire was Imperial Concubine Liu." Thus, regardless of the truth, to the surviving Princess Zhenning, it seemed her own mother had abandoned her to die in the flames.

Empress Hua frowned slightly. "I fear Princess Zhenning harbors deep hatred for Imperial Concubine Liu. Could their confrontation lead to trouble?""With Prince Changxing present, there shouldn't be any trouble," Ye Li said with a furrowed brow.

When the topic turned to Consort Liu, everyone couldn't help but express their disgust. They were all well aware of Consort Liu's feelings for Mo Xiuyao and how she had forced him to marry her back then. Combined with the incident involving Princess Zhenning, their loathing for Consort Liu reached new heights. Murong Ting, holding Leng Junhan, said angrily, "If I ever meet that kind of woman, I'd whip her on the spot."

Mo Xiaobao, sitting obediently beside Ye Li while eating snacks, blinked his eyes and asked, "Mother, are you talking about that white-clothed auntie from Chu Jing?" Ye Li looked at him in surprise. "You still remember Consort Liu?"

Mo Xiaobao pouted unhappily. "That auntie was the worst. She always looked at me and Mother with strange eyes. I wanted to tell Father that if she kept looking, we should dig her eyes out, but then she died. Is she not dead yet?" Ye Li felt a headache coming on. Where did this excited tone come from? When had she ever taught him such cruel thoughts? He wasn't even seven years old at the time.

At the Northern Rong embassy, Ronghua Princess received the news that Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning had come to visit. A strange smile curled at the corners of her lips as she instructed her attendants to bring them in immediately. Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning had visited twice before but had been turned away at the gate without even being allowed inside. This time, they requested to see Ronghua Princess, and sure enough, they were soon escorted in.

Ronghua Princess deliberately received them in the main hall of the embassy. Smiling warmly, she took their hands and invited them to sit. "When I was still in Chu Jing, you were both just children. Who would have thought that after all these years, you'd have grown up?" Looking at the young pair before her, Ronghua Princess couldn't help but sigh. Though she wasn't old herself, seeing children she once knew now grown into adults made her reflect on how fleeting time was.

"How have you been in Northern Rong, Aunt Ronghua?" Mo Xiaoyun asked.

Ronghua Princess smiled. "The Crown Prince treats me very well. Everything is fine. I've heard about what happened these past few years—you two have suffered."

Mo Xiaoyun, no longer the naive child he once was, replied calmly, "My elder sister and I are doing well. Prince Ding's Estate has treated us kindly."

"That's good. Prince Ding is benevolent. Though it may not compare to the wealth and status of a royal prince, life there is far more peaceful than all the scheming and intrigue. Now that you've finally left that behind, don't dwell on it anymore. Not everyone is fortunate enough to escape that cycle." Her words carried both sympathy and advice. Mo Xiaoyun nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Aunt."

"Aunt Ronghua..." Princess Zhenning hesitated, unable to voice her thoughts. Ronghua Princess naturally understood their purpose for coming. She gently patted the back of Zhenning's hand and said softly, "I've heard about your troubles, poor child. You want to see Qing Yina, don't you?" Mo Xiaoyun hesitated for a moment before nodding. They had heard before that Ronghua Princess was arrogant and domineering, so her current kindness made them somewhat uneasy. After all, as children born into royalty, none of them were truly innocent, and they couldn't help but be suspicious of her sudden warmth.Princess Ronghua saw through his confusion at a glance and smiled faintly, saying, "Silly child, who can remain the same as they were in their youth? To be honest, I’m not even sure if it’s really her... I’ll have someone invite her over, and you can meet her. Just don’t act impulsively." The two nodded silently in response.

Before long, Imperial Concubine Liu, dressed in white, entered the room. Without even glancing at the others in the hall, she addressed Princess Ronghua coldly, "Why did you summon me here? What do you want to say?" These past few days, Imperial Concubine Liu had been in a terrible mood. Not only had she been harshly reprimanded by Yelv Ye upon returning to the embassy after encountering Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li on the street, but yesterday, Mo Xiaoyun and Zhenning had even come looking for her. Before arriving, she had never imagined these two children would be in Li Cheng. More importantly, she had no idea how to face them—nor did she want to see them at all.

Princess Ronghua raised an eyebrow and replied, "It’s not about me. Someone else wants to see you."

"Who are you..." Consort Liu's voice faltered as she stared in shock at the two cold-eyed youths before her. Two years had passed, and Mo Xiaoyun had grown much taller and more composed than before. Princess Zhenning sat beside him, her face similarly veiled, yet the pair of eyes visible above the cloth gleamed with icy detachment. A tremor ran through Consort Liu's heart. "You... who are you?!" It took her a moment to steady herself enough to speak.

But that fleeting look of astonishment, that familiar aura—how could it escape the notice of her own children? Seeing that Consort Liu had no intention of acknowledging them, pain and resentment flickered in their eyes. The moment Princess Zhenning's cold gaze met hers, Consort Liu guiltily averted her own, turning instead to glare at Ronghua Princess. "Crown Princess, what is the meaning of this?"

Ronghua Princess leisurely sipped her tea and smiled faintly. "Meaning? These are the orphaned children of my late cousin, the Emperor. Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning—they've come looking for you. Qing Yina, don't you recognize them?"

"I certainly do not," Consort Liu replied. "If there's nothing else, I shall retire to my chambers." With that, she turned to leave without so much as a glance at Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning. Ronghua Princess set down her teacup and chuckled. "Don't go, Qing Yina. These children have gone through great hardship to find their mother—their filial devotion is commendable. Even if you truly don't know them, you should at least give them a proper explanation."

Consort Liu paused, casting a hurried glance back at them. "You've mistaken me for someone else."

Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning remained silent as they watched her turn away. Gritting her teeth, Princess Zhenning called out, "Mother... do you truly not recognize us?"