Mo Li

"Xu Qingchen..."

While Xu Qingchen was deep in thought, Yunge's delicate figure had already appeared at the door, hesitating as she gazed at the handsome man inside.

Xu Qingchen looked up and smiled faintly at the young girl dressed in a soft yellow gown standing at the entrance. "Why don't you come in?" The girl's fair cheeks flushed slightly, and she tugged at her sleeves self-consciously, staring at Xu Qingchen with hopeful eyes.

Xu Qingchen smiled warmly and praised, "You look lovely."

Indeed, she did. The girl's delicate, petite face was free of makeup, yet her slightly flushed cheeks seemed dusted with a faint rouge, radiant as peach blossoms. Her bright eyes held a trace of unease, making her all the more endearing. Though Ye Li was not particularly fond of elaborate dressing, her taste was impeccable. The soft yellow silk dress was embroidered with pale pink plum blossoms, and a light-colored belt cinched her slender waist. As it was already early winter, the outfit was paired with a light purple cape trimmed with white fox fur. The fluffy white fur framing her neck accentuated Yunge's dainty, charming face, making it impossible to look away.

At Xu Qingchen's compliment, the girl's smile brightened even more. As he watched the beaming young girl, Xu Qingchen found himself momentarily lost in thought...

Prince Li's Palace, Nanjing City

The Prince Li's Palace was bustling with activity that day. Nearly everyone of any reputation or influence in and around Nanjing had been invited to the banquet at Prince Li's Palace. Though some wore less-than-joyful expressions, none dared to refuse Prince Li's summons—not when his authority in the Jiangnan region was absolute, his word law.

Ye Li arrived with Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin in tow. Wei Lin stepped forward and handed the invitation to the steward greeting guests at the entrance. The steward glanced at the elegant, handsome young master before him and couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Though this Young Master Chu hailed from the north, his refined demeanor and striking looks were rare even in Jiangnan, a land renowned for its scholars. No wonder Yunzhou was often called the Land of the Virtuous. After a brief pause, the steward quickly directed attendants to escort Ye Li and his companions inside.

This was Ye Li's first visit to Prince Li's Palace. Though he had long been familiar with its layout, stepping inside was a different experience altogether. Northern architecture emphasized grandeur, while the south prized intricate craftsmanship. Mo Jingli, ever concerned with appearances, had ensured his Regent Prince's Palace was the finest in all of Nanjing—its scale even rivaling that of the Prince Ding's Estate in Chu Jing back in the day. It was a clear testament to the depth of Mo Jingli's rivalry with Mo Xiuyao.

The banquet was held in a grand hall at the palace's center. The hall spanned nine bays in width and five in depth, its floors paved with golden bricks, exuding majesty. Above the main entrance, the name "Taihua Hall" was inscribed.

Standing before the hall, many couldn't help but frown subtly. Ye Li arched a brow and remarked, "Why does this Taihua Hall seem so familiar?" Zhuo Jing chuckled softly and replied, "Young Master, it bears some resemblance to the Hall of Diligent Governance in Chu Jing. No wonder it strikes you as familiar."Ye Li suddenly realized that it wasn't that Taihua Hall resembled the Hall of Diligent Governance in appearance. After all, the Hall of Diligent Governance was built by the founding emperor of Chu Jing, majestic and magnificent without losing imperial grandeur, while Taihua Hall overly pursued exquisite luxury, with intricate carvings and paintings that instead made it seem somewhat petty and ostentatious. However, the nine palace doors and the mythical beasts at the corners were identical to those in the Hall of Diligent Governance. Nine was the ultimate number, reserved exclusively for emperors. Even the main hall of Prince Ding's Estate back in the day only used seven. Mo Jingli's covetousness for the throne was so blatant that he didn't even bother to conceal it in the slightest.

Upon entering the hall, many dignitaries were already seated. The moment Ye Li stepped in, she spotted Marquis Muyang and his son seated near the front, along with Yao Ji, resplendent in lavish attire, sitting beside Mu Yang. Yao Ji smiled and nodded at Ye Li, prompting Mu Yang, who was beside her, to immediately turn his gaze over as well. After glancing at Ye Li and then back at Yao Ji, the latter whispered something into Mu Yang's ear, after which he nodded at Ye Li.

Ye Li returned the greeting with a faint nod and followed the usher to her seat. Although the Chu family was a prominent clan in Great Chu, they currently held little influence in the southern capital. Thus, Ye Li's seat was neither too far forward nor too far back. For someone of Chu Junwei's status, this placement was quite an honor.

Ye Li's entrance drew many eyes, and those who didn't recognize her couldn't help but inquire among themselves—which family's young master possessed such remarkable presence.

"Might this be Young Master Chu Junwei?" the middle-aged man seated beside Ye Li asked with a smile.

Ye Li nodded and cupped her hands in greeting. "May I ask who you are, sir?" The man replied, "My surname is Lin, a mere merchant, unworthy of comparison to a scion of a noble family like yourself." Ye Li smiled. "You flatter me, Mr. Lin. The Lin family leads the silk trade in Jiangnan, with fortunes that likely rival the wealthiest magnates of our time. How could a mere branch descendant like me compare?"

Her words clearly pleased the middle-aged man. Wealthy merchants often harbored mixed feelings of admiration and envy toward the cultured elites of scholarly families. A single compliment from them was worth a hundred from ordinary folk. "Haha, you're too kind, Young Master Chu. We reek of money, nowhere near as refined as someone of your stature."

In truth, Ye Li was quite familiar with this man, though they had never met. Mr. Lin was the foremost silk merchant in Jiangnan, and a significant portion of the silk Li Cheng exported to the Western Regions came from transactions with the Lin family. As the mistress of Prince Ding's Estate, Ye Li naturally knew her business partners well.

"You praise me too highly, Mr. Lin. I merely happened to be traveling in Jiangnan for my studies when I found myself caught up in this occasion... Prince Li... As a mere branch descendant, how could I possibly speak for the Chu family?" Ye Li sighed softly, her handsome brows furrowing slightly.The middle-aged man sighed in response, "Young Master speaks truly. It's just a pity that with Prince Li now in power, as the saying goes, 'the people do not contend with officials.' What can we ordinary citizens do?" His family, the Lin Family, conducted substantial business with Prince Ding's Estate. In fact, it was precisely because of this business that the Lin Family had secured the top position in Jiangnan's silk industry. What benefit would the Lin Family gain if something happened to Prince Ding's Estate? Moreover... he had little faith in Prince Li's governance. If not for the Lin Family's silk business being deeply rooted in Jiangnan and impossible to relocate, he would have long moved the family to Li Cheng.

Now, things had taken a turn for the worse. Everyone knew how well-informed Prince Ding's Estate was. If word got out that he had donated money to Prince Li... The middle-aged man frowned, his expression darkening further. Seated beside him, Ye Li could easily guess his thoughts and sighed helplessly. "Fortunately, my home is in Yunzhou. If I can leave today and return immediately, there shouldn’t be much trouble. At worst, I’ll just gift the estate I own here in Nanjing to Prince Li's Palace. Surely Prince Ding's Estate won’t hold it against me, considering the Xu Family’s standing."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man was momentarily stunned before his face lit up with sudden delight. He grabbed Ye Li’s hand and laughed, "Since Young Master is traveling, you likely haven’t brought many cumbersome belongings. If there’s anything you need, I’d be happy to assist."

Ye Li calmly withdrew his hand and replied with a faint smile, "How could I trouble you, Mr. Lin?"

The middle-aged man chuckled apologetically, "It’s no trouble at all. As the saying goes, 'At home, one relies on parents; abroad, one relies on friends.' I’d like to befriend Young Master Chu—I only fear you might find us merchants too vulgar."

Ye Li couldn’t help but smile, finding the man somewhat amusing. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. "How might I repay your kindness, Mr. Lin?"

The man cautiously glanced around before suggesting, "Perhaps we could discuss this in private?"

Ye Li said, "I’m merely a collateral branch of the Chu Family. What if I disappoint you in the end?"

The middle-aged man had no choice but to lower his voice and admit, "Truthfully, it’s nothing major. With Young Master Chu’s talents, I can’t believe you hold no influence in the Chu Family. I merely wish... for you to introduce me to Qingchen Gongzi or even Han Gongzi." When Prince Ding and Princess Ding were absent from Li Cheng, Qingchen Gongzi held full authority over Prince Ding's Estate, while Han Mingxi managed all external business dealings. An introduction to either would be invaluable.

Ye Li lowered his gaze with a faint smile. "If that’s all, it’s a small matter—certainly no trouble."

Relieved, the middle-aged man regarded Ye Li with even greater respect. This was no trivial favor—someone of his status would find it nearly impossible to meet Qingchen Gongzi. The fact that Chu Junwei spoke with such confidence suggested a close relationship. "In that case, many thanks, Young Master," he said with a cupped-hand salute.

"Prince Regent arrives! His Majesty arrives!" A sharp voice interrupted the man before he could say more. Ye Li smiled faintly, signaling they could continue later. The middle-aged man quickly composed himself, setting aside his regret, and stood to welcome the Prince Regent and the Emperor.The young emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, followed closely behind Mo Jingli. It was said that Mo Suoyun was nearly a year older than Mo Xiaobao, but now he appeared half a head shorter than Xiao Bao had been when Ye Li left Li Cheng months ago. Trembling as he trailed behind Mo Jingli, he looked nothing like a ruler of a nation—more like an abused little wretch.

Ye Ying walked beside Mo Jingli, her heart aching at the sight of the pitiful child. She wanted to reach out and comfort him, but one glance at Mo Jingli’s stern expression made her hesitate.

"Greetings to the Regent Prince! Greetings to His Majesty!" By protocol, even though the Regent now held power, the emperor should have been addressed first. However, during the announcements, the Regent’s name had consistently been placed before the emperor’s. Among the banquet attendees, the court officials were long accustomed to this, while many of the invited wealthy merchants either failed to notice the breach or dared not offend Prince Li and simply followed the crowd.

"Rise," Mo Jingli commanded, gazing down imperiously at the crowd. He strode to the main seat at the head of the hall and sat before speaking again.

"Thank you, Regent Prince," the assembly chorused.

Ye Ying took her seat to Mo Jingli’s right, while the young emperor, Mo Suoyun, stole a cautious glance at the Regent before timidly settling into the empty seat on the left. The guests below exchanged subtle, disapproving glances at the sight of the fearful child-emperor.

Mo Jingli surveyed the hall with satisfaction, his lips curving into a smile. "There’s no need for restraint. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves." The guests thanked him again, though none were truly at ease. Everyone present had their sources of information—they knew exactly why the Regent had summoned this banquet. The forcibly invited merchants, in particular, wore stiff smiles, their appetites long gone.

The atmosphere was undeniably tense, but Ye Li remained unperturbed. She ate and sipped her wine with calm composure, as if entirely unaware of the banquet’s purpose. From his elevated position, Mo Jingli observed every expression in the room. His mood had been foul these past few days—first, Dongfang You had vanished. Though he often fantasized about strangling the woman, her sudden disappearance had left many of his plans in disarray. She had tightly controlled crucial resources in the Cangmang Mountains, and without her, he couldn’t mobilize those forces. Then, the Empress Dowager had openly defied him in court. While the strained relationship between mother and son was no secret in Nanjing, his brazen imprisonment of his own mother had drawn fierce criticism from scholars. Now, watching the reluctant obedience on every face in the hall, Mo Jingli felt a surge of satisfaction. So what if they opposed him in their hearts? Outwardly, they still had to kneel and submit.

"Bring them in!" His voice cut through the heavy silence of the banquet.Before long, two palace guards dragged in a middle-aged man covered in wounds and forced him to kneel on the ground. Ye Li glanced at him curiously—she didn’t recognize the man. However, Old Master Lin beside her couldn’t help but gasp and whisper, “It’s Zhang Baiwan.” Many others in the hall wore the same expression as Old Master Lin. Living in the same city of Nanjing, most prominent figures naturally knew each other. Of course, Zhang Baiwan wasn’t his real name. He was a renowned grain merchant in the Jiangnan region, said to own sixty percent of the rice shops there. In Nanjing, he was considered one of the wealthiest merchants, with riches beyond counting—hence the nickname Zhang Baiwan (Zhang Million).

In Nanjing, Zhang Baiwan had another moniker: “Money-Grubbing Miser.” Despite his immense wealth, he dressed plainly and lived frugally, even his family leading a modest life, as if afraid others would discover his riches. He was quick to take advantage of others, but if someone so much as cost him a single copper coin, he would stew over it for days. How could such a man willingly hand over vast sums to Mo Jingli for military provisions? Moreover, Mo Jingli’s army’s campaign would naturally require grain. Mo Jingli had already sent envoys to negotiate with him, but Zhang Baiwan had avoided them. Today’s banquet? He simply didn’t attend.

With Mo Jingli’s temperament, how could he tolerate such defiance? And so, at this very banquet in the Prince Regent’s palace, Zhang Baiwan—who refused to enter with his invitation in dignified fashion—was instead dragged in under guard.

Mo Jingli swept a cold glance over the plump, kneeling middle-aged man and sneered, “Master Zhang, you’re truly difficult to invite, aren’t you?”

Zhang Baiwan’s face twisted in distress as he stammered, “Wang Ye, spare me! This humble subject wouldn’t dare. I truly fell ill, which is why… I beg for your mercy.”

“Ill?” Mo Jingli said. “Is that so? My palace happens to have several skilled imperial physicians. Why not let them examine you? It would be a shame to leave any ailment untreated.”

“N-no need…” Zhang Baiwan paled, as if genuinely sick. But how could he dare let Prince Li’s physicians examine him? Even if he were truly terminally ill, their diagnosis would surely declare him perfectly healthy. Besides, everyone knew his “illness” was merely an excuse.

“Insolence!” Mo Jingli’s expression darkened as he slammed a hand on the armrest, the heavy thud making the assembled guests shudder. Zhang Baiwan’s plump frame trembled, his face turning ashen with terror.

“I offered you face, yet you scorned it. Did you truly think I’d tolerate such disrespect?” Mo Jingli’s voice dripped with malice as he waved a hand. “Drag him out and give him fifty heavy strikes. I’m sure Master Zhang’s health will recover swiftly.”

Fifty strikes—if carried out in full, a man like Zhang Baiwan, untrained in martial arts and no longer young, could be sent straight to his funeral. Even if Prince Li’s men showed mercy, such a beating would likely strip him of seventy to eighty percent of his life. Clearly, Prince Li intended to swallow the entire Zhang family whole. The guests shuddered inwardly, silently grateful they hadn’t been so foolish.The guards beside him gave Zhang Baiwan no chance to plead further, immediately gagging him and dragging him out. Soon after, the heavy sound of bamboo strikes and Zhang Baiwan's muffled groans of pain could be heard outside. Clearly, Mo Jingli intended to make an example of him.

"Prince Regent." Amidst the fearful silence of the crowd, a clear yet deep voice rang out in the hall. Everyone turned to see a young master in white robes rise gracefully, his expression composed as he spoke, "Your Highness is about to embark on a northern campaign. There's no need to trouble yourself with ignorant commoners. I implore Your Highness to reconsider."

Mo Jingli raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he regarded Ye Li. "Young Master Chu wishes to plead for him?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I do not plead for Merchant Zhang, but... Your Highness's northern expedition is for the foundation of Great Chu. Killing Zhang Baiwan may harm Your Highness's reputation."

"How interesting." Mo Jingli's actions were meant to intimidate the crowd, not actually take Zhang Baiwan's life—at least not before he left the Prince Regent's residence alive. Seeing Ye Li's words, Mo Jingli raised a hand, signaling his men to halt the punishment.

Before long, Zhang Baiwan was dragged back and unceremoniously dumped on the floor. Despite Ye Li's intervention, he had still suffered over twenty strikes, his robes soaked with blood at the back.

Mo Jingli coldly observed the man writhing on the ground before turning to Ye Li. "This prince's northern campaign is to reclaim Great Chu's lost territories. Yet when borrowing funds from the people in the court's name, this Zhang Baiwan repeatedly refused. Does Young Master Chu believe such a man does not deserve punishment?"

Ye Li replied calmly, "Such a man certainly deserves punishment. However, to execute without teaching is cruelty; to punish without warning is tyranny. As all know, Merchant Zhang treasures wealth above all else—his momentary folly was inevitable. Now that he has learned his lesson, I trust he will not disappoint Your Highness again."

"Is that so?" Mo Jingli arched a brow at Zhang Baiwan. The merchant, who had amassed vast fortunes, was no fool. He knew he had narrowly escaped death—had it not been for Young Master Chu's plea, he might have become "Zhang the Corpse" by now. Trembling under Mo Jingli's gaze, he nodded frantically. "This young master speaks wisely... This lowly one was momentarily blinded. I beg Your Highness's mercy. I am willing to donate five hundred thousand dan of grain to support the army."

"Supporting the army" meant an outright donation—no repayment expected. Though Mo Jingli had never intended to repay, the term sounded better than "borrowing." Yet... "Five hundred thousand?" Five hundred thousand dan of grain sounded substantial, but for an army of hundreds of thousands, it wouldn't last a month. Mo Jingli was far from satisfied. Zhang Baiwan shuddered and wailed, "One... one million dan..."

Mo Jingli gave a light hum, smiling. "In that case, this prince must thank Merchant Zhang for his generosity. Additionally, the army's subsequent provisions will require your assistance—naturally, the court will purchase them at a premium. Agreed?"

What choice did Zhang Baiwan have but to nod? He knew full well that Mo Jingli's so-called "premium" was empty rhetoric. Even fair prices were unlikely—he would likely end up footing the bill himself. By the war's end, he could only hope the Zhang family would retain some scraps of their fortune.Having learned from Zhang Baiwan's lesson, the wealthy merchants present became much more tactful. Without waiting for Mo Jingli to speak, they eagerly offered donations of money and goods, with a significant portion being voluntary contributions. Though they likely cursed Mo Jingli's ancestors eight generations back in their hearts, they still had to cautiously maintain polite smiles on their faces. They feared that if Mo Jingli became angry, they might not even make it out of Prince Li's Palace alive.

In just a short while, Ye Li roughly calculated in her mind that the forced donations from those present had already amounted to five or six million taels of silver, along with countless other materials. With such a substantial income, Mo Jingli's gloomy expression improved considerably. Ye Li also tactfully donated fifty thousand taels of silver. Although Mo Jingli was slightly dissatisfied, he considered that Chu Junwei, being away from home, was already showing great respect by offering fifty thousand taels. Moreover, Chu Junwei had earlier spoken up to persuade the others, giving Mo Jingli a way to save face, which earned him some goodwill. Thus, Mo Jingli said nothing more. Of course, the fifty thousand taels ultimately came from the Lin family head sitting beside Ye Li. The Lin family head, attending this banquet, had lost four hundred and fifty thousand taels for nothing, his heart aching so much his face turned green. Everyone present knew that this money was likely gone for good, like meat buns thrown to a dog. Fortunately, the Jiangnan region had always been prosperous, and these wealthy merchants could bear the losses. If this had happened in places like Nanzhao or Western Liang, these people might have rebelled even before Mo Jingli launched his northern campaign.

Having obtained what he wanted, Mo Jingli had no interest in continuing to drink and dine with these people. After toasting a cup of wine, he stood up and left. The attendees, though also feeling sick to their stomachs, dared not leave immediately. If they left right after Prince Li, wouldn’t it be obvious they were displeased with him? Since ancient times, the idea that "the poor do not fight the rich, and the rich do not contend with officials" had been deeply ingrained in people's bones. As long as they could survive, ordinary folks were reluctant to oppose the authorities.

Thus, everyone absentmindedly watched the singing and dancing while silently lamenting their lost wealth. The only truly relaxed person in the room was probably Ye Li. Although Mo Jingli had left, Ye Ying and the young emperor remained at the banquet. After all, it was a feast hosted by the regent’s palace; they couldn’t have no hosts at all. However, Ye Li’s current disguise made it unsuitable for her to speak with Ye Ying. Her gaze calmly swept over the dazed Mo Suoyun sitting in his chair, and a faint smile curled at the corners of her lips.

"Why is the emperor appearing at the regent’s palace today?" Ye Li asked curiously.

The Lin family head beside her quickly explained in a low voice, "I heard the regent has fallen out with the Empress Dowager. He claims she is too soft-hearted and incapable of properly educating the emperor. He plans to take the emperor under his personal tutelage."

"Personal tutelage?" Mo Jingli probably intended to scare the young emperor to death. Besides, if the Empress Dowager was too soft-hearted, Mo Jingli seemed to have forgotten he was also raised by that same "soft-hearted" woman.

"Exactly. Ah... Life in the imperial family isn’t easy either." The Lin family head glanced at the dazed young emperor in the hall and shook his head repeatedly. Even a fool could see that the emperor was nothing more than a hopeless puppet. He trembled like a cicada in cold weather in front of Prince Li, indicating Mo Jingli likely treated him poorly. Staying in the palace under the watch of the Empress Dowager and the Empress was somewhat better, but now that he was left in Prince Li’s palace, who knew how long he would last?Ye Li lowered her gaze in thought, then glanced at Wei Lin behind her. Wei Lin stepped forward and leaned in to receive her orders. Ye Li whispered a few words into his ear, and Wei Lin nodded silently before returning to his original position. Old Master Lin couldn't help but look curiously at the two guards behind Ye Li, feeling increasingly that this Young Master Chu was unfathomable.

"Young Master Chu," Zhang Baiwan, his face still pale from the beating he had just received, approached with an ingratiating smile. "Thank you for speaking kindly on my behalf in front of the Regent earlier." Because Zhang Baiwan had offended Mo Jingli, no one at the gathering dared to speak to him, and his usual lack of popularity didn't help. Otherwise, someone would have warned him earlier when he made that foolish mistake. Most likely, Zhang Baiwan had been used as a pawn by these people to test the waters. But since the banquet wasn't over yet, Zhang Baiwan, despite his injuries, didn't dare to excuse himself and sat alone in a corner, looking quite pitiful. Only now did he muster the strength to come forward and thank Ye Li.

Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. "There's no need for thanks, Master Zhang. It was just a small favor."

Zhang Baiwan forced a bitter smile. "To you, it may have been a small favor, but to this old man, it was a lifesaver. If Young Master Chu ever has any need of me in the future, I will do my utmost." Ye Li inwardly chuckled—this Zhang Baiwan wasn't entirely foolish, but she took his last words with a grain of salt. A man as stingy as Zhang Baiwan wouldn't suddenly change his ways just because of a beating.

"You flatter me, Master Zhang. There's no need for such courtesy."

Zhang Baiwan glanced at Old Master Lin beside them and said with a smile, "If Young Master Chu has time, I would like to host a modest banquet in your honor another day. I hope you will grace us with your presence." Ye Li thought for a moment before replying with a smile, "In that case, I shall trouble you then."

Only after Ye Li agreed did Zhang Baiwan return to his seat, visibly pleased.

Old Master Lin watched Zhang Baiwan and couldn't help but laugh. "Who would have thought that after a beating, Zhang Baiwan would become so generous? I daresay, in all these years, Young Master Chu might be the first person he's willingly invited to a banquet."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "You jest, Master Lin."

Old Master Lin shook his head. "Zhang Baiwan has always been one to act only for profit. Young Master Chu should still be cautious." Ye Li nodded, thanking him for the warning. Though Old Master Lin had his own motives, his reminder was still well-intentioned. After all, there was no such thing as kindness without reason in this world.

Zhang Baiwan was a well-known figure in Nanjing, and Ye Li was naturally somewhat familiar with him. While it was true that he might be grateful for her saving his life, it was more likely that he had his sights set on the Chu family.

After a moment's thought, Old Master Lin smiled meaningfully at Ye Li and said in a low voice, "I've heard that Zhang Baiwan has a daughter of marriageable age..." Though he left the rest unsaid, Ye Li understood his implication perfectly.Actually, after meeting Ye Li today, quite a few people harbored such thoughts. After all, although Chu Junwei was only a collateral branch of the Chu family, his background was still far superior to those merchants who were often looked down upon. Moreover, Young Master Chu was handsome and elegant in demeanor, and even Prince Li seemed to treat him with considerable respect. Not to mention, the Chu family and the Xu family were also inextricably linked by countless ties. Such an excellent son-in-law was naturally the object of many people's admiration. Even Old Master Lin himself had similar thoughts, but unfortunately, his eldest daughter had already married years ago, and his younger daughter was not even ten years old yet. He could only sigh in regret.

Hearing Old Master Lin's words, Ye Li was momentarily stunned and at a loss for words. She had genuinely never considered such a matter. After all, no matter how convincingly she disguised herself as a man, at her core, she was still a woman. No woman would ever imagine that others might want to marry their daughters to her. But now, listening to Old Master Lin's words... Ye Li turned to glance at Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin.

Both of them wore equally peculiar expressions. After a long pause, Wei Lin finally spoke slowly, "Young Master's exceptional grace and unparalleled handsomeness naturally make you the ideal choice for many parents." So, Wang Ye not only had to guard against men but also women? Wei Lin and Zhuo Jing couldn't help but silently sympathize with their prince in their hearts.

Ye Li shook her head helplessly and smiled, "Thank you for the reminder, Old Master Lin. I understand now."

Old Master Lin chuckled, covering his mouth as he lowered his voice and said with a grin, "I was merely speaking out of turn. As the saying goes, it's better to demolish a temple than to ruin a marriage, but Zhang Baiwan's daughter... heh... Young Master should consider carefully."

From the opposite corner, Zhang Baiwan had clearly noticed that Old Master Lin might be talking about his family and glared at him fiercely. Unfazed, Old Master Lin continued drinking. Ye Li shook her head helplessly and raised her cup toward Zhang Baiwan in a toast.

The guests present were somewhat surprised to see this. Who would have thought that Young Master Chu would show such special regard for the notoriously stingy Zhang Baiwan?