After seeing Ye Ying off, Ye Li had ostensibly completed all necessary formalities. Paying no heed to the complex and inscrutable looks from the crowd, she cheerfully waved her sleeves and returned to Qingyi House.
Upon stepping into the study, Ye Li paused slightly before turning to instruct, “Qingluan, stay and attend to me. The rest of you may retire.” Though Qingshuang and the others were somewhat puzzled, they knew Ye Li disliked having too many people around and assumed she had private orders for Qingluan. They curtsied and withdrew. Qingluan stood quietly by the door, awaiting her mistress’s command.
Ye Li walked to the window and stood still, her gaze sweeping the study before finally settling on the gauze curtain separating the inner and outer chambers. Softly, she asked, “Aren’t you coming out?”
The study remained utterly silent, but Qingluan’s hands now held two gleaming daggers, her usually gentle eyes sharp with lethal intent.
After a moment with no response, Ye Li frowned in displeasure. She tossed a pigeon-egg-sized object toward the curtain. A thick white smoke billowed up, and within moments, a figure lunged from the smoke toward Ye Li—only to collapse weakly just before reaching the window. A cold dagger pressed against his spine, yet Ye Li was no longer in front of him. Unnoticed, she had moved several feet to his side.
“I never expected the Third Miss Ye to be so skilled. I admit defeat,” the man said with a bitter smile, surrendering as his limp body slumped to the floor.
Ye Li’s expression remained unchanged. “I’m still far from your level. But after last night’s… encounter, I thought it wise to take precautions.”
The man raised an eyebrow, seemingly unbothered by the dagger at his back. He grinned at her. “You knew it was me last night? Could it be… you’ve been thinking of me ever since?”
Even Ye Li had to admit the man was strikingly handsome—unlike Feng Zhiyao’s roguish charm, his features carried a hint of mischief and deliberate ambiguity. Most women would have flushed with anger or embarrassment and fled. Unfortunately for him, Ye Li was far from ordinary.
“I think your focus should be less on me and more on… what’s behind you. Trust me, a little more pressure in that spot won’t kill you, but I guarantee you’ll spend the rest of your life in bed.” As if to prove her point, the dagger pressed forward slightly, sending sharp pain radiating through his body.
The man’s face paled slightly, though he managed a strained smile. “The Third Miss Ye wouldn’t resort to silencing a witness, would she?”
Ye Li shook her head, her delicate features breaking into a rare, dazzling smile that sent a chill down the man’s spine. “Killing to silence someone isn’t befitting a lady. So instead, I’ll give you away. I hear many people are looking for you. Tell me—should I hand you over to Prince Ding… or Prince Li?”The man looked pleadingly at Ye Li with a bitter expression. If he fell into Prince Ding's hands, he would surely lose an arm or a leg. If he ended up with Prince Li, given that someone was still standing here threatening him unscathed, Prince Li would undoubtedly take his life. "Third Miss, I was just hired to do a job. Besides, haven’t I helped you in a way? Can’t you spare me?"
Ye Li turned and settled into a comfortable chair, smiling as she asked, "Were you helping me? Or was it because Mo Jingli offended you and you wanted to teach him a lesson?"
Seeing his plea fall on deaf ears, the man dropped his playful expression and said seriously, "How about I owe you a favor, Third Miss?"
Ye Li propped her chin lazily and chuckled, "Hmm… a favor from the Wind and Moon noble of Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion? Even if you dare to owe it, I wouldn’t dare to collect. Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion—the most renowned pleasure house in the realm. Han Mingyue, the infamous libertine known as the Wind and Moon noble. Associating with him would ruin one’s reputation completely."
The man’s expression darkened instantly as he stared at Ye Li. "You have my jade pendant?" Very few in the world knew that the Wind and Moon noble and the master of Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion were the same person. "I had no idea that the Third Miss of the Minister’s residence, the future Princess of the State, had such skills. Taking the pendant from me unnoticed is no easy feat." Han Mingyue was beginning to wonder if he had picked an unlucky day to come to the capital. What had started as a whim—helping Prince Li kidnap a young girl for amusement—had turned into a disaster. The seemingly harmless noble lady was actually a poisonous flower. He had intended to play a trick on the arrogant Prince Li, only to end up entangled himself. Less than half an hour after leaving the woods, he realized he was being followed, and within two hours, the pursuers had doubled. By dawn, even Mo Jingli’s men had joined the chase.
Ye Li merely smiled, watching the handsome man patiently. Finally, Han Mingyue raised his hands in surrender and sighed, "Third Miss, what will it take for you to let me go?"
"Lend me the intelligence network of Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion when necessary," Ye Li stated her condition.
Han Mingyue’s eyes flickered. "I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Ye."
"Brothels and taverns—the largest hubs for information. I suspect… Pavilion of Heavenly Unity has close ties with you. Am I right?" Pavilion of Heavenly Unity was the most mysterious intelligence organization in Great Chu, dealing in the trade of secrets. Its elusive nature had thwarted many who sought its services. "You can get up now, Han Gongzi. If I’m not mistaken, the effects of the drug should have worn off." Ye Li glanced at the man still feigning helplessness on the ground.
Han Mingyue showed no embarrassment at being exposed. He stood gracefully, brushing off nonexistent dust from his robes, and cupped his hands toward Ye Li. "Third Miss, your sharpness is truly astonishing. For a sheltered noble lady to deduce the connection between Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion and Pavilion of Heavenly Unity is indeed remarkable. Consider the pendant a gift. Should you ever need anything, simply send someone with it to find me. I trust someone of your abilities will know where to look."
Ye Li accepted without hesitation. "Thank you. I’ll ask Prince Ding to prepare a different gift for Li Wang Dianxia."
Han Mingyue gave a wry smile. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll go back on my word?"Ye Li smiled gracefully, "Unless you want the entire world to know about the connection between the Wind and Moon noble, the Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion, and the Pavilion of Heavenly Unity. Farewell, I won't see you out."
"Farewell."
Qingluan retracted her short dagger, watching as Han Mingyue left through the window. Frowning in confusion, she asked, "Miss, are we just letting him go like this?"
Ye Li stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the spot where Han Mingyue's figure had disappeared. "Do you really think he's the master of the Clear Breeze Bright Moon Pavilion?"
"Isn't he?"
Ye Li toyed with the jade pendant in her hand. "I suspect not. But he must have a close relationship with the real Han Mingyue. It's not worth angering Han Mingyue over him."
"Third Miss Ye is truly wise." A teasing voice laced with lazy amusement came from outside. Ye Li looked up to see Feng Zhiyao leaning casually under the eaves. She smiled, "Master Feng, arriving uninvited is hardly the behavior of a gentleman."
Feng Zhiyao waved his folding fan with practiced ease, as if he weren't standing outside a young lady's private quarters but at a grand, attention-grabbing event. "Third Miss's methods and insight truly leave Feng San in awe. Han Mingyue's favors aren't easily gained."
Ye Li smiled faintly, "I never take advantage of others. I believe Master Han would agree. However, Third Master Feng's Light Body Skill, which allows you to enter and leave the Minister's residence as if it were unguarded, is nearly on par with the Wind and Moon noble's."
A vein twitched on Feng Zhiyao's forehead as he struggled to maintain his elegant demeanor. "Prince Ding requests Third Miss Ye's presence at Prince Li's wedding."
Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Prince Ding would attend such an event?" She remembered that since Mo Xiuyao's incident, he had never appeared publicly again.
Feng Zhiyao chuckled, "Times change. Originally, there was no such plan. It was decided just this morning. I believe it won't disappoint Third Miss."
Ye Li blinked, immediately understanding the implication behind Feng Zhiyao's words. She nodded with a smile, "Thank you for delivering the message, Third Master Feng."
"Feng San will await your esteemed presence then."
------------Author's Note------------
Next chapter: The wedding continues~
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