Mo Li

Since Ye Li wasn't part of the bridal entourage for her younger sister's wedding, she originally didn't need to attend. However, since Mo Xiuyao had sent Feng San to deliver the message, Ye Li believed there must be something interesting worth watching. Moreover, she felt it necessary to personally discuss the matter of Han Mingyue with her fiancé, as good communication fosters mutual trust. After changing into appropriate attire, Ye Li informed the elderly madam before leaving. Before she could step out, a servant came to report that Prince Ding had arrived to escort the third young miss. Knowing Mo Xiuyao's circumstances, the elderly madam didn't dare delay and quickly sent Ye Li on her way.

Outside the Ye residence, a carriage bearing the insignia of the Ding Royal Palace was indeed waiting at the gate. The young guard named A Jin immediately approached when he saw Ye Li emerge. "A Jin greets the Princess Consort," he said.

Ye Li felt slightly embarrassed. Though this was only their second meeting, she could already tell this young man named A Jin wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Nodding, she thanked him and boarded the carriage.

Mo Xiuyao was seated inside, leaning against the carriage as he read a book. When Ye Li entered, he set the book aside and smiled faintly. "Have a seat. Were you startled last night?" Ye Li sat opposite him and replied with a smile, "It was fine. Thank you for rushing over." Mo Xiuyao seemed to recall something amusing, and the faint smile in his eyes grew more genuine. "It's fortunate I went. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known my Princess Consort possessed such skills." Ye Li shrugged nonchalantly. She didn't mind revealing certain aspects of her true self to Mo Xiuyao—after all, they would be husband and wife, and many things couldn't be hidden forever. "Just a trivial trick. I hope it didn't disappoint you, Your Highness."

Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly. "Must we keep addressing each other as 'Your Highness' and 'Princess Consort'?"

Ye Li looked up at him, puzzled. "Then how should we address each other? 'My Lord'? 'Husband'? 'Master'?" Before she could finish, she shuddered. Though such terms sounded normal when others used them, they felt unbearably awkward coming from her own mouth. Compared to these, Ye Li much preferred sticking to the conventional "Your Highness" and "Princess Consort."

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "You can call me by my name."

"Mo... Xiuyao?"

"Xiu Yao," Mo Xiuyao corrected. "May I call you A Li?"

Ye Li nodded, relieved he hadn't chosen something like "Li'er." Truthfully, aside from elders, she wasn't accustomed to overly intimate terms of address.

"I let that man from yesterday go. You don't mind, do you?" Ye Li asked seriously, watching Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head, his expression relaxed. "It's fine. Since you don't hold it against him, let it be. Han Mingyue isn't someone to provoke lightly, after all."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem surprised by his connection to Han Mingyue?"

"We had some dealings in our youth."

Ye Li understood. For Mo Xiuyao to admit to "some dealings," it likely meant their relationship was far from ordinary.

"Your Highness, we've arrived at Prince Li's Palace."

Their casual conversation had carried them all the way to Prince Li's Palace. Neither was particularly talkative, but Ye Li found speaking with Mo Xiuyao anything but dull.

"A Li."

Just as Ye Li was about to disembark, Mo Xiuyao suddenly called her name.

She turned back, looking at him questioningly. Mo Xiuyao gazed at her quietly. "Are you truly prepared?"

"What is there to prepare for?" Ye Li tilted her head slightly, momentarily unable to recall if she'd forgotten anything important.Mo Xiuyao was momentarily stunned, then a faint smile curled at the corners of his lips as he said softly, "It's nothing. You may leave."

With Prince Ding personally offering congratulations, Prince Li's Palace naturally couldn't afford to be negligent. Especially since Prince Ding hadn't appeared in the capital for nearly eight years—his personal attendance at Prince Li's wedding could be said to have given Prince Li immense face. Moreover, according to the imperial family's generational hierarchy, Prince Ding, who was of similar age to Prince Li, was actually a generation above him. Thus, not only Prince Li himself but also the imperial relatives attending the wedding came out to greet him. The Ding Royal Palace hadn't put on any grand display, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the first to step out of the carriage was a young woman in purple. Her lilac dress was embroidered with elegant lotus vines, her dark hair loosely tied up, adorned with a dazzling butterfly-and-flower hairpin set with gemstones. With just a slight turn of her face, the crowd caught a glimpse of her lightly made-up, delicate beauty. Soon, two guards lifted the carriage curtain and effortlessly carried Mo Xiuyao, along with his wheelchair, out of the carriage. Mo Xiuyao swept a calm glance over the seemingly stunned crowd at Prince Li's Palace entrance before turning slightly to look at Ye Li standing nearby and extending his hand to her.

Ye Li raised her hand, allowing Mo Xiuyao to take it, while A Jin behind them began pushing the wheelchair toward the entrance of Prince Li's Palace.

"Ahem... Greetings to Prince Ding."

Finally, someone snapped out of their daze. Glancing at Prince Li, who was still staring fixedly at the approaching Prince Ding without any reaction, the person coughed lightly as a reminder for the host to welcome the guests.

"Greetings to Prince Ding."

"Today is Prince Li's wedding. There's no need for formalities," Mo Xiuyao said gently, then smiled at Mo Jingli. "Jing Li, congratulations."

"Thank you!" Mo Jingli gritted his teeth, glaring at Ye Li standing beside Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to invite us in?"

Mo Jingli had no choice but to step aside and make way for them, though he refused to utter another word. Mo Xiuyao, clearly familiar with Mo Jingli's temperament, looked up at Ye Li with a smile. "Shall we go in?" Ye Li pressed her lips together in a faint smile and nodded silently. As they stepped through the gates of Prince Li's Palace together, the corner of her eye caught Feng Zhiyao standing in an inconspicuous corner, watching the trio at the entrance with an especially... punchable grin.

Inside Prince Li's Palace, Consort Xian Zhao was personally waiting in the main hall to greet them. Seeing Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li enter side by side, her eyes flickered briefly before she rose with a smile and stepped forward. "It's rare for Xiu Yao to attend personally for Li'er's wedding. Truly, our humble palace is honored. It seems you and your future princess are getting along quite well. When your wedding comes, I shall naturally send a generous gift." Mo Xiuyao nodded slightly, the exposed half of his face displaying respectful gentleness. "Thank you for your concern, Consort. I will await your and Jing Li's esteemed presence." Ye Li stood quietly beside Mo Xiuyao, refraining from interjecting. For some reason, ever since her last encounter with Consort Xian Zhao, this seemingly dignified and amiable consort had always made her feel a sense of wariness.Since there are no outsiders here, Third Miss Ye, please have a seat as well. While conversing with Mo Xiuyao, Consort Xian Zhao did not forget to invite Ye Li to sit. Ye Li thanked her softly and took a seat beside Mo Xiuyao, though unfortunately, she ended up directly opposite Mo Jingli. Without even looking up, she could feel Mo Jingli glaring fiercely at her. Being stared at so intently in such a situation made Ye Li feel somewhat irritated. Shouldn’t someone about to get married be too busy to think straight? Why was this Mo Jingli so free as to sit here listening to idle chatter?

"Oh my, Jing Li, what’s the matter? Why are you staring at Third Miss Ye like that?" A sharp female voice rang out in the hall, making Ye Li frown as she looked up at the speaker. Though there were only about seven or eight people in the hall, those personally accompanied by Consort Xian Zhao were naturally no ordinary guests—at least none that Ye Li, a mere daughter of a minister’s household, could afford to offend. The speaker, dressed in a phoenix-patterned peony brocade that marked her noble status, was also scrutinizing Ye Li with a critical gaze. Her words instantly drew the attention of everyone present, who had previously been focused on Mo Xiuyao, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time. The woman, however, was not about to let it go. Her shrewd phoenix eyes glinted coldly as she sneered and said in a shrill voice, "Come to think of it, I nearly forgot—isn’t Third Miss Ye Jing Li’s former fiancée?"

"Perhaps Jing Li is merely curious about the new top talent of the capital. Aren’t we all?" Mo Xiuyao’s calm voice echoed through the hall, his tone smooth and seemingly devoid of any anger, yet clearly conveying his protective stance toward his fiancée. Ye Li lowered her head, silently watching as her hand was enveloped by a slightly cool, larger one.

"Prince Ding speaks truly. Third Miss Ye truly embodies the saying, 'Silent as a dove, but startling as a thunderclap.' Looking back, Madam Ye was also a quiet and unassuming woman, yet her literary brilliance remains unforgettable even now," the white-haired elderly lady seated at the front said with a hearty laugh, her gaze warm and kind as she looked at Ye Li. Ye Li smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Madam. My late mother’s grace is something I can hardly hope to match—I only wish to inherit a fraction of it." The elderly lady nodded approvingly. "Such a humble and good child."

"This is the Dowager Duchess of Huaguogong," Mo Xiuyao softly introduced to Ye Li.

Ye Li finally understood—this was Tianxiang’s grandmother.

Mo Xiuyao then proceeded to introduce the other guests to Ye Li one by one. Unsurprisingly, they were either the family members of high-ranking officials or members of the imperial clan. The brocade-clad woman who had spoken first was none other than the current emperor and Prince Li’s aunt, the Zhaoren Grand Princess—also the birth mother of Princess Ronghua. Recalling Princess Ronghua’s haughty demeanor at the Hundred Flowers Festival, Ye Li could only sigh—like mother, like daughter. But she couldn’t fathom why this Grand Princess harbored such obvious hostility toward her. Surely it couldn’t be because of Princess Ronghua?When Mo Xiuyao introduced Ye Li to the gathering, those present silently reevaluated the Third Miss Ye in their hearts—this woman who had her marriage annulment with Prince Li only to be betrothed to Prince Ding. The fact that Prince Ding personally introduced her to the most powerful nobles of Great Chu already spoke volumes about his regard for her. Thus, apart from Mo Jingli whose expression grew increasingly unpleasant, the atmosphere in the hall remained as harmonious and amicable as ever.