Mo Li

Prince Li and Princess Li are here too? This old minister greets Your Highness and Your Ladyship. Old Duke Hua swept his gaze over the people in the hall, pausing briefly on Ye Li before bowing to Mo Jingli and Ye Ying.

Mo Jingli nodded, shifting his gaze from Mo Xiuyao who had entered behind Duke Hua, and frowned, "What brings you here, Old Duke?"

Duke Hua stroked his white beard, beaming with pride, "This old man has come to act as a matchmaker for Xiu Yao and deliver the betrothal gifts. Old Madam Ye, come take a look—is there anything unsatisfactory about the gifts? Third Young Lady, you should also check if anything is missing. We can have it replenished immediately." Old Madam Ye had already skimmed through the betrothal gift list once and dared not voice any dissatisfaction. She quickly replied with a smile, "With Old Duke and Old Master Su personally handling this, how could there be any oversight?" She then handed the list to Ye Li, who glanced at it casually before passing it to Qingluan beside her, saying softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Duke and Master Su."

Duke Hua studied Ye Li for a moment before turning to Mo Xiuyao with a nod and a smile, "The Ye family certainly knows how to raise their daughters. Xiu Yao, you’re a fortunate man."

Mo Xiuyao glanced at Ye Li and smiled without a word.

Su Zhe also agreed heartily, "Old Duke speaks truly. Third Young Lady excels in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, standing out among the noble ladies of the capital. The Ye family’s upbringing is commendable."

Amid another round of compliments and modest refusals, Old Madam Hua, citing the need for the betrothed couple to cultivate affection before marriage, shooed the two out of the hall. Standing outside Lerong Hall, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged glances, which eventually turned into faint smiles.

"Let me." Ye Li walked behind Mo Xiuyao and took over A Jin’s position. A Jin hesitated for a moment before letting go. Mo Xiuyao raised a hand and said, "A Jin, you may withdraw for now." The young boy looked at Ye Li with newfound surprise and respect, then handed the wheelchair over to her respectfully before leaping away and disappearing from sight.

Ye Li slowly pushed the wheelchair along the smooth garden path. Mo Xiuyao tilted his head slightly and said softly, "If you’re tired, you can stop. Actually… I can manage on my own."

"I know. But you should also know I’m not some delicate noble lady who can’t lift a finger," Ye Li replied with a laugh. The wheelchair was clearly meticulously crafted and didn’t require much effort to push. She was absolutely certain that even without someone pushing, Mo Xiuyao could move around freely on his own—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dismissed his trusted aide. Hearing her words, Mo Xiuyao seemed to recall something and coughed lightly before chuckling. "Be careful these days. Jing Li has many flaws, but his worst is holding grudges—he never lets go of even the smallest slight. After suffering several major setbacks at your hands recently, he won’t let it go easily."

Ye Li nodded, sighing helplessly, "I still don’t understand what I did to provoke him."

Mo Xiuyao’s faint smile carried a hint of mockery. "If you had appeared devastated, heartbroken, or even suicidal after the marriage annulment, he probably wouldn’t have targeted you. In fact… he might even have tried to compensate you for certain reasons." Ye Li was speechless. "So, the reason he’s been treating me this way is simply because I didn’t react the way he wanted?"

"Precisely."

"...What a jerk!"Ye Li stopped by the stone table near the lotus pond and smiled, saying, "Let's rest here for a while." It was early May, and though the pond was still a vast expanse of green without any blooms, the sight was refreshing and pleasant. The maids who had been following at a distance quickly brought tea and snacks before discreetly withdrawing, leaving only Qingshuang and a few others standing at a respectful distance, ready to serve.

Mo Xiuyao smiled warmly. "The people around you are all quite capable. That maid—was she the one outside the city that night? Her skills are impressive."

Ye Li glanced back at Qingluan, who was chatting with Qingshuang, and replied somewhat sheepishly, "Qingluan and Qingyu came with my eldest uncle. Only Qingshuang has always been with me." She didn’t specify who was Qingyu and who was Qingshuang, trusting that Mo Xiuyao already had a general understanding of those close to her.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "So they’re from the Xu family—no wonder. A Li, your judgment is excellent too. This way, I won’t have to worry when you come to Prince Ding's Estate."

Ye Li frowned slightly. "Are you talking to me about managing the affairs of Prince Ding's Estate in the future?" Leading a team of elite special forces or even commanding a battalion of soldiers was no issue for her. But overseeing the household and estates of a royal residence—even after recent training and practice—still made her somewhat uneasy. Her conflicted expression clearly amused Mo Xiuyao, whose eyes sparkled with deeper amusement as he said, "You’ll be the future mistress of Ding Royal Palace. It’s only right to discuss these matters with you in advance to avoid chaos later. Is there a problem?"

"No," Ye Li shook her head. She understood the principle of fulfilling one’s duties according to one’s position. "I just hope I won’t make a mess of things."

"I have faith in you, A Li," Mo Xiuyao replied with a gentle smile.

Ye Li raised her brows helplessly. "For the sake of your confidence, it seems I have no reason to refuse." Privately, she quite liked this dynamic. Her relationship with Mo Xiuyao didn’t feel like that of an engaged couple—more like friends. They understood each other’s thoughts and respected each other’s boundaries. Though their affection might not yet run deep, their interactions were far more comfortable than those of a typical betrothed pair. Perhaps they would remain friends forever, or perhaps one day they would become family. But who could say for certain? Still, it was something to look forward to, wasn’t it?

"Given my current circumstances, it’s not suitable for me to visit Mr. Xu or Lord Xu. I hope the elders won’t take offense," Mo Xiuyao said, placing his teacup on the table and looking at Ye Li apologetically.

"My eldest uncle is already aware of Ding Royal Palace’s situation. They aren’t the type to stand on ceremony. But… didn’t my elder brother mention visiting Ding Royal Palace recently?"Ye Li asked curiously, genuinely wondering how someone as refined and gentle as Xu Qingchen would express his criticism and dissatisfaction toward his future brother-in-law."

Mo Xiuyao gave a faint, resigned smile. "After so many years apart, Young Master Xu’s elegance remains as enviable as ever."

"Greetings to Prince Li, greetings to Princess Li." At the nearby path, Qingluan and Qingshuang stood side by side, blocking the way.

Mo Jingli sneered coldly. "What? Is this path forbidden to me?"Qingluan and Qingshuang exchanged a glance. This path only led to the lotus pond, with no other routes ahead. Prince Li had clearly seen their mistress and Prince Ding here yet insisted on proceeding forward—wasn’t this just looking for trouble? Just as Qingshuang was about to speak, Mo Xiuyao spoke first: "Invite Prince Li and Princess Li over." The two maids then bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, Princess, please."

Mo Jingli snorted coldly and strode quickly toward the elegant couple sitting quietly by the lotus pond. Ye Ying followed behind him, biting her lip with resentment.

Mo Jingli stood by the table, looking down at Ye Li with an overbearing gaze. Ye Li frowned, disliking his brazen stare.

"Jing Li, have a seat," Mo Xiuyao said lightly, extending a hand toward Ye Li. She cooperatively took his hand and rose, moving to sit beside Mo Xiuyao, leaving the opposite seats for Mo Jingli and Ye Ying. Mo Jingli sat down without a word, and only then did Ye Ying, slightly out of breath, approach the three. Clearly, Mo Jingli’s unrestrained pace was not something a delicate woman like Ye Ying could easily keep up with.

"Third Sister, Prince Ding," Ye Ying said softly.

Ye Li nodded with a smile. "Fourth Sister, sit down. Have you been well these past few days?"

Ye Ying lowered her eyes slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Sister. I’ve been fine."

Ye Li nodded, deciding not to press further since Ye Ying insisted she was fine. Though Ye Ying’s appearance hardly suggested she was doing well, Ye Li wasn’t genuinely concerned about her. If Ye Ying had actually complained, she wouldn’t have known how to respond. Mo Jingli scoffed. "Ying’er has been perfectly fine. I wonder how Li’er has been these days?" Ye Li raised a brow, glancing at Mo Xiuyao before replying, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Aside from being a little busy, everything has been fine."

Mo Jingli’s expression darkened as he glared at Ye Li for a long moment before turning to Mo Xiuyao. "I have some words I’d like to share privately with Miss Ye."

Ye Li couldn’t help but find this amusing. She had noticed from their first meeting that Mo Jingli loved putting on airs in front of Mo Xiuyao. For instance, whenever Mo Xiuyao was present, Mo Jingli would tilt his chin up even more arrogantly, looking down on others with disdain. Ye Li had often wanted to tell him that since Mo Xiuyao was usually seated in a wheelchair, he mostly just saw Mo Jingli’s nostrils—so Mo Xiuyao rarely bothered to look up at him. Moreover, whenever speaking to Mo Xiuyao, Mo Jingli would insist on using formal titles like "this prince," as if it elevated him. In reality, everyone knew that although Mo Jingli was the late emperor’s son and the current emperor’s brother, unless he overthrew his brother and claimed the throne himself, his rank would forever remain beneath that of the first-rank Prince Ding.

"Ying’er will take her leave now. Your Highness and Sister may speak at leisure," Ye Ying said, rising first in response to Mo Jingli’s words, though the look she gave Ye Li was so resentful it could have dripped poison. Watching Ye Ying’s reluctant and unwilling departure, Ye Li sighed inwardly. In just two or three days, had Ye Ying transformed from a proud young lady into a bitter noblewoman? If so, perhaps Mo Jingli wasn’t as fond of Ye Ying as the rumors claimed. If that was the case, why had Mo Jingli gone so far as to defy the late emperor’s decree just to marry Ye Ying? Was it really just a whim?Mo Xiuyao! Seeing that both Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li remained indifferent to his words, Mo Jingli growled in frustration through gritted teeth.

"Jing Li, your manners truly need improvement!" Mo Xiuyao's calm gaze fixed on Mo Jingli's dark expression, an invisible pressure making Mo Jingli falter involuntarily. "Did His Majesty permit you to address this prince in such a manner? Hmm?" Compared to Mo Jingli's cold, gloomy countenance, Mo Xiuyao's composed demeanor—even behind his half-mask—appeared infinitely more approachable. Yet despite this, Mo Jingli was shocked and enraged to discover a hidden thread of fear creeping toward the man before him. This realization filled him with both fury and shame, and he could scarcely believe it. His last memory of Mo Xiuyao dated back ** years ago. At that time, their circumstances had been strikingly similar—both born into the most prestigious families of Great Chu, both with elder brothers. His brother was the emperor, while Mo Xiuyao's was Prince Ding. Neither bore the burden of inheriting their family titles, free to live lives of luxury without lifting a finger. Except—Mo Xiuyao had always outshone him in everything! Thus, from childhood, Mo Jingli had resented him. While he toiled over books, hoping for their father's praise, Mo Xiuyao had already earned admiration from everyone, including the emperor. When he secretly prided himself on his martial prowess, Mo Xiuyao had already dominated battlefields, adding further glory to the Ding Royal Palace's reputation as the home of the Invincible God of War. In their youth, he had disliked Mo Xiuyao but never feared him. If they clashed, so be it—even if he lost, he could always win next time. But… never had he imagined that eight years later, after dismissing him as worthless, he—would actually be afraid of him!

Utter humiliation!

"Li Wang Dianxia." Ye Li frowned at Mo Jingli's vicious, twisted expression, certain that had this been a different place or person, he would have already torn his opponent apart. "If Your Highness has something to say, speak plainly. There is nothing between Xiu Yao and me that cannot be spoken of."

"Nothing unspeakable?" Mo Jingli quickly regained his composure, his face twisting into a sneer. "Ye Li, are you certain?"

Ye Li regarded him with confusion, but Mo Jingli clearly believed he had caught her in a lie. "Then shall we discuss what happened the night before my wedding—and on the day itself?"

Ye Li looked at him with something akin to pity. This man clearly had no idea that his humiliating fainting spell during the ceremony owed much to Mo Xiuyao's interference. "The wedding day? Your Highness, are you referring to how you fainted and delayed the ceremony?" At this, Ye Li sighed deeply. "My deepest sympathies."

"Ye Li!" Mo Jingli ground his teeth, glaring at the woman feigning innocence and compassion. "Was my inability to complete the ceremony not exactly what you wanted?"

Ye Li blinked in bewilderment. "Your Highness, what do you mean? Though I may have occasional disagreements with my fourth sister, I would never be so cruel as to wish her wedding ruined. To slander me like this—how could I ever face her again?" Trying to frame her and make Mo Xiuyao misunderstand? Mo Jingli's tactics were still too crude. With a faint air of grievance, Ye Li stubbornly met his glare, flawlessly embodying the role of a wronged noble lady.Originally intending to speak up to help Ye Li out of her predicament, Mo Xiuyao leisurely observed the elegant young lady before him. Even he couldn't help but want to applaud her brilliant performance. It seemed Ye Li truly didn't need his guidance—she could handle most situations even better than he had anticipated. Lowering his gaze in thought, just as Mo Jingli was about to erupt in anger again, Mo Xiuyao finally spoke: "A Li, there's no need for this. No matter what others say, I will always believe in you."

Ye Li lowered her eyes and said softly, "It's truly wonderful that Xiu Yao can believe in me. Otherwise... I really wouldn't know what to do."

"Ye Li, you're something else!" Mo Jingli finally spat out these words before storming off like a gust of wind.

Ye Li shrugged helplessly and sighed lightly. With someone like Mo Jingli, even the slightest offense would earn you a grudge he'd carry to the grave. Unless you were willing to grovel in the dirt, offering yourself up for his humiliation until he was satisfied, mere concessions would never be enough. And to make matters worse, this man had extremely powerful backers—the current Emperor and the Empress Dowager. "I think I might have made an enemy for you?" she mused.

"No, he and I were never on friendly terms to begin with," Mo Xiuyao replied calmly.

Ye Li blinked. "Care to elaborate?"

"When we were young, he hid my homework, causing me to get beaten by my father. I repaid him with a thrashing from the late Emperor. As teenagers, he suspected I was seducing his sweetheart and had someone spike my drink at a banquet—only for him to end up drinking it himself. Once, during a martial arts competition, I accidentally kicked him off the stage. The next day, I was ambushed by over a dozen Imperial Bodyguards. Ten days later, Feng Zhiyao and I strung him up on a willow tree in the capital. Oh... and his sweetheart happened to see it."

"That's... quite the deep-seated feud," Ye Li said, speechless. Though she had heard stories of Mo Xiuyao's spirited youth, looking at the gentle and composed man before her now, it was hard to imagine he'd ever been mischievous and prone to pranks.

"Feng Zhiyao told me that on the day of our wedding, he found Li Wang Dianxia unconscious behind the rockery in Prince Li's Palace," Mo Xiuyao said with a smile, watching Ye Li. "With the nuisance out of the way..."

Ye Li smiled innocently. "It seems Mo Jingli has indeed offended many people." She could absolutely guarantee no one had seen her lay a hand on Mo Jingli—even Feng Zhiyao must have only deduced it.

Mo Xiuyao's eyes glinted with amusement as he nodded. "Indeed. However... while Jing Li has always been rather brainless, the two in the palace and Consort Xian Zhao are not. So..."

Ye Li nodded seriously. "I understand." The two in the palace and Consort Xian Zhao had clawed their way through the bloodied path of the late Emperor's dozens of concubines and over a dozen sons. They were nothing like Mo Jingli, who had been overly sheltered as a prince. Drawing too much of their attention would undoubtedly be harmful. After a moment of thought, she added, "I'm just afraid... I might have already caught their eye."Mo Xiuyao thoughtfully glanced at the maids standing nearby and nodded slightly, saying, "No matter who it is, they won't feel at ease. It’s not specifically targeted at you, but you’re simply more noticeable to them. Before the wedding, the palace will likely find an excuse to summon you once. When that time comes… bring that maid of yours named Qingyu."

Ye Li looked at him in confusion, and Mo Xiuyao explained softly, "Young Master Xu mentioned to me that the girl seems quite skilled in medicine."

Ye Li understood and raised her hand to rub her temples, feeling a slight headache. Mo Xiuyao smiled, poured her a cup of hot tea, and teased, "Headache?"

Ye Li nodded honestly. "I suppose I’m just not very good at these things. All these schemes and intrigues really give me a headache. Don’t these people ever get tired?"

"Apologies," Mo Xiuyao said quietly, watching her.

Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. "I imagine even if the Emperor hadn’t betrothed me to you, he would have matched me with some family he dislikes. The Xu family’s background is too unique—no matter whom he marries me off to, the Emperor wouldn’t feel at ease. Just look at the Xu family’s sons. Xu Qingchen is already twenty-two, yet he’s neither married nor betrothed, and the Emperor has never considered arranging a marriage for him. I even suspect the Emperor would prefer Xu Qingchen never to marry at all—or if he does, to marry someone like Xu Qingze’s wife, a woman from a family with reputation but no real power. Otherwise, he’d have to marry a princess."

At this thought, Ye Li looked up and asked, "Are there any unmarried princesses in the palace now?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "The late Emperor’s youngest daughter, Princess Linlang, and the current Emperor’s eldest daughter, Princess Fangfei, are both twelve this year. Why?"

Ye Li shook her head, hoping she was overthinking things. It was unlikely Xu Qingchen would marry a twelve-year-old girl. But there were still Xu Qingbai and Xu Qingyan…

Seeing her expression, Mo Xiuyao guessed her thoughts and nodded. "In the past, both the current Emperor and the late Emperor hinted at wanting to marry a princess to Xu Qingchen, but Mr. Qingyun refused. The Xu family’s refusal to marry imperial women is quite an unusual case among the noble families of Chu. You see, while marrying a princess means cutting ties with court politics and power, living only as a consort with a hollow title and a life of luxury, for ambitious young nobles, it’s nothing short of a nightmare. Yet many aristocratic families are still eager to have their non-inheriting sons marry a princess—it means their bloodline merges with the imperial family, symbolizing the Emperor’s favor and glory. But the Xu family, with its centuries-long history spanning two dynasties, has had at least five descendants refuse to marry princesses. A hundred years ago, the Xu family head even established a rule forbidding Xu descendants from marrying into the imperial family—not even the illegitimate sons. Since then, the imperial family stopped embarrassing themselves by proposing such marriages."

"The palace must already know about Eldest Uncle’s arrival in the capital, right?" Ye Li asked.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Though they came privately, Mr. Hongyu didn’t deliberately hide their movements. These things can’t truly be concealed if someone investigates. Besides, Lord Ye is utterly loyal to the current Emperor. Trying to hide would only raise suspicions."

Ye Li smiled. "That makes sense. I should still pay my respects to Eldest Uncle later—I have many things to ask him for advice on."Give my regards to Mr. Hongyu.

In the Fangyi Courtyard of Wang Shi, Ye Ying lay sobbing pitifully in her mother's embrace. Wang Shi dismissed the maids from the room and held her daughter close, her heart aching. "Ying'er, what's wrong? You've only just gotten married—how did things turn out like this? Did Prince Li mistreat you?"

Ye Ying lifted her head and looked at her mother's worried, loving face. Overcome with sorrow, she wept even harder. "Wuuu... Mother, Ying'er is so miserable..."

"What exactly happened? Did Prince Li truly treat you poorly? Don't be afraid, my dear. We'll go tell your father later. He dotes on you the most—he’ll surely stand up for you," Wang Shi said hurriedly.

Ye Ying wiped her tears and cried, "What good would Father do? How could he dare act against Prince Li's Palace? When the prince's household sent such a casual betrothal gift before, didn’t Father just stay silent? He doesn’t care about me at all!"

Wang Shi found herself at a loss for words. The claim that Prince Li's betrothal gifts were lacking was only in comparison to the grandeur of Prince Ding's Estate. The dowry personally arranged by Consort Xian Zhao could never have disgraced Prince Li's Palace, and Ye Ying had been quite satisfied at the time. It was only now, seeing how solemnly Prince Ding's Estate had invited Duke Hua and Elder Su to deliver the betrothal gifts, that Ye Ying felt overshadowed by Ye Li and humiliated. Though Wang Shi herself felt somewhat displeased, she still understood the bigger picture. Gently patting Ye Ying's back as the girl sobbed, she said, "Silly child, how can you blame your father for this? You know perfectly well there was nothing wrong with Prince Li's betrothal gifts back then. If there had been any issue, how could your father and grandmother have allowed you to marry into such a family? It's just that Ye Li's wedding was scheduled after yours, so Prince Ding's Estate had to make her dowry more lavish than yours to save face. But think carefully—what else does she have besides the dowry? Prince Li is the emperor's own brother, accomplished in both civil and military arts, and his looks are among the finest in the capital. That Prince Ding is nothing more than an idle, powerless prince now, confined to a wheelchair and disfigured. By any measure, you're far better off than her, aren't you?"

Ye Ying bit her cherry lips in grievance and whispered, "But... His Highness already has several concubines in his household."

Wang Shi paused, then burst into laughter, hugging Ye Ying as she said, "Silly girl, what man doesn't have a few women in his chambers? Remember, you are Prince Li's principal wife. Look at our own household—aren't there plenty of women too? What does it matter? Haven't I kept them all perfectly in line? Come, tell me properly—how have you been these past few days?"When it came to Ye Ying's newlywed life, the word "miserable" didn't even begin to cover it. On the wedding day, the groom's party missed the auspicious hour, and during the ceremony, the groom fainted—that was just the beginning. After Mo Jingli collapsed, he was carried back to the bridal chamber. Despite the imperial physician's visit and the medicine administered, he remained unconscious. As the new bride, Ye Ying had no choice but to lift her own red veil and tend to her comatose husband on an empty stomach. By the time Mo Jingli finally woke, it was nearly dawn. Forget the wedding night—Ye Ying barely had time to freshen up before rushing to pay respects to Consort Xian Zhao.

The consort had never been pleased with this daughter-in-law to begin with. Seeing Ye Ying's haggard face, poorly concealed beneath heavy makeup, she immediately lashed out. She criticized everything from Ye Ying's attire to her manners, leaving no aspect unscathed. The most unbearable part for Ye Ying was being constantly compared to the person she despised most—Ye Li. Consort Xian Zhao went on and on about how poised and dignified Ye Li had appeared the day before, while Ye Ying came across as frivolous and ill-mannered. She praised Ye Li's eloquence and tact, contrasting it with Ye Ying's lack of propriety. Unable to take it any longer, Ye Ying snapped back—only to provoke the consort's fury. During the tea-serving ritual, Ye Ying was forced to kneel for a full quarter-hour before Mo Jingli, growing impatient, finally allowed her to rise.

Had it been Ye Li, she might have told Ye Ying, "Poor child, you fell right into Consort Xian Zhao's trap. She was deliberately tormenting you." After decades of thriving in the palace, the consort wasn't one to lose her temper so easily. She had intentionally targeted Ye Ying's insecurities to justify her outburst—or perhaps to put the new bride in her place.

If the misfortunes had ended there, Ye Ying might have endured. But upon finally returning to her courtyard after serving the consort breakfast, she was greeted by four or five gorgeously dressed women, each with striking beauty. Ye Ying nearly spat blood in shock. She had no idea Mo Jingli already had five concubines before their wedding—and worse, she couldn't lay a finger on them. These women had been bestowed by either Consort Xian Zhao or the Empress Dowager, ranging from legitimate daughters of minor officials to illegitimate daughters of high-ranking ministers. Drawing on her grandmother's teachings, Ye Ying mustered every ounce of self-control to suppress her rage while dealing with them.

Back in her chambers, no tender newlywed husband awaited her. Instead, the estate stewards presented her with cold, daunting account books. Though Ye Ying was accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, household management and arithmetic had never been her strengths. She'd once dismissed such mundane tasks as vulgar, beneath her refined elegance. But under the consort's disdainful gaze and the stewards' sneers, she felt like a fool for the first time. Two days later, before she could make sense of the endless ledgers, Consort Xian Zhao icily informed her she was relieved of the duty. While relieved, Ye Ying understood the truth—she had lost all authority over Prince Li's Palace.After hearing Ye Ying's words, Wang Shi's expression also darkened uncontrollably. If Ye Ying had no authority to manage the prince's household, then her position as Princess Li would be nothing more than a figurehead. For the first time, Wang Shi regretted spoiling and indulging her daughter too much. Had she taught her more back then, they wouldn’t be facing such a problem now. But what Wang Shi didn’t understand was that compared to Consort Xian Zhao, even if she had taught Ye Ying more—or even gone herself—it would have been useless. From the very beginning, Ye Ying was destined to never obtain the rightful authority of a household mistress.

"Then... what does Prince Li mean?" Wang Shi asked, pulling Ye Ying closer.

Ye Ying wiped her tears and said, "His Highness said the consort pities my youth and is only helping me manage the household for now. In a couple of years, once I’ve had a child and learned enough, it won’t be too late for me to take over."

A thought flashed in Wang Shi’s mind—yes, a child. "His Highness is right. Ying’er, you must indeed bear him a legitimate heir as soon as possible. Remember, it must be the legitimate eldest son. You absolutely cannot let those other women bear Prince Li’s child before you." Ye Ying was startled and looked hesitantly at Wang Shi, who whispered gently, "Good child, don’t be afraid. Mother will tell you what to do. You are Prince Li’s lawful wife—bearing his heir is only natural. So those women must never conceive before you. Do you understand?" Seeing the cold glint in Wang Shi’s eyes, Ye Ying nodded quickly. Only then did Wang Shi smile in satisfaction, pulling Ye Ying down to sit and explain in detail.

As mother and daughter were deep in their lesson, a maid waiting outside announced that the master had arrived.

Overjoyed, Wang Shi pulled Ye Ying up with a smile. "See? Your father still cares for you." She hastily led Ye Ying to greet Lord Ye. When Lord Ye entered and saw Ye Ying, he paused in surprise before asking, "Ying’er, why are you here?" Ye Ying lowered her head resentfully. "Ying’er has returned home, so naturally, I’m speaking with Mother. Where else did Father think I would be?" Lord Ye frowned slightly, unable to help giving Ye Ying another glance. He felt as though his daughter had changed somehow in the few days since he’d last seen her. But he quickly dismissed it, attributing it to her having grown up after marriage, and asked no further.

Once Lord Ye was seated and tea was served, Wang Shi asked, "Why has the master come here now instead of accompanying Duke Hua and Elder Su?"

Lord Ye replied, "The old duke and Elder Su have already left after the banquet. I came to discuss Rong’er’s dowry with you." A faint sense of unease rose in Wang Shi’s heart. "Rong’er’s dowry? Wasn’t it already prepared? Does the master feel there’s still an issue?" Lord Ye nodded and glanced at Ye Ying sitting to the side. "Mother and I discussed it. We’ve decided to add two estates, a courtyard, two shops, and eight thousand taels of silver to Rong’er’s dowry."

"What?!" Wang Shi nearly overturned the teacup before her in shock. Ye Ying also stared at Lord Ye in disbelief.

Lord Ye frowned in displeasure. "This is the old madam’s wish."Wang Shi struggled to suppress a scream, her eyes red as she looked at Lord Ye and asked, "Why? Yue Er and Ying Er are also your legitimate daughters, Laofuren's own granddaughters. Laofuren is being far too biased. While Yue Er is in the palace, how will Ying Er establish herself in Prince Li's Palace?"

Lord Ye replied impatiently, "What nonsense are you spouting? You know very well what happened with Ying Er's dowry. How much extra you funneled into it—do you really think Laofuren and I are unaware?"

Wang Shi muttered resentfully, "Did Li Er not receive extra as well? The dowry Eldest Miss received when she married wasn’t even a fraction of hers."

Lord Ye said coldly, "Do you not know where the dowry Li Er’s mother left for Zhen Er went? Besides, the extra in Li Er’s dowry came from her mother’s side—the Xu family provided it. Ying Er’s extra all came from the Ye family!"

"Master..." Wang Shi gazed at Lord Ye with sorrow, her body swaying as if on the verge of collapse. "I knew it... You’ve always looked down on me. Just because my family background is humble, not as noble as Sister’s..." Before she could finish, she burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "Wuwu... Had I known it would come to this, that my daughter would be slighted by you because of me... I... I might as well have died back then..."

"What nonsense are you saying?!" Seeing his wife in such distress, Lord Ye’s heart softened. Recalling how he had neglected her lately for Zhao Shi’s sake, he sighed helplessly.

Tears welling in her eyes, Wang Shi looked at him plaintively. "Has Master not looked down on me?"

Lord Ye said, "Stop overthinking things. When have I ever looked down on you?"

Only then did Wang Shi stop crying, gazing at him with gratitude. "Bi Er knows Master will always be good to Bi Er."

Lord Ye glanced at Ye Ying and gave an awkward hum in response. Sitting to the side, Ye Ying was lost in thought, somewhat astonished by her mother’s methods of winning over her father. Though she found her mother’s exaggerated display of maidenly shyness unbearable to watch, her father clearly fell for it.

She still remembered the First Madam from years ago. In truth, Ye Ying had always strived to emulate a woman like her. That was why she had never quite understood why her father would forsake someone as beautiful, elegant, and talented as the First Madam in favor of her own mother. At one point, she had even doubted whether she was pursuing the wrong ideals. But as she grew older, the admiration from noble ladies in the capital and the longing gazes of men made her realize she hadn’t been wrong.

"Master, then... what about Li Er’s dowry...?"

Lord Ye frowned. "This was Laofuren’s decision. If you have any objections, take it up with her." Though Lord Ye was somewhat muddled in personal matters, he was clear-headed when it came to official affairs. He immediately used Ye Laofuren as a shield.

Of course, Wang Shi didn’t dare confront Ye Laofuren. If she had the nerve to defy the old woman who always looked down on her and loved to meddle, she would have poisoned the old hag years ago.Seeing his wife and daughter looking aggrieved yet not daring to speak, Lord Ye sighed and said, "You know exactly what the betrothal gifts from Prince Ding's Estate look like. Although the dowry left by Li'er's mother can cover it up so outsiders won't notice, which noble family in the capital isn't well-informed? If any unfavorable rumors spread, our Ye family won't be able to hold our heads up in the capital anymore. Taking a son-in-law's generous betrothal gifts while failing to provide a matching dowry would have people pointing fingers at our backs."

Wang Shi recalled the lengthy list of betrothal gifts from Prince Ding's Estate and had to admit that even in decline, the Ding Royal Palace still possessed vast wealth and resources.

"If this gets out, it won't be the Ding Royal Palace or Li'er who'll look bad—it'll be our Ye family, and Zhaoyi Niangniang in the palace," Lord Ye continued.

At the mention of Ye Zhaoyi in the palace, Wang Shi's expression wavered further. But thinking about having to part with tens of thousands of taels of silver again made her heart ache. After some deliberation, she said quietly, "My lord and the old madam have considered everything thoroughly. It was my momentary lapse in judgment. Please don't take offense, my lord. We'll proceed as you suggested. I no longer have the heart to manage these matters."

Lord Ye looked at her in surprise. "What? Has something happened to Ying'er?"

Wang Shi pulled Ye Ying forward and recounted in detail what had transpired at Prince Li's Palace. By the end, even Lord Ye couldn't suppress his rising anger. While Ye Ying might not have realized that Consort Xian Zhao was deliberately trying to strip her of household management rights, Wang Shi and Lord Ye saw it clearly. Who had ever heard of a new bride being put in charge of household accounts on her very first day, only to be declared unfit for management two days later? Even the harshest mother-in-law wouldn't go that far.

"This is utterly humiliating! I'll go see Prince Li and demand an explanation for our Ye family!" Lord Ye fumed.

Ye Ying quickly grabbed his sleeve to stop him. Frowning, Lord Ye asked, "Ying'er, what are you doing?" Ye Ying whispered, "Father, let's hold off on this for now. His Highness has already agreed to the consort's decision. Bringing it up now will only displease him." After crying her heart out and receiving Wang Shi's consolation, Ye Ying understood clearly that Mo Jingli was her sole support now—she absolutely couldn't afford to upset him.

"So we just let this go?" Lord Ye said. Comparing the gentle and courteous Mo Xiuyao with the arrogant Mo Jingli, he felt even more dissatisfied with this son-in-law. Why did Prince Ding have to be in such circumstances? Lord Ye couldn't help but think regretfully.

"Ying'er will think of a way. If nothing works, I'll ask for Father's intervention then."

Lord Ye sighed softly and said pityingly to his daughter, "Very well. Although Prince Li is the Empress Dowager's own son, we don't need to fear him so much. The Emperor is reasonable—if it comes to that, we can always seek his judgment. Prepare some extra silver for Ying'er to use as needed."

"Yes, this humble wife thanks my lord on Ying'er's behalf."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

This slow typist hates writing 10k-word updates~ My fingers are really cramping up, you know? Just noticed today that I've received so many flowers and diamonds, plus tips from several dear readers. Thank you all~ Giving everyone a big hug~ Haha~