Mo Li

The news that Miss Ye Li, the future Princess Ding, had been abducted by bandits sent shockwaves through the capital. The rumor had already begun circulating in various circles shortly after her disappearance. Attempting to suppress such gossip would only fan the flames, so neither the Ye family, the Xu family, nor Prince Li's Palace made any official statement on the matter. However, when Ye Li returned to the Ye residence the next morning in a carriage laden with imperial gifts, escorted by the second and third young masters of the Xu family from their estate, the rumors began to waver. After all, those who happened—or claimed to happen—to pass by caught glimpses of the Third Miss Ye, who appeared perfectly composed and unharmed, hardly resembling someone who had just endured an abduction. Even the fiery-tempered Third Young Master Xu, known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, showed no signs of distress. So… had yesterday’s news been nothing more than a malicious rumor?

Ye Li listened absently as Qingshuang chattered about the gossip she had picked up outside, inwardly amused. Of course, her third brother could now calmly show his face in public—he had already vented most of his fury on those reckless bandits the night before. Recalling the heavy stench of blood that hung over the mountain stronghold when she and Mo Xiuyao descended, and the murderous aura radiating from her brother, Ye Li was convinced that the scholarly Xu family might indeed produce a military general. As for how Mo Xiuyao had dealt with the bandits, she had no intention of asking. Whether they were outsiders who had drifted into the capital or local outlaws, the world was better off without them.

"Third Miss Ye."

A clear male voice sounded outside the window, prompting Qingluan to immediately draw her sword and point it at the young man who had suddenly appeared there. With a smile, Ye Li pressed down Qingluan’s arm and turned to greet him. "Young Master Han, it’s been a while. How have you been?"

The man outside the window was none other than Han Mingyue, the "abductor" from the previous night. He gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Does Third Miss truly think I look well?" The moment he had stepped into the courtyard, he had sensed the hostile gazes hidden in the shadows. He had no doubt that if he made even the slightest suspicious move, the Lord of Tianyi Pavilion would vanish from this world without a trace.

From his sleeve, Han Mingyue produced a small wooden box and placed it on the windowsill. "A token to soothe your fright, and also a wedding gift for you and Xiu Yao. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to attend the ceremony in person."

Ye Li nodded but didn’t reach for the box. "So, Young Master Han is leaving the capital?"

Han Mingyue chuckled. "I’ve had one too many scares recently. I’ll feel much safer back in Jiangnan. You and Xiu Yao are welcome to visit—I’ll be sure to play the gracious host."

Ye Li smiled. "Your words make us feel rather ashamed."

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "Then… shall we consider our previous misunderstandings settled?"

Her eyes glimmered with amusement. "The misunderstandings between you and me are settled. As for any remaining issues between you and Mo Xiuyao—that’s your own affair."

Han Mingyue was slightly disappointed but acknowledged that he couldn’t force the matter. He also admired Ye Li’s sense of propriety. With a cupped-hand salute, he said, "In that case, I’ll take my leave."

"Safe travels. I won’t see you out."After Han Mingyue left, Qingluan stepped forward to pick up the box on the windowsill and said discontentedly, "Miss, why were you so polite to someone like him?" Ye Li turned and sat down, smiling, "He was quite polite to us yesterday as well." Ye Li understood clearly that if Han Mingyue hadn't been wary of Mo Xiuyao from the beginning, they might not have had the chance to retreat unscathed. She believed Han Mingyue was cautious of Mo Xiuyao, but she didn't quite believe he was truly afraid of him.

"If it weren't for him, Miss wouldn't have... Those people outside are still spreading rumors about Miss being abducted, and the gossip is so vile..." Qingluan didn't think Han Mingyue had been polite to them at all. If not for him, Miss wouldn't be subjected to such malicious gossip and ridicule. Ye Li said calmly, "If it wasn't him, it could have been someone else. Not everyone happens to know the Prince." Taking the box handed by Qingluan and opening it, Ye Li was also surprised. Inside the box lay a thick stack of neatly arranged banknotes—two ten-thousand-tael gold notes and over a dozen one-thousand-tael silver notes. Qingluan gasped at the sight, "Miss... this..."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, her expression troubled. Twenty thousand taels of gold were equivalent to over two hundred thousand taels of silver—such a vast sum was something even Ye Li felt hesitant to accept. Beside the banknotes was a pair of exquisite white jade dragon-and-phoenix pendants, their exceptional quality indicating they must be priceless. After a moment's thought, Ye Li closed the box and handed it to Qingshuang, saying, "Prepare for a trip. I need to visit Prince Ding's Estate."

Qingshuang carefully held the box—she had seen its contents too. Never in her life had she seen so much money. Oh dear, she was terrified...

"Yes, Miss."

"A Li! A Li..." Murong Ting's voice rang out before she even entered the room. Ye Li smiled warmly and stood to greet her. Qin Zheng, Hua Tianxiang, and Qin Yuling—the younger sister of Qin Mu, the newly appointed Capital Prefect, whom Ye Li had only met twice—had come together to visit. Murong Ting rushed in first, grabbing Ye Li's hands and exclaiming, "A Li, are you alright?" Ye Li chuckled, "If I weren't alright, how could I be standing here? What brings you all here?"

Qin Zheng covered her lips with a light laugh, "Ting'er dragged us out early this morning, insisting we come see you. I told her you were perfectly fine, but she wouldn't listen and had to check for herself. We met Miss Yuling on the way and came together." Murong Ting hugged Ye Li and waved her small fist angrily, "If I ever find out who spread those vile rumors, I'll beat them until even their parents can't recognize them! It's absolutely outrageous—ten thousand times worse than that scoundrel Leng Haoyu!" The others couldn't help but laugh. Ye Li smiled at Qin Yuling, "Miss Qin, thank you for coming to see me."

Qin Yuling replied shyly, "Actually... I came on behalf of my brother to apologize to you. He's only recently taken office as Capital Prefect, and this incident has harmed your reputation..."

Ye Li shook her head. Qin Yuling's expression made it clear she had come without her brother's knowledge. In truth, blaming Qin Mu for such an incident was unreasonable. Even in her previous life, where technology was far more advanced, crime had never been eradicated. How could anyone expect perfect control in these times, with limited resources?Lord Qin is the parent official of the capital's citizens, known for his impartial judgment and wholehearted service to the people. It's just some baseless rumors, Miss Qin, there's no need to worry. Rumors cease with the wise; if ignored, those spreading them will lose interest and stop.

Hearing Ye Li's words, Qin Yuling also relaxed. She and her elder brother had relied on each other since childhood. Though her brother hadn't mentioned it, she knew this matter involved the Ding Royal Palace, the Minister's residence, and the Xu family. Her brother was merely a third-rank prefect, and the Qin family had no powerful backing. A single misstep could make them scapegoats. "Thank you, Miss Ye," she said.

Hua Tianxiang laughed, "Miss Qin, there's no need to thank her. Those petty people are jealous of A Li and want to tarnish her reputation. Lord Qin can't possibly control everyone's mouth, right? A Li, judging by your attire, are you planning to go out?" Noticing Ye Li's outfit, Hua Tianxiang asked, "Did we come at a bad time?"

"I was just about to visit the Ding Royal Palace, but it's nothing urgent. I can go later," Ye Li replied.

"Oh?" Murong Ting's eyes sparkled mischievously. "So our A Li is already so close with Prince Ding?"

Ye Li shot her an exasperated glance, but Murong Ting cheerfully continued, "Why go to the Ding Royal Palace in person? Just send an invitation to ask Prince Ding out. That way, those gossipy schemers will know no matter how hard they try, they can't come between A Li and Prince Ding!" Qin Yuling looked puzzled at Murong Ting. "Miss Murong, do you know who's behind this?"

"Just call me Murong," Murong Ting said confidently. "Who else could it be but that Prince Li who can't stand to see A Li happy? I've never met a man with a pettier heart in my life—he and Ye Ying are a perfect match!"

Ye Li remained silent. Mo Jingli was truly wronged this time. But perhaps it was his own poor character that made him so easily suspected. The other three exchanged glances, but seeing Murong Ting's confident expression and recalling the enmity between Mo Jingli and Ye Li, they silently agreed with her guess. Even Qin Yuling wore an expression of disbelief, as if thinking, "I never knew Prince Li was such a person."

Prince Li's bad temper was no secret among the capital's nobility. But anyone paying close attention would notice that after his wedding, when he should have been basking in newlywed bliss, his temper had worsened. Especially this morning when he went out, hearing others gossip about Ye Li—something that should have delighted him. Instead, he noticed people casting odd glances his way or quickly changing the subject when he passed. Even in a teahouse, he felt the entire room's eyes subtly darting toward him. If anyone should be mocked and ridiculed over Ye Li's troubles, it should be Mo Xiuyao! Why did it feel like everyone was laughing at him instead?Most of the capital's citizens were kind-hearted, so when they saw Mo Jingli appear, even though they knew they couldn't afford to offend the emperor's younger brother, they still gave him looks of disdain. Tsk! What kind of person is this? Not only did he break off an engagement with a young lady for no reason, but he also couldn't stand to see her doing well. First, he ruined her reputation, and now he's spreading such malicious rumors? If this were an ordinary girl from a common family, wouldn't she be driven to death? Such a person, even if he's a member of the imperial family, is still universally called scum!

"Y-Your Highness..." The attendants following Mo Jingli were also terrified by the oppressive aura around their prince.

"What the hell is going on?!" Mo Jingli asked through gritted teeth.

Guard A looked around and sadly realized he was the closest to the prince. The others—B, C, and D—had long since retreated to a safe distance. Trembling, he replied, "Y-Your Highness, everyone is discussing... the matter of the Third Miss Ye."

"I know they're talking about that woman! What does that have to do with me?! Why are they all looking at me like I'm scum? Do they think I don't notice? Shouldn't they be mocking and ridiculing that woman? Shouldn't they be laughing at Mo Xiuyao, that useless fool, for being cuckolded?" (Do you even realize you are scum?)

"Well... some people say... they say that Your Highness couldn't stand to see Third Miss Ye doing well, that you hated her for happily joining the Ding Royal Palace soon, and that you deliberately spread rumors because she disrespected you at Chu Xiang Ge... cough cough... to ruin her repu... tation..." Guard A, trying to explain as quickly as possible, turned red in the face. Before he could finish, he watched in horror as his prince crushed the folding fan in his hand to pieces.

"What did you say?!" A sinister aura emanated from Mo Jingli, causing passersby to instinctively detour around him.

"Y-Your Highness... it wasn't me who said it! It's what all the citizens of the capital are saying!" Guard A protested inwardly. In any case, the reputation of Prince Li's Palace had hit a new low—again—after the prince's scandalous affair with his fiancée's younger sister and his habit of not paying for goods.

"A Li, Zheng'er, come up quickly. There aren't many people upstairs—let's sit outside." A clear female voice saved the nearly frozen Guard A. Seeing his prince's gaze swiftly shift toward the staircase, Guard A quickly curled into a ball and hid in a safe corner. Murong Ting, dressed in a striking red dress, led the way up to the second floor, turning back to wave at her friends behind her. The waiter guiding her nearly burst into tears. "Miss Murong, it's not that there aren't many people upstairs... Our establishment is one of the best teahouses in the capital! It's just that everyone was scared off by Prince Li!"Hmm? Turning her head, Murong Ting saw Mo Jingli with a face as dark as inkstone. She couldn't help but glance back, considering whether to find another teahouse. But in that brief moment, Hua Tianxiang and the others had already come upstairs, leaving the five young ladies staring at each other helplessly. Ye Li felt even more resigned—she was beginning to wonder if she and Mo Jingli had some unresolved karma from a past life. No matter where she went, it seemed like she ran into him whenever she stepped out. What Ye Li didn't realize was that this wasn't actually so strange. While the capital was the most prosperous city in Great Chu, compared to the sprawling metropolises in her memories, it wasn't particularly large. The nobility didn't frequent the same places as commoners, so there were only so many establishments they could visit. Unless one rarely went out—like Ye Li—those who moved about often, like Murong Ting, would inevitably bump into familiar faces everywhere.

"A Li..." Murong Ting gave Ye Li an apologetic look. She truly hadn't expected Prince Li, newly married, to be idling alone in a teahouse in broad daylight instead of staying home with his bride.

"It's fine, let's stay here," Ye Li replied. She knew it wasn't Murong Ting's fault, and besides, she had no intention of deliberately avoiding Mo Jingli. They lived in the same capital, belonged to the same aristocratic circles, and were even distantly related—where could she possibly hide? Giving Mo Jingli a composed nod, she led Qin Zheng and Qin Yuling toward a quieter corner.

Murong Ting stuck out her tongue and quickly pulled Hua Tianxiang along after them.

"Hey, do you think Prince Ding will actually come?" Murong Ting whispered. Having not grown up in the capital, she wasn't familiar with Prince Ding at all. Hua Tianxiang, however, seemed confident and nodded. "Don't worry, my grandfather says Prince Ding is a decent man. Since he received the invitation, he'll definitely come."

Qin Yuling murmured softly, "Then we should leave early and not disturb A Li when she speaks with Prince Ding."

Murong Ting giggled. "It's still early—we came out ahead of time, so Prince Ding probably hasn't left yet. We can move when he arrives. Heh, did you see the expressions of those people downstairs when we walked in? They looked so shocked—I was afraid their eyeballs would pop right into their teacups!"

Hua Tianxiang scoffed lightly. "They probably expected A Li to be hiding at home crying. Seeing us show up so suddenly must have given them a fright."

Qin Zheng covered her lips with a laugh. "I've never seen so many people gawking at once. This is the first time in my life I've been stared at like this."

As her friends chattered excitedly about their outing, Ye Li could only shake her head in amusement. The rumors didn't seem as vicious as she'd anticipated—likely because Mo Xiuyao and her uncle had taken measures behind the scenes. At least most people regarded her with surprise or sympathy rather than the scorn and disdain she'd feared. It seemed few actually believed the story about her being abducted.Ye Li and her companions sat in a relatively secluded corner, chatting leisurely among themselves. Mo Jingli sat alone by the window, his face dark as he drank tea as if it were wine. Being far away, he couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could still sense their cheerful mood. It seemed as though the rumors hadn’t affected them at all. Mo Jingli gritted his teeth in frustration—Ye Li was the one involved in the incident, yet she appeared completely unbothered, while he was left to shoulder the blame. But even he couldn’t bring himself to confront her directly. So, he could only let his gloomy aura scare the surrounding customers into quietly avoiding him while he continued to gulp down his tea.

"Ah, A Li! Prince Ding is here!" Just as he was stewing in his irritation, Murong Ting’s loud voice rang out from behind him, loud enough for the entire second floor to hear. Everyone looked up to see Murong Ting excitedly leaning over the windowsill to peer outside. Qin Zheng pulled her back with a sigh and turned to Ye Li with a smile. "Li’er, why don’t you go down and greet His Highness?" Hua Tianxiang covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and waved teasingly. "No need to come back if you don’t want to. We’ll finish the snacks and go shopping ourselves—there’s no extra seat here for Prince Ding anyway."

Hearing this, the few remaining customers on the second floor regretted choosing seats further inside to avoid Prince Li’s chilling presence. Now, they could only strain their ears to catch the conversation from the girls’ table in the corner. Ye Li found it amusing—gossip truly was an inescapable human trait, no matter the era. Under the blatant or covert stares of the onlookers, Ye Li stood and made her way downstairs. As she passed Mo Jingli’s table, she clearly felt his furious glare. She sighed inwardly—some people were just inherently incompatible, and there was no forcing it.

Watching the composed Third Miss Ye descend the stairs, the diners upstairs cast even more complicated glances at Mo Jingli. The way she appeared so openly in public and calmly went to meet Prince Ding really didn’t seem like someone who had been through any scandal. In contrast, Prince Li’s dark, twisted expression clearly resembled the rage of someone whose schemes had failed. People exchanged silent looks, engaging in wordless discussions. Mo Jingli finally seemed unable to endure the strange atmosphere. He slammed his teacup onto the table, stood up, glanced through the half-open window at the street below, and then stormed downstairs with a grim face.

The moment Ye Li stepped downstairs, the entire teahouse fell silent. Just as people were about to start whispering after she walked out with a gentle smile, Mo Jingli descended with a thunderous expression, plunging the room into silence once more. But based on their behavior, most of the onlookers now leaned toward sympathizing with Ye Li.

By the time Ye Li exited the teahouse, Prince Ding’s carriage had just come to a stop. A Jin was about to lift the curtain to help Mo Xiuyao alight when Ye Li called softly, "Xiu Yao." Seeing her, A Jin immediately stepped aside respectfully. Ye Li nimbly climbed into the carriage using the footstool. Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow at her. "Why did you come down?" She sat across from him and smiled. "Tianxiang and the others said there wasn’t enough room, so they shooed me away. They were just being mischievous—I was planning to visit Prince Ding’s Estate tomorrow anyway."

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Their mischief was quite timely.""What do you mean?" Ye Li asked in confusion. Outside, A Jin had already started driving the carriage forward again. After some thought, Ye Li leaned out and called out a destination, just in time to see Mo Jingli standing at the teahouse entrance, his gaze dark and gloomy as he watched their carriage.

Mo Xiuyao said, "Since early this morning, the entire capital has been spreading rumors that Jing Li deliberately spread yesterday's gossip to humiliate you."

Ye Li froze, suddenly understanding why Mo Jingli's expression had been so unpleasant. With his temperament, being falsely accused would naturally upset him. Recalling Murong Ting's confident speculation earlier, it seemed she hadn't just made it up out of thin air.

"A Li, did you have something to tell me?" Mo Xiuyao asked, watching Ye Li's delicate face lost in thought.

Snapping back to reality, Ye Li nodded. "This morning, Han Mingyue sent over twenty thousand taels in gold notes, over ten thousand taels in silver notes, and a pair of jade pendants. I originally planned to bring them to the Ding Royal Palace tomorrow when I visit, but it's inconvenient to carry them around while out with Tianxiang and the others."

Mo Xiuyao shook his head indifferently. "Those are gifts for you. You should keep them."

Ye Li was speechless. Han Mingyue had casually given away hundreds of thousands of taels—she couldn't possibly accept such generosity. "I'll have someone deliver them to Prince Ding's Estate tomorrow. Or you can decide what to do with them. I have enough money."

With a helpless sigh, Mo Xiuyao said, "A Li... Han Mingyue sent those things to you, so they're yours now. Accept them without worry. You don't owe him any favors. That man agonizes over spending even a single extra tael—if he willingly sent those gifts as an apology, it's because he believes they're worth it. You don't need to promise him anything in return."

Ye Li smiled and said, "I really didn't intend to agree to anything for him." She had privately speculated that Han Mingyue might have done something to wrong Mo Xiuyao in the past, and now this matter had come up again. Unexpectedly, Mo Xiuyao had simply let him off. Han Mingyue was likely feeling guilty or remorseful but couldn't find a way to make amends, hence his extravagant efforts to curry favor with her. Unfortunately, Ye Li had no intention of meddling to rekindle the friendship between former friends, so Han Mingyue's money was probably wasted.

"So, you asked me out today just for this matter?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Hearing Mo Xiuyao's deep, pleasant voice, Ye Li, who had been lost in thought, inexplicably felt her heart skip a beat. Somewhat embarrassed, she replied, "It really isn't anything important. Am I disturbing you?" Seeing that Mo Xiuyao seemed genuinely uninterested in the gifts Han Mingyue had sent, Ye Li couldn't help but wonder just how wealthy the Ding Royal Palace really was.

"I'm usually quite idle," Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Since we're already out, would you accompany me somewhere?"

Ye Li nodded. "I'm not very familiar with the capital either. You decide."

With Ye Li's consent, Mo Xiuyao instructed A Jin, who was driving the carriage, and A Jin immediately turned the carriage in another direction.

Inside the carriage, Ye Li asked curiously, "Elegance Pavilion? You're not planning to give me jewelry, are you? I already own a shop that specializes in jewelry."

Mo Xiuyao looked at her with a smile. "Isn't it normal to give jewelry to one's fiancée? Or is it not allowed?"

Ye Li fell silent. Could she really say, "Why not patronize my Treasure Trove Pavilion instead? Keep the wealth within the family"? Even though she had never been in a serious relationship, she knew such a remark would spoil the mood. But... was Mo Xiuyao trying to win her favor? Ye Li felt inexplicably irritated, yet Mo Xiuyao's composed and gentle expression gave nothing away. She could only helplessly give up trying to decipher his intentions. After all, wasn't it a pleasant thing to have a man—who wasn't unpleasant and was also her future husband—trying to please her with jewelry?

Elegance Pavilion was a renowned jewelry store in the capital, specializing primarily in jade pieces. What made it particularly beloved by the capital's young ladies wasn't just its exorbitant prices and exquisite merchandise, but more importantly, the fact that none of its pieces were ever identical. Each design was unique, which greatly appealed to the noblewomen who disliked wearing the same things as others. Ye Li had once considered adopting this high-end approach for her Treasure Trove Pavilion, but unfortunately, the shop lacked exceptionally talented designers and master craftsmen. Moreover, Ye Li herself only had a superficial understanding of jewelry design, so she had no choice but to abandon the idea.

Upon entering Elegance Pavilion, the manager immediately came forward to greet them. Even upon seeing Mo Xiuyao enter in a wheelchair, the manager only paused briefly before offering a polite smile. "So it's Prince Ding and Third Miss Ye. Your presence truly brings honor to our humble establishment. Your Highness, Miss Ye, please come in."The two were ushered into a private room, where a graceful young maiden promptly served freshly brewed spring tea. Ye Li sipped her tea with a smile, admiring the elegant and comfortable decor of the room, and couldn't help but sigh—this was truly the treatment reserved for distinguished guests. No wonder Elegance Pavilion was the favored haunt of the capital's nobility. With such meticulous service, how could they fail to attract wealthy patrons?

Perhaps due to Mo Xiuyao's status, the shopkeeper personally attended to them. "Your Highness, are you looking to select jewelry for the Third Miss Ye? This seems to be her first visit to our humble shop. May I ask what style of jewelry she prefers?"

Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiuyao, who took a sip of tea and said softly, "First, bring us a few of your finest pieces to examine."

The shopkeeper acknowledged with a bow and went to retrieve the items himself. Ye Li asked in confusion, "Are we really here to buy jewelry?"

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "A Li, you're overthinking things. Since we're out, why not pick up a few pieces if they catch your eye?"

Ye Li eyed him skeptically. "Has my usual attire been an embarrassment to you?" Upon reflection, it wasn't entirely impossible. Ye Li had no shortage of jewelry, all left behind by Xu Shi. However, she had always disliked excessive adornment, so her attire—especially her hair accessories—typically maintained just enough elegance to avoid impropriety. Anything more lavish was beyond her comfort. Given the status of the Ding Royal Palace, it might indeed seem unbecoming for the future princess consort to dress too plainly.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head helplessly and looked at her earnestly. "If you were decked out in gaudy jewels from head to toe, that would be what truly unsettles me. Truthfully, I didn't know where else to go, so I brought you here. Feng Zhiyao mentioned their jewelry is quite good."

Ye Li studied him suspiciously, trying to detect even a hint of discomfort on his face. Yet the man remained utterly composed, as serene as if he were reading an ancient text in his study, even while saying something that sounded so innocent. Ye Li had no choice but to tell herself she was overanalyzing. After all, though he now appeared the epitome of refined grace, it was said that in his youth, he had been quite the dashing figure—leaning against a bridge on horseback, drawing admiring glances from every balcony.

Soon, the shopkeeper returned, carefully carrying two boxes. Placing them on the table, he opened them with reverence. "Your Highness and Third Miss Ye honor our humble shop with your presence. This set is our master's latest design, crafted by his own hands. Moreover, it will likely be the only one of its kind this year. What does the young lady think?"

Intrigued by the shopkeeper's solemn introduction, Ye Li leaned in to look.

It was a set of top-grade celadon jade jewelry. While celadon jade wasn't the most valuable among gemstones, the quality of this set surpassed even the finest pieces Ye Li had seen in the Hall of Prudent Virtue or the Treasure Trove Pavilion. More striking was its simple yet elegant design—like a magnolia blossom quietly unfurling under the moonlight, evoking a sense of serene tranquility. No woman in the world could resist the allure of exquisite jewelry, and Ye Li sighed inwardly.This set of jewelry consisted of two magnolia hairpins, a bracelet, a bangle, and this forehead ornament. Seeing Ye Li's appreciative gaze, the shopkeeper immediately opened another box to reveal the forehead piece inside. Made of pale green jade without intricate patterns or gemstone inlays, it was simply an elegant ornament composed of beautifully crafted magnolia blossoms, resting quietly on the silk-lined brocade box, emitting a soft glow.

"Do you like it?" Mo Xiuyao glanced at Ye Li with a smile. "It suits A Li very well."

"It's truly beautiful," Ye Li nodded.

"We'll take this one. Collect the payment at my residence later."

Seeing both of them satisfied, the shopkeeper, who had just closed a lucrative deal, was clearly delighted. "Yes, Miss Ye. Will you take it with you now, or shall we deliver it?" Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, "Just send it directly to the Ye residence."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Ahh, after reading the comments, many of you are quite dissatisfied with the male lead's previous attitude. Actually, well, his current status dictates that he can't openly make a big move to eliminate anyone. His father, mother, and brother were killed, and he hasn't avenged them yet. His former fiancée also died, and he hasn't avenged her either. Everything boils down to one word: endurance.

Additionally, the male lead and female lead are not in a romantic relationship right now. In fact, neither has fallen in love with the other. So the female lead isn’t bothered by the male lead’s attitude, and she believes that as a former special forces soldier, if something happened, it would be entirely her own responsibility—she wouldn’t think to blame anyone else for failing to protect her. From the male lead’s perspective, he certainly has some fondness for her, but it hasn’t reached the level described in the synopsis. Similarly, he absolutely wouldn’t disrupt his own plans and arrangements for her sake. But who knows what the future holds? Haha. Protective instincts will come, and retribution for the villains will come too~ If there’s anything else you don’t understand, please leave a comment, and I’ll also revisit to see if anything was written unclearly.