Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 333 - 332. The distinguished guests have all arrived, Seventh Prince’s wife
332. Distinguished Guests Arrive, The Seventh Imperial Consort
Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were enjoying a rare moment of leisure, chatting in the study, when Chief Steward Mo hurried in. "Your Highness, Your Highness the Princess Consort, Prince Li is fighting with someone in the front courtyard."
Annoyance flashed in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. He frowned. "Are the guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion just freeloaders? Throw him out! No need to show him any courtesy!"
Chief Steward Mo hesitated for a moment. "But... the one fighting Prince Li is the Prince Consort of Nanzhao."
Ye Li stood up and smiled at Mo Xiuyao. "How could those two end up fighting? Since they’re guests, let’s go take a look."
Since Ye Li had spoken, Mo Xiuyao, however reluctant, had to follow her to the front courtyard, his face grim.
The fight was taking place in the large courtyard just inside the main entrance of Prince Ding’s Mansion. The front courtyard was arranged with grand simplicity. A massive Nine-Dragon Soaring Sky Screen Wall separated its front and back sections. Upon entering, one would immediately see nine lifelike soaring dragons, an imposing sight that inspired awe and intimidation. Directly behind the screen wall, aligned with the mansion’s central axis, stood the main hall. Outside the hall, two men were locked in a scuffle. Most shockingly, they weren’t sparring or testing martial skills. Instead, they were brawling like common street ruffians, trading punches and kicks. One would never guess that one was the Regent Prince of Great Chu and the other, the Prince Consort of Nanzhao.
Not far off, Princess Anxi, Princess Qixia, and Ye Ying stood watching. Two guards in black were positioned before Princess Anxi to prevent the combatants from accidentally getting too close and harming her, as she was pregnant. Unlike the anxious expressions on Ye Ying and Princess Qixia’s faces, Princess Anxi appeared remarkably composed, seemingly unconcerned about her husband losing or getting injured. However, when Princess Qixia saw Pu’a land a merciless punch on Mo Jingli’s face, tears welled up in her eyes. She clutched Princess Anxi’s sleeve. "Imperial Sister, tell him to stop! He’s hurt His Highness!"
Princess Anxi glanced coolly at her sister, gently pulled Princess Qixia’s hand from her own sleeve, and frowned. "What’s a little injury to a man? Qixia, you’ve been in Great Chu for so many years. I thought you would have learned much of Great Chu’s etiquette. It seems you were better behaved back in Nanzhao."
Princess Qixia said anxiously, "But... but, Imperial Sister..."
Princess Anxi’s face hardened. "You have been removed from the Nanzhao imperial family’s records. I am not your Imperial Sister." Princess Anxi’s aversion to Mo Jingli was as strong as anyone’s. The troubles Mo Jingli and Shu Manlin had caused her, even turning her own sister against her, were etched in her memory. She would never forget how dire her situation had been. If Xu Qingchen hadn’t secretly helped her, she feared she would have long since perished at their hands. Seeing Princess Qixia now tugging at her sleeve for Mo Jingli’s sake, Princess Anxi’s expression grew even colder, and her loathing for Mo Jingli intensified.
"Imperial Sister, how could you!" Princess Qixia glared at Princess Anxi, her eyes red. "The throne is already yours, what more do you want? Why must you make trouble for His Highness and me!"
"Make trouble for you?" Princess Anxi scoffed. "Do I need to make trouble for you?" The throne was hers? From childhood, she was designated the Eldest Princess and bore the responsibilities that came with the title. While Qixia was idling away her youth in play, she was poring over texts on governance. When Qixia was lovesick over Mo Jingli, she was burning the midnight oil managing Nanzhao’s state affairs. Was the Nanzhao throne now something Qixia had magnanimously granted her?
One of the Prince Ding’s Mansion guards protecting Princess Anxi couldn’t bear it any longer and spoke up, "Miss, it was Prince Li who provoked the Prince Consort of Nanzhao first."
Princess Qixia choked, displeased at being called ’Miss’. She lacked legitimate status; people called her ’Princess’ out of deference to Mo Jingli. But the people of Prince Ding’s Mansion afforded her no such courtesy, merely calling her ’Miss’. And no matter how strikingly beautiful Princess Qixia was, she couldn’t change the fact that she was already twenty-five or twenty-six. Being called ’Miss’ at her age was hardly a compliment.
"Even so, he shouldn’t have hit His Highness!" Princess Qixia bit her lip.
The two guards exchanged speechless glances, looking skyward. What did she mean, ’hit His Highness’? Those two were clearly trading blows. Don’t make it sound like Prince Li was the only one getting beaten up.
"What’s going on?" As the brawl continued and the argument escalated, drawing onlookers, Young Master Qingchen’s sudden voice was like celestial music. Everyone turned to see Young Master Qingchen, clad in white, strolling towards them. Though now over thirty, he looked much as he had seven or eight years prior; years of poring over documents and cases had not diminished his refined elegance in the slightest. His handsome, ethereal face wore a faint, curious smile, causing the hearts of the three women present to skip a beat.
Princess Qixia fell silent, somewhat embarrassed. Even though she deeply loved Mo Jingli, no woman would wish to appear ill-mannered before such a man of peerless grace.
For a moment, a flicker of reminiscence and nostalgia crossed Princess Anxi’s eyes, but they quickly returned to their calm state. She smiled and nodded to Xu Qingchen. "Qingchen, long time no see."
Xu Qingchen glanced at Princess Anxi. His gaze rested on her slightly protruding abdomen, and a trace of warmth flickered in his eyes as he smiled. "Long time no see. It seems Your Highness is doing very well. Congratulations." Xu Qingchen had been swamped with affairs these past few days. Although Princess Anxi had arrived the previous day, he hadn’t had a chance to see her. He hadn’t expected to return to the mansion only to witness such a spectacle. Raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow in puzzlement, Xu Qingchen looked at the two men brawling with complete abandon.
Princess Anxi, with an embarrassed smile, quickly explained the situation to Xu Qingchen. It turned out that after Princess Anxi had left Prince Ding’s Mansion earlier, she discovered she had forgotten a sachet she usually carried. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t have been important, but the sachet contained a token from the King of Nanzhao. So, she and her husband had returned to Prince Ding’s Mansion to retrieve it. Just as they entered the courtyard, they ran into an enraged Mo Jingli storming towards them. Mo Jingli, rushing forward, had nearly bumped into the pregnant Princess Anxi. Normally, an apology from Mo Jingli would have resolved the matter. However, he was in an exceptionally foul mood. Not only did he not apologize, but he also launched into a tirade, mocking Princess Anxi for running about while heavily pregnant and not staying put. Princess Anxi was not one to be bullied. She retorted just as sharply, mocking Mo Jingli for being well into his years yet childless, and for being jealous of others who had children. This jab hit Mo Jingli’s sore spot. His face darkened, and he moved to strike Princess Anxi. As her husband, Pu’a naturally wouldn’t allow anyone to harm his wife, and so the two men had started brawling in the courtyard of Prince Ding’s Mansion.
After they had been fighting for some time, Princess Anxi’s anger gradually subsided. She spoke to Pu’a in the Southern Border language, telling him to stop. Hearing Princess Anxi, Pu’a immediately disengaged and stepped aside. Seeing Pu’a stop, Mo Jingli didn’t press the issue either. He stood up and casually wiped the blood from his lips.
When Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao arrived, they found that the two combatants had stopped, though they were still glaring at each other defiantly. Both men’s faces bore numerous marks. A large welt had risen on Pu’a’s face, while blood trickled from Mo Jingli’s lip, and one of his eyes was turning black. The onlookers were once again rendered speechless. Ye Li stood beside Mo Xiuyao, chuckling internally. For years, she had been accustomed to scholars settling disputes with words, not fists, and warriors determining victory through martial prowess. Even common soldiers in army camps wouldn’t resort to brawling like countryside ruffians. To suddenly see Mo Jingli in such a disheveled state, it was truly hard to suppress her amusement.
"Prince Ding, Princess Consort Ding, my apologies." Pu’a stepped forward and apologized to Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li in somewhat halting Great Chu dialect.
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "It’s quite all right. I trust the Prince Consort of Nanzhao is uninjured?"
Pu’a shook his head and moved to Princess Anxi’s side. Princess Anxi looked at his swollen cheek, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped away the dust from his face. Then, she addressed Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, "It was we who were discourteous. We hope Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding will forgive us."
Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had heard an account of the incident from Chief Steward Mo on their way over, so they naturally didn’t blame Pu’a. Ye Li smiled gently. "That Your Majesty was nearly endangered in Prince Ding’s Mansion is our oversight."
Princess Qixia and Ye Ying also hurried to Mo Jingli’s side, fussing over him and wiping his face. Seeing the harmonious scene on Princess Anxi’s side, Mo Jingli, irritated, pushed away Princess Qixia and Ye Ying who were tending to him, then turned and stalked off with a flick of his sleeves. Princess Qixia was stunned for a moment. She glanced back at Princess Anxi, stamped her foot, then hurried after Mo Jingli. Only Ye Ying remained, gazing somewhat dazedly at Mo Jingli’s retreating figure, a bitter smile playing on her lips. She nodded to Ye Li and the others before turning and departing.
Watching Mo Jingli depart, Princess Anxi asked, "Who provoked him?"
Ye Li smiled. "Prince Li is the sort who can fly into a rage for no apparent reason, even if no one provokes him. Are you alright? Would you like to see a physician?"
Princess Anxi shook her head. "I’m fine. He just shoved me a bit. No harm done."
Ye Li was relieved to hear this. She nodded with a smile. "That’s good. As long as you’re unharmed."
Princess Anxi glanced thoughtfully towards the gateway. After a moment’s reflection, she said to Ye Li, "You should still be careful. Given Prince Li’s temper, there’s no telling what he might stir up."
Ye Li naturally took Princess Anxi’s warning to heart and thanked her again. She then invited Princess Anxi and her husband to stay at the mansion for lunch before they returned.
「In the Great Chu posting house in Licheng.」
Ye Ying stepped into the main hall and saw Mo Jingli sitting there, drinking tea. One glance at his face told her he was in a foul mood. Over the years, Ye Ying was no longer the naive, dreaming girl of the past; she certainly didn’t want to approach him at a time like this. Past experience had taught her that doing so would only make her the target of his anger. She hesitated, intending to turn and leave.
"Where are you going?!" Mo Jingli’s cold voice sounded from behind her.
Ye Ying startled, turned back to look at him. "I’m going back to my room to rest."
"Why are you only returning now?" Mo Jingli demanded.
Ye Ying couldn’t help a bitter smile. Mo Jingli had stormed off angrily, and Princess Qixia, who had been ahead of her, had rushed after him. By the time she, a step behind, had emerged, all the attendants from Prince Li’s Mansion had already departed. In the end, she had to walk back alone. For a Princess Consort Li to be ignored to such an extent was a rare sight indeed.
"I was taking a walk outside and returned a bit late," Ye Ying said faintly.
Even as he asked, Mo Jingli had already remembered the circumstances. But seeing Ye Ying, looking so pitiful, always seemed to be a constant reminder of what he had lost. Especially after having just seen Ye Li and been mercilessly mocked by her. Countless times, Mo Jingli had wondered: if he hadn’t ended up with Ye Ying, if he had married Ye Li back then, would everything be different now? He didn’t know when it started, but every time he saw Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao standing together, their smiles brilliant, he felt as if a venomous snake were viciously tearing at his heart.
After a moment of silence, Mo Jingli looked at Ye Ying. "A few days ago, Ye Li pulled you aside to speak privately. What did you discuss?"
A chill ran through Ye Ying’s heart. She lowered her gaze. "Nothing much. Princess Consort Ding said that Grandfather and Father are currently in Licheng and suggested I visit them if I have time."
"Is that all?" Mo Jingli frowned, dissatisfied.
Ye Ying nodded. "That’s all. My relationship with Princess Consort Ding isn’t good; we don’t have much to say to each other."
"Is that so?" Mo Jingli pondered for a moment. "Since that’s the case, go pay them a visit then."
Ye Ying nodded silently. "I understand. I’ll go back to my room to rest first."
After Ye Ying left, Princess Qixia emerged from an inner room and sat beside Mo Jingli. "Your Highness, do you really believe her?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Mo Jingli glanced sideways at her. "What do you mean?" he asked coolly.
Princess Qixia’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly forced a laugh. "I don’t mean anything by it. I just think that she and Princess Consort Ding talked for quite a while that day. How could they only have discussed matters of the Ye Family?"
Mo Jingli snorted. "No matter what she and Ye Li discussed, she can’t hide anything from me." Mo Jingli was well aware of Ye Ying’s capabilities; he never considered her a threat. He glanced indifferently at Princess Qixia. "You should also behave yourself and provoke her less. She is, after all, the principal consort of Prince Li’s Mansion and Ye Li’s biological sister. This Prince must give Ye Li some face."
Princess Qixia’s smile stiffened. Suppressing the hatred for Ye Li in her heart, she said with a charming smile, "I understand. I’ve followed you for so many years without name or status. Have I ever said anything?"
Mo Jingli nodded, satisfied. "That’s good. Rest assured, this Prince will never treat you unfairly in the future."
Princess Qixia squeezed out a smile. "I know Your Highness treats me best."
Nestled obediently in Mo Jingli’s embrace, Princess Qixia’s beautiful face was, however, contorted with hidden resentment. Her once bright eyes were now filled with hatred. She had abandoned her respected status as a princess for Mo Jingli, following him without name or rank for ten years. To say she never regretted it would be a lie; she was no longer that Nanzhao Princess who had recklessly chased Mo Jingli all the way to Great Chu, heedless of everything. But what use was regret now? She had been struck from the records of the Nanzhao imperial family. Even if she returned to Nanzhao, she would only be met with the scorn and contempt of its officials and people. Her only choice was to stay by Mo Jingli’s side. Yet Mo Jingli, for Ye Li’s sake, kept finding excuses to delay deposing Ye Ying as his princess consort. Brother Jing Li, how could you treat me this way?
Mo Jingli, also holding Princess Qixia absently, was lost in his own thoughts. As he idly toyed with a lock of her hair, he recalled... he still had one chess piece left to play.
Whatever schemes and thoughts occupied those in the posting house, Licheng itself was a picture of peace and prosperity.
「The next morning.」
The final group of distinguished guests arriving for the longevity banquet reached the gates of Prince Ding’s Mansion. As always, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao personally went out to welcome them. Seeing the group dressed in Beirong attire—strikingly different from the fashion of the Central Plains—Mo Jingli, who was also present, felt a glacial smile touch his lips.
"Prince Ding, Princess Consort Ding, it’s a pleasure to see you both again after so many years!" Yelv Hong, the Crown Prince of Beirong, stepped forward first and greeted them with a hearty laugh. In contrast, Yelv Ye, standing to one side, had a stern face, his expression a mixture of arrogance and animosity. The Beirong army was still in a standoff with the Mo Family Army in the north. As the commander of the Beirong forces, Yelv Ye naturally wouldn’t show Mo Xiuyao a pleasant face.
Mo Xiuyao offered a faint smile. "Your Highness the Crown Prince is too kind. Years have passed, and your august presence has only grown."
Yelv Hong looked at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li with genuine envy and sighed. "It cannot compare to the Prince and Princess Consort, who seem ageless." People from the Beirong borderlands tended to show their age more quickly. When they had met a few years ago, they had all seemed roughly the same age. But now, six or seven years later, the Crown Prince of Beirong sported a short beard, and his figure was no longer as trim and erect as before. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, however, still looked as if they were in their early twenties, exuding an otherworldly grace. Standing together, they looked like a celestial couple, inevitably inspiring envy.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince overpraises us," Ye Li said with a gentle smile. Her gaze then fell on Xu Hongyan, who had returned with them, and a genuinely warm smile lit her face. "Second Uncle, you’ve finally returned. The journey must have been arduous. Was everything alright on the way?"
Compared to the Central Plains, Beirong was indeed a harsh land; even though Xu Hongyan had only been there for a few months, he was noticeably thinner. He looked at Ye Li with a smile. "Everything is well. Your uncle wasn’t able to make it back for Li’er’s confinement when the children were born. Are the two children well?"
Ye Li smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. They are both doing very well."
Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li’s hand and smiled. "Ah-Li, let’s invite the Crown Prince of Beirong and the Seventh Prince into the mansion for some tea before we continue chatting. Uncle must be tired from his journey; let’s have him go inside and rest first."
Ye Li nodded apologetically. "Crown Prince Yelv, Seventh Prince, please, this way."
Yelv Hong nodded with a smile. However, as Yelv Ye walked past Ye Li, he shot her a disdainful, almost loathing, glance from his greater height. This expression made Ye Li raise an eyebrow in curiosity. Although her relationship with Yelv Ye had never been good, he had never displayed such blatant aversion towards her. In fact, no one had ever shown such open dislike in her presence, which only piqued her curiosity further.
Once inside Prince Ding’s Mansion, Xu Hongyan went directly to freshen up and rest. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li entertained their guests with tea in the main hall. Ye Li’s attention was drawn to a woman in white, veiled, sitting beside Yelv Ye, causing her to somewhat overlook Princess Ronghua, the Beirong Princess Consort. Noticing Ye Li’s scrutiny, Yelv Ye glared fiercely at her, his expression turning sour. Yelv Hong, seated opposite, frowned slightly, apparently displeased with his younger brother’s conduct.
Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair, one hand resting casually on Ye Li’s waist, his expression serene as he observed the guests.
Ye Li set down her teacup, nodded to Princess Ronghua, and asked with a smile, "It has been nearly ten years since we last met in the Capital of Great Chu. I trust Your Highness has been well in Beirong?"
Princess Ronghua smiled fittingly; compared to her time in the Chu capital, she had acquired more of the open-heartedness of the border regions, yet without losing the dignity of a Central Plains princess. "Thank you for your concern, Princess Consort Ding. This princess is quite well in Beirong. His Highness treats me exceptionally well." With that, she glanced at Yelv Hong with a faint smile, and he returned it. It seemed their marital relationship hadn’t been overly affected by Beirong’s military campaign against Great Chu.
"That is good to hear," Ye Li smiled, then turned her gaze to the veiled woman beside Yelv Ye, raising an eyebrow. "Seventh Prince, might this be the Seventh Imperial Consort?"
Yelv Ye nodded. "Indeed. This is my beloved consort, Qing Yina."
Ye Li smiled faintly. "If this consort recalls correctly, ’Qing Yina’ means ’most beautiful woman’ in the Beirong language. Then the Seventh Imperial Consort must surely be a peerless beauty."
Yelv Ye did not deny it. "Indeed. My beloved consort is truly a rarely seen beauty in this world." He then took the Seventh Imperial Consort’s hand, his eyes filled with gentle affection and indulgence, as if he were trying to rival Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao in displaying affection. However, Yelv Ye had always had a high opinion of himself; a woman who could captivate him to such an extent must possess truly exceptional looks.
Ye Li was unperturbed by Yelv Ye’s somewhat provocative tone. She smiled. "It is rather a pity that this consort cannot behold the Seventh Imperial Consort’s legendary beauty."
Princess Ronghua, on the side, smiled faintly. "Princess Consort Ding need not feel regret. The Seventh Imperial Consort is indeed a beauty, but Great Chu has never lacked for them. When Your Highness the Princess Consort was in the Chu Capital, didn’t you also encounter many peerless beauties?"
A glint flashed in Ye Li’s eyes as her gaze swept lightly over the woman in white. She chuckled. "Your Highness is right. Setting others aside, any one of the ’Beauties of the Chu Capital’ chronicled by Young Master Mingyue back then would be enough to topple cities and nations. It’s just a pity... Alas. This consort and the Prince were unaware of the Seventh Prince’s wedding. We shall certainly have to seek a celebratory cup from the Seventh Prince later."
Yelv Hong laughed. "Princess Consort Ding need not worry. The wedding wine is not yet late. When my seventh brother and sister-in-law are officially wed, it will not be too late for the Princess Consort to ask then." The implication was that Yelv Ye and this woman were not yet married. Thus, she was not, strictly speaking, the legitimate Seventh Imperial Consort.
With these many clues, Ye Li had a fair guess as to the woman’s identity. She smiled demurely. "In that case, I must offer my advance congratulations to the Seventh Prince. At that time, I hope the Seventh Prince will not be stinting with a cup of wedding wine."
Yelv Ye stared intently at Ye Li for a long moment before speaking. "When the time comes, I will certainly invite Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding to honor us with your presence. I hope you both will not find it beneath you."
Ye Li turned to Mo Xiuyao, her lips curving into a smile. "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince is inviting us to his wedding. Shall we go, or not?"
Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, his gaze soft as he looked at Ye Li. He said gently, "If Ah-Li says go, we go. If Ah-Li says not to go, we don’t go."
Ye Li smiled with satisfaction. As she looked up, she indeed caught a flash of resentment in the pair of beautiful eyes visible beneath the white veil.
