Imperial Capital 31. First meeting

"Prince Li, are you dissatisfied with my future princess?"

The entire second floor was silent, and even the noise downstairs seemed very far away. Everyone stared blankly at a young man in brown clothes who was one step away from Ye Li and firmly grasped Mo Jingli's wrist that was stretched out to Ye Li. However, no one present, including Mo Jingli, saw where this young man came from. Mo Jingli glared at the young man fiercely and quickly shot his eyes towards the source of the sound. Ye Li did not look at the person holding Mo Jingli, and when the sound rang out, he turned his eyes to the straight plain back at the entrance of the stairs.

Only then did people notice that this man was wearing plain clothes and that he was not sitting on a chair in the restaurant but on a wheelchair of decent style. However, because he arrived early and was blocked by a half-man-high vase on one side, not many people noticed this. He seemed to be looking down from the carved railing at the lobby downstairs, and only then did he turn his head slightly, allowing people to see half of his handsome face. He raised his hand and exerted force on the wheelchair, and the wheelchair slowly turned around to face everyone.

The man sitting in the wheelchair was dressed in ordinary cloth, but he did not look decadent and destitute like a disabled person. Even people standing in front of him seemed to be a few centimeters shorter than him and could only look up at him. There is a kind of person who does not need gorgeous clothes and precious jade, does not need overwhelming power and a large number of guards. As long as he is there, he is above everyone else. Half of the man's face is elegant and handsome, with a noble and majestic aura that seems to be born. On the left side of his face is a frosty mask made of unknown material, which covers the entire left half of his face, giving people a mysterious feeling that makes people want to explore, even though they know that there must be hideous scars underneath.

"Mo, Xiu, Yao!" After a long time, Mo Jingli finally uttered three words slowly.

The three words "Mo Xiuyao" seemed to have a magical power, and the stunned people finally came back to their senses. They looked in amazement at the Prince Ding who had not appeared in people's reality for many years and was still graceful even when sitting in a wheelchair. Looking at the man in front of them who was completely different from their imagination, the people who had long been accustomed to the idea that Prince Ding was a useless waste suddenly remembered how amazing this man had been in his youth. This second son who was once the favorite of the Prince Ding was once the object of envy of the young people in the whole Da Chu. He was a talented writer and the world's number one young scholar. He was an outstanding martial artist, and like his ancestors, he was a god of war. At the age of fifteen, he traveled across several countries in the southern border and was invincible. He once had the most beautiful and talented woman in the capital as his fiancée, and the couple was envied by the world. However, his good luck seemed to end suddenly when he was 18 years old. His only brother died of illness, and the young man who hurriedly inherited the title of Prince Ding went to war again but almost failed. Although the young man finally saved the situation, he also paid a price that can never be erased. He was seriously injured, disfigured, and his legs were disabled. It seemed that God didn't think that the blow to this proud son of heaven was not enough. Three months later, his fiancée, who had been engaged for many years and loved each other, died of illness. From then on, only a very few people in the capital could occasionally see the figure of Prince Ding.

If Mo Xiuyao was stunning and brilliant in his youth, as dazzling as fire, then he was as gentle and dignified as jade, as calm and elegant as water when we saw him again a few years later. How much pain did he go through during this change, and how many people know it?

"Jingli, I haven't seen you for many years. You have made great progress." Mo Xiuyao glanced at Ye Li who was staring at him, then turned his gaze to Mo Jingli.

Mo Jingli's already expressionless face became even more rigid, and he said in a harsh voice: "What happens to the king is none of your business."

Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement, "I really don't intend to control what you want to do, but... even if you don't want to pay attention to your own identity, you'd better pay attention to the identities of others."

Mo Jingli frowned, looked at Ye Li's face which showed a hint of sarcasm, waved away the young man who was restraining him, turned back to look at Mo Xiuyao and said, "You want to stand up for her? Mo Xiuyao, you are not really interested in this woman, are you?"

"You know, our perspectives have been worlds apart since we were young." Mo Xiuyao was not angry, and even had a faint smile on his face. "Also, it's disrespectful to the future mistress of the Dingguo Palace. Jingli, are you sure you want to do this?"

Mo Jingli's face darkened, and he glared at Ye Li fiercely. He smiled disdainfully at Mo Xiuyao, "Ha, the future mistress of Dingguo Palace? Mo Xiuyao, are you sure you are talking about this woman?" Princess Ding and the mistress of Dingguo Palace are two completely different concepts for the royal family. If it was just Princess Ding, it would be okay, but if this woman really took charge of Dingguo Palace... Mo Jingli suddenly realized that it was a big mistake to encourage the emperor brother to assign this woman to Mo Xiuyao.

"Your Highness Prince Li, please watch your words!" The brown-clothed young man who retreated to the side stared at Mo Jingli with a bad look.

Mo Jingli snorted, turned around and went downstairs without even saying goodbye. Princess Qixia, who was following him, looked at the situation in front of her with some confusion, frowned, and hurriedly followed.

The show was over, and many people who were stimulated by the information they received today also left in twos and threes, pretending nothing had happened. After a while, the only tables left on the second floor were Ye Li's table and Mo Xiuyao's table. Ye Li smiled helplessly in her heart. From today onwards, the capital city will definitely be very lively.

"Ahem, I've met the prince. I suddenly remembered that I have something to buy. Zheng'er and Murong, please accompany me." Hua Tianxiang coughed lightly and prepared to run away without any loyalty.

Qin Zheng and Murong Ting also nodded quickly. After seeing Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement, they hurried downstairs. Before leaving, Qin Zheng did not forget to cast a worried and encouraging look at Ye Li. Seeing her friends disappear at the stairs, Ye Li sighed with some amusement. Did they think that she was embarrassed like other girls? Well, in such a situation, meeting a fiancé whom she had never met before, it seemed that she should indeed show a certain degree of shyness. After thinking about it, Ye Li decided to give up such a difficult performance. She raised her head and looked at Mo Xiuyao who was also looking at her, "Your Highness, why don't we talk somewhere else. After all... people here still need to do business."

Mo Xiuyao's eyes flashed with surprise, and he nodded silently. Then, the two of them moved to the private room on the third floor of Chuxiang Pavilion.

"Ms. Ye... I am a little surprised." In the only private room on the third floor, Mo Xiuyao sat leaning against the open window and spoke as he looked at the green-clothed girl in front of him who did not show any sign of restraint or uneasiness.

Ye Li smiled and said, "Your Majesty also surprised me a little." If the man in front of her was the Prince Ding who had become useless due to disability as rumored, then it was clear how unreliable the gossip in the capital had become.

"After so many years... it seems that Jing Li's vision is indeed flawed." Mo Xiuyao sighed, a hint of smile flashed across his gentle eyes. Ye Li smiled and said, "It was the attitude of the prince that made Ye Li sigh. In fact, I always thought that I would receive a second letter of withdrawal of engagement."

"Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid?" Ye Li looked at him in confusion, then quickly came to her senses and said, "I will try to be careful. Besides, the emperor's orders are as heavy as a mountain. Instead of disobeying orders, why not try to move forward? Maybe there will be another bright future."

Mo Xiuyao raised his hand and took off the mask on his face, and the nasty scars under the mask were immediately exposed to Ye Li's eyes.

The slightly hideous scars did spoil the beauty, but for Ye Li, who had seen broken limbs and bodies shattered by bombs, it was not enough to surprise her. So she just blinked and asked apologetically, "Are you trying to scare me, Lord?"

Mo Xiuyao was stunned, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips, "No, actually I don't like wearing this." Even though half of his face was destroyed, Mo Xiuyao never wore a mask when he was alone. He was not someone who was afraid to face himself.

Ye Li nodded in agreement, "I don't like people wearing masks either." It is difficult to see a person's expression and thoughts through a mask.

Mo Xiuyao was silent. The girl in front of him was completely different from what Feng Zhiyuan had investigated and what he had guessed. Looking at her calm and beautiful face, Mo Xiuyao suddenly felt that Feng Zhiyuan was right. Ye Li was indeed an interesting woman, and the best one he could choose. A woman who was very suitable to be the future mistress of Dingguo Palace.