Imperial Capital 57. Prelude to the Palace Banquet

Ye Li frowned as she watched the two men drinking in silence. Minister Ye was about to pop his eyes out, but no one paid attention. Old Madam Ye tried to persuade Mo Jingli but was ignored. Mo Xiuyao smiled and nodded to Old Madam Ye but did not refuse Mo Jingli's continued persuasion. Ye Li glanced at A-Jian who was standing not far away. A-Jian noticed Ye Li's gaze and looked at Mo Xiuyao who was drinking in silence with an anxious look on his face.

Mo Jingli reached out to pour wine again, and a jade-like hand covered the wine glass. Mo Jingli's face darkened, and he raised his eyebrows and looked at Mo Xiuyao and said, "Mo Xiuyao, what do you mean by this?" Ye Li looked indifferent and put the wine glass in front of her, "Is Prince Li drunk? It was me who blocked the wine, why are you asking my prince?" Mo Jingli sneered and said disdainfully, "What's it to a woman if a man drinks? I won't argue with a woman." Ye Li smiled coldly, "Women won't argue with Prince Li either. It's just that I and Prince have to visit the Xu family in the afternoon. Prince Li doesn't want our Prince to go to the Xu family drunk, right? You know, not everyone can be as casual as Prince Li. Especially since the Xu family is a scholarly family that passes on etiquette and morality, Prince Li doesn't want me and Prince to be kicked out by my uncle, right?"

"Mo Xiuyao, could it be that after getting married you've developed a fear of women?" Mo Jingli glared at Ye Li for a long time with a gloomy face before sneering at Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao looked at him calmly, even with a hint of smile on his face, "Jingli, it's not a bad thing to respect your wife's opinion. Ah Li is right. We have to go to see Mr. Xu and Xu Yushi in the afternoon. You know, Mr. Hongyu really dares to kick us out." Mo Jingli was indeed unyielding, "How could I not know that when I go back to my parents' home, I have to see not only my mother's family, but also my uncle's family? Don't talk nonsense, Mo Xiuyao, are you going to drink my toast?"

"No." Mo Xiuyao answered crisply. Ye Li, who was sitting next to him, could clearly feel that Mo Xiuyao was in a surprisingly good mood. Even when he was talking to Mo Jingli, Ye Li couldn't help but hear some teasing in his words.

"Ahem... Prince Li, since Prince Ding is busy, let's not force him. We can drink together later when we have time." Fu Zhao reluctantly left the scene. They all grew up in the same capital and knew each other since childhood. Mo Xiuyao and Mo Jingli had been at odds since childhood, and they had become even worse after not seeing each other for so many years. This made it difficult for them, the bystanders, to deal with it. Looking at Mo Xiuyao, Fu Zhao couldn't help but feel lucky. Mo Xiuyao's temper had improved a lot, and he could even listen to the princess's advice. If it had been that way, the two would have either fought to the death or started fighting.

"Jingli..." Ye Ying said in a sweet voice, "Don't we have to go out this afternoon? Let's treat Prince Ding to a drink next time."

Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes and glanced at her, snorted and stopped talking. The others also breathed a sigh of relief. Minister Ye rubbed his slightly aching forehead and swore in his heart that he would never let these two sons-in-law drink at the same table again.

After lunch, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao said goodbye and went directly to Xu's house. Before leaving, Xu Hongyu called Mo Xiuyao to the study room to talk for half an hour. Ye Li was ordered not to listen in and had to wait outside the study room. The brothers of the Xu family, except for Xu Qingchen, who was on the move, and Xu Qingze, who was being controlled by his second aunt, were all with her in the yard. Xu Qingyan lay on the table and smiled at Ye Li and said, "Sister Li, my father will not eat my brother-in-law, you don't have to worry about him." Ye Li rolled her eyes at him unhappily, "Which eye of yours saw me worrying about him?" Xu Qingyan pointed at his eyes and smiled, "Both eyes saw it."

Xu Qingfeng, who was always rough and shrewd, was rarely moved. He looked at Ye Li with sadness and said, "I didn't expect that in just a few days, Li'er would become someone else's. If Prince Ding bullies you, come back and tell Third Brother, and Third Brother will definitely stand up for you." Ye Li nodded and said seriously, "I'll remember it, Third Brother, don't worry." Xu Qingfeng sighed and said, "I will leave Beijing in a few days. Third Brother will tell Second Brother that after Second Brother gets married, let Second Sister-in-law visit you often at Prince Ding's Mansion."

Xu Qingyan smiled and said, "Third brother, you don't have to be so exaggerated. Prince Ding's mansion is not a sea of ​​fire and swords. How dare Prince Ding bully Sister Li when we are here?"

Xu Qingbai on the side rolled his eyes and said, "Who hid back when he saw Prince Ding?" How come the Xu family produced such a cowardly boy, and they still expected him to stand up for Li'er?

Xu Qingyan's face turned red, and she couldn't help but shudder when she thought of someone's method and said, "Fourth brother, you can't blame me for being timid. It was really someone..." Too cruel. Thinking of the two unlucky bandits in the villa that night, Xu Qingyan had nightmares for several nights after returning home. Now when she sees Mo Xiuyao, she reflexively wants to hide behind Xu Qingbai. Ye Li looked at Xu Qingyan's guilty expression. Although she didn't finish her words, she could guess roughly. Maybe someone did something scary to scare Xu Qingyan. Ye Li didn't intend to delve into it. Mo Xiuyao was a famous general who had fought on the battlefield when he was a teenager. She didn't expect him to be a gentleman who was pure and innocent.

After returning to the palace, Ye Li began to take over the palace's affairs. It took Ye Li two days to read the various accounts. At the same time, she was secretly amazed at the wealth of the Dingguo Palace. The wealth accumulated by several generations of princes made Ye Li marvel. When she was almost done with it, she received an invitation to a palace banquet. As a reason for the farewell of envoys from various countries, neither Mo Xiuyao nor Ye Li could find a reason to refuse.

Entering the palace again, Ye Li was not in a good mood because of the unpleasant experience last time. The carriage of the Dingguo Palace did not get off at the palace gate like ordinary dignitaries, but directly drove through the palace gate. Mo Xiuyao was wearing a moon-white dress with a silver dragon pattern embroidered with auspicious clouds and flying eagles, and a white jade crown inlaid with sapphires tied up his hair. He looked gentle and elegant, "Are you in a bad mood, Ah Li?"

Ye Li lazily leaned back in the carriage and said, "Nothing. The palace always makes people feel a little depressed."

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "I wonder how many people are trying to get into the palace. Ah Li's idea is unique."

Ye Li glanced at him calmly and said, "Is it really that fun to climb up by stepping on countless corpses or being stepped on by others?"

Mo Xiuyao thought for a moment and smiled, "The process must be boring, but most people can't see that process. They just need to imagine themselves climbing to the top, and the pleasure of standing above thousands of people is enough to make them forget everything." Ye Li raised her eyebrows, stared at him for a long time before asking, "Xiuyao thinks so too?" Mo Xiuyao was startled, lowered his eyes and looked at his hand on the armrest of the wheelchair, and after a long time he said in a deep voice, "It's not just that I don't want to be the one who is stepped on by others to climb up." There was silence in the carriage for a while before Ye Li's voice was heard quietly, "I don't like stepping on anyone, but I don't like anyone stepping on me either."

"Your Highness, we're here. The Queen wants to see the Princess." A-Jian said in a deep voice outside the carriage, which had gradually stopped. Ye Li estimated in her mind that the location of the carriage was not any place she had been to last time. The approximate location should be near the Queen's Fengde Palace. Mo Xiuyao tilted his head and said, "I have to go to see the Emperor and cannot accompany you in. Can you go in by yourself?"

Ye Li nodded and stood up to get off the carriage. Mo Xiuyao held her and whispered, "Be careful. If anything happens... immediately ask Qingluan to go out and find A-Jian. He is near Fengde Palace." Ye Li frowned and said, "But you..." A-Jian is Mo Xiuyao's personal bodyguard and the person he trusts the most. If A-Jian is not by his side... Mo Xiuyao laughed and said, "You don't think that A-Jian is the only person I can trust, right? Don't worry, go ahead."

"Okay, see you later." Hearing him say this, Ye Li no longer insisted and got up and got off the carriage. Outside the carriage, people from Fengde Palace were already waiting. When they saw Ye Li getting off, they hurried forward and said, "I have met Princess Ding. I am here to welcome the princess on the orders of the Queen Mother." Ye Li nodded, "Thank you."

"I dare not. Please wait with me, Princess."

Entering Fengde Palace, there were already many noble ladies sitting in the hall. Fengde Palace was decorated with dignity and grandeur but not excessively extravagant, and the details showed a special elegance. Ye Li couldn't help but feel a little curious about this queen who was not well-known among the people.

"Greetings to Her Majesty, may Her Majesty live forever and live in peace." Ye Li walked into the hall and bowed respectfully to the graceful woman in the hall.

"Princess Dingguo, there is no need for formalities. Please take a seat." The Queen's voice was elegant and peaceful, without any of the arrogance that one would imagine a queen of a country to have.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye Li stood up and was led by the palace maid to the empty seat in the front and sat down. Although Ye Li was the youngest among the noble ladies present, and her status was not necessarily high. But in terms of status, the Dingguo Palace was above the princes, marquises and dukes in the capital, and the status of the Princess of Dingguo was naturally above all the ladies of honor. Even though Ye Li came late, the front seat was still reserved for her. Ye Li glanced around casually and saw many familiar faces. The eldest lady of the Huaguo Palace brought Hua Tianxiang, Princess Zhaoyang and Princess Zhaoren, and Princess Qixia and Princess Ronghua, who had not been seen for a long time, sat next to them. There was also the beautiful Princess Li, Ye Ying. At this time, the ladies sitting in Fengde Palace were obviously more or less related to the royal family or had titles. Ordinary wives with royal titles were not among them.

After sitting down, Ye Li looked at the empress sitting on the throne. The empress was wearing a bright yellow phoenix robe, and her elegance and dignity showed that she was the only queen of a country. When Ye Li looked over, she happened to see the empress smiling and looking at herself, and she was stunned. The empress was not particularly beautiful. Although they were both from the Duke of Huaguo's Mansion, Hua Tianxiang's appearance was better than the empress's. But that kind of peaceful and graceful elegance was something that Hua Tianxiang or all the noble ladies present did not have.

"Your Majesty, is this the Princess of Dingguo?" A clear voice came from the opposite side, immediately attracting everyone's attention. Ye Li looked in the direction of the voice and saw a girl in colorful clothes sitting on the right side of Princess Zhaoyang, obviously of extraordinary status.

The Queen smiled and said, "Yes, this is Princess Dingguo. Speaking of which, Princess Lingyun has been in poor health since she came to Chujing, and has not yet met Princess Dingguo. Princess Ding, this is Princess Lingyun of Xiling State."

Ye Li nodded and said, "Princess Lingyun is polite."

Given Ye Li's status, Ling Yun couldn't treat her lightly even if she was a princess of a country. But the princess who had been smiling sweetly just now seemed to have not heard what Ye Li said. She looked at Ye Li impudently and said, "I heard from my brother that you pulled out the Cloud-Sucking Sword?" Ye Li nodded slightly and smiled, "I have indeed seen the Cloud-Sucking Sword." Princess Ling Yun was not satisfied with this answer. She stood up and raised her chin and said, "I don't believe it. I want to compete with you in swordplay."

"I don't know how to use a sword." Ye Li said calmly.

"How is this possible? How did you pull out the Suoyun Sword if you don't know how to use a sword?" Princess Lingyun stared at her aggressively.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows and smiled faintly, "Princess, drawing a sword and using a sword are two different things. Who says that people who can't use a sword can't draw a sword?" She really didn't understand why these princesses and young ladies had to force others to compete in this and that, completely ignoring whether the other party could compete in the things they wanted to compete. "I don't care, I will compete with you. Don't you dare to accept the challenge?"

Ye Li stood up, "Princess, how can I not dare to ask me this in front of the Empress and all the ladies in the capital?"

Princess Lingyun said with satisfaction: "In that case, where is your sword?"

"In fact, I have never touched any sword except the Suoyun Sword in my life. The sword that the Prince of Zhennan sent me that day was also the first time I encountered this kind of weapon. So I don't have a sword, let alone how to hold a sword."

"Puff - forcing someone who has never touched a sword to compete with you... Queen, can Tianxiang compete with the general in embroidery tomorrow, and then claim that my embroidery is the best in the world?" Hua Tianxiang leaned against Madam Hua and asked in a coquettish voice. Her voice was not loud but happened to be heard throughout the palace. Many people couldn't help but laugh. The Queen glared at Hua Tianxiang, but there was a faint smile in her eyes, "You are so embarrassed to show off your little needlework." Hua Tianxiang smiled and covered her face, "Why do you say that to me, Queen Aunt? I just want to have a good reputation. How impressive it is to be the best in the world."

Ye Li looked at Hua Tianxiang gratefully. Hua Tianxiang blinked at her and leaned against Madam Hua, covering her face and acting shy.

The Queen suppressed her smile and said to Princess Lingyun, "Princess, Princess Ding is not good at swordsmanship, so let's not have this sword fight."

Princess Lingyun's face had already turned red from Hua Tianxiang's scent. She gritted her teeth and said, "She clearly pulled out the Suoyun Sword. How could she not know swordsmanship? She was clearly teasing me on purpose."

"The Sword of the Clouds belongs to the Dingguo Palace. Princess Ding can pull it out however she likes. What does it have to do with you whether she knows swordsmanship or not?" Princess Ronghua glanced at Princess Lingyun and said sarcastically, "Are all princesses from foreign countries so weird? They like to force others to compete with each other? They know that others can't do it at all, but they still refuse to give up. Princess, why don't you just tell Princess Ding to admit that your swordsmanship is better than hers?"

"You!" Princess Ronghua said this, not only Princess Lingyun but also Princess Qixia felt a little embarrassed. Many people present couldn't help but think of the time when Princess Qixia wanted to challenge the princess to a dance contest during the Hundred Flowers Festival. The queen saw that things were going to get awkward, so she quickly said, "Okay, let's stop with this. Ronghua, don't talk nonsense in front of the two princesses." Princess Ronghua snorted lightly, sat next to Princess Zhaoren and stopped talking. Compared to Ye Li, she hated Princess Qixia, who was as imposing and doted on by Princess Zhaoyang as she was, and she also hated the new Princess Lingyun who was just as proud.

"The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

Following the rather sharp announcement, Concubine Liu Guifei, dressed in a goose-yellow palace dress and with a cold expression, walked into the palace.

"I have seen the Queen." Concubine Liu was still as cold and arrogant as the last time they met. She only bowed slightly to the Queen as a greeting. It seemed that this Concubine, who was the most powerful in the harem, had no intention of giving face to either the Queen Mother or the Queen. The Queen seemed to be accustomed to Concubine Liu's behavior. She nodded slightly and said, "No thanks. Why did Concubine Liu come back to Fengde Palace today?" Many of the noble ladies present also showed surprised expressions. Concubine Liu never attended the banquets in the palace. Even though many of them went to the palace almost once a month, they rarely saw Concubine Liu in person.

Concubine Liu said coldly, "I have nothing to do. The Emperor said that the Empress' palace is bustling, so I came to take a look. Doesn't the Empress suspect anything?" The Empress frowned slightly, but still said generously, "Since you are interested, please sit down." She waved her hand and asked the palace maid to prepare for Concubine Liu. Concubine Liu walked up to Ye Li and said, "Can I sit here?" Ye Li smiled and said, "If you don't mind, please sit down."

Seeing Concubine Liu sitting down next to Ye Li, the Queen no longer bothered to prepare anything for her. The Queen had always kept a distance from Concubine Liu, the Emperor's favorite concubine. Fortunately, although Concubine Liu was extremely arrogant and sometimes even very willful and unreasonable, she was more restrained when facing the Queen. Today's indifference and unreasonableness were the limit. At least compared to the Queen Mother, the Queen felt that she was somewhat strangely balanced.

Concubine Liu sat next to Ye Li with a cold face, and the ladies who originally wanted to talk to Ye Li, the new Princess Ding, also gave up their thoughts for the time being. Although they didn't know this, Concubine Liu was a person who never gave face to others. If they approached her and offended her, they would be the only ones who would be embarrassed.

With no one to talk to, Ye Li had no choice but to sit in her seat and listen to others. Fortunately, she was also a person who could sit still.

"I've heard about what happened in the palace just now." Ye Li originally thought that Concubine Liu would not talk to her, but when she heard the faint voice beside her, she was slightly startled.

"You are so useless! You didn't know how to dance last time when the Princess of Nanzhao competed in dancing, and you don't know how to compete in swordsmanship this time when the Princess of Xiling competes in swordsmanship! What on earth can you do?" Concubine Liu's voice was full of dissatisfaction and disgust. Fortunately, she kept her voice very low, otherwise the rumor that Princess Ding was reprimanded by Concubine Liu the first time she attended the palace banquet would have spread all over the capital. Listening to Concubine Liu's rebuke, Ye Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If she remembered correctly, this Concubine Liu only admired Mo Xiu Yao and not his mother, so what was the matter with this tone of disgust? "Your Majesty, I have no interest in dancing, and... Prince Ding's Mansion doesn't need a princess with amazing dancing skills. As for swordsmanship... it doesn't seem to be something that the ladies in the capital want to learn."

Concubine Liu snorted and said, "You forgot to mention that your painting skills are mediocre. You even need others to write poems for you. You better be careful. If you dare to embarrass yourself, I will not forgive you."

Your Majesty, are you really not Mo Xiuyao’s mother?

"What are Concubine Liu and Princess Ding talking about? They sound so happy?" Princess Zhaoren on the opposite side suddenly asked.

Concubine Liu raised her head, stared at her for a while, and then said, "Princess Zhaoren, which eye of yours saw that I was happy?" Princess Zhaoren was choked and speechless. Ye Li sighed in her heart and envied Concubine Liu's straightforward character. Unfortunately, not everyone has the right to be so straightforward. If it weren't for the emperor's protection and pampering, Concubine Liu would not have survived in the palace for long even if her family background was good. Seeing Princess Zhaoren's speechless and dark face, Concubine Liu seemed to be in a good mood. She stared at the person opposite and said proudly, "Didn't the princess ask me what I said to Princess Ding? I said that since Princess Ding doesn't know swordsmanship, why don't I come and practice with Princess Lingyun?"

"Your Highness!" The Queen frowned in disapproval.

Concubine Liu Gui didn't care. She just stared at Princess Ling Yun coldly and said, "Princess, what do you think?"

Although Princess Lingyun had not been in the capital for a long time, she knew that Concubine Liu was the most favored Concubine of the Emperor of Dongchu. No matter what, she would never fight with Concubine Liu. Regardless of winning or losing, if she accidentally hurt Concubine Liu, she would definitely be the passive party if the Emperor of Dongchu investigated. After all, they were still on the land of Dongchu. "Lingyun and Princess Dingguo were just joking just now. Lingyun was young and ignorant, so how could she dare to fight with Concubine Liu."

"Okay, Concubine. Princess Lingyun is just childish. She doesn't know that Princess Ding doesn't know swordsmanship, and she didn't mean to humiliate our Great Chu." The Queen said calmly, with a rare firmness and determination on her face. It could be a good or bad thing for Concubine Liu to stand up for Princess Ding as a Concubine. Besides, it was no secret among many dignitaries that Concubine Liu admired Prince Ding before she entered the palace. What she had to do was to find a suitable excuse for Concubine Liu to stand up.

After talking with the Queen for a while, because it was too early to leave the palace banquet, the Queen invited all the ladies to go to Yu Garden to enjoy the scenery. So everyone thanked the Queen and said goodbye to her and went to Yu Garden. Before leaving, Concubine Liu was kept by the Queen. As soon as they left Fengde Palace, Hua Tianxiang immediately came up to Ye Li and smiled, "I have met Princess Ding."

Ye Li glanced at her and said, "Are you too idle?"

Hua Tianxiang waved her hands and said, "What do you mean? According to the rules, I should at least bow to Princess Dingguo. How about it, Concubine Liu didn't make things difficult for you just now?" Ye Li was puzzled, "Why did she make things difficult for me?" Hua Tianxiang looked at her silently, with a pitiful look, "A Li, I told you to go out more often, but you didn't listen. You must know that Concubine Liu..." Finally realizing that it was not a good thing to gossip about a concubine in the palace, Hua Tianxiang leaned close to Ye Li's ear and whispered, "Before Concubine Liu entered the palace, she was very...admiring of Prince Ding." Ye Li was speechless. Even Hua Tianxiang knew the news, and it seemed that she was not just very admiring. Nodded, "I know, she didn't make things difficult for me."

Hua Tianxiang walked beside Ye Li and shrugged, "To be honest, I was surprised that she would stand up for you. And looking at her expression, she doesn't look like she has any other desires for you."

"Is Concubine Liu good at swordsmanship?" Ye Li decided not to tell Hua Tianxiang about how Concubine Liu despised her.

Hua Tianxiang sighed, her face full of envy. "To be honest, the capital has been selecting the most talented and beautiful women every year for so many years, which is actually a bummer. But Concubine Liu... is definitely a real beauty. It is said that the Hundred Flowers Festival that year was the most exciting year since the founding of the Great Chu. The contestants at that time happened to be the top two beauties in Chu and Beijing described by Han Mingyue. You can imagine the scene..." Ye Li agreed deeply. Even if she didn't see it, she could imagine that the competition process was absolutely brutal. "In the end, Concubine Liu won?"

"No, she lost." Hua Tianxiang said regretfully, "At that time, Concubine Liu was only thirteen years old, and Su Zuidie was already sixteen years old. Even if Concubine Liu is now a stunning beauty, she was just a beauty at the age of thirteen. So the most beautiful woman in Chujing is Su Zuidie, and the second most beautiful one, the one of Concubine Liu, was painted by Han Mingyue when Concubine Liu was fifteen years old. Of course, if we just talk about appearance, I have never seen a woman in this world who can beat Su Zuidie. Concubine Liu has no reason to blame for losing."

"Hmm. And?"

"Then these two faced off. That year's Hundred Flowers Festival basically had no chance for anyone else. Su Zuidie won first place in dance, painting, poetry, and piano, while Liu Guifei won first place in chess and calligraphy. The second place went to each other. After Su Zuidie got engaged, she stopped participating in the Hundred Flowers Festival. However, Liu Guifei won first place in all the competitions held in the Hundred Flowers Festival, including dance, painting, poetry, and piano, in the next three years."

Ye Li was convinced. No wonder Concubine Liu looked down on her. She was indeed very capable. Seeing Ye Li's indifferent expression, Hua Tianxiang said unhappily, "Can you try to be more motivated? Don't you have any sense of crisis at all?" Ye Li sighed, "You think too much." She and a talented woman like Concubine Liu are not on the same path, right? If she really learns to be the best in everything, she would rather go on a one-month wilderness survival game. She can draw topographic maps, gun structure diagrams, etc., but she can only draw embroidery when she picks up a pen to paint. Her performance at the Hundred Flowers Festival was already considered extraordinary.

"Forget it." Hua Tianxiang waved her hands randomly, glanced at Princess Lingyun who was staring at the two of them not far away, and asked: "How did you offend Princess Lingyun again?" Ye Li said helplessly, "I'm sure this is the first time I've seen Princess Lingyun. I've only seen the Prince of Xiling Zhennan before." Hua Tianxiang was puzzled, "Then why doesn't she look like she wants to eat you?"

"Cloud-Surrendering Sword?" This was the only thing she could remember that was related to Princess Lingyun.

"The Cloud-Surrendering Sword? That belongs to Prince Dingguo's Palace. What does it have to do with Princess Lingyun?"

"Everyone knows that it was sent back from Xiling. Princess Lingyun probably couldn't bear to part with it. Let's go to another place to have a look." Ye Li suggested, staring at Princess Lingyun who was walking towards her.

Hua Tianxiang curled her lips, "It's a blessing, not a curse. If it's a curse, you can't avoid it. Do you want to run wildly in the Yu Garden?"

"Princess Dingguo." As she spoke, Princess Lingyun had already arrived in front of them. The noble ladies who were not too far away also glanced over here casually.

"Princess, what else?"

Princess Lingyun said: "I want to talk to the princess alone."

Ye Li frowned and said, "I don't know what I need to discuss with the princess."

Princess Lingyun's pretty face sank slightly, and she said, "I have come thousands of miles to come here, but Princess Ding will not even allow me to walk around the Yu Garden?" Ye Li nodded helplessly and said, "In that case, Princess, please go ahead." Princess Lingyun snorted lightly, raised her head and walked forward first. Ye Li gave a soothing look to the worried Hua Tianxiang, sighed and followed. Young people nowadays... really need a lesson!

Princess Lingyun dismissed her maid, and Ye Li was naturally embarrassed to let Qingluan and others follow. The two walked side by side along the path of Yu Garden, and Ye Li asked: "Princess, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Princess Lingyun turned her head and looked at her, snorting softly, "You are not worthy of Prince Ding."

Ye Li smiled, "Princess, you are too kind. Marrying a daughter to a rich man means I have found a good in-law family and a good husband, right?" Ling Yun said disdainfully, "You don't have to pretend like this. This princess has already found out about you. You are an unknown lady from the Shangshu Mansion, and a woman whose engagement was broken off by Prince Li. You only gained some fame in Chujing after being assigned to Prince Ding by the Emperor. Even if you got the most talented woman in the capital, you are still not worthy of Prince Ding."

"Oh, is that so?" Ye Li's expression remained unchanged, and she asked calmly, "Even if I am not worthy of Prince Ding, what does it have to do with you, Princess?"

Princess Lingyun raised her eyebrows and smiled with a hint of pride, "You will soon know the relationship between me and this princess. Prince Ding belongs to this princess. If you know what's good for you, Ye Li, you should just get out of here." Ye Li frowned and stared at Princess Lingyun for a long time before asking, "Princess, I have a question for you."

"say."

"Excuse me, does Xiu Yao know who you are?" Ye Li asked, "According to what I heard, Xiu Yao hasn't been out for at least seven years, so the most conservative estimate is that even if you met, it was when the princess was seven or eight years old. Excuse me... do you think Xiu Yao remembers who you are? Or, does he not know you at all?"

"So what? I am the most noble princess of Daling. Am I not as good as you?" Princess Lingyun glared at her angrily.

Ye Li looked at him strangely, "If the princess really wanted to marry Prince Ding, shouldn't she have shown up to compete with me before we got married? What does it mean that the princess showed up now that we're already married? You know, Prince Ding's Mansion has never married two concubines at the same time or divorced a wife and remarried. Or is the princess willing to be a concubine? If not... even if I die, the princess will marry into Prince Ding's Mansion smoothly and she will only be a step-wife, and she will have to kowtow and burn incense in front of my spirit on the first and fifteenth day of the month."

"You...you wish! This princess will definitely become Prince Ding's principal wife!" Princess Lingyun said angrily.

"Whatever you think." Ye Li looked at her sympathetically, "But I think the meaning of the Prince of Zhennan seems to be different from yours, don't you think?"

Princess Lingyun's eyes flashed with hatred. If Lei Tengfeng hadn't put her under house arrest in the embassy as soon as she arrived in Chujing, claiming that she was in poor health, and not releasing her until after Prince Ding's wedding, why did she come to Ye Li now? Ye Li smiled as she looked at Princess Lingyun, whose expression was changing, and continued, "Come to think of it, there are not many people who take a princess of her prime to visit neighboring countries... Generally, it is for... marriage? I seem to have heard that Xiling suffered a snowstorm last winter. Could it be..." There are many things she just doesn't want to think about, but it's not that she can't figure it out. She is not worried about this Princess Lingyun at all. No matter how capable she is, the emperor will definitely not let Mo Xiuyao marry a Xiling princess to make things difficult for him. Not to mention Princess Xiling, even Princess Beirong and Princess Nanzhao had nothing to do with Mo Xiuyao. Only the little princess in front of her could not see the situation clearly, and thought that she could get what she wanted by coming directly to her and asking her to give in. She really didn't want to despise the intelligence of these princesses, but...are there any normal princesses among the younger generation? Or are they really too young?

"What exactly do you like about Prince Ding?" Ye Li asked curiously, looking at Princess Ling Yun who had a determined look on her face.

Princess Lingyun snorted and said, "What do you know? Prince Ding is the most outstanding man in the world, the youngest and most powerful general, and the most talented man in the world. Naturally, the man I want to marry is the best man in the world."

"He doesn't seem to be as good as you said now." Ye Li reminded.

"You are really... you are so naive that I can't stand it. I will feel extremely disgusted if I say one more word to you. Prince Ding must be blind to fall in love with a woman like you. I know that it was the emperor of Dongchu who ordered him to marry you. How can a woman like you understand how outstanding he is?"

Looking at the righteous woman in front of her, Ye Li reflected on whether she should be ashamed. Compared with the princess in front of her, Yang Qianru was so normal and Ye Ying was so cute.

"I will definitely become Princess Ding!" Princess Lingyun stared at her and said decisively.

"Work hard, and I wish you immediate success." Ye Li said calmly.

"I will definitely become Princess Ding!" Princess Lingyun said gritting her teeth, then jumped into the artificial lake on the side of the road.

"Ahhh - help! The princess fell into the water!" A sharp cry of a girl rang out in the garden.

Ye Li cursed softly and jumped into the water.

Asshole, there are so many crazy people these days! Mo Xiuyao, prepare yourself for your death!