Mountain and River Festival 308. Beauty's Grace, Staying in the Study

"Ye Li, I want to challenge you!"

As soon as these words came out, the hall suddenly fell silent. It took a long while before Feng Zhiyao's laughter could be heard from the hall. At first, it was a low, muffled laugh, but later, it seemed that he couldn't hold it back anymore and burst into laughter. Princess Lingyun was so angry that she glared at Feng Zhiyao and asked, "What are you laughing at?!"

Feng Zhiyao wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, waved his hands and said with a smile: "Nothing, I just felt like laughing." Then he turned to Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, moved his lips and said a few words silently. Ye Li, who was proficient in lip reading, saw clearly that Feng Zhiyao said "Blue face brings disaster". Although Mo Xiuyao didn't know what Feng Zhiyao said, he could guess a little from his expression, and glanced at him dangerously and ignored him.

Princess Ling Yun was actually impulsive at first, but now that she had said it, she let it go. She looked up at Ye Li and asked, "What do you think? Do you dare?"

Ye Li was somewhat helpless. She smiled at Princess Ling Yun and asked, "Princess, why should I accept your challenge?" She accepted the challenge for Mo Xiu Yao and for the dignity of Ding Wang Mansion and her as the Princess of Ding Wang. But now, Ye Li couldn't figure out why she accepted Princess Ling Yun's challenge. Princess Ling Yun probably knew that she was already married. It was impossible for her to still be thinking about Mo Xiu Yao, right? As for the dignity of Ding Wang Mansion, it no longer needed her, the Princess, to defeat a princess of a defeated country to prove it.

"You dare not?!" Princess Ling Yun looked at Ye Li with disdain.

Ye Li smiled and said, "I don't have to." She didn't have to accept Princess Ling Yun's challenge. No one in this world dared to say that she was not worthy of Mo Xiu Yao, or that she was not worthy of being Princess Ding.

Hearing this, Princess Ling Yun's face turned even uglier. Ye Li was right, she didn't have to accept her challenge. To put it more clearly, with Princess Ling Yun's current reputation and status, she was not qualified to challenge Princess Ding.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, the Xiling Emperor quickly said, "Ling Yun has been spoiled by me since she was young. I don't know the severity of the situation. Please forgive me, Princess."

Princess Lingyun opened her mouth and wanted to say something. Emperor Xiling glared at her fiercely and said in a stern voice: "Don't you even look at where you are? Why don't you go down!"

Mo Xiuyao stood up with Ye Li by his side, and said to the Xiling Emperor with a smile: "Xiling Emperor, since we have already reached an agreement, this prince and the princess will go back to the inn to rest first. Ah Li has been a little tired these days." Xiling Emperor smiled and said: "Why don't Prince Ding and the princess stay in the palace temporarily? I have already ordered people to clean up and squeeze out the palace for Prince Ding and his party to live in." Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and smiled: "That's not necessary. This prince is not picky about the place to live. Take your leave first."

"This... I haven't decided yet whether the prince and princess will prepare a welcoming banquet..."

Ye Liqian smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, Emperor Xiling. But I am indeed a little tired. Today I can only thank you for your kindness."

Prince Ding and the princess said so, and the Xiling Emperor couldn't force them to stay. He had to let them go out. When Mo Xiuyao walked to Princess Lingyun holding Ye Li's hand, he paused for a moment before continuing to walk out. Seeing that Mo Xiuyao and his party had left the main hall, the Xiling Emperor breathed a sigh of relief and turned his gaze to Princess Lingyun, who frowned a little and said, "Lingyun, you?!"

Princess Lingyun turned pale and suddenly spit out blood. The Xiling Emperor was startled and quickly ordered someone to come and support Princess Lingyun, asking, "What happened?" Although this daughter had just embarrassed him, she was his biological daughter after all. Seeing her suddenly vomiting blood, the Xiling Emperor was still a little worried.

The imperial physician came quickly, took Princess Lingyun's pulse, and asked in confusion: "How did the princess suddenly get internal injuries?" The others naturally didn't understand. After all, although Princess Lingyun said she wanted to challenge Princess Ding, they didn't fight after all. The others in the palace also didn't even touch Princess Lingyun. How could she suddenly get internal injuries?

"Prince Ding!" Princess Ling Yun raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her lips and said in a low voice through gritted teeth.

These days, the entire Xiling Imperial City is full of turmoil. Although the posthouse in the city occupied by the people of Dingwang Mansion has become much quieter because there are soldiers of the Mohist Army guarding outside, there are still all kinds of people coming every day for various reasons to ask for an audience or even to watch. Although the Xiling Imperial City is still controlled by the Xiling Imperial Family and the court, everyone knows that Xiling Imperial City has belonged to Dingwang Mansion. People who are flexible and have no intention of following the Xiling Emperor to the south to Ancheng will naturally have their eyes on Dingwang Mansion in order to find a good way out for their future.

Inside the inn, the Xiling Imperial City in September already had a bit of the early winter chill. Fortunately, there were few plants in the Xiling mansion, so it didn't look desolate. Beside the rockery in the courtyard, Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingbai were playing chess opposite each other. Ye Li sat next to Mo Xiuyao and watched the game, and even Feng Zhiyao and Xu Qingfeng, who were always active, sat aside and watched. Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingbai were not the type who played chess with great fanfare, and their casual exchanges were quite leisurely. Feng Zhiyao was bored watching from the side, so he turned his head to look at Ye Li who was sitting next to Mo Xiuyao, and said with a smile: "Princess, have you heard about the strange things that happened in the Xiling Imperial City these two days?"

Ye Li looked up at him, somewhat puzzled.

Feng Zhiyao smiled and said, "I heard that yesterday was the Autumn Moon Festival in Xiling Imperial City. It was probably a festival for the daughters of officials and noble ladies in the city to gather. Didn't they send you a message?" Feng Zhiyao was a little surprised. Logically, the nobles in Xiling Imperial City wouldn't be so ignorant. Especially those who had no intention of following the Xiling Emperor to the south.

Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "I did receive a few messages, but I turned them down. What happened?"

"It's better to turn it down. I heard that Princess Lingyun went to attend the Qiuyue Club yesterday and was blocked outside the door and not allowed to enter." Feng Zhiyao's smile was definitely full of schadenfreude. Who made Princess Lingyun look mean and have her nose on top of her head? Isn't that hateful? The third son of Feng has never been a kind-hearted person.

"Blocking outside the door? Why?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows, becoming somewhat interested. Princess Ling Yun was still the princess of Xiling, no matter how arrogant she was. She did have the capital to be arrogant. Most powerful people would not confront her, let alone deliberately slap her in the face. Feng Zhiyao smiled and said, "I don't know what happened, but the news that Princess Lingyun provoked the princess in the palace has now spread all over the city. By the way, the nobles in Xiling all knew about Princess Lingyun's affairs in Dachu. Now it's being talked about again. Coincidentally, the people in charge of holding the Autumn Moon Club this year are the wealthy Sun family in Xiling City. The Sun family has risen very quickly since the fall of the Murong family. It's not an exaggeration to say that they are the richest people in the imperial city. They are also old officials of Xiling who gave up their official positions to do business, and they have never been on good terms with Princess Lingyun. Now that the imperial city has changed its owner, will they take Princess Lingyun seriously?"

"Sun family?" Xu Qingbai raised his head and asked while playing chess.

Feng Zhiyao raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Why? Fourth Young Master, do you have any impression?" Xu Qingbai nodded and said, "Not long after I arrived in Xiling, the head of the Sun family sent someone to give me a gift. The Sun family should have sent many gifts to the posthouse in the past two days, right?"

Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and continued to think about the chess moves. Ye Li and Feng Zhiyao looked at Zhuo Jing who was standing beside them. Zhuo Jing and Lin Han were handling all these matters. Zhuo Jing thought for a moment and said, "The head of the Sun family has sent many gifts over the past few days. In addition, Mr. Zhang from the Sun family came in person to ask for an audience once. However, the prince and princess said they would not see anyone, so I returned."

Ye Li asked in confusion: "Fourth brother, is there any problem with the Sun family?"

Xu Qingbai shook his head and said, "No, I just think the head of the Sun family has a unique vision. When I first came to Xiling, they were the only ones in the entire imperial city who came forward to make friends." Feng Zhiyao didn't care and said lightly, "Maybe he wants to please both sides. Businessmen... don't like to put all their chips in one basket." Xu Qingbai shook his head and said, "With the current wealth and status of the Sun family, he can't do anything casually. If you hadn't come quickly, maybe the Sun family would have been in trouble in a few days. Even now... do you think the Xiling Emperor is willing to leave so much of the Sun family's property to Prince Ding's Mansion?"

Ye Li pondered for a moment and said, "So... the head of the Sun family should come to see me again soon. Was yesterday's incident just a statement of the Sun family to Prince Ding's Mansion?" Xu Qingbai dropped a chess piece with a click and said with a smile, "You can say that."

"What do you think about this, Your Highness?" Feng Zhiyao looked at Mo Xiuyao with a smile. They had received quite a few gifts in the past few days, including gold, silver, jewelry, rare antiques, and rare treasures. But there were also quite a few stunning beauties, which made people laugh and cry. Among these beauties, there were certainly some stunning prostitutes and dancers, but there were also some sisters and daughters of powerful and wealthy businessmen in Xiling. Although everyone in the world knew that Prince Ding had a sincere heart for Princess Ding, there were always some people who wanted to give it a try out of luck. So, for the first time in his life, His Royal Highness Prince Ding was kicked out of the bedroom by the princess and made to sleep in the study. Feng Zhiyao, who was watching, couldn't help but say: Your Highness was wronged.

Mo Xiuyao glanced at Feng Zhiyao calmly, threw down the chess piece in his hand and said calmly: "Didn't you say that these trivial matters can be handed over to Qingbai to deal with?" After saying that, he glanced at Ye Li who was sitting next to him without leaving a trace. Xu Qingbai is Ah Li's cousin, so of course he knows how to deal with it so that Ah Li won't be unhappy. In fact, for those who are diligent in offering gifts, especially those who are blind to offer beautiful women, Mo Xiuyao's idea is to just kill them directly. But it is obvious that not only his subordinates will oppose such an idea, but even Ah Li will not agree.

Seeing that Mo Xiuyao had no intention of playing chess, Xu Qingbai also put down the chess piece with a smile. He glanced at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao with a half-smile. Of course, he knew that Prince Ding was kicked out and slept in the study for two days. He was also a little surprised. You know, in the past few years, this couple has always been loving and loving, and they have never even blushed. Mo Xiuyao's status is there, it is impossible to say that there is no temptation of beauty. But I have never seen Li'er jealous of this. This time... Could it be that Mo Xiuyao really has some ideas? Xu Qingbai's handsome eyes flashed slightly, and he asked with a smile: "Your Highness, you are too serious. How dare I take charge of such an important matter? Third Master Feng, you look so happy, is it true that you have sent something amazing this time?"

Feng Zhiyao's mouth twitched slightly. What does it mean to see him so happy? It's as if he is some kind of pervert. However, the feeling of seeing Mo Xiuyao's joke instantly overwhelmed the slight dissatisfaction in her heart, and she said with a smile: "Fourth Master, don't say it, there really is. The other day, the Marquis of Xiling Changning sent a pair of stunning beauties. Although they can't be said to be the beauties that can conquer the country, they are definitely rare and stunning beauties. More importantly, they are a pair of twins, and they look exactly the same. Zhuo Jinglinhan and I looked at them for a long time but couldn't tell who was who."

Zhuo Jing touched his nose and secretly complained in his heart: Third Master Feng, you are the one who looked at them for a long time, and you are also the one who couldn't tell them apart. Can you not involve innocent outsiders like us? They have been specially trained and taught by the princess, how could they not even tell a pair of twins apart?

Mo Xiuyao listened to Feng Zhiyao enthusiastically introducing the beauties sent to Xu Qingbai and Xu Qingfeng in the past few days, and then looked at Ye Li beside him with a smile almost identical to Xu Qingbai's, and couldn't help but feel cold in his heart. In fact, he didn't understand why Ah Li suddenly got angry, but he knew it was definitely not just because of those women who were not worth mentioning. Ah Li had never been angry with him in these years, and even if she was sometimes, it was more like a joke. But this time, Mo Xiuyao really felt that Ah Li was really unhappy, but... why?

Looking at the faint smile on Ye Li's lips, Mo Xiuyao became more and more entangled and irritated.

Turning his gaze to the excited Feng Zhiyao, Mo Xiuyao said, "Feng San, you sound so happy..." Feng Zhiyao blinked and looked blankly at Mo Xiuyao who was looking at him with a sneer. Mo Xiuyao's voice was slightly cold, "The twin sisters sent by the Marquis of Changning, I will give them to you. Although the blood relationship with the Marquis of Changning is far away, he is still a member of the Xiling royal family after all, so you have to give him some face. You have to... treat the twin beauties well." Mo Xiuyao said the four words "treat them well" in an especially low voice, and Feng Zhiyao's heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if a bucket of cold water was poured on his head, instantly sobering up his somewhat excited mind.

Extreme joy leads to sorrow. The boss's excitement is not so good. The ancients were right. Feng Zhiyao thought silently with a sad face.

Since two of them had already been sent out, Mo Xiuyao also thought about how to place the others. Who made Ah Li dislike him for killing people at random? But Ah Li would be in a bad mood if he left them in the posthouse. Mo Xiuyao stroked his chin with satisfaction and said to Feng Zhiyao: "Give orders to reward those women to the generals according to their military merits."

Xu Qingfeng and Qin Feng beside him changed their expressions slightly. Xu Qingfeng hurriedly said, "That... Your Majesty, I won't need to do that." He was going to marry Tianxiang when he returned, so what was the point of bringing a woman back? Even if Tianxiang wasn't angry with him, his parents would break his legs. Qin Feng coughed lightly and then said, "I also thank your Majesty for your kindness."

Mo Xiu Yao raised his eyebrows, looked at Qin Feng and said, "It's understandable if Qingfeng doesn't want it, but Qin Feng, do you really not want it? You are already over 30 years old, right? You should have a biological child long ago. I remember that one of them is the legitimate daughter of a scholarly family. How about I let Feng San give that girl to you?" Qin Feng shook his head repeatedly and said with a bitter face, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I appreciate it." The prince's enthusiasm was indeed not good to look at.

"Qingbai?" Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingbai with a smile. Xu Qingbai smiled calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. The Xu family rules state that before marriage, a man cannot take a concubine if he is not 40 years old and has no children after marriage."

Mo Xiuyao nodded and smiled, "I know this. It would be nice to take two of them back as maids."

"I have been wandering around for many years, and I am afraid that I might have offended the beautiful lady." Xu Qingbai kept smiling.

After sending away the subordinates who were unwilling to accept the favor of the beauty, Mo Xiuyao turned around and looked at Ye Li. He raised his hands to lift her little face and asked softly, "Ali, are you still angry?" Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao with a calm smile and said, "What are you talking about, Your Majesty? When was I angry?" Mo Xiuyao held her in his arms, buried his face in his fragrant hair, and said sullenly, "Ali, don't be angry... If you are unhappy... I will kill all those women!" When he said kill, Mo Xiuyao's tone unconsciously brought out a bit of murderous aura.

Ye Li's heart was slightly shaken, and she sighed helplessly, "Don't be silly, we just landed in Xiling Imperial City, and we want to settle down quickly, but we have been in too much trouble with the local dignitaries in Xiling. Killing them all is worse than sending them back directly." In fact, Ye Li herself didn't understand why she was unhappy. Of course, she knew Mo Xiuyao's feelings for her, and she also believed that Mo Xiuyao was devoted to her. But when she saw so many beauties sent by so many people, and saw so many beauties looking at Mo Xiuyao with admiration, the unhappiness in her heart came out almost unconcealed.

Perhaps she had never realized how many women's attention and admiration her husband might attract. Although there were people like Su Zuidi, Concubine Liu, and even Princess Lingyun in the past, Ye Li never felt that these people would bring any harm to her relationship with Mo Xiuyao. Perhaps Mo Xiuyao's status would become higher and higher in the future, which meant that more and more women would be attracted to him, and even more and more people would continuously send all kinds of stunning beauties to him. What's more, if one day Mo Xiuyao became the emperor... the ministers would absolutely not tolerate her being the only one in the harem. Perhaps it had nothing to do with these things that seemed very far away, she just felt bored and tired of the situation in front of her for no reason.

"If you don't like me, then kill me. So what?" Mo Xiuyao said gloomily. He raised his head and stroked Ye Li's beautiful face with his hand. Mo Xiuyao's eyes were deep and resolute. "If Ah Li is unhappy because of those so-called dignitaries, then what if they are all driven away? Who dares to say that I am wrong here in Prince Ding's Mansion? Ah Li, don't be angry with me. I am sad..."

Ye Li sighed softly, leaned into Mo Xiuyao's arms and said softly: "I'm not angry about this. In fact..." Ye Li sighed a little frustrated, and said: "I don't know why, I just feel a little frustrated." Ye Li was also very troubled by her uncontrollable emotions. In her past and present lives, she rarely had such a time when she couldn't control her emotions. Mo Xiuyao raised his hand and touched Ye Li's forehead, and said with concern: "Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere? Let the doctor come and take a look?"

Ye Li shook her head, "I'm fine, nothing's wrong... maybe I'll be fine in a few days."

"Are you really okay?" Mo Xiuyao asked worriedly, but seeing that Ye Li looked normal, it did not look like she was feeling unwell.

"It's really okay."

"Then...can your husband go back to his room and sleep tonight?" Mo Xiu Yao asked.

Ye Li looked at him for a long while before she stood up, shook her head and said, "I'm still in a bad mood, so... I'd better trouble you to sleep in the study for two more days, Your Majesty." Seeing Ye Li turn around and walk away, Mo Xiuyao's indifferent eyes showed a hint of warmth and helplessness.

"My lord." Mo Xiuyao was the only one left in the quiet garden. The warmth in his eyes gradually faded and became colder and more murderous. Qin Feng appeared behind Mo Xiuyao silently. Mo Xiuyao lowered his eyebrows and asked, "Princess, have you been feeling uncomfortable these two days? Or is there something wrong?"

Qin Feng lowered his head and thought for a while, then shook his head and said, "No, the princess is eating, wearing, living and traveling normally, and she hasn't encountered any bad things." Although it was rare for the princess to drive the prince out to sleep in the study this time, Qin Feng didn't think it was a big deal. How can a couple not have tempers? Although he has never been married, he has heard some married old men in the army talk about it. For a man, it is normal to sleep in the study occasionally and kneel down to do abacus.

"Go and protect the princess. She hasn't been in good spirits these past two days..." Mo Xiuyao ordered.

"Yes, I obey your command."

"Your Highness, the Bai family has just sent someone to deliver some things." Lin Han came in and reported.

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows. If it was just an ordinary thing, there was no need to come in and report to him. Lin Han said, "The Bai family sent a lot of gifts, including... four beauties and four... servants." When he mentioned the servants, Lin Han's face was a little distorted. The Bai family is indeed a famous family in Xiling. They always think more thoughtfully than others. Maybe they heard that Prince Ding was not interested in beauties, so they found another way to send a handsome boy in the name of a maid and servant.

"Bai family?" Mo Xiuyao's voice was cold.

Lin Han nodded and said, "Yes, it was delivered personally by the Bai family's chief steward. He also left a note inviting the prince and princess to have a banquet at the Bai family."

"Kill him!" A flash of blood flashed across Mo Xiuyao's eyes. He slowly added, "No need to tell the princess."