Chapter 111
Standing in front of the majestic and lofty palace, Ye Li sighed slightly to herself, recalling that this was her third time to the palace . Given the fact that she didn’t quite enjoy her last two times here, this time being called to the palace by the emperor, she was more cautious and careful . As Princess Ding, she was a female after all . Normally if the emperor did want to see her, he would have called her to the palace by the name of the empress or Lady Ye of Bright Deportment .
“Princess Ding, His Majesty is inside . Please go in . ” The eunuch who guided her way said with a little flatter in a small voice .
Ye Li tilted her head . Glancing at the eunuch, she had a slight impression that he was the eunuch who went to Ye Manor and announced the emperor's sanction of her marriage .
She nodded . Qing Luan and Qing Yu were left outside and her secret guards couldn’t come and go as they liked in the palace . So, she went into that palace decorated by gold and jade in glorious splendor, the symbol of power and wealth, alone .
“Your Majesty, I’m Ye-shi, Princess Ding . Wish Your Majesty all the best . ”
The spacious chamber was a little cold and empty because of a lack of people . Mo Jing Qi sat high in the chamber and looked down at the woman who was in curtsy . After a good while, he said: “Princess Ding, you may rise . ”
Ye Li stood up and said: “Thank you, Your Majesty . ”
Pointing at a seat as a signal to let her sit, Mo Jing Qi asked with a smile: “Prince Ding has been ill after winter comes . Is he better now?”
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Ye Li lowered her eyes and answered in a small voice: “Thank you for asking, Your Majesty . Though it's getting warmer, His Highness hasn’t been well . But he feels better than he did during the coldest days . ”
Mo Jing Qi narrowed his eyes and measured her . She was so quiet and peaceful, as if she was a normal young married woman . But such quietness and peacefulness didn’t look so innocent on a woman who was in front of the emperor of a nation . Besides, from what he had heard, Prince Ding cared a lot about this princess . Would a worthless girl concern Prince Ding? It seemed that . . . he did make a wrong choice back then . Even that proud brother of his had suffered several times because of her . Recalling how gloomy Mo Jing Li was every time he mentioned Ye Li in front of him, Mo Jing Qi started to wonder whether it was a disgrace or assistance that he had sanctioned such a girl to marry Prince Ding . But that didn't matter anymore . . . Soon enough, he would have all these things sorted out .
“You have to manage Prince Ding’s Manor while taking care of Prince Ding . You must have been working hard . ” Mo Jing Qi said with a smile .
“Your Majesty, you flatter me . I’m just doing my duty . ” Ye Li said indifferently .
Having talked to her about unimportant matters and seeing how calm and collected she was, Mo Jing Qi felt more and more agitated . It seemed that everything started to take a wrong turn after he sanctioned this marriage for Prince Ding . Mo Jing Li and Empress dowager who only got up to little tricks in secret now were more and more brazen . They were one step away from fightiing him openly . Because of Empress dowager and Prince Li, the court was also in a state of anxiety . Guan Ting, his trusted subordinate, who was sent to guard Scattered Snow Pass broke his leg without a reason . So, he had to put someone else in his place . Sending his subordinate there was a precaution against both Mo Jing Li and Nan Zhao . Though Murong Shen, who took Guan Ting’s place was better at going to war, he didn’t trust him as much . Handing such a significant checkpoint as Scattered Snow Pass to someone other than his trusted subordinate unnerved him . But . . . with all these said, he had to admit that not many of his trusted subordinates were very capable . At least he couldn’t think of one who was convincing enough to replace Murong Shen .
Thinking of the news he had just received that Mo Jing Li dared to collude with the Holy Princess of Nan Zhao, he was burning with anger . But all he could do was to endure silently . Mo Jing Li was his blood brother, after all . Besides, he had no evidence that Mo Jing Li had colluded with the Holy Princess of Nan Zhao . Neither would Empress dowager nor would those ministers who were connected with Mo Jing Li agree to let him punish Prince Li . He was the emperor but he found that sometimes he couldn’t act as he pleased and would even be hindered while making a small decision .
“Princess Ding, do you have grudges when I sanctioned your marriage with Prince Ding?” After a moment of silence, Mo Jing Qi gazed at Ye Li and asked unexpectedly .
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Ye Li was stunned . She turned his question over and over in her mind, wondering what he meant by asking that and answered calmly: “Your Majesty, the sanction of my marriage was a gift . How would I have any grudges?”
“Oh?” Mo Jing Qi looked down at her with deep interest and said with a smile: “You were to become Princess Li by the order of the late emperor himself . My brother is a man of striking appearance, who is versed in letters and martial arts . He is probably the best choice of husband in the capital . Instead, because of a mere order, you have become Princess Ding who everyone feels sorry for . Are you not resentful at all?”
Ye Li’s eyes glistened and she smiled slightly: “Prince Li broke off the engagement first and then you sanctioned me another, Your Majesty . You have saved me from a desperate situation . How could I bear you any resentment?”
“Not me . . . then, are you resentful of Prince Li? That makes sense . I've heard my brother has suffered several times because of you, My Lady . ”
Ye Li’s heart fluttered . A faint smile brushed her lips . “Your Majesty, you are so humorous . Who am I to make Prince Li suffer? I wonder . . . if you want to tell me anything since you've called me here, Your Majesty?” She wouldn’t be able to leave the palace until noon talking to him in this way . It wasn't a good thing for a noble lady to stay with the emperor without the company of any consort .
Mo Jing Qi looked at her and smiled: “Good . I like clever people, so I’ll come straight to the point . Princess Ding, does Prince Ding know that Mo Jing Li has colluded with the Holy Princess of Nan Zhao?”
Ye Li lowered her eyes and answered with respect: “Your Majesty, forgive me for being a fool . . . I don’t know anything about Prince Li or any Holy Princess of Nan Zhao . ”
“Don't know?” Mo Jing Qi raised his brows and looked at her with a smile yet not a smile: “Prince Ding trusts you very much . I’ve heard that many affairs of Prince Ding’s Manor are managed by you when he was seriously ill . Now you tell me you don’t know? Do you know . . . what crime it is to lie to your emperor, My Lady?”
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A flash of coldness crossed Ye Li's lowered eyes . She looked down at the floor and said: “Death penalty for those who lie to their emperor . But . . . if you are sure that Prince Ding’s Manor knows about what happens to Prince Li, why don’t you ask His Highness, Your Majesty? I’m only a woman . Even though I manage Prince Ding’s Manor, I don’t get to know state affairs . ”
“How dare you!” Mo Jing Qi scolded her indignantly . A trace of ruthlessness and intent to kill came out of his eyes .
An ordinary noble lady might be frightened by his murderous look . But not Ye Li, that wasn’t enough to threaten her . Standing up, she curtsied slightly . “I've taken too much liberty . Please forgive me, Your Majesty . ”
Mo Jing Qi snorted a little . He said while staring at her: “I know better than you do that Prince Ding’s Manor is well-informed . Ye Li, Mo Xiu Yao can’t protect you for the rest of your life . You might not know Jing Li well, but Mo Xiu Yao does . You might as well ask him before you reconsider my question . ”
Ye Li was a little amused by that . Is the emperor threatening her?
“Thank you for reminding me, Your Majesty . I’ll think over it . ” Ye Li answered .
That Ye Li was so insensible made Mo Jing Qi even angrier . But he knew he couldn’t do anything to her in the palace . After staring at her for a good while, he snorted and finally let someone show her out .
“Your Majesty . ” Watching Ye Li leave, Mo Jing Qi’s eyes changed unpredictably . An unremarkable ordinary-looking young man walked out from the back chamber and looked at Mo Jing Qi respectfully .
Mo Jing Qi cooled his anger and said to the man: “It seemed that marrying Ye Li to Mo Xiu Yao was a mistake . What’s wrong with Ye Wen Hua? Ye Li is more difficult to deal with than his other four daughters combined! Xu Family might support Mo Xiu Yao for her sake . ”
The young man said in a low voice: “Xu Family isn’t very close with Prince Ding’s Manor . Besides, it’s not a proper time to enrage Xu Family . ” The man sighed to himself that His Majesty was good except he was too paranoid . It wasn’t a good time for them to make more enemies since they were facing off Prince Li and Empress dowager in secret . If the emperor's suspicion pushed Xu Family towards Prince Li or Prince Ding, it would be their loss .
Mo Jing Qi understood what the man said but he was disquieted by not being able to take everything under control . Waving his hand, he asked with a frown: “At the morning court, Duke Hua reported that Great Chu has assisted the royal family of Nan Zhao to suppress rebellion . What do you think of that?”
The man thought for a while and nodded, saying: “Duke Hua serves our country heart and soul . His suggestion only does us good, not harm . I say, let’s not hurry to help Nan Zhao with the rebellion . We’ll leave the emperor of Nan Zhao and the Holy Princess to cause one another's death and give them what they need at the right time . I believe the emperor of Nan Zhao will remember your kindness, Your Majesty . ”
Mo Jing Qi thought with a frown then said: “That makes sense . I wonder what my dear brother wants to do . If he is going to help the Holy Princess then I’ll help the royal family of Nan Zhao . I want to see who wins in the end . ”
The man frowned . Looking at Mo Jing Qi’s cold smile, he suppressed his anxiety, after all . Hope His Majesty doesn’t put too much energy into Nan Zhao .