Chapter 189
Ye Li told Mo Xiu Yao about Qing Yu and Qing Luan . He had his men investigate it . No matter who had pretended to be him, the woman appeared in the palace on the day of the fire wouldn't have been Su Zui Die . Anyone who planned to sow discord between Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao, even Xu Family and Prince Ding's Manor knew Prince Ding’s Manor and Mo Xiu Yao well . In fact, Mo Xiu Yao wasn’t worried about the man who pretended to be him for his subordinates only answer to orders rather than men . Though that didn’t include him or Ye Li, his men all knew that neither Prince nor Princess Ding would bypass ranks when giving orders . Besides, if the secret guards couldn't tell a fake Mo Xiu Yao from the true Prince Ding, they would have lost their jobs already .
On the second day that Ye Li was back in the capital, she visited Xu Family's manor to see her uncle and aunt .
Though not many commoners knew about what happened in Yong Lin, those in the palace and those with powerful connections had their means of information .
Now that Mo Xiu Yao had recovered, he needed to take the responsibility of Prince Ding .
Therefore, as Princess Ding, Ye Li didn’t need to keep a low profile anymore .
As soon as Ye Li entered Xu Family’s manor, Xu Qing Yan came to her like a whirlwind and chattered on incessantly .
Xu Hong Yan followed with a vein bulged . “Qing Yan!”
Xu Qing Yan froze and squeezed his eyes at Ye Li for help, then turned to Xu Hong Yan with an ingratiating smile . “Uncle, I’m so happy to see Sister Li back . . . ”
Xu Qing Ze looked at him quietly while Xu Qing Bai threw him an angry glance and said: “We are all happy that Li-er is back safe . Look at you . You are lucky that you aren't in Yunzhou . Otherwise, grandpa and father would have punished you for your bad manner . ”
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Xu Qing Yan flinched and made a face at his fourth brother .
Seeing her family, Ye Li felt a sense of security and said smilingly: “Uncle, second brother, fourth brother, please don't blame fifth brother . I’m happy to see you all as well . ”
Having watched her closely for a while, Xu Hong Yan nodded with content and said: “It seems that you haven’t had a difficult time when you weren't in the capital . You look even healthier now . ”
Lady Xu went up to Ye Li, inquired after her well-being and expressed how worried she was when she was missing . She thought Ye Li had lost weight and should build up her health with nourishing food and tonic .
Knowing that her husband, sons and Ye Li were going to have a discussion, Lady Xu left to prepare lunch after speaking a while with Ye Li .
Having sat down in the study, before the discussion even started, Xu Qing Yan was babbling with his eyes on Ye Li like a puppy: “Sister Li, did you really guard Yong Lin?”
Ye Li’s brows rose in surprise . “Even you know about it? Information does travel fast . ”
Xu Qing Yan shook his hands and said: “Some information is indeed secret, but that’s not the case in the capital . Now, many people know about it . Someone has asked me about you a few days ago . Humph! Did he think I’m easy to fool just because I’m young?”
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Xu Qing Ze nodded and turned to Ye Li . “Qing Yan is right . Not many people could extend their hands to Scattered Snow Pass but few secrets remain hidden here . ”
Ye Li shook her hands and said: “I’ve talked with His Highness about it . It isn’t a secret that Princess Ding commands Hidden Cloud Soldiers . I was on the battlefield in Yong Lin and I couldn't hide it . So, it doesn't matter if people know about it . ”
With a frown, Xu Hong Yan spoke: “What's His Highness’s opinion?”
Looking at his beautiful niece who looked like his younger sister, Xu Hong Yan didn't know whether he got it right .
Though generations of Prince Ding respected his Princess regardless of her background, the only Princess who truly held military power was Princess Qing Yun . If Prince Ding . . .
Though Xu Hong Yan was happy that Prince Ding trusted his niece, he was also worried about that . Once Li-er had the power of the sword, she wasn’t simply a princess anymore . By then, what awaited her would get out of his control .
Ye Li turned to Xu Hong Yan and said in a serious tone: “Uncle, I know you are worried about me, but . . . since the day of my wedding, I’ve become part of Prince Ding's Manor . If I can't avoid certain things, I would rather face it directly . His Highness and I are more powerful together than alone . ”
Xu Hong Yan sighed . Though he tried to stay away from state affairs, he knew what was happening .
After Prince Li rose in rebellion, His Majesty kept giving power to Liu, Wang, and Yun Family . It was fair to say that His Majesty openly beat down ministers who were close to Prince Ding with the excuse of eradicating Prince Li’s henchmen .
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At the moment, the sudden rise of Wang and Yun Family in the place of Ye Family even threatened to overshadow Hua Family . It was worse that Liu, Wang, and Yun Family had joined forces . Separate, it wasn’t intimidating, yet together, His Majesty’s power came out first .
Not even Xu Qing Yan would believe that the emperor's action was taken against Prince Li .
Xu Hong Yan understood that the emperor’s target was always Prince Ding's Manor, who didn’t even see his younger brother as a threat .
Xu Qing Ze sounded cold as ever . Yet his voice was warm to Ye Li's ears . “I think it is alright for Li-er to take the responsibility as long as she has the ability . ”
Xu Hong Yan had no alternative but to nod and turned to Ye Li as he said kindly: “Your first uncle has mentioned it in a letter a while ago . He has guessed what’s on His Highness's mind after you showed up in Yong Zhou with an army . Yet you must be very cautious from now on . Except your third brother, we are a family of scholars . I’m afraid we won’t be much of a help . ”
That Xu Hong Yan wasn't a general didn't mean he didn't know generals . Different from ministers, generals, especially experienced ones wouldn't listen to a princess if she wasn't capable enough .
Ye Li nodded with a faint smile as she said: “Please don’t worry about me, second uncle . Back in Yong Zhou, His Highness has asked a military officer as well as the leader of Hidden Cloud Soldiers to work for me . I know them well so don’t worry . ”
Hearing that, Xu Hong Yan's frown finally disappeared and said with a nod: “His Highness is very thoughtful . ”
Xu Qing Yan said smilingly: “Had we known Sister Li was going to command Army of Mo Family, third brother wouldn’t have had to join the army . He could have followed Sister Li . ”
Xu Hong Yan glared at him and said: “Nonsense . If Qing Feng isn't a soldier material, he will be a drag on Li-er . If he is, he will be successful no matter where he is . ”
Blinking, Xu Qing Yan said: “I just think that Sister Li will feel safer with family around . ”
Ye Li said smilingly: “It’s still early to discuss that . Now, I’m not in charge of Army of Mo Family . Besides, if third brother knows he is recruited to Army of Mo Family because of me, he will run away and make achievement on his own judging from his personality . ”
The thought of his son's personality made Xu Hong Yan grin as if he was happy about it . Then, he told Ye Li sincerely: “Though His Highness trusts you, remember to make a clear distinction between the public and the private for power is dangerous . Do you understand it?”
Ye Li nodded and answered: “I see . Thank you, uncle . ”
Seeing that Ye Li had listened to him, Xu Hong Yan nodded in relief and sighed softly .
Li-er was really different from his intelligent but weak little sister . Although Li-er's surname wasn't Xu, he still had a sense of pride that Xu Family had brought up a good daughter . He believed his father would be very happy to see Li-er grew into the person she was now .