Early Summer Outing by the Lake

  Early summer outing by the lake

  The Empress Dowager and her sons are secretly vying for power, which is not something Ye Li can control. Whenever someone from the Ye Manor comes to ask her about something, she usually finds an excuse to return home. Although Ye Shangshu is dissatisfied with his daughter's behavior, Ye Li's status as the Crown Princess limits what he can say or do. Normally, if the Empress Dowager and the two princes were competing for the throne, they should be trying to win over Mo Xiu Yao. However, since Mo Xiu Yao appears to be useless to outsiders, and Mo Jing Qi probably wants to eliminate the Ding Guo Wang Fu as soon as possible, the Ding Guo Wang Fu remains peaceful and calm. Neither side expects Mo Xiu Yao to take their side, nor do they believe he will take the other side's.

  "Your Highness, Your Majesty, Miss Yang requests an audience." Ye Li put down the needle and thread in her hand, raised her head slightly, and asked curiously: "Miss Yang... is it Yang Xuanru? How did she end up coming to the main courtyard?" The Dingguo King's estate was very large, really very large. Moreover, many places were not necessarily accessible just because one wanted to go there. So even though two people who didn't make others feel comfortable lived in the estate, generally speaking, Ye Li basically couldn't sense the existence of Yang Ce Taifei and Miss Yang. Because after Mo Xiu Yao moved into the main courtyard to live, the defense of this courtyard had clearly been upgraded again. Not to mention entering the main courtyard's gate, without permission, they couldn't even get close to the outer perimeter. After being rebuffed twice and being sternly lectured by Mo Xiu Yao's dispatched Mo Zongguan, Yang Ce Taifei never came to try to challenge the authority of the new Dingguo King's consort again. Mo Xiu Yao had always been very good to her, Ye Li naturally felt it. Not to mention that as soon as she entered the door, Mo Xiu Yao was very generous in giving power to herself, and also clearly showed his attitude towards this king's consort in front of the estate's servants. Otherwise... having someone backing you up was very important. Especially when that person was the highest authority in this estate.

  "The slave girl doesn't know, but Miss has been standing at the outer gate for quite some time. That's why the guard asked someone to inform the king and queen." said Jing'er, who had come in to report. Because the king had ordered that no outsiders were allowed to enter the inner courtyard without a good reason, they usually just asked people to leave directly. But Miss, who had been relatively easy to get rid of before, was not so willing to leave today. The guards couldn't lay hands on Miss, after all she was a guest. They could only ask Jing'er, who happened to be passing by, to come in and report."

  "Your Highness, what do you think?" Ye Li asked Mo Xiuyao, who was leaning against the half-open window reading a book.

  Mo Xiuyao didn't even give her a glance, flipping over the page of his book and saying lightly: "If A Lian wants to see her, let her come in. If not, have someone send her back. Or...the Wang Fu has another estate outside the city, we can have her accompany Ce Tai Fei for a few years."

  Ugh... Ye Li's tongue is so sharp, this man is really heartless to a certain extent. Although he hasn't seen Yang Xuanru for long, but occasionally when they meet, the way she looks at him with those gentle and resentful eyes, those sentimental threads. He can actually say such cold and ruthless words. However... she likes it!

  "Please let her in." Putting aside the nearly completed clothes, Ye Li said somewhat anxiously: "Before, Ce Taifei also mentioned to me that she wanted to find a good marriage for our young mistress, but I...". She had never been a matchmaker before. Mo Xiuyao replied calmly: "Don't bother, you won't be able to find one."

  "What does it mean?" What did she lose?

  Mo Xiuyao said, "This matter was already brought up by Mo General Manager three years ago. The person proposed, Ce Taifei and herself were not satisfied with the candidate. You are not familiar with the capital, I don't think you can find a better candidate than those listed by Mo General Manager." Ye Li couldn't help but wipe her sweat, it turned out that Mo Xiuyao had also been a matchmaker before. However, he directly let Mo General Manager handle it, and she was really foolish to worry about whether to attend more banquets, "The people found by Mo General Manager are too bad?" Mo Xiuyao looked up at her and said, "Those listed by Mo General Manager are the best candidates that can be found with her conditions. Moreover, she is already seventeen years old, and there are even fewer unmarried people of similar age." Not everyone is like Mo Xiuyao, Mo Jingli, and Xu Qingchen, who are over twenty years old and still not married. Even if they don't have a general family background, most people are already engaged.

  "What can be done?" Can't really waste a lifetime like this, right? And it's not that Ye Li is using the heart of a petty person to measure the belly of a gentleman, but she really suspects that if they continue to delay, it will eventually become Mo Xiu Yao's responsibility.

  "If she wants to get married, let General Mo send the name list over. If not, then don't bother. If she's still unmarried at eighteen, send her to Wuyue An to accompany Eldest Sister."

  Ye Li couldn't help but want to wipe away a hot tear for the sentimental Yang Niang, what's called "one table three thousand miles"? Just look at Mo Xiu Yao's performance and you'll know.

  Before long, Yang Xiangru was led in with a gentle and elegant gait. Two little maids followed beside her, one of whom held a box that couldn't be seen what it contained. Seeing Yang Xiangru's eyes suddenly burning with eagerness looking at somewhere behind herself, Ye Li looked at the clothes placed aside which were not yet finished and had a somewhat unpleasant premonition.

  "Cousin, please sit down." Ye Li smiled and nodded at Yang Xiangru.

  Yang Xuanru quickly glanced at Ye Li's back, shook her head and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Princess, no...no need. I'll just stand."

  Ye Li was speechless. What made you still stand there? You, a guest in the royal palace and a nominal missy, need to behave like an abused concubine? She glanced at Yang Xiangru's moon-white dress with elegant orchid patterns, her hair styled in a neat bun adorned with a string of pearls. Since Ye Li had put away Mo Xiuyao's plain clothes, this young lady finally bid farewell to her eternal white-clad image, but apparently still walked the elegant and noble path. "Please sit down, cousin," Ye Li said softly.

  Yang Xuanru was startled, and her expression became obviously frightened. Under Ye Li's gaze, she sat down with a wronged look on her face, that wronged appearance made Ye Li feel like blood was stuck in her chest, unable to go up or down. Spitting it out would make her vomit, swallowing it would be even more nauseating. She hadn't bullied her, had she?

  "Cousin is coming to the main courtyard at this time, what's going on?" Ye Li suppressed the discontent in her heart and replied with a smile.

  Yang Xuanru raised her head, nervously twisting the handkerchief in her hand, her pretty face blushing, "I... I..."

  Ye Li's gentle smile, Yang Xiangru looked at Mo Xiuyao and seemed to have finally mustered up the courage to say: "I... tomorrow is my brother's birthday, I came to give him a gift."

  Ye Li glanced at the small box in her younger sister's hand behind her, turned her head and took a glance at Mo Xiu Yao who seemed to be reading with great concentration, smiled and said: "I see, thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law. May I take a look?"

  "This..."

  "Isn't it inconvenient? Then please let Master Wang take a look." With a wave of her hand, she signaled the little maid to send the box over to Mo Xiuyao. Upon hearing Ye Li's words, Yang Xuanru's eyes lit up, and she looked at the person sitting by the window reading with full expectation. Just as the little maid was about to reach Mo Xiuyao, the box in her hand was suddenly snatched away by a hand that appeared from outside the window. Ah Jian, who had appeared at the window without anyone noticing, carefully opened the box and pulled out its contents to examine it. From Ye Li's direction, she saw that it was a magnificent pale blue robe, although only one corner was visible, but the embroidery was indeed exquisite and meticulous. "No poison."

  "Ah Jin, move aside. You're blocking the light." Mu Xiuyao said calmly.

  "Oh." Ah Jin responded with a sound, hugging the box and disappearing from the window. From head to toe, Mo Xiuyao didn't even see a corner of his clothes. Yang Xueru was stunned, and hurriedly asked: "Where did he take it?"

  "This... Ye Lisi was thinking about whether or not to tell Mo Xiuyao that all the things he didn't want had been taken away by A Jie to play with, and after playing with them, they were discarded."

  Mo Xiuyao put down the book in his hand and raised his head, saying calmly in Yang Xiangru's surprised and expectant gaze: "If there's nothing else, go back to your own courtyard. Tomorrow, I'll have Mo Zongguan send over a list of suitable men for you to try marrying, take a look and choose one." Yang Xiangru's delicate face suddenly turned pale as snow, with crystal tears falling nonstop. "No... older cousin, I don't want to... I don't want to leave the Wang Fu, I don't want to get married... Don't chase me away..." Mo Xiuyao furrowed his brow, then nodded quickly and said: "Alright, tomorrow you can pack your things and go to Wuyue An to accompany Eldest Sister. That's it, send Miss Yang back." The maids by Yang Xiangru's side were all Wang Fu's maids, naturally they didn't dare disobey Mo Xiuyao's meaning. Even though they knew their own miss was unwilling, they still stepped forward to support her and leave.

  "Big brother... waaahh... don't chase Yang Xuanru away... I'll be good and listen, won't make big brother angry..." Yang Xuanru sobbed, struggling to leave with the support of two maids.

  "Take it away." Mu Xiuyao said faintly with a frown.

  Yang Xuanru struggled as hard as she could, but she was no match for the two maids who were taller than her. In the end, she was almost dragged out. Ye Li sat on one side, silently watching Mo Xiuyao's calm face, listening to Yang Xuanru's faintly audible voice that seemed to be crying her heart out, and couldn't help but feel that this man was really ruthless. An ordinary man would have some sympathy for a beautiful and weak girl who cried like that, even if he didn't love her. But Mo Xiuyao's eyes showed no emotion at all, as if the person who had just been dragged out wasn't a weak woman, but an unnecessary object.

  "A Li, what's wrong?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

  Ye Li couldn't help but sigh again and said, "Whoever falls in love with you must have done something wrong in their past life. Otherwise, they must owe you a debt from their previous life that hasn't been repaid." Mo Xiu Yao's eyes flickered slightly as he stared at Ye Li's back and asked, "Why do you say that?" Ye Li said, "Do I need to explain? Just look at Yang Xuan Yu and you'll understand." Falling in love with someone who doesn't love you or doesn't even have the capacity to love, isn't that just owing a debt from past lives? Are some people just born to be tragic figures?

  "What... what kind of person will Ah Li fall in love with?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

  Ye Li sat with a woman in red, answering casually: "Love? I don't know, probably won't fall in love with anyone. No matter how romantic the love is, it will eventually become familial affection after a long time. If so, why not just live a good life from the start?" Who can speak sweet words under the moon all their lives, but after a long time, only the mundane things like food and salt are left.

  "Is it because Ah Lian has never loved anyone before?" Mo Xiuyao asked in a low voice.

  Ye Li's needle paused for a moment, then moved again. "Maybe." She had also talked about romance, but if she really said what was etched in her heart, it wasn't that deep.

  "If Ah Lian falls in love with someone, will she live and die together with him?"

  Ye Li gave a somewhat strange sideways glance at the man leaning back in his wheelchair, who was rarely relaxed, and smiled: "Your Highness wouldn't be thinking of saying that if you fall in love with someone, you should live and die together, would you?"

  "Maybe."

  "I probably won't. Am I supposed to die and take someone with me as a burial companion?" Ye Li thought very realistically: "Even if it's just ordinary liking, you can't do this, is it a lover or an enemy?"

  Under the sunlight, Mo Xiuyao seemed to be thinking seriously for a while before speaking in a low voice: "You're right. If I die, I still hope she lives well." After finishing his sentence, he ignored Ye Li and continued reading the book he hadn't finished yet. Ye Li was somewhat surprised that Mo Xiuyao, who had always been gentle but also seemed a bit heartless, could be so sentimental. She shrugged her shoulders in confusion and turned back to continue with her embroidery. After a while, Mo Xiuyao's words somehow floated into her mind again: "If I die, I still hope she lives well."

  She?! Ye Li was shocked and almost poked her finger with the needle. Does Mo Xiu Yao have someone he likes?!

  Ye Li's mood was bad, extremely bad, and she herself didn't quite understand why it was so bad. In short, it was an inexplicable feeling of frustration that rarely occurred in her decades-long life. Even when she broke up with her first boyfriend or before her first real battle mission, she hadn't felt such a terrible emotion. So after venting on the training grounds and finding no improvement, Ye Li decided to go out for a walk to clear her mind.

  It just so happened that Huatian Xiang had posted an invitation to go see the early summer lotus flowers together, so Ye Li readily agreed.

  Chu Jing is after all a northern city, and there aren't many places where you can admire lotus flowers. So it's also destined that every year in June and July, the places to admire lotus flowers are crowded with tourists. In early summer, the lotus flowers haven't fully bloomed yet, but they've already attracted the elegant ladies of the capital city to come in groups. Mo Xiuyao heard that Ye Li wanted to go out to admire the lotus flowers and didn't invite him to join, so he didn't say much, only telling Ye Li that the Dingguo King's residence has its own painted barge, and Ye Li could invite friends to go together. Ye Li had been looking at Mo Xiuyao with displeasure for the past two days, so she conveniently forgot to ask him if he wanted to go together, and brought a few maids to leave quickly. Ah Jian silently watched his master, the king: Master clearly wants to go with the queen, why didn't you directly tell the queen?

  On the painting barge of the Dingguo Wangfu, Ye Li was leaning against the window in a daze. Hua Tianxiang looked around at the decorations inside the barge with an admiring expression, her face filled with envy as she said: "As expected of the Dingguo Wangfu's boat, this decoration... is truly extraordinary. But say, Lian'er, wasn't this boat specially decorated by King Ding for you? The Dingguo Wangfu hasn't had anyone leave the house in many years, and this boat doesn't seem to be from before."

  Ye Li lazily looked at her and smiled: "Your family's boat isn't necessarily worse than this one, is it?"

  Hu Tianxiang glared at her, "You know what. My family has so many people. It's crowded and noisy to death. You're comfortable, alone on a boat, how quiet it is... Ah... If Ding Wang were also on the boat, that would be too... No, no, it's better that he's not here, if Ding Wang were here, I would definitely be embarrassed to stay on your boat and freeload." Ye Li looked at the various types of pleasure boats floating on the lake in the distance and asked puzzledly: "There are so many boats on this lake, is it to see the lotus flowers or the pleasure boats?"

  Hua Tianxiang chuckled and said, "You can appreciate the flowers while also admiring the people. Who let these few days of blooming lotus flowers coincide with good weather? Of course, there are more people coming out. You should know that every year, many talented men and beautiful women form romantic relationships on this very lake."

  "Jia Ren Lake?" Ye Li glanced at the vast lake, after seeing West Lake, Taihu Lake, and Thousand Island Lake, this small Jia Ren Lake seemed to have nothing to do with a beauty.

  Huà Tiānxiāng shook her head helplessly and said: "You're also too clueless about the situation, aren't you? Don't you know why Zhēn didn't come with us to play today?"

  "Please advise."

  "Because she's with Xu Er Gongzi today!" Hua Tian Xiang gritted her teeth and glanced at Ye Li, "Speaking of which, I found it strange that you came alone today. I thought you should be out with Ding Wang instead. Originally, I was going to go find Murong to play." Ye Li shot back a cold glance, "Who invited me to come out together?"

  "I'm not afraid, I'm just reminding you. Who made you stay at home all year round and refuse to go out?" Huatian Xiang muttered discontentedly, then looked around at the newly decorated furnishings on the boat and said with a hint of guilt: "You have to remember, in a few days it's probably the prince's birthday, you must invite him out to admire the lotus flowers. This boat is definitely prepared by him for you two to enjoy together. Maybe Prince Wang is now thinking of ways to kill me without leaving any evidence."

  Ye Li was taken aback and looked at Hua Tianxiang's worried face, unable to help but smile. "You're thinking too much."

  "Tian Xiang, Ah Li!"

  Today's weather is great, whether it's on the lake or by the lake, it's all a joyful scene, but only Murong Ting would be so loud and boisterous. Ye Li and Hua Tianxiang saw Murong Ting standing outside another pleasure boat, waving her hand and shouting towards this side. There was also a young man with a handsome face following beside her, seemingly saying something to Murong Ting. However, Murong Ting had an obvious look of impatience on her face, not wanting to pay attention to him. Hua Tianxiang followed behind Ye Li, laughing softly and saying: "That's the second son of the Leng family, Leng Haoyu."

  "Murong's fiancé?" Ye Li asked.

  "That's right. Ting'er never liked him since she was a child, but he has always been fond of sticking to Ting'er. Later, Ting'er followed her father to the border and didn't expect that after coming back, he still liked to provoke her on purpose." Hua Tianxiang spoke with a smile, apparently not having a bad impression of Leng Haoyu. On the other side, on the painting boat, the two had already started fighting because Murong Ting wanted to use her lightness skill to come over to their side, but Leng Haoyu was clearly unwilling. The two were pulling and tugging on the deck, and when Murong Ting got angry, she started throwing punches."

  Apart from them, there were also many other families' pleasure boats around, and seeing the commotion here, they also came over. People who knew Mu Rongting and Leng Haoyu were apparently not few, and they all followed to congratulate Cai Hong.

  Hu Tianxiang smiled and said: "Guess how long Leng Haoran can hold on this time?"

  Ye Li looked at it for a while before saying, "Mu Rong can't beat Leng Huan Yu." Leng Huan Yu seemed to be fighting in all directions, but his feet were much more stable than Mu Rong Ting's. With a handsome face and a mischievous smile, he looked at Mu Rong Ting with an absolutely serious gaze, "You say he's letting Ting'er win?"

  Ye Li smiled and said: "General Murong loves his daughter like his life, do you think he would really marry Ting'er to an uneducated and useless dandy?"

  "Hmm... actually, I've never really thought about this before."

  Yelü smiled and said: "Let them row away, I won't play with Murong today."

  Hua Tianxiang grabbed hold of her, "Whatever you do, don't. Believe it or not, if Ting'er gets angry enough, even if we row the boat away, she'll dare to jump into the water."

  Ye Li thought about Murong Ting's temperament, and it was indeed possible. He could only smile and say to the boat on the other side: "Leng Er Gongzi, Murong, may I invite you over for a chat?"

  Murong Ting stopped and turned back to shout: "A Li, I am your friend, why did you call him together?"

  Hua Tianxiang smiled and said: "Then are you coming or not? If not, we'll row the boat away."

  Murong Ting glared at Leng Haoyu, opened his hand and kicked him hard before flying away to land on Ye Li's boat. Leng Haoyu smiled wryly and bowed to Ye Li, saying "Thank you, Princess." He also got up and left his own boat to board Ye Li's. Ye Li ordered the boatman to row the boat away before turning around to invite the two of them in together.

  Four people sat down, and Qing Luan and others brought new tea points before retreating. Murong Ting sat beside Ye Li, eating snacks while still glancing at Leng Hua Yu several times. Leng Hua Yu pretended not to see the dagger-like eyes flying towards him and smiled at Ye Li: "Today's weather is quite good, why don't we see Wang Ye and Wang Fei going out together?"

  Ye Li raised an eyebrow and looked at Leng Hao Yu with a smile, asking, "Is Young Master Leng acquainted with our Prince?"

  Leng Hao Yu's hand holding the teacup paused slightly as he smiled and said, "I'm just a young master, how would I have the chance to be familiar with Your Highness?"

  Murong Ting snorted and sneered: "You still know you're a young master."

  "Ting'er..." Leng Hao Yu looked at her with a hint of grievance, "What's wrong with being a young master? I have food to eat and things to play with, and I can accompany you every day. The family matters are taken care of by my older brother, isn't that great?"

  "Pfft!" Murong Ting almost jumped up, "This young lady hates useless rich boys the most. You, stay away from this young lady from now on. Otherwise, every time I see you, I'll beat you up once."

  "You're going to see me once and beat me up once, huh..." Leng Hua Yu muttered in a low voice, but his tone was just loud enough for everyone in the cabin to hear. Ye Li and Hua Tian Xiang couldn't help but cover their mouths and stifle a laugh, while Mu Rong Ting's face turned bright red with anger, as if she wanted to stab him to death with a knife for embarrassing her. Leng Hua Yu seemed to be extremely afraid of Mu Rong Ting, constantly begging for mercy. However, the faint smile in his eyes revealed that he was actually teasing Mu Rong Ting. Ye Li and Hua Tian Xiang exchanged a knowing glance as they watched Mu Rong Ting continue to fume with anger. It's true that when it comes to relationships, those who are directly involved are often confused, while outsiders can see things more clearly. As friends of Mu Rong Ting, they naturally hoped she would be happy and beautiful in the future, but ultimately, the choice was hers to make.

  "The princess, the boat of the Li King's mansion is ahead." The four were speaking when Qingxia came in to report.

  Hu Tianxiang frowned and said: "Li'er, how did we run into King Li again?"

  Ye Li smiled and said: "Whose fault is it that you didn't choose a good day? Or perhaps it can be said that the capital city is really not big."

  Murong Ting pouted and said: "I think it's a narrow road for sworn enemies."

  Ye Li hadn't spoken yet when Qing Luan also came in, her face full of displeasure as she said: "Your Highness the Princess, King Lei and Queen Lei request an audience."

  "Please let them in." Ye Li sighed.

  Before long, Mo Jingli brought Ye Li in, but the person following Mo Jingli made Ye Li frown. The woman beside Mo Jingli wore a yellow goose dress, had some makeup on her face, and covered her face with a veil. However, in Ye Li's eyes, such decoration was meaningless. Whoever saw it would recognize that this was Xiaya Gongzhu of Nanzhao. In just a few days, did Mo Jingli want to provoke his emperor brother? The palace hadn't even announced the death of Xiaya Gongzhu yet.

  "Have met King Li, Queen of King Li." Huatian Xiang and others stood up to pay their respects.

  Mo Jing Lei swept his gaze over the crowd in the cabin, finally shifting his attention from Ye Li to Leng Hao Yu and said in a deep voice: "Leng Hao Yu?" Leng Hao Yu smiled and replied: "Your Highness actually recognizes me? It's truly an honor." Mo Jing Lei was of course aware of Leng Hao Yu's reputation, glanced at Mu Rong Ting beside him with a slightly changed expression, and hummed softly before turning to Ye Li and asking: "Why didn't Mo Xiu Yao accompany you out?"

  "What does it have to do with you?" Ye Li's heart was already stuffy, and upon hearing Mo Jingli's blunt tone, she immediately retorted without hesitation.

  Mo Jing Lei's face immediately fell, and he angrily said: "A woman who doesn't know her place!" Ye Li rolled her eyes in her heart and didn't bother to respond to him. Leng Hao Yu looked at the princess behind Mo Jing Lei with great interest and smiled: "Your Highness, this beauty is..." He was pinched by Murong Ting from behind, and his originally elegant smile immediately turned into a comical expression. Mo Jing Lei coldly stared at him and said: "Didn't your elder brother teach you not to ask what shouldn't be asked?" Leng Hao Yu shrugged indifferently and said: "My elder brother is very busy, where does he have the time to teach me these things."

  Ye Li rubbed her brow and said calmly: "Li Wang, Fourth Sister, let's sit down and talk."

  "I don't want to sit with certain people, Ah Lian, I'll go out and take a look with Tian Xiang first." After saying that, she glanced at Mo Jing Lei and pulled Huatian Xiang up to leave. The expression was almost like saying "I don't want to sit with you". Huatian Xiang gave Ye Lian an apologetic glance and let Murong Ting pull her out, not wanting to be with King Lei either. Leng Huan Yu saw Murong Ting run out and looked at Ye Lian and Mo Jing Lei's hesitant eyes. Ye Lian smiled and said: "Leng Gongzi should go take care of Murong, don't let her lead Tian Xiang astray." Leng Huan Yu nodded and left. Soon after, Qing Luan and the others came in with tea and snacks, but didn't leave again. They stood respectfully in the cabin, waiting for the queen's orders. Understanding their intentions, Ye Lian smiled secretly but didn't say anything.

  "You all go out first, I have something to say to her." Mo Jingli ordered.

  Ye Ying bit her lip and silently got up to leave, with Xi Xia Princess casting a hostile glance at Ye Li before following suit. However, Qing Luan and the others were not so obedient, still standing in their respective corners, eyeing each other as if they hadn't heard Mo Jing Lei's words. Mo Jing Lei spoke in a low voice, "I told you all to leave, didn't you hear?" Qing Shuang responded with a clear and bright tone, "We heard it, Your Majesty. However, our king said that we maidservants must protect the queen's safety, so naturally we will follow the king's orders." Mo Jing Lei's eyes flashed with cold light as he stared at Qing Shuang, "Are you saying that I would harm her?"

  Qingfeng said: "The slaves don't know, they just did it in case. Please forgive us, Your Highness."

  Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "King Lei, it seems that there's nothing between us that requires a private conversation. They are all people I trust. If you have something to say, just say it." Mo Jing Lei fell silent, his eyes fixed on Ye Li without blinking. Ye Li didn't speak either, letting him stare. After a long time, Mo Jing Lei finally spoke in a cold voice, "Ye Li, you deceived me!"

  Ye Li was taken aback, deceive him? Where did this come from? Or had Mo Jing Lei discovered that she had deceived him again?

  "Your Highness, where did this come from? Slandering the innocent Queen is not a good habit." Ye Li said calmly.

  Mo Jingli coldly snorted and said: "You deliberately pretended to be useless just to make me regret the engagement first, didn't you? You've been in cahoots with Mo Xiuyao all along, haven't you?"

  Ye Li's hands were clenched tightly around the teacup, restraining herself from splashing water directly onto the man's face in front of her. "Prince Wang, I've told you before. Excessive fantasy is a disease, get treated early. Just because you have poor character doesn't mean others are also of poor conduct." She wasn't satisfied with the marriage arrangement, but to say she had already hooked up with Mo Xiuyao? They were still as clean and innocent as scallions in tofu. Mo Jingli's face turned black, but this time he didn't erupt into his usual rage. Instead, he stared at Ye Li for a long while before breaking out into an evil smile.

  Ye Li's face was expressionless as she stared at him, her heart secretly on guard.

  Mo Jing Lei lowered his voice and smiled at Ye Li: "Ye Li, you and Mo Xiuyao haven't consummated your marriage yet, have you? It can't be that... Mo Xiuyao has really become useless, can he? If so, I, the king, can make an exception..."

  Bang!

  Mo Jingli's words were not yet finished, when a fist from the opposite side hit his nose bridge with great force and accuracy. Two streams of fresh blood immediately dripped down. Mo Jingli was shocked and stared wide-eyed, before he could react Ye Li had already gotten up and pressed his head against the table.

  "Damn you, Yeli!" The pain on his forehead finally brought Mo Jingli back to his senses from the shock of being attacked by Yeli again. "I won't let you off!" Yeli gave a signal with her eyes to stop Qingyuan who was about to take action, and a cold smile rose to her lips. Seeing Mo Jingli pounce towards her, she flipped backwards and dodged out of the way, and when he came at her again, she had already moved to another window.

  Twice failing to catch the person, Mo Jing Lei also thought of himself being ambushed twice and guessed that Ye Li wasn't a weak woman. This time he used his skills to pounce fiercely, determined to capture this woman who was playing tricks on him. However, Ye Li suddenly ducked down, and Mo Jing Lei felt a sharp pain in his armpit as his hand gesture didn't reach its target, instead hitting the window of the cabin head-on.

  "Come quickly! The King of Rui has fallen into the water!"