334 Ye Yue

es, do you have any ideas about who should command one side" Ye Li smiled and replied, "I did think about that. How about you personally commanding one army" Mo Xiuyao was taken aback; he put down his...334. Ye Yue

334. Ye Yue

After comforting Ye Ying, Mo Jingli left alone to the study room. Sitting in the study room, Mo Jingli frowned and pondered over his previous conversation with Ye Yue at Ye Family Manor. In fact, no matter which angle one looked from, it was an extremely unwise decision to offend Mo Xiuyao for the sake of Ye Yue in Li City. Mo Jingli naturally wasn’t someone who would act blindly out of infatuation either. However, Ye Yue had conditions that made people have no choice but to agree.

From his sleeve, he took out a small green porcelain bottle and the look in Mo Jingli's eyes became slightly more passionate.

If he successfully brought Ye Yue back to the southwest, the returns he would gain would be ten times or even a hundred times what he had invested.

Actually, counting from those years ago, Mo Jingli could be considered as having saved Ye Li’s life. The Empress Dowager originally intended to kill Ye Li at that time, and Ye Yue was forced to comply with her orders. But Mo Jingli didn’t want to kill Ye Li back then; thus, after Ye Yue carried out her plan, he sent someone to intercept the situation, taking Ye Li out of the palace. If it hadn't been for him, Ye Li might have truly been killed by Ye Yue back then. After taking away Ye Li, Mo Jingli didn’t care about Ye Yue anymore. A concubine of his royal brother and a pawn in his mother’s hand weren’t worth his effort. Therefore, when Ye Yue died in the fire later on, he just thought she was eliminated by his mother to prevent her from talking. Unexpectedly, not only did Ye Yue survive, but she also evaded the Empress Dowager's watchful eyes and lived safely for so many years, even reaching Li City under Mo Xiuyao’s nose.

Without a doubt, compared to Ye Ying with just good looks, Ye Yue was truly the clever one. Even when compared to the women in his royal brother's harem, Ye Yue was also among the smartest of them all. If he could bring Ye Yue back to the south... The Empress Dowager who had always been a thorn in his side wouldn't be an obstacle anymore.

The Empress Dowager had cultivated her influence in the palace for decades, even restraining Emperor Mo Jingqi when he was alive, let alone Mo Jingli whose power didn’t last as long. Originally, after years of suppression by Mo Jingqi and a final blow before his death, the Empress Dowager’s power should have been on shaky ground. But who would have thought that after Mo Jingli took over, the Empress Dowager received divine assistance, standing steadily back in court again. Mo Jingli knew there must be external interference behind it all; he even knew who was involved but was powerless to do anything about it. He could suppress the Empress Dowager's influence but couldn’t fight her to their mutual destruction allowing others to benefit.

Mo Jingli understood his mother’s methods and ruthlessness better than anyone else, knowing that in the Empress Dowager’s mind, supporting the seven or eight-year-old Mo Subao was more satisfactory than him being emperor. Ever since the unresolved matter of the Empress Dowager’s burial alongside Emperor Mo Jingqi, Mo Jingli often wondered if she wasn’t constantly plotting to remove him from power.

But with Ye Yue, things were different; in her hands were some of the Empress Dowager's secrets. If used well, they could completely eliminate the Empress Dowager’s influence. Ye Yue was very smart; while being threatened and utilized by the Empress Dowager, she secretly gathered plenty of information on her. If Ye Yue hadn’t left too early, Mo Jingli believed that Ye Yue definitely had a way to extract information about his son from Mo Jingqi. Unfortunately, compared to Ye Li, Ye Yue’s luck was much worse. In the years when Mo Jingqi loved Concubine Liu more than Ye Yue, she could only be low-key in the palace despite her intelligence. How could a concubine stand up against the Empress Dowager’s authority when even her father stood by the Empress Dowager

After pondering for a long time, a decisive look finally flickered across Mo Jingli's eyes. Actually, regardless of the reasons above, he had to bring Ye Yue back anyway. Unconsciously stroking the small bottle in his hand, Mo Jingli’s sword-like eyebrows drew closer together. Currently, it was impossible to send Ye Yue out of Li City first; the strict security at Ding王府 made him wary. The only way would be for her to leave undetected when they left Li City by mingling with the guards of the Ding王府. But that could only happen many days later. In these days, if anything happened... If Ye Yue had been able to come quietly to Li City and hide herself safely all this time, she shouldn’t encounter any trouble within these ten or so days, Mo Jingli thought inwardly.

In the study room of Ye Family Manor, Ye Wenhua sat with a gloomy expression. His originally slightly gray eyebrows were tightly furrowed. Ever since Lord Li and Ye Ying left, he had an uneasy feeling. Recalling that person in his wife’s room… Although he hadn't been involved in politics for many years, Ye Wenhua still trusted his instincts. Such intuitive perception of danger had helped him avoid risks multiple times on the political stage; even as a son-in-law of the Xu Family, in those years when the Xu Family withdrew from court affairs, he relied solely on himself to fight back. Not only did it prevent Ye Family’s decline but instead made them flourish.

Since coming to Li City, Ye Wenhua differed greatly from his unwilling matriarch and Ye Wangshi. He was very satisfied with his current life. He had been poor and rich, studied hard and almost reached the peak of power. He married the most beautiful and talented woman in Chu, and now even his daughter is the Regent and Queen Consort of Ding王府. Yet he eventually fell from grace to become an ordinary citizen. If it were before, he might still be obsessed with fame and fortune. But after seeing the hardships of war-torn people, he knew how hard-won this peaceful life was. Ye Wenhua clearly understood that as long as he stayed in Li City quietly, no one would dare trouble him due to his status as the father of the Queen Consort of Ding王府. However, going to the south, even if Mo Jingli could utilize him heavily, how long could the situation last Honestly speaking, after all these years, Ye Wenhua had already lost hope in Mo Jingli’s capabilities. Moreover, compared to Mo Jingli, he preferred trusting Mo Xiuyao's character.

"Master, what happened Why do you look so bad" Ye Wangshi carried a bowl of tonic and walked in with a smile as she asked.

When Ye Wenhua came to his senses, he coldly looked at her smug expression and felt a flash of disgust. To his surprise, the image of his estranged wife, whom he thought was already blurred and forgotten, suddenly became clear in his mind. At that moment, he even began to doubt why he had neglected his first wife for Ye Wang’s sake back then. When it came to looks, talent, virtue, and background, Xu Shi was far superior to Ye Wang. Perhaps... It was because Xu Shi was too excellent. A woman of such high status, almost like a celestial being, favored a poor boy from humble origins. After the initial elation, he felt ashamed and frustrated, along with immense pressure. There were also the strange looks of envy from his colleagues...

"Get that person in your room out immediately," Ye Wenhua said coldly when he regained his composure and saw the joy on Ye Wang’s face.

“What!” Ye Wang was taken aback and screamed.

Ye Wenhua stared at her icily, "Do you think I’m blind Either get rid of her or leave with her!"

She felt a chill in her heart when he looked at her, but mostly anger. Placing the items on the table heavily, Ye Wang said angrily, “If Lord knows about it, why do you want me to send her away You know... If Prince Ding discovers it..." Ye Wenhua impatiently interrupted, "Since you knew, you shouldn’t have brought her along in the first place. Back home, no one cared for your actions, but don’t think that’s still the case now. People may not be aware of her presence, but they aren't blind either!" If Ye Yue hadn’t been careful and hidden well, she would likely have already been recognized by others long ago. Ye Wenhua knew there were people from Prince Ding's王府 observing inside the Ye family compound, which was why it was even more crucial for Ye Yue not to stay in the house.

In recent years, Ye Wenhua rarely flew into such a rage, and Ye Wang was stunned. After a while, she sobbed, "She’s just a weak woman; how can she survive without us It’s all because of you! If we had gone directly to Jiangnan back then, it would have been better than living like this now." With the ongoing war, even a weak woman found it hard to travel from home to Jiangnan under normal circumstances. Now, with the current situation, she could easily be captured by bandits and suffer an unbearable fate.

Ye Wenhua sneered at her naivety. The Ye family's indecision between Empress Dowager and Emperor had already made Mo Jingli unhappy; later hiding news of Ye Ying’s pregnancy led to her imprisonment, and the child was swapped without a trace. Mo Jingli wouldn’t let such matters go easily; Ye Wenhua knew he wouldn’t treat the Ye family kindly unless his mind were impaired. But Ye Wang didn’t care about these things: "Regardless, Yueer is Lord's daughter. Could you really be so heartless as to leave her in the hands of enemies Prince Li has promised to take us back to Jiangnan soon; then we won't have to suffer here in Likui anymore. Rong’er will definitely make a name for herself and restore our family’s former glory, isn’t that right"

“Foolish woman!” Ye Wenhua retorted irritably. She actually believed Mo Jingli would take all the Ye family members away She didn't consider how Mo Jingli's personality would likely cause suspicion in Prince Ding's王府 if he suddenly took so many people.

"I don’t care what you think, and I have no intention of going to Jiangnan," said Ye Wenhua.

Ye Wang was truly stunned. While honor and wealth were important and her daughter mattered too, they all depended on Ye Wenhua being alive. She had some self-awareness about her son’s capabilities; he couldn’t support the family alone. If Ye Wenhua didn’t go to Jiangnan, their lives there would be even worse. No matter how skilled at scheming, she was still a lady with little experience who wouldn’t dare leave her husband and daughter.

“Why!” cried out Ye Wang, “Do you enjoy living here in Likui, relying on others to survive Why is going to Jiangnan bad When we go back, the Ye family will regain everyone’s admiration and respect again; isn’t that better than hiding like this”

“Shut up!” Ye Wenhua barked angrily.

"Are you still thinking about that woman" Ye Wang finally burst out. Although her family wasn't prominent, she was a daughter of a big household. Initially marrying into the Ye household as a concubine had been an unpleasant experience, but Ye Wenhua’s first wife was someone who made others feel unworthy to even envy her. The gap between them left no room for jealousy, only self-discontentment. Despite Ye Wenhua's favor towards her, she knew she couldn’t compare with Xu Shi. Every time he looked at Xu Shi, there was a hidden emotion that stabbed at her heart like poison, an ache that wouldn't leave even years after Xu Shi’s passing.

“Slap!” Filled with anger, Ye Wenhua struck a resounding slap across Ye Wang’s face. She stumbled and fell to the ground, stunned for a moment before bursting into tears.

"What's going on here" an elderly Lady Ye’s voice came from outside the door.

Ye Wenhua snorted and turned to face the doorway. "Mother, what are you doing here And what is this all about" Her gaze paused when she saw who was supporting Elderly Lady Ye, but then slowly moved away.

Elderly Lady Ye frowned unhappily. "If I hadn’t come, would the whole mansion have been in uproar What are you doing here" Supporting Ye Yue’s hand, Elderly Lady Ye stepped into the study and closed the door behind her, as Ye Yue followed closely.

"Elderly Lady... Yue-er..." Madam Wang cried even harder when she saw Elderly Lady Ye and her daughter. Ye Yue helped her mother up and asked softly, "What happened to Father and Mother Why did they suddenly…" Ye Wenhua snorted coldly. "Do you still think I’m your father" Ye Yue paused for a moment and then gave a gentle smile. "Daughter was wrong in hiding things all this while. The reason is that… Father knows what happened in the imperial capital, Chu Jing last year, and it wasn’t because Daughter wanted to hurt my dear sister. It really had to be done under duress. Daughter truly regrets having to do so for those years; I’ve suffered a lot over these years and beg your forgiveness." Not only did Ye Yue know how to speak appropriately, she also knew well the way people’s hearts worked. Even though Ye Wenhua was as hardhearted as iron, his expression softened considerably after hearing her words. He had known back then that what she said was true; it would be unbelievable if Ye Yue wanted to kill Ye Li without being forced by others. Back then, the Ye Family relied on Empress Dowager and were under her control. She could only do so when coerced by someone else. Looking at Ye Yue’s appearance now, although she still looked beautiful, she had become much thinner and paler compared with before. It was due to this pale complexion that made her look younger than her actual age. Even though she stayed in Madam Wang’s room for a long time, it didn’t attract any attention from others. She must have suffered quite a lot.

"If so, you should settle down properly. When the right timing comes, I’ll find a way to send you out of Li City and let you live a peaceful life under another name," Ye Wenhua finally softened towards his daughter who he had loved since young.

Ye Yue was stunned for a moment. Lowering her head, she said, "Li Wang already knows I’m in Li City and wants to take us to Jiangnan. Father must be talking about…"

"Why would Li Ming suddenly want to take you to Jiangnan" Ye Wenhua asked coldly. It was well known that Li Ming was someone who didn’t do anything unless he gained benefits from it. He probably had no special feelings for Ye Ying; otherwise, how could he offer to take Ye Yue to Jiangnan just like that Who would believe there was nothing in it for him if this happened all of a sudden More importantly, nobody in the Ding Wang Mansion had noticed her presence before, so unless she had deliberately made herself known to Li Ming, how could he know where she was

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Ye Yue’s face. Indeed, she had followed Madam Wang to Li City and let Li Ming know that there was something important in her hands. What was wrong with it She had lived a hard life under another name for so many years. Originally, she should have been Empress; she even had an imperial son from the previous emperor. Her son was much more intelligent than the useless Mo Suyun of present Chu Dynasty. As long as things were in her control, she might become Empress Dowager one day. Why would she hide under another name and live a life full of fear for the rest of her days

"Father, once we go to Jiangnan, Li Ming will help my imperial son ascend the throne. Then you’ll be the real father-in-law to an emperor. The Ye Family will also flourish from then on," said Ye Yue seriously.

However, Ye Wenhua was not as easily persuaded by her words. "I believe that your brother’s child can one day be the imperial heir. If you stay in Li City, at least it can ensure your younger brother marries and has children safely. That will leave a successor for our family." Ye Wenran had already been pampered too much by Elderly Lady Ye and Madam Wang; he could only hope that his son would take care of the family properly when grown up so as not to cut off their lineage. Hearing this, a trace of resentment flashed across Ye Yue’s eyes. "Is my worth really inferior to my dear sister in Father’s eyes" If she had not been forced by Empress Dowager back then, she wouldn’t have been hiding under another name and would be suffering like this.

Shaking his head, Ye Wenhua said, “You’re different from Li Ruo.” Although Ye Yue was very smart, even more so than her sister, they were not to be compared. If both of them had been in the imperial palace, he believed that Ye Yue wouldn’t necessarily have lost to her sister. However, Ye Li’s gaze had never remained within the imperial palace; she possessed courage and capabilities surpassing men, which enabled her to assist Ding Wang in ruling a land and commanding troops on horseback. Such women would only be trampled underfoot if they were placed within the imperial palace. Many times before, he was even regretful that Ye Li wasn’t his son instead of his daughter; otherwise, no matter how things turned out in this world, she could have guaranteed three generations of Ye Family’s prosperity.

Ye Yue understood what her father meant—although she had a sense of pride and believed herself to be intelligent, she knew that she couldn’t compare with Ye Li who rode on horseback to fight battles and then governed the country off it. From the very beginning they were different.

"We’re indeed different. My dear sister wouldn’t care whether the Ye Family prospers or not as long as she has the Xu Family backing her up behind the scenes. But I’m different; only when the Ye Family is doing well will I be doing well too, Father. So, Yue-er won’t abandon the Ye Family," said Ye Yue softly. There was no reaction from Ye Wenhua, but Elderly Lady Ye nodded in agreement beside him. Everyone could see how coldly Ye Li treated the Ye Family. Even if she became empress one day and gained benefits for someone, it wouldn’t be her family but rather the Xu Family instead. Among all his granddaughters, Elderly Lady Ye loved Ye Yue most; hearing what she said now, she thought that there was much truth in it and wanted to speak up.

Ye Wenhua waved a hand with some exhaustion. "Mother, you don’t need to say more. The Ye Family can never leave Li City," he said.

Mrs. Ye frowned and said, "What are you talking about Ye Li did not consider our family at all. Do you want to stick yourself to them" She was already very displeased with her granddaughter who did not give her face.

Ye Wenhua helplessly shook his head as he smiled bitterly. His mother… really couldn’t be compared to when she was young and sharp-witted. The Ye family had come all the way from a thousand miles away to Jicheng only to follow Mo Jingli back home. Even if there were no matter of Ye Yue, it would have been impossible for the Ding Prince not to investigate her as soon as he returned to the capital after settling in Jicheng. Once they investigated this, could the Ye family still manage to escape He glanced at Ye Yue lightly and said, "Since you’ve already decided to follow the Li Prince, why don’t you leave now"

"Father…" Clearly, Ye Yue hadn’t expected her father to be so stubborn and heartless.

“What nonsense are you talking” Mrs. Ye was furious. “Yue-er is my granddaughter! If you want to drive her away, then why don’t you also kick me out at the same time!” Mrs. Ye had already hated living in Jicheng and wanted to go south. In the Jiangnan region, she would once again become a grand lady, just as the esteemed Lady Ye who was respected throughout the capital.

"Master, Madam," an attendant rushed up from outside the door to report, "the Ding Prince and his wife have arrived."

Hearing this, everyone was startled. Ye Yue’s face even turned pale. Back then, she had attacked Ye Li, and no matter how one looked at it, that fact could not be changed. Although she had been forced into it, the truth remained the same. In recent years, although Ye Yue had lived incognito under a false name, many rumors had reached her ears. Mo Xiuyao’s ruthless nature was well-known to all; how could she not be alarmed when he suddenly appeared

Ye Wenhua was also startled but quickly regained his composure and stood up. "I understand. I’ll go out there right away to welcome the Ding Prince and his wife."

"No… No need…" The attendant outside the door seemed hesitant and said, "the Ding Prince and his wife have already entered."

The main door was suddenly opened from the outside. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li walked in side by side. Standing outside, everyone could clearly see every person in the study. Due to the backlighting, all Ye Yue could see were two figures dressed in white walking towards them; a faint halo of light formed around them as if they were celestial beings descending from above. The expressions on their faces could not be discerned.

As the two approached, Ye Yue couldn’t help but step back. Looking around frantically, she was dismayed to find that there was nowhere else in this study for her to hide except for one door; she had no choice but to face Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li directly.

The study, which wasn’t spacious to begin with, suddenly felt crowded. Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly as he led Ye Li to sit on the soft couch at the front of the room. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s going on here Why is this room so lively"

Lady Wang tried her best to force a smile and said apologetically, "No… nothing. We were just talking with Master. With His Royal Highness and Princess Consort here, you shouldn’t be lingering!"

Ye Yue lowered her head and hurriedly performed a bow before quickly rushing towards the door.

Right as she was about to leave the study, Ye Li’s faint laughter reached her ears. "Second Sister, is this how we part ways after so many years"rong."Lady Liu tilted her head and looked at Mo Jingqi with a mocking smile, “Why You should be asking me why. After Your Majesty appointed my son as Crown Prince, why do you still want the Sixth Prin...