Why Was I Born into a Royal Family?

ing at Ye Ying's expression, Ye Li thought of what Ye Ying wanted from her. "Has Fourth Sister not yet received the invitation"Ye Ying shook her head with a look of grievance but harbored resentment f...375. Why Be Born into a Royal Family

The next morning, Ye Li果然 received an invitation from the Zhang family. The invitation asked Mr. Chu Junwei to attend dinner at the Zhang residence in the afternoon. Upon seeing the rather simple invitation, Ye Li couldn't help but smile inwardly. This Zhang Baoyi was quite shrewd; it had only been a day since he was beaten by someone sent by Emperor Mo Jingli, and yet he already wanted to invite people for dinner

"Are you going to attend the banquet" Wei Lin asked curiously.

Ye Li put down the invitation and smiled. "Of course I am. Haven't you heard what Mr. Lin said This is the first time Zhang Baoyi has invited guests personally. How can we not give him face" Wei Lin didn't comment, as they only had to follow their mistress wherever she went. Given Zhang Baoyi's abilities, he couldn't pose any danger to the princess consort. Even if Zhang Baoyi really wanted to marry his daughter off to the princess consort... cough cough, that was impossible anyway.

"Sir, the western courtyard has regained consciousness," a servant girl who had been taking care of Princess QiXia reported.

Wei Lin was somewhat surprised. "She's quite lucky to have survived." He didn't hate Princess QiXia to the point where he wished her dead; rather, she was simply too badly injured. Her external injuries weren't fatal, but after the infection set in, QiXia had a high fever and remained unconscious for days. Even the household physician had given up hope of saving her, yet somehow she woke up on her own.

The servant girl's expression seemed strange as she said, "But... that lady seems to be acting oddly."

"Odd What do you mean" Wei Lin asked.

The servant girl shook her head and nodded. "Well, she might have gone mad or lost her memory."

Ye Li stood up. "Let's go see."

Upon entering the western courtyard, they heard crying from inside before they even reached the door. However, this wasn't QiXia’s usual cry; mainly because Princess QiXia wouldn’t make such a racket given her age and character.

As soon as Ye Li entered the room, she saw it was in disarray. Standing by the entrance, she frowned at the woman hiding behind the bedpost, whose eyes were clear but strange. The expression on her face seemed somewhat odd too. When they came in, the crying woman stopped abruptly and glared at them.

Ye Li試探地叫了一聲，“Princess QiXia, are you feeling better"

The princess pouted before suddenly rushing towards Ye Li.

"Sir, watch out!" Wei Lin shouted as he kicked the girl away.

"Wei Lin, stop," Ye Li said hurriedly. Wei Lin was taken aback and pulled back his force just in time to avoid serious injury to Princess QiXia. She landed but wasn’t too badly hurt due to this reduction of power.

Princess QiXia hadn't expected to be kicked away, sitting on the ground staring blankly for a moment before bursting into tears again. "Wah wah... Big sister, those bad people bullied Xi..."

Wei Lin was taken aback and turned to look at Ye Li, saying, “She really is acting mad.” Given Princess QiXia’s character, she would never act like this in front of strangers. But here she was, sitting on the ground crying. Ye Li looked down and said, "I think there's a difference between her being crazy and now." Turning to QiXia, she asked, "Princess QiXia, do you know who I am"

QiXia’s tears stopped momentarily as she stared at Ye Li with confusion. She suddenly reached out towards Ye Li's face, saying, “Brother, you look handsome.” Ye Li held up her fan to stop the hand and smiled at QiXia. "Princess QiXia, do you know this brother"

QiXia blinked in puzzlement before shaking her head while biting on her lip. "Who are you... I’m Princess of Nan Zhou, don’t hurt me! I want to find my big sister."

"Do you remember your big sister's name" Ye Li asked.

QiXia rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated look. "Of course, she is Princess Anxi of Nan Zhou. My big sister is very strong; if anyone dares to bully me, my big sister will have them beaten up!"

Ye Li couldn't help but laugh quietly. "I am good friends with your sister, but... how come I never knew she had a younger sister"

"You’re lying! Everyone in Nan Zhou knows that I’m Princess QiXia," QiXia shouted angrily.

Ye Li nodded and said, “Alright, but I am not from Nan Zhou. If you truly are Princess QiXia, I will take you back to see Princess Anxi. How old is Princess QiXia this year And why would she be here"

QiXia tugged at her hair in frustration and said, "Seven years old... My big sister promised to celebrate my birthday with me... wah wah..."

Ye Li thought for a moment before asking, “Princess QiXia, do you know Mo Jingli and Dong You”

"Who are they" QiXia asked indifferently. "Brother, will you take me home I'll have my father and big sister reward you handsomely." Ye Li smiled and said, "It's not important who they are; Princess QiXia just needs to rest properly first. Once your injuries are healed, we’ll take you back."

She pointed at the scars on her body, which had mostly healed but still caused pain. Upon being reminded of this by Ye Li, QiXia burst into tears again.

After some effort to calm her down, Ye Li finally let out a breath and left with Wei Lin. "What’s wrong with Princess QiXia Isn't she just pretending" Wei Lin asked in puzzlement.

Ye Li shook her head. “Princess QiXia’s mind isn’t capable of such perfect deception. When I asked if she knew Mo Jingli and Dong You, her expression didn’t change at all. If she were just acting… Princess QiXia would be an excellent actress.”

“That is true,” Wei Lin agreed. QiXia had nearly died from Dong You’s hands and hated him intensely; it was impossible for her to act without showing some emotion.

"Let's have someone keep a close watch on her, and when we leave Jiangnan, send her back to Nan Zhou," Ye Li said.

"Yes," Wei Lin nodded. "Sir, it’s time to go to the Zhang residence."

Having wasted some time with Princess QiXia, afternoon had already arrived. Ye Li changed into a formal outfit and headed for the banquet at the Zhang residence.

Zhang Baoyi truly lived up to his reputation as one of Nanjing’s most frugal merchants. The Zhang residence looked simple and plain on the outside, and even inside it was rather ordinary. Anyone unaware of its true status would never have guessed that this was one of the wealthiest residences in Nanjing. There were only a few servants, with even the butler wearing an old patched-up shirt. Ye Li couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The butler seemed embarrassed and pulled at his clothes as he said quietly, "Sir, please don’t laugh; normally we wouldn’t be so impolite. It’s just that our lord... was upset yesterday, so..."

Ye Li finally understood: Zhang Baoyi had made a fortune the day before, and to avoid upsetting him further, they put on these old clothes so he wouldn't feel bad about his wealth.

Ye Li smiled and said, "It’s my mistake; thriftiness is always good."

The butler sighed sadly. Thriftiness was certainly a virtue, but given Zhang's status in Nanjing, they were often mocked for it.

Zhang Baoyi and his family were already waiting in the main hall. Ye Li saw that Zhang’s wife and daughter still wore simple clothes, which gave her another insight into their frugality. Despite still looking pale from his injuries, Zhang Baoyi greeted Ye Li with a warm smile as she entered.

"Welcome, Sir. I couldn’t come to greet you myself," he said politely.

Ye Li smiled and replied, "Sir, it’s me, Chu Junwei. Nice to meet you, Madam and Miss Zhang."

Zhang Baoyi was delighted as he instructed his daughter to welcome Ye Li properly. The shy girl stepped forward with a small curtsy.

“Chu Junwei, this is my daughter Zhuer,” she said.

Seeing Miss Zhang's odd demeanor, Ye Li finally understood why Mr. Lin had looked so strange when talking about her.

Miss Zhang was not unattractive, but there was something unsettling about her that made even Ye Li feel uneasy. She couldn’t help but take a step back and say politely, "Miss Zhang is very courteous."

Seeing Ye Li’s reaction, Miss Zhang's eyes filled with tears. Zhang Baoyi sighed inwardly and said to Ye Li, “Shall we sit down for the banquet”

Ye Li smiled and replied, "Sir, please lead the way."

Since he was the only guest, Mr. Zhang brought his wife and daughter to sit with him at the banquet table. The feast wasn’t very sumptuous, but it still showed proper etiquette; apparently, although Mr. Zhang was miserly, he knew better than to offend people. After Ye Li sat down first, Miss Zhang just happened to sit next to her, which made Ye Li's body stiffen involuntarily.

"Mr. Chu, Zhu'er is pouring wine for you," said Miss Zhang as she lifted the wine jug and tried to pour it for Ye Li. Ye Li could only thank him and sighed; if Mr. Zhang were really going to say that he intended to marry his daughter off to her then things would get ugly, so she went straight to the point: "Mr. Zhang, actually I came here today with something important to discuss."

Mr. Zhang was taken aback and said with a smile, "Is there anything you want to talk about Why not wait until after we’ve eaten"

"If it's about the one million dan of grain Mr. Zhang donated to Prince Li a day ago," Ye Li said coolly.

Mr. Zhang immediately turned gloomy; whenever he thought about those one million dan, his heart bled.

“What do you want to talk about” asked Million-Dollar Zhang doubtfully as he looked at Ye Li. Smiling, Ye Li asked, "Is it convenient for us to talk here" Mr. Zhang hesitated but eventually glanced at his wife and daughter and said, “Madam, please take Zhu'er downstairs; I have something important to discuss with Mr. Chu.” Mrs. Zhang was just an ordinary housewife who knew nothing about business affairs; she could only drag her unwilling daughter down the stairs.

"I don't know what you want to talk about," said Million-Dollar Zhang.

Ye Li replied, "Yesterday, Mr. Zhang donated one million dan of grain to Prince Li. But according to my information, he needs at least 800 thousand troops for the campaign; even if everything goes well and he agrees with Mo Army’s conditions right away, it would still take half a year or so for him to come back from the battlefield. During this time, the army will need at least three million dan of grain, which is an extremely conservative estimate. Do you think… Prince Li could win over Duke Ding’s forces in half a year"

Million-Dollar Zhang stared at her suspiciously and asked, "What do you mean by that"

"I also have another piece of news," Ye Li said with a smile. “The army left yesterday but the government didn’t move much grain from its depots; this year there’s been drought in Xi Ling and poor harvests, which is also the case for the North Rong, so I believe Mr. Zhang must know something about it as well. The government sold a large portion of the newly stored grain to Xi Ling one month ago. Therefore, these three million dan… will most likely have to be provided by your family and southern grain merchants."

Million-Dollar Zhang’s face turned black, "Prince Li wants to ruin our family…" They had already been severely weakened after donating a million dan of grain; if they were also forced to provide all the military supplies it would mean their destruction. Furthermore, his family wouldn’t be able to collect that many grains in such a short time and then they’d be blamed for delaying the military campaign. Indeed… Prince Li never intended to let him go from the start.

"It's not just that," Ye Li said with a smile; “Frankly speaking, I can predict that this war won’t end within one or two years; by then your family…" Million-Dollar Zhang’s face turned pale as he stared at Ye Li and asked, "Mr. Chu came here to say all of this… surely you don't mean to scare me" He knew that Ye Li wouldn’t come just for the fun of it.

Ye Li lowered her eyes and said coolly, "Actually I do have a solution to help Mr. Zhang, but I'm not sure if he wants it."

"Please save us," Million-Dollar Zhang said hastily.

Ye Li smiled and handed him an envelope; reading through it quickly, his face changed dramatically as he glared at Ye Li and asked, "You… Mr. Chu, are you…" She replied with a smile, "My surname is Chu, the Chu family… is related to the Xu family by marriage."

Million-Dollar Zhang understood; his expression kept changing before he finally asked, "Can you make a decision"

Ye Li grinned and took out an order from her sleeve and placed it on the table. Million-Dollar Zhang stared at the token made of black jade with the word "Ding" engraved into it. Although he had never seen the token of Ding’s family, he truly didn’t think anyone could forge one. Also… The Chu family was related to the Xu family; since the Xu family was so influential in Li City, it was much more likely that this outstanding talent would serve for Ding’s rather than go all the way down south to serve Prince Li.

"What do you think of my proposal" Ye Li asked.

“If I… disagree with you, what will Mr. Chu do” Million-Dollar Zhang asked.

"Then please pretend that today’s conversation never happened," said Ye Li coolly. "I’ll have to consider it," he muttered as she got up and bowed: “In this case, in that case, I must take my leave.”

Million-Dollar Zhang looked at her with a hint of hope and said, “Actually… if Mr. Chu agrees to one condition I can answer your question now,” he said, looking at Ye Li with satisfaction and anticipation. She rolled her eyes but immediately replied: "Mr. Zhang must understand that I'm just the messenger." Million-Dollar Zhang sighed; disappointment was clear on his face.

Leaving Zhang’s place, Ye Li and Wei Lin as well as Zhuo Jing all breathed a sigh of relief. “That Zhang girl looked like she wanted to jump him,” Zhuo Jing said with pursed lips. "It's good that you were quick enough to get rid of her." Being handsome was also an error; no wonder Qingshen had attracted such crazy women as Oriental You, Zhuo Jing thought. However, the queen acting as a man was worse than Qingshen. The former seemed untouchable and divine while the latter could be approached.

"What if Zhang million goes to report" Wei Lin asked with a frown.

Ye Li replied coolly: "Then we'll let him become truly greedy." But she believed he was smart enough not to.

Wei Lin thought for a moment and agreed. “With his love of money, if he knew that Prince Li wanted to take over, he wouldn't risk it.”

Ye Li sighed: "Without Zhang’s and Lin’s help, things would be more difficult." They were two of the richest families in Nanjing; with their support, they could destroy Prince Li's logistics.

Everything was going smoothly behind the scenes. After showing up at the Regent Manor Banquet, Prince Li remembered this young man from Chu family and frequently invited him to discuss political affairs. But Ye Li was still worried about being found out; she usually declined but when she couldn’t avoid it, Prince Li seemed to value her even more.

Prince Li had kept the little emperor at the Regent Manor, only bringing him to court every day. Though many people were against this idea, he controlled all military powers in Chu and was able to maintain his position.

The small emperor appeared weaker than before when she met him at Prince Li’s manor; soon after, news came that the small emperor had been poisoned.

Everyone was shocked. Wei Lin frowned: "What is Prince Li trying to achieve" Poisoning the emperor right before a military campaign wasn't good for him.

"How long can Emperor Suyun endure" Ye Li asked gravely.

Yaoji, who had arrived with Qin Feng, shook her head: "Though it’s a slow poison, he is weak and has been terrified by Prince Li; even if his condition improves, he won’t live much longer." Yaoji was a mother herself and couldn't help feeling sorry for the child.

The little emperor had no father or maternal support when he suddenly became the emperor before Prince Qi’s death. His future seemed bleak to anyone with eyes.

Ye Li remained silent, knowing she wasn’t heartless but was guilty of not saving him. All parties—Empress Dowager, Prince Li and herself—had chosen their paths over this child.

"Madam, you don't need to blame yourself," Qin Feng said seriously.

Ye Li shook her head with a smile: "It’s not about guilt but wondering why such an innocent boy is in the imperial palace." She seldom felt guilty since it was useless. It was better not to do something if she knew it would cause regret.

"Yaoji, tell Ye Ying that I’ll give her the list and inform her of her son’s whereabouts; otherwise, she may regret," said Ye Li calmly.

Yaoji frowned: "She won’t agree. She doesn’t fully trust you. The list is very important to her. You should consider telling her about your child first."

Ye Li sighed: "If I tell her, we lose the advantage and she’ll be in danger too." Yaoji looked puzzled.

"Ying’s son being the emperor would mean she wouldn’t help us," Qin Feng explained. If Prince Li knew his biological child was the current emperor, he’d be suspicious of Ye Ying and stop helping them.

Yaoji understood: "She is selfish and doesn’t trust others; if her son were the emperor, she wouldn't have to rely on us." She hoped Ye Ying would act rationally instead of harming her child.

"Madam, why does Prince Li want to poison the emperor He can’t be in such a rush," Zhuo Jing said. It didn’t seem like his style.

Ye Li shook her head: "It might not be Prince Li poisoning him."

"Someone wants to frame him" everyone asked, puzzled.

Qin Feng furrowed her brows and said, "Ever since Dong Fang You went missing, Mo Jingli has been rigorously reorganizing the Li王府. Nowadays, it can be said that the entire Li王府 is under Mo Jingli's control. Even we were able to gather this information; there's no way Mo Jingli would be unaware of it."

Ye Li pondered for a long time and then raised her brows: "There's still one person in the Li王府 who can make a move against Mo Shuyun. Even if Mo Jingli knows about it, he wouldn't expose her. Furthermore... If the young emperor dies like this, it would be beneficial to Mo Jingli."

Lin Han spoke up, "Is it Lady Xian Zhao"

Ye Li nodded and said, "Indeed. The only people in the Li王府 who could make a move against Mo Shuyun are Mo Jingli himself, Ye Ying, and Lady Xian Zhao. You see, slow-acting poison is difficult to administer as it requires much time. Even though the young emperor has no power, he still has many attendants around him. An ordinary person wouldn't be able to slip the poison into Mo Shuyun's food every day."

Wei Lin was puzzled and asked, "Why would Lady Xian Zhao want to kill the young emperor"

Ye Li smiled and said, "Lady Xian Zhao is a niece of Empress Dowager Taihuang. They entered the palace together to serve Emperor Taizu. For most of their lives, they've supported each other through thick and thin. After Mo Jingqi ascended to the throne, Empress Dowager Taihuang became the Empress, while Lady Xian Zhao was appointed as a Consort and moved out of the palace to enjoy her retirement at Li王府, which is quite generous compared to Emperor Taizu's other consorts. However, I've always had one question: In the Grand Chu imperial harem system, the lowest rank is a Talent (Cairen), followed by Noble Lady (Zhenren) and Queen (Huanghou). Below Huanghou are Imperial Consorts (Guifei) and Consorts (Fei). By convention, when an emperor dies, his consorts' titles would usually be elevated by one level. Therefore, if Lady Xian Zhao was originally a Consort during Emperor Taizu's reign, she should have been promoted to Noble Consort (Gui Fei) after Mo Jingqi ascended the throne. Given their relationship with Empress Dowager Taihuang, why did Lady Xian Zhao remain at the Consort rank her whole life"

Yao Ji leaned on her hand and said, "No one objected back then, so this must be a reasonable arrangement."

Ye Li replied, "It may be reasonable but not fair. Moreover, Empress Dowager Taihuang had almost all the other consorts from Emperor Taizu’s reign demoted or executed under various pretexts, leaving only Lady Xian Zhao who received special permission to leave the palace and retire in comfort, which looks like a great favor. Nobody probably noticed anything unusual about this situation. Do you think... Why would Empress Dowager Taihuang send Lady Xian Zhao out of the palace"

Yao Ji's eyes flickered, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Empress Dowager doesn't want Lady Xian Zhao to compete with her for power That means Lady Xian Zhao must have something that keeps Empress Dowager from touching her. Otherwise, how could she remain so peaceful all these years Now, by targeting Mo Shuyun, does she want to push Mo Jingli into a higher position and take revenge on Empress Dowager"

"Ehuang and Nüying are a beautiful story in history, but I have never truly seen such harmony between sisters sharing the same husband," Ye Li sighed softly. Women would inevitably be jealous of one another; how could they live as close friends without any conflicts Especially women living in the imperial palace. From their first day there, everything they did was about competition - for favor, status, and children.

Wei Lin reminded her, "Mo Jingli is also Empress Dowager Taihuang's son."

Lady Xian Zhao had no child; she was already defeated from the start despite trying to hide it.

"What is more important - birthright or nurture Does Mo Jingli’s current choice not speak for itself" Ye Li smiled faintly.

Yao Ji frowned and said, "When we first moved to Nanjing, there was a rumor that the Prince of Li wanted to appoint Lady Xian Zhao as Noble Consort (Guifei) to co-rule the imperial harem with Empress Dowager. However, nothing came out of it."

Everyone present couldn't help but shake their heads; the complex royal affairs made even them feel dizzy and confused. Although Lady Xian Zhao had no son, she had played the role of a sister-in-law to Empress Dowager for years under her pressure. She must be close to breaking now. But it was uncertain how much effort Mo Jingli and Lady Xian Zhao put into separating from the Empress Dowager.

From outside the room, a steward whispered, "Young Master, officials from Regent's Manor have arrived; they say His Excellency Regent Wang has requested your presence."

Ye Li was silent for a moment and then nodded. "I understand. Please ask them to wait for a while." The steward withdrew after a response, and Ye Li stood up and said, "Never mind, I will go visit the Li王府 anyway."

Yao Ji frowned. "Has the Prince of Li been calling on his princess frequently these days Could he have found out something"

"Based on Mo Jingli's nature, if he had indeed discovered a flaw in our plan, he wouldn't be so courteous to invite us," Ye Li smiled.

When they arrived at the Li王府, Ye Li was immediately led to Mo Jingli’s study. Upon entering, she found that several people were already there; however, she only recognized Mu Yang Hou (Duke of Yang), Mu Yang.

"Chu Junwei greets His Excellency Regent Wang," said Ye Li formally as he bowed.

Mo Jingli seemed in a good mood when he saw Ye Li enter and greeted him with a smile. "Mr. Chu has arrived, please take a seat." Ye Li nodded his thanks and took the last available spot at the table. As a member of an esteemed family, he wouldn't sit too close to Mo Jingli among those who were all his confidants.

Luckily for her, she sat across from Mu Yang. Mu Yang smiled and nodded politely, so Ye Li did likewise without wanting to offend him. Mo Jingli raised a brow as he asked, "Duke of Yang, have you met Mr. Chu before"

Mu Yang replied respectfully, "Mr. Chu is such an outstanding person; I wish we could have been acquainted earlier."

Ye Li smiled back and said, "Your Excellency over-praises me. It’s my long-standing admiration for the Duke of Yang." Seeing that neither man seemed to be pretending, Mo Jingli nodded with satisfaction. He didn't oppose the Mu Yang family's relationship with Chu Family but was displeased if Mu Yang concealed their close ties from him.

Seizing this opportunity, Ye Li asked, "May I ask what His Excellency wishes of me"

Mo Jingli surveyed everyone present and said, "This time, indeed, there is something important that requires Mr. Chu’s help. Previously, with your assistance in the matter concerning Family Zhang, you resolved a major issue for this Wang. Prince Piaomiao has been working diligently these past few days, all due to your efforts."

Ye Li modestly declined, "His Excellency flatters me; it’s all thanks to His Excellency's power in the south of Jiangnan."

"I really need Mr. Chu's help this time," Mo Jingli sighed heavily, "and I hope you won't refuse."

Ye Li felt a slight tremor and replied calmly, "Please instruct me, Your Excellency."

Mu Jingli stared at Ye Li without blinking. “I need Mr. Chu to write an imperial edict on my behalf.”

A chill ran through Ye Li's heart when he realized that everyone in the room was aware of what Mo Jingli wanted. They seemed to be waiting for him specifically. Taking a deep breath, Ye Li asked, "The government is full of talented people; there are many seniors who could write this edict. I might not…"

"Mr. Chu doesn't want to" Mo Jingli's face darkened as he asked coolly.

Ye Li sighed inwardly, understanding what kind of edict Mo Jingli wanted her to draft, but knowing that she couldn’t write it. If she did, young Emperor Mo Suyun might truly be in danger.

"May I ask which prince His Excellency plans to abdicate the throne to" Ye Li asked calmly, feigning ignorance.

Mu Jingli's face softened a bit but he answered reluctantly. "To tell you truthfully, these days the emperor has been unwell. Because he is young and has no heir, he intends to abdicate… I need Mr. Chu to draft an abdication edict for him. As a successor of a noble family, I’m sure Mr. Chu won't let me down," Mu Jingli said, even though his tone betrayed his satisfaction.

Ye Li’s heart chilled at this pretense and he asked innocently, "Does His Excellency plan to abdicate the throne to one of Emperor Shenzu's sons"

A hint of coldness flashed in Mu Jingli's eyes but he didn’t answer Ye Li’s question. Mu Yang smiled across from him. "Mr. Chu misunderstands. The emperor intends to abdicate the throne to His Excellency Regent Wang himself. After all, his brothers are mostly young… In these turbulent times for Great Chu, we need a capable ruler. Although the emperor is young, he's considering what's best for the country."

For the sake of the kingdom It was probably because they frightened him, Ye Li thought coldly.

Suspicions growing in her heart, she replied reluctantly, "Your Excellency must excuse me; I need to consult with my family. Besides, though I belong to Chu Family, I am from a collateral branch… abdication edicts are not something I can decide alone."

Throughout history, very few emperors willingly abdicated, and those who succeeded them sought to legitimize their rule by securing the endorsement of influential figures. But drafting such an edict could either earn one a place in history or condemn one for eternity. Though Ye Li used her Chu Family identity, she hadn’t planned to tarnish its reputation. If Mo Jingli's intention was exposed, it might be linked directly to the mainline of the Chu family, regardless of whether he belonged there.

Mu Jingli wasn't forcing Ye Li to draft this edict because he couldn't find anyone suitable for such a task. Prominent officials in court wouldn’t jeopardize their reputations for something so controversial, while his own confidants had no influence. Though Chu Junwei was from the collateral branch of the family, his association with Chu Family still carried weight. Mu Jingli would have preferred to ask Qingchen (Dust Sweeper) to draft the edict if he could.

“Is Mr. Chu looking down on me” Mo Jingli frowned as he stared at Ye Li.

Ye Li wanted to slap Mo Jingli for thinking she was just a collateral branch member from Chu Family who would be forced into loyalty or death.

"Your Excellency is too kind," said Ye Li resolutely. "This matter is of great importance, and I cannot make this decision alone. Surely Your Excellency doesn't want news to spread that Mr. Chu has been expelled by the Chu Family just after writing this edict"

Mu Jingli's expression softened as he seemed genuinely pained, but his eyes betrayed a different emotion. "Mr. Chu misunderstands. As I said, the emperor is considering abdicating in favor of His Excellency Regent Wang himself."

For the sake of Great Chu More likely it was out of fear, Ye Li thought bitterly.

Glancing at Mu Jingli with hesitation, she replied reluctantly, "Does Your Excellency mean to abdicate in favor of one of Emperor Shenzu's sons"

A cold glint flashed through Mu Jingli’s eyes before he refused to answer. Sitting opposite him, Mu Yang smiled and explained, "Mr. Chu misunderstands. The emperor plans to abdicate the throne for His Excellency Regent Wang himself. Since his brothers are young… In these turbulent times for Great Chu, a capable ruler is needed. Although the emperor is still young, he cares deeply about the kingdom."

For the sake of the kingdom More likely out of fear, Ye Li thought coldly.

Gazing hesitantly at Mu Jingli, she replied reluctantly, "Your Excellency must excuse me; I need to consult with my family on this matter. Besides, though I belong to Chu Family, I come from a collateral branch… abdication edicts are not something I can decide alone."

Mojingli also knew that Ye Li was speaking the truth, but his confidently presented request had been met with a blunt refusal. This left him unsure of how to save face in front of everyone. Mu Yang, who was seated, quickly spoke up upon seeing this situation: "Your Excellency, Prince Chu's concerns are not without merit. As an educated man, it’s understandable that he might need some time to think things over. Perhaps we could allow Prince Chu a couple days to consider your proposal; I’m sure he will come around by then."

Mojingli nodded and looked at Ye Li: "I hold great regard for you, Prince Chu. Please take this matter seriously. With your talent, who knows You might become the second Qingchen.

Ye Li inwardly chuckled; she certainly didn’t think that her abilities could match those of her brother. However, Mojingli’s offer to court her was indeed tempting. Who didn’t know that Qingchen was practically second only to the Prince and Princess in the Dingwang Mansion, wielding immense power Any educated person would look up to him as a role model. Nevertheless, Ye Li was certain she wouldn't choose Mojingli even if she were truly Chu Junwei. Mo Xiuyao had the breadth of mind and capability to tolerate someone above everyone else, whereas Mojingli did not. By the time Mojingli gained stability, Qingchen would likely be the first one倒黴。

Ye Li respectfully replied: "Thank you for Your Excellency's kindness. I will take this matter seriously."

Mojingli gave Ye Li a long look and nodded: "Alright, I’ll have someone escort you back to your residence."

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Ye Li didn’t refuse; she understood what Mojingli meant. She wasn’t bothered by it either. After all, now that he knew such important information about her, how could he let her go without any precautions However, what Mojingli didn't know was that if Ye Li wanted to disappear from Nanjing City, even digging through the earth wouldn’t find her.

Outside, Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin noticed that when Ye Li came out of the mansion with several guards from the Liewang Manor following him. They both reacted immediately, their expressions changing. Ye Li waved them off casually to not act rashly. The two quickly composed themselves and approached, bowing: "We’ve seen you, Sir."

Ye Li nodded and said: "Let’s go back."

"Yes, Sir,"

Ye Li led her newly acquired bodyguards and Zhuo Jing Wei Lin out of the Liewang Manor. As they passed through the garden, she saw the young emperor in his bright yellow robe. It had only been a few days since their last meeting, but the child’s already thin face was now pale. His eyes, which often seemed filled with fear, were duller than before. Everyone could see that this child didn’t have much time left.

Mosuyun slowly walked through the garden, his eunuchs and palace ladies following behind him, their heads lowered without doing anything. It was as if they believed everything would be fine as long as he remained in their sight. The path wasn't flat; Mosuyun seemed to spot something amusing ahead, his eyes brightening slightly before dashing forward. However, due to his frailty, he stumbled and fell.

Despite this, none of the eunuchs or palace ladies made an attempt to help him up. It was as if they had all suddenly become lifeless puppets.

Falling on a path covered with uneven cobblestones was painful; Mosuyun’s arms were scraped and bleeding from the fall. Tears welled in his eyes but didn’t drop. He remained motionless, staring at his injured arm.

A pair of slender hands gently lifted him up off the ground. Mosuyun blinked, dazedly gazing at the fair-faced young scholar dressed in white before him.

"Does it hurt" Ye Li squatted beside him and asked softly.

Tears brimming in his eyes, he nodded after a while. Ye Li sighed inwardly; she should have noticed earlier that something was amiss with this child. He had become slower and less reactive compared to before.

The people following Mosuyun rushed forward upon seeing someone approaching, attempting to stop them: "Sir... the Emperor should be returning for rest." Ye Li gave a cool glance at them, smiling faintly: "So you know he's still an emperor"

The palace lady’s face paled but quickly recovered, saying: "Of course we know that His Majesty is still the emperor. So please leave quickly; the emperor isn't someone who can be seen by just anyone." Despite her polite tone, Ye Li heard a hint of arrogance and a heavier emphasis on “now”. Clearly, these servants were being instructed to treat him this way.

The guards following Ye Li stepped forward too, trying to persuade her to leave. However, knowing that the Prince still needed Chu Junwei, they didn't dare be too forceful.

"Greetings, Princess." Just as things had stalled, Ye Ying arrived with a group of people, glancing around indifferently and asking: "What's going on here" The palace lady who spoke to Ye Li earlier stepped forward: "Your Excellency, we were instructed by the Dowager to accompany His Majesty for some entertainment. This Chu Scholar is obstructing the Emperor’s path."

Ye Ying remained noncommittal and looked at Ye Li, who replied with a smile: "My Lady, I merely saw His Majesty fall and assisted him. Then… he wouldn't let go of my sleeve." She raised her own sleeve to indicate that it was the emperor holding on.

Ye Ying paused for a moment before saying: "Prince Chu is an honored guest of Your Excellency; if His Majesty likes him, you can allow him to entertain him. Why all this fuss"

"My Lady! But the Dowager…"

"I’ll explain everything to the Dowager. How could you let his Highness fall with everyone watching Are you all dead" Ye Ying spoke coldly. Although these people were loyal to the Dowager, they dared not argue in front of this Liewang Princess and thus fell silent.

Ye Li accepted a medicine bottle from Wei Lin behind her and carefully applied it to Mosuyun’s injuries while asking without turning around: "Why didn’t you call for a physician"

The servants hesitated before leaving to fetch one.

As Mosuyun continued holding onto Ye Li's sleeve, she couldn't leave. She carried him to a pavilion in the garden and sat there with him briefly. As they rested inside the pavilion, Ye Li gazed at Ye Ying coolly: "Do you know what Dowager Xianzhao has been doing"

Ye Ying’s expression changed as she asked anxiously: "The Dowager What's she done"

A sigh rose in Ye Li’s heart; she should have noticed Mosuyun’s condition earlier. He had become far more sluggish and unresponsive than before.

The servants who accompanied Mosuyun hurried up to stop them when they saw someone approach, but Ye Li glanced at them indifferently: "You know he's still the emperor"

One of the palace ladies paled but quickly recovered and said that she knew His Majesty was still the Emperor. She asked politely for Chu Scholar to leave, though there was a hint of arrogance in her tone.

The guards behind Ye Li stepped forward as well, trying to persuade her to leave, but knowing the Prince’s needs, they didn't dare be too forceful.

"Greetings Princess," someone called out. In a moment of deadlock, Ye Ying arrived with people and asked what was happening. The palace lady explained that she had been instructed by the Dowager to entertain the Emperor, but Chu Scholar was obstructing his path.

Ye Ying remained noncommittal and looked at Ye Li who replied: "I just saw His Majesty fall and helped him up."

Ye Ying said Prince Chu should be allowed to keep entertaining the Emperor if he pleased. She asked why there was such a fuss over this.

"My Lady, but the Dowager…"

The servants protested.

Ye Ying replied coldly that she would explain everything to the Dowager and asked how they could let His Highness fall with everyone watching Are you all dead

The servants who were loyal to the Dowager dared not argue in front of Ye Ying and fell silent.

Ye Li accepted a medicine bottle from Wei Lin, applied it carefully to Mosuyun’s injuries, then asked without turning around: "Why didn't you call for a doctor"

The servants hesitated before leaving to fetch one.

Mosuyun continued holding onto Ye Li's sleeve, so she couldn’t leave. She carried him to a pavilion in the garden and sat there briefly with him.

Ye Li asked Ye Ying coolly: "Do you know what Dowager Xianzhao has been doing"

Ye Ying’s expression changed as she anxiously asked: "The Dowager What's she done"

A sigh rose in Ye Li’s heart; she should have noticed Mosuyun’s condition earlier. He had become far more sluggish and unresponsive than before.

Ye Li calmly watched Ye Ying, asking if she would still refuse to give her the list.

Ye Ying clenched her teeth and said she needed help finding her child first.

"First…"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, looking at her with interest.

Ye Ying said once Prince Jinglei ascended to the throne, Ye Li should help her become Queen.

“Ye Ying,” Ye Li looked at her with pity: “You will regret this.”

The doctor arrived but Mosuyun continued holding onto Ye Li’s sleeve. Only after some persuasion did he let go for the doctor to examine him.

Seeing how the doctor merely went through the motions without addressing the obvious issues, Ye Li left, instructing her guards to inform the Regent Prince not to make things too difficult.

The guards hesitated but one of them turned towards Prince Jinglei's study. Ye Li looked back at Mosuyun, still sitting motionless as the doctor fussed over him.

She asked Ye Ying if she knew what Dowager Xianzhao had been doing.

Ye Ying’s face paled and she nervously asked: "The Dowager What's she done"

Realizing that Ye Ying must know, but chose not to tell her, Ye Li said she would regret it.

Ye Ying bit her lip, saying there was no point since it didn't concern the Prince and wasn’t important. She had known too.

"I see," Ye Li replied. "Do you think that if Jinglei becomes Emperor, you will surely become Queen"

Ye Ying paled, knowing she wouldn't if there was no support from others or the Prince's court.

“You can try,” Ye Li smiled, saying if she told Jinglei about her, he might reward her with the throne. But his vengeful nature would also expose her spying for the Prince’s court. She couldn’t risk it.

Ye Li asked again if she still refused to give the list.

Ye Ying clenched her teeth and said she needed help finding her child first, then becoming Queen after Jinglei ascended.

“You will regret this,” Ye Li looked at her sadly.

The servants brought in a doctor but Mosuyun still held onto Ye Li's sleeve. Only after some persuasion did he let go for the doctor to examine him.

Seeing how the doctor merely went through the motions without addressing the obvious issues, Ye Li left and asked her guards to inform the Regent Prince not to make things too difficult.

The guards hesitated but one of them turned towards Prince Jinglei's study. Ye Li looked back at Mosuyun, still sitting motionless as the doctor fussed over him.

Later that day, news spread in the Lai王府 that all the eunuchs and maids serving beside Mo Suyun were beaten to death. Hearing this from Zhuo Jing, Ye Li simply paused momentarily before continuing her work.

Finding it surprising that such a seemingly gentle scholar could speak so bluntly about an Emperor’s impending demise in front of those sent by the Prince, the guards who accompanied Ye Li did not understand the implicit threat behind her words.

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin glanced at the guards with cold eyes, their gazes hinting at hidden danger.

The next day, news spread that all the servants attending Mo Suyun had been executed. Upon hearing this from Zhuo Jing, Ye Li merely paused briefly before continuing her work.dly said, "According to Miss Ye, whoever gains the hearts of the people should gain the world. Does it mean that the Dachu Imperial House should have ceded power to Dingguo Manor long ago" Compared wi...