Golden Age Legitimate Fei

Chapter 99 - Boating on an Early Summer Day (1)

Chapter 99: Boating on an Early Summer Day (1)
Translator: asassin
It was naturally beyond Ye Li whether the Empress dowager and her sons were against each other or fighting in secret but right now whenever Ye Manor sent for her she would come up with excuses not to go back anymore. Though Minister Ye was not happy about this daughter who he could barely take under control since the beginning, he couldn’t do or say anything no matter how unhappy he was since Ye Li was Princess Ding. If it was in regular circumstances, no matter who it was, he should try to win over Mo Xiu Yao if the Empress dowager and Mo Jing Li brothers were going to fight over the throne. But since Mo Xiu Yao was considered good-for-nothing by the world and Mo Jing Li would rather Prince Ding’s Manor was demolished the sooner the better so it was still peaceful in Prince Ding’s Manor. Neither side would wish to have Mo Xiu Yao’s support and believed that he would not help either.

“Your Highness, My Lady, Miss Yang is here.”

Ye Li put down the needle in her hand. She looked up and asked curiously: “Miss Yang? Yang… Qian Ru? Why is she here?” Prince Ding’s Manor was big, really, really big. Besides, one might not be able to go anywhere one wanted to in this manor. Therefore, though there were two people who got on her nerves lived in the manor, normally, Ye Li didn’t feel their presence since the defense of this yard had clearly been upgraded after Mo Xiu Yao moved over. They wouldn’t be able to get near the outer circle of the yard let alone coming inside.

Having been ignored twice and reprimanded by Chief Steward Mo who was sent by Mo Xiu Yao, Concubine Yang hadn’t tried to challenge the authority of the new Princess Ding. Ye Li could certainly feel that Mo Xiu Yao had been good to her. Not only did he give her the authority generously as soon as they were married, but he let those servants of the manor know clearly how he felt about this princess as well. Otherwise it would take even a bride of a normal family longer to convince the servants of her authority let alone a bride of Prince Ding’s Manor. So… how important it is to have someone to back you up especially when someone is the most powerful man of the manor.

“I don’t know but she has been standing outside the outer yard for quite a while so the guard asked someone to report it to Your Highness and My Lady.” Jing-er, who took the message said.

Since Mo Xiu Yao had told the servants not to let anyone into the inner yard to bother the princess, normally they would ask the person to leave directly. But Miss Yang who was easy to deal with the first few times didn’t leave today. The guards couldn’t use force against her since she was after all a guest of the manor so they had no choice but to ask Jing-er who was passing by to report it.

“Your Highness, what do you think?” Ye Li turned to Mo Xiu Yao, who was reading by the window.

Mo Xiu Yao didn’t even look up from the book. He said indifferently after turning a page: “If you want to see her, let her in. If you don’t, let someone escort her back. Or… we have a yard outside the city, I can let her live there with Concubine Yang for a few years.”

Well… Ye Li was speechless. This man is really heartless.Though he didn’t see Yang Qian Ru a lot, how could he come up with something so cruel since the few times he met her, her eyes were full of hidden bitterness and a wealth of tender love. But Ye Li likes that cruelty!

“Let her in.” Putting the almost finished clothes aside, Ye Li said with a little distress: “Concubine Yang mentioned that I should find a good husband for Miss Yang, but I…” She had never been a matchmaker.

Mo Xiu Yao said with indifference: “Don’t bother yourself. You can’t.”

“What do you mean?” Why can’t she?

Mo Xiu Yao said: “Chief Steward Mo has mentioned that three years ago but Concubine Yang was happy about none of the choices. You are not familiar with the capital. I don’t think you can come up with someone better than those on Chief Steward Mo’s list.”

Ye Li was speechless. It turned out Mo Xiu Yao himself had been a matchmaker but he let Chief Steward Mo take over directly. It was stupid of her to worry about whether to take part in more parties. “Were those men Chief Steward Mo picked so awful?”

Mo Xiu Yao raised his eyes at her and said: “Chief Steward Mo chose the best men that was within her reach. Besides, she is 17 right now. There are fewer young men who are at her age and are still not married.” There were indeed few men who were still unmarried after 20 like Mo Xiu Yao, Mo Jing Li and Xu Qing Chen. Even if they weren’t married, they were probably engaged.

“Then what shall we do?” Miss Yang couldn’t remain unmarried her whole life.Besides, Ye Li wasn’t gauging the heart of a gentleman with her own mean measure but if Miss Yang remained unmarried, she was afraid that could turn into Mo Xiu Yao’s responsibility eventually.

“If she wants to marry, I’ll let Chief Steward Mo send her the list. Leave her alone if she doesn’t want to marry. Send her to keep sister-in-law company at Moonless Convent if she isn’t married by the age of 18.”

Ye Li couldn’t help herself but wanting to cry for that Miss Yang who was full of tenderness. What does the saying that “the relationship between cousins are distant” mean? Look and Mo Xiu Yao and you’ll get the idea.

Soon afterwards, Yang Qian Ru was shown inside with graceful and supple steps with two maids following her, one of whom carried a box whose contents were unknown from the outside.

Seeing Yang Qian Ru’s eyes suddenly turned enthusiastic looking at somewhere behind her, Ye Li glanced at the clothes she hadn’t finished yet by the side and started to have a bad feeling about it.

“Cousin, have a seat.” Ye Li nodded at Yang Qian Ru with a smile.

Yang Qian Ru glanced briefly at somewhere behind Ye Li then shook her head hurriedly and said below her breath: “Thank you, My Lady. I’m… I’m fine. I can stand.”

Ye Li was speechless. What does that mean? You are a guest of the manor. Don’t act like a concubine who has been mistreated, okay?

Look at Yang Qian Ru. She was wearing an elegant moon-white dress with orchid by its hem and a pearl hairpin with tassels on her exquisite hair bun. Ever since Ye Li did away with Mo Xiu Yao’s plain-colored clothes, this girl had parted with white clothes as well but clearly, she still dressed in an elegant and exquisite style.

“Cousin, have a seat.” Ye Li lowered her voice and said with indifference.josei

Yang Qian Ru was startled. She didn’t hide her petrified look and sat down with grievance with the greatest of care under Ye Li’s gaze which gave Ye Li a lump in her throat that she was neither able to spit out nor swallow and made her sick. She doesn’t give her a hard time, does she?

“Cousin, what are you here for?” Ye Li suppressed her bitterness and smiled at her.

Yang Qian Ru lifted her head, her hands twitching her handkerchief, her beautiful face blushing. “I… I…”

Ye Li smiled patiently.

Yang Qian Ru looked at Mo Xiu Yao. She seemed to finally muster the courage and said: “I… it’s cousin’s birthday tomorrow, I’m… here to give him his birthday present.”

Ye Li glanced at the box which was carried by the maid behind Yang Qian Ru and took a glimpse at Mo Xiu Yao who seemed to be focused on books. She smiled and said: “Well, thank you very much, cousin. Can I have a look?”

“Mm…”

“Is it not convenient? Then let His Highness have a look at it.” Ye Li waved at that maid to send the box to Mo Xiu Yao.

Hearing what Ye Li said, Yang Qian Ru’s eyes lighted up and looked at the man that was reading by the window expectedly. As soon as that maid arrived by Mo Xiu Yao’s side, the box she held was snatched away by a hand that suddenly reached her from outside the window. Ah Jin who turned up without anyone noticing stared at the box and opened it directly. He took out what was inside and looked at it carefully. From where Ye Li was, she could see it was a gorgeous snow-blue robe. Though she could only see a part of it, she could tell the needleword was very delicate and its maker must have put a lot of effort into it.

“It’s not poisoned.”

“Ah Jin, get out of the way. You’ve blocked the sun.” Mo Xiu Yao said remotely.

“Oh.” Ah Jin answered and disappeared from the window with the box.

From the beginning to the end, Mo Xiu Yao didn’t even look at the robe.

Yang Qian Ru was frozen. She asked hurriedly: “Where did he bring it?”

“Well…” Ye Li was wondering whether to tell her that everything Mo Xiu Yao didn’t want went to Ah Jin, who would throw that away when he lost interest in them.

Mo Xiu Yao put down the book and looked up. In Yang Qian Ru’s surprised expectation and affection, he said at ease: “Go back to your yard if you are finished. I’ll let Chief Steward Mo send a list of men who are suitable to be your husband tomorrow and pick one.”

Yang Qian Ru’s delicate face went pale in an instant. Crystal-clear teardrops spilled from her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “No… cousin, I don’t want… I don’t want to leave the manor, don’t want to get married… please don’t send me away…”

Mo Xiu Yao frowned but nodded quickly and said: “That’s alright. Pack up your things and keep sister-in-law company at Moonless Convent tomorrow. That’s it. See Miss Yang out.”

Since Yang Qian Ru’s maids belonged to the manor, they didn’t dare to disobey Mo Xiu Yao. Though they knew she didn’t want to go, they still come upward and took her away.

“Cousin… don’t send me away… I’ll be good and won’t make you angry…” Yang Qian Ru wept and didn’t want to leave even though two maids are dragging her.

“See her out.” Mo Xiu Yao said indifferently with a frown.

No matter how Yang Qian Ru struggled, she wasn’t strong enough against two maids who were taller than her and was almost dragged away in the end.

Ye Li sat there without a word while looking at Mo Xiu Yao’s indifference. Hearing faintly the bitter weeping of Yang Qian Ru from afar, she couldn’t help but exclaiming how cruel this man was. Normally, men would feel pity for a good-looking girl who was crying her heart out even if they didn’t have feelings for her. But there was no emotion in Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes as if it was just a thing instead of a girl that was dragged out.

“Ah Li, why are you sighing?” Mo Xiu Yao asked.

Ye Li couldn’t help but sighing again. “Anyone that falls for you must have done something horrible in her previous incarnation or owed you a lot of money and haven’t paid back.”

Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes moved. He asked while staring at her back: “Why’s that?”

Ye Li said: “Why else? Yang Qian Ru is the answer.” Loving someone who didn’t love one back or didn’t even have such an emotion as love must be that one is in debt in one’s last incarnation and is born a tragedy.

“Then… what kind of man will you fall in love with, Ah Li?” Mo Xiu Yao asked.

Ye Li was busy with her needlework while answering casually: “Falling in love? I don’t know. Maybe never. No matter how passionate love is, it will turn into an affection between family members over time so why not try to live in harmony from the beginning?” Who can live amidst flowers and in the moonlight while filling one’s life with sweet words all the time? Over time, the only thing that will be left is daily chore.

“Is that due to the fact you haven’t fell in love with anyone yet?” Mo Xiu Yao asked in a small voice.

Ye Li stopped her needlework for a second and got back to it soon enough. “Maybe.” She was certainly in a relationship before. But to be honest, it was far from anything she would engrave in her memory.

“Will you go through thick and thin with a man if you love him, Ah Li?”

Ye Li turned to the man who rarely sat so relaxed in his wheelchair like he did at the moment with a strange feeling and smiled: “Your Highness, you are not saying that you will go through thick and thin with a woman if you love her, are you?”

“Maybe I am.”

“I probably won’t. What good does it do if I drag someone down with me when I’m going to die?” Ye Li was realistic. She said: “I won’t do that to someone even if I just have feelings for him. What does that make him, a lover or an enemy?”

In the sun, Mo Xiu Yao seemed to be lost in thought. He said below his breath after a good while: “You are right. I hope she can continue to live a good life if I die.” Then he didn’t pay any attention to Ye Li and went back to his book.

Ye Li never thought that Mo Xiu Yao who was mild and indifferent to an extent which she considered even a little heartless could be so tender. She shrugged with confusion and got back to her needlework. After some time, somehow what Mo Xiu Yao said occurred to her once again.

“I hope she can continue to live a good life if I die.”

She!? So surprised, Ye Li nearly stabbed herself on the finger. Does Mo Xiu Yao have someone on his mind?

Ye Li wasn’t in a good mood. No, she was in a very bad mood, even she didn’t quite know why. In a word, she was moody which she was unable to figure out the reason for and that situation was very rare in her life up to now. She hadn’t felt so bad even when she broke up with her first boyfriend and when she was on her first combat mission. Finding her spirits still low after she tried to vent her frustration at the practice ground, she decided to divert her mind by going out of the manor which was met by an invitation from Hua Tian Xiang to enjoy the lotus of early summer so Ye Li accepted it.