Chapter 185: New Chief of Han Family (97.2)

Judging from Mo Xiu Yao’s attitude towards Su Zui Die, Ye Li didn’t think he would let his former fiancée fake her death and flee their marriage.

Mo Xiu Yao was gloomy, not with hatred or resentment. It seemed he simply didn’t want to talk about it.

Ye Li was lost in thought with her head tipped. “Compared to why Miss Su faked her death, I’m more curious about why she went to Xi Ling afterwards.”

If Su Zui Die simply didn’t want to marry a cripple, she could have found a good match in Great Chu or just marry Han Ming Yue. Han Ming Yue would be a perfect husband in the opinion of girls. Considering Mo Xiu Yao’s attitude towards Su Zui Die and Han Ming Yue, he wouldn’t harm them if they did end up together. A girl of a noble family in the capital of Great Chu faked her death and went all the way to Xi Ling…

“May I ask who Miss Su is now?” asked Ye Li curiously.

“Bai Long, Noble Consort Qing Rong of Xi Ling.”

“Noble Consort Qing Rong?” Ye Li’s brow rose. She knew that there should only be one character in the title of a noble consort. Now that Su Zui Die had two in hers, it meant she held a very important position in Xi Ling. She watched Mo Xiu Yao and decided to stop her questions. All she needed to know was that between Su Zui Die and her, Mo Xiu Yao would stand by her side. As for that noble consort of Xi Ling who clearly haven’t got over Mo Xiu Yao… She would take care of that woman herself. Apparently, it wasn’t a good idea to talk with her husband about his former fiancée, so Ye Li decided to stop the topic.

Mo Xiu Yao, however, didn’t. He said calmly: “Bai Family is one of the four largest families of Xi Ling. For generations, most of Xi Ling’s empresses and noble consorts comes from it, including the current empress of Xi Ling. Bai Long became a member of the royal family of Xi Ling seven years ago. She was Consort Rong at that time and she gained favor of the emperor of Xi Ling. After the empress passed away, she was given the title of Noble Consort Qing Rong. If the empress hadn’t pleaded to the emperor to make Noble Consort Hui the next empress, Bai Long would have been the empress of Xi Ling by now.”

Ye Li listened quietly. In ten years, Su Zui Die turned from the fiancée of the second lord of Prince Ding’s Manor to a noble consort of Xi Ling, who almost became the empress. She had to admit that Miss Su’s life was a legend.

Mo Xiu Yao’s honesty made Ye Li hesitate before she asked: “Did you learn about that later or do you always know it?”

Mo Xiu Yao’s face turned a bit gloomy and said: “When I learned that Han Ming Yue was getting her away from the capital, I was still in recovery.”

“So, you did nothing about it?” She was curious. Given Mo Xiu Yao’s character, she thought even if he didn’t kill Han Ming Yue and Su Zui Die at once, he wouldn’t have let them leave. Besides, if he did love Su Zui Die, more reason that he wouldn’t let her go.

He threw her a glance. “I wasn’t in a good mood back then. At first, I did plan to kill them. However… Lord Su came. He knelt on the ground and begged me. He was my mentor and I respected him. Su Zui Die’s father saved my brother’s life once. Her big brother also died to save me. So, I let them go after I calmed down.”

Ye Li nodded quietly. If anyone ever tell her that Mo Xiu Yao loves Su Zui Die to death again, she is going to throw that person in water so that he can think twice. This man sounded as detached as if he was recounting something that happened to a stranger. Was a beauty like Su Zui Die nobody to him?

“Have you… Have you ever had feelings for her?”

Mo Xiu Yao looked at Ye Li, a bit surprised. Then he nodded with a faint smile as he answered: “Of course.”

With a slight frown, she tried to ignore her small upset. “Then, why do you…”

He cut her off: “She used to be my fiancée. We grew up together. Back then, she could be my wife. Besides, she was beautiful and talented with a good personality. Why wouldn’t I like her? But… she didn’t think I did enough for her. After my injury, she wanted to fake her death and leave. I set her free for the sake of her father and brother. Then, nothing was left between us, wasn’t it?”

Ye Li nodded.

In conclusion, Mo Xiu Yao thought Su Zui Die was a perfect fiancée. Men of Prince Ding’s Manor were devoted to their significant other. It had nothing to do with love. If he knew Su Zui Die was going to be his wife, he would be devoted to her. That was the truth behind the rumor that Mo Xiu Yao and Su Zui Die loved each other. When Su Zui Die chose to leave, she had nothing to do with Mo Xiu Yao anymore. Therefore, now in Mo Xiu Yao’s opinion, Su Zui Die was just a stranger, perhaps… an enemy.

There wasn’t much left to take care of in Guangling. Han Ming Xi was quick. On the same day, news spread that Han Ming Yue was banished and Han Ming Xi, the second lord became the leader of Han Family. As for Han Ming Xi, not even many people in Guangling knew about him except that he was the younger brother of Han Ming Yue. A new leader of Han Family was big news for wealthy merchants and officials of Guangling. Amid this sudden chaos, Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li left for the capital of Chu quietly.

As soon as they arrived in the capital, Mo Xiu Yao was summoned to the palace by the emperor.

Ye Li didn’t have time to consider how Mo Xiu Yao was going to explain her disappearance and showing up in Yong Lin since she was busy dealing with everyone in the manor who came to her with concern. Having finally calmed down her wet nurse and Mama Lin and listened to Chief Steward Mo and Sun mama’s report of recent affairs in the manor, Ye Li wanted to see Qing Luan and Qing Yu who was still in recuperation when a servant came with the news that Minister Ye and Old Lady Ye were here to see her.

Compared to his last year, one flushed with success, Minister Ye was dogged with misfortune this year. At the beginning of the year, his third daughter, Princess Ding, disappeared from the palace and his second daughter, Lady of Bright Deportment, as well as his little grandson died in a fire. Hardly two months passed in gloom when his fourth son-in-law rose in rebellion. Although the emperor didn’t take out his rage on Ye Family, Minister Ye’s days weren’t as good as before. From time to time, he wondered if God put him through all that because He didn’t like him. Therefore, when he heard of Prince Ding and Princess Ding’s return to the capital, he got down from his high horse and couldn’t wait to see Ye Li, so he brought Old Lady Ye directly to Prince Ding’s Manor.

When Ye Li walked into the reception room, she was surprised to see Minister Ye and Old Lady Ye who seemed several years older than the last time she saw them. “Father, grandmother.”

“Li-er, you are finally back safely. I’ve been worried sick.” Tears flowed from Old Lady Ye’s aged eyes as she took Ye Li’s hands in hers.

Ye Li said with a faint smile: “It’s my bad to have you worry, grandma.”

Watching this daughter of his, something wasn’t sitting right within Minister Ye. He didn’t want to spend time with Ye Li after his first wife passed away but he knew her well. His third daughter was a clam and quiet kid since childhood. She was born with grace like her mother. However, this time, he found something else in her eyes. Even though she was simply sitting there, smiling quietly with her hands in Old Lady Ye’s, he felt her imposing presence and authority. He couldn’t help but recalling a rumor that Princess Ding appeared in Yong Zhou and helped military officers under General Murong guard Yong Lin. Not many people knew about that. Yet as the father-in-law of the emperor, Prince Li, and Prince Ding, Minister Ye had his means of information, more reliable than ordinary ones. The tender girl with a smile on her face gave Minister Ye complex feelings. He had a daughter who hid her treasure away so that nobody knew about it and he treated her like a useless chess piece.