Shortly afterwards, Mo Jing Li walked in, looking as cold and gloomy as always. In fact, Ye Li didn't think she had ever seen him in a good mood. He always looked as if someone owed him a lot of money. As soon as Mo Jing Li was inside, he stopped when he saw Ye Li before turning to Ye Ying. Ye Ying bit her lips with grievance. She snorted slightly and turned away from Mo Jing Li without a word. Both Minister Ye and Old Lady Ye looked indifferent without their usual solicitous hospitality. w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ was the most upset. She would have questioned Mo Jing Li if it wasn't for Old Lady Ye's glare.

Seeing that, Mo Jing Li's eyes darkened. Apparently, he wasn't in a good mood either.

In fact, Mo Jing Li was more upset about this marriage than Ye Ying. He wasn't the one who wanted to marry that Princess Ling Yun. What did he have anything to do with that woman who was defeated by Ye Li? His brother, the emperor, didn't want that woman so he gave her to him without even asking. Ever since he was home, Ye Ying had been making a scene while that woman Princess Ling Yun did the same in the emba.s.sy since she didn't want to get married. Who did she think she was? Did she think that he must marry her? Annoyed by Ye Ying and Princess Ling Yun, Mo Jing Li went directly to the palace and told his brother, the emperor, that he would decline the marriage with Princess Ling Yun while he was lectured by him and kicked out. Then he was lectured by Empress dowager and mother princess. The more he thought about it, the angrier Mo Jing Li became.

Minister Ye noticed that something was wrong and stopped before going too far. He coughed slightly and said: “Ying-er, His Highness is here to take you home. Come here and talk to His Highness.”

Only by then did Ye Ying turn around with red eyes, looking at Mo Jing Li delicately and charmingly: “Your Highness...”

Ye Ying's bitter voice made Ye Li cringe.

Mo Jing Li walked over. He took Ye Ying into his arms and said in a small voice: “Come with me. Let's go back to the manor.”

“Your Highness... Ying-er feels awful...*sobs*...” Ye Ying leaned against Mo Jing Li and started to cry. Mo Jing Li listened to her complaint quietly with his arms around her waist. Though he didn't say anything, his face lightened up.

“Let's go.” Mo Jing Li carried Ye Ying off the ground. He nodded to Minister Ye and Old Lady Ye while ignoring Ye Li and left.

Ye Li was left confused. To be honest, she was still unclear about whether Mo Jing Li did care about Ye Ying or how much he cared about her. Perhaps... men with few expressions were hard to see through, though Mo Jing Li was a deformed man with few expressions. Ye Li thought secretly to herself sitting in a chair with her hand supporting her chin.

Politely turning down Old Lady Ye and Minister Ye's invitation for her to stay, Ye Li left the Minister's Manor with those she brought with her from Prince Ding's Manor. It was still early which reminded Ye Li that she hadn't been out on her own since she married Prince Ding. Sun mama's clear indication and hint suddenly occurred to her. Mo Xiu Yao's birthday was a few days away. Ye Li decided to check out if there was anything suitable to give him as a present. Having made up her mind, she brought Qing Luan and Qing Shuang with her and headed for the busiest market in the capital.

Walking on the street bustling with people, Ye Li was a little frustrated since she didn't see anything suitable after she visited several shops. She didn't know what kind of present was suitable.

Aware of Ye Li's obvious frustration, Qing Shuang summoned the nerve to ask: “Princess, what do you want to buy?”

Ye Li looked at the two curious maids with round and bright eyes and hesitated before she answered: “Sun mama told me that Mo Xiu Yao's birthday is in a few days. I want to get him a present.”

Qing Shuang couldn't help but rolling her eyes at Ye Li: “Miss! What are you doing here if you want to get His Highness a gift?”

Ye Li was at a loss: “Do you mean I should give him something I have? Won't that be insincere?” She did have a lot of treasure in her room but mostly women's jewelry apart from calligraphy and paintings. Could she really pick a piece of painting or calligraphy for him?

Qing Luan covered her mouth and laughed secretly. She blinked her eyes and said in a low voice: “His Highness doesn't need any treasure. If you want to show him your sincerity, how about making him a gift yourself, princess? Even if it's only a pouch, His Highness might value it more than an antique.”

“A pouch?”

Qing Shuang shook her hand: “That's not enough. Princess, how about you make His Highness a piece of clothing?”

Making a piece of clothing... Ye Li looked down at her hands. It seemed that she hadn't touched needle work since she got married. But... That sounded like a good idea.

“Princess Ding?”

Having made up her mind, Ye Li was about to head back for the manor when she was stopped by a voice from behind. Ye Li turned around and saw the pair of cousins among the crowd. She could only think of a saying that one couldn't avoid one's enemy as much as one wants to.

“My Lord, My Lady.” Ye Li nodded a greeting slightly.

Lei Teng Feng, on the contrary, acted as if he didn't notice Ye Li's indifference. He walked up to her with a smile: “What a coincidence. Are you here by yourself, Princess Ding?”

Ye Li smiled: “Qing Luan, Qing Shuang, come and meet My Lord and My Lady.” Was he blind? Didn't he see those two maids standing beside her?

Lei Teng Feng's eyes twitched. He smiled and said: “I'll be leaving for Xi Ling in a few days so I want to buy Ling Yun some things. I wonder... whether you can help me with that, Princess?”

Looking at the pair of brother and sister in front of her, one hot with zeal the other cold as ice, Ye Li put on a false smile: “I'm afraid I won't be of any help.”

“Princess, you must be joking. You are well versed in letters and martial arts, the winner of this year's Ceremony of Hundred Flowers. You must have a good sense of judgement.” Lei Teng Feng said with a laugh.

Since he had said that, Ye Li didn't have a good reason to refuse him, so she said: “Well, My Lord, My Lady, please.”

Princess Ling Yun glanced at Ye Li. She was thin and pallid and didn't seem to be interested. It seemed that she had a hard time after the sanction of her marriage. Ye Li wondered how Lei Teng Feng turned a girl like Princess Ling Yun so obedient. The three of them walked on the street with their servants following them. Princess Ling Yun was absent-minded and needed her maids' help to stop hitting people pa.s.sing by.

Ye Li looked at the once arrogant and domineering girl who looked as if a dead bean and asked when Princess Ling Yun was sent to try on a dress by Lei Teng Feng: “Princess Ling Yun doesn't look well.”

Lei Teng Feng raised his eyebrows and measured Ye Li up with interest: “Princess, do you feel sorry for her?”

Ye Li glanced at him: “My Lord, as her cousin, you don't even feel sorry for her. It's none of an outsider's business.”

Lei Teng Feng laughed carelessly: “It's noting. She's just throwing a tantrum and doesn't eat.”

Just throwing a tantrum and doesn't eat?

Ye Li nodded: “I hope she won't pa.s.s out during her wedding.”

Lei Teng Feng was full of confidence. Or put it this way, he didn't care. He smiled and said: “Princess, you can rest a.s.sured that Xi Ling won't let anything inappropriate happen. On the day of her wedding, Ling Yun is going to be a cheerful bride.”

Ye Li turned away and started to size up the decoration of the shop. She had absolutely no good opinion of someone like Lei Teng Feng. She didn't believe that he didn't know what was waiting for Princess Ling Yun if she was left to marry Mo Jing Li in Great Chu. He just didn't care. A man who could push his own cousin towards a dead end with smiles and claim that he was doing it for her benefit was more cold-blooded than Mo Jing Li.

Lei Teng Feng was aware of Ye Li's indifference. He looked at Ye Li with a smile and said: “Princess Ding, it seems that you have something against me, isn't it?”

Ye Li glanced at him remotely and said: “No, I never hold anything against strangers.”

“Strangers?” Lei Teng Feng smiled with a deep meaning: “How come? Come to think of it... Do you and Prince Ding like the wedding gift from me?”

Ye Li said: “Sword of Lan Yun carries great meaning to Prince Ding's Manor. Of course we like it. Thank you for your gift, My Lord.”

“No, no...” Lei Teng Feng shook his head and laughed: “The sword was a gift to you. I sent your wedding gift to Prince Ding's Manor the day after your wedding. Haven't you received it, princess?”

Ye Li stopped for a moment. She gazed at Lei Teng Feng coldly with a little frown: “My Lord, I admire you for how you got it. How many have dreamed of having a famous painting like that and you are generous enough to give it as a gift.”

Lei Teng Feng smiled: “I'm a bit of a boor. A famous painting is for the eyes of those of refinement. It sounds like... both Prince Ding and you are happy with it.”

Ye Li stared at him and suddenly smiled slightly: “My Lord, it's so kind of you. There's no way for us not to be happy with it. Speaking of which, Reigning Beauty in the Capital of Great Chu by Han Ming Yue vanished a long time ago. It's fortunate of me to be able to see the once reigning beauty of the capital.”

“Interesting.” Lei Teng Feng said and looked at Ye Li with a smile yet not a smile: “Princess, I think you know well that the woman in the painting was Prince Ding's fiancée.”

Ye Li looked at him: “So, are you preparing to let me feel bad about myself giving me that painting, My Lord?”

“I won't dare to do that.” Lei Teng Feng smiled: “Princess, you are endowed with both beauty and talent. I really admire you. How will I ever have such a bad intention? But... Princess, you have to admit that sometimes... the things that one can't get are the best. Don't you think?”

Ye Li raised her eyebrows: “There's numerous things that one can't get in the world. I don't agree with you, My Lord.”

Lei Teng Feng laughed: “Why not? I think if one wants something, one should get it by fair means or foul. Won't it be a pity if someone else has it?”

Ye Li lowered her eyes and drank her tea calmly: “I think the princess is about to come out. Are you sure you want to talk this nonsense with me here, My Lord?”

Lei Teng Feng stopped for a second. He had no choice but to laugh: “Princess, you are a frank person and beyond my reach.”

Ye Li raised her eyebrows and looked at him without a word.

Lei Teng Feng smiled: “It's nothing big, really. Someone... asked me to bring a message. Besides, I have something I want to ask you about.”

“I'm all ears.”

“Someone asked me to tell you that... what belongs to someone else stays that way.” Lei Teng Feng told Ye Li with a smile.

Ye Li was as calm as usual: “Does this message... have anything to do with your wedding gift, My Lord?”

Lei Teng Feng shrugged: “No idea. I'm only a messenger. Besides, don't you want to know what my question is, princess?”

“Please.”

“I've said that... I do admire you, princess. I wonder... if you'd like to visit Xi Ling?”

Ye Li's eyes darkened. Was he flattering with her? Or did he find eloping with Prince Ding's wife some kind of achievement? After staring at Lei Teng Feng for quite some time, Ye Li sighed quietly: “My Lord... I would love to visit Xi Ling, but I'm afraid...”

“Of what?” Lei Teng Feng's eyes are evading.

“I'm afraid that you'll kill me before I'm in Xi Ling.” Ye Li sneered and finished the second half of her sentence.

Lei Teng Feng froze in an instant as if he had not decided which face to put on. He could only force a rigid smile: “You take me wrong, princess. I do want to invite you to Xi Ling.”

Ye Li stood up and smiled: “Then, if I have the chance, I'll visit you in Xi Ling together with my prince. Now I'll leave you and the princess alone. See you.” Noting caring about what Lei Teng Feng would look like, Ye Li left.

In the room, Lei Teng Feng, who was left behind rubbed his chin and looked pensively at the bead curtain slightly swaying because of the one who just went out. His smile grew wilder and more ambitious. “An interesting woman. No wonder Mo Xiu Yao would marry her.”