Volume 2 Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Ye Liyu is Back

"Replying Your Highness, news has come from the prime minister's residence. The reason that the lord didn't attend court yesterday was because the madame experienced stomach pain. I hear that the lord had gathered quite a few of the famous doctors in the imperial city to treat Madame, but it turns out that there wasn't much of an issue," reported LIu Xing.

"Ha, he's actually panicking this much over someone else's son? How laughable. Is that teacher, Wu Zicheng, still meeting with Li Qingqing?" asked Yao Mowan as she walked slowly through the garden to the swing.

"The madame is still meeting frequently with Wu Zicheng and has even started recommending him to the lord. The lord has already agreed to invite Wu Zicheng to be the child's teacher once the child is born." Liu Xing walked with Yao Mowan to the swing. For a second, he felt the urge to reach out and help her push the swing. Back then, in the prime minister's residence, this was something he had often done for her. However, now, things were different. He would never be able to overstep his bounds and do something like that again.

"Even after taking a dark path once, he still shows no fear of ghosts. When will this consort's father finally gain a better memory? Alright, you can withdraw for now." Yao Mowan waved for Liu Xing to withdraw, then lightly pushed off the ground with the tips of her shoes, causing the swing to start swaying softly.

Right at this moment, Ye Junqing stormed over with a gloomy expression. Jewel was startled to the point he scurried up the tree, his tail completely puffed up.

"This prince seriously can't tolerate that bastard An Bingshan anymore! He killed another palace maid!" Ye Junqing's brows were tightly furrowed and his eyes were filled with rage.

"Didn't Prince promise not to get involved in An Bingshan's matters anymore? You've already forgotten after such a short time?" Yao Mowan tapped the ground again, gently stopping the swing as she looked towards Ye Junqing with lifted brows.

"But that doesn't mean we can just let An Bingshan treat people's lives like grass like this!" Ye Junqing stormed over indignantly. The immortal phoenix tail hairpin in her hair immediately caught his attention.

"Ahem… this hairpin doesn't suit you!" Ye Junqing was aware of the fact that he couldn't do anything to An Bingshan. The last time he had tried, Liu Sha stopped him. It was likely on Yao Mowan's orders.

"No way, Mowan feels like it's really pretty, it really sparkles!" Yao Mowan reflexively stroked the hairpin with a smile.

"It's because it sparkles too much, it hurts the eyes and completely overshadows your light!" refuted Ye Junqing in an earnest manner.

"Actually, if Prince wants this hairpin, it's not completely impossible." Yao Mowan held onto the ropes of the swing as she glanced over at Ye Junqing craftily.

"There are only three nine revivals pills total in Phoenix Feather Manor. There's only one left now. You should just give up on the idea, otherwise Yan Nansheng really will go crazy on you!" warned Ye Junqing out of good intentions.

"So there was still one more!" When Ye Junqing saw the light in her eyes, he really wanted to just slap his own mouth. So she hadn't known that!

"Cough cough… Pretend I didn't say that." Ye Junqing turned to leave, but Yao Mowan blocked his way.

"You don't want the hairpin anymore?" asked Yao Mowan softly.

"There's another way?" Ye Junqing's hope reignited.

"As long was Prince helps push Mowan's swing a couple times, Mowan will gift this hairpin to you." Yao Mowan's voice was as clear as the cry of an oriole and was very pleasing to the ear. Upon hearing this, Ye Junqing turned back around and walked to Yao Mowan's side.

"It's that simple?" asked Ye Junqing in surprise. He couldn't help but doubt his own ears.

"That's right ah. But if Prince isn't willing…"

"Who says I'm not willing!?" Ye Junqing immediately refuted and reached out for the swing's ropes. Unwilling? It was so rare for Yao Mowan to be so generous. He'd be a fool to be unwilling!

A breeze swept past, lifting up Ye Mowan's ink-like black hair. Her flowing skirt danced in soft waves as it moved through the air and a few petals that were drifting through the air landed on Yao Mowan's delicate shoulders. The scene was beautiful, and the immortal phoenix tail hairpin's glimmer made the scene even more dream-like.

As Ye Junqing watched Yao Mowan sway in the wind, a ripple spread through his heart. He had lied. That immortal phoenix tail hairpin really suited her. The current Yao Mowan was like an angel. Under the sunshine, the hairpin sparkled with dazzling light, piercing his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, for a moment, he saw Moxin on the swing.

"Moxin… where did you go? Junqing misses you so much, do you know that…" He was startled out of his daze by a sudden scream. By the time he snapped out of it, Yao Mowan had already crashed into the ground and was in a miserable state.

"Ye Junqing! You did that on purpose!" Yao Mowan got up with a pained expression and pointed right at his nose as she shouted this accusedly. At this time, Ye Hongyi had already walked over.

"Wan er, let us see. Did you get hurt?" Ye Hongyi worriedly pulled Yao Mowan over and cupped her face, his eyes filled with heartache.

"Your Majesty! You have to get justice for Wan (er)! Ye Junqing did that on purpose! He's bullying me!" Yao Mowan buried her tearstained face in Ye Hongyi's chest even as her heart pounded from fear. If she hadn't manage to spy Ye Hongyi out of the corner of her eye earlier and reacted quickly, based on how suspicious Ye Hongyi tended to be, he definitely would've started suspecting the relationship she had with Ye Junqing.

Ye Junqing's heart clutched acridly when he saw Yao Mowan leaning into Ye Hongyi's arms. That faint ache flustered him. When he saw Yao Mowan and Ye Hongyi share intimate gestures, he'd actually feel uncomfortable. In the past, he wasn't like this, his heart had never hurt before. Why would it be like this? Ye Junqing was shocked by his heart's reaction and forgot to even salute Ye Hongyi.

"Junqing! No matter what Consort Yao did, she's still your imperial sister-in-law! How can you bully her this way?" shouted Ye Hongyi indignantly.

"Your Majesty, Wan er's arm hurts!" When Yao Mowan saw that Ye Junqing was completely frozen, she immediately lifted her sleeve and showed the two bloodly lines on her otherwise flawless fair arm.

"This subject brother is guilty. Your Majesty, please punish." Ye Junqing's brows furrowed slightly when he saw the injury on Yao Mowan's arm and he immediately dropped down to one knee.

"Forget it. But if we ever see you bullying Consort Yao again, we won't let you off! Wan er, we'll accompany you over to have your injury treated." Ye Hongyi waved with an irritated expression, indicating for Ye Junqing to stand up. Then he walked out of pear blossoms garden with his arms around Yao Mowan.

After a few steps though, Ye Hongyi suddenly turned around to look back at Ye Junqing.

"In a few days, Ye Liyu will be coming back. If you don't have anything else to do, help An Bingshan out with the preparations. We are holding a welcoming reception for him!" Yao Mowan was stunned to hear this and frigid light flashed through her eyes.

Ye Hongyi had actually transferred Ye Liyu back! It seemed that he was still apprehensive about the Benevolent Prince's retaliation, that's why he had transferred his only surviving younger brother—aside from Ye Junqing—back to the imperial city from the northwest.

The reason why Ye Junqing had survived was because Ye Hongyi needed his help to conquer all those territories. Meanwhile, Ye Liyu had been able to live because he had a very boorish personality and didn't scheme at all. He had always followed Ye Hongyi obediently. Of course, their blood relationship also made up part of the reason. however, Yao Mowan knew that if Ye Liyu showed even the slightest bit of desire for the throne, Ye Hongyi definitely wouldn't care about that bit of shared blood.

Yao Mowan's impression of Ye Liyu was that he was a complete boor. Regardless of whether it was in looks or intelligence, he was a far cry from reaching Ye Hongyi. Most importantly, this person was, for some reason, extremely hostile towards Ye Junqing. He had previously tried to caused Ye Junqing's death several times, so his return wasn't good news at all! It seemed that the following days wouldn't be peaceful anymore.

"Wan er, what's wrong?" Ye Hongyi asked softly when he sensed that the beauty in his arms seemed a little unhappy.

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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira