Chapter Volume 2 19

“Ming Yu is overjoyed to hear such words. From now on, Ming Yu’s life belongs to you!” Ming Yu kneeled and knocked her head against the ground hard in a fierce kowtow. For some reason, Ming Yu had a feeling that if there existed someone in this world that could truly deal with An Bingshan, it would be this person.

At breakfast the next day, Ye Junqing didn’t see Yao Mowan, but the immortal phoenix tail hairpin was on the table.

“Prince, my master said that she’s giving this to you,” said Ting Yue respectfully.

“Where’s your master?” Ye Junqing picked up the hairpin. His eyes contained faint disappointment that he himself didn’t even notice. Since yesterday, he had been troubled by one question. Had he really pushed too hard and caused Yao Mowan to fall off the swing?

“My master went out with Fluffy for a walk.” Ting Yue replied according to Yao Mowan’s instructions.

“She was carrying Fluffy? Her hand’s injured, why is she still carrying Fluffy around?” Whenever Ye Junqing recalled the injury on Yao Mowan’s hand, he would be struck with guilt. As for that unclear emotion he felt yesterday in the pear garden, he interpreted it as guilt and self-blame. There was no way he would have feelings for Yao Mowan, that two-faced and manipulative woman! The one he loved was Yao Moxin! This would never change!

It was a pity that Ye Junqing didn’t know that even if he did fall in love with that two-faced and manipulative woman, the fact that he loved Yao Moxin still wouldn’t change.

“Ting Yue, help massage my shoulders. They ache so much. Oh, Prince is here too?” The moment Ye Junqing heard Yao Mowan’s voice, he hastily concealed the worry in his eyes and turned around expressionlessly. However, when he saw the lazy chubby cat in Yao Mowan’s arms, his expression turned stern and he walked over to take Fluffy.

“What are you doing?” Yao Mowan was surprised by Ye Junqing’s actions.

“This prince misses Fluffy, alright?” replied Ye Junqing angrily. He even affectionately rubbed his face against Fluffy to complete the act, but Fluffy felt uncomfortable and jumped out of his arms to find a place to sleep.

“It couldn’t be that Prince is worried about the injury on Mowan’s arm, right?” Yao Mowan hit the mark on the first try, causing Ye Junqing’s face to flush red.

“Ahem… It’s only because you looked like you were in so much pain yesterday, that’s why…” Yao Mowan’s lips curled up even before Ye Junqing finished his words.

“That was just to scare His Majesty. It’s just a scrape, Mowan isn’t that delicate!” Yao Mowan walked to the table with a slight smile and casually picked up the immortal phoenix tail hairpin. However, before she had a chance to even look at it, Ye Junqing snatched it out of her hand.

“You’re already favored enough, is there a need?” As Ye Junqing said this, he stuffed the hairpin in his sleeve unhappily.

“It’s always good to gain more favor,” replied Yao Mowan casually. She was slightly distracted because she was still thinking about what Ming Yue said last night. An Bingshan was deeply involved in whether one would be able to survive in the Inner Palace, it wouldn’t be easy to deal with him.

“Do you love His Majesty?” Ye Junqing regretted this question the moment it left his mouth. If she didn’t love His Majesty, why would she act so sweet in front of him? What he used to call manipulation and trickery had now turned into ‘acting sweet.’ Ye Junqing didn’t notice that his tone was now very gentle.

“I don’t!” Yao Mowan’s reply was out of Ye Junqing’s expectations. For some reason, when he heard those two words, he felt relieved and happy.

“Why?” Ye Junqing wanted to get to the bottom of it now.

“How many of the consorts and concubines in this Inner Palace loves His Majesty? The only thing they love is imperial favor! To them, it doesn’t matter who the emperor is,” explained Yao Mowan objectively.

“It’s not important… Why hadn’t Moxin thought this way…” Ye Junqing pressed his lips together and his eyes turned dim.

“Because Eldest Sister was an idiot of course!” Yao Mowan hated it when Ye Junqing cried because of Yao Moxin. The Yao Moxin from back then doesn’t deserve such love!

“Yao Mowan!” Ye Junqing finally snapped out of it. What was he thinking to discuss something like this with Yao Mowan? She didn’t understand what love was at all!

One day, when Ye Junqing finally realized that there was no one in the world that understood what love was better than Yao Mowan, it was already too late. He had lost her…

Even the wind of the midsummer evening was hot to the point it was vexing. In Pure Flowers Palace, Yao Suluan was fanning herself vigorously but she couldn’t cool down in the slightest.

“Your Highness, should this servant pour a cup of herb tea for you?” asked Ming Yu carefully. Ever since she met with Yao Mowan, she became certain that this master of hers wasn’t a match for Yao Mowan. Yao Suluan’s fate was already sealed.

“The more I drink, the more I’ll sweat. My clothes are almost soaked. Enough, just withdraw. Seeing a clumsy person like you is even more vexing.” Yao Suluan dismissed Ming Yu. Once Ming Yu left, she threw aside the circular fan and walked into the bedroom.

However, she kept tossing and turning on the bed, unable to fall asleep. She kept recalling that confrontation with Yao Mowan outside Ordinance Palace. She was sure that Yao Mowan knew how Yao Moxin died. Even if she didn’t know the details, she knew the general cause. However, that general cause was already enough of a reason for Yao Mowan to hate her to the core!

“If your heart is calm, you’ll naturally feel cooled. What is Your Highness Consort Li vexed about?” A rough voice appeared, accompanied by a slight breeze. Yao Suluan abruptly got up and backed away while wrapping the blankets around her. When she got a look at the person, she became even more stunned.

The man in front of her was dressed in elaborate brocade garments that couldn’t conceal his tall and sturdy build. His suntanned skin showed years of facing the world’s elements and there was a distinct scar that crossed his left cheek all the way to his ear. His originally sharp and handsome face seemed sinister due to this scar. Meanwhile, those who looked into those eyes felt instinctive fear. His black pupils seemed to emit a faint green light like a beast that would trample everything and everyone in order to break out of its cage.

Currently, the man was holding a fan and gently fanning Yao Suluan. His lips were lifted slightly in a smile, but that smile contained no warmth.

“Transcendental Prince? You… When did you come back?” Yao Suluan took a deep breath and concealed the shock in her eyes as she forced her tone to remain steady. The return of this old admirer might give her a chance to turn things around.

“It doesn’t matter when this prince had returned. What matters is that this prince entered the palace the moment that this prince returned to the imperial city. The first person this prince wanted to see, the first person that this prince saw was you! Your Highness Consort Li… I hear that things haven’t been going well for you. Do you regret not choosing this prince back then?”

A trace of pity flashed through those dark eyes. Even though he was far away in the northwest, he had continued to pay attention to this person from over a thousand miles away. As she rose from the position of Noble Consort to Imperial Noble Consort, he had been happy for her. When she was demoted from the position of Imperial Noble Consort to just being a consort, he had worried for her.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint Prince. This consort is doing very well!” Yao Suluan feigned strength as she got out of the blankets and walked off the bed in her inner garments. An image suddenly flashed through her head—that of Ye Liyu rushing into Guan Osprey Palace with a sword and stabbing Yao Mowan. Yao Suluan was certain that as long as she nudged him the right way, Ye Liyu would get justice for her!

“Is that so? But this prince heard that Consort Li had actually resorted to faking idiocy in order to regain imperial favor and almost drowned in the Jake Lake.” Ye Liyu walked slowly behind Yao Suluan even as he continued fanning her.

“If Prince has come to see this consort in a pitiful state, then Prince has already achieved your goal! This consort had not only lost imperial favor, this consort was played with by a fool! As of now, in order to obtain imperial favor, this consort has to act as a fool in front of His Majesty and jump into Jade Lake to catch some sort of rainbow fish! Prince isn’t the only one that feels like this consort is a clown, the entire Inner Palace thinks that way! However, Prince has probably been aware of this from the moment you got back to the imperial city! Yes! This consort has fallen! Is Prince happy now?” Yao Suluan’s tears spilled out uncontrollably as she looked towards Ye Liyu with glistening eyes.

__________ Credits: Translated by Chiyomira