Chapter 31

Characters Shown / Mentioned in this Chapter:

葉璃璃兒 – Ye LiLi er – Main Female Protagonist – first legitimate daughter of the Ye family, but the third child in the family

定王定國王墨修堯 – Ding w.a.n.gDing guow.a.n.g Mo Xiu Yao – Imperial Prince Ding of the highest rank

黎王 墨景黎 – Li w.a.n.g  Mo Jing Li – Imperial Prince LiImperial Family Members + Subjects:Nanzhao

棲霞公主 – Xi Xia gongzhu – Zhao Yang zhang gongzhu‘s fuma‘s nieceOthers:

秦箏 – Qin Zheng – second daughter of Imperial Censor Qin Ye Li‘s new friend

華天香 – Hua Tianxiang – young miss of the Duke Hua householdYe Li‘s new friend

鳳之遙 – Feng Zhi Yao – A friend of Ding w.a.n.g‘sBold - Names of people, placesItalic - Chinese terms in pinyinUnderline - UnknownChapter 31: Meeting for the First Time

The entire second floor turned silent. Even the hustle and bustle downstairs seemed to be very far away. Everyone’s gaze dazedly looked towards the young man neatly dressed in brown at a step’s distance in front of Ye Li, firmly grabbing the wrist of the hand with which Mo Jing Li reached out towards Ye Li. However, everyone present–including Mo Jing Li–didn’t see where on earth this young man came from. Mo Jing Li ferociously glared at that young man then very quickly shot his gaze towards the source of that voice. Ye Li didn’t at all look at that person who blocked Mo Jing Li; at the same time that that voice landed, she then turned her gaze over to that white, ramrod straight back figure at the head of the flight of stairs.

At this, the people only then took notice that this person who was dressed unremarkably in white wasn’t actually sitting in one of the restaurant’s chairs but in an impressive type of wheelchair. It’s only because he had arrived early and that the side of his seat was blocked from view by a vase half as tall as person that there weren’t at all many people who paid attention to it. He originally appeared to be looking at the situation of the lobby downstairs from the carved banisters until slightly turning his head back only at this moment, allowing people to see half of his elegantly handsome face. He raised a hand to exert some strength on his wheelchair which he then slowly turned around to face everyone.

The young man sitting in the wheelchair was dressed plainly yet didn’t have the usual dispirited and disappointed demeanor of a person who was crippled in both legs. Even a person who was standing would still seem to be shorter in comparison when in front of him, only being able to look up in general. There is a kind of person who without the requirement of splendid clothing, treasures, and overflowing power and imperial guards like clouds, would be above everyone in existence just by his mere presence alone. One half of the man’s face was elegantly handsome and possessed what seemed to be an inherently quiet and n.o.ble majestic presence. The left side of his face had on a white-coloured mask made from unknown materials that covered up the entire left half of his face, giving a person even more of a feeling of mystery and wanting to see further–even if they already knew for certain that there would be a hideous scar underneath.

“Mo, Xiu, Yao!” After a long time, Mo Jing Li had at last slowly spat out the three characters.

The three characters ‘Mo Xiu Yao‘ seemed to have a strange magic to them in general, causing the people who were originally distracted to snap out of their reverie and stare with amazement at this individual before their eyes who already hadn’t appeared in the people’s sights for so many years, even though the Ding w.a.n.g seated in the wheelchair was still as poised and composed as before. Seeing how the man before their eyes was completely different from what they had in mind, the people who had long gotten used to the kind of thinking in which Ding w.a.n.g was a disabled rubbish only then suddenly recalled what kind of amazing and exemplary period this man once had in his youth.w.a.n.g (王 – imperial prince)

This former, solely favoured legitimate second son of the Ding guow.a.n.g residence who was once the object of admiration of all of Da Chu‘s youths. His distinguished and accomplished literary talent was on the same level as that of the number one top scoring youth in the palace examination. His martial arts was unsurpa.s.sed, exactly like that of his deceased grandfather’s military strategy and tactics in general; at the age of fifteen, he invincibly criss-crossed through the numerous countries along the southern border. He once had the most beautiful and most talented woman in the capital as his fiancée and together, they made an ideal couple to be envied by all beneath the heavens.Guow.a.n.g (国王 – former appellation for '亲王 – qinw.a.n.g' which is the highest rank of a prince, used from Han to Ming dynasty)

However, starting from the age of eighteen, his good luck seemed to have abruptly come to an end. His only elder brother died of illness. The young man who had hurriedly inherited the t.i.tle of ‘Ding w.a.n.g‘ once again went into battle, but he had narrowly sank his broken halberd into the sand (describing a heavy failure) defeatedly and returned. Although at the end the young man tried hard to save a desperate crisis, he also paid a price that he would never be able to erase. Seriously injured, disfigured, crippled in both legs–it would seem that the heavens still believed that the strikes given to the unusually lucky person weren’t enough. Three months after getting engaged, the fiancée he was harmonious with for several years died from illness. Since then, only extremely few talented people would be able to see this Ding w.a.n.g‘s silhouette once in awhile.

If one were to say that the Mo Xiu Yao in his youth was amazing, exemplary and glowing with health and vigour like a kind of raging inferno that was dazzling to the eyes and then to see him again after so many years as gentle and upright as jade and as quiet and graceful as water–as for the changes in between, how much pain and suffering did he experience and how many knew about it?

“Jing Li, it’s been so many years we haven’t met. You have actually grown up.” Mo Xiu Yao glanced at Ye Li who was currently watching him attentively and only then turned his gaze towards Mo Jing Li.

Mo Jing Li‘s face that originally lacked an expression turned even more rigid as he stiffly replied, “How benw.a.n.g is like has nothing to do with you.”Benw.a.n.g (本王 – this imperial prince / term for an imperial prince to refer to himself, subst.i.tuting 'I')

Mo Xiu Yao nodded in agreement, “Benw.a.n.g indeed didn’t plan on caring about how you want to be like, however…even if you don’t want to pay attention to your own ident.i.ty, it’s best if you still pay attention to another person’s ident.i.ty.”

Mo Jing Li‘s sword-like eyebrows creased. Seeing the look on Ye Li‘s face showing a trace of implied derision, he waved away the young man who had restrained him and turned back to look at Mo Xiu Yao, saying, “You want to stick up for her? Mo Xiu Yao, you couldn’t really be interested in this woman, could you?”

“You already know. Our tastes since childhood is as different as the sky and earth.” Mo Xiu Yao didn’t at all get angry, his face having an added trace of a faint smiling expression. “In addition, being disrespectful towards the Ding guow.a.n.g household’s future matron in charge of the household–Jing Li, are you sure you want to do it this way?”((This translation is originally found on: h t t p : / / g u q i n t r a n s l a t i o n s . w o r d p r e s s . c o m))

Mo Jing Li‘s face darkened, ferociously glaring at Ye Li. He disdainfully smiled at Mo Xiu Yao and said, “Ha, Ding guow.a.n.g household’s future matron in charge of the household? Mo Xiu Yao, are you sure the person you’re talking about is this woman?”

To the imperial family, Ding w.a.n.gfei and the Ding guow.a.n.g household’s matron in charge of the household were two completely different things. If she was merely Ding w.a.n.gfei then one could still disregard it, but if this woman were to really to take control of the Ding guow.a.n.g household…Mo Jing Li suddenly discovered that it had been a very big mistake when he had originally instigated his emperor elder brother to have this woman bestowed to Mo Xiu Yao.w.a.n.gfei (王妃 – consort princess / wife of an imperial prince or “王 – w.a.n.g“)

“Your Highness Li w.a.n.g, please take heed of the manner in which you speak!” The young man dressed in brown who had withdrawn to the side and maintained his guard watched Mo Jing Li attentively with an unfriendly expression.

Mo Jing Li humphed and didn’t even say goodbye as he immediately turned around and went downstairs. Xi Xia gongzhu who had been following him from his side was somewhat unconvinced as she watched the situation before her eyes and frowned, also promptly chasing after him.Gongzhu (公主 – imperial princess)

The good drama ended and the people who had been stimulated by the news they got today also pretended it was nothing as they departed in twos and threes. In less than a while of effort, the only people remaining on the entire second floor was actually only Ye Li and her friends at this one table and Mo Xiu Yao at that other table. Ye Li helplessly gave a bitter laugh on the inside; from this day onwards, the capital is certainly going to be very lively.

“Keke (coughing sound), greetings to w.a.n.gye. I suddenly recalled that I still have some things I needed to buy. Zheng er, Murong, you guys accompany me to go there.” Hua Tianxiang lightly coughed, preparing to run away with really no spirit of loyalty.w.a.n.gye (王爺 – term for addressing an imperial prince)Er (儿 – term of endearment for one’s child / child)

Qin Zheng and Murong Ting also nodded right away; seeing Mo Xiu Yao nodding in approval, they immediately headed downstairs. Before leaving, Qin Zheng still didn’t forget to send back a look of concern and encouragement towards Ye Li.

Seeing the figures of her good friends disappearing down the staircase, Ye Li was somewhat amused as she sighed. They couldn’t be thinking that she would be the same as other young girls in being embarra.s.sed, could they? Alright, in this kind of situation of meeting a fiancé one has never met before, it seems that one indeed ought to express a certain degree of timidness. Thinking it over, Ye Li still decided to give up on such a challenging performance.

She raised her head and faced Mo Xiu Yao head on, who had also been studying her. “w.a.n.gye, why don’t we move to a different location to talk? After all…this place still needs to do business.”

Mo Xiu Yao‘s flashed a trace of surprise, silently nodding. And so, the two people moved over to Chu Xiang Pavilion‘s private room on the third floor.

“Miss Ye…has surprised me.” Inside the third floor’s one and only private room, Mo Xiu Yao sat leaning against the opened window, looking at the young lady dressed in blue-green clothing before his eyes who wasn’t the least bit restrained nor uneasy as he spoke up.

Ye Li smiled, “w.a.n.gye has also surprised me a bit.” If the man before her eyes was the same Ding w.a.n.g from the rumors in which he was disabled and thus became rubbish, it was clear as to how unreliable the capital’s gossip and news already was.

“For so many years…it would appear that there was indeed something wrong with Jing Li‘s eyesight.” Mo Xiu Yao softly sighed, his gentle eyes flashing a trace of a smiling expression.

Ye Li shallowly smiled and said, “It is w.a.n.gye‘s att.i.tude that has caused Ye Li to exclaim in admiration. Actually, all along I had thought that I would receive a second letter of breaking off the engagement.”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Afraid?” Ye Li looked at him with uncertainty and very quickly reacted, saying, “I will do my best to be careful. Not to mention, the emperor’s decree is like a mountain (heavy). Rather than going against it, why not try to move forward? Perhaps it would lead to another kind of scenery.”

Mo Xiu Yao lifted his hand to take down the mask off his face, the fierce-looking scar underneath the mask instantly exposed before Ye Li‘s eyes.

The slightly prominent and malevolent-looking scar did indeed somewhat destroy the sense of beauty. However, towards Ye Li who had even seen all sorts dismembered bodies caused by bomb explosions, it wasn’t enough to astonish her. So she only blinked and somewhat guilt-ridden, she asked, “Is w.a.n.gye preparing to frighten me?”

Mo Xiu Yao was startled for a moment then the corner of his mouth hooked up in a smiling expression, “No, actually I don’t like wearing this.” Even though half his face was already ruined, whenever Mo Xiu Yao was alone, he would never wear a mask. He wasn’t at all the type of person who wouldn’t dare to face his own people.

Ye Li nodded in agreement, “I also don’t like people for wears masks.” Separated by a layer of mask, it would be very hard to clearly see the person’s expression and way of thinking.

Mo Xiu Yao was dumbfounded. The young woman before his eyes was completely different from what Feng Zhi Yao had meddlesomely inquired about as well as what he himself had guessed. Seeing that calm and serene, pretty complexion, Mo Xiu Yao suddenly felt that what Feng Zhi Yao said was right; Ye Li was indeed a very fascinating woman. Not only that but she was also the best one he could choose to the best of his ability. A woman who was very much suited to becoming the Ding guow.a.n.g household’s future matron in charge of the household.