349 Tan Jizhi's Compromise
odie, she wouldn't mind collaborating with him. Now that collaboration is impossible, she might as well profit from his efforts.Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and said, "Han Mingyue wants to make money d...Tan Jizhi's Compromise
Inside the hidden dungeon beneath the Ding王府, where it was dark and chilly even in the heat of late June. A disheveled man sat on the floor of his cell, looking blankly ahead. Although this particular cell was cleaner than most others and lacked terrifying torture devices, the bearded man seemed lost and detached from reality.
If he could, he would even wish for someone to torture him, just to feel alive amidst other people's presence. In fact, he knew that he wasn't alone in this world. Beyond this cold and isolated cell was a bustling place full of life. But all of it was irrelevant to him. He was imprisoned here, unable to hear any sound from the outside, not even seeing the guards who watched over the dungeons. No one would appear before him or talk with him; even meals were delivered silently every day. He couldn't remember how long he hadn't seen another person or spoken a word.
Strange footsteps sounded from outside the cell door, and the man's eyes lit up as he regained his senses. He quickly stood to run towards the door but fell to the ground after only a few steps due to weakness brought on by months of imprisonment and poor meals. The dungeon door opened from the outside, and two black-clad guards entered, lifting him out.
The dungeon was usually empty and clean. Guards carried him through several vacant cells into a spacious hall where they roughly dropped him onto the ground.
"Young Master Tan, it's been a while," Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li's hand as he sat in the hall, watching with interest at the disheveled man on the floor.
"Mo Xiuyao..." Perhaps because of his long silence, Tan Jizhi's voice was hoarse. However, his gaze towards Mo Xiuyao was fiercely intense.
Ignoring the look in Tan Jizhi's eyes that seemed to want to tear him apart, Mo Xiuyao smiled and said: "I came today with good news for you."
Tan Jizhi coldly stared at Mo Xiuyao. He didn't believe Mo Xiuyao would tell him any good news. Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying: "Young Master Tan can leave."
"What" Tan Jizhi was stunned for a moment.
Mo Xiuyao patiently repeated, "From today onwards, Young Master Tan will be free from this dungeon. Or are you enjoying it here Don't want to go out"
"You... would be so kind as to let me out" Too long without speaking made his words disjointed, but they soon became clearer: "What's your purpose behind this"
Satisfied with Tan Jizhi’s response, Mo Xiuyao nodded and smiled, saying: “Not bad. You haven't lost it after being locked up for so long.” Of course he wouldn’t release him without conditions.
"Your terms" Tan Jizhi asked; at this moment, he thought that no matter what condition Mo Xiuyao set forth, he would agree to it. Only someone who had truly lost freedom could understand its value. He didn't want to stay in a dungeon where silence was the only constant.
Mo Xiuyao said with a smile: "Ran Qining is now in Licheng. Young Master Tan, I have always been curious whether you or Ran Qining are the last descendant of the previous dynasty's royal family, Lin Yuan Or perhaps both of you or neither" Tan Jizhi’s expression changed as he solemnly said, "Of course it's me!" Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction; it seemed that after two years of imprisonment, Tan Jizhi had not completely given up his ambition. This was good because if he had truly lost everything, there would be no use for him.
"Is that so Ran Qining doesn't think so. He's now the legitimate Northern Border King and might soon revert to the previous dynasty’s royal title. Although I doubt it will happen, at least his situation is better than yours," Mo Xiuyao said with a smile.
Tan Jizhi's expression changed as he stared at Mo Xiuyao: "You want me to help you against Ran Qining."
Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "Don't worry so much. Whether or not you agree, I will let you go anyway. You can choose later whether to join Ran Qining in opposing me. Only time will tell if he accepts you"
The answer was clear; if Tan Jizhi were anyone else, Ran Qining might still use him. But their identities made coexistence impossible. There could only be one genuine descendant of the previous dynasty's royal family, and they both knew it. The survivor would be the real one.
Tan Jizhi was silent for a moment before asking: "Even if I agree with you, what use is that You said he’s now the Northern Border King. And me..." He gave a self-deprecating laugh and continued, "I am a prisoner of the Ding王府." Mo Xiuyao replied: “I don’t believe you can kill Ran Qining either; just cause him some trouble will do. Other matters will be handled by others.”
"Aren't you afraid that once I let you go, you will change your mind" Tan Jizhi asked.
Mosius shrugged and said, "What if I do Doctor Lin saved Ahli and Little Treasure's lives. Since he is the one who did us this favor, I wouldn’t feel right about killing you. However… If you do something that you shouldn't be doing… Then my debt to Doctor Lin would already be repaid."
"My father…" Tan Jizhi involuntarily paused when someone mentioned Doctor Lin. He had severed ties with Doctor Lin years ago, but never expected to still be alive after falling into Mosius' hands. It seemed that he was still benefiting from Doctor Lin's influence. After some thought, Tan Jizhi finally nodded and said, "I will agree." No matter what, he could not return to the prison cells. He suspected that if Moisus did not come for him within a year or two, he would end his own life.
Mosius was satisfied with this and replied, "Good. Ahli, leave it up to you."
Ye Li nodded and smiled at Tan Jizhi, saying, "Tan Junzi, after leaving the palace, why don't you settle down first You should also rest your body. Someone will come for you later."
Tan Jizhi looked over at Ye Li and said, "Thank you, Princess Consort."
Ye Li thought for a moment and then suggested, "If Tan Junzi has time, he can meet with Doctor Lin as well. He now runs a clinic in the city." But Tan Jizhi shook his head and replied, “Better not. We no longer have any ties.”
Seeing this reaction from him, Ye Li did not insist further. Actually, it might be better for both of them to stay away from each other.
Afraid of anything else happening, Mosius pulled Ye Li up and said, "By the way, Tan Junzi should avoid wandering around the city if he's free. There are other people in Licheng as well—Mo Jingli, Empress Consort Liu, Lei Zhen霆. Although Lei Zhen霆 does not have any grudges against him, Mo Jingli and Empress Consort Liu do. Regardless of how weak Mo Jingli is now, killing Tan Jizhi would be a piece of cake for him." Mosius added, "Furthermore, the Dachu Kingdom has moved south of Yunlanchang River already. The Dachu Kingdom… is over. Tan Junzi's wish will finally come true."
"The Dachu Kingdom has relocated And Chu Capital…" Tan Jizhi was shocked.
Mosius replied, "Chu Capital of the Dachu Kingdom and the Imperial City of Xiling are now mine."
Tan Jizhi fell silent. In just two years, he had missed out on a lot. Now his most pressing task was to understand the current situation and what transpired in those past two years. Mosius paid no more attention to Tan Jizhi and left the underground prison with Ye Li.
The next few days were relatively peaceful at Ding王府 (Ding Manor). However, outside of the manor, everyone was busy. Someone leaked news that Master Cangmangs Mountain had arrived in Licheng. Within a few days, Mo Jingli and Ren Qining came to pay their respects one after another. Even Ye Liye and Ye Li Hong joined them for the sake of appearances. Although it seemed that they were not closely related, representatives from Cangmangs Mountain did have some sense of propriety and would never select leaders among the nomadic tribes outside the borders. The most enthusiastic visitor was naturally Mo Jingli.
Inside Ding王府 (Ding Manor), Ye Ying sat opposite Ye Li weeping nonstop. Ye Li made no attempt to console her but instead waited calmly by her side until she stopped crying after a while. With tears in her eyes, Ye Ying looked at Ye Li and said, "Third Sister, I regret it so much. Why did I marry him Waaah… Back then he promised to be kind to me forever, yet now…" She sobbed uncontrollably.
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked softly, "What happened Tell me what’s going on instead of crying."
Furiously wiping her tears away, Ye Ying nodded and said, "Third Sister is right. I shouldn’t cry over that scoundrel. Back then I was blind to marry him… It’s no wonder that you did not fancy him back then while Dingwang treated you so well…" Saying this made Ye Ying feel somewhat resentful. Who wouldn't have felt sorry for the Third Miss of the Ye Family who had lost her position as Liwang Consort and married a cripple in a wheelchair However, Dingwang’s appearance now was stunning. Moreover, his affection towards Ye Li was something that every woman envied.
Standing behind Ye Li, Qing Shuang frowned inwardly. If this Fourth Miss had married Ding Wang back then, she probably would have cried herself to death. But now, she came here to envy them
Ye Li ignored her muttering and asked, "What happened"
As Ye Ying sobbed, she told Ye Li that Mo Jingli had been flattering Oriental You and Oriental Hui every day. Even if they were willing to marry him, he would still want to abolish their status as his official consorts. The more she spoke, the sadder she became. Before long, Ye Ying started crying again. Looking at her, Ye Li sighed helplessly. Was it really a good idea for her to have Ye Ying spy on Mo Jingli Perhaps Yu Jie should think of another way instead. However, since Qin Feng was already grown up, they could not leave him in the Mu Yang Marquis' Manor indefinitely.
"Third Sister… What should I do" Ye Ying asked with red eyes.
Ye Ying was no fool and knew that Mo Jingli would never hesitate to depose her once he married Oriental You if she were still seen as the sister of Ding Wang’s consort. She wasn't young anymore, and since she quarreled with her mother over Ye Yue's matter, there was no one else who could support her now. Even though Ye Ying could be selfish at times, she would never do something like Empress Consort Liu.
Ye Li thought for a moment before comforting her, "Don’t worry about it. Even if Mo Jingli marries Oriental You in the end, I can guarantee that you will not become his concubine."
Ye Ying was somewhat skeptical. Could a woman from a place like Cangmang Mountain really agree to be a concubine It might be possible if Ye Li were to become Consort Mo Xiuyao, since Ye Li’s backing was also quite strong and the Xu family now held an important position in Dingwang Manor. But it wasn’t possible for her; she was alone in Jiangnan with no one to rely on.
Ye Li gave a faint smile. "Why would I deceive you Even if we aren’t close, others know that you are my sister. Would being demoted to concubine make me look good If it’s really impossible for Mo Jingli to take two consorts, it wouldn’t matter which one he takes."
"But... Can’t there be another way" Ye Ying said somewhat unwillingly.
Ye Li smiled and replied, "You mean you don’t want Oriental You to marry Mo Jingli That’s not impossible. But do you think that would make Mo Jingli angry at you, maybe even kill you in a place where we wouldn’t know about it" Ye Ying shivered, having known Mo Jingli for so many years, she had some idea of how ruthless and cruel he was. Thinking back to the time when Ye Yue had died from being burned alive, her expression darkened.
Indeed, people believed that Mo Jingli was responsible for Ye Yue’s death, a rather significant black mark against his name.
"We’re sisters and you have two choices. One is to stay in Li City and cut all ties with Mo Jingli. You are still the daughter of the Ye family, your father and grandmother will never abandon you. Live an ordinary life from now on. The second choice is to continue following Mo Jingli back to Jiangnan. All I can do for you is secure your status as a consort. As for what happens in the future… that’s up to you."
"I…" Ye Ying’s expression was conflicted. After a long time, she still shook her head and said, "No, I want to go back. I can’t return to my family; I’m Li Princess Consort. There are also my children…"
Ye Li’s eyes flickered slightly as she said, "I will help you find your child. As soon as there is news, I’ll send someone to inform you."
"Third Sister, why… Why do you treat me so well" Ye Ying wasn’t stupid and didn’t forget their difficult relationship in the past. Perhaps some small favors could be given, but these matters would require effort. Given that Ye Li helped her without hesitation, she couldn’t help but doubt Ye Li’s intentions.
Ye Li had no intention of lying to her with sweet words; she gave a faint smile and said, "It doesn’t matter much. If Mo Jingli really marries Oriental You, it will be dangerous for Dingwang Manor. As long as you occasionally give me some information, I’ll ensure your safety. Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to do anything dangerous. I can also promise that if you ever face danger in the future, I can protect you."
"What if Li Wang doesn’t marry Oriental You"
“Then consider this my good deed and as a way of fulfilling our blood ties,” Ye Li said calmly.
Ye Ying lowered her head in thought. She understood what Ye Li was saying—Mo Jingli marrying Oriental You wouldn’t be easy for her, but with Dingwang Manor’s help...
"Alright, I agree."
Satisfied, Ye Li nodded and handed a handkerchief to her: "If you want to see your child again, don’t always cry when faced with problems. You should understand by now that many issues can’t be solved through tears alone. Don’t worry; even if Mo Jingli marries Oriental You, it won’t affect your standing in Li Wang’s manor. I will help."
"Thank you, Third Sister," Ye Ying whispered softly as she wiped away her tears.
“Princess Consort, Li Wang requests an audience,” Wei Lin announced upon entering.
Ye Li glanced at Ye Ying with a smile and said, "I also have some matters to discuss with Li Wang. Please let him in. Ying'er, you…"
Ye Ying bit her lip stubbornly, “I don’t want to see him!”
"Alright then, go sit in the painting pavilion for a while." It was such a silly child, did she really think Mo Jingli had come to console her Someone was summoned to take Ye Ying away. Soon after, Mo Jingli walked into another entrance.
From a distance, he saw the Qingyi-clad woman sitting by the lake. Ten years had passed; Mo Jingli suddenly realized that he could still remember clearly how Ye Li looked when they first met after their betrothal was annulled. Although she had humiliated him in Shende Hall on that day, it had also been the first time he felt a vague sense of her being different from what he originally thought. Years later, her appearance hadn’t changed much, but perhaps because she now had children and more experience, there was an added elegance and gentleness to her demeanor.
"Prince Li." Seeing Mo Jingli approaching, Ye Li nodded but did not stand to greet him. "Please have a seat, Prince Li."
Moi Jingli sat down silently and only when Qing霜brought tea over did he ask coolly, "That girl is still with you."
Ye Li was somewhat surprised that Mo Jingli, who looked down on everyone, actually remembered one of her maids. She smiled slightly and said, "Qing霜is not young anymore, she won’t be able to follow me for long." The wedding arrangements between Qing霜and Ah Jin were almost complete. Manager Mo naturally approved, and neither Ah Jin nor Qing霜had any objections. They only needed to wait until they had the time to hold their wedding.
It seemed that there was nothing more to be said, and for a while there was silence.
Ye Li did not hurry to speak up either; she calmly drank her tea when Mo Jingli remained silent. After some time, Mo Jingli seemed uncomfortable and finally spoke: "Is Ying by you"
Ye Li did not deny it and nodded, saying, "She just came over to chat for a while and went to rest. Did Prince Li come to find your fourth sister"
"What did she tell you" Mo Jingli's tone was stiff, with a hint of anger. Ye Li glanced at him puzzledly and said, "Is there anything new that she could possibly tell me Isn’t it just about how Prince Li plans to divorce his wife and remarry"
"I don't want to divorce her!" Mo Jingli angrily retorted. Ye Li smiled and nodded, saying, "I know. All Prince Li wants is to demote your wife so that he can make room for the Lady of Dongfang as his principal consort." Mo Jingli looked at her and said, "When I see you demoting Ye Ying to concubine status, are you not unhappy" Ye Li was somewhat bewildered and asked, "Why should I be happy about my fourth sister being demoted to a concubine Does it make things worse if she’s no longer a principal consort but a mere concubine"
"Back then when she took your title as Princess Consort of Li, didn’t you hate her" Mo Jingli stared at Ye Li and asked seriously.
Ye Li was taken aback and said with a hint of amusement, "Does Prince Li mean to say he’s avenging me Or does Prince Li plan on using some strange excuse to cover up his unjust demotion of her" Mo Jingli did not fly into a rage as usual but looked at Ye Li and said, "If you were my Princess Consort, I wouldn’t marry Lady Dongfang for the sake of Qingmu Mountain even if it meant losing everything."
"Cough…" Ye Li nearly choked on her tea and stared at Mo Jingli in surprise. What was this He had treated her like a cast-off shoe back then but now he was making a declaration of deep feelings. Back then, when she was precious to him, she wasn’t even worth as much as some weeds anymore Looking at Mo Jingli’s earnest expression, Ye Li suddenly felt disgusted.
"Don't you believe me" Mo Jingli glared at her.
Ye Li shook her head and said, "Believing or not believing doesn’t matter. I hope your highness will refrain from saying such things in the future. Furthermore, my fourth sister has followed your highness for ten years and suffered much hardship. Please be merciful to her and leave a place for her to stand."
Moi Jingli was displeased and said, "What do you mean I have no intention of abandoning her" Is this what she told you"
Ye Li calmly replied, "Even if your highness has no such intentions, it doesn’t matter. Your highness comes from the royal family; aren’t there already enough people who rise and fall with political winds My fourth sister has no relatives in Jiangnan and no backing either. If she’s demoted to a concubine, what kind of life does your highness think she will have"
"You’re good to her!" Mo Jingli gritted his teeth. Ye Li speaking up for Ye Ying was nothing unusual, but hearing it made Mo Jingli very uncomfortable.
Ye Li smiled and said, "They are all women; why put them through such hardship In this world, life isn’t easy for women to begin with. Not everyone is as fortunate as Ye Li." Looking at the faint smile on Ye Li’s face, Mo Jingli found it even more annoying. He said irritably, "Very well, I can guarantee that Ye Ying will always remain my principal consort, but… what benefits do I gain from this"
"Is it a benefit for Ren Qining to never be able to marry Dongfang You" Ye Li asked calmly.
Moi Jingli’s expression changed slightly and he finally nodded. "Agreed." Ren Qining claimed to be the descendant of the previous dynasty; whether true or not, at least it was a major talking point, and also his greatest enemy.
"For you, Mo Xiu Yao gave up Qingmu Mountain. Will he really never regret it in the future" As if unable to bear Ye Li’s smile, Mo Jingli asked malevolently. Ye Li smiled and said, "I believe he won’t regret his decision." Mo Xiu Yao didn’t take concubines because of her, but refusing Dongfang You and Qingmu Mountain wasn’t entirely for her sake either. From a long-term perspective, Qingmu Mountain was not an aid to the Ding王府 but rather a trouble.
Moi Jingli snorted coldly and said, "What Mo Xiu Yao may not regret it now, but he will one day. And then he’ll hate you even more."
"Is Prince Li speaking for himself" Mo Xiu Yao’s lazy voice came from behind, making Mo Jingli’s expression freeze as he turned around abruptly to find Mo Xiu Yao already three steps away. He didn’t care about Mo Jingli’s ugly face; Mo Xiu Yao walked to Ye Li and leaned down to give her a kiss before proudly holding onto her shoulders and saying, "For A-li, this king will never regret it. and asked, "What are your plans now If you discover that I haven't brought back what he wants, will Lin Yuan personally come back"Doctor Lin nodded and thought for a moment before asking Ye Li, "Is t...