"Princess Ding." While they were talking, Princess Ling Yun already came over. Those around them pretended not to pay any attention while at the same time stealing looks at them.
"Princess, what's the matter?"
Princess Ling Yun said: "I want to have a private chat with you, princess."
Ye Li frowned and said: "I don't know what we need to talk about, princess."
Princess Ling Yun's pretty face turned gloomy. She said: "I came all the way here. Are you not willing to at least walk with me in the imperial garden, princess?"
Ye Li had no choice but to nod and said: "Well, princess. After you." Princess Ling Yun snorted slightly and walked ahead with her head held up. Ye Li cast a comforting glance at Hua Tian Xiang. She snorted and followed Princess Ling Yun. Young people nowadays… do need a lesson!
Princess Ling Yun waved her maids away so Ye Li didn't ask Qing Luan and the other girls to follow. The two of them walked side by side along a narrow path in the imperial garden.
Ye Li asked: "What do you want to say to me, princess?"
Princess Ling Yun turned her head and looked at Ye Li. She snorted and said: "You do not deserve Prince Ding."
Ye Li smiled: "Princess, you flatter me. A family always wants to marry its daughter to a better husband. It shows I've got a good new family and a good husband."
Ling Yun said in disdain: "Don't act like that in front of me. I have you investigated. You are nothing more than an unnoticeable miss from the Minister's Manor, besides, a woman who was rejected by Prince Li only gaining a little reputation in the capital of Chu since the emperor sanctioned you a marriage with Prince Ding. I don't care that you are the most talented woman in the capital. Even with that, you are not a good match for Prince Ding."
"Well, is that so?" Ye Li's expression didn't change a bit. She asked indifferently: "Even if I'm not a good match for him, does it have anything to do with you, princess?"
Princess Ling Yun raised her eyebrows and smiled a little proudly: "You'll learn about that soon enough. Prince Ding belongs with me. If you are sensible enough, get away from us."
Ye Li frowned and stared carefully at Princess Ling Yun for a good while before she finally asked: "Princess, I have a question for you."
"Say it."
"I wonder if Xiu Yao knows anything about you." Ye Li asked: "As far as I'm concerned, Xiu Yao hasn't been out for at least seven years. With a modest estimation, you were about seven or eight years old if you ever met. May I ask… do you think Xiu Yao still remembers you? Or does he really know anything about you?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm the most respected princess of Great Ling. How is that not better than you?" Princess Ling Yun stared at her with annoyance.
Ye Li looked at her curiously: "Princess, if you really want to marry Prince Ding, aren't you supposed to compete with me before my wedding? Now we've already married and here you are, what is this supposed to mean? Prince Ding's Manor never has the precedent of marrying two princesses at a time or divorcing one then marrying another. Or do you rather put up with being a concubine? If not… even if I'm dead, you could only be a concubine after you marry Prince Ding, besides, you have to kowtow and burn joss sticks before my spirit tablet whenever it comes to the first and fifteenth day of each month."
"You… you wish! I will definitely become Prince Ding's legitimate princess!" Princess Ling Yun said angrily.
"Whatever." Ye Li looked at her with pity: "But I'm afraid the eldest son of Prince Zhenan thinks otherwise, doesn't he?"
A trace of hatred pa.s.sed Princess Ling Yun's eyes. How could she find Ye Li until now if it hadn't been Lei Teng Feng who had put her under house arrest as soon as she arrived in the capital of Chu and told the world that she had been ill, only letting her out after Prince Ding's wedding?
Ye Li looked at Princess Ling Yun whose expression altered constantly with a smile and continued: "Come to think of it, it isn't normal to bring a princess who is at the age to get married on a diplomatic mission… It's normally for… cementing relations with another country by marriage, isn't it? I've heard that Xi Ling suffered from a snow disaster last winter. Could it be…" There were things she was not willing to think about instead of not being able to figure out. She wasn't worried about this Princess Ling Yun at all. No matter how capable she was, there was no way that the emperor would allow Mo Xiu Yao to marry a princess from Xi Ling and upset himself. Not only a princess of Xi Ling, but princesses of Bei Rong and Nan Zhao would have nothing to do with Mo Xiu Yao as well. Only this little princess wasn't clear about the situation, thinking that she would realize her dream if she reached out to Ye Li and ask her to take a step back. Ye Li wouldn't like to look down upon the brains of those princesses, but… was there any princess with average intelligence among the younger generation? Or were they just too young?
"What do you like about Prince Ding?" Ye Li asked curiously seeing Princess Ling Yun with her determination.
Princess Ling Yun snorted slightly and said: "What do you know? Prince Ding is the most excellent man in this world as well as the youngest and fiercest general. Besides, he's the most talented man the world has ever seen. I'll marry the best man in the world, without a doubt."
"I'm afraid he isn't as good as you described right now." Ye Li reminded her.
"You are… you are an unbearable philistine. I hate to say even one more word with you. Prince Ding must be blind if he ever falls for you. I know that the emperor of Dong Chu ordered him to marry you. A woman like you will never know how great he is."
Looking at the girl speaking with righteousness and sternness, Ye Li thought about whether she should really be ashamed of herself. Compared with this princess before her, she thought about how normal Yang Qian Ru was and how lovely Ye Ying was.
"I'm going to become Princess Ding!" Princess Ling Yun stared at Ye Li and said resolutely and decisively.
"Try hard. I wish you win an instant success." Ye Li said with indifference.
"I will!" Princess Ling Yun said, gritting her teeth and threw herself into the artificial lake by the path.
"Ah! Help! Princess has fallen into the lake!" A shrill voice of a girl rang in the imperial garden.
Ye Li cursed in a small voice and followed Princess Ling Yun into the water.
d.a.m.n, why were there so many nuts around recently! Mo Xiu Yao, prepare for your punishment!