"Quiet!" Lei Teng Feng suddenly spoke: "Clearly you didn't hear Ling Yun's call. Just tell Princess Royal exactly what you know and no more."
The maid was stunned and hurriedly nodded: "Yes… yes… I was wrong. I didn't hear anything from the princess…"
Lei Teng Feng turned around and cupped his fists towards Ye Li: "Princess, please forgive me. This maid has been by Ling Yun's side since she was little. She hasn't been to any important occasions. I guess she's just too nervous and thus blames you wrongly. Ling Yun has always trusted her and she has been startled today thus she was misled… Please forgive her for that."
Ye Li looked at Ling Yun who had no sign of admitting her fault with a little cold smile: "Sir, you are speaking too seriously. It wasn't a big deal to start with. Just that… I've humiliated Prince Ding's Manor to have been through this the first time I attend the royal banquet. Maybe… Princess Ling Yun was right. What do you think, princess?"
Princess Ling Yun snorted and turned her head away from Ye Li.
Princess Rong Hua who was sitting by Princess Zhao Yang raised her eyebrows with a laugh and asked: "Princess Ding, what do you agree with Princess Ling Yun?"
Ye Li sighed faintly and said: "I have breached the etiquette and humiliated Prince Ding's Manor and Prince Ding. His Highness will probably write me a bill of divorcement tomorrow and Princess Ding will be someone else."
The empress scolded softly: "Nonsense. It was just a little accident. Prince Ding won't be that unreasonable."
Mo Xiu Yao, who was watching on the side nodded with all seriousness and said: "Your Majesty, you are right." Then he turned to Ye Li with a smile: "Ah Li, you can rest a.s.sured that you'll be the legitimate princess of Prince Ding's Manor no matter what happens. Anyone that dares to question you is questioning Prince Ding's Manor."
Princess Zhao Yang also said with a laugh: "Xiu Yao, you are correct. Whoever that dares to question Princess Ding is challenging me. Princess Ding, you can set your mind at ease now. We all know your grievance after what happened today."
"Your Highness, my sister hasn't been sensible and has taken you wrong. Let me apologize for her. Please forgive her for that, princess."
Ye Li lowered her eyes and remained silent as if to say that she would respect her husband's decision.
Mo Xiu Yao said indifferently: "It would be more sincere if the one that has made the mistake apologizes. What do you say?"
Lei Teng Feng stopped for a second. That Mo Xiu Yao asked Ling Yun to apologize was a big hit to her. He wouldn't spare her feelings at all.
Lei Teng Feng looked at Ye Li pensively and said: "Ling Yun is still young. As her brother, I haven't taught her properly so I should be the one to apologize."
Mo Xiu Yao raised his eyebrows and slightly lifted the corner of his lips: "You might as well teach her what it is to take responsibility for one's actions. What happened today… could I take it as an offence of Xi Ling towards Prince Ding's Manor?"
Princess Ling Yun's eyes were already red being criticized by the one that she adored.
Lei Teng Feng's heart pounded. If he had known that Mo Xiu Yao would be so insistent he would have forced Princess Ling Yun to apologize from the start. It was better to keep one's life instead of one's dignity! Ling Yun was going to stay in Dong Chu for sure and if Ling Yun offended Mo Xiu Yao he could at least protect her when he was in Dong Chu. Once he was gone, she wouldn't even know how she died. Lei Teng Feng believed that Ling Yun directed what happened today against Princess Ding but he didn't think that Princess Ding was 100% innocent. What was worse was that Mo Xiu Yao upgraded it to how Xi Ling treated Prince Ding's Manor. Though Mo Xiu Yao was disabled at the moment, but the power of Prince Ding's Manor and the Hidden Could Soldiers which could shake the world were still there. It would be easier if Mo Xiu Yao took a weaker stand, however, he was more intimidated by Mo Xiu Yao's forceful att.i.tude. Right now, Xi Ling didn't need a war.
"Ling Yun, apologize to Princess Ding!" Almost at once, Lei Teng Feng made a prompt decision and said to Princess Ling Yun.
"What? Do you ask me to apologize to her?" Princess Ling Yun screamed.
Those at the chamber couldn't help but frown, and even Princess Rong Hua curled her lips with disdain. Though she was called the proudest princess in the capital, she wouldn't breach etiquette at such an occasion. The upbringing of the princess from Xi Ling was indeed impressive.
Princess Ling Yun glared at Ye Li with hatred and said: "Why should I apologize to her? I'm the most respected princess of Xi Ling. Could she afford to take my apology?"
Ye Li frowned: "Princess, do you not want to apologize to me because you look down on me?"
"What do you have that I can look up to?" Princess Ling Yun lifted her chin proudly and cast Ye Li a sidelong glance. Those days she had Ye Li thoroughly investigated, who was just an unknown miss of Minister's Manor only famous for having neither talent, virtue nor beauty. Prince Li couldn't bear her reputation and thus abandoned her. She was just lucky that she was sanctioned a marriage with Prince Ding by the emperor. As for winning the Ceremony of Hundred Flowers, Princess Ling Yun thought that was nothing more than sheer luck.
A cold light pa.s.sed Ye Li's eyes and she could only calm herself down secretly by convincing herself that Princess Ling Yun was too young for her to lower herself to her level… Well, screw that she was too young! She just needed a good lesson! If it was in the army Ye Li would have such a girl without any sense well-behaved by now.
"Well, do you look down on me or the status of Princess of Prince Ding's Manor?" Ye Li asked.
"You don't deserve to be Princess Ding!" Princess Ling Yun shouted.
Ye Li closed her lips and looked at Princess Ling Yun with smiles. Those present all secretly applauded her for her good temper and control. "Then who do you think deserves to be Princess Ding?" If she has the nerve to say her own name… then Ye Li really got to give her credit for that.
Princess Ling Yun felt a lump in her throat and glimpsed at Mo Xiu Yao. However, she was willing yet Mo Xiu Yao remained indifferent. He only looked at his princess with a small smile without noticing the bitter look of Princess Ling Yun. Though Princess Ling Yun could announce to Ye Li her ambition to become Princess Ding, she wasn't shameless enough to tell all those people that she was the only one who deserved Prince Ding. Ye Li, however, was astonished by Princess Ling Yun's bitterness, who had never seen Mo Xiu Yao before could be so…affectionate…towards Mo Xiu Yao on their first encounter. If it was eight years ago, it was possible for her to fell for Mo Xiu Yao at first sight, but at the moment, Mo Xiu Yao didn't have what was necessary for others to fall for him at first sight. Could worship of heroes make a girl obsessed like this? Even so, shouldn't she be obsessed with the heroes from her own country? Or was she someone who lived without borders?
"It wouldn't matter if you look down on me in the past. But right now… I couldn't humiliate the forefathers of Prince Ding's Manor." Ye Li said with her eyes on Princess Ling Yun.
Princess Ling Yun said proudly: "I will not apologize to someone who's below me!"
Ye Li raised her eyebrows: "Earlier you've invited me to compete with you in a game of swords which I declined. How about we have another compet.i.tion? If I lose then what happened today…let's take it as I pushed you and I will be at your disposal. If you lose…"
"I won't!" Princess Ling Yun said: "I won't lose to you in a million years."
Ye Li didn't mind her and continued: "I want you to get down on your knees and apologize to me at the royal banquet in front of all the ministers, generals, and ladies."
"Deal! You have my word." Before Lei Teng Feng had the chance to stop her, Ling Yun had already said in a loud voice: "If you lose, you'll bow every three steps and kneel down every nine steps from the gate of the palace to the most crowded place in the capital then admit to everyone that you don't deserve to be Princess Ding!"
Ye Li nodded with indifference: "Deal."
"Wait!" Princess Zhao Yang stood up and said: "I recall that Princess Ding doesn't know how to wield a sword."
Ye Li smiled: "That's right, princess, so we are not going to play sword but arrow. (The Chinese characters of sword and arrow have the same p.r.o.nunciation.) I believe Princess Ling Yun knows how to shoot arrows as well, don't you?"
"Ha! You want to play a game of arrow with me?" Princess Ling Yun seemed to have heard a joke. She looked at Ye Li and burst out laughing with disdain: "I started to learn how to shoot arrows and by ten none of my arrows missed its mark. You…can you even draw a bow?"
Ye Li lowered her head and smiled slightly: "Do you mean you don't want to play any more?"
"I'm afraid you would have a ma.s.sive defeat. However, since you overestimate your capabilities, I'll let you be. How do you want to play, then?"
Ye Li smiled with satisfaction. She stood up and spoke to Mo Jing Qi as well as the empress: "Then, Your Majesties, please be our witnesses."
Mo Jing Qi looked at her and asked: "Princess Ding, have you decided? Think it through."
Ye Li smiled: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. But Prince Ding's Manor won't allow any slight."
Mo Jing Qi's expression changed a little. He stared at Ye Li for a good while before he said in a deep voice: "Well, all right then."
Ye Li bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty." Then she turned and smiled at Princess Ling Yun: "Princess, please."
"Humph!" Princess Ling Yun turned around first and headed outside the chamber. Ye Li followed her at leisure with a calm and mild smile on her face.
Lei Teng Feng who was behind them had a bad feeling about it out of nowhere seeing the upright and determined back of hers.