Chapter 31: You’ve Never Loved Me, Right?

“What exactly did you feed Imperial Older Brother? This prince really doesn’t understand why Imperial Older Brother trusts you so much? This prince is his closest kin!” Ye Liyu started bellowing furiously the moment he saw Yao Mowan.

“If you weren’t his closest kin, would you still be alive now? If Prince knew how Ye Hongyi treated others, you would currently be celebrating in relief now!” said Yao Mowan with a cold scoff. Her eyes were filled with contempt. In her opinion, Ye Liyu wasn’t a good person, nor did he have any skills. The only reason he survived this long was due to his luck, but his luck had now run out!

“You… What do you mean by that? When has Imperial Older Brother ever done anything to anyone else?” asked Ye Liyu with a frown.

“Oh, what’s with me? Why am I wasting words with you? Do you want to see Yao Suluan?” Yao Mowan was a little annoyed with herself for saying too much and she brought the conversation back to the main topic.

“Suluan… how is she?” Ye Liyu couldn’t really tell what he was feeling when Yao Suluan was brought up. He had loved that woman for seven years, but in this moment, he was a little scared of seeing her.

“Wouldn’t you know once you see her? Yin Xue!” Yao Mowan glanced at Yin Xue and Yin Xue immediately moved to seal Ye Liyu’s pressure points.

The sun gradually set and the new moon rose into the sky like a bow. The moonlight that spilled through the branches and leaves cast mottled shadows on the ground. When Yao Mowan arrived in Pure Flowers Palace, Yao Suluan was currently throwing a tantrum.

“Who told you to call His Majesty so early!?” Yao Suluan threw a tea cup to the ground. Some of the shattered pieces flew through the air and cut the back of Ming Yu’s hand. Her hand started bleeding, but she didn’t dare to make a sound.

“Speak!” snarled Yao Suluan, her eyes bloodshot. She looked like an insane tigress.

“Replying Your Highness… You were the one that told Ming Yu to bring His Majesty to the room in an hour…” Before Ming Yu could finish her words, Yao Suluan slapped her.

“So it was this consort’s fault?” As Yao Suluan shouted, she lifted her hand again but was stopped by Yao Mowan who walked in.

“Of course it’s Second Older Sister’s fault. How could Ming Yu have known what was going on inside? Speaking of which, Second Older Sister, you’re seriously careless. How could you have been so certain that your plan would go off without a hitch?” Yao Mowan slowly walked in with a slight smile.

“Yao Mowan! You actually dared to come here!?” The moment Yao Suluan saw Yao Mowan, every single cell in her body seemed to tremble with rage. If she had a knife right now, she’d stab it into Yao Mowan’s heart without hesitation. Right now, she just pounced towards Yao Mowan with her hands outstretched like claws, but Yao Mowan pushed her to the ground.

“Leave.” Yao Mowan glanced at Ming Yu coldly. This word sounded like pardon to Ming Yu. She hastily withdrew from Pure Flowers Palace.

“Yao Mowan! This is Pure Flowers Palace! When did it become your turn to give commands? Come back!” said Yao Suluan angrily. However, Yao Mowan just chuckled softly.

“My second older sister ah, do you really still think of yourself as the master of the palace? Mowan just got news that His Majesty has already given a decree to behead Ye Liyu. The execution will be carried out tomorrow at noon. His Majesty dares to kill even his own biological brother, do you think he would spare you?” Yao Mowan shook her head, then walked over gracefully to the chaise lounge to sit down.

“He should’ve died a long time ago! If it weren’t for him, this consort wouldn’t have lost so tragically this time!” Yao Suluan got up angrily and glared at Yao Mowan.

“Second Older Sister’s words are quite ungrateful. Who had Ye Liyu done this for? Wasn’t he just trying to get justice on your behalf?” Yao Mowan deliberately raised her voice so that the person in the shadows could hear things clearly.

“Pei! If this consort knew earlier how useless he was, this consort wouldn’t have tried to get his help!” Whenever Yao Suluan recalled what happened in that room, she’d feel like cursing. Her body still hurt even now.

“Second Older Sister is too heartless. What a pity, Ye Liyu had insisted on taking all the blame even at the last moment. It truly hadn’t been worth it.” Yao Mowan shook her head as she sighed with a lamenting expression.

“He was the one that was always imagining his own love to be reciprocated. He even wanted to to ask His Majesty to grant this consort to him? Who would want that? What this consort wants is the throne of empress! That idiot never does anything well and just causes more trouble! It’s good that he’ll die. At least this consort will be spared the eyesore! Yao Mowan, don’t be smug yet. Although this consort had failed this time, this consort will definitely get you back next time!” Yao Suluan pointed at Yao Mowan angrily. Her face was so twisted with hatred and anger that it was unbearable to look at.

“Second Older Sister should first guarantee your own safety before saying anything else. After all, there has never been the precedent of a consort or concubine living after they’ve been stained.” Yao Mowan’s eyes were like the lightless night, blacker than ink. Yao Suluan couldn’t help but take a step back when she saw the disturbing swirl of unreadable emotions in those eyes.

“His Majesty won’t kill this consort!” When Yao Mowan saw Yao Suluan’s proud expression, she knew that Yao Suluan had definitely kept a backup card up her sleeve. However, she looked forward to it. If Yao Suluan ended up being kill by Ye Hongyi, she’d really find it a pity.

“I hope so. It seems that someone wishes to reminisce with Second Older Sister, so Mowan won’t disturb you two.” Yao Mowan’s gaze swept past Yao Suluan towards Ye Liyu who was standing at the palace doors. Sometimes things were blessings in disguise. Ye Liyu probably understood what she meant back then now.

Yao Suluan sensed that Yao Mowan’s gaze wasn’t on her and followed it over. When she saw Ye Liyu, her entire body turned rigid.

“Yao Mowan! You framed me again!” snarled Yao Suluan.

“Does Second Older Sister think that Mowan exists to take the blame for things? You were the one that blurted out those things earlier on your own!” Yao Mowan scoffed, then walked past Yao Suluan and left Pure Flowers Palace.

“Liyu… you got out? Earlier… Earlier Yao Mowan was misleading me. I was just too infuriated because of her…” Yao Suluan felt guilty when she saw the lifeless expression on Ye Liyu’s face.

“If it weren’t for the soft fragrance pill that this prince was forced to take, this prince wouldn’t have done that to you or have been so rough with you.” When Ye Liyu recalled everything he had just heard, his heart ached with pain.

“Suluan knows that Prince has suffered, but Suluan really didn’t know what to do at that time. His Majesty was there, so Suluan…” Yao Suluan started weeping quietly. She hoped that Ye Liyu would walk up to comfort her. As long as Ye Liyu was willing to still take a step forward, it meant that his heart was still soft towards her and at the very least, he wouldn’t go say anything inappropriate to Ye Hongyi.

“Imperial Older Brother visited the imperial prison.” To Yao Suluan’s surprise, Ye Liyu remained where he was and showed no intention to comfort her.

“So it was His Majesty that allowed Prince out?” Yao Suluan’s heart tightened with nervousness as she looked towards Ye Liyu.

“Tomorrow afternoon, this prince will be executed. This was Imperial Older Brother’s decision.” Perhaps it was because there was still a remaining trace of hope, because Ye Liyu still wanted to see Yao Suluan’s reaction.

“Then did His Majesty talk about how he plans to deal with Suluan?” Yao Suluan wanted to get news from Ye Liyu so that she could make preparations.

Ye Liyu took in her anxious expression quietly. His heart seemed to be covered by rapidly growing vines. That stifling sensation made it hard for him to even breathe. Yao Suluan had actually showed no reaction to the news that he was about to be beheaded! She only cared about herself!

Yao Suluan seemed to realize her mistake and she restrained impatience in her eyes to walk to Ye Liyu. She gently placed her hands on Ye Liyu’s arm.

“Prince…”

“Have you ever loved this prince? Seven years ago, you said that you love me but you couldn’t disobey your father’s orders and had to enter the palace. Seven years later, you said you regretted things, that your life in the palace was no better than death. Did these words come from the bottom of your heart? Or did you make them up to trick this prince?” Ye Liyu brushed off her hands, his eyes flickering with sorrow. He had used seven years to love, but this was the kind of woman he had loved!?

__________