Too high to reach

Chapter 180 Relationship Patterns
The next day, Li Jing woke up at the crack of dawn.

For many years, he has made it a habit to get up early and practice his martial arts in the yard.

Today, I felt the warm, fragrant body beside me, and by turning slightly, I was pressed against her. Then, I found myself having strong desires again.

But he didn't act; instead, he slowed his breathing and suppressed his emotions.

With no one around him making a sound, he closed his eyes again and went back to sleep.

But Mo Yi woke up the moment he pressed against her...

She almost cried out. Opening her eyes, she saw the red candles flickering and the red silk curtains inside. Only then did she realize that she was getting married!

Behind her was her husband.

Thinking of the suffocating scene from last night... she couldn't sleep, and dared not move, lying stiffly.

Until someone outside called softly, "Your Highness, Your Highness, it's time to get up."

"Mo Yi? Get up." Li Jing called out to her, then got out of bed and started putting on her undergarments.

Is that all...?

Mo Yi felt a little disappointed, but it was fleeting. She quickly got up and put on the robe that had been tossed at her feet.

Neither of them were talkative. After they had put on clothes that would allow them to see the maid, Li Jing called out, "Come in, both of you!"

The maids filed in, and after washing and dressing, Li Jing was helped by them to put on her outer clothes. Mo Yi sat in front of the dressing table and began to comb her hair. Before she could put on her clothes and jewelry, breakfast was served.

"Let's replenish our supplies first, since it will take most of the day to get to the palace," Li Jing said.

"Yes," Mo Yi replied, and followed Li Jing out of the bedroom.

She came in with her head covered yesterday, so we don't know what the room looks like yet.

Leaving the bedroom, there was another large room. Two rows of carved mahogany cabinets lined the wall, and a chaise lounge sat beneath the window. In the middle were a table and chairs, and a maid was taking breakfast from a food box.

It seems that this is where she eats and drinks tea every day.

Li Jing pointed in another direction: "This leads to the reception room, where you meet your friends and receive greetings from your concubines. Further ahead is the study, which used to belong to me, but has been moved out. If you still wish to do something, you can do it in the study."

"Yes."

"From now on, on the first day of each month, if the palace hasn't given any instructions, you must go and pay your respects to the Empress and the Empress Dowager. It might be a bit troublesome at first, but you'll get used to it."

"Yes."

Seeing Li Jing pick up her chopsticks, Mo Yi also silently began to eat.

Li Jing's mind was already preoccupied with his affairs. "I'll go to the front study after I finish eating. Once you're ready, have someone call me. Have you prepared everything for entering the palace?"

"It's all ready. Granny Zhao has checked it all."

"Okay, then enjoy your meal." Li Jing put down her chopsticks, got up, and walked out.

Mo Yi quickly got up to see him off.

After he left, she sat down again. Only then did she take a closer look at the breakfast, which was quite lavish... but she didn't have much of an appetite.

From now on, will this be our way of getting along as a couple?
It seems quite different from what I imagined...

He cleared his mind of all distractions and, while eating, went over his thoughts about entering the palace again.

……

There were quite a few people at the palace today.

The Emperor, Empress, Consorts, Princes, Princesses, and other members of the imperial family... a whole room full of people.

Everyone was adorned with jewels and smelled wonderful. Although there were many people, no one spoke, and the atmosphere was solemn.

The Emperor's expression was not good. Empress Jiang sat beside him and gently comforted him, "Qilang chose his wife himself, so he must be happy with her. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and it's enough that they are happy."

The Emperor snorted. "The Empress Dowager is kind, and you are also lenient, never making things difficult for others. There are no elders in the Prince Qi's mansion; once you enter, you're the most important. How can a nobody like you have such a good life?"

The Emperor has become quite talkative lately. The Empress smiled and said, "Our Seventh Prince is capable. Since he likes her, he can surely make arrangements for her. If she is not capable, we can find a few capable people to help manage the household affairs. You don't need to worry too much."

She felt that these words had a profound, timeless meaning.

After hearing this, the emperor indeed said nothing more.

Laughter came from over there. Turning around, I saw it was coming from the children beside the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The Crown Prince was smiling and whispering to the children.

He now has two sons and two daughters. His eldest daughter was born to the Crown Princess. His eldest son and second daughter were born to Consort Zhang. His second son was born to a concubine, and he was also granted the title of Lady because of his son.

Consort Zhang was exceptionally beautiful and of noble birth. Even in her youth, she harbored a secret affection for the Crown Prince. Now, with a son by her side, she wielded considerable influence in the Crown Prince's residence. Today, she came along too!
After reviewing the document, the Emperor said to the Empress, "The Crown Princess is dignified and elegant, and excellent in every way. However, she must have a legitimate son!"

"Yes. I'll have the imperial physician treat her later." The Empress replied gently, thinking to herself: Since the Emperor has brought this up... I'll have to urge him again.

In fact, the Empress was quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law. Whether it was her family background, character, or how close she was to her, she was impeccable.

The Crown Prince treats her with great respect; all that's missing is a son. She glanced again at Consort Zhang sitting to the side; her demeanor was even more flamboyant than the Crown Princess's. If it weren't for the fact that she had given birth to the eldest son… she would have to seize the opportunity and nudge her.

On the other side of the Emperor sat Consort Dong, looking utterly impatient. She wouldn't have come if it weren't for the chance to see Prince Yong'an.

Just then, she noticed that Prince Yong'an was also looking at her. She smiled, picked up a teacup from the table next to her, and saw Prince Yong'an also pick up a teacup... A tingling sensation ran through her body, and she wondered when they could meet again.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, His Highness Prince Qi and his wife are here to pay their respects."

Mo Yi's marriage decree was issued along with the marriage decree. It would officially take effect soon after the veil was examined and the name was recorded in the family genealogy.

The Emperor nodded somewhat irritably.

The Crown Prince and Princess Yu'an exchanged a glance, then turned to look outside the hall.

Li Jing led Mo Yi through the main hall and walked slowly inside.

Apart from Princess Yu'an, who had met Mo Yi, no one else had seen her, and they were all somewhat surprised.

Because no matter what they thought in their hearts, they couldn't apply it to Mo Yi.

She wasn't the stunning beauty or seductive vixen one might expect, nor was she the timid and cowardly girl from a humble background... Of course, she wasn't exactly a lady of high society either. However, in such an occasion, simply walking in unhurriedly was no easy feat!

Her clothes and accessories... the fabrics weren't novel, and the jewelry wasn't luxurious. But they suited her perfectly, giving her a unique and refreshing look.

Li Jing remained unchanged: in his princely uniform, arrogant to the core, and expressionless. Approaching the Emperor, he said, "Your subject Li Jing, along with my new wife, Lady Mo, greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."

The two women knelt down. "Daughter-in-law Mo greets Father Emperor and Mother Empress."

"Get up!" the Emperor said in a deep voice.

The two stood up. It was also the first time the Emperor had seen Mo Yi. He thought... she was more pleasing to the eye than he had imagined.

He had been looking at it for a while, and the Empress coughed lightly to remind him.

So the Emperor said a few polite words, and Mo Yi responded gently.

The Empress said gently, "Mo Yi...you've changed quite a bit since the last time I saw you..." She smiled meaningfully, "I hope you and Qi Lang will live in harmony and have many children for the royal family."

Mo Yi responded gently and took out the tribute to the Emperor and Empress from the tray of the palace servants behind her.

Generally, gifts that daughters-in-law give to their parents-in-law are handmade.

This time, Mo Yi sent her leather boots.

The boot shaft has a slit at the back with a strap attached, which can be wrapped around the back to fit the thickness of the leg and then tied.

The Emperor's ribbon was black satin. The Empress's was purple satin, longer, and tied in a bow…

Leather boots also existed at this time, but because feet had to be inserted into them, the shafts were made quite wide. They were often loose and bunched up, making them look sloppy. Therefore, most women didn't like wearing them.

But these boots largely solved this problem.

Even the emperor found it intriguing and picked it up to read.

This was originally the design of the Ji sisters. The shoes they made were for people to walk and work in. After seeing it, Mo Yi added her own ideas and discussed it with Yun Niang for a long time. They made several versions and had the shopkeeper Zhao, Mo Fan, and a few others try them on and make improvements before finally settling on the template.

When preparing gifts for the Emperor and Empress, Mo Yi chose this.

It's made of top-quality cowhide, so I can wear it right now.

The Empress picked it up and examined it: "Did you make this?"

"Your Majesty, the design was decided by me. However, the leather is too stiff. The boots look fine on the outside, but the inside is all hemp thread, so they are difficult to pull. I had a craftsman make them. The embroidery and edging on the outside were made by me."

"That's a very novel idea," the Queen praised sincerely.

"It's quite practical, just a bit too flashy..." The Emperor looked at the bow in the Empress's hand and then remembered the strangely shaped bag that Li Jing had that day... Could it be that Li Jing liked her because of this?
Consort Dong watched from the side, quite pleased. She was very sensitive to the cold, but disliked wearing thick clothes. In winter, the cold feet would chill her entire body; a pair of boots like these would make things much better.
It could be made even prettier, dyed in various colors to match clothes... Hmm, it seems they haven't come to ask for my size yet... Don't they have mine?
The Emperor presented the newlyweds with a jade ruyi (a type of scepter), but compared to the Emperor, the Empress presented them with a complete set of jewelry, which was clearly much more solemn.

Li Jing glanced at it but said nothing, and together with Mo Yi, they expressed their gratitude.

Is he unhappy?

They've already taken my mine, and you still aren't satisfied?

"Could it be made even prettier? Dyed in all sorts of colors... Wait, it seems they haven't asked for my size yet... Don't they have mine?"

—Another potential customer has been born.

The God of Wealth arrives on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year!
Wishing all my little darlings a prosperous and lucky year!

Uh... well, I hope to start updating twice a day tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)