Too high to reach

Chapter 184 Hearty
Upon hearing Li Jing speak, everyone at the table fell silent for a moment.

"Your Highness?" Mo Yi swallowed the food before replying.

"I come from a military background, and when I'm on the march, I eat all sorts of things. So, I'm not that particular. It's common for us to discuss matters while eating. Also, they get very lively whenever there's wine."

Mo Yi had already heard people laughing and talking loudly at the three tables next to him, and nodded with a smile.

"Do you like this food?" Li Jing asked again.

"I'm used to it, it's all delicious."

“We have wine made from grapes brought back from the Western Regions; you can have some,” Li Jing added.

Hongyan quickly poured Moyi a cup.

Looking at the purplish-red liquid in the glass, Mo Yi asked, "Won't this make me drunk?"

"It all depends on your alcohol tolerance," Li Jing laughed. "Have you ever drunk before?"

"I've had it before, but never like this. The color is so beautiful. I've only ever had rice wine, Shaoxing wine, and Shaoxing rice wine, and I especially love sweet fermented rice..."

Granny Zhao was speechless; she really didn't know that Mo Yi had such a taste.

Mo Yi took a small sip, and her eyes lit up. "It's sweet and sour, so delicious!"

Li Jing looked at her and found it amusing. "Then let's have a drink!" He raised his glass to her.

Mo Yi obeyed, imitating how her uncle and father drank, clinking glasses with Li Jing and taking small sips to finish the whole cup. Hong Yan quickly refilled it, and Mo Yi picked up the cup again.

Granny Zhao smiled helplessly... and gestured to her maid Ling'er: "Have a cup for yourself too."

Consort Feng, who had witnessed everything, was furious. Suddenly, the maid behind her smiled and said, "Your Highness, that duck tongue is your favorite. Shall I scoop some more for you?"

Consort Feng turned her head and saw that Song Mama was standing behind the maid, winking at her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly composed herself, forcing a smile, "Okay."

Mo Yi and Granny Zhao finished their cup, and Hongyan refilled it for them.

While drinking, Li Jing said to his young wife, "If you have any favorite foods, you can write them down and give them to Consort Feng. She will arrange for the kitchen to prepare them."

"Yes! Your Highness, please feel free to mention any habits or preferences you may have," Consort Feng said gently, but inwardly she thought coldly: Yes, I am just a maid and a housekeeper!

Mo Yi laughed and said, "I'm not a picky eater. I like all sorts of things I've never tried before. I also like spicy food."

"Oh? I often ate those things while I was in the army. But I eat them much less now that I'm back in the capital."

The other tables were already getting lively, and Li Chang's voice rose and fell as he walked back and forth between the three tables.

"Fourteenth Prince, please don't drink so fast!"

"I'm so happy today! My mother is going to be promoted to the rank of Consort... by the Emperor himself: Consort Liang."

"Ah! This is great news, Fourteenth Prince, you must treat us to a big feast!"

"Definitely, definitely... It was all my brother who helped me... Brother!" Li Chang raised his glass towards the table.

Granny Zhao asked Mo Yi in surprise, "Your Highness, is this true?"

"The prince asked for this for Consort Yi when he went to the palace to recognize his relatives today."

"That's wonderful!" Granny Zhao exclaimed happily. "Consort Yi has been with our Empress since she was a child, all the way to the palace. Even after the Emperor took her away, she remained devoted to our Empress. Her character and temperament are impeccable!"

Mo Yi downed another glass of wine and added with a smile, "Consort Liang is quite beautiful, she looks like she's in her early twenties. It's just a pity..." She leaned over to look at the other table.

Li Chang stood there, holding a wine glass, talking and laughing, rambling on about who-knows-what. He wasn't exactly handsome!
"Haha!" Granny Zhao laughed loudly, "I didn't expect you to be such a mischievous person..."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing also laughed.

Consort Feng almost bit her teeth off; she really handled it with ease!

Consort Tian also drank some wine, and she was quite satisfied: This princess is a good match; she should be easy to get along with.

Actually, she was worried too. What if the prince really married a ruthless woman...? With wealth and a daughter, but no power and no leverage, she'd be nothing more than a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered! Even if he made this Lady Feng his official wife, given her personality and scheming, wouldn't she be hard-pressed to escape?!
Granny Zhao was unusually happy today and didn't pay attention to Consort Feng, perhaps because she didn't consider her a rival, but she herself was keeping a close eye on her...

Oh my, look at that little face, turning white and red all the time, it's so cute!
To be honest, she didn't have many conflicts with Consort Feng. She never intended to get involved in the affairs of the household, nor did she have a son. Therefore, she didn't interfere with Consort Feng's affairs in any way.

That person, apart from occasionally showing envy for his family's business dealings with the prince and making a sour face, did nothing else.

However, she was not a simple person either. Aunt Mei's pregnancy was in a lot of chaos at the time. Princess Zhou died, Aunt Mei miscarried, the prince was not in the capital, and Granny Zhao had to go out on urgent business. Later, the investigation revealed that it was a natural miscarriage.

At the time, Feng Liniang had just taken over the household and was constantly overwhelmed with problems, making frequent minor mistakes and sometimes even bursting into tears. Therefore, no one suspected that she was the one who did it, and there was indeed no evidence.

However, her son Shaoge became the prince's eldest son! The reason can be traced back...

Therefore, it is a great thing for the prince to marry this princess!

Mo Yi and Li Jing drank another cup. Mo Yi spoke, and Li Jing listened attentively. Each time Li Jing said something, Mo Yi would laugh, then turn the conversation to Zhao Mama beside her…

Today, Granny Zhao was visibly relaxed and enjoying the moment. Hongyan and Xiaoling kept pouring her wine, and the two of them drank one cup after another.

Li Jing looked at the tables over there, her voice rising higher and higher, and finally said to Mo Yi, "I'll go take a look over there."

Mo Yi nodded and then left.

"It's been a long time since I've seen His Highness so relaxed. Mo Yi, I must say, you're doing a pretty good job as a princess consort," said Granny Zhao with a smile.

"Have you had too much to drink?" Mo Yi asked.

"No."

After finishing their meal, the group dispersed. Granny Zhao didn't go home; instead, she found a guest room to stay in.

Hongyan and Lvyi helped Moyi back to her room.

"I'm fine, why do I need to be supported like this?"

But when I came out, the cold wind made me feel dizzy and lightheaded, and my steps became unsteady...

"Huh? How come I..."

Hongyan and Lvyi giggled and helped her back. She didn't even remember how she washed and changed. Lying on the bed, she was still giggling happily.

She fell asleep before Li Jing returned.

In a dreamlike state, I suddenly felt someone pressing down on me from behind.

She turned slightly and smiled, "Your Highness? Why are you only just returning?" Her voice was tinged with drunkenness.

"Missing me?" A breath of warm air brushed against my ear.

"Hmm..." Mo Yi made a sound through her nose, "A little bit..." She gestured with her hand...

Indeed, just a little bit...

Li Jing looked at her: her eyes were hazy, her expression relaxed, a smile played on her lips, and there was a hint of allure.

She's not as reserved as she was last night!
Could this be credited to me?
“That’s better…” he said softly.

"What did you say?" Mo Yi tilted her head and hooked her arm around the back of his head.

“I said…you’re doing very well…” Li Jing chuckled, pulled back the blanket covering her with one hand, and with the other hand, slipped under her and hugged her.

They pressed themselves tightly together...

"Moyi?"

"Humph?"

“I think… I like it a little…” He straightened up slightly.

A soft cry rang out...

What followed was an exhilarating experience.

Originally, there would be a maidservant on night duty outside.

Today is the day of the white plum blossom.

At first she was chuckling, but later she covered her ears tightly.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I grabbed my blanket and fled...

(End of this chapter)