Too high to reach

Chapter 222 What's going on?
That evening, Mo Yi waited a long time before Li Jing returned.

"Still not asleep?" He reeked of alcohol. "I'll go wash up first."

"The maids have rested. Shall I serve you?"

"I can do it myself, you can rest..." Li Jing took off his outer coat and threw it on the rack, then went into the inner room wearing his undergarment.

Mo Yi followed her in, helping to adjust the hot water and get towels.

"How about it? Your father is finally relieved after seeing you, right?" Li Jing said with a hint of teasing.

"Father, it's just as you said! They've come to broaden their horizons. Their daughter lives in such a big and luxurious house. They have to see it for themselves."

Li Jing turned around and flicked Mo Yi's nose. "Hmm, she is indeed a lucky person."

After washing up, the couple went to bed. "We don't need to go early tomorrow, right?" Mo Yi asked with a yawn.

"No need to go early, just take a quick look around and come back," Li Shi said casually.

Mo Yi thought it was pretty much what she had expected.

"I think we shouldn't bring Xiangxiang and the others, and Ajiu and Moyuan shouldn't come either. Just the two of us will stay for a while and then leave."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing smiled. This person's actions were indeed quite in line with his own ideas.

Calling her sister over was also partly out of a desire to help arrange a good marriage. Those she usually brought along were all from respectable families.

There's no need to go to the Crown Prince's residence.

As the alcohol took effect and he became sleepy, he draped an arm over Mo Yi and fell asleep.

……

Consort Feng barely ate anything all night, spending the entire evening taking care of the patient outside.

When Mo Yi and the others finished eating and went back, she was still there. She only went back to her room after the banquet was over and the fire was put out.

This is exhausting.

Knowing how hard she had worked, Song's mother prepared a large tub of hot water. She went in and soaked for a while, almost falling asleep inside.

She hasn't had a proper rest during this period.

Engagement, wedding, Chinese New Year...

Granny Zhao did a lot of work on the wedding arrangements.

This year's New Year celebrations were entirely organized by Consort Feng herself.

Although it's still the New Year period, there's not much work left, so I can relax a bit. I secretly asked the maids about it, and everyone's feedback on today's arrangements was quite positive. Quite a few praised her for being capable…

The only thing that bothered her was Mo Yi!

Doing nothing, just enjoying what's readily available, yet still finding fault and causing trouble for me in front of the prince!

She knew she shouldn't be angry, but she just couldn't help it...

……

The Crown Prince's residence on the second day.

Sure enough, no one else was brought; only Li Jing and Mo Yi went, along with Li Chang.

The reception hall in front of the Crown Prince's residence was already quite lively. He also had many close friends, including the Ninth Prince, Li Pu.

Li Pu was also busy making arrangements, and his laughter was quite loud...

The difference is that although Li Pu has his own ulterior motives, he is also a prince, so he has to maintain a certain air about him.

Unlike Li Chang, who was just a subordinate to Li Jing!
Li Yun also came. He didn't go to the Prince of Qi's residence yesterday, and Li Jing didn't send him an invitation either...

Although his relationship with Li Jing wasn't as tense as that between Li Pu and Li Jing, it wasn't close either.

The crown prince, who was surrounded by admirers, was dressed casually in his home clothes today. He wore a silk and linen jacket, the fabric itself shimmering and wrinkled, which made him look dashing and otherworldly.

Her hair was simply combed up, with only a jade hairpin inserted.

With bright, clear eyes and a smile that was as warm as a spring breeze, she said, "Seventh Brother, Seventh Sister-in-law, Fourteenth Brother, you're too late! Didn't you hear the joke just now..."

Everyone laughed again.

It seems the Crown Prince's lucrative position has stirred up a frenzy among the crowd; even Li Pu is beaming with excitement...

Li Jing smiled nonchalantly, "I drank too much yesterday..."

The crown prince's smile deepened. "Sister-in-law, why don't you go to the back and talk to your sister-in-law?"

Immediately, someone led Mo Yi to the back. These mansions were all laid out and built in a similar manner; passing through the moon gate in the front yard led to the back yard.

Several palace maids and eunuchs stood at the entrance.

The presence of eunuchs was also a distinction between the Crown Prince's residence and the Prince of Qi's residence; the Prince of Qi's residence did not have eunuchs.

Those people recognized Mo Yi and quickly stepped forward to pay their respects. The palace maid also introduced a woman standing next to them who was extremely beautiful and dressed in gorgeous clothes. She was one of the Crown Prince's concubines and her surname was Lin.

Consort Lin was very polite, saying that she had come to fetch her on the orders of the Crown Princess.

The two exchanged pleasantries as they walked inside. Mo Yi refused the sedan chair carried by the servants, saying that she wanted to walk around and see the surrounding buildings and gardens.

The Crown Prince's residence was larger and more luxurious than the Prince of Qi's residence.

Although there are no flowers or plants yet, it's clear that the garden has been carefully tended.

"There are a few grapevines over there. In the autumn, they will bear a lot of sweet grapes." Consort Lin was sitting in a sedan chair; she couldn't go that far.

After walking quite a distance, we arrived at the main hall, where children were playing in the open space in front.

As they got closer, they could faintly hear laughter and conversation coming from inside the house.

"Your Highness, Princess Qi has arrived," a maidservant announced as she went in.

"Please come in quickly!" the Crown Princess ordered.

When Mo Yi came in, wow, the room was full of people.

The Crown Princess greeted them with a smile, pulling Mo Yi inside, "There are no outsiders here today, so don't be shy."

Those present included the Fourth Prince's Consort, the Ninth Prince's Consort, several Princesses of the County, three princesses including Princess Yu'an, and three or four county princesses. Surprisingly, there was also Madam Liu… She went to the Qi Prince's residence yesterday and came to the Crown Prince's residence today; she's quite busy.

Mo Yi had met most of these people; their status was clearly higher than that of those visiting the Qi Prince's residence...

The Crown Prince also has two concubines, three wives, and several maids. His harem is even more lively than that of the Prince of Qi's mansion!

Especially Consort Zhang, whose makeup was ostentatious and whose expression was arrogant. She gave Mo Yi a vague nod, clearly looking down on her.

Princess Yu'an was sitting and playing cards with a few people when she turned to look at Mo Yi and asked, "Why are you so late? Do you know how to play leaf cards?" Her attitude was friendly and natural.

"I really don't know!" Mo Yi replied with a smile.

"Oh, come, come, sit next to me and study!" Princess Yu'an's words to Mo Yi aroused the curiosity and speculation of those around them.

"Princess, you play first. I'll keep Fifth Sister-in-law company for a chat."

The Crown Princess pulled Mo Yi down to sit, examining her accessories. "You really know how to dress up; you always have something new to wear."

"I like to tinker with these things on weekdays, but I only remember to wear them when I go out. At home, I prefer to be more comfortable."

The Ninth Princess was sitting to the side, and she smiled with a hint of malice, "Seventh Sister-in-law's attire is indeed quite interesting. Have you met the Qi Princess from before?"

The Crown Princess gave her a reproachful look, but the Ninth Princess smiled and pretended not to see it.

The Fourth Princess asked curiously, "You mean Zhou Li, Fairy Li?" Then she looked at Mo Yi and said, "You probably haven't met her before, there's a big age gap between you."

"That's a real shame!" Consort Zhang exclaimed. "Fairy Li, she's the most beautiful woman in the capital. Her clothes and jewelry have set trends in the capital many times..." She then boldly sized up Mo Yi, "But all of her things are extremely expensive. Not like what Princess Qi is wearing..."

Her meaning was clearly that Mo Yi knew the princess in front liked to dress up, so she also got some novel things to wear.

She was mocked for imitating Dong Shi...

Mo Yi was speechless. She hadn't even settled in yet, and what were these people trying to do?

The Crown Princess was also embarrassed. "Alright," she said sternly.

The Fourth Princess and the Ninth Princess didn't dare to argue with the Crown Princess; they just smiled awkwardly.

The Crown Princess then asked Mo Yi, "Why didn't you bring Xiangxiang with you? The young ladies were just asking about it."

Before Mo Yi could answer, Consort Zhang said in an unpleasant tone, "Isn't this just chatting?"

She was stunningly beautiful, spoiled and willful, and came from a respectable family; her father and brothers were confidants of the Crown Prince. She even bore him two sons!

In her heart, when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, she will definitely be the Empress.

What's wrong with the Crown Princess? With me here, she'll probably have a hard time having a son... Without a son, her glory will only be temporary.

So she completely ignored what the Crown Princess said. "Princess Qi, you are a genuine commoner princess. You don't know, do you? Your marriage into the royal family caused quite a stir in the capital! Countless girls dream of becoming princesses."

The Crown Princess frowned slightly. "Consort Zhang, you talk too much." This was quite a harsh remark for the Crown Princess.

Princess Yu'an pretended to play cards, but her mind was actually on Mo Yi. Seeing everyone rushing towards Mo Yi, a smile appeared on her lips.

Mo Yi shook her head helplessly: "I didn't expect that Consort Zhang, who usually can't even leave her house, could know so much information..."