Too high to reach

Chapter 189 A New Feeling
During the meal at the Zhao family's house, someone mentioned Granny Zhao.

"I wonder what Yuzhou is like? Putting aside everything else, Yongle's health alone will be enough to make her suffer on this journey."

"Yes, Uncle Wan told Aunt Wan not to go, but she wouldn't listen."

Mo Yi nodded, "According to Granny Zhao, they decided to keep their grandson and granddaughter."

“Yes, we have to keep them here. The journey is tough, and the area outside is poor and remote. They lack everything, so how can we properly raise children? I heard they’re going to send them to our family. We’ll have more younger siblings now.” Zhao Yunkai was quite happy.

After finishing her meal, Mo Yi took her leave. Zhao Yunqing looked at her, her face slightly flushed...

She went out through the second gate and boarded the carriage. Besides herself and a maid, Li Jing also left her two guards, a driver, and a servant. From now on, she would always travel like this.

The days are gone. We used to travel with our father in a sedan chair or a donkey cart, or even wander the streets together.

Sitting in the car, I lifted a corner of the curtain to look out and happened to pass by Tongjitang Pharmacy.

Mo Yi quickly had the car stop.

When the doorman saw an elegant carriage parked at the entrance, he immediately lifted the cotton curtain to greet it, his attitude both attentive and composed.

But unlike other shops that greet customers with smiles and enthusiasm, each one has its own unique style!

Upon entering, a steward immediately greeted her: "May I ask what needs Madam?"

Mo Yi thought for a moment: "I'd like to ask the steward to help me think about what kind of over-the-counter medicines should be prepared for women who are naturally weak and are going to a dry, cold place like Yuzhou with hard water."

Although she didn't know Yuzhou, she had read some notes about the general characteristics of that area.

Upon hearing this, the steward went in again and asked the old doctor to come out.

The experienced doctor offered his advice, which consisted mainly of things to nourish the blood and qi, protect the stomach and intestines, and improve physical condition. "People with weak constitutions will experience more pronounced symptoms of acclimatization problems. Also, it's advisable to keep some sleeping pills on hand."

As he spoke, he pulled out the list and handed it to Wen Yu.

Wen Yu looked around and said, "Add some of the best wound medicine, medicine for colds and phlegm, medicine for strengthening the heart... bring some of these that are available as over-the-counter medicines. They all have instructions, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes, the main ingredients and their uses are all listed. Just ask your local doctor when you need to use it!"

Mo Yi had the shop pack the items as if they were for a long-distance trip, and then had someone come to pick them up later. She then turned around, got into the car, and went home.

I went inside and took a nap as usual.

With the prince away, I relaxed and slept for nearly two hours before waking up.

After drinking two cups of tea, he got up to put on more clothes and a cloak.

"Your Majesty, are you going out?" Hongyan asked.

"Let's take a walk in the garden. We've been here for a few days, and we still haven't really seen what the mansion looks like."

Hongyan and Xiangye accompanied her out. "It's snowing..." A few snowflakes began to fall from the sky, but because there was no wind, it wasn't too cold.

"I hope Your Highness has a safe journey..." Before they knew it, several people were thinking of him.

Then she thought of the leather leg covers that Consort Feng had given her... She had no idea about his life yet, so she had to pay more attention to this aspect.

The garden was large, but there weren't many people around... Mo Yi walked along the main road and through the side paths, past the gallery, and around the artificial hill.

She saw almost no one along the way. Occasionally, she would see a girl wearing a thick cotton skirt, but she would only bow to her from a distance before hurrying away.

"Your Highness, those walking around the garden are mostly maids and servants from the inner courtyard. Those serving outside can't enter the second gate without permission; they all have to walk around outside the second gate."

"That's it..."

"Yes, this is such a big garden, and there are only these people. Now that it's cold, there are even fewer."

Mo Yi was in high spirits. "This pond is really quite big..." She leaned on the railing and looked out. The water was frozen over, with a section of ice broken off. Large koi carp would occasionally surface, then flick their tails and dive back down. There were also two wild ducks...

"The water here is quite deep; Your Highness must be careful."

What kinds of flowers do you grow at home?

"We have peonies, herbaceous peonies, and roses. The garden will be beautiful when spring comes; it's bare right now."

How do the children in the family live?

“Princess Wenxiu lives in…” Hongyan pointed, “in Changhui Pavilion over there. The eldest young master and Miss Qianqian are still young, so they live with their birth mother. In a few years, when Shaoge’er is older, he will move to the outer courtyard over there, and then he will be served by mostly servants.”

Mo Yi gazed into the distance and nodded.

“When the Prince was away from home, Princess Wenxiu would go back to her maternal family. I heard that when she was at her maternal family, she was taken care of by her aunt, Miss Zhou Jiu. Miss Zhou Jiu stayed at the Prince’s mansion for a while, at Changlan Pavilion… and later… she returned to the Zhou family.”

Mo Yi noticed the change in Hongyan's tone. She probably wanted to marry into the family, right? Actually, it's common for younger sisters to remarry after their older sister's passing, especially when the brother-in-law is wealthy and powerful, and has children…

It seems I've unintentionally blocked someone else's way.

Having finished most of her business for the day, Consort Feng left Changhui Pavilion to return to her own courtyard. She had only taken a few steps when she encountered a young maid who whispered a few words to her.

She turned her head and could vaguely see three figures in the garden... She snorted inwardly and went straight back to her courtyard.

……

Princess Yu'an has been waiting for Xu Ke for quite some time.

She no longer felt the fantasy and excitement she used to have when waiting for him; instead, she grew increasingly impatient.

Xu Ke entered with a smile, "It's snowing outside, Princess, are you getting impatient? I was just about to go out when Commander Feng stopped me..."

"Enough!" Princess Yu'an interrupted him impatiently. "I can see you're a very busy person now. I just don't know if you're genuinely busy or if you're avoiding me!"

"Why would I hide from the princess?" Xu Ke asked helplessly. "As you know, the grand martial arts competition next summer is about to begin. I want to participate; it's a great opportunity to build connections..."

"Commander Feng agreed?"

"It's not that easy. We don't even know who the Emperor will appoint to oversee this matter. But it shouldn't be difficult for me to get a place, it's just a matter of how high or low the position is..."

"How about I talk to the Crown Prince?"

Xu Ke said nonchalantly, "If His Majesty were to appoint His Highness the Crown Prince as the overseer, you could just say so and there wouldn't be a problem. But it's not decided yet!" As he spoke, he drifted off into thought, seemingly lost in his own world...

Upon seeing this, Princess Yu'an's anger flared up again. She asked shrilly, "You shared a room with that slut from the Mo family?"

"Huh? What did you say?" Xu Ke turned around when she heard her tone was unpleasant.

"I'm asking you, did you share a room with that slut from the Mo family?"

"No... How many times do I have to say it?" Xu Ke shook his head helplessly. He didn't understand what the princess was up to either...

It was with her consent, and we were married through proper channels. Isn't it normal for us to share a room?
Princess Yu'an snorted coldly, "Li Jing took his young wife back to her parents' home, and you went to the Mo family too?"

"I'm going," Xu Ke said calmly.

“You…” Princess Yu’an said angrily, “What? You really think you’re the son-in-law of the Mo family?”

“Princess…” Xu Ke looked helpless again: “His Highness Prince Qi is going, how can I not go? My parents asked me beforehand how I had made the arrangements. I just returned from the Mo family, and they called me over again to ask what was going on.”

If I don't go, how much I'll have to explain, how many lies I'll have to tell to convince them? At Mowen's, if I come home late or not at all because of work, I give her the cold shoulder and don't say a word. Regardless of what she's thinking, she's helpless against me and doesn't dare utter a single unnecessary word.

But should I use this to fool my parents? Wouldn't that be blatantly admitting I have secrets I can't tell anyone?

"Fine... matters concerning me cannot be discussed with others..." Princess Yu'an was both ashamed and angry. "Xu Ke, you're very clever!"

Xu Ke felt a growing sense of unease. "Princess... what do you suggest I do?"

Princess Yu'an's chest heaved. She wanted to curse him, throw things, and order the guards to beat the servants in the courtyard... but she just sat there angry, not saying a word for a long time.

Xu Ke also fell silent.

The two of them sat there silently for a long time.

"Then tell me, what is the relationship between Li Jing and his bride?" Princess Yu'an finally swallowed her anger and took the initiative to ask, which was considered as lowering her pride.

"To be honest?" Xu Ke smiled. "Quite good!"

"His attitude was gentle and his manners impeccable. The gifts were generous, and he even spent considerable time and patience listening to the nonsense of the Mohist men. Moreover, he promised to introduce a great Confucian scholar to Mo Yi's elder brother and offered to send her younger brother to the Imperial Academy. What do you say to that?"

Princess Yu'an wasn't stupid; of course she knew what this meant.

But she just didn't understand why.
All these actions were aimed at elevating the Mohist school to a higher level. But there are plenty of other women out there; wouldn't it be better to just marry one?
Even great Confucian scholars have daughters and granddaughters! Never mind, I don't want to think about it anymore…

Turning to look at Xu Ke, she saw that he had become much more composed after these days of experience. Like a sword that had been reforged, he now shone with an even sharper brilliance. Her heart began to race again…

“Xu Lang…it was all my fault just now, I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you…” She walked over, squatted down, and rested her head on Xu Ke’s knees.

Xu Ke looked down at her... She was a princess... Her body was so noble, yet she was prostrate at his feet. How he was so addicted to this vanity.

This moment is also...

But he discovered that somewhere... the previous jubilation had vanished...

(End of this chapter)