<u><strong>Chapter 20: Her Chance was Here </strong></u>


    Right  after Yao Suluan said that, a pair of powerful arms wrapped around her.  As she leaned against Ye Liyu’s broad chest, her lips hooked in a  smile.


    “It’s been so many  years, do you still not understand my heart? Don’t you know how much my  heart aches to see you like this? If it weren’t for you, this prince  would’ve rejected Imperial Older Brother and just stayed carefreely in  Secluded Province! It’s been seven years. This prince thought that this  prince would be able to forget you if this prince went far enough away!  However, the further I went, the more I missed you! Suluan, this prince  has returned, so no one will dare to bully you again!” Ye Liyu hugged  the beauty in his arms tightly as he said this with conviction.


    “Transcendental  Prince… Suluan regrets now… But what do I do? There’s no longer any way  to turn back…” Yao Suluan’s tears soaked Ye Liyu’spel. At this  moment, her only thought was that her chance hade. With Ye Liyu  here, she could now contend against Yao Mowan!


    “Don’t  cry, this prince will help you! This prince won’t let off anyone that  hurts you! Suluan, did you say that Yao Mowan bullied you? But from what  I’ve heard, she really is a fool. How is this possible?” Ye Liyu slowly  lifted Yao Suluan out of his arms and asked her this gently.


    “Yao  Mowan isn’t a fool at all, she’s extremely intelligent! It was her… she  had caused Suluan’s mother to die and had framed Suluan multiple times…  Prince, just forget it. Suluan doesn’t want to fight anymore either.  Just living on like this and being able to see Prince is already  enough…” Yao Suluan covered her mouth and lowered her tear-filled eyes.


    “This  prince came back for you! This prince will make everyone that bullied  you pay the price!” Ye Liyu’s heart was filled with fury when he saw the  woman he loved so hurt.


    “Don’t…  You’re not a match for Yao Mowan! Suluan doesn’t want Prince to end up  in the same situation. I beg you, don’t provoke her! If anything happens  to Prince, Suluan would never be able to live with the guilt!” Yao  Suluan went with the reverse psychology strategy and tried to dissuade  Ye Liyu.


    “Ha! Could it be  that Yao Mowan’s a vicious wolf? Even if she is, this prince can still  beat her to death! Leave this matter to this prince and don’t worry  about it anymore!” This strategy was evidently very effective on Ye  Liyu. Furthermore, there was no way he could just standby and watch as  the woman he loved suffered.


    “Prince…”


    “That’s  enough! This prince’s decision won’t change. Just wait and watch how  this prince gets justice for you!” said Ye Liyu indignantly.


    After  Ye Liyu left, Yao Suluan wiped away the tears at the corners of her  eyes and smiled widely. It had only taken a few words to get Ye Liyu to  willingly be her sword. Ye Mowan ah, the day of your death will be  arriving soon!


    The  following evening, Ye Liyu’s weing banquet was held in the imperial  garden. Therge square pavilion was decorated with rednterns that  lit up the garden like it was day. The scent of delicacies filled the  air and there was a dazzling lineup of wine. The feast was so abundant  it seemed like a national banquet.


    Way  before Ye Hongyi arrived, the consorts and concubines had arrived in  beautiful attire. There were only two left out of the four noble  consorts, so the two empty positions became the target of all the  concubines and consorts in the Inner Pce. Ye Junqing had arrived  before Ye Liyu. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw Ye Liyu stride  in.


    “Has Seventh Brother  been doing well in Secluded Province?” They were brothers after all, and  when Ye Junqing was a general, he had looked after Ye Liyu a lot, so he  was happy to see Ye Liyu again after so long. However, to his surprise,  Ye Liyu didn’t even look at him and acted as if he didn’t hear Ye  Junqing’s words.


    Ye  Junqing concealed the awkwardness and slight coldness he felt and sat  down. Right at this moment, Ye Hongyi walked in while holding Yao  Mowan’s hand, so Yao Mowan happened to see this entire scene. It seemed  that in these past seven years, the only thing about Ye Liyu that had  progressed was his temper. Yao Mowan inwardly scoffed.


    “This wife kowtows in salute to Your Majesty!”


    “This  younger brother kowtows in salute to Your Majesty!” After a bunch of  greetings, Ye Hongyi pulled Yao Mowan over to the main seat.


    “You  may all sit! Since it’s a family banquet, there’s no need to be so  formal.” Ye Hongyi was in a very good mood as he waved to indicate for  everyone to sit down.


    “Imperial  Older Brother puts it well! Since it’s a family banquet, some people  shouldn’t be here!” A rough voice suddenly arose. Upon hearing this,  everyone looked towards Ye Liyu only to find that he was currently  looking straight at Ye Junqing.


    “Liyu  ah, why is your temper still like this? What do you mean by shouldn’t  be here? The only people here are your Imperial Sister-in-Laws and your  Imperial Older Brothers. Who shouldn’t be here?” Ye Hongyi knew who Ye  Liyu was pointing at, but he still faked anger and berated him.


    “Naturally…” Ye Liyu was just about to reply when Yao Mowan interrupted.


    “Your  Majesty, shouldn’t a family banquet be the entire family eating  together? Then why isn’t Second Older Sister here?” Yao Mowan looked  toward Ye Hongyi with a puzzled expression.


    “The servant in Consort Li’s Pce said that she’s ill so she won’t be here.” Ye Hongyi stroked Yao Mowan’s nose dotingly.


    “But Wan <em>er</em> misses Second Older Sister…” Yao Mowan lowered her eyes in a disappointed manner.


    “An Bingshan, call Consort Li over!” Ye Hongyi immediately gave thismand when he saw Yao Mowan dispirited.


    Meanwhile,  Ye Liyu’s gaze turned cold when he looked towards Yao Mowan. It seemed  that Yao Suluan was right, Imperial Older Brother truly favored this  fool too much. A single sentence from her and he insisted that Suluan  came even if she was ill! Ha, this prince will soon force you to show if  you’re truly a fool or just faking it!


    After  Yao Mowan changed the topic, Ye Liyu couldn’t very well bring up that  issue again and just glowered at Ye Junqing before sitting back down.


    Beautiful  elegant music soon filled the air. The pce women danced under the  soft moonlight, their garments fanning out like the wings of  butterflies. After one song finished, Yao Suluan appeared in a  magnificent red gown with Ming Yu supporting her.


    “Suluan  kowtows in salute to Your Majesty…” Yao Suluan’s face was pale and her  voice was weak. She didn’t dare to look straight at Ye Hongyi and after  greeting him, carefully moved to the side. Ye Liyu’s heart ached when he  saw Yao Suluan’s timid and humble expression. A woman that used to be  so haughty had now fallen to such depths!


    “Second Older Sister, you’re here? Hurry ande here!” Yao Mowan excitedly got up but Ye Hongyi gently pulled her back.


    “You  may sit.” Ye Hongyi’s voice was indifferent as he waved for Yao Suluan  to sit. He was finding Yao Suluan more and more irritating to the sight.  If he only he could be certain that she didn’t tell anyone else his  secrets. Once he made sure of that, he would definitely send her  somewhere out of sight so that he could get rid of this annoyance.


    “Liyu ah, you’ve rushed back such a long way, you’ve truly worked hard! But <em>we</em> are relieved that you’re back. <em>We</em> finally have another brother in this Imperial City! Come, let <em>us</em>  offer you a toast!” Ye Hongyi turned to look towards Ye Liyu. He  trusted this younger brother quite a lot. After all, they were born of  the same parents so they were closer than most.


    The  pce rules stated that everyone must toast when His Majesty raised  his cup, but when Ye Junqing lifted his cup, Ye Liyu suddenly said, “If  Esteemed Prince wishes to drink with Imperial Older Brother, then Liyu  will pass on this round!” Ye Liyu’s words were barbed and his eyes were  filled with disdain.


    Upon  hearing this, Ye Junqing lowered his cup again with an indescribable  feeling. Even though he was now someone without power or a title, he was  still his imperial older brother.


    “Liyu  ah! You must drink tonight! No one is to leave until drunk!” Ye Hongyi  was in a good mood after seeing Ye Junqing embarrassed and downed his  drink in one go. At the side, Yao Mowan’s lips lifted slightly in a cold  smile.


    __________ Credits: Tranted by Chiyomira