"Censor Mo, what do you think of your daughter's choice?" He Jingcheng asked. There was a long pause before Mo Qinshan responded.
"My daughter has always been stubborn and willful since childhood and prefers making her own decisions", he answered.
"Is that so? Your daughter said she had admired Imperial Uncle since childhood. Do you know about that?"
"Back then, I thought she was naïve and innocent. I didn't pay much attention"
"Does your daughter understand the spot she is placing herself on in the palace?" "I taught her to follow her heart. Now she acts without considering consequences. I failed in raising her properly"
"You taught her to follow her heart. There is nothing wrong in that", He Jingcheng said and passed an order to Eunuch Go, "draft the decree conferring Lingxi as the Principal Consort of the Grand Prince"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
[Li Residence]
"What happened to you? Didn't you go to see the empress?" Li Changsheng asked looking at his daughter's disheveled appearance.
"Father, it was that Mo Lingxi's fault", Li Min cried.
"What? What happened?"
"I came across her in the palace today and had a casual chat with her. I didn't expect her to feel offended and push me into the lake in front of everyone. I was made a laughingstock in the palace today. Father, you must avenge me."
"Is that what really happened?"
"Father, why would I lie to you?"Li Changsheng walked a few steps away in thought.
"Father, do you not believe me?"
"Miss Mo is known for being composed and restrained."
"Reputation? She is always traveling around like a wild girl and has no restraints. Who knows what bad habit she has picked up?"
"Miss Mo is Censor Mo's daughter and we must not provoke her. You should let it slide"
Li Min couldn't take it, "Father, she bullied me and you want me to let it slide? Where is my dignity? Are you that afraid of Censor Mo?"
Li Changsheng turned to her sharply.
"I'm not afraid, but making enemies with him will bring our Li family unnecessary trouble." Li Min bit her lip, unwilling to accept her fate.
******
[Grand Prince Residence]
"What do you think of Miss Mo?" He Yu asked Jun Jie as they walked.
Jun Jie thought for a while, "she is different from other noble ladies"
"How so?"
"She carries a different aura. When other nobles talk, they speak in a flattering tone or speak with great caution"
"Doesn't she speak with caution?"
"She does but differently. She does not flatter and when speaking, it seems she is speaking casually but she is actually probing"
He Yu smiled as he recalled the smirk he had seen earlier, "You are right"
[Empress Hall]
"Mo Lingxi is indeed something", Shen Ruihua said after listening to her maid's account of He Jingcheng's meeting with Lingxi.
"Have you found the story behind the edict?"
"Your highness, the correction must have been made by a minor official in the Imperial Secretariat but there many minor officials in the Imperial Secretariat so it is quite difficult to pinpoint the exact person", the eunuch next to the maid answered.
"I don't care how difficult it is. If you can't find the culprit, you may as well bring me your head"
The eunuch bowed, "I'll definitely find the culprit"
******
The moon shone brightly at the eastern courtyard of the Mo Residence. Lingxi was admiring the sky as she embroidered a pouch. She picked some herbs with a refreshing scent and placed it in the pouch before sealing.
"Qin Yan", she called.
He walked up to her, "Yes?"
"The moon is bright today and it's lively outside. Why don't we go take a look? What do you say?" Lingxi asked eagerly.
Qin Yan who always had his sword up with his arms folded couldn't help but sigh, "will saying no make a difference?"
"It won't", Lingxi said standing up to go.
She walked ahead while Qin Yan followed behind.
"Candied hawthorns!"
"Hot dumplings!"
"Sweet cakes!"
"Beautiful hairpins for sale!"
The market was very lively even though it was night time.
"The night market is very lively here", Lingxi commented as she ate the candied hawthorn she had just bought.
She passed the other one to Qin Yan but he didn't want it so she kept it for herself. She rushed over to a stall and saw the freshly made sweet cakes of different sizes.
"Pack this..... and this ..... and this ... and that....."
She bought a bit of everything.
"If you keep spending like this I won't be surprised if your father went bankrupt", Qin Yan spoke.
Lingxi who was trying to select the perfect hairpin for her hair responded, "it's not like I'm spending your money", she said and turned to look at him as though in thought, "Qin Yan, why are you so talkative today? Please return to normal. It's scary when you speak out of the blue", she said and continued what she was doing when a voice called her, "grandaunt".
She was a bit startled with the address but Qin Yan already had his sword on the person's neck.
"Who are you?" Lingxi asked.
"Grandaunt, I'm He Xuan," he answered using his fan to try separating the sword from his neck.
"Third prince?" Lingxi was a bit surprised. She signaled Qin Yan and he removed his sword and they both bowed in greeting.
"Spare the formalities," He Xuan said bowing in return, "I apologize for startling you earlier," he said.
Lingxi confirmed that He Xuan was truly as carefree as what she had heard.
"Grandaunt, which one do you prefer?" he asked staring at the hairpins on display.
"Stop calling me that. I'm not your grandaunt yet," she responded.
The sound of grandaunt gave her a sort of gave her blues.
"It's only a matter of time," he said brushing it aside, "Grandaunt, which one do you prefer?" he asked without changing his form of address.
"Your highness does not need to buy me anything", Lingxi could only reluctantly accept the address he had given her.
"That's not possible. I have to apologize to you", he said.
Lingxi resigned and scanned the jewelries before picking a silver hairpin with a purple pearl.
"Miss, you have good taste", the stall owner said.
He Xuan paid and picked the hairpin. He wanted to give it to Lingxi but Qin Yan took it instead, "I'll accept it on her behalf", he said.
"Thank you for the gift", Lingxi curtsied. "You're welcome", He Xuan said smiling.
"We'll take our leave then", Lingxi curtsied and turned to leave but He Xuan kept following her. He followed her till they got to a clothes shop.
"Your Highness, why are you following me?"
"I don't know where else to go".
They entered and Lingxi bought two belts. "Miss, you sure have a good eye", the shopkeeper said seeing the black with dark blue and silver stones design belt she had picked.
She picked two of such designs and handed one to Qin Yan.
He Xuan stretched his hand in anticipation.
"Sorry, your highness. This is for my father", Lingxi said and He Xuan withdrew his hand awkwardly, "No problem. I'll get mine later".
They headed out of the shop after she paid.
Just as soon as they stepped out, the heard a stern voice, "what are you doing here by this time?"