Mo Li

"Greetings, Your Highness."

In the flower hall, Qingshuang and the others quickly bowed in unison as they saw the white-robed man strolling out from within. Mo Xiuyao's gaze swept calmly over the four of them before he asked indifferently, "What is it?" After exchanging glances with the other three, Qingyu stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, Han Mingxi, the newly appointed head of the Han family, requests an audience with the Princess Consort." None of them had accompanied the Princess Consort outside before, so they were unaware of how she had become acquainted with this Han Mingxi. However, An Er and An San, who had followed the Princess Consort, mentioned that the young master was a friend of hers. Thus, even though they knew His Highness would likely be displeased by the disturbance, the four of them mustered their courage to report it.

"Han Mingxi?" Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and let out a faint hum. "He arrived rather quickly. Take him to the study. I will meet him myself. A Li is resting—do not disturb her. Have more food prepared and ready. Qingyu, come with me."

The four exchanged subtle glances. It seemed His Highness was indeed in a good mood.

"As you command, Your Highness."

In the study, Han Mingxi stood with his hands behind his back, silently contemplating a calligraphy piece on the wall. The character for "endurance" appeared restrained and refined at first glance, but upon closer inspection, one could distinctly sense the underlying murderous intent and sharp, chilling aura. Having lived most of his life under the shelter of his parents and elder brother, he could scarcely imagine what kind of person could write a character so gentle and composed on the surface yet brimming with lethal danger beneath. It was akin to wrapping a poisoned blade within the softest recesses of one's heart—both perilous and agonizing. Slowly shifting his gaze from the calligraphy, he turned toward the door. Mo Xiuyao stood there, having arrived unnoticed. Compared to their last meeting in Guangling City, Mo Xiuyao now seemed more at ease. Though Han Mingxi did not know him well, he could tell the man was in high spirits.

Han Mingxi studied the man before him—plain white robes, a strand of raven-black hair casually draped over his shoulder, his entire demeanor appearing languid and harmless. But when his gaze landed on a faint red mark near Mo Xiuyao's neck, his pupils contracted sharply, and his hands, clasped behind his back, clenched involuntarily. "Your Highness," he greeted. As a man well-versed in romance—one who had wandered through countless blossoms—he could discern what Mo Xiuyao had been doing before arriving in the study, even if the man's appearance betrayed no impropriety.

"Master Han, please sit," Mo Xiuyao said as he stepped into the study, nodding faintly. "A Li is feeling unwell today and may not be able to receive you. I hope you will forgive the inconvenience."

Han Mingxi sat down silently before responding in a low voice, "Your Highness is too courteous. Since the Han family has pledged loyalty to you and the Princess Consort, we naturally await her leisure."Mo Xiuyao glanced at Han Mingxi with some surprise. He knew Han Mingxi all too well—someone who had been spoiled beyond measure by Han Mingyue since childhood, cultivating a bold and unrestrained personality. Yet the Han Mingxi sitting across from him now was uncharacteristically composed and restrained. It seemed Han Mingyue's departure had dealt a heavy blow, both to the Han family and to Han Mingxi himself. After a moment of contemplation, Mo Xiuyao spoke, "Since this prince has already stated that the Han family is to follow A Li's orders, there is little more for me to say to you, Young Master Han. You may retire to the guest quarters for now. Should you require anything, you may inquire with Head Steward Mo, An Er, or An San. I presume you are somewhat familiar with them?"

Han Mingxi nodded faintly. "Many thanks, Your Highness. I shall take my leave."

After watching Han Mingxi depart, Qingyu, who had been waiting outside the door, cautiously entered. "Your Highness."

Mo Xiuyao acknowledged her with a nod. "Have you examined that cup of tea?" Qingyu replied, "This servant has checked it. The tea contained musk, safflower, and some other cold-natured herbs. After returning, I also consulted Physician Shen. He confirmed that the tea indeed has... the effect of causing infertility, though that applies mainly to the imperial concubines in the palace. Many palace women use musk, borneol, and other fragrances year-round, which already affects their constitutions. Ingesting large amounts of cold-natured substances could indeed lead to infertility. However, the princess consort never uses such fragrances, and her health is excellent. Physician Shen said unless consumed over a long period, drinking that cup of tea would do her no harm. Moreover, the musk's scent is overpowering—the tea's aroma couldn't possibly mask it. It would be easily detected. Thus, Physician Shen believes the person who drugged the tea may not have intended for the princess consort to drink it... It was likely just a test."

"A test?" Mo Xiuyao arched a brow faintly.

Qingyu hurriedly nodded. "Such drugs as musk pose little harm to ordinary people—one or two instances would never cause infertility. But they are extremely dangerous for those who are pregnant. After examining the tea I brought back, Physician Shen said if the princess consort were with child, even a single sip of that tea would be enough to... induce a miscarriage."

Silence lingered in the study for a long while before Mo Xiuyao finally waved his hand. "You may leave. A Li only has you who understands medicine and remedies. Be more vigilant in the future."

"This servant takes her leave." Qingyu exhaled quietly in relief, curtsied, and hastily withdrew. When His Highness was angered, even if he showed no outward signs, the oppressive aura alone was more than what young maids like her could endure.

After Qingyu left, the study fell into deep silence. The usually gentle and profound eyes of Mo Xiuyao were now shadowed with gloom. Mo Jingqi truly knew how to prepare for rainy days—the moment his health showed signs of recovery, he couldn't wait to test A Li. Perhaps he also wanted to test whether Mo Xiuyao had truly fully recovered. Or did he truly believe so confidently that Mo Xiuyao wouldn't dare to move against him?

"Summon someone.""Your Highness." A figure in gray appeared in the study. "Your Highness, we've confirmed it. It was Wang Zhaorong who ordered the drug to be added to the tea. It's said that during an intimate moment, the Emperor inadvertently mentioned the issue of the Princess Consort's fertility. Wang Zhaorong sought to gain favor by drugging the tea." Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh. "A mere Zhaorong—how could her people possibly have the means to drug the tea in the Empress's palace?" The gray-clad man naturally dared not answer, understanding that the Prince wasn't seeking his response. He only asked, "Wang Zhaorong attempted to harm the Prince's Estate's heir. Your Highness, should we…?" Mo Xiuyao shook his head, his smile bone-chilling. "No. Since she enjoys adding ingredients to tea so much, have Qingyu prepare the same concoction and ensure she drinks it for three consecutive months!"

"Your Highness… Wang Zhaorong might already be with child."

"Do you not understand my words?"

A shiver ran down the gray-clad man's spine, and he quickly bowed his head. "This subordinate obeys!"

In the bedroom, Ye Li slowly opened her eyes, the slight discomfort in her body causing her to frown. Recalling the events that had transpired, the passionate and lingering moments of intimacy flashed through her mind, and her already radiant post-blush face flushed even deeper. Helplessly, she patted her cheeks, which felt hot enough to fry an egg, then buried herself under the covers, shaking her head vigorously to dispel those embarrassing images. A soft moan escaped her lips as the discomfort persisted. Ye Li, you're so useless and shameless…

Rolling under the covers, she gritted her teeth at the thought of that scoundrel who had disappeared to who-knows-where. If she still couldn't tell he'd done it on purpose, she'd be an idiot. And yet, this idiot had fallen for it completely, panicking at the sight of his despondent expression. After endless apologies and coaxing, she'd ended up offering herself as compensation. Though later, she didn't know where that surge of impulse had come from, and she hadn't resisted either…

"A Li, are you awake?"

Gentle footsteps approached from beyond the screen. Ye Li looked up to see Mo Xiuyao standing by the bed, smiling down at her. Seeing him impeccably dressed while she lay there, she glared at him resentfully. "Where did you go?" Mo Xiuyao arched an eyebrow, walked to the table, poured a cup of warm water, and brought it over to feed her. Ye Li quickly reached out to take it herself. Unfazed, Mo Xiuyao sat on the edge of the bed with a faint smile. "I didn't want to disturb you, so I stayed outside to read. By the way… Han Mingxi arrived this afternoon. I had him stay in the guest courtyard for now."

Ye Li choked on her water before managing to say, "Han Mingxi is here already? That was fast. I should go see him—"

Warm lips pressed against hers, silencing her words. After a tender moment, Mo Xiuyao took the cup from her hand and set it aside, murmuring with a low chuckle, "A Li, tomorrow will be soon enough to see him."

"But…" Ye Li frowned slightly. Mo Xiuyao didn't allow her to refuse, lightly pressing a finger to her delicate lips. "A Li, if you care too much about other men, I'll get jealous."

Ye Li's clear eyes sparkled as she gazed at him. "And what if you do get jealous?""This prince is jealous... perhaps enough to silence him forever," Mo Xiuyao said with a faint smile. Ye Li raised an eyebrow, "So today was intentional? Hmm?" Mo Xiuyao didn’t deny it—his A Li was far too clever for denials to work. "I merely thought today was a fine occasion." Leaning gently against him, Ye Li sighed softly, "As long as you do not betray me, I will never betray you."

"Mo Xiuyao would betray the entire world before betraying A Li."

In the end, Ye Li couldn’t resist Mo Xiuyao. Someone once said that when you begin yielding to someone, you’ve likely already fallen in love. Ye Li wasn’t one to deceive herself. Mo Xiuyao was her husband, the closest person to her in this world aside from blood relatives. She didn’t wish to deny the possibility that she might have fallen for him. Even in their most intimate moments, hearing Mo Xiuyao’s deep murmurs of affection filled her heart with genuine joy. In this era, what greater happiness could a woman have than marrying a man who loved her and whom she loved in return?

"Young Master Han." When Ye Li entered the guest courtyard, Han Mingxi was sitting beneath a magnolia tree, lost in thought. The faint breeze carried crimson petals onto his moon-white robes, weaving an oddly luxurious contrast. Accustomed to Han Mingxi’s usual flamboyant red attire, the sight before her now carried an unfamiliar sense of distance. Han Mingxi snapped out of his reverie, momentarily dazed by the graceful woman approaching him, but quickly regained his composure. "Jun Wei... no, Princess Consort."

Ye Li smiled helplessly. "Hearing you address me like that feels rather strange."

Han Mingxi arched a brow with a grin. "Though the Princess Consort has always called me 'Young Master Han,' truthfully, I’m not used to it either. Besides, from now on, Han Mingxi will be your subordinate. If you keep addressing me so formally, wouldn’t it seem odd?" Ye Li tilted her head, amused. "In that case, I’ll call you Mingxi. As for you... address me as you please. How fares the Han family?" Han Mingxi nodded. "Han Mingyue has severed all ties with the Han family. Whatever happens in the future won’t involve them. By the way, I’ve already organized the Han family’s ledgers. Prin— Would you like to review them?" In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to call her by the distant title of "Princess Consort."

Ye Li gave him a surprised glance and shook her head. "The prince and I have no intention of annexing the Han family."Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow with a smile, "I naturally understand that the Ding Royal Palace's wealth rivals a nation's, and Prince Ding would hardly take notice of the modest Han family. But since we've sworn allegiance, it's only right to show some sincerity." Ye Li chuckled, "Even if the Han family truly pledges loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate, there's no reason to empty out the Han household. The Han family remains the Han family, and its enterprises will naturally still bear the Han name. Those account books give me a headache, so Mingxi should take them back and peruse them at leisure. Hmm... perhaps you could exchange insights with An Er and An San—Lin Han and Zhuo Jing—they've been poring over account books recently as well." Han Mingxi pondered briefly before nodding with a smile, "Understood. From now on, if there's anything you need from me or the Han family, just give the word." Ye Li nodded, "Good. As it happens, I have some new collaborations in mind. If you've already had breakfast, we can discuss them in the study shortly. If not, why not join me for a meal?"

"I thought you would have already breakfasted with Prince Ding?"

Ye Li replied coolly, "His Highness has profound inner energy; missing one meal won't leave him hungry." Recalling a certain man who had overstepped his bounds, she gave a silent huff in her heart—not being angry didn't mean she wouldn't hold a grudge. Han Mingxi turned to look at the woman behind him, catching an unintentional glimpse of a newfound allure in her demeanor that hadn't been there before. His heart dimmed slightly as he turned back toward the house, "Then I would be honored to share breakfast with Princess Ding."

The matter of selecting marriage candidates was postponed by Ye Li, and with the Ding Royal Palace still closed to visitors, the anticipated clamor and bustle were avoided. Yet, the daily influx of calling cards and invitations to the Prince Ding's Estate never ceased. Ye Li merely skimmed through them before setting them aside for Head Steward Mo and Granny Sun to handle. Under the combined tutelage of Head Steward Mo and Han Mingxi, An Er and An San made rapid progress. Though Han Mingxi had never managed affairs before, his upbringing in a merchant family and his innate intelligence meant he was far more capable than the average person—otherwise, Han Mingyue might not have entrusted the Han family to him so confidently. Ye Li's so-called collaborations with Han Mingxi mostly involved her proposing ideas and providing some capital, while the actual execution was left entirely to him. By the time their discussions concluded, several days had passed. Thinking of the elite troops of the Ding Royal Palace she had left in the valley—likely suffering who knew what torments—Ye Li checked the time and decided to go see them.

During these days, though Qin Feng hadn't stayed in the valley with his comrades, his days were no less strenuous. After all, the Princess had made it clear that the final trained unit would be under his command. As their leader, he couldn't afford to be outdone by his own subordinates. So, upon returning to the estate that day, he sought guidance from An Er and An San. Coincidentally, An San was already dizzy from the stacks of account books, and when Qin Feng offered himself up as a punching bag, An San didn't hold back. The daily grueling and ever-changing drills left Qin Feng—the once proud and somewhat dismissive Black Cloud Cavalry commander who had secretly looked down on shadow guards—completely humbled.Following Ye Li to the valley beneath Black Cloud Peak once again, Qin Feng had to admit he was genuinely curious about what state those elite soldiers had been reduced to. When they finally descended to the base of the cliff and saw their comrades and fellow warriors rolling in the dust across the wide training ground below, Qin Feng couldn't help but wince. This sight... was truly an embarrassment to both the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Mo Family Army.

Ye Li remained seated on the rooftop, patiently waiting for the group running laps to finish. Only when the dust-covered men returned to the courtyard did she leap down, smiling warmly as she asked, "How have you elite soldiers been feeling these past few days?"

The elite soldiers wore expressions as gray as the dirt on their faces, each one impassive. Could they admit they were exhausted enough to wish for death? If someone had told them before that simply running and performing some strange exercises could wear them out so completely, they would never have believed it. Who were they? The finest shadow guards and soldiers in all of Chu. How could such trivial tasks defeat them? Now they understood—they had never truly run before. In fact, the unluckiest shadow guard on the first day had been so exhausted from running alone that he couldn't even crawl. Observing their expressions, Ye Li nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "As I've said before, martial prowess doesn't equate to physical fitness, and physical fitness doesn't necessarily mean endurance. After these days of training, I believe all of you have made significant progress in both strength and stamina. Keep it up. Additionally, starting today, add five more miles to your daily run and one hundred repetitions to each of the other exercises." At this, the ranks below finally erupted in groans. Unfazed, Ye Li continued, "I don't need many of you to become peerless masters. I need you to become the strongest soldiers—the elite of the Mo Family Army, and even the entire Chu."

"Young Master, does this mean we'll return to the army and remain part of the Mo Family Army?" someone below couldn't help but ask. This was the question on everyone's mind. Most had assumed Prince Ding intended to train them into a force even more secretive and formidable than the shadow guards. Yet, according to Young Master Chu, they would still be soldiers and might even return to the Mo Family Army. Ye Li smiled faintly and replied, "I can't reveal everything yet, but I promise you will eventually have an honorable title. All ranks and promotions will be on par with—or even surpass—those of the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Mo Family Army. Those who reach an age unfit for service or suffer injuries will be transferred to suitable positions within the Mo Family Army or Prince Ding's Estate."

The crowd buzzed with surprise. Such terms weren't even offered to the Black Cloud Cavalry, making them all the more curious about what kind of army they were destined to become.

"However, all of this depends on whether you can successfully stay. Though I'm surprised no one has dropped out in these seven days... this is only the beginning. Qin Feng, here's the training plan for the next two weeks."Qin Feng looked at the roll of white paper covered in black ink as if it were a death warrant. Slowly unfurling it, his brows knitted tightly together. "Young Master, these... I can't quite understand them." Ye Li smiled, "It's fine if you don't understand. Starting tomorrow, Zhuo Jing and Lin Han will take turns overseeing them. Before they arrive, you can study the equipment on the training field yourselves. In fact, the first month is entirely physical training—I won’t be too strict with you. Tomorrow, the eight experts supervising you will also withdraw, so everything will depend on your own discipline. Also, in your spare time, read the books I brought. Learn as much as you can—it’ll make the next two months easier for you."

Qin Feng passed the scroll around for everyone to see, letting them grasp the reality in their hearts. The soldiers, already exhausted from days of grueling training, felt their blood run cold. With the new additions, the workload had increased by at least fifty percent. Did this Young Master Chu actually want to kill them? Even worse, while they had previously only been required to complete tasks, this document now specified time limits—even for running. After these days of relentless training, they had some idea of what to expect, but the demands listed here were excessively harsh, even for elite soldiers like them.

"Young Master Chu, this is simply impossible!" protested a soldier standing in the front row.

Ye Li glanced at him and raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Impossible?"

"That’s right! Without using Light Body Skill, there’s no way to complete so many tasks in such a short time!"

Ye Li’s smile deepened. "Black Cloud Cavalry? I never heard you were so reliant on martial arts. Isn’t it the shadow guards who specialize in that? If someone manages to do it, what will you do?" The soldier replied proudly, "If someone can really do it, then so can we." Ye Li nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Assemble on the training field." Watching the soldiers file out, Qin Feng glanced at Ye Li worriedly and whispered, "Your Highness... you don’t mean it’s you, do you?" He believed someone could do it—the Princess Consort wouldn’t deliberately set an impossible task just to mock them. But how could it be the seemingly delicate Princess Consort herself? Though he knew she was formidable, as she had said, martial prowess and physical endurance were two entirely different things—and what was written here clearly demanded endurance, not skill. If anything happened to her, the Prince would surely have his head!

Ye Li glanced down at her clothes. She had deliberately dressed appropriately for unexpected situations like this. After all, with plenty of training experience under her belt, she was quite familiar with how these elite soldiers might react—having both trained others and been trained herself. Even if she had to guess, she could predict their responses fairly accurately.

The craftsmen responsible for constructing this valley were highly dedicated. The training ground outside the courtyard met Ye Li’s requirements almost perfectly. A group of defiant soldiers stood on the field, gaping as Young Master Chu—who was much shorter and far slimmer than them—ran effortlessly while carrying dozens of pounds of weight. At first, no one paid much attention, but after she completed five or six laps around the field without even breaking a sweat, they finally realized this Young Master Chu was no ordinary person. After ten laps, instead of stopping to rest, she immediately charged toward the strange obstacles in the center of the field. She crawled under a net laden with iron caltrops and sharp objects, scaled a rope net over twenty feet high, vaulted over a ten-foot earthen wall, and swung across a twenty-foot gap to land precisely on a narrow wooden beam less than half a foot wide but five feet tall. Under the stunned gazes of the onlookers, she dashed across it as if walking on flat ground. Finally reaching the finish line, she picked up the longbow waiting there, drew an arrow, and casually loosed it—hitting the bullseye dead center. Meanwhile, the last grains of sand were still trickling through the hourglass beside her.

Ye Li turned around, raising an eyebrow at the dumbfounded crowd. Inwardly, she let out a long sigh of relief. Truthfully, this series of actions had been somewhat strenuous for her current condition. Though she had never stopped training over the years, and her marriage into Prince Ding's Estate had allowed her to practice without restraint—even making progress in ancient martial arts thanks to Mo Xiuyao’s occasional guidance—it had been a long time since she had performed such a complete sequence of maneuvers. Fortunately, she had pulled it off. If she had faltered in front of these men, it would have been difficult to discipline them later. Concealing her exhaustion, she flexed her stiff muscles subtly while maintaining a composed smile. "Well?"

"Amazing!" After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in cheers. Regardless of their initial thoughts, this Young Master Chu had effortlessly accomplished what they couldn’t—proving herself superior. And without a doubt, they respected strength.

"Then... will you all obey your instructors and show me your progress in half a month?"

"Yes, Young Master!" they chorused.

Once the crowd dispersed, Ye Li’s confident demeanor instantly crumbled. Leaning against a balance beam, she grimaced and sighed. Qin Feng, observing her, raised an eyebrow. "This subordinate thought Her Highness made it look easy."

Ye Li waved a hand helplessly. "No matter how easy it used to be, it’s been too long since I last practiced. I’m out of shape... I nearly fell earlier. I really was overconfident. Since returning, I’ve been so busy I didn’t even have time to familiarize myself with the course. But then again... who gets time to scout the battlefield in a real fight?"

Qin Feng frowned, puzzled. "Your Highness needn’t push yourself so hard."Ye Li smiled, "Not really. Compared to all the probing and guessing back in the capital, I'd rather stay here. If I don't push myself, how can those arrogant fellows be truly convinced? This is just the beginning. I'll have to keep intimidating them regularly to prevent them from getting too full of themselves."

Qin Feng couldn't help but rub his forehead. Hadn't she been harsh enough today? Now she wanted to intimidate them further?

"Probably. I'm exhausted—I'll rest a bit before heading back." Ye Li rubbed her arm and turned toward the courtyard. "Oh, and I shouldn't need to remind you about confidentiality, right? If the prince finds out about today, all your tasks will be doubled."

"Yes, my lady."