Mo Li

The two men in the midst of their fierce battle finally noticed the odd silence from the onlookers. Turning their heads, they saw Ye Li standing to the side, watching them with keen interest. Yun Ting’s face flushed with embarrassment, and in his momentary distraction, he took another solid punch from his opponent. However, the other man, still mindful of the status of Princess Ding, didn’t press the advantage after landing the hit. The two quickly separated, though the glares they exchanged made it clear their resentment toward each other remained.

Ye Li clapped her hands lightly and smiled at them. “Why did you stop?”

“Princess…” Yun Ting hung his head in shame. Over the past few months, he had come to deeply respect Princess Ding and took pride in being personally mentored and promoted by her. That was why he had been so easily provoked when faced with the dismissive attitudes of a few young officers from the Mo Family Army—leading to this impulsive brawl.

Ye Li chuckled. “It’s fine. Sparring among soldiers is common in the barracks—no need to be embarrassed. Unless… my presence is hindering your performance?”

At her words, the surrounding officers who had been watching couldn’t help but flush with guilt. If they hadn’t doubted Yun Ting—or even Princess Ding’s capabilities—they wouldn’t have allowed the fight to escalate. Now, compared to her composed demeanor, their behavior seemed petty and unworthy of seasoned men.

Seeing that they had no intention of continuing, Ye Li dismissed the gathered soldiers with a wave and led the officers into the main tent. The camp outside the city was under Lyu Jinxian’s command, but he had gone into town earlier to discuss defense arrangements with the city garrison, leaving no one to intervene when the two officers started fighting. Lyu Jinxian rushed back as soon as he received word, but Ye Li had already arrived ahead of him. With a stern glare at Chen Xiaowei, he stepped forward to apologize.

Ye Li’s laughter was light and clear as she motioned for Zhuo Jing to help Lyu Jinxian up. “There’s no need for such formality, General Lyu. As long as young men know their limits, a little roughhousing can be a way to bond.”

Once everyone was seated inside the tent, Lyu Jinxian called Chen Xiaowei forward to explain the cause of the fight. While scuffles weren’t uncommon in the military, proper sparring should take place in the Martial Arts Field or on designated platforms—not in front of ordinary soldiers, where it could breed discord and undermine discipline.

Chen Xiaowei shot a sidelong glance at Yun Ting and snorted, refusing to answer Lyu Jinxian. The dismissive sound reignited Yun Ting’s barely cooled temper, and he jutted his chin out defiantly. “Still not convinced? Let’s go another round!”

Chen Xiaowei smirked. “You think I’m scared of you? If it weren’t for… I’d knock your teeth out!”

“Big talk for someone who can’t back it up!” Yun Ting taunted.

“Enough!” Lyu Jinxian roared. Not only had these two officers brawled in front of multiple generals and Princess Ding, but now they were hurling insults like street thugs. This was outright insubordination!Ye Li set down her teacup and smiled faintly at Lyu Jinxian, saying, "General Lyu, please calm your anger. Young people are inevitably a bit hot-headed—there's no need for you to be upset. Yun Ting, after spending a few months in the capital, if nothing else, your tongue has certainly sharpened, hasn't it?" Yun Ting's face twisted slightly. Although he was considered young among the army ranks, he was still a few years older than Princess Ding. Being called "young and hot-headed" by someone younger than him made his face burn with embarrassment. He lowered his head and said, "This subordinate was reckless. Please punish me, Princess."

"I said I won't blame you, and I meant it," Ye Li replied. "Now, tell me—what was the reason you two... well, decided to 'spar' so early in the morning?"

Chen Xiaowei and Yun Ting hesitated, glancing at Ye Li but remaining silent. She frowned. "What? Can't you say? Or should I ask the other generals who were present?"

Chen Xiaowei stepped forward, gritting his teeth. "It was this subordinate who spoke disrespectfully of the Princess, which led to the conflict with Lieutenant Yun. Please punish me—I will accept any penalty!" Ye Li studied him for a moment before nodding. "At least you have the courage to take responsibility."

Chen Xiaowei remained silent. Yun Ting glanced around, then also stepped forward. "This subordinate was also at fault. I am willing to accept punishment alongside Lieutenant Chen." Looking at Yun Ting's youthful face, Ye Li inwardly nodded in approval. A few months of training and guidance had clearly done him good. Had this happened months ago, Yun Ting would never have voluntarily asked for punishment—not out of any particular reason, but simply because he had now learned better how to conduct himself. The members of the Mo Family Army were not unreasonable people, and seeing Yun Ting's attitude, their expressions softened noticeably.

After a long silence, Ye Li finally spoke calmly. "I have only recently taken command of the Mo Family Army and have not had the chance to meet all of you before. It's understandable if you harbor doubts. So, let’s consider this matter settled. Now, if any of you still have concerns, feel free to voice them. You are all seasoned warriors who have fought on the battlefield for years—let’s not bother with the roundabout ways of the court." Seeing their hesitation, she smiled lightly. "In this tent, speak freely without fear. Or are you all worried I’ll retaliate afterward?"

After another pause, a middle-aged lieutenant stood and bowed to her. "Princess, forgive my bluntness. While it is only natural for you to lead the Mo Family Army in His Highness’s absence, warfare is unlike other matters—it concerns the lives of thousands of our brothers. That is why we have reservations. You are still young and come from a scholarly family, so..." Ye Li listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show she understood. Encouraged by her lack of anger, others also voiced their doubts—mostly about her youth and their skepticism regarding her leadership and combat skills. Ye Li sat quietly in her chair, waiting until everyone had spoken before smiling brightly. "Now I finally understand the extent of your concerns. It seems I have indeed been remiss. Lieutenant Chen, was this why you held such resentment toward me?"

Chen Xiaowei stiffened his neck. "Warfare is no child’s play. If the Princess lacks true capability, this subordinate will naturally remain unconvinced!""Chen Yun, how dare you!" Lyu Jinxian scolded.

Ye Li waved her hand with a smile, "It's alright. I specialize in dealing with all kinds of defiance. Why don't we settle this on the training grounds?"

"This subordinate wouldn't dare!" Chen Xiaowei was clearly startled by Ye Li's words, dropping to his knees with a thud. Although the generals of the Mo Family Army had doubts about the Princess of the State's ability to lead them, they held immense respect for her status as the King Ding's consort. However, the lives of soldiers on the battlefield were crucial to the outcome of war, so they couldn't blindly trust her capabilities just because of her title. Now that the Princess proposed a duel, how could Chen Yun dare to raise a hand against his superior?

Ye Li stood up calmly and said, "Get up. A real man shouldn't kneel so easily. What? Are you, a grown man, afraid of a woman like me?"

Chen Yun's face flushed red, unsure whether to admit fear or not.

With a faint smile, Ye Li strode out of the tent without waiting for his response. Naturally, the others had no choice but to follow. Chen Yun looked helplessly at Lyu Jinxian, who was walking last. "General..." Lyu Jinxian shook his head and sighed, "Let's go. Don't keep the Princess waiting." Yun Ting, who had already reached the entrance, turned back and gave Chen Yun a somewhat gleeful smirk. He had personally witnessed the Princess's skills—if Chen Yun thought about going easy on her, he was in for a rude awakening.

On the training grounds, Ye Li stood with her hands behind her back, smiling at the hesitant Chen Yun below. Unnoticed, many soldiers who had finished their drills had gathered around. Seeing Chen Yun still hesitating, Ye Li called out, "Chen Xiaowei, please come up."

Chen Yun finally stepped onto the field, but unlike his earlier spirited and fierce demeanor when fighting Yun Ting, he now appeared stiff and uneasy. Glancing at Ye Li, he said, "Princess... please make the first move."

Ye Li raised a brow, realizing Chen Yun would never dare to strike first. With a light laugh, she said, "Very well, Chen Xiaowei—watch out!" Instead of using her usual dagger, she turned and drew a longsword from Zhuo Jing, who stood nearby. The blade flickered like a streak of cold light as it shot toward Chen Yun. He sidestepped to evade the strike, but Ye Li swiftly swept the sword horizontally. In moments, she had unleashed several rapid slashes, forcing Chen Yun back step by step. The soldiers below jeered at his apparent reluctance to fight back.

Chen Yun had originally planned to let Ye Li land a few moves before finding an opportunity to concede gracefully, saving face for both of them. But the moment she delivered her first strike, he knew he was mistaken. The Princess's grip, the force and angle of her strikes—none of it was for show. Each swing was lethally precise. If not for his agility and the fact that she was holding back, he would have already been riddled with holes.Chen Yun swiftly flipped backward to retreat to a safe distance, while Ye Li did not pursue aggressively, sheathing her sword and standing calmly in the center of the field, watching him. Chen Yun cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate was blind and begs Princess Ding's forgiveness. I boldly request a rematch with Your Highness." After speaking, he walked to the weapon rack on the side, took down a long spear, and gave it a firm shake in his hand, his expression solemn as he faced Ye Li. Ye Li nodded in satisfaction and said, "Very good, that's more like it. Chen Xiaowei, please."

"My apologies!" Chen Yun declared loudly, thrusting his spear straight at Ye Li. Ye Li nimbly sidestepped, her long sword swirling into a dazzling flourish. As the saying goes, "an inch longer, an inch stronger," and Ye Li's three-foot sword held little advantage against Chen Yun's spear. However, the onlookers soon noticed that the princess consistently maintained a specific distance between them—a range that severely limited the spear's sweeping advantages, making the match evenly matched for the time being.

Below the platform, Feng Zhiyao, who had arrived unnoticed, stood lazily beside Mu Yang with his arms crossed, grinning as he asked, "Young Master Mu, who do you think will win—Princess Ding or Chen Xiaowei?" Mu Yang smiled faintly and replied, "I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Princess Ding's skills—she is undoubtedly a master among ten thousand. Chen Xiaowei... still falls a bit short."

Hearing Mu Yang's words, Lyu Jinxian, standing nearby, turned his head in surprise to glance at the two before finally settling his gaze on Feng Zhiyao. Feng Zhiyao, being an old acquaintance of Lyu Jinxian, didn’t hide anything and chuckled, "General Lyu may not know this, but the princess's swordsmanship was personally taught by Prince Ding. Moreover... swordsmanship might actually be her weakest skill."

At these words, the generals present subtly changed expressions. They had all witnessed the princess's swordplay—while not peerless, the lethal intent beneath each stroke was unmistakable. It was a sword technique truly meant to kill. And yet... this was supposedly her least proficient skill. In other words, Princess Ding had not even used her true abilities against Chen Yun.

Mu Yang looked up at the graceful figure moving like a swimming dragon on the platform and couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. Suddenly, he recalled Ye Li’s earlier words—"This princess specializes in subduing all defiance." Before such a woman, how many could truly remain defiant?