Mo Li

Western Mausoleum Army Camp

The atmosphere in the commander’s tent was oppressive, filled with an eerie chill. Zhennan Wang’s expression was the darkest it had been since the Western Liang army had launched its campaign. Ever since Mo Xiuyao’s sudden appearance and seizure of Xinyang, the entire Da Chu army seemed to have suddenly sprung back to life. In just over ten days, nearly a month’s worth of their hard-won gains had been halved. Not only had the northern route army been caught off guard and utterly crushed by Mo Xiuyao’s surprise attack, but the southern route army had also suffered repeated setbacks. Only the central army, personally commanded by Zhennan Wang, remained stable. However, recapturing Xinyang from Mo Xiuyao’s grasp would be an immense challenge. To make matters worse, they had lost fifty thousand dan of grain and several million taels of silver to Princess Ding, further straining the already insufficient supplies of the Western Mausoleum Army as winter approached.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger!" the generals pleaded nervously.

Zhennan Wang snorted coldly. "Calm my anger? Is that all you can say?"

Knowing the prince was in a rage, the generals dared not speak further and could only cast pleading glances toward Lei Tengfeng, who sat to the side. Lei Tengfeng smiled faintly and rose to address Zhennan Wang. "Father, we all know Mo Xiuyao is a formidable opponent. Please don’t be too hard on them—they’ve done their best." Zhennan Wang let out a disdainful hum and swept a frosty gaze over the group. "Get out! If tomorrow you’re still scrambling like headless chickens against the Mo Family Army, you might as well strip off your armor and become common foot soldiers!" The generals hastily agreed, shooting grateful looks at Lei Tengfeng before slinking out of the tent.

Once the tent was empty except for Zhennan Wang and his son, Lei Tengfeng finally spoke again with a smile. "Father, we mustn’t rush when dealing with Mo Xiuyao. Though we’ve suffered some losses these past few days, the overall situation still doesn’t put us at a disadvantage." Zhennan Wang sighed heavily and said solemnly, "I’m well aware of that. But… Teng Feng, never underestimate Mo Xiuyao. In my opinion, he is even more dangerous than Mo Liufang!" Lei Tengfeng raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t expected his father to hold Mo Xiuyao, whom he had only met a handful of times, in such high regard. After all, Mo Liufang was Mo Xiuyao’s father—Zhennan Wang’s greatest, perhaps only, lifelong rival. Was this truly a case of the pupil surpassing the master?

"If Mo Xiuyao had lived an ordinary, uneventful life these past years, I might not have paid him much attention. But you know as well as I do the suffering he has endured—the severity of his injuries back then. Yet look at the Mo Family Army’s performance these past few days. Mo Xiuyao shows not the slightest hint of rustiness; if anything, his command is even more seasoned than the legends claim. This means that even during those seven or eight years when he was bedridden with illness, secluded within Ding Royal Palace, he still retained the ability to fully control the Mo Family Army’s forces—and the army still obeys him wholeheartedly. Teng Feng… could you achieve such a feat?" Zhennan Wang asked coolly.

Lei Tengfeng frowned slightly, lost in thought for a moment before lifting his head with a grave expression. His smile carried traces of shame and unwillingness, but he shook his head nonetheless. "I lack the capability to do so." No one understood the extent of Mo Xiuyao’s injuries better than he did. He knew that under such circumstances, he could never have maintained such flawless control over the Mo Family Army as Mo Xiuyao had. In fact, he might have long succumbed to despair under the weight of such agony or been consumed by hatred and driven to madness.Zhennan Wang nodded with some satisfaction, saying, "Recognizing one's own shortcomings is a good thing. Mo Liufang had a fine son and a good daughter-in-law... truly fortunate."

Lei Tengfeng recalled the woman in white who had remained composed and smiling during the hostage exchange that day and had to admit Mo Xiuyao was indeed lucky. To marry such a woman—how many heroes and warriors across the land would envy Mo Xiuyao to death.

"Father, what are your plans?" Lei Tengfeng asked.

Zhennan Wang raised an eyebrow. "What do you think my plans are?" Lei Tengfeng smiled. "Just now, though Father appeared angry on the surface, you weren’t truly furious. That means you already have a solution in mind." If his father had been truly enraged, not even his pleading or the intervention of the highest authority would have made a difference. Zhennan Wang idly toyed with the jade ring on his finger and gave a cold laugh. "Back then, Mo Xiuyao was lucky, and the Ding Royal Palace was fated to survive. This time... let’s see if his luck still holds!"

Lei Tengfeng’s heart stirred, and his expression shifted slightly. "Father, you intend to..."

Zhennan Wang smiled leisurely. "The Ding Royal Palace isn’t just an eyesore to me alone."

"Your Highness is right. The Ding Royal Palace is indeed an eyesore to many. There are plenty in this world who wish for its disappearance," a soft, alluring voice came from outside the tent. Lei Tengfeng frowned at the sound, a flicker of disgust crossing his face. Zhennan Wang noticed and shook his head in amusement.

The tent flap was lifted from outside, and a slender, graceful figure entered. Passing the screen embroidered with tigers roaring amidst mountains and forests, the woman who appeared in the tent wore a delicate pink palace gown. Her willow-like brows needed no adornment, and her cherry lips were naturally red. Her flawless beauty left no room for criticism. With a single glance, her sparkling eyes could captivate anyone, making them lose themselves in her gaze. Even Lei Tengfeng, who seemed to despise her, couldn’t help but falter momentarily when her eyes met his. Noticing his dazed expression, the woman curved her lips into a faint smile and stepped forward gracefully, bowing. "Greetings to Your Highness and the Young Master."

Zhennan Wang regarded her coolly. "Why have you come? Doesn’t the Emperor need you?"

The woman’s charming eyes glimmered as she laughed. "Your Highness jests. The Emperor is gravely ill in bed—Her Majesty the Empress is enough to attend to him. Why would he need me? Unless... Your Highness doesn’t wish to see me?"

Zhennan Wang chuckled. "How could that be? Your timing is perfect. There’s something I need your help with."

Her smile deepened, and the solemn atmosphere of the tent seemed to brighten with her presence. "Your Highness’s command is my duty. Long’er will do her utmost to fulfill it." This woman was none other than Western Liang’s Imperial Concubine Bai Long—the former Great Chu’s number one beauty, Su Zuidie.Lei Tengfeng's momentary distraction was fleeting. As soon as Zhennan Wang began speaking, he had already regained his composure, silently listening to their conversation. His gaze toward Su Zuidie remained filled with disgust and disdain, as if looking at something filthy, yet there seemed to be something deeper struggling beneath the surface. Zhennan Wang had been observing his son's expression from the moment he started speaking and sighed inwardly upon seeing this. Teng Feng was indeed the most outstanding among all his children, even among the Western Liang imperial family, but unfortunately, he still fell slightly short compared to Mo Xiuyao.

"What instructions does Your Highness have?" Su Zuidie asked with a smile.

Zhennan Wang looked at her with a faintly mocking expression. "Long'er, you rushed here in such a hurry. Surely you already knew Mo Xiuyao is in Xinyang City?" Su Zuidie paused briefly, something flashing quickly in her eyes, but it was soon concealed beneath a coquettish smile. She shot Zhennan Wang a playful glance and said, "Long'er did know Mo Xiuyao was in Xinyang, but I was already on my way when I found out. Couldn't I have come because I missed Your Highness? It seems Your Highness truly doesn’t wish to see Long'er." Zhennan Wang leisurely admired the charming pout of the stunning beauty before him, smiling faintly as he pulled her into his arms and laughed heartily. "How could this prince not miss Long'er?"

"Your Highness..." The delicate beauty clung to Zhennan Wang like a boneless creature, calling out sweetly.

Lei Tengfeng watched the scene with a grim expression and finally couldn't hold back, saying coldly, "Father, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Zhennan Wang released Su Zuidie and shook his head at Lei Tengfeng. "You excel in everything, my child, except you take things too seriously." The usual smile on Lei Tengfeng's face vanished completely as he glanced at Su Zuidie and said, "There’s no need for me to take a promiscuous woman seriously. I simply find her repulsive."

"You! Lei Tengfeng, you go too far!" Su Zuidie's face flushed with anger, turning pale and then red again. She turned to Zhennan Wang with teary eyes, pleading indignantly, "Your Highness, look how the heir speaks of me! I... Long'er has no face left to live!"

"Enough. Must you two quarrel every time you meet?" Zhennan Wang frowned, his smile fading. Su Zuidie snorted lightly and glared at Lei Tengfeng, though for some reason, she held back. Lei Tengfeng said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

Zhennan Wang shook his head. "Very well, let’s discuss serious matters. Long'er, what are your plans regarding Mo Xiuyao?"Su Zuidie's delicate brows furrowed slightly before she quickly raised her head with a coquettish laugh, "Does Your Highness want Long'er to go back and find him?" Zhennan Wang chuckled, "Go back to him? Do you think he would accept you now? Everyone under heaven knows Prince Ding is deeply devoted to his Princess of the State, his heart belongs solely to her." A flash of resentment crossed Su Zuidie's eyes, but when she lifted her gaze again, they were still seductive as silk as she said softly, "Does Your Highness not believe me? Long'er grew up with Prince Ding since childhood. How could I possibly lose to that talentless, charmless Ye Li?" What did that Ye Li have besides a decent family background? No, she didn't even have that—just a good grandfather. Unfortunately, Mr. Qingyun had long withdrawn from worldly affairs. She was Prince Ding's rightful fiancée, the most beautiful woman in Great Chu... no, in all the land! How could she lose to some woman without talent or looks?

Lei Tengfeng snorted disdainfully, making his opinion perfectly clear.

Su Zuidie shot him an angry glare. Zhennan Wang laughed, "How could that be? This prince absolutely believes Long'er is the most peerless beauty in the world today. How would Mo Xiuyao dare not fall beneath Long'er's skirt?"

With a hint of smugness, Su Zuidie smiled at Lei Tengfeng, "What does Your Highness want me to do?"

Zhennan Wang smiled without answering.

"Father, will Mo Xiuyao really take the bait?" Only after Su Zuidie left the tent did Lei Tengfeng frown and ask.

Zhennan Wang looked at him and asked, "Do you think this prince would be infatuated with her?" Lei Tengfeng shook his head—he could clearly see that although his father had some involvement with Su Zuidie, he had never developed genuine feelings for her. Zhennan Wang chuckled, "Since this prince wouldn't fall for it, why would Mo Xiuyao?"

"Then Father, isn't sending her to seduce Mo Xiuyao too much of a joke?" If that woman had the ability to seduce Mo Xiuyao, why would she be in Western Liang in the first place?

Zhennan Wang laughed, "Who said this prince wants her to seduce Mo Xiuyao? With a marvelous woman like the Princess of the State by his side, Bai Long is nothing more than a pretty but useless vase."

Lei Tengfeng frowned briefly before his expression cleared as he looked up at Zhennan Wang, "Father has other plans."

"I merely want her to divert Mo Xiuyao's attention for a while. If she can't even manage that, then she's of no use at all." Zhennan Wang's cold smile was utterly ruthless, devoid of any trace of the tenderness and affection from moments before.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Dragging this woman out for a spin~