The Governor's Mansion in Xinyang City now served as the temporary headquarters of the Mo Family Army. All the main generals, including Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, were temporarily stationed here. After the bloody massacre, less than one-tenth of the city's original population of hundreds of thousands remained. The entire city had practically become a military zone, operating under strict martial law. The broad streets were no longer filled with bustling pedestrians or enthusiastic vendors—only disciplined soldiers moving in orderly formations. Even when civilians occasionally passed by, their faces were etched with sorrow and numbness.
Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao walked along Xinyang City’s largest thoroughfare, Xuanwu Street, gazing at the empty lanes with a sigh. Noticing her somber expression, Mo Xiuyao silently reached out and took her hand. Ye Li looked up at him and smiled faintly. "I’m fine. It’s just… seeing the largest city in the northwest so desolate suddenly makes me feel a little lost."
Mo Xiuyao replied softly, "Once this war is over, it won’t take more than a few years for prosperity to return."
Ye Li shook her head. "No matter how prosperous it becomes, the people who once lived here won’t be the same."
A shadow flickered in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. "In war, it’s inevitable that ordinary people suffer and die."
"Yes… 'One general's triumph is built upon ten thousand bones,'" Ye Li murmured with a sigh.
"'One general's triumph is built upon ten thousand bones…'" Mo Xiuyao pondered the words. The illustrious military achievements of the Mo Family’s ancestors, the awe-inspiring reputation of the Mo Family Army—hadn’t they all been forged from countless lives? The Ding Royal Palace had always prided itself on protecting the peace of the Chu people, yet how often had he—or anyone else—truly grieved for the innocent lives lost in war?
Walking ahead, Ye Li turned back to glance at Mo Xiuyao, her smile faint and her eyes carrying a nostalgic tenderness he had never seen before. Softly, she said, "Do you know? Someone once told me that a soldier’s duty is to defend the homeland and protect the people’s peace. And the greatest disgrace for a soldier is to let the very people they swore to guard witness the horrors of war right at their doorstep."
Mo Xiuyao fell silent. The distant, wistful look in A Li’s eyes made her seem ethereal, almost untouchable—so beautiful it ached his heart. A sudden panic seized him, an urge to hold her close, as if she might vanish the next moment if he didn’t. Acting on impulse, he pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin atop her head. In a low voice, he said, "This incident… is indeed a disgrace to the Mo Family Army."
Ye Li chuckled softly and shook her head. "That’s not what I meant. Just treat it as my rambling. This incident… wasn’t your fault."
Mo Xiuyao’s voice softened. "Nor was it yours, A Li. You did everything you could."Ye Li nodded and was about to straighten up and step out of Mo Xiuyao's embrace when a melodious voice filled with delight and faint melancholy came from behind, "Xiu Yao, you're here?" The two turned around to see a stunning woman standing not far away, gazing at Mo Xiuyao with joy. Ye Li sighed inwardly. Su Zuidie wasn’t just a woman of extraordinary beauty—she was also one who knew very well how to use her advantages to the fullest. In Xinyang City, where all trades were in decline, and as an unwelcome guest to both the prince and princess, naturally no one had gone out of their way to prepare lavish attire or exquisite ornaments for her. Yet, looking at the woman before them, dressed in the simplest white robes, she managed to wear them with an ethereal grace, as if a celestial maiden had descended to the mortal realm. Her raven-black hair cascaded loosely, tied only with a white silk ribbon. Su Zuidie was already twenty-five years old, but standing gracefully in the middle of the street, she appeared no more than two years older than Ye Li, who was just fifteen or sixteen.
"What are you doing here?" Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly, his expression indifferent as he looked at her.
Su Zuidie clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves, biting her lip as she gazed at Mo Xiuyao with sorrow. "Do you not wish to see me?" Mo Xiuyao’s expression remained unchanged, his sharp eyes fixed on her as he said sternly, "This prince is asking you—what are you doing here?"
Su Zuidie froze, then let out a bitter laugh, her eyes filled with resentment as she looked at him. "I see. You still hate me, don’t you? You still blame me for leaving you alone back then, don’t you? But... I had no choice. Why can’t you forgive me? You guard against me as if I were an enemy. Am I not even allowed to take a walk and get some air? If you hate me so much, why not just kill me outright?" Mo Xiuyao frowned and ignored her, turning instead to the empty street and calling out, "Guards!"
Two figures quickly appeared at the street corner, bowing respectfully as they awaited orders. Mo Xiuyao pointed at Su Zuidie, who was covering her face and weeping, and said coldly, "Take her back. If I see her out here again, you will face punishment."
"As you command!" the two replied in unison.
Su Zuidie stared at Mo Xiuyao in shock, disbelief written across her face. "You’re imprisoning me? Xiu Yao, you’re so cruel... My grandfather won’t allow you to treat me like this!"
Mo Xiuyao replied calmly, "Do you want Elder Su to know you’re still alive?"
Su Zuidie immediately fell silent. Given her grandfather’s temper, if he learned what she had done over the years, he would surely kill her! Glancing at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, whose hands were still intertwined, Su Zuidie, though unwilling, had no choice but to follow the two shadow guards back. Being forcibly escorted would only be more humiliating.
Ye Li smiled faintly as she caught the resentful look Su Zuidie shot her before leaving, shrugging nonchalantly. No matter how stunning a beauty was, one grew accustomed to it after seeing it enough. She had always believed that true beauty should be just right—being too beautiful... could sometimes be a flaw in itself.
After accompanying Mo Xiuyao around the city to inspect the defenses and console the surviving residents, the two finally returned to the prefect’s residence. The moment they entered, Mo Xiuyao was summoned away by Feng Zhiyao, while Ye Li returned to her study to attend to matters requiring her attention.The desk was already piled with various documents, files, and memorials that Zhuo Jing and Lin Han had organized. When Ye Li entered, the two who had been busy immediately rose to greet her. Ye Li waved her hand to dismiss the formalities, and they sat back down to focus on their work. After two months of guidance, Zhuo Jing and Lin Han had largely met Ye Li's expectations for assistants. Zhuo Jing, in particular, having spent more time by Ye Li's side, could often anticipate her needs with just a glance or gesture, sparing her the need for words. This had freed Ye Li from much of her daily workload, allowing her to focus only on the most critical decisions.
"Any news from An Er?" Ye Li asked as she sat down and picked up a memorial to review.
Lin Han stood and presented a memorial. "This arrived early this morning, delivered swiftly by An Er's messenger." Ye Li took it and skimmed the densely written contents, all pertaining to Su Zuidie. It detailed her current status and influence in Western Liang, the background of her family, the Bai Clan, and her relationships with the Western Liang Emperor, his consorts, and princesses. As she read further, Ye Li couldn't help but marvel—Su Zuidie was not only the emperor's favored concubine but also rumored to have an ambiguous relationship with Zhennan Wang. Her enmity with Empress Bai was severe, and she had nearly been killed by the empress on several occasions, only escaping harm thanks to Zhennan Wang's intervention. Later, Zhennan Wang openly suppressed Empress Bai, reducing her to a puppet in the palace, while Su Zuidie effectively ruled the Western Liang court. Ye Li was puzzled: why would such a powerful figure, who held sway over the imperial harem, travel all the way back to Da Chu? Wasn't she afraid Mo Xiuyao still harbored resentment and might cut her down with a single stroke of his sword? Or was she so confident in her beauty that she believed Mo Xiuyao would inevitably fall at her feet?
After finishing the memorial, which read more like sensational gossip than history, Ye Li curled her lips in disinterest. "Send this to His Highness when you have time."
Lin Han nodded and set the memorial aside to deliver later.
"Zui Die requests an audience with Third Miss Ye." Su Zuidie's soft voice came from outside the door. Ye Li frowned, then said, "Imperial Concubine Bai, you may enter."
Outside, Su Zuidie shot an angry glare at the two guards by the door and raised an eyebrow. "May I enter now?" Unfortunately, her charming fury was lost on the loyal guards, who remained as impassive as stone. "Her Highness invites Imperial Concubine Bai inside," they replied respectfully.The title of Imperial Concubine Bai filled her with both anger and humiliation. Everyone in the Mo Family Army knew she was Mo Xiuyao's fiancée, yet those around Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li all addressed her as Imperial Concubine Bai. This form of address constantly made her suspect it was deliberate mockery. In truth, Su Zuidie was overthinking it. Most in the Mo Family Army knew that the prince's former fiancée was Su Zuidie, the most beautiful woman in the world, but they also knew Su Zuidie was dead. Even if she claimed to be Su Zuidie, unless the prince acknowledged it, she wouldn't be considered genuine in their eyes. Moreover, since both the prince and his consort referred to her as Imperial Concubine Bai, their subordinates naturally followed suit.
With a soft snort, Su Zuidie stepped into the study. Upon entering, she saw Ye Li seated behind the desk, reviewing documents. Nearby, two tables pushed together were piled high with account books, reports, and files. Lin Han and Zhuo Jing sat at the tables, diligently occupied with their tasks, not even sparing a glance at the renowned beauty. It wasn't that they didn't appreciate beauty, but this particular beauty had been "coincidentally" running into the prince frequently these past few days. The coincidences were such that the prince was often by the consort's side, and they, in turn, were usually with the consort. Thus, their encounters with the beauty had become rather frequent. People admire beauties because they seem unattainable, but when a beauty constantly throws herself at you, no matter how stunning, her allure inevitably diminishes.
Seeing Ye Li so engrossed in her work only deepened Su Zuidie's resentment. Back when she was by Mo Xiuyao's side, not only was she never allowed to assist with official matters, but she wasn't even permitted to enter the study. Now, however, Ye Li sat boldly in Mo Xiuyao's place, handling the affairs of Ding Royal Palace with ease. The fact that someone she deemed inferior had obtained what she had never been granted made the disparity all the more unbearable for Su Zuidie.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
After a month's break, I'm finally back at work. Though I'm not sure how long it'll last. Sneaking in some writing during my lunch break...
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