Mo Li

Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing withdrew after receiving their orders. Han Mingyue stared at Mo Xiuyao in shock and disbelief, unable to speak for a long while. Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples, then tossed aside the scroll in his hand and regarded Han Mingyue coldly. "Han Mingyue, you should know why I've tolerated you this far."

Han Mingyue lowered his head and smiled bitterly. "I know. It certainly wasn’t for the sake of our past friendship."

Mo Xiuyao said, "You should indeed be grateful you have a good brother… and even more grateful that Han Mingxi is a friend acknowledged by A Li. Don’t bring him trouble. He won’t always be able to save you."

Han Mingyue remained silent. He knew that during this time, Han Mingxi had actually been in Ruyang City. Though the brothers hadn’t met, Han Mingyue could sense that his younger brother had secretly arranged for people to look after him. Han Mingxi, worried about hurting his pride, had kept most of these actions hidden from him. It was likely that even his own covert inquiries about the Qilin’s whereabouts had only been possible because Han Mingxi had pleaded for leniency on his behalf beforehand. With a heavy heart, he murmured, "I’ve failed him as an elder brother."

Mo Xiuyao scoffed lightly. In this lifetime, apart from his blind obsession with Su Zuidie, who had Han Mingyue ever truly been worthy of?

"Xiu Yao… I beg you, spare Zui Die," Han Mingyue forced out his plea with difficulty. Before, even when humbling himself, he had still possessed bargaining chips to negotiate with Mo Xiuyao. But now, stripped of everything, he could only beg.

"Get out," Mo Xiuyao said flatly.

"Xiu—" Han Mingyue tried to plead further, but a flash of crimson flickered in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. A powerful force surged toward him, cutting off his words before they could fully form. Han Mingyue was sent flying out of the room, crashing heavily into the courtyard outside. The study door slammed shut in front of him.

Mo Xiuyao’s strike had been swift and ruthless, leaving no room for defense. Han Mingyue barely had time to react before he was thrown to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Brother…" A dark red hem silently appeared beside Han Mingyue. He looked up to see Han Mingxi’s usually carefree and handsome face now etched with worry and sorrow.

Supported by his younger brother’s hand, Han Mingyue stood up, shame coloring his expression. He hadn’t wanted Han Mingxi to see him in such a wretched state. "Mingxi, I’m sorry."

Han Mingxi shook his head silently before saying, "Brother, don’t waste your efforts. As long as Jun Wei doesn’t return, no one can save Su Zuidie."

These days, Han Mingxi had given up trying to persuade his brother to forget Su Zuidie. Instead, he simply reminded him that his current efforts were futile. "The reason Prince Ding is keeping Su Zuidie alive isn’t because he can’t bear to kill her." It was only because he needed her alive. Letting her die too easily would be letting her off too lightly. Just as the Mo Family Army could have slain Marquis Muyang on the battlefield, Mo Xiuyao had ordered him released instead. Who knew what fate awaited the marquis in the future?

"Ye Li is already dead," Han Mingyue gritted out.Han Mingxi's expression darkened as he murmured, "As long as her body hasn't been seen with our own eyes, she isn't dead yet. Big brother, you'd better pray that Jun Wei... won't truly be found as a corpse. Otherwise..." No one could predict what Mo Xiuyao might do. Since Jun Wei's incident, Mo Xiuyao had given off an unfathomable aura. Apart from initially executing the seven thousand soldiers who had hunted Jun Wei and expelling the Great Chu troops stationed beyond Flying Goose Pass, he had shown no outward reaction to the tragedy that befell the princess. But Han Mingxi, after all, was someone close to the core of Prince Ding's Estate. Even if Mo Xiuyao hadn't spoken, he could vaguely sense that Mo Xiuyao was setting up a grand scheme. The day he truly made his move would inevitably be accompanied by endless bloodshed.

"If Princess Ding..."

Han Mingxi shook his head indifferently. "A dragon has its reverse scale—touch it and you die. Big brother, you'd best tread carefully."

Imperial Tomb of the Founding Emperor

Within the cold, gloomy tomb, Tan Jizhi's expression was even more frigid than the surroundings. Being outmaneuvered by his own ancestors left him seething with suppressed fury. Ye Li wisely chose not to provoke him at this moment. The three of them had retreated from the white jade palace—ever since Ye Li opened its doors, all the mechanisms in the tomb seemed to have deactivated, even the bridge piers that had sunk into the mercury river had risen back to their original positions. They made their way to a stone chamber in the outer section of the tomb before finally stopping to rest. After the day's exhausting ordeal, Ye Li was thoroughly fatigued. Without ceremony, she sat on a stone bench in the corner, pulling out dry rations and water from her belongings to eat.

Tan Jizhi sat opposite her, leaning casually against the wall with none of his earlier smug confidence or arrogance. His already gloomy demeanor now carried an added layer of bitterness and malice.

"Princess Ding must be quite pleased with herself, no?" Tan Jizhi asked darkly, watching Ye Li eat with undisturbed calm. Ye Li paused briefly before replying lightly, "What an odd thing to say, Lord Tan. Sitting in such a dreary place, how could this princess possibly be happy?" Tan Jizhi scoffed in disbelief. "Having witnessed my failure and enjoyed the spectacle, how could you not be pleased?" Ye Li met his gaze sincerely and stated firmly, "This princess has never taken pleasure in others' misfortunes." At this, Tan Jizhi's face twisted briefly before he suddenly grinned at her. "Though this trip ended in failure for me... encountering Princess Ding and the future heir of Prince Ding's Estate wasn't a complete loss. Of course, I must thank Father for that."

Doctor Lin remained expressionless, pointedly ignoring his words.

Ye Li smiled. "I, too, must thank my master. Were it not for his intervention, this princess wouldn't have lived to meet Lord Tan today."Tan Jizhi gave Ye Li a strange look and refrained from further sarcastic remarks. He had been by Mo Jingqi's side longer than most people realized, so he naturally had some understanding of Ye Li. If Mo Jingqi hated Mo Xiuyao the most in this world, then Ye Li was probably the person he despised the most. Though in Tan Jizhi's opinion, this hatred was purely Mo Jingqi's own irrational fixation. In Mo Jingqi's view, the already crumbling Ding Royal Palace and the half-dead Mo Xiuyao had spiraled completely out of control because of Ye Li's appearance, filling him with fury and resentment as if a decade of effort had been ruined overnight. Perhaps even more than Mo Xiuyao, Mo Jingqi wished for Ye Li to die first. While Tan Jizhi didn’t share Mo Jingqi’s inexplicable hatred, it didn’t stop him from taking Ye Li seriously. He was well aware that a woman like her couldn’t be swayed by mere words. With a slight shift in his gaze, Tan Jizhi tactfully changed the subject, "After all this time, doesn’t the Princess Consort wish to know how Prince Ding is doing?"

Ye Li curled her lips into a perfunctory smile. "Would Lord Tan be willing to tell me?"

Tan Jizhi chuckled. "It would be my honor to converse with the Princess Consort. Speaking of which… Prince Ding is truly devoted to you. The day after you fell off the cliff, not only were all seven thousand soldiers at the foot of the mountain beheaded, but Prince Ding also withdrew the entire Mo Family Army from the fronts against Nanzhao and Western Liang. Now, the state of Chu is engulfed in endless warfare." Watching Ye Li frown, he continued, "If that were all, it might still be manageable. But Prince Ding has also expelled all Chu garrisons beyond Flying Goose Pass, executing any soldiers who resisted or disobeyed. By now… the entire world knows that Prince Ding has rebelled—all for the sake of a woman. Surely the Princess Consort must be deeply moved?"

Ye Li’s expression remained unchanged. "Thank you for informing me, Lord Tan. As a woman, knowing of His Highness’s actions, I am naturally deeply moved."

Tan Jizhi raised an eyebrow. "The Princess Consort hails from the Xu family of Yunzhou, a clan renowned for its unwavering loyalty. Don’t you have anything else to say?"

Ye Li smiled apologetically. "A wife follows her husband. No matter what His Highness does, even if the whole world condemns him, in my eyes, he is always right."

"Prince Ding is truly fortunate to have such a wife!" Tan Jizhi said through gritted teeth. Ye Li smiled. "You flatter me, Lord Tan. To be honest, compared to my husband, I’m far more interested in you."

Tan Jizhi stiffened, his guard instantly rising as he stared at the plainly dressed woman before him, whose smile was radiant. Ye Li waved her hand lightly. "No need to be nervous, Lord Tan. Since you’ve already revealed your identity to me, I assume you don’t mind sharing more?"

Tan Jizhi fell silent. Indeed, his greatest secret was his identity. If even that was no longer hidden, what else was there to conceal? Raising his head, a faint smile played on his lips—though his face, long accustomed to gloom, couldn’t quite achieve an air of elegance. Not that anyone cared. Tan Jizhi arched a brow and grinned. "To have caught the Princess Consort’s interest is truly an honor." Ye Li smiled. "No need for formalities, Lord Tan. I won’t speculate about your motives for staying by Mo Jingqi’s side all these years. It must be for that one matter, am I right?"Tan Jizhi nodded slightly, "Indeed." As a descendant of the previous dynasty, what purpose could there be in painstakingly hiding beside the current emperor? It didn't take much thought to guess.

"Lord Tan, how many descendants of fallen dynasties in history have you seen successfully restore their kingdom?" Ye Li set down the dry provisions in her hand, pouring some water to wash her hands as she asked.

Tan Jizhi's expression darkened, his gaze icy as he stared at Ye Li. She smiled, "Lord Tan need not overthink it. This consort is not mocking you. You might want to ponder the question I posed."

"Indeed, very few have succeeded. Does the Princess Consort have any insights to share?"

"Insights are beyond me. In truth, restoring a kingdom... is far more difficult than founding one, isn't it? The previous dynasty fell two hundred years ago. Why would common folk risk their heads for a long-extinct royal descendant generations removed? And what benefits can you, as a descendant of the fallen dynasty, offer them to take such risks for you? Lord Tan seeks to restore the kingdom, yet... where will the funds, troops, and talents come from? Surely you don’t believe that with the fall of the Ding Royal Palace and the death of Mo Jingqi, the vast lands of Chu will simply fall into your lap? Though you failed to obtain the treasure you sought this time, this Imperial Tomb is still worth a considerable sum."

"Thank you for the reminder, Princess Consort. I appreciate your guidance," Tan Jizhi studied Ye Li for a moment before cupping his hands in acknowledgment.

Ye Li remained silent: I wasn’t guiding you; I meant to undermine you. But then again, someone who could endure humiliation and lurk beside someone like Mo Jingqi for so many years with the ambition of restoring a kingdom surely wouldn’t be completely unprepared. As she pondered the information she had just gleaned from Tan Jizhi, her expression remained unreadable. Ye Li had always been adept at maintaining the right boundaries in interactions. She knew better than to push further—any more, and Tan Jizhi might consider silencing her permanently rather than using her as leverage in negotiations with Mo Xiuyao.

Ye Li had no intention of speaking further, but Tan Jizhi seemed genuinely intrigued by her now. "Speaking of which, with your intelligence, how did you end up being forced to marry Prince Ding? Or... had you and His Highness already fallen for each other before our esteemed Emperor even knew?"

"Lord Tan, have you been reading too many romantic tales? This consort simply has good taste," Ye Li remarked coolly, casting him a sidelong glance.

"Good taste?" Tan Jizhi echoed with an amused scoff, clearly dismissive of her claim. By any measure, marrying Mo Xiuyao could hardly be considered a good thing. Ye Li pursed her lips, deciding not to explain her perspective to an outsider. From the viewpoint of women in this era, marrying Mo Xiuyao was indeed no blessing. But for Ye Li, it was the best possible choice—no need to navigate the intrigues of a household full of concubines, no lifetime wasted discussing cosmetics and petty gossip with secluded noblewomen, no confinement to a tiny corner of the world. Though she had been prepared for such a life, why not seize a better alternative when it presented itself? Even if it was far from the peace and tranquility she had once hoped for, gains inevitably came with sacrifices. She couldn’t expect both the freedom of her past life and the absence of any duties or obligations. Others' opinions didn’t matter—many things were like drinking water; only the drinker knew if it was warm or cold. What Mo Xiuyao gave her brought her joy, and she was willing to do all she could for him in return. That was all.Although the treasure in this Imperial Tomb was fake, its vast scale still lived up to its reputation as a royal mausoleum. Following the map with only necessary breaks along the way, the three of them still took over a full day to reach the exit.

As they stepped out of the tomb, the sudden sunlight made Ye Li instinctively close her eyes. Raising a hand to shield her vision, she took a moment to adjust before opening them again, only to find Tan Jizhi watching her with an amused smile.

"You place quite a bit of trust in me, Your Highness," he remarked.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "If Lord Tan intended to harm me, you could have done so inside the tomb long ago, couldn’t you? Rest assured, I won’t try to escape—after all, my child is what matters most."

Tan Jizhi nodded in satisfaction. "I’m glad you understand. To be honest, I’d rather not resort to force."

Since encountering Tan Jizhi, Doctor Lin had grown unusually silent. Most of the conversation had been between Ye Li and Tan Jizhi, while the old physician listened coldly to their veiled exchanges. Standing at the foot of the cliff, he watched as the entrance to the Imperial Tomb slowly sealed shut, leaving no trace behind. Without a word, he turned and began walking ahead.

Tan Jizhi’s expression darkened as he stared at Doctor Lin’s retreating figure. "Father, where do you think you’re going?"

Doctor Lin turned back, his voice icy. "You’ve already entered the Imperial Tomb. Why should you care where an old man like me goes now?"

Tan Jizhi’s gaze grew complicated. After a pause, he said, "Father, I want the real location of the Imperial Tomb."

A flicker of surprise crossed Doctor Lin’s face. "You think this tomb was fake?"

Tan Jizhi clasped his hands behind his back. "There was nothing inside—isn’t that obvious?"

Doctor Lin let out a dry chuckle. "I told you there was no treasure in the tomb, but you refused to believe me. Now that you’ve seen it with your own eyes, you still doubt its authenticity? Are you suggesting this old man hid the real treasure away?"

Tan Jizhi remained silent, his expression almost confirming the accusation.

A shadow of sorrow and pain flashed across Doctor Lin’s face before he sneered bitterly. "Fine! Even if I did hide the treasure, what will you do? Kill this old man?"

"Father!" Tan Jizhi gritted his teeth, his gaze hardening as he stared at the physician’s suddenly frail figure. "Have you forgotten... you’re not my real father. And that treasure never belonged to the Tan family."

Doctor Lin’s lips twisted into a mocking smile—though to Ye Li, it looked more like a grimace of grief. "Then don’t forget that you still bear the Tan name!"

Tan Jizhi’s expression shifted, his face darkening further. "You—"

"Shouldn’t we leave this place first?" Ye Li interjected suddenly. "We’re still near Ruyang, aren’t we?"

Tan Jizhi paused, swallowing his words before turning to Doctor Lin with a stiff tone. "Come with me."

Doctor Lin’s white brows lifted as if to retort, but Ye Li caught his arm. "Master," she said apologetically, "I’m feeling a bit unwell. Would you mind examining me later?"

The old physician hesitated, studying her for a long moment before finally relenting.Having calmed the foster father and son who were on the verge of a fierce conflict, Ye Li sighed inwardly. Absentmindedly touching the piece of cloth tucked in her sleeve, she quickened her pace to follow Tan Jizhi walking ahead.

Tan Jizhi glanced back at her as he led the way, saying, "My men are stationed not far from here. There's no need for the Princess Consort to be agitated—we won't be going to Ruyang this time. So you likely won’t see Prince Ding for a while."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Since I’ve fallen into your hands, I naturally defer to your arrangements. Though I am curious—does Lord Tan intend to take me back to the capital?"

Tan Jizhi chuckled. "Why would the Princess Consort think that? What benefit would bringing you to the capital bring me?"

Lowering her gaze, Ye Li replied, "Then I’m even more curious. What excuse did Lord Tan use to leave the capital for so long? Mo Jingqi’s paranoia is hardly mild." Tan Jizhi smirked with a hint of pride. "Since I’ve earned His Majesty’s trust, securing a little time away is hardly difficult. As for where the Princess Consort is headed… you’ll know when we arrive."

Ye Li smiled gracefully. "In that case, I’ll wait and see." If you’ve deceived Mo Jingqi for so many years, let’s see if you have what it takes to get past Flying Goose Pass.