Mo Li

"Your Highness, Commander Qin requests an audience!" A guard respectfully announced outside the study.

Inside the study, Mo Xiuyao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them, revealing no trace of drowsiness. He replied calmly, "Let him in."

Before long, Qin Feng rushed in, dragging Mo Hua behind him, his face brimming with unrestrained excitement and joy. Mo Xiuyao had always been lenient toward those close to Ye Li—otherwise, given his current temperament, Han Mingxi would have long since met an untimely end. Thus, he paid no mind to Qin Feng's lack of decorum and frowned, asking, "What has you so flustered?"

Qin Feng, unable to contain his excitement, exclaimed loudly, "Your Highness, we have news of the Princess Consort!"

Mo Xiuyao froze, staring blankly at the candlelight before him as if he hadn't comprehended Qin Feng's words. Growing anxious, Qin Feng repeated, "Your Highness, we have news of the Princess Consort!"

Only then did Mo Xiuyao snap out of his daze. His lowered eyelids flickered slightly as he replied with eerie calm, "Explain clearly."

Qin Feng was puzzled by Mo Xiuyao's subdued reaction, but Mo Hua, standing behind him, clearly saw the trembling of the prince's tightly clenched fingers resting on the desk. He quickly stepped forward and recounted the events in detail.

Under Qin Feng's interrogation, Su Zuidie had not yet revealed everything, but she had disclosed enough about Tan Jizhi's affairs. Consequently, all of Tan Jizhi's strongholds in the northwest had been placed under the surveillance of the shadow guards. However, none of them had expected the Princess Consort to fall into Tan Jizhi's hands, let alone appear with him in a small town not far from Ruyang—and even manage to send them a secret letter.

Mo Xiuyao took the prescription slip, on which Qin Feng had transcribed the coded message in a corner. The two lines of strange symbols were something Mo Xiuyao had glimpsed in the Qilin archives before, though he had never studied them in depth. He turned his gaze to Qin Feng.

By now, Qin Feng had finally regained his composure, though his eyes still gleamed with intensity. "The Princess Consort says she is safe and well, and asks Your Highness not to worry."

"Safe and well… not to worry…" Mo Xiuyao leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. After a long silence, he stood and ordered, "Issue the command. We depart at once to bring the Princess Consort home."

"Your Highness!" Mo Hua stepped in front of Mo Xiuyao, disapproval in his eyes. "Your Highness, allow this subordinate and the others to retrieve the Princess Consort. You should remain in Ruyang to oversee matters. Your Highness, today is… the fifteenth…"

Qin Feng suddenly remembered—today was the night of the full moon, when the prince could not act freely. He quickly agreed, "Mo Hua speaks wisely, Your Highness. This subordinate volunteers to retrieve the Princess Consort!"

Mo Hua added, "This subordinate is also willing to go!"

Mo Xiuyao waved a hand dismissively, his voice firm. "Enough. I know what I'm doing. The order stands—we depart in fifteen minutes. Qin Feng, you and your men will accompany me."

Though concerned for Mo Xiuyao's condition, the joy of Ye Li's safety was too overwhelming. After a brief hesitation, Qin Feng accepted the order and turned to leave. Outside, Zhuo Jing and the others, having rushed over upon hearing the news, stood waiting. Seeing Qin Feng emerge, they hurried forward. Qin Feng nodded at the three of them before hastening off to carry out his task.

Zhuo Jing and the others exchanged stunned glances, their eyes alight with fervor.Joy filled Lin Han's heart to the brim, his eyes even reddening slightly, yet he paid it no mind, his face alight with a happiness unseen for a long time.

At dawn, Ye Li rose early and prepared herself. Truth be told, she hadn’t slept well all night. Ever since Doctor Lin had been taken away by Tan Jizhi, she hadn’t heard any sign of his return. Though she had only known Tan Jizhi for a few days, it was enough for her to understand just how ruthless this man could be, making her worry incessantly for the old man who had saved both her and her child’s lives. After sitting in the parlor for a while, Tan Jizhi entered with Shu Manlin. Noticing Ye Li’s tired appearance, he couldn’t help but smirk, “What’s the matter? Did Princess Ding not rest well last night? Is it because you’re reluctant to leave Ruyang soon?” Ye Li frowned and asked, “How is Doctor Lin?”

Tan Jizhi looked surprised, eyeing her up and down before laughing, “So, Princess is worried about him? Don’t tell me you’ve actually developed some so-called master-disciple bond with my father?”

Ye Li met his gaze calmly. “Though the time was short, it’s a fact that Doctor Lin taught me medicine. Even if there is a master-disciple bond, what’s wrong with that?”

Tan Jizhi’s expression turned peculiar and mocking as he raised an eyebrow. “To be honest, Princess, you really don’t seem like someone from the imperial family. Even now, when you can hardly protect yourself, you still have the heart to care about someone you barely know?” Ye Li replied coolly, “Lord Tan, who wouldn’t hesitate to abandon twenty years of nurturing kindness, certainly resembles the imperial family more than I do. Truly worthy of your former dynasty’s heritage.” Struck by her words, Tan Jizhi’s face darkened instantly. “Since Princess is ready, let’s set off now,” he said coldly.

“As you wish, Lord Tan,” Ye Li replied indifferently.

Outside the inn, though only Ye Li, Tan Jizhi, Shu Manlin, and three or four servants were visible, Ye Li keenly sensed hidden eyes following them. Over the past few days, though confined to the courtyard, she had estimated that at least a dozen people were lurking in the deepest part of the small yard where she and Doctor Lin had stayed, not to mention elsewhere. If the shadow guards acted rashly and barged in, the cramped courtyard would only make things worse. Standing outside the inn, Ye Li glanced back at the desolate, shabby building, still seeing no sign of Doctor Lin. Since Tan Jizhi hadn’t yet obtained the treasure he sought, he likely wouldn’t kill Doctor Lin—at least, that was what she hoped.

True enough, Mo Family Army soldiers occasionally passed through the town, walking in pairs as if patrolling rather than searching for anyone. Tan Jizhi naturally noticed this and frowned, gesturing for Shu Manlin to help Ye Li into the carriage waiting by the roadside. Soon, the carriage slowly moved toward the outskirts of the town.

Shu Manlin sat opposite Ye Li, scrutinizing her with hostility. Though Shu Manlin had often visited the courtyard to provoke Ye Li before, Doctor Lin had always been present—this was their first time alone together. Ye Li regarded the beautiful woman across from her with a faint smile. Shu Manlin’s seductive eyes narrowed slightly as she snorted disdainfully and glared at Ye Li."Do you know who I am?" Ye Li lowered her gaze, thinking to herself that she had no interest in knowing. "If even you yourself don't know who you are, Miss Lin, how could I possibly know?"

Shu Manlin cast her a haughty sidelong glance and said, "Don't play dumb. I know you've long guessed my identity. Princess Ding, back in Nanzhao, you deceived both me and that fool Anxi by posing as Xu Qingchen's fiancée. Did you think I wouldn't be wary of you?" Ye Li raised her eyes to meet hers and smiled faintly. "Then... what advice does the Holy Maiden have for me?" Compared to the young yet politically adept Princess Anxi, Ye Li truly couldn't see what qualifications Shu Manlin had to call her a fool. Was it true that real fools always thought others were the fools?

"You know what I want to say. If you know what's good for you, keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!" Shu Manlin threatened in a low voice.

Ye Li arched an eyebrow, fully aware of what she was referring to. So, she was secretly pursuing her elder brother behind Tan Jizhi's back? However, it was somewhat surprising that Shu Manlin feared Tan Jizhi. After all, in anyone's eyes, even with his status as a descendant of the previous dynasty's royal family, Tan Jizhi was merely a minor official in the emperor's court now—lacking wealth, power, or influence. Shu Manlin, on the other hand, was the Holy Maiden of the Southern Border, her status and authority nearly on par with the Crown Princess of Nanzhao, and she had the covert support of the King of Nanzhao and Mo Jingli. Even if they were in cahoots, it should be Tan Jizhi yielding to Shu Manlin. It seemed she had indeed underestimated him due to his performance at the Imperial Tomb.

Tilting her head slightly in thought, Ye Li smiled and said, "The Holy Maiden should know I'm not the type to gossip about others."

Shu Manlin sneered. "It's best if you stay sensible. Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to silence you."

Ye Li gazed at her calmly, a cold smile playing at her lips. "Holy Maiden... your words make this princess very uncomfortable... Now, do you dare kill me? No, do you even dare lay a finger on me?" Shu Manlin's pretty face darkened. Indeed, Tan Jizhi had repeatedly warned her these past few days not to harm Ye Li in the slightest. Though displeased, she wasn't a woman who couldn't see the bigger picture. With the treasure of the previous dynasty still out of reach, Princess Ding's value as a bargaining chip had only increased. Not only could they not harm Ye Li now, but they even had to protect her. Once they safely took Ye Li beyond the reach of the Mo Family Army, they would have two hostages to use against Mo Xiuyao at any time.

"Ye Li, don't get too smug! One day..." Shu Manlin gritted her teeth and whispered. Bargaining chips would lose their value eventually, and then she could torment this woman as she pleased. Recalling how Ye Li had wreaked havoc in Nanzhao last year and her actions at Snowbreak Pass, which had nearly ruined their plans, Shu Manlin couldn't suppress the urge to flay her alive—especially since she was also Xu Qingchen's cousin.Ye Li rested her chin on her hand and leisurely reminded her, "Holy Maiden, shouldn’t you focus on the present first? Who knows what the future holds? Of course, if you don’t mind, I wouldn’t object to occasionally gossiping with Lord Tan about certain... unmentionable affairs between the Holy Maiden of Southern Border and Qingchen Gongzi back in the Southern Border?" Shu Manlin’s face turned livid with rage, and she raised her hand to slap Ye Li, but Ye Li was quicker. "Ah—?!"

Outside the carriage, Tan Jizhi, who had been riding on horseback, swiftly approached and lifted the carriage curtain, only to see Shu Manlin with her hand raised. Frowning in displeasure, he said, "Lin’er, what are you doing? I’ve told you not to be disrespectful to the Princess Consort." Shu Manlin reluctantly lowered her hand, shooting Ye Li a glare before muttering under her breath, "I know." Tan Jizhi glanced uneasily between the two and warned, "We’re about to leave the town. Don’t cause trouble." Only then did he let the curtain fall. Ye Li smirked and arched an eyebrow at Shu Manlin, who gritted her teeth and hissed, "Ye Li, just you wait!"

At the town’s exit, the carriage was stopped. Fortunately, the checkpoint was manned not by the Mo Family Army but by ordinary constables, which eased Tan Jizhi’s tension.

"Who’s in the carriage? Step out!" barked one of the constables stationed outside.

Tan Jizhi, disguised as a meek and honest scholar, stepped forward and said, "Officer... what’s the matter?" The constable rapped on the carriage door. "By orders from above, we’re searching for spies entering the northwest. All outsiders must be inspected. Have those inside come out!" Tan Jizhi feigned distress. "Officer, please understand—my wife is seven months pregnant and truly cannot move easily. I beg your leniency..." As he spoke, he discreetly slipped two silver ingots into the constable’s hand, perfectly playing the part of a timid scholar.

The constable, pleased with the bribe, exchanged glances with his companions and relented. "Fine, they don’t have to step out, but lift the curtain so we can see." Without waiting for Tan Jizhi’s consent, he abruptly yanked the curtain aside. Inside sat two young women—one with the hairstyle of a married woman, her belly visibly swollen, and the other a stunning beauty in blue who gave him a faint smile. The constable blinked in surprise and muttered, "What luck... to find such beauties in this backwater..."

Tan Jizhi cautiously smiled. "Officer, may we proceed now?"

The constable stole one last longing glance inside before dropping the curtain and waving them off. "Go on, then."

"Thank you, officer! Thank you!" Tan Jizhi effused, quickly signaling the driver to hasten the carriage out of town.

Once the carriage had vanished from sight, the constables’ authoritative demeanor faded. One of them asked, "Well? Did you see clearly?" The one who had lifted the curtain frowned. "It was the Princess Consort. She said there are many of them, including Southern Border people. We’re to stay calm for now."

"Damn it! To watch the Princess Consort pass right before us..." another man cursed under his breath.A companion patted his shoulder and said, "Since we've got our eyes on him, does he really think he can take the princess consort out of the northwest? This isn't the place to make our move. Right now, the princess consort is heavy with child and can't move easily. That woman in the carriage isn't someone to be trifled with either—what if she harms the princess consort?"

After leaving the small town, Tan Jizhi clearly felt uneasy. He urged his men to pick up speed and rushed nonstop toward Flying Goose Pass. Originally, according to his plan, there shouldn't have been any issues. He had spent nearly ten years infiltrating between Great Chu and Nanzhao without drawing the attention of any powerful figures, including Prince Ding's Estate. Moreover, he hadn't even entered the northwest through Flying Goose Pass, so logically, he shouldn't have caught Mo Xiuyao's notice. Yet, the sudden appearance of patrols in the small town faintly made him feel as though something had slipped out of his control. Just as he was racking his brains, he suddenly recalled someone. His heart couldn't help but turn cold—he could only hope that woman wasn't foolish enough to reveal everything about him. A flash of killing intent passed through his eyes. It shouldn't be... That woman couldn't possibly be unaware that if she talked, she would only be signing her own death warrant. Mo Xiuyao would undoubtedly flay her alive...

"Jizhi, can we rest for a while? I'm exhausted..." Shu Manlin lifted the carriage curtain, her face looking rather unwell. Spoiled since childhood, she had long been unable to bear the jolting of the carriage ride. On top of that, Ye Li's occasional sarcastic remarks along the way had finally pushed her to her limit after enduring them for hours. Tan Jizhi glanced at her—she did look quite miserable—and then remembered that Ye Li was also pregnant and shouldn't be jostled too much. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "We'll rest for half an hour."

Shu Manlin cheered, exclaiming how wonderful Jizhi was, then jumped out of the carriage to stretch her legs. Tan Jizhi raised an eyebrow and turned to Ye Li inside the carriage. "Princess Consort, would you like to step out for a walk?" Ye Li's face was also pale, and coupled with her lack of sleep the night before, she looked even more exhausted. She shook her head. "Since we've stopped, I'll take a nap. Don't disturb me." Tan Jizhi didn't mind—of course, the fewer complications Ye Li caused, the better. Before he could say anything else, Shu Manlin was already pulling him toward the shade of a tree. "Jizhi, let's sit over there and rest for a bit. It's so hot... I'm so tired..." Tan Jizhi clearly had endless patience for her. He said softly, "In that case, you can lean on me and take a nap too."

"You're the best, Jizhi."

In the afternoon woods, the horses grazed quietly. Beneath the shade of the trees, a beautiful couple leaned against each other in rest—a picture of perfect tranquility and harmony.Tan Jizhi suddenly raised his head when he sensed something amiss, abruptly realizing the forest had fallen into an eerily unnatural silence. At some unknown moment, a man in cyan robes had appeared beneath a nearby tree. His black hair flowed like clouds, while the silver dragon patterns woven into his garments shimmered with extravagant brilliance in the slanting sunlight. The man's slender frame and refined features were partially obscured by a silver-white half-mask, yet it couldn't conceal the sickly pallor of his complexion. Even standing motionless, merely tilting his face slightly toward their direction, he exuded an innate nobility that made others feel unworthy in comparison. What chilled Tan Jizhi's heart, however, was that none of the guards stationed nearby seemed to notice the man's presence at all—as if the overwhelming pressure he felt existed solely in his imagination.

"Mo Xiuyao!" Tan Jizhi growled, ignoring the oppressive force bearing down on him as he desperately lunged toward the carriage parked not far away.

Only then did the guards seem to register the unfamiliar man's presence in the forest, hastily drawing their weapons to intercept him.

Beneath the tree, the cyan-robed man frowned slightly, clearly displeased with the unfolding situation. With a single step forward, he glided through the guards like flowing clouds, his wide sleeves swirling as they drew forth arcs of eerie crimson light before he too moved toward the carriage. Though he had started farther away and appeared to move more leisurely than Tan Jizhi, he arrived almost simultaneously. Just as Tan Jizhi reached to pull aside the carriage curtain, a flash of silver light sliced toward his outstretched hand.

Gritting his teeth, Tan Jizhi shouted again, "Mo Xiuyao!"

In that moment, he had no time to ponder why Mo Xiuyao had appeared here—his sole thought was that he must defeat the man before him. Yet how monumentally difficult that proved. Mo Xiuyao was ranked among the four greatest martial artists in the realm, and with Mu Qingcang having long disappeared from the world, he stood as the undisputed foremost master of Great Chu.

When his initial attack failed, Tan Jizhi swiftly retreated, bellowing sharply, "Archers, fire!"

But the forest remained deathly silent, devoid of the expected whistling arrows. Tan Jizhi's expression darkened as he stared fixedly at the cyan-robed man.

Mo Xiuyao didn't even glance his way, instead turning to lift the carriage curtain behind him. His face softened into a gentle, radiant smile as he gazed at the woman inside. "A Li, I've come to take you home."

Hehe... finally meeting at last...