Mo Li

While Feng Zhiyao stood at the doorway lost in wild imaginings, he failed to notice the gloomy expression on Mo Xiuyao's face. Ye Li, observing Mo Xiuyao glaring at Feng Zhiyao with waves of icy displeasure, helplessly tugged at his sleeve and gave it a gentle shake. Though being caught in such a situation was somewhat embarrassing, Ye Li was not a woman native to this era. In her past life, what kind of scene hadn’t she witnessed? Being seen sharing a kiss was hardly a scandal—after all, they were rightfully married. Thus, her discomfort quickly faded. In contrast, Feng Zhiyao, still standing at the door with his bizarrely contorted expression, had clearly let his imagination run far too wild.

Clearing her throat softly, Ye Li reminded him, "Feng San, come in and speak."

Feng Zhiyao snapped back to reality, only to meet Mo Xiuyao’s dangerous, shadowed gaze. He immediately regretted not fleeing the moment he stumbled upon the scene. Hanging his head in exaggerated misery, he cast a pitiful look at Mo Xiuyao, who responded with a cold snort—a tacit permission to enter. Relieved, Feng Zhiyao gratefully thanked Ye Li and stepped inside, though he prudently chose the seat closest to the door, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li naturally noticed his antics. Ye Li covered her lips to stifle a laugh, while Mo Xiuyao merely arched a brow and ignored it. "What about the capital?"

At the mention of official business, Feng Zhiyao instantly regained his composure and replied respectfully, "News from the capital states that Mo Jingqi has dispatched two princes, along with several high-ranking officials including Elder Su Zhe, to the northwest. They will likely arrive soon."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "Sending high-ranking officials to the northwest? For what purpose?"

Feng Zhiyao stroked his chin with a smirk. "What else? Probably to persuade you, my lord. The over 200,000 Great Chu troops stationed beyond Flying Goose Pass were effortlessly driven back inside the pass by us. At the time, Mo Jingqi was so furious he issued multiple edicts condemning you. But by now, he must have regained his senses."

Mo Jingqi was no fool. As long as Prince Ding’s Estate did not openly rebel, he would not rashly engage in armed conflict with them—not while he was still dealing with Western Liang and Northern Rong. If the Mo Family Army were to stir up trouble now, the court would be in grave danger. He likely counted on Mo Xiuyao’s reluctance to openly oppose the court, using this move to showcase his own magnanimity to the world. What he failed to realize was that it wasn’t just him who needed time—the Mo Family Army in the northwest also required preparation.

"Who exactly is coming?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Feng Zhiyao answered, "Prince De, Mo Xiafei, and Prince Yu, Mo Jingyu, along with Elder Su Zhe and the Vice Minister of Personnel, Mo Jian."Mo Xiuyao nodded. Leaving aside Su Zhe and Mo Jian, Prince De Mo Xiafei was the late emperor's second elder brother, whom even Mo Jingqi had to address respectfully as "Imperial Uncle." Prince Yu Mo Jingyu was Mo Jingqi's half-brother, a man known for his low-profile and disinterest in worldly affairs. It was puzzling why Mo Jingqi had sent him as an envoy this time. With two princes and two high-ranking officials, Mo Jingqi's delegation this time seemed full of sincerity—unfortunately, Mo Xiuyao had no intention of giving him much face.

Ye Li frowned slightly and asked, "The northwest is far from the capital, with treacherous roads. Why would Mo Jingqi send Elder Su here?" Su Zhe was already over seventy, and his health had been declining in recent years. Logically, such a mission should never have been assigned to an elderly statesman like him. If anything happened on the journey, it would only bring trouble.

Feng Zhiyao pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Could it be that Mo Jingqi has learned Su Zuidie is still alive, hence sending Su Zhe here?"

Mo Xiuyao replied, "It's been over half a year. Mo Jingqi should have gotten the news by now—if he didn’t know before, he certainly does now. Su Zuidie..." If Su Zuidie could actually pique Mo Jingqi's interest, then... Mo Xiuyao's expression darkened, his gaze turning even more chilling.

"What does the prince plan to do with these people?" Feng Zhiyao asked. He had little opinion about the two princes, but Su Zhe and Mo Jian were rare upright officials in the court. Moreover, Su Zhe could be considered Mo Xiuyao's half-teacher, someone Mo Xiuyao had always held in high regard.

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand dismissively. "No need to worry about them. Have you finished drafting the list of officials to be appointed across the northwest?"

Feng Zhiyao produced a memorial and presented it. Mo Xiuyao skimmed through it before handing it to Ye Li beside him, saying, "This will do. Announce the appointments... after Mo Jingqi's envoys arrive. Earlier, you mentioned the townsfolk wanted to hold a lantern festival to pray for the princess consort and the heir. Let it be held on the same day. The officials can join the people in celebration—it’ll also serve as a welcome for the imperial envoys. Also, is the new residence ready? It’s hardly proper for us to keep occupying the prefect’s office. Once the new prefect arrives, we can’t have him conducting official business in a makeshift dwelling."

Feng Zhiyao acknowledged each point. Mo Xiuyao’s actions were clearly a provocation against Mo Jingqi’s envoys—but he liked it. Smiling, he added, "The residence has long been prepared. It originally belonged to the wealthiest man in Ruyang City, who fled inside the pass with the garrison. I ordered the adjacent courtyards merged and renovated. Though it’s not as grand as the prince’s mansion in the capital, it’s decent enough. The estate is currently in the southeast of the city, but according to the new city plans, after future renovations, it will be right in the center."

These trivial matters had naturally been handled long ago, but since the prince had been in a foul mood and never mentioned moving, no one dared bring it up. As a result, the officials temporarily managing the city’s affairs still worked in the prefectural office, but after finishing their duties, they had to carry all the documents and records back to their temporary lodgings. It was manageable on ordinary days, but in winter or rainy weather, the back-and-forth was quite troublesome.

"Good," Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction. "Have the place cleaned up as soon as possible."Feng Zhiyao smiled and said, "Everything has been prepared long ago. Your Highness and Her Highness can move in at any time. However, we would like Your Highness to inscribe the plaque for the mansion." This matter shouldn't have been too troublesome, but since Mo Xiuyao's title had been stripped by Mo Jingqi, no one could decide what characters to use for the new mansion's name. Thus, it was best to let the prince decide himself. Mo Xiuyao didn't seem bothered at all and said indifferently, "Just inscribe 'Prince Ding's Estate.'"

Feng Zhiyao was momentarily stunned—not the grand "Ding Royal Palace" from the capital, but simply the three characters for "Prince Ding's Estate." Seeing Mo Xiuyao's utterly unconcerned demeanor, it was clear he hadn't taken Mo Jingqi's stripping of his title to heart at all. Feng Zhiyao couldn't help but chuckle and replied, "As you command."

With Ye Li's return, though there were no major movements in Ruyang City, everyone could sense a difference. The townsfolk busied themselves with their daily lives, while the stationed soldiers, much like their master, seemed to have shaken off their previous gloom and now brimmed with vitality. The entire city flourished with prosperity. Yet Ye Li's courtyard remained an oasis of rare tranquility and comfort. Xu Qingze had been dragged off by Feng Zhiyao to work the day after returning to the city, but Xu Qingfeng and Xu Qingyan had little to do. Every day, Xu Qingyan would pull Xu Qingfeng to Ye Li's courtyard, either chatting or playing chess, living leisurely and carefree. Mo Xiuyao often watched with gritted teeth, wishing he could banish Xu Qingyan from Ruyang City. However, after Ye Li's heartfelt confession of love that day, Mo Xiuyao was in a much better mood—though he still couldn't help frowning whenever he saw Xu Qingyan.

On the chessboard, the black and white pieces clashed fiercely. Outside the courtyard, clashes of another kind echoed incessantly. Xu Qingyan frowned as he held a chess piece and said, "Sister Li, is this estate really suitable for pregnancy? Every few days, there's another skirmish like this..." Having lived here only a few days, Xu Qingyan had already grown accustomed to the frequent assassination attempts. Anyone would get used to it after seeing it daily. He could only admire the assassins' persistence—defeated time and again, yet they kept coming back. It was just a bit too annoying.

Ye Li leisurely took a sip of the snow fungus soup handed to her by a maid and smiled faintly. "It's fine. The estate is usually too dull—a little excitement now and then is nice."

Xu Qingyan wholeheartedly agreed. Mo Xiuyao, fearing disturbances to Ye Li's rest, had ensured that aside from Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, and a few others, as well as Shen Yang and Doctor Lin who attended to her, no ordinary person could even approach the princess's courtyard. Any matters in the estate were reported directly to Mo Xiuyao for handling—no one dared to trouble Ye Li with trivial affairs. While this was well-intentioned, it left Ye Li somewhat bored. Xu Qingyan snorted lightly and said, "Prince Ding is so stingy. What's the harm in letting Sister Li go out for a stroll? He acts as if he can't bear others looking at her. Someone as outstanding as Sister Li is meant to be admired by the world." Speaking of this, Xu Qingyan couldn't help but feel proud. There were many beauties and talented women in the world, but who else had a sister who could command tens of thousands of troops and stand strong against formidable enemies? Only he, Xu Qingyan, had such a sister. In the future, he too would marry a woman as remarkable as Sister Li.

Ye Li rapped Xu Qingyan lightly on the forehead and gave him a sidelong glance. "Call him 'brother-in-law.' Do you think Xiu Yao doesn't torment you enough already?"Xu Qingyan was instantly dejected. His recent battles of wits with Mo Xiuyao had taught him one thing—for now, he was no match for that cunning man. Although Mo Xiuyao would yield to him in front of Sister Ye Li, behind the scenes, he would scheme and play dirty tricks. Just yesterday, he had even slandered Xu Qingyan to Sister Ye Li, claiming he had taken a fancy to a beautiful girl in town and wanted Sister Ye Li to write to their parents to arrange a marriage. If this really reached their father’s ears, wouldn’t he be skinned alive? His elder brothers weren’t even married yet. How could the youngest one be eyeing other girls? His "fondness for beauty" would surely be held against him!

"Sister Ye Li already knows everything," Xu Qingyan said gloomily, feeling utterly humiliated that she was aware of his defeat against Mo Xiuyao. Xu Qingfeng, who had been watching the exchange, snorted and flicked his younger brother’s forehead. "Second Brother and I already warned you not to provoke His Highness, but you just wouldn’t listen."

Xu Qingyan glared. "He’s the one targeting me!" Xu Qingfeng raised an eyebrow. "Then why isn’t he targeting Second Brother or me?" So, wasn’t it all your own fault? Xu Qingyan slumped onto the table with a sigh. "Third Brother, I’m your own flesh and blood!" He missed Fourth Brother so much—if only he were here, he would definitely help him stand up to Mo Xiuyao!

Listening to Xu Qingyan’s theatrical grumbling, Ye Li smiled and placed a chess piece on the board. "By the way, Third Brother, have you been bored staying in the residence these days?" Xu Qingyan was still a child who could find amusement anywhere, but Xu Qingfeng, a grown man, must have found it stifling to stay cooped up indoors. Xu Qingfeng chuckled. "It’s a bit dull compared to military life, but it’s fine. Once you’ve given birth, I’ll return to the capital. With neither Second Brother nor me in the capital, our parents would naturally worry."

At the mention of this, Ye Li frowned. "Speaking of which, with Second Brother now in the northwest, has the Emperor been giving Second Uncle trouble in the capital? And Zheng’er—her wedding with Second Brother was originally set for last year, but now..."

Xu Qingfeng reassured her, "It’s fine. If the Emperor wants to make things difficult for the Xu family, he’ll find any excuse. He won’t target Father over this. Besides, Father said... he doesn’t want Second Brother to return right now. Who knows what the situation in the capital is like? Second Brother isn’t as socially adept as Fourth Brother—if he gets entangled in court politics, it’ll be hard to extricate himself later. As for Miss Qin..."

Xu Qingfeng scratched his head helplessly. At this point, he could only be grateful he hadn’t been betrothed yet. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be delaying some poor girl’s future? If anything unexpected happened, her family might even be implicated. "The Xu family isn’t in a good position right now. It might actually be a blessing that Miss Qin hasn’t married into our family yet. I heard Second Brother sent a letter to our parents, suggesting that if a good match comes along, Miss Qin should be free to marry someone else."Ye Li frowned. She and Qin Zheng were extremely close, so how could she not see that Qin Zheng was deeply in love with her second brother? Besides, the two had been engaged since childhood, and for over a decade, Qin Zheng's heart had only ever belonged to her second brother. Now, telling her to marry someone else was truly... Although she knew her second brother meant well for Qin Zheng, it still felt like he deserved a good beating. On the other hand, Ye Li also felt somewhat guilty toward Qin Zheng. After all, wasn’t it because of her that her second brother had followed the army to the northwest and now remained there indefinitely?

Xu Qingyan looked at Ye Li with a grin and said, "Sister Li, it’s not your fault. Given our family’s current situation, it’s better to involve as few people as possible. Who knows when the palace might decree the execution of our entire clan? If that happens, not only would Sister Qin be implicated, but the entire Qin family as well."

Xu Qingfeng frowned and smacked Xu Qingyan lightly. "You brat, you really have no filter!"

Xu Qingyan stuck out his tongue playfully. One of the few perks of being in the northwest, especially in this residence, was that they could speak freely without worrying about eavesdroppers.

Ye Li glanced down at her increasingly cumbersome figure and sighed. "There’s nothing we can do about it now. Later, Third Brother, please write to Aunt and inquire about the Qin family’s situation. Since you’re feeling bored these days, why not spend some time at the military camp outside the city?"

Xu Qingfeng’s eyes immediately lit up, and even Xu Qingyan’s face brightened with excitement and curiosity. The Mo Family Army was, after all, the elite force of Great Chu, and Xu Qingfeng had long admired them. However, due to his special status, he had avoided visiting the camp to prevent gossip about Ye Li. Hesitantly, he asked, "Wouldn’t that be against the rules?" Ye Li smiled faintly. "What rules? It’s not like I’m asking you to lead troops into battle." Xu Qingfeng nodded with a laugh. "You’re right, Li'er. Even if I had to serve as a common soldier in the Mo Family Army, I wouldn’t mind. Besides, no one would recognize me anyway."

Just then, Qin Feng approached and, hearing this, glanced at Xu Qingfeng with a smile. "If Third Young Master Xu can endure hardship, you’re welcome to join my unit.The Mo Family Army camp was crowded and prone to gossip, but the Qilin was directly under the princess's command, making it much more convenient. Xu Qingyan blinked eagerly. "Brother Qin, can I come too?" Qin Feng looked at him and shook his head. "Fifth Young Master, I doubt you’d last even a day." Xu Qingyan puffed up indignantly. "Why can Third Brother go but not me? Just because I’m younger, you think I can’t handle it? Well, I’ll prove you wrong!" Qin Feng chuckled. "It’s not about your age. Right now, I have two recruits even younger than you. But you’ve lived in comfort all your life and never trained in martial arts—that’s why I said you wouldn’t last."

Ye Li smiled at Qin Feng. "Is it alright for Third Brother to join you?"Qin Feng replied, "It’s just a word from you, Princess." Third Young Master can come anytime."Ye Li waved her hand and said, "Since His Highness and I have entrusted the Qilin to you, it's entirely up to you to decide." Though Qin Feng's face showed no expression, he was deeply grateful for Ye Li's trust in his heart. Turning to Xu Qingfeng, he said, "In that case, Third Young Master, report outside the city gates tomorrow morning. But let me make this clear—I won't go easy on you. If you can't handle it, I'll have no choice but to send you back." Xu Qingfeng had also heard of the Qilin's mystique and formidable reputation, and his face lit up with eagerness. He laughed heartily and replied, "In that case, Commander Qin, there's no need to address me as 'Third Young Master.' Just call me by my name."

After settling this matter, Ye Li asked, "Is there something else you came for?"

Qin Feng nodded and presented a sealed dossier. "Although His Highness has forbidden anyone from disturbing Your Highness's rest, I still wanted to ask for your opinion. This is next month's training plan—I’d appreciate any guidance you might offer." For the past few months, Qin Feng had been solely responsible for training the Qilin's new recruits, occasionally consulting with Zhuo Jing and Lin Han. Given the Qilin's exceptionally high standards, Qin Feng couldn't help feeling somewhat uneasy. Now that Ye Li had returned, he couldn't resist seeking her input—not necessarily for praise, but at least to know whether his training methods were sound. Ye Li set the dossier aside with a smile. "I'll look at it later. Just proceed according to your own ideas. I’ve already taught you most of what I can. In another three months... I should be able to move around freely. By then, your recruits should have completed their training, and I’ll personally inspect them."

Qin Feng was overjoyed and replied with a grin, "Thank you, Your Highness. I understand." He immediately decided to ask the Princess Consort to personally design the final assessment for those recruits. Last year, due to unforeseen circumstances, the first batch had missed their final evaluation, something Qin Feng had always regretted. This time, he’d include the veterans as well.

"Oh, Your Highness, on my way here, I saw the shadow guards apprehending a few more assassins," Qin Feng mentioned casually, recalling what he had witnessed earlier.

Ye Li chuckled. "The shadow guards' quarters must be nearly overflowing by now, right?" Assassins were being captured daily, and all had to be kept alive—she had no idea what Mo Xiuyao planned to do with them. Qin Feng laughed. "Exactly. This morning, Mo Hua looked absolutely grim. He even mentioned borrowing our prison cells to hold them." After a moment's thought, Ye Li said, "Whatever happens, don’t lock those assassins up with Su Zuidie. Pass the word to Mo Hua—if the prisoners aren’t particularly important, there’s no need to keep them in his custody."

Qin Feng nodded. "That’s what I said too. But His Highness won’t allow them to be killed—he says they’re useful." Ye Li nodded. "Then do as His Highness says."

"And what about this prince?" Mo Xiuyao stood beneath the moon gate, dressed in a blue robe, his hair as white as snow, smiling as he looked at the group.Ye Li, finding it inconvenient to move, didn't bother to rise and instead smiled as she asked, "Why are you back? Be careful or Feng San will come complaining again." Everyone stood to greet him, but Mo Xiuyao casually waved them off and took a seat beside Ye Li. With a displeased expression, he said, "Mo Jingqi's people have arrived. They're preparing to welcome them. Otherwise, would I have the leisure to come back?"

Ye Li straightened slightly. "Prince De and his party have arrived? And you're not going to greet them?"

Mo Xiuyao scoffed. "Do I have time for that? Feng San went."

Ye Li couldn't help but twitch her lips. Sending Feng Zhiyao was no better than picking a random general from the army. Although Feng Zhiyao was Mo Xiuyao's most trusted confidant, whether due to his eccentric temperament or other reasons, he had always refused official titles from the court. As a result, to this day, he held no official rank. His responsibilities were varied, so people addressed him casually—on the battlefield, he was General Feng; among the officials in Ruyang City, he was addressed as Lord Feng; and among Mo Xiuyao's inner circle, he was called Third Master Feng. In truth, Feng Zhiyao didn’t even hold the lowest official position.

Given that Prince De was someone who placed great importance on pomp and face, sending Feng Zhiyao would surely infuriate him.

"Feng San went of his own accord," Mo Xiuyao said. He hadn’t planned to send anyone to greet them at the city gates—allowing them entry was already generous.

Ye Li fell silent. So Feng Zhiyao, fearing you might outright provoke them to death, decided to go and provoke them halfway there instead?

Mo Xiuyao leaned lazily against Ye Li and chuckled. "A Li, don’t trouble yourself with these trivial matters. Do you think I don’t know what Prince De and his lot want to say? I just can’t be bothered to deal with them."

Ye Li sighed and pushed him upright. "But tonight’s welcoming banquet must still be held, right? Don’t tell me you plan to skip even that. If word gets out, people will think we lack hospitality."

Mo Xiuyao frowned and sighed. "It’s such a hassle without Uncle Mo around." In the past, Uncle Mo would have handled these minor matters directly, simply reporting to them afterward. But now, with most of Prince Ding's Estate’s forces relocated to the northwest, Uncle Mo couldn’t come immediately—after all, someone had to oversee affairs within the pass. "What a shame Feng San refuses to take up the role of steward."

Ye Li glanced at him, thinking that making Feng Zhiyao the steward was truly an idea only Prince Ding could come up with.

Shaking her head, Ye Li said, "Forget it. I'll have Wei Lin and Lin Han handle it later." It would be a joke if Prince Ding's Estate couldn't even find a capable steward, wouldn't it?

Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "A Li, the people around you like Zhuo Jing are all quite capable. Any one of them could temporarily replace Uncle Mo."

Ye Li imagined Zhuo Jing and the others becoming as worn and weary as Uncle Mo, constantly burdened with the estate's endless affairs, and couldn't help but shudder. After all, those three had followed her for quite some time—she couldn’t be too heartless as their master. "They're still too young. Later, we should promote a trustworthy manager from the lower ranks instead."

Mo Xiuyao shrugged regretfully in agreement.