Mo Li

Early in the morning, Ye Li opened her eyes upon hearing light footsteps outside. She turned her head to glance at the empty space beside her—Mo Xiuyao had not returned last night.

Qingshuang entered carrying a basin of water. Seeing that Ye Li was awake, she quickly set it down and carefully helped her sit up, smiling softly. "Wang Fei is awake?" Ye Li nodded and asked, "Did Wang Ye not return last night?" Qingshuang nodded as well. "Sisters Qingyu and Qingluan said Wang Ye rested in the study last night. Should this servant go and invite him over? The mamas have instructed that Wang Fei must not leave the bed during this confinement period."

Ye Li shook her head and sighed inwardly. The customs of this era regarding postpartum confinement were rather stifling, but she had no intention of disregarding her own health. Turning her gaze to the cradle where the little bundle was still sound asleep, she couldn’t help but smile. "Why is the baby still sleeping?"

Mama Wei entered carrying a bowl of porridge and chuckled at the question. "Wang Fei is young and hasn’t raised children before, so it’s natural you wouldn’t know. Newborns spend most of their time eating and sleeping. The Little Prince will grow faster the more he sleeps."

Ye Li smiled and accepted the warm towel Qingshuang handed her, wiping her face and hands before rinsing her mouth with warm water. She then took the porridge from Mama Wei and took a sip. The light, pleasant flavor made her exhale softly. "Have the wet nurses for the Little Prince been arranged?"

Mama Wei replied cheerfully, "We’ve already prepared four wet nurses, all with thoroughly vetted backgrounds. Wang Fei need not worry."

Hearing this, Ye Li frowned slightly. "Four is too many. Keep one or two for now. Aside from feeding times, bring the Little Prince to me at all other times."

Mama Wei hesitated. Though she was also Wang Fei’s own wet nurse, she agreed that the wet nurses shouldn’t become too close to the Little Prince, lest he grow up more attached to them than to his mother. However, if Wang Fei insisted on raising the child herself, Wang Ye might be displeased.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Let’s proceed this way. Once the child turns one, it’ll be time to wean him. The wet nurses can be reassigned elsewhere afterward." She had no intention of letting wet nurses raise her child, nor did she want a crowd of nursemaids and maids hovering around him. She certainly didn’t want to end up with a spoiled heir like Jia Baoyu.

Mama Wei lowered her voice in reminder. "If Wang Fei personally cares for the Little Prince, Wang Ye might not be happy."

Ye Li chuckled. "It’s fine. The wet nurses and Mama Lin can assist me. Once he’s older, he won’t need constant supervision."

Mama Wei finally relented and bent down to pick up the stirring baby before leaving to find a wet nurse for his feeding.

After finishing her bowl of porridge, Ye Li handed it to Qing Xia, who stood nearby, and asked, "Did anything happen last night?"

Qingshuang answered, "The elderly Lord Su residing in the southern courtyard seemed to have fallen ill. Wang Ye summoned Shen and Doctor Lin to treat him. They say his condition is quite severe."

Qing Xia nodded in agreement. "After Wang Ye returned to his study last night, he never came out again. Even the servants delivering breakfast this morning were turned away."

Ye Li frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "Qingshuang, go to the kitchen again and bring Wang Ye a breakfast tray. Tell him it’s my order. Also, summon Commander Qin—I have some matters to ask him."

Qingshuang bowed. "This servant will go at once.""Subordinate Qin Feng requests an audience with Wang Fei." Before long, Qin Feng was already waiting outside the door. Ye Li said softly, "Come in." Both Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had never been overly particular about formalities. Since Ye Li was currently indisposed, Qin Feng stood near the landscape screen in the room to report.

Understanding what Ye Li wished to ask, Qin Feng recounted the events of the previous night in detail without needing further prompting. This naturally included the handling of Su Zuidie. Su Zuidie had struggled for over half a year but had ultimately reached her end. Before her death, however, she revealed the whereabouts of the late Emperor's decree. If Mo Xiuyao did not want that item, then to Su Zuidie, it was no longer a lifeline but merely a worthless scrap of paper. The decree remained in the capital of Chu Jing. Back then, Su Zuidie had fled in haste with Han Mingyue's help and had no time to retrieve what she had hidden. Moreover, carrying it with her would have only made it more of a death warrant.

Ye Li was momentarily stunned upon hearing Qin Feng's words. Though she had harbored some suspicions since Tan Jizhi's incident, the actual revelation was far more shocking. What's more, it implicated the deaths of the late Emperor and the Regent, Mo Liufang. It seemed the royal family's desire to eliminate Prince Ding's Estate had been long-standing.

"Has Wang Ye made any plans regarding this matter?" Ye Li asked.

Qin Feng shook his head. "Wang Ye has been secluded in his study since last night and has not issued any orders." Ye Li nodded. This undoubtedly had the greatest impact on Mo Xiuyao, and he indeed needed time to reflect.

It was not until noon that Mo Xiuyao returned, exhaustion evident in his every movement. Seeing the bloodshot eyes, Ye Li knew he must not have slept all night. With a soft sigh, she cut off any words he might have spoken and said gently, "Rest first. We can discuss matters after you wake."

Mo Xiuyao was utterly exhausted. Earlier, he had been enraged by Xue Chengliang's confession, then strained with worry during Ye Li's labor, and now shaken by the revelations from Su Zuidie. Had it not been for the self-restraint he had cultivated over the years, he might have cut Su Zuidie down mid-sentence and led his troops straight to the capital. From yesterday morning until now, Mo Xiuyao had not closed his eyes once—too much had happened in a single day. How could he not be weary?

Lying on his side, he glanced at Ye Li as she adjusted the covers for him. His eyelids fluttered a few times before he finally succumbed to deep slumber.

Gazing down at the restless man in his sleep, Ye Li could only sigh softly. Leaning against the headboard, she closed her eyes and pondered the affairs of the northwest. Now that the truth of the past had come to light, the situation between the northwest and Great Chu would likely take a drastic turn once Mo Xiuyao awoke. Yet Ye Li had no intention of stopping him from doing anything. Like the Mo Family Army, Mo Xiuyao had been suppressed for far too long—and the actions of the one in the Chu palace hardly inspired belief that he was a benevolent ruler who cherished his people."Big brother… Father… Big brother! Big brother…" In his sleep, Mo Xiuyao murmured softly, as if trapped in some terrible nightmare. Ye Li recalled what Qin Feng had said about Su Zuidie's death and felt a chill in her heart. Gently patting the quilt covering him, she whispered, "It's not your fault, Xiu Yao… Don't be afraid… It's not your fault…"

"Father, big brother…"

When Mo Xiuyao awoke, he heard Ye Li's soft laughter by his ear. Opening his eyes, he saw her sitting beside him, leaning against the bed and cradling their baby, who was now wrapped in a light purple swaddle. Her delicate face bore a gentle, tender smile. Noticing Mo Xiuyao was awake, Ye Li turned to him with a smile. "Awake now? Want to see the baby?" Mo Xiuyao sat up and looked at the child in the swaddle, who was gazing at them with wide, watery eyes. The baby's face, which had been red and wrinkled just yesterday, had already improved. Though not yet completely fair and smooth, it was a far cry from the little red monkey of the previous day.

Ye Li lovingly rocked the baby in her arms. The child was an exceptionally heavy sleeper—aside from feeding, this was the first time they had seen him awake since birth. "Hehe, the baby can't see properly yet. In a few days, he'll become even more adorable." Mo Xiuyao watched silently as Ye Li played with the child. Though he found the little one particularly irksome, he said nothing, quietly observing Ye Li, whose smile had grown even more tender and maternal. His own somewhat cold and rigid expression softened involuntarily.

Once the baby had fallen asleep again, Ye Li summoned Mama Wei to take him away. Turning back to Mo Xiuyao, she sat beside him and spoke softly, seeing his still somber expression. "None of those things were your fault. Big brother wouldn’t blame you."

Mo Xiuyao was taken aback before realizing what she was referring to. Raising a hand, he ruffled the hair at the back of her head, his voice slightly hoarse as he said, "Mother passed away not long after giving birth to me, and Father was always busy with court affairs. In essence, it was big brother who raised me. I had planned to support him wholeheartedly once he inherited the title. The Ding Royal Palace had seen generations of single heirs—it was only in our generation that there were two of us, big brother and me. Naturally, we brothers were to unite and work together. With my abilities, even if I couldn’t earn any titles, I wouldn’t have to idle around the Prince Ding's Estate as a useless nobleman all my life." Ye Li already knew this. In truth, Mo Xiuwen and Mo Xiuyao were only about seven or eight years apart. She could almost picture the scene: a seven or eight-year-old Mo Xiuwen holding his newborn brother in the quiet, desolate Ding Royal Palace. No wonder the bond between the brothers was so strong. In Mo Xiuyao’s heart, his elder brother’s status likely rivaled even that of their father, Mo Liufang. That was also why Mo Xiuyao, barely in his teens, had gone to the battlefield—to prove to his father and brother that even if he couldn’t inherit the title, he could still achieve his ambitions and live freely."I only blame myself for underestimating that wretched Su Zuidie back then! If it weren't for me..." Su Zuidie had indeed mentioned matters concerning the Prince Ding's position to him before. At the time, he had sternly reprimanded her and ordered her never to bring it up again, then dismissed it from his mind. Back then, he believed that the bond between him and his elder brother couldn't possibly be shaken by a woman's provocations, nor did he ever imagine Su Zuidie capable of such schemes. Little did he know this would plant the seeds of disaster for Prince Ding's Estate and his elder brother, costing him dearly as well.

Ye Li sighed softly and comforted him gently, "Elder brother wouldn't blame you, Xiu Yao... This isn't your fault. Since Mo Jingqi had long harbored intentions against Prince Ding's Estate and elder brother, even without Su Zuidie's schemes, they would have found other opportunities." Holding Ye Li in his arms, Mo Xiuyao said bitterly, "Mo Jingqi! I swear to make his life worse than death!" Ye Li smiled and patted his shoulder, whispering, "Whatever you decide to do, I and everyone in the Mo Family Army will stand with you."

After resting for a while and seeing Mo Xiuyao calmer, Ye Li asked, "Xiu Yao, do you have any plans in mind? There's already much to handle in the northwest. The number of people entering the region lately has multiplied several times over. I fear the area near Hongzhou will be turned upside down by them." Unfortunately, these people didn't realize that attempting to enter the Imperial Tomb of Emperor Gaozu from the northwest was sheer folly. Unless they forcibly excavated the tomb, even Tan Jizhi would have to find another route. In the northwest, aside from the Mo Family Army, who would dare openly dig up a tomb? Of course, the Mo Family Army wouldn't desecrate the tomb of Emperor Gaozu of the previous dynasty either. Though the dynasty had fallen, Emperor Gaozu was a hero whose legacy endured through the ages. Moreover, grave-robbing, no matter whose grave it was, would earn them a terrible reputation. In any case, the Imperial Tomb was within the northwest, not too far from Ruyang City. Apart from Tan Jizhi and Doctor Lin, no one knew its contents better than Ye Li. Since the items weren't going anywhere, she wasn't in a hurry.

Mo Xiuyao sneered coldly. "Since Mo Jingqi is in such a hurry, I'll naturally send him a grand gift. And those who are desperate for the Imperial Jade Seal... they can receive my gift as well."

Curious about his cold smile, Ye Li asked, "What kind of gift?" Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "You'll find out when the time comes, A Li. By the way, should we invite Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu to the northwest for the baby's full moon celebration?" Ye Li hesitated. "Grandfather and Eldest Uncle might find it inconvenient." At this point, even the newborn Mo Xiaobao wouldn't believe that Mo Jingqi hadn't sent people to monitor her grandfather and uncle. Though they had arranged protection for Mount Li Academy, the absence of such prominent figures would undoubtedly draw attention, whether they left openly or in secret. If possible, Ye Li would prefer to bring her grandfather and uncle's entire family to the northwest. But given her grandfather's temperament, he would never agree. Thus, rashly inviting them would only drag them into the vortex of this conflict.Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly, "A while ago, I read your previous thoughts on governing the northwest. Education is indeed crucial there. But the northwest is remote, far from the scholarly abundance of Yunzhou, and has produced few renowned scholars throughout history. Even if we want to establish academies in the future, we might struggle to find good teachers. We’ll need to seek help from Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu for this."

Ye Li’s cheeks flushed slightly. "I just wrote some random ideas. If there’s anything inappropriate..."

Mo Xiuyao laughed. "How could it be inappropriate? My A Li is truly one of a kind—a remarkable woman who can both ride into battle and govern a nation. Compared to you, those so-called ministers and officials in the court are nothing but useless fools."

Praise like this, delivered so unabashedly, made Ye Li even more embarrassed. When she had written those thoughts, she hadn’t overanalyzed them. She simply felt that the northwest would be in ruins after the war. Neither she nor Mo Xiuyao had any experience in governance, so it was better to plan ahead rather than scramble later. However, what followed was beyond Ye Li’s expectations. Fortunately, the devastation in the northwest wasn’t as severe as imagined, and Mo Xiuyao swiftly secured all territories beyond Flying Goose Pass, greatly alleviating the post-war situation.

Holding Ye Li against the headboard, Mo Xiuyao frowned in thought. "Actually, I still hope Mr. Qingyun and Mr. Hongyu can come to the northwest, along with Lord Xu and Qingchen Gongzi. Matters in the northwest will only grow more complex. Prince Ding’s Estate has no shortage of military officers, but when it comes to those truly capable of governance and statecraft, we have none."

The Prince Ding’s lineage had always been built on military achievements. Though successive princes were both martial and scholarly, their subordinates were primarily generals. After all, the estate wasn’t the imperial court—it didn’t need so many civil officials to govern or participate in politics.

Ye Li pondered. "Elder Brother is in the northwest now. If we send him a message, he’ll surely come to see the child once he receives it. But Grandfather and Uncle won’t leave Yunzhou so easily. Maybe... I should go myself?"

"No!" His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her back into his embrace. Mo Xiuyao rested his chin on her shoulder, his voice firm. "I’ll personally write to Mr. Qingyun and discuss it with him. You’re not going anywhere!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. This was far too domineering. Before she could respond, Mo Xiuyao nuzzled his chin against her, his previously overbearing tone instantly turning pitiful and cautious.

"A Li, don’t go. Don’t leave me..."

Whoosh —a tiny arrow struck her heart. Ye Li’s expression darkened. When had this man become so shameless?"A Li... Are you leaving me again? Why don't I just go wherever you go? I'm afraid... If anything happens to you, I'll throw Mo Xiaobao away and make him an orphan with no parents, wandering around without enough to eat..." Ye Li couldn't help but pinch someone's waist. "That's your son. What deep grudge do you have against him?" Mo Xiuyao didn't care about this. Even though it hurt, he still stuck to his words until he noticed the dangerous glint in Ye Li's slightly narrowed eyes. Reluctantly, he stopped and asked, "Then A Li won't abandon me?" Ye Li sighed and said, "No, I was just saying it casually. With you and the baby here, where else could I go?"

Only then did Mo Xiuyao feel satisfied, hugging Ye Li tightly. If Mr. Qingyun didn't come, he'd secretly send Mo Xiaobao to him in a couple of years. A Li was his alone.

Watching the lazily lounging Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li sighed inwardly and picked up the earlier topic again. "You mean you want to hold a grand celebration for the baby's full moon?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled. "The birth of this prince's heir naturally calls for a grand celebration. Aren't those people trying every means to come to the northwest in search of treasure? Instead of letting them sneak around in the shadows, why not openly invite them here? I want to see what kind of Imperial Jade Seal they can find." Even if there really was an Imperial Jade Seal, without his permission, he'd like to see who could take it out of the northwest.

Ye Li's heart stirred. "You're thinking of..."

Mo Xiuyao grinned sinisterly. "Isn't it said that whoever obtains the Imperial Jade Seal gains the world? Then let's see who among these people can seize the seal and who can seize the world." Ye Li lowered her gaze in thought for a moment. "If the seal were to leave Prince Ding's Estate, it wouldn't be a good thing. Wait, I have an idea..." Remembering the bright yellow silk she had brought from the Imperial Tomb, Ye Li suddenly smiled. Looking at Mo Xiuyao, she said, "I forgot I also brought out a treasure map from the Imperial Tomb."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Let's go with the voted name for little Mo Xiaobao. Honestly, if we don't write about Mo Xiaobao's story, his formal name really doesn't get used much, haha. Every time I write about Mo Xiaobao, I can't help but picture a scene. Well... On a picturesque lake, the handsome, dashing, and unrestrained young Mo lounges on a painted boat, embracing a stunning courtesan while enjoying music, utterly carefree. Suddenly, someone yells—"Mo Xiaobao, your mom's calling you home for dinner!" Oh ho ho~

Well, I have something to attend to tonight and will be back late, so I won't have time to reply to everyone's comments. Apologies in advance~