Mo Li

There were still a few days left before the full moon banquet for the Heir Apparent Ding, but the city of Ruyang was already bustling with excitement. Due to the turmoil in the northwest last year, many wealthy merchants had fled to the interior, causing stagnation and even regression in the region's commerce. This time, however, with the birth of Mo Xiaobao, Prince Ding's Estate had publicly announced grand celebrations for the Little Prince. Moreover, because of the former dynasty's treasure and the Imperial Jade Seal, a continuous stream of people had been pouring into the northwest. In less than a month, Ruyang seemed to be gradually regaining its prosperity. Previously, Xinyang, the largest city in the northwest, had been reduced to ashes, and with Prince Ding's Estate now stationed in Ruyang, the city was steadily emerging as the new leading metropolis of the region. The local residents, eager to welcome visitors from all directions, had long prepared their homes and businesses, hoping to capitalize on the festive occasion.

Within Prince Ding's Estate, the presence of several members of the Xu Family had brought much relief to Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. Apart from Mr. Qingyun, who was advanced in years and spent his days in quiet retirement—occasionally visiting Su Zhe, who was recuperating in the estate—everyone from Xu Hongyu and Xu Hongyan to the five Xu brothers, even the youngest Xu Qingyan, could lend a hand with minor tasks under Xu Qingbai's guidance. Xu Hongyu and Xu Qingchen were extraordinary talents to begin with, and with their help, Mo Xiuyao unhesitatingly delegated a large portion of the northwest's affairs to them, enjoying a much more leisurely life as a result.

"Li'er, did you write this?" In the spacious study, several desks had been pushed together to form a large worktable, neatly arranged with various documents and files. The group sat around the table, handling their paperwork while occasionally exchanging a few words. Though each had their own study, they generally preferred working in the large study—it was neither lonely nor dull, and when uncertain, they could easily seek advice from others. Xu Qingchen held up a document outlining plans for the northwest's commerce and looked up to ask.

Ye Li raised her head from the memorials in front of her, glancing at Xu Qingchen in slight confusion, unsure what he was referring to. Mo Xiuyao, seated beside her, glanced over and said, "The plan for the northwest's commercial development.""Oh... I wrote that." Ye Li suddenly remembered, a bit embarrassed. "Actually, I only have a rough idea and am not very familiar with these matters. Didn’t we agree to hand it over to Mingxi and Leng Er to handle?" Mo Xiuyao replied, "Leng Er has returned to the inner regions, and Han Mingxi alone is overwhelmed managing both the northwest and affairs with Nanzhao and Northern Rong, so it was temporarily shelved." Hearing this, the others also looked up at Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen passed the document to Xu Hongyu, and after everyone had taken turns reading it, Xu Hongyu nodded approvingly. "Li'er’s idea is quite innovative. It’s worth trying—it might work." Although the Xu Family was a scholarly household, they were not rigid and naturally understood the significance of commerce for a city or even a nation. Compared to the fertile central plains and Jiangnan regions, the northwest was inherently less abundant, even in terms of grain. If they couldn’t find an alternative path, the Mo Family Army would eventually decline due to the poverty of the northwest. Initially, everyone was surprised to see Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao working side by side daily, handling both the northwest’s governance and the Mo Family Army’s military affairs. But witnessing the army’s generals treating it as normal made them feel deeply gratified. Li'er had ample talent and capability, and most importantly, Prince Ding was willing to give her the trust and space to showcase her abilities, which greatly improved the Xu Family’s opinion of Mo Xiuyao.

The dossier circulated among the group, but Xu Qingbai showed the most interest in the plan. Originally assigned to the southwest, he had been eager to prove himself before being recalled to the capital. Seeing this plan now reminded him of his initial ambitions upon arriving in the southwest. "Li'er, what were you thinking?"

Noticing everyone’s eyes on her, Ye Li set aside the memorial in her hand and asked Zhuo Jing to fetch a map, which she hung on the wall, then had fresh tea brought in. After carefully organizing her thoughts, she explained, "The northwest covers less than one-sixth of Chu’s territory, with a population barely reaching one-tenth of the nation’s total. Although Hongzhou is known as the northwest’s granary, it still falls short compared to the central plains, Jiangnan, or even the southwest, renowned as the 'Land of Abundance.' In peacetime, this wouldn’t be an issue—we’d only need to import a small amount of grain to sustain the northwest’s people and soldiers. But the reality is, in the worst-case scenario, we could face over three million troops from Chu, Northern Rong, and Western Liang simultaneously. Even without war, if these three nations jointly blockade the northwest’s grain and economy, the region would inevitably grow poorer, and the Mo Family Army would weaken over time, leading to its eventual demise."

The room fell silent. Everyone knew these facts, but no one had ever laid out the data so starkly before. The clarity made the situation all the more alarming.

Feng Zhiyao frowned. "What if we take the initiative and expand the northwest’s territory?"Xu Hongyu frowned and said, "It's not impossible, but... Western Liang's land is inherently barren. Their food comes more from the southern states of Great Chu and Nanzhao, while Northern Rong is vast grasslands and deserts, with the Bei Rong people primarily living on livestock. Great Chu... cannot be touched for now. If the Mo Family Army were to act against Great Chu, it could very well provoke simultaneous attacks from Western Liang, Northern Rong, and Nanzhao against us. In truth, given the Mo Family Army's valor, what General Feng suggested might not be unfeasible, but the losses would undoubtedly be severe. I believe Li'er's intention is to proceed gradually."

Ye Li nodded. "Exactly. If we leave the northwest in ruins, we’ll be the ones left to clean up the mess. Unless we can conquer either Western Liang or Northern Rong within six months, any retaliation from them would be more than the Mo Family Army could handle." The Mo Family Army was unlike any other force—seemingly invincible yet perpetually in peril. Whether one sought to dominate the realm or pursue other ambitions, those with insufficient strength would be ignored, while those with enough power could forge alliances. But from the very beginning, the Mo Family Army had been marked as everyone’s adversary. Neither Western Liang nor Northern Rong would ever cooperate with them. Given the choice, they would rather spare no cost to eliminate the Mo Family Army first.

Xu Qingyan craned his neck to peer at what Xu Qingbai was holding and asked, "Sister Li'er has already considered so much—does that mean you have a solution?"

Ye Li smiled helplessly. "How could these problems be resolved so quickly? However, I previously ordered a survey of the entire northwest. Apart from the Hongzhou area, the central reaches of the Min River in Ganzhou are vast plains with excellent soil and water quality. But because this region borders Northern Rong, it’s sparsely populated, leaving large tracts of fertile land uncultivated."

Xu Qingbai mused, "Li'er, are you suggesting relocating people to Ganzhou to cultivate the land? That would require a substantial military presence at the border to prevent raids by the Bei Rong people."

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "That’s not a problem. Right now, the Mo Family Army has hundreds of thousands of soldiers with nothing to do. Besides, the army will undoubtedly expand in the future, so we won’t lack manpower for border defense."

Ye Li also nodded. "If the people are uneasy, the Mo Family Army can start cultivating the land first or work alongside the civilians."

"The Mo Family Army farming alongside ordinary people?" The others frowned, hesitating.

Xu Qingchen arched an eyebrow and smiled. "Li'er’s idea is excellent. With hundreds of thousands of troops temporarily idle, putting them to work in the fields is a fine solution. This way, the Mo Family Army can produce its own food and reduce the tax burden on the people."

Xu Qingbai nodded, unusually eager as he asked, "Then, Li'er, what’s this about a commercial hub you mentioned here?"Ye Li pressed her temples and organized her thoughts before speaking, "This world isn't limited to just Great Chu, Northern Rong, Western Liang, and Nanzhao. West of Western Liang, there are countless small countries and possibly even large nations we're unaware of. It's just that due to the great distance, ordinary people don't know about them. Our northwest is currently surrounded by various countries. If we transport goods from Eastern Chu, Northern Rong, and Nanzhao through Western Liang to sell to countries further west, then bring their goods back to sell to Great Chu or the Northern Rong people—and even guide merchants from those countries to come here—over time, Ruyang, and indeed the entire northwest, will inevitably become a crucial hub for economic and cultural exchange between the East and West..."

Xu Qingbai, being intelligent, grasped the idea immediately and smiled, "Li'er, when do you plan to start? Count me in."

"Me too!" Xu Qingyan, who always followed his fourth brother's lead, quickly raised his hand in agreement.

Ye Li chuckled, "I've already sent some people to handle the agricultural aspects. As for commerce... Fourth Brother, since you lack experience, you can consult Han Mingxi and Leng Haoyu..." Thinking of the overworked Han Mingxi and Leng Haoyu, Ye Li felt a headache coming on. Then she recalled a certain someone who was currently wallowing in depression somewhere, and she couldn't help but regret having disposed of Su Zuidie so quickly—otherwise, she could have had an excellent free laborer.

"Your Highnesses, Prince Li and Princess Li of Chu Jing have arrived," a guard announced as he entered.

"Prince Li? Mo Jingli?" Ye Li was momentarily stunned, not expecting him to come to Ruyang, and with Ye Ying no less. Come to think of it, it had been nearly two years since she last saw Ye Ying. Originally imprisoned by Mo Jingqi, now that Mo Jingli had returned to the capital with a formidable army, openly challenging Mo Jingqi's authority, Ye Ying, as Princess Li, was naturally free again.

Mo Xiuyao stood up with a smile, "Mo Jingli, is it? In that case... A Li, let's go greet Prince Li and Princess Li. I'd like to see how much Mo Jingli has improved after all this time." Ye Li had no objections and stood to follow Mo Xiuyao out. Only Xu Qingbai seemed reluctant, his questions still unanswered.

Their "welcome" was merely standing at the entrance of the main hall as Head Steward Mo ushered the guests in. Mo Jingli clearly didn't expect any grand reception from Mo Xiuyao, so his expression remained composed. As he approached the hall, he saw the striking couple waiting at the door. Mo Xiuyao wore a light purple robe, his snow-white hair casually tied back, exuding an even colder and more intimidating aura than before. Ye Li, dressed in a pale green gown with silver peony patterns, smiled as gently as ever, but her bearing now carried more nobility and charm. Seeing the green-clad woman standing beside Mo Xiuyao with a serene smile, Mo Jingli's eyes flickered, a complex emotion stirring in his heart.

"Prince Li and Princess Li, your presence honors us," Ye Li said with a faint smile, noticing Mo Xiuyao's silence.After not seeing each other for years, Ye Ying was quite different from the once-famous Fourth Miss Ye of Chu Jing. Her previously delicate and helpless demeanor had now taken on a more resentful and vacant expression, while her once-clear autumn-like eyes had grown sharper, diminishing much of her former fragility. Walking silently beside Mo Jingli, she now carried herself more like a proper Wang Fei than before. However, Ye Li didn’t miss the flash of jealousy and resentment in Ye Ying’s eyes when she glanced at her. She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly—had Ye Ying truly suffered so much these past two years? But what did she have to envy? Was it Ye Li’s leading troops into battle, risking life and death on the frontlines? Or perhaps her near-fatal fall off a cliff, almost ending two lives at once?

Mo Jingli glanced at the two standing side by side before him and said coolly, "It’s been a long time. I trust you’ve been well?"

Mo Xiuyao raised a brow in surprise—Mo Jingli actually knew how to greet him properly? It seemed he had learned quite a bit over the past year. He nodded faintly and replied with a light smile, "Thank you for your concern."

Mo Jingli stiffened, his expression turning as if he had swallowed a fly—who said anything about concern?

Ye Li, amused, glanced at Mo Xiuyao before smiling at Mo Jingli. "Please, come in."

Once seated in the main hall, Ye Li noticed that Mo Jingli had brought someone else with him—another familiar face she hadn’t seen in a long time: Qixia Princess. Dressed in a maid’s attire and keeping her head down, Ye Li had initially mistaken her for an ordinary servant. It wasn’t until she followed everyone into the hall that Ye Li realized something was amiss. No wonder Ye Ying’s expression had been so sour—Mo Jingli had left Chu Jing with Qixia Princess back then, and now he was still keeping her by his side even in the northwest. Clearly, she held a special place in his heart.

As host and guests settled in, Ye Li hesitated before addressing Qixia Princess. "This lady here…"

Before Mo Jingli could respond, Ye Ying interjected coolly, "Just a maid. Why trouble yourself over her, Third Sister?"

At this, Mo Jingli’s face darkened, and Qixia Princess’s expression soured as well. Given her status, Qixia Princess could have easily been made a secondary consort. But after the scandal at the wedding, she had been forced to fake her death to settle the matter. Ye Li had assumed Mo Jingli would quickly arrange a new identity for her, yet to this day, her position remained unclear. Seeing Mo Jingli remain silent, Ye Li paid it no further mind and signaled for tea to be served.

"Prince Ding’s current appearance is quite startling," Mo Jingli remarked. Though he had heard of Mo Xiuyao’s white hair, seeing it in person still surprised him. He glanced at Ye Li seated beside Mo Xiuyao, reassessing—it seemed her importance to him was far greater than they had assumed.

Mo Xiuyao remained unbothered, casually brushing the strands of hair that had fallen over his chest back behind his shoulder. "Flowers bloom and wither, life and death are ordinary things—why dwell on them? I’ve heard, however, that Prince Li has been thriving in the south these past years?"Mo Jingli curled his lips slightly and said, "Prince Ding flatters me. How could I compare to the freedom you enjoy entrenched in the northwest?" The two men began exchanging veiled barbs. In the past, Mo Jingli might not have had the courage or confidence to engage in such verbal sparring with Mo Xiuyao. But now things were different—while Mo Xiuyao held the northwest, he controlled the prosperous Jiangnan region, which clearly held more advantages than the barren northwest.

Ye Li turned to Ye Ying with a gentle smile. "Fourth Sister, have you been well this past year?"

Ye Ying looked at Ye Li with complex emotions, giving a cold snort. "Third Sister surely knows I was imprisoned by His Majesty? How well could a prisoner fare?" Her tone implied blame toward Ye Li for not rescuing her despite knowing of her imprisonment by Mo Jingqi. Ye Li remained unperturbed—there had never been any sisterly affection between them. Had it been a simple matter, she might have helped, but Ye Ying had been Mo Jingqi's hostage to control Mo Jingli, heavily guarded. Why would Ye Li sacrifice her own subordinates for that? Facing Ye Ying's accusatory tone, Ye Li maintained her composure and comforted, "Now that Fourth Sister is reunited with Prince Li and has the Prince Li heir, your days of hardship are finally over."

At these words, Ye Ying's face darkened further. Ye Li quickly realized—Mo Jingli likely had no intention of making Ye Ying's child his heir. Of course, Mo Jingli was still young and could have children whenever he wished. Ye Ying now had no backing except for this half-sister, not even comparable to minor official families. And this sister happened to be on poor terms with her, their families even being rivals. Naturally, Mo Jingli wouldn't consider Ye Ying's child as heir—he was probably already planning to select a new consort from a prestigious family.

These matters were beyond Ye Li's concern, so she changed the subject. Ye Ying listened silently until suddenly asking, "Third Sister, why did you make Father retire?!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow—was this an interrogation?

With a faint, cool smile, she replied, "Father is advanced in years and had essentially reached the peak of his official career. What's wrong with retiring at the height of one's success?"

Ye Ying bit her lip, shooting Ye Li a resentful glare. No one knew how she'd felt upon being released from prison only to find her parents and relatives gone from the capital. Prince Li no longer treated her with the care of before, remaining cold and indifferent, not even glancing properly at her child. Had Father still been here as Minister, how could things have come to this?

Ye Li understood Ye Ying's resentment perfectly and inwardly scoffed. Had Lord Ye not retired, Mo Jingqi would likely have had him killed long before Ye Ying's release. She'd thought Ye Ying might have matured after over a year of hardship, but clearly, she remained as naive and ignorant as ever!