Mo Li

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!" In the Li Cheng posthouse, a servant, unusually flustered, knocked urgently on Zhennan Wang's door. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Zhennan Wang standing with a dark expression as he glared at the panicked servant. "What happened?" he demanded coldly.

The servant gasped for breath, stammering, "The young master—the young master is in trouble… He’s been captured by Prince Ding’s Estate!" Zhennan Wang’s heart sank. His subordinates wouldn’t raise false alarms, yet there had been no reports of troop movements in or around Li Cheng these past few days. How could Teng Feng have—

"Speak! What else?" Zhennan Wang growled.

The servant hurriedly continued, "All those who went with the young master have lost contact. It’s said that early this morning, Princess Ding personally escorted a group back to the estate. Our people reported seeing the young master, along with the Crown Prince of Northern Rong, the Seventh Prince, and Prince Li of Dong Chu."

Zhennan Wang’s brows furrowed deeply. "Capturing so many—what does Prince Ding’s Estate intend to do?" He refused to believe they were provoking war with multiple nations. No matter how formidable the Mo Family Army was, they couldn’t withstand a joint attack from three kingdoms.

As he pondered their motives, another subordinate arrived with a letter. "Your Highness, Prince Ding and Princess Ding request your presence at their estate for a discussion." Zhennan Wang took the letter and replied indifferently, "Understood. Dismissed."

Once the messenger had withdrawn, an attendant nearby ventured cautiously, "Your Highness, shall we go?"

Zhennan Wang flipped through the elegantly crafted invitation and sneered. "With Teng Feng in their hands, do we have a choice?"

At Prince Ding’s Estate, Han Mingxi was sulking as he complained to Ye Li about his ordeal the previous day. Ye Li smiled at his aggrieved expression. "Mingxi, it was all a misunderstanding. Let me apologize on their behalf, alright?"

Han Mingxi shot a glance at Mo Xiuyao, who sat calmly sipping tea nearby, and huffed. "Misunderstanding? More like someone scheming against me!" He knew full well that the Qilin operatives had been ordered to capture intruders, yet Mo Xiuyao had still told him he could profit there—clearly a malicious trick. And he’d been foolish enough to believe Mo Xiuyao would actually point him toward riches. The man only ever exploited him!

Ye Li covered a laugh. "Mingxi, it truly was a misunderstanding. The Qilin operation was my last-minute decision—even Wang Ye wasn’t aware." Knowing Ye Li wouldn’t lie over such a trivial matter, Han Mingxi could only grumble and accept his bad luck.

Mo Xiuyao set down his teacup and arched a brow. "Even so, didn’t you walk away with quite a haul? What’s there to complain about?"

The men sent in by Lei Tengfeng and the others had essentially cleared the Imperial Tomb’s traps and mechanisms, allowing Prince Ding’s forces to sweep through unimpeded afterward. Naturally, Han Mingxi had also reaped considerable rewards.

Recalling the trove of antiques, treasures, gold, and jewels he’d hauled home earlier, Han Mingxi’s anger subsided slightly. Still, he glared warily at Mo Xiuyao. "Those things are mine. Don’t even think about touching them."

Mo Xiuyao remained indifferent. If he truly wanted them, did Han Mingxi really think he could stop him? There was no need to argue over such trifles in front of A Li.Seated on the side watching the show, Xu Qingchen waited until they had finished arguing before smiling and speaking up, "Li'er, what are your plans for those people you captured?" Those were all influential figures from various countries, which was precisely why dealing with them was troublesome—neither too lenient nor too harsh. Ye Li smiled and asked, "Does elder brother have any suggestions?" Xu Qingchen idly toyed with the exquisite jade pendant hanging at his waist, pondering for a moment before replying, "I see Li'er doesn’t intend to do anything drastic to them. In the end, we’ll likely have to release them. The key is how we go about it... and how much benefit we can gain from it." Ye Li chuckled, "Elder brother already has a good grasp of the situation. We don’t expect to gain much from this. This time, we merely intend to send these people out of the northwest in one go. They’ve stirred up enough trouble here already." A flicker of understanding crossed Xu Qingchen’s face. This grand spectacle was largely meant to intimidate the forces wary of the northwest, deterring them from acting rashly. He nodded and said, "Understood. I’ll inform Father and Second Uncle later." Ye Li nodded in agreement. "Then the negotiations with the various countries will be left to elder brother and Uncle."

"Your Highness, Zhennan Wang has arrived!" A guard announced from outside the door. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged glances and smiled. Mo Xiuyao stood up and said, "He arrived rather quickly. A Li, let’s go meet Zhennan Wang. It’s best if I speak with him personally." Ye Li agreed. Though Zhennan Wang held only the title of a prince, he was different from the others—he wielded the most direct influence over Western Liang, as the entire kingdom was under his control. Such a man was naturally more challenging to handle than the Northern Rong Crown Prince or Prince Li of Great Chu.

When the two of them arrived at the main hall, they found it empty. Instead, the sounds of a scuffle came from outside. Stepping out, they saw two figures leaping and clashing relentlessly in the courtyard—Zhennan Wang and Ling Tiehan were locked in combat, drawing a crowd of onlookers. Ling Tiehan had no concept of holding back in a fight; if you lost an arm, that was your own lack of skill. His strikes were overwhelming, leaving no room for mercy. Leaning against Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li watched the intense duel and whispered, "If you were to fight Ling Tiehan, do you think you could win?" Mo Xiuyao focused intently on the battle before him and, after a long pause, answered solemnly, "No. Ling Tiehan possesses unparalleled talent, insight, and diligence. He has trained relentlessly all these years. Had I not suffered injuries over the past decade, I might have barely surpassed him. But now... I’m afraid I’d be slightly inferior." Mo Xiuyao’s innate talent was indeed rare in this world, but even the greatest gifts couldn’t compensate for ten years of setbacks. The fact that his martial skills remained at their current level was already the result of immense effort and perseverance.

"Now, Ling Tiehan is truly the undisputed number one master in the world..." Mo Xiuyao murmured softly as he watched the two men fight, a sigh escaping his lips."You mean..." Ye Li was taken aback. Mo Xiuyao continued, "Zhennan Wang is no match for Ling Tiehan, and Mu Qingcang is even less so." Mo Xiuyao himself admitted he was inferior to Ling Tiehan, who truly deserved the title of the world's top martial artist. Sure enough, with Ling Tiehan showing no mercy and Zhennan Wang clearly not at his best, the latter soon began to falter. But Ling Tiehan showed no intention of stopping at a mere exchange, relentlessly pressing his attack. Watching this, Ye Li couldn't help but silently mourn for Zhennan Wang. Her original intention in inviting him to Prince Ding's Estate today was definitely not to have Ling Tiehan thrash him—she merely wanted to bring the matter to a swift conclusion. It was all just a coincidence...

"Does Ling Tiehan always fight so ruthlessly with everyone?" Ye Li frowned, recalling the scheduled martial arts contest between Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan, which made her somewhat worried. Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly, pulling her into his embrace without a care for the onlookers' stares. He whispered with amusement, "Ling Tiehan isn’t a fool. If he really went all out against me, even if I suffered more, he wouldn’t fare much better." The gap between them wasn’t so vast that Ling Tiehan could completely overwhelm him. If either performed exceptionally, the outcome was uncertain. A life-or-death fight between them would only result in mutual destruction. "Besides... don’t be fooled by how fiercely they’re fighting. Ling Tiehan isn’t using his full strength, and Lei Zhenting is still holding back." Ye Li pointed at Zhennan Wang, who had just taken a heavy blow and was visibly slowing down—supposedly still holding back—and asked, "Are you implying Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting have some personal grudge?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled without answering. Ling Tiehan had already lost interest in Lei Zhenting’s martial prowess. If there were no personal grudge, why would he rush over to fight the moment he heard Lei Zhenting had arrived at Prince Ding's Estate? Once he had enjoyed the spectacle enough, Mo Xiuyao decided it wouldn’t do to let a guest of the estate be beaten to death on the premises. He finally called out with a laugh, "Zhennan Wang, Ling Gezhu, how about calling it a day after this exchange?" Ling Tiehan glanced their way, then gracefully leaped back, landing atop a wall to gaze down at Zhennan Wang with cool detachment. In contrast to Ling Tiehan’s effortless poise, Zhennan Wang looked uncharacteristically disheveled. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his lips as he pressed a hand to his chest, where Ling Tiehan’s palm strike still throbbed with pain. His expression darkened as he turned to face Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, who had been watching from the sidelines. "Prince Ding, Princess Ding," he said sternly, "what is the meaning of this?"

Ye Li stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Zhennan Wang, please forgive us. Ling Gezhu has been a guest at our estate these past days. Any discourtesy on his part is entirely unintentional. Ling Gezhu, won’t you join us for tea?" Ling Tiehan clasped his hands toward Ye Li and laughed heartily. "I happened to pass by and saw Zhennan Wang entering, so I couldn’t resist testing my skills against him. My apologies, Princess. I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave." Ye Li nodded graciously. "Safe travels, Ling Gezhu." With a brief nod to Mo Xiuyao, Ling Tiehan vaulted away, disappearing from the courtyard.Please have Zhennan Wang enter the main hall and take a seat. Ye Li looked at Zhennan Wang, whose expression was somewhat unpleasant, and asked, "Wang Ye, would you like a physician to examine you?" Zhennan Wang snorted lightly, casually wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Thank you, Wang Fei. It's just a minor injury." Ye Li nodded; it indeed didn’t seem serious. Though she didn’t know why Ling Tiehan had suddenly intervened to provoke Zhennan Wang, she wasn’t opposed to the current outcome. A Zhennan Wang with internal injuries was clearly more aligned with their interests than an unscathed one.

After instructing the maids to serve tea and withdraw, Zhennan Wang looked directly at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li and asked bluntly, "I’ve heard my son is currently a guest at your estate. May I see him?" Mo Xiuyao arched an eyebrow, his snow-white hair making his smile appear cold and indifferent. "A guest? A Li, did you invite Zhennan Wang Shizi to our estate?" Ye Li shook her head, smiling faintly. "I left the city the day before yesterday to inspect the Qilin encampment and only returned this morning. How could I have invited Zhennan Wang Shizi as a guest?" Hearing this, Zhennan Wang’s heart sank. He now understood why Lei Tengfeng, despite bringing so many men, had silently fallen into Princess Ding’s hands. The Qilin—Princess Ding’s most elite force—was something no one had truly witnessed, known only for their unbroken record of formidable achievements.

Frowning slightly, Zhennan Wang took out the invitation he had received and asked, "Then what is the meaning of this invitation from Wang Ye and Wang Fei? What business do you have in summoning me here?"

Mo Xiuyao leaned lazily against the armrest and replied indifferently, "Nothing major. In a few days, Wang Fei and I will be touring the northwestern regions and won’t be in Li Cheng. We simply wanted to inform you in advance to avoid any lapses in hospitality." Zhennan Wang lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment before smiling. "I see. In truth, my son and I have been away from Western Liang for nearly two months now, and with pressing matters at home, we’ve long intended to take our leave. However... my son went out yesterday and hasn’t returned. I fear we must trouble Wang Ye and Wang Fei to look after him." Mo Xiuyao responded generously, "You needn’t worry about that, Zhennan Wang. As long as your son remains within the borders of the northwest, even if he hides in a burrow, I’ll find him for you." Zhennan Wang’s heart grew heavier. Despite Mo Xiuyao’s apparent agreement, he had promised nothing concrete. Everyone knew Mo Xiuyao had captured Tengfeng, but without his admission, no one could hold him accountable. Moreover, his promise to "find" him could mean anything—ten days, half a month, or even years. Prince Ding’s Estate could afford to wait, but Western Liang and Zhennan Wang’s estate could not. Tengfeng might not be his only son, but he was the only one of outstanding talent. He couldn’t afford to lose him to Mo Xiuyao.

Lifting his head, Zhennan Wang said solemnly, "My son is young and impulsive. If he has offended Wang Ye or Wang Fei in any way, I apologize on his behalf. I beg Prince Ding to show mercy." With these words, he had effectively conceded defeat.Mo Xiuyao's eyes flickered slightly as he smiled faintly, "Your Highness speaks too gravely. It seems I recall... A Li encountered many suspicious individuals appearing suddenly in the northwest when she left the city yesterday, so I had them apprehended. A Li?" Ye Li smiled gently and nodded, "Indeed, quite a few were captured yesterday. Zhuo Jing?"

Zhuo Jing thought for a moment before nodding, "There was indeed one who claimed to be Zhennan Wang Shizi. However, I am not familiar with Zhennan Wang Shizi, and since he should have been safely staying at the posthouse, why would he appear near Hongzhou? I assumed he was an imposter and ordered him detained along with the others." His blunt words, paired with his stern and upright demeanor, made the statement sound utterly convincing.

Everyone present was adept at theatrics. Mo Xiuyao sat up slightly and chided softly, "How could you make such assumptions about Zhennan Wang Shizi? Go and investigate at once. Return quickly." Zhuo Jing acknowledged the order and immediately withdrew to carry out the task.

Once Zhuo Jing's figure disappeared beyond the door, Mo Xiuyao took a sip of tea and said to Zhennan Wang with a smile, "Your Highness need not worry. Zhuo Jing is one of A Li's trusted aides and is usually very reliable. This was merely an oversight. I’m sure the truth will be uncovered soon."

Zhennan Wang could clearly see through Mo Xiuyao's act, but with his son in their hands, he had no choice but to play along. He chuckled lightly and replied, "Then I shall trouble Prince Ding with this matter."

True to his word, Zhuo Jing returned swiftly—within the time it took to finish a cup of tea. He reappeared at the hall's entrance, stepped forward, and bowed to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao. "This subordinate has failed in his duty. I beg Wang Fei and Wang Ye for forgiveness. Upon further inspection in the prison... that man is indeed Zhennan Wang Shizi."

Mo Xiuyao raised a brow. "In that case, why haven’t you brought the Shizi out?"

Zhuo Jing hesitated. "This..."

"Speak plainly," Ye Li said.

Zhuo Jing explained, "After the captives were seized, they were handed over to Third Master Feng. Third Master Feng stated that he despises grave robbers above all else. According to the law, grave robbery warrants a hundred lashes and exile to the border. Desecrating the Imperial Tomb is punishable by execution. Even nobility are not exempt from the law. Therefore... Third Master Feng refused to release the prisoners to me. I have failed in my task and beg Wang Fei’s forgiveness."

Glancing at Zhennan Wang, whose face had turned ashen, Ye Li offered an apologetic smile. "Third Master Feng was entrusted by Wang Ye to assist in drafting the laws of Li Cheng and the northwest. As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean—he may be overly zealous in his duties. Please forgive him." She then turned to Zhuo Jing. "Summon Feng San here."

"No need to summon me. This subordinate, Feng San, requests an audience with Wang Ye and Wang Fei." Before Ye Li could finish speaking, Feng Zhiyao's voice rang out from beyond the door.

Third Master Feng strode in, clad in his usual crimson robes, exuding the elegance of a noble young master.

Ye Li asked, "Feng San, is Zhennan Wang Shizi in your custody?"

Feng Zhiyao arched a brow and leisurely fanned himself with a folding fan. "Reporting to Wang Fei, this subordinate holds no Shizi—only grave robbers. I came precisely to inform Wang Ye and Wang Fei of this matter. In my opinion, these individuals have the audacity to plunder the Imperial Tomb, a crime punishable by death. I propose executing them publicly and announcing their crimes to the realm!"Zhennan Wang's face was extremely grim. If Zhennan Wang Shizi were truly executed for the crime of tomb robbery, the disgrace to Zhennan Wang's estate and Western Liang would become known throughout the world. Yet Feng Zhiyao's argument was so righteous that it left no room for rebuttal. After all, tomb robbery was indeed a crime in both Western Liang and Great Chu. But to put it bluntly, such charges were meant for commoners and grave robbers. Who could hold the royal family accountable even if they excavated tombs from a former dynasty? But now that Lei Tengfeng had fallen into Mo Xiuyao's hands, this charge left them helpless.

Feng Zhiyao continued his impassioned speech, "Our Northwest is newly established, with legal codes still incomplete. We must impose severe punishments to set an example. Moreover, grave robbing is a heinous crime that disregards human ethics and disturbs the spirits of the deceased. Though it concerns the former dynasty's imperial mausoleum, if we do not punish it severely, it will leave the world with the impression that our Northwest lacks moral principles. I beg Wang Ye to reconsider."

Zhennan Wang sighed inwardly, realizing they had no choice but to concede today. Rising to his feet, he clasped his hands toward Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao and said, "My foolish son acted recklessly and committed such an egregious crime. I beg Prince Ding and Wang Fei to show some leniency. Western Liang and Zhennan Wang's estate are willing to compensate Prince Ding's Estate and the Northwest to the fullest extent possible."

Hearing this, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged glances and smiled knowingly. Willingness to admit defeat was a good start.