Mo Li

Xu Qingchen had indeed been waiting for them in Yonglin.

When the group arrived at the small town of Yonglin, Qingchen Gongzi was leisurely sipping tea in the finest teahouse in town, exuding an air of serene elegance. Seeing them enter, Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "I've been waiting for you all for quite some time. I’ve already arranged for an inn to be reserved. How about we rest in Yonglin for a day before crossing the pass?" Ye Li smiled and replied, "Elder Brother is as thoughtful as ever. Xiu Yao and I had the same idea."

As everyone took their seats, Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow and teased, "It seems you didn’t have much excitement on the road?"

At this, Feng Zhiyao immediately vented his frustration. "Exactly! Qingchen Gongzi, you have no idea. We traveled slowly, waiting all the way, but even after crossing the Cloud Ripple River, none of those cowards dared to catch up. It’s such a letdown!" The past few years had been too peaceful—even bandit suppression missions in the northwest were eagerly snatched up, leaving no outlaws left in the region. It was... slightly frustrating. "Mo Jingqi is truly boring. If he had issued an open decree to intercept and kill us, those generals wouldn’t have dared to disobey. At least then I could have experienced the thrill of breaking through an army’s encirclement! But now? His subordinates cut corners... If Mo Jingqi finds out we crossed Snowbreak Pass without losing a single soldier, I wonder if he’ll die of rage?"

Xu Qingchen shook his head with a smile. "Feng San, you’re overthinking it. Mo Jingqi would never issue an open decree. Once he does, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Mo Family Army. Before he could even kill us, the Mo Family Army would likely be stationed at Flying Goose Pass. If he truly committed all his forces and succeeded in killing Wang Ye, that would be one thing. But if Wang Ye returned to the northwest..." The wrath of Prince Ding and nearly a million Mo Family soldiers was not something just anyone could withstand. Hearing Xu Qingchen’s analysis, Feng San could only lament Mo Jingqi’s cowardice.

"Reporting to Wang Ye, a messenger from Great Chu requests an audience downstairs," a guard announced.

"A messenger from Great Chu?" Feng Zhiyao was surprised. He glanced at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li and asked, "In this situation, a Great Chu envoy still dares to request an audience with Wang Ye?"

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Feng San, care to guess who the envoy might be?"

Feng Zhiyao looked at him. "Has Qingchen Gongzi already met them?"

Xu Qingchen shook his head. "Not yet, but I can make an educated guess. Nanzhao has issued an official invitation to monarchs and nobles from various countries to attend Princess Anxi’s wedding. Great Chu wouldn’t send a low-ranking envoy, but... given Mo Jingqi’s personality, he wouldn’t come in person." Mo Jingqi was extremely conscious of his status and overly cautious about his safety. Not only would he never travel thousands of miles to Nanzhao, but he had never even ventured a hundred miles outside the capital in his entire life. Unless absolutely necessary, he remained within the heavily guarded palace walls, never stepping outside."Prince Li's connections with the Southern Border were something Mo Jingqi had long been aware of. Naturally, he wouldn't allow Prince Li to gain the upper hand this time either. In the entire capital, the only family Mo Jingqi could trust while still maintaining appearances was the Liu family." Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, though his smile carried a hint of coldness. Back when Mo Jingqi had suddenly decided to target the Xu Family, the instigation of the Liu family had undoubtedly played a significant role.

Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly. "Liu Chunfeng?"

Feng Zhiyao blinked. "Who's Liu Chunfeng?"

Zhuo Jing chuckled softly. "Third Master Feng, Liu Chunfeng is Prime Minister Liu—Consort Liu's father." It was no surprise Feng Zhiyao didn’t know. Although Consort Liu was around the same age as Mo Xiuyao and the others, Liu Chunfeng himself was only slightly younger than Duke Hua. In Feng Zhiyao's memory, by the time he took notice of the man, he was already Prime Minister Liu, so he’d never paid attention to his actual name.

Xu Qingchen nodded. "Exactly. I suspect the envoy from Great Chu will be none other than Liu Chunfeng."

Ye Li frowned slightly and turned to look at Mo Xiuyao beside her. "Could it be that Your Highness has some past acquaintance with this Prime Minister Liu?"

Mo Xiuyao scoffed. "Prince Ding's Estate and the Liu family have never gotten along. What acquaintance could there be?" Back when Mo Liufang was still young, the Liu family wasn’t under the current Prime Minister Liu but under the now-deceased Old Master Liu. Old Master Liu had only ascended to the position of prime minister in his sixties, yet above him loomed a regent prince, Mo Liufang, barely in his twenties. This was something the narrow-minded Old Master Liu could never tolerate. Over the years, he had constantly thrown obstacles in Mo Liufang’s path, which was why the relationship between Prince Ding's Estate and the Liu family had always been strained.

This was also why, back when Consort Liu had been infatuated with Mo Xiuyao, not only had Mo Xiuyao shown no interest, but even the Liu family had unanimously opposed the match, sending her into the palace without hesitation.

"Let him come up. I’d like to see what business he has requesting an audience with me," Mo Xiuyao said indifferently.

Before long, the man was escorted upstairs—none other than the white-haired Prime Minister Liu. Though advanced in years, Liu Chunfeng seemed to be in good health and spirits, his slightly clouded eyes still gleaming shrewdly. However, the people standing beside him gave everyone pause.

By Prime Minister Liu’s side were two women. The elder of the two was dressed in snow-white robes, her stunning face carrying a faint air of aloofness—none other than Consort Liu. Though she was now in her thirties, time had been kind to her, and she looked scarcely different from five or six years ago.

Beside Consort Liu stood a girl of thirteen or fourteen, clad in a goose-yellow silk dress embroidered with pink-and-white hibiscus flowers. Her features, already beginning to blossom, hinted at a beauty that would one day rival Consort Liu’s. Her clear, lively eyes, however, held a purity and brightness that Consort Liu could never possess.

When the girl caught sight of Ye Li, her face lit up, and she took an eager step forward, calling softly, "Princess Ding..."

Ye Li was momentarily taken aback. Studying the girl’s face, which bore some resemblance to both the Empress and Hua Tianxiang, realization dawned on her. "Princess Changle..."Seeing that Ye Li remembered her, Princess Changle nodded happily and stepped forward to approach her. Behind her, Consort Liu coughed lightly and said indifferently, "Princess, as a royal princess, you should mind your manners. Do not disgrace yourself and bring shame upon His Majesty." Princess Changle stopped in her tracks, glanced back at Consort Liu, and replied with a smile, "Thank you for the reminder, Imperial Concubine. However, it wasn’t my idea to come up here—wasn’t it your suggestion? I merely wished to catch up with Princess Ding, but I wonder whom Imperial Concubine intended to meet?" Consort Liu’s expression darkened as she fixed her gaze on the princess. Unfazed, Princess Changle met her stare without hesitation. After a long pause, Consort Liu finally said, "I, too, wished to speak with Princess Ding."

Ye Li rose gracefully and smiled faintly. "How rare to encounter old acquaintances in this border town. Since both Imperial Concubine and the princess wish to reminisce with me, why don’t we move elsewhere for a chat? It would be a shame... to tarnish Imperial Concubine’s reputation." Princess Changle cheerfully took Ye Li’s hand and beamed. "Princess Ding, it’s been so long! I thought we’d never meet again. Let’s go somewhere else to talk." With that, she pulled Ye Li toward a nearby chamber. The entire upper floor of the teahouse had been reserved by Xu Qingchen, so there was no worry of intruding into others’ rooms. After taking a few steps, Princess Changle turned back to glance at Consort Liu, who remained rooted in place. Smiling with crescent-shaped eyes, she teased, "Imperial Concubine Liu, aren’t you coming? My reputation isn’t much to begin with, but as the emperor’s daughter, I’ll never lack suitors. But if Imperial Concubine were to... hehe... I wonder if Father would enjoy hearing about a certain branch of pear blossoms leaning over the wall?"

"How dare you spout such nonsense!" Consort Liu flushed crimson, stealing a glance at the purple-clad, silver-haired man with his back turned to her before hastily following them.

Behind them, Feng Zhiyao finally snapped out of his daze. Pointing in the direction where Princess Changle had disappeared, he muttered in astonishment, "That girl is Princess Changle?" Mo Xiuyao lifted his gaze briefly before lowering it again to sip his tea. "Do you have any objections?" Feng Zhiyao fell silent. What objections could he have? Though he had only seen the princess once or twice before, he remembered the innocent, adorable little girl doted on and protected by Sister Hua. Once, he had even envied her for receiving all of that person’s love and care. But now—was this what they called 'a girl changes eighteen times before adulthood'? That sweet, guileless princess could now casually deliver such biting sarcasm.

Xu Qingchen lowered his eyes and remarked coolly, "Princess Changle must not be having an easy time in the palace these days." Feng Zhiyao said nothing, his expression gradually darkening. Ever since the Empress pleaded for the Xu Family’s sake years ago, the Emperor had stripped her of authority over the inner palace. Though everything else remained unchanged, and no one dared disrespect her given her long-standing influence and prestige, there was still a stark difference between an Empress with real power and one reduced to a figurehead.Prime Minister Liu stood to the side, his face alternating between green and pale. These people had not the slightest intention of inviting him to sit, even going so far as to discuss right in front of him how his daughter, in charge of the imperial harem, had mistreated Princess Changle. Prime Minister Liu was so furious his beard quivered, and he couldn't help but interject, "Third Master Feng, your words are too harsh. When has my daughter ever mistreated Princess Changle?" The heated discussion between Feng Zhiyao, Zhuo Jing, and Lin Han immediately ceased. Zhuo Jing's expression instantly turned cold again as if flipping a switch. He glanced sideways at Prime Minister Liu and said, "Prime Minister Liu, interrupting others without permission—do you not understand basic courtesy?"

Prime Minister Liu was so enraged he nearly toppled over, pointing at Zhuo Jing and stammering "you, you" for a long while without managing to form a coherent sentence. Finally catching his breath, he angrily retorted, "Leaving a guest standing aside—is this the hospitality of Prince Ding's Estate?"

"Only those who are welcome are guests. Uninvited intruders..." Lin Han looked at Prime Minister Liu with genuine sincerity, his expression clearly conveying that they had truly not invited him upstairs.

Feng Zhiyao propped his chin on one hand and remarked idly, "Also, Prime Minister Liu, this young master doesn’t just suspect the Liu family lacks understanding of propriety—in fact, doesn’t the entire Great Chu imperial family lack it? When you came upstairs earlier, how did you all walk? Prime Minister Liu took the lead, while Princess Changle walked last."

"What's the problem with that?" Prime Minister Liu snapped irritably. Feng Zhiyao scoffed, "Prime Minister Liu, Consort Liu holds the first-rank title, and Princess Changle also holds the first-rank title. As for you, Prime Minister... well, you’re also first-rank. But surely there’s a difference between these first ranks, no? No matter how high Consort Liu’s rank is, she’s still a concubine, while Princess Changle is the Empress’s legitimate daughter. Tell me, would your family allow a concubine to walk ahead of a legitimate daughter? Let alone the concubine’s father?"

"Feng Zhiyao! You—you—" Prime Minister Liu finally began trembling all over, his finger shaking uncontrollably as he pointed at Feng Zhiyao. He couldn’t argue that Feng Zhiyao was wrong—under normal circumstances, even he, as Prime Minister, would have to bow to Princess Changle. And as for the relationship between Consort Liu and Princess Changle, he couldn’t claim that imperial protocol differed from that of ordinary households. While within the palace, Princess Changle might show half-courtesy to Consort Liu as a junior, in the eyes of scholars across the land, the legitimate eldest princess was inherently more noble than a mere imperial concubine. The princess’s courtesy to Consort Liu stemmed from respect and politeness toward her father, not obligation.

"Prince Ding, is this how you discipline your subordinates?" Prime Minister Liu, too furious to watch his words, directly turned his attack toward Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao tilted his head slightly, his sword-like brows lifting as a cold smile curled at his lips. "Since when does how this prince disciplines his subordinates fall under your jurisdiction?"

Prime Minister Liu finally realized he stood no chance of gaining any advantage in front of Prince Ding’s people. Not only were Feng Zhiyao and Zhuo Jing sharp-tongued, but there was also Xu Qingchen sitting nearby, who hadn’t spoken a word yet—the same man who, at just seventeen, had once debated a renowned monk until the latter spat blood. In the end, Prime Minister Liu’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed on the spot. Feng Zhiyao blinked. "He couldn’t handle even this?" Lately, all the people Mo Jingqi sent their way—whether in debates or fights—seemed to have such pitifully weak combat prowess.Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, "It's not that it can't be done. This is the best way to exit." This showed that Prime Minister Liu knew when to yield and when to stand firm. If he had stubbornly persisted, he might have been taunted into fainting by Feng Zhiyao and the others. In the end, they couldn't just leave an elderly man in his seventies or eighties lying alone on the ground. Xu Qingchen signaled the guards at the stairway to let Prime Minister Liu's attendants come up and take him to see a doctor.

In the adjacent room, the atmosphere was completely different from outside. Princess Changle chattered away excitedly to Ye Li, her youthful and beautiful face filled with innocence and sincerity. Ye Li watched her with warm amusement in her eyes. After several years apart, the once little girl had grown into a graceful young lady. Only Consort Liu sat farther away from the two, her expression indifferent and somewhat distracted, clearly not intending to engage in any meaningful conversation with Ye Li.

Consort Liu ignored Ye Li, and Ye Li had no intention of paying her any attention either. When they had first met years ago, Ye Li had actually held some goodwill toward Consort Liu. After all, it was rare to find such a uniquely independent woman in the depths of the palace. However, after witnessing Consort Liu's obsessive pursuit of Mo Xiuyao and her overt and covert hostility toward herself, Ye Li's goodwill had completely vanished. No matter how deeply Consort Liu loved Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li was his lawfully wedded wife. She had no issue with Consort Liu's feelings for Mo Xiuyao, but it was excessive for her to direct disdain, sarcasm, and threats toward his rightful spouse. Especially since every time Ye Li saw Consort Liu's cold and haughty demeanor, she couldn't help but recall the scene in the palace's peach grove where Consort Liu had pleaded with Mo Xiuyao, which inevitably soured her mood.

"Princess Ding, I heard you have an adorable little brother?" Princess Changle asked Ye Li curiously, tugging at her sleeve.

Ye Li nodded with a smile, "Yes, he's five years old now."

Princess Changle sighed, "A little brother born to Princess Ding and Prince Ding must be both cute and clever. Why didn't you bring him along to the Southern Border?"

Amused by her earnest expression, Ye Li couldn't help but chuckle and tapped her little nose playfully, "With so many little brothers in the palace, hasn't the princess seen enough yet?"

Princess Changle huffed lightly, her lips pursing slightly, "Mother hasn't given me a brother. Changle doesn't have one."

"Alright, alright, no brother. Then how about Xiao Bao calls you 'Elder Sister' in the future?" Ye Li teased. Princess Changle's eyes lit up, and she blinked excitedly, "Really? Then... should I give him a gift? Hmm... I can't go to the northwest now, so could you take it back for me, Princess? That way, when he meets me later, he'll like me." She glanced down at herself, then without hesitation, pulled a delicate jade bell from her wrist and pressed it into Ye Li's hands.Ye Li held the jade bell in slight surprise. It was an exquisite piece crafted from the finest white jade, depicting the auspicious motif of a dragon and phoenix entwined together to form a small spherical shape. Through the intricate openwork of the intertwined Long and Feng, one could glimpse a perfectly round jade pearl inside. Though merely a delicate little bell, its unparalleled craftsmanship and premium jade quality made it immediately apparent that this was an item of immense value.

Princess Changle's generosity was so unexpected that even Consort Liu couldn't help but glance at her sideways, frowning as she said, "Your Highness, this jade bell was bestowed upon you by the Empress Dowager."

Princess Changle's small face darkened with displeasure. "Since Imperial Grandmother gave it to me, it's mine to do with as I please. What concern is it of yours, Consort Liu, whom I choose to gift it to?"

Ye Li reached out to gently hold Princess Changle's hand, smiling as she said, "Very well, I'll thank you on behalf of Chen'er. Speaking of which, I should return the favor with a gift for you too, but I don't have anything particularly suitable on me at the moment." Princess Changle's eyes brightened slightly as she blinked up at Ye Li. "Wang Fei, can't I choose my own present?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow with an amused smile. "What would you like?" The princess stood up and whispered a few words into Ye Li's ear. Ye Li frowned slightly in puzzlement. "What do you need that for?"

Pursing her lips and fiddling with the small braid at her chest, Princess Changle giggled, "For fun! No one else will give me one, but I know Wang Fei must have some. Just one piece, please? Can I, Wang Fei?"

After a moment's thought, Ye Li replied, "I'll look for it when I return. If I have it, I'll give it to you."

Princess Changle beamed, her eyes curving into crescents. "I knew Princess Ding was the best!"

Ye Li reached out to ruffle the princess's hair gently before asking softly, "By the way, why did your father send you along for Princess Anxi's wedding?"

At this question, the clear light in Princess Changle's eyes dimmed slightly.