Mo Li

The wedding customs of Nanzhao were vastly different from those of the Central Plains. Princess Anxi and Pu A's wedding ceremony was held in the square before the royal palace. Not only were the nobles of the Southern Border and envoys from various nations present, but even the common people of Nanzhao gathered in the vast square, singing and dancing in celebration of the princess's marriage.

Although the Northwest was not large and could hardly be considered a true nation, Nanzhao still seated Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li in the positions closest to the King of Nanzhao and the newlywed couple. Even the envoys from Great Chu and Western Liang were placed behind them. Though Prime Minister Liu was somewhat displeased by this, he was no reckless fool and naturally wouldn’t openly confront Mo Xiuyao over such a matter. Lei Tengfeng’s expression remained grim, his sword-like brows tightly furrowed. Clearly, the robbery on the road and the loss of the recently acquired medicine weighed heavily on his mind. To make matters worse, Zhennan Wang had not accompanied him this time, intending for his son to stand on his own, leaving Lei Tengfeng with no one to consult even when troubled.

Princess Anxi sat beside her groom in a snow-white ceremonial gown embroidered with delicate blue patterns. The usually valiant and heroic woman now exuded an ethereal and radiant charm.

Shu Manlin, dressed in the yellow robes of the Holy Maiden, her makeup flawless, sat smiling below the King of Nanzhao. Yet, she seemed to outshine even the bride. Were it not for the presence of the even more stunning and aloof Consort Liu, most eyes would have undoubtedly been drawn to her.

Feng Zhiyao, seated behind Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, glanced at the assembled ladies and teased, "Ah, Wang Fei, it seems you’ve been overshadowed."

Ye Li smiled faintly, pressing her lips together without responding. She had no intention of competing for attention with the bride. Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze to his wife beside him—dressed in a pale green robe, her hair styled in a simple yet elegant bun adorned with two slanting jade hairpins. Under the moonlight and lantern light, her eyes shimmered with a gentle allure. "In this prince’s eyes, A Li is the most beautiful."

Ye Li looked at him with a smile, replying playfully, "Prince Ding, no matter how sweet your words, I won’t forget that you still have a certain admirer eagerly awaiting you."

Mo Xiuyao, of course, had noticed the gaze in question. He scoffed disdainfully. "If A Li dislikes it, this prince can have those eyes plucked out."

"What would I do with eyeballs? Eat them?" Ye Li rolled her eyes.

Mo Xiuyao considered this seriously. "They wouldn’t taste good. Feed them to Mo Xiaobao."

Ye Li was utterly speechless. Not tasty, so feed them to Mo Xiaobao—was that what he meant? Was Mo Xiaobao really just some child he picked up from the streets?

She glared at him fiercely. "How about feeding them to Da Bao instead?" In the blink of an eye, Mo Xiuyao understood who she meant by "Da Bao." He frowned. "No."

Behind them, Feng Zhiyao broke into a cold sweat. Just how foolish had he been to open his mouth? And how had the two in front managed to derail the conversation to such a horrifying degree? Could they please refrain from discussing such gruesome topics at someone else’s wedding? If Princess Anxi’s marriage turned out to be unhappy, it would undoubtedly be their fault!"Wang Fei... It seems Princess Changle hasn't achieved sudden success." Finally, unable to bear the increasingly vicious conversation ahead, Feng Zhiyao spoke up to remind her. Ye Li looked towards the table of the Great Chu envoys opposite and indeed didn't see Princess Anxi. Instead, she noticed Consort Liu, who had been staring fixedly at Mo Xiuyao, with a strange smile playing on her lips. Frowning in thought, Ye Li turned back and whispered a few instructions to Feng Zhiyao, whose expression changed slightly before he quietly slipped away from the square unnoticed.

Feng Zhiyao's discreet departure didn't affect anyone. Mo Xiuyao continued chatting casually with Ye Li in low tones. Though neither intended to steal the spotlight from the newlyweds, they still drew numerous gazes from the gathering. Mo Xiuyao glanced casually across the way, catching Mo Jingli staring absentmindedly at his side and Lei Tengfeng's thoughtful expression. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he snorted lightly, directing a mocking smile at Mo Jingli.

Mo Jingli naturally saw the cold smile on Mo Xiuyao's face but showed no embarrassment at being caught staring at another man's wife. Instead, he glared back defiantly. Mo Xiuyao raised his wine cup slightly in a silent toast: "Wishing you all the best."

Though Mo Jingli had always disliked Mo Xiuyao, he still paid close attention to his every move. He clearly understood the meaning behind the gesture but initially dismissed it—until he saw the knowing, half-smile on Mo Xiuyao's face. A shiver ran down his spine, as if his most secret plans had been uncovered by his enemy. This uncomfortable feeling of exposure left him no mood to continue gazing at Ye Li.

After the King of Nanzhao personally presided over the wedding ceremony for Princess Anxi and Pu A, he retired early to the palace. Only then did the square truly become a sea of joy, with everyone—including Princess Anxi and her new husband—singing and dancing in celebration. Amidst the revelry, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao sat in the most inconspicuous corner, observing everything. "Though Nanzhao weddings aren't as formal as those in the Central Plains, they're certainly livelier," Ye Li remarked softly with a smile.

Mo Xiuyao watched the merry dancers with interest. "A Li, shall we join them?" he asked. Ye Li gave him a sidelong glance. "Go ahead if you like. I don't dance." Mo Xiuyao sighed in disappointment but quickly brightened. "Never mind then. I wouldn't want to see A Li dancing in front of others anyway."

"Wang Fei..." Zhuo Jing appeared behind them and whispered something into Ye Li's ear.

Frowning, Ye Li turned to Mo Xiuyao. "Something's happened to Changle. Let's go."

Though Mo Xiuyao wasn't particularly close to Princess Changle, she was after all the biological daughter of Empress Hua, and he held some fondness for the girl—so unlike her father. Nodding, he took Ye Li's hand to leave but was stopped by a voice behind them. "Wang Ye, leaving so soon?"

Consort Liu had approached unnoticed. Even amidst the bustling crowd under the lantern-lit night, she stood out in her white robes like snow atop a distant peak—stunning yet untouchable.Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly and said indifferently, "What does it have to do with you?"

Consort Liu smiled faintly, "With envoys from various countries still present, wouldn't Prince Ding's early departure show disrespect to the host?" The three of them had already become the center of attention, and within moments, Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng's gazes had turned their way.

Ye Li furrowed her delicate brows, glancing at Mo Xiuyao before saying, "Consort Liu is right. In that case, Wang Ye... there's no need to accompany me back. I'll return on my own." It wasn't just the issue with Princess Changle—Princess Anxi also needed someone to keep an eye on her.

Mo Xiuyao hesitated briefly, already understanding Ye Li's intention, yet he still feigned concern. "Will you be alright going back alone?"

Ye Li smiled lightly and nodded. Consort Liu eyed her suspiciously and asked, "What's wrong with Miss Ye?" Ye Li replied calmly, "I'm just feeling slightly unwell from the crowd tonight. Thank you for your concern, Consort Liu."

"Is that so?" Consort Liu neither agreed nor disagreed, but it was clear that Ye Li's departure alone pleased her immensely. For once, her expression softened toward Ye Li. "Then Miss Ye should return early to rest." Ye Li couldn't be bothered with this unreasonable woman and simply nodded at Mo Xiuyao before leaving the square with Zhuo Jing.

As soon as they returned to the posthouse and stepped into the courtyard, Feng Zhiyao hurried out to meet them, his expression grim. "Wang Fei."

"What happened to Princess Changle?" Ye Li asked. Feng Zhiyao's face darkened. "Princess Changle has been sent into the royal palace."

Ye Li frowned. "When did this happen?" Feng Zhiyao replied, "Right after we left for the wedding banquet. I returned a step too late—she had already been taken into the palace."

With the spies Prince Ding's Estate had planted in the Nanzhao palace, it wasn't impossible to retrieve Princess Changle. However, the cost would be exposing those spies, and the subsequent troubles after rescuing her were beyond Feng Zhiyao's authority to handle. After a brief moment of contemplation, Ye Li said, "The King of Nanzhao has only just returned to the palace. According to Nanzhao customs... if we act now, we might still make it in time!" A glimmer of hope flashed in Feng Zhiyao's eyes. "Thank you, Wang Fei!"

Though the entourage brought to Nanzhao was small, Ye Li only needed Feng Zhiyao, Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and two Qilin members to infiltrate the palace. The group bypassed the bustling front square of the palace and slipped in undetected by the palace guards. Feng Zhiyao had already confirmed that Princess Changle had been taken directly to the King of Nanzhao's bedchamber, so they headed straight there. However, just as they reached the outer chambers, they heard commotion inside. "Assassins!" Feng Zhiyao tensed. "Have we been discovered?"

Qin Feng shook his head, pressing down on Feng Zhiyao's hand as he reached for his sword. "The defenses of Nanzhao's palace aren't that formidable."

Apart from Feng Zhiyao, the rest of them were all first-class experts in stealth. As long as they remained cautious, the Nanzhao palace guards stood no chance of detecting them.Sure enough, the guards who arrived upon hearing the commotion didn’t even glance in their direction, rushing straight into the palace chambers. The clashing sounds of weapons fighting immediately erupted inside. Ye Li raised her hand and signaled to the group behind her. Two members of the Qilin, along with Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, split into two teams, circling around the palace from the left and right sides. Soon, four shadowy figures appeared on the roof of the palace chambers. One of them gestured toward them, and before Feng Zhiyao could react, Qin Feng grabbed him and swiftly flew toward the opposite palace roof.

Once he steadied himself, the four figures had already vanished without a trace. Feng Zhiyao sighed helplessly, “Brother Qin, my Light Body Skill isn’t bad. Also, what did those gestures just now mean?”

Although Feng Zhiyao had some interactions with the Qilin, he still didn’t fully understand their methods. Qin Feng replied calmly, “Hand signals. Wang Fei instructed them to split into two groups and scout the area ahead in an alternating pattern. They signaled that this side is safe.”

Feng Zhiyao scoffed, “Why bother with all this trouble? Experts just charge straight in.” If they were in a hurry to rescue someone, waiting like this would be too late.

Qin Feng gave him a cool glance and said, “That’s why experts die quickly. Wang Fei says that while sacrifices are sometimes unavoidable, the lives of ordinary soldiers still matter. Even if sacrifices are inevitable, they should be minimized as much as possible.” Feng Zhiyao froze, then silently rubbed his nose.

Soon, another shadowy figure emerged under the eaves inside and made a brief gesture. Qin Feng stood up and said, “Hurry, those inside aren’t assassins—they’re likely here to rescue Princess Changle as well.”

By the time the two reached the innermost chamber of the palace, a fierce battle was already raging in front of the hall. Feng Zhiyao scanned the area but couldn’t spot where the four figures were hiding. Ye Li appeared beside them at some point and asked, “Are those below from the Hua family?” Feng Zhiyao’s expression shifted as he stared intently at the fighters below. “Most likely. Aside from the Hua family, I can’t think of anyone else who would come to rescue Princess Changle. But… why did they wait until now to act?” No matter how you looked at it, rescuing her on the road would have been far easier than breaking into the Nanzhao palace.

“There must be a reason they could only rescue her within the Nanzhao palace,” Ye Li said. “Let’s go inside and check on Princess Changle. Qin Feng, keep watch here.” Qin Feng nodded. “Wang Fei, rest assured.”

Slipping past the numerous guards in front of the hall to enter the chambers was no easy feat, so Ye Li didn’t attempt it. Instead, she led Feng Zhiyao across the roof, stopping at a fixed position before pointing downward. “This is the King of Nanzhao’s bedchamber.”

With swift movements, Ye Li removed a glazed tile from the roof without making a single sound. Soon, the interior of the chamber came into view. The position she had chosen was perfect—looking down from above, they could see most of the room. The people inside, obscured by the beams, would hardly notice the hole in their roof unless they stood directly beneath it. Feng Zhiyao watched as Ye Li descended silently onto a beam inside the chamber. The occupants remained completely unaware.The King of Nanzhao stared with a dark expression at Princess Changle seated on the soft couch not far away, his eyes gleaming with lecherous desire and sinister rage. This was the legitimate eldest princess of Great Chu. Though still young, she was already a budding beauty. In another two years, she would surely surpass his own daughter, the Qixia Princess, once hailed as the most beautiful woman in Nanzhao. Normally, such a princess would be beyond his reach—Great Chu rarely sent princesses, especially the legitimate eldest, away for marriage alliances. Though he didn’t know why Emperor Chu had gifted him their most noble princess, he was exceedingly pleased with this offering.

Princess Changle sat stiffly on the couch, her anxious gaze fixed on the tightly shut palace doors, her hands clenched tightly within her sleeves. The King of Nanzhao watched her unblinkingly, utterly disregarding the assassins outside the hall. His eyes roved greedily over her delicate beauty, his impatience barely contained. "What a little beauty," he murmured. "The princesses of Great Chu truly are extraordinary. Don’t worry about those assassins outside. Even if there were ten times their number, none would leave Nanzhao’s palace alive."

Princess Changle trembled, her face paling as she cast a desperate glance toward the doors. Seeing her distress, the king only grew more smug. "Hahaha… my little beauty, why not submit to this king willingly? If you behave, I might even grant those fools outside a proper burial."

Gritting her teeth, Princess Changle suddenly sprang up and bolted for the doors. But the king would never let her escape. With a single yank, he seized her arm in an iron grip. "What’s the hurry, little beauty… hahaha…" She struggled fiercely, but how could a frail young girl overpower the King of Nanzhao? Her trapped arm remained immobile, pain flashing across her delicate features. Abandoning her attempt to flee, she instead raised her voice sharply, "Whoever is out there—I don’t need your rescue! Leave now!"

The fighters outside clearly heard her. A voice immediately responded, "Princess, we will save you!"

"All of you, go! This princess orders you to leave!" Tears streamed down Princess Changle’s face as she shouted fiercely. Watching the king’s gloating sneer and the way he leaned closer, a look of grim resolve flickered across her delicate features.

Suddenly, she raised her free right hand—a flash of cold steel gleamed from her sleeve. A dagger now rested in her grasp, and without hesitation, she slashed at the king’s restraining hand. Unwilling to be wounded, he released her instantly, causing her strike to miss.

Enraged that this seemingly fragile girl would dare defy him, the king backhanded her viciously, sending her sprawling to the floor. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her lips.

Princess Changle sat up slowly, lifting her chin to glare coldly at the king. There was no fear in her eyes—only the unyielding pride of a noble princess and utter contempt for the man before her. "A wretch like you is unworthy of humiliating this princess!"

With that, she raised the dagger without hesitation—and plunged it toward her own heart.Whoosh— A streak of green light shot down from the roof beam, striking the dagger in Princess Changle's hand with perfect precision. The tremendous force knocked the dagger askew, sending it flying. A jade hairpin embedded itself into a pillar not far from where the princess stood.

The King of Nanzhao stared in shock at this sudden development, then looked up toward the roof beam. There sat Ye Li in green robes, casually nodding at him with a smile. Before the stunned king could call for his guards, a green blur flashed before his eyes—Ye Li was already before him, pressing a dagger against his throat without hesitation.

Ye Li sighed as she looked at Princess Changle. "You're quite ruthless, girl. That strike would have sent you straight to the underworld without even half a breath left."

"Wang... Wang Fei..." Princess Changle gaped at Ye Li, clearly unable to comprehend why she would appear here.

The King of Nanzhao said sternly, "Princess Ding, what is the meaning of this?"

Ye Li replied helplessly, "This was done in urgent necessity. I beg your forgiveness, King of Nanzhao."

Ye Li truly felt helpless. Since she couldn't kill the King of Nanzhao, she hadn't planned to reveal herself before him at all. She'd been considering how to discreetly knock him unconscious to take Princess Changle away. But before she could act, the scene below unfolded—forcing her to deflect the princess's dagger to save her life, thereby exposing herself in the process.