Mo Li

It was nearly the fourth watch of the night when Princess Anxi finally sent someone to invite the distinguished guests into the palace for discussions. Though the timing—forcing everyone to attend a meeting instead of returning to their lodgings to rest—was rather frustrating, no one present would dare refuse. Everyone understood that the power struggle had reached its conclusion, and the ultimate victor was likely Princess Anxi. Naturally, those in attendance all wanted to enter the palace as soon as possible to secure greater advantages for themselves.

Originally, Mo Xiuyao had intended to let Ye Li return to rest, but Ye Li, remembering the King of Nanzhao still hidden somewhere in the palace, decided to make another trip inside.

They gathered in the same grand hall where the King of Nanzhao had once received them, but the figures occupying it had now changed. Princess Anxi still wore her wedding attire—a white gown embroidered with blue flowers—though it was now stained with dark red blood, lending her an even more chilling and ruthless aura under the flickering lamplight. At this moment, she stood atop the hall, looking down at Shu Manlin, who sat disheveled on the floor.

"My apologies for summoning everyone so late into the night," Princess Anxi said, nodding slightly at Ye Li before addressing the others.

Lei Tengfeng smiled. "No need for formalities, Princess. Given tonight's unexpected events, we are relieved to see you and your husband unharmed."

Pu A stood behind Princess Anxi, his youthful face still smeared with traces of blood that had yet to be wiped away—evidence of the fierce battle both he and the princess had endured.

Princess Anxi smiled faintly. "Thank you for your concern, Zhennan Wang Shizi."

Prime Minister Liu frowned. "With such a major incident occurring, why has the King of Nanzhao not made an appearance?"

Princess Anxi's delicate brows also furrowed. "To be honest, I have not seen my father since returning to the palace. We are currently searching everywhere for him." She turned her gaze to Shu Manlin. "Shu Manlin, the Royal City Guard Token and the Palace Guard Token are both in your possession. Where is my father?"

Shu Manlin's expression darkened. "How would I know where he is?"

Princess Anxi sneered. "If the tokens are in your hands, how could you not know his whereabouts? And how did you obtain them in the first place?"

Shu Manlin froze, quickly realizing Princess Anxi's implication—she was trying to pin the King of Nanzhao's disappearance on her! This accusation was utterly unjust. Shu Manlin had never imagined that, despite deploying all the elite forces of the Southern Border Sacred Ground and the entire Royal City Guard, she would still fail to defeat Princess Anxi. There had been hope of killing the princess directly—once she was dead, her followers would be leaderless and easily crushed. But unexpectedly, a group of terrifyingly powerful guards had appeared by her side. Far from succeeding, Shu Manlin had instead been captured by Princess Anxi's forces when they stormed the Saintess Hall.

"What do you mean? The tokens were naturally given to me by the King—the First Royal Consort of Bhutan!" Shu Manlin snapped.

Princess Anxi remained unruffled, replying calmly, "My father would hand over both the Palace Guard Token and the Royal City Guard Token to you? Are you joking?"Shu Manlin felt uneasy. Under normal circumstances, the King of Nanzhao would never have entrusted her with something so important. But this time, she had used some special methods to bewitch him into giving her the token. However, no matter how much she insisted that the token had been personally handed to her by the king, no one would believe her. Those present were all powerful figures who held great authority and naturally understood the importance of power and military control. As the King of Nanzhao, how could he so easily entrust such a crucial item to a mere Holy Maiden? Even if someone did believe her, now that she had lost, if the king didn’t appear in time to save her, the truth would become a lie. But... where was the King of Nanzhao now?

Shu Manlin, of course, had no idea that while she had led most of the guards to besiege Princess Anxi, someone had infiltrated the palace to rescue another and had knocked out the king before hiding him away. Had she known, she would never have taken so many people with her, leaving the entire palace unaware of the king’s whereabouts.

Princess Anxi looked down at Shu Manlin, who was disheveled yet still defiant, a flicker of disgust flashing in her eyes. She was truly sick of this woman. Over the years, she had come to understand Shu Manlin’s true identity, which was why she had initially tolerated her repeated provocations. But Shu Manlin had only grown more brazen. What pained her most was that her own father had actually given Shu Manlin the token to command the Royal City Guard. Had he not considered that with control over the entire guard, Shu Manlin could very well kill her? Or... had her father secretly wished for it himself?

"Shu Manlin," Princess Anxi took a deep breath and asked sternly, "you recklessly mobilized the palace and Royal City Guard to attack the Princess Manor in an attempt to assassinate the Crown Princess of Southern Zhao. Moreover, you are also responsible for the disappearance of my father. Do you admit your crimes?"

Shu Manlin had no retort and sneered, "Now that you’ve won, you can say whatever you please, can’t you? Anxi, stop pretending. It’s clearly you who kidnapped the king and framed me!"

Princess Anxi remained unruffled and replied indifferently, "Weren’t you fully aware of my whereabouts tonight? With your troops hunting me down, I didn’t even have a chance to approach the palace. And... wasn’t it you who withdrew nearly half of the palace guards? The palace guards bear the crucial responsibility of protecting the palace and the ruler of Nanzhao. Even in wartime, they cannot be withdrawn at will. Shu Manlin, do you still refuse to admit your guilt?"

"I..." Shu Manlin knew she couldn’t argue her way out. She had been too overconfident and underestimated her opponent. She had assumed that even with all her abilities, Princess Anxi couldn’t possibly escape the siege of thousands of guards and hundreds of elite fighters. So when she had acted, she hadn’t bothered to cover her tracks. Now that she had lost, there was no chance for redemption.

"Prince Li..." In desperation, Shu Manlin could only pin her hopes on those present. Among them, the one closest to her was naturally Mo Jingli. But Mo Jingli was not as chivalrous as she had imagined. He glanced at her coldly and said indifferently, "The affairs of Nanzhao are not mine to interfere with." Shu Manlin was stunned, clearly not expecting such heartlessness from him. "Prince Li... you... how ruthless! Don’t forget, if it weren’t for me—""Guards, take her away!" Princess Anxi commanded.

Two guards from the Princess Manor immediately stepped forward, covering Shu Manlin's mouth as they dragged her off. With Nanzhao currently in turmoil, this was no time to offend Prince Li. As for whatever dealings Shu Manlin had with Prince Li, Princess Anxi would find out later through her own means. After dealing with Shu Manlin, Princess Anxi apologized once more to the gathered guests before sending them out of the palace to rest.

"Prince Ding, Princess Ding, please wait a moment," Princess Anxi called out to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, who were at the rear of the group. Ye Li turned and raised an eyebrow at her. Smiling, Princess Anxi asked, "Where is my father now? Could you tell me, Princess?" Ye Li replied with a smile, "He's in his bedchamber. Just have your people search carefully. Oh, and I've taken someone from the Nanzhao palace with me—I hope you'll forgive the liberty." Princess Anxi waved her hand dismissively. "A trivial matter, Princess. Please don't concern yourself." Ye Li smiled. "Thank you for your understanding. Farewell."

Hand in hand, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao left, while Xu Qingchen lingered behind. After walking a few steps, he paused and turned back to look at Princess Anxi.

"Does Qingchen have something more to say?" Princess Anxi asked. Xu Qingchen glanced briefly at Pu A, who stood behind the princess. With a faint smile, Princess Anxi said, "Pu A is one of us. Speak freely, Qingchen." After the events of the night, there was clearly more trust and closeness between Princess Anxi and her newlywed husband. Xu Qingchen didn't mince words. "What are your plans once you find the King of Nanzhao?"

"Plans?" Princess Anxi seemed puzzled.

Xu Qingchen elaborated, "After tonight, no matter what, the King of Nanzhao will hold a grudge against you. Have you considered what comes next? Once he's free, will he intervene to save Shu Manlin, or even groom a second or third Shu Manlin?"

Princess Anxi's expression darkened. Lowering her gaze, she murmured, "He is my father." Xu Qingchen replied calmly, "I'm not suggesting you do anything to him." A look of shame crossed Princess Anxi's face, and she admitted with a bitter smile, "It's me—I want to do something to my father. Qingchen... I've had enough these past years... Can you help me?"

Seeing the exhausted princess slump weakly onto the steps, Xu Qingchen sighed softly. "The King of Nanzhao has suffered a shock and is gravely ill, unfit to govern. Since you are now married, Princess Anxi, perhaps it's time for you to ascend the throne?"

Princess Anxi was taken aback. Though she had considered weakening her father's power, she had never thought of becoming the ruler of Nanzhao while he still lived.

Xu Qingchen regarded her steadily. "We've known each other for years and often discussed governance..." Princess Anxi nodded. "Yes, my friendship with you has taught me much."Xu Qingchen said, "I have taught you the ways of governance and managing people, but never the path of a ruler. Anxi, this is the last time I will teach you. Do you know why you have always been suppressed by Shu Manlin at every turn? It is simply because you lack ruthlessness. The path of an emperor is inherently lonely—strategy, tactics, and decisiveness are indispensable. What you lack most is a merciless heart. Since ancient times, emperors have been heartless, and the royal family knows no kinship. Every time you show leniency, it only allows your enemies to rise again. You are ruthless enough with yourself, enduring any hardship, but you are far too kind to those around you. Anxi, only when you can truly manage your relationships with those close to you will you become a qualified ruler." Having said this, Xu Qingchen did not linger and walked toward the door.

Princess Anxi suddenly asked, "Then what about Prince Ding? The world knows Prince Ding dotes on his Wang Fei and trusts the Xu family immensely. Does Qingchen think Prince Ding is a qualified ruler?"

Xu Qingchen turned back to look at her and smiled faintly. "There is no ruler more suited than Prince Ding. A ruler must also learn to make choices. Prince Ding knows what he wants and what he must do, so I have never worried about him. Anxi... King of Nanzhao, take care."

Watching Xu Qingchen leave without hesitation, Princess Anxi faced the empty hall, feeling waves of coldness envelop her heart. Unable to help herself, she hugged her knees and lowered her head, silent tears falling. The crystal droplets landed on her knees, quickly soaking the white fabric. Pu A walked over and crouched beside her, his eyes flickering with heartache as he watched the woman silently weeping. Awkwardly, he raised his hand and patted her shoulder, whispering, "Xi'er, I'll stay with you."

Princess Anxi looked up, staring blankly at his resolute face, and finally couldn't hold back any longer, burying herself in his embrace. The sound of her muffled sobs echoed through the hall.

By the time Xu Qingchen left the palace, the sky was already faintly bright. In the square before the palace, a few drunken commoners still lingered, unwilling to return home. A cool breeze swept past as Xu Qingchen gazed at the setting moon and exhaled deeply.

"What's wrong with Qingchen Gongzi? You look so sorrowful," a teasing voice came from behind.

Xu Qingchen frowned in displeasure. Sorrowful? Turning around, he saw Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao standing there, watching him. The difference was that Ye Li wore a look of concern, while Mo Xiuyao's expression was full of mockery and schadenfreude. Xu Qingchen said calmly, "I thought you two would have returned to the inn to rest long ago. Aren’t you tired after this day and night?"

Ye Li replied softly, "We saw you lagging behind and were a little worried. Though everything is settled now, after last night’s chaos, it’s safer to return together."

Seeing the concern in Ye Li's eyes, Xu Qingchen felt a warmth in his heart. The words he had spoken to Princess Anxi were not merely advice on ruling or how to handle future affairs. They were also a declaration that their past friendship had now become a thing of the past.Even though both held power in Nanzhao, the identities of the King of Nanzhao and the Crown Princess were fundamentally different. After Princess Anxi ascended the throne as queen, the entire kingdom of Nanzhao would truly become a responsibility she could never shake off, and the pure friendship they once shared would no longer be possible. Xu Qingchen had few friends, and his relationship with Princess Anxi was more like that of a mentor and friend. While he now took comfort in her growth, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss at the impending departure of a dear companion.

“Very well, let’s return together,” Xu Qingchen said with a faint smile. As they walked, he turned to Mo Xiuyao and added, “We may need to delay our journey back to the northwest for a few more days.”

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?” Xu Qingchen replied, “To attend Princess Anxi’s coronation ceremony.” Mo Xiuyao’s sharp brows lifted in approval. “Qingchen Gongzi, what skillful maneuvering. I, too, had grown weary of that King of Nanzhao. Replacing him with Princess Anxi is a fine choice.” He was certain that before their departure, Princess Anxi had no intention of ascending the throne—it must have been Xu Qingchen’s words that swayed her. And only Xu Qingchen could have achieved this. While any of them could have spoken the same words, coming from anyone else, Princess Anxi would have suspected ulterior motives. From Xu Qingchen, however, the effect was entirely different.

Xu Qingchen remained silent. While an early coronation might be beneficial for Princess Anxi, it was not necessarily so for Nanzhao. If the King of Nanzhao were left in power, given Princess Anxi’s temperament, she might face another incident like last night’s. Though the king was incompetent, he still had loyal followers and tribes behind him. With the aid of Tan Jizhi, who remained at large, any counterattack could endanger Princess Anxi’s life. But if she ascended the throne now, the tribes might not submit easily, leading to internal strife in Nanzhao—and Western Liang had long harbored ambitions to annex the kingdom. Xu Qingchen closed his eyes briefly. He didn’t know whether Princess Anxi would come to resent him in the future. But for now… Western Liang had been lying low for years, its restlessness growing palpable. If they allied with Great Chu and Northern Rong to set their sights on the northwest, it would be better to first give them the opportunity to test their blades on Nanzhao, buying the northwest more time to prepare and regroup.

“Elder Brother…” Ye Li, unlike Xu Qingchen, did not dwell on such intricate schemes—political machinations had never been her forte. But she could sense the heaviness in his mood. Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingchen and said, “Princess Anxi was born into royalty. Unless she willingly relinquishes her position, she can never escape these matters. There’s no need for you to blame yourself, Elder Brother. And… thank you.” Mo Xiuyao understood Xu Qingchen’s considerations and intentions perfectly and offered his rare, genuine gratitude. Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. “What is there to thank me for? It’s merely my duty. In this world, each of us must accept our fate.”

“Let’s go. It’s time to rest,” Xu Qingchen said, stepping ahead and leaving Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li behind as he made his way toward the posthouse.Ye Li frowned as she watched Xu Qingchen's retreating figure and said, "I feel like something's off with Eldest Brother." Mo Xiuyao held her hand and comforted her gently, "It's nothing. Once Princess Anxi ascends the throne, she'll be a monarch. Given Qingchen Gongzi's status, it's naturally inappropriate for him to maintain close ties with her. Besides, Princess Anxi is now married, so Qingchen Gongzi must maintain some distance. Losing a close friend would put anyone in low spirits. Your brother has always been level-headed—he'll be fine in a few days."

Ye Li nodded and sighed, "I hope so. Eldest Brother gained fame at a young age, and there aren't many who can truly connect with him."

Mo Xiuyao glanced at Xu Qingchen walking ahead alone, a sly glint flashing in his eyes as he looked at Ye Li. "A Li, speaking of which, we originally planned to travel leisurely on our way back. But now we have to stay for Princess Anxi's coronation ceremony and return for your military exercises—it seems like there's not enough time." Ye Li blinked. "Does Wang Ye have something in mind?" Over the years, she had become well-acquainted with Mo Xiuyao's temperament—his words clearly indicated he already had a plan. Mo Xiuyao smiled in satisfaction, leaning down to kiss the corner of her lips. "A Li knows me best. Since we've already attended Princess Anxi's wedding, the coronation ceremony might as well be..."

Ye Li understood—Mo Xiuyao had no intention of attending the coronation. "What do you want to do?"

Mo Xiuyao replied, "Qingchen Gongzi's presence alone is more than enough for the coronation. Who would dare say his reputation lacks weight? Let's take our time traveling back to the northwest—what do you say, A Li?" Qingchen Gongzi was renowned throughout the land, and more importantly, he represented the Xu Family. Behind the Xu Family stood the Princess Ding, and the Princess Ding was Prince Ding himself. Xu Qingchen's attendance at the Nanzhao princess's coronation would more than suffice to convey the northwest's stance.

Ye Li hesitated but had to admit she was tempted. Over the years in the northwest, she had been constantly busy and never truly had the chance to leisurely enjoy the scenery.

"Will Eldest Brother agree?"

"Of course. Your brother will undoubtedly stay until after Princess Anxi's coronation before leaving. Us staying here would just be a waste of time."

"Then... alright." Unable to resist the allure of the trip, Ye Li could only silently apologize to her brother.