Mo Li

By the end of May that year, the new emperor of Great Chu had been on the throne for less than two months, with most of the court's power still held firmly by the regent prince. However, the undercurrents beneath the court had not ceased. Prince Li's ambitions were too obvious, and the upright officials who supported the legitimate heir had gradually gathered together, forming a subtle balance of power against the regent prince.

On the northern border, the battles at Zijing Pass continued unabated. Further north, before the arrival of early summer, the Northern Rong army had already begun to stir. On the twentieth of May, the Western Mausoleum Army launched another offensive on the southwestern border, plunging the people of the southwest—who had only just recovered from war a few years prior—back into the flames of conflict.

Northwest Li Cheng

Not far outside the city, nestled amidst lush green forests, Mount Li Academy remained as tranquil and elegant as a paradise untouched by the world. Ye Li walked through the quiet bamboo grove, heading toward the source of the crisp zither music. In a clearing within the bamboo forest, the white-haired Mr. Qingyun sat on the ground, a tung wood qin resting on his lap as his fingers lightly plucked the strings, producing a serene melody. Not far in front of him, the similarly white-haired Su Zhe sat, listening to the music while leisurely brewing tea.

"Li'er, you've come?" Mr. Qingyun stopped playing and turned to Ye Li with a faint smile.

"Grandfather, Elder Su," Ye Li said softly, stepping forward to help Mr. Qingyun rise and guiding him to sit on a stone stool near Su Zhe. Su Zhe smiled and poured tea for both of them, asking, "Why has Wang Fei come at this time? Are you here to see the Little Prince?"

Ye Li chuckled. "With Xiao Bao under the guidance of Grandfather and Elder Su, I have nothing to worry about. I only hope those children haven’t disturbed you both?"

At present, Mount Li Academy was not only home to its students but also three young children. Mo Xiaobao had come to study at the academy, and though Leng Junhan was still young, he had no choice but to follow. As a result, Qin Zheng had also sent her own child, Xu Zhirui, saying the three children could keep each other company.

"The Little Prince is even more brilliant than Wang Ye was at his age. He hardly requires any effort at all," Su Zhe said with a laugh, his eyes filled with affection as he spoke of Mo Xiaobao. He had always adored the boy's intelligence, and Mo Xiaobao treated him with the same reverence as he did the Grand Tutor. Naturally, this endeared him even more to the childless Elder Su, who sometimes doted on him more than Mr. Qingyun did. It had to be said that despite his young age, Mo Xiaobao's ability to flatter surpassed even that of many adults.

Mr. Qingyun looked at Ye Li with gentle warmth. "Li'er, have you come because you are about to embark on a long journey?"

Ye Li gazed at him in surprise. "Grandfather, though you reside in Mount Li Academy, it seems you are not entirely cut off from the outside world. You are remarkably well-informed about current affairs."

Su Zhe shook his head with a smile. "Mr. Qingyun is not only a master of literature but also well-versed in astronomy, geography, astrology, medicine, and divination. Just this morning, he told me that the stars indicated Wang Ye and Wang Fei would soon be traveling far. And now, here you are."

"Can such things truly be discerned?" Ye Li had heard of astrological divination before, but she had never studied it herself. Traces of her past life still lingered in her bones, leaving her somewhat skeptical of such matters. "Then, Grandfather, what else can you see?"Mr. Qingyun stroked his snow-white beard and sighed, shaking his head, "The world... is in great chaos. Such turmoil... is rare even in centuries."

Hearing Mr. Qingyun's words, not only Ye Li but even Su Zhe's expression turned grave. Su Zhe asked regretfully, "Is there truly no way to reverse it?"

Mr. Qingyun shook his head, "This chaos... was sown years ago, and there's no turning back now. Li'er, among the Xu Family's current generation, you and your eldest brother stand out the most. Especially you... Contending for world domination inevitably brings casualties, but the common people are innocent. No matter what, do not let your wrath fall upon them. You and Prince Ding must remember this."

Ye Li nodded softly, "Rest assured, Grandfather. Xiu Yao isn't that kind of person either." Ye Li understood what Mr. Qingyun meant. In this era, there was no concept of human rights—commoners were as worthless as grass. History was filled with records of massacres, though rulers tried to conceal them, traces remained. But Ye Li knew she would never do such things, whether out of basic humanity or her past identity as a soldier. And she believed Mo Xiuyao wouldn't either.

Gazing at the earnest young woman before him, a sigh flickered across Mr. Qingyun's wrinkled face. A trace of worry flashed in his wise eyes as he murmured, "Well, we're all old now. The future lies in the hands of you young ones. Take care when you're away from home."

Ye Li smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, Grandfather. But after we leave, only Eldest Brother will remain in Li Cheng. Please speak to Uncle Hongyu and Uncle Hongyan—I fear Eldest Brother won't be able to handle everything alone." Uncle Hongyan had long since retreated to teach at Mount Li Academy, while Uncle Hongyu, though still in Li Cheng, had recently taken an interest in agriculture, visiting Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother several times over the past year. Though important, entrusting such matters to Xu Hongyu seemed like a waste of his talents.

Mr. Qingyun chuckled, stroking his beard, "They were idle before because there was nothing to do. Now that there's real work, they'll naturally return. Why would I need to tell them?"

Ye Li blinked in sudden understanding, "Thank you for your guidance, Grandfather. Li'er understands now."

Mr. Qingyun nodded approvingly, "I know you're very busy. No need to linger with us old folks. Go on."

Ye Li rose and bid farewell to Mr. Qingyun and Su Zhe.

Watching her slender figure recede into the distance, Su Zhe shook his head and said to Mr. Qingyun, "Is Princess Ding really going to accompany Prince Ding to war? Aren't you worried, Mr. Qingyun?" Mr. Qingyun sighed, "Children grow up. To think Li'er was once a little girl even younger than Chen'er..."

Su Zhe had also seen Ye Li as a child, when the Xu Family was still in Chu Jing and her birth mother was alive. Who could have imagined that rosy-cheeked little girl would grow into the Princess Ding who could govern with wisdom and secure peace with martial prowess?

Mr. Qingyun frowned, "I sense Prince Ding still harbors unresolved fury. I fear excessive bloodshed in the future may disrupt the natural order. Having Li'er by his side to counsel him will be for the better.""How could that be?" Su Zhe frowned. Over the past few years, he had met Mo Xiuyao on several occasions. Though the man had silver-white hair, his temperament had mellowed significantly compared to his youth. On ordinary days, one could hardly detect any trace of hostility in him.

Mr. Qingyun shook his head. "We all know what Prince Ding was like in his youth, but his current temperament... is precisely what makes one uneasy. If he were still his old self, how do you think he would treat Mo Jingqi?" After a moment of contemplation, Su Zhe's expression shifted slightly. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth—likely tenfold. But after all these years, it's possible his temper has been smoothed down."

Mr. Qingyun smiled faintly. "The Mo family's temperament is unyielding—how easily could it be smoothed? The late Regent King was considered the mildest-tempered prince in the history of Prince Ding's Estate, wasn’t he? Yet look at the blow he dealt the late emperor before his death—did His Majesty endure it well?"

Su Zhe fell silent. The Regent King Mr. Qingyun referred to was none other than Mo Xiuyao’s father, Mo Liufang. Even decades later, Su Zhe still remembered that elegant, peerlessly refined nobleman in brocade robes. Though as capable in both civil and martial arts as all previous Princes of Ding, Mo Liufang embodied the very essence of scholarly grace. In the present world, only Qingchen Gongzi could rival him—though the latter’s ethereal beauty and transcendent aura made him seem more like an immortal. Mo Liufang, however, was the epitome of worldly refinement, a noble scion whose talent and bearing deserved to be remembered for centuries.

Yet even such a man, betrayed by the emperor he had loyally served, left behind a final retaliation that was devastating. The late emperor, then in his prime, perished within three years, his grand ambitions buried in the cold imperial mausoleum. He left behind the teenage Mo Jingqi as the new emperor, inadvertently buying the Ding Estate years of respite. Otherwise, had the still-young Mo Xiuwen and Mo Xiuyao brothers fallen into the hands of the seasoned late emperor, it was uncertain whether the Ding Estate would even exist today.

"So you mean..." Su Zhe murmured thoughtfully.

Mr. Qingyun’s voice grew solemn. "Prince Ding has been suppressing himself all these years—or rather, he has been quietly playing a long game. That’s why he could endure his hatred for Mo Jingqi, for the Chu imperial family, even for Northern Rong and Western Liang. Even when he seemed unrestrained in recent years, he was still biding his time. He needed years to lay out his plans, and now... that game has ripened. And the battlefield... is often where a man’s truest nature surfaces. Once the dam of years of suppression breaks... no one in this world, except Li'er, can hold him back."

The tragedy of the Ding Estate wasn’t solely Mo Jingqi’s doing—Northern Rong and Western Liang had played their parts as well. Moreover, the Mo Family Army had been slaughtered directly under Northern Rong’s cavalry. All these years, whenever Mr. Qingyun recalled Mo Xiuyao’s calm demeanor when meeting Northern Rong envoys, a chill ran down his spine."I see." Su Zhe sighed, his face filled with even more remorse. If Su Zuidie hadn't stolen the Mo Family Army's defense plans back then, perhaps the tragedy would never have happened. No matter how much he grieved for his only granddaughter, compared to the tens of thousands of wronged souls of the Mo Family Army, Su Zhe felt he had no right to mourn. Who mourned for those soldiers who fought for their country yet died under unjust circumstances? All of this was because of his failure in teaching—his utter failure in teaching.

Seeing Su Zhe's expression, Mr. Qingyun understood what he was thinking. He patted Su Zhe's hand and said, "Those things... why dwell on the past?"

Su Zhe shook his head, looking up at the sky with a long sigh.

After bidding farewell to Mr. Qingyun and visiting Mo Xiaobao, Ye Li returned to Prince Ding's Estate. As soon as she entered, she saw a crowd of officials and military officers—who usually never appeared unless summoned—waiting in the garden. The moment they spotted Ye Li, they rushed forward to greet her. Ye Li raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled, "What brings you all here? Has something happened that you've come to the estate at this hour?"

Zhang Qilan grinned, "Wang Fei need not worry. Everything His Highness and Wang Fei instructed has been handled meticulously. There's no trouble."

Ye Li chuckled, "If there's no trouble, did you all come just to pay respects? Our estate doesn't stand on such formalities. Since nothing's amiss, you may all return for now."

"Wang Fei..." While the others hesitated to speak, seasoned generals like Lyu Jinxian, Zhang Qilan, and Yuan Pei had no such reservations and quickly intercepted Ye Li. She arched an eyebrow, smiling as she regarded them. Lyu Jinxian, pushed forward as the spokesperson, said, "Well... reporting to Wang Fei, envoys from Western Liang and Great Chu arrived simultaneously to request an audience with His Highness. We just wanted to ask... what is His Highness's stance?" Lately, they had been secretly preparing their forces, sensing that action might soon be required. The prospect had excited these battle-hardened veterans, who had grown restless from inactivity. But now, with envoys from both nations arriving at once, the prince's inclination would determine their future course of action.

"Envoys from Western Liang and Great Chu arrived at the same time?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow. She had just returned and was unaware of this news. Lin Han, standing beside her, rubbed his nose and said, "This subordinate was just about to report this to Wang Fei. The Western Liang envoy arrived first, followed shortly by the Great Chu envoy. However, His Highness chose to receive the Great Chu envoy first. Also, His Highness requests Wang Fei's presence in the main hall upon your return."

Ye Li smiled without speaking, her gaze sweeping over the crowd surrounding her. They quickly stepped aside, urging, "Wang Fei, please."

"Then... I shall take my leave for now?"

"Of course, we wouldn't dare delay Wang Fei. Please proceed." Realizing that even Wang Fei was unaware of the prince's intentions, they sighed in resignation and could only watch as Ye Li departed, eagerly awaiting the outcome. In a quiet corner of the garden, Feng Huaiting and Han Mingyue were engrossed in a game of chess, while Han Mingxi lounged on a tree branch above them, yawning as he observed their match."Do you think a battle will break out, Young Master Mingyue?" Feng Huaiting asked lightly. Though he had only been in the northwest for less than three months, the region had given him an entirely different impression. The officials and generals under Prince Ding's Estate were predominantly young, making Feng Huaiting the eldest among them now. Moreover, Prince Ding had granted him authority and trust beyond anything he had ever imagined. Feng Huaiting had once asked Mo Xiuyao why he trusted him so much, to which the prince had replied with a half-serious smile that he didn't actually trust him—he only trusted Feng Zhiyao. If Feng Huaiting were to betray the estate, Feng Zhiyao's head would roll immediately. Feng Zhiyao had been present at the time and showed not the slightest displeasure at Mo Xiuyao's words, as if it were only natural.

Feng Huaiting didn't understand the friendships of these young men, but as the head of the Feng family, he knew what choices to make. Though Prince Ding's Estate didn't seem to hold an advantage in the grand scheme of things, for some reason, he believed that if there was only one victor left in the world, it would undoubtedly be Prince Ding. And for the Feng family, the most beneficial choice was naturally to side with the ultimate winner.

"Of course there will be a battle. After so many years... even if the Mo Family Army doesn't move, others won't be able to hold back," Han Mingyue said calmly. Having been idle at home these past few years, no one in Li Cheng had targeted him or taken any action against him. But by the same token, no one had needed him for anything either. He knew it was because Mo Xiuyao no longer trusted him.

As the years passed, he gradually awoke from his infatuation with Su Zuidie and realized what he had lost for the sake of so-called love. But it was already too late to undo. Han Mingyue wouldn't humiliate himself by trying to mend their broken friendship. He understood Mo Xiuyao—once the prince gave his friendship, he would never abandon you unless you betrayed him. But once betrayed, the rift would be eternal. From the moment he took that first step for Su Zuidie, there had been no turning back.

So he merely lingered by his younger brother's side like an idle bystander, offering occasional advice when needed. Now... this younger brother was his only remaining family in the world.

Han Mingxi hung from a tree like a bat, lazily remarking, "What does it matter to us whether they fight or not?" They weren't the ones going to the battlefield.

Feng Huaiting set down his chess piece and stood up with a smile. "Of course it matters. Since that's the case, we should start preparing as well."

Han Mingxi dropped from the tree and watched Feng Huaiting's retreating figure skeptically. "Prepare for what?"

Han Mingyue smiled faintly. "An army marches on its stomach. The head of the Feng family is a wise man."

"Brother..." Han Mingxi gazed at his elder brother with regret and concern. In the past, his brother had been lost in his obsession with Su Zuidie, but now that he had gradually regained his senses, his talents were no less than those of the Feng family head. Yet the past had condemned him to a life of irrelevance in the northwest. Han Mingyue shook his head reassuringly and said softly, "Mingxi... to me, so-called royal ambition is nothing but a dream—no, I never even dreamed of such things. There's nothing wrong with the way things are now...""Does Prince Ding truly not know that you've been the one advising me behind the scenes these past one or two years?" Han Mingxi asked. He had limited talents and never feared admitting when he fell short of others. Many tasks Prince Ding had assigned him over the past year or two clearly exceeded his capabilities, which inevitably made Han Mingxi suspicious. Han Mingxi smiled faintly and patted his younger brother's shoulder, saying, "Rare is the blessing of ignorance. Let's go—Master Feng might need your help with something."

When Ye Li stepped into the reception hall, the envoy from Great Chu had not yet departed, while the envoy from Western Liang was arranged to wait in a side pavilion, sipping tea. Upon entering and seeing the envoy Great Chu had sent, Ye Li was momentarily taken aback—it turned out to be an acquaintance. Prince Yu, Mo Jingyu.

"A Li, you're back?" The moment he spotted Ye Li at the doorway, Mo Xiuyao, who had previously shown a trace of impatience, immediately brightened and rose to greet her. Mo Jingyu also hurriedly stood to bow. "Princess Ding. What brings you here, Wang Fei?" Ye Li smiled lightly. "So it's Prince Yu. I just returned from visiting my grandfather outside the city. My apologies for not welcoming you properly upon your arrival."

Mo Jingyu was well aware of Mount Li Academy on the nearby hill outside the city. Originally one of Great Chu's three great academies, it had been foolishly handed over to the northwest due to Mo Jingqi's shortsightedness. Over the past two years, the northwest's talent selection system had largely taken shape, with Mount Li Academy playing the pivotal role in attracting and nurturing a continuous stream of scholars. Many students traveled great distances to study there, and a majority chose to remain in the northwest after completing their education. Moreover, the sharp increase in local students from the northwest in recent years had only deepened their loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate.

"Prince Yu, please be seated." Following Mo Xiuyao to the main seats, Ye Li gestured politely.

Mo Jingyu thanked her and sat back down, glancing at Mo Xiuyao, whose attention had clearly shifted away from him. He smiled wryly, unsure how to proceed. Ye Li offered an apologetic look. "Have I interrupted your discussion?" Mo Xiuyao took one of her hands and rested it on his knee, idly toying with her fingers as he replied, "Nothing important. He's here to ask for aid."

"Aid?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

Mo Jingyu's smile turned bitter at Mo Xiuyao's bluntness. While he had indeed come to seek help, hearing it phrased so directly made it hard to save face. Ye Li frowned. "Has the situation deteriorated so badly? Prince Li actually agreed to request assistance from the Mo Family Army?"

Mo Jingyu shifted uncomfortably. Prince Li had, in fact, opposed it. It had to be said that despite their conflicts, Mo Jingli and Mo Jingqi were still brothers at heart. When it came to Prince Ding's Estate, they were both unyielding in their stances—though the only difference was that Mo Jingqi's hostility was directed at the estate itself, as if he wished to tear into whoever held the title of Prince Ding. Mo Jingli, however, focused his resentment more on Mo Xiuyao personally. Yet the current circumstances left Mo Jingli no choice. He could retreat south of the river with his own forces, but others could not. Their roots lay in Chu Jing—if the capital fell, everything they had would be lost.

"General Leng is struggling to hold Zijing Pass against the northern front. Last month, Western Liang and Northern Rong launched simultaneous attacks on Great Chu. With enemies on three fronts, our situation is truly... We implore Prince Ding, in light of our shared lineage, to lend us your aid."Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh. "Lend a helping hand? Is this the idea of those old men at court? Has Mo Jingli agreed to it? Can Prince Yu guarantee that Mo Jingli won’t stab us in the back once my troops are deployed? The Mo Family Army has suffered such betrayals more than once or twice. Prince Yu, you may leave now."

"Prince Ding… Are you truly going to stand by and watch us perish?" Mo Jingyu tried to persuade him again. Though he was close to Mo Jingli, he genuinely didn’t wish to see Great Chu fall. "Does Prince Ding feel our sincerity is lacking? If there’s anything more we can do, please name your terms."

"Sincerity?" Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently. "From start to finish, I’ve seen none of it. However… it’s not entirely impossible…"

Mo Jingyu brightened. "Prince Ding, name your conditions."

A cold smile curled at Mo Xiuyao’s lips. "As long as Mo Jingli is willing to kneel before the Mo Family Army and apologize on behalf of the Great Chu imperial family, I may consider it."

Mo Jingyu's expression changed instantly, realizing his trip had been in vain. Not only was it impossible to make Mo Jingli kneel before the Mo Family Army, but even getting him to bow to Mo Xiuyao was out of the question. With a helpless sigh, Mo Jingyu finally lowered his head in defeat.

Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, "It seems Prince Yu has given up. In that case, please take your leave."

Mo Jingyu glanced at Mo Xiuyao's composed face, let out a long sigh, and finally rose to leave.