Mo Li

"Prince Ding, what a pleasure to meet you." Longyang studied the man before him for a long moment before slowly uttering these words.

This was Longyang’s first time seeing the renowned Prince Ding. In some ways, Mo Xiuyao’s fame even surpassed that of his father, Mo Liufang, who had once been celebrated for his ability to govern with wisdom and secure peace with martial prowess, making outstanding contributions to the Great Chu. Because Mo Xiuyao had done something none of the previous generations of Princes Ding had ever done—he severed all ties with the Great Chu. From then on, the Mo Family Army and Prince Ding truly became an independent force contending for supremacy in the world, completely free from the constraints of the Great Chu. The successes, failures, honors, and humiliations of the Mo Family Army would no longer have the slightest connection to the Great Chu.

The man before him was dressed in snow-white robes, his long, silver hair loosely cascading down. The pristine aura, so starkly different from the blood-soaked battlefield, gave Longyang an inexplicable sense of danger. Longyang trusted his instincts, even though he hadn’t set foot on a battlefield in over twenty years. This man was far from the gentle and composed figure he appeared to be—beneath that clean, snow-like exterior surged a terrifying undercurrent of bloodlust.

Mo Xiuyao regarded Longyang calmly, idly toying with a blue-and-white porcelain cup in his hand as he spoke indifferently, "Originally, this prince intended to have a proper conversation with General Long and General Zhu. But, General Long… I must say, my mood is currently quite foul. Do you know what this prince despises most in life?"

Longyang met Mo Xiuyao’s gaze and replied solemnly, "Please enlighten me, Prince Ding."

Mo Xiuyao slowly set down the teacup, the crisp sound of porcelain meeting wood echoing in the quiet room. "Being threatened. What I loathe most in this world is being threatened. Additionally, I’m rather curious—how did General Long come to believe that I would abandon the siege for the sake of those people from the Great Chu?" As if recalling something amusing, Mo Xiuyao let out a low chuckle.

Longyang remained silent for a moment before responding, "This old man miscalculated. Perhaps… age has softened my heart. Had I been younger, I might have made the same decision as Prince Ding."

Mo Xiuyao nodded with a faint smile. "As expected, General Long understands me well. In that case… are you prepared to face the consequences of your decision?"

At these words, Longyang’s expression darkened. "Prince Ding, you have already taken Bian City. Why shed more blood? This matter was my doing alone. If you seek vengeance, take my life—I will not utter a single word of protest."

Mo Xiuyao gave a light, noncommittal smile. "Ah, I forgot to mention, General Long. Although you allowed most of the city’s civilians to escape last night… the Mo Family Army has also captured quite a few Western Liang soldiers. They should suffice… to make up for the numbers of those who fled."

"Prince Ding—" Longyang shut his eyes in anguish. "I alone am responsible for my actions. Even if you were to slice me a thousand times, I would not protest. But I beg of you… spare the innocent civilians and soldiers."

As if deaf to his plea, Mo Xiuyao waved dismissively to someone at the door and said with a smile, "Take General Longyang to see..."Outside the door, Zhuo Jing waved his hand, and two guards came in to take Longyang away. In the room, Mo Xiuyao slowly closed his eyes. After a long silence, a low voice emerged from beneath his snow-white hair, "These people... are truly detestable! Father, elder brother... once I've killed them all, you can rest in peace... and no one will ever be able to harm A Li again..."

After handling the battlefield affairs, Ye Li returned to Bian City with Feng Zhiyao and others. Inside and outside the city, soldiers of the Mo Family Army were cleaning up the battlefield. The air was still thick with the scent of blood. As they walked through the city streets, soldiers clearing the roads occasionally stepped forward to salute them.

Feng Zhiyao frowned, puzzled. "What's going on? Why aren't there any civilians in the city?" Even if the battle had just ended and the people were too afraid to come out, it shouldn't be this deserted. Not even a single face peeked from the windows of the buildings lining the streets. The entire city was eerily silent, devoid of life except for the soldiers cleaning up—like a ghost town.

A nearby soldier hesitated, glancing at Ye Li and the others before reporting, "Your Highness, General Feng, His Highness has ordered all civilians and prisoners to be taken to the western outskirts."

Ye Li furrowed her brows. "The western outskirts? For what purpose?"

"The western outskirts... is Bian City's execution ground."

"Execution ground?" Feng Zhiyao thought for a moment. "Did we capture some important Western Liang general? Longyang or Lei Tengfeng? But even if we did, there's no need to execute them immediately, right?" Killing Longyang might make sense to demoralize Western Liang, but Lei Tengfeng was far more valuable alive than dead. Third Master Feng momentarily forgot that Lei Tengfeng had slipped away from him just the night before.

The soldier glanced at Ye Li but remained silent. Ye Li pressed, "Speak the truth."

The soldier replied gravely, "His Highness has ordered all prisoners and the civilians of Bian City to be executed!"

"What?!" Both Ye Li and Feng Zhiyao were stunned. After exchanging glances, Feng Zhiyao steadied himself and asked, "What exactly happened?"

The soldier quickly recounted the events of the past day and night of battle, including how Longyang had used the civilians of Bian City to threaten their retreat. Without waiting to hear the full story, the group hurried toward the execution ground outside the western city.

Beyond the western gates lay a vast open area that had served as Bian City's execution ground since its founding. But without a doubt, today would see more heads roll than in the past few centuries combined. Longyang, held by two Qilin soldiers, was forced to face the execution ground, powerless as he watched the prisoners being forced to kneel. Many of them were still wounded, yet they were dragged to their knees, necks bared for the blade.

The flat, cold stone ground was already stained with dark red blood—clearly, those kneeling now were not the first. Longyang, immobilized by the men behind him, was nearly mad with rage. "Enough! Prince Ding! Enough... this old man is to blame. Kill me now!" His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead. He had truly erred—in trying to defend Bian City, he had unwittingly provoked a bloodthirsty lion that had lain dormant for years. Perhaps the sins of his youth had come back to haunt him in his twilight years, exacting their toll on these innocent soldiers and civilians."Prince Ding! Kill me now!" Longyang roared.

Mo Xiuyao's lips curled into a faint smile as he pointed at the blood-soaked figure below. "I won't kill you, General Longyang. You shall watch carefully. Watch how these soldiers and civilians die. It was you... who doomed them. When two armies clash, this prince never harms civilians. This time... you forced my hand. After today, I believe such situations as yesterday will never recur on the battlefield. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Massacring the innocent like this—do you fear no divine retribution?" Longyang lamented bitterly. In the past, Longyang had never believed in retribution, trusting only that man could conquer heaven. But now, he had to admit that karma truly existed in this world.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow with a light chuckle. "What retribution should this prince fear? For generations, Prince Ding's Estate has served the nation with utmost loyalty—what good fortune has it reaped?"

"Does the Wang Fei and the heir not fear it either?" Longyang countered. The moment these words left his mouth, the air around Mo Xiuyao turned icy. His piercing gaze, sharp as bloodied steel, made Longyang shudder involuntarily. "Kill them all!" Mo Xiuyao commanded sharply before turning back to Longyang with a frigid tone. "You'd best pray A Li remains safe all her days. Otherwise... I'll have all under heaven buried with her!"

At Mo Xiuyao's order, the executioners in the square raised their blades once more...

"Stop!" A clear, resonant woman's voice rang out from behind. The crowd hesitated as a white-robed figure descended like a wisp of cloud into the center of the execution ground. Ye Li frowned at the dark crimson stains beneath her feet before glancing at the weeping civilians herded to the square's edges, relief washing over her. She had made it in time...

"A Li, why have you come?" Mo Xiuyao froze, the coldness on his face softening as he stood to gaze at the white-clad figure below, his voice tender. Ye Li looked up at the man on the high platform—his robes white as snow, his hair equally pale, his handsome features now gentle and warm. There was no trace left of the ruthless, slaughterous tone from moments ago.

Accompanied by Feng Zhiyao, she ascended the platform. Feng Zhiyao was the first to bear the brunt of his lord's dagger-like glare. Resigned, he rubbed his nose and stepped aside—the Wang Fei's timely return was hardly his doing.

"A Li, why have you come? After days of exhaustion, you should be resting," Mo Xiuyao murmured disapprovingly, noting the weariness she couldn't quite mask.

Ye Li shot him an exasperated glance. Who was to blame for her inability to rest?

"What happened here? Why suddenly...?" she asked quietly. Under different circumstances, she wouldn't have chosen this place to question Mo Xiuyao. But hesitation now could cost nearly a hundred thousand lives. Across lifetimes, Ye Li remained a soldier at heart. She feared neither war nor death. But executing prisoners and slaughtering innocent civilians lay far beyond her moral boundaries. Moreover, this would tarnish both Mo Xiuyao's and the Mo Family Army's reputation. Years ago, his execution of thousands of Chu soldiers in the northwest had already drawn censure from scholars. Adding a city's worth of civilians to that tally would bring him no good.Mo Xiuyao slightly furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "A Li, don’t worry about these matters. Go back and rest first, alright? I’ll come to accompany you once I’ve dealt with these things. We can rest in Bian City for a couple of days."

"Xiu Yao." Faced with Mo Xiuyao’s obvious attempt to divert the topic, Ye Li gazed at him quietly, her eyes tinged with concern. "Xiu Yao, I’m a little tired. Could you accompany me back to rest first? We can discuss these matters another day," she said softly, her voice laced with vulnerability and exhaustion.

Mo Xiuyao’s heart softened as he looked at the dark shadows beneath Ye Li’s eyes. Finally, he bent down and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her out. Ye Li nestled against him and glanced up to give Feng Zhiyao a meaningful look. Feng Zhiyao nodded slightly, signaling that he would handle things, and only then did she close her eyes in relief, leaning against Mo Xiuyao. She truly was exhausted after these past few days.

As Mo Xiuyao carried Ye Li past the execution ground, his indifferent gaze swept over the kneeling Western Liang soldiers. A trace of disdain and mockery flickered in his cold eyes. Among these soldiers were some who were unyielding and fierce, already resolved to die after being captured in defeat. Seeing Mo Xiuyao’s scornful look, one of them couldn’t hold back and spat fiercely, cursing, "Mo bastard, kill us if you dare! In twenty years, I’ll be a man again and slaughter every last one of your Prince Ding’s Estate!"

Mo Xiuyao’s eyes turned icy as he replied indifferently, "Since you wish it, this prince shall grant your request. Kill them all!" With that, he ignored the scene before him and walked away with Ye Li in his arms. The people left behind exchanged uneasy glances. Wang Fei’s intention had clearly been to spare them, but Wang Ye had ordered their execution. Whether to kill or not became a dilemma. By protocol, they should obey Wang Ye’s command, but in recent years, Wang Ye had never gone against Wang Fei’s wishes. Moreover, the soldiers of the Mo Family Army were elite warriors, each bearing the pride of a fighter. Killing in battle was one thing, but slaughtering defenseless commoners was something they couldn’t bring themselves to do.

"General Feng, what should we do?" the officer in charge of the execution stepped forward to seek advice.

Feng Zhiyao stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, then gestured toward the group still kneeling on the execution ground. "Kill all of those. Leave the rest for now." Wang Ye had ordered them all killed, and those who cursed and insulted Prince Ding deserved death. It was just unfortunate for the hundred or so others who would have to suffer as well. As for the rest… they would naturally await further orders from Wang Ye and Wang Fei. Feng Zhiyao mused silently.

The execution officer went off to carry out the order with satisfaction. Feng Zhiyao glanced at Longyang, whose face was ashen, and shook his head slightly. Longyang had committed a grave offense in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes—using the people of Chu as human shields. If Mo Xiuyao had retreated even once, other Western Liang generals would have followed suit. More importantly, there were nearly a thousand Qilin soldiers who had already entered the city. If Mo Xiuyao had ordered a retreat, Longyang would have turned his attention to them, putting them in grave danger. Still… Wang Ye’s fury was rather excessive, wasn’t it?Ye Li awoke from her slumber to find the sky outside already dark. Sitting up, she rubbed her temples, feeling something was amiss. Though exhausted, she wasn’t the type to fall asleep the moment Mo Xiuyao held her in his arms. Suddenly recalling the events at the execution ground, she lifted her head and saw Mo Xiuyao seated by the lamp beyond the delicate landscape screen, writing with a brush. Hearing her movements, he set down the brush and stepped into the inner chamber, smiling. "Awake?"

Ye Li nodded, studying him carefully. Under the glow of the night pearl, his handsome features carried a faint smile, warm and comforting.

She nestled into his embrace, looking up at his weary face and whispered, "Why not rest for a while? Aren’t we staying in Bian City for two days? Whatever needs handling can wait until tomorrow." Mo Xiuyao rested his chin atop her head, gently stroking her soft hair as he replied softly, "Couldn’t sleep… Wanted to finish everything so I can spend tomorrow with you. A Li, you’ve worked hard these days."

For some reason, Ye Li suddenly remembered Zhu Ling’s expression before his death. His bloodstained moon-white robes sprawled on the dark crimson-stained earth, his eyes dull and lifeless… Her smile faded slightly, and she closed her eyes, a headache creeping in.

"A Li, what’s wrong?" Mo Xiuyao asked gently.

"Nothing," she murmured. "Just a little tired."

Mo Xiuyao’s gaze flickered. He patted her slender back soothingly. "If you’re tired, sleep a little longer. We can talk tomorrow, alright?" Ye Li nodded. Leaning against him did make her drowsy, but she fought the heaviness in her eyelids and whispered, "Xiu Yao, war has nothing to do with the common people. Don’t slaughter the innocent… The hearts of the people—"

Mo Xiuyao looked down at her serene face as she drifted back to sleep. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. "A Li, your heart is too soft. That’s not good—it makes you vulnerable. Innocent… Who in this world is truly innocent?"

In the hastily vacated study of the prefect’s residence, Mo Xiuyao sat in his chair, his expression indifferent as he regarded Feng Zhiyao and Qin Feng. Feng Zhiyao was inwardly exasperated but dared not provoke him, especially when the prince’s mood was clearly foul. His usual lazy, carefree smile had stiffened into a forced one before finally crumbling entirely.

Glancing at Qin Feng, who showed no intention of speaking, Feng Zhiyao cleared his throat. "Wang Ye…"

Mo Xiuyao lifted his eyes, coolly meeting his gaze. "Have the people at the execution ground been dealt with?"

"They have," Feng Zhiyao answered promptly.

"Have they?" Mo Xiuyao arched a brow, his smile icy. "Then what are the prisoners outside the city gates?" Feng Zhiyao forced a smile. "The one who insulted you, Wang Ye, and those kneeling at the execution ground were indeed executed—your orders were clear. The rest… you didn’t specify."

"Oh?" Mo Xiuyao tilted his head, regarding him with a mocking half-smile. "Then let this prince specify now—go and kill them all."

"Wang Ye…" Feng Zhiyao grimaced, lowering his voice. "Please reconsider."Mo Xiuyao regarded him with a cold gaze as Feng Zhiyao continued, "Wang Ye, our Mo Family Army has strict discipline and never kills innocent civilians. If you were to execute these people in a moment of anger, the reputation of both the Mo Family Army and Prince Ding's Estate would be ruined in an instant. Moreover, the people of Western Liang are inherently fierce and courageous. If they learn that the Mo Family Army has massacred a city, they will undoubtedly rally to assist the Western Liang defenders. This would greatly disadvantage our future campaigns." Seeing that Mo Xiuyao remained unmoved, Feng Zhiyao sighed inwardly and had no choice but to press on, "Furthermore, Wang Fei is kind-hearted by nature and would surely disapprove of this action. Why trouble Wang Fei over people who are of no consequence?"

At this point, Feng Zhiyao stole a glance at Mo Xiuyao. Noticing his furrowed brows, a sign that he was indeed contemplating the matter, Feng Zhiyao relaxed slightly. If Wang Ye insisted on killing those people regardless of the consequences, no one would be able to dissuade him.

After a long silence, Mo Xiuyao finally spoke coldly, "Execute all the prisoners. As for the ordinary civilians, drive them out of the city. Feng San, if you fail again, you’ll answer for it yourself!"

Feng Zhiyao breathed a sigh of relief. In this era, there was no concept of sparing prisoners. Captives taken on the battlefield were either exchanged, enslaved, or executed. Though Feng Zhiyao disdained killing defenseless Western Liang soldiers, he knew they could never be released. Keeping them would only invite trouble, so if Mo Xiuyao insisted on their execution, he wouldn’t object.

"As you command," Feng Zhiyao replied respectfully. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, "Wang Ye, what about Longyang... how should we deal with him?"

At the mention of Longyang, Mo Xiuyao’s expression darkened. His voice turned grim as he said, "Take Longyang to the execution ground. Let him watch how those Western Liang people die."

Only then did Feng Zhiyao understand why Longyang had appeared on the execution platform earlier that day. Shaking his head inwardly, he thought, Longyang has offended Wang Ye too deeply—no one’s words would sway him now. "As you command. I will see to it immediately."

"Do not let Wang Fei know," Mo Xiuyao added slowly.

Feng Zhiyao and Qin Feng exchanged glances. Could such a thing really be kept hidden?

"Yes. As you command."

Having finished discussing the matter, Mo Xiuyao showed no sign of dismissing them. For a moment, the two were left bewildered. Mo Xiuyao studied them for a long while before finally asking, "What happened to A Li?" Both men were taken aback, unsure of his meaning. Frowning in irritation, Mo Xiuyao pressed, "A Li has been in low spirits. Did something happen during your mission?"

Wang Fei has been in low spirits?

The two lowered their heads in thought but couldn’t recall anything that might have upset Wang Fei. The campaign had been progressing smoothly. Though the Mo Family Army had suffered some losses, they were expected and unavoidable. Nothing else stood out. Noticing Mo Xiuyao’s growing impatience, Qin Feng spoke up, "General Zhu Yan’s grandson, Zhu Ling, died shielding Wang Fei from a hidden weapon. Also, General Zhu Yan threw himself from the city wall in front of Wang Fei, committing suicide for his country." After a pause, Qin Feng added, "Those are the only two incidents that could be considered significant."

"Zhu Ling? Who is that?" Mo Xiuyao asked.Qin Feng recounted the entire sequence of events from start to finish. Originally, Ye Li and Qin Feng had only gone to assist Zhang Qilan in dealing with the potential emergence of Zhu Yan and the hidden Pacification Army in an unknown location. Later, Ye Li and Lin Han had decided on their own to infiltrate the Pacification Army's camp alone—a sudden decision that had not been communicated to Mo Xiuyao, so naturally, he had been unaware of it.

The more Mo Xiuyao listened, the darker his expression grew. Feng Zhiyao, standing nearby, subtly took two steps back. By the time Qin Feng finished speaking, the study was enveloped in silence. Feng Zhiyao braced himself for the inevitable storm of anger from Mo Xiuyao, his face tense. After a long wait, Mo Xiuyao finally spoke in an eerily calm voice, "This prince is aware. You may leave."

Huh?

Feng Zhiyao was taken aback. Qin Feng beside him gave him a cold glance before turning swiftly and walking out the door. Feng Zhiyao shuddered and hurriedly rushed out after him. In the study, only Mo Xiuyao remained alone, facing the solitary lamp on the desk. "Zhu Ling... Even in death, you're still troubling A Li. You really died too easily!"

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Well... Actually, Xiu Yao has always had a slight psychological issue. It's probably due to being overly repressed, or you could think of it as something like severe post-traumatic stress disorder! The calmer and more repressed he appears on the surface, the more terrifying his outbursts become. That's why Mr. Qingyun was worried about Xiu Yao and insisted A Li accompany him on the campaign. Because Mr. Qingyun could see the turbulent undercurrents beneath Xiu Yao's calm and repressed exterior. So... that's how I see it. Don't take it too seriously, you fact-checkers, theorists, and data analysts~