Mo Li

Leaning against Mo Xiuyao’s chest, Ye Li was filled with remorse. This time, it was indeed her carelessness that had led to such an accident, even implicating her fourth brother. These past few days must have been incredibly difficult for the man before her. Raising her hand to tightly encircle his waist, she whispered softly, “Xiu Yao, I’m sorry. This was my fault. It won’t happen again…”

“It’s not A Li’s fault. It’s mine. I didn’t even notice that you… were pregnant again.” Mo Xiuyao’s hand gently rested on her flat abdomen, where their child was growing once more. Since the birth of Mo Xiaobao, Mo Xiuyao had grown increasingly indifferent about having more children—even secretly hoping there would be no more. Yet rationally, he also understood that having a couple more children would be better for A Li in the long run. However, both pregnancies had come at inopportune times, nearly putting A Li in danger. A trace of displeasure flickered in his eyes.

Ye Li lifted her head and looked helplessly at the man whose expression had suddenly darkened. It had been the same when she was pregnant with Xiao Bao—Mo Xiuyao would sometimes gaze at her belly with tenderness, only to turn gloomy the next moment, leaving Ye Li faintly worried. Still, she believed wholeheartedly that he would cherish their child.

“Xiu Yao, do you think… this time it might be a daughter?” Ye Li leaned against him and asked with a smile.

“A daughter?” Mo Xiuyao’s heart stirred slightly as he imagined a sweet, clever little girl who looked just like A Li. His expression softened unconsciously. Ye Li chuckled, “Yes, we already have Xiao Bao. I hope this one is a daughter, so Xiao Bao can have a little sister. At his age now, wouldn’t he be just the right age to protect her when she grows up?”

Mo Xiuyao found this reasoning sound. If it were a daughter resembling A Li, she would be the first young princess of Prince Ding’s Estate in decades—naturally to be doted upon beyond measure. And since Mo Xiaobao had nothing better to do, he might as well take on the duty of protecting his sister. Mo Xiuyao silently contemplated whether he should intensify Xiao Bao’s training upon their return, lest he fail to safeguard his sister in the future.

Unaware that her words had just condemned Mo Xiaobao to a grueling childhood, Ye Li felt her spirits lift now that she had woken up unharmed, learned of her pregnancy, and seen her fourth brother regain consciousness. The inexplicable gloom that had weighed on her heart in recent days seemed to have dissipated entirely. Nestled in Mo Xiuyao’s embrace, she murmured softly about her hopes and affection for the baby to come. Mo Xiuyao held her quietly, listening. After a while, Ye Li paused and sighed gently. Glancing up at the man holding her, she saw that his eyes were closed—he had fallen asleep. Faint shadows lingered beneath his lashes. Carefully, she pressed two acupoints on him before rising slightly to make room on the bed, then pulled the blanket over him. Gazing at his handsome face in slumber, she smiled faintly. In this world, she was probably the only one who could successfully immobilize Prince Ding’s acupoints.

While the courier station was filled with joy over Ye Li and Xu Qingbai’s recovery, the Bai family on the other side of the imperial city was shrouded in panic and despair.Bai Yuncheng slumped into a chair in the hall, his already aged face now bearing an even more withered expression. Initially, after learning that his daughter had been killed by Prince Ding, Bai Yuncheng had been filled with anger and grief, yet he still held some confidence. He had secretly plotted various plans in his heart, but he never expected Prince Ding to act with such thunderous swiftness. Within just two or three days, Prince Ding had swept through the various factions in the imperial capital like an autumn wind scattering fallen leaves. Even Zhennan Wang's estate had been raided by him. Bai Yuncheng's last hope, the Xiling Emperor, had been thoroughly intimidated by Mo Xiuyao and announced that there was no need to wait two months—the imperial procession would depart for Ancheng as soon as the palace was ready. The Bai family, which had openly pledged allegiance to Prince Ding's Estate, was naturally abandoned without hesitation by the Xiling Emperor.

In earlier years, when the Empress was still alive and Imperial Concubine Qingrong was present, the Xiling Emperor might have spared Bai Yuncheng some face. But now, with Imperial Concubine Qingrong long missing and the Empress already deceased, the Xiling Emperor had no reason to protect the Bai family—a disloyal and largely useless subject.

Perhaps, from the very beginning, aligning with Prince Ding's Estate had been a mistake. Bai Yuncheng thought bitterly. Had they not sided with Prince Ding and instead followed the Xiling Emperor to Ancheng, even if the Bai family couldn’t have flourished, their deep-rooted influence would at least have spared them from mortal danger. But now… Recalling the scene he had witnessed outside the Sun family’s garden that day, Bai Yuncheng felt a chill in his heart. Would Prince Ding truly leave the Bai family a way out?

"Master, what should we do now?" Madam Bai, equally haggard, could no longer conceal the wrinkles and panic on her face, even with her usually impeccable makeup.

"What should we do? What should we do? How should I know?" Bai Yuncheng laughed bitterly.

Madam Bai glanced at him and cautiously suggested, "Master, perhaps… perhaps we should leave the imperial capital sooner rather than later."

Bai Yuncheng looked at her coldly and scolded, "Foolish woman! Do you think Prince Ding would allow us to leave the imperial capital safely?" If Prince Ding intended to hold them accountable, how could they possibly escape? And if Prince Ding had no such intentions, how could Bai Yuncheng bear to abandon all their family assets and flee alone? Madam Bai, momentarily flustered, realized the impracticality of her suggestion after being rebuked. In a panic, she clutched Bai Yuncheng’s arm and asked anxiously, "Then… then what should we do? Should we… should we beg for mercy from Prince Ding's Estate?"

At present, they couldn’t even gain an audience with Prince Ding or Princess Ding. All affairs were being handled by Feng Zhiyao and Princess Ding’s two trusted aides. Moreover, even if the opportunity arose, Madam Bai was certain she never wanted to see Prince Ding again.Upon hearing this, Bai Yuncheng fell into deep thought, carefully considering his wife's words. Although Prince Ding currently seemed to have no intention of taking action against the Bai family, the fact that he had executed Bai Qingning without hesitation made Bai Yuncheng absolutely certain that Prince Ding harbored dissatisfaction toward them. Yet, this very silence and inaction only served to heighten their unease.

Madam Bai watched her husband's contemplative expression and cautiously ventured, "My lord, I wonder if Princess Ding has awakened yet. If we could plead with her for mercy... I’ve heard that the Princess comes from a scholarly family and is gentle and kind by nature. Although Qingning... acted improperly, our Bai family has never done anything to wrong Prince Ding's Estate. Perhaps the Princess might show leniency and not pursue us to the bitter end?"

"This... It would be difficult to see Princess Ding now," Bai Yuncheng replied. With the Princess having just survived an assassination attempt, and given Prince Ding's deep devotion to her, how could he possibly allow anyone outside his inner circle to approach her?

Madam Bai’s eyes flickered with anxiety as she pressed, "Is there truly no way at all? Must our Bai family really... face this fate?"

After a moment of deliberation, Bai Yuncheng finally said, "Perhaps there is... His Majesty will be departing for Ancheng in a few days. By protocol, Prince Ding and Princess Ding will surely see him off. If we can meet the Princess then, we might have a chance to plead for mercy."

Madam Bai’s eyes brightened, and she smiled. "You’re right, my lord. Unless the Princess hasn’t yet recovered, Prince Ding and Princess Ding are bound to attend the farewell ceremony for His Majesty. I will find a way to speak with her and beg for her mercy."

The more Bai Yuncheng thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. He nodded repeatedly. "You’re absolutely right, my lady. Rest well these next few days and don’t trouble yourself. I will handle the arrangements for meeting Princess Ding."

"Then I leave it to you, my lord," Madam Bai replied with a gentle smile, though a trace of resentment flickered in her downcast eyes.

Meanwhile, news of the Mo Family Army’s capture of the imperial capital had just reached Western Liang when reports followed of Mo Xiuyao’s near-bloodbath among the Western Liang nobility. Lei Zhenting, leading his Eastern Expedition army southward, had barely recovered from the shock of the capital’s swift fall when an even greater blow struck him, nearly knocking him senseless.

After all, having abandoned his retreat westward, the loss of the capital had already been inevitable. Though Lei Zhenting hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, he had been mentally prepared. However, Mo Xiuyao’s ruthless purge of the capital’s nobility was entirely beyond his expectations.

As a result, years of carefully cultivated connections—his trusted agents in the capital, the families of his generals, and even his own grandchildren—had all been wiped out. Upon hearing the news, Lei Zhenting was so enraged that he nearly collapsed on the spot. Gritting his teeth, he spat out a name through clenched jaws: "Mo Xiuyao..."

"Your Highness?!" His guards rushed to steady him. Lei Zhenting raised a hand to cover his lips, but crimson blood seeped through his fingers."Wang Ye, please take care of your health!" Everyone present was startled, momentarily forgetting their anger and sorrow as they rushed forward to check on Lei Zhenting. Though their advance had been relatively smooth so far, occupying vast territories of Great Chu, Murong Shen's interference had prevented them from seizing the entire southern region before Mo Jingli's southern migration as planned. The situation in Great Chu was now utter chaos. Most areas south of Cloud Ripple River were under Mo Jingli's control, with only a small portion preemptively occupied by them. North of the river, some regions were controlled by the Western Mausoleum Army, but behind them loomed Murong Shen's newly arrived northern forces. Though merely two hundred thousand strong, they posed significant obstacles to further southern advancement. To the southwest were Lü Songxian's four hundred thousand troops, while the northwest was Mo Family Army territory. Further north, the remaining Great Chu defenders were embroiled in chaotic battles with Northern Rong and Northern Jin forces. Truly, no part of Great Chu remained undisturbed—making it absolutely imperative that Zhennan Wang remain unharmed at this critical juncture.

Lei Zhenting steadied himself, suppressing the metallic taste rising in his throat, and waved away the guards supporting him. "This prince is fine. You may withdraw," he declared sternly.

The officials hesitated, observing Lei Zhenting's ashen complexion, but ultimately bowed and exited the study.

"What exactly happened?" Lei Zhenting's voice finally broke the silence after a long pause. The messenger's expression was equally grim as he detailed recent events in Western Mausoleum Imperial City—from Xu Qingbai's premature appearance, to the Xiling Emperor willingly surrendering the capital, to Princess Ding's assassination attempt that provoked Prince Ding's bloody rampage through the Sun Family Gardens.

"Fools!" Lei Zhenting spat after hearing the report, his breathing growing increasingly labored. "That imbecile! I should have deposed him years ago! Has he considered—has he considered that those killed weren't just my loyalists, but Western Liang's finest warriors? While Mo Xiuyao slaughtered them, that fool was probably secretly rejoicing! Has he considered how Western Liang—how he alone could possibly govern Western Liang without them?!" His rising voice betrayed extreme fury. Lei Zhenting spoke truth—though the victims were his supporters, after over a decade controlling the government, nearly all competent officials owed allegiance to him. Mo Xiuyao's purge left only mediocrities behind. Even if the Xiling Emperor relocated to Ancheng, what could an inexperienced ruler surrounded by equally inept ministers possibly accomplish? Only heaven knew.

"Heh... What brilliant tactics, what cunning strategy from Mo Xiuyao!" Lei Zhenting sneered repeatedly.

After venting some rage, he quickly regained composure and noticed discrepancies in the report. Narrowing his sharp eyes, he demanded sternly, "This prince recalls no order to assassinate Princess Ding. Who acted without authorization?"The man was equally bewildered. He was merely an inconspicuous figure planted in the imperial city by Zhennan Wang, usually only handling trivial street gossip, which was why he had escaped the recent purge of Prince Ding's Estate and hurried to deliver the message. However, he was just as clueless about the origins and details of this incident, assuming it was simply an order from the prince. Seeing his blank expression, Lei Zhenting realized he wouldn’t get any answers and waved him away.

After the man left, Lei Zhenting swept the inkstone off the table with a furious gesture. It struck the ground with a sharp crack, shattering the high-quality inkstone into pieces. "Investigate! Who dares to be so bold... Mo Jingli? No, Mo Jingli doesn’t have the capability. Find out about Ren Qining and Yelv Hong—Yelv Ye!"

"Yes, Wang Ye," responded the Gold-Clad Guards hidden in the shadows before swiftly departing. The study fell silent, leaving only Lei Zhenting alone. After a long silence, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

At Flying Goose Pass in the northwest, Qingchen Gongzi stood atop the fortress walls, his pristine white robes untouched by dust as he gazed into the distance. A dozen miles away lay the camps of the Western Mausoleum Army and the Northern Rong forces. From below, the handsome young master in white appeared like an immortal, his demeanor serene and transcendent. Even the generals of both armies couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at his grace.

"Oh? Qingbai was injured?" On the ramparts, Xu Qingchen turned to the shadow guard delivering the message, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The shadow guard felt his heart skip a beat, a chill running down his spine. Though Qingchen Gongzi was known as the "Immortal Young Master" and usually spoke softly, unlike the imposing presence of Wang Ye, the pressure he exuded was no less intense. "Reporting to Gongzi, it is true. However... the letter also mentioned that the Fourth Young Master was not critically injured and should have regained consciousness by now."

Xu Qingchen nodded. "Understood. You may go."

The shadow guard discreetly wiped his sweat and bowed. "This subordinate takes his leave."

"Does Qingchen Gongzi truly believe Lei Zhenting sent assassins after Princess Ding? Lei Zhenting... surely wouldn’t be so reckless," said one of the two men standing beside Xu Qingchen in the wind. One was an elderly man with graying hair, his expression gentle yet carrying a hint of steadfastness. The other was a composed middle-aged man in his thirties, bearing some resemblance to the elder.

These two were none other than the father and son—Nan Hou Shizi—who had nearly been killed by Mo Jingqi years ago. Though saved by Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, they had grown disillusioned and lived in seclusion in the northwest, fading into obscurity. But now, with Mo Jingqi dead and the Chu Dynasty virtually extinct, and the northwest facing the combined forces of Western Liang and Northern Rong, the father and son could no longer remain idle. They had volunteered to accompany Xu Qingchen to Flying Goose Pass.

A faint coldness settled over Xu Qingchen’s transcendent features. "Even if it wasn’t Lei Zhenting’s idea, he is still implicated."Marquis Nan, though living somewhat ignominiously in the latter half of his life for over a decade, was after all a fierce general who once galloped across battlefields. As an outsider, he could see many things more clearly. Stroking his beard, he chuckled, "This time, I'm afraid even Lei Zhenting has been outmaneuvered." Zhennan Wang's losses this time were by no means small, and one could imagine him now seething with heartache. Prince Ding, after lying low for years, never failed to shock the world with each move he made.

Fu Zhao, standing behind his father, asked with some concern, "Prince Ding's actions might somewhat tarnish Wang Ye's reputation." Even in the distant northwest, Prince Ding's reputation for ruthlessness had already spread far and wide, and other regions were no exception. Those within Prince Ding's Estate knew well that the number of people he had killed was far fewer than the legends claimed, yet the impact of these individuals was perhaps more severe than if an entire city had been slaughtered. Now, rumors had escalated to Prince Ding massacring the entire Western Mausoleum Imperial City, even dredging up incidents previously suppressed in Biancheng. For a time, many scholars and literati began to view Prince Ding unfavorably. Yet, the Xu Family, currently the power holders of the northwest and the leading intellectual figures there, remained silent, which puzzled Fu Zhao.

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, "Brother Fu, you're not seeing the full picture. As the saying goes, 'Stopping the people's mouths is harder than stopping a river.' It's better to guide than to block. Once they've said their fill, they'll naturally stop."

"But won't this affect Prince Ding's reputation?" Fu Zhao frowned. Those with ambitions for the realm always placed great importance on their reputations.

Xu Qingchen turned to Marquis Nan and asked, "What does Marquis Nan think?"

Marquis Nan shook his head, "Victors become kings and lords, losers become bandits. Momentary gossip means little. Besides, rumors are just rumors. When they are dispelled, the world will only hold Prince Ding in higher esteem. As for those bookworms who've lost their wits from reading too much, I doubt Prince Ding would bother with them."

Xu Qingchen nodded in agreement, "Marquis Nan speaks wisely. The relationship between the Xu Family and Prince Ding's Estate... means the Xu Family cannot easily speak in Prince Ding's defense unless absolutely necessary. Moreover, in these chaotic times, such a reputation for Prince Ding... isn't entirely bad." At least, those who feared Mo Xiuyao would far outnumber those who dared scheme against him, and betrayals of Prince Ding's Estate would likely be fewer. Sometimes, fear was an effective way to govern subordinates—though it couldn't be overdone. And this incident with the assassination attempt on Princess Ding provided a perfect justification, didn't it? In the future... Li'er would be safer, wouldn't she? After this, the world should understand that even if Prince Ding deeply loved his princess, should anything happen to her, he wouldn't collapse or degenerate—he would only become more ruthless and cold-blooded.

"For now, it's good that Wang Ye is still in Western Liang. But when he returns to Li Cheng, might there be unexpected troubles in Western Liang?" Marquis Nan still harbored some concerns.

Xu Qingchen replied, "Qing Bai is still somewhat young, but after this lesson, he should understand the necessity of harsh measures in turbulent times."Marquis Nan and his son exchanged a glance. Fu Zhao raised an eyebrow at Xu Qingchen and asked curiously, "Qingchen Gongzi, you don’t seem the least bit regretful about those Western Liang nobles?" Although many of them were involved with the assassins, everyone knew that most were Zhennan Wang’s trusted aides and Western Liang’s truly capable talents. The Prince’s actions had cut off Western Liang’s supply of talent for the next decade.

Xu Qingchen’s smile was cold. "As long as the Prince does not massacre ordinary civilians, as for those people… how many are truly innocent? Even if they were innocent…" His gaze swept beyond the pass, where the land outside Flying Goose Pass lay barren for miles, ruins scattered and cries of suffering rising everywhere. He raised a hand and pointed toward the distant horizon, beyond sight. "Are there not those far more innocent than them?" The truly innocent were the common folk struggling in the throes of war, not the Western Liang nobles who had instigated it in the first place.

Marquis Nan sighed softly. "Qingchen Gongzi speaks rightly." His eyes lingered on the distant lands—once his homeland. Now, they were filled with devastation and rivers of blood.

Xu Qingchen’s brow lifted slightly as he said calmly, "If it wasn’t Zhennan Wang’s doing, then only one person could have such capability… Ren Qining. Very well. If we don’t repay him in kind, wouldn’t Qingbo and Li’er’s suffering be in vain? Summon someone."

A man in black appeared behind Xu Qingchen—none other than Wei Lin, whom Ye Li had left in the northwest.

"Wei Lin, go to Chu Jing personally. Tell Leng Haoyu he need not return to the northwest for now. Assist the Great Chu garrison in defending Chu Jing at all costs," Xu Qingchen instructed calmly.

Without further questions, Wei Lin nodded solemnly. "Understood. I take my leave."

"Qingchen Gongzi, holding Chu Jing might be somewhat..." Marquis Nan frowned. He still had some understanding of Great Chu's military strength and combat power. Even with Leng Huai and Duke Hua present, Chu Jing couldn't be defended for three months, and within that time, the Mo Family Army would likely find it difficult to spare troops to reinforce Chu Jing.

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, "General Lü's hundreds of thousands of troops have long been restless. They were only restrained by their vigilance against Lei Zhenting before and didn't dare act rashly. Now that Lei Zhenting is locked in fierce battle with Mo Jingli, even if he wants to withdraw, it's too late. Once we resolve the siege before us, there should still be time to reach Chu Jing. By then, Wang Ye should have returned as well."

Marquis Nan silently calculated in his mind and felt that while Xu Qingchen's plan carried some risk, it wasn't entirely unfeasible. Most importantly, if successful, Prince Ding's Estate's territory would more than double its current size.

"However, this would mean directly confronting the entire Northern Rong and northern border. There's also Lei Zhenting in the south—once he consolidates his position, it's hard to say he won't turn back to join forces with Northern Rong and the northern border to encircle us. With Mo Jingli's courage, he likely wouldn't stop him nor would he dare to."

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, "Lei Zhenting still has Murong Shen to deal with. Moreover, we have another hidden force within Great Chu that can be utilized."

"..."