Mo Li

In Chu Jing, the newly arrived Mo Family Army replaced the exhausted Chu defenders and took up positions on the city walls. Watching the black banners fluttering atop the battlements and the black-clad soldiers standing firm in the cold wind, the Northern Army had no choice but to halt their advance and refrain from further action.

Mo Xiuyao led his entourage into the grand palace of Chu. Gazing at the still-majestic yet somewhat desolate imperial city dusted with light snow, a faint trace of melancholy flickered through his indifferent eyes, though it was overshadowed by an inscrutable complexity.

As soon as they entered the palace, Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning came forward to greet them. Seeing Mo Xiuyao, they respectfully bowed. "Xiaoyun pays his respects to Uncle Prince Ding."

Mo Xiuyao swept a cool glance over Mo Xiaoyun. The son of Mo Jingqi and Consort Liu naturally evoked no goodwill in him. However, this Mo Xiaoyun before him seemed quite different from Mo Jingqi. Raising an eyebrow, he asked the two, "Where is the Grand Princess?"

Mo Xiaoyun lowered his head. "The Grand Princess passed away two days ago. However, fearing it would affect the morale of the defending troops, she ordered us to keep her death a secret. Her coffin remains in the palace, and Princess Zhaoyang is still keeping vigil."

Mo Xiuyao nodded and first went to pay his respects to the Grand Princess.

The Grand Princess had been two years older than Duke Hua and had not suffered much illness in her later years, so her passing could be considered a peaceful end. After paying homage at the temporary resting place of her coffin, Mo Xiuyao exchanged greetings with Princess Zhaoyang.

Dressed in plain mourning robes without a trace of makeup, Princess Zhaoyang’s face was marked by unmistakable exhaustion and sorrow. The two sat in a side chamber, where the princess looked at Mo Xiuyao with relief. "Originally, I thought you wouldn’t make it in time, and Chu Jing would truly fall into Northern hands. Fortunately..."

Mo Xiuyao briefly recounted the recent battles in the city, including the death of Duke Hua. Hearing this, Princess Zhaoyang’s eyes reddened, and she sighed deeply, unable to speak.

After a moment of silence, Princess Zhaoyang finally asked, "What do you plan to do with those two children?"

Mo Xiuyao arched a brow, looking at her. The princess sighed. "I never liked them at first—what good could come from that Liu woman and the children raised by Liu Jia? But after spending time with them these past days, they’re nothing like their parents. If possible... spare them a way out. I know you despise the Chu imperial family... I once did too..."

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment before replying, "Rest assured. As long as they remain obedient, I won’t harm them."

Princess Zhaoyang was momentarily taken aback by his somewhat distant tone but nodded. "In that case, thank you."

It felt as though they hadn’t been apart for long, yet words seemed inadequate. The atmosphere in the side chamber grew uncomfortable for both, and soon Mo Xiuyao rose to take his leave. Watching his retreating figure, Princess Zhaoyang sighed helplessly.

She knew where this sense of estrangement came from. From now on... this palace still bore the name Mo, but it was no longer the Mo of old. And she—she remained a princess of Chu, no matter how much she had once hated it.

But at least now... she was merely a princess of a fallen kingdom.With the Mo Family Army stationed in Chu Jing, the capital quickly regained its bustle. Although just days before, the city had been awash with blood and the clamor of battle, its terrified citizens hiding in their homes, trembling with fear. Yet within mere days, the people buried the dead, cleaned the streets, and soon the empty city began to pulse with life once more.

Mo Xiuyao swiftly issued orders to posthumously honor the fallen soldiers and reorganize Chu Jing's administration. Despite the hundreds of thousands of Northern Rong troops still besieging the city, the lives of its inhabitants gradually returned to normal. With tens of thousands of Mo Family Army soldiers and numerous generals from both the Mo Family Army and the Great Chu now stationed in the capital, the citizens no longer feared the enemy outside their walls.

After a fortnight of rest for both armies, Mo Xiuyao commanded the Mo Family Army to split into two forces. One, led by Lü Songxian, would strike first against the Northern Rong army, denying them any chance to recover and launch another siege. The other, under Murong Shen, would engage Yelv Ye's Northern Rong forces.

That same month, Mo Xiaoyun, the Prince of Changxing who had remained in Chu Jing, proclaimed to the world: the Mo Family Army and Prince Ding had saved Changxing City. Henceforth, Changxing and its people would pledge allegiance to Prince Ding, renouncing their ties to Great Chu. This declaration left many seething in silent fury, powerless to object. Among them, none were more incensed than Mo Jingli, entrenched in the southern territories. The capital Great Chu had abandoned had now been rescued by Prince Ding, and its people willingly submitted to him—leaving the Great Chu court speechless, as if swallowing a bitter pill.

Fresh from their victory in Chu Jing, the Mo Family Army's morale was high. Murong Shen, alongside Marquis Nan and his son holding Flying Goose Pass, launched a pincer attack, forcing the Northern Rong army into retreat. With their supplies dwindling and unable to sustain prolonged warfare, both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Northern Rong army, after months of grueling battles without progress and plagued by internal strife, had no choice but to withdraw from Zijing Pass under Ren Qining's reluctant order.

By the time spring arrived in March, though much of Great Chu's former territory remained in the hands of Northern Rong and the northern forces, the Mo Family Army's relentless campaign—sweeping from east to west and back again in just seven or eight months—proved their legendary might remained undiminished. Their domain now stretched from the former Western Liang's Anping Province in the west to Great Chu's Zijing Pass in the east. Though slightly smaller than Western Liang, it far surpassed the southern Great Chu court in size. More significantly, Prince Ding's family now held two imperial cities, east and west, making their prestige unmatched in the realm.

After nearly a year of war, all sides had exhausted their resources. None had the strength to continue fighting, so despite their mutual wariness, they tacitly agreed to a ceasefire to recuperate. With the fighting halted, Mo Xiuyao delegated Chu Jing's affairs to Feng Zhiyao, Lü Songxian, and others, then raced back to the northwest on horseback. The Mo Family Army understood his urgency—Wang Fei was with child—and raised no objections.

"A Li!"In mid-April, though spring arrived late in the northwest, it was already late spring. In the flower garden of Prince Ding's Estate, various beautiful flowers were still in full bloom. The most magnificent among them were the peonies transplanted from Yunzhou. Peonies of all colors vied for beauty, adorning the entire garden with elegance and filling the air with their fragrance.

Ye Li sat on a stone bench padded with thick cushions in the garden, smiling as she watched Mo Xiaobao brandish a small sword with great concentration. Standing nearby, Leng Junhan and Xu Zhirui cheered him on, though Ye Li rather doubted whether the two little ones could actually tell good from bad. Beneath her light green cloak, her round belly was alarmingly large. Smiling as she watched the swordplay, Ye Li gently stroked her swollen abdomen. Though she was already nine months along, this belly was much larger than it had been with Xiao Bao. Remembering Doctor Lin's mention that this might be twins, Ye Li smiled faintly. Twins weren't a bad thing, but she hadn't yet told Mo Xiuyao. If he knew, he might very well abandon the battlefield and rush back.

Hearing sounds from outside the garden, Ye Li froze momentarily. Could it be that auditory hallucinations occurred in late pregnancy?

Mo Xiaobao stopped swinging his sword, blinked, then turned to Ye Li with a pout. "Mother, Father is back." Though his tone suggested great displeasure, his large, dark eyes sparkled with excitement.

Ye Li turned and indeed saw a dust-covered figure standing at the garden entrance, smiling at her. "A Li, I'm back."

"Xiu Yao..."

Seeing her attempt to rise, Mo Xiuyao swiftly darted forward to support her. "Don't move, you—" His eyes widened at the sight of her enormous belly, and his usually composed expression gave way to concern. "A Li, are you alright? Why... why is it so big?"

"Doctor Lin said it might be twins, so naturally it's much larger than with just one," Ye Li replied with a soft smile.

"What?" Mo Xiuyao felt his vision darken, his limbs going weak. One child was already enough to worry him—now there were two? "How could this be? Where's Shen Yang? Get him here to examine Wang Fei immediately!" he demanded anxiously.

Ye Li shot him an exasperated glance. "You know Shen went to Fourth Brother's place. Doctor Lin has already checked me—I'm fine, and the babies are healthy."

"But—"

"No buts!" Ye Li said firmly, taking his hand. "You just got back—shouldn't you freshen up and rest? I was just out for a walk and will head back soon. Let's go rest first." Mo Xiuyao, still in a daze, could only let her lead him away.

The three children left behind exchanged bewildered looks. After a long pause, Xu Zhirui blinked his large eyes, his young face as solemn as his father's, and asked, "We didn't greet Uncle."

The youngest, Leng Junhan, rubbed his little head and said, "Prince Ding didn't see us—he won't be mad." Indeed, Prince Ding hadn't spared them a single glance. But... recalling Prince Ding's icy stare, Leng Xiaodai shivered and shook his head. It was better this way—much better that he hadn't noticed them.Mo Xiaobao pouted haughtily as he watched his father's retreating figure, letting out a snort before tilting his little head up. "This young master doesn’t care if he sees me or not. Let’s go find Uncle Qingchen instead!"

After a lively discussion among the three little ones, they unanimously agreed that Mo Xiaobao’s suggestion was excellent. Uncle Qingchen (or Uncle Xu) was far more amiable and approachable than their strict father (or Uncle Ding).

Returning to the main courtyard where they resided, Mo Xiuyao freshened up with a bath and change of clothes. By the time he stepped out, Ye Li had already arranged a table full of his favorite dishes. Having rushed back to the northwest these past few days, Mo Xiuyao hadn’t eaten properly, and the sight of the food immediately whetted his appetite. He sat down and pulled Ye Li to join him.

It wasn’t mealtime yet, and Ye Li wasn’t particularly hungry, so she only ate half a bowl of porridge before stopping. She sat beside him, occasionally adding some meat to his bowl. Despite the years, Mo Xiuyao remained as picky as ever—without Ye Li serving him, he would only eat vegetables, making him seem even more ascetic than Xu Qingchen.

Between bites, Mo Xiuyao recounted events from Chu Jing, including the tragic news of Duke Hua’s martyrdom. Ye Li had always held the old duke in high regard, and the news saddened her deeply. "We’ll have to inform Sister Hua and Tianxiang about this. But they…" Mo Xiuyao interrupted, "Leave that to me. I’ll have someone inform them. Right now, your focus should be on the children. Everything else can wait until after they’re born."

Ye Li nodded thoughtfully. "The babies are due next month. Their full-month celebration will likely coincide with Grandfather’s birthday." She frowned slightly, gently stroking her rounded belly. "In that case, we’ll skip the full-month celebration for them." Hosting a grand celebration for Prince Ding’s newborn son and daughter was no small affair, and if it overlapped with her grandfather’s birthday, the next two months would be consumed entirely by preparations. Mo Xiuyao, however, was indifferent about the celebration. With a raised brow, he teased, "We held a grand celebration for Mo Xiaobao’s full month. Won’t these two resent us when they grow up?"

Ye Li chuckled. "Since when did His Highness care so much about sibling harmony? A full-month celebration is just a formality. If they grow up resenting something so trivial, it would reflect poorly on our parenting."

Mo Xiuyao nodded, grinning as he glanced at Ye Li’s belly. Don’t blame your father for being biased—it’s your mother’s decision!

"Is Li’er here?" Xu Qingchen’s calm voice drifted in from outside.

The maids stationed at the door quickly bowed. "His Highness has just returned, and Wang Fei is dining with him."

Hearing this, Mo Xiuyao’s mood instantly soured. He had barely caught his breath since returning, and now Xu Qingchen was already at their doorstep? Couldn’t a man even rest in peace?

Ye Li, oblivious to her husband’s irritation, called out warmly, "Elder Brother, come in."

Xu Qingchen stepped into the hall, a faint smile playing on his lips as he met Mo Xiuyao’s stormy gaze. "When did His Highness return? We were all unaware." Ye Li offered an apologetic smile. "He just arrived and came straight here. Is there something urgent, Elder Brother?"Xu Qingchen naturally couldn't say that he knew Mo Xiuyao had just returned and had come specifically to annoy him. Smiling, he said, "It's nothing major. It's just that the invitations for Grandfather's birthday in two months should be drafted soon. Since I happened to have time today, I came to discuss it with you." Ye Li frowned slightly in thought before replying, "We must invite the nobles and scholars from the Northwest, Western Liang, and Chu Jing. But what about other regions... Should we invite people from Nanzhao, Northern Rong's northern borders, Western Liang, and the Jiangnan area?"

Mo Xiuyao set down his chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. "Of course we should invite them. After such a tumultuous year, even if we don't, they'll come on their own."

Xu Qingchen nodded. "Understood. Also, Wang Ye, do you plan to hold the celebration in Chu Jing or Li Cheng?"

This was indeed a question. Holding it in Chu Jing would mean Mo Xiuyao intended to move Prince Ding's Estate back to Chu Jing, whereas choosing Li Cheng would require reconsidering the handling of Chu Jing. After all, Chu Jing was a capital city, and unlike Western Mausoleum Imperial City, which could be considered a windfall—nice to have but not a significant loss if lost—Chu Jing was surrounded by enemies on multiple fronts. Losing it would deal a massive blow to Prince Ding's prestige.

Mo Xiuyao rubbed his temples and asked after a moment, "What does Elder Brother suggest?"

Xu Qingchen smiled. "Such important matters should naturally be decided by Wang Ye alone."

Mo Xiuyao shot him an exasperated look before lifting his chin proudly. "This prince commands you to speak." Xu Qingchen wasn't bothered and shrugged with a laugh. "Li Cheng is still too small. Expanding it significantly wouldn't be something that could be done overnight. If Wang Ye were to station himself in Chu Jing, it would serve as a strong deterrent to both Northern Rong's northern borders and the southern regions." In other words, Xu Qingchen leaned toward moving Prince Ding's Estate back to Chu Jing.

Mo Xiuyao naturally understood the logic in Xu Qingchen's words. After pondering for a while, he asked, "Chu Jing is too far from Western Liang. If something were to happen there in the future, we'd be powerless to intervene." Li Cheng had its advantages too—its central location on the continent, for instance. While it could be a vulnerable position if their strength was lacking, it would also be the perfect base to expand outward in all directions if they were powerful enough.

Xu Qingchen replied, "Li Cheng naturally shouldn't be abandoned. But currently, we don't have the means to expand it to a sufficient scale in a short time. With the world in turmoil, burdening the people and wasting resources wouldn't be wise." To put it bluntly, Li Cheng was too small. If Prince Ding's Estate had only been guarding the small territory of the Northwest, there would have been nothing to say. But now, the lands under Prince Ding's jurisdiction were no smaller than those of any major power. Continuing like this would inevitably make them seem shabby and could easily unsettle the officials and soldiers below, as Prince Ding clearly had no intention of ascending the throne. No one knew what the future of Prince Ding's Estate would look like. Having long handled various administrative affairs in Li Cheng, Xu Qingchen was well aware of the doubts and rumors circulating among officials and commoners alike. Given the current circumstances, they either had to expand Li Cheng significantly or move Prince Ding's Estate back to Chu Jing.Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment before raising his head and saying, "Mr. Qingyun's birthday celebration will still be held in Li Cheng. Afterward, Wang Ye and A Li will temporarily station in Chu Jing. Ah... Qingchen Gongzi, you should come along as well. All affairs in Li Cheng will remain as usual, with Mr. Hongyu overseeing everything. How does that sound?"

Xu Qingchen smiled helplessly, "Since Wang Ye has already decided, as your subordinate, I naturally can only obey. Is Wang Ye planning... to operate both Li Cheng and Chu Jing simultaneously?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded, "The territory we currently occupy stretches from east to west, and the distance between them is too vast. If something happens in the west, by the time the news reaches Chu Jing, it would be far too late. Moreover, once we deal with Ren Qining, the importance of Chu Jing will diminish significantly. At that point, Western Liang and Northern Rong will be our main focus." And the place closest to Western Liang and Northern Rong is clearly Li Cheng.

Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Wang Ye's ambitions are indeed extraordinary. However... I’ve always had one question I haven’t asked, and I imagine many others have been deeply puzzled by it as well."

Mo Xiuyao’s brow lifted slightly as he looked at Xu Qingchen with amusement.

"Wang Ye, have you never considered ascending the throne and declaring yourself emperor?" Xu Qingchen asked. "In the past, when Prince Ding's Estate only held a small corner of the northwest, it was understandable if Wang Ye disdained the idea. But now, the territory under Prince Ding's Estate spans thousands of miles east to west. Why...?"

This question had indeed troubled many people—not just those under Prince Ding's Estate, but outsiders as well. Anyone else in possession of such vast lands would have long since proclaimed themselves king or emperor. Yet Mo Xiuyao showed not the slightest inclination toward such ambitions.

Holding Ye Li’s hand, Mo Xiuyao smiled amiably at Xu Qingchen and said, "No particular reason. Just not interested."

"Not interested?" Xu Qingchen frowned, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Fortunately, Qingchen Gongzi was naturally composed and adaptable. If it were someone else—like Feng Zhiyao, for instance—they might have lunged forward to grab Mo Xiuyao by the collar and shake him while yelling, "Are you messing with us?!"

After a brief moment of surprise, Xu Qingchen regained his calm. Well, it wasn’t as if he was the one who would be emperor. If Mo Xiuyao wasn’t interested, so be it. In truth, ascending the throne was merely a ceremony and a title. Under Prince Ding's Estate, who would dare say Mo Xiuyao’s authority was any less than the Empress’s? To hell with legitimacy!

Mo Xiuyao gave Xu Qingchen a somewhat dismissive look and said, "Since Qingchen Gongzi has nothing else, you may leave now. Wang Ye is a bit tired and would like to rest for a while." The couple had just reunited after a long separation—what was the point of him barging in and lingering here?

Xu Qingchen pretended not to notice the hint to leave and smiled at Ye Li instead. "In that case, Li'er, you should rest well. I’ll take good care of Xiao Bao and the others."

At this, Ye Li’s face fell. Had she really just left her three children in the garden and walked away? Had pregnancy addled her brain? "Elder Brother, are Xiao Bao and the others with you? Sorry for the trouble..."

"No trouble at all. It’s just that Xiao Bao was quite upset earlier, telling me his father didn’t even spare him a glance before leaving." Xu Qingchen’s smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh and said indifferently, "Then I'll trouble Qingchen Gongzi to look after them for now. After all, doesn't Mo Xiaobao love his eldest uncle the most?" When mentioning "love the most," Mo Xiuyao couldn't help but gnash his teeth, feeling deeply that he had raised a little ingrate who bit the hand that fed him. Seeing that Mo Xiuyao was truly about to leave, Xu Qingchen stopped provoking him and took his leave with a smile.

In the flower hall, Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao curiously, hesitating to speak. Mo Xiuyao gazed at her with amusement. "Why are you looking at me like that, A Li? Have you discovered that your husband has become even more handsome and extraordinary after not seeing me for so long?"

Ye Li rolled her eyes skyward. "You really have no intention of ascending the throne as emperor?"

Mo Xiuyao snorted lightly and said indifferently, "What's so good about ascending the throne as emperor? Worrying all day whether someone is trying to steal your throne, occasionally wanting to have some fun but getting reprimanded by censors for indulging in frivolities, wanting to execute someone but having to listen to those old men drone on with their lectures. Most importantly... this prince has no interest in accepting those old men's unmarriageable daughters. Does A Li want her husband to establish a harem of three palaces and six courts? Hmm... actually, it's not entirely impossible. After I ascend the throne, I'll decree that future emperors can only have one empress and no concubines. Then... I'll execute all those old men who love to give admonitions. How does A Li feel about me being a tyrant?"

Ye Li could only feel utterly helpless. Waving her hand, she said, "Let's discuss the matter of ascending the throne another time."