Six or seven years ago, Li Cheng in the northwest was just an unremarkable city in the northwest of Great Chu. However, because Prince Ding's Estate was established there, it developed within a few short years into a crucial hub connecting the trade routes between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, becoming one of the most prosperous cities in the surrounding regions. Now, it has further formed a continuous line with the former Western Mausoleum Imperial City in the far west and the eastern city of Chu Jing, Changxing. At this point, the east-west trade route that Prince Ding's Estate had painstakingly cultivated for years was finally declared complete. Li Cheng was thus destined to become the central transit and distribution point between the two ends, its prosperity surpassing even that of the western regions.
By mid-June, the number of visitors to Li Cheng from other regions had increased significantly. Among them were not only wealthy merchants, noble families, and refined scholars but also rulers and royalty from various countries. For a time, the entire city could be said to be teeming with distinguished figures. Originally, even though Mr. Qingyun was renowned throughout the world, his birthday alone would not have drawn such a crowd. However, when it became known that Mr. Qingyun was the maternal grandfather of Princess Ding and that the Xu family's sons held highly influential positions in Prince Ding's Estate, the situation changed considerably. Moreover, with Prince Ding's recent conquest of two capitals and the joyous news of the birth of his heir, virtually anyone who could make the journey would not miss this grand occasion.
Within Prince Ding's Estate in the city, Mr. Qingyun and Su Zhe sat beneath a shady tree playing chess. No matter how noisy and bustling it was outside, the clamor did not reach them. As he pondered the game before him, Su Zhe smiled and said, "Now, Li Cheng is truly a gathering of heroes. Mr. Qingyun, you are truly blessed."
Mr. Qingyun shook his head mildly. "What meaning is there in celebrating a milestone birthday? It would be far more joyful to simply have a meal together with family. How many among this entire city's visitors have truly come to celebrate an old man like me?" Su Zhe considered this—though Mr. Qingyun's words were blunt, they were undeniably true. He smiled faintly and said, "At the very least, it is the filial devotion of your descendants. You shouldn’t discourage them so."
Mr. Qingyun chuckled. "Would I be so tactless? Though we old men may be frail, we can still enjoy a few performances."
Hearing this, Su Zhe also laughed and shook his head. Slowly placing a piece on the board, he remarked, "Speaking like that makes those who rushed here eagerly seem rather embarrassed."
"Greetings, Mr. Qingyun," a young servant in green robes said respectfully at the entrance. Mr. Qingyun looked up and asked, "What is it?"
The servant bowed and reported, "The Fourth Young Master Xu has returned and is waiting outside to pay his respects. Additionally, Xiuting Mr. requests an audience."
Su Zhe and Mr. Qingyun exchanged glances. Mr. Qingyun quickly said, "Please invite Xiuting Mr. and Qingbo in at once." The servant bowed and left. Su Zhe smiled and said, "Chen Xiufu has actually come as well. I heard he assisted the Fourth Young Master in Western Liang—it seems he has now sincerely pledged allegiance to Prince Ding's Estate."
Mr. Qingyun smiled. "With his sincere assistance, Qingbo’s efforts will surely yield twice the results with half the effort."While they were speaking, Xiuting Mr. and Xu Qingbai entered one after another. Xu Qingbai walked up to Mr. Qingyun and knelt respectfully, saying, "Grandson pays respects to Grandfather. It has been a long time since I last served by your side, please forgive my absence." Mr. Qingyun quickly reached out to help him up, looked him over, and nodded with a smile, "Good child, you look well. It seems you've been doing fine in Western Liang?" Xu Qingbai smiled, "Thanks to Xiuting Mr.'s assistance, I managed without too much trouble."
Beside them, Xiuting Mr. also stepped forward to greet them, "Junior Chen Xiufu pays respects to Mr. Qingyun and Elder Su Zhe." During his travels to Chu Jing years ago, Xiuting Mr. had met Su Zhe, and though many years had passed, he still remembered his general appearance. Mr. Qingyun smiled, "No need for formalities, Xiuting. Since you've come all the way to Li Cheng, I hope you won't mind any shortcomings in our hospitality." Xiuting Mr. hurriedly expressed his humility. Su Zhe invited Xiuting Mr. to sit for a long conversation. The three of them, being rare great scholars of their time, naturally found much common ground in their discussion. Seeing them engaged in pleasant conversation, Xu Qingbai excused himself to visit Xu Hongyu.
Meanwhile, the grand study in Prince Ding's Estate was bustling with activity. Even Ye Li, who was usually spared from such tasks, had been summoned to help. With Mr. Qingyun's birthday less than ten days away, many distinguished guests had already begun arriving. This celebration promised to be an unprecedented grand occasion. In less than a month, Li Cheng's population had grown by over thirty percent. Besides the guests invited by Prince Ding's Estate, there were merchants from various countries who had heard the news, as well as scholars and travelers who came on their own to partake in the festivities. Naturally, all the inns in Li Cheng were fully occupied, and some latecomers even struggled to find lodging.
The sudden influx of people brought countless issues—food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and public order, to name a few. Moreover, there was the delicate balance of power among the nobility from different countries, the relationships between individuals, their ties with Prince Ding's Estate, and the agreements and benefits each party could secure—all requiring careful consideration. It was no wonder they were overwhelmed with work.
When Xu Qingbai entered, he saw his father, two elder brothers, Mo Xiuyao, and Ye Li gathered around a large rectangular table, each buried under piles of thick reports. Beyond them, Zhuo Jing and others were sorting through even more documents for preliminary review. Recalling his own hectic months in Western Liang, where he barely had time to eat, he couldn't help but smile. It seemed he wasn't the only one exhausted—his father and brothers in Li Cheng were equally busy.
"Wang Ye, Father, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Li'er. I'm back," Xu Qingbai said with a smile.
Upon seeing him enter, Mo Xiuyao, who had been sitting beside Ye Li, immediately brightened, sending a chill down Xu Qingbai's spine. Mo Xiuyao greeted him warmly, "Qingbai, you're back. You must be tired from the journey. Come in and sit." Such courtesy from Mo Xiuyao left Xu Qingbai both flattered and wary. He smiled faintly and replied, "You're too kind, Wang Ye. It wasn't too bad."Thus, Mo Xiuyao smiled even more cheerfully, "Since you're not tired... here, these are yours now." With a casual wave of his hand, he pushed Xu Qingbai into the nearby chair—not painfully, but firmly enough that he couldn't stand up. Then, without hesitation, Mo Xiuyao moved all the memorials in front of Ye Li over to Xu Qingbai, saying amiably, "These will be your responsibility. A Li, the physician said you shouldn't strain your eyes too much after giving birth. Let Qingbai handle these documents."
Xu Qingbai stared blankly at the towering pile of memorials before him, only realizing he had walked right into becoming free labor when he caught his eldest brother's teasing gaze.
"Has Fourth Brother been doing well in Western Liang?" Xu Qingze, ever the considerate one, finally asked after Xu Qingbai, sparing him the thought that his family had grown heartless in less than a year of his absence. Flipping through the memorials, Xu Qingbai replied, "It's manageable. Things are more or less on track now."
Ye Li glanced helplessly at her now-empty desk before turning to take one memorial from Mo Xiuyao's pile. Smiling, she said, "Fourth Brother is being modest. Western Liang has been much more peaceful these past few months—clear proof of your capable governance." Xu Qingbai shook his head. "Far from capable. Just last month, there were quite a few incidents. General Zhang had to stay behind to oversee things when I returned. I'll need to hurry back after Grandfather's birthday celebrations."
Xu Hongyu remarked calmly, "Governing a region isn't something that yields immediate results. There's no need to rush."
Xu Qingbai nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Father. I understand." Indeed, he had been impatient. At barely twenty-five, becoming a regional governor naturally invited much dissent. But he knew, as his father said, that governance required years, not months, to show results. With that thought, his earlier restlessness gradually settled.
With an extra pair of hands, the work progressed much faster. In less than an hour, the documents were all processed. Normally, just one or two among Mo Xiuyao, Xu Qingchen, or Xu Hongyu could have handled them, but lately, everyone had been swamped with other duties, leaving little time for paperwork.
Finishing their tasks, everyone relaxed. The high-ranking officials from various nations, fond of pomp and ceremony, would soon arrive for the birthday celebrations. If these matters weren't settled now, they'd pile up until after the banquet—hardly ideal when important affairs couldn't afford delay. With work done, tea and snacks were served, allowing the family a rare moment to chat.
"Second Brother, have Aunt Shen, Shen, and Wuyou returned yet?" Ye Li asked, frowning slightly as she sipped the specially prepared tonic. Last year, when Shen Yang went to Western Liang, he had taken Mo Wuyou along. As his formal apprentice in medicine, staying cooped up in Li Cheng wouldn't do—no matter how talented, mere book study wouldn't suffice for progress.Xu Qingbai paused slightly as he held his teacup and said, "They've all returned. Mother was a bit tired from the journey and went back to the residence to rest first. Mr. Shen mentioned having some new ideas he wanted to discuss with Doctor Lin, so he took Wuyou and left together."
Hearing this, Ye Li raised her delicate brows slightly and glanced at Xu Qingchen across from her. Xu Qingchen's smile remained as light and elegant as ever.
Xu Qingbai, however, seemed somewhat uneasy and changed the subject, asking, "Why isn’t Second Uncle here?"
Xu Qingchen replied, "Second Uncle went to Northern Rong, but he should be returning with the Northern Rong envoys this time." Since Xu Qingbai had been far away in Western Liang and was unfamiliar with the happenings in Li Cheng, he gave a curious, questioning look. Xu Qingchen then briefly summarized the events in Li Cheng over the past few months. After listening, Xu Qingbai couldn’t help but sigh, realizing that being far in Western Liang had actually been relatively peaceful for him.
"So, after fighting for a year, things should settle down for a while now, right?"
Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Who knows? But apart from the troops confronting Northern Rong, the Mo Family Army should have some peace for now. What are His Highness’s plans?" Over the past year, the Mo Family Army had demonstrated their formidable strength to all surrounding forces with an almost flawless victory record. In the short term, it was unlikely anyone would dare provoke them again. However, they still needed to guard against the possibility of these forces uniting against the Mo Family Army.
Mo Xiuyao leaned back lazily in his chair and said, "Recuperate and rebuild. I’m in no hurry. As long as they don’t want to fight, we’ll take a break. Besides... the Mo Family Army’s numbers still fall short compared to Northern Rong and Western Liang, so this is a good time to strengthen our forces." After all, he had no ambition to become emperor, no urgency to seize territory, and no need to worry about competing for the throne. But once he took control of any land, no one could make him give it up. Compared to the rulers of the surrounding nations, Mo Xiuyao was now the most at ease. The King of Northern Rong was aging, and the brothers Yelv Ye and Yelv Hong had been locked in a power struggle for over a decade—no one knew how it would end. Ren Qining of the Northern Border might appear to hold absolute authority, but the tensions between the Northern Border people and the Central Plains people under his rule would inevitably erupt. In Western Liang, Lei Zhenting and the Xiling Emperor were now openly at odds. Lei Zhenting, who had once held the upper hand, had suffered heavy losses due to Mo Xiuyao’s ruthless purge, leaving him and the emperor evenly matched. The final victor would depend on who had the better strategy. As for Mo Jingli, who ruled the southern regions, and Princess Anxi of Nanzhao, they were not yet significant enough to catch Mo Xiuyao’s attention.
"And if they still want to fight?" Xu Qingchen asked.
Mo Xiuyao raised a brow. "If they want a fight, then we’ll fight. Do you think I’d be afraid of them?"
Xu Qingchen couldn’t help but smile at this. Indeed, when had the Mo Family Army ever feared a battle?
"Your Highness, Wang Fei, the King of the Northern Border has arrived," Qin Feng announced from outside the door."Hmm?" Mo Xiuyao was somewhat surprised. Considering both the distance and the relationship between the two families, Ren Qining shouldn't have been the first to arrive. He had originally thought the first arrivals would either be Lei Zhenting or the Xiling Emperor. After a brief moment of surprise, Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li's hand and stood up, smiling. "Whether it's legitimate or not, he is still a ruler of a nation. A Li, come with me to greet him personally." Since these people had come under the pretext of offering birthday congratulations, it was natural for them to visit Prince Ding's Estate to pay respects to Mr. Qingyun. As the hosts of the estate, it would indeed be impolite for Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao not to go out to welcome them.
Ye Li smiled faintly at Mo Xiuyao and said, "Let me and my elder brother go instead. Are you sure the King of the Northern Border won't draw his sword and attack you the moment he sees you?" Killing a man's entire family—wives, concubines, and children—and then expecting him to greet you with a smile was asking too much. Ye Li could easily imagine the expression Ren Qining would have if Mo Xiuyao personally went to greet him. Mo Xiuyao chuckled indifferently. "How could that be? Since he's come, it means he’s prepared to endure it. Besides, if he draws his sword, would I be afraid of him? Killing a King of the Northern Border might not be ideal, but if he strikes first, I won’t have any moral qualms about it."
Unable to argue with him, Ye Li could only let him pull her along, brimming with enthusiasm to welcome Ren Qining. Yes, enthusiasm. Even those around them could clearly sense Prince Ding's high spirits about greeting the King of the Northern Border.
At the main gate of Prince Ding's Estate, two rows of black-clad guards stood in solemn formation, dutifully guarding the entrance. They also turned a blind eye to the awkward scene before them, as if nothing unusual were happening. Ren Qining, who had just arrived, was dressed in the distinctive royal attire of the Northern Border, his expression twisted as he stared at the handsome, white-haired man in white robes standing at the gate, smiling amiably. Though Ren Qining had the typical features of a Central Plains native, he wore the nomadic garb of the Northern Border without the slightest incongruity—instead, it accentuated a rugged, heroic air that his Central Plains attire lacked.
Yet this majestic, kingly aura vanished the moment he saw Mo Xiuyao's smiling face, replaced by a contorted, furious expression. No matter how ambitious or willing to sacrifice for the greater good a man might be, facing the murderer of his wife and children would test even the strongest self-control—especially when that murderer was grinning at him with obvious delight. Mo Xiuyao paid no heed to Ren Qining's feelings. In fact, the more displeased Ren Qining was, the happier he became. Seeing Ren Qining's expression, he merely raised an eyebrow and asked with feigned concern, "King of the Northern Border, what’s the matter? Has your temperament changed so much in just a year or two? Or is there something lacking in Prince Ding's hospitality?"
Ren Qining gritted his teeth, suppressing his rage, and replied in a low voice, "Prince Ding jests. The journey has been tiring, and I am merely fatigued."
"Is that so?" Mo Xiuyao smiled. "Then it was my oversight. In that case... perhaps the King of the Northern Border would like to rest at the guesthouse first? I shall host a welcoming banquet for you this evening."
"No need. I should first pay my respects to Mr. Qingyun to fulfill the proper courtesies," Ren Qining said.
"The King of the Northern Border need not stand on ceremony. My grandfather will understand." Understand what? That Northern Borderers lacked manners?"Prince Ding, is this the renowned Princess Ding?" Seeing Ren Qining's expression grow increasingly unpleasant, a strikingly beautiful woman beside him spoke up. Mo Xiuyao seemed to notice the two women accompanying Ren Qining for the first time—both exceptionally lovely. One, dressed in blue, appeared delicate and gentle, clearly of Central Plains origin. The other, the one who had spoken, had a healthy wheat-colored complexion rather than the typical fair jade-like skin of Central Plains women. Though stunningly beautiful and carrying an air of pride, she didn't seem arrogant.
Ye Li stepped forward with a smile. "Renowned is too generous. I am indeed Ye Li. And you are...?"
Ren Qining replied, "This is my queen, Helan, and this is Consort Yun."
Ye Li inwardly chuckled. Ren Qining worked fast—within just a few months, he had already filled his household with both a wife and a concubine. But bringing both his queen and a consort on this outing suggested the strife between the Northern Border locals and Central Plains people must be quite severe. Without glancing at the woman in blue, Ye Li smiled warmly at the radiant Queen Helan. "Your Majesty's presence graces Li Cheng, bringing honor to Prince Ding's Estate. King of the Northern Border, Princess, please come inside."
Queen Helan studied Ye Li before laughing. "I don't quite understand your words, but I know you're complimenting me. Princess Ding, I like you." Ye Li couldn't help but cover her lips with a smile. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Please, come in." Without hesitation, Queen Helan strode forward and reached out to take Ye Li's hand. Mo Xiuyao, standing nearby, frowned slightly and raised his hand to block hers. Queen Helan's eyes flashed as she swung her palm toward Mo Xiuyao.
A slender hand intercepted hers, gripping her wrist. Ye Li smiled at her. "Queen Helan, our prince has never been fond of engaging with women. Allow me to accompany you instead."
Queen Helan's eyes lit up. "Excellent!" She twisted free of Ye Li's grasp and drew a brilliantly colored whip from her waist. "I heard in the Northern Border that Prince Ding's consort is extraordinary. I've been wanting to test your skills. Here I come!" With a flick of her wrist, the whip lashed toward Ye Li. Ye Li smiled faintly, her figure shifting effortlessly as she plucked a longsword from Qin Feng's side. A flash of steel, and the two were locked in combat.
"Helan!" Queen Helan's sudden move clearly caught Ren Qining off guard. His face darkened as he barked her name.
Mo Xiuyao, however, remained unperturbed, calmly watching the sparring pair. "No need for concern, King of the Northern Border. Just a friendly exchange. A Li knows her limits—she won't harm Queen Helan." His words carried no mockery. Everyone present could see that while Queen Helan was skilled, she was no match for Ye Li, who had honed her abilities on the battlefield.
Ren Qining's expression remained stormy. "My queen has been discourteous. Thank you for your understanding, Prince Ding."
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward the two graceful figures at the entrance.The woman in blue standing beside Ren Qining was the concubine he had taken when he was forced to marry Queen Helan some time ago. As the daughter of one of Ren Qining’s trusted subordinates, she naturally enjoyed far more favor than Queen Helan, who hailed from the nobility of the Northern Border. However, today at the gates of Prince Ding's Estate, both Prince Ding and Princess Ding deliberately ignored her, causing the usually pampered and arrogant Yun Fei to flush with embarrassment.
Seeing that Prince Ding's Estate and Queen Helan had captured the attention of everyone present, Yun Fei grew even more displeased. Unable to hold back, she murmured softly, "I thought Princess Ding came from a scholarly family. Why isn’t she inviting guests inside but instead fighting with someone at the gate?" She believed she had spoken quietly, but everyone present was a master of profound skill. Mo Xiuyao’s gaze swept over her indifferently, a faint chill flashing in his eyes. At the same time, Ye Li and Queen Helan, who had been engaged in combat, separated the moment Yun Fei spoke, each retreating to their original positions.
Ye Li smiled and said, "Queen Helan’s skills are extraordinary. Perhaps we can spar again another time?"
Queen Helan laughed heartily. "Excellent! Princess Ding, you truly are impressive. This queen admires you and would be honored to call you a friend!"
Ye Li replied warmly, "It is my honor to have a friend like you, Your Majesty. King of the Northern Border, Queen Helan, please come inside."
Ren Qining studied Ye Li intently and smiled faintly, saying, "Thank you, Wang Fei. It has been a long time, yet your grace remains unchanged."
Ye Li smiled elegantly and replied, "The King of the Northern Border flatters me."
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