Mo Li

Within a few days, Princess Anxi arrived in Li Cheng with her prince consort. Almost simultaneously, the envoy sent by the Xiling Emperor also reached the city. Although the Xiling Emperor did not come in person, the fact that he dispatched an envoy despite Zhennan Wang's presence made it abundantly clear to outsiders just how strained the relationship between the two had become. Whether intentional or accidental, the person responsible for arranging accommodations for these distinguished guests had placed the Xiling Emperor's envoy and Zhennan Wang in the same compound—after all, they were both from Xiling. As for what might happen between these two factions under one roof, that was no concern of Prince Ding's Estate.

Among all the honored guests, the Bei Rong people arrived the latest, but their delegation carried significant weight. The aging King of Northern Rong was naturally unable to make the journey, so this time, the envoys sent were the Bei Rong Crown Prince, Yelv Hong, and the Seventh Prince, Yelv Ye. For a time, it could be said that the most powerful figures in the world had gathered in Li Cheng. The last occasion of such grandeur had been during Mo Xiaobao's full-moon celebration.

Seeing Princess Anxi again gave Ye Li a slight surprise—Princess Anxi was already five months pregnant.

In Prince Ding's Estate, Ye Li watched as Princess Anxi approached in her white queen's attire, her once-flat abdomen now slightly rounded. Ye Li quickly instructed Qingshuang to assist Princess Anxi and help her sit down. "Why did you come all this way while pregnant? Wasn't your prince consort worried?" Princess Anxi smiled brightly and confidently. "Women of Nanzhao aren't as delicate as you Central Plains women. Four or five months is nothing—even at seven or eight months, we can still move about freely."

Seeing that Princess Anxi indeed looked radiant, without any trace of exhaustion or pallor from the long journey, Ye Li finally relaxed. After studying her for a moment, Ye Li smiled and said, "It seems the relationship between Her Highness—no, the Queen—and her prince consort is quite good." Princess Anxi lowered her eyes with a faint smile, and when she mentioned Prince Consort Pua, her expression softened further. "He's an honest man, without all the scheming tendencies of you Central Plains folk. Having such a prince consort is a blessing for me, isn't it?"

Ye Li smiled gently, relieved. Princess Anxi's deep affection for Xu Qingchen had been destined to remain unrequited, so it was wonderful that she had found her own happiness. As the two sat down, Qingshuang, ever perceptive, served Princess Anxi a glass of juice suitable for pregnant women before discreetly withdrawing.

Ye Li looked at Princess Anxi and asked with a smile, "Speaking of which, how did you end up arriving at the same time as the Xiling Emperor's envoy?" This wasn't just Ye Li's curiosity—others were likely speculating as well. Although it wasn't impossible to travel from Nanzhao to Li Cheng via Xiling, the route was far more arduous than passing through Snowbreak Pass. For Princess Anxi, who was pregnant, to deliberately take the Xiling route and coincidentally travel alongside the Xiling envoy was rather peculiar. Princess Anxi didn't hide anything and replied with a smile, "Before coming to Li Cheng, we made a stop at the Western Mausoleum Imperial City."

Both women were sharp-minded, so a hint was enough. Ye Li raised her eyes and smiled knowingly. "Are you planning... to collaborate with the Xiling Emperor?"Princess Anxi sighed helplessly and said, "Cooperating with the Xiling Emperor is still better than working with Lei Zhenting. Lei Zhenting is currently sandwiched between Great Chu. To the north, there's the Mo Family Army, and to the south lies the natural barrier of the Yunlan River. If he wants to break the current deadlock, he either has to cross the natural barrier and fight Mo Jingli head-on or target our Nanzhao. Nanzhao is a small country, not as strong as Xiling with its powerful army. To prevent him from striking Nanzhao first, we have no choice but to cooperate with the Xiling Emperor. I just hope the Xiling Emperor isn’t a fool."

Ye Li smiled. "The Xiling Emperor is indeed inferior to Lei Zhenting, but he’s not exactly a fool. However, with Lei Tengfeng still guarding Ancheng, will he allow your cooperation to go smoothly?"

Princess Anxi chuckled. "Lei Tengfeng is indeed a problem, but recently he’s been facing some troubles of his own."

"Oh?" Ye Li raised an elegant eyebrow in curiosity. Although Lei Tengfeng had been overshadowed by his father’s reputation and seemed unremarkable—with no notable military achievements—that was only because his opponent had been Mo Xiuyao. Intelligence from Prince Ding’s Estate proved that Lei Tengfeng was far from mediocre.

Princess Anxi smiled. "Don’t you remember? The King of Hell Pavilion has a grudge against the Zhennan Wang’s Estate. Over the years, the Zhennan Wang’s influence has been too dominant, and even though the King of Hell Pavilion is formidable, as a martial organization, they couldn’t do much. Now that the Western Mausoleum Imperial City has just relocated to Ancheng and the Zhennan Wang’s forces have been severely weakened, Lei Tengfeng isn’t having an easy time in Ancheng either."

"I see." Ye Li nodded with a smile. "I wonder what exactly the grudge is between Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting? It doesn’t seem like some irreconcilable blood feud." If it were truly an unforgivable vendetta, given Ling Tiehan’s and the King of Hell Pavilion’s strength, they could have easily launched a desperate attack to kill Lei Zhenting. But Ling Tiehan had never acted, and in their several encounters, he had never truly targeted Lei Zhenting, suggesting the conflict wasn’t so deep.

Princess Anxi gently stroked her slightly rounded belly and smiled. "I did hear something about this from the Xiling Emperor. It seems related to the late Princess Zhennan. She passed away not long after giving birth to Lei Tengfeng, and her death was said to be suspicious. The Xiling Emperor didn’t elaborate, so who knows?"

Ye Li frowned slightly and thought for a moment. "If you’re serious about cooperating with the Xiling Emperor, it’s best to investigate this thoroughly. Although I trust Ling Gezhu’s character, given the stakes, it would be troublesome if someone stabbed us in the back at a critical moment."

A warm expression crossed Princess Anxi’s face as she nodded and smiled. "I know. Thank you for the reminder." Between nations, there was no permanent peace or friendship—this was something they both understood. Perhaps in the future, they might become enemies, but at least for now, Princess Anxi knew Ye Li genuinely cared for her.

"Enough of these vexing matters," Ye Li said with a smile. "Qixia Princess has come to Li Cheng with Mo Jingli. Would you like to meet her?"Princess Anxi frowned slightly and shook her head, saying, "Forget it. If she doesn’t regard me as her sister, then I’ll simply act as though I never had such a sister. For so many years, she has followed Mo Jingli without any status, leaking countless Nanzhao secrets for his sake. From now on, her fate is her own to bear. However, I haven’t yet met your Little Prince and Little Princess."

Ye Li smiled gently. "That’s easily arranged." She turned and instructed Qingshuang to bring the two little ones over, then asked Qin Feng to summon the Little Prince.

Before long, Mo Xiaobao appeared at the doorway like a gust of wind. "Mother, did you call for me?" Spotting a stranger seated nearby, the innocent cheer on his face gradually faded, replaced by a polite and composed smile. Ye Li beckoned him with a smile. "This is Queen Anxi of Nanzhao. Come and greet her properly." Only then did Mo Xiaobao step forward and say clearly, "Mo Yuchen pays his respects to Queen Anxi."

Watching the exquisitely fair boy bow to her with such earnestness, Queen Anxi’s smile deepened. She turned to Ye Li and remarked, "Truly worthy of being the Little Prince of Prince Ding’s Estate. When my children were seven or eight, they were still running wild in the palace."

As a mother, Ye Li naturally enjoyed hearing praise for her child. She replied with a smile, "Don’t let his well-behaved appearance fool you. He’s usually quite the handful."

Queen Anxi thought for a moment, then took out a blue gemstone and offered it to Mo Xiaobao. "I forgot to prepare a proper gift. Take this for now—I hope you don’t mind." Mo Xiaobao accepted it with both hands and replied steadily, "Yuchen thanks the Queen." The sight of his serious little face only made Queen Anxi adore him more. "If my children could possess even half of the Little Prince’s charm, I’d be more than satisfied."

Mo Xiaobao blinked and said brightly, "The Queen’s noble bearing is innate. Whether it’s a little prince or princess, they will undoubtedly inherit your grace and extraordinary beauty."

Queen Anxi laughed. "Then I shall thank the Little Prince for his kind words."

After completing the formalities, Mo Xiaobao handed the gemstone to an attendant behind him and took a seat beside Ye Li with perfect decorum. Queen Anxi observed not only his striking looks but also his poised manners and innate noble bearing, silently marveling at Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao’s good fortune. Gently stroking her slightly rounded belly, she felt a renewed sense of anticipation.

"Wang Fei, the Little Prince and Little Princess have arrived," announced the nursemaids as they carried the two infants into the room. Mo Xiaobao’s eyes lit up as he stared intently at the two little ones placed in Ye Li’s and Queen Anxi’s arms. Both babies were remarkably well-behaved, not crying even when held by a complete stranger like Queen Anxi. The one nestled in Ye Li’s arms seemed to sense its mother’s warmth and broke into a tiny smile. Mo Xiaobao craned his neck to look. "This one smiles so much—it must be the little brother." The two newest additions to Prince Ding’s Estate were both quiet babies, but the younger of the two, Lin’er, was especially cheerful. As long as he wasn’t asleep, he would giggle when played with—provided, of course, that the one teasing him wasn’t Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao.Princess Anxi held little Xin'er carefully in her arms, her movements still somewhat stiff as she patted the baby's swaddling clothes. She sighed enviously, "Wang Fei and Prince Ding are truly blessed. All three little princes and the princess are so adorable and clever." Ye Li smiled faintly but remained silent.

After seeing Princess Anxi off, Ye Li settled the two little ones in their rooms before heading to the study in the front courtyard. Just as she entered the garden in front of the study, she encountered Mo Jingli approaching from the opposite direction. Seeing the dark and sullen expression on Mo Jingli's face, Ye Li instinctively wanted to avoid him. While she wasn't afraid of Mo Jingli, constantly facing someone who looked as if the world owed him five million taels of silver was undeniably unpleasant.

However, after only a brief hesitation, Mo Jingli had already spotted her. Naturally, she couldn't turn and leave now, so Ye Li stepped forward and nodded slightly, "Li Wang." These past few days, the key figures in Prince Ding's Estate had been extremely busy—not only with the estate's affairs and the birthday banquet preparations but also with uninvited guests like Mo Jingli, who seemed to have nothing better to do than drop by for idle chatter. She didn't know what Mo Jingli had come to discuss with Mo Xiuyao today, but judging by his expression, the conversation clearly hadn't gone well.

Mo Jingli blocked Ye Li's path, staring at her intently without speaking. His gaze made her frown in displeasure. She said coolly, "If Li Wang has nothing to say, this consort has matters to discuss with our Wang Ye. I shall take my leave." Mo Jingli continued to watch her and said, "Must you always speak to me like this?"

Ye Li was taken aback, momentarily baffled. She looked at Mo Jingli blankly, completely unable to comprehend his meaning. As far as she was concerned, her words and demeanor had been perfectly polite.

Mo Jingli seemed agitated. He glared at her fiercely and said, "After I broke off our engagement back then, did you hate me so much that you had to side with Mo Xiuyao and oppose me at every turn? Now that Mo Xiuyao has taken Chu Jing, are you satisfied?"

Ye Li couldn't help but roll her eyes skyward in exasperation. What kind of twisted logic was this? Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she replied calmly, "Li Wang Dianxia, I believe you should remember that it was you who abandoned Chu Jing first. Only afterward did Prince Ding's forces go to its aid—no, to rescue Changxing. We didn't seize it from you." Mo Jingli stiffened, his face darkening as he retorted gruffly, "Even so, it belongs to Great Chu. Moreover, wasn't the Northern Rong and Northern Jin invasion of Great Chu part of Mo Xiuyao's schemes? If not for your help, could he have conquered Western Liang so quickly?"

Ye Li laughed in sheer anger. "Li Wang Dianxia, what does the Northern Rong and Northern Jin invasion of Great Chu have to do with our Wang Ye? Are you suggesting he incited them to attack? Furthermore, as the Princess Ding, who else should I support if not my own husband? Also, many years ago, this consort once told you something. I wonder if you still remember it?"

Mo Jingli frowned slightly, clearly unsure which remark she was referring to.

Ye Li said leisurely, "Delusions are an illness that requires treatment. I advise you to reflect carefully. This consort takes her leave." Without waiting for his reaction, she stepped around him and continued toward the study."Ye Li!" Mo Jingli suddenly called out, reaching to grab Ye Li's wrist. But how could Ye Li, being no ordinary delicate woman, be so easily caught? She raised her arm to block Mo Jingli's hand. Mo Jingli said in a deep voice, "I have something to say to you!" Ye Li replied indifferently, "This consort has nothing to say to Prince Li." Mo Jingli extended his other hand to seize Ye Li's arm, but she sidestepped to avoid it, a cold glint flashing from her sleeve as she put distance between them. Raising her hand to stop the shadow guards from intervening, Ye Li stared at Mo Jingli and said, "Prince Li, this is Prince Ding's Estate, not a place where you can do as you please."

Mo Jingli fell silent for a moment before speaking gravely, "This prince has words to speak to you in private."

Ye Li frowned. "This consort has already said there is nothing to discuss privately with Your Highness. I respect you as a guest, but I also ask Prince Li to maintain his dignity. Farewell." With that, she turned and left. Mo Jingli took a step to follow, but two black-clad figures flashed before him, blocking his path. "Prince Li, please restrain yourself," they said.

Seeing the obviously skilled guards before him and Ye Li already far away, Mo Jingli finally snorted coldly and stormed off.

Entering the study, Ye Li found Mo Xiuyao sitting there reading. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and smiled at her. "A Li, has Princess Anxi left?" Ye Li nodded. "I ran into Mo Jingli in the garden just now. He looked quite sullen—what did you two talk about?" Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li into his embrace, forcing her to sit on his lap, which briefly flustered her. With a faint smile, he waved his hand, sending a gust of wind that slammed the door shut. "What else? He cursed me for being despicable, taking advantage of others' misfortunes, and so on. Oh, and he tried to see if he could take Changxing City back."

"Take it back?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Mo Jingli was truly delusional. The Mo Family Army had fought through layers of Northern Rong defenses to reinforce and capture Changxing City—how many had died in the process? Did he really think he could reclaim it with just a few words? Prince Ding's Estate wasn't a charity, and Mo Xiuyao was no saint.

Resting his chin lazily on her shoulder, Mo Xiuyao scoffed, "Even if we gave it back, could he hold it?"

Ye Li chuckled. All of Great Chu's military forces were now in the south; the regions north of the Yangtze had long been occupied by various factions. Not only would they never return Chu Jing, but even if Mo Xiuyao did hand it back, Mo Jingli likely wouldn't dare accept it. Taking it would require deploying troops to defend it and officials to govern it. And if Chu Jing fell into the hands of the Northern Rong or northern rebels again, Mo Jingli's pride would truly be trampled into the dirt.

"Then what did he come here for?" Ye Li asked, puzzled."Just idle talk from someone with too much time on their hands. Did he give A Li any trouble in the garden earlier?" Mo Xiuyao nuzzled affectionately against Ye Li's hair as he asked softly. Ye Li smiled faintly, "How could he possibly trouble me?" Mo Xiuyao chuckled, "That's not necessarily true. Seeing how well we're doing would naturally make him envious and resentful. He might even think you're helping me to get back at him or something." Ye Li was momentarily speechless—Mo Jingli had indeed thought exactly that. Raising her hand to cup Mo Xiuyao's handsome face, she said seriously, "Don't waste time trying to understand the thoughts of idiots. It's contagious."

Mo Xiuyao blinked, instantly grasping her meaning. He burst into laughter, pulling Ye Li into his arms and planting several kisses on her rosy lips between fits of uncontrollable mirth.

Seeing him so delighted, Ye Li could only resign herself to his antics. Leaning against him, she recounted her conversation with Princess Anxi. Mo Xiuyao played with her slender fingers as he pondered, "Nanzhao currently poses no conflict with us. There's no harm in helping her discreetly. If the Xiling Emperor can deal with Lei Zhenting, it would save us considerable trouble."

"Do you really think the Xiling Emperor can handle Lei Zhenting?" Ye Li asked.

"No," Mo Xiuyao replied without hesitation. The Xiling Emperor might have some cunning, but he was far from Lei Zhenting's league. "As long as they can cause Lei Zhenting some trouble, that's enough. What we need to focus on now is... Northern Rong!" A flash of cold fury passed through Mo Xiuyao's eyes at the mention of Northern Rong. The enmity between Northern Rong and the Mo Family Army—or rather, Mo Xiuyao himself—far surpassed that with any other nation combined. Mo Xiuwen had died at the hands of the Bei Rong people, and the Mo Family Army's most devastating defeat in two centuries had also been inflicted by them. Most of Mo Xiuyao's seven or eight years of endurance and humiliation could be attributed to Northern Rong. Now that the Mo Family Army had regained its strength, it was time for Northern Rong to face retribution. Moreover, the atrocities committed by the Bei Rong people during their incursion into Great Chu the previous year would not go unpunished.

Resting against Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li frowned slightly. "Yelv Hong and Yelv Ye will arrive by tomorrow morning at the latest. How do you plan to accommodate them?" Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "This is Grandfather's birthday celebration. I have no intention of dealing with them now. Treat them like any other guests. Our Li Cheng is small—let Yelv Hong and Yelv Ye share quarters."

Ye Li smiled knowingly. Yelv Hong and Yelv Ye had been at odds for over a decade, their rivalry unresolved. Housing them together would keep them in check, preventing either from causing trouble in Li Cheng.

"I should also meet with the Ronghua Princess," Ye Li mused. It was time to check whether this long-placed piece was still useful. It would be a shame if something had gone wrong. Mo Xiuyao trusted Ye Li's judgment completely. Though the Ronghua Princess had once been domineering, reports suggested she had grown quite capable over the years. However, another person gave Mo Xiuyao pause. "Are you sure about Ye Ying? Is she really no problem?"Mo Xiuyao had no fondness for Ye Ying whatsoever. Apart from possessing a decent appearance, she was utterly lacking in all other aspects. Such a woman was even more capricious by nature. Forget about getting her to accomplish anything—even being a stable and proper mistress of the household would be giving her too much credit. Compared to a woman like Ye Ying, Mo Xiuyao felt that even a courtesan like Yao Ji was more reliable to use, and even the spoiled and domineering Ronghua Princess was more dependable than her.

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "As long as Wang Ye can help her find her son, she will be very reliable. Moreover, Wang Ye shouldn’t underestimate women, especially delicate ones like Ye Ying. The more fragile a woman appears on the outside, the more ruthless she often is inside. On the other hand, those who seem domineering often can’t accomplish much because they easily make others wary of them."

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "As long as A Li has a clear understanding, that’s good."

"That son of Mo Jingli—does Xiu Yao really know nothing about him?" Ye Li asked curiously.

Mo Xiuyao replied, "Originally, I had no interest. But since A Li needs it, I’ll send someone to investigate. However… given Mo Jingqi’s usual way of doing things, I’m afraid this child…"

"What about him?"

"Far away in the horizon, yet right before your eyes. But even if you gave Mo Jingli a hundred years, he probably still wouldn’t guess it," Mo Xiuyao said with a laugh.

A thought flashed through Ye Li's mind, but she couldn't quite grasp it in time. However, she felt she might have a slight clue now. Mo Xiuyao idly played with Ye Li's smooth black hair, asking, "Does A Li really plan to help Ye Ying find her child and return it to her? Ye Ying isn't the type to repay kindness with gratitude." Ye Li smiled and replied, "I'm well aware of that, and I don't intend to return the child to her immediately even if we find it. But since I promised her, we should at least make an effort to look. Moreover, this child must be very important to Mo Jingli as well." After going through so much trouble to seize the throne, not having a son to inherit it would instantly diminish the sense of achievement countless times over.