Mo Li

"Mother, do you really not recognize us?"

Consort Liu trembled, her voice sharp as she snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting? I don’t know you! Get out now!"

Princess Zhenning closed her eyes briefly, her voice low and heavy. "Have you never felt even a shred of guilt...?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Consort Liu replied with forced composure, waving for the guards stationed outside. "Someone! Drive them out and don’t let them in again!"

"You—!" Princess Zhenning surged to her feet, only to be restrained by Mo Xiaoyun. Holding back his sister, who seemed ready to lunge forward, Mo Xiaoyun said firmly, "Sister, let’s go back first." Though Princess Zhenning allowed herself to be pulled away, her gaze remained fixed on Consort Liu, burning with resentment.

Once Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning had disappeared beyond the door, Consort Liu collapsed into her chair as if all strength had left her.

Ronghua Princess observed her leisurely, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Why be so heartless? Even if you have two children, the Northern Rong royal family wouldn’t care. Their customs are far less rigid than ours. Besides, at your age... who would believe you’re still an untouched maiden?"

"Ronghua!" Consort Liu glared at her, eyes sharp as daggers.

Ronghua Princess rose gracefully, unfazed. "Well, if Prince Changxing and Princess Zhenning have mistaken you for someone else, then I shall take my leave as well, my future sister-in-law. Though... will my seventh brother truly marry you?" With a light laugh, Ronghua Princess exited the hall, leaving Consort Liu’s expression darker than ever. Hidden within her sleeves, her hands clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms until blood welled up unnoticed.

Why should she feel guilt? Everything she had done was to survive, to seek vengeance! Who knew the suffering she had endured? Compared to the torment she had faced before meeting Yelv Ye, what were their pains? What right did they have to demand her remorse? Others might think Yelv Ye was infatuated with her beauty, devoted to her. But if he truly loved her, why had he refused to marry her all this time? No matter... As long as Yelv Ye still needed her, she could manipulate the Bei Rong people. She would make sure Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li paid the price they deserved!

In the blink of an eye, Mr. Qingyun’s birthday arrived. The entire city of Li Cheng was adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with even more excitement than during the New Year. Over the years, as Prince Ding’s Estate effectively governed the northwest, the influence of the Xu Family and Mount Li Academy had grown steadily. Countless commoners had benefited from the kindness of Xu Qingchen and others, and since Mr. Qingyun was the beloved maternal grandfather of Princess Ding, the citizens of Li Cheng naturally celebrated his birthday with greater fervor than any festival.

As Li Cheng expanded over the years, following the example of Nanzhao’s royal capital, a vast square had been constructed near Prince Ding’s Estate. At the far end stood a grand viewing platform, where citizens gathered for celebrations during festivals. However, this was the first time a banquet had been held here, allowing the people to witness the estate’s grand feast up close. Though this posed significant security challenges, the shadow guards of Prince Ding’s Estate were more than capable of handling it.As the lanterns were lit, the entire square was adorned with festive decorations. Countless dazzling fireworks bloomed in the sky, eliciting cheers from the crowd below. The townspeople poured out of their homes, gathering in the square to admire the rare and beautiful spectacle.

On the viewing platform, a banquet was underway, its spacious area capable of accommodating over a thousand guests. This venue had been designed specifically for large-scale celebrations, as Prince Ding's Estate was relatively modest in size, and Li Cheng itself wasn't truly suitable as a capital city. Building a temporary palace here would have been wasteful and burdensome to the people. Instead, constructing this square and viewing platform served multiple purposes—it provided a recreational space for ordinary citizens during ordinary times and a gathering place during festivals. It also solved the problem of Prince Ding's Estate being unable to host grand banquets, as holding every celebration on the city walls was hardly practical.

The viewing pavilion was designed with concave wings extending forward, forming a semicircle. From any corner, one could take in the entire square, and its three-tiered, stepped structure ensured all banquet attendees could see the hosts at the top. This design had been briefly suggested by Ye Li but was ultimately brought to life by Xu Hongyan. Over the past two years, many of Prince Ding's Estate's annual banquets had been held here, embodying the spirit of sharing joy with the people.

At the very center of the top tier hung a massive golden character for "longevity" on a red background. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that this character was composed of countless smaller "longevity" characters, each with its own unique form. The elegant yet dignified calligraphy was the work of Qingchen Gongzi.

Tonight, however, the seats at the highest level were not occupied by Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, but by the white-haired, sage-like Mr. Qingyun. Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao sat to his right, while Xu Hongyu, Xu Hongyan, and other members of the Xu Family and their relatives were seated slightly below on the left. Further down were the distinguished guests from various nations and the civil and military officials under Prince Ding's Estate. This arrangement made it abundantly clear to all present the elevated status of the Xu Family within Prince Ding's Estate.

At the start of the banquet, Ye Li and Xu Qingyan assisted Mr. Qingyun to his seat before she took her place beside Mo Xiuyao. Once the guests were seated, a large open space was cleared in the square below, where hundreds of colorfully dressed women holding lanterns danced gracefully to melodious music. This grand spectacle far surpassed the usual palace banquets, offering the gathered townspeople a rare visual feast.

Mo Xiaobao sat between Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, gazing curiously at the magnificent scene before him. Though he was the Little Prince of Prince Ding's Estate and had been exposed to various grand occasions and notable figures from a young age, such an unprecedented spectacle was still a first for him. The foreign dignitaries below also took notice of the young boy in black seated between Prince Ding and Princess Ding. Even at his tender age, his striking handsomeness was evident, and his large, dark eyes surveyed the crowd below without a trace of fear. This child was the eldest son of Prince Ding's Estate, personally named Yu Chen by Mr. Qingyun. Even without considering the recent birth of twins to Prince Ding and Princess Ding, this boy alone surpassed many of the assembled guests in presence and promise.The young heir of Prince Ding's Estate possessed such imposing presence and composure at such a tender age, making the estate justifiably proud to have such a son.

While the performances below dazzled in splendor, the guests on the viewing platform were far from idle. As they marveled at the rare and magnificent display of song and dance, they engaged in casual conversation with those seated nearby before stepping forward one by one to present their birthday gifts to Mr. Qingyun. Perhaps having learned from Yelv Ye's blunder at Mo Xiaobao's full-moon banquet years prior, this time the gift-giving proceeded without incident. The offerings were all auspicious and fitting for the occasion, much to the satisfaction of Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. After all, this banquet was held in honor of Mr. Qingyun's birthday, and they naturally wished to avoid any mishaps that might dampen the elderly scholar's spirits. Even Xiao Bao personally presented a calligraphic work featuring one hundred variations of the character "longevity." Though not yet eight years old, under Mr. Qingyun's tutelage over the past two years, the boy had made remarkable progress in his studies, his handwriting already showing considerable skill—a fact that filled the old scholar with pride.

Given his advanced age, Mr. Qingyun retired to rest after receiving the guests' well-wishes, having stayed only briefly. It wasn't until his departure that Ye Li finally allowed herself a small sigh of relief. While inviting so many distinguished guests certainly added grandeur to the celebration, these individuals were far from easy to manage. Had any untoward incident occurred in her grandfather's presence, it would have needlessly upset the elderly man. Seeing the banquet proceed smoothly until Mr. Qingyun's departure lifted Ye Li's spirits considerably. As for any potential disturbances afterward—Prince Ding's Estate was more than capable of handling them.

Noticing the faint smile on Ye Li's lips, Mo Xiuyao gently took her slender hand in his and murmured with a soft chuckle, "No matter how much those people might wish to stir trouble, they at least have the sense not to do so during Grandfather's birthday celebration." Ye Li nodded with a smile. "I know. But I couldn't help worrying. Now that Grandfather has retired, it no longer matters." Understanding the situation was one thing, but there were always those who delighted in causing scenes at such events. For Ye Li, nothing today was more important than preserving Mr. Qingyun's peace of mind.

With the guest of honor gone, the atmosphere among the attendees grew noticeably more relaxed. Even these powerful figures from various nations couldn't help feeling somewhat restrained in the presence of Mr. Qingyun, the foremost scholar of their time. Soon, the viewing pavilion buzzed with lively conversation. Below, Lei Zhenting sipped his wine absentmindedly while observing Ye Li, who sat beside Mo Xiuyao and was tenderly wiping Xiao Bao's mouth. In the glow of the bright candles, the gentle smile gracing the woman's lips appeared especially moving.

Lei Zhenting's sharp eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze shifted to Mo Xiuyao.

"I heard that Prince Ding and Princess Ding were blessed with the birth of dragon-phoenix twins last month. Such joyous news, yet I have yet to offer my congratulations," Lei Zhenting suddenly declared. Though his voice wasn't loud, the deep inner energy behind his words carried them effortlessly throughout the pavilion. The guests, suddenly reminded, quickly added their own congratulations. Mo Xiuyao responded with a faint smile, raising his cup. "I thank Prince Zhennan of Xiling, and all of you."

Lei Zhenting grinned. "How could such happy news go uncelebrated without gifts? I've prepared a grand present for Prince Ding, which I hope you will accept. It also serves as a testament to the profound friendship between our two nations."Mo Xiuyao raised his sword-like brows slightly, casting a questioning glance at Lei Zhenting. He certainly didn’t believe Lei Zhenting would sincerely gift him something to celebrate the birth of twins, especially not long after he had killed his grandchildren.

Lei Zhenting smiled and said, “This gift is something I’ve had people search for a long time before obtaining. It is absolutely priceless.” Mo Xiuyao curled his lips slightly. “If it’s too precious, Zhennan Wang may keep it for yourself.” Lei Zhenting chuckled. “Such a treasure is only fitting for Prince Ding. If I were to keep it, it would be a waste. Guards…” Shortly after, several Western Liang guards carried in a tall wooden box. They placed it gently on the ground and stood respectfully to the side, awaiting orders.

Rather than a box, it was more like an exquisitely carved wooden cabinet. The gazes of everyone present were inevitably drawn to the intricately carved sandalwood cabinet in the hall, wondering what gift Zhennan Wang had presented to Prince Ding that warranted such solemnity. Observing the reactions of the crowd, Zhennan Wang smiled in satisfaction. “Open it and see.”

A guard stepped forward and removed the top of the cabinet. A faint, delicate fragrance immediately filled the viewing platform.

A collective gasp arose from the crowd. In the spot where the cabinet had stood, a young woman in white knelt. She appeared to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, and her beauty was not particularly stunning—at least, among those present, including Princess Ding, there were at least four or five women whose looks surpassed hers. Yet, she possessed an extraordinary allure that captivated the guests. Every aspect of her seemed perfectly balanced, so much so that even her not-quite-stunning features appeared flawless. A more beautiful face might have disrupted this unique charm.

The woman wore plain white robes, her hair loosely cascading down. She bore no ornaments or adornments, and even her beautiful eyes held a calm, unreadable stillness. Yet, anyone who met her gaze couldn’t help but hear the pounding of their own heart.

“Zhennan Wang, what is the meaning of this?” Before Mo Xiuyao could speak, Xu Hongyan on the other side had already darkened his expression. Regardless of anything else, today was Mr. Qingyun’s birthday, and for Lei Zhenting to present a beautiful young woman to Prince Ding was rather inappropriate. Lei Zhenting, however, remained unperturbed. Smiling at Xu Hongyan, he said, “I know today is Mr. Qingyun’s birthday, and this may seem discourteous. But I only recently acquired this treasure and had it rushed to Li Cheng. I wished to present it to Prince Ding at the earliest opportunity—after all, such a treasure in my hands is rather… tempting.” He gave Xu Hongyan a knowing smile and nodded.

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze to examine the woman in white, then raised his brows. “Zhennan Wang, what exactly is this?”Lei Zhenting smiled and said, "Prince Ding and Wang Fei have been married for nearly a decade, yet there hasn’t been a single Side Consort or maidservant in the estate. I understand that with such an extraordinary woman as Wang Fei by his side, Prince Ding would naturally find the common beauties of this world unworthy. That is precisely why I present this woman—she is undoubtedly a match worthy of Prince Ding." Although many dismissed Lei Zhenting’s words, for Wang Fei was indeed a peerless and extraordinary woman, even in terms of beauty, she was no less stunning than the woman in white. Yet, looking at the woman in white, no one could find any fault with her.

A thought crossed their minds—while Wang Fei was Prince Ding’s principal consort, adding a few more beautiful Side Consorts or secondary consorts would only make for a romantic tale. With this in mind, not only did they cease to object to the woman in white, but many even began entertaining other thoughts. Of course, the envoys sent by the Xiling Emperor were exceptions. They merely lowered their heads, staring intently at the fine wine in their cups as if it had suddenly turned into divine nectar.

In truth, it wasn’t until Lei Zhenting brought it up that those present realized Prince Ding had not taken a single concubine all these years—the entire Prince Ding’s Estate had only Wang Fei as its sole woman. Though Wang Fei was a peerless and extraordinary woman, in a world where men held supreme authority, the nobility found Prince Ding’s behavior utterly inconceivable. Not only did foreign nobles disapprove, but even many under Prince Ding’s own command harbored reservations. This wasn’t because they had any grievances against Ye Li, but because the principle of multiple wives and concubines had been the norm since ancient times. Moreover, as the master of Prince Ding’s Estate, Mo Xiuyao was destined to ascend the throne in the eyes of many—how could he possibly focus his affections on just one woman?

Seeing the approving and envious expressions on many faces, Lei Zhenting smiled in satisfaction and turned his gaze toward Ye Li, who sat beside Mo Xiuyao. Ye Li’s expression remained calm and composed, even carrying a faint smile at the corners of her lips.

On the other side, Xu Qingyan’s eyes flashed with anger as he made to stand up. Xu Qingbai, seated beside him, pressed him back down. Xu Qingyan whispered furiously, "Fourth Brother, what are you doing?" Xu Qingbai glanced at Mo Xiuyao’s indifferent expression and said, "This is a matter between Prince Ding and Li'er." The Xu Family would never demand that Mo Xiuyao remain devoted to Ye Li alone. In matters like this, unless one was willing to uphold such a commitment, any promise would be meaningless. All the Xu Family could do was unconditionally support Li'er in whatever choice she made, regardless of Mo Xiuyao’s decision.

"Undoubtedly a match?" Mo Xiuyao’s cool voice rang softly through the pavilion, the silence within starkly contrasting with the lively clamor outside. "How is it that I fail to see where this woman surpasses my Wang Fei?"

Lei Zhenting smiled with utmost confidence. "Wang Fei is, of course, a rare and extraordinary woman of this world. However, the one before you is no lesser. I can assure you—her martial prowess, talent, abilities, even her medical skills and miscellaneous knowledge are unparalleled among women. If Your Highness doubts this, why not invite Wang Fei to compete with her?""How insolent!" Mo Xiuyao's furious rebuke rang out as a white blur flashed through the air, drawing gasps from the crowd. Before anyone realized it, he had already appeared before the white-clad woman, mercilessly striking toward the crown of her head. Just as everyone thought the woman would meet her end, she suddenly raised her head and blocked the strike with an upward parry, barely managing to intercept Mo Xiuyao's attack.

With a cold snort, Mo Xiuyao transformed his palm into a claw, aiming for the woman's shoulder. This time, instead of meeting the attack head-on, the woman swiftly retreated. Mo Xiuyao's claw struck empty air, but the force of it shattered a nearby wooden cabinet, leaving a gaping hole. Had it landed on her left shoulder, the bone would have undoubtedly been crushed.

Failing in two consecutive moves, Mo Xiuyao did not pursue further. With a flick of his sleeve, he gracefully returned to his original seat. However, a gust of inner energy shot toward the white-clad woman from that very motion. Having barely dodged the previous attack, she had no time to evade this one and was forced to block it directly. She only took a single step back, her expression remaining unchanged as she silently stood by Lei Zhenting's side.

From his elevated position, Mo Xiuyao looked down at Lei Zhenting and the woman, his tone indifferent. "To withstand three of my strikes without defeat—you do have some skill." In truth, this was no mere "some skill." Mo Xiuyao had used at least eighty percent of his strength in those three strikes. The fact that the woman had blocked them without flinching proved her techniques, reflexes, and inner energy were all exceptional. In the martial world, she would undoubtedly rank highly. Most astonishingly, she appeared no older than sixteen. Such prowess was nearly on par with Mo Xiuyao himself at that age.

Lei Zhenting, however, showed no surprise. Smiling, he said, "As I promised, I was certain Prince Ding would be satisfied."

Mo Xiuyao glanced at him, a mocking sneer playing on his lips. "Who said my satisfaction means I must accept her? Given her genuine skill, I'll overlook this act of insolence. Take her back to wherever she came from!"

His words caused an uproar among the onlookers. Even the usually composed white-clad maiden paled slightly. To reject such a beauty without hesitation seemed nothing short of wasteful in their eyes. After all, no one was forcing Prince Ding to choose between this woman and Princess Ding. Wouldn't having both—a harem of beauties—be every man's dream?

Lei Zhenting frowned slightly, looking troubled as he addressed Mo Xiuyao. "Prince Ding truly refuses?"

Mo Xiuyao responded with a cold smile and silence.

Seemingly resigned, Lei Zhenting sighed. "Does Prince Ding know where she comes from?"

Mo Xiuyao replied, "I said it already—send her back to wherever she came from.""She comes from the Boundless Mountains." Lei Zhenting's words fell like a drop of water into hot oil, instantly setting the entire viewing pavilion abuzz. The Boundless Mountains were actually no stranger to the people of Great Chu—it was the principal peak among the southern mountain ranges, currently under Lei Zhenting's control. However, what made it familiar to everyone wasn't its scenic beauty or any divine wonders it might have produced. In truth, the Boundless Mountains were hidden among countless peaks, most of which looked nearly identical. Without a guide familiar with the terrain, one might not even recognize which mountain was the Boundless Mountains and could easily get lost in the wilderness.

Legend has it that there is a reclusive clan residing in the Boundless Mountains. The members of this clan are versed in astronomy, geography, medicine, divination, and astrology. The men possess extraordinary talents capable of shaping the world, while the women are endowed with wisdom to assist rulers and uphold the state. Every sixty years, a descendant descends the mountain to gain worldly experience. However, this clan is predominantly female, with very few men appearing over the centuries. The women who descend the mountain are all exceptionally talented. Among the most renowned are the Empress of the previous dynasty's revival, the Queen of the second-generation monarch of Great Chu, and the Queen of Western Liang sixty years ago—Lei Zhenting's late grandmother. It is said that the Xu Family's ancestors also married a woman from the Boundless Mountains, though the Xu Family has never acknowledged it. Yet, within just a few centuries, three Empresses emerged, each heralding the prosperity of their respective dynasties. Thus, the Boundless Mountains became secretly intertwined with the rise and fall of empires. Now, this maiden in white has chosen Prince Ding. Could it be...? The gazes of those present turned toward Mo Xiuyao with newfound curiosity.

Lei Zhenting laughed and said, "Now does Prince Ding understand? It is not that I wish to make things difficult for you and Wang Fei or deliberately sabotage your relationship, but truly..."

The crowd began to comprehend. This matter was certainly not within Lei Zhenting's control. If it were, even if he couldn't marry the maiden in white himself, he could have arranged for his son to wed her—why would he allow his enemy to benefit? Unconsciously, everyone turned their eyes to Prince Ding. Just moments ago, he had boldly declared that she should return whence she came. But faced with a maiden of such extraordinary origins, would Prince Ding remain so resolute?

The viewing platform fell into prolonged silence. Just as many thought Prince Ding was about to relent, Mo Xiuyao's icy voice echoed through the hall, "Get lost."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Ahem~ Just to clarify, this girl won’t have feelings for A-Yao (Mo Xiuyao). I really don’t have every woman in the world falling for A-Yao. This time, it’s just to cause trouble for someone else~ Of course, it’ll also give A-Yao a bit of a headache~ Mwahaha.