Mo Li

Compared to Mo Xiuyao's merciless mockery and scolding, Xu Qingchen's light and indifferent politeness left Dongfang You even more at a loss. Dongfang You gazed at Xu Qingchen for a long time before sighing softly and asking, "Does Qingchen Gongzi not believe my words?" Xu Qingchen smiled without answering, neither confirming nor denying.

Dongfang You evidently took his silence as tacit agreement and said calmly, "Qingchen Gongzi need not worry. The reason I chose to marry Prince Ding as his Side Consort is not to seek his favor or anything else. It is only to assist him. Once Prince Ding ascends to rule the world, I will naturally withdraw to pursue my own happiness, neither clinging to him nor causing any trouble for Princess Ding."

Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "Miss Dongfang, you may pursue your own happiness now. Forgive my bluntness, but Prince Ding does not seem to require your assistance. Moreover, it appears you have been away from the world for too long and are unaware of certain customary rules. For instance, a Side Consort… cannot be said to be 'married'—she is 'taken in.'" A woman who could so openly speak of "marrying" Prince Ding could hardly be as unambitious as she claimed. Perhaps she truly did not need Prince Ding's favor—because what she wanted was something far more significant. Xu Qingchen had never held much regard for these so-called legendary reclusive families, let alone the notion of being "Appointed by Heaven to Choose a Lord." If they truly had such foresight, they should have emerged ten years ago. Though the current state of the world was not yet entirely clear, Mo Xiuyao's chances were undeniably the greatest. With the power of Boundless Mountains, creating a ruler to unify the realm would not be difficult. But even without the people of Boundless Mountains, Prince Ding's Estate could achieve the same. Why bother with such a reputation?

A flicker of irritation passed through Dongfang You's eyes. It was hard for her to remain composed in the face of Xu Qingchen's blunt disregard for her dignity. Yet his demeanor left her unable to vent her anger, and for a moment, her expression became complex and unreadable.

Dongfang You had always been aware of her own strengths and abilities, but she also knew that her innate talents had no effect on those like Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen, whose wills were unshakable. Thus, she refrained from humiliating herself further. Calmly, she said, "I believe some matters must be discussed with Prince Ding in person. Perhaps he will give a different answer—after all, Qingchen Gongzi does not fully represent Prince Ding's Estate, does he?" Xu Qingchen arched a brow but neither confirmed nor denied, merely stating, "Prince Ding is currently occupied."

Dongfang You was in no hurry. "I can wait."

Xu Qingchen frowned slightly as he studied the woman before him, suddenly feeling from the depths of his heart that she was trouble. What he did not realize, however, was that while she was indeed trouble, she would not be Mo Xiuyao's trouble.

Dongfang You proved to be extraordinarily patient. Xu Qingchen sat in the hall with her, drinking six or seven cups of tea. Even the usually unflappable Qingchen Gongzi found it unbearable to sit in silence with such a woman, yet Dongfang You showed no signs of impatience. She sat gracefully in the hall, occasionally taking small sips of tea.It was nearly noon when Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li finally arrived. Seeing the hidden stiffness and helplessness beneath Xu Qingchen's gentle demeanor, Mo Xiuyao's mood visibly improved. As host and guests took their seats, Mo Xiuyao leaned back leisurely in his chair, yielding the floor to Ye Li. With a smile, Ye Li looked at Dongfang You and said, "May I ask the young lady's name?"

Dongfang You rose gracefully and bowed, "This humble one is Dongfang You, greeting Wang Fei."

Ye Li nodded with a smile, "Miss Dongfang need not stand on ceremony. Wang Ye and I had some minor matters to attend to, keeping you waiting." Dongfang You replied sweetly, "Not at all. With Qingchen Gongzi's company, this humble one had a most delightful conversation." Mo Xiuyao chuckled as he looked at Xu Qingchen, "In that case, why doesn't Miss Dongfang discuss her business directly with Qingchen Gongzi? Currently, most affairs of Prince Ding's Estate are handled by him."

Hearing this, Dongfang You frowned slightly, "Wang Ye, forgive my bluntness. Though you and Wang Fei share deep affection, and you trust and employ the Xu Family extensively, history shows that excessive power held by imperial relatives often leads to chaos. Moreover, you have yet to establish your true achievements. If in the future..."

The three in the hall silently watched as Dongfang You launched into her earnest admonitions. It wasn't that her words were incorrect—at the right time, such advice could be considered golden counsel. The problem was that this young lady was neither kin nor trusted confidant of Prince Ding's Estate. Was it really appropriate to criticize the Xu Family so bluntly in front of its members and Wang Fei herself? One might suspect she'd memorized these lines straight from some book.

When Dongfang You finally finished, Ye Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your advice, Miss Dongfang. I believe Wang Ye is well aware of these matters."

Dongfang You frowned slightly, looking at Ye Li with faint dissatisfaction, "Wang Fei, though the Xu Family is your maternal family, as the saying goes, 'A married daughter is like spilled water.' Moreover, you're not even a daughter of the Xu Family. Shouldn't your loyalty lie solely with Prince Ding's Estate? Seeking benefits for your family is hardly the way of a proper wife or consort."

Ye Li fell silent. This young lady not only aspired to be a loyal minister willing to die for her principles, but also seemed to fancy herself a Ban Zhao or Empress Zhangsun. If all past successors of the Boundless Mountains were like this, Ye Li truly wondered how they'd ever managed to become empresses. They should have been executed long ago for their blunt admonitions offending imperial ears.

"Miss Dongfang, these matters need not concern you for now. Perhaps you could tell us why you've come to Prince Ding's Estate?" Ye Li finally interrupted. A look of disbelief crossed Dongfang You's beautiful face as she stared at Ye Li, "Wang Fei, have you not understood?" Feeling her intelligence questioned, Ye Li replied innocently, "What exactly should I have understood?"

Dongfang You declared, "I descended the mountain to assist the new ruler."

"Then you should go find your new ruler," Ye Li replied somewhat tersely. Dongfang You choked on her words, staring at Ye Li for a long moment before smiling faintly, "The Boundless Mountains have chosen Prince Ding as this generation's new ruler. As the current successor, I have come by divine mandate to assist him."Ye Li looked at her and asked, "So, Miss Dongfang, your idea of assistance is to enter Prince Ding's Estate as the Prince's Side Consort?" Dongfang You replied nonchalantly, "That's just a temporary measure. Since Prince Ding is already married, I naturally wouldn't interfere. Once Prince Ding unifies the realm, I will gracefully withdraw." Ye Li turned her head and passed the question to Mo Xiuyao, "Wang Ye, what do you think? Should we take on a female strategist?"

Mo Xiuyao's response was merciless, "Throw her out for me. She's wasting my time."

"Prince Ding!" Dongfang You widened her eyes in shock, glaring at Mo Xiuyao. "Do you truly not wish to know what benefits I can bring you? The influence of the Boundless Mountains is far greater than you imagine." Without even lifting his gaze, Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, "I have no interest in your so-called Boundless Mountains. Moreover... with a successor like you, even if the Boundless Mountains could rival a million-strong army, it would be useless."

Such words were even harder for Dongfang You to accept than outright disdain for the Boundless Mountains. She had sincerely wanted to assist Mo Xiuyao and believed that with her and the Boundless Mountains' help, Prince Ding would swiftly unify the realm and become a great ruler. The reputation and status of the Boundless Mountains would also rise and solidify. Yet, she never expected Mo Xiuyao to look down on her and her backing so thoroughly.

Glancing between Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, Dongfang You had a sudden realization. She turned to Xu Qingchen, frowned, and said, "If Prince Ding cannot accept my proposal, then we can change it." Mo Xiuyao remained unmoved, his expression indifferent, as Dongfang You declared loudly, "If Prince Ding is unwilling to let me marry into Prince Ding's Estate and disrupt the bond between the Prince and Wang Fei, then I can join the Xu Family instead."

The three present were momentarily stunned. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li's gazes simultaneously turned to Xu Qingchen. Currently, only Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingyan in the Xu Family were unmarried. It was unlikely Dongfang You wanted to marry Xu Qingyan, whom she had barely met, leaving only Qingchen Gongzi as the option. Mo Xiuyao's eyes immediately took on a playful glint, looking at Qingchen Gongzi as if he were a prime piece of meat. If Qingchen Gongzi could secure the assistance of the Boundless Mountains, it would clearly be a worthwhile trade. Of course, this woman named Dongfang You would have to obediently stay at home, tending to her husband and serving her in-laws—nothing more.

"Not a chance," Xu Qingchen flatly rejected Mo Xiuyao's implied suggestion.

Mo Xiuyao didn't mind. He didn't place much importance on the Boundless Mountains' influence. Having it would be nice, but not having it was fine too. Moreover, if he did gain their assistance, he would have to find a way to fully integrate them to prevent another tedious woman from emerging decades later, claiming to be Appointed by Heaven to Choose a Lord. Shrugging, Mo Xiuyao said, "Fine, this matter... I'll leave it to Qingchen Gongzi to handle. I won't interfere further. A Li, let's go. There's still work to attend to in the study."Ye Li hesitated as she glanced at Xu Qingchen. Mo Xiuyao pulled her along as they walked out, reassuring her, "Don’t worry. If Qingchen Gongzi can’t handle such a trivial matter, he wouldn’t deserve the title of the world’s top gentleman. Brother Qingchen, we’ll trouble you with this." Watching Mo Xiuyao lead Ye Li away without hesitation, Xu Qingchen wished he could hurl all the documents in the study at his face. He had toiled tirelessly for Prince Ding's Estate, yet not only did Mo Xiuyao show no gratitude, but he also seemed intent on making his life difficult at every turn.

"Qingchen Gongzi," Dongfang You called softly.

"Miss Dongfang," Xu Qingchen cut her off, his tone indifferent. "There’s no need to say more. Prince Ding's Estate does not require your assistance." Most importantly, the Xu Family did not need a daughter-in-law like Dongfang You. Unhappy, Dongfang You retorted, "Prince Ding never said such a thing. Isn’t your decision rather selfish, Qingchen Gongzi?"

With a flick of his sleeve, Xu Qingchen summoned the guards outside. "Escort Miss Dongfang out. No one is to let her in again."

"I won’t give up!" Dongfang You declared firmly.

Xu Qingchen remained unmoved. "Take her away."

After seeing Dongfang You off, Xu Qingchen walked toward the study with a gloomy expression. Inside, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li sat close together, their intimate and warm atmosphere making anyone else feel like an intruder. Noticing Xu Qingchen’s arrival, Ye Li stood up with a gentle smile. "Elder Brother, is Dongfang You gone?" Xu Qingchen nodded, his sharp gaze shifting to Mo Xiuyao beside her. Unfazed, Mo Xiuyao grinned and said, "What’s with that look, Qingchen Gongzi? It wasn’t this prince who suggested it—that Miss Dongfang took a liking to you, didn’t she?"

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "A woman like that, whom even Prince Ding wouldn’t consider—who could she possibly fancy?" Though their exchange had been brief, Xu Qingchen had seen through her clearly. He couldn’t fathom how the people of Boundless Mountains had raised someone like Dongfang You. She had no concept of love or affection whatsoever. Thus, she truly had no intention of interfering in the relationship between Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. Of course, her proposal to marry Xu Qingchen wasn’t out of any genuine attraction either. She simply saw it as convenient—whether becoming a Side Consort in Prince Ding's Estate or marrying Xu Qingchen as his wife, either would allow her to employ her methods in aiding the estate’s rise to dominance. At her core, she cared only for her so-called ambitions and achievements. Yet, in the eyes of men like Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen, her grand aspirations seemed utterly illusory. Beyond the influence of Boundless Mountains behind her, she had nothing—let alone the capability to assist in forging an empire.The talent of a statesman and the role of the woman behind the emperor in the imperial harem require more than just intelligence. There are countless intelligent women in the world, and many who excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. But a woman like Ye Li, who can stand shoulder to shoulder with men, is truly one of a kind. If we were to compare, Ye Li might indeed fall short of Dongfang You in areas like music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, astrology, or medicine. However, what Dongfang You can achieve, other women in the world can also accomplish. But what Ye Li can do, few women in the world can match—that’s why she is unique. Moreover, even among the previous Empresses from the Boundless Mountains, none ever positioned themselves as the emperor’s chief advisor. In short, Dongfang You overestimates herself far too much.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled, “Perhaps that Miss Dongfang simply admires a celestial gentleman like Qingchen Gongzi?”

“Wang Ye, I’ve suddenly remembered that I wish to travel for some time. The affairs of Prince Ding's Estate will have to be handled by you alone,” Xu Qingchen said coolly, his expression unamused.

At the mention of this, Mo Xiuyao had no choice but to concede. After all, if Qingchen Gongzi were truly driven away, the loss would be immense. Clearing his throat with feigned solemnity, Mo Xiuyao declared, “In any case, Dongfang You is yours to handle. Whether you kill her, punish her, or marry her, I won’t interfere. Brother Qingchen, rest assured—no matter what you decide, A Li and I will support you unconditionally.” As he spoke, he even gave Xu Qingchen a supportive pat on the shoulder, as if to emphasize his point.

Xu Qingchen disdainfully brushed Mo Xiuyao’s hand away. Had he ever encountered someone so shameless? Qingchen Gongzi deeply felt that being saddled with such a brother-in-law was the greatest misfortune of his life. Had he known things would turn out this way, he would never have allowed Li'er to marry this scoundrel.

Ye Li rubbed her forehead in exasperation and intervened before their bickering could escalate. “Elder Brother, Xiu Yao, what exactly is the deal with the Boundless Mountains?” As someone not entirely of this world, Ye Li didn’t bother learning about matters she deemed unimportant. The Boundless Mountains, for instance, had left little impression on her.

Xu Qingchen sat down, frowning slightly. “The Boundless Mountains’ mystique stems largely from the fact that it has produced three Empresses, and those who emerge from it for training have indeed been exceptional talents. But to claim they possess the power to determine the fate of the world…” A faint trace of mockery curled at the corner of his lips. Both Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li knew him well enough to recognize the sarcasm in his tone.

Qingchen Gongzi continued, “The three Empresses each belonged to a different kingdom, spanning several centuries. So it’s likely true that the Boundless Mountains wields considerable influence—otherwise, it couldn’t have maintained its prestige and secrecy for so long. Now that their successor has emerged, the others from the Boundless Mountains won’t be far behind. Therefore, Wang Ye, you have three strategies to choose from—superior, middling, and inferior.”

Mo Xiuyao smiled thoughtfully. “This prince is all ears.”Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "The inferior strategy is for Wang Ye to ignore Dongfang You. Once she gives up, she will inevitably choose someone else, and Prince Ding's Estate will gain a formidable enemy. The middle strategy is for Wang Ye to comply with Dongfang You's wishes and take her as a Side Consort. In that case, the Boundless Mountains will undoubtedly lend their full support to Prince Ding's Estate."

Mo Xiuyao replied, "This prince has always preferred the superior strategy."

Xu Qingchen chuckled, "The superior strategy is... to annihilate the Boundless Mountains. Then the legend of being 'Appointed by Heaven to Choose a Lord' will cease to exist."

"An excellent plan," Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement.

Xu Qingchen smiled and nodded as well. "Indeed, it is a good plan. This way, even if Wang Ye unifies the realm in the future, there will be no lingering concerns about being controlled by the Boundless Mountains. However, the current issue is... the Boundless Mountains may not be so easy to eliminate."

Although Prince Ding's Estate disdained the Boundless Mountains, others might not share the same sentiment. As long as someone was interested in the Boundless Mountains' successor or the idea of being "Appointed by Heaven to Choose a Lord," they would naturally act against Prince Ding's Estate without the Boundless Mountains needing to lift a finger. Worse still, a single misstep could provoke attacks from all sides, plunging Prince Ding's Estate into a perilous situation of fighting on multiple fronts. Even if they were unafraid, such a scenario would be extremely dangerous.

After a moment of contemplation, Mo Xiuyao said, "It's not as difficult as you think. The only ones who can truly oppose us are Mo Jingli and Lei Zhenting. Lei Zhenting is restrained by the Xiling Emperor, and as for Mo Jingli... with Lei Zhenting standing between us, he would have to deal with him first before he could challenge this prince. As for Northern Rong and the northern borders, they won’t have the opportunity."

Xu Qingchen was also aware of Mo Xiuyao's arrangements regarding Northern Rong and the northern borders, and the chances of success were not small. It was indeed a feasible plan. Raising an eyebrow, he asked Mo Xiuyao, "Has Wang Ye made a decision?"

Mo Xiuyao scoffed lightly, deeming the question unworthy of an answer.

There was, in fact, another path Xu Qingchen had not mentioned. Mo Xiuyao could agree to cooperate with the Boundless Mountains first and then deal with them after achieving his goals. Given Mo Xiuyao's cunning, Xu Qingchen believed it wouldn’t be difficult to outmaneuver them.

Ye Li, watching the two men discuss the matter so seriously, asked, "Is it possible that Dongfang You isn’t actually from the Boundless Mountains? Don’t you think she seems a bit too..."

Xu Qingchen shook his head. "Dynasties rise and fall, and even a distinguished family cannot remain elite forever. But Dongfang You is indeed from the Boundless Mountains."

Ye Li frowned in confusion. Xu Qingchen added with a hint of disgust, "The Dongfang family of the Boundless Mountains possesses a secret technique that naturally makes people feel goodwill toward them. Didn’t Li'er witness the scene at last night’s banquet?"

Ye Li wanted to say—was that really goodwill? To her, it seemed more like Dongfang You was stirring up some hidden desire in men.

"Elder Brother, how do you know all this so clearly?" Ye Li asked curiously.

Xu Qingchen didn’t hide it and replied calmly, "Isn’t there a legend that an ancestor of the Xu Family once married a woman from the Boundless Mountains?"

"And the truth?"

"There was indeed such a woman, but the Xu ancestor did not marry her. At the time, he nearly fell for her schemes. So, he recorded the incident in his memoirs and warned future descendants to be wary of women from the Boundless Mountains."

This was the first time Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao had heard of this. Aside from their surprise, their impression of the Boundless Mountains grew even worse.Ye Li pondered for a moment before asking, "Since the Boundless Mountains possess the so-called ability to be Appointed by Heaven to Choose a Lord, why would Lei Zhenting willingly send Dongfang You to Prince Ding's Estate? Could it be that Lei Zhenting is also under the control of the Boundless Mountains?" Xu Qingchen shook his head and replied, "It's unlikely that he's under their control. Perhaps Lei Zhenting knows that with Lei Tengfeng's abilities, he might not be able to contend with the Boundless Mountains. As for Prince Ding's Estate... Lei Zhenting might be gambling, betting that Prince Ding's Estate will reject Dongfang You. If that happens, Prince Ding's Estate and the Boundless Mountains are bound to become enemies. Then, no matter whom the Boundless Mountains choose to support, with Prince Ding's Estate as a formidable adversary, he can seize the opportunity to profit from the situation."

Lei Zhenting had earned a lifetime of fame, but his greatest regret was his son, Lei Tengfeng. It wasn't that Lei Tengfeng was lacking—he was quite capable in both character and ability—but he simply wasn't outstanding enough. Having grown up under his father's shadow, Lei Tengfeng clearly lacked the ambition to surpass his predecessor, unlike the heirs of Prince Ding's Estate. Thus, while he was sufficient as the heir to Zhennan Wang's estate, he wasn't strong enough to shoulder the entire burden of Western Liang as its ruler.

"In other words... Lei Tengfeng wouldn't collaborate with the Boundless Mountains either," Mo Xiuyao mused. "Then, the most likely candidate the Boundless Mountains would choose is Mo Jingli." Mo Jingli, the regent of Great Chu, occupied the most prosperous region south of the Yangtze River, commanding a million-strong army. Most importantly, he was ruthless but lacked decisiveness and vision. Such a person was practically the perfect puppet candidate. If Mo Xiuyao were in their place, he would choose Mo Jingli too.

Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow. "Do we need to deal with Mo Jingli now?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head and said, "It's not the right time yet. Our main focus now is dealing with Yelv Ye and Ren Qining. However... what we want must still be obtained. Send someone to inform Mo Jingli that what this prince demands must be delivered as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll hand over what he wants to Lei Zhenting." He only wanted a few treasures, but if they fell into Lei Zhenting's hands, who knew what demands Lei Zhenting might make? "By the way, also hint at Dongfang You's intentions to Mo Jingli. Let's see how he reacts."

"What about Ye Ying in that case..." Ye Ying was also an important pawn, but if they wanted her to work for them while also placing someone by Mo Jingli's side, it would clearly be impossible. Ye Ying wouldn't be that obedient either.

Xu Qingchen shook his head and said, "Li'er need not worry about this. If Dongfang You truly aids Mo Jingli, Ye Ying will only become more dependent on Prince Ding's Estate." The Ye family had no chance of rising again, and the main reason Ye Ying could still maintain her position as Wang Fei was largely due to her identity as Princess Ding's younger sister. Once a woman of great importance appeared by Mo Jingli's side, the support and assistance from Prince Ding's Estate would become even more crucial to Ye Ying.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

I am the adorable draft keeper~