Mo Li

Mr. Qingyun's birthday celebration came to a perfect close, and many of the guests who had attended began to depart. Among them, Xu Qingbai and Xiuting Mr. promptly returned to Western Liang, as the region had only recently been subdued and required someone to oversee it. However, the influential figures from various nations, including Zhennan Wang Mo Jingli, showed no intention of leaving. Everyone understood that the real negotiations and power struggles were only just beginning. To leave now would signify marginalization in this contest of forces, forfeiting any chance to seize the initiative.

Li Cheng, already a place of undercurrents and intrigue, grew even more enigmatic with the sudden appearance of the Boundless Mountains' successor during Mr. Qingyun's birthday banquet.

In Prince Ding's Estate, Lei Zhenting sat in the study, sipping tea while observing Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao seated at the head of the room, his expression complex. Though he had considered the possibility of Mo Xiuyao's refusal when he first brought Dongfang You to Li Cheng, hearing the actual rejection still left him somewhat shaken. Truth be told, had the timing been different—and had the Xiling Emperor's court not once had a queen from the Boundless Mountains—Lei Zhenting wasn’t sure he could have resisted such temptation himself. However, since Mo Xiuyao had already refused, though it surprised him slightly, the overall situation still worked to his advantage. He certainly wasn’t foolish enough to push the Boundless Mountains' influence toward Mo Xiuyao.

"Prince Ding's decisions never fail to astonish me," Lei Zhenting remarked, raising his teacup slightly in a gesture of respect toward Mo Xiuyao.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Zhennan Wang. Weren’t you equally uninterested?"

Lei Zhenting sighed regretfully. "To claim I have no interest in the Boundless Mountains' power would be a lie. But… it simply isn’t suitable. Besides, at my age, the idea of being manipulated is worse than death." If the Boundless Mountains had only Dongfang You to offer, it wouldn’t be of much use. Others would inevitably join her ranks. Lei Zhenting’s own grandmother had been from the Boundless Mountains, making him perhaps the person in the world most familiar with their ways. He would never allow himself to become a puppet under their control.

"I heard Prince Ding has formally rejected Dongfang You. But knowing her as I do, I doubt she’ll give up easily," Lei Zhenting remarked coolly. Though he and Mo Xiuyao were destined to be enemies, there were still moments when cooperation was possible.

Mo Xiuyao arched a brow dismissively. "What if she doesn’t give up? If the Boundless Mountains' successor is of such poor character, then their so-called legacy must be on the verge of collapse." Dongfang You was indeed formidable—in terms of martial arts, Mo Xiuyao had yet to meet a woman who surpassed her, and she could likely rank among the top ten fighters in the martial world, male or female. As a descendant of the Boundless Mountains, she was presumably skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and Lei Zhenting himself had attested to her mastery of medicine. The only problem was her lack of sense.Watching Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li exchange a smile, the subtle yet undeniable intimacy between them made it seem as though an invisible barrier enveloped them, setting them apart from others in a way that no outsider could penetrate. Lei Zhenting lowered his gaze slightly, lost in thought. "Since the people of Boundless Mountains have emerged, they must choose someone to support. Since Prince Ding has already refused, who is the most likely candidate?"

Mo Xiuyao didn’t conceal the truth. "Mo Jingli."

Lei Zhenting’s expression darkened. Mo Jingli was currently locked in a standoff with him along the Cloud Ripple River. If Mo Jingli gained the support of Boundless Mountains, it would spell trouble for him. Mo Xiuyao, being far away, naturally had no immediate stake in the matter. Seeing Lei Zhenting’s displeasure, Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "Zhennan Wang need not worry. If Mo Jingli becomes too powerful, it won’t benefit Prince Ding's Estate either. We certainly won’t stand idly by."

Lei Zhenting wasn’t so easily convinced. He looked at Ye Li and chuckled. "Let Boundless Mountains support Mo Jingli, then watch as I and Mo Jingli fight to the death, while Prince Ding's Estate reaps the benefits. What a clever scheme. In that case, I think Ren Qining would be a more suitable choice—a legitimate descendant of the former dynasty. Wouldn’t that align better with Boundless Mountains’ criteria?"

Mo Xiuyao’s smile turned cold. "Ren Qining doesn’t have that destiny."

Lei Zhenting’s gaze sharpened as he quickly analyzed the implications of Mo Xiuyao’s words. Was Prince Ding's Estate planning to move against the northern territories? He had assumed their greatest enemy should be Northern Rong at the moment.

Noticing Lei Zhenting’s confusion and speculation, Mo Xiuyao offered no explanation and said indifferently, "Zhennan Wang need only watch. Mo Jingli is Boundless Mountains’ only choice. Of course… Zhennan Wang has another option."

"I’m all ears," Lei Zhenting replied cautiously. Mo Xiuyao smiled, as if casually remarking, "Eliminate them before Boundless Mountains chooses whom to support."

Lei Zhenting sucked in a sharp breath, staring at Mo Xiuyao for a long moment before finally realizing he wasn’t joking but genuinely proposing this. After a lengthy pause, Lei Zhenting sighed. "Prince Ding doesn’t understand Boundless Mountains. That’s why you underestimate their strength." Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Indeed, I know little about Boundless Mountains." Throughout history, the successors of Boundless Mountains had never provoked Prince Ding's Estate, so to them, Boundless Mountains was little more than a vague legend. Perhaps the people of Boundless Mountains themselves knew that the successive leaders of Prince Ding's Estate had never been suitable puppets for their manipulation. "But even so… Boundless Mountains still lacks the strength to rival an entire nation, doesn’t it?" Since they had orchestrated so many schemes, it proved that the people of Boundless Mountains harbored ambitions. Yet those who harbored ambitions but remained hidden behind others could only mean they lacked the capability for contending for world domination.Lei Zhenting shook his head and said, "The reason the people of Boundless Mountains have never participated in contending for world domination is not because they lack the capability, but rather..." He hesitated, seemingly unsure whether to continue. After a pause, he finally spoke, "Their seclusion is because the successive masters of Boundless Mountains have all been women. They simply cannot openly vie for the throne. The Central Plains are not like the Southern Border—neither the common people nor the scholars and generals would ever tolerate a woman ascending to the throne. Therefore, they can only choose to manipulate things from the shadows. Over the centuries, the influence of Boundless Mountains has spread throughout Chu, Western Liang, even Nanzhao and Northern Rong, and even the Western Regions bear their traces. Prince Ding, do you know why Dongfang You suddenly appeared this time?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Lei Zhenting said coldly, "Because among those you killed in Western Mausoleum Imperial City, many were part of Boundless Mountains' forces. This alarmed the current master of Boundless Mountains. You are right, Prince Ding—the best choice for Boundless Mountains now is Mo Jingli, because currently... the court of Chu has the most influence from Boundless Mountains. Moreover... I dare not even guarantee that your Prince Ding's Estate is entirely free of their people."

Prince Ding's Estate had been fortified like an iron barrel by successive generations of Prince Dings. Though Lei Zhenting spoke this way, he understood in his heart that if there was one place where the pervasive influence of Boundless Mountains struggled to infiltrate, it would undoubtedly be Prince Ding's Estate.

Mo Xiuyao nodded and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Zhennan Wang. I understand now. To be honest, I don’t have the capacity to deal with Boundless Mountains at the moment. However, I can assure you that when you confront Mo Jingli, I will not stab you in the back. If necessary, I can even provide you with some information—limited to matters concerning Boundless Mountains, of course."

Lei Zhenting knew full well that despite the Chu court's relocation south, Prince Ding's Estate's intelligence network remained unmatched. In fact, receiving such a promise from Mo Xiuyao was far beyond his expectations. The only question was how much of Mo Xiuyao's word could be trusted. Sensing Lei Zhenting's doubt, Mo Xiuyao said solemnly, "Once I give my word, I will not go back on it. If I ever face Zhennan Wang in battle, I would prefer an open and honorable fight on the battlefield."

Lei Zhenting gave them both a deep look before rising. "Understood. In that case, I shall take my leave."

"Farewell."

Shortly after Lei Zhenting's departure, Yelv Hong and Ronghua Princess arrived. The four of them held a secret discussion in the study for nearly an hour. What was said remained unknown, but news of Prince Ding's private meeting with Yelv Hong inevitably reached Yelv Ye's ears.

At the posthouse, Yelv Ye's face was as cold as ice. Dismissing the guard who had come to report, a glint of frost flashed in his chilling eyes. Yelv Hong wanted to ally with Mo Xiuyao against him? Not so easy!

In the inner chamber, Imperial Concubine Liu sat weakly against the headboard, her face pale. The wound on her abdomen still throbbed with pain despite a night's rest. The memory of Princess Zhenning stabbing her without hesitation and the sight of her own children obeying Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li without question made her expression turn even colder."Wang Ye." After a moment's thought, Consort Liu called out.

Shortly after, Yelv Ye entered with a dark expression, his gaze sweeping over Consort Liu filled with disgust and disdain. Their relationship had always been one of mutual exploitation, but after last night, Yelv Ye's contempt for her had deepened. Although Consort Liu had indeed been of great help during the siege against Great Chu, she had since become largely useless. The only reason he hadn't discarded her was because she was remarkably skilled at pleasing men—especially his father. Yelv Ye couldn't fathom how his once-brilliant and heroic father had grown so foolish in his sixties. Though he and Consort Liu had no real relationship, every time he saw Yelv Hong's mocking gaze directed at him, Yelv Ye wished he could strangle this woman on the spot.

"What is it?" Yelv Ye asked coldly.

His icy tone made Consort Liu bite her lip in resentment. But knowing they were in Li Cheng and that she still relied on Yelv Ye for everything, she dared not lose her temper. Forcing a faint smile, she said, "Wang Ye seems to be in a bad mood. Is it because of Yelv Hong and Prince Ding's Estate?" Yelv Ye glared at her, and Consort Liu continued calmly, "There's no need to look at me like that. It's not hard to guess. After all... Yelv Hong's crown princess is Ronghua Princess. Though she didn't get along with Prince Ding's Estate back in the capital, this time in Li Cheng, she and Ye Li seem quite close. If Yelv Hong wants to ally with Prince Ding against you, naturally he'd start with his own crown princess."

Yelv Ye snorted. "If Yelv Hong wants to deal with this prince, he'd better have the ability. He's just lucky to have a queen for a mother."

Consort Liu nodded. "Indeed. It's just a pity that Wang Ye excels in everything except lacking a queen mother."

Her words struck a nerve. Yelv Ye shot her an irritated glance. "If you're just here to spout nonsense, save your breath. Focus on recovering, lest... you meet an untimely end in Li Cheng." At the mention of death, Consort Liu shuddered slightly. Over the past two years, she had endured too much suffering and struggle, and she understood all too well the terror of death. She also knew Yelv Ye's dissatisfaction with her. If she angered him, even if no one else came after her, Yelv Ye would find a way to ensure she died in Li Cheng. The thought made her resent Ye Li's good fortune even more. She believed herself in no way inferior to Ye Li, yet Ye Li was the beloved Princess of the State, adored by her husband and revered by all, while she had to struggle desperately just to survive.Seeing Consort Liu being sensible, Yelv Ye gave a satisfied hum. Consort Liu quickly pushed aside her thoughts and said to Yelv Ye, "Wang Ye, if the King learns that the Crown Prince is on such good terms with Prince Ding, do you think he would be angry? Even if the King doesn’t do anything to the Crown Prince, what about the Crown Princess?" The Bei Rong people inherently distrusted outsiders, which was why Consort Liu had originally taken the name Qing Yina. Without her noble status, had she remained in Northern Rong as a woman of Great Chu, she would have long been trampled into the mud.

Hearing this, a glint flashed in Yelv Ye’s eyes. If he could eliminate Yelv Hong, that would be ideal. But even if he couldn’t, removing Ronghua Princess would suffice. Once Ronghua Princess was gone, Yelv Hong’s ties to Prince Ding's Estate would naturally become precarious. "Go on," he said.

Consort Liu nodded. "If the King learns of the Crown Prince’s collusion with Prince Ding's Estate, and if Wang Ye were to stir things up further, or if something were to happen at the border..."

Yelv Ye lowered his gaze in silence, and Consort Liu, knowing he was deep in thought, did not disturb him. After a long while, Yelv Ye finally looked up at her and said, "This matter will rely on you when the time comes."

Understanding his meaning, Consort Liu smiled faintly. "I see. I will immediately write a secret letter to the King." The King of Northern Rong was advanced in years and had grown increasingly senile in recent years, which was why he favored Consort Liu. He even disregarded the fact that she had once been his son’s betrothed—though this was merely a claim Yelv Ye had made to keep her by his side in the army, many still knew of it. This had greatly embarrassed Yelv Ye.

Not long after the secret letter was dispatched from the courier station, a gray figure appeared in the study of Prince Ding's Estate. Inside, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li sat leisurely sipping tea with Yelv Hong and Ronghua Princess. Taking the secret letter presented by A Jin with both hands, Mo Xiuyao didn’t even glance at it before casually passing it to Yelv Hong. Yelv Hong silently opened the letter, and as he read, his face turned ashen. He slammed the letter onto the table with force.

Ronghua Princess frowned in concern, picked up the letter, and after reading it, her expression also darkened. If this letter reached Northern Rong, the first person to suffer would be her.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Crown Prince Yelv, there’s no need to worry. Within Li Cheng, not even a mosquito can fly out without my consent. However... once Yelv Ye returns to Northern Rong, I can do nothing more." Yelv Hong looked at Mo Xiuyao and said calmly, "Prince Ding, isn’t it your wish to see us brothers at each other’s throats?"

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Crown Prince Yelv, are you suggesting that without my interference, you brothers would have lived in harmony all these years? I’ve never meddled in Northern Rong’s affairs."Yelv Hong fell silent. It wasn’t just these past few years—in truth, the conflict between him and Yelv Ye had never ceased since he was named Crown Prince. Don’t assume that nomadic tribes were free from scheming and intrigue. In fact, their struggles were even more ruthless and bloodier than the underhanded tactics hidden in the shadows. Yelv Ye was an ambitious man, but Yelv Hong was no pushover either. Now that he occupied the position of Crown Prince, he would never yield. Thus, the enmity between the brothers was something no one could ever change. Still, even though he understood Mo Xiuyao’s point, it didn’t erase the fact that he had been outmaneuvered by him.

Mo Xiuyao smiled. “In truth, Crown Prince Yelv need not overthink this. At the very least, our goals align, do they not? You don’t wish to be defeated by Yelv Ye, and I want to drive the Northern Rong army out of the Central Plains—while incidentally… taking a few lives.”

Yelv Hong retorted irritably, “I am the Crown Prince of Northern Rong.” Did Mo Xiuyao really expect him to feel pleased hearing such words about expelling Northern Rong’s forces from the Central Plains? Though the territory had been conquered by Yelv Ye, Yelv Hong couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. After all, those lands still belonged to Northern Rong. The Central Plains were fertile and rich—who wouldn’t covet them if given the chance?

Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently, “The customs and landscapes of the Central Plains differ vastly from those of Northern Rong. Does the Crown Prince truly believe Northern Rong can succeed here?”

Yelv Hong raised a defiant brow. “And how does Prince Ding know it’s impossible?”

“At the very least, not now,” Mo Xiuyao countered bluntly. “The Central Plains are not weak enough for that. Even without Great Chu, there is still my Prince Ding’s Estate. And even without my estate, there is still Western Liang. Northern Rong’s ambition to seize the Central Plains is simply not strong enough.” His words were both a statement of fact and a warning.

Though reluctant to admit it, Yelv Hong knew Mo Xiuyao spoke the truth. Historically, Northern Rong’s attempts to invade the Central Plains were too numerous to count. Yet not once had they truly succeeded. Even when the dynasties of the Central Plains had declined to their weakest, it was always the Central Plains’ own people who ultimately brought about their downfall. Perhaps the people of the Central Plains were prone to infighting, which was why dynasties rose and fell in cycles. But they were also unwavering in resisting foreign invasions—even setting aside their internal conflicts to unite against external threats when necessary. This was precisely why so many foreign invasions had ended in failure.

Yelv Hong sighed. “Perhaps Prince Ding is right.” His presence here wasn’t to debate whether Northern Rong should invade the Central Plains. Until he ascended to the throne as King of Northern Rong, he had no right to even discuss such matters.

Mo Xiuyao had no interest in dwelling on the topic either. Smiling at Yelv Hong, he said, “Rest assured, Crown Prince Yelv. I have no designs on Northern Rong either. So… there is no real conflict of interest between us, is there? Once Yelv Ye is dealt with, you will claim the throne of Northern Rong, and I will reclaim what rightfully belongs to the Central Plains. Besides… there’s hardly any need for you to lift a finger in this matter. If anything, you stand to gain the most without lifting a finger.”"Then, what are Prince Ding's plans?" Yelv Hong had to admit he was indeed swayed by Mo Xiuyao's words. As the crown prince of Northern Rong, he absolutely harbored no treasonous intentions of colluding with Prince Ding's Estate. However, his position as crown prince was far from secure. Although his mother was the queen of Northern Rong, his father favored Yelv Ye's mother, Consort Liu, more. More importantly, Yelv Ye had far greater military support behind him than he did. In Northern Rong, without sufficient military power, one was nothing. Over the past year, his father had grown increasingly fond of the woman Yelv Ye brought back, and though he often mocked Yelv Ye, the pressure on him had only intensified. If not out of desperation, he would never have accepted the olive branch extended by Prince Ding's Estate. He would not betray Northern Rong, but he had to secure his position and his life.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and glanced at Ye Li beside him. Ye Li had been writing on a piece of paper with a brush and only now set it down, handing the letter filled with writing to Yelv Hong. Yelv Hong took it and was momentarily stunned. The handwriting on this letter was at least ninety percent similar to the previous one, but the content was entirely different. The earlier letter had accused Yelv Hong of colluding with Prince Ding in treason, while this one replaced the protagonist's name with Yelv Ye himself, and the other party was not Prince Ding's Estate but Ren Qining of the northern border. Previously, Yelv Ye had signed an alliance with Ren Qining at Zijing Pass without prior approval, so there was room to manipulate this matter. Thinking of this, Yelv Hong looked at Ye Li with even more admiration. "Thank you, Wang Fei."

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "No need for formalities, Your Highness. Although my imitation of Consort Liu's handwriting has slight differences, it shouldn't pose a problem."

In Great Chu, this might have been an issue, as the court was full of calligraphy experts. But in the Northern Rong royal court, being able to fully decipher a letter was already quite an achievement, let alone discerning handwriting discrepancies. Even if someone compared it to Consort Liu's previous writings, they likely wouldn't notice the minor differences.

"But even if the King manages to cover it up temporarily, it will still be exposed once Yelv Ye and Consort Liu return to Northern Rong," Ronghua Princess frowned, expressing her concern.

Mo Xiuyao replied, "There's no need to worry too much about that. For the time being... Yelv Ye probably won't be able to return to the Northern Rong royal court. As long as the Crown Prince ensures he doesn't send any letters to the King of Northern Rong, it should be fine. As for Consort Liu... she won't be going back." Given the King of Northern Rong's favor toward Consort Liu, her return to the royal court would undoubtedly cause trouble. Moreover, from the very beginning, Mo Xiuyao had no intention of letting those two leave Great Chu. "There's just one more thing I'd like the Crown Prince's assistance with."

Since so much of this had been planned by Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, Yelv Hong naturally understood he couldn't remain uninvolved. He nodded and said, "Prince Ding, please speak freely."

Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "Transfer Helian Zhen to the Central Plains to assist Yelv Ye."

"This..." Yelv Hong hesitated. Although Helian Zhen had gradually fallen out of favor after the military defeat years ago, he was still Yelv Ye's uncle. In recent years, there had been signs of his resurgence, not to mention how many generals in the Northern Rong army had once served under him. If he were truly allowed to lead troops again, it might be akin to nurturing a tiger that would later become a threat.

"Don’t worry, I’ll help you deal with Helian Zhen as well."

Only then did Yelv Hong remember that Mo Xiuyao held a deep grudge against Helian Zhen. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded and said, "In that case, once I return, I will petition my father to approve Helian Zhen leading troops."

"Thank you."

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Still the draft bot here. Should be home today~