Mo Li

In less than a month and a half, He Su had already managed to bring nearly half of the military forces near Changqing under his control. While this involved much bloodshed behind the scenes, on the surface, everything remained as calm as ever.

"Wang Fei's methods are truly admirable," Queen Helan remarked with a smile as she sat across from Ye Li in the courtyard. Her gaze held even more admiration than before. To gain control over half of Changqing's military forces and even infiltrate the stubborn Central Plains factions in such a short time was something Queen Helan admitted she could never achieve. Though part of it was due to her identity as a Northern Frontier native, which naturally made the Central Plains people wary and hostile toward her, she had to acknowledge that she simply lacked Ye Li's strategic brilliance.

Ye Li shook her head lightly and replied, "You flatter me, Your Majesty. It was merely a fortunate opportunity that allowed me to exploit their weaknesses. In another place, it wouldn’t have been so easy." This wasn’t false modesty—even Ye Li herself hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. The truth was that the Northern Frontier was internally fragmented. Though these remnants of the former dynasty were well-versed in political intrigue and scheming, they and their families had been too far removed from real power for too long. As a result, while the Northern Frontier appeared stable on the surface, it was riddled with vulnerabilities—a hollow shell of its former self. Even if Prince Ding's Estate hadn’t intervened, if Ren Qining didn’t take action to reorganize, the Northern Frontier likely wouldn’t have lasted another decade.

Queen Helan chuckled. "Those who seize opportunities are the wise ones. But those old Central Plains men are deeply suspicious by nature. How is it that they haven’t noticed all your maneuvers?" During this time, the Northern Frontier people had been secretly preparing—waiting for the moment they would be sent out to attack Zijing Pass before making their escape back beyond the frontier. Meanwhile, they had been doing everything possible to stir up trouble among the Central Plains factions to divert their attention. Yet, even with military authority slipping from their grasp, they remained oblivious. Was it possible that all the Central Plains forces were ready to rebel against Ren Qining? Just how terrible was his reputation?

Ye Li toyed with her teacup and smiled faintly. "They should be discovering it soon. Don’t forget, the Yun family also holds considerable military power. They’re bound to notice something amiss." Civil officials commanding military forces—this was yet another of Ren Qining’s mistakes. Or perhaps it wasn’t a mistake, but a necessity forced upon him.

"Wang Fei, the Yun family has sent an invitation requesting your presence at their residence," Zhuo Jing announced as he entered, presenting the letter to Ye Li. She took it and examined it—indeed, it bore the Yun family’s seal. The golden invitation was adorned with intricate auspicious cloud patterns, exuding an air of opulence.

"What about Tan Jizhi?" Ye Li asked.

Zhuo Jing replied, "Young Master Tan was summoned to the Prime Minister’s residence this morning. In my opinion… the Yun family must have already discovered something is wrong. That’s why they’ve sent this invitation—likely intending to trap you inside."

Ye Li stood up with a smile. "Then let’s go meet this loyal minister of the former dynasty. Send word to He Su to keep an eye on the troops outside the city. If anything unexpected happens, he need not hold back. Also, order Qin Feng to block all routes to Zijing Pass. Without my command, not a single piece of information is to reach the pass."

"As you command!" Zhuo Jing acknowledged and departed.Queen Helan also stood up with a smile and said, "I must thank you this time. I'll return and have my people prepare while coordinating with your plans. By the way, do you still need those officials loyal to Ren Qining? Can I execute them?"

Ye Li replied indifferently, "Your Majesty may do as you please."

Entering the Prime Minister's residence with Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, Ye Li remained unfazed by the hidden malice in Prime Minister Yun's smiling demeanor. However, she was surprised to see Tan Jizhi already restrained by the Prime Minister's men. With a faint smile, she asked, "Young Master Tan, what happened here?" Given Tan Jizhi's capabilities and prior precautions, she found it hard to believe he could be subdued so easily by the Prime Minister's forces.

Tan Jizhi shrugged with a smile and replied, "Isn't this just me waiting for you to come to my rescue?"

Seeing the two converse so casually without the slightest regard for him, Prime Minister Yun's face darkened. He sneered coldly, "Young lady, why don't you reveal your true identity? Could you really be from the Boundless Mountains?"

Ye Li smiled faintly, "Since Your Excellency never believed it from the start, why ask now?"

At this, the Prime Minister realized he had indeed been fooled by these two working together. Ye Li's remark that he never believed it wasn't entirely accurate—he had been half-convinced. He had merely relied on Tan Jizhi needing his help and assumed that since both were within Changqing City, they were under his control. Never did he expect their capabilities to exceed his predictions, enabling them to seize control of half the Northern Border's military forces in just over a month.

"You're from Prince Ding's Estate!" the Prime Minister accused coldly. Aside from Prince Ding's people, he couldn't think of anyone else with such ability and methods.

Tan Jizhi gave a helpless bitter smile without answering, while Ye Li nodded gracefully, "Ye Li greets Prime Minister Yun."

"You're Princess Ding?!" Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Yun shrieked in shock, nearly collapsing to the ground. Ye Li felt somewhat helpless—was her name truly so terrifying?

The Prime Minister slumped back into his armchair, dazed, before finally stamping his foot and sighing, "What a Princess Ding you are! Such boldness, such tactics! No doubt you've long conspired with those Northern Border barbarians?" The Prime Minister was no fool—for Prince Ding's Estate to stir such upheaval in the Northern Border without detection until now, they must have had inside help.

Ye Li sighed softly, "It's not that Prince Ding's Estate is ruthless. The King of the Northern Border allied with Northern Rong, seeking to destroy our estate and overthrow the Central Plains. Such a scheme is far too vicious—if they succeeded, Prince Ding's Estate would be caught between enemies. Thus, we had no choice but to take this risk and cut off his retreat. I beg Your Excellency's understanding."

"Victors are kings, losers are bandits. There's no need for further words, Princess," Prime Minister Yun retorted sharply, glaring at Ye Li's delicate features. "For one so young to possess such boldness and skill—even I must admit admiration. But... since Prince Ding's Estate knows its cover is blown, yet you still dare enter my residence, it seems you hold me in no regard whatsoever."

Ye Li smiled faintly, "Your Excellency is a senior. How could I refuse an elder's summons?"

"Good, good, good..." Prime Minister Yun spat out three "goods" in succession, his face livid with rage as he slammed the table and stood. "Since you dared enter my residence, if I let you leave unscathed, wouldn't that disgrace the dignity of the Northern Border?!""Prime Minister Yun, even if the dignity of the Northern Border is trampled upon, it's our shame—what does it have to do with you?" A woman's voice tinged with amusement sounded from outside as Queen Helan strode in with several Northern Border followers, treating the Prime Minister's residence as if it were unguarded. Prime Minister Yun's eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Queen Helan. "I was just wondering how you Northern barbarians managed to collude with Prince Ding's Estate. So it's because of you, you wretch!" Initially, when Queen Helan had insisted on going to Li Cheng, everyone assumed it was out of spite toward Yun Fei, and no one paid it much mind. Little did they expect it would bring calamity upon the Northern Border.

Queen Helan's pretty face darkened as she retorted coldly, "Old fool Yun, you have no shame! Your master, Ren Qining, only became the King of the Northern Border by relying on my cousin and uncle's influence. It's because of them that you old fools enjoy your current comforts. Yet now you turn around and kick down the ladder, ostracizing my people at every turn. Every time there's a battle, you push our Northern Border warriors to the front while you reap the benefits behind them. Over 700,000 of our men entered the pass, and now fewer than 300,000 remain. Still, you can't tolerate us, constantly making things difficult—it's utterly disgusting. No wonder your dynasty has failed to restore itself for centuries. Clearly, the heavens have eyes and know you're nothing but petty villains—how could they let you succeed?"

Prime Minister Yun's face turned ashen under Queen Helan's scathing words. The most criticized aspect of Ren Qining's rise to power in the Northern Border was his exploitation of its people's strength. Moreover, he hadn't subdued the Northern Border to submission—instead, he had married into it and inherited his father-in-law's position. This made his claim to Central Plains legitimacy flimsy at best. Even the children born to the previous queen bore Northern Border surnames, something the remnants of the old dynasty found intolerable. Yet the Northern Border's very foundation relied entirely on its people, leaving these former officials with a twisted mix of emotions—contempt for the "barbarians" alongside reluctant acknowledgment of their debt. This inner conflict only fueled their resentment, driving them to scheme against the Northern Borderers, eager to expel them and restore the Lin family's "pure" lineage—if only to rid themselves of the eyesore.

"Hmph! I won't stoop to arguing with a woman!" Prime Minister Yun snapped, his expression sour after being cornered by Queen Helan.

Queen Helan scoffed. "It's this lady who won't stoop to arguing with an old fool like you."

The onlookers couldn't help but twitch their lips. Ye Li suppressed a smile and asked, "Queen Helan, why have you come so quickly?"

Waving a hand, Queen Helan replied, "I've already rounded up many of Ren Qining's people in the city. Those I haven't caught won't escape now. Fighting has also broken out outside the city—Princess Ding, can your people win?"

Ye Li replied calmly, "Remove the word 'can.' Since the battle has begun, why aren't you holding the fort in the palace instead of running around?"

Queen Helan sighed. "I heard this old man had gathered forces here to deal with you. Had I known you were so confident, I wouldn't have bothered coming. I'll head back now." With matters in the palace still awaiting her, Queen Helan departed as swiftly as she had arrived. Having vented her fury by berating Prime Minister Yun, she walked away with a spring in her step.Queen Helan's sudden departure left Prime Minister Yun looking even more ashen. Ye Li sat across from him, calmly observing his face that seemed to have aged a decade in moments, and said lightly, "Prime Minister Yun, I have no wish to shed unnecessary blood. Please order your men to stand down. After so many years of toil, why not lay down your burdens and retire in peace?"

Prime Minister Yun sneered, "Long have I heard of the unfathomable and unstoppable Qilin of Prince Ding's Estate. No doubt my humble residence is already entirely under Wang Fei's control. Why bother with such pretenses now?"

Ye Li smiled faintly without refuting his words, simply waving for someone to escort him away.

As chaos erupted in Changqing City, Queen Helan ordered the palace gates sealed, arresting many of Ren Qining's former ministers and closing the city gates. Outside the walls, the troops under He Su's command clashed with Ren Qining's remaining forces, throwing both inside and outside Changqing into turmoil. Meanwhile, news of the internal strife among the original troops in Changqing spread rapidly to Ren Qining's forces stationed far away at Zijing Pass.

Meanwhile, Ren Qining had led nearly a million troops to besiege Zijing Pass. Though his opponent was still Leng Huai, this time the situation was far more challenging. Last time, Leng Huai commanded the troops of Da Chu, and the two sides had been locked in a stalemate for months. Now, he faced the Mo Family Army, renowned for their ferocity, and Leng Huai bore the deep-seated grudge of his son's death at Ren Qining's hands. The previous year, when Ren Qining attacked Chu Jing, Leng Huai's eldest son, Leng Qingyu, had fought valiantly to the death, sacrificing himself for his country. Such a bitter enmity was not something Leng Huai would ever forget. The two armies had clashed dozens of times before Zijing Pass, yet the northern forces had not even come close to the city gates.

With the war going poorly and frequent letters of reproach from Yelv Ye—letters that clearly expressed dissatisfaction and blame toward the northern army—Ren Qining was already under immense pressure. Now, receiving news of a rebellion among the troops left behind in the capital, he was so furious his vision darkened.

"Bastards!" Ren Qining slammed the letter down and cursed aloud.

The reactions in the command tent were mixed. His trusted generals were naturally anxious and concerned, while those from the northern territories wore expressions of indifference, almost gleeful at Ren Qining's misfortune. Ren Qining was well aware of their sentiments but suppressed his anger, dismissing them all.

The northern generals, knowing full well Ren Qining's disdain for them, paid no mind and promptly filed out of the tent.

Left behind, the central plains generals studied Ren Qining's expression and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, has something happened in the capital?" Ren Qining gritted his teeth. "The central plains troops we left behind have rebelled."

The group was stunned, momentarily unable to process the news. Had it been the northern troops rebelling, they might have believed it—but their own forces? Though, to be fair, fewer than fifty thousand northern troops had been left near the capital, making rebellion unlikely. Yet for their own troops to revolt while the northerners remained passive was utterly baffling.

"Your Majesty, could this be a trick?" someone ventured skeptically.Ren Qining pressed his fingers to his throbbing temples and said, "This matter is of grave importance. The royal city is the lifeline of our army, with over half a million troops stationed there. If they attack us from behind while we're engaged with Leng Huai's forces, we'll be caught in a pincer movement—utterly trapped, even left homeless."

"Could it be Prince Ding's Estate causing trouble?"

Ren Qining sneered, "For this to happen at such a critical moment—who else could it be but Prince Ding's Estate? What a formidable Prince Ding's Estate, what a formidable Mo Family Army..." The assembled officials exchanged uneasy glances, their faces clouded with worry. Their million-strong army had besieged Zijing Pass for over a month without making any progress. If Changqing fell into Prince Ding's hands, they would be finished. Just feeding their massive army would become an insurmountable problem—within three months, they'd all starve to death.

"Your Majesty, since the royal city has already sent for reinforcements, it must be on the verge of collapse. We must swiftly return to quell the rebellion." Though their alliance with Northern Rong to attack Zijing Pass was important, their own territory mattered more. If rebels truly seized the royal city, they'd lose everything. Even if Leng Huai opened Zijing Pass and let them through, what could they do then? Become refugees?

Such a crucial issue—Ren Qining's subordinates knew he understood it well. After a moment's contemplation, he ordered a general to lead 200,000 troops back as reinforcements. This move also served as a test. Having dealt with Prince Ding's Estate multiple times, Ren Qining was well aware of Mo Xiuyao's unpredictable tactics. Since Prince Ding's Estate was likely involved, he had to proceed with extreme caution.

Once the reinforcement plan was settled, Ren Qining sighed and wrote several letters. Summoning an aide, he instructed, "Deliver these personally to Wang Fei and the Prime Minister."

Changqing City, Northern Border Royal Palace

With the city now under Northern Border control and chaos raging outside its walls, the palace had become Queen Helan's sole domain. She invited Ye Li to stay in the palace to avoid the hassle of summoning her for discussions. Ye Li didn't mind—Changqing was not only under Northern Border control but also secretly dominated by the Mo Family Army. Not even a fly could escape unnoticed. Using intelligence provided by Queen Helan on Ren Qining's hidden networks, the Mo Family Army had begun quietly dismantling his covert forces in the Northern Border. These records had likely been compiled by the previous queen, who feared Central Plains factions might threaten her son's rule, but now they were being used against Prince Ding's Estate.

"Heh, Wang Fei, take a look at this..." Queen Helan lounged lazily on her grand phoenix throne, waving a newly received letter with a playful grin. Ye Li looked up from her book, arching an eyebrow. "What does the King of the Northern Border have to say to his queen?"

Queen Helan smiled. "He says rebel troops are causing chaos and he's worried about my safety. Tells me to stay in the palace and not wander around, lest something happen. Oh, and... he probably wants to sound out my father and the other Northern Border tribal leaders."

Ye Li nodded. "He's testing your stance. You should reply as you see fit."

"Reply?" Queen Helan blinked innocently at Ye Li. "But I already killed his messenger."Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "That's the Queen's business. If Her Majesty doesn't want those two hundred thousand troops to return, she can ignore him."

Queen Helan slumped her shoulders helplessly. As she fetched brush and ink to reply to Ren Qining, she grumbled, "Princess Ding, you're so mean!" Ye Li chuckled, "Did I ever tell you I was a good person?" Queen Helan gritted her teeth, "Can you stop calling me 'Queen'?"

"Certainly, Princess Helan," Ye Li readily complied.

Queen Helan huffed and buried herself in writing to Ren Qining. The letter bluntly stated that the rebellion of the Central Plains troops had nothing to do with her northern territory, and if he wanted her father's assistance, he would have to offer satisfactory terms. When she finished, Ye Li came over to review it and added a few strokes. "Copy it again."

Though Queen Helan only had a basic grasp of Central Plains script, she could still discern the faint traces of implied affection in Ye Li's additions. She shuddered involuntarily. "Princess Ding, don't slander me. This lady has no affection for that ungrateful scoundrel."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you always acted that way? A sudden, cold shift in attitude would make Ren Qining suspicious." Previously, to avoid arousing Ren Qining's doubts, Queen Helan had often clashed with Yun Fei, subtly displaying hints of jealousy. Ren Qining was far too shrewd; if Queen Helan suddenly adopted a purely businesslike tone now, it would easily raise his suspicions, leading him to withhold those two hundred thousand troops.

"Fine, I'll endure it," Queen Helan conceded, admitting that Ye Li's foresight surpassed her own. Reluctantly, she picked up the brush and began recopying the letter.

"Helan... come out here!" Just as Queen Helan was gloomily rewriting the letter, a sharp, angry shout rang out from outside. The shrill voice made her hand jerk, and a large ink blot stained the half-finished letter. Queen Helan's face darkened as she called out sharply, "Let them in!"

Moments later, Yun Fei stormed in with several women in tow, her face twisted in fury. Trapped in the palace and cut off from the outside world, they had no idea what was happening beyond its walls. After days of pent-up frustration, Yun Fei could bear it no longer and had come to pick a fight with Queen Helan. As Ren Qining's favored consort, Queen Helan had refrained from taking action against her, and since most of the palace attendants were from the Central Plains, Yun Fei had managed to force her way to the queen's palace doors.

"Helan! What do you think you're doing? How dare you bar my people from leaving the palace? Are you plotting rebellion?"

Queen Helan set down her brush and regarded her with a mocking smile. "Indeed. What will you do about it?""How dare you?!" Yun Fei shrieked. "Aren't you afraid the King will kill you when he returns?"

Queen Helan propped her chin lazily on her hand, eyeing her with indifference. "Don't worry. Before Ren Qining returns to kill me, I'll make sure to kill all of you first. And, of course... that detestable father of yours. And all your fathers..." She glanced dismissively at the group of women trailing behind Yun Fei, curling her lips in disdain. Ever since becoming queen, these women had caused her nothing but trouble. Just like back then, when her cousin was still alive—those concubines had constantly harassed her too. Queen Helan had absolutely no fondness for the harem.

"You... what have you done to my father?" Yun Fei paled. If Queen Helan dared to seal off the palace and openly declare her intentions like this, she couldn't possibly be insane. That meant she must hold a powerful trump card in her hands.

Queen Helan glanced at Ye Li, who was sitting to the side reading a book, and said with a smile, "I don’t have the ability to do anything to your chancellor father."

Only then did the others notice a woman in white seated in the hall. She had been leaning against a pillar reading, and since everyone’s attention had been focused on Queen Helan, they hadn’t noticed her until now.

Ye Li looked up and said calmly to Yun Fei, "Chancellor Yun is fine for now, resting at home. I heard that Yun Fei is quite skilled in calligraphy and particularly adept at imitating others’ handwriting?"

"That’s right. So what?" Yun Fei replied instinctively.

Ye Li smiled sweetly. "Nothing much. I’m just short on hands at the moment, so I’d like to trouble Yun Fei to help me write a letter."

"Why should I help you? Wait—who are you? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before..." Yun Fei stared at Ye Li in confusion. Though Ye Li’s appearance had been slightly altered by disguise, there was still an odd sense of familiarity about her.

Ye Li merely smiled without answering.

A sharp voice from behind Queen Helan suddenly cried out, "You’re Princess Ding!"