Mo Li

"Wei Lin sent a carrier pigeon message—Qingchen Gongzi has gone missing!"

"What?!" Upon hearing this, not only Ye Li, but even Mo Xiuyao and Feng Zhiyao were greatly shocked. Ye Li's face turned pale as she abruptly stood up, nearly collapsing. Mo Xiuyao swiftly caught her by the waist and helped her sit back down, then turned to Zhuo Jing and said, "Explain clearly."

Zhuo Jing hurriedly presented Wei Lin's secret letter while reporting, "After settling matters in the Boundless Mountains, Qingchen Gongzi set off north with Wei Lin and his men to return to Li Cheng. However, they were ambushed along the way. Most of the accompanying guards were killed or injured, Wei Lin was severely wounded, and Qingchen Gongzi's whereabouts are now unknown."

Ye Li silently read through Wei Lin's message. Though it was brief, she was well aware of Wei Lin and the Qilin's combat prowess. The fact that Wei Lin was seriously injured, most of the Qilin were killed or wounded, and Xu Qingchen was abducted proved that the enemy was anything but ordinary—this was clearly a long-planned operation. This incident was different from Xu Qingchen's disappearance in Nanzhao years ago. Back then, his capture had been largely within his own calculations, and aside from outsiders unaware of the truth, few were genuinely worried. But this time, the enemy had forcibly taken Xu Qingchen from the hands of Prince Ding's Estate's most elite Qilin forces—this was cause for serious concern about Xu Qingchen's safety.

Mo Xiuyao held Ye Li gently and reassured her in a soft voice, "Don't worry. If the enemy wanted Qingchen's life, they could have simply assassinated him on the spot. They wouldn't have gone through the trouble of taking him away. Since they abducted him, they won't harm him easily."

Ye Li closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. They had all grown too accustomed to Qingchen Gongzi's unparalleled intelligence and godlike wisdom, forgetting that no matter how brilliant he was, Xu Qingchen was still just a scholar with no martial prowess. His extraordinary intellect was predicated on his personal safety not being threatened. If some reckless martial artist with no regard for reason came along, Qingchen Gongzi would be helpless.

"Xiu Yao… Eldest Brother…" The thought of Xu Qingchen possibly facing danger sent a chill through Ye Li's entire body. The most exceptionally talented Qingchen Gongzi of the Xu Family in recent generations—if anything were to happen to him… Ye Li could almost imagine the devastation it would bring to the entire Xu Family. Steadying herself, she gripped Mo Xiuyao's hand as if seeking strength and said, "Let's not inform Eldest Uncle and Grandfather about this yet."

Mo Xiuyao, no longer in the mood for petty jealousy, nodded. "I know. A Li, don't worry. Qingchen is extraordinarily intelligent—he won't be easily harmed."

Feng Zhiyao glanced at the nearly distraught Ye Li and quietly withdrew with Zhuo Jing.

Inside the tent, Mo Xiuyao held Ye Li close, letting her lean against his chest. Feeling the faint dampness on his robes, his heart ached. He gently stroked her dark hair and comforted her in a soft voice, "A Li, don't worry. I'll send people to search for him immediately. He'll be fine."Ye Li whispered softly, "Big brother was originally someone extraordinary, untouched by worldly affairs. If it weren’t for me... the Xu Family and Big Brother wouldn’t have..." Mo Xiuyao held her tightly and said, "It’s not A Li’s fault. It’s all because of me. I’ve dragged you and Brother Qingchen into this. A Li, don’t blame yourself. It’s my fault... But even if A Li thinks I’m no good, you can’t leave me. I won’t let go." Seeing the faint redness in Ye Li’s eyes, Mo Xiuyao spoke in a deep voice.

"I won’t leave you," Ye Li clutched his lapel firmly and declared resolutely, "As long as I live, I will never leave you. It’s just... I’m so afraid. If something really happened to Big Brother..."

"We don’t even know what happened yet, and we’re already scaring ourselves," Mo Xiuyao said with a faint smile. "A Li, don’t you trust your big brother’s abilities? Do you really think something must have happened to him? Right now, we should focus on what we need to do."

Ye Li quickly composed herself. Whether something had happened or not, finding Xu Qingchen was the most important thing. Otherwise, crying her heart out here would be pointless. Steadying her emotions, she asked, "Who do you think... would want to capture Big Brother?"

Xu Qingchen pondered for a moment before replying, "In the south, there are only three parties capable of snatching someone from Wei Lin’s hands: Lei Zhenting, the Xiling Emperor, and Mo Jingli. However, the Xiling Emperor doesn’t have the courage, nor does he have any reason to do so. As for Lei Zhenting... if Brother Xu disappeared in his territory, he would naturally be our first suspect. But if he really wanted to abduct someone, he might as well do it openly. There’s no need for such underhanded tactics when relations are already strained."

"So it’s Mo Jingli?" A cold glint flashed in Ye Li’s eyes. "Why would he capture Big Brother? To blackmail Prince Ding’s Estate?"

Mo Xiuyao was also puzzled. With Lei Zhenting standing between them and Mo Jingli, what could Mo Jingli possibly gain by capturing Xu Qingchen to bargain with Prince Ding’s Estate? Shaking his head, he said, "Mo Jingli’s thoughts are sometimes hard to decipher. Besides, this is just our speculation. I’m sure we’ll receive news from the south soon. A Li, there’s no need to worry too much."

Ye Li nodded uneasily. After a moment of silence, she spoke again, "If there’s still no news about Big Brother, I want to go to Jiangnan myself." Mo Xiuyao was taken aback and remained silent for a long while. Just as Ye Li thought he would object, she heard him sigh softly and say, "I can’t go with you. A Li, be very careful. Try to return before the Northern Rong and Western Liang form an alliance, or you’ll be in danger there."

Ye Li nodded and murmured, "Don’t worry, I’ll come back as soon as possible."As Mo Xiuyao had predicted, early the next morning, a secret letter sent by Wei Lin from the south arrived, detailing the course of events. It turned out that Wei Lin, fearing any mishap with the carrier pigeon, had dispatched a fast rider to deliver the letter simultaneously. After reading it, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao frowned even more deeply. The disappearance of Qingchen Gongzi in Lei Zhenting’s territory was such a significant matter that it couldn’t possibly escape Lei Zhenting’s notice. The letter mentioned that Lei Zhenting seemed to have intentions of detaining Wei Lin and his men. However, Ye Li wasn’t overly concerned about Wei Lin’s safety—given their abilities, if they wished to leave, no one could stop them, not even Lei Zhenting, one of the four great masters of the martial world. Moreover, given Lei Zhenting’s status, he would never personally intervene to trouble Wei Lin and his group.

After finishing Wei Lin’s letter, Ye Li sighed and said, “It seems I must go to Jiangnan myself. I fear… my elder brother has been taken to Great Chu by Mo Jingli.” Compared to Mo Jingli, Ye Li would much rather deal with Lei Zhenting. Lei Zhenting was a smart man, and smart people naturally knew what they should and shouldn’t do. On the other hand, someone like Mo Jingli often acted on reckless impulses, doing things he knew he shouldn’t.

Mo Xiuyao also understood the urgency of Xu Qingchen’s safety and simply said softly, “Be careful in all things.”

Ye Li nodded and solemnly promised, “I’ll return as soon as possible. Don’t worry.”

That night, Ye Li, accompanied by Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, Xu Qingfeng, and three squads of Qilin, secretly left the Mo Family Army camp. Avoiding the territories of Western Liang and Northern Rong, they traveled east by boat toward Jiangnan. Along the way, shadow guards of the Mo Family Army continuously relayed updates from Jiangnan to Ye Li. Upon confirming that Xu Qingchen was indeed not in Lei Zhenting’s hands, Ye Li decided against provoking Lei Zhenting further. Instead, they crossed the river by boat and landed in the territory controlled by Mo Jingli—now referred to as Southern Chu.

The new Chu Jing was not large and was called Nanjing. It had originally been the fiefdom and princely residence of Mo Jingli when he was Prince Li. After two years of governance, though the area remained modest, it had grown considerably more prosperous. Great Chu, after all, had deep-rooted foundations, unlike the precarious Northern Rong. Ye Li disguised herself as a white-robed man. Now older, her disguise no longer resembled the slightly youthful white-clad boy of the past. Though still delicate in features, she exuded an air of refined elegance and commanding presence, rivaling even the famed Qingchen Gongzi, the so-called number one gentleman of the realm.

Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and the others, all trusted aides of Ye Li who had been seen by many, also altered their appearances. The group, numbering over a dozen in plain sight, resembled a noble young master traveling with his entourage. Though Southern Chu now occupied only a corner of the land, it remained a hub of culture and sophistication, so their arrival in the capital did not attract undue attention.Wei Lin had arrived in Nanjing long before Ye Li and the others. Although Nanjing was now under the control of Mo Jingli and the Boundless Mountains, Prince Ding's Estate had inevitably planted many spies and informants there. Naturally, suitable accommodations had already been prepared—a residence on a street filled with wealthy merchants and powerful nobles, not too far nor too close to the Regent's Estate. The plaque above the gate bore the characters "Chu Residence." The locals only knew that the Chu family was originally a prominent clan from Yunzhou. Though not as illustrious as the centuries-old Xu Family, they were still a scholarly family with generations of heritage. This mansion was merely a branch estate of the Chu family in Nanjing. Seeing people coming and going in recent days, the neighbors naturally assumed it was the Chu family's masters staying for a brief visit. Apart from a few nearby households sending gifts, it attracted no attention.

After settling into the Chu Residence, Ye Li and her companions had no time to rest before a steady stream of intelligence about Nanjing began pouring in. However, what troubled Ye Li was that none of it contained even the slightest clue related to Xu Qingchen. The only clear piece of information was that a few days prior, a group of people had been seen mysteriously transporting someone across the Cloud Ripple River. But whether that person was Qingchen Gongzi or where those people had gone afterward remained unknown.

Seeing Ye Li's furrowed brows, Xu Qingfeng comforted her gently, "Big Brother is blessed with great fortune and won't meet misfortune so easily. Li'er, don't worry too much." In truth, as Xu Qingchen's younger brother, Xu Qingfeng was just as worried. But seeing Ye Li so distraught, he couldn't help but offer some reassurance. He also felt deeply guilty—as the elder brother, he should have shouldered this burden himself. Yet he knew he was somewhat lacking compared to Ye Li and couldn't bear to see her exhaust herself further while agonizing over Xu Qingchen's plight.

Ye Li shook her head helplessly. "If it weren't for us, if it weren't for Prince Ding's Estate, Big Brother would never have encountered such a thing."

Xu Qingfeng dismissed her concern with a wave. "Heaven's storms are unpredictable, and human fortunes change overnight. Big Brother's situation might not be because of Prince Ding's Estate at all. Maybe some admirer of his beauty kidnapped him to be a mountain bandit's groom." His words were meant to lighten the mood, and indeed, Ye Li couldn't help but recall the time in Nanzhao when Xu Qingchen had been captured by Shu Manlin. She chuckled softly before shaking her head again.

Amid her faint smile, Ye Li suddenly felt a stir in her heart and frowned slightly.

Noticing her change in expression, Xu Qingfeng quickly asked, "What is it? Did you think of something?"

Ye Li's brows knitted together as she said gravely, "Have someone investigate what Dongfang You has been up to these past few days." Though Xu Qingfeng had only met Dongfang You once at Mr. Qingyun's banquet, he had long heard of her as the first woman in years to relentlessly pursue his elder brother. Frowning, he said, "You suspect Dongfang You is behind this? But... she's Mo Jingli's Wang Fei. How could Mo Jingli allow her to...""She is still the young mistress of the Boundless Mountains. Although the Boundless Mountains' forces in Western Liang and the north have been nearly destroyed, their influence in the south remains intact. Moreover, after nearly a century of operation, their foundation is undeniably deep. Even if she intends to do something, Mo Jingli might not even realize it," Ye Li said slowly. Initially, Ye Li hadn't suspected Dongfang You, as her temperament didn’t seem like someone capable of such actions. However, she had overlooked the fact that Dongfang You was a woman—one who had been rejected by Xu Qingchen and then forced to marry Mo Jingli. It was hard to say whether her personality might have changed. Furthermore, Dongfang You was personally trained by Dongfang Hui of the Boundless Mountains, and even Dongfang Hui had admitted that Dongfang You’s intelligence surpassed her own. If Dongfang You’s character changed and she no longer remained as naive as before, she could become an even more terrifying figure than Dongfang Hui.

At the mention of Dongfang You, Wei Lin frowned and said, "Dongfang You betrayed Dongfang Hui."

Hearing this, everyone immediately turned their attention to Wei Lin. Wei Lin had accompanied Xu Qingchen on his journey south and had stayed by his side throughout. The operation against the Boundless Mountains had been entirely under Xu Qingchen’s command, so Ye Li and the others weren’t fully aware of the details. Wei Lin’s words came as a shock. Dongfang Hui had raised and mentored Dongfang You—it was likely Dongfang Hui herself had never imagined being betrayed by her.

Wei Lin explained, "After the Boundless Mountains were breached, Dongfang Hui originally had a chance to escape back to the south. However, we were tipped off about several rendezvous points along the Cloud Ripple River, allowing us to lie in wait and capture her. Although the informant never revealed themselves, Qingchen Gongzi said there was an eighty percent chance it was Dongfang You."

"Who would have thought that Madam Dongfang would die at the hands of her most beloved disciple," Ye Li sighed after hearing Wei Lin’s account. Apart from her insistence on forcing Dongfang You to marry Xu Qingchen, Ye Li didn’t harbor much dislike for Dongfang Hui. After all, a woman capable of single-handedly upholding the Boundless Mountains must have possessed remarkable qualities. Compared to dying at the hands of her most trusted and cherished disciple, Dongfang Hui would probably have preferred to fall to Xu Qingchen or Lei Tengfeng.

"If that’s the case, Dongfang You has likely taken control of the remaining forces of the Boundless Mountains. That means the possibility of Qingchen Gongzi being in her hands has also increased significantly," Ye Li mused. Qin Feng, skeptical, asked, "Is Dongfang You even capable of such things?" In Qin Feng’s eyes, Dongfang You was nothing more than a clueless fool obsessed with infatuation.

Ye Li shook her head. "Dongfang You’s martial arts surpass yours and mine. It’s said her medical skills are also impressive, and she excels in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, strategy, and military tactics. A woman who has mastered so much could never be a fool. It all depends on whether she awakens to her potential. Before, she appeared foolish in the eyes of others, but once she truly understands… she becomes the most terrifying person. Dongfang Hui probably died without ever comprehending why Dongfang You killed her."

With a quiet sigh, Ye Li turned to Qin Feng. "Send a message to Yao Ji. I have something to ask her."

Qin Feng was momentarily taken aback but nodded. "Understood."In the capital city of Nanjing, within the most upscale teahouse, the Star Plucking Tower, a stunning young woman entered slowly with a child around ** years old, instantly drawing the gazes of everyone in the hall. This woman was none other than Yao Ji, the concubine of Marquis Muyang Manor, and the young master of the household. Since the family's relocation southward, the former Marquis Muyang had grown somewhat disillusioned and passed the title to his son, Mu Yang, while he spent his days doting on his grandchildren in leisure. Mu Yang, a capable and ambitious man, had gradually grown closer to Mo Jingli despite Mo Jingqi's absence, and in recent years, the Muyang household had flourished even more. The fact that Yao Ji, this captivating concubine of Marquis Muyang, now stood almost equal to the legitimate wife had become the talk of Nanjing. Yao Ji had become the object of hatred for all proper wives and the model for concubines to emulate.

As soon as Yao Ji entered, the manager eagerly approached her, saying, "Madam Mu, Young Master, please come upstairs."

Yao Ji smiled enchantingly and replied, "Thank you. Is my usual private room still available?"

The manager fawned, "It is our honor that Madam Mu enjoys our teahouse’s refreshments. Naturally, your preferred room is always reserved for you." Who in Nanjing didn’t know that the current Marquis Muyang, despite having several wives and concubines, doted exclusively on this concubine? Yao Ji had once been the top dancer of the Alluring City Quarter in Chu Jing, renowned as the finest in the capital. Her beauty and allure were unmatched by ordinary women. Moreover, thanks to the marquis’s favor, Yao Ji was exceedingly generous. Even on days she didn’t visit, she would send someone to buy pastries daily, so the Star Plucking Tower was more than happy to reserve a private room for her as a special privilege.

With a graceful smile, Yao Ji thanked him and led the child upstairs, leaving behind only a fragrant silhouette and a melodious laugh.

Only after her figure disappeared upstairs did the crowd below exhale and burst into murmurs.

"That Madam Yao Ji truly lives up to her reputation as the former top dancer. Though no longer young, her beauty is such that even Princess Li pales in comparison." One of Prince Li’s two consorts, Rong Fei Ye Ying, had once been hailed as the capital’s top beauty. But now, the only thing people remembered about her was her status as the younger sister of Princess Ding. How could she compare to Yao Ji’s dazzling radiance?

"Marquis Muyang is truly blessed with such fortune. No wonder he dotes on Madam Yao Ji so." It was just a pity for the marquis’s legitimate wife, originally a noble lady of grace and refinement, who could only fade into obscurity beside Yao Ji’s brilliance.

Yao Ji led Mu Lie upstairs and entered her usual private room, where someone was already waiting. Seeing Ye Li sitting there sipping tea, Yao Ji couldn’t help but smirk. "And who might this dashing young gentleman be?"

Ye Li smiled at her. "Yao Ji, it’s been a while. You’re as radiant as ever. Mu Lie, come sit." Though Mu Lie appeared no older than ten, he already carried himself with the solemnity of a young adult. He glanced curiously at Ye Li a few times before answering respectfully, "Yes, thank you, Wang Fei."

Ye Li shook her head and remarked to Yao Ji, "How did someone with your temperament raise such a serious child?"Yao Ji said helplessly, "How could I possibly teach him? It's always been him teaching me." She sat down as well and glanced at Qin Feng, who was seated not far behind Ye Li, pausing slightly before casually looking away.

Yao Ji was aware that the northern war was raging and Ye Li's long journey to the south must be of great importance. Without wasting words, she briefed Ye Li on all the major events in Nanjing during this period. After listening, Ye Li frowned slightly and asked, "You haven't heard any news about my elder brother in Nanjing either?" Yao Ji smiled bitterly and replied, "Ever since the news of Qingchen Gongzi's disappearance, I've been carefully monitoring movements both inside and outside Chu Jing, but there hasn't been the slightest trace of him. I can assure you that whether Qingchen Gongzi was abducted by someone in Nanjing or not, at the very least... he is definitely not in the city right now."

Seeing Ye Li's frown, Yao Ji's delicate brows also furrowed slightly. Truth be told, this matter was rather bizarre. Qingchen Gongzi was no ordinary passerby—wherever he went, he would attract attention. Moreover, given his intelligence, as long as he was alive, he would have left some clues for them. Yet despite Prince Ding's Estate practically turning the entire Jiangnan region upside down, there had been no trace of Qingchen Gongzi.

Suddenly, Yao Ji recalled something and said gravely, "By the way, before Qingchen Gongzi disappeared, I sent him a secret letter."

Hearing this, everyone immediately looked up at her. Yao Ji continued, "The letter was sent from the Regent's Palace. Since Wang Fei and Wang Ye were both at the border, all matters in Jiangnan had been handed over to Qingchen Gongzi. So the letter was delivered directly to him. That was... the day after Dongfang Hui died."

"A message from Prince Li's Palace after Dongfang Hui was killed..." Ye Li murmured. The timing was too coincidental—the message from Ye Ying must have been related to Dongfang You.

"Wei Lin, do you know what was written in the secret letter?"

Wei Lin shook his head somewhat dejectedly and said, "At that time, this subordinate was not by Qingchen Gongzi's side. Later, Qingchen Gongzi ordered me to come, saying there was something to instruct. But just as I arrived at the young master's door, the assassins appeared. After that... if that secret letter wasn't taken away by the other party, then it must have been destroyed by Qingchen Gongzi."

Qin Feng spoke up, "Currently, there hasn't been any unfavorable news about Princess Li coming from the Regent's Palace. The secret letter probably wasn't revealed."

Ye Li sighed helplessly, "Then we still have to find a breakthrough from Prince Li's Palace. Yao Ji, is there any news about Mo Jingli's son?"

Yao Ji nodded and whispered a few words into Ye Li's ear with a smile. Ye Li raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Are you certain?"

"Absolutely true," Yao Ji replied with a laugh. "It was confirmed two months ago, but because the news was too important, I was worried about leaks. I specifically had it personally delivered to Li Cheng. Who would have thought both Qingchen Gongzi and Wang Fei would come to Jiangnan one after another."

Ye Li sighed, "At least it's not too late. Mo Jingli has already obtained the antidote. Any later and this information would probably be worthless."

Yao Ji covered her lips with a smile, "That might not necessarily be true. Mo Jingli was heavily drugged by Mo Jingqi. Even with the antidote, it will take quite some time for the effects to show. But that Prince Li is quite impatient. As soon as he returned to Jiangnan, he took in four or five daughters of court officials into his residence. Unfortunately, there's been no news yet. I heard Prince Li suspects Wang Ye deceived him with fake medicine and is seething with anger. Moreover, even if it no longer works on the father, the child will always be effective for the mother." At this point, Yao Ji couldn't help but sigh softly, feeling some sympathy for Ye Ying. A mother's love makes her strong. If not for her child, why would she have given up her peaceful life in Li Cheng to entangle herself in Marquis Muyang Manor for so many years?

Marquis Muyang Manor had long been marked for vengeance by Prince Ding. Her son, however, was Mu Yang's child. If she wanted her son to live a stable life, she could only pledge loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate. Moreover, Princess Ding had saved both her and her child, while Marquis Muyang Manor... Even if Mu Yang knew what those people had done to her and her child, he would never do anything for them, only pampering her in his own self-righteous way. Mu Yang thought he loved her deeply, and perhaps he truly did. But his love was no longer what she and her child needed. Long ago, when she returned to Marquis Muyang Manor with Mu Lie, she was no longer the Yao Ji who had once loved and hated Mu Yang. She was merely a spy, a mole planted by Prince Ding's Estate within Marquis Muyang Manor and the Chu Kingdom. From then on, there was no love or hate—only allegiance.

Ye Li nodded and said, "Later, I'll go see Ye Ying."

Yao Ji nodded as well, "I'll arrange it. If Wang Fei has no other matters, we'll take our leave first." After a moment's thought, Ye Li added, "After we find your elder brother, you and Mu Lie should return to Li Cheng." Hearing this, Yao Ji was taken aback. She had been in Marquis Muyang Manor for over two years and had long become a crucial mole for Prince Ding's Estate in Nanjing. Though not irreplaceable, her sudden disappearance would still be difficult to handle.

"Wang Fei, this is..."

Ye Li looked up at her and smiled faintly, "You've already done what you needed to do. There's no need to waste any more of your time in Jiangnan."Yao Ji fell silent for a moment before nodding, "Yao Ji understands. Many thanks to Wang Fei."

After Yao Ji left with Mu Lie, Qin Feng frowned and turned to Ye Li with concern, "Wang Fei, was it appropriate to tell her this now?" Ye Li smiled at him, "Don't you trust her?"

Qin Feng stiffened slightly, sighing after a long pause, "Perhaps." Truthfully, Qin Feng himself wasn't entirely clear about the nature of his relationship with Yao Ji. He had never forgotten the frail and emaciated woman he once rescued, yet he couldn't discern Yao Ji's true feelings toward him. If she had feelings for him, why would she have unhesitatingly requested to leave Li Cheng and return to Marquis Muyang Manor from Wang Ye and Wang Fei? And if he truly loved Yao Ji, why couldn't he trust her completely? Why had he immediately worried she might betray them when Wang Fei tested her?

Noticing Qin Feng's troubled expression, Ye Li said gently, "Don't overthink it. Your concern is natural. Unconditional trust doesn't exist in this world—otherwise, why would I have spoken to her about this now? I'd rather she make her decision now than waver at a critical moment and stab me in the back later." It wasn't that Ye Li doubted Yao Ji's loyalty, but a woman's resolve was most easily shaken by two things in life: her lover and her child. Even Ye Li couldn't guarantee she wouldn't do something she knew was wrong for Mo Xiuyao and their three children. Giving Yao Ji time to process this now was far better than springing it on her later. If any issues arose, they could still find ways to address them.

From the moment Ye Li arrived in Nanjing, it had been inevitable that Marquis Muyang Manor would meet its end. Mo Xiuyao despised many people, and the former Marquis Muyang was undoubtedly one of them. Since they were already here, Ye Li didn't mind settling the matter in advance. Moreover, if Mo Jingli agreed to ally with Western Liang and Northern Rong, Marquis Muyang Manor would become an enemy of Prince Ding's Estate—preemptively eliminating them was only logical.

After a long silence, Qin Feng looked at Ye Li and said, "Wang Fei, please entrust the matter of Marquis Muyang Manor to this subordinate."

Ye Li hesitated, "Have you thought this through? I originally felt it would be more suitable to assign this to Zhuo Jing and Lin Han." Qin Feng smiled, "Thank you, Wang Fei. This subordinate will not disappoint you."

Ye Li sighed softly, "You should know..." If Marquis Muyang Manor fell by Qin Feng's hand, any future between him and Yao Ji would truly be uncertain. Even if Yao Ji no longer loved Mu Yang, he was still the father of her child.

"This subordinate understands," Qin Feng replied, his smile faint but his tone as firm as stone.

"In that case, have Lin Han accompany you. If there are any... inconvenient tasks, let Lin Han handle them," Ye Li said. Lin Han nodded in acknowledgment, "This subordinate obeys." He understood Wang Fei's meaning—should the need arise for Qin Feng to personally kill someone from Marquis Muyang Manor, Lin Han could take his place.

"Many thanks, Wang Fei."

Back at Marquis Muyang Manor, Yao Ji walked calmly with Mu Lie toward her courtyard, her expression indifferent. But their path was suddenly blocked. Yao Ji looked up at the women standing before her, her face darkening.The former young mistress, now the Marquise Muyang, glared at the still enchanting woman before her, who was already past thirty, her eyes brimming with jealousy and resentment. She shrilled, "Where has the side consort been?"

Yao Ji, in a foul mood, arched her delicate brows and replied coolly, "What business is it of yours?"

The Marquise Muyang stiffened, her once-refined features twisting into something almost grotesque. She gritted her teeth. "Yao Ji, you're too arrogant! Don't forget, I am the Marquise Muyang!" Yao Ji cast her a glance and said indifferently, "So what? Keep your title of Marquise Muyang—no one is fighting you for it. If you want it, you can even keep the position of side consort."

"You—!" The Marquise Muyang gnashed her teeth, wishing she could tear the woman before her apart. She, a noblewoman from a prestigious family, had lost to a woman from the pleasure quarters. Over the years, she had endured Mu Yang's neglect and the mockery of high society ladies. But the Marquise had forgotten how much suffering Yao Ji had endured because of her, even nearly losing her life. Had she not relentlessly persecuted Yao Ji back then, Yao Ji would have lived out her days in obscurity with her child, never returning as a spy for Prince Ding's Estate to compete for favor.

Yao Ji impatiently glanced at the group of alluring women behind the Marquise. These women had been carefully selected by the Marquise over the past two years—some to flaunt her virtue by presenting them to Mu Yang, others gifted by officials. But due to Yao Ji's exclusive favor, these women had no choice but to suppress their ambitions and stand behind the Marquise to unite against Yao Ji. Unfortunately, for someone like Yao Ji, who had weathered countless storms, these women were still too green. Even united, they had never gained the upper hand against her.

In her current mood, Yao Ji had no patience for idle chatter with these women. She looked up at the Marquise and smiled faintly, lowering her voice. "Madam, there's something I've long wanted to say to you."

"What is it?" the Marquise asked warily, her eyes locked on Yao Ji. Yao Ji's smile turned cold. "I’ve always wanted to tell you… targeting me is pointless. Mu Yang isn’t interested in you—shouldn’t you reflect on yourself? As a woman, to bore your husband so much that he can’t even bear to look at you… I truly pity you."

With that, ignoring the Marquise's ashen expression, Yao Ji flicked her sleeve and turned toward her own courtyard.

"You're in a bad mood?" Mu Lie followed her, his pace seemingly unhurried yet always maintaining a distance of two or three steps behind her brisk stride. Only after they entered Yao Ji's courtyard did he ask quietly.

Yao Ji paused, then shook her head. "It's nothing."

Mu Lie leaned against a pillar, watching her silently. "We’ll return to Li Cheng soon. You’ll see your son—aren’t you happy?" Over the years, Mu Lie had developed some affection for Yao Ji. An orphan who had never known his own mother, he couldn’t bear the thought of Yao Ji making a mistake she would regret for life, especially when he saw how deeply she missed her son.

Yao Ji gave a bitter smile. Mu Yang was her son’s father—whether she still loved him or not, that fact would never change. How could she possibly be happy?Mu Lie looked at her and said, "If you can't handle it, you can tell Wang Fei and leave first. She won't make things difficult for you. I can manage alone." Both Yao Ji and Mu Lie were intelligent people. When Ye Li suggested they return to Li Cheng together, Yao Ji immediately understood that Wang Fei intended to take action against Marquis Muyang Manor. In truth, there had been no shortage of candidates to send to Chu Jing back then, and Yao Ji certainly wasn't the only choice. The reason she was selected was undoubtedly due to Prince Ding's hostility toward Marquis Muyang. Yao Ji was also well aware of how Marquis Muyang had once led troops to besiege Ye Li, forcing her to leap off a cliff under pressure from Zhennan Wang.

Yao Ji forced a faint smile and replied, "Thank you, but I'm fine."

Mu Lie frowned, his youthful face openly displaying concern. Yao Ji reached out to ruffle his hair. "Why is a little kid worrying so much?"

Annoyed, Mu Lie swatted her hand away. "I'm not a kid anymore. Fine, do whatever you want. Just remember your son is waiting for you in Li Cheng. And... this young master plans to return to Li Cheng to join the Qilin. If you mess that up for me... I'll kill you."

Yao Ji couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Mu Lie turn and stride out. At the doorway, he paused and glanced back. "Commander Qin seems quite decent to you. You should consider him. He's definitely better than that Mu Yang. At least he hasn't been fooling around these past few years while you were gone. Honestly, your past taste was so bad even I feel embarrassed judging you." Without waiting for her reaction, he waved dismissively and swaggered out.

With a quiet sigh, Yao Ji opened her jewelry box and rummaged through the glittering contents until she found an unassuming case hidden at the very bottom. Inside lay a jade lotus hairpin. She didn't quite know why she'd kept it all these years. When she'd left Li Cheng for Chu Jing, she'd already resolved to forsake romance forever. Qin Feng was her savior, Wang Fei's trusted confidant, and commander of Prince Ding's elite Qilin forces. Even Wang Fei's third brother from the Xu Family technically fell under his command. Such a man... though not widely renowned, was far beyond the reach of a former courtesan with a child.

Given the choice, Yao Ji would have preferred meeting someone like Qin Feng over Mu Yang. Perhaps all the good men in the world were gathered in Prince Ding's Estate, or maybe it was Prince Ding's devotion to his wife setting an example—most men there seemed remarkably faithful. Even when Mu Yang had doted on her so famously that all of Nanjing knew, Marquis Muyang Manor had housed no fewer concubines and bedchamber servants than any other noble house. Mu Yang had been the beautiful, romantic dream of her youth—a dream that left only faint sorrow upon waking. Qin Feng represented everything she longed for but dared not touch...

Lost in thought, a faint sound behind her snapped Yao Ji back to attention. Years of vigilance made her whirl around—only to freeze at the sight of the man standing there.Compared to Mu Yang's renowned reputation in Chu Jing back in the day, Qin Feng's appearance was also handsome but not ostentatious. The Qilin commander from the military and the noble young master possessed entirely different temperaments. If Mu Yang resembled a dazzling sword with its brilliance fully revealed, then Qin Feng was like a famed blade concealed within its sheath. Seemingly unremarkable at first glance, yet when drawn, its radiance could illuminate all directions.

"You... why have you come here?" After a long pause, Yao Ji finally spoke up.

Qin Feng's gaze fell upon the jade hairpin in her hand, his eyes unconsciously warming a few degrees. Naturally noticing his look, Yao Ji somewhat flusteredly placed the hairpin back into its box. "You... coming here now, does Wang Fei have some instructions?" Feeling awkward under his stare, she hastily changed the subject.

A barely perceptible flicker of amusement passed through Qin Feng's eyes as he nodded calmly at Yao Ji. "Indeed. Regarding the matters of Marquis Muyang Manor... Wang Fei has entrusted them to me."

Hearing this, Yao Ji's hands—which had been busily tidying the table—paused abruptly, her face instantly turning pale.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Not sure why, but I really want to make Qin Feng act like a scumbag for once, though I'm just thinking about it~ Votes please~ Dear readers with spare votes, feel free to shower me with them~