"Qingchen Gongzi's whereabouts need not trouble Miss Dongfang's people. Why not have Princess Li first have a chat with our master?" A man's voice, tinged with faint amusement, suddenly came from a nearby hillside.
At these words, the expressions of everyone in front of the small cottage shifted. Though the cottage appeared unremarkable, numerous traps and mechanisms had been set along the path leading to it. While they might not necessarily harm anyone, any disturbance would immediately alert those inside. Yet this person had silently approached them without alarming a single soul.
"Who's there?" Dongfang You spun around sharply and saw a black-clad man leaning against a tree on a small slope not far away, arms crossed as he observed them. After a brief moment of thought, Dongfang You recalled his identity. "Someone from Prince Ding's Estate!"
Though she didn’t know the man’s name or exact position, she remembered seeing him once by Princess Ding’s side—clearly a trusted subordinate. What she hadn’t expected was that despite her careful precautions against Prince Ding’s Estate, Ye Li’s confidant had already silently trailed her.
The black-clad man clasped his hands with a smile. "Zhuo Jing of Prince Ding’s Estate, at your service, Miss Dongfang."
Dongfang You regarded him coolly. "What are you doing here? Surely Prince Ding’s Estate didn’t send only you?"
Zhuo Jing replied, "Whatever Miss Dongfang came here for, I am here for the same reason. My master invites you for a conversation." Dongfang You’s expression flickered slightly. "Ye Li is here too?" Zhuo Jing smiled without answering.
Dongfang You’s mind raced. The situation was clearly unfavorable for her. The last time she and Mo Jingli had sent people to capture Xu Qingchen, nearly eighty percent of their forces had been lost. The strength of Prince Ding’s guards was evident, not to mention that Ye Li personally commanded the elite Qilin.
"I’m afraid I have no time to reminisce with Princess Ding. If she has any matters to discuss, she’s welcome to visit Prince Li’s Palace," Dongfang You said indifferently.
Zhuo Jing wasted no words. With a silent smile, he raised his hand. Countless black-clad figures emerged soundlessly from the surrounding hillsides, efficiently blocking every possible escape route—truly leaving no room to flee.
Dongfang You understood that without a fight, there was no hope of escaping Prince Ding’s grasp. Without hesitation, she lunged toward Zhuo Jing. Her followers, seeing her move, joined the fray, and a chaotic battle erupted in the forest.
Zhuo Jing watched the woman charging at him with amusement, drawing his sword without hesitation. Though Dongfang You’s martial skills might surpass his, he had no fear of her. The two quickly became locked in combat.
On a nearby hilltop, Ye Li and Wei Lin observed the skirmish below from their vantage point. Though Dongfang You and her followers were skilled, their numbers were pitifully small. This secluded location was merely a hideout, not a heavily guarded stronghold. In mere moments, Dongfang You’s side was overwhelmed."Wang Fei, this Dongfang You's martial arts are truly impressive. If not for some issues with her mind, she could indeed be called a genius," Wei Lin couldn't help but praise. For women, practicing martial arts is inherently more challenging than for men. Yet Dongfang You, only sixteen or seventeen years old, had already attained such profound skills. In terms of talent, she wasn't far behind Mo Xiuyao in his youth. If things went smoothly, she might become another martial arts prodigy following Mo Xiuyao, and perhaps the first woman in history to earn the title of the world's top martial artist.
Watching the girl fiercely exchanging blows with Zhuo Jing, even slightly overpowering him, Ye Li also nodded in admiration. "A descendant of the Boundless Mountains, truly a rare genius in this world." Dongfang You's prowess wasn't limited to martial arts—she excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, dance, astrology, medicine, and divination. Such a genius was something Ye Li admitted she couldn't match. Unfortunately, the thoughts of a genius are often unconventional, and Dongfang You's ideas were clearly beyond what most could accept.
"Shall I assist?" Wei Lin asked. It wasn't that Zhuo Jing couldn't handle Dongfang You. No matter how talented she was, her lack of experience set her apart from someone like Ren Qining, who had been through countless trials. If Zhuo Jing wanted to kill Dongfang You, he'd had at least three or five opportunities to do so by now. But capturing her was proving more difficult.
"No need," Ye Li shook her head with a faint smile. "She won't escape. Let's go down as well."
Dongfang You indeed had nowhere to run. However, the fatal blow didn't come from Zhuo Jing or the others from Prince Ding's Estate, but from one of the guards who had been by her side all along. When all her subordinates had been subdued, leaving only that one guard, and when he rushed forward to block Zhuo Jing's sword for her, Dongfang You thought she had found her chance to flee. But what awaited her next were two swords. She dodged Zhuo Jing's strike, which only grazed her clothes, but the sudden attack from the young man she had never suspected severely wounded her.
Clutching her chest wound, Dongfang You glared hatefully at the young man standing beside Zhuo Jing, understanding dawning on her. "You're from Prince Ding's Estate?!"
Zhuo Jing chuckled. "The Boundless Mountains can plant spies in Prince Ding's Estate, so why wouldn't Prince Ding's Estate do the same in the Boundless Mountains?"
Ultimately, her lack of experience was her downfall. Despite possessing some of the most profound martial arts in the world, Dongfang You was still overpowered. When she saw Ye Li approaching leisurely with Wei Lin, her fury intensified. "Ye Li, so it was you after all!"
Ye Li smiled faintly. "Originally, I didn't intend to come here, but you left me no choice, Miss Dongfang. Since we're here, why don't we have a chat inside?" At this point, Dongfang You had no say in the matter. With her martial arts sealed and under guard, she was led into the small wooden cabin by Ye Li.The small wooden hut indeed concealed a hidden world. With Prince Ding's Estate's methods, it was naturally no trouble to pry open these people's mouths. Especially after witnessing Dongfang You casually killing one of their own, they couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow. Compared to the unpredictable, mercurial, and ruthless Dongfang You, the white-clad, gentle-smiling Wang Fei seemed particularly amiable and approachable.
Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin extracted the entrance to the secret passage from the captives in less than half a quarter-hour. Forcing Dongfang You to lead the way, they walked for nearly half an hour before finally emerging into daylight. The place turned out to be a deep valley surrounded by sheer cliffs on all sides. Though Ye Li had some inkling of the terrain from the passage's layout, seeing such a place still made her frown. In such a location, even someone without martial arts skills like Xu Qingchen—let alone Ye Li herself—would find it nearly impossible to leave undetected. Without Light Body Skill and given his physical endurance, how could Xu Qingchen possibly scale the nearly hundred-zhang-high cliffs alone? How had her elder brother vanished from here?
"When did Qingchen Gongzi disappear?" Ye Li asked calmly, seated in a simple pavilion within the valley. She glanced around at the modest yet well-equipped furnishings. A half-read ancient book lay on the table, and Xu Qingchen's room was tidy and orderly, showing no signs of a forced abduction.
After exchanging glances, one of the captives stepped forward. "Reporting to Wang Fei, Qingchen Gongzi... went missing two days ago."
"Two days ago?" Ye Li arched an eyebrow. "If he disappeared two days ago, why wasn't it reported to Miss Dongfang? Did you send anyone to search?" The person smiled bitterly. "We sent people immediately, but we scoured the entire valley, mountains, and surrounding areas without finding him. The young mistress ordered us to watch over Qingchen Gongzi, and now that he's gone, we truly..."
Ye Li understood their reasoning. Having followed Dongfang You for some time, they likely knew her methods. Qixia Princess had nearly been beaten to death just for mocking Dongfang You—let alone their failure to guard Xu Qingchen. Delaying the report day by day, they'd hoped to find him before Dongfang You arrived.
Ye Li's gaze swept over Dongfang You, who sat rigidly nearby. In such a short time, Dongfang You had become a master who instilled terror in her subordinates—truly unexpected. But now that she'd been captured, it no longer mattered. The Boundless Mountains, a thorn embedded in various nations for centuries, would eventually be eradicated completely.
"Aside from the secret passage, are there other exits from this valley?" Ye Li asked.The group shook their heads repeatedly, and the leader among them smiled bitterly, "Wang Fei, even if there were a path, it's not one Qingchen Gongzi could have taken to escape. Climbing out from this cliff... just look at these sheer hundred-zhang-high precipices surrounding us, smooth as if cut by a knife. Forget someone like Qingchen Gongzi who doesn’t know martial arts—even we ourselves..." Ye Li nodded. Without tools, even she wouldn’t be able to scale such cliffs.
"What was Qingchen Gongzi doing before he disappeared?"
"Since the young master ordered us never to neglect Qingchen Gongzi, we allowed him to do whatever he pleased as long as he didn’t try to escape. We’ve been watching him these past few days, and he’s been very well-behaved—just reading books and playing the qin. So we didn’t pay much attention. Every day at that time, Qingchen Gongzi would sit on the hillside outside the pavilion to read."
Ye Li stood up and said, "Take me to see."
Now that their lives were in Ye Li’s hands, they naturally wouldn’t defy her. Besides, if Ye Li hadn’t suddenly arrived with her people, given Dongfang You’s rage at the time, they might have ended up like the first unlucky casualties. In a way, Princess Ding had saved their lives. Moreover, from any perspective, pledging loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate was far more promising than continuing to follow the now-crippled Boundless Mountains.
Ye Li smiled faintly at Dongfang You, who glared back unflinchingly, her gaze as if laced with poison. Frowning slightly, Ye Li said calmly, "Miss Dongfang, you’ll have to stay here a while longer."
Dongfang You snapped, "I’m coming with you to find Qingchen Gongzi."
Ye Li’s brows furrowed. "Elder Brother wouldn’t want to see you. Haven’t you harmed him enough?" Dongfang You retorted angrily, "I never harmed Qingchen Gongzi! I just... I just..." Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. "I don’t care about your 'just.' Tell me—will you stay here quietly or not?"
Dongfang You glared defiantly. "What if I refuse? Go ahead, tie me up if you dare."
A faint smile curled at Ye Li’s lips. "If that’s the case..." With a swift motion, she delivered a sharp chop to Dongfang You’s neck, and the latter collapsed unconscious to the ground. "Wei Lin."
Wei Lin looked at Ye Li with admiration, nodding and grinning. "Wang Fei, rest assured. She won’t cause any trouble." Prince Ding's Estate had plenty of methods and drugs to suppress inner energy—Dongfang You wouldn’t be able to move a muscle even after waking up.
With Dongfang You dealt with, the group followed the men to the spot where Xu Qingchen had disappeared. It was indeed the most scenic place in the entire valley. A smooth stone lay on the ground, noticeably cleaner than the surrounding rocks—either frequently wiped or sat upon. Ye Li settled onto the stone, glanced around, and asked, "Where’s the book Elder Brother was reading that day?"The group exchanged bewildered glances before someone finally spoke up, "It seems... it disappeared along with Qingchen Gongzi." Qingchen Gongzi's sudden absence had already thrown everyone into chaos, leaving no time to worry about an insignificant book. Now that they thought about it, Qingchen Gongzi had emerged holding a book, but afterward, no one had seen it nearby. This suggested he had taken the book with him when he left.
Zhuo Jing whispered to Ye Li, "It appears Qingchen Gongzi wasn’t forced to leave but went on his own?" If he had been coerced, how could he have been so meticulous as to remember to take a book? And if he had been moved unconsciously, it was even more implausible—unless the abductor suddenly took a fancy to that ancient book and decided to take it along.
After a long silence, Ye Li finally pointed to the cliff before them and said, "Go up and check." Then she gestured toward the nearby lake, "And search the water." Immediately, several black-clad guards approached the cliff and began scaling it, while two others skilled in swimming slipped silently into the water and submerged.
"Wang Fei, Qingchen Gongzi couldn’t possibly have..." The guards who had been watching over Xu Qingchen hastily interjected, assuming Ye Li thought he had fallen into the lake. If Qingchen Gongzi had indeed fallen in, his body would have surfaced by now after two days.
Ye Li waved her hand, signaling them to say no more.
Soon, the guards who had climbed the cliff returned. "Reporting to Wang Fei, there are traces of someone having been on the mountain, but... Qingchen Gongzi couldn’t have gone up the cliff." Carrying someone without martial skills up such a high cliff would require considerable time and effort, not to mention the high risk of being spotted by those below. Moreover, there were no traces left on the rock face or the cliff. Unless the person’s Light Body Skill was so advanced that they could carry Qingchen Gongzi without needing any footholds, flying straight up the cliff and beyond in one breath—but even Wang Ye wouldn’t be capable of such a feat.
Ye Li sighed softly. She hadn’t held much hope to begin with. Dismissing the guards, she silently gazed at the gently rippling lake.
After a long while, the guards who had dived into the lake finally resurfaced. One of them exclaimed excitedly, "Wang Fei, there’s a deep underwater cave at the bottom of the lake. I suspect it might lead outside."
Wei Lin frowned. "But even so, Qingchen Gongzi couldn’t have made it out." Judging by the guards' exhausted state, they had barely managed to return before running out of breath. Qingchen Gongzi’s constitution was no match for Prince Ding’s guards in holding their breath—and besides, did Qingchen Gongzi even know how to swim?
Ye Li’s brow relaxed slightly. "Elder Brother certainly didn’t leave on his own."
"Wang Fei means someone took Qingchen Gongzi?" Zhuo Jing asked. One of the guards still in the water raised a jade pendant and said, "Reporting to Wang Fei, I found this at the bottom of the lake."Wei Lin stepped forward to take it—it was indeed the jade pendant Xu Qingchen usually wore. The silk cord tied to the pendant wasn’t broken, yet the pendant had been found in the lake, clearly indicating someone had deliberately thrown it there. Holding the pendant, Ye Li pondered for a moment before asking, “Can we get through?”
“This subordinate is incompetent. I fear… I swam quite far but still couldn’t sense the location of an exit. Moreover… this is a mountain. Even if there is an exit, it’s unlikely to be straightforward.” The guard bowed in apology.
Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. “How could this be your fault? Rise first. Wei Lin, send people to secretly investigate all areas within a five-mile radius of here. Record every pond, river, or lake you find. Zhuo Jing, check if any of our companions were born by the sea and can hold their breath underwater for extended periods. Have them try again from here.”
“Understood,” the two replied in unison.
What had initially seemed like news of Xu Qingchen turned out to be a false hope. Still, at least they now had confirmation of his whereabouts. Though worried for his safety, Ye Li had no choice but to return to the city for the time being.
Meanwhile, the city of Nanjing was in turmoil due to Dongfang You’s sudden disappearance. Prince Li’s men were scouring every corner in search of her. Ye Li, still disguised, walked the streets freely with Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin in tow. Meanwhile, Dongfang You had already been quietly returned to the Chu residence in the city. Ye Li had no intention of using Dongfang You as a pawn just yet—starting a commotion would only alert the enemy. Once Mo Jingli left Nanjing, Dongfang You and the Boundless Mountains would prove far more useful.
Dongfang You had been transported back to the Chu residence inside a crate. Mo Jingli, who was frantically searching for her, would never imagine she had been carried back to Nanjing like cargo, completely unaware. Whether by oversight or not, by the time Ye Li returned to the Chu residence, Dongfang You was still locked inside the crate, unopened.
When the lid was lifted, Dongfang You was already awake. Unfortunately, with her acupoints sealed and under the influence of drugs, her mobility was no better than that of a one-year-old child. So even though she had regained consciousness long ago, she could only curl up helplessly inside the crate, waiting for someone to release her. Dongfang You had lived a life of privilege—aside from her unrequited feelings for Xu Qingchen and her forced marriage to Mo Jingli, she had never suffered any indignities, let alone treatment like this. The moment the crate opened, Wei Lin was met with her sharp, dagger-like glare.
Wei Lin shrugged, unfazed, and casually lifted Dongfang You out, dumping her onto a nearby chair. Dongfang You glared furiously at the figure seated in the main position, only to freeze in shock upon seeing the elegant young master sitting there. “It’s you?!”
Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. “Miss Dongfang, my apologies for the inconvenience.”
The face was that of Chu Junwei, but the voice was unmistakably Ye Li’s. Dongfang You’s expression twisted in fury. “Ye Li! It’s actually you! How dare you—!” The Young Master Chu, whom she had taken a liking to during the Chrysanthemum Banquet, had been Ye Li in disguise. Nothing could have humiliated her more. But she had no time to dwell on being deceived—she urgently demanded, “Where is Qingchen Gongzi?”Ye Li shook her head helplessly. Dongfang You's feelings for Xu Qingchen could truly be described as deep and unwavering, but unfortunately, she had used the wrong methods, and Xu Qingchen genuinely had no interest in her. Mutual affection was never a one-sided matter. If Dongfang You had simply chosen to silently admire Xu Qingchen without causing any trouble, Ye Li certainly wouldn’t have mocked her feelings. But if the other party had already firmly rejected her, and she still clung stubbornly and even resorted to underhanded tactics, then it was simply too unreasonable.
"Elder Brother’s matters will be handled by Prince Ding’s Estate. If Miss Dongfang has time, perhaps she should reflect on herself," Ye Li said calmly.
"I want to see Qingchen Gongzi!" Dongfang You shrieked.
Ye Li frowned. "We still haven’t found Elder Brother."
"I want to see Qingchen Gongzi!" Dongfang You seemed not to hear Ye Li’s words, continuing to scream and howl. Ye Li sighed in resignation. "There’s nothing more to discuss. Please escort Miss Dongfang to rest."
"Ye Li! I want to see Qingchen Gongzi!" Dongfang You glared at Ye Li as if she were a cruel mother-in-law tearing lovers apart. Ye Li gazed at her intently and asked softly, "Miss Dongfang, have you thought of Madam Dongfang at all these days?" Dongfang You stiffened slightly, her face instantly turning deathly pale.
Ye Li waved her hand, signaling for her to be taken away.
Perhaps because Ye Li had suddenly mentioned Dongfang Hui, Dongfang You was led away in a daze, utterly distraught.
"Wang Fei, who would have thought that a single trip outside would bring back such a remarkable figure," Yao Ji said with a smile, standing at the doorway as she looked at Ye Li. Ye Li raised a brow slightly, eyeing Yao Ji, who had come in person. "What brings you here?"
Yao Ji smiled and said, "Prince Li is searching the entire city for someone, so I knew something big must have happened. But I didn't expect it to be Princess Li going missing." Ye Li was somewhat curious, "Mo Jingli hasn't publicized this matter?"
Yao Ji covered her lips with a laugh, "I'm afraid Mo Jingli is already convinced that Dongfang You has run off with Qingchen Gongzi. Why would he publicize it and embarrass himself? He probably never imagined that the very Princess Regent he's searching for everywhere is right here in the Chu residence, so close to Prince Li's Palace. So... any news about Qingchen Gongzi?"
Ye Li frowned slightly and shook her head. Yao Ji sighed softly, "Wang Fei, don't worry too much. Qingchen Gongzi is blessed by heaven and will be fine. By the way, I came here personally for a serious matter."
Ye Li looked at her with a smile. Yao Ji waved the invitation in her hand and said, "Prince Li is about to go on a campaign, but he's short on military funds. So he plans to host a banquet for the city's nobles and wealthy merchants to borrow money from them."
Ye Li was stunned for a moment before saying, "So... Mo Jingli wants to borrow money from me to attack the Mo Family Army?"
Yao Ji laughed, "Well, the Chu family is one of the great noble houses of Chu, isn't it?"
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Well~ I'm going home for New Year, and also Feng needs to focus on writing the ending~ It might be a bit difficult to maintain daily 10k-word updates recently. If I can't finish before New Year, I won't stop updating during the holiday. Thanks for your support, dear readers~ Here's a little skit: When Qingchen Gongzi Gets Kidnapped – The So-called Friends
Feng: I heard Qingchen Gongzi was kidnapped by a woman.
Scholar: Hmm? Kidnapped... Qingchen Gongzi was finally kidnapped by a woman? That's... that's great, ahem... truly a sign of moral decline in these times. Actually, I'm quite good too...
A certain recluse: Hmm... Xu Qingchen was really kidnapped? I heard a girl say she wanted to kidnap him over ten years ago. Has she finally mastered her martial arts?
A certain beauty: Wuwu... I had the XX medicine ready too. Why did someone beat me to it?
A certain little bun: Wow... (running desperately while hugging a sword) Uncle, Xiao Bao is coming to save you!
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