Mo Li

At the Hangu Pass, Mo Jingli stood atop the towering fortress, gazing down at the Mo Family Army’s camp seething with killing intent in the distance. The black banners of the Mo Family Army fluttered fiercely in the wind, and from afar, the entire camp pulsed with an overwhelming momentum, like a black tide ready to surge forth at any moment.

"Your Majesty, something feels off," Old Marquis Muyang and Lei Tengfeng stood on either side of Mo Jingli. The old marquis frowned slightly as he spoke. Mo Jingli raised an eyebrow. "Off? How so?" The old marquis replied gravely, "The Mo Family Army appears fierce, but these past two days, they’ve only been posturing without any real action. This isn’t their usual style."

The Mo Family Army was renowned throughout the land for their ferocious combat strength and the fearless spirit of their soldiers. They would never hesitate before an ancient fortress like this—unless there was some hidden scheme at play.

Mo Jingli arched a brow and said indifferently, "Ye Li has less than a hundred thousand troops. Even if she launched a full assault on Hangu Pass, could she take it? She’s probably waiting for Lyu Jinxian. As long as Mu Yang blocks Lyu Jinxian, these forces before us… will sooner or later become prisoners of the throne." Lei Tengfeng stared into the distance, lost in thought, before finally remarking coolly, "It seems we haven’t seen Princess Ding these past few days."

At these words, Old Marquis Muyang’s expression darkened. "Your Majesty… Princess Ding is notoriously cunning. I fear…" Not only was Princess Ding cunning, but with the aid of the Qilin, she could be said to move like a ghost. Wherever she appeared, misfortune always followed. Mo Jingli’s sharp brows furrowed. He understood the old marquis’s concerns, but this time, he was confident his arrangements were flawless. No matter how clever Ye Li was, she shouldn’t be able to find a loophole.

Unfortunately, though the list Dongfang You had provided him had alleviated the urgent problem of lacking informants within Prince Ding’s Estate, none of these people could approach Ye Li without raising suspicion. Otherwise, tracking her movements wouldn’t be so difficult now.

After some thought, Mo Jingli decided to err on the side of caution and ordered, "Send someone to investigate. We must confirm whether Ye Li is truly in the camp outside the pass." Old Marquis Muyang quickly nodded and turned to relay the command.

But before he could leave, a soldier rushed up in haste. "Your Majesty, urgent military report!" The old marquis’s eyelids twitched, and a sense of foreboding rose in his chest. The messenger announced, "Frontline report—Marquis Muyang’s hundred-thousand-strong army was ambushed by Lyu Jinxian’s forces and nearly annihilated. Lyu Jinxian has already bypassed our ambush and is advancing toward Hangu Pass."

"How is this possible?!" Old Marquis Muyang exclaimed, staggering as if about to collapse. He hurriedly asked, "What of Marquis Muyang?" The soldier glanced between Mo Jingli and the old marquis before replying, "Marquis Muyang is leading the remaining survivors—less than ten thousand—and is retreating toward Hangu Pass."

Hearing that Mu Yang was unharmed, Old Marquis Muyang let out a sigh of relief. But when he turned and saw Mo Jingli’s expression, his heart sank. He had been worrying about everything else, yet in the end, it was his own son who had failed. Given Mo Jingli’s temperament, how could he not be furious?Sure enough, Mo Jingli swept a gloomy glance at Old Marquis Muyang and asked indifferently, "Old Marquis Muyang, do you have anything to say?" The old marquis replied with a bitter expression, "My son has failed in battle. I beg Your Majesty to punish him."

Beside them, Lei Tengfeng narrowed his handsome eyes slightly and stepped forward, whispering, "Emperor Chu, Marquis Muyang is still young after all. How could he match a seasoned veteran like Lyu Jinxian, who has fought for half his life? Moreover, this is precisely the time when we need capable men." Mo Jingli snorted lightly and said to Old Marquis Muyang, "For the sake of Zhennan Wang Shizi, I will give him a chance to redeem himself through meritorious service."

Old Marquis Muyang was overjoyed and quickly bowed in gratitude, "Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy." His gaze toward Lei Tengfeng also grew noticeably kinder and more appreciative, "Thank you, Zhennan Wang Shizi." Lei Tengfeng smiled and replied, "There’s no need for formalities, Old Marquis. I did this for the sake of the alliance between our two nations." His implication was clear: Marquis Muyang Manor owed him no personal favor. Hearing this, Old Marquis Muyang’s expression grew even more amiable, as the favor of Prince Zhennan of Xiling’s heir was not something one could easily repay.

Lei Tengfeng turned to Mo Jingli and said, "Emperor Chu, given the circumstances, it would be best to recall Marquis Muyang as soon as possible to clarify what happened. I can’t help but feel... this matter is rather peculiar." Lei Tengfeng was aware of some of the arrangements made by Mo Jingli and Old Marquis Muyang, which had seemed almost flawless. At the very least, Lei Tengfeng himself could find no flaws in them. Though he had not achieved much in military affairs, he had been personally trained by Lei Zhenting and possessed first-rate insight and ability. If even he couldn’t spot any weaknesses, it meant Old Marquis Muyang and Mo Jingli’s plans truly had no major issues. Even if Mu Yang couldn’t achieve a great victory, he shouldn’t have suffered such a devastating defeat. Yet, in just a few days, Mu Yang had nearly lost his entire army. To claim there was no problem with this would be even more unbelievable than Mo Xiuyao annihilating the entire Northern Rong army.

Hearing his words, Mo Jingli and Old Marquis Muyang also grew solemn. Though Old Marquis Muyang had not interacted much with Lyu Jinxian, he was, after all, a renowned general of his generation and had some understanding of the Mo Family Army’s commanders. That was why he couldn’t believe Lyu Jinxian had so effortlessly dismantled the trap he had laid.

Mu Yang returned swiftly, but the confident and spirited man who had left was now battered and wounded. Of the original 100,000 elite troops, fewer than 6,000 remained.

"Your guilty subject, Mu Yang, begs Your Majesty to punish him." Mu Yang understood all too well that this defeat marked the first clash between the Chu army and the Mo Family Army—and it had ended in a crushing loss for the Chu forces. Mo Jingli probably wished he could tear him apart limb from limb. More importantly, this defeat had nearly wiped out the terrain advantage the Chu army had previously held.

The tent fell into silence. None of the Chu generals dared to speak up in Mu Yang’s defense. Mo Jingli coldly scrutinized Mu Yang. The once-handsome face now bore a bloody gash, and his left arm was stiffly bandaged at the shoulder, clearly severely injured. His composed and handsome brow was etched with exhaustion, and his eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights. It was evident Mu Yang had suffered greatly these past few days."Rise," Mo Jingli finally said in a deep voice after a long silence. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to punish Mu Yang, but he understood all too well that the Chu army had few capable generals to begin with. If Mu Yang were punished, the Old Marquis Muyang might harbor disloyalty. Thus, he had followed Lei Tengfeng’s advice to spare Mu Yang. "Lyu Jinxian is a renowned general of the Mo Family Army. This matter ends here, but you must atone for your failure with future merits. If there’s another oversight, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

Mu Yang was stunned, clearly not expecting Mo Jingli to be so lenient. The Old Marquis Muyang quickly reminded him, "Thank His Majesty for his mercy."

Only then did Mu Yang express his gratitude and rise to his feet.

"What exactly happened this time? Explain in detail," Mo Jingli demanded sternly.

Mu Yang hurriedly recounted the defeat. Truth be told, even he found the loss baffling. He had led a hundred thousand troops to reinforce the front. Though Lyu Jinxian still held a numerical advantage, the Chu army had the terrain advantage and should have been certain of victory. Yet, on the very night after Mu Yang’s arrival, Lyu Jinxian suddenly appeared behind the Chu army with just five thousand men. In the dead of night, the Chu forces had no idea how many enemies were attacking. In their haste to counter, they were led around by Lyu Jinxian. To make matters worse, Lyu Jinxian ignited the tung oil originally prepared by the Chu army to ambush the Mo Family Army. The resulting inferno devastated the hundred thousand troops. By the time Mu Yang led the survivors out of the flames, they were met head-on by Lyu Jinxian’s forces, leaving only a few thousand to escape.

After hearing the account, Mo Jingli’s face twisted with fury. "So… my hundred thousand troops were annihilated by Lyu Jinxian’s mere five thousand? Excellent! Truly excellent!"

The others remained silent. A battle of five thousand against a hundred thousand—this was undoubtedly the pinnacle of Lyu Jinxian’s military career. Yet, attributing the victory solely to his skill was hard to believe. For one, how had Lyu Jinxian known the Chu army’s encampment and their ambush locations? One misstep could have set the surrounding mountains ablaze, trapping even Lyu Jinxian’s forces.

The Old Marquis Muyang spoke gravely, "Your Majesty, there are spies from Prince Ding’s Estate in our army—and they hold critical positions with access to military secrets." While the Qilin might have located the Chu army’s camp, uncovering all their ambush points would have taken weeks without inside help. The Old Marquis could think of no other explanation.

Mo Jingli shot him an exasperated glare. The shadow guards of Prince Ding’s Estate were practically omnipresent. Even Mo Jingli couldn’t guarantee his own estate was free of Mo Family Army infiltrators. The remark was utterly redundant.Beside him, Lei Tengfeng said solemnly, "Old Marquis Muyang speaks wisely. However... the other party might be someone extremely close to all of you. Emperor Chu must be cautious. Additionally, Lyu Jinxian's army is approaching swiftly. I urge Your Majesty to prepare early." The battle between Lyu Jinxian and Mu Yang had resulted in negligible losses. Once the two divisions of the Mo Family Army advanced toward Hangu Pass from both directions, the Chu army's so-called geographical advantage would not only vanish completely but could also trap them in a dire situation.

Mo Jingli declared coldly, "By my decree, order the Western Route Army of 200,000 to intercept Lyu Jinxian's forces at full strength. Mu Yang, I give you one last chance. If Lyu Jinxian reaches Hangu Pass, you will take your own life." His icy gaze swept over Mu Yang, who instantly felt the palpable killing intent radiating from Mo Jingli's frigid eyes.

Mu Yang shuddered and hastily replied, "This general obeys! This general takes his leave!"

Mo Jingli snorted lightly and said, "The old marquis will oversee the investigation of Mo Family Army spies. The rest of you may withdraw. I have matters to discuss with Zhennan Wang Shizi."

"Yes, we take our leave," the generals chorused.

Lei Tengfeng was not surprised. Mo Jingli held himself in high regard and would never have paid attention to a mere Zhennan Wang Shizi like him unless forced by circumstances. Fortunately, Lei Tengfeng's temperament had mellowed considerably, or else the two would have clashed long ago.

Only Mo Jingli and Lei Tengfeng remained in the tent. Mo Jingli sighed and said, "Zhennan Wang Shizi must find this amusing." Lei Tengfeng replied respectfully, "Your Majesty overstates it. Victory and defeat are common in war. In truth, not only Your Majesty’s side, but even my father’s forces are struggling. The Mo Family Army has dominated the world for two centuries—their reputation is well-earned."

This was not mere consolation. Mo Jingli had his own sources of information and knew full well that Mo Xiuyao and Lei Zhenting were engaged in fiercer battles than those on their front. Compared to the conflict at Flying Goose Pass, their own skirmishes paled in significance. This was the first true confrontation between Lei Zhenting and Mo Xiuyao, drawing the attention of the entire realm. Yet despite the Western Liang Army’s initial advantage, the battles had devolved into a bloody stalemate, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

After a moment of contemplation, Mo Jingli said, "This prince might be able to lend Zhennan Wang a hand."

Lei Tengfeng’s brows lifted slightly, but he maintained a respectful yet unyielding demeanor as he regarded Mo Jingli. He remembered how Mo Jingli had once married Dongfang You. Though the Boundless Mountains had been utterly destroyed, no one could say for certain what benefits Mo Jingli had reaped from Dongfang You. If Mo Jingli claimed he could assist Lei Zhenting, it was no idle boast.

"Your Majesty’s guidance is most welcome," Lei Tengfeng replied.Mo Jingli smiled faintly, "I wouldn't presume to offer guidance. It's merely that I still have a few people within Prince Ding's Estate who can be of use." Upon hearing this, Lei Tengfeng's heart skipped a beat. The most formidable aspect of Prince Ding's Estate wasn't the might of the Mo Family Army, nor the intellect of Mo Xiuyao and Xu Qingchen, but its nearly impenetrable defenses. The world only knew what Prince Ding's Estate was willing to reveal, and any information Mo Xiuyao wished to keep hidden remained utterly inaccessible. Over the years, despite relentless efforts by various factions to plant spies within the estate, none had proven truly useful, and many had only resulted in the loss of their own elite forces.

Seeing Lei Tengfeng's apparent skepticism, Mo Jingli remained unperturbed and continued with a faint smile, "Mo Yuchen, the heir of Prince Ding's Estate, is currently at Flying Goose Pass."

A flicker of surprise passed through Lei Tengfeng's eyes. The whereabouts of Prince Ding's heir were naturally a closely guarded secret within the Mo Family Army, yet Mo Jingli seemed to have known for some time. This indeed suggested something significant. Mo Jingli added calmly, "Moreover, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li's twins are being raised in the Xu Family."

Lei Tengfeng's mind raced, but he quickly composed himself and replied with a faint smile, "It seems Emperor Chu's people are not within the Mo Family Army but in Li Cheng. In that case, this information may not be of much use to my father."

Mo Jingli chuckled, "Whether it's useful or not depends on how Zhennan Wang chooses to use it."

"What does Emperor Chu want?" Lei Tengfeng asked.

Recognizing Lei Tengfeng's acquiescence, Mo Jingli smiled in satisfaction. "How many men has Zhennan Wang Shizi brought with him?" Lei Tengfeng sighed helplessly, "The Boundless Mountains were indeed a menace. Fortunately, they were eradicated long ago! I have only a mere 150,000 troops at my disposal, purely as a precaution, with no ill intentions toward Emperor Chu."

"Naturally, I trust Zhennan Wang Shizi," Mo Jingli replied with a smile. For now, their alliance against the Mo Family Army meant Lei Tengfeng wouldn't act against him. But once the outcome was decided, things might change.

Lei Tengfeng said, "I am willing to assist Marquis Muyang in intercepting Lyu Jinxian."

Mo Jingli nodded approvingly, picked up a brush, and wrote a few words on a piece of paper before handing it over. "This is a gift for Zhennan Wang." Lei Tengfeng glanced at it and casually tossed the note into the nearby brazier, smiling faintly. "Thank you, Emperor Chu. I shall take my leave."

Watching Lei Tengfeng depart, Mo Jingli sneered, "Who says I have no one within the Mo Family Army? Mo Xiuyao... let's see who has the last laugh!"

In Mu Yang's tent, Yao Ji was tending to his wounds. Her beautiful eyes lowered slightly as she silently worked on the battered man before her. Beside her, Mu Lie stared wide-eyed at Mu Yang, his large eyes filled with worry. "Father... are you alright?"

Mu Yang shook his head and patted Mu Lie's small head with his uninjured hand. "Father is fine. Don't worry." Mu Lie nodded obediently and sat quietly beside Mu Yang, watching Yao Ji dress his wounds. Outside the tent, a soldier reported, "Marquis, the old Marquis requests your presence once your injuries are tended to."

Mu Yang nodded. "Understood. You may go."Yao Ji frowned and said, "With such severe injuries, why aren't you resting?" Mu Yang gave a helpless bitter smile. "I have to leave again soon. Father probably wants to give me some instructions. Don't worry, the wounds aren't life-threatening."

"But... your injuries..."

Mu Yang sighed. "Although this defeat was due to the Mo Family Army obtaining intelligence in advance, it was still my failure. The Emperor has shown leniency by allowing me to lead troops to block Lyu Jinxian's forces and atone for my mistake. How can I refuse?"

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Yao Ji could only nod. "Then you must be careful." Mu Yang smiled gently. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

After tidying up briefly, Mu Yang headed to Old Marquis Muyang's tent. As soon as he left, Yao Ji and Mu Lie's expressions darkened. Mu Lie said gravely, "Marquis Muyang will soon suspect us." There weren't many in the army who could access classified information. After eliminating all other possibilities, the answer would be the least likely one.

Yao Ji smiled faintly. "You're wrong—he'll soon suspect me."

Mu Lie's young face turned stern. "Are you mad? Don't even think about taking the blame yourself. If you're convicted, do you think Mo Jingli would spare me? And with Marquis Muyang's shrewdness, he might even suspect my identity." Mu Lie didn't resemble Mu Yang much—only his eyes bore some likeness to Yao Ji. It was highly likely Marquis Muyang would question his origins.

Yao Ji sighed softly. "Do you think I'd throw my life away unless absolutely necessary? Just be extra cautious these days. Unless it's critical, don't act on any information to avoid falling into Marquis Muyang's trap."

Mu Lie nodded solemnly. "I understand. I feel... things will be over soon." Yao Ji lowered her gaze and murmured, "It's for the best. You've worked hard these years." When Mu Lie had followed her to Chu Jing, he was barely eight or nine years old. Over the years, he had not only secretly helped her gather and relay information but also reminded her to avoid missteps. Without his companionship, she didn't know if she could have endured.

Mu Lie looked at her and said, "If you can't accomplish what Wang Ye ordered, I'll handle it."

Yao Ji gave a faint smile. "Don't worry too much. By then, we might not even be needed..." Mu Lie shook his head. "If Wang Ye gave those instructions, that situation will definitely arise. Otherwise, do you think Marquis Muyang would still be alive? Just for nearly killing Wang Fei and the heir back then, Wang Ye could have crushed him long ago. Just wait—I'm sure we'll hear from Wang Ye soon."

Yao Ji paused, then nodded. "Fate decides all things. Besides... I know what to do. I owe them nothing—why would I hesitate?" Apart from Mu Yang being her son's father, Yao Ji had gradually grown indifferent over the years. What she once believed to be an unbreakable bond now seemed insignificant in hindsight.

Mu Lie gave her an uneasy glance before nodding. Silently, he resolved that if it truly came to that, he would act first to spare Yao Ji future regrets.

Elsewhere, Ye Li sat atop her horse, gazing at the battlefield strewn with corpses not far below the mountain. A faint smile touched her lips as her white robes and dark hair fluttered in the chilly breeze."Wang Fei," Qin Feng presented a letter with a solemn voice, "General Lü has already defeated Mu Yang's hundred-thousand-strong army, and the troops are advancing toward Hangu Pass. Should we return now?"

Ye Li frowned slightly as she opened the letter and said, "General Lü's victory is indeed astonishing. However... Qin Feng, immediately recall Yao Ji and Mu Lie!" Qin Feng was startled but quickly composed himself. He replied quietly, "Wang Ye has ordered that Yao Ji and Mu Lie... still have other uses." Originally, Mo Xiuyao had not intended to inform Ye Li of this matter. But now that Wang Fei was demanding Yao Ji and Mu Lie's withdrawal, which contradicted Mo Xiuyao's orders, Qin Feng had no choice but to disclose the truth.

Ye Li paused briefly, quickly grasping Mo Xiuyao's intentions. She sighed softly and said to Qin Feng, "Go ahead, but do your best to ensure Yao Ji and Mu Lie's safety." When Mo Xiuyao had initially chosen Yao Ji as a spy planted in Chu Jing, Ye Li had already understood his plan. She hadn't intervened then, and she wouldn't now. The fate of Marquis Muyang Manor was already sealed. If it could bring Mo Xiuyao some comfort, Ye Li had no qualms about being even more ruthless.

Qin Feng nodded and said, "Thank you, Wang Fei." The lives of spies were cheap, and many in power wouldn't care about their survival. Most spies had significant vulnerabilities held by their masters, so those in authority didn't worry about betrayal. If discovered, most could only choose death. Although Prince Ding's Estate treated its subordinates far better, it still couldn't protect everyone. But Wang Fei was different—she would do everything possible to ensure her subordinates' safety. Perhaps this was why people like them willingly pledged loyalty to serve a woman. Wang Fei possessed not only the vision and strategy of a man but also the kindness and generosity rarely found among those in power.

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "I only do what I can. I can't protect everyone."

--- Off-topic Note ---

New Year's is so exhausting~ Dears, did you have a happy New Year? I haven’t replied to comments these past few days—really sorry about that. Also, dear curry07, Feng San and the Empress’s ending is… no ending, though I feel a bit bad for Third Master Feng. As for Yao Ji and Qin Feng, well, not every relationship is smooth sailing or perfectly matched. They’ll definitely face some issues in the future, but that’s a personal choice—as long as Qin Feng sees no problem, it’s fine. Besides, he’s the Qilin commander, and Yao Ji is a spy, so they’ll face far less pressure than ordinary generals or court officials. I don’t want to overdo the drama, but if it’s too rigid, it might as well be historical fiction. By the way, I also adore Lady Susu Xue~

P.S.: The New Year is almost over—wishing you all a smooth and successful year ahead.

P.P.S.: Since we’re nearing the end, I’ve been stuck lately… so sad… I’m not trying to drag things out!