Mo Li

By the time Ye Li and her party arrived at Flying Goose Pass on the second evening, they were covered in dust from their journey. Feng Zhiyao had been waiting outside the pass to greet them early. Seeing Ye Li return, Feng Zhiyao visibly relaxed. "Wang Fei, you’ve finally returned." Noticing his expression, Ye Li’s heart sank slightly. "What happened?" Feng Zhiyao sighed. "Wang Ye was ambushed by people from the Boundless Mountains."

"How could he be ambushed so easily?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Regardless of how high Mo Xiuyao’s martial arts were, hadn’t he long since obtained the list of Boundless Mountain spies lurking in Prince Ding's Estate? Why would he still fall into a trap? Feng Zhiyao smiled bitterly. "We were careless. The attacker struck suddenly… nearly harming the Little Prince. Wang Ye acted to protect—"

Seeing Ye Li’s face darken, Feng Zhiyao quickly added, "Wang Fei, don’t worry. The Little Prince wasn’t injured." Observing the exhaustion barely concealed in Feng Zhiyao’s handsome features, Ye Li nodded. "You’ve worked hard these past days. How is Xiu Yao?"

Feng Zhiyao frowned. "Wang Ye… Wang Fei, let’s discuss this after we return."

Back at Flying Goose Pass, most soldiers remained unaware of Prince Ding’s mishap, so they naturally didn’t know Wang Fei had suddenly returned. Only Yuan Pei, Marquis Nan, and Murong Shen came to greet Ye Li. Mo Xiuyao was temporarily staying in the general’s residence within the pass, and the group headed straight for his courtyard upon arrival.

Entering the room, Ye Li froze at the sight before her, then turned sharply to Feng Zhiyao. "What’s going on?"

A figure lay on the bed, its face mostly obscured by thick brocade blankets. Only a spill of snow-white hair was visible. Without even stepping closer, Ye Li could tell at a glance—the person on the bed was not Mo Xiuyao.

Feng Zhiyao gave a pained smile. The figure on the bed suddenly sat up and swung its legs over the side. A strikingly handsome face scowled as the man addressed Ye Li. "You’re finally back. Playing dead here every day has been exhausting."

"Han Mingxi?" Ye Li arched a brow, her cool gaze sweeping over Feng Zhiyao and the others. Feng Zhiyao’s voice was grave. "Wang Ye is missing."

"Missing?" Ye Li’s brows knitted as she fixed Feng Zhiyao with a stare. Though she showed no outward anger, Feng Zhiyao felt his scalp prickle. When Wang Fei truly lost her temper, her fury was no less formidable than Wang Ye’s. Steeling himself, he nodded and quickly recounted the events.

It turned out that Mo Xiaobao, who was usually playful and mischievous, had been kidnapped that day. The assailants left a letter demanding Mo Xiuyao come alone, or they wouldn’t guarantee Mo Xiaobao’s safety. Naturally, Mo Xiuyao couldn’t allow harm to come to the child, so he went to the designated location by himself. By the time Feng Zhiyao and the others arrived at the spot, they found only Mo Xiaobao—unconscious with his acupoints sealed—and a scene littered with corpses and bloodstains. Mo Xiuyao was nowhere to be found.

Afterward, Feng Zhiyao and the others secretly ordered a search spanning a hundred miles in every direction, yet not a trace of Mo Xiuyao appeared. Left with no choice, they staged the appearance of Mo Xiuyao being injured—at the very least, they had to make people believe Prince Ding was still with the army.Ye Li's delicate brows furrowed tightly. Feng Zhiyao's account sounded quite ordinary, yet it gave her an inexplicable sense of unease—it was all too smooth and logical. "What did Xiu Yao do with the list I sent back?" she asked.

"List?" Feng Zhiyao frowned for a moment before recalling. "Ah, the list Your Highness sent back from Jiangnan. His Highness looked at it and then stored it away. After that, he was busy with the Northern Rong war, and it seems..." His voice trailed off, implying that Mo Xiuyao hadn't dealt with the matter. If Ye Li trusted Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing the most, then Feng Zhiyao was undoubtedly Mo Xiuyao's most trusted confidant. If even Feng Zhiyao didn’t know, it meant Mo Xiuyao truly hadn’t acted on it. But this was clearly unreasonable. Leaving the spies planted by the Boundless Mountains within the Mo Family Army unattended was completely out of character for Mo Xiuyao—unless he had another purpose for keeping them.

Han Mingxi sneered mockingly, "Some people think they're clever, only to outsmart themselves, don’t they?"

"Mingxi..." Han Mingyue, who had just entered, heard his brother's words and sighed helplessly. Glancing at Ye Li's troubled expression, he realized it wasn’t the time for jokes. Apologetically, he said, "Your Highness... I didn’t mean..."

Ye Li gave a faint smile. "I understand. Young Master Mingyue, do you have any news?" Han Mingyue shook his head, frowning. "According to all reports, apart from us, neither Mo Jingli nor Lei Zhenting knows about Xiu Yao's disappearance. That means... Mo Jingli’s spy hasn’t returned. He might be dead... or have fled."

The likelihood of death was higher. If he were alive, he would have returned to Mo Jingli to report Mo Xiuyao’s whereabouts. If he had succeeded, there would be no reason to flee. Killing Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao, would earn him rewards from Mo Jingli lavish enough to last several lifetimes. Besides, fleeing alone would mean facing the relentless pursuit of Prince Ding's Estate—where could he possibly hide? At present, neither Mo Xiuyao nor the spy had left any trace.

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Li asked, "Who was that person?"

Feng Zhiyao's expression darkened. "He was one of His Highness’s personal guards—a shadow guard." Prince Ding himself possessed unparalleled martial prowess, rarely needing shadow guards for protection. Surrounded by countless experts and talents, Mo Xiuyao also had no need to personally train confidants like Ye Li had. Thus, compared to the status and influence of Zhuo Jing and others, Mo Xiuyao’s shadow guards were practically inconspicuous. After the Qilin gradually took over some of their roles, these shadow guards had faded further into obscurity. Yet, they remained a crucial force within Prince Ding's Estate—even more vital than the Mo Family Army or the Black Cloud Cavalry, for they operated in the shadows, closer to the prince himself. Who would have thought the Boundless Mountains could infiltrate even them? Fortunately, the Boundless Mountains had already been destroyed, or the consequences for Prince Ding's Estate could have been dire.

"Summon Mo Hua to see me," Ye Li said softly. "All of you, go and rest. You’ve been exhausted these past few days. We’ll discuss further tomorrow."The others looked at Ye Li with concern. While they had indeed been under strain these past few days, the Wang Fei, who had been traveling nonstop for two days and nights, appeared even more exhausted. Han Mingyue and Feng Zhiyao exchanged glances before Feng nodded and said, "Yes, we shall take our leave now. Wang Fei, please rest well."

Ye Li nodded silently, and the group quietly withdrew, leaving her alone under the lamplight, lost in thought.

"Mother..." It was already late at night, and the study remained eerily quiet, save for the occasional crackle of the candle wick. Ye Li sat behind the desk, lost in contemplation, when a small, hesitant voice came from the doorway. She looked up to see Mo Xiaobao standing there, clad only in a pale moon-white undergarment, his large eyes fixed on her pleadingly.

Though it was early spring, the northwest offered no warmth, day or night. Ye Li's eyes darkened with worry as she quickly rose, grabbing the cloak nearby and wrapping it around him. The adult-sized cloak enveloped Mo Xiaobao entirely, and Ye Li struggled slightly as she lifted him and sat down with him in her arms. "Why did you run out without dressing properly?"

"Mother..." Mo Xiaobao gazed up at her, his round eyes shimmering with tears. He sniffled, "Mother... Xiao Bao didn't mean to. Wuwu... Xiao Bao didn't mean to make Father disappear. Xiao Bao knows it's wrong, Mother..."

"Why the tears?" Ye Li gently wiped the droplets from his cheeks and pinched his soft, pink face. "Mother knows it's not your fault. Don't be afraid... Your father will be fine. He'll come back soon."

"Mm." Mo Xiaobao sniffled earnestly. "When Father comes back, Xiao Bao won't make him angry anymore. Mother, Xiao Bao will be good from now on." Ye Li's heart ached as she kissed her son's forehead. "Mother knows Xiao Bao is a good boy. Don't worry, everything will be alright..." Mo Xiaobao was far more perceptive than most children his age, which meant he understood far more than his peers. Though Feng Zhiyao and the others had said nothing in front of him—hadn't even mentioned Mo Xiuyao's disappearance—he had already pieced it together. But with everyone in Prince Ding's Estate preoccupied with worry and busy with tasks, no one had noticed his quiet distress.

Yet, no matter how clever he was, he was still just a child. Now that his mother had returned, he could no longer hold back. He had slipped past the shadow guards in nothing but his undergarments to seek her out in the study.

Sitting in Ye Li's lap, Mo Xiaobao's large, teary eyes still brimmed with anxiety. "Mother... Father really... won't be in trouble, right?" Ye Li smiled faintly. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. It's very late—shouldn't you go back to sleep?"

Mo Xiaobao rubbed his eyes. "Xiao Bao will stay with Mother."

"Alright. Mother still has some work to do. If you're tired, you can sleep for a while, okay?" Ye Li carefully adjusted the cloak around him, her voice tender. Mo Xiaobao nodded and settled in her lap, his wide eyes fixed on the documents in her hands. With Mo Xiuyao's sudden disappearance, the Mo Family Army had accumulated many urgent matters that only he or Ye Li could handle.Ye Li glanced through two memorials before looking down to find Mo Xiaobao had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep. These past few days had been taxing not only for the adults but also for the children, whose hearts were more sensitive. Mo Xiaobao had been thoroughly exhausted. Now, nestled in his mother's embrace, he quickly drifted into slumber.

"Subordinate Mo Hua requests an audience with Wang Fei," Mo Hua's calm voice came from the doorway. The brush in Ye Li's hand paused momentarily before she set it down gently and said, "Come in." As Mo Hua entered and noticed Mo Xiaobao in Ye Li's arms, he froze momentarily. "Wang Fei, the Little Prince—"

Ye Li waved her hand. "Wait a moment." She carried Mo Xiaobao into the adjoining resting chamber of the study, carefully tucking him into bed before returning to face Mo Hua. "Was it you who brought Mu Qingcang?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Mo Hua's eyes as he replied solemnly, "This subordinate arrived too late, allowing Wang Fei to be endangered. I beg for punishment."

Ye Li shook her head and asked instead, "Where has Wang Ye gone?"

"This subordinate... does not know," Mo Hua replied, lowering his gaze.

"Does not know?" Ye Li arched an eyebrow, looking at him with a faintly amused expression. "If you didn't know, how did you know to bring Mu Qingcang to rescue me? To my knowledge, very few are aware of Mu Qingcang's whereabouts and could have fetched him in advance. Among them... the Mo Commander should not be included. Moreover, Mu Qingcang's secluded retreat is three days' journey from where Ling Tiehan ambushed me. Even riding at full speed from Flying Goose Pass would take over two days. Which means... you had already set out before Wang Ye was injured. Did Commander Mo know in advance that Wang Ye would disappear and that I would be ambushed by Ling Tiehan upon my return?" There were few in this world who could stand against Ye Li and the Qilin. Unless it was Ling Tiehan or Lei Zhenting personally making a move, there would be no need to trouble Mu Qingcang. In fact, even the current Lei Zhenting might not be capable of it. Therefore, without extremely precise intelligence—or rather, premeditation—Mo Hua would never have had time to fetch Mu Qingcang for the rescue.

Mo Hua remained silent. Ye Li regarded him calmly before nodding. "I understand. Just tell me this—is Xiu Yao still alive? Shake your head, or nod." Though Mo Hua was somewhat prideful by nature, he was a man who strictly adhered to rules. If there were truly nothing he could say, he would not have refused Ye Li with such silence.

After a long pause, Mo Hua finally gave a slight nod.

Ye Li exhaled softly, visibly relieved. No matter what, the news that Mo Xiuyao was still alive was the best possible outcome. No one knew—even though Ye Li had already formed some conjectures in her heart—that in the moment she waited for Mo Hua's nod, her heart had felt as though it were being wrenched violently. She hadn't dared to imagine what she would do if Mo Hua's answer had not been what she hoped.

Ye Li nodded gently. Mo Hua's reluctance to speak further was undoubtedly due to Mo Xiuyao's orders forbidding him from doing so. Though she felt some displeasure at being kept in the dark by Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li also understood the importance of secrecy in many matters. After all, even though she had long obtained the list Dongfang You had given to Mo Jingli... who could guarantee that Dongfang You had truly revealed everything?"Where did Mu Qingcang go?" Only after confirming Mo Xiuyao was safe did Ye Li turn her attention to other matters. When she had spared Mu Qingcang's life years ago, she never imagined he would one day save hers.

Mo Hua replied respectfully, "Mr. Mu has left with Marquis Muyang." What Mo Hua didn't mention was that Mu Qingcang had been severely injured—so much so that it would likely take him a decade to recover his current strength. Still, in Mo Hua's eyes, the injury was a worthy price to pay for ensuring the Wang Fei's safe escape from the King of Hell Pavilion's master.

"Ling Tiehan..." Ye Li frowned. With Mo Xiuyao absent, if Ling Tiehan continued opposing them, it would pose a significant problem. She might have to eliminate him first. Despite the life-and-death danger she had faced, Ye Li harbored no real animosity toward Ling Tiehan and had no desire to make an enemy of him. Not only because of his friendship with her elder brother, but also because she knew Ling Tiehan had never intended to kill her. Even if Mu Qingcang hadn't arrived that day, the worst outcome would likely have been her being severely injured and taken away by Ling Tiehan. With Ling Tiehan's strength, if he had truly wanted to kill her, he'd had plenty of opportunities.

Mo Hua said, "Ling Tiehan only agreed to Lei Zhenting's request to intercept the Wang Fei on her way back to Flying Goose Pass. Now that the Wang Fei has returned, Ling Tiehan won't act again. Moreover, according to reports, Ling Tiehan has already taken his men back to the King of Hell Pavilion." This time, the King of Hell Pavilion had not emerged unscathed. Trying to hold off the Mo Family Army's most elite force, the Qilin, even for just a short while, had cost them dearly. It would likely be years before the King of Hell Pavilion could resume its assassin business—unless Ling Tiehan, Leng Liuyue, or the Sick Scholar took on the missions themselves.

Ye Li nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You may rest now."

Mo Hua bowed respectfully. "This subordinate takes his leave."

Watching Mo Hua close the door behind him, Ye Li gazed at the flickering candlelight, her delicate features revealing a faint, icy smile. "Mo Xiuyao... are you addicted to playing games?"

At a secret stronghold of Prince Ding's Estate, the white-haired, white-robed Prince Ding lounged lazily on a bed, idly twirling an elegant jade hairpin in his hand. His loosely draped outer robe revealed thick bandages wrapped around his chest, and though his handsome face was slightly pale, his spirits were high. Staring at the jade hairpin, Mo Xiuyao sighed regretfully. A Li was back, yet he couldn't return to see her—how utterly frustrating.

"Achoo!" The usually dignified Prince Ding let out an undignified sneeze, tugging at his robe in confusion. With his martial prowess, even being naked shouldn't make him feel cold—had he caught a chill?

Early the next morning, the officers gathered in the study to request an audience with Ye Li. Though the Wang Fei had returned, there was still no news of the Wang Ye, and the battlefield situation was turning against them. Unable to sleep, the commanders had all converged on Ye Li's courtyard at dawn.

Soon after, Ye Li emerged, leading Mo Xiaobao by the hand. The boy wore an embroidered black robe adorned with coiling dragons, his still-youthful but strikingly handsome face set in a serious expression, every bit the little adult."Everyone, take a seat," Ye Li said calmly, holding Mo Xiaobao's hand as she settled into the main seat. Feng Zhiyao glanced at the little prince sitting beside Ye Li and suddenly felt an uneasy premonition. Hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Wang Fei... this little prince..." He wanted to say that they were about to discuss important matters and wondered if it was appropriate for the child to be present. What if they mentioned something about Wang Ye that might frighten him?

Ye Li replied, "No need. I’ve already explained everything to Yuchen. He knows what to do."

The group exchanged glances. It was well known that Wang Ye never addressed the little prince by his formal name, and even Wang Fei, who had initially insisted on it, had eventually adopted the nickname under Wang Ye’s influence. So when Wang Fei used the name "Mo Yuchen," it signaled that she was making a serious decision.

Mo Xiaobao nodded solemnly, his handsome little face composed.

Feng Zhiyao twitched his lips and asked, "Wang Fei, what do you mean?"

Ye Li said calmly, "Spread the news that Prince Ding’s injuries have worsened. Send word to Li Cheng to summon Shen immediately. In half a month... we’ll hold a funeral for Wang Ye."

What?!

Everyone stared in shock at the composed Princess Ding dressed in blue-green robes. Feng Zhiyao, unusually flustered, stammered, "Wang Fei, this subordinate thinks... Wang Ye..." Mo Xiuyao was the kind of person who refused to die—even if there was no news of him now, Feng Zhiyao would at most assume he had broken his leg again and couldn’t crawl back. He had never considered the possibility that Wang Ye might actually be dead. And for Wang Fei, who had always been deeply devoted to Mo Xiuyao, to say such a thing was simply unbelievable.

"Right now, he’s severely injured and unconscious. What difference does it make if he’s dead? Just proceed as I’ve said," Ye Li replied.

Han Mingyue, sitting nearby, glanced at Ye Li and raised an eyebrow slightly, stopping Han Mingxi before he could speak. "Holding a funeral is indeed a good strategy. Summoning Shen urgently will make it even more convincing. Neither Mo Jingli nor Zhennan Wang will doubt it."

Hearing this, the others suddenly realized they had misunderstood. Wang Fei’s arrangement wasn’t because she believed Wang Ye was dead—it was to make others believe he was. Feng Zhiyao’s eyes lit up as he looked at Ye Li. "Wang Fei, have you found Wang Ye’s whereabouts?"

Ye Li shook her head regretfully. "For now, we won’t focus on Wang Ye. Recall all those sent to search for him. Our priority now is to stabilize the current situation. Nan Hou?"

Nan Hou stood and replied respectfully, "In our recent engagements with the Western Liang Army, thanks to Wang Ye’s brilliant strategies, we have mostly prevailed. However, since Wang Ye... Lei Zhenting’s attacks have intensified, and our forces have struggled to hold our ground." The Mo Family Army was formidable, but the Western Liang Army was no less so. Moreover, their numbers far exceeded those of the Mo Family Army. With Mo Xiuyao leading them, this hadn’t been an issue, but in his absence, their weaknesses became glaringly apparent.

Ye Li nodded. "There’s no need for self-reproach. You’ve all worked hard these past days. Since the Western Liang Army is currently stronger, we need not confront them head-on. Avoid direct conflict as much as possible."

Murong Shen asked, "Wang Fei, what do you propose?"Ye Li said, "Avoid their main force and strike where they are vulnerable. Generals, divide your troops and engage in separate battles. Flying Goose Pass will still be defended by myself and General Yuan Pei." After over a decade of continuous reinforcement by the Mo Family Army, Flying Goose Pass had become as impregnable as the renowned Central Plains stronghold, Cold Valley Pass. The Mo Family Army currently lacked the strength to confront the Western Mausoleum Army head-on.

"But Wang Fei, if Lei Zhenting throws his full force against Flying Goose Pass, I fear you and General Yuan..."

Ye Li smiled, "So you must prevent him from committing his full strength. I believe this is where the Mo Family Army and Black Cloud Cavalry excel. As for Flying Goose Pass, don't worry - we have some interesting devices that will soon arrive there. If Lei Zhenting still wants to breach Flying Goose Pass, he'll have to pay with lives. I'd like to see how many Western Liang troops he's willing to sacrifice for it."

Though curious about these "interesting devices" Wang Fei mentioned, seeing Ye Li's composed demeanor put everyone at ease. They cupped their hands in unison and replied, "As you command."