Mo Li

Mo Jingli and his party were quickly led into the mourning hall of the general’s residence where Ye Li was temporarily staying. As it was only a temporary arrangement, the hall was not large. The entire space was draped in white cloth, giving off a solemn and desolate atmosphere. Mo Xiuyao’s coffin was placed in the center of the hall, surrounded by countless flowers. In front of the coffin stood a memorial tablet inscribed with the words: "Spirit Tablet of Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao."

Standing in the mourning hall, both Mo Jingli and Lei Zhenting felt a momentary surge of tension and excitement. They were about to see Prince Ding’s corpse—as his enemies, it was hard not to feel stirred.

"Wang Fei?" A Jin, who was guarding the mourning hall, glared at Mo Jingli and Lei Zhenting with reddened eyes. His gaze toward Mo Jingli was especially fierce. Had this not been Mo Xiuyao’s mourning hall, he would have lunged at him already. Aware of what he had done to Mo Xiuyao, Mo Jingli felt a pang of guilt under A Jin’s stare and involuntarily took a step back. But soon, he was overcome with joy. No matter what he had done, Mo Xiuyao was dead—after all these years of rivalry, he had ultimately won. And… Mo Jingli swept a disdainful glance at A Jin. This little fool who had followed Mo Xiuyao since childhood—did he really think killing him would be so easy?

Ye Li said calmly, "Emperor Chu and Zhennan Wang wish to see Wang Ye."

A Jin froze, then glared at Mo Jingli and snarled, "No! Wang Ye has already been encoffined. How can we open it again? And… and he—" What A Jin wanted to say was that Mo Jingli was the murderer who had killed Wang Ye—how could they allow him to disturb Wang Ye’s eternal rest?

Understanding A Jin’s thoughts, Lei Zhenting stepped forward with a smile and said, "We sincerely wish to bid Prince Ding farewell. How about this—let me take a look at Prince Ding, so as not to disturb his peace. What does Wang Fei think?" Ye Li frowned, her expression clearly displeased, but she did not object. Mo Jingli also did not oppose. Though he regretted not being able to see Mo Xiuyao’s corpse with his own eyes, the most important thing now was confirming whether Mo Xiuyao was truly dead. He believed Lei Zhenting had no reason to deceive him on this matter.

Ye Li gently patted A Jin’s shoulder and said softly, "Let them see Wang Ye. After this, they won’t disturb him again." A Jin looked at Ye Li. Since Mo Xiuyao’s passing, aside from his uncle, Ye Li had become the person A Jin trusted most—even his betrothed, Qingshuang, ranked lower. Hearing Ye Li’s words, A Jin finally shot Mo Jingli one last fierce glare before walking over and carefully pushing open the coffin lid. Since the coffin would not be sealed until it was transported back to Li Cheng for burial, the lid had not been nailed shut yet. With just a light push, A Jin opened it.

Neither Mo Jingli nor Zhennan Wang minded A Jin’s rudeness, as their attention was entirely fixed on the opened coffin. Lei Zhenting took a few steps forward and immediately caught a strong, pungent fragrance. This was a type of incense used by nobility to preserve corpses from decay—typically reserved for princes and those of higher rank. Mixed with the scent of golden nanmu wood, the aroma made Lei Zhenting wrinkle his nose slightly.Inside the coffin lay a white-haired man dressed in a white robe embroidered with silver dragon and cloud patterns. Despite the cold weather, the coffin was filled with preservative spices and placed atop a massive block of ice, so the body remained unchanged. Were it not for the unnatural pallor distinguishing it from the living, one might even say it looked lifelike.

Lei Zhenting's sharp eyes caught sight of a scar extending from the inside of the man's right wrist, which rested by his side. Though carefully treated, the mark was still faintly visible. Recalling the information he had obtained from Mo Jingli, Lei Zhenting frowned slightly as he stared fixedly at the man's extraordinarily handsome face. Finally, he reached out toward the coffin.

"Zhennan Wang, what are you doing?" Ye Li, standing nearby, asked with displeasure upon seeing his movement.

Lei Zhenting smiled faintly. "This prince noticed Prince Ding's sleeve was slightly disheveled. My apologies for the impropriety." With practiced ease, he adjusted the white sleeve before turning to Ye Li with an apologetic smile.

Ye Li lowered her gaze. "If Zhennan Wang and Emperor Chu have no further business... then—"

Lei Zhenting chuckled. "Wang Fei, please proceed. This prince shall not disturb Prince Ding's rest any longer."

"Thank you. A Jin, seal it," Ye Li instructed softly. A Jin shot Lei Zhenting a resentful glare before stepping forward to close the coffin lid.

After leaving the mourning hall, Mo Jingli and Lei Zhenting were escorted to a side courtyard in the general's residence to rest. Flying Goose Pass was not Li Cheng, and since Mo Xiuyao's formal funeral had not yet been held, few visitors were present. Though the residence was modest, it sufficed to accommodate the two men for the night.

"Emperor Chu, care to share some tea?" Lei Zhenting suggested. Though they had only come to pay respects, the late hour necessitated staying overnight at Flying Goose Pass before departing the next day.

Mo Jingli readily agreed, as he too had many questions for Lei Zhenting.

Once they entered Lei Zhenting's quarters and dismissed the maids serving tea and snacks, Lei Zhenting smiled. "Congratulations, Emperor Chu." Mo Jingli paused briefly before realizing his meaning. "The one in the coffin... was truly Mo Xiuyao?"

Lei Zhenting replied, "Severe blood loss, but no visible external wounds. Likely a fatal injury to the heart meridian. There's a scar on the right wrist, and calluses on the palm from years of sword practice. Moreover... the man was a master in life—no disguise on the face, no dye on the hair. If there exists another man identical to Mo Xiuyao in appearance, skill, and martial prowess who also happened to die... then Mo Xiuyao is not dead."

After a long silence, Mo Jingli murmured under his breath, "Mo Xiuyao... is truly... dead..."

"Indeed," Lei Zhenting sighed softly. "Mo Xiuyao is truly dead." Such a brilliant and extraordinary figure, gone just like that. A trace of bewilderment and melancholy flickered in Lei Zhenting's eyes. Mo Jingli, however, paid no heed to his thoughts. Upon hearing Lei Zhenting's words, he threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Splendid! Mo Xiuyao... Mo Xiuyao! You still died before me! Hahaha..."Watching Mo Jingli's smug and overjoyed expression, Lei Zhenting's eyes flashed with disdain and anger. He also wished for Mo Xiuyao's death, as he was an enemy. However, being considered an enemy by someone like Mo Xiuyao was an honor. In contrast, being regarded as an enemy by someone like Mo Jingli was nothing short of disgraceful. The opponents Lei Zhenting acknowledged had never included Mo Jingli—just a mere clown.

When Mo Jingli finally finished laughing, he seemed to notice Lei Zhenting's displeasure. Raising an eyebrow, Mo Jingli asked, "With Mo Xiuyao dead, isn’t Zhennan Wang pleased?" Lei Zhenting curled his lips into a mocking smile. "Naturally, I can’t match Emperor Chu’s jubilation."

At these words, Mo Jingli couldn’t help but feel somewhat embarrassed. The feud between Prince Ding's Estate and the Chu imperial family was something few in the world were unaware of these days. His earlier reaction must have appeared quite unseemly in Lei Zhenting’s eyes. Even with his thick skin, Mo Jingli flushed slightly. He snorted and retorted stiffly, "Mo Xiuyao betrayed the country first. Such a treacherous rebel deserved to die."

Lei Zhenting took a sip of tea and said indifferently, "This prince has no intention of debating with Emperor Chu over whether Prince Ding deserved to die or not. His death benefits me, of course." A flicker of anger and resentment passed through Mo Jingli’s eyes, and he replied dryly, "In that case, Zhennan Wang, please speak your mind." There were some people in this world who were born extraordinary, the focus of all eyes, commanding even the respect and admiration of their enemies. Mo Xiuyao was such a man—precisely why Mo Jingli had been driven to such insane jealousy.

Lei Zhenting observed the visibly unsettled Mo Jingli with calm amusement before speaking evenly, "Has Emperor Chu noticed that several of the Mo Family Army’s key generals are absent?" Mo Jingli hesitated. From the start, his attention had been fixed on Ye Li and Mo Xiaobao, so he hadn’t paid much mind to who else might be missing from Prince Ding's Estate. Now that Lei Zhenting mentioned it, he vaguely recalled and nodded. "Indeed, Murong Shen and Nan Hou are not here. They—"

"They were likely sent out by Ye Li," Lei Zhenting interjected.

Mo Jingli frowned. "Sent out? Does Ye Li not intend to defend Flying Goose Pass?"

Lei Zhenting glanced at him. "On the contrary, it’s precisely because she wants to hold Flying Goose Pass that she sent them out."

"What does Zhennan Wang mean by that?" Mo Jingli disliked Lei Zhenting’s tone, as if implying he were a fool. Yet, he truly couldn’t grasp Ye Li’s reasoning, so he had no choice but to suppress his temper and listen.

"Flying Goose Pass is only so large. What difference would it make if all the generals were crammed here? But if Murong Shen, Nan Hou, and others are deployed elsewhere—these are seasoned veterans renowned on the battlefield. They don’t need to engage us head-on. Even minor disruptions from them would be effortless. And the Black Cloud Cavalry of the Mo Family Army excels in long-range raids. When the time comes... both our sides will likely suffer headaches," Lei Zhenting explained.

Mo Jingli gritted his teeth. "Was this really Ye Li’s idea? How cunning!"

Lei Zhenting smiled appreciatively. "Princess Ding, as a woman, has managed to stabilize the entire Prince Ding's Estate in these circumstances. She is no ordinary person. If Princess Ding were a man... well..." He shook his head, leaving the thought unfinished with a faint smile.Mo Jingli snorted lightly and asked, "What does Zhennan Wang wish to discuss with Us?"

Lei Zhenting looked at Mo Jingli and said, "Abandon Hangu Pass and march westward. Once our two armies join forces, we can attack Flying Goose Pass together."

Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Zhennan Wang has quite the brilliant plan. Unfortunately, We fear being sold out by you again." He hadn’t forgotten how Lei Tengfeng had tricked him last time. How could he trust Lei Zhenting again?

Lei Zhenting frowned and said, "Once we take Flying Goose Pass and sweep through the entire northwest, after uprooting Prince Ding’s foundation, do you think Leng Huai in Chu Jing and Lyu Jinxian at Hangu Pass will still require our attention?"

Mo Jingli was no fool. "How do We know that once We lead our troops westward, Leng Huai and Lyu Jinxian won’t pursue us from behind? Wouldn’t that leave Us trapped between a rock and a hard place?" Lei Zhenting raised an eyebrow. "So, Emperor Chu is confident in facing Leng Huai and Lyu Jinxian alone? This prince has received word that Leng Huai has already begun mobilizing troops in Chu Jing. Soon, they will march to Hangu Pass. Hangu Pass is indeed the most formidable pass in the Central Plains, but..." But it also depends on who is defending it.

Cornered by Lei Zhenting’s words, Mo Jingli’s face turned pale with anger. "What does Zhennan Wang propose?!"

Lei Zhenting nodded in satisfaction. "We ask Emperor Chu to hold off the armies of Leng Huai and Lyu Jinxian. This prince doesn’t need your forces to achieve victory—just delay them long enough to prevent them from interfering."

Though Lei Zhenting’s dismissive attitude humiliated Mo Jingli, he had no desire to waste his troops in a futile battle against Lyu Jinxian and Leng Huai. Better to wait until Lei Zhenting and the Mo Family Army had weakened each other, then swoop in to reap the rewards.

Lei Zhenting understood Mo Jingli’s thoughts perfectly but merely responded with a cold, indifferent smile.

"Very well, We shall act as Zhennan Wang suggests." Mo Jingli nodded, agreeing to Lei Zhenting’s proposal.

In the study of the main courtyard deep within the general’s estate, Ye Li sat behind the desk and sighed at the room full of people. Feng Zhiyao glared at her. "Wang Fei, do you truly not know Wang Ye’s whereabouts?"

Ye Li shook her head earnestly. "I really don’t know."

Unfortunately, her sincere answer failed to convince Feng Zhiyao and the others. "Does Wang Fei think we believe that?" Ye Li arched her delicate brows and smiled at them. Han Mingyue chuckled lightly. "Wang Fei must at least know something about Xiu Yao’s situation. Otherwise… how would you know what scars he should bear?" After examining Prince Ding’s wounds, Zhennan Wang’s expression had visibly relaxed, and his smile toward Ye Li had grown more genuine. Clearly, Zhennan Wang had received prior news of Prince Ding’s injuries, and the scars on the corpse matched the information Lei Zhenting had obtained.

Ye Li sighed helplessly. "I truly don’t know.""Very well, since Wang Fei cannot say, we won't ask then." Feng Zhiyao clearly still didn't believe Ye Li didn't know, assuming she just couldn't say. But at least it proved Mo Xiuyao's safety wasn't in question, and everyone present couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Though they vaguely understood the prince must still be alive, not having definite news always caused some unease. Now seeing Wang Fei so composed, their hearts felt as if they'd swallowed a stabilizing pill.

"Mother, can we kill that big bad guy?" Mo Xiaobao sat beside Ye Li, asking with an innocent expression.

Ye Li looked down at Mo Xiaobao's eager gaze and couldn't help smiling. "When did you learn to bite people?" This was absolutely the most undignified moment for Mo Xiaobao. Though mischievous, he was still proud. Even when playing pranks, he'd never resort to such common childish tricks.

Mo Xiaobao grinned. "Did I act well?"

Ye Li raised a brow and glanced at Feng Zhiyao beside her, who laughed. "The Little Prince's first words upon seeing Mo Jingli were, 'You villain who killed my father, I'll bite you to death!' Then he pounced and bit Mo Jingli hard. I think he nearly tore off a chunk of flesh—what strong teeth." The others also covered their mouths, chuckling softly.

Mo Xiaobao's little face flushed with embarrassment as he muttered unhappily, "So stinky. I had to rinse my mouth with so much water. Next time, I'll have to find another way." Still, this method was the most satisfying and least likely to arouse suspicion. If he'd injured Mo Jingli some other way, it wouldn't have been dismissed as mere childish mischief.

Curious, Ye Li asked, "What else did Xiao Bao do to Mo Jingli?" She knew her son well enough—he wouldn't just bite someone out of anger or to humiliate Mo Jingli.

Mo Xiaobao giggled. "I sprinkled the medicine Shen gave me on his hand."

Shen Yang, who had been listening while organizing his medicines, suddenly stiffened. Slowly, he turned to stare at Mo Xiaobao. "Little Prince, which bottle did you use?"

Mo Xiaobao blinked innocently. "The one you just finished preparing last night. The green one... in that pretty little jade bottle." Shen Yang swayed, quickly steadying himself against the table as he asked calmly, "Was that the one I gave you?"

"I asked Shen if I could have the bottle, and you nodded," Mo Xiaobao replied, puzzled.

Shen Yang fell silent. You asked for the bottle, but you took the medicine too.

Noticing Shen's odd expression, Feng Zhiyao asked curiously, "What medicine did you prepare, Shen? Was it important?" Mo Xiaobao grinned. "I saw something written on the bottle—something about 'union' and 'spring.'""Pfft—" On the other side, Han Mingxi spat out his tea in shock, staring incredulously at Shen Yang. "Don’t tell me it’s the Spring Harmony Powder? Mr. Shen, why would you… prepare something like that?" He eyed Shen Yang with a look that clearly said, "At your age, you still have such interests?" True to his reputation as the Wind and Moon noble, Han Mingxi had spent years in pleasure houses and was well-versed in all sorts of peculiar medicines.

Shen Yang’s lips twitched as he rolled his eyes. "What do you mean I prepared it? Someone brought it to me a few days ago to study whether there’s an antidote."

Han Mingxi looked utterly unconvinced. "Who would research an antidote for this kind of medicine?"

Any sane person knew how to "resolve" such a drug. Han Mingxi’s expression plainly said, "If I believe you, I’m an idiot." Shen Yang knew that the more he tried to explain, the worse it would sound. He shot a resentful glare at Mo Xiaobao. If not for this brat, he wouldn’t be mocked by a junior like Han Mingxi.

Mo Xiaobao, nestled in Ye Li’s arms, peeked at Shen Yang with a mischievous grin.

Ye Li sighed and gently tapped Mo Xiaobao’s little head. Clearing her throat, she asked, "So… are there any adverse effects from this medicine?" Han Mingxi chuckled. "None at all. This is a top-tier… medicine. Even money can’t always get you this. It’s just… very precise in timing. It usually takes about two hours to take effect, but once it does, it’s unstoppable. So… Jun Wei—ahem—Third Master Feng, you’d better have someone prepare for it." Han Mingxi quickly realized this matter wasn’t really suitable for Ye Li to handle and redirected his words to Feng Zhiyao.

Feng Zhiyao rolled his eyes in exasperation. In his younger days, he too had been a frequent visitor to pleasure houses and knew exactly what the so-called Spring Harmony Powder was.

Mo Xiaobao blinked up at everyone, curiosity brimming. "Prepare what?"

Ye Li flicked his forehead lightly. "Adults are talking. No interrupting." Mo Xiaobao rubbed his forehead, looking pitifully at Ye Li. Nearby, Zhuo Jing, busy sorting through documents, frowned and looked up. "Wang Fei, right now… Prince Li seems to be in Zhennan Wang’s courtyard." From the time Mo Jingli was bitten by Mo Xiaobao until now, it had been just over two hours.

At this, everyone exchanged stunned glances. After a moment, Feng Zhiyao and Han Mingxi simultaneously leaped up and dashed toward Lei Zhenting’s residence. Of course, they weren’t going to help—they were going to watch the spectacle.

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow and stood. "Let’s go take a look too. It wouldn’t be good if Emperor Chu or Zhennan Wang got hurt." Mo Xiaobao kicked his little legs excitedly in Ye Li’s arms, reaching out toward Han Mingyue. "I wanna go too! I wanna go too…"

Shen Yang promptly snatched him away. "Little Prince, you’re coming with me to review the medical texts in the study again. You shouldn’t use any medicine recklessly—what if you end up harming yourself or others someday?" Ye Li gave Shen Yang a grateful nod. She truly had no idea how to explain this kind of medicine to Mo Xiaobao. With a renowned physician like Shen Yang to teach him properly, she was sure Mo Xiaobao would soon learn which medicines were safe and which required caution.Ye Li, Han Mingyue, and Qin Feng were leisurely heading towards the guest courtyard when, before they even reached the entrance, they saw the maidservant assigned to attend the guests running toward them with a pale face, looking frantic. Upon spotting Ye Li, the maid visibly relaxed and bowed, "This servant greets Wang Fei."

Ye Li nodded and asked, "What happened?"

The maid, her face still pale and eyes wide with fear, stammered, "Wang Fei, you must... you must go quickly. Zhennan Wang, Zhennan Wang is about to beat Emperor Chu to death!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment. Ye Li sighed and said, "Let's go take a look."

Before they even entered the courtyard, the sound of chaotic commotion reached their ears.

Feng Zhiyao and Han Mingxi sat leisurely atop the wall, watching the scene with great interest, occasionally gesturing excitedly. Ye Li sighed, "Feng San, Mingxi." Were these two deliberately trying to show Lei Zhenting just how delighted they were?

Feng Zhiyao and the other gracefully landed on the ground and chuckled, "Wang Fei, rest assured. Zhennan Wang is too furious to notice us."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "What exactly happened inside?" She had assumed Lei Zhenting and Mo Jingli would be conspiring inside. After all, they were bound to join forces sooner or later, so Ye Li didn't particularly mind them scheming in her territory—it was far better than them gathering somewhere unknown and creating situations beyond her control. But even if Mo Jingli's poison had taken effect, Lei Zhenting would have at most thrown him out or found someone to help him relieve it. There was no reason for them to start fighting.

Han Mingxi chuckled softly and said, "It seems... Emperor Chu attempted to take liberties with Zhennan Wang. Also, that drug amplifies the victim's strength several times over once it takes effect. So..."

Ye Li couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth, feeling her face turn slightly green for the first time in her life.