Mo Li

Ye Li could swear that she had indeed been displeased with Lei Zhenting and Mo Jingli's recent attempts to take advantage of the situation, but she had never considered using such a method to deal with them. As she entered the guest courtyard and took in the chaotic scene before her, she felt a throbbing pain at her temples. "Quickly, pull the Emperor of Chu out!" she urged, seeing that Mo Jingli was indeed being beaten to the brink of death by Lei Zhenting. If this were happening elsewhere, Ye Li wouldn't have cared if Lei Zhenting killed Mo Jingli, but she couldn't allow Mo Jingli to die like this on Prince Ding's Estate.

Feng Zhiyao looked up at the sky and sighed, "Wang Fei, how could we possibly restrain Prince Zhennan?" Even with one arm missing, Lei Zhenting was still one of the top four martial artists in the world. Charging in would only invite a beating—and for Mo Jingli's sake, no less. Absolutely not.

"Princess Ding, if anything happens to our Emperor here at Prince Ding's Estate..." Mo Jingli's attendants could only watch helplessly, frantic with worry. The problem was that Prince Zhennan of Xiling was simply too formidable. To make matters worse, their Emperor had suddenly lost his senses and, of all people, had to pounce on Prince Zhennan.

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Are you threatening Prince Ding's Estate? Prince Zhennan's fight with the Emperor of Chu has nothing to do with us." Watching the man fall silent, his face flushed with embarrassment, Han Mingyue continued leisurely, "However... since the Emperor of Chu is a guest here, Prince Ding's Estate will naturally ensure his safety." The attendant glanced at Mo Jingli, who was already unrecognizable from the beating, and had nothing to say. If this was what they called "ensuring safety," he'd rather take his chances without it.

"Prince Zhennan, the Emperor of Chu is, after all, the ruler of a nation. Moreover... this is still Prince Ding's Estate," Ye Li stepped forward, frowning slightly at the two men with displeasure. "If you are here to pay respects to Wang Ye, I welcome you. But if you have personal grievances, please resolve them outside Flying Goose Pass."

Lei Zhenting had no intention of killing Mo Jingli—doing so would only be doing Prince Ding's Estate a favor. At Ye Li's words, he snorted coldly and stopped, his expression stern. However, just as he withdrew, Mo Jingli, who had seemed on the verge of collapse, suddenly revived and lunged at him again. Lei Zhenting's face stiffened, and he kicked Mo Jingli away with a swift motion.

"Don't go... don't go..." Mo Jingli moaned softly as he was sent flying. Everyone present had sharp hearing and caught his words clearly, staring awkwardly at Lei Zhenting, whose face had turned ashen. After a long pause, Feng Zhiyao finally snapped out of his daze and muttered under his breath, "So the Emperor of Chu harbors such deep feelings... no wonder..."

"Feng San!" Lei Zhenting, already seething with rage and with no outlet for it, shot Feng Zhiyao a glare and struck without hesitation. Feng Zhiyao hastily retreated, while Han Mingyue simultaneously moved to intercept Lei Zhenting's attack. Only then did Feng Zhiyao narrowly avoid the blow."Zhennan Wang," Ye Li said coldly, displeasure evident in her voice. "This is Flying Goose Pass. I expect Your Highness to conduct yourself with dignity."

Lei Zhenting took a deep breath, knowing there was nothing he could do to Feng Zhiyao at the moment. However, the gazes of those present were unbearable. Throughout his life, Lei Zhenting had faced setbacks and defeats, but never had he been humiliated like this. Glaring hatefully at Mo Jingli, who was being restrained by his attendants, he said stiffly, "I have urgent military matters to attend to. I shall take my leave."

Ye Li did not press him to stay. As for the so-called peace negotiations Lei Zhenting had mentioned earlier, neither side truly took them seriously. She nodded. "In that case, I won’t detain you any longer. Leng Er, escort Zhennan Wang out."

Among those present, aside from Han Mingyue, Leng Haoyu was the most reliable. Han Mingyue held no official position in the estate, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to see Lei Zhenting off. If Feng Zhiyao or Han Mingxi were to do it, they would likely provoke Lei Zhenting within three sentences.

Leng Haoyu nodded and gestured politely. "Zhennan Wang, this way."

Lei Zhenting stormed off, his face dark with fury.

Meanwhile, Mo Jingli was still struggling violently under the grip of his attendants. Ye Li had no interest in watching such an undignified spectacle and simply instructed, "Take your emperor back to his quarters to rest. Does he need a physician?"

Mo Jingli’s attendants exchanged uneasy glances. Anyone with eyes could see what was really going on with him. "Thank you, Wang Fei, but… that won’t be necessary. We brought our own imperial physician."

Ye Li didn’t press further but issued a warning. "The people in my estate are under my protection. I trust you will act with discretion."

"We understand," they replied.

Wang Fei’s words were a clear warning not to lay hands on any maids in the general’s residence. Since they had brought their own attendants, they had no intention of provoking Wang Fei over such trivial matters. This was, after all, Prince Ding’s territory, so they readily agreed.

As Mo Jingli’s attendants carried him away, Feng Zhiyao and the others finally burst into laughter. Ye Li shook her head helplessly. Mo Xiaobao’s prank had been meant as mischief, but no one could have predicted it would lead to such an outcome.

Feng Zhiyao fanned himself with a grin. "Who would have thought Emperor Chu would be so… affectionate toward Zhennan Wang? Truly, a profound bond between kindred spirits."

The others rolled their eyes. Feng Zhiyao was determined to pin this scandal on Lei Zhenting and Mo Jingli no matter what.

"Be careful," Han Mingxi warned. "Lei Zhenting might send assassins after you."

Jokes were fine, but playing with fire was another matter.

Feng Zhiyao waved his fan gracefully. "Unless he comes himself, what do I have to fear? Besides, he won’t have time for revenge anytime soon. More importantly, if he really does send assassins over this, wouldn’t that prove… my speculation was correct? That’s why he’d want to silence me."

And so, on that day, a piece of news spread like wildfire through Flying Goose Pass and beyond at an astonishing speed.

At first, it was: "I heard Emperor Chu offended Zhennan Wang and got beaten up for it."

Then it became: "I heard Emperor Chu harbors secret feelings for Zhennan Wang, couldn’t control himself, and got severely beaten for it."Then came this: "I heard Emperor Chu intended to... but ended up getting beaten up by Zhennan Wang."

And then this: "I heard Emperor Chu and Zhennan Wang were mutually attracted, couldn't restrain themselves... and then Zhennan Wang beat him up."

Finally—"I heard Emperor Chu got beaten up by Zhennan Wang."

"Why?"

"What do you think? You're so ignorant."

"Ah? Could it be...?"

"Absolutely!"

By the time Mo Jingli sobered up the next day, the rumors had already spread throughout and beyond Flying Goose Pass. Recalling what he had done the previous day, Mo Jingli was equally overwhelmed with shame and fury, yet powerless to do anything about it.

In the early morning, Ye Li sat in the garden pavilion drinking tea. Her snow-white robes, casually tied-up hair without any adornments, and naturally beautiful face free of makeup appeared somewhat melancholic and somber in the faint morning mist.

This was the serene and elegant scene Mo Jingli saw as he stood outside the pavilion, momentarily lost in thought. Given his prideful nature, he would never have shown his face after being beaten black and blue the day before. But now, there wasn't enough time to wait for his injuries to heal before appearing in public. So early in the morning, he had no choice but to endure the strange looks from the servants of the general's residence and come to see Ye Li.

"Wang Fei, Emperor Chu is here," Qin Feng said softly as he entered the pavilion. Ye Li nodded. "Please invite him in."

Qin Feng turned to usher Mo Jingli in, but he himself did not leave. Instead, he stood less than three steps away from Ye Li inside the pavilion, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Mo Jingli, filled with unmistakable warning and vigilance.

Mo Jingli's expression darkened, though his injuries made it hard to discern. Qin Feng and Ye Li only saw his face twist oddly for a moment. Ye Li lifted her teacup to her lips, hiding the twitch and smile at the corner of her mouth, and asked quietly, "Is Emperor Chu's injury serious?"

"N-o-t a-t a-l-l!" Mo Jingli gritted his teeth. Though he hadn't been fully aware of his actions at the time, he remembered everything clearly afterward. The thought of throwing himself at an older man like some desperate fool made his stomach churn, and he felt as though he might vomit up the breakfast he'd just eaten. In fact, he had already retched violently once after waking up in the middle of the night.

Mo Jingli knew without a doubt that he had been tricked, but neither he nor the imperial physician accompanying him could figure out how it had happened. Aside from being bitten by Mo Xiaobao, Mo Jingli had not been within two steps of anyone outside his own entourage that day. Even the tea and snacks he consumed had been rigorously checked. Thus, he couldn't fathom how he had fallen victim to such a scheme.

Ye Li nodded. "That's good. Zhennan Wang was far too impulsive yesterday. He left Flying Goose Pass yesterday afternoon." So if you want to settle the score, go find Lei Zhenting yourself.

Mo Jingli was certain he didn't want to see Lei Zhenting again anytime soon—not just because of the reflexive nausea, but also because of the damage Lei Zhenting had inflicted on him.

"I came to see you," Mo Jingli said, staring at Ye Li.Ye Li nodded, "Emperor Chu, if you have something to say, please speak."

Mo Jingli glanced at Qin Feng beside her and frowned, "You, step back." Qin Feng ignored him, merely giving him a faint sidelong glance. Strangely enough, Mo Jingli seemed to understand the meaning behind Qin Feng's look— You pounce on any man you see, who knows what you might do to our Wang Fei?

Seeing this, a vein twitched at Mo Jingli's temple, but noticing that Ye Li showed no intention of dismissing Qin Feng, he suppressed his anger and said, "I have serious matters to discuss with you." Ye Li smiled faintly, "Emperor Chu, please speak."

"You and Prince Ding's Estate submit to Great Chu, and I guarantee that Mo Yuchen will remain the hereditary Prince Ding," Mo Jingli declared imperiously, his tone even carrying a hint of condescension. However, what should have been an imposing demeanor was rendered somewhat comical by his current appearance.

Ye Li gave him a speechless glance and replied calmly, "If I’m not mistaken, Emperor Chu has already reached an agreement with Prince Zhennan of Xiling, hasn’t he?"

Mo Jingli scoffed indifferently, "Lei Zhenting can deceive me, but does that mean I must honor the agreement? Ye Li, as long as you and Prince Ding's Estate submit to Great Chu, I promise you will not be mistreated."

"How exactly does Emperor Chu plan not to mistreat me?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow. Did Mo Jingli truly have no brain at all? Did he really think that with just her word, the entire Prince Ding's Estate and the Mo Family Army would obediently submit to Great Chu?

Thinking Ye Li was tempted, Mo Jingli smiled smugly and said with confidence, "I can make you my empress. Ye Li, you should know that elevating a woman who has already been married to empress status is unprecedented in history—proof enough of my sincerity."

Ye Li lowered her gaze, silent in contemplation.

Mo Jingli wasn’t in a hurry. Matters like this naturally required careful consideration. And he was absolutely confident that Ye Li would agree. Mo Xiuyao was already dead. No matter how capable Ye Li was, she was still just a woman. Without a man to support her, she was nothing.

After a long pause, Ye Li finally said coolly, "I need time to consider."

Mo Jingli nodded, "Very well. I await your answer."

Ye Li nodded and left with Qin Feng.

In the garden, Qin Feng walked beside Ye Li and asked in confusion, "Wang Fei, are you really considering this?" Ye Li nodded, "Of course I’m considering it. I’m considering... how to deal with Mo Jingli."

"What are your plans, Wang Fei?" Qin Feng asked curiously.

Ye Li thought for a moment and replied calmly, "Throw him out."

Watching Ye Li stroll away, Qin Feng blinked and snapped his fingers. Four Qilin appeared before him. Qin Feng raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did you understand Wang Fei’s words?"

"What does Wang Fei mean?"

Qin Feng grinned, "Exactly what she said—throw. him. out."

A quarter of an hour later, a man in imperial robes—his face so bruised and swollen he was nearly unrecognizable—was hurled off the ramparts of Flying Goose Pass.

On the ramparts, Feng Zhiyao, who had been playing chess, shook his head regretfully. "The Qilin are getting worse at their jobs. They can’t even throw someone properly." If it were him, he’d have sealed Mo Jingli’s acupoints and tossed him headfirst. That would ensure Mo Jingli’s face would never again be capable of such complex expressions.Han Mingyue smiled faintly. "There are people below."

Indeed, there were still the large contingent of guards Mo Jingli had brought, stationed outside the city. There was no way they would let Mo Jingli fall to his death. The Qilin had clearly thrown him with precision—even as three Inner Court Guards leaped up simultaneously to catch Mo Jingli, he still suffered a fractured right hand. Just a little more force, and his right side would have been permanently paralyzed.

"Ye Li?! I won’t let you get away with this!" Outside the city walls, Mo Jingli roared furiously.

"Whoosh—" A chess piece shot straight from the city tower, aiming directly for Mo Jingli’s wide-open mouth. The guards, who had been on high alert, were startled by the emperor’s sudden outburst and failed to intercept the hidden weapon in time. Han Mingyue elegantly wiped his hands with a handkerchief. "Mo Jingli has grown increasingly vulgar since becoming emperor."

"Young Master Mingyue, what excellent aim," Feng Zhiyao praised with a bright smile. The two exchanged a knowing glance as they watched Mo Jingli below, cursing vehemently before galloping away in a cloud of dust.

On a mountain path leading from Great Chu to Western Liang, Ling Tiehan and his two companions rode leisurely on fine steeds. Though the King of Hell Pavilion had suffered heavy losses this time, for Ling Tiehan, who had already been contemplating retirement, it was not a matter of great concern. If he were still around, the question of who would take over the pavilion in the future would be a significant issue. After all, an assassin organization was unlike any other—poor leadership could lead to disastrous consequences.

In the midst of lighthearted banter with his younger siblings, Ling Tiehan suddenly frowned. Without waiting for Leng Liuyue and the Sick Scholar to speak, he said gravely, "Step back." Though they didn’t understand his intention, seeing his solemn expression, they obediently guided their horses to the side.

"Prince Ding, since you’re here, why not show yourself?" Ling Tiehan called out clearly.

Leng Liuyue and the Sick Scholar, watching from a distance, were startled. News of Prince Ding’s death had already spread far and wide during their journey. Yet their elder brother...

Just as their concern deepened, a figure clad in white appeared on a small ridge along the mountain path. His robes were as white as snow, his hair as pale as frost. Mo Xiuyao held the Fenmie Sword, his gaze cold and indifferent as he stared down at Ling Tiehan seated on his horse below. He seemed unsurprised that Ling Tiehan had known he was still alive.

Ling Tiehan sighed helplessly. "Prince Ding, after you."

Without ceremony, Mo Xiuyao moved. A flash of cold light split the sky as the Fenmie Sword left its sheath, carrying an overwhelming wave of killing intent toward Ling Tiehan. Ling Tiehan slapped his horse’s back, leaping into the air. Simultaneously, his iron sword unsheathed, releasing a powerful sword aura that slashed toward Mo Xiuyao. The collision of the two sword energies forced both men back over a dozen steps before they steadied themselves. Yet the trees in the path of their sword auras were cleanly severed.With a crisp clang , the iron sword in Ling Tiehan's hand snapped in two. Ling Tiehan's sword was also a rare, fine blade, but compared to the legendary sword in Mo Xiuyao's grasp, it was still far inferior. Thus, it was no surprise that it shattered into several pieces upon impact. Mo Xiuyao had always disdained relying on divine weapons to bully others, but this time, he seemed utterly indifferent. It was as if even if Ling Tiehan were unarmed, he would still sweep the Annihilation Sword toward him without hesitation. This made Ling Tiehan realize just how furious Mo Xiuyao was—all because he had dared to lay a hand on Ye Li.

"Big Brother!" Leng Liuyue couldn't help but cry out, raising her hand to throw her own weapon toward him. Leng Liuyue excelled in hidden weapons and was not particularly skilled with swords. Precisely because of this, Ling Tiehan had prepared superior weapons for his two younger siblings. The sword in Leng Liuyue's hand was far better than the one Ling Tiehan himself used. However, even the finest blade would be useless against the Annihilation Sword, so Ling Tiehan waved his hand, refusing her offer.

Mo Xiuyao pointed the tip of his sword at Ling Tiehan from a distance, his voice calm but chilling. "This prince has always regarded Ling Gezhu as a rare and worthy opponent, but never as someone to kill. Today, I must make an exception—and it will be a profound regret."

Ling Tiehan smiled bitterly in resignation. "This lord never imagined he would face Prince Ding in a life-or-death battle either. But in this world, there are many things one must do, whether willing or not." Mo Xiuyao let out a cold snort, wasting no more words. The Annihilation Sword in his hand gleamed with a ghostly light as it shot toward Ling Tiehan. He had no interest in hearing about hardships or obligations. To Mo Xiuyao, anyone who dared harm A Li deserved death—no reasons, no right or wrong.

On the mountain path, the two figures swiftly clashed into a blur. With their martial skills, Leng Liuyue and Sick Scholar could only barely make out two faint shadows flickering in the air, surrounded by an oppressive, suffocating aura of killing intent. The occasional bursts of sword energy shredded everything they touched into dust. Leng Liuyue gripped Sick Scholar's wrist nervously, her anxious gaze fixed on the indistinct battle. Sick Scholar wasn't faring well either—though his illness had long since healed, the overwhelming killing intent made him cough uncontrollably once more.

"Big Brother?!" Just as the two were frantic with worry, Ling Tiehan's figure suddenly plummeted from the sky. Sick Scholar leaped up immediately, catching Ling Tiehan's falling body. Leng Liuyue clenched her teeth, drew her sword, and charged at Mo Xiuyao.

"Second Sister, stop!" Ling Tiehan shouted in alarm. "Prince Ding, show mercy!"

Clang—

Only half of Leng Liuyue's treasured sword remained. With a flick of his wrist, Mo Xiuyao sent the broken tip flying toward her. Leng Liuyue stumbled backward, finally collapsing to the ground as the blade grazed past her face and embedded itself into a tree behind her. Sitting there, she was drenched in cold sweat—she had felt the icy chill of the sword's edge as it brushed her cheek.

Mo Xiuyao looked down at them with the cold, detached gaze of a deity. "Overestimating yourselves."

Leng Liuyue glared at him defiantly, her voice sharp. "My brother never intended to kill Princess Ding! Prince Ding, your actions are far too excessive!"Mo Xiuyao sneered, "Indeed, you failed to kill her. If A Li had suffered even the slightest injury, I would have minced every last one of you from the King of Hell Pavilion and fed you to the dogs!"

Perhaps provoked by Mo Jingli's disdainful attitude as if looking at ants, Leng Liuyue also forgot her earlier fear and retorted coldly, "If my elder brother truly wanted to kill Ye Li, do you think she would still be alive now?" The King of Hell Pavilion dealt in assassinations, and Ling Tiehan was the most peerless assassin in the world. If he had truly wanted Ye Li dead, how could she have had the chance to escape? Even if it was to avoid offending Prince Ding's Estate, the fact remained that Ling Tiehan had shown mercy.

"Liuyue," Ling Tiehan frowned and said in a deep voice.

Leng Liuyue had no choice but to reluctantly fall silent. Ling Tiehan slowly stood up. During the brief pause, he had managed to regulate his breathing. Although severely injured, he was not entirely without the ability to fight back. Ling Tiehan looked at Mo Xiuyao and said, "Prince Ding, this lord still has matters to attend to. I presume Prince Ding also has urgent affairs awaiting. Once this lord has settled his business, I will naturally give Prince Ding an explanation. Then, we can decide life and death between us. What do you say? Moreover... Prince Ding is not entirely unscathed at the moment, is he? If this lord were to exert his full strength, could Prince Ding guarantee a safe retreat?"

Mo Xiuyao remained silent for a moment before replying, "Very well. In three months, this prince will come to find Ling Gezhu again."

Ling Tiehan nodded. "This lord will be ready to receive you at any time. Farewell."

Mo Xiuyao said no more. Ling Tiehan and Leng Liuyue mounted their horses and rode away.

"Wang Ye," a black-clad guard appeared before Mo Xiuyao and called softly.

"It's nothing," Mo Xiuyao replied indifferently. Raising his hand, he casually wiped away a trace of blood that had seeped from the corner of his lips.