Mo Li

The guards had been sent to fetch the visitor, leaving everyone in the tent to speculate. Yun Ting scratched his head and asked, "Could it be someone from Wang Fei's maiden family?" The only person they knew with the surname Ye was Wang Fei.

He Su raised an eyebrow. "From Wang Fei's maiden family, the only one who could be called a young master of that age is that boy named Ye Rong. Do you really think he’d travel thousands of miles to come to the military camp?" Yun Ting quickly realized how absurd his guess was. He had seen Ye Rong before—that fat boy who, despite being a scholar, was so plump his eyes were nearly invisible, lacking any of the refined elegance typical of diligent scholars. In fact, he sometimes seemed even coarser than martial artists.

To think, Lord Ye had once been renowned in Chu Jing as a handsome man, and all the Ye daughters, regardless of their character, were at least great beauties. Yet, they had somehow produced a flawed specimen like Ye Rong. Worse still, those two old women in the Ye family doted on him excessively, as if fearing he might be blown away by the wind the moment he stepped outside.

In truth, Ye Rong’s appearance wasn’t ugly. As a child, he had been quite handsome. Unfortunately, Wang Shi was terrible at raising children. As the saying goes, the face reflects the heart. Ye Rong hadn’t even inherited a fraction of Lord Ye’s talent, and under Wang Shi’s misguided teachings, he had grown increasingly vulgar in demeanor. Add to that his gluttony over the years, which caused his body to swell uncontrollably, leaving Yun Ting—who had only seen him once—with an overwhelmingly negative impression.

Leng Huai also shook his head. Though he had lived in Chu Jing for decades, he couldn’t recall any other noteworthy figures from the Ye family. Smiling, he said, "Well, since the person is already here, we’ll know who it is soon enough."

Before long, an unfamiliar man in white robes entered and greeted them with a faint smile. "Good day, everyone."

Leng Huai and Lyu Jinxian frowned in unison. The man’s features were unremarkable—the kind one would forget after a few encounters. However, judging by his elegant white attire, they were certain they had never met him before.

"Young master…" Leng Huai began in a deep voice.

"Who are you?!" Before Leng Huai could finish, He Su, who had been sitting nearby, abruptly stood up, his expression icy as he glared at the man in white. The others turned to He Su in surprise—he was usually composed and would never interrupt Leng Huai without good reason.

Narrowing his eyes, He Su said, "He’s wearing a disguise." While there were indeed masterful disguises in the world, few could fool Ye Li. After all, no matter how skillful, a disguise was never a real face—there were always flaws. It wasn’t like actual plastic surgery. If it couldn’t deceive Ye Li, then naturally, it couldn’t deceive He Su, who had been trained by her.

At He Su’s words, the others immediately tensed.

The man in white sighed helplessly. "Had I known you’d be here, I wouldn’t have bothered with this." He reached up and wiped his face, revealing an extraordinarily handsome visage—one that made everyone gasp in shock.

"W-Wang… Wang Ye?!"

Yun Ting was so startled that his chair toppled over. Without a care for propriety, he pointed at the man and exclaimed, "Y-you—what kind of ghost or demon are you?! How dare you impersonate Wang Ye!"No one could blame them for their shock. When news of Mo Xiuyao's death had reached the army days before, Lyu Jinxian had nearly fainted from fright. At first, no one had believed it, until they heard that Wang Fei had already retrieved Prince Ding's remains at Flying Goose Pass, and even Lei Zhenting and Mo Jingli had personally gone to pay their respects. Only then did everyone gradually accept this tragic news. Now, seeing Mo Xiuyao suddenly standing alive before them, how could they not be startled?

Mo Xiuyao swept a faint glance at Yun Ting and raised his hand with a casual flick. A gust of finger-force swept past, instantly shattering an inkstone on Lyu Jinxian’s desk above. The crowd exchanged bewildered looks, staring at the man before them. There were few in this world who possessed such profound and refined inner energy. Yun Ting frowned and asked, "Are you Ling Tiehan or Mu Qingcang?" At the very least, it definitely wasn’t Lei Zhenting—Lei Zhenting only had one arm, and turning into the two-armed Mo Xiuyao would be quite a feat.

He Su, having calmed down by now, remained silent for a long moment before finally saying, "It really is Wang Ye."

Mo Xiuyao sighed, pulling out a black jade pendant and waving it. "Now do you believe me?"

At the sight of the black jade pendant symbolizing Prince Ding’s identity from Prince Ding's Estate, the crowd finally snapped out of their daze. Lyu Jinxian and the others were especially overwhelmed with emotion. "Wang Ye… Wang Ye, how could you…" For a moment, Lyu Jinxian was so flustered he couldn’t even string his words together. There were too many questions they wanted to ask, but in that moment, they didn’t even know where to begin.

Leng Huai, the most composed, asked, "Why is Wang Ye here?"

Mo Xiuyao replied, "I heard you were stalled at Liyang, so I came to see for myself."

"We have failed in our duty. We beg Wang Ye’s punishment," Lyu Jinxian and Leng Huai said in unison, bowing in apology. Mo Xiuyao waved his hand dismissively. "How could this be your fault? It was my sudden… incident that disrupted your plans."

Lyu Jinxian asked worriedly, "Was Wang Ye truly injured?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Just a minor injury." The more lightly he spoke of it, the more concerned Lyu Jinxian and the others became. If it hadn’t been a serious injury, why would Prince Ding have suddenly disappeared? After all, the current situation was far from favorable for the Mo Family Army. Mo Xiuyao shook his head with a faint smile. "I truly am fine. It’s just… I thought this was an opportunity. So I…" He didn’t want A Li to think he’d been severely injured when he returned. With Mo Hua by her side now, she would only assume he had faked his death as part of a scheme and hadn’t been hurt at all. Of course, he hadn’t actually suffered any serious injuries to begin with.

After scrutinizing him and confirming that Mo Xiuyao was indeed unharmed, everyone finally relaxed. Lyu Jinxian asked, "What are Wang Ye’s plans?" Prince Ding’s sudden appearance here couldn’t possibly be just to check on them, as he claimed. They must be part of his scheme.

Mo Xiuyao arched a brow. "No need to rush the plans. Let’s deal with Mo Jingli first." His eyes glinted faintly, the killing intent within them undisguised.

"Wang Ye is right," Lyu Jinxian agreed. "With Lei Zhenting’s forces pressing against Flying Goose Pass, we must swiftly eliminate Mo Jingli so we can turn back to relieve the siege in the northwest." He then outlined the plan to have Xu Qingfeng lead a team into the city to burn Mo Jingli’s provisions. Mo Xiuyao’s brow lifted slightly, and he smiled. "Excellent. I’ll go with them."Lyu Jinxian frowned and said, "Although this matter is of great importance, it does not require Your Highness to take such risks. Please reconsider."

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "This prince has other matters to attend to."

Seeing Mo Xiuyao's firm resolve, the others stopped trying to persuade him. Nearby, He Su asked, "Your Highness, does Wang Fei know of your whereabouts? Should we send someone to inform her?" Mo Xiuyao paused for a moment, then casually waved his hand and walked out.

Yun Ting and He Su exchanged glances. Yun Ting asked, "What does His Highness mean by this? Not telling Wang Fei?"

He Su frowned slightly. "I think it's up to him." Since Mo Xiuyao hadn't explicitly forbidden it, it was permissible. He Su, observant as he was, had noticed Mo Xiuyao's still-pale complexion and slight lack of vitality—likely due to his injuries. He suspected the prince hadn't informed Wang Fei of his movements this time. Yun Ting pondered this and nodded. "It doesn't matter." Once Mo Jingli was dealt with, Wang Fei would find out where the prince was anyway. Yun Ting didn't see much difference in her knowing a few days earlier or later.

Though Mo Xiuyao had only appeared in the military camp for a quarter of an hour before vanishing again—and had strictly forbidden anyone from leaking his whereabouts to anyone except Ye Li—his brief presence had greatly reassured Lyu Jinxian and the others. Given the prince's deep regard for Wang Fei, if he wasn't worried about the situation at Flying Goose Pass, it undoubtedly meant Wang Fei and the pass were safe. Thus, they no longer felt anxious.

After leaving the camp, Mo Xiuyao didn’t join Xu Qingfeng and the others to enter Liyang. Instead, he waited until nightfall and leisurely scaled the city walls alone, slipping into Liyang unnoticed. The city was heavily guarded. Though it was just past dusk, the streets were already deserted, with every household tightly shuttered and seemingly retired for the night. Despite this, patrols of soldiers roamed the streets, stationed almost every few steps. Clearly, Mo Jingli, having suffered many losses from the Qilin, was taking precautions against covert infiltrations.

These strict sentry posts posed no obstacle to Mo Xiuyao. He strolled unhurriedly through Liyang’s alleys and avenues, quickly locating his destination based on the city map memorized in his mind—the former residence of the Liyang governor, where Mo Jingli was temporarily staying. With a swift movement, Mo Xiuyao slipped into the governor’s mansion and headed toward the most bustling area within.The grand hall of the governor's mansion was alive with music, dance, and clinking cups tonight. Mo Jingli sat comfortably in his chair, embracing a bewitching beauty as he drank and enjoyed the entertainment. Although recent days had brought him much displeasure, on the whole, things were still quite favorable. Of course, for Mo Jingli, nothing could bring him greater joy than the death of Mo Xiuyao. Thus, even though the prominent families of Yunzhou had disregarded his status as emperor, forcing him to swallow several humiliating rejections, he could still tolerate them. Glancing at the guests below, Mo Jingli smiled with satisfaction. So what if they were great families? Without power, they were nothing! He was the one seated high above, while those below had no choice but to force smiles and feign enjoyment, whether they liked it or not.

"Master Chu, have I been a poor host? Why aren't you drinking?" Mo Jingli asked with a faint smile, his sinister eyes gleaming with malice and triumph as he stared at the middle-aged man seated first on the right. This man was none other than the current Head of the Chu Family—the cousin of the Xu Family's first madam.

The Head of the Chu Family replied calmly, "Thank you, Emperor Chu, but I am unwell and cannot drink."

A flash of fury crossed Mo Jingli's eyes as he sneered, "Emperor Chu? So... you refuse to acknowledge yourself as a subject of Great Chu?" The Head of the Chu Family remained unshaken, answering composedly, "The Chu Family has always been loyal to Great Chu—but only if this Great Chu is the same as the one before. We recognize only the legitimate royal bloodline."

"How dare you!" Mo Jingli erupted in rage. With Mo Xiuyao's death, the greatest thorn in Mo Jingli's side was the illegitimacy of his claim to the throne. Though he had used his influence in the south to suppress dissent in court, the fact remained undeniable—Mo Suoyun had died in the Regent's Estate. Even if no one dared say it openly, countless voices whispered of Mo Jingli's regicide and usurpation. He had already resolved to execute all of Mo Jingqi's sons upon his return, ensuring no further dissent.

Moreover, the Head of the Chu Family's mention of the royal bloodline struck another sore spot. Mo Jingli would never father a son of his own. This meant not only was the imperial lineage in question, but the direct line of the Great Chu royal family would end with him. The throne would have to pass to an adopted heir from the imperial clan. The mere thought of this sent waves of fury crashing through him.

Yet the Head of the Chu Family showed no fear in the face of Mo Jingli's outburst, meeting the emperor's venomous gaze with steady composure. It wasn't that the Chu Family was recklessly defying Mo Jingli—they simply had no faith in his reign. A family that had endured for generations knew the importance of choosing the right side. Even if Mo Jingli seemed dominant now, the Chu Family saw no guarantee of his ultimate victory. But Mo Jingli demanded that all prominent families of Yunzhou pledge allegiance to him. Yunzhou was a land of scholars, and its great families, mostly steeped in literary tradition, held immense influence over the literati of the realm. Forcing these families to publicly swear loyalty and denounce Prince Ding's Estate was something no discerning patriarch would willingly do.Even if Prince Ding were to suddenly pass away now, leaving the Mo Family Army seemingly in a predicament, one must not forget that the Mo Family Army still controls two capitals—Chu Jing and the Western Mausoleum Imperial City—as well as Li Cheng, a quasi-capital. Additionally, they hold all territories east of Hangu Pass, north of Vulture Peak Mountain, and west of Flying Goose Pass. Combined, these regions are more than twice the size of the Jiangnan area. Moreover, Prince Ding's Estate boasts numerous renowned generals and the support of Qingchen Gongzi and the Xu family. The Head of the Chu Family truly couldn't see where Mo Jingli's chances of victory lay.

If they openly opposed Prince Ding's Estate now and the latter emerged victorious in the future, it would likely spell doom for the Chu family. Even if they narrowly escaped disaster, any subsequent defection to Prince Ding's Estate would inevitably brand them as opportunists, tarnishing the Chu family's reputation.

"Chu Shaoying, how dare you! Do you think I wouldn’t dare to kill you?" Mo Jingli flung his wine cup to the ground, where it shattered into pieces with a loud crash.

The Head of the Chu Family lowered his eyes. "I speak only the truth. Even if Emperor Chu kills me, my words remain unchanged."

Suppressing his rage, Mo Jingli swept his gaze over the assembled crowd and demanded, "What about the rest of you? Do you share his opinion?" After a moment of silence, someone finally succumbed to the pressure and stood up, trembling. "We pledge our loyalty to Your Majesty."

Mo Jingli snorted, clearly dissatisfied. These were merely representatives of minor and mid-tier families—not a single prominent clan had stepped forward. He was tempted to drag them all out and execute them on the spot, but for now, he had no choice but to restrain himself.

"Master Chu, I recall your family has a young man named Chu Junwei?" Mo Jingli took a deep breath and suddenly asked. The Head of the Chu Family was momentarily taken aback before nodding in surprise. "Indeed, he was a nephew from a branch family."

"Oh? This Young Master Chu was considered a rare talent of his time. I once had a pleasant conversation with him in Jiangnan. Why is he not present today?" Mo Jingli inquired. A flicker of confusion crossed the Chu family head's eyes as he frowned. "When did Emperor Chu meet my nephew Jun Wei?"

"Several months ago."

"That’s impossible," the Chu family head stated flatly.

Mo Jingli narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting I’m lying?"

The Chu family head shook his head calmly. "No, it’s just... my nephew was indeed exceptionally gifted. However, he passed away years ago, before even reaching the age of twelve. It was an untimely death—how could he have conversed so pleasantly with Emperor Chu?"

Before the Chu family head had even finished speaking, Mo Jingli's face had already turned ashen. The heads of the various families, who had been forced to attend this banquet, watched as the man clad in imperial robes above them cycled through shades of livid fury, crimson rage, and dark resentment. It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened. As natives of Liyang, if the Chu family had truly produced such an extraordinary figure, how could the local gentry have remained unaware? Clearly, Mo Jingli had been deceived at some point by someone posing as a member of the Chu family.Humiliated in front of these esteemed family heads, Mo Jingli immediately grew furious with shame. Staring at the Head of the Chu Family, he demanded, "What is the meaning of this, Master Chu? Do you dare suggest that I, the emperor, am lying?" By now, Mo Jingli had already guessed that he must have been fooled by that Chu Junwei back in Nanjing. Considering the timing of Chu Junwei's appearance, he was almost certain that Chu Junwei was connected to Prince Ding's Estate. But how could he possibly admit in front of these people that he had been tricked by someone from Prince Ding's Estate? Besides... the Chu and Xu families were related by marriage. Targeting the Chu family wouldn’t be entirely unjust, would it?

The Head of the Chu Family replied calmly, "I wouldn’t dare. However, Chu Junwei truly passed away many years ago. If Your Majesty doubts this, I can present the Chu family genealogy for your inspection."

Mo Jingli naturally couldn’t bear to slap his own face again. Ignoring the expressions of the others, he sneered, "The Chu family has conspired with Prince Ding's Estate in treason. Arrest him! Confiscate the Chu family’s property and imprison them all." Fortunately, Mo Jingli retained some shred of rationality, opting to imprison the Chu family rather than execute them outright—though he was sorely tempted to do so.

Two guards swiftly stepped forward, seized the Head of the Chu Family, and dragged him toward the door. The assembled guests were stunned by this spectacle. Most of them were prestigious figures from renowned families, many of whom had served as officials. Regardless of who held power, they had always been treated with some measure of respect. Yet, less than half a month into Mo Jingli’s rule, the Head of the Chu Family—now the foremost family in Yunzhou, second only to the Xu Family—was being hauled away so roughly.

On one hand, the family heads’ impression of Mo Jingli worsened considerably. At the same time, however, a chill crept into their hearts. After all, the status of scholars was ultimately determined by the ruler’s attitude. When the ruler respected scholars, their standing was high. But in these chaotic times, if the ruler treated them as insignificant ants or weeds, there was little they could do.

Observing the subtle shifts in the family heads’ expressions, a cold smirk flickered in Mo Jingli’s eyes. Raising his cup, he said cheerfully, "Gentlemen, let’s not allow such trivial matters to spoil our enjoyment. Come, I propose a toast to all of you." Whether willing or not, everyone present raised their cups this time. Mo Jingli felt a surge of satisfaction. With the Chu family as an example, surely these people would now understand the meaning of "the ruler demands the subject’s death, and the subject has no choice but to die."

Outside the hall, Mo Xiuyao leaned leisurely against a large tree, eyes closed as he listened to everything unfolding inside. Only when the Head of the Chu Family was dragged out did he open his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

As the two guards callously hauled the Head of the Chu Family toward the prefectural dungeon, he was deep in thought about what lay ahead when an extremely soft voice reached his ears: "Do not worry. The Chu family will come to no harm."

The Head of the Chu Family froze, but the two guards beside him showed no reaction. The words seemed like a mere illusion. Yet he was certain he hadn’t imagined it—he had indeed heard someone’s voice, as if from far away, yet also echoing clearly in his mind. Who could it be?Seeming to understand his confusion, the voice calmly uttered three words: "Mo Xiuyao."

The Head of the Chu Family lowered his head, concealing the shock in his eyes. He finally remembered whose voice this was. Back during Mr. Qingyun's birthday celebration, he had also gone to Li Cheng. Originally, given the relationship between the Chu Family and the Xu Family, it would have been natural for the Chu Family to pledge allegiance to Prince Ding's Estate. However, the Chu Family was different from the Xu Family. Although the Xu Family was also a prominent clan, they had always been few in number. The Chu Family, on the other hand—not to mention the various collateral branches—had a main family lineage whose population alone was astonishingly large in recent generations, spread across various regions. If the Chu Family's main branch were to relocate to Li Cheng, these collateral relatives would likely face dire consequences. Moreover, the situation at Prince Ding's Estate was not as clear-cut back then as it later became, so the Chu Family's visit had only expressed their marital ties and goodwill toward the Xu Family, without pledging loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate.

Even though a year or two had passed, the Head of the Chu Family still remembered Prince Ding's deep, resonant voice—one that could effortlessly inspire submission.

The Head of the Chu Family had no time to dwell on why Prince Ding had not died but instead appeared at Mo Jingli's camp in Liyang. As the leader of a great family, he quickly regained his composure and realized this could be a tremendous opportunity for the Chu Family.

With this thought, a glint of determination flashed in his eyes as he suddenly declared, "Report back to Emperor Chu—the Chu Family is willing to pledge our loyalty to His Majesty!"