Mo Li

With the battle at Flying Goose Pass concluded, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li promptly set off back to Li Cheng. While military might could conquer the world, governing it required more than brute force. Even with Qingchen Gongzi overseeing affairs, there were still many matters in Li Cheng that demanded Mo Xiuyao’s personal attention. From the time they left Li Cheng for the northern border last year, a full ten months had passed.

Ten months might seem long, but considering the pacification of the northern border, the expulsion of the Northern Rong, and the defeat of Southern Chu and Western Liang, the sheer scale of their accomplishments made the timeframe astonishingly short. Such military achievements would be enough to sustain anyone’s legacy for three lifetimes. Yet Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li had achieved it all in just ten months. When people reflected on these staggering feats, all they could do was marvel in silent awe.

Ten months might seem short, yet it was also long enough—long enough for two infants, barely a month old when they left, to grow into curious toddlers babbling in the arms of adults. When Ye Li saw the two little ones cradled in the arms of Madam Xu and Xu Er Furen, she couldn’t hold back her tears. The babies had been entrusted to the Xu Family when they were just a month old, and nearly a year had passed without them seeing their parents. How could Ye Li not feel guilty?

Fortunately, despite having almost no memory of their parents, the two children were not shy. Madam Xu smiled as she placed the little boy, dressed in a moon-white brocade coat lined with white fox fur, into Ye Li’s arms. She coaxed playfully, “Lin’er, call her ‘Mother’… say ‘Mother’…”

The little boy blinked his dark, round eyes, studying Ye Li curiously. The arms holding him were soft and fragrant, different from the embrace of his great-aunt and aunt, but he liked it. With a bright grin, he echoed Madam Xu, “Ma… Mother…”

“Lin’er can already speak?” Ye Li exclaimed in delight, glancing at the other baby girl in Xu Er Furen’s arms, dressed in pink silk. Xu Er Furen chuckled, “These two are just as clever as Xiao Bao was. Xin’er, call her ‘Mother’.”

Little Xin’er giggled sweetly at Ye Li, her tiny face full of affection. Clearly unafraid of strangers, she stretched out her arms and chirped, “Mama… hug…”

Ye Li’s heart melted, warmth spreading through her chest. Carefully, she settled Xin’er in her other arm. Thankfully, both children were nearly a year old and could sit steadily on either side of her lap. Having grown up together, they were very close—instead of fighting for attention, they held each other’s hands and babbled in their own secret language.

Mo Xiuyao stood behind Ye Li, occasionally steadying the little ones in her arms. A faint smile softened his lips, washing away the lingering battle-hardened aura.

Mo Xiaobao stood beside Ye Li, gazing wistfully at his younger siblings in her embrace. He was too grown-up now to ask for a hug from his mother—at least, not the same way his baby brother and sister could.

“Mother, I missed you too,” Mo Xiaobao said, his eyes pleading.Ye Li smiled gently, "Mother missed you too. Have you been listening to your eldest uncle these days?" Remembering the pitiful look on Mo Xiaobao's face when they had to send him back to Li Cheng some time ago, Ye Li felt a pang of guilt in her heart. Although it was for his safety, Mo Xiaobao was an extremely intelligent child. Even if no one had explained it to him, he must have understood the situation was dire, which was why he left with the guards without a single complaint. These days, he must have been very worried.

Mo Xiaobao nodded repeatedly, "Xiao Bao has been the most obedient. If you don’t believe me, Mother, you can ask Eldest Uncle." The older Mo Xiaobao grew, the more mischievous he became, yet his clever mind made it impossible for anyone without real skill to catch him in the act, even if they were pranked. In all of Li Cheng, only Xu Qingchen could keep him in check.

"You’ve been obedient? Who was it that insisted on going to Flying Goose Pass yesterday, no matter what?" Xu Qingchen’s voice, laced with faint amusement, drifted in from outside the door. Soon, the ethereal young master, dressed in snow-white robes, appeared before everyone. There are some people who seem naturally blessed by the heavens, as if time itself has frozen around them. If Mo Xiuyao’s unchanging handsomeness over the years was due to his profound martial prowess, then Xu Qingchen was simply heaven’s favored darling. His youthfulness didn’t make him seem immature; his refined beauty and transcendent aura gave him the charm of a young man and the steadiness of a middle-aged man, yet without the solemnity of a bureaucrat worn down by paperwork. Instead, he carried an air of carefree elegance, like a wandering cloud or a wild crane.

Stepping into the hall, Xu Qingchen smiled and said, "In less than a year, you’ve defeated four nations consecutively. Such achievements are unprecedented—congratulations, Wang Ye."

Mo Xiuyao chuckled, "Not at all. If not for Brother Qingchen holding down Li Cheng, how could I have been so at ease? Let alone conquering the world." These words were no empty praise. As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach." The importance of military supplies in warfare is self-evident. Over the past year, with the Xu Family overseeing the northwest, the Mo Family Army had almost never been troubled by logistical issues. With such solid support, achieving victory naturally became much easier.

Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, not bothering with false modesty. Both were intelligent men who could discern sincerity from flattery. Moreover, given Ye Li’s close ties to the Xu Family, excessive humility would only come across as insincere and distant.

Xu Qingchen took a seat, and the two Madams Xu, knowing they had serious matters to discuss, excused themselves and left. Ye Li, having just returned, couldn’t bear to part with the children, so they stayed behind. The two little ones sat contentedly in Ye Li’s arms, not even fussing when their usual caretakers, the two grandaunts, left, prompting Xu Er Furen to laughingly scold them as "little heartless rascals."

Mo Xiuyao took Xin’er—dressed in delicate pink robes, adorned with silver anklets and bracelets, and utterly adorable—from Ye Li’s arms and sat beside her. Even out of her mother’s embrace, Xin’er didn’t cry, as she quite liked this fair-skinned man. Curiously, she tugged lightly at Mo Xiuyao’s long white hair. With a resigned glance at his daughter, Mo Xiuyao retrieved an exquisitely carved hollow jade bead, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, and handed it to her to play with. Xin’er didn’t mind the substitution, lowering her head to examine the jade bead with fascination.Mo Xiaobao glanced at the younger brother in his mother's arms and the little sister held by his father, then pitifully sidled up to Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen shook his head with a smile and pointed to the seat beside him. Only then did Mo Xiaobao take his place at the lower seat next to Xu Qingchen.

The hall fell silent for a moment before Xu Qingchen spoke, "Originally, I shouldn't disturb you so soon after your return. However, there's a matter that requires Wang Ye's personal attention." He retrieved a folded document from his sleeve. At just a glance, Ye Li recognized it—the bright yellow cover adorned with a ferocious, snarling wolf. It was a state letter from Northern Rong.

"What does Northern Rong want now?" Ye Li frowned. She had never held a favorable impression of the Bei Rong people, even though they had once engaged in a certain form of cooperation with the Northern Rong crown prince.

Mo Xiuyao, holding his daughter with one arm, freed his other hand to take the letter. After reading it, he frowned. "Exchange Ronghua Princess for Yelv Ye and the remains of the Northern Rong soldiers?" He remained silent for a long while before lifting his head and looking somewhat troubled at Ye Li. "Where is Yelv Ye's body?"

Ye Li was momentarily speechless. She truly couldn't remember where Yelv Ye's body was. At the time, she had been swamped with work, and battlefield cleanup wasn't her responsibility—how could she recall such details?

Mo Xiuyao grumbled discontentedly, "If they wanted to retrieve Yelv Ye's body, why wait until now?" After all this time, who knew where his remains had been stashed?

Xu Qingchen couldn't help but twitch his lips. "Northern Rong is frozen for thousands of miles in winter. It's only just spring now, and their envoy has already reached Li Cheng—that's quite fast." Moreover, Northern Rong would naturally observe the situation first. If the Mo Family Army had been defeated by the allied forces of Western Liang and Da Chu, who would bother negotiating? They'd just march over and attack again.

Mo Xiuyao nodded impatiently. "Fine, this prince understands. Tell them that if they want Yelv Ye and their soldiers back, Ronghua Princess alone isn't enough."

"What else do you want?" Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow.

Mo Xiuyao grinned. "That depends on what else Qingchen Gongzi can squeeze out of them." Benefits were always welcome—the more, the better. Though Prince Ding's Estate was wealthy enough to rival a nation, with so many people to support, money was always needed somewhere.

Xu Qingchen nodded. "Understood. But... can you actually find Yelv Ye's body?" Given Mo Xiuyao's temperament, it was obvious Yelv Ye's final fate hadn't been a peaceful burial.

Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingchen as if he were an idiot. "Is Yelv Ye's ashes made of gold? Or are they engraved with his name?"

For the first time in his life, someone had questioned his intelligence, but Qingchen Gongzi conceded defeat: So you plan to just hand them some random ashes and call it a day?"You really intend to exchange for Ronghua Princess's return?" Xu Qingchen looked at Mo Xiuyao with some doubt. In his impression, Mo Xiuyao was not a particularly benevolent man unless there was something to gain. But Qingchen Gongzi truly couldn't think of any benefit from Northern Rong that would interest Mo Xiuyao. Land was out of the question—even if the Bei Rong people were willing to give it, beyond the border lay endless grasslands. Few commoners would be willing to settle there, enduring the Bei Rong people's raids for at least eight months of the year. With the Central Plains still unsettled, Mo Xiuyao would never extend his reach outward at this time. As for the rest, Northern Rong seemed to have nothing else that would catch Mo Xiuyao's eye.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Naturally. Didn't the Bei Rong people say that Ronghua Princess is A Li's sworn sister? If something were to happen to Wang Fei's sworn sister at the hands of the Bei Rong people, wouldn't it be Prince Ding's Estate that loses face?"

"We all know that isn't true," Xu Qingchen said, raising an eyebrow. Ye Li and Ronghua Princess might not be on bad terms, but their relationship was far from sworn sisterhood.

Mo Xiuyao waved his hand dismissively. "That doesn't matter. By the way, it would be best to let the Bei Rong people know that this prince is very interested in their warhorses."

"What if they refuse?" The quality of warhorses in the Central Plains had always been inferior to those of Northern Rong, even the Western Regions. Even when prized steeds were imported from foreign lands, they would deteriorate over time. Given that Northern Rong and the Central Plains had been enemies for generations, warhorses were strictly prohibited from entering the Central Plains through any means. Although Prince Ding's Estate had secretly acquired some over the years, the numbers were pitifully small. No wonder Mo Xiuyao was being so generous this time.

"Refuse?" Mo Xiuyao sneered. "Then this prince will take them myself."

"I understand," Xu Qingchen nodded, acknowledging Mo Xiuyao's resolve. With Xu Qingchen's stance clear, Mo Xiuyao's expression immediately softened, setting the matter aside. If Qingchen Gongzi had given his word, it was almost certain the matter would be resolved.

After discussing Northern Rong, Xu Qingchen glanced at Mo Xiuyao and smiled knowingly. "By the way, someone has been asking me about something recently. But... I wasn't sure how to respond, so I thought I'd seek Wang Ye's opinion."

"What could possibly stump Qingchen Gongzi?" Mo Xiuyao said dismissively, clearly suspecting Xu Qingchen was just looking for trouble. Xu Qingchen toyed with the blue-and-white teacup in his hand, his sharp eyes fixed on Mo Xiuyao. "For a long time now, people have been asking me when Wang Ye plans... to ascend the throne."

"Ascend the throne?" Mo Xiuyao paused in playing with Xin'er's tiny hand and frowned. "Who said this prince intends to become emperor?"

"No one said it," Xu Qingchen replied, raising an eyebrow. "But it seems everyone thinks so."

"Does that include Qingchen Gongzi?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Xu Qingchen smiled without answering—the answer was obvious."This prince has no intention of ascending the throne," Mo Xiuyao said solemnly. If he had wanted to be emperor, he would have done so long ago—why drag it out for so many years? Xu Qingchen sighed softly and frowned slightly. "You should understand the pros and cons of this." Qingchen Gongzi was purely considering the matter from the perspective of governing the realm. As the saying goes, legitimacy is paramount—Mo Xiuyao lacks nothing, and ruling the world is an inevitability. But as long as he doesn't ascend the throne, that legitimacy remains missing. It doesn't hinder Mo Xiuyao's control over Prince Ding's Estate or even all the territories currently under its rule, but it inevitably leaves people feeling somewhat uneasy.

Moreover, because it isn't a formal court, the ranks of officials under Prince Ding's Estate are also a chaotic mess. After all these years, it's astonishing that nothing has gone wrong amidst the disorder—even Qingchen Gongzi finds it quite surprising.

"Even if Prince Ding has no desire for the throne, you should consider the feelings of those who follow you." Many pledge loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate out of duty and righteousness, but certainly not solely for those reasons. Though Qingchen Gongzi himself has no interest in fame or power, he doesn't look down on those who strive for status and wealth. Cultivating both literary and martial skills to serve the imperial family—this is a concept deeply ingrained in people's minds for centuries. In the eyes of the world, only the imperial family is the true authority. Only by serving the imperial family can one truly establish their standing. The current Prince Ding's Estate is no longer what it once was. Now, it isn't just home to generations of loyal generals but also many more individuals and families who have come to pledge allegiance.

"What? Does Qingchen Gongzi also have such intentions? How about this prince appoints you as Grand Chancellor?" Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingchen with a teasing smile. Xu Qingchen lifted his eyelids indifferently. "Thank you, but I must decline."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, giving him a somewhat smug look. So, if this prince were to ascend the throne and appoint all the officials, putting everything in order, wouldn't the Xu Family immediately resign and retreat into seclusion? Does he take me for a fool? A single Qingchen Gongzi is worth half a court of officials, let alone the entire Xu Family...

More importantly, what's the point of ascending the throne? Becoming emperor means attending court every morning, listening to ministers argue over trivial matters. Skip a single day, and the censors will make your ears ring. Isn't this much better? Deal with matters when they arise, and do as you please when there's nothing pressing. It's not like a prince has to attend court every day, right?

If Xu Qingchen couldn't understand what Mo Xiuyao was thinking after all these years, he might as well have lived in vain. He ignored him and turned to Ye Li with a smile. "What does A Li think?" Ye Li, playing with the baby, chuckled. "Big Brother, you can just ask Xiu Yao about such matters."

Mo Xiuyao looked at Xu Qingchen triumphantly. "A Li and I are husband and wife—naturally, she follows my lead. But... if A Li wants to be Empress, this prince wouldn't mind ascending the throne for her."Ye Li slightly furrowed her brows. Of course, she knew Xu Qingchen was taking the time to say all this for their benefit. Even if Xu Qingchen didn’t bring it up, someone else surely would soon. But… becoming the Empress wasn’t something Ye Li had never considered—it was just that she truly wasn’t that enthusiastic about it. Given her current situation, being Empress wouldn’t bring her any more benefits; instead, it would impose many more constraints. These constraints weren’t imposed by Mo Xiuyao or anyone else, but were inherent to this era.

“No need to consider it further. I’ve already decided,” Mo Xiuyao declared firmly upon seeing Ye Li’s frown. “A Li, how about we don’t become Empress? Later, we can have Mo Xiaobao confer you the title of Empress Dowager instead.”

Xu Qingchen raised an eyebrow. Mo Xiuyao’s words, if nothing else, clearly indicated that the next heir of Prince Ding’s Estate—and even the future ruler of this realm—was undoubtedly Mo Xiaobao.

Glancing at the two involved parties, Xu Qingchen sighed softly and said, “Very well, as long as you both understand. No matter what… Li’er, the Xu Family will always support you.” Ye Li nodded gently with a faint smile. “Eldest Brother, I know.” She knew the Xu Family had always stood behind her, supporting her. Without them, no matter how capable she was, it would have been difficult to earn the allegiance of so many within Prince Ding’s Estate. The noble lineage of the Xu Family and her formidable grandfather, uncles, and cousins—esteemed by the world—had always been her strongest backing.

Xu Qingchen stood up and addressed them both. “Even if we set aside the matter of the coronation, Lin’er and Xin’er are about to turn one. This year, we’ll likely have to hold a grand celebration.” Whether to reward the armies or to accommodate the various factions seeking to gather information, even if they didn’t host anything, those who wished to come would arrive uninvited anyway.

Mo Xiuyao nodded. “Understood. We’ll proceed as you suggest.”

After Xu Qingchen left, Mo Xiaobao, knowing his parents had matters to discuss, swiftly slipped out after him.

In the hall, Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao with an amused smile. “Xiu Yao, are you really not planning to…” Mo Xiuyao chuckled. “I never had any intention of becoming Emperor.” He stood up, carrying their child, and squeezed into the chair beside Ye Li. As he playfully teased their daughter, he said to Ye Li, “Our lives are perfectly fine as they are. Why invite unnecessary troubles? We’ve lived like this for years—I refuse to believe waiting a few more will make it unbearable. When the time comes, we’ll leave all the headaches to Mo Xiaobao.” After all, in recent years, the Xu Family’s education for Mo Xiaobao had already begun leaning toward the ways of rulership. Wouldn’t it be perfect for him to take the throne once his training was complete? Mo Xiuyao himself had never learned how to be an emperor.

Ye Li regarded him with a teasing look. “Aren’t you afraid Xiao Bao will resent you in the future?”

Mo Xiuyao declared righteously, “I’m honing his abilities. If I do everything for him, what’s the point of having him?” Nothing worth having comes easily. More importantly, after toiling for most of his life, why should Mo Xiaobao get to reign as a peaceful emperor without lifting a finger?

Ye Li sighed softly. “I won’t interfere. You can explain it to those people yourself.”

Mo Xiuyao smiled at her. “I know you’re happy I’m not becoming Emperor, aren’t you, A Li?”Ye Li didn't hide anything and nodded openly in acknowledgment, "I am indeed very happy that you won't become emperor." Although saying this felt somewhat unfair to those generals and subordinates who had fought desperately for Prince Ding's Estate, Ye Li had to admit that Mo Xiuyao was right. What was an emperor? The Son of Heaven, the ruler of all under heaven. But in the end, he would no longer belong solely to any one person. Not to mention there would inevitably be people pushing for things like the imperial harem. Ye Li didn't want to compete with any woman for Mo Xiuyao—she wasn't a woman native to this era after all. Mo Xiuyao could either be entirely hers or not hers at all. There was no in-between where he was partially hers. A faint smile crossed Ye Li's heart. She loved him... and thus, she refused to share him with anyone.

"Isn't that settled then? Mo Xiaobao is already nine years old. In just a few more years, we can hand Prince Ding's Estate over to him. After that, whether they want an emperor or not won't be our concern. All these years... I've grown very weary. A Li, you wouldn't be so cruel as to make me rise before dawn every day for court sessions, would you? Speaking of which, I've always thought the emperor's position... is practically inhuman. You wake up earlier than roosters, sleep later than dogs, can't eat this or do that. The women you like you might not be able to marry, and the ones you marry you might not like. The slightest misstep gets you scolded by censors, and you have to endure it with a show of magnanimity. Otherwise, the historians will record your faults harshly in the annals..."

"Alright, the more you talk, the more absurd it gets." Ye Li was both amused and exasperated, though she had to admit Mo Xiuyao made a fair point. More importantly, his words had lightened her mood considerably. "As long as you don’t regret it yourself."

"Then... A Li must stand firm with me. We won’t become emperor and empress. When Mo Xiaobao ascends the throne, we’ll be the retired emperor and empress dowager... Uh?!" Mo Xiuyao was speaking cheerfully when his expression suddenly froze. Ye Li gave him a puzzled look. "What’s wrong?"

Mo Xiuyao stiffened as he held Xin'er in his arms, the little girl’s dark, innocent eyes gazing at her mother.

Prince Ding’s pristine white robe was now stained with a large wet patch, and droplets continued to trickle down the hem of his garment.

－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－

After some thought, I’ve decided to start another volume. Though this one may only have a few short chapters. It’s a bit cliché, but it deserves a good name for its conclusion.

Recommendation: Yue Junxi’s new novel The Ultimate Jinx: The Wife Who Brings Misfortune

The beautiful mountain bandit Ji Hupo married ninety-eight husbands, all of whom met untimely deaths. Cursed with a fate of bringing misfortune to her spouses, she gritted her teeth: "If the ninety-ninth one dies too, I swear I’ll never marry again and live out my days in Wild Wolf Valley."

Little did she know, the ninety-ninth husband she set her sights on was also cursed—to bring misfortune to his wives.

"Bringer of misfortune? A perfect match! I’m marrying you, no matter what!"

Top student Ji Hupo accidentally transmigrated, waking up to find herself with a swollen face. Worse yet, just as her injuries were healing, she became a bride-to-be.

After a long moment of contemplation, she waved her hand in resignation. "Fine, having a ready-made husband isn’t so bad!"