Mo Li

Yao Ji settled down in Li Cheng. After careful consideration, she finally asked Princess Ding to find a good family to adopt her child. Back when she was at Marquis Muyang Manor, she would rather die than give up her child because she knew the child would never have a good life if left alone in that household. No matter how much Mu Yang doted on the child, there would inevitably be moments of neglect—just one oversight could cost the child its life.

Now that she was stable, Yao Ji had more time to think things through. While it was true that staying with Mu Yang would be bad for the child, having a mother like her might not be any better. Moreover, raising a child alone wouldn’t be difficult for her, but ensuring the child grew up happy and well-adjusted—especially a boy—would be far harder. Boys… always needed their fathers in a special way. Besides, Yao Ji had a premonition that the troubles with Marquis Muyang Manor… were far from over.

True to her word, Princess Ding found an excellent family for the child—a couple in their forties who had no children of their own. They came from a scholarly background, not extravagantly wealthy but comfortably well-off. Yao Ji secretly visited them a few times and saw that the couple truly treated the child as their own.

Watching her son grow up in a stable and loving home, Yao Ji smiled faintly. In her heart, she felt genuine joy and peace.

Three months later, Yao Ji opened a tavern in the city. The money to start the business was borrowed from Princess Ding, though in the end, the princess only charged her for half, treating the other half as an investment from Prince Ding’s Estate. Yao Ji had no objections to this—not only was she indebted to the estate beyond repayment in this lifetime, but what better protection could she have for her tavern than Prince Ding’s Estate itself?

Yao Ji had years of experience managing the Alluring City Quarter. Though running a tavern was entirely different from running a pleasure house, at the very least, it proved she had the social skills to handle guests and maintain order. Sure enough, it didn’t take long for the tavern to establish itself in the city. Gradually, Yao Ji no longer needed to appear in public, truly retreating behind the scenes.

Yao Ji wasn’t sure how she and Qin Feng became familiar. She only remembered that when the tavern first opened, he often came to show his support. He never made a fuss—just ordered a pot of wine and a couple of small dishes, sometimes sitting there for hours. His presence alone deterred many of the city’s troublemakers and rival business owners from causing disturbances. After all, who in the entire city didn’t know that Qin Feng was Princess Ding’s personal guard?

Over time, the two inevitably exchanged a few words, and familiarity grew between them. By the time Yao Ji realized it, Qin Feng had already, with a cold and indifferent expression, yet unyieldingly, tossed a violet jade hairpin into her hands. Panicked, she almost immediately requested Princess Ding to assign her to assist Leng Haoyu in the capital. Only much later, when she had calmed down, did it suddenly dawn on her—at that moment, facing Qin Feng had felt more daunting than facing Mu Yang again, even if it meant drawing swords. That was why she had chosen to flee to the capital.Princess Ding did not agree to her request at the time, and that very night, Qin Feng came knocking. Yao Ji was not surprised by his arrival. Given Qin Feng's status in Prince Ding's Estate and the trust Princess Ding placed in him, it was impossible for him not to know about such matters.

"If I've put you in a difficult position... I can take it back," Qin Feng said solemnly, his gaze resting on the woman before him, dressed in light purple, untouched by worldly adornments. His calm eyes lingered on the hint of purple in Yao Ji's hairpin.

Yao Ji was taken aback but shook her head faintly. "No... not entirely." She wasn't lying—at least, in that moment, she didn't feel she was. Yao Ji understood very well that Prince Ding and Princess Ding were different. Princess Ding might not personally approve of her going to the capital, but Prince Ding would undoubtedly insist on it. Over the years, she had interacted with Prince Ding a few times. As a woman, she could only envy the depth of his feelings for his consort. Yet, the methods he employed against those who had harmed or intended to harm Princess Ding sent chills down her spine. Yao Ji also knew... that when Princess Ding had nearly fallen to her death from a cliff, the one leading the troops at the time was none other than Marquis Muyang. Every time she saw Prince Ding's thoughtful expression upon seeing her, Yao Ji realized—this matter... Prince Ding had not forgotten.

Though Prince Ding had not spoken the words himself, Yao Ji had already grasped his meaning. If she wanted her child to live a peaceful and carefree life, she would have to personally resolve matters with Marquis Muyang Manor. She might not be able to handle it as cleanly as others, but she—and the child she carried—could undoubtedly make the Muyang household and Mu Yang suffer even more.

Yao Ji was no saint. She felt neither resentment nor anger about this, just as she would feel no guilt or sorrow if Marquis Muyang Manor were truly destroyed because of her. This world... was simply one where the strong preyed on the weak. When she had been no match for the young mistress of the Mu family, she could only lie in the estate with her child, waiting for Mu Yang to save them or for death to come. When Princess Ding had lacked sufficient forces, she had been forced to gamble with her life by leaping off a cliff. So now, when Marquis Muyang Manor had provoked Prince Ding but lacked the strength to resist, their fate could only be destruction. She wanted to give her child a tranquil life—what happened to others was none of her concern.

Qin Feng remained silent, offering no further persuasion. He only said, "Come back alive. Don't forget... you still have a child. I... will wait for you." Seeing Yao Ji about to speak, he calmly added, "I'll wait for your return before making any decisions."

Yao Ji shook her head, gritting her teeth. "I know you've been very kind to me... but I don’t know how many years this journey will take. You're no longer young—you should have long since..." Qin Feng turned his head toward the window and said lightly, "Your decisions are yours to make. Whether I wait or not is mine. Princess Ding has ordered me to escort you to the capital. Rest early—we depart at dawn." Without giving Yao Ji a chance to refuse, he turned and walked out the door.

Watching his upright figure disappear beyond the doorway, Yao Ji inwardly sighed in bitter amusement: Yao Ji, you really... Couldn’t you have just refused him outright? In the blink of an eye, several more years had passed. Emperor Chu Mo Jingqi, who had spent his lifetime scheming to suppress Prince Ding's Estate, had already passed away. With the invasions from Northern Rong and the northern borders, the Great Chu, now bereft of Prince Ding's protection, was powerless to resist and had retreated south of the Yangtze River. While Prince Ding's Estate guarded the nation's rivers and mountains, the Southern Chu Regent Mo Jingli allied with Northern Rong and Western Liang to oppose Prince Ding's Estate. And Marquis Muyang Manor... was finished.

When Yao Ji saw Mu Yang close his eyes unwillingly before her, she felt no joy or satisfaction from revenge, nor even sorrow—only a desolate emptiness in her heart. The war continued to rage, but Yao Ji, with her barren heart, returned to Li Cheng with Qin Lie, the adopted son who had accompanied her for years, resuming her once peaceful life. Only when she occasionally stole glances at her son, now attending a private school, did she find faint solace in her heart.

Though she withdrew from worldly affairs, news of the ongoing battles still reached Yao Ji's ears. Every day, she sat at the table in the tavern's private room where Qin Feng had often sat, listening to the boisterous discussions of passersby below.

Despite numerous trials, the Mo Family Army ultimately triumphed over all enemies and returned victorious.

"Mom! Mom, hurry!" Qin Lie burst in, grabbing Yao Ji's hand to pull her outside. She quickly held him back and sighed helplessly, "What's the rush?" Qin Lie rolled his eyes and said, "Dad's back! Let's go welcome him!"

Originally, Qin Lie had always called her "adoptive mother" and Qin Feng "adoptive father." But after returning to Li Cheng, Yao Ji suddenly noticed that the once steady Qin Lie had become much livelier. Moreover, his address for her and Qin Feng had directly shifted to "Mom" and "Dad"—misleading terms he stubbornly refused to correct.

Yao Ji pulled her hand away and sighed softly, "Today is the Mo Family Army's triumphant return. With so many people there, why should we join the crowd?" Qin Lie pouted unhappily, "What do you mean 'join the crowd'? Isn't it right to welcome Dad back from victory? He'll be so happy to see us."

Yao Ji shook her head. "You go. I won't. Just pass on my congratulations to Comman... Commander Qin for me."

Qin Lie's face immediately fell. From his mother's tone, it seemed she still refused to accept his father. Qin Lie believed his adoptive father was the most devoted and unwavering man in the world—who else would pursue a woman for seven or eight years? Why couldn't his mother see that? And when he recalled the keepsake she often secretly took out in Chu Jing and Jiangnan, it didn't seem like she was indifferent.

Could it be... that his mother still had reservations?

"If you're not going, then I won't either," Qin Lie said dejectedly, sitting across from Yao Ji and staring at her with pleading eyes. Yao Ji helplessly patted his forehead. "What nonsense are you spouting, you little rascal? You know my status—wouldn't it just embarrass Commander Qin if I showed up? And you! If you keep calling him that in public, do you believe I'll spank you?"

"Nope," Qin Lie grinned. "Dad said I might be his only son in this lifetime, and I'll have to take care of him in his old age. Of course I should call him Dad. And you—'adoptive mother' sounds so distant, doesn't it? Right, Mom?"

Yao Ji felt utterly powerless. Waving her hand, she said, "Anyway, hurry and go welcome your adoptive father. I'm not feeling well, so I won't go.""Not feeling well?" Qin Lie looked at her in confusion.

"Mm. You should go ahead. I really can't go."

Qin Lie nodded solemnly. "Understood. Mother, I'll take my leave first." After stepping out, he turned back to glance at Yao Ji sitting blankly by the table inside and muttered to himself, "Does 'not feeling well' mean... she wants Father to come visit personally?"

In the courtyard behind the tavern, Yao Ji sat alone beneath a tree plucking the strings of her zither. The music that should have been graceful and flowing came out fragmented and incoherent. The player's thoughts clearly weren't on the instrument either, as she absentmindedly strummed the strings while lost in thought.

The sound of steady footsteps came from the courtyard entrance. Yao Ji paused and turned to see Qin Feng standing not far away in black robes, watching her calmly. For some reason, she felt inexplicably guilty.

Qin Feng approached and looked down at her. After a long silence, he asked, "Why didn't you come out of the city?"

Yao Ji stood up flustered. "I... I needed to watch the shop." In truth, nearly everyone in the city had gone outside the walls to welcome the returning Mo Family Army. Even though Yao Ji's tavern was among the best in Li Cheng, there hadn't been a single customer all morning.

"Liar," Qin Feng stated flatly, his gaze steady. As leader of the Qilin, if he couldn't tell when someone was lying, he might as well quit.

Yao Ji grew agitated. Gritting her teeth, she said firmly, "Fine, I'll say it... I think we're not suited for each other. We should see less of each other from now on. This... take it back!" She extended her hand toward Qin Feng, revealing the purple jade hairpin in her palm.

Yet Qin Feng showed no anger, not even the slightest change in expression. "Too late," he said calmly. Yao Ji blinked. "What's too late?" Qin Feng replied, "When you left for the capital years ago and didn't return this to me, I took it as your agreement."

"I... I..." The usually eloquent Yao Ji, whose dancing in the Alluring City Quarter had captivated the capital, who could manipulate everyone from Southern Chu's noblewomen to the entire Marquis Muyang Manor, now found herself tongue-tied before this silent, composed man. Finally, she bit out, "I said it's impossible! What status do you hold, and what status do I hold? If you really married me, you'd become the laughingstock of the realm!"

"Who would dare laugh at me?" Qin Feng remained unperturbed. Few in the world would dare mock him—he was the commander of Prince Ding's elite Qilin forces, the most trusted confidant of Princess Ding. With the realm newly stabilized, everyone knew his future prospects were limitless.

"Gossip is fearsome. You should go. If these past few years were... my mistake." Yao Ji lowered her head. She didn't know when this man had entered her heart—perhaps during those days when he silently kept her company in the tavern, or during his quiet comfort in the south, or when he'd rather have her hate him than see her troubled, personally dealing with Mu Yang for her sake. Or perhaps... it was now, when she was moved by his feelings yet unwilling to hinder his future and make him a subject of ridicule.

Qin Feng nodded. "Good that you recognize your mistake. Recognizing means correcting it. Come with me." He took Yao Ji's hand and led her out of the courtyard. Yao Ji's strength was no match for his, even though he wasn't using much force.

"Where... where are we going?""Prince Ding's Estate seeks the Prince and Princess's blessing for a marriage decree," Qin Feng replied calmly.

Inside Prince Ding's Estate,

Ye Li gazed calmly at the two before her and asked, "Have you both considered this carefully?"

"No—" Yao Ji said anxiously, never expecting Qin Feng to actually drag her before the Princess. Before she could finish, Qin Feng interrupted, "Reporting to Wang Fei, this subordinate has considered it thoroughly. Please grant us your approval."

People naturally favor those closer to them, and compared to Yao Ji, Ye Li clearly valued Qin Feng's opinion more. She merely smiled and said, "But I see Yao Ji hasn’t agreed. Qin Feng, do you know the punishment for forcing a virtuous woman into marriage?"

"The severe penalty is one hundred lashes and exile to three thousand li."

Ye Li chuckled lightly, nodding in satisfaction. "You are my trusted aide, so exile is unnecessary. However... even nobles are not above the law. Three hundred lashes, then. Do you accept?"

"I accept. Please grant your approval, Wang Fei."

Ye Li was instantly amused, smiling as she looked at Qin Feng. "Do you think if you survive three hundred lashes, I’ll agree to let you marry Yao Ji?"

Beside them, Mo Xiuyao, who had been watching the scene unfold, suddenly spoke up. "A Li, if Qin Feng truly endures three hundred lashes, it means fate hasn’t abandoned him. Giving him face wouldn’t hurt. Yao Ji, rest assured—you are, after all, a meritorious subject of Prince Ding's Estate. This prince would never push you into a pit of fire. Once Qin Feng takes those three hundred lashes, I guarantee he’ll never get up again in this lifetime. After that... won’t you be free to do as you please?"

Yao Ji was utterly bewildered, completely lost as to how things had escalated to Qin Feng being beaten. Seeing the Princess about to summon guards to drag Qin Feng away for punishment, Yao Ji hastily cried out, "No! Don’t, Wang Fei! Qin Feng never forced me!"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then what was that 'no' earlier?"

Yao Ji faltered, glancing at the Prince’s eager expression—as if one wrong word from her would send Qin Feng straight to a brutal flogging. Carefully, she said, "I... I meant that such a matter need not trouble Wang Fei."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "What trouble is this? You have no family, and Qin Feng is alone as well. Naturally, your wedding arrangements should be handled by the estate. Qin Feng, inform Head Steward Mo later—prepare it according to the standard of a first-rank general." As the Qilin commander, Qin Feng’s status was equivalent to that of a high-ranking military general.

"Additionally, Yao Ji is a meritorious subject of Prince Ding's Estate and oversees southern intelligence. She has worked hard all these years. Her dowry shall be prepared according to the rank of a county princess. The wedding will be held at Prince Ding's Estate this August. How does that sound?"

"Many thanks, Wang Fei. Everything shall be as you decree," Qin Feng replied crisply.

By the time they left the estate, Yao Ji was still dazed, forgetting even to worry about the gossip their public appearance might stir. Qin Feng looked at her with a smile. "Now that the marriage is settled, wait obediently at home for the wedding.""You..." Yao Ji's expression was complex. She was no longer young. A woman past thirty had long stopped dreaming of wearing a red wedding dress and marrying like an ordinary girl. Yet the man before her had given her everything she'd ever dreamed of. From his eyes, she could see clearly—he truly didn't care about the potential gossip and mockery. If... if there was a man in this world who treated her like this, why... why should she push away happiness that was almost within her grasp?

"You're not thinking of running away from the wedding again, are you?" Qin Feng frowned.

"No, I'm not. I... I'll wait for you." Yao Ji steadied herself and spoke firmly.

Qin Feng's expression softened, and he smiled. "Good. I'll take you back first."

"Qin Feng, do you... know my name?"

"Of course I do." The tall man took the woman's delicate hand in his as they walked, smiling faintly. "Isn't it Shen? Shen Yao."

"Yes, my name is Shen Yao."

She was Shen Yao now, no longer Yao Ji.

Qin Feng's Shen Yao.

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

What~ Yao Ji's story is done. Next up is Feng San. Tentative title: "Twin Pearls." You knew I had a husband, yet you gifted me twin pearls... I return your pearls with twin tears, regretting we did not meet before I married. Doesn't quite fit the theme, but it's got the right mood. Sob~ I really want to write a tragedy ahhhhh~