Mo Li

In the early morning, Ye Li sat leisurely before the bronze mirror as Qingshuang and Qing Xia styled her hair. With deft hands, Qingshuang coiled her raven-black tresses into a lily bun, while Qing Xia presented a jewelry box filled with ornaments for Ye Li to choose from. Ye Li sighed helplessly, glancing at her reflection in the mirror before frowning at Qingshuang. "Can't you do something simpler?"

Qingshuang stifled a laugh. "You should be content, Miss. Newlywed women must dress properly. This is already the simplest style I could choose—if it were one of those elaborate hairstyles favored by noblewomen in the capital, you’d really be complaining. The styles you wore before were for unmarried girls. Now that you’re married, those won’t do anymore. As for jewelry, why not use the set His Highness gifted you? You haven’t worn it yet."

Ye Li nodded. She did adore that set of blue jade orchid ornaments—they were elegant without being ostentatious.

Qing Xia, smiling softly, fetched the jewelry and helped Ye Li put it on, nodding in approval. "Qingshuang really does understand you best—"

"What 'Miss'?" Mama Lin and Mama Wei entered, the former glaring at the maids. "From now on, you must address her as 'Your Highness.' We can’t have people in this household thinking those around Her Highness don’t know propriety."

"Yes, Madam. This servant greets Your Highness." The four maids lined up neatly and curtsied respectfully to Ye Li.

Mama Wei, her heart aching, gently took Ye Li’s hand and asked in a hushed tone, "Did you sleep well last night?" Naturally, both older women knew that Mo Xiuyao had not stayed in the bridal chamber, and Mama Wei couldn’t help but feel distressed for the young lady she had raised. Ye Li reassured them with a smile. Seeing no trace of grievance on her face, the two finally relented, assuming that their young mistress simply needed time to adjust to life in the Ding Royal Palace and that the prince was being considerate by giving her space. Still, they subtly hinted that Ye Li should strive to become true husband and wife with Mo Xiuyao as soon as possible—after all, they were bound for life. Ye Li’s lips twitched, but she held her tongue and let them believe what they would.

"His Highness is here."

Mo Xiuyao appeared at the door and asked softly, "A Li, may I come in?"

Ye Li gave her assent, and Mo Xiuyao left A Jin outside before wheeling himself in. His gaze settled on her. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Ye Li nodded with a smile. "Very well. You look tired—are you alright?"

The moment Mo Xiuyao entered, Mama Lin had ushered the maids out. Only then did Ye Li realize there was no one left to serve tea. Suppressing a sigh, she motioned for Mo Xiuyao to join her at the table.

Mo Xiuyao did indeed look weary, but he waved it off. "I was up late seeing off some guests. It’s nothing."

"Should we go pay respects to the Grand Princess first? And your sister-in-law..." Though Mo Xiuyao was now the sole direct descendant of the Ding Royal House, the family wasn’t entirely devoid of other members. The late Prince Ding—Mo Xiuyao’s elder brother, Mo Xiuwen—had left behind a widow, Wen Shi, who was still alive but reportedly lived in seclusion in a prayer hall, upholding widow’s chastity. She hadn’t even attended yesterday’s wedding. There was also a surviving concubine of Mo Xiuyao’s father, Mo Liufang. And then... Ye Li had never asked—just how many concubines did Mo Xiuyao himself have?Mo Xiuyao shook his head and said, "Let's have breakfast first. The Grand Princess is elderly and was quite tired yesterday, so she won’t be up this early. As for my sister-in-law..." He frowned slightly. "Since my elder brother passed away, she has been living in the Buddhist hall with several concubines. Even I rarely see her. A few days ago, she sent word that you need only visit her after your return from the bridal visit."

Ye Li nodded. She had heard about the former Princess Ding from her third brother—a pitiable woman. Princess Wen was not from a prominent noble family but an ordinary scholarly household. She married Mo Xiuwen at sixteen and was widowed by eighteen. Shortly after their wedding, Mo Xiuwen had been away at war, and they had no children together.

"So... what do I need to do?" Ye Li asked.

Mo Xiuyao looked at her with a faint smile. "Aside from managing household affairs and reviewing account books, you may spend your time as you please. If you feel bored, you can invite friends over or go out for walks. A Li, this is your home now. There’s no need to be so restrained."

Ye Li nodded. "I understand. It’s just a bit unfamiliar. What now?"

"Let’s have breakfast first. Then I’ll introduce you to the household."

Breakfast was served in Ye Li’s courtyard, and the meal suited her tastes perfectly. Afterward, the head steward entered to report, "Your Highness, the managers have arrived and await your summons."

Mo Xiuyao nodded and turned to Ye Li. "This is Head Steward Mo Xin of Prince Ding’s Estate. He is also A Jin’s uncle. You may give him direct orders for any matters in the future."

The steward stepped forward and bowed. "This old servant greets the Princess."

Ye Li smiled gently. "No need for formalities, Steward. I’ll trouble you from now on."

It was clear Mo Xiuyao held this steward in high regard, and since he was A Jin’s uncle—with A Jin shadowing Mo Xiuyao at all times as his most trusted aide—the steward’s status was evident. Despite Ye Li’s courtesy, Steward Mo remained humble and composed, bowing respectfully. "This servant dares not presume. The Princess need only command me as she wishes."

The group proceeded to the flower hall, where a scattered crowd of people stood waiting. Upon seeing Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao enter, they straightened and bowed in unison. "Greetings to Your Highness and the Princess."

Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li inside, gestured for her to take the seat of honor, then turned to the assembly. "Rise. This is the newly wedded Princess. Henceforth, her words carry my authority. Is that clear?"

"We heed the Princess’s commands."

"Good." Mo Xiuyao then introduced, "A Li, this is Granny Sun, the household’s internal stewardess. All domestic affairs fall under her purview. You may consult her on anything you’re unsure of."

At the forefront stood the same Granny Sun who had once delivered gifts to the Ye residence—the first person Mo Xiuyao introduced to Ye Li. After a pause, he added, "Granny Sun once served my late mother."

"This old servant greets the Princess."

"Granny." Ye Li acknowledged with a nod.

"This is Yang Ling, the estate’s external steward. He handles all external affairs."

Beside Granny Sun stood a middle-aged man in his forties, his sharp eyes revealing a shrewd and calculating nature.

"Yang Ling greets the Princess."Ye Li faintly frowned. She had no issue with how others referred to themselves, but often, the way a person addressed themselves revealed their attitude toward her. This external steward clearly lacked the respect that Head Steward Mo and Granny Sun held for her. "Steward Yang, there's no need for such formality," she said.

Subsequently, Mo Xiuyao introduced Ye Li to several stewards managing various estate businesses and a few key personnel. Ye Li, in turn, presented gifts to these stewards and distributed rewards to the household servants. The admiration in Granny Sun and Head Steward Mo's eyes for the new princess consort grew stronger. Though the Ye family was somewhat lacking, the new princess consort had evidently inherited Madam Ye's fine qualities—graceful manners, proper conduct, and even the thoughtful selection of gifts and rewards for the stewards and servants alike.

"Your Highness, Princess Consort," A Jin appeared at the doorway, hesitating slightly as he glanced at the gathered crowd in the flower hall before speaking up.

"A Jin, what is it?" Mo Xiuyao asked.

Holding a long, narrow box, A Jin replied, "Someone just delivered this, claiming it's a wedding gift for the Princess Consort." Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "And the person?"

"Left already."

Exchanging a glance, Mo Xiuyao said to A Jin, "Bring it here."

Mo Xiuyao examined the box before opening it, revealing only a scroll inside. Finding nothing amiss, he handed it to Ye Li. As she unfurled the painting, she couldn't help but gasp in admiration. It was a portrait of a noble lady—so breathtakingly beautiful that no words could do her justice without feeling like a desecration. Even in the painting, the maiden's eyes shimmered like clear water, her gaze flowing like a gentle stream. Dressed in simple white, she cradled a plain qin amidst a sea of flowers, her radiant smile outshining even the blossoms. "Glorious as the rising sun, dazzling as a lotus emerging from clear waves... What a peerless beauty," Ye Li murmured softly.

Shifting her gaze to the side of the painting, she read the inscription: "Chu Capital's Peerless Beauty—Zui Die." The signature read "Han Mingyue."

Mo Xiuyao was momentarily stunned, his eyes lingering on the exquisite woman in the painting before turning back to Ye Li. After a brief silence, Ye Li looked up at him with a smile. "They say Han Mingyue's 'Chu Capital's Peerless Beauty' is worth a fortune. But receiving such a painting the day after our wedding makes me feel rather inadequate." Mo Xiuyao gave a faint smile. "You are perfect as you are."

Ye Li took one last look at the woman in the painting before rolling it up, somewhat troubled. "This... Though the painting is beautiful and valuable, keeping it around doesn't seem like a good idea." Even if she wouldn't feel jealous, she didn't think it appropriate to keep a portrait of her husband's former fiancée. "It's yours to do with as you please, A Li," Mo Xiuyao said. Ye Li raised an eyebrow—did he think she was forcing him to deal with it? She had only meant to ask if he wanted it, intending to give it to him if he did.

"I have little interest in paintings. Besides, seeing a woman more beautiful than myself every day would be rather disheartening."

After a moment's thought, Mo Xiuyao turned to Granny Sun. "Find another box and have this painting delivered to Elder Su's residence."Granny Sun said respectfully, "This old servant obeys." She stepped forward to take the scroll from Ye Li's hands and then turned to hand it to a maid for preparation. Mo Xiuyao turned his head and smiled at Ye Li, "Let's go. The Grand Princess should be up by now." Ye Li nodded, stood up, and took Mo Xiuyao's hand as they left together, unaware of the gratified expressions on the faces of Granny Sun and Head Steward Mo behind them.

"Who do you think sent that painting?" Ye Li asked curiously as they walked toward the courtyard where the Grand Princess was staying. Mo Xiuyao shook his head, "That painting was originally stored in the palace. I had intended to gift it to Elder Su, but back then, there were too many matters to attend to. By the time I had the leisure, it had gone missing." Ye Li chuckled, "Han Mingyue's painting is priceless. Didn't you send anyone to look for it? And besides... it depicted a truly peerless beauty. No wonder Han Mingyue dared to inscribe it as 'The Beauty of Chu Capital.'" Mo Xiuyao glanced at her, pausing for a moment before replying, "If I were to paint, I wouldn't do worse than Han Mingyue. Perhaps I could paint one for you when I have time?"

Ye Li was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. "Alright, then I’ll thank you in advance."

The Grand Princess was indeed already up. As soon as they reached the entrance, her attendant invited them in. The Grand Princess was seated on the couch sipping tea and immediately beamed upon seeing them. She beckoned to Mo Xiuyao, "Xiu Yao, come here and let your aunt have a look at you. And Xiu Yao’s wife, come, come closer." Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li forward to bow. "Greetings, Imperial Aunt."

The Grand Princess pulled Ye Li to sit beside her, scrutinizing her closely before nodding repeatedly in satisfaction. "Good, good, good. This is the kind of daughter-in-law befitting the Ding Royal Palace. I like her very much. The Emperor has finally done something right this time. Xiu Yao, you must treat Li'er well. If you dare to misbehave and upset her, I won’t let you off!" Mo Xiuyao looked both amused and exasperated, sighing, "Imperial Aunt..." Ye Li watched his rare moment of awkwardness with glee, covering her lips to stifle a laugh. The Grand Princess affectionately held Ye Li’s hand. "Li'er, you don’t know this, but this boy was quite the troublemaker in his youth. He was restless every day, almost driving his father mad. Thankfully, he’s steadied down these past few years—must be maturity finally setting in. You two must live well together. If you ever feel wronged, come straight to me. I’ll stand up for you."

Contrary to expectations, the Grand Princess was surprisingly easy to get along with. Perhaps due to her age and fondness for children, she bore none of the iron-fisted demeanor of legend, instead resembling a kindly grandmother far more than the stern Lady Ye. Ye Li smiled gently. "Li'er thanks Imperial Aunt. Xiu Yao won’t bully me." Hearing Ye Li’s address, the Grand Princess’s eyes brightened with even greater delight. She began chattering away about Mo Xiuyao’s childhood misadventures. Mo Xiuyao sat there, his lips twitching in rare discomfort—unable to stop her, yet unable to leave, forced to endure the Grand Princess’s tales while enduring Ye Li’s teasing glances. The Grand Princess clearly had no intention of sparing Mo Xiuyao’s dignity or Ye Li’s curiosity, even going so far as to bring up Mo Xiuyao’s youthful infatuation with Su Zuidie.Ye Li felt somewhat awkward, but seeing that Mo Xiuyao didn’t seem inclined to stop the Grand Princess, she had no choice but to listen for the time being. The Grand Princess, as if oblivious to the expressions of the two young people before her, cheerfully took Ye Li’s hand and said to Mo Xiuyao, “I told you back then that the Su girl wasn’t suited for you. Now look at A Li—you must admit my judgment is far better than yours. Don’t you agree?”

“Imperial Aunt…” Mo Xiuyao gave a wry smile. “Imperial Aunt, I still need to take A Li to pay respects to Father and Mother. Perhaps you could… speak with A Li privately another time?”

The Grand Princess lowered her head in thought before finally nodding. “You’re right. First, you must offer tea to your parents and have A Li’s name entered into the family records. That’s the proper order. I’ll be returning soon, but A Li, don’t forget to visit me later.” Ye Li smiled gently. “Couldn’t Imperial Aunt stay a few more days?” The Grand Princess sighed. “When you’re old, traveling becomes tiresome. Once you’ve settled after the wedding, you’re both welcome to stay with me as long as you like.” With that, the two naturally couldn’t press further. Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li to offer incense to the ancestors of Prince Ding’s Estate, accompanied the Grand Princess for lunch, and then personally escorted her out of Ding Royal Palace.

In the afternoon, Mo Xiuyao retreated to his study, while Ye Li, with matters of her own to attend to, returned to her courtyard. As she gazed at the now-quiet Ding Royal Palace, she felt as though she were in a dream. In just a single day, she had moved from the Ye residence to Ding Royal Palace, married and become the Princess of the State—and somehow, it already felt natural?

Since the wedding was so recent, the stewards of Ding Royal Palace naturally wouldn’t be so tactless as to immediately burden her with piles of trivial accounts. Thus, Ye Li only needed to manage the affairs of her own courtyard and her dowry. Upon returning, she found Granny Sun waiting there, chatting with Mama Lin and Mama Wei. Seeing Ye Li enter, they hurried forward to greet her. “Princess.”

Ye Li smiled. “Granny Sun, you served Mother and are trusted by His Highness. There’s no need for such formality.” Granny Sun replied with slight restraint, “Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but this old servant dares not overstep. Following His Highness’s orders, I’ve selected some attendants for you. Please choose those who suit your preference to serve you.” She then produced a list from her sleeve, detailing the candidates assigned to Ye Li’s courtyard. Granny Sun continued, “Your personal maids should number four, with two more each for managing your wardrobe and meals. Additionally, four for needlework. The courtyard will require eight second-tier maids and sixteen junior maids for rough tasks. The second-tier and junior maids can be left to your two senior maids, but those handling your wardrobe and meals should be personally reviewed by you.”

As she spoke, several young maids entered, bowing respectfully. “Greetings, Princess.”Ye Li lowered her head to examine the list presented by Granny Sun, which not only recorded the names and ages of these young girls but also detailed their family backgrounds and relatives. Moreover, they were all born into servitude within the Ding Royal Palace. Nodding in approval, Ye Li handed one copy to Mama Lin and Mama Wei to handle the selection of second and third-tier maids. Turning back to Granny Sun, she smiled and said, "I naturally trust the people Granny has chosen." She casually pointed out a few names from the list. The selected girls promptly stepped forward to express their gratitude, and Ye Li instructed Qingshuang to distribute small pouches filled with silver nuggets as rewards.

After settling the matter of the maids, Ye Li invited Granny Sun to sit and chat. True to Mo Xiuyao's words, Granny Sun was forthcoming with information. After hesitating for a while, Ye Li finally asked, "Granny Sun, apart from the elder sister-in-law, are there any other women in the palace?" Granny Sun was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood the implication of the question. She replied with a smile, "Your Highness, aside from the two concubines serving the elder madam, there are no other women in the palace." Ye Li cast a somewhat frustrated glance at Granny Sun, whose smile held a hint of amusement, and nodded to indicate she understood. The fact that Mo Xiuyao had no other concubines was excellent news—it meant fewer troubles for her to deal with. Setting aside thoughts of the foreseeable future complications, Ye Li realized that life in the Ding Royal Palace was nearly as perfect as she had imagined. The couple got along harmoniously, respecting each other's privacy. There were no elders to pay daily respects to, no sisters-in-law for idle chatter, and not even jealous concubines to contend with. If this peaceful life continued, she might even come to appreciate Mo Jingli's marriage annulment and the emperor's meddlesome imperial marriage decree.

"Your Highness."

A Jin looked curiously at Mo Xiuyao, who was staring blankly at a book. Having grown up by the prince's side, A Jin—though somewhat slow—could distinguish when his master was deep in thought versus simply spacing out. Mo Xiuyao's eyes flickered as he raised his head to look at him. "What is it?" A Jin rubbed the back of his head awkwardly and said, "Your Highness... would you like to visit Her Highness?"

Mo Xiuyao casually placed the book back on the table and, observing A Jin's nervous demeanor, smiled faintly. "Did Head Steward Mo ask you to inquire, or was it Granny Sun?"

A Jin's eyes widened. Both his uncle and Granny Sun had urged him to mention the princess more often in front of the prince and find opportunities to increase their time together. But he had no idea how to create such opportunities. Seeing the prince unusually lost in thought, he figured it was a good time to ask if he wanted to see the princess—wasn't it? Watching A Jin's puzzled expression, Mo Xiuyao shook his head with a chuckle. "Never mind. What is A Li doing now?"

"She seems to be organizing the belongings she brought from the Ye family."

"Then let's not disturb her for now. We'll go after she's finished. Where is last night's guest?"

A hint of frustration flashed in A Jin's eyes. "Still in the dungeon."

"Let's go take a look."

In the dimly lit dungeon, the flickering torchlight cast wavering shadows of the room's occupants onto the walls, adding an eerie and mysterious atmosphere to the already grim setting. Feng Zhiyao, still dressed in his flamboyant crimson robes, lounged lazily on the only chair in the dungeon, thoroughly enjoying the incessant wails of agony. Compared to the dullness of recent years, these busy days had been immensely satisfying for him.Speak up, what were you doing sneaking into Prince Ding's Estate in the middle of the night?

At the center of the room, a man in black was chained to a rack, his body already covered in wounds. He glared fiercely and spat, "Feng Zhiyao, you're Prince Ding's man!"

"Oh? You know me?" Feng Zhiyao blinked his phoenix-like eyes, suddenly intrigued as he straightened up to study the man before him. "Where are you from? The palace—our Emperor, or perhaps the one from Zhaode Palace? Or maybe you came from some noble household?"

"Hmph!" Most men trained as death warriors had unyielding spirits. Since torture hadn't broken him, Feng Zhiyao's words naturally wouldn't make him talk either.

Feng Zhiyao narrowed his eyes in displeasure. "Let's see if your bones are harder than my instruments! Continue!"

Swish—!

The whip, studded with vicious barbs, carved fresh wounds into the man's flesh. Feng Zhiyao watched the scene unfold with a dark, brooding gaze.

The sound of a wheelchair approaching from afar grew closer. Feng Zhiyao turned around to see Mo Xiuyao coming toward him. He stood up with a smile and said, "Not keeping your bride company? What brings you here at this time?"

Mo Xiuyao didn’t answer but raised an eyebrow and asked, "Confessed?"

Feng Zhiyao sighed helplessly and pulled over the case files beside him. "We caught four groups totaling seven people last night. One from Northern Rong, one from Nanzhao, two opportunists looking to profit from the chaos, and three who still refuse to admit anything. The one from Northern Rong planned to kidnap the bride to embarrass the Ding Royal Palace. The one from Nanzhao just wanted to scout the terrain and see if there was a chance to steal the Cloud-Grasping Sword. The other two were trying to take advantage of the situation to steal some things. As for this one..." He gestured toward a man hanging from the ceiling. "He was the first we caught and also the most skilled. I suspect he was here to assassinate someone, but the target is unclear. It definitely wasn’t you, though. This guy was hiding in the banquet area when you were escorting the bride back to the bridal chamber. The shadow guards caught him there, so his target must have been among the guests present."

"From Great Chu?" Mo Xiuyao turned to the black-clad man suspended in the air.

Feng Zhiyao stroked his chin. "He recognized me, so definitely from Great Chu. Third Master Feng is quite famous, but only within Great Chu—and really only in the capital. After all, a disowned, inheritance-less playboy from the Feng family isn’t exactly interesting to outsiders."

"Keep at it. If he won’t talk, just kill him," Mo Xiuyao said indifferently. "Where’s Yelü Ping?"

Feng Zhiyao gestured toward the adjacent room before turning his attention back to the black-clad man with an amused chuckle. The man shivered instinctively. He knew there was no way out once captured, but hearing Prince Ding casually say, "If he won’t talk, just kill him," as if discussing the weather sent a chill down his spine. Prince Ding was definitely not the useless cripple outsiders believed him to be!

Feng Zhiyao grinned at him cheerfully. "Honestly, whether you talk or not makes no difference to me. You’re going to die either way, right? If you confess, I’ll give you a quick death. If not, well... I’ve been bored these past two years and could use some entertainment."

A flicker of fear flashed in the man’s eyes, but he stubbornly refused to speak. Feng Zhiyao didn’t mind. With a wave, he signaled for his men to proceed before swaggering off toward the room Mo Xiuyao had entered.

The other room was noticeably more comfortable—clean, odorless, and free of bloodstains. The only difference was the iron bars dividing the space in half. On the other side of the bars stood the Northern Rong prince, who had been boasting loudly the night before. He gripped the bars, glaring furiously at Mo Xiuyao.

"Mo Xiuyao, you crippled bastard! How dare you have your men capture this prince!"

"Oh? I was under the impression that the Northern Rong prince trespassed where he shouldn’t have, which is why my men apprehended him?" Mo Xiuyao replied with a cool, composed smile. "But rest assured, Prince of Northern Rong. Out of respect for diplomatic relations between our nations, I would never harm a single hair on your head."Meeting his cold gaze, Yelü Ping couldn't help but shudder. Growing even more furious, he grabbed the iron bars and shook them violently while shouting, "Won't harm this prince? Then what do you mean by locking me up here? I'll definitely report you to your emperor! Have your head chopped off!"

Mo Xiuyao's lips curled slightly. "There's some urgent business in Northern Rong. In fact, the Northern Rong envoys submitted their farewell memorial to His Majesty early this morning and have already left the capital by noon."

Yelü Ping froze. "How is that possible? I'm still here—who dares leave without me?"

"Prince of Northern Rong, no need to worry about returning home. Later, this prince will personally arrange for someone to escort you back to Northern Rong. And hand you over to... Crown Prince Yelv Hong."

Hearing this, Yelü Ping's expression instantly darkened. He might be reckless, but he wasn’t a complete fool. The Crown Prince and his own elder brother, Yelv Ye, had been at odds for years, locked in open and covert struggles. If he fell into the Crown Prince's hands... his seventh brother would surely kill him!

"Mo Xiuyao, you despicable villain! My seventh brother won’t let you off!"

Mo Xiuyao sneered, raising his head to stare at him indifferently. "If Yelv Ye dared to send you to provoke me, he should have been prepared for you never to return. Or... was yesterday’s incident the Northern Rong King’s idea? Then it seems he doesn’t particularly want you as his son either?"

Yelü Ping seemed to recall something, his face paling. He glared viciously at Mo Xiuyao. "You're talking nonsense! My seventh brother would never do this..." But his tone lacked conviction. He was slow, but not stupid. Since childhood, he had been mocked by others—even his seventh brother often scolded him for being foolish, and his father disliked him. Could it really be...?

Watching the man’s face alternate between green and white, the smug arrogance from yesterday completely gone, a dark glint flashed in Mo Xiuyao’s eyes. If possible, he would have this Northern Rong prince torn limb from limb—even grinding his bones to ashes wouldn’t quell the hatred in his heart. Unfortunately, this idiot was a prince of Northern Rong and couldn’t die just yet. Like those people outside, no matter how much he loathed them, no matter how deep his hatred ran, he had to endure their existence for now.

Too disinterested to look at the man any longer, Mo Xiuyao turned and left the cell. Feng Zhiyao was leaning against the wall, grinning at him.

"You really plan to hand this fool over to the Northern Rong Crown Prince?"

Mo Xiuyao arched a brow. "Just this fool alone isn’t enough. Within ten days, I don’t care what methods you use—make him spill everything he knows. See if there’s anything useful to pass on to Yelv Hong."

"Any methods?"

"That’s right. Any means necessary. I only want answers. No matter how stupid he is, he’s still Yelv Ye’s younger brother. I refuse to believe he knows nothing." Mo Xiuyao’s voice was icy. "Once it’s done, you know what to do."

Feng Zhiyao nodded, his smile widening. "Understood. He’s already quite dim-witted—if he becomes even more so, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise, would it?" He chuckled. "Pitting Yelü Ping and Yelv Ye against each other like dogs? I like this idea."

Mo Xiuyao nodded in satisfaction. "I leave it to you."

"Take care, Your Highness. Enjoy your newlywed days."Watching the figures of Mo Xiuyao and A Jin disappear through the prison door, Feng Zhiyao narrowed his phoenix-like eyes in satisfaction as he surveyed the eerie and sinister dungeon before him. The faint sounds of pleading that reached his ears only made the smile on his face bloom even brighter. What a bunch of fools—who else could they have provoked but Mo Xiuyao? That fellow hadn't shown a trace of kindness since he was three years old, and after the incident, even his heart had turned completely black.