Mo Li

In the temporarily set up and somewhat rudimentary hall, Xia Shu stared intently at the carefree black-clad youth seated before him, leisurely surveying the room, as well as the four black-armored knights standing guard beside him. "Young master, now that we're here, may we know what you wish to say? And might we inquire about your origins and those of your companions?"

Ye Li glanced at the two men and smiled casually. "No wonder General Murong assigned you both to defend Yonglin City. Lieutenant Yun is brave and fierce, while Lieutenant Xia is cautious and meticulous—truly a rare pairing."

Xia Shu gave a faint, bitter smile. "If not for your timely arrival today, Xia Shu and Yun Ting would likely have had no choice but to atone with our deaths." His gaze remained fixed on Ye Li, unwilling to forget that the youth before him had yet to reveal his identity.

With a resigned sigh, Ye Li reached up and loosened the knot of his hair, letting the dark locks cascade over his shoulders. A faint smile played on his lips as he said, "I am the Princess of the State."

The Princess of the State?

Yun Ting and Xia Shu exchanged bewildered glances. The situation was unexpected, yet somehow made sense. Aside from Prince Ding, only the Princess of the State could command so many Black Cloud Cavalry. But how had the missing Princess suddenly appeared at Snowbreak Pass, leading the Black Cloud Cavalry to rescue Yonglin City? Moreover... wasn't the Princess of the State said to be the delicate daughter of a high-ranking minister and the granddaughter of Mr. Qingyun? How could she possibly...

Yun Ting felt his head spinning even more. He remained silent, leaving everything to Xia Shu, who was clearly more composed. Xia Shu was equally stunned, taking a long moment before he managed to speak. "Your Highness... how is it that you are here?"

Ye Li smiled. "Originally, I wasn’t. But upon hearing that Snowbreak Pass was under siege, I rushed here. Fortunately, I made it in time. If you doubt my identity... is General Murong’s daughter, Miss Murong, still at Snowbreak Pass?"

Xia Shu’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of awkwardness crossing his face. "I do not doubt Your Highness’s identity—the Black Cloud Cavalry is proof enough. It’s just..."

Ye Li nodded. "I understand what you mean, Lieutenant Xia. There’s no need to be nervous. Please, both of you, take a seat."

Xia Shu and Yun Ting exchanged another glance before thanking her and sitting down. Initially, they had been overjoyed at the arrival of the Black Cloud Cavalry. But now, discovering that their leader was none other than the Princess of the State left them unsure of how to react or what to feel.

It was common knowledge that Prince Ding was currently incapacitated, meaning only the Princess of the State could mobilize the Black Cloud Cavalry. But whether such a delicate and slender woman could truly command such a formidable army and lead them against Prince Li’s hundred-thousand-strong rebel forces... Neither of them had much confidence.

"Your subordinate requests an audience with the Princess," came the voices of An Er and An San from outside the door.

Xia Shu and Yun Ting tensed, their gazes sharpening as they turned toward the entrance. Several men dressed in ordinary soldier’s attire entered. Though the uniforms of Chu soldiers were largely similar, Xia Shu immediately recognized the insignias on their clothing—they belonged to Prince Li’s forces from Lingzhou. These men had clearly not been let in by the city’s defenders.

"You’ve worked hard. How did things go?"An Er stepped forward and reported, "As per Your Highness's order, the Prefect of Yongzhou has been executed. However, Prince Li was heavily guarded, and we were unable to retrieve the prefect's head. I beg for Your Highness's forgiveness." Ye Li raised her hand, "It's alright. You've done well. Go and rest now." The group bowed and withdrew. Yun Ting exclaimed in shock, "You... you killed the Prefect of Yongzhou?!"

"Yun Ting, mind your manners," Xia Shu said sternly. Now that they had confirmed this woman was indeed Princess Ding, regardless of whether she was capable of leading the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Yonglin troops, she was not someone they could afford to disrespect. Though he, too, was deeply shocked by what he had just heard. Ye Li nodded faintly and said, "The Prefect of Yongzhou betrayed his country and surrendered to Prince Li's forces. If he were not executed to set an example, other officials might follow his lead." Xia Shu nodded in agreement, "Your Highness speaks wisely. Had the Prefect of Yongzhou not defected to Prince Li, Yonglin would not be in such peril today."

Yun Ting glanced at Xia Shu, then at Ye Li, and suddenly asked, "Your Highness, when will reinforcements arrive?"

Ye Li pondered for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't know. I was originally in Nanzhao and only rushed back upon hearing news of Snowbreak Pass. However... Commander Wu of Yongzhou was ambushed at Yunlan River. I'm afraid no reinforcements will arrive in the next few days." The areas south of Yunlan River would be fortunate to defend themselves, let alone send aid. North of the river, only Yongzhou was closest to Yongzhou. With Yongzhou's troops ambushed, other regions' forces, without imperial orders, were unlikely to mobilize. Yun Ting and Xia Shu were commanders of Yonglin's garrison, not ordinary soldiers, so Ye Li saw no reason to deceive them. If the leaders couldn't grasp the situation, nothing else mattered.

"Damn it!" Yun Ting muttered under his breath. Even with the addition of two thousand Black Cloud Cavalry, their forces now numbered fewer than twenty thousand. Even if they were unafraid of death, if their sacrifice alone could secure Yonglin, he would gladly die on the battlefield immediately.

Xia Shu took a slow breath to steady himself before asking, "In that case, Your Highness, please leave Yonglin and return to the capital as soon as possible."

"Leave?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow.

Xia Shu smiled bitterly. "To be frank, Your Highness, though we made a military pledge before General Murong, Yonglin... we can only hold out as long as our strength allows. I've heard of the enmity between Your Highness and Prince Li. If the worst should happen... it would be best for Your Highness to depart quickly." Ye Li smiled brightly. "Captain Xia, do you think I came to Yonglin just to make a brief appearance and then leave? Besides... if I were to go, even if I left the Black Cloud Cavalry with you, could you command them?" Xia Shu looked at her with chagrin. He had indeed hoped Princess Ding would leave the Black Cloud Cavalry to assist in the city's defense. But she was right—if even successive emperors couldn't control the Black Cloud Cavalry, how could a mere captain like him hope to command them? Ye Li arched an eyebrow at his conflicted expression and teased, "What? Would my staying to defend the city with you bring you shame?""This..." Xia Shu was speechless, while Yun Ting spoke bluntly, "Princess Ding, the battlefield is too dangerous. You're of noble status and a woman—how can we let you join us in defending the city? Why don’t you talk to the Black Cloud Cavalry brothers and ask them to stay and help us? That way, you’ll be safe, and we’ll have a better chance of holding the city."

Ye Li covered her lips with a chuckle. "Lieutenant Yun, did I ride in here myself just now, or was I carried in on a sedan chair?" Yun Ting was stunned, suddenly realizing that amid the chaos earlier, no one had been seen protecting anyone—so this woman, who barely reached his shoulders, had actually fought her way through the battlefield alongside the Black Cloud Cavalry?

Xia Shu coughed lightly and bowed to Ye Li. "This general was disrespectful. General Murong is at Snowbreak Pass. Perhaps Princess Ding should meet with him first before making any decisions?" Ye Li frowned thoughtfully before nodding. "That would be best. The rebels have suffered setbacks these past two days and have retreated twenty li. Mo Jingli won’t act rashly until he’s gathered more information. Since I’m here, it wouldn’t be right not to see General Murong. I’ll head to Snowbreak Pass first."

Yun Ting volunteered eagerly, "I’ll escort Princess Ding there!" Xia Shu gave him a knowing smile, as if seeing through his little scheme, and said indulgently, "I’ll stay behind to guard Yonglin." Ye Li nodded. "Then I’ll trouble Lieutenant Xia. I’ll leave the Black Cloud Cavalry to assist you in strengthening the city’s defenses."

Xia Shu was overjoyed. It was well known that the Black Cloud Cavalry excelled in assault, but those skilled in attack also understood the weaknesses of defense. Observing them up close was an honor for any soldier. Hearing this, Yun Ting hesitated—was it more worthwhile to accompany Princess Ding to see General Murong or stay behind to watch the Black Cloud Cavalry? Glancing at Ye Li, who was already standing, Lieutenant Yun clenched his fist in determination. Winning Princess Ding’s favor was absolutely necessary. If he survived this battle, he could beg her to let him join the Black Cloud Cavalry—even as a lowly soldier, he’d be willing!

Snowbreak Pass

Murong Shen strode into the command tent, his armor splattered with blood. As if sensing Prince Li’s impending rebellion, the Nanzhao forces had intensified their attacks today. In the end, Murong Shen had personally led a charge to drive them back. Now, finally catching his breath, he hadn’t even changed his clothes before rushing to the tent to hear the report from Yonglin.

"General, early this morning, Prince Li personally led 150,000 troops to Yonglin’s gates."

Murong Shen waved a hand dismissively. "Nonsense! There’s barely any space outside Yonglin. Where would he deploy 150,000 men?"

One of his officers stood and said, "Those troops must be meant for Snowbreak Pass. Yesterday, Yun Ting and Xia Shu repelled Prince Li’s vanguard and even killed their lead scout. Today, those two lads are probably in for a tough fight."

Murong Shen nodded. "Yun Ting and Xia Shu did well this time.""General, perhaps I should lead some men to Yonglin to check. Those two lads might not hold out today," a middle-aged deputy general said with concern. Murong Shen shook his head gravely. "The Nanzhao troops could attack at any moment. Besides, we simply don’t have any more forces to spare to reinforce them." The other officers fell silent. Pulling troops from Snowbreak Pass would mean personally allowing the Nanzhao forces to breach it. But if they didn’t send reinforcements, the mere 20,000 troops in Yonglin would eventually be crushed by Prince Li’s army of over a hundred thousand. Once that happened, Snowbreak Pass would be surrounded and fall just the same. What was even more tragic was...

They couldn’t even attempt a breakout, because they were guarding Snowbreak Pass—the very gateway of the Great Chu. Unless every last soldier at Snowbreak Pass perished, not a single foreign foot could be allowed to cross. This was the conviction forged through generations of guardians over centuries, written in blood and sacrifice.

"Damn it! Prince Li is actually colluding with the Nanzhao!" The hot-tempered officers couldn’t help but curse. What could be more infuriating than fighting tooth and nail on the front lines, only to be stabbed in the back by your own people? A royal prince, the emperor’s own brother, conspiring with foreigners—what kind of madness was this?

"General, a battle report from Yonglin City!"

"Send it in!" The angry shouts in the command tent ceased abruptly. All eyes turned to the messenger soldier, tense with dread of bad news.

"General, this morning, Prince Li’s rebel forces attacked the city for an hour. By noon, the rebels had been repelled. Captain Xia requests the General’s assurance: as long as a single soldier remains in Yonglin, the rebels will not pass the city," the soldier reported clearly.

"Excellent! Those two lads are truly impressive," Murong Shen exclaimed in relief. Initially, he had been uneasy about sending Yun Ting and Xia Shu to Yonglin—both were too young, but Snowbreak Pass had no one else to spare. To his surprise, the two had achieved consecutive victories over two days. After a moment’s thought, Murong Shen frowned in confusion. "Prince Li’s army of over a hundred thousand has fully arrived. How did Yun Ting and Xia Shu manage to repel them?"

The messenger didn’t hold back. "We were nearly overwhelmed, but suddenly, a force of black-clad cavalry appeared from nowhere and drove the enemy back. Also, the Prefect of Yongzhou was killed within Prince Li’s ranks."

Murong Shen was taken aback, puzzled by the identity of these black-clad riders. Still, the death of the Prefect of Yongzhou was welcome news. "Good riddance! Investigate the origins of those cavalrymen and report back as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir!"

"General, Captain Yun Ting requests an audience."

"Yun Ting? Why is he here? Let him in!" Murong Shen frowned and waved his hand in command.Before long, Yun Ting hurried in excitedly and called out to Murong Shen as soon as he entered, "General, look who this is!" Murong Shen was about to reprimand Yun Ting for his impulsiveness when he looked up and found himself momentarily speechless. Although Murong Shen had never been one for socializing in the capital, and Ye Li similarly seldom ventured out, Murong Ting and Ye Li were indeed close friends. Thus, as a doting father, General Murong had met the renowned Princess Ding a few times in the capital. Even now, dressed in black men's attire, her strikingly beautiful face and composed, serene smile left a deep impression on him. "Prin—" Murong Shen barely managed to swallow the rest of the word. Ye Li clasped her hands in greeting and smiled, "General Murong, it's been a while since we last met in the capital. I trust you've been well?"

Murong Shen, after all, was a seasoned general who had spent half his life on the battlefield. He quickly regained his composure and returned the gesture with a smile. "Thank you for your concern, young master. This general must also express his gratitude for your assistance in resolving the crisis at Yonglin." The black-clad cavalry, combined with the sudden appearance of the Princess of the State here—if Murong Shen couldn't deduce who had saved Yonglin, he wouldn't be the same Murong Shen who had once fought under Mo Liufang.

The Snowbreak Pass commanders present, though unaware of the identity of the black-clad youth who had arrived with Yun Ting and resolved Yonglin's crisis, clearly sensed that General Murong recognized him. Their wariness eased, and they regarded Ye Li with curiosity. Murong Shen glanced at the group and waved them away before inviting Ye Li to take a seat. Without ceremony, Ye Li thanked him and sat down. "General, can Snowbreak Pass hold?" Knowing Murong Shen's temperament well, she cut straight to the point, unwilling to waste time with pleasantries.

Murong Shen studied her deeply before sighing after a long pause. "I won't hide the truth from you, Princess. If not for Prince Li's hundred thousand troops at our rear, I could guarantee that not a single Southern Border soldier would set foot beyond Snowbreak Pass. But... once Yonglin falls... heh, Snowbreak Pass likely won't last half a day." There were no natural barriers between Snowbreak Pass and Yonglin City. Once the rebels breached Yonglin, the defenders' backs would be exposed, leaving them vulnerable to a pincer attack. Without the Nanzhao forces even needing to exert themselves, the Snowbreak Pass garrison would be decimated.

Ye Li understood the truth in his words and frowned. "In your estimation, General, how many days until reinforcements arrive?"

Murong Shen's smile turned bitter. "Under normal circumstances... reinforcements would arrive within two days at most. But now... we shouldn't expect to see even a shadow of them for at least ten days."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "So, General, you're saying Snowbreak Pass cannot be held?"

Murong Shen gritted his teeth. "Even if it can't, we must hold it. As long as Murong Shen draws breath, the Nanzhao forces will not pass through Snowbreak Pass." After a moment of silence, Ye Li looked up and asked, "How many more days do you estimate you can hold?" Murong Shen replied gravely, "That depends on how much longer Yonglin can last. May I ask, Princess, how many of the Black Cloud Cavalry you've brought with you this time?"Ye Li sighed, "This time was purely coincidental. The Black Cloud Cavalry only has a mere two thousand men. General... if Snowbreak Pass truly cannot be held, is it possible to... retreat and defend the Yunlan River?" Murong Shen waved his hand firmly and declared, "Others may retreat, but Murong Shen cannot! Since His Majesty appointed me to defend Snowbreak Pass, I will stand or fall with it!"

Ye Li frowned and said, "Then, General, have you considered what will happen if the Southern Border forces take advantage of Snowbreak Pass’s fall to march north? The twenty thousand Yongzhou garrison troops were wiped out before they could even engage, annihilated at the Yunlan River. At this point, not only is Yongzhou in peril, but Yongzhou also has no troops left to defend it."

Murong Shen chuckled confidently and replied, "Rest assured, Princess. After receiving news of Commander Wu’s death, I anticipated this. That’s why I’ve already ordered constant surveillance of the Henghui Bridge over the Yunlan River. If reinforcements arrive first, all is well. But if Snowbreak Pass falls before reinforcements come, the men stationed there will destroy the bridge at all costs. Whether the Nanzhao people try to rebuild the bridge, cross by boat, or take a detour, their advance will be delayed by at least half a month. By then... the imperial reinforcements should have arrived. As for you, Princess, thank you for your righteous assistance this time. For your safety, I urge you to leave Yongzhou as soon as possible."

Ye Li stood up and saluted Murong Shen with admiration. "Since the General’s resolve is firm, then... may I take charge of Yonglin City?"

"Princess?" Murong Shen looked at her in surprise. Ye Li smiled and said, "As the Princess of the State, how can I flee when Yongzhou is in crisis? Ye Li is also willing to stand or fall with Yonglin City, lest I dishonor the name of the Ding Royal Palace. Isn’t that right?"

Murong Shen fell silent for a long time before finally saying, "No wonder..." No wonder the Black Cloud Cavalry obeyed the command of the Princess of the State—she was indeed no ordinary noblewoman. The world believed only the King Ding and the Princess of the State could command the Black Cloud Cavalry, yet few knew that among the past generations of princesses, only two or three had ever truly wielded such authority. The previous Princess of the State was one thing, but even King Ding’s own mother—the princess who once shared a deep bond with Regent Mo Liufang—had never been granted the right to command the Black Cloud Cavalry.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, waiting for Murong Shen to continue. But he merely shook his head and said no more, instead looking up at her and stating, "Very well, I entrust Yonglin to you, Princess. I can offer no further assistance, but I will allocate ten thousand more troops to you." These ten thousand men had originally been reserved to reinforce Yun Ting and Xia Shu if their defenses collapsed. They were all he could spare.

Ye Li nodded. "Thank you for your trust, General."

After receiving Murong Shen’s military tally, Ye Li wasted no time and prepared to return to Yonglin City. Murong Shen was a seasoned veteran of the battlefield; only the suddenness of this crisis and the overwhelming disparity in forces had left him so stretched thin. There was no need for Ye Li to interfere with the defenses of Snowbreak Pass.

As she stepped out of the military camp, she spotted Murong Ting striding swiftly toward her, sword in hand. "Ting’er?"

"Huh?!" Murong Ting, who had been hurrying to find her father, abruptly halted at the familiar voice. She stared at the figure before her—both familiar and unfamiliar—before finally pointing at her in shock. "You... you—you—!""How dare you!" Murong Shen followed behind, glaring at Murong Ting as he said, "How can you be so rude to Young Master Xu?"

"Young Master Xu?!" Murong Ting shrieked. Ye Li smiled brightly and raised an eyebrow at Murong Ting. "This humble one, Xu Qingliu, greets Lady Murong."

Murong Ting's pretty face flushed red, and she quickly hid behind Murong Shen, shooting a reproachful glare at Ye Li. It wasn't her fault for suddenly becoming bashful—it was all because Ye Li's male disguise was too convincing. Even without makeup altering her appearance, she still looked like a strikingly handsome youth with a touch of boyish charm, devoid of any feminine delicacy. Murong Ting had always prided herself on being bold and heroic, but she had to admit that even if she dressed as a man, she wouldn't appear half as convincing as the person before her. Even though she knew Ye Li was a woman through and through, seeing that innocent, handsome youth bowing to her made Murong Ting feel inexplicably flustered.

Watching Murong Ting's rare blush, Ye Li couldn't help but grin at her. Under the sunlight, the youth looked elegant and refined, his black robes unable to conceal his pure, youthful aura. Murong Ting could only widen her eyes further, cursing inwardly, "What a demon!"

"General, I shall take my leave now," Ye Li said, turning to bid farewell to Murong Shen without provoking Murong Ting further. Murong Shen nodded solemnly. "Then Yonglin City will be in your hands, Young Master."

"I will not fail your trust, General," Ye Li replied with a smile.

Murong Ting glanced at Ye Li, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Father, what... what is Young Master Xu going to Yonglin for?"

Murong Shen frowned and said, "Young Master Xu, go assist Yun Ting and Xia Shu in defending the city." Murong Ting immediately chimed in, "I want to go too."

"Stop this nonsense. Young Master Xu is going on official business. What are you tagging along for?"

Murong Ting stamped her foot in frustration. Before, they said she couldn't go to the battlefield because she was a girl, yet now they were letting A Li go? "I don't care, I want to help defend the city too! I'm Father's daughter, not some useless freeloader who just eats in the military camp! A... Young Master Xu, take me with you, please?" In her excitement, Murong Ting forgot Ye Li was still dressed as a man and threw herself at him, grabbing his sleeve and shaking it, drawing curious glances from passing soldiers. Ye Li coughed lightly, gently pulling her hand away with a smile. "Murong... men and women should maintain propriety."

Only then did Murong Ting notice the strange looks from the soldiers around them. She quickly let go and stuck her tongue out at Ye Li playfully before turning back to tug at her father's sleeve, pleading, "Father... let Ting'er go. I promise I won't cause any trouble."

Unable to resist her pestering, Murong Shen could only look to Ye Li for help. Ye Li lowered his head with a smile. "If the general is willing to trust her, let Murong come with me." Murong Shen sighed. Given the dire situation, staying at Snowbreak Pass or going to Yonglin City made little difference. If a battle broke out, he wouldn't be able to protect her either way. "Fine, I'll trouble Young Master Xu with this girl. If she dares to act willfully, feel free to punish her under military law—no need to hold back!"

"Thank you, Father!" Murong Ting was overjoyed, completely ignoring the latter part about military punishment. At least this meant Father was willing to treat her as a soldier rather than a clueless little girl, right?

After bidding farewell to Murong Shen, Ye Li and his group, having stayed at Snowbreak Pass for less than an hour, began their hurried return journey. Riding on horseback, Murong Ting gazed enviously at the majestic steed Ye Li rode and the few Black Cloud Cavalry soldiers following behind him. Just a handful of them exuded such an imposing aura—what a breathtaking sight it would be if the entire Black Cloud Cavalry were present! The mere thought made her blood boil with excitement. "A... Ah, Young Master Xu, why did you come to Snowbreak Pass? Father really trusts you. No matter how much I begged, he wouldn't let me go to the battlefield, yet the moment you arrived, he handed Yonglin's defense to you." Thinking of this, she couldn't help feeling a little sour inside. Did Father really think she was useless, which was why he refused to let her fight?

Ye Li smiled. "I had some business in the Southern Border and happened to pass by.""The prince actually allowed you to come to the Southern Border alone for business? He's truly a good man. Unlike my father, who keeps nagging in my ear about how married women should obediently stay home managing household affairs and be virtuous... I refuse to just stay home quietly." Murong Ting complained softly in dissatisfaction, her last words nearly whispered. However, everyone present had excellent hearing and caught every word clearly.

Yun Ting laughed, "Miss Murong, if Young Master Leng heard you say that, he might cry."

Murong Ting bared her teeth at Yun Ting with a hum, then spurred her horse forward ahead of the group.

Ye Li followed with an amused smile, saying, "General Murong dotes on you and worries about your safety, after all."

"I know that. But Father only has me as his daughter, and I want him to be proud of me too. Besides, I'm not a child anymore—I wouldn't act recklessly. Even though Father forbids me from going to the battlefield, no matter how anxious I get, I've never sneaked off behind his back."

Ye Li nodded. Though Murong Ting could be willful at times, she actually understood propriety well and wouldn't truly make others worry or fret over her.

--------Author's Note--------

Next chapter... The male and female leads meet, and their feelings start heating up~