The marriage arrangement controversy faded into mutual forgetfulness among the imperial palace, the Defender Prince’s mansion, and the Northern Rong embassy. The capital remained as prosperous and busy as ever. The only addition was the Defender Princess Consort’s reputation as a fierce wife – though noble ladies discussed it with some contempt and mockery in private, who could deny that beneath their words lay more envy and jealousy? Ye Li remained deaf to outside matters, managing the Defender Prince’s household affairs as usual, and when free, secretly leaving the city to check on those in training. Before they knew it, the day had come for the Princess’s diplomatic marriage journey to begin.

The day before departure, the couple had no time for private moments together. The Defender Prince’s secret study was unusually full of people. When Mo Xiu Yao entered with Ye Li, everyone paused briefly before hurrying to stand and bow. Mo Xiu Yao waved his hand: “Let’s dispense with formalities. A’Li, you know most of these people – meet the remaining few.” Ye Li sat steadily beside Mo Xiu Yao, smiling and nodding. Looking around, she recognized Butler Mo, Feng San, Leng Hao Yu, and others, but some faces were unfamiliar. She turned questioningly to Mo Xiu Yao, who smiled faintly: “This is General Zhang Qi Lan, who commands the Mo family army forces near the capital. This is Sun Yan, the commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Mo Hua.” Mo Xiu Yao introduced two impressive middle-aged men, then called out another name softly. A man in gray clothes suddenly dropped from the rafters, bowing respectfully: “Your Highness, Princess Consort.” Mo Xiu Yao smiled at Ye Li: “This is Mo Hua, commander of the secret guards.” Ye Li nodded and smiled at the three men who commanded the Defender Prince’s true power. Especially Mo Hua – having been in the mansion for over a year, Ye Li knew that those surnamed Mo were Mo Xiu Yao’s most trusted people, loyal to the Defender Prince’s household for generations since Mo Lan Yun’s time.

Zhang Qi Lan and Sun Yan quickly stood: “We pay our respects to the Princess Consort.”

Ye Li smiled: “We’re all our people, generals. No need for such ceremony.”

Feng Zhi Yao and Leng Hao Yu exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and approval in each other’s eyes.

After everyone was seated, Mo Hua vanished back into the shadows of the study. Ye Li glanced at a certain shadowy corner with a faint smile. She could certainly sense Mo Hua’s slight dissatisfaction or perhaps unwillingness to accept her, but this wasn’t an issue that needed addressing now.

“Your Highness, Northern Rong is far away – the journey will take several months. Is it appropriate for you to go alone?” Zhang Qi Lan was a soldier, straightforward in speaking his mind.

Others nodded in agreement, though they knew decisions already made couldn’t be changed. Sun Yan suggested: “Your Highness, perhaps we could request His Majesty’s permission for the Mo family army and Black Cloud Cavalry to escort you and the Princess to Northern Rong?” Everyone present agreed – with the blood feud between Northern Rong and the Defender Prince’s household, they couldn’t be at ease with the Prince traveling alone. Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly: “His Majesty wouldn’t agree, and neither would Northern Rong.” Sending the Mo family army and Black Cloud Cavalry to escort the diplomatic marriage party – they likely wouldn’t even be allowed past Northern Rong’s border. Northern Rong’s hostility toward the Mo family army was no less than the Mo family army’s toward Northern Rong.

Leng Hao Yu smiled: “Everyone needn’t worry too much. Surely Northern Rong wouldn’t dare to directly move against His Highness. The Mo family army and Black Cloud Cavalry certainly can’t go, but bringing a few secret guards – no one can object to that.” As for exactly how many, that would be up to them to decide.

Discussion in the study paused as everyone looked at Mo Xiu Yao. Though the Defender Prince’s household had maintained a low profile these many years, it was indeed the Prince who had rebuilt the nearly crumbling household while battling illness and injury. They should trust that since the Prince agreed to go to Northern Rong, he must have plans. Mo Xiu Yao held Ye Li’s hand, saying softly: “This Prince naturally has foolproof plans for going to Northern Rong. What we should worry about are matters in the capital after I leave.” Everyone started. Feng Zhi Yao frowned: “Your Highness suspects someone will move against the household in your absence?”

Mo Xiu Yao said calmly: “Having waited so long for this chance with this Prince far from the capital, they can hardly resist striking. After I leave the capital, everyone will follow the Princess Consort’s orders.”

Everyone was stunned, involuntarily looking at the calm young woman beside Mo Xiu Yao. Though they had admired Princess Consort’s performance this past year and more, having a sixteen-year-old girl in full control of the entire Defender Prince household still made them question her capability. Sun Yan frowned: “Your Highness, you mean…” Mo Xiu Yao didn’t immediately answer him, instead turning to smile at Ye Li: “A’Li, do you still have the jade pendant I gave you some days ago?” Ye Li started, then remembered what Mo Xiu Yao meant. She reached into her sleeve and drew out a jade pendant, opening her palm. Everyone drew sharp breaths when they saw it. In Ye Li’s hand lay a piece of the finest white mutton-fat jade. The jade wasn’t suitable for women to wear, so Ye Li had simply kept it with her without wearing it. Carved on the pendant was a lifelike xiezhi.

The xiezhi, the second son of the dragon, with a dragon’s head and chai’s body, was fierce in nature, brave in battle, and bloodthirsty. But this was the Defender Prince’s household’s true military token. Like the Black Cloud Cavalry, the Mo family army had no universal command token. All troops could only be freely commanded by the Defender Prince, with one exception – the Defender Princess Consort holding the xiezhi jade pendant had authority equal to the Defender Prince himself. This was why people always thought the Princess Consort could command both the Mo family army and Black Cloud Cavalry, though only one or two Princess Consorts in history had truly held this power. The reason was simple – other Princess Consorts had never possessed this jade pendant.

“Your Highness… the Princess Consort is too young, perhaps…” Zhang Qi Lan said worriedly. Though others didn’t speak, their expressions showed the same concern. The Princess Consort was indeed capable, and after a few years of tempering might be able to stand alone. But now, at just sixteen, having been in the household barely a year, it was hard to feel at ease.

Feng Zhi Yao rose with a smile, bowing to Ye Li: “Feng Zhi Yao respectfully follows His Highness’s command and heeds the Princess Consort’s orders.”

Leng Hao Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, rising with Feng Zhi Yao: “We heed the Princess Consort’s orders.”

“Feng San, Cold Second, you…” Zhang Qi Lan stared anxiously at the two reckless young men. Feng Zhi Yao languidly fanned himself, smiling: “General Zhang worries too much. The Princess Consort excels in both civil and military affairs. This year in Yonglin City, with mere twenty or thirty thousand troops, she blocked Li Wang’s hundred thousand-strong army, destroyed tens of thousands of enemy forces, and even annihilated Li Wang’s two flank armies. Who dares say the Princess Consort doesn’t understand military strategy?” Zhang Qi Lan was stunned. He had heard of the Princess Consort defending Yongzhou but hadn’t taken it seriously, since Murong Shen was in Yongzhou and the Princess Consort was just a woman – there had never been precedent for women on the battlefield. He had assumed the Princess Consort and Black Cloud Cavalry were in Yonglin, and she had merely ordered the Black Cloud Cavalry to assist in the defense. But hearing it directly from Feng Zhi Yao was entirely different. Feng Zhi Yao had commanded the household’s secret guards and spies for years – he would never speak carelessly. The generals looked at Ye Li with newfound scrutiny. Being usually in military camps, they naturally hadn’t had much interaction with Ye Li and didn’t know her as well as Feng Zhi Yao and Leng Hao Yu. Now hearing Feng Zhi Yao’s words, they wondered if their doubts about His Highness’s decision had been too hasty.

Ye Li put away the jade pendant and looked up at the generals with a smile: “This Princess Consort is young and still lacks experience. I hope you all will provide much guidance in the future.” Though she spoke with her usual calm clarity, the generals keenly sensed the sharp edge and killing intent radiating from her. Only someone who had truly been on the battlefield could possess such presence, and this young Princess Consort could completely conceal such murderous air – unless deliberately revealed, others couldn’t sense even a trace, as if the woman before them was truly as harmless as she appeared. The generals’ hearts trembled, and they all lowered their heads: “We heed the Princess Consort’s orders.”

Mo Xiu Yao looked at everyone with satisfaction, nodding: “Very good. After this Prince leaves the capital, all Defender Prince household matters will be decided by the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort’s words are this Prince’s will, understood?”

“We understand!” everyone responded in unison.

The secret discussion in the study continued until late at night. When they finally saw everyone off and walked hand in hand from the study, they saw a crescent moon high in the sky. Ye Li looked up at the elegant man beside her, her heart-stirring with a spreading feeling of reluctance to part.

“A’Li, what’s wrong?” Mo Xiu Yao asked softly.

Ye Li shook her head, dispelling the melancholy in her heart: “I’m worried about you going to Northern Rong. I’ve selected some people for you to take along.”

Mo Xiu Yao smiled with amusement: “What kind of people make A’Li so confident? Are there some extraordinary talents this Prince doesn’t know about?”

Ye Li sighed lightly: “If possible, I wouldn’t want to give them to you, as their training and assessments aren’t complete. But this time His Majesty certainly won’t let you bring many household people, and personal guards are limited in number. Better to take them along.” Mo Xiu Yao smiled: “Since A’Li is so confident, this Prince also wants to see the results of A’Li’s work these past months.”

Ye Li smiled faintly and clapped twice. Mo Xiu Yao watched the surroundings intently, his eyes flashing as he called out: “Secret guards, alert!”

In the night, after several extremely light sounds, all returned to silence. Soon, several figures dropped from trees, walls, and eaves, quickly forming a line and saying solemnly: “Awaiting the Young Master’s instructions.”

Ye Li raised her eyebrows in surprise, smiling: “You could recognize me – seems Lin Han and the others taught well. Your Highness, how are they?”

Mo Xiu Yao shook his head helplessly: “It seems the secret guards indeed need retraining.” These people’s martial arts didn’t seem profound, yet they could silently infiltrate the heavily guarded Defender Prince’s mansion and take down enemies twice their number – their abilities were truly remarkable. Perhaps the household’s secret guards had become too arrogant over the years. Ye Li smiled: “Your Highness need not feel troubled – they could enter silently only because they knew the mansion’s defenses beforehand. The household guards have no major weaknesses.” Mo Xiu Yao said: “A’Li needn’t comfort this Prince – this Prince won’t blame them. Where are the courtyard guards?”

Moments later, over a dozen secret and regular guards walked in looking dejected, the secret guards especially too ashamed to raise their heads. They had prided themselves as the Defender Prince household’s most formidable guards, yet had been caught completely off guard by infiltrators right under their noses. If these had been real enemies attacking, and anything had happened to the Prince and Princess Consort, ten thousand deaths couldn’t atone for their crime.

Mo Xiu Yao looked curiously at the eight people standing straight before him, feeling they were completely different from the Mo family army, Black Cloud Cavalry, or secret guards. But he knew these people were indeed selected from those three forces – to achieve such near-complete transformation in less than two months, he had to admit his beloved wife was truly skilled at training people. “A’Li, surely they can do more than just sneak attacks?”

Ye Li lifted her chin slightly proudly: “Of course. In pure physical combat without using internal energy, each of them can easily take on fifteen elite soldiers single-handedly. They’re all proficient with various weapons, whether in single combat, group battles, night fighting, water combat, assassination, infiltration, or night raids. As for what else they can do, let them tell Your Highness themselves.”

The soldiers in line began with the first: “Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate was originally from the Mo family army. Skilled in assassination and infiltration. This subordinate also knows Northern Rong and South Zhao languages.”

“This subordinate was from the Black Cloud Cavalry, skilled in archery and combat.”

“This subordinate was a secret guard, skilled in disguise, lightness skills, and poisons…”

“…”

Hearing their reports, even Mo Xiu Yao had to admire: “A’Li is truly remarkable. You’re giving these people to me?”

Ye Li glanced at him, saying irritably: “Or did I bring them out just to make you envious?” Without waiting for Mo Xiu Yao’s reaction, she looked at everyone in the courtyard: “You are the most excellent among the first batch of trained soldiers, almost all completing preliminary training early. Originally you had another month to learn more skills and undergo assessment. But now we need you to execute missions early – I apologize.”

The lead soldier said: “Serving Your Highness and Princess Consort is our honor. Please give your orders, Princess Consort.” Ye Li nodded: “Very good. From today, you are His Highness’s guards until he returns from Northern Rong. So, your first mission is protection. The objective: I want to see His Highness return to the capital completely unharmed. Can you do this?”

“We obey, and swear to complete the mission with our lives!” everyone responded in unison.

Ye Li smiled: “Very good. This is not just a mission but also your assessment. Since this is your first mission, I’ll send Lin Han with you. He’s not just your leader but also your assessor. Everyone, have a safe journey.”

“Thank you, Young Master.”