Outside the palace gates, Princess Ronghua stood in her magnificent wedding attire – a red bridal dress embroidered with phoenixes and peonies. Tearfully, she bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and her imperial parents. Princess Zhaoren, typically so proud, could not hold back her tears as she faced her only daughter who was to be married off to the Northern Rong. Yet she could say nothing as she watched her daughter prepare to depart. Even though she was the birth mother, with the Empress Dowager, Emperor, and Empress all present to see off the princess for this political marriage, she could not hold onto Princess Ronghua to say more.
Princess Ronghua bowed farewell to the Empress Dowager, Emperor, Empress, and her parents in turn, then was helped toward her carriage by her accompanying palace maids. Just before boarding, she turned to glance in Ye Li’s direction. Ye Li gave a slight nod and a gentle smile. Princess Ronghua lowered her eyes with a faint smile, then resolutely turned and stepped into the carriage. The peony-embroidered curtains of the magnificently decorated carriage – symbols of her royal status – fell softly, concealing the princess’s beautiful visage and form. From now on, she would live as a Great Chu princess in a foreign land, perhaps never to see her parents and loved ones again…
“A’Li, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself in the capital,” Mo Xiuyao said softly, standing beside Ye Li.
Ye Li looked up at the elegant man before her, dressed in the dark cyan silver-dragon robes of a royal prince, and nodded gently: “I know. You be careful too. Come back soon.” Mo Xiuyao nodded, “I will be careful. A’Li alone in the capital…” Ye Li cut off his words, saying firmly: “I will guard Prince Ding’s residence well, waiting for your return.”
Mo Xiuyao paused, then said quietly: “As long as A’Li is safe and well, that is enough to make Xiuyao very happy.”
A servant cautiously came over to urge that it was time to depart, secretly thinking to himself that Prince Ding and his Princess were indeed as close as people said, clearly finding it difficult to part.
Ye Li stepped back, leaving Mo Xiuyao’s embrace. She turned to Lin Han standing to the side and said: “Lin Han, I entrust the Prince’s safety to you.”
Lin Han nodded seriously: “Please rest assured, Princess. This servant will not fail your trust.”
Ye Li nodded, told Mo Xiuyao to take care, and then retreated into the crowd of well-wishers. Mo Xiuyao looked back at her once more, then mounted his white horse and caught up with the departing procession ahead.
Only when the entire wedding escort had disappeared into the distance did Princess Zhaoren finally collapse crying. Princess Zhaoyang had people help her back to the Princess’s residence. The Emperor and Empress also accompanied the Empress Dowager back to the palace, and the previously bustling palace gates suddenly grew much quieter. Ye Li stood silently gazing in the direction Mo Xiuyao had departed. “Princess, the Prince has left the city. We should return,” Steward Mo said quietly, approaching Ye Li. Ye Li nodded: “Let’s go back.” The capital without Mo Xiuyao’s sudden absence seemed somewhat lonely and dull.
With Prince Ding’s departure, Prince Ding’s residence closed its doors to visitors and grew quiet as usual. But only those within Prince Ding’s residence knew that in just ten short days, the covert attacks on the residence had increased several times over compared to previous years.
Late at night, after yet another attack had ended, Ye Li sat in a chair placed under the eaves, coldly regarding the black-clothed men kneeling throughout the courtyard. Zhuo Jing, Qin Feng, Steward Mo, Feng Zhiyao, Mo Hua, Zhang Qilan, and Han Mingxi who were specially stationed at the residence due to Prince Ding’s departure stood to her left and right. Except for Feng Zhiyao who maintained his usual carefree smile, the expressions of the others were not pleasant. Tonight the assassins had broken through the residence’s outer defenses and nearly invaded the main courtyard where Ye Li resided. Mo Hua’s face as the leader of the hidden guards was particularly dark – this was practically a slap in the face to the guards.
“Well then, tell me, where did these people come from this time?” Ye Li asked mildly, looking at her subordinates’ grim faces.
The assassins forced to kneel in the courtyard flashed contemptuous looks in their eyes, proudly turning their heads away. Ye Li laughed, “I misspoke. Without properly questioning you all, you probably won’t confess. But conveniently… over these ten days, seven waves of people have come here, perhaps some of your companions are among them. However, none yet have had bones hard enough to hold out against me. Qin Feng, they’re yours.”
Qin Feng laughed heartily: “Thank you, Princess. My subordinates have been learning interrogation techniques, and they’ve made amazing progress thanks to the contributions of so many volunteers.” Standing to the side, Feng Zhiyao gave a light snort of disdain, but his eyes were already eagerly looking toward Qin Feng. “This young master requests to observe.” He, Feng Zhiyao, was known as Prince Ding’s residence’s most skilled interrogator, but only after Qin Feng brought back several young men did he discover what it meant that there are always greater heights to reach and that these interrogation experts were mass-produced. Qin Feng gave him an unfriendly smile: “Strictly confidential, outsiders prohibited.” With a wave of his hand, people came to take away those in the courtyard.
Feng Zhiyao glared hatefully at the departing Qin Feng, then turned back to look pleadingly at Ye Li. There was no help for it – ever since Qin Feng had followed the Princess, no one’s words carried weight with him except the Prince and Princess’s orders. Ye Li smiled slightly: “Feng San, Qin Feng isn’t deliberately making things difficult for you. This is confidential.” Feng Zhiyao humphed: “It’s just interrogation, even if there are some unique methods it can’t count as confidential, right?” Ye Li smiled: “The interrogators are currently confidential.”
Feng San rubbed his nose and said nothing. As one of Mo Xiuyao’s most trusted people, he naturally knew the Princess had a secret force made up of people selected from various military units under Prince Ding’s command. No one knew what the Princess wanted these people for, even the Prince didn’t know what had happened to these people after the Princess selected them. Now… were these the people? Feng Zhiyao thought of the few people Qin Feng had brought back in previous days to take on their interrogation duties. Though he’d only caught a brief glimpse, there didn’t seem to be anything unusual about them, but Feng Zhiyao’s alertness developed over many years on battlefields and in shadows told him these people were indeed extraordinary.
Ye Li stood and smiled at everyone: “Thank you all for your hard work tonight. Shall we sit in the study?”
Zhang Qilan said with a dark expression: “The Prince has barely left and these people immediately move against the residence – are we just going to let this go?” Ye Li smiled faintly: “General Zhang need not worry, we naturally cannot just let this go. I… also need some people to practice with.”
Though her tone was gentle, it carried a killing intent that chilled people to the bone. Everyone grew solemn and followed behind Ye Li toward the study.
Back in the study after everyone was seated, Ye Li said to Han Mingxi sitting to the side: “The matters in Xiling and the Southern Frontier should be attended to now. Mingxi, you should depart the capital tomorrow.” Hearing this, Han Mingxi frowned, wanting to say something. Ye Li shook her head: “No need for words, you’ve seen the situation in the capital. There’s nothing for you to do by staying, better to depart early. Big Brother should still be in Yongzhou now, if there’s anything you’re unsure about you can show him my token and ask him.” Han Mingxi looked at her quietly, sighed lightly, and said: “I understand, I’ll depart tomorrow. I’ll go pack now.”
Ye Li didn’t keep him, just nodded.
As soon as Han Mingxi left, the atmosphere in the study immediately became somewhat livelier. It wasn’t that Prince Ding’s people didn’t trust or were guarding against Han Mingxi, but rather that these people all had eyes that could see through worldly matters. Though Han Mingxi’s thoughts were hidden, how could he escape these people’s notice? What’s more, these people were meddlesome and utterly loyal to Mo Xiuyao – even though they knew there was nothing between the Princess and Han Mingxi, in the eyes of these loyal ministers of Prince Ding’s residence they couldn’t help but be somewhat cold toward Han Mingxi.
Ye Li seemed not to notice everyone’s expressions, speaking naturally with them about matters in the residence. Everyone was somewhat worried about the residence’s safety. Steward Mo asked: “Princess, should we bring in more hidden guards?” These days the residence had been continuously attacked, the guards and hidden guards were likely exhausted, and today assassins had even broken into the Princess’s quarters. Ye Li smiled: “No need for such trouble. They’ve gone to such effort to infiltrate the capital and risk death breaking into Prince Ding’s residence that all under heaven knows is as solid as gold and iron. We should at least see what they’re trying to do. Starting tomorrow, catch fewer assassins. Let some go back.”
Feng Zhiyao’s eyes flashed as he smiled: “Princess wants… to let them know Prince Ding’s residence’s defenses are gradually weakening? Will they believe it?”
Ye Li smiled: “Since they keep coming wave after wave even knowing they can’t break in, if I were you would you believe it if I gave you an opportunity?”
Zhang Qilan worriedly said: “If this news spreads, I fear the residence will become even more unsettled.”
Ye Li’s smile grew cold as she said quietly: “I will let all under heaven know that Prince Ding’s residence is not only as solid as gold and iron but also a hell on earth from which there is no return!”
Everyone’s hearts shook as they stared speechlessly for a long while at the gentle and beautiful woman in blue before them.
“Princess.” Qin Feng pushed open the door and entered, his expression somewhat strange. Ye Li raised an eyebrow, asking unsurprised: “Couldn’t get anything out of them?”
Qin Feng said with some annoyance: “One killed himself, and the others were all small fry who didn’t know anything.”
Ye Li shook her head: “No, the one who died wasn’t the leader.”
Qin Feng looked uncomprehendingly at Ye Li. Ye Li said calmly: “The other side must know how formidable Prince Ding’s residence’s interrogation is. If they truly intended to die, they would have killed themselves when first captured. In terms of experience, you still can’t compare to Feng San.” Feng Zhiyao looked smugly at Qin Feng and smiled: “Indeed, at least under this young master’s hand there would never be incidents of prisoners committing suicide.” Qin Feng paid no attention to Feng Zhiyao’s provocation at this moment, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed as he said: “Princess means the suicide was just to cover for the real leader?” Ye Li propped her chin in her hand: “There’s at least a fifty percent chance. Of course, it’s also possible he was truly frightened by your methods and happened to fall into the hands of some inexperienced rookies, finding an opportunity for suicide. However… your methods shouldn’t be at that level yet, right?”
Qin Feng said somewhat troubled: “Those youngsters just learned this, their hands aren’t steady. If they killed someone…”
Ye Li lowered her eyes and said softly: “We’re not short on time now, change methods and take it slowly.”
“Change methods?”
Ye Li said: “Wear them down.”
“Wear them down?”
Ye Li played with the white porcelain cup in her hand, saying softly: “Light up the prison cells bright as day for me. No more torture or beatings. Have people take turns watching them, changing shifts every two hours. Just one thing – I don’t want to see anyone fall asleep until they’re willing to tell the truth.” Feng Zhiyao asked puzzled: “Just not sleeping, will that work?”
Ye Li smiled: “Lord Feng San may have tried going without sleep for a day or two, but have you tried four or five days without sleep? This method can train even the proudest eagle to be completely obedient, let alone people.”
Though Feng Zhiyao was doubtful of Ye Li’s words, Qin Feng accepted them without hesitation. He immediately turned to give orders.
Feng Zhiyao turned back to look at Ye Li: “These past days, does the Princess have any thoughts about these assassins?”
Ye Li turned as Zhuo Jing beside her handed over a file. Ye Li took it and opened it, saying: “These past days, all sorts have tried breaking in. Those hired to kill, those seeking revenge, even those trying to take advantage of the chaos.”
“Take advantage? Who would dare take advantage of Prince Ding’s residence?” Mo Hua, who rarely spoke, said mockingly.
Feng Zhiyao smiled: “Whether they’re taking advantage, no one knows, but so many criminals suddenly appearing in the capital these few days – are the troops stationed in the capital region and the city governor all eating dry rice?” Steward Mo said heavily: “Prince Ding’s residence has been repeatedly attacked. Even though the residence is vast with few neighboring mansions, that one in the palace absolutely can not know. But so many days have passed and the palace hasn’t even sent anyone to ask about it, as if nothing at all had happened.” Ye Li rubbed her temples, smiled charmingly, and said: “That one in the palace probably also wants to know the true extent of Prince Ding’s residence’s strength. Feng San, tomorrow spread the news that I have been frightened these past days and am unwell.”
“Frightened?” Feng Zhiyao’s gaze was somewhat strange as he looked at Ye Li’s smiling face. These days whether it was the Princess or those unfortunate assassins who were truly frightened was still up for debate. Ye Li glanced at him: “What? I can’t be frightened. I am still a woman after all, and my husband isn’t by my side. What’s wrong with being frightened by assassins coming day after day?”
Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose and said respectfully: “Nothing, the Princess is extremely frightened, her jade body unwell.”
Ye Li gave a light snort: “Very good, let them be happy for a few days. I am frightened and will see no one, just like that.”
Steward Mo hesitated before asking: “If the palace summons…”
Ye Li smiled: “Too ill to enter the palace. Just accept any imperial physicians and rewards sent from the palace. Don’t agree to anything else.”
“This old servant understands.” Steward Mo nodded.
After dismissing everyone, Ye Li walked alone from the study toward her bedroom. She raised her head to look at the nearly full moon and sighed somewhat worriedly, then turned back to address somewhere in the darkness: “Why are you following me?”
Mo Hua’s somewhat stiff voice came from the darkness: “The Prince said to protect the Princess’s safety.”
Ye Li smiled faintly, no longer paying him any attention as she turned and went to her room. Only after she had gone far did Mo Hua step out of the shadows into the moonlight. His eyes still carried obvious annoyance and frustration. Was his ability to conceal himself inferior to the Princess’s?