After a series of song and dance performances, envoys from various nations came forward to present their congratulatory gifts. The gifts from Prince Ding’s subordinates were naturally conventional, symbolizing peace and joy, though some were quite interesting. However, the presents from foreign envoys were quite diverse, not only showcasing their nations’ treasures but also subtly competing with other countries.
The Northern Rong, having just suffered heavy casualties in their fierce battle with Prince Ding’s forces, was most eager to repair relations. Thus, they were the first to present gifts, and their offerings were far from ordinary. When the two boxes carried by the Northern Rong envoy were opened, their contents stunned everyone present. In the left cage was a pure white fox with blue eyes, without a single mixed-colored hair, its appearance delicate and adorable. The other box contained an enormous blue lotus flower. Though picked, the lotus remained in full bloom in its jade-carved case as if freshly plucked from a pond. Beside it lay an emerald lotus pod.
While others remained composed, Shen Yang and Doctor Lin’s eyes lit up immediately upon seeing the contents of the jade box.
Yelü Hong smiled and said, “These are Northern Rong’s greatest treasures: the Blue-eyed Snow Fox and the Fire Lotus. We humbly present them to celebrate the young heir and princess’s birthdays.” The crowd gasped. The Fire Lotus, needless to say, had deep connections with Prince Ding’s manor. At one point, Mo Xiu Yao’s life depended on this flower. However, after Ye Li found the substitute Beiluo Flower, they stopped pursuing the difficult-to-obtain Fire Lotus. But the Fire Lotus’s utility wasn’t limited to being an antidote for cold poison. In the hands of a divine physician like Shen Yang, its effectiveness would be no less than the Beiluo Flower.
As for the Blue-eyed Snow Fox, it was truly Northern Rong’s ultimate treasure. Even within Northern Rong itself, it was extremely rare, said to inhabit the snow-capped peaks in the far west, just like the Fire Lotus. For ordinary people, merely catching a glimpse was a once-in-three-lifetime fortune. In the Western Regions, the fox’s fur was priceless, impossible to obtain even with vast wealth. The Blue-eyed Snow Fox wasn’t just intelligent and adorable; its fur, flesh, bones, and even blood were all precious. While the Central Plains attendees remained composed, many Western Region envoys cast envious glances at the small fox in the white jade cage.
Ye Li smiled slightly and nodded, “Thank you for Prince Yelü’s thoughtfulness. Xin’er will surely love the Prince’s gifts.” Though Xin’er was still too young to be near pets, the Blue-eyed Snow Fox was also young. In a few years when Xin’er was older, it would make a perfect companion.
Yelü Hong smiled, “How could it be? This prince represents my father the King in congratulating Prince Ding and the Princess Consort, while also hoping our two nations will prosper in peace from now on.” Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly and said, “This prince toasts to you.”
Yelü Hong nodded, raising his wine cup with a smile, “It should be this minor prince toasting to Your Highness instead. Please.”
Everyone present knew that Prince Ding’s manor and Northern Rong had signed a peace agreement. Yelü Hong’s current gesture was merely for show before the other envoys, indicating that their disputes with Prince Ding’s manor were now concluded. After all, Northern Rong’s national strength had been weakened by Prince Ding’s manor, while many small nations to the west were watching like tigers eyeing their prey. In these times, no one could hope to live peacefully without effort.
Afterward, Lei Teng Feng and Mo Jing Yu also came forward with their gifts. Similarly, they were rare treasures seldom seen in the world. Princess An Xi and Pu A, though still without traces of the young prince’s whereabouts, also appropriately presented their gifts. Given Princess An Xi and Prince Ding Manor’s relationship with the Xu family, their gifts naturally lacked the calculations and schemes present in others’ offerings, consisting simply of several precious specialties from Nanzhao.
Later, the gifts presented by Western Region envoys became even more exotic, many items never before seen by Central Plains people, truly broadening everyone’s horizons. Though Prince Ding still showed no intention of ascending to the throne as emperor, there was already an implicit air of receiving tributes from all four seas.
Amidst the revelry of song and dance, suddenly someone among the guests below clutched their abdomen in agony, groaning in pain. Quickly, like a plague spreading, one after another, half the people in the great hall had collapsed. After a while, the remaining half also fell, everyone becoming as limp as if their bones had been removed, sprawled on the ground unable to move. Among those present, only Mo Xiu Yao, with his deepest martial arts cultivation, remained steadily seated, though his expression wasn’t pleasant.
“Prince Ding, what is happening?!” The Western Region envoys hadn’t expected such an incident, warily looking toward Mo Xiu Yao seated in the hall, suspecting some Central Plains trick. But seeing the Xu family members and Prince Ding’s confidants also fall, they became even more confused.
Mo Xiu Yao sat in his wide chair, one hand supporting Ye Li who leaned against him, while calmly saying, “This prince also wants to know what’s happening. Mo Jing Li, aren’t you coming out yet?”
“Haha! Mo Xiu Yao, you’ve finally fallen into My hands!” At the hall’s entrance, a man wearing imperial yellow dragon robes strode in, his face bearing a triumphant expression as he looked at the guests scattered across the hall. Mo Jing Li waved his hand, and many men in black night-walking clothes wielding swords rushed in, surrounding the entire hall.
Mo Jing Li walked proudly to the center of the hall, looking up at Mo Xiu Yao, his imperial dragon robes gleaming in the candlelight. Apart from his overly pale complexion, Mo Jing Li truly carried the bearing of an emperor. “Mo Xiu Yao, you didn’t expect this, did you? The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind… In the end, I am the victor.”
Mo Xiu Yao looked calmly at his smug face and said flatly, “This prince doesn’t see what you have to be proud of.”
Mo Jing Li sneered, “Mo Xiu Yao, no need to put on airs to frighten Me. Can you even move now? My Chenxiang Intoxicant affects those with higher martial arts more deeply. If you could still move, would you be sitting there talking with Me?”
Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes and smiled, “If that’s the case, why don’t you come up and try?”
Mo Jing Li’s eyes narrowed, watching Mo Xiu Yao warily for a long while before finally laughing, “You’re right, I dare not come up. So don’t try to provoke Me. I don’t need to come up to kill you!” Mo Xiu Yao nodded and said, “So, the so-called Chu Emperor is just a waste who fears even someone who has lost all internal power? No wonder the Grand Empress Dowager and ministers of Great Chu wanted to depose you. If it were this prince, this prince would have deposed you eight hundred years ago. Compared to Mo Jing Qi, you’re still far behind.”
A flash of anger crossed Mo Jing Li’s eyes. If Mo Xiu Yao was the person he hated most in life, what he despised most was being told he wasn’t as good as Mo Jing Qi. He could admit to being inferior to Mo Xiu Yao, but he never acknowledged being worse than Mo Jing Qi. “What? Too bad he’s dead, and soon you will be too. Victory and defeat determine all under heaven – in a hundred years, people won’t think of right or wrong regarding you all, they’ll only know that I defeated both Mo Jing Qi and you, Mo Xiu Yao. I am truly the number one person under heaven!”
At the height of his excitement, Mo Jing Li didn’t forget to look at Ye Li beside Mo Xiu Yao, smiling, “Ye Li, isn’t that right?”
Ye Li looked at him calmly and said flatly, “If you think so, then let it be so.” Though just a plain statement, it caused Mo Jing Li’s expression to change three times in an instant. Because Ye Li’s words and tone were like speaking to a madman, agreeing with everything they said.
“Ye Li, come down, and I can spare your life. Don’t try any tricks, your internal power isn’t strong, even if it takes some effort you’re not completely immobile.” Mo Jing Li stared at Ye Li, speaking in a deep voice.
Mo Xiu Yao, holding Ye Li’s waist, looked at Mo Jing Li with a flash of cold light in his eyes and said, “You need not worry about A Li’s life. With this free time, you better worry about yourself. Or… was this prince’s lesson not enough?”
Mo Jing Li froze, seemingly remembering something as his expression became strangely distorted. After a long while, he finally burst into laughter, pointing at Mo Xiu Yao and shouting, “Mo Xiu Yao, you’re still so arrogant! Even now, when you can’t even save your own life, how can you save Ye Li? Today I will make sure you die miserably! Ye Li, come here… I can forgive all past matters.”
Ye Li looked up at him and said calmly, “This princess consort doesn’t know what matters and needs Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
A flash of viciousness crossed Mo Jing Li’s eyes, “You think Mo Xiu Yao can still protect you now?”
Ye Li smiled faintly without speaking, calmly leaning against Mo Xiu Yao’s shoulder, no longer paying attention to Mo Jing Li.
Mo Xiu Yao, one hand supporting Ye Li’s waist and the other playing with his wine cup, looked at Mo Jing Li and said, “This prince is quite curious how you administered the poison.” In Prince Ding’s manor, poisoning was not an easy task. Otherwise, the people of Prince Ding’s manor would have been poisoned to death hundreds of times already. “In the wine? No… those who didn’t drink were also poisoned. It’s… in the candles.”
Mo Jing Li’s eyes flickered as he smiled, “Prince Ding is indeed quick-witted, making My efforts to obtain this colorless and odorless Chenxiang Intoxicant worthwhile. Too bad… Prince Ding only realizes now, don’t you think it’s too late?”
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head and said, “Even so, your people alone couldn’t have done this. Who else… step forward yourselves. Let this prince see exactly what kind of people dare to strike from behind this prince’s back.”
The great hall fell silent, with no one standing up. This scene made Mo Jing Li feel utterly humiliated. These people helped him secretly, but now that Mo Xiu Yao appeared to be incapacitated, they still dared not stand up and openly take his side. Mo Jing Li didn’t know that in these people’s eyes, unless they saw Prince Ding’s head separated from his body, few dared to openly betray Prince Ding’s manor.
“What are you still afraid of when Mo Xiu Yao is already poisoned?” Mo Jing Li said coldly, his gaze carrying threats as he looked at everyone present. Soon, one person stood up, then another… in a moment, more than ten people had risen. Among them were patriarchs of prestigious families who hadn’t received important positions, serving officials, and even a former Great Chu general who had surrendered to the Mo family army. These people had been pretending to be poisoned earlier.
Mo Xiu Yao’s gaze swept calmly over these people, finally landing on Mo Jing Yu, who was still lying to one side, and said plainly, “Prince Yu, you get up too.” Mo Jing Yu froze but finally sighed slightly and stood up.
Mo Jing Li looked at him triumphantly and smiled, “Mo Xiu Yao, do you see? You thought everyone would be loyal to you, that everyone feared you? Now aren’t there so many people betraying you?”
Mo Xiu Yao replied calmly, “Betrayal? This prince never planned to use them, so what betrayal? A bunch of useless people, take them if you like. Otherwise, you can ask if they know any secrets of Prince Ding’s manor or any military intelligence of the Mo family army. Or… even if this prince died right now, do they have any way to get you out of Li City alive.” Hearing Mo Xiu Yao’s words, those who had stood up looked even more uncomfortable.
Mo Jing Li’s expression changed, and he sneered, “I dared to enter Prince Ding’s manor without planning to leave alive. But being able to take you, Mo Xiu Yao and so many others present down with Me, My death would be worth it.”
“Then congratulations,” Mo Xiu Yao said without sincerity.
Mo Jing Li stared at Mo Xiu Yao sitting above with irritation, a sense of powerlessness he despised welling up. It had always been like this since childhood; it seemed he could never gain the upper hand over Mo Xiu Yao. No matter how dire Mo Xiu Yao’s situation, how dangerous, it seemed he was always the one losing. If he had Lin Tie Han’s or even Mu Qing Cang’s strength, he could rush up now and give Mo Xiu Yao a sword strike. But even in this situation, he still dared not approach Mo Xiu Yao. He feared him, Mo Jing Li had to admit in his heart, and this had always been a fact he was ashamed to acknowledge.
“Kill him for Me!” Watching Mo Xiu Yao’s composed demeanor became increasingly irritating, and Mo Jing Li suddenly lost patience.
A black-clad man stepped forward, cautiously walking toward the hall platform. Seeing Mo Xiu Yao show no reaction, he became more confident about the poison’s effects and boldly took several steps forward. The man’s eye twitched with excitement – no one could remain calm about personally killing Prince Ding. Finally, he drew his sword and slashed at Mo Xiu Yao. No one saw Mo Xiu Yao move, but they heard the black-clad man scream in agony as he was thrown down from the platform, lying on the ground and spitting blood continuously. He had been struck down by someone with extremely high internal power.
Everyone present let out a breath, not knowing whether to feel relieved or disappointed that Mo Xiu Yao was unharmed.
Mo Jing Li’s expression grew even worse. “You weren’t poisoned?”
Mo Xiu Yao ignored Mo Jing Li’s questioning and said calmly, “You can’t kill this prince. Now, what do you plan to do?” Mo Jing Li’s face grew extremely ugly, and after a long while, he sneered, “So what if I can’t kill you? I don’t believe they’re all immune to the poison like you! Kill them all!”
The black-clad men who came with Mo Jing Li were all desperate men who knew they would die, and hearing his order, they didn’t care about the guests’ status and drew their swords to strike.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!” Countless arrows flew through the air, and simultaneously, the guests all stood up. Those skilled in martial arts rose to counter-attack, while those without such skills quickly dodged away. In just a moment, all the black-clad men Mo Jing Li had brought fell to the ground. They weren’t subdued by the guests present, but rather, like the guests earlier, they became completely limp and unable to rise.
“What… what’s going on?” Mo Jing Li raged. Though he hadn’t been fully poisoned, everyone around him, including Mo Jing Yu, was affected without exception.
“You dare show off such a trivial trick as Chenxiang Intoxicant!” Shen Yang’s voice came calmly from a corner of the hall. “Chenxiang Intoxicant is indeed a fine sedative, colorless and odorless, and can be dissolved in water or burned. Too bad the antidote is easy to find. Moreover… the most common Ice Jade Orchid can neutralize it. However… if one has previously taken an antidote made from Chen Xiang fruit and then smells Ice Jade Orchid, it becomes a different kind of poison.”
Everyone then realized that all the flowers decorating the hall tonight were orchids, and more than half were Ice Jade Orchids. However, Ice Jade Orchids have very small flowers, and when mixed among many precious orchids, they are virtually unnoticeable unless one looks carefully.
Mo Jing Li’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth, “Shen Yang! Of course, it was you who ruined My plans again!”
Shen Yang smiled and said, “Your Highness Li flatters me, it was just a coincidence.”
Coincidence my ass! How could there be such coincidences in the world? Mo Xiu Yao had known about his plan long ago, even down to exactly what poison he would use.
“Prince Ding truly has fine methods, willing to risk so many guests’ lives just to catch Me,” Mo Jing Li said through gritted teeth. If he had started indiscriminately killing as soon as he entered, even if Mo Xiu Yao had people secretly protecting everyone, they couldn’t possibly have protected everyone perfectly. Sure enough, hearing this, the guests’ expressions became uncomfortable. They didn’t care about Prince Ding wanting to catch Mo Jing Li, but using their lives as bait was too much.
“Prince Ding, what is the meaning of this?” The Western Region envoys, who knew least about Mo Xiu Yao, were the first to question.
Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly and said, “My apologies for frightening everyone, it’s just that… the songs and dances were boring, so I invited everyone to watch a good show. This prince guarantees that not a single person will be harmed.”
“What guarantee does Prince Ding have?!” someone asked shrilly.
“The fact that no one has been harmed now. King of Pacifying the South, Prince Yelü, Queen of Nanzhao, Princess Helan, what do you think?” Mo Xiu Yao asked with a smile. Lei Teng Feng sighed and said, “A bet is a bet, Prince Ding’s brilliance has won my admiration.”
Yelü Hong was more direct, “This minor prince admits defeat and will add another thousand fine horses for Prince Ding.” Since the horses were already given, whether it was ten thousand or eleven thousand didn’t make much difference. Yelü Hong considered himself able to afford the loss.
Princess An Xi, worried about her child, nodded slightly and said, “This queen also admits defeat.”
Princess Helan blinked and giggled. Suddenly everyone felt dazzled by her radiant beauty. “They say Central Plains people are very clever, and Prince Ding is the cleverest among them. This princess also admits defeat. For the next two years, this princess will reduce the price of furs and medicinal materials traded to Prince Ding’s manor by twenty percent.”