Upon receiving news of his son, the Southern Marquis, despite being bedridden with serious illness, rushed to see Ye Li immediately. After learning the details of the situation, he pushed away those supporting him and knelt respectfully before Ye Li, saying, “The Southern Marquis’s household will never forget the Princess Consort’s great kindness. Please accept this old man’s bow.”
Ye Li was startled and quickly left her desk to personally help the Southern Marquis up. “My Lord must not do this. I don’t deserve such courtesy. Even setting aside the Young Master’s status, I couldn’t abandon him just considering my elder sister’s position.”
The Southern Marquis was already in tears. Although the heir wasn’t the only descendant of this generation of the Southern Marquis’s household, he was the Southern Marquis’s only son and the only heir of this generation capable of supporting the entire family. If anything were to happen to him, they would have to adopt from the collateral branches, but there were no outstanding candidates there. The Southern Marquis’s household would likely end with the current Marquis’s generation.
“My unworthy son was defeated and captured in battle, causing trouble for the Princess Consort.” Being defeated and captured in battle wasn’t a good reputation, but the Southern Marquis no longer hoped for his son to achieve great merit or power – he only wished for him to return alive and continue the family line.
Ye Li consoled him gently: “Victory and defeat are common in warfare. The Prince of Zhengnan of Xiling is known as the War God of Xiling. There’s no shame in your son’s defeat at his hands. As long as one lives, there will always be a chance for victory.”
The Southern Marquis expressed his gratitude solemnly: “This old man thanks the Princess Consort.”
When Jiangxia City detained the Prince of Zhengnan in exchange for the Southern Marquis’s heir, such trade was advantageous for Xiling, so they agreed almost without hesitation upon receiving the letter. After all, the Prince of Zhengnan was the commander-in-chief of Xiling’s army. If anything happened to him, not only would the Xiling army be left without leadership, but Xiling itself would likely fall into chaos. As for the Southern Marquis’s heir, he was merely the heir of a marquis’s household. Even though the Southern Marquis held considerable prestige in the Chu capital, for the Great Chu army, the influence of the Southern Marquis’s heir, who had just entered the battlefield, on the Mo Family Army was probably less than that of a captain. Such a trade was unbelievably generous.
Both sides quickly prepared for the hostage exchange, setting the location for three days later in a small valley five li outside Jiangxia City. Ye Li brought only Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, several specially trained soldiers under Qin Feng, and a dozen hidden guards. Though a prisoner, the Prince of Zhengnan maintained his dignity, showing no sign of the dishevelment typical of hostages. Upon seeing Ye Li, he even smiled at her pleasantly. Ye Li ignored him and with a wave of her hand had him taken away directly.
Compared to the Prince of Zhengnan, the Southern Marquis’s heir was in much worse condition. When the Xiling forces dragged him out from behind, he was covered in wounds and looked exhausted and dispirited. The leader of the Xiling party turned out to be Lei Tengfeng, the Prince of Zhengnan’s heir, whom Ye Li had met several times in Xiling years ago. He had rushed overnight from Xinyang upon receiving the news. Seeing Ye Li also mounted on horseback, he paused briefly before saying with a smile, “Princess Consort, how have you been since we parted last year?”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, “Well enough. It could have been better if only Your Highness and your country had given me the chance.”
Lei Tengfeng smiled, “The battlefield is men’s business. Someone of the Princess Consort’s status should be living in luxury and comfort, why meddle in these worldly affairs?”
Ye Li sighed, “I am but a common person, how could I transcend the mortal realm? Prince Lei, let’s end the small talk here. May I ask about the condition of our Southern Marquis’s heir?”
Lei Tengfeng looked back at the Southern Marquis’s heir being held behind him, then turned to Ye Li with an apologetic smile, “Weapons on the battlefield are blind – the Southern Marquis’s heir couldn’t avoid some injuries. I hope the Princess Consort won’t take offense?”
Ye Li smiled faintly, “No offense taken. I understand – Prince Lei is reminding me that I’ve been too lenient with prisoners. Zhuo Jing.” Her delicate hand rose slightly, making a simple gesture. Zhuo Jing responded, moving as swiftly as the wind. Two cracking sounds were heard, followed by a scream. Mo Fei, standing beside the Prince of Zhengnan, now had his left arm hanging at an odd angle.
Lei Tengfeng’s expression changed slightly as he fixed Ye Li with an electric gaze. Ye Li remained composed, glancing at the somewhat surprised Prince of Zhengnan below her horse before smiling at Lei Tengfeng, “Your Highness, I don’t enjoy torturing prisoners. However… I always follow the principle of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. This time, Master Mo will serve as a proxy. If there’s a next time, I won’t mind returning it directly to the Prince of Zhengnan. Or perhaps… have Your Highness’s wounds healed?”
Lei Tengfeng fell silent for a moment before ordering his men, “Send the Southern Marquis’s heir over.”
Two soldiers supported the Southern Marquis’s heir as they walked toward Ye Li’s side. Ye Li waved her hand, “For fairness’s sake, send the Prince of Zhengnan over.” Qin Feng nodded, and two men flanking the Prince of Zhengnan led him toward the opposite side. As they met in the middle to exchange the hostages, just as both prisoners were returning to their respective sides, Lei Tengfeng suddenly called out in a deep voice, “Now!”
Before his words had even fallen, the Prince of Zhengnan quickly retreated while the two soldiers shot forward like arrows – one toward the Southern Marquis’s heir, the other toward Ye Li. Simultaneously, over a dozen shadows darted out from around Lei Tengfeng, accompanied by a rain of arrows. All of this happened in an instant.
The two Great Chu soldiers standing in the middle split up – one quickly moved to block the path to the Southern Marquis’s heir. The Xiling soldier rushing toward the Southern Marquis’s heir felt a chill in his chest before he could reach his target and fell to the ground with a look of disbelief. The other soldier, instead of blocking the man rushing toward Ye Li, charged toward the retreating Prince of Zhengnan. The soldier who had just dispatched the Xiling attacker ignored the Southern Marquis’s heir and joined his companion in pursuing the Prince of Zhengnan.
After this sudden turn of events, the Southern Marquis’s heir came to his senses and, despite his injuries, gave chase as well. The Prince of Zhengnan hadn’t expected these seemingly ordinary Eastern Chu soldiers to possess such agile skills and near-perfect coordination. Though the Prince of Zhengnan was one of the world’s top martial artists, even with one arm missing he remained formidable and naturally wouldn’t fear these soldiers. However, these soldiers were very different from the Eastern Chu soldiers the Prince of Zhengnan knew – they were skilled at dealing with supreme masters. Within just a few exchanges, more soldiers joined in, surrounding him yet maintaining perfect coordination as if they had practiced thousands of times, never losing their composure despite their numbers.
On Ye Li’s side, her guards quickly engaged the Xiling forces. After just a few glances, Ye Li could tell these men, though wearing Xiling military uniforms, weren’t actual soldiers but rather martial arts experts. Ye Li looked up at Lei Tengfeng, who was also watching her and smiled coldly. “Kill!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The hidden guards and accompanying soldiers immediately became excited, brandishing their weapons as they charged at the Xiling forces. Both sides quickly descended into fierce combat.
The principle that two fists can’t beat four hands was once again proven by these specially trained warriors under Qin Feng’s command. As the surrounding battle drew to a close, the Prince of Zhengnan once again became a prisoner of Great Chu. Looking at the recaptured Prince of Zhengnan, Ye Li raised her eyebrows in good spirits. The Prince of Zhengnan’s smile was unusually bitter. “The Mo Family Army is well-trained. I’m impressed.”
Ye Li smiled, “Your Highness is too kind. Your Highness is one of the world’s top masters – it’s their fortune to receive your guidance.” Pointing at the soldiers who had just successfully defeated another expert, Ye Li’s eyes showed more satisfaction. Though each had sustained moderate injuries, the warriors were clearly in high spirits. Hearing Ye Li’s words, they straightened up proudly and saluted the Prince of Zhengnan, saying, “Thank you for your guidance, Prince of Zhengnan.”
Truthfully, even with just one arm, the Prince of Zhengnan was more difficult to deal with than Mu Qingcang, who was known as Great Chu’s number-one master. Just looking at how everyone was wounded showed this clearly. If they hadn’t had previous experience cooperating to defeat Mu Qingcang, defeating the Prince of Zhengnan would have been even more difficult. This was also because the Prince of Zhengnan maintained his dignity and wouldn’t fight them to the death – otherwise, they likely would have suffered casualties.
The Prince of Zhengnan’s face twitched slightly as he looked at Ye Li. “What does the Princess Consort plan to do now?”
Ye Li smiled sweetly, “Your Highness has put me in a difficult position. Originally, we could have peacefully exchanged hostages and each went home. But now, what am I to do?”
Across from them, Lei Tengfeng smiled bitterly, “Princess Consort, this was my fault. Please be magnanimous and release my father.” Ye Li replied calmly, “Your Highness makes it sound so simple. If just now the Southern Marquis’s heir or I had been injured, what would Your Highness’s attitude be?” Lei Tengfeng knew he was in the wrong and sighed, “Whatever is within my power, Princess Consort need only ask.” He had indeed been too rash today, thinking Ye Li wouldn’t be prepared, not realizing she had likely arranged everything in anticipation of his move.
Ye Li pondered for a moment before asking, “How about Your Highness withdraws the army from Great Chu?”
Lei Tengfeng’s face darkened. “The Princess Consort puts me in a difficult position.”
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and looked at the Prince of Zhengnan somewhat helplessly. “Your Highness, so it seems even a city like Xinyang isn’t worth much – is Xiling’s Prince of Zhengnan so cheap?”
The Prince of Zhengnan smiled faintly, “Conquering Xinyang cost Xiling countless soldiers’ lives. Indeed, this isn’t something my son can decide. Princess Consort is making it difficult for him.”
Ye Li narrowed her eyes slightly and quickly said, “Very well, I won’t make it difficult. Fifty thousand dan of provisions and five hundred thousand taels of silver.”
“Princess Consort is being far too arbitrary!” Lei Tengfeng frowned.
Ye Li snorted coldly and said sharply, “Cut off the Prince of Zhengnan’s other hand!” Zhuo Jing nodded, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Seeing Zhuo Jing draw a sword from a nearby soldier and move to strike the Prince of Zhengnan, Lei Tengfeng hurriedly called out, “Princess Consort, wait!”
Ye Li raised her eyebrows and looked at him calmly. After a long while, Lei Tengfeng finally nodded, “Very well, it’s a deal. But I need time. Also, the Princess Consort must guarantee my father won’t be harmed in any way, or I will slaughter every Eastern Chu person our army encounters!”
Ye Li’s smile grew colder, “Five days from now, same place. Also, Prince Lei had better hope those words were just talking. Otherwise, I won’t mind killing every Xiling general. Like Zheng Bian, for instance. Of course, I also won’t mind slaughtering all of Xiling!”
Lei Tengfeng’s heart shook. He looked deeply at Ye Li and nodded, “It’s a deal.”