In the tenth month of Emperor Jing’s twelfth year, following the Princess Consort of Prince Ding’s great victory over Xiling’s Prince Zhennan and her subsequent disappearance, the Mo family army, which had been engaging with Xiling, Nanzhao, and Prince Li’s forces across Great Chu, quietly withdrew. They left behind stunned local garrisons and the leaders of the three allied armies, who hesitated, unsure whether this was a trap or if the Mo family army had truly retreated. Once they confirmed that the Mo family army had completely withdrawn from the battlefield, the ecstatic three allied forces unhesitatingly pounced on Great Chu’s fertile lands.
Even Xiling, defeated in the northwest, didn’t hesitate to send more troops to eastern Chu. This time, however, they were shrewd enough to avoid the northwest territory now fully controlled by several hundred thousand Mo family troops, instead circling through the south to enter the passes before moving north. Meanwhile, the Northern Rong’s great army at the northern border also began stirring restlessly. If not for the winter making it unsuitable for warfare, and their desire to observe the Mo family army’s attitude, the south’s gunsmoke would hardly have cleared before warfare erupted in the north.
Naturally, the Emperor flew into a great rage at this. That very day, he issued an edict proclaiming to the world: Prince Mo Xiuyao of Second Rank, unrepentant and harboring resentment, had arbitrarily withdrawn his troops with complete disregard for Great Chu’s fate. His title was to be stripped, his military authority revoked, and he was to be escorted back to the capital for further disposition. Regarding this edict, Mo Xiuyao merely smiled faintly, casually crumpling it into a ball and tossing it into some unknown corner. Following their lord’s orders, one hundred thousand elite Mo family troops struck toward all cities within Feilong Pass with lightning speed.
The Great Chu soldiers guarding these cities naturally wouldn’t hand them over without resistance, rising to fight back. The warfare in Great Chu’s northwest spread from outside the passes to within, but while last time it had been the Mo family army defending Great Chu against invading Xiling forces, this time it had become combat with Great Chu’s troops. Mo Jingqi issued several edicts denouncing Mo Xiuyao for deceiving the sovereign and plotting rebellion. The world was thrown into an uproar, yet the man at the center of this storm now stood at the edge of a cliff in the Tingyun Mountain range, gazing far into the distant, empty wilderness. That direction was where warfare raged and blood flowed like rain. Yet his calm eyes held not a trace of sympathy or mercy.
“Your Highness.”
Xu Qingze and Feng Zhiyao emerged from the forest, paying respects to the man standing lost in thought at the cliff’s edge. Mo Xiuyao turned his head, his gaze wavering slightly when he saw Xu Qingze, and asked, “Qingze… any news of Ah Li?” A shadow of gloom passed over Xu Qingze’s stern, handsome face as he said softly, “Not yet…” Mo Xiuyao nodded, saying nothing more except, “Keep searching. Thank you for your hard work.” It had been a full month since Ye Li fell from the cliff, but none of them were willing to give up the search. After Mo Xiuyao punished the two people previously in charge of leading troops to search for Ye Li, Xu Qingze set aside his original duties to voluntarily take on this responsibility. They all knew that Xu Qingze would never be negligent in searching for Ye Li – it was just that until they found her… none of them were willing to accept that unacknowledged reality.
Feng Zhiyao said gravely, “Your Highness, these days Mo Jingqi has issued several edicts slandering your reputation. Shouldn’t we do something about it?”
Mo Xiuyao said calmly, “Take Feilong Pass before the year ends. Do nothing else.”
“But…” Feng Zhiyao disagreed, “This way, the common people’s view of Your Highness and the Prince Ding household will likely be severely affected. We just received news from our spies that the people in the capital and many other places seem to have been deceived by Mo Jingqi’s edicts and have considerable prejudice against Your Highness and the Mo family army.” Mo Xiuyao gave a cold laugh and said, “So what? The people’s opinions… are nothing but tools to be manipulated at will by those in power. Hasn’t Mo Jingqi always believed that Prince Ding’s household hindered him, obstructing his great ambition to become a mighty ruler? Now, I’ll give him the chance. Let him cast aside the obstacle of the Prince Ding household and the Mo family army, and we’ll see what ability he has to turn the tide and achieve his grand ambitions!” Feng Zhiyao frowned slightly and said, “Your Highness, then we…” Mo Xiuyao curved his lips in a faint smile, “The Mo family army… will stop at Feilong Pass for now. When spring comes next year… we march west. Feng San, I want this world… thrown into chaos. They like fighting, don’t they? Then let none of them have any peace!”
Feng Zhiyao’s heart trembled as he suddenly recalled the man’s words that morning, white-haired yet calm and merciless. He truly intended to drag the entire world into warfare, sacrificing mountains and rivers… The gentle lady’s departure had become an indelible wound in His Highness’s heart.
From the winter of Emperor Jing’s twelfth year, the Mo family army occupied Feilong Pass, expelling all Great Chu garrison troops within, killing without mercy those who resisted. In the spring of the thirteenth year, the Northern Rong cavalry also began stirring at Great Chu’s borders. Yet Mo Xiuyao, now in Ruyang City, showed no reaction, instead issuing another order. He appointed Lü Jinxian and Zhang Qilan as commanders of the left and right armies, each leading two hundred thousand troops to attack Xiling’s borders. This news seemed to signal something to all forces. In early February, three hundred thousand Northern Rong cavalry officially knocked on Great Chu’s borders, Nanzhao sent another two hundred thousand troops to pressure Great Chu, and Xiling itself was likewise thrown into chaos by the Mo family army’s decision. But Xiling was, after all, a strong nation almost on par with Great Chu. At once, Prince Zhennan ordered another five hundred thousand troops to reinforce the border, while the crown prince Lei Tengfeng’s forces already within Great Chu showed no intention of withdrawing. They didn’t want to give up the benefits they’d already gained in Great Chu. It seemed that in a brief time, the world had truly fallen into chaos.
People of that time, being in the midst of events, found it difficult to see clearly. It wasn’t until many years later, when this history had been sealed in books, that curious historians and scholars discovered that every transformation of that period seemed to have some subtle connection to that man who was said to have only decided to march west against Xiling. People more clearly discovered that all these changes stemmed from the deaths of those seven thousand Great Chu soldiers below Tingyun Mountain.
And on that same day, the Princess Consort of Prince Ding, who had personally led two hundred thousand Mo family troops to annihilate the Xiling army and planned to block three hundred thousand Xiling reinforcements, fell from the cliff and vanished. Scholars and writers often composed poems and prose about this, leaving behind their various speculations. Countless romantic legends circulated among the common people.
Some even listed the Princess Consort of Prince Ding among history’s ten greatest beauties who brought catastrophe, making Ye Li the only legendary woman to simultaneously be listed among history’s female generals, remarkable women, beauties, wise empresses, and bringers of calamity.
This warfare that lasted several years and swept across four nations was called the Hongzhou Transformation, as it began with Prince Zhennan of Xiling’s defeat at Hongzhou. Among the common people, however, it circulated under a more beautiful, legendary name – the Beauty’s Chaos. As for how many romantic stories of love and hatred evolved from this, they were truly too numerous to count.
With three nations’ great armies pressing the borders, plus Mo Jingli’s covetous gaze from Jiangnan, even though Mo Jingqi was furious and hateful toward Mo Xiuyao, he had no strength to spare to deal with him now. In the deep of night, Mo Jingqi even somewhat regretted being too impulsive, leading to this current dilemma. He understood in his heart that he had thoroughly pushed the Mo family army and Mo Xiuyao to their limit. From now on, the Mo family army would no longer be Great Chu’s most solid bulwark and protector, but rather… would become its most dangerous enemy.
Yet presently, he couldn’t even deal with Mo Xiuyao because he could barely protect himself. As Emperor, he wasn’t unaware that neighboring countries’ appetites couldn’t be satisfied by ceding just a city or territory. He had previously believed that without the Prince Ding household, he could certainly make Great Chu prosper in a very short time and then conquer in all directions. However, when the Prince Ding household truly withdrew, he discovered… other countries simply wouldn’t give him the chance to grow strong.
“Send an edict to Mo Jingli, tell him We agree to his ruling south of the river. Also… let him recognize who the true enemy is!”
“Your servant accepts the command.”
In Ruyang City,
Feng Zhiyao looked at the calm and leisurely man before him, worry quietly rising in his eyes. Four months had passed, and Mo Xiuyao seemed to have gradually recovered from the Princess Consort’s disappearance. At least he wasn’t frequently lost in thought like in the previous two months, but similarly, his increasingly detached demeanor made Feng Zhiyao vaguely uneasy. Now it seemed the world knew that the Prince Ding household and Great Chu had fallen out – no… in the world’s eyes, the Prince Ding household had betrayed Great Chu. But he couldn’t see Mo Xiuyao’s thoughts or plans for the future at all. The current Mo Xiuyao was more like a detached spectator, sitting in Ruyang City watching the world fall into chaos. Xiling was strongest, so he sent troops to attack Xiling. The Northern Rong worried about the Mo family army interfering in their warfare with Great Chu, so he withdrew all Mo family troops back to Feilong Pass. Even the recent news that Mo Jingqi wanted to join forces with Mo Jingli couldn’t move him. Looking at the letter in his hand, he merely smiled faintly and said, “Mo Jingqi is too weak. Having one more person to play with isn’t bad. Lest later… he can’t keep playing…”
“Your Highness, someone has arrived from Yunzhou,” Feng Zhiyao reported quietly.
Mo Xiuyao started, sitting up with furrowed brows, “Has something happened to the Xu family and Master Qingyun?” Feng Zhiyao shook his head, “No, although some in the Chu capital did bring up Your Highness’s relationship with the Xu family, many officials advised against pursuing it. Moreover, with Master Qingyun and the Xu family’s prestige, Mo Jingqi wouldn’t dare move against them in the slightest right now.” Mo Xiuyao felt somewhat relieved. Feng Zhiyao frowned and asked, “If Your Highness is concerned about the Xu family’s safety, why not invite them to Ruyang?” Mo Xiuyao shook his head, remaining silent. Feng Zhiyao looked at him, and after a long while said, “Your Highness hasn’t planned for the future at all, have you? That’s why you’re unwilling to bring the Xu family to Ruyang. You’re afraid that one day Your Highness might…”
“Feng San…” Mo Xiuyao called out to him, staring at him steadily. Feng Zhiyao waved his sleeve, “Fine, do as you please! After all, the lives of several hundred thousand Mo family army brothers and their families are in your hands!” With that, he turned and left. Watching his departing figure, Mo Xiuyao’s sword-like eyebrows knitted deeply as he murmured, “Several hundred thousand Mo family troops… so exhausting… Feng San, how many more years can I bear their burden… Father, Elder Brother, you must have been very tired back then too…”
Shortly after, someone entered. Seeing Mo Xiuyao sitting lost in thought, they remained silent, just standing at the doorway watching him. Mo Xiuyao frowned slightly, raising his head to look at the visitor, then started. He stood up looking at them, and after a while said in a deep voice, “Master Xu, why have you come?” The visitor removed the felt hat from his head and smiled calmly, “Is Your Highness not welcoming?” Mo Xiuyao shook his head, “Please sit, Master Xu. What brings you here?” Xu Hongyu looked him over before saying, “On my way to Ruyang, I had thought when I saw Your Highness you would either be bedridden or drowning your sorrows in wine.”
Mo Xiuyao said somewhat surprised, “Why would Master say that?” Xu Hongyu smiled faintly, “Your Highness has settled in Ruyang, the Mo family army now controls five provinces and nineteen cities including the northwest. Though it’s only a tenth of Great Chu’s territory, it’s no smaller than Nanzhao. But Your Highness, what did I see along my way? The people’s livelihood has withered, and commoners barely surviving. If not for the Mo family army’s controlled areas being the most stable currently, how many people does Your Highness think would still be here?” Mo Xiuyao remained silent.
Xu Hongyu didn’t wait for his response and continued, “Before I came, my father told me that with Your Highness’s talents – literary ability sufficient to pacify the state and martial prowess enough to establish a nation – you would certainly not be inferior to Regent Prince Mo Liufang or even the first Prince Ding, Mo Lanyun.” Mo Xiuyao gave a bitter smile, “Thank you for Master Qingyun’s excessive praise, but I’m afraid I don’t deserve such high praise. A man who couldn’t even protect his wife and child… how could he speak of establishing peace and securing the nation?” Xu Hongyu started, thinking of that clever and gentle niece, his eyes also dimming with grief. Ye Li was the Xu family’s only daughter of this generation. Xu Hongyu had truly loved and taught this niece, who was more clever and decisive than any man as if she were his daughter. Not just because of his young sister who died early, but because Ye Li herself was worthy. But… this clever girl had achieved a victory that even men might not have managed before suddenly meeting with such misfortune. She was even several years younger than her mother had been. Was it truly that heaven envied beauty? Looking carefully at the man before him, whose expression was calm and composed yet whose eyes revealed hints of ruthless mercilessness and boundless hatred, Xu Hongyu suddenly laughed out loud, staring at Mo Xiuyao, “Could Your Highness’s current actions be for Li’er? Such a passionate lover, surely Li’er would be gratified to know this from the afterlife!”
“Master Xu!” Mo Xiuyao said sternly, warning as he stared at the middle-aged man before him. Even after so long, he still couldn’t accept anyone mentioning Ah Li’s life or death before him, let alone this man who was Ah Li’s uncle.
Xu Hongyu looked at him fearlessly, snorting lightly, “Your Highness’s feelings run so deep, this old man should thank you on Li’er’s behalf. However… Li’er endured pregnancy to set up such a situation in the northwest for Your Highness, only for Your Highness to now hide in Ruyang City watching the show, watching the world fall into chaos and the people suffer?” Mo Xiuyao lowered his eyes, and after a while, a cold smile slowly leaked from the corner of his mouth as he said quietly, “So what? Don’t they want this world? Then let them fight and grab for it. Didn’t Mo Jingqi find the Prince Ding household an eyesore? Now without the Prince Ding household, isn’t everything just as he wished? I’m waiting for him to bring a million strong troops to suppress the rebellion. From now on… The great Chu will have another supreme ruler, and future emperors will never again have to worry about the Prince Ding household and Mo family army being like bones stuck in their throats. In this world, how many people want my life? I’ll just sit in Ruyang City, waiting for them to come!”
Xu Hongyu sighed softly, looking at the man before him emanating killing intent, and asked, “Has Your Highness lost all will to live? What crimes have the common people committed? What crime have those who have served the Prince Ding household for generations committed?”
“Heh heh…” Mo Xiuyao lowered his head and laughed softly, “Master Xu, I’m afraid it’s too late to say these things. Since this warfare has begun, it won’t easily end without determining victory and defeat, life and death. I hear Master Hongyu is skilled in reading heaven’s signs – can you not see? The world’s chaos and the people’s suffering are already determined.” Xu Hongyu said, “So Your Highness is also skilled in reading heaven’s signs?” Mo Xiuyao shook his head, his gaze clear, “I don’t understand heaven’s signs. What I want is this chaos, and no one can change it!” It wasn’t that the world followed heaven’s signs, but that heaven’s signs followed his game. In this game of chaos, none of the pieces could escape their fate, so let them accompany Ah Li and their child in death!
Even Xu Hongyu didn’t know how to persuade such a Mo Xiuyao, and his gaze looking at Mo Xiuyao gradually gained some warmth. At least this man truly loved Li’er, not wasting Li’er’s wholehearted devotion. Seeing the endless pain hidden beneath Mo Xiuyao’s calm expression, Xu Hongyu even felt those words of persuasion difficult to speak. Reason was always just reason – even someone like him who was called a great scholar had never planned to live as rigidly as reason dictated. This man needed warfare and enemies’ lives to quell his pain at losing his wife and unborn child. Just as his first reaction upon hearing Li’er’s news was to want to kill that fool Mo Jingqi rather than accept that a subject must die if the emperor demands it. But… whether for the Mo family army, for the Xu family, for Li’er, or the common people, he couldn’t truly watch this man drag the world into a sea of blood – at least not those innocent commoners and themselves.
Looking at Mo Xiuyao before him, Xu Hongyu turned and walked out. Just when Mo Xiuyao thought he had left, he walked back in again. He placed a thick stack of documents on the table beside Mo Xiuyao, and those following him like Zhuo Jing similarly carried stacks of documents, placing them before him before silently withdrawing. Since Ye Li’s disappearance, Zhuo Jing, Wei Lan, and Lin Han who returned later had searched along the great river day and night. Finally despairing, the three began appearing and disappearing like ghosts. Both Mo Xiuyao and Feng Zhiyao knew they still hadn’t given up frequently going out to search.
Xu Hongyu lightly tapped the documents on the table and said, “These were all left by Li’er. Look at them yourself. After you’ve finished, tell me Your Highness’s decision. I’m afraid I’ll have to impose on Your Highness for some time these days.”
Mo Xiuyao hesitated, looking at the familiar elegant handwriting on top of the documents – “Feasibility Study on Future Commerce in the Northwest.” Just like that novel yet seemingly reasonable terms Ah Li would occasionally mention. Just this line was enough to understand what it would discuss. And that small line at the bottom of the document, Ah Li always had the habit of noting dates at the bottom of documents and memorials – “Second day of the tenth month, Emperor Jing’s twelfth year…”
Mo Xiuyao’s eyes flickered slightly. Ah Li had taken time to write these things while defending Hongzhou…
Watching Mo Xiuyao lose in thought over the documents, Xu Hongyu waved to Zhuo Jing and the others to lead people out. In the empty room, only the occasional sound of turning pages remained.