Mo Xiu Yao entered the hall with an icy demeanor, his contemptuous gaze fixed on the King of Southern Garrison before him, killing intent undisguised in his cold eyes.
The position of Imperial Chancellor of Xi Ling wasn’t merely an empty title. In any country, the Chancellor’s position was of utmost importance, second only to one person. However, changes occurred during the King of Southern Garrison’s generation. The previous Xi Ling Chancellor was fiercely loyal to the former Xi Ling Emperor and naturally remained loyal to the current Emperor who inherited the throne. In earlier years, he had caused numerous troubles for the King of Southern Garrison. Although the Xi Ling Emperor wasn’t as wise as the King of the Southern Garrison, he knew the Chancellor was his ally and protected him in court affairs, making life quite unpleasant for the King of the Southern Garrison for many years. Only recently did that old Chancellor, who had served two reigns, finally pass away. The subsequent Chancellors were mere puppets, unable to make any real decisions. Now, when the King of Southern Garrison spoke of treating Ye Li with the courtesy due to a Chancellor, those in the know naturally found it quite meaningful.
Xu Qing Chen followed behind Mo Xiu Yao. Upon seeing the King of Southern Garrison and Lei Teng Feng, he merely raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled at Ye Li. Ye Li smiled helplessly and gestured for someone to serve tea to Mo Xiu Yao and Xu Qing Chen.
Lei Teng Feng observed Xu Qing Chen for a moment before saying with a smile, “Young Master Qing Chen, it’s been a while. Your bearing is even more impressive than before.” Xu Qing Chen smiled serenely, appearing completely untouched by worldly concerns, “Your Highness jests. It hasn’t been that long – didn’t we meet in the south last year?” Lei Teng Feng’s eyes darkened slightly as he smiled, “I must have remembered incorrectly.” Last year in the south, Xu Qing Chen had caused him no small amount of trouble. Lei Teng Feng naturally wouldn’t underestimate this young man who appeared carefree yet was named the First Young Master of the realm by the people of Da Chu.
While one side maintained civility, the other showed no such courtesy. Mo Xiu Yao casually sat beside Ye Li, leaning back in his chair and looking lazily at the King of Southern Garrison seated below, asking, “To what do we owe the honor of Your Majesty’s visit?” Ye Li softly explained the King of Southern Garrison’s purpose, while everyone else in the hall fell silent, awaiting Mo Xiu Yao’s response. After all, in the northwest, the King’s Estate still answered to Mo Xiu Yao. If he refused to agree, no amount of discussion would matter. A cruel smile appeared on Mo Xiu Yao’s cold face as he looked at the King of Southern Garrison and said, “Didn’t Your Majesty previously express a desire to spar with me? As it happens, I’m free today. If Your Majesty can defeat me, everything is negotiable!”
Everyone was startled, not expecting Mo Xiu Yao to challenge the King of Southern Garrison at this moment. Lei Teng Feng frowned and said, “King of the North, now isn’t…”
Mo Xiu Yao interrupted Lei Teng Feng, saying with a smile, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I absolutely won’t take advantage of Your Majesty having only one arm. At most, I’ll also use just one hand when sparring with Your Majesty.”
At these words, a chill descended over the hall. The King of Southern Garrison’s face turned grim as he stared coldly at Mo Xiu Yao and said, “Isn’t the King of the North being too arrogant? Do you have the ability to face me with just one hand?” Everyone knew that the King of Southern Garrison’s left arm was an absolute taboo subject. It represented his most devastating defeat in life – not only was his undefeated record broken, but his guard was almost annihilated trying to rescue him, and even then, he paid the price of an arm to escape from Mo Liu Fang’s hands. Now the one mocking him was Mo Liu Fang’s son, making it even more intolerable. Mo Xiu Yao paid no attention to the King of Southern Garrison’s anger, saying carelessly, “Still easier than waiting for Your Majesty to grow back an arm, isn’t it?”
“Insolent!” The King of Southern Garrison exploded in anger, his right hand striking the armrest as he leaped up and chopped toward Mo Xiu Yao with a palm strike. Mo Xiu Yao snorted lightly, swept his sleeve aside, wrapped one arm around Ye Li, and dodged the attack while moving outside. By the time the King of Southern Garrison and others pursued them outside, Mo Xiu Yao had already landed with Ye Li and had the leisure to smooth her wind-blown hair before turning to face the King of Southern Garrison, stepping forward twice and saying calmly, “Please.”
The King of Southern Garrison snorted coldly and flew at Mo Xiu Yao, who didn’t dodge but engaged directly, and the two began fighting in the courtyard in front of the hall. This naturally drew many onlookers from the King’s Estate. Those who came upon hearing the news all watched the fighting King of Southern Garrison and the observing Lei Teng Feng with unfriendly expressions. Feng Zhi Yao, ever the troublemaker, stood beside Ye Li and said with a grin, “Princess Consort, has our Lord’s martial arts improved again? The King of the North challenging Xi Ling’s greatest warrior with one hand – when this news spreads, who knows how many will bow before our Lord’s reputation.” Everyone present was sharp-eared and clear-eyed, naturally hearing Feng Zhi Yao’s words. Looking again at the King of the North sparring with the King of Southern Garrison, indeed he was using only one hand, with the other behind his back, never moving once. The King of Southern Garrison naturally heard these words too, his expression growing darker and his attacks becoming more fierce. Although one hand against one hand might seem fair, there weren’t really that many fools in the world. The King of Southern Garrison had been disabled for over a decade and was used to fighting with one hand. The King of the North had always used both hands, and suddenly using only one would reduce his fighting ability significantly. This way, if the King of Southern Garrison lost it would be embarrassing, but even winning wouldn’t bring him glory.
Though the King’s Estate maintained strict discipline, people were quite relaxed during their free time. For instance, right now, those with nothing to do who were watching their lord spar with the King of Southern Garrison had started placing bets on who would win or lose. However, the betting results were somewhat skewed – everyone bet on their lord to win, which meant if they lost they wouldn’t have to pay, but if they won there would be no money to collect. The betting pool simply couldn’t get started.
Feng Zhi Yao approached Lei Teng Feng with a bright smile and said, “Young Master Lei, care to place a bet? Do you think our lord will win, or your Axe King?” Lei Teng Feng gave him a cool look, naturally not answering such a question. Feng Zhi Yao wasn’t bothered by his coldness and turned to ask Ye Li, “What do you think, Princess Consort?” Ye Li was focused intently on the fight before her, with no mind to attend to Feng Zhi Yao’s words. This was, after all, her first time seeing a true battle between two of the world’s four greatest masters. Others were equally absorbed in watching, as such confrontations were rare. For martial artists, observing such a high-level duel was extremely beneficial for their own martial arts cultivation.
The only person present who showed no interest was Xu Qing Chen. Though Young Master Qing Chen was naturally gifted, he knew nothing of martial arts. With his cultivation and experience, he naturally had no interest in watching such spectacles. Seeing everyone in the courtyard absorbed in watching, Young Master Qing Chen could only quietly withdraw to the study to handle his affairs.
This fight continued for nearly two hours, and the original betting pool rapidly spread from the King’s Estate throughout Ruyang City. Han Ming Xi, who came upon hearing the news to act as a bookmaker, specifically had people continuously relay updates about the fight to the outside, while updating the betting records. The common people of Ruyang City naturally supported their lord without hesitation, but those supporting the King of Southern Garrison were not few either. Though their numbers were less than those backing the King of the North, the bets came from nobles of various countries and were naturally substantial, so for a time the two sides appeared evenly matched.
In the King Estate’s courtyard, two figures clashed and separated rapidly, moving so fast that their techniques were almost impossible to follow clearly. After another exchange of palm strikes, both men retreated several steps. The King of Southern Garrison’s face was hidden, his originally magnificent sleeve now torn to shreds by the fierce palm wind, appearing ragged. Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes slightly, his face somewhat pale, a strand of snow-white hair floating down from his forehead, clearly cut by the palm wind earlier. The King of Southern Garrison laughed coldly and said, “Mo Xiu Yao, do you think you can handle me with just one hand?”
Mo Xiu Yao raised his head and said coolly, “Why don’t you try and see if I can cut off your other hand as well?”
“Impudent youth!” The King of Southern Garrison shouted in rage, sweeping forward with a palm strike like a mountain falling. Mo Xiu Yao’s figure twisted, spiraling upward like a drill, folding back at an odd angle in mid-air to strike directly at the King of Southern Garrison’s right arm.
“Father, be careful!” Lei Teng Feng cried out in alarm.
The King of Southern Garrison snorted coldly, unleashing several continuous palm strikes in rapid succession to block Mo Xiu Yao’s attack. The two began trading blows once again.
Ye Li didn’t stay to see the end of this match. As the sun began to set, she rose and returned to her chambers to look after her precious son. Either way, within the King’s Estate, even if Mo Xiu Yao couldn’t defeat the King of Southern Garrison, the King of Southern Garrison absolutely couldn’t harm him. Back in her chambers, little Mo Bao was indeed awake and crying loudly in his wet nurse’s arms. Since Ye Li didn’t like letting wet nurses care for children, Mo Bao only liked being held by them when feeding. Even the two Madame Xus were more favored than the wet nurses. When Ye Li returned to her chambers, the two wet nurses were being thoroughly exhausted by Mo Bao. Walking over to take him into her arms, Mo Bao’s bright round eyes looked up at his mother, sniffled his little nose, nuzzled against Ye Li’s embrace, and was soon ready to fall asleep.
Ye Li looked amusedly at the little dumpling in her arms. She didn’t know if such a tiny thing could recognize people, but obviously, the baby recognized her and Mo Xiu Yao. The proof was that no matter how hard Mo Bao was crying, he would stop as soon as he was in her arms. Similarly, no matter how happily he was laughing, as long as he was awake and in Mo Xiu Yao’s arms, he would cry enough to shake heaven and earth. It made Ye Li wonder where such a tiny one-month-old had so much energy and tears.
Just as she was coaxing Mo Bao to sleep, a maid outside announced that First Madame Xu, Second Madame Xu, and Miss Qin had arrived. Ye Li quickly had them invited in.
“First Aunt, Second Aunt, Sister Zheng. What brings you here at this hour?” Ye Li asked with a smile, holding Mo Bao.
First Madame Xu smiled and said, “We heard fighting broke out in the front courtyard?” Although the Xu family wasn’t particularly traditional, the women generally didn’t go to the front courtyard, especially now with Qin Zheng preparing for marriage and the two Madame Xus preparing for the wedding. Ye Li smiled and said, “Aunts needn’t worry, the Lord and the King of Southern Garrison are just playing around.” Even as women in the inner courtyard, they had heard of the King of Southern Garrison’s reputation and couldn’t help but worry. So they sat in the flower hall keeping Ye Li company while waiting for news.
It wasn’t until the sky had completely darkened that Qing Luan finally ran back with a smile and said, “Reporting to the Princess Consort, the front courtyard fight is over.” Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Who won?” Qing Luan tugged at her braid ends somewhat confusedly and said, “Well… it seems neither won nor lost, they called it a draw. But the King of Southern Garrison coughed up blood at the end, so maybe he lost?”
“Neither won nor lost? Then Ming Xi won?” A draw meant the house won everything.
Qing Luan covered her smile and said, “Perhaps so. When I came back just now, I saw Young Master Han looking very pleased. The Lord said after sending off the King of Southern Garrison and the Crown Prince, he’ll return to have dinner with the Princess Consort.” Ye Li nodded with a smile and said, “Have the kitchen prepare some of the Lord’s favorite dishes.”
Qing Luan acknowledged with a smile and left.