Just as she entered Shen Yang’s courtyard, Ye Li heard intense arguing from within. It wasn’t like the usual situations where Shen Yang and Doctor Lin would be ready to fight at the slightest disagreement, but rather various poisonous sarcasm and contemptuous mockery that made even Ye Li’s mouth twitch as she stood at the doorway.
Without even entering the room, she could tell the two men who usually couldn’t stand each other were now united against outsiders. Shen Yang sat to one side leisurely drinking tea, affecting the manner of a distinguished scholar. Doctor Lin also sat drinking tea, looking upon the people before him with disdain. Zhuo Jing, who had brought Leng Liu Yue and the Sickly Scholar, could only try to mediate, “Masters, the Princess asked you to examine this person.” Doctor Lin gave a light snort, casting a sidelong glance at Zhuo Jing, “When did I ever say I would follow only your Princess’s orders? She says examine, so I examine?” Shen Yang smiled and said, “Though I receive Prince Ding’s manor’s salary, as a self-respecting divine physician, I absolutely won’t treat another physician’s patient.” This statement pleased Doctor Lin, who nodded repeatedly, “Speaking of which, this old one once had a nickname in the martial world – ‘Ignores the Dying.’ Meaning… those who shouldn’t die, I won’t save, and those who should die, I definitely won’t save!” Doctor Lin’s time in the martial world was at least thirty years ago, making him older than everyone present, so naturally, no one bothered to question whether his words were true or false, though they clearly showed his position.
The Sickly Scholar coughed incessantly, whether from anger or truly being severely injured was unclear. When he finally caught his breath, he pulled at Leng Liu Yue, saying, “Second Sister, let’s go.” His gaze swept over Shen Yang and Doctor Lin like poison, calculating in his heart how to come back and poison these two old men to death once he recovered. Both Shen Yang and Doctor Lin saw his expression and intent. Though others might fear the Sickly Scholar’s transcendent poison arts and his difficult-to-cure toxins, these two were among the finest physicians of their time – unless the Sickly Scholar could truly concoct some lost ancient poison, he had few toxins that could intimidate them.
Unlike the Sickly Scholar, Leng Liu Yue had heard of Shen Yang’s reputation. The King of Hell Pavilion itself was a gathering place for people with peculiar personalities, and she naturally understood that capable people often had strange temperaments. She glanced coolly at the Sickly Scholar and bowed, saying, “Third Brother is discourteous, please forgive him, physicians.” From Leng Liu Yue’s words, Ye Li understood – most likely the Sickly Scholar had provoked them first. After all, though Shen Yang and Doctor Lin argued daily, they had never quarreled with uninvolved parties nor would they needlessly make things difficult for someone seeking treatment, especially someone she had sent.
Seeing this, Ye Li didn’t rush to mediate. She leaned against the outer wall, thinking that given Mo Xiu Yao and Ling Tie Han’s relationship, killing the Sickly Scholar was probably impossible now. She’d need to find an opportunity to teach him a lesson to dispel her anger.
“Second Sister, don’t beg these old dead men! With their meager abilities, they can’t even create a prescription – what ability do they have to treat my illness?” the Sickly Scholar said disdainfully.
“Silence!” Leng Liu Yue frowned and rebuked sharply, “Say one more word and I’ll have Elder Brother lock you in the forbidden ground never to emerge again!” The Sickly Scholar started, looking at the beautiful but cold woman in black before him, a hint of gloom flashing in his eyes. Meanwhile, Doctor Lin chuckled and sneered at the Sickly Scholar, “You speak as if you created that formula yourself.” The ancient formula for the Azure Falling Flower that Shen Yang knew was mostly legend – his collection only had most of a formula, and it was a thousand-year-old incomplete version. Not only was the writing style different and many medicine names different, but even the meaning was ambiguous. Unless one had obtained the complete ancient formula, he didn’t believe this peculiar youth before he could have figured out the prescription himself.
The Sickly Scholar gave a cold laugh and fell silent. What did it matter if he hadn’t created it himself? He had the good fortune to obtain the complete ancient formula – that meant he had won. These people wanted to know the formula, didn’t they have to beg him?
“Master Shen, Master, what’s going on?” Seeing the arguing had mostly subsided, Ye Li emerged and smiled at the tense crowd before her. Zhuo Jing stepped forward and briefly explained the situation to Ye Li – this Sickly Scholar truly deserved a beating. Unable to vent his anger in the flower hall earlier, he had directly taken it out on Shen Yang and Doctor Lin. But were either of these two easy to deal with? They had verbally beaten the Sickly Scholar until he nearly spat blood. Shen Yang smiled without speaking, but Doctor Lin wasn’t so polite, giving a light snort and saying, “Where did you find such a vicious invalid? Doesn’t know how to behave even when he’s about to die.” Ye Li raised an eyebrow slightly, looking toward the Sickly Scholar and Leng Liu Yue. Every time she had seen the Sickly Scholar, he had always appeared sickly like this, so even after taking Mo Xiu Yao’s palm strike he still looked sickly – she couldn’t see any sign that he was about to die. However, Leng Liu Yue frowned, looking worriedly at her sworn brother, and said, “My brother is ignorant, having offended both masters. Please, masters, consider his youth and ignorance and save his life.”
Doctor Lin squinted at Leng Liu Yue and said, “You, girl, are more honest than that lass, but this brother of yours… hmph, so obstinate, clearly needs discipline – better to kill him with one palm strike and be done with it.” The old Doctor Lin was still holding a grudge about Ye Li deceiving him before. Ye Li smiled bitterly in her heart – this Leng Liu Yue was a famous assassin in the martial world, Master, are your eyes having problems?
Leng Liu Yue’s expression grew solemn. Looking at the Sickly Scholar’s twisted expression, her face showed some helplessness as she said, “We siblings have relied on each other since childhood. My brother’s ignorance is due to my inadequate guidance as his sister – please forgive him, masters.” With that, Leng Liu Yue bowed deeply to the two men. It was true as she said – the three siblings had indeed grown up together.
When they first met, the eldest Ling Tie Han was only twelve, she was nine, and their youngest brother was just five. One can imagine the hardships three orphaned children faced wandering the martial world. Later they were taken into the King of Hell Pavilion, a place where out of ten children who entered, only two or three would survive to adulthood. It was Ling Tie Han who had protected his two younger siblings. Among them, Third Brother had the poorest martial arts aptitude – to help this sworn brother survive such cruel training, she and Elder Brother had exhausted every means. But in places unknown to Leng Liu Yue, no one understood how he had developed his current personality. However, no matter what he was like, he had never done anything to betray his sworn siblings, and usually, he would listen when they spoke. Based on this alone, they couldn’t abandon him.
“Second Sister!” The Sickly Scholar stared at Leng Liu Yue, his face pale. Since the three siblings had taken control of the King of Hell Pavilion, when had his second sister ever humbled herself like this to others? Now she did so because of him, as if he were forever an ignorant little brother who would never grow up.
“Master Shen, Master, Master Ling, and His Highness are old acquaintances – please be accommodating,” Ye Li said softly. Shen Yang glanced faintly at Ye Li, saying with an ambiguous smile, “Old Lin isn’t wrong. If this youth continues struggling like this, even the Azure Falling Flower won’t save his life. Does he think the Azure Falling Flower is truly a divine medicine that can make you bounce back as long as you have half a breath left? Princess, don’t bother thinking about his formula – I see he doesn’t want to live, perhaps he just wants to die together with His Highness.” Hearing this, the Sickly Scholar’s expression changed slightly, his face turning iron-gray as he remained silent. Ye Li noticed this and wondered secretly – could Mo Xiu Yao and the Sickly Scholar truly have some deep, bitter grudge?
After thinking for a moment, Ye Li said, “Regardless, Master Ling will be staying in Li City for some time – we must give him face. Please, Master Shen and Master, put in some effort. Moreover…” Ye Li gave a soft laugh and said quietly, “Didn’t Master Shen say that apart from His Highness’s illness, you haven’t seen any interesting difficult cases in these years? Well, doesn’t this one count as a difficult case?”
Hearing this, Shen Yang’s eyes lit up. Though the Sickly Scholar’s illness and His Highness’s poisoning were completely different concepts, some aspects could be researched together. He certainly couldn’t use Mo Xiu Yao for research, so… “Will he obediently let this old one examine him?”
Ye Li said all this without hiding it from Leng Liu Yue and the Sickly Scholar. Before the Sickly Scholar could respond, Leng Liu Yue quickly answered, “Master Shen can rest assured, I guarantee he will obey.”
Ye Li looked with an ambiguous smile at the Sickly Scholar, who wanted to object but ultimately didn’t speak, and blinked her eyes – she seemed to know how to deal with this disagreeable fellow now.
The three from the King of Hell Pavilion thus took up residence in Prince Ding’s manor. With Ling Tie Han and Leng Liu Yue present, Ye Li didn’t need to worry about the Sickly Scholar causing trouble. However, she still ordered Mo Hua to assign twenty more secret guards to patrol the main courtyard. Qin Feng also voluntarily assigned four elite Qilin guards to protect the main courtyard – if the Sickly Scholar dared approach the main courtyard one step, they would kill him immediately. After all, while others could protect themselves, Mo Xiao Bao was still a helpless infant in swaddling clothes, so naturally they had to be extra careful.
“A duel?” Hearing Mo Xiu Yao’s words, Ye Li’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she put down Mo Xiao Bao, who was looking around with big curious eyes. “Why would Master Ling want to duel with you?”
Mo Xiu Yao set down his teacup and pulled Ye Li into his embrace, smiling as he said, “A-Li needn’t worry. Ling Tie Han isn’t a fool – even if we truly duel, he absolutely wouldn’t let it end with both of us injured. That wouldn’t benefit him either. Though Prince Ding’s manor is indeed watched by various powers like tigers eyeing their prey, with the Mo Family Army present, there are precious few times when they truly need this prince to charge into battle. Even if I’m not the world’s greatest master, as long as I’m alive, I remain Prince Ding, and the Mo Family Army remains the Mo Family Army. But the King of Hell Pavilion is different – it’s an assassin organization with countless enemies in both the martial world and court. If not for relying on Ling Tie Han’s supreme martial arts, they wouldn’t have remained stable these many years. Once Ling Tie Han and I both end up injured, I fear their enemies in the martial world would immediately rise to attack the King of Hell Pavilion.”
Ye Li leaned in Mo Xiu Yao’s embrace, pondering, “Who asked Master Ling to deal with you? The King of the Southern Garrison?”
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, “No, it shouldn’t be Lei Zhen Ting. He’s proud by nature – having just fought me to a draw, he absolutely wouldn’t ask someone else to fight me. If I were defeated by someone else, wouldn’t that mean the King of the Southern Garrison is inferior not only to my father and me but also to Ling Tie Han?” Ye Li lowered her eyes in thought, feeling this made sense. After pondering for a moment, she said gravely, “Tan Ji Zhi!”
It couldn’t be Mo Jing Qi – if it were him, he would only demand Mo Xiu Yao’s death rather than a duel. Only Tan Ji Zhi, who was currently in the Northwest – if Mo Xiu Yao were severely injured, naturally everything Tan wanted to do in the Northwest would become much easier. They couldn’t help but laugh softly, “It seems Tan Ji Zhi hasn’t given up on his ancestor’s treasure.” Ye Li couldn’t blame him for laughing – the previous dynasty’s founding emperor had truly been too malicious. Creating such a grand imperial tomb, giving such hope to his descendants, yet the most important thing was fake. Even Ye Li couldn’t help but curse him in her heart. She could almost imagine that founding emperor’s lewd smile as he held the replica of the Imperial Seal when the tomb was completed.
Mo Xiu Yao nodded, “I remember A Li mentioned before there were some clues in that imperial tomb?” When Ye Li had just returned, Mo Xiu Yao had only thought about keeping her by his side – how could he have had the mind to consider these things? Later came the pregnancy, then tending to health, then Mo Xiao Bao’s birth. Though Mo Xiu Yao had heard Ye Li mention it a few times, he had quickly forgotten about it. He had no interest in the Imperial Seal – the Mo Family Army wouldn’t starve without the previous dynasty’s treasure.
Ye Li also remembered this matter. She stood up from Mo Xiu Yao’s lap and walked to a hidden compartment, taking out the imperial yellow silk brought from the imperial tomb. Mo Xiu Yao took the silk, and at first glance at those two lines of arrogant and malicious writing, he couldn’t help but twitch his mouth. He looked questioningly at Ye Li, “Is there something wrong with this?”
Ye Li nodded, sitting down beside Mo Xiu Yao and carefully spreading the silk on the table. Made with some unknown craftsmanship, this silk had stayed in the imperial tomb for several hundred years and been brought outside, yet showed no signs of decay or even fading. Pointing to the curved writing made of silver thread at the edges of the silk, Ye Li smiled, “The real treasure map is here.” At the edges of the imperial yellow silk were strange curved characters made of silver thread, so fine that without careful observation, one might think they were just ordinary decorative patterns like auspicious clouds or ocean waves. Ye Li smiled knowingly – this founding emperor’s calligraphy was truly excellent.
Mo Xiu Yao stared at the silk for a long while before frowning, “This should be some kind of writing. I remember seeing similar strange symbols sometimes in inconspicuous places on some books with the founding emperor’s annotations. But most only had scattered symbols, so they were generally ignored as random marks. But this piece of silk has at least a hundred symbols woven neatly.” Being extremely intelligent, Mo Xiu Yao naturally saw a pattern in them and was also certain this was a writing system they didn’t understand.
Ye Li nodded and smiled, “Indeed, this is a writing system.” She took up the brush and ink set aside on the table and began grinding ink casually while looking at the silk before her. Mo Xiu Yao was silent for a moment before asking, “A Li, you recognize this writing?” Ye Li smiled and nodded, looking up at him, “I do indeed recognize this writing. It’s from the far west, even further than the Western Regions. However, I won’t tell you how I know this.”
The room was quiet for a while as Ye Li ignored him, preparing the ink and spreading out a scroll to begin translating the text. After some time, Mo Xiu Yao suddenly pulled her tightly into his embrace from behind. Ye Li stopped writing but didn’t turn around. She heard Mo Xiu Yao say softly, “There were once rumors that the founding emperor of the previous dynasty didn’t actually die but suddenly disappeared. That’s why his tomb and remains were never found. A Li, would you disappear like him?”
Hearing this, Ye Li couldn’t help but smile. She put down her brush and turned to look at the man who was staring at her intently with a grave expression. She raised her head to place a light kiss on his lips and said softly, “Do you know where the founding emperor came from?”
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head. The founding emperor had emerged during chaotic times as if appearing from nowhere. No one knew his past, his family, or even his parents. His end was as mysterious as his early life, which was why he became one of history’s most enigmatic emperors. Ye Li smiled, “Then does Your Highness know where I come from, which family I belong to?”
Mo Xiu Yao gazed deeply at the beautifully smiling woman before him. No, his A Li was different from that emperor. A Li was the daughter of the Ye family, her birth mother from the Xu family of Yun Province. Ye Li sighed lightly and nestled closer in his embrace, smiling faintly, “My family, my husband, and my child are all here – where else could I go?”
Mo Xiu Yao’s hands tightly gripped Ye Li’s waist as he pressed his forehead against hers, saying softly, “A Li, if you leave me, I’ll throw Mo Xiao Bao out to become a beggar.” Ye Li was speechless as she raised her hands to pinch his handsome cheeks. The medicine from Doctor Lin had shown remarkable effects – after just a few months, even this close, one could barely see any scars. She pinched Mo Xiu Yao’s handsome face hard and said, “How many times have you used the baby to threaten me? I told you not to joke about the baby. He’s too young to understand now, but when he grows up and hears about this, he’ll be hurt.”
Mo Xiu Yao pulled away Ye Li’s hands that had pinched his cheeks red and cast a dissatisfied glare at Mo Xiao Bao, who lay in his cradle babbling happily to himself. That A Li would pinch him for this little brat – this grievance would certainly be counted against Mo Xiao Bao. Thus, Mo Xiao Bao began taking the blame even as an infant.
“A Li…” Mo Xiu Yao held Ye Li, burying his face in her shoulder’s hair, his voice sounding muffled and low.
Ye Li helplessly rolled her eyes – this suddenly glass-hearted man was too much. She patted Mo Xiu Yao’s shoulder gently and said, “Alright, I promise I won’t leave you, be good now. I still need to translate this – don’t you want to see what it says?”
“Don’t want to.” Mo Xiu Yao said sullenly, “I hate that founding emperor now. If you’re going to die, die cleanly – why leave a treasure map?”
“Then what do you want?” Ye Li silently took a deep breath, deciding she would send Mo Xiu Yao out if he continued being troublesome. Mo Xiu Yao suddenly lifted her and walked toward the bed behind the screen, “Tired, keep me company while I rest!”
In a flash, Ye Li found herself pressed against the bed. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the bed curtains: “Mo Xiu Yao, can you be any more childish?” Before she could protest or say more, an even more passionate flame instantly engulfed the embracing couple…