In Ye Li’s study at the Prince Ding Manor, she calmly gazed at Qin Feng standing before her and asked, “What are your thoughts on this matter?”
Qin Feng’s expression remained neutral as he lowered his eyes slightly and replied, “I’ll defer to whatever the Princess decides.” When he first heard Ye Li mention that Yao Ji had volunteered to assist Cold Hao Yu in Chu Capital, there was a momentary blankness in his expression, but he quickly concealed that fleeting emotion and regained his composure. Observing his reaction, Ye Li understood that Qin Feng truly had feelings for Yao Ji.
Over these years, as Qin Feng served on Ye Li’s side as the commander of the Qilin Guard, she had come to trust him no less than she did Zhuo Jing or Lin Han. Though she preferred not to meddle in her subordinates’ personal affairs, she also didn’t want them to be troubled by matters of the heart to the point where it affected their duties. Looking at Qin Feng, she said, “I haven’t agreed to her request yet. If you don’t want her to go, I can deny her petition.”
Qin Feng started momentarily but quickly shook his head and forced a smile, saying, “This is her own decision. I have no right to interfere.”
Seeing him like this, Ye Li could only sigh softly and say, “Yao Ji will face many dangers on this journey. I just hope you won’t come to regret this.”
Qin Feng remained silent before responding, “Thank you for your concern, Princess.”
Ye Li didn’t press him further. She picked up a document from nearby, wrote a few characters on it, and handed it to Qin Feng, saying, “Very well then. Take this to Yao Ji. She’ll depart in seven days.”
“As you command.”
After Yao Ji’s departure, Qin Feng showed no signs of depression. He continued his daily routine of traveling between the Qilin headquarters and Li City, though he did spend more time at the Qilin compound than before. After the imperial examinations concluded, Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li personally presided over the selection of a group of talented young officials to supplement the Northwest’s administration. Following this came Ye Li’s grand annual merchant conference, though this year neither Ye Li nor Mo Xiu Yao had time to fully participate, as they needed to begin their journey to Nanzhao to attend Princess An Xi’s wedding.
The traveling party to Nanzhao included Mo Xiu Yao, Ye Li, Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, Feng San, and a last-minute addition—Young Master Qing Chen, Xu Qing Chen. The original plan had been for Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao to travel to Nanzhao while leaving Xu Qing Chen and Xu Hong Yu to manage Northwestern affairs. However, just before departure, Xu Hong Yu pushed Xu Qing Chen to go instead, keeping General Lü Jin Xian, who had also planned to join the journey. Mo Xiu Yao, lost in his thoughts, had agreed after only brief consideration. Thus, the Northwestern delegation—whose members’ appearances notably exceeded the average standard of beauty—began their leisurely journey south toward Nanzhao.
These past few years, Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li had been busy governing the Northwest and reforming the Mo Family Army, to the point where they hadn’t stepped foot outside the Northwestern region for a full five years. However, between the Northwest and Nanzhao lay vast stretches of Great Chu territory. As soon as the group crossed the Northwestern border, they found themselves under constant surveillance by the Great Chu military forces. Though there were no attempts to intercept or engage them in combat, being watched so carefully wherever they went was quite irritating.
On this day, as the group stopped at a small city for rest and meals, Mo Xiu Yao finally lost patience with these people.
The city wasn’t large, and even its name was unremarkable. However, being close to the southwestern frontier, it was heavily garrisoned, serving as part of the second and third lines of defense for the southwestern border region, able to provide direct support to the frontier areas. The group arrived at this small city around noon, when the weather was extremely hot. Seeing that they were only about a day’s journey from Sui Xue Pass and still had over twenty days before Princess An Xi’s wedding, they decided not to rush and planned to rest in the small city for the night before continuing their journey the next morning. None in the group were particularly fussy, and since the small city lacked any truly luxurious establishments, they simply chose a decent inn and booked the entire place.
The innkeeper, seeing that every member of the group was extraordinarily handsome or beautiful and dressed in fine clothing, naturally understood their noble status and received them with great enthusiasm. Though Ye Li’s group wasn’t particularly large—besides Ye Li, Mo Xiu Yao, Xu Qing Chen, Feng San, Qin Feng, and Zhuo Jing, there were only about forty guards, half from the Black Cloud Riders and half from Qin Feng’s Qilin Guard—the Qilin Guards were particularly versatile. The Black Cloud Riders needed no introduction, but the Qilin Guards were equally impressive, with members skilled in various arts. Even tasks like brewing tea and cooking were trivial matters to them. Neither the innkeeper, the servants, nor even the inn’s chef could find anything to do. Ye Li’s group sat on the second floor enjoying the exquisite dishes prepared by the culinary experts among the Qilin Guard, while the others were dismissed to take their meals.
“Qin Feng, you truly have an abundance of talented individuals under your command,” Feng Zhi Yao remarked admiringly as he enjoyed the dishes that rivaled the work of top chefs in both presentation and taste.
Qin Feng smiled faintly and replied, “You’re too kind, Lord Feng San. These are merely minor skills.” Feng Zhi Yao felt both admiration and envy—yes, they were minor skills, but to have people who had mastered these minor skills to such perfection, they must be truly exceptional. Feng Zhi Yao had not only seen master chefs among the Qilin Guard, but also scholarly types who would quote classics when idle, experts in various trades and crafts, and even tailors and embroiderers. More importantly, these people also possessed terrifying combat abilities.
Xu Qing Chen sat drinking tea with a smile, listening to their conversation. Feng Zhi Yao, being someone who loved to stir up trouble and couldn’t stand to see anyone remaining uninvolved, immediately turned his attention to Young Master Qing Chen: “Speaking of which, Young Master Qing Chen, you’ve been rather quiet since we left the Northwest. Are you perhaps in low spirits?” Everyone present immediately remembered Princess An Xi’s former feelings for Young Master Qing Chen and their relationship. Could it be that Young Master Qing Chen hadn’t actually been uninterested in Princess An Xi, but rather too reserved to express his feelings? Was he now silently suffering because Princess An Xi was marrying another?
Everyone immediately constructed a series of imagined scenarios about Young Master Qing Chen and Princess An Xi’s untold story, and their gazes toward Xu Qing Chen became tinged with sympathy. Xu Qing Chen’s handsome face twitched slightly, and he sighed helplessly before saying, “I was just thinking… with these people following us all this way… whether something might happen?”
Everyone looked out the window. Across the street below, at the corner, and under the large trees stood various people. Though they appeared to be casually chatting, setting up stalls, or just passing by, such disguises were incredibly clumsy in their eyes. Feng Zhi Yao narrowed his eyes and said, “Come to think of it, there seem to be more and more people watching us. They don’t think we haven’t noticed them, do they?” Xu Qing Chen sighed and said, “What they think doesn’t matter. What I’m worried about is…”
Mo Xiu Yao put down his wine cup and looked at Xu Qing Chen, asking, “You’re worried Mo Jing Qi might try to kill us?”
Xu Qing Chen nodded solemnly, his elegant brows furrowing as he said, “Originally, the Northwest and Great Chu have been peaceful these past few years, and Mo Jing Qi wouldn’t have reason to move against us while we’re simply passing through to Nanzhao. However… Mo Jing Qi is always an unpredictable factor. Given the situation these past few days, we can’t rule out the possibility that they might make a move against us.” Ye Li asked, “Brother, where do you think would be the most advantageous place for them to strike if they truly intend to?”
Xu Qing Chen shook his head and replied, “That depends entirely on when they find it convenient to gather their forces. We’re currently on Great Chu soil—Mo Jing Qi can justify anything he wants.” Feng Zhi Yao sneered, “The Northwest borders only Western Ling and Great Chu. What does he expect? For us to take a detour through Western Ling? Or perhaps he’d prefer we go nowhere at all?” Xu Qing Chen raised an eyebrow and said, “We might think this way, but that doesn’t mean Mo Jing Qi will think the same.”
Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly and said, “If that’s the case, let him try. It will give this prince a chance to see how much Mo Jing Qi has truly improved over these years.” Feng Zhi Yao scoffed, “What improvement could he possibly have made? He’s already lost the northeastern territory to those barbarian tribes. The mighty Great Chu can’t even handle a few border tribes, yet they’re busy with internal power struggles between Mo Jing Qi and Mo Jing Li in the capital.” Although they no longer had any connection to Great Chu, hearing that the northeastern territory had been taken by several tribes still made them uncomfortable. The Mo Family Army soldiers, in particular, viewed Mo Jing Qi with even greater contempt. They thought: You used to claim that Prince Ding’s Manor and the Mo Family Army were in your way, but now that we have nothing to do with you, why don’t you show us your great talent and ambitious plans?
“If he hasn’t improved, then this prince might as well teach those useless subordinates of his a lesson,” Mo Xiu Yao said calmly. Everyone present exchanged glances upon hearing these words. The Prince’s tone seemed to carry… a hint of killing intent. They wondered if it was appropriate to kill people while en route to someone’s wedding.
However, it seemed they wouldn’t need to wait for Mo Xiu Yao to seek trouble, as trouble came knocking before they could even finish their meal.
“Men! Surround the inn immediately!” An arrogant male voice shouted from below. Feng Zhi Yao stood up to look down and couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh my, Your Highness, it’s an old acquaintance of ours.” Mo Xiu Yao glanced down at the person directing troops to surround the inn and raised an eyebrow in confusion. He knew many people, but he couldn’t quite place this particular old acquaintance. Feng Zhi Yao smiled and said, “Your Highness, take a closer look at that face that just begs to be slapped, and that distinctively stylish limp. Doesn’t it seem familiar?”
With this reminder, Mo Xiu Yao finally remembered, “Guan Ting, the one who was trampled by a horse? Why didn’t that horse have better aim and finish him off?”
Feng Zhi Yao smiled sweetly and asked, “Would you like this subordinate to find another horse to give it another try?”
While those upstairs were still joking, the people downstairs had already started their clamoring. Guan Ting could be seen limping back and forth across the street, shouting, “A group of traitors daring to set foot on Great Chu soil! This general, by Imperial order, is here to eliminate traitors. Surrender immediately!”
Upstairs, Feng Zhi Yao couldn’t help but comment, “If it were me, I’d start with a rain of arrows to turn the inn into a porcupine first. All talk and no skill.” Qin Feng smiled and said, “That’s why Lord Feng San will live longer than him.” Feng Zhi Yao smiled broadly and clasped his hands in gratitude, saying, “I appreciate your kind words.”
Qin Feng stood up and cast a contemptuous glance at the arrogant people below, then turned to ask, “Your Highness, Princess, shall we kill him first?”
Mo Xiu Yao stood up and said, “No need. Let’s go down and see what’s happening. Oh, and… have someone escort Young Master Qing Chen away first.” Among their group, even the weakest could defend themselves, but Xu Qing Chen was truly helpless in combat. While protecting him during a fight wouldn’t be difficult, there could always be unexpected situations in the chaos of battle. Xu Qing Chen knew he would be a burden and nodded in agreement with Mo Xiu Yao’s words, only saying to Ye Li, “Li’er, please be careful.” Ye Li smiled gently and replied, “Don’t worry, Brother.”
After sending Xu Qing Chen away, the group followed Mo Xiu Yao downstairs to watch the commotion. The guards who had been dining in the ground floor hall had already taken up positions at the entrance. Several corpses of Great Chu soldiers who had ignored warnings and tried to force their way into the inn lay outside the door. Guan Ting hadn’t expected Prince Ding’s guards to be so aggressive, daring to kill so readily even when surrounded by his troops. His already unpleasant face turned an iron-blue color, twisted with rage.
“How dare you! Even at death’s door, you still dare to be so arrogant! This general will crush your bones to dust to satisfy my hatred!” Guan Ting shouted at the guards at the entrance, while safely protected by rows of soldiers. The guards at the door, especially those from the Qilin Guard, couldn’t help but twitch their mouths, looking at Guan Ting as if he were both a fool and a dead man. This idiot probably thought he was safe hiding behind his men, which explained his arrogance. One of the Qilin Guard members couldn’t resist and raised his hand to fling something at the opposite side. With a whoosh, a green light shot quickly and accurately toward Guan Ting.
Seeing something green suddenly flying toward him, Guan Ting was naturally startled and tried to dodge. However, being surrounded by numerous soldiers and having grown fat over the years, how could he possibly avoid it? Before he could even crouch down, the object had already reached him, frightening him into shouting, “Hidden weapon! Hidden weapon! Save me! Save me!”
The object hit his shoulder with bone-chilling pain, but it wasn’t life-threatening. Everyone, including the Great Chu soldiers Guan Ting had brought, couldn’t help but look at the man screaming and shouting as if he were an idiot. Someone muttered, “Fool!”
After shouting for a while, Guan Ting himself realized something was wrong. Opening his eyes to find himself completely unharmed, he rejoiced. Then he noticed some strange, wet, slightly fragrant substance on his fine clothes. “What… what is this?”
“Reporting to General, it’s cucumber!” a soldier reported seriously.
Only then did Guan Ting notice a half-eaten fresh cucumber that had appeared on the ground nearby. Realizing he had been made a fool of, he became furious and started jumping with rage, “I’ll kill you all! I’ll kill you all! Attack! Kill these treasonous rebels!”
“Guan Ting, who exactly do you want to kill? Why don’t you tell this prince?” From inside the inn, a cool, clear voice unhurriedly rang out. The guards immediately stepped aside to make way. Mo Xiu Yao, still with his snow-white hair, appeared before everyone in white robes, holding Ye Li’s hand.