While fighting still raged outside the palace hall, inside was eerily silent, the atmosphere frozen. Ye Li gazed calmly at the King of Nanzhao who stood a head taller than her. Her beautiful face showed an apologetic expression, as if truly remorseful for holding the king hostage. However, the dagger at his throat showed no signs of wavering.

The King of Nanzhao felt his neck’s skin prickle from the cold blade. “Princess Consort Ding, what exactly do you want?” Ye Li glanced at Princess Changle sitting on the ground and smiled faintly, “Your Majesty, why ask what you already know? Isn’t it obvious?”

“You’re doing this for this little beauty?” The King of Nanzhao asked skeptically. The young girl before him was a princess of Da Chu with no connection to the Northwest. He naturally didn’t believe Princess Consort Ding would go to such lengths to break in just for an unrelated princess. “Though she’s a Da Chu princess, she holds no value to the Chu Emperor. He’s already given her to me.”

After much thought, the King of Nanzhao could only conclude that Princess Consort Ding wanted to use Princess Changle to threaten the Chu Emperor. After all, everyone knew the deep hatred between Prince Ding and the Chu Emperor.

“That’s not for Your Majesty to worry about. You only need to tell me if I can take Princess Changle away,” Ye Li replied coolly, not refuting his words.

The King of Nanzhao laughed coldly, “If the Princess Consort wants a beauty that was given to me, that wouldn’t normally be an issue. However… coming and going as you please in my palace – do you think Nanzhao has no one left? I advise you to put down your weapon. For Prince Ding’s sake, I won’t make things difficult for you. Otherwise, when the guards arrive, you won’t escape so easily.”

This King of Nanzhao wasn’t as useless as he appeared, Ye Li thought to herself. On the surface, she merely smiled faintly, “I’m afraid the guards won’t have a chance to enter.” By now, the fighting outside had gradually died down. The King of Nanzhao’s face had shown a trace of smugness, but he quickly realized something was wrong. If his guards had won, they would have reported from outside the hall no matter what. But now there was complete silence outside, with not even the slightest sound reaching the hall. The King’s expression changed as he said, “My palace has a thousand guards, and the capital has eight thousand elite troops stationed. Princess Consort, do you think you can escape?”

“I’m afraid those eight thousand elite troops won’t have time to enter the palace to protect you,” Ye Li said with a smile as she looked at the King of Nanzhao. “Has Your Majesty forgotten what other important activity is happening tonight?”

Hearing this, the King of Nanzhao’s heart skipped a beat, his expression growing even worse. How could he forget? Shu Manlin planned to make her move against An Xi tonight, and he had secretly given her the token to mobilize the city guards. If by now…

Ye Li sighed softly, “There’s been fighting in the palace for quite some time, but besides the guards originally stationed at your chambers, no one has come to protect you. Would Your Majesty care to guess where they’ve gone?” The King of Nanzhao had nothing to say, “Do what you will kill me if you must.”

Ye Li smiled, “How could I kill Your Majesty? I’m merely taking an unknown little girl from your palace. After tonight, I’m sure Princess An Xi won’t mind such a small matter. The friendship between Nanzhao and our Northwest will continue to flourish.” She specifically said An Xi wouldn’t mind rather than the king, and he naturally understood her meaning. After tonight, Nanzhao would no longer be under his control.

The King of Nanzhao gritted his teeth, “The Prince Ding Manor is An Xi’s helper!”

“We weren’t before, but we are now,” Ye Li made no effort to deny it, as offending the King of Nanzhao would no longer affect relations between Nanzhao and the Northwest. Because after tonight, regardless of who won or lost, the real power of Nanzhao would have nothing to do with him anymore. If Princess An Xi won, having learned from past lessons, she surely wouldn’t spare Shu Manlin and the king again. If Shu Manlin won, the king would simply become her puppet, or rather, Tan Jizhi’s puppet. The king’s mistake was choosing to cooperate with Mo Jingqi. Perhaps Mo Jingqi truly wanted to work with him, but the people he sent, whether Consort Liu or Chancellor Liu, appeared unwilling to offer the king any help.

“This unfilial daughter!” the King of Nanzhao cursed through clenched teeth.

Ye Li frowned at him, saying somewhat puzzled, “I’ve always had one question I don’t understand. Princess An Xi is now Your Majesty’s only princess. Moreover, she governs well and isn’t attached to power. You should be happy to have such a daughter. Why do you help Shu Manlin target her at every turn?” For a Holy Maiden who should have been kept away from power to now threaten the Crown Princess’s life and position, this required the king’s support. Even if Shu Manlin was also his daughter and he favored her more, it shouldn’t have led to such hatred toward Princess An Xi.

A look of confusion flashed across the King of Nanzhao’s face, showing he also didn’t understand Ye Li’s question. How had things come to this between him and his eldest daughter?

He still remembered how An Xi was different from Qixia, who loved dancing and singing and had an outgoing personality from childhood. An Xi was cheerful but very steady in her actions, able to help him handle state affairs when she was just thirteen or fourteen. Many matters that gave him headaches, she would handle perfectly when given to her. At the time, he only thanked heaven for giving him such an intelligent daughter, feeling no regret even without a prince. So he named An Xi as Crown Princess, watching her diligently govern the country step by step and gain the people’s support.

But at some point, his initial joy and satisfaction gradually turned sour. Whenever he saw the reverence and respect on people’s faces when they saw his daughter, he began to feel inexplicably displeased. He had worked hard governing for decades, with citizens always complaining about this and that, showing fear and obedience rather than reverence and love even when they saw him. Why could his daughter so easily obtain what he couldn’t get in a lifetime?

Watching the King of Nanzhao’s changing expression, Ye Li felt she understood. It was jealousy – not worry about Princess An Xi usurping power, not greater love for Shu Manlin, simply jealousy. A father envied his daughter’s talent for governance and the people’s support, so he created endless difficulties for her and even allowed others to attempt her life while adding fuel to the fire. Ye Li shook her head and looked at the King of Nanzhao, “If Princess An Xi truly fails, what will become of Nanzhao? Your Majesty, have you thought this through?”

The King of Nanzhao’s expression grew twisted, his breathing becoming rapid. At this moment, Ye Li released him and walked toward Princess Changle, who had stood up on her own, saying with a gentle laugh, “Princess, let’s go.”

Princess Changle looked warily at the King of Nanzhao nearby, but he seemed lost in thought with his twisted expression as if he hadn’t even noticed them. Ye Li smiled, “Don’t worry, let’s go.” She took Princess Changle’s hand and walked straight out through the hall doors.

Outside, the palace guards and those who had come running at the commotion had all been dealt with, though seven or eight of another group remained. Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing stood at the door waiting for Ye Li to emerge.

“Princess…” As soon as they came out, the leader of the survivors rushed forward but was stopped by Zhuo Jing. The man quickly said, “Princess! Princess, are you alright? This servant was useless… couldn’t rescue you earlier!” Princess Changle hesitated and looked at him for a while before saying, “You are… Guard Yang?”

The man pulled down the mask covering his face, revealing a stern but somewhat familiar countenance. Ye Li frowned in thought for a moment before remembering – this was the head guard from the Empress’s palace. Ye Li said, “Let’s talk after we leave the palace.” Guard Yang recognized Ye Li as well and respectfully said, “Thank you for your help, Princess Consort.”

As they left the palace, they indeed encountered almost no resistance. The square outside the palace gates was still bustling with activity, but a careful look would reveal that those who should have been there were gone.

Ye Li’s group returned to the inn almost without delay. Before they could ask questions, Guard Yang immediately knelt before Princess Changle, saying, “This servant was useless and let the Princess suffer such fright. This is the antidote, please take it quickly, Princess.” He took out a small green porcelain bottle from his sleeve and presented it to Princess Changle. Ye Li frowned, “Princess, you were poisoned?”

Princess Changle had appeared normal throughout their journey, her body showing no unusual symptoms that would indicate poisoning. She hesitated for a moment before nodding. Guard Yang said angrily, “If those poisonous women hadn’t poisoned the Princess, how could we have waited so long to rescue her? Only that poisonous woman had this type of poison, and once we rescued the Princess, she would have immediately destroyed the antidote. So we had to obtain the antidote first before we could save the Princess. That’s why the Princess was sent into the palace.”

“Was it Consort Liu?” Ye Li asked, “How did you get the antidote?”

Guard Yang explained, “That poisonous woman thought the antidote was unnecessary once the Princess was sent into the palace, but even so, we lost seven or eight brothers before obtaining it. Fortunately, we made it in time… otherwise… even dying ten thousand deaths wouldn’t make up for failing the Empress and the old Duke.”

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, “The Empress sent you to rescue the Princess?” Guard Yang said seriously, “Of course, we are all the Empress’s trusted servants, deeply grateful for Her Majesty’s grace. Several brothers also received kindness from Duke Hua in past years. Originally we planned to act on the road, but we could never obtain the antidote and didn’t dare act rashly and risk the Princess’s life. This servant is grateful for the Princess Consort’s help.”

Princess Changle’s face was already streaked with tears upon hearing news of her mother, and she quickly asked while holding the medicine bottle, “How is my mother?” Guard Yang hesitated before saying, “The Empress… when this servant left the capital, Her Majesty was still under house arrest in the palace. But please don’t worry, Princess. The old Duke has made arrangements, and the Empress said that even without freedom, the Emperor will protect her life for the sake of appearances. She only asks that the Princess never return to the Chu capital again. This is what the Empress entrusted this servant to give to the Princess.”

Guard Yang presented another exquisite but ordinary-looking small wooden box. Princess Changle was stunned for a moment before opening it. The box was only about an inch wide and four or five inches long, containing several folded bank notes with an exquisite and gorgeous hairpin and seven or eight-night pearls on top. Though the denominations of the bank notes weren’t visible, just looking at those night pearls made it clear that any single one would be enough for Princess Changle to live worry-free for life. “Princess Consort… does Mother… does Mother not want me anymore?” Princess Changle asked softly, holding the box.

Ye Li sighed gently, “Your mother is doing this for your good.” Princess Changle wasn’t sent for a political marriage – she was given to the King of Nanzhao by Mo Jingqi. This meant Princess Changle could never again appear before the world or in the Chu capital as a princess. Otherwise… if Mo Jingqi could harden his heart to give his daughter to the King of Nanzhao, he could certainly harden his heart to take her life.

“I know…” Princess Changle said, holding the wooden box, but still broke into sobs. From now on, she would no longer be Princess Changle of Da Chu. Soon, her father would surely have news spread that Princess Changle had died of illness. From then on, she might never see her mother and grandfather again, forced to drift about alone without a name or status.

Seeing Princess Changle’s grief, Ye Li reached out to stroke her hair, saying, “Good child, don’t be sad. When the matters in the South are settled, come with us to the Northwest?”

Princess Changle hesitated before declining Ye Li’s offer, “Thank you, Princess Consort, but my status is inconvenient and would only bring trouble to you and Uncle Prince Ding.” Ye Li smiled, “We’ve already stormed the King of Nanzhao’s palace – what trouble could this be? I’ll have someone look at this antidote. Princess, rest well for now. We can discuss the rest when your Uncle Prince returns. No one would dare enter here without permission.”

Hearing Ye Li’s words, Guard Yang was also delighted. The Empress and old Duke’s greatest worry was Princess Changle living alone outside. Though they had made arrangements for secret protection, in these chaotic times when things could change in an instant, who besides the Northwest would dare claim anywhere was truly safe? Originally they had planned to secretly send the Princess to live anonymously among the common people in the Northwest. With the Princess Consort’s invitation, it would naturally be better for the Princess. “This servant thanks the Princess Consort on behalf of the Empress and old Duke.”

Ye Li waved her hand, “Our Prince respects the Empress as a sister, and Duke Hua watched our Prince grow up. The Duke’s eldest daughter is also my good friend. Princess Changle is naturally not an outsider.”

Guard Yang thanked her again, and Princess Changle looked at Ye Li, saying, “I’m no longer a princess. Mother gave me the childhood name Wuyou. Princess Consort, please call me Wuyou.” Wuyou Changle – it showed the Empress’s deep love for her daughter.

Ye Li smiled and nodded, “Alright, Wuyou must be tired. Go rest in your room first.”

Princess Changle – now Wuyou – nodded and followed the guard to an empty room. As soon as the door closed, she fell onto the bed and began sobbing into her pillow. Though she bit the pillow as she cried in her room, the people outside all had refined inner power and could naturally hear clearly. Ye Li turned to look at Feng Zhiyao standing in the shadows of the eaves nearby and silently sighed.