“Xiu Yao…” Ye Li leaned into Mo Xiu Yao’s embrace, her heart full of remorse. This time it was truly her carelessness that led to such an accident, even involving Fourth Brother. These past few days must have been extremely difficult for him. Wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, Ye Li said softly, “Xiu Yao, I’m sorry. This was my fault. It won’t happen again…”

“It’s not Ah Li’s fault, but mine. I didn’t even notice that Ah Li… was with child again.” Mo Xiu Yao’s hand gently covered her flat abdomen, where once again their child was growing. Since Mo Xiao Bao’s birth, Mo Xiu Yao has become increasingly indifferent to the matter of having more children. He had even secretly hoped there would be no more. Though rationally, he knew having two more children would be better for Ah Li’s future. However, both pregnancies had come at rather inopportune times, even putting Ah Li in danger. This caused a hint of displeasure to show in Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes.

Ye Li raised her head, looking helplessly at the man whose expression had suddenly turned gloomy. It had been the same when she was carrying Xiao Bao – Mo Xiu Yao would sometimes look at her belly with gentle eyes, and other times with such darkness that it secretly worried Ye Li. Nevertheless, she still believed he would cherish their children.

“Xiu Yao, do you think… this time it might be a daughter?” Ye Li asked with a smile, still leaning against Mo Xiu Yao.

“A daughter?” Mo Xiu Yao’s heart stirred slightly as he imagined having a clever, well-behaved daughter exactly like Ah Li, his expression softening. Ye Li smiled, “Yes, we already have Xiao Bao. I hope this time it’s a daughter, so Xiao Bao will have a little sister. At his age now, won’t he be just right to protect his sister when they grow up?”

Mo Xiu Yao found her reasoning sound. If they had a daughter like Ah Li, she would be the only young princess in the Prince Regent’s mansion in decades, naturally deserving of all possible pampering. Since Mo Xiao Bao had nothing better to do, he might as well properly protect his sister. Mo Xiu Yao silently calculated whether he should increase Xiao Bao’s training upon their return, lest he prove inadequate in protecting his sister later.

Ye Li was naturally unaware that her casual words had just sealed Mo Xiao Bao’s fate for a painful childhood. Having just awakened with her body unharmed and learning of the pregnancy, along with Fourth Brother’s recovery, Ye Li felt particularly cheerful. The inexplicable gloom that had weighed on her heart these past days seemed to have vanished. Leaning in Mo Xiu Yao’s embrace, she softly shared her hopes and affection for their coming child. Mo Xiu Yao held her silently as she spoke. After a while, Ye Li finally stopped and sighed lightly. Looking up at the man holding her, she saw he had fallen asleep with his eyes closed. Beneath his closed eyes lay faint shadows. Ye Li carefully pressed two of his acupoints, then carefully rose to make room for him to lie down properly, pulling the covers to tuck him in. Looking at his handsome sleeping features, Ye Li smiled faintly. In this world, she was probably the only one who could successfully seal the Prince Regent’s acupoints.

While the post station was filled with joy at Ye Li and Xu Qing Bai’s recovery, the Bai family residence on the other side of the Imperial City was gripped by anxiety and gloom.

Bai Yun Cheng collapsed into a chair in the main hall, his already-aged features now showing complete devastation. When he first learned his daughter had been killed by the Prince Regent, though Bai Yun Cheng was furious and heartbroken, he still maintained some confidence. He had been secretly planning everything but never expected the Prince Regent to act so swiftly and decisively, sweeping away the various powers in the Imperial City like autumn leaves in the wind within just two or three days. He had even raided the Regent of the South’s mansion. Bai Yun Cheng’s only hope, the Western Ling Emperor, had been frightened out of his wits by Mo Xiu Yao and declared that instead of waiting two months for the palace to be put in order, the imperial procession would depart for An City immediately. The Western Ling Emperor unhesitatingly abandoned the Bai family, who had already openly pledged allegiance to the Prince Regent’s mansion. In earlier years, when the Empress and Noble Consort Qing Rong were still alive, the Western Ling Emperor would have shown some consideration for Bai Yun Cheng. But now, with Noble Consort Qing Rong long missing and the Empress deceased, the Western Ling Emperor naturally would not protect a minister who was both disloyal and of little use like the Bai family.

Perhaps pledging allegiance to the Prince Regent’s mansion had been wrong from the start, Bai Yun Cheng thought bitterly. If they hadn’t joined the Prince Regent but instead followed the Western Ling Emperor to An City, even if the Bai family couldn’t prosper, at least they would have avoided mortal danger given their foundation. But now… Recalling what he had witnessed outside Sun Family Garden that day, Bai Yun Cheng felt his heart grow cold. Would the Prince Regent… spare the Bai family?

“My lord, what should we do now?” Lady Bai looked equally haggard, her usually impeccable makeup barely concealing the wrinkles and panic on her face.

“What to do? What to do? How would I know what to do?” Bai Yun Cheng laughed bitterly. Lady Bai looked at him and suggested tentatively, “My lord, perhaps we should… we should leave the Imperial City early?”

Bai Yun Cheng looked at her coldly and rebuked, “Ignorant woman, would the Prince Regent allow us to leave the Imperial City so peacefully?” If the Prince Regent wanted to hold them accountable, how could they possibly leave? And if he had no intention of punishing them, how could Bai Yun Cheng bear to abandon such extensive family assets and leave alone? Lady Bai realized she had spoken in panic and understood her suggestion was impractical. She could only anxiously grab Bai Yun Cheng’s arm and ask urgently, “Then… then what should we do? Should we… should we beg the Prince Regent’s people?”

They couldn’t even see the Prince Regent and his wife now, as all these matters were handled by Feng Zhi Yao and two trusted advisors of the Prince Regent’s wife. Besides, even if given the chance, Lady Bai was certain she truly didn’t want to see the Prince Regent again.

Hearing this, Bai Yun Cheng fell into deep thought, carefully considering his wife’s words. Although the Prince Regent seemed to have no immediate intentions toward the Bai family, judging from how he unhesitatingly killed Bai Qing Ning, Bai Yun Cheng believed the Prince Regent was dissatisfied with them. But this very silence made people even more anxious. Lady Bai watched the contemplative Bai Yun Cheng and carefully asked, “My lord, I wonder if the Prince Regent’s wife has awakened yet. If we could beg her for mercy… I’ve heard the Princess Consort comes from a scholarly family and has a kind and gentle nature. Although Qing Ning… acted inappropriately, our Bai family has never done anything to wrong the Prince Regent’s mansion. Perhaps the Princess Consort will show mercy and not destroy us completely?”

“This… seeing the Princess Consort now would surely be difficult.” The Princess Consort had just been attacked, and given the Prince Regent’s deep affection for his wife, how could he allow anyone but his most trusted people to approach her?

Lady Bai’s eyes flickered as she anxiously said, “Is there no way at all? Must our Bai family…?”

After some thought, Bai Yun Cheng finally said, “Perhaps there is… His Majesty will leave for An City in a few days, and the Prince Regent and his wife will surely attend the farewell ceremony. If we could see the Princess Consort then, we might be able to beg for her mercy.” Lady Bai’s eyes brightened as she smiled, “My lord is right. Unless the Princess Consort hasn’t recovered, by protocol, the Prince Regent and his wife must attend His Majesty’s farewell ceremony together. I will find a way to see the Princess Consort then and beg for her mercy.”

The more Bai Yun Cheng thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He nodded repeatedly, “What the lady says is true. Please rest well these days and don’t worry. I will arrange the meeting with the Princess Consort.”

“Then I’ll trouble my lord,” Lady Bai said with a smile, a trace of venom flashing through her downcast eyes.

Meanwhile, shortly after news of the Mo family army occupying the Imperial City reached Da Chu, word came of Mo Xiu Yao’s virtual purge of Western Ling nobility. Lei Zhen Ting, leading the Eastern Conquest army southward, hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of the Imperial City’s swift fall when this even greater blow hit him, leaving him reeling. It must be understood that once he abandoned the western return, the Imperial City’s fall was practically inevitable. Though Lei Zhen Ting hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly, he was somewhat mentally prepared. However, Mo Xiu Yao’s ruthless purge of the Imperial City nobility was completely unexpected. As a result, Lei Zhen Ting’s confidants in the Imperial City, carefully cultivated over many years, and even the families of his commanders, all suffered. Not to mention his grandchildren. Hearing this news, Lei Zhen Ting nearly fainted from anger. Through gritted teeth, he squeezed out a few words, “Mo Xiu Yao…”

“Your Highness?!” The guards beside him quickly reached out to support him. Lei Zhen Ting raised his hand to cover his mouth, bright red blood seeping through his fingers.

“Your Highness, please take care of your health!” Everyone present was startled, too shocked to remain angry or sorrowful, and hurried forward to check on Lei Zhen Ting. It must be known that although their advance had been relatively smooth and they had occupied large portions of Da Chu’s territory, due to Mu Rong Shen’s interference, they hadn’t managed to occupy the entire south before Mo Jing Li’s southward migration as planned. The current situation in Da Chu could only be described as chaos. Most of the area south of the Yun Lan River was in Mo Jing Li’s hands, with only a tiny portion seized by them first. North of the Yun Lan River, some areas were controlled by the Western Ling army, but behind them was Mu Rong Shen’s recently northward-advancing army. Though only twenty thousand strong, it still caused them considerable trouble in continuing southward. Further southwest was Lu Song Xian’s army of four hundred thousand, to the north was the Mo family army’s Northwestern territory, and further north, Da Chu’s garrison troops were in disarray fighting with the Northern Rong and Northern Jin. It could be said that there wasn’t a single peaceful place left in Da Chu’s territory, and at this time, the Regent of the South absolutely could not have any mishap.

Lei Zhen Ting steadied himself, suppressing the sweetness rising in his throat, and brusquely waved away the guards supporting him, saying sternly, “I’m fine, you may all leave.”

The crowd hesitated, looking at Lei Zhen Ting’s ashen face, but finally withdrew from the study.

“What exactly happened?” After a while, Lei Zhen Ting’s voice finally sounded in the study. The man who had brought the news looked grim as he detailed the recent events in the Western Ling Imperial City. From Xu Qing Bai’s early appearance in the Imperial City to the Western Ling Emperor willingly surrendering the city, to the Princess Consort’s assassination attempt and the Prince Regent’s furious bloodshed at Sun Family Garden.

“Fool!” After hearing the man’s report, Lei Zhen Ting could only squeeze out these two words. Even his breathing gradually grew heavier, “That fool! I should have deposed him back then! How could he not think… how could he not think that those who died weren’t just my confidants, but Western Ling’s elite! These people were killed by Mo Xiu Yao, and he’s probably secretly rejoicing! How could he not think that with all these people dead, Western Ling… does he alone have the ability to govern Western Ling?!” Lei Zhen Ting’s voice gradually rose, showing he had reached the peak of his anger. His words were indeed correct – although those killed were Lei Zhen Ting’s people, it must be known that Lei Zhen Ting had controlled the government for over a decade. How many capable officials in court weren’t his people? After Mo Xiu Yao’s purge, those remaining were merely mediocre officials. Even if the Western Ling Emperor relocated to An City, with his complete lack of governing experience and a group of equally incompetent officials, heaven only knew what they could accomplish.

“Heh heh… well played, Mo Xiu Yao, excellent strategy, brilliant scheming!” Lei Zhen Ting laughed coldly and repeatedly.

After venting some of his anger, Lei Zhen Ting quickly calmed down. He soon noticed something amiss in all this. His eyes narrowed slightly as he asked in a deep voice, “I don’t recall ever ordering the assassination of the Princess Consort. Who took such unauthorized action?”

The man looked equally bewildered. He was merely an insignificant figure Lei Zhen Ting had planted in the Imperial City. Usually only handling street-level intelligence, he had thus escaped this purge by the Prince Regent’s mansion and hurried to report. But he was equally unclear about the cause and process of this incident, assuming it had been the Regent’s order. Seeing his confusion, Lei Zhen Ting knew he would get no answers from him and waved him away.

After the man withdrew, Lei Zhen Ting swept the inkstone off the table with one hand. The inkstone hit the ground with a crisp sound, the fine piece shattering into pieces. “Investigate for me! Who would dare be so bold… Mo Jing Li… no, Mo Jing Li doesn’t have such capability. Investigate Ren Qi Ning and Ye Lu Hong and Ye Lu Ye for me!”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The golden-robed guard in the shadows acknowledged and departed. The study was left cold and empty with only Lei Zhen Ting remaining. After a long silence, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Atop the Flying Phoenix Pass in the Northwest, Master Qing Chen, in spotless white robes, stood on the fortress walls gazing into the distance. The camps of the Western Ling and Northern Rong armies lay just over ten miles away. Looking up from below the pass, the handsome master in white stood against the wind, his expression serene and otherworldly like an immortal. Not just ordinary soldiers of both armies, but even their commanders couldn’t help but secretly admire Master Qing Chen’s bearing when they saw such elegance.

“Oh? Qing Bai was injured?” On the fortress walls, Xu Qing Chen turned to look at the shadow guard who had come to deliver the message, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The shadow guard felt his heart jump and a chill ran down his spine. Though Master Qing Chen was known as the Immortal Master and usually spoke gently unlike the Prince’s imposing presence, the pressure he exerted was the same. “Master, it is so, but… the message also said the Fourth Master wasn’t wounded in any vital areas and should have regained consciousness by now.”

Xu Qing Chen nodded, “I understand. You may go.”

The shadow guard secretly wiped away his sweat and bowed, “This subordinate takes his leave.”

“Does Master Qing Chen truly believe Lei Zhen Ting sent people to assassinate the Princess Consort? Lei Zhen Ting… shouldn’t be so unwise.” Two men stood beside Xu Qing Chen against the wind – one already white-haired, though gentle in demeanor but with hints of determination between his brows; the other a middle-aged man in his early thirties, steady in bearing and somewhat resembling the elder.

These two were the Southern Marquis and his heir who had nearly been killed by Mo Jing Qi years ago. Though they had been saved by Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li after almost losing their lives to Mo Jing Qi’s persecution, they had become somewhat disillusioned. These years they had lived in seclusion in the Northwest with barely any reputation. But now Mo Jing Qi was dead, Da Chu practically existed in name only, and the Northwest faced the armies of Western Ling and Northern Rong at its borders. The Southern Marquis and his son naturally couldn’t remain idle, volunteering to accompany Xu Qing Chen to Flying Phoenix Pass.

A faint coldness clouded Xu Qing Chen’s otherworldly handsome features, “Even if it wasn’t Lei Zhen Ting’s idea, he can’t escape responsibility.”

Though the Southern Marquis had lived somewhat ineffectively for over a decade in his later years, he was after all once a fierce general who had galloped across battlefields. As an outsider, he could see many things more clearly, stroking his beard as he smiled, “This time, I’m afraid Lei Zhen Ting has also fallen victim to someone’s scheme.” The Regent of the South’s losses this time were substantial – surely he must be coughing blood in distress right now. The Prince Regent had lain low for many years, but each time he acted, he shocked the world.

Standing behind his father, Fu Zhao asked with some concern, “The Prince Regent’s actions might somewhat damage His Highness’s reputation.” Even though they were far in the Northwest, the Prince Regent’s reputation for killing had spread throughout the entire Northwest, and naturally, other regions were no different. Those of them in the Prince Regent’s mansion naturally knew that the Prince Regent hadn’t killed nearly as many as rumored, but the influence of these deaths was probably more severe than if he had massacred an entire city. Now outside rumors had evolved to claim the Prince Regent had slaughtered the entire Western Ling Imperial City, even bringing up previously suppressed incidents from Bian City. For a time, quite a few scholars and officials began to view the Prince Regent somewhat unfavorably. However, the Xu family, as current power holders in the Northwest and leaders of its cultural sphere, had shown no reaction to this, which puzzled Fu Zhao.

Xu Qing Chen smiled faintly, “Brother Fu hasn’t seen through it yet. As they say, guarding against people’s mouths is harder than guarding against floods. Better to let it flow than try to block it – when they’re satisfied with talking, they’ll naturally stop.”

“Won’t this affect the Prince Regent’s reputation?” Fu Zhao asked with furrowed brows. Those who aspired to rule the world always paid special attention to their reputation.

Xu Qing Chen turned to ask the Southern Marquis, “What does the Marquis think?”

The Southern Marquis shook his head, “The victor becomes king or marquis, the loser becomes bandit – momentary rumors count for nothing. Moreover, rumors are just rumors. When they’re dispelled, the world will only admire the Prince Regent more. As for those bookworms who’ve read themselves stupid, surely the Prince Regent won’t deign to care about them.”

Xu Qing Chen nodded and smiled, “The Marquis speaks truly. The relationship between the Xu family and the Prince Regent’s mansion… means we can’t easily speak up for the Prince Regent unless necessary. Moreover, with the world in chaos now, such a reputation for the Prince Regent… isn’t without benefits.” At least those who feared Mo Xiu Yao would far outnumber those who dared scheme against him, and those who dared betray the Prince Regent’s mansion would surely be even fewer. Sometimes, fear was also an excellent way to control subordinates. Of course, this couldn’t be taken too far, and wasn’t the Princess Consort’s assassination attempt a perfect excuse? In the future… Li’er should be safer too, right? After this incident, the world should know that even though Prince Regent was deeply in love with his wife if anything happened to Princess Consort, the Prince Regent wouldn’t collapse or fall into depravity – he would only become more ruthless and cold-blooded.

“For now, it’s fine with His Highness still in Western Ling. When His Highness returns to Li City, might something unexpected happen in Western Ling?” the Southern Marquis asked with some concern.

Xu Qing Chen said, “Qing Bai is still somewhat young, but after this lesson, he should understand what it means to use harsh laws in chaotic times.”

The Southern Marquis’s father and son exchanged glances, and Fu Zhao raised an eyebrow, looking at Xu Qing Chen with curiosity, “Master Qing Chen seems to feel no regret at all for those Western Ling nobles?” Though there were many connected to the assassins, everyone knew that more were Lei Zhen Ting’s confidants and Western Ling’s truly capable people. His Highness’s actions had cut off Western Ling’s talent for the next decade.

Xu Qing Chen’s smile was cold, “As long as His Highness doesn’t massacre ordinary citizens, as for those people… how many were truly innocent? Even if they were innocent…” Looking out beyond the pass, the land stretched desolate for thousands of miles, ruins and wailing all around. Xu Qing Chen pointed to where his gaze couldn’t reach, “Are they any more innocent than them?” The truly innocent were those common people struggling in war, not those Western Ling nobles who had started the war in the first place.

The Southern Marquis sighed softly, “Master Qing Chen speaks truly.” Looking into the distance, those places… had once been his homeland. But now they were filled with suffering people and rivers of blood.

Xu Qing Chen’s eyebrow twitched slightly as he said coolly, “If it wasn’t the Regent of the South’s doing, then only one person has such capability… Ren Qi Ning. Very well, if we don’t do something to repay him, wouldn’t Qing Bai and Li’er’s suffering be in vain? Come.”

A man in black appeared behind Xu Qing Chen – it was Wei Lin, whom Ye Li had left in the Northwest.

“Wei Lin, make a trip to Chu Capital yourself. Tell Leng Hao Yu there’s no need to return to the Northwest for now. Assist the Da Chu garrison troops and make sure to hold Chu Capital at all costs,” Xu Qing Chen said coolly.

Wei Lin didn’t ask questions, just nodded and said deeply, “This subordinate understands and takes his leave.”

“Master Qing Chen, holding Chu Capital might be somewhat…” the Southern Marquis frowned. He had some understanding of Da Chu’s military strength and combat capability. Even with Leng Huai and the Duke of Hua Guo there, Chu Capital couldn’t hold for three months, and within three months, the Mo family army could hardly spare forces to support Chu Capital.

Xu Qing Chen smiled faintly, “General Lu’s several hundred thousand troops have long been restless, but they previously didn’t dare move carelessly because they were guarding against Lei Zhen Ting. Now Lei Zhen Ting is locked in a death struggle with Mo Jing Li, and even if he wanted to extract himself, he couldn’t in time. After we resolve the siege before us, we should still make it to Chu Capital in time. By then His Highness should have returned as well.”

The Southern Marquis silently calculated, feeling that though Xu Qing Chen’s move was somewhat risky, it wasn’t impossible. Most importantly, if successful, the Prince Regent’s territory would expand by more than double its current size.

“But this way we’ll directly face the entire Northern Rong and Northern Border. And there’s Lei Zhen Ting in the south – once he stabilizes his position, it’s hard to say he won’t turn back to encircle us with Northern Rong and the Northern Border. Given Mo Jing Li’s courage, he probably won’t stop him and might not even be able to.”

Xu Qing Chen smiled faintly, “Doesn’t Lei Zhen Ting still have Mu Rong Shen? Besides, we still have an ambush force we can use within Da Chu’s borders.”

“…”