In the Bai family study, while Bai Yun Cheng was discussing strategies with his branch family brothers and advisors, a steward rushed in to report, “Master, Young Master Feng Three, and Young Master Xu Three have arrived.” Bai Yun Cheng’s heart immediately sank. Feng Zhi Yao was Mo Xiu Yao’s confidant, and Xu Qing Feng was the third son of the Xu family, the cousin of the injured Xu Qing Bai. What good could come from these two arriving together?
“Did Young Master Feng say anything?” Bai Yun Cheng asked.
The steward’s face had also paled as he replied, “Young Master Feng only said he came on the Prince’s orders to see the master, without further details. However… Young Master Xu had many guards following him, and it seems… they’ve surrounded our residence.” Hearing this, everyone in the study was shocked, their expressions growing even more unsightly. After a long moment, Bai Yun Cheng finally sighed and said, “Very well, I’ll go see.”
Arriving at the main hall with the steward, he indeed saw Feng Zhi Yao in red robes and Xu Qing Feng in black, one sitting and one standing. Seeing him enter, Feng Zhi Yao, who had been drinking tea, stood and cupped his hands in greeting with a spring-like smile, “Master Bai, I apologize for the intrusion.” Xu Qing Feng, standing to the side, showed no reaction, his expression rather unpleasant. Bai Yun Cheng returned the greeting with a stiff smile, “Not at all. Young Master Feng and Young Master Xu’s presence honors our humble home. Please, sit and have some tea?”
Xu Qing Feng showed no appreciation, “No need. This young master didn’t come for tea.”
Bai Yun Cheng choked again. He had thought that Xu Qing Feng, coming from the Xu family, would be gentle and courteous like Xu Qing Bai even if trained in martial arts, but unexpectedly he was so direct, showing no face at all. Feng Zhi Yao remained unconcerned, smiling insincerely, “Don’t mind him, Master Bai. He’s in a bad mood.”
Bai Yun Cheng asked carefully, “Has our hospitality been lacking somewhere?”
Xu Qing Feng gave a cold laugh and said, “Anyone would be unhappy hearing that someone wants to kill their cousin’s unborn child.” Bai Yun Cheng was greatly shocked, his face paling as he forced a smile and said, “Young Master speaks nonsense. The… the Princess is of infinite grace, who would dare such treasonous thoughts…”
Feng Zhi Yao casually waved his fan, looking at Bai Yun Cheng with some regret, “Master Bai, what Brother Xu says is indeed true. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare trouble you with this visit. I’ve come on the Prince’s orders… to investigate this matter.”
Bai Yun Cheng’s smile had long since frozen like a mask on his face, unable to hide the forcibly suppressed shock in his eyes. “Young Master Feng… what do you mean?”
Feng Zhi Yao didn’t beat around the bush, saying seriously, “I received information that your honored wife harbored killing intent toward the Princess, greatly enraging the Prince. However… the Bai family is different from others, and the Prince is still willing to give Master Bai some face. Please invite your honored wife to come confront this matter with me. If it proves to be baseless, I can report back to the Prince and Princess accordingly.”
“This…” Bai Yun Cheng secretly lamented. His wife had just revealed her thoughts to him, and now the Prince’s people had come. He couldn’t determine whether Feng Zhi Yao had evidence, or if someone from the Prince’s manor had overheard his wife’s conversation.
Feng Zhi Yao raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, “This is also an opportunity for Master Bai to prove his innocence. With Master Bai hedging like this, could it be that these rumors aren’t groundless, that the Bai family, while outwardly submitting to the Prince’s manor, secretly harbors treasonous thoughts?”
“How could that be?!” Bai Yun Cheng hurriedly said, “If so, I’ll summon my wife right away.” He was about to send someone to fetch Lady Bai when Feng Zhi Yao waved his hand and smiled, “No need for such trouble. It would be quicker if we went ourselves.”
“This… the inner quarters perhaps…” Bai Yun Cheng wanted to refuse, but Feng Zhi Yao smiled calmly, “Our people are well-disciplined. As long as your people keep quiet, naturally, no rumors will spread.” Facing Feng Zhi Yao’s meaningful smile and Xu Qing Feng’s cold stare, Bai Yun Cheng could only yield, “Very well, Young Master Feng, Young Master Xu, please.”
Bai Yun Cheng led the two toward Lady Bai’s courtyard in the inner quarters. Just as they reached the courtyard gate, they heard crying from inside. Bai Yun Cheng’s heart tightened, and disregarding Feng Zhi Yao and Xu Qing Feng, he hurried inside. Upon entering, he saw Lady Bai lying on the ground, dark red blood pooled beneath her, a small dagger thrust into her abdomen. Seeing Lady Bai’s hand gripping the dagger, it appeared as though she had committed suicide. Bai Yun Cheng recognized the dagger as the one Bai Qing Ning had particularly favored and often played with.
Seeing Lady Bai dead, Bai Yun Cheng’s first reaction was relief, followed by a faint sadness at the death of his wife of many years. Turning back, he saw Feng Zhi Yao and Xu Qing Feng standing side by side, and said mournfully, “Young Master Feng, Young Master Xu, my humble wife…” She was murdered.
Feng Zhi Yao wouldn’t give him the chance, frowning as he looked, “What’s this? Lady Bai committed suicide?”
Xu Qing Feng crossed his arms and laughed coldly, “Naturally she felt guilty. Let’s look inside and we’ll know.” Walking in a few steps, they indeed found Bai Qing Ning’s spirit tablet, with recently burned incense still inserted before it. Feng Zhi Yao turned to look at Bai Yun Cheng and sneered, “Master Bai, how do you explain this?” Bai Yun Cheng forced himself to remain calm and said, “I don’t understand Young Master Feng’s meaning. This is my daughter’s spirit tablet; what’s the issue?”
Feng Zhi Yao scoffed and said lightly, “Is Master Bai treating me, Feng Three, as some uneducated commoner? Even when enshrining spirit tablets, who would keep one in their bedroom?”
Bai Yun Cheng said with a pale face, “My humble wife doted excessively on our daughter since childhood, so now with her sudden loss…”
“So she harbored hatred and planned to assassinate the Prince’s wife to take revenge on the Prince’s manor?” Feng Zhi Yao interrupted.
Bai Yun Cheng said harshly, “Young Master Feng, you slander me!”
Feng Zhi Yao said calmly, “Whether it’s slander or not, Master Bai can explain to the Prince himself.” Bai Yun Cheng looked anxiously toward the door, where a line of black-clad figures standing outside made his heart fill with despair. Under the watchful eyes of Feng Zhi Yao and Xu Qing Feng, he finally lowered his head in dejection.
In Xi Ling’s capital during the ninth month, though there was no war, blood still flowed freely. Following the bloodbath at the Sun family garden days before, the Bai family, known as an imperial consort clan of Xi Ling, also fell. Lady Bai, seeking revenge for her daughter, had attempted to assassinate the Princess, and after her plot was exposed, she committed suicide. Though the Bai family members were imprisoned rather than immediately executed, Xi Ling’s nobility would no longer pay attention to the Bai family’s news. The Princess’s assassination attempt had already implicated half the capital’s people; now with the Bai family attempting another assassination, did they want to implicate the remaining half? Such fools weren’t worth mourning – who would want any connection with them?
At the Sun family…
Lady Sun sat in the study holding her well-behaved daughter while examining account books. Hearing the servant report the news of the Bai family’s confiscation, she didn’t even blink, saying calmly, “I see. You may go.”
After the reporting servant respectfully withdrew, it was quite a while before Lady Sun put down the ledger and looked up at her daughter with a faint smile, “Can Xiao Fu understand?” Sun Xiao Fu was only seven or eight years old and naturally couldn’t understand these dense account books. She shook her head somewhat dejectedly and shyly, saying softly, “Mother, Xiao Fu is so useless…” Lady Sun smiled and stroked her daughter’s small head, saying, “Mother couldn’t understand them at your age either. You’ll learn gradually.”
Sun Xiao Fu nodded obediently, then looked at her mother’s calm expression and after some hesitation finally asked, “Mother, Aunt Bai and the others… are they dead?” Though young, Lady Sun often took her daughter out, so Sun Xiao Fu recognized most of the capital’s nobility and noble ladies. Lady Sun smiled and said, “I don’t know. Why would Xiao Fu think they’re dead?”
Sun Xiao Fu’s small body trembled slightly, her little hands tightly gripping Lady Sun’s clothes as she said, “Xiao Fu heard the Prince killed many people. Little Sister Zhao and others, and Brother Qian’s family were all killed…” A child so young shouldn’t understand death, but Sun Xiao Fu had been present during the assassination attempt. Though Lady Sun had tried her best to protect her, Sun Xiao Fu still saw those blood-covered corpses. So in her small heart, the playmates she once knew became such broken, blood-soaked bodies when they died. Such scenes were indeed enough to terrify a seven or eight-year-old child.
“Is Xiao Fu afraid of the Prince?” Lady Sun looked down at her daughter, sighing softly.
“Mm.” Sun Xiao Fu nodded heavily, indicating she was very afraid of that handsome big brother with white clothes and white hair. Lady Sun’s eyes showed faint pain, but even more helplessness, as she said softly, “Xiao Fu doesn’t need to be afraid. The Prince and Princess aren’t bad people. Many people covet the property your father left us. Only by relying on the Prince’s manor can your mother protect what your father left for you. So, in the future when you see the Prince and Princess, Xiao Fu must not be afraid, understand? They are good people; they won’t hurt Xiao Fu.”
Sun Xiao Fu looked at her mother in confusion. Mother’s words were all correct, but… could a Prince who killed so many people be good? Weren’t good people… not supposed to do bad things? Killing… should count as a bad thing, right? Seemingly understanding her daughter’s thoughts, Lady Sun sighed softly and said, “Some people who kill many aren’t necessarily bad people; sometimes they have no choice.” Meeting her daughter’s confused eyes, Lady Sun rubbed her small head and smiled, “You’ll understand when you grow up.”
“Sun Yu Shi Hui Niang pays respects to the Prince and Princess.” In the courier station’s study, Lady Sun led her daughter in a respectful bow to Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao. Mo Xiu Yao raised his head to look at her once and said calmly, “Rise.” Lady Sun thanked him and lowered her head to say softly to her daughter, “Xiao Fu, greet the Prince and Princess.” Though well-taught at home, Sun Xiao Fu still had some issues. Seeing Mo Xiu Yao sitting in the seat of honor, she was too frightened to speak, only hiding beside her mother and pulling at Lady Sun’s clothes, unwilling to come out.
Seeing this, Ye Li smiled and said to Lady Sun, “The child is still young. Don’t force her.”
Lady Sun smiled helplessly, a trace of worry appearing in her eyes as she looked at her daughter. After the wet nurse took Sun Xiao Fu away, Lady Sun turned serious and bowed again to Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li, saying solemnly, “The recent assassination attempt on the Princess was due to my poor arrangements. Please, Prince, punish me as you see fit.” Though in these days Mo Xiu Yao hadn’t taken his anger out on them, the perceptive Lady Sun knew that because of the Princess’s incident, the Prince was also somewhat dissatisfied with the Sun family. With Xi Ling’s capital just brought under control, the Prince naturally couldn’t eliminate all the wealthy nobles. Moreover, the Sun family had been among the first to submit to the Prince’s manor. Now that the Bai family was gone, the Prince wouldn’t move against the Sun family at this time no matter what. But… not moving now didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future. Though a woman, since she bore the title of the Sun family head, she must also bear its responsibilities.
Indeed, Mo Xiu Yao merely looked at her coldly without speaking. But that implicit pressure made even Lady Sun, though a weak woman, lower her head with difficulty.
From the main seat, Ye Li gently placed her hand on Mo Xiu Yao’s and smiled faintly. Mo Xiu Yao’s expression softened slightly, and he said calmly, “The Princess has pleaded for you this time, so punishment will be waived. The Princess and I will soon leave the capital. In the future, you all should assist the Fourth Young Master well in governing Xi Ling, understand?” Lady Sun’s heart lifted with joy, and she bowed respectfully to Ye Li, saying, “The Sun family thanks the Princess for her great kindness.”
Ye Li smiled faintly and raised her hand, saying, “Rise. This matter wasn’t your fault, to begin with.” Indeed, Lady Sun was somewhat wronged. The autumn flower gathering had been organized to help the Prince’s manor connect with those intending to submit to them; how could she have anticipated assassins? Moreover, with the Sun family’s power, how could they have contended with the Southern Pacification King’s trusted elite forces? For her, a young woman supporting such a vast family enterprise while raising a daughter was already exceptionally difficult. As long as she didn’t do anything she shouldn’t, Ye Li was willing to give her some convenience and face.
Lady Sun felt even more grateful to Ye Li. She understood clearly that although she could maintain the Sun family business, she wasn’t particularly outstanding compared to the talented people under the Prince. Even in terms of family enterprise, both the Han family and Feng family of Li City likely far surpassed the Sun family. Gaining the Prince’s attention was already difficult, but with the Princess’s support, at least others wouldn’t dare bully a widow and orphan. Thus, her gaze toward Ye Li grew increasingly sincere as she bowed again to thank her before rising.
“Have the Bai family’s matters been properly handled?” After Lady Sun stood up, Mo Xiu Yao finally asked. As a renowned family of Xi Ling, the Bai family naturally had countless properties. They also possessed treasures bestowed by generations of Xi Ling’s emperors and empresses. Even Lady Sun, who had been ordered to help confiscate the Bai family’s property, was shocked. Lady Sun nodded and said, “Everything has been properly handled. After accounting for all the Bai family’s properties, they’ve been sealed in the study awaiting the Fourth Young Master’s recovery to inspect them. Additionally, there are fifty-seven thousand taels of silver, twelve thousand taels of gold, eight hundred and seventy-three thousand taels in silver notes, one hundred thousand in gold notes, six hundred and seventy-eight precious antiques, thirty-four boxes of jewelry and ornaments, two hundred and seventy-five scrolls of valuable paintings and calligraphy, and four hundred and fifty-two volumes of rare books. The total value of all confiscated Bai family property reaches five million taels. Everything has been recorded; please, Prince and Princess, review it. When the Fourth Young Master takes control of the capital, people can be sent to transport everything to Li City.” As she spoke, Lady Sun took out a thin ledger from her sleeve and presented it.
Mo Xiu Yao took it and glanced at it, smiling faintly, “It seems Xi Ling isn’t poor after all. Could this be considered wealth hidden among the people?” He handed the ledger to Ye Li, who flipped through it with some surprise, though thinking of the Prince’s manor’s vast, almost incalculable wealth, it became more acceptable. This was the true foundation of a century-old great family. Unlike the Ye family who had panicked like headless chickens over a few tens of thousands of taels of silver, which was the mark of newly risen nobility or nouveau riche. Even so, the Bai family’s assets were excessive, though considering that the Bai family had produced several empresses and over ten imperial consorts over generations, with such close ties to the imperial family, perhaps such deep wealth wasn’t hard to understand.
Ye Li thought for a moment and said, “Send the notes, silver, and gold to Fourth Brother. It would be too troublesome to supply wages and provisions for thirty thousand troops from Li City.”
Mo Xiu Yao nodded without hesitation, “A-Li speaks sense. Have Zhuo Jing deliver it later.”
Ye Li nodded, setting aside that matter, and looked at the ledger in her hand, saying, “These antiques and such… it would be troublesome to take them all back. We can select a few to bring back. Also, I see there are two precious swords here, and with the two sent earlier, we can give one each to General Zhang, General Lü, and General Yuan, with the remaining one for the Southern Marquis.”
Mo Xiu Yao leaned back in his chair, playing with Ye Li’s hair while gesturing for Zhuo Jing, who stood nearby, to note down Ye Li’s instructions. “You’ve only given them to Zhang Qi Lan and the others. Aren’t you afraid Feng Three will come to make trouble?”
Ye Li smiled sweetly and said, “I remember among these antiques there’s a Thousand-Li Landscape gold-inlaid ivory fan personally painted by Wu Zhi Kai of the previous dynasty. I’m sure Young Master Feng Three would prefer a fan to a sword.” Feng Zhi Yao had always liked to show off his grace and elegance, carrying a fan regardless of season. With such a treasure of a fan, how could he remember about wanting a sword? Mo Xiu Yao, seemingly recalling Feng Three’s image in red robes proudly waving his fan, couldn’t help but smile, “Giving such a fine thing to him is truly a waste.” Still, he waved at Zhuo Jing to note it down.
Ye Li selected many more items from the ledger to reward those who had contributed to this Western campaign, ensuring almost everyone received something. She also remembered to add a month’s wages for the common soldiers – after all, these confiscated items from the Bai family were unexpected wealth. It wouldn’t be good for the Prince’s manor to keep everything in the Prince’s purse. Throughout this, Mo Xiu Yao offered no opinions, only smiling as he watched Ye Li calmly giving these instructions, his face showing a gentle, peaceful smile, unlike his usual cold one that others saw.
Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, standing nearby, thought nothing of it, but Lady Sun was extremely shocked. The Prince trusted the Princess far more than anyone imagined. The Princess didn’t need to consult with the Prince on many matters, simply giving orders directly. The Prince showed no displeasure or doubt as if it were perfectly natural for the Princess to handle the Prince’s manor’s political and military affairs. At this, Lady Sun’s respect and loyalty to Ye Li silently increased severalfold.
After Ye Li finished giving instructions, Zhuo Jing turned to leave to handle matters. Ye Li closed the ledger and smiled, saying, “Let’s take those rare books back to Li City together. Grandfather will surely be very pleased. I hadn’t expected the Bai family to truly have some good rare volumes.” Though the quantity was a drop in the bucket compared to the Xu family, many of these rare books were hard to come by, and even one more volume would be enough to delight many scholars and literati.
Mo Xiu Yao smiled and said, “We probably can’t take them all. We should leave some for your Fourth Brother to use as bribes.”
Ye Li blinked, suddenly understanding. Great scholars weren’t only in Li City; Xi Ling had one too, and coincidentally one they needed to curry favor with. If they let Master Long Ting know they’d taken away all these rare books without leaving him any, the old master would surely make things difficult for Fourth Brother until he was satisfied.
Ye Li could only select some that her grandfather and two uncles would be interested in taking back, leaving the rest for Xu Qing Bai to use as a stepping stone to invite Master Long Ting out of retirement.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed, reaching the day Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li were to set out for Li City. The thirty thousand troops and Zhang Qi Lan remained in Xi Ling, while only Feng Zhi Yao, Xu Qing Feng, Yun Ting, three thousand Black Cloud Cavalry, and various Qilin guards would return with Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li.
The day before departure, Mo Xiu Yao issued his first decree in Xi Ling under the Prince of Ding’s name. The decree announced the renaming of Xi Ling’s capital to An Ping City while appointing Xu Qing Bai as Governor-General of Xi Ling’s five provinces and twelve cities, overseeing all military and civil affairs in Xi Ling. It also appointed Zhang Qi Lan as Great General of the Western Garrison, commanding thirty thousand troops stationed in Xi Ling, with all military forces within Xi Ling’s borders under his control. When this decree was issued, everyone was shocked. Though there had never been such a title as Governor-General before, just looking at the authority Mo Xiu Yao had granted made clear the vast scope of this position’s power. Within Xi Ling’s borders, it could be said to be Xu Qing Bai’s domain. Although Zhang Qi Lan managed military affairs as a check, it should be noted that military funds were in Xu Qing Bai’s hands. This showed the Prince’s trust in the Xu family.
Xu Qing Bai, feeling that Mo Xiu Yao had trapped him, helplessly supported his now-mobile body to personally return the million-plus taels of silver Mo Xiu Yao had handed him. He stated that since Feng Huai Ting would be sent, money matters should naturally be handled by someone who understood money; this young master wouldn’t serve. Mo Xiu Yao was quite displeased with Xu Qing Bai’s distrust. Xu Qing Bai sighed helplessly and said, “Hasn’t this humble one offended the Prince? Are you trying to put me on the fire to roast?”
Mo Xiu Yao had to sullenly take it back, arguing, “This Prince just trusted Fourth Young Master Xu.” In his heart, he silently sighed – why did all the Xu family members have to be so clever? He had just felt that the cunning Xu Qing Chen couldn’t be relied upon and might slip away at any time, so he wanted to train the Fourth Young Master more. Compared to the almost demonically clever Xu Qing Chen, someone smart yet down-to-earth like Xu Qing Bai was a better choice for service. The Prince, full of complaints, forgot to consider: if Xu Qing Bai weren’t clever enough, why would he need to set such a trap for a possibility of eight hundred years in the future?