After the Ye family had been sent off, Qin Feng asked, “Princess, why be so polite to them?” Having joined Ye Li’s service relatively late, though Qin Feng didn’t fully understand the previous relationship between the Ye family and Ye Li, he could see that the Princess didn’t have the same deep feelings for the Ye family as she did for the Xu family, and even harbored some aversion toward them. In Qin Feng’s view, since the Princess disliked the Ye family, there was no need to entangle with them – they could simply have them thrown out.
Ye Li waved her hand and said calmly, “Regardless, the Ye family and I still share blood ties. Being too harsh would only make people think Prince Ding’s mansion is cold-blooded and heartless. Besides, they can’t stir up much trouble anyway. Assign some people to watch them secretly, and if Ye Rong dares to cause any more trouble in Li City, don’t hesitate to teach him a good lesson.”
Qin Feng nodded in acknowledgment and went to arrange for people to secretly monitor the Ye mansion’s activities.
After returning to the Ye mansion, the family was far from peaceful. Old Madam Ye angrily accused Ye Li of being unfilial, while Madam Wang wept and complained about Ye Li not looking after her brother, giving Ye Wenhua a splitting headache. Shen Liang watched briefly before pulling the still-talking Ye Lin back to their courtyard, mentally calculating that they should move out of the Ye mansion in a few days to find a smaller courtyard to live in and start his own business. If they stayed at the Ye mansion, even if he were lucky enough to prosper, his wealth would only end up benefiting Ye Rong.
Ye Wenhua massaged his temples and said gravely, “Enough. We’ve been in Li City for so many days, and Prince Ding’s mansion hasn’t mistreated us. Can’t you just stay quiet?” In truth, it would be impossible to say Ye Wenhua had no ambition – if he hadn’t been ambitious, he wouldn’t have allowed Madam Wang to manipulate things so Ye Ying could seduce Mo Jingli. But after living in the countryside these past few years, away from the capital’s glamour, his mind had gradually cleared from the intoxication of the capital’s prosperity. Over these years, Ye Wenhua had figured out many things. If it hadn’t been for his daughter Ye Li, not only would his family have merely been demoted to commoners, but whether they could have left the capital alive would have been questionable.
Moreover, thinking about how he, once a poor scholar, had risen to the position of Minister in less than twenty years – while the latter part was indeed due to his maneuvering, the early stages depended on the Xu family’s support. Without the backing of the Xu family’s son-in-law, how would those noble families in the capital have given any regard to a poor scholar like him? Thinking of this made him feel increasingly guilty toward his deceased first wife and more remorseful toward his daughter Ye Li. Hearing of Ye Li’s accomplishments over these years, even Ye Wenhua had to acknowledge the capabilities of this daughter he had once neglected, feeling both bitter remorse and pride.
The wailing in the main hall stuttered to a stop. Old Madam Ye’s face reddened with anger as she pointed at Ye Wenhua and said, “Not mistreated? Look at what Prince Ding’s mansion is like, and what is this broken courtyard of ours like. Look at how the Xu family members live, and look at what you, her father, are like! How many people in Li City show any respect to you, the Princess’s father?” Madam Wang quickly added, “The Old Madam is right. Rong’er is still the Princess’s only brother. Yet now in Li City, he’s treated worse than a general’s grandson. I can’t even show my face in public anymore…”
“If you can’t show your face, then don’t go out!” Ye Wenhua snapped irritably. How could he not understand what his mother was saying? But that would require the Ye family to have the Xu family’s capabilities. Which of the Xu brothers didn’t have real talent and ability? Even the youngest, Xu Qingyan, had gone to the northwest when he was barely in his teens, not staying in Li City to enjoy an easy life. If Ye Rong truly had talent, wouldn’t Prince Ding’s mansion welcome him even if he weren’t the Princess’s brother?
“It’s you, ignorant woman, who has spoiled this wretch!” Thinking of this, Ye Wenhua’s expression grew darker. Seeing Ye Rong sitting to the side without a care in the world only increased his anger. He grabbed a feather duster from nearby and began striking Ye Rong with it. Caught off guard, Ye Rong was struck directly and immediately began howling, crying out “Grandmother save me, Mother save me… Rong’er is going to die…” The doting Madam Wang and Old Madam Ye hurriedly came forward to restrain Ye Wenhua, with Old Madam Ye cursing, “What are you doing? For that married-off girl Ye Li, you want to beat your son to death? Do you want the Ye family line to end? Why don’t you just kill this old woman and be done with it!”
Madam Wang also hugged her son and began wailing loudly, “My lord… how cruel you are! The Princess may be your daughter, but isn’t Rong’er your son too?”
Listening to the crying and shouting around him, and seeing the smug smile on Ye Rong’s face, Ye Wenhua felt utterly helpless. Having never truly stood firm against his mother and wife in his life, Ye Wenhua once again admitted defeat. He dejectedly dropped what he was holding and turned to return to his courtyard to read.
Outside the door, Shen Liang and Ye Lin stood together listening to the commotion inside. Shen Liang looked down at his wife with a calm expression and asked, “Look at this place, do you still want to stay here?” Ye Lin opened her mouth but ultimately felt some reluctance. Living here, she was still the Ye family’s Sixth Young Miss, the Princess’s sister. But after moving out, she would just be the wife of an unremarkable Shen family concubine’s son. Given Shen Liang’s personality, he would not allow her to freely advertise her relationship with the Princess outside. Regarding her third sister, Ye Lin always harbored some unwillingness and defiance in her heart. They were both Ye family daughters, and before marriage, Ye Li hadn’t even been as prominent in the family as she was. Was their vastly different fate simply because she had a mother surnamed Xu?
“Though I’m not familiar with the Princess, could you accomplish what she has done? If you had married into Prince Ding’s household, could you have achieved her current position?” Shen Liang said bluntly. He wasn’t particularly dissatisfied with his wife. They were both born to concubines, so having some discontent was understandable, but it wouldn’t do to not know one’s place.
Ye Lin’s heart stirred – wasn’t it true? Hadn’t she secretly gloated when Ye Li was about to marry? As for what happened after Ye Li became Princess… Ye Lin thought about it – if it had been her, she probably would have died long ago. Thinking of this, the discontent in her heart seemed to lessen. Ye Lin had always known these things, she just hadn’t wanted to admit them. Now that someone had pointed it out to her, she quickly understood. Ye Lin looked up and said, “I’ll go with you. Let’s move out.” She also didn’t want to stay in the Ye family, watching Madam Wang’s face every day and serving Madam Wang and Old Madam Ye like a maid.
When news of the Ye family’s affairs reached Ye Li at Prince Ding’s mansion, she merely smiled faintly and let it pass. Now approaching the end of the year, although many tasks were kept from her due to her pregnancy, she still couldn’t remain idle.
Since Mo Xiuyao had retaken Flying Hong Pass, the previously deadlocked situation had immediately changed. The two forces besieging Flying Hong Pass were utterly defeated, and with the harsh winter arriving, the Northern Rong army’s movements had noticeably slowed. In Northern Rong territory, winter brought thousand-mile ice sheets with not a blade of grass in sight. Although they had occupied large areas of Great Chu’s north, these regions had been largely ravaged in the past half year. So as winter set in, the Northern Rong army began experiencing supply shortages. After repelling the besieging Northern Rong and Western Ling armies, Mo Xiuyao pressed eastward toward Chu Capital without pause. Before this, the army led by Murong Shen had already gradually approached Chu Capital. Another army of 300,000 troops under commander He Su had bypassed Chu Capital and directly engaged with Wei Chen’s Northern Border army on the other side, cutting off the Northern Border army’s retreat route. Although the appearance of these two armies couldn’t directly break the siege of Chu Capital, it did cause the enemy’s offensive to slow considerably, giving the Great Chu defenders who had been fighting bitterly for over a month some relief.
At this time, an enormous incident occurred within the Northern Border region. The current Northern Border King Ren Qining’s queen – the princess who had married down from the Northern Border tribes – and all her children suddenly died in a single night. Strangely, the children born to his concubines remained unharmed. Although the Northern Border people were fierce and not skilled in scheming, they weren’t truly foolish. Soon rumors began circulating in the Northern Border capital about Ren Qining secretly harming his wife. Because Ren Qining himself wasn’t from the Northern Border, and he had employed many Central Plains people after unifying the Northern Border, seeds of discord between the Central Plains people and Northern Border people had long been sown, now exploding into a situation that gave Ren Qining quite a headache.
However, just days after Ren Qining had barely suppressed these rumors, his remaining children and consorts also died. This time it appeared to be the work of Northern Border people, but regardless of whether Ren Qining truly believed it was them or thought it was a frame-up, he could only suppress the matter again. Otherwise, the conflict between the Central Plains people and the Northern Border people would explode even more violently next time.
In the study
Ren Qining looked at the card that had just been delivered, nearly grinding his teeth to powder. It was a black card with gold trim, the back decorated with golden auspicious clouds and flying dragons. The content was very simple, just a few words: “Those who do not offend me, I do not offend. Those who offend me will be repaid a thousandfold.” The flowing characters appeared unrestrained and domineering, more like an undisguised challenge.
Ren Qining ground his teeth and violently crumpled the card into paper fragments in an instant. “Mo Xiuyao!” The formerly elegant face of Ren Qining no longer showed even a trace of a smile, only endless distortion and hatred. This sudden strike from Mo Xiuyao was enough to pierce Ren Qining to the core. Not just his consorts, but all his children – four sons and five daughters, none were spared. Ren Qining knew this was Mo Xiuyao’s revenge for his actions against Ye Li in Western Ling, but people are often like this – completely disregarding others’ suffering until it befalls themselves, only then finding it unbearable.
“My lord.” In the study, several men who were clearly from the Central Plains stood at attention, looking with concern at Ren Qining’s somewhat distorted expression. They were all descendants of loyal ministers from the previous dynasty who had served the Lin family for generations. After Ren Qining established his base on the Northern Border, he naturally placed them in important positions in the Northern Border court. Compared to those Northern Border people fighting desperately on the battlefield, these were Ren Qining’s true confidants. Although using Northern Border barbarians to start the uprising made these self-proclaimed Central Plains orthodox somewhat uncomfortable, they had unfortunately been born at the wrong time. For hundreds of years, the Central Plains had been guarded by successive princes of Prince Ding’s mansion, and their ancestors couldn’t make a move. It was only when Prince Ding’s mansion was seriously wounded that they found an opportunity to control the entire Northern Border; otherwise, they would still be hidden in the shadows as reclusive families.
Ren Qining gave a cold laugh and said, “Mo Xiuyao had this card delivered. Prince Ding’s people truly are everywhere… What impressive methods!”
One of them hesitated before asking, “The matter of the Queen and young princes was Mo Xiuyao’s doing? Killing entire families… Mo Xiuyao’s methods are truly poisonous!” Even these men couldn’t help but shudder at Mo Xiuyao’s ruthlessness. Mo Xiuyao had just killed half the nobles in Western Ling’s capital, and now he had killed everyone in the Northern Border royal family except Ren Qining. Such methods were undeniably chilling.
“Could it be that Mo Xiuyao truly cares so much about the Princess? Or did he already intend to do this and just found a convenient excuse?” someone questioned doubtfully.
Ren Qining remained silent. He had only met Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li once last year in Western Ling. But he could sense Mo Xiuyao’s regard for the Princess, and because of the Xu family’s influence over Prince Ding’s mansion behind the Princess, that was why he had moved against Ye Li. He just hadn’t expected this time to truly lose both the prize and his troops.
After a moment of silence, Ren Qining finally asked, “How goes the battle at Chu Capital?”
“Reporting to my lord, our forces had originally besieged Chu Capital for over a month, and we believed we would breach it any day. However, an army suddenly appeared from somewhere and cut off the road between Chu Capital and Zijing Pass. This army only has 200,000 men, but their commander is extraordinary. They’ve occupied three small cities forming a triangle, and have inflicted heavy casualties on our forces. More importantly, they’re blocking key routes in between, so our supplies and reinforcements can’t get through. I’m afraid taking Chu Capital will be delayed.” They had never believed that the army could change the entire situation. No matter how formidable, it was just 200,000 men – nothing compared to the Northern Border’s nearly million-strong force. It would only delay the city’s fall.
Ren Qining frowned slightly and asked, “Who is commanding them?” To his knowledge, Great Chu had few capable generals, and most had been taken south by Mo Jingli. And the original defenders of Zijing Pass like Leng Huai were now trapped defending Chu Capital, so they couldn’t have come out to lead troops.
The middle-aged man shook his head and said, “We only know his name is He Su. With the world in chaos and Mo Jingli taking many people when he left Chu Capital, our people actually can’t find out his background.”
“Can’t find his background?” Ren Qining stroked his chin, asking thoughtfully, “Then… could he be Mo Xiuyao’s man?”
“This…” Everyone fell silent, exchanging doubtful glances. Although those troops didn’t look like Mo’s army, who knew if Prince Ding’s mansion had other forces hidden away? Moreover, this sudden flanking attack was meant to delay the Northern Border’s capture of Chu Capital. And now, Mo Xiuyao was also heading toward Chu Capital. So, if this was about buying time for Mo Xiuyao, it made sense.
Ren Qining rose to his feet and said, “Send orders to mobilize all forces. Within three days, this king must crush that army and assault Chu Capital with full force. We must take Chu Capital before Mo Xiuyao’s army arrives.” Everyone acknowledged, “My lord, your plans?” Ren Qining narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “If Mo Xiuyao wants Chu Capital, he’ll have to see if this king allows it. Send word to Northern Rong’s Seventh Prince – in ten days, I invite him to meet at Zijing Pass.”
The men exchanged glances, all puzzled. Though they didn’t understand their master’s thoughts, they respectfully withdrew to carry out his orders.
Though no one knew what was discussed when Northern Rong’s commander, the Seventh Prince, met with Northern Border King Ren Qining at Zijing Pass, two secret letters were sent west that day. One was delivered to Mo Xiuyao, still with his army, while the other was sent to Prince Ding’s mansion in Li City in the northwest.
In the military camp’s main tent, Mo Xiuyao lounged lazily in his chair, reading the letter. Below him, Marquis Nan, Lu Jinxian, Feng Zhiyao, and others all speculated about what could be in the letter to give their lord such a meaningful expression. Finally, Feng Zhiyao was pressured by the other elders’ glares to stand and ask, “My lord, has something happened?”
Mo Xiuyao gave him an enigmatic smile and said, “Indeed something has happened. Three days ago, Northern Rong’s Yelü Ye and Northern Jin’s Ren Qining had a chat at Zijing Pass.”
Everyone understood – these two getting together wasn’t just a simple chat. This meant the two sides were preparing to join forces against Prince Ding’s mansion.
Marquis Nan frowned and asked, “Did Ren Qining and Yelü Ye reach some agreement?”
Mo Xiuyao said, “They met in secret, so what exactly was said isn’t written here. However… I can guess a thing or two. It’s nothing more than Northern Rong helping to block Mo’s army’s advance, giving the Northern Border time to take Chu Capital.”
Feng Zhiyao was puzzled, “Would Yelü Ye be that foolish? Using his troops as shields for Ren Qining?”
Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, “It’s not exactly foolish. Northern Rong’s forces are directly facing us now, they have no choice but to fight hard. Unless they could defeat Mo’s army, their chances of taking Chu Capital smoothly weren’t high to begin with. But the Northern Border is different – they’re in completely the opposite direction from us. They won’t have any conflict with us until we reach Chu Capital. Ren Qining must have offered other benefits to Yelü Ye in exchange for giving up Chu Capital.”
“What kind of benefits?” Chu Capital wasn’t just any place – even though the Great Chu royal family had relocated their capital, it still held great significance for all of Great Chu’s people.
Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Perhaps he gave some territory to Northern Rong. Maybe also promised that after taking Chu Capital, the two sides would deal with Prince Ding’s mansion together?”
Lu Songxian frowned, asking worriedly, “If so, this is indeed very unfavorable for us. Does my lord have any plans?”
Mo Xiuyao smiled and said, “We plan to reach Chu Capital as quickly as possible, we can’t let the Northern Border people get there first. As for other plans, Master Qingchen will naturally consider them. As for this Ren Qining, it seems the lesson this time wasn’t enough.”
Everyone present, including Feng Zhiyao who had been in Western Ling, looked curiously at Mo Xiuyao with expressions asking what exactly he had done to the man.
Mo Xiuyao said calmly, “Nothing much. I had Qin Feng send people to kill all his wives, concubines, and children.”
Everyone fell silent.
Similarly, in Prince Ding’s mansion’s study in Li City, Xu Qingchen, Xu Hongyu, and others were present. Ye Li, wearing a thick sable cape and holding a hand warmer, also sat nearby listening to their discussion.
Xu Qingze put down the letter, his usually expressionless face furrowed with concern, saying, “If Northern Rong and the Northern Border truly join forces against Mo’s army, it won’t be easy for them to reach Chu Capital by early next month. Can Chu Capital hold out that long?”
Xu Hongyu stroked his beard, frowning slightly as he said, “It won’t be easy, we can only hope the Prince moves quickly. As for the Northern Border situation, Li’er… is He Su Prince Ding’s man?”
Ye Li nodded, smiling as she said, “Indeed he is Prince Ding’s man.”
Xu Hongyu nodded and said, “That’s good then. With him and General Murong there, they should be able to somewhat ease Chu Capital’s predicament. If that’s not enough… then it must be heaven’s will.”
Xu Qingchen smiled faintly and said, “Father need not worry so much. Even if Chu Capital falls to the Northern Border, Prince Ding will certainly be able to take it back. Moreover, falling to the Northern Border is far better than falling to Northern Rong.” When Northern Rong’s armies entered the Central Plains, they engaged in endless killing, looting, and burning, leaving rivers of blood wherever they went. As the saying goes, those not of our kind must be of a different heart – as long as Ren Qining still wanted to rule the Central Plains, he couldn’t engage in wholesale slaughter like the Northern Rong armies.
Xu Hongyu could only think along these lines. Shaking his head, he said, “We needn’t concern ourselves with military matters. However, if Northern Rong and the Northern Border truly ally, it would be greatly disadvantageous to us.” This disadvantage wasn’t just about the current rescue of Chu Capital, but also for the future. “Does Qingchen have any thoughts?”
Xu Qingchen exchanged a glance with Ye Li, smiling faintly as he said, “Indeed I have some ideas. Neither Northern Rong nor the Northern Border are internally united. The struggle between Northern Rong’s Crown Prince and Seventh Prince, the division between Central Plains people and Northern Border people within the Northern Border – we can work with all of these.”
Xu Hongyu raised an eyebrow and said, “You mean… divide them from within?”
Ye Li nodded and smiled, “Elder Brother is correct. Currently, Northern Rong’s forces are led by Seventh Prince Yelü Ye. After this battle, Yelü Ye’s influence in Northern Rong will certainly rise, overshadowing Crown Prince Yelü Hong. Given their usual discord, how could Yelü Hong tolerate this? He will surely be very dissatisfied with Yelü Ye. If someone were to whisper certain things in the Northern Rong King’s ear…”
Xu Hongyan asked, “Is this plan feasible? Does Prince Ding’s mansion have any agents who can influence the Northern Rong royal family?”
Ye Li shook her head, saying somewhat helplessly, “We don’t. The Northern Rong people are very xenophobic. Non-Northern Rong people simply cannot gain their trust and important positions. However, we do have people near the Northern Rong Crown Prince, and… Yelü Hong’s relationship with Prince Ding’s mansion is far better than Yelü Ye’s.”
“Oh?” Xu Hongyan said curiously. Despite being in the northwest for so many years, he hadn’t known Prince Ding’s mansion could place people even near the Northern Rong Crown Prince.
Xu Qingchen thought for a moment before looking up to ask, “Is it Princess Ronghua?” Years ago, Princess Ronghua, daughter of Princess Zhaoren, had been made a princess and married Northern Rong’s Crown Prince Yelü Hong. However, Princess Ronghua’s relationships with Prince Ding’s mansion and Ye Li hadn’t been good in the capital, so it wasn’t easy to guess at this connection. But after so many years, whether Princess Ronghua had changed was another matter. “Is she reliable?”
Ye Li smiled and said, “Whether Princess Ronghua is reliable doesn’t matter – we don’t need her to do anything for us. As long as the people around her are reliable, that’s enough.” Princess Ronghua wasn’t a trained spy after all; too many matters would easily expose her. Prince Ding’s mansion had originally sent two groups of agents to secretly help Princess Ronghua – one open, which she knew about, and one hidden, which no one had told her about. Of course, this wasn’t purely to help Princess Ronghua, but rather in preparation for situations like the present. Now that Great Chu had relocated its capital, losing nearly half its territory, and news from Northern Rong indicated Yelü Hong hadn’t shown any sign of neglecting or rejecting Princess Ronghua, it was clear she had managed her position in Northern Rong quite well over these years.
“That’s good then,” Xu Qingchen nodded with satisfaction.
Ye Li smiled softly and said, “Then I’ll send someone personally to Northern Rong to seek an audience with Yelü Hong, and perhaps we can secretly provide him some help. If things go smoothly, within two or three months, Yelü Ye’s position as Northern Rong’s army commander should come to an end.”
Xu Qingchen asked, “Persuading Yelü Hong won’t be easy. Should I go personally?”
“This…” Ye Li frowned. The northwest’s many affairs couldn’t do without her elder brother, but without sending someone of sufficient standing, they might not be able to convince Yelü Hong. If she hadn’t been pregnant, Ye Li would have planned to go herself. From the side, Xu Hongyan said, “The northwest can’t spare Qingchen and your elder brother. Li’er, if you trust your uncle, let me make the trip.”
“Second Uncle, the northwest is bitterly cold, this journey…”
Xu Hongyan smiled and said, “Li’er, are you looking down on your uncle? Do you think your uncle can’t endure hardship?”
Ye Li naturally knew that although Xu Hongyan didn’t talk much usually, he was indeed eloquent and a suitable candidate. She looked hesitantly at Xu Qingchen and Xu Hongyu, and Xu Hongyu nodded decisively, saying, “Very well, it’s good for Second Brother to make this trip.”
Seeing Xu Hongyu say this, Ye Li could only nod, and after thinking, said, “In that case, Mo Hua is also in the northwest. I’ll have him bring some men to accompany Second Uncle.” Mo Hua was originally Prince Ding’s mansion’s chief of secret guards – with him leading men to protect the way, Xu Hongyan’s safety would naturally be assured. Even if the plan failed, Mo Hua could ensure Xu Hongyan’s safe return to the northwest.
“That’s good.” Knowing Ye Li was concerned for his safety, Xu Hongyan didn’t refuse.