“No need for Miss Dong Fang’s people to concern themselves with Young Master Qingchen’s whereabouts. Perhaps the King’s Consort would like to have a chat with me first?” A man’s gentle voice suddenly called from a nearby hillside.

Upon hearing this, everyone in front of the small cabin tensed. Though the cabin appeared unremarkable, the path leading to it had been fitted with numerous traps and mechanisms. While they might not cause injury, they would immediately alert those inside the cabin if triggered. Yet this person had managed to approach silently without alerting anyone.

“Who goes there?” Dong Fangyou whirled around to see a black-clad man leaning against a tree at the bottom of the nearby hill, arms crossed as he watched them. After a moment’s thought, she recognized him. “Someone from Prince Ding’s manor!”

Though she didn’t know the man’s name or position, Dong Fangyou remembered seeing him once by Princess Ding’s side – one of her trusted confidants. She had been carefully guarding against Prince Ding’s manor, yet Ye Li’s trusted aide had managed to secretly follow her.

The man in black smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. “Zhuo Jing of Prince Ding’s manor, at your service, Miss Dong Fang.”

Dong Fangyou watched him impassively. “What are you doing here? Surely Prince Ding’s manor didn’t send just you alone?”

Zhuo Jing replied, “Whatever brings Miss Dong Fang here is precisely why I’m here. My lady requests Miss Dong Fang’s presence for a discussion.”

Dong Fangyou’s expression changed slightly as she asked, “Ye Li is here too?” Zhuo Jing merely smiled without answering. Dong Fangyou’s thoughts raced as she realized the situation was unfavorable. The last time she had sent people to capture Xu Qingchen, both her forces and Mo Jingli’s had suffered nearly 80% casualties. This spoke volumes about how formidable Prince Ding’s manor’s guards were, not to mention Ye Li personally commanded the elite Qilin unit.

“I’m afraid I don’t have time to reminisce with Princess Ding. If she has matters to discuss, she’s welcome to visit King Li’s manor,” Dong Fangyou said coolly.

Zhuo Jing didn’t waste words with her. He smiled silently and raised his hand. Countless black-clad figures silently appeared on the hillsides surrounding the cabin, methodically blocking every escape route. It was truly a situation where even a bird couldn’t fly free.

Dong Fangyou understood that there would be no leaving Prince Ding’s manor’s grasp without a fight. Without ceremony, she leaped forward toward Zhuo Jing. Seeing her move to attack, her people naturally joined in without hesitation. Thus began a chaotic battle in the forest.

Zhuo Jing watched the woman charging at him with a smile, drawing his sword without concern. Though Dong Fangyou’s martial arts might surpass his own, he wasn’t afraid of her. The two quickly became locked in combat.

On a nearby ridge, Ye Li and Wei Lin watched the melee below. Though Dong Fangyou and her people were skilled fighters, they were sorely outnumbered. This location was quite secluded, used by Dong Fangyou only to hide people, so naturally there weren’t many guards stationed there. In just moments, Dong Fangyou’s people began to fall.

“Your Highness, Dong Fangyou’s martial arts are truly remarkable. If not for her mental issues, she could genuinely be called a genius,” Wei Lin couldn’t help but praise. It was inherently more difficult for women to practice martial arts than men, yet Dong Fangyou had achieved such profound skills at merely sixteen or seventeen years old. In terms of raw talent, she wasn’t far behind Mo Xiuyao in his youth. If things had gone smoothly, she might have become another martial arts prodigy after Mo Xiuyao, potentially the first woman in history to claim the title of world’s greatest fighter.

Watching the woman trading fierce blows with Zhuo Jing, even gaining the upper hand, Ye Li nodded in agreement. “As an heir of Cangmang Mountain, she is indeed a rare talent in this world.” Dong Fangyou excelled not just in martial arts – she was accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, dance, astronomy, medicine, and divination. Ye Li admitted she couldn’t match such comprehensive talents. Unfortunately, such genius often came with unusual thinking, and her ideas were not something ordinary people could accept.

“Shall I assist?” Wei Lin asked. It wasn’t that Zhuo Jing couldn’t handle Dong Fangyou – despite her genius, she still lacked experience compared to someone as battle-hardened as Ren Qining. If Zhuo Jing had wanted to kill Dong Fangyou, he’d have at least three to five opportunities to do so by now. However, capturing her alive would prove more difficult.

“No need,” Ye Li shook her head with a faint smile. “She won’t escape. Let’s head down ourselves.”

Indeed, Dong Fangyou had nowhere to run. However, the fatal blow came not from Zhuo Jing or Prince Ding’s manor’s people, but from one of the guards who had been by her side all along. When all of Dong Fangyou’s subordinates had been captured except for that one guard, when that person rushed to block Zhuo Jing’s sword for her, when Dong Fangyou thought she had found her chance to escape – she never expected what awaited her would be two swords. She dodged Zhuo Jing’s strike, which only tore her clothes slightly, but the sudden attack from the young man she had never suspected struck her with a grievous wound.

Clutching her chest, Dong Fangyou glared hatefully at the young man standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhuo Jing, finally understanding. “You’re from Prince Ding’s manor!”

Zhuo Jing smiled. “If Cangmang Mountain can plant spies in Prince Ding’s manor, how could Prince Ding’s manor not do the same to Cangmang Mountain?”

In the end, her inexperience proved fatal. Despite possessing martial arts ranked among the finest in the world, Dong Fangyou still fell into their hands. When she saw Ye Li approaching leisurely with Wei Lin, the anger in her eyes intensified. “Ye Li, it was you!”

Ye Li smiled faintly. “Originally, I didn’t want to appear here, but Miss Dong Fang left me no choice. Since we’re here, why don’t we sit inside and talk?” At this point, Dong Fangyou had no say in the matter. With her martial arts sealed, she was forced to follow behind Ye Li into the small wooden cabin.

The cabin indeed held secrets within, and Prince Ding’s manor had ways to make people talk. Especially after witnessing Dong Fangyou casually killing their companions, these people couldn’t help but feel a sense of empathy for the dead. Compared to the current Dong Fangyou with her unpredictable temper and ruthless nature, the white-robed Princess Ding with her gentle smile seemed particularly kind and approachable.

It took Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin less than a quarter-hour to get the secret passage’s entrance from those people. They escorted Dong Fangyou in front, walking for about half an hour before finally emerging into daylight. The place turned out to be a deep valley surrounded by sheer cliffs on all four sides. Though Ye Li had some idea of the location based on the terrain and route through the secret passage, seeing such a place still made her furrow her brow. In such a location, forget about Xu Qingchen who had no martial arts skills – even Ye Li herself would find it nearly impossible to leave without alerting anyone. Moreover, since Xu Qingchen couldn’t use lightfoot techniques and lacked the physical strength to climb the hundred-zhang-high cliffs alone, how did her brother manage to disappear from there?

“When did Young Master Qingchen disappear?” Ye Li asked calmly, sitting in a simple pavilion in the valley. Looking around at the furnishings, though simple and plain, nothing essential was lacking. A half-read ancient text sat by the table, and Xu Qingchen’s room was neat and orderly, showing no signs of someone breaking in to abduct him.

The men and women exchanged glances before one stepped forward to report, “Your Highness, Young Master Qingchen… disappeared two days ago.”

“Two days ago?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow. “If Young Master Qingchen disappeared two days ago, why didn’t you report to Miss Dong Fang? Did you send people to search for him?” The person smiled bitterly and explained, “We did send people to search right away, but we searched everywhere inside and outside the valley, up and down the mountains, without finding anyone. The young mistress ordered us to watch Young Master Qingchen, and now that he’s missing, we really…”

Ye Li understood these people’s thinking. Having followed Dong Fangyou for some time, they surely knew her methods. Princess Qi Xia had merely mocked Dong Fangyou a few times and was nearly beaten to death by her. Not to mention these people had lost track of Xu Qingchen. They could only delay day by day, hoping to find him before Dong Fangyou arrived.

Ye Li cast a glance at Dong Fangyou, who sat stiffly to one side. In such a short time, Dong Fangyou had grown into such a fearsome master that her subordinates trembled at her presence – it was truly unexpected. However, now that she had been captured, that was all meaningless. Cangmang Mountain, this thorn that had been embedded in the various states for hundreds of years, would have to be completely uprooted sooner or later.

“Besides the secret passage, are there any other ways out of this valley?” Ye Li asked.

Everyone shook their heads repeatedly. The leader smiled bitterly, “Your Highness, even if there were other paths, Young Master Qingchen couldn’t have used them. There’s climbing up the cliff faces, but look at these sheer hundred-zhang high cliffs – forget about someone like Young Master Qingchen who has no martial arts, even we…” Ye Li nodded. With such cliffs, without tools, even she couldn’t climb up.

“What was Young Master Qingchen doing before he disappeared?”

“Since the young mistress ordered us not to neglect Young Master Qingchen in any way, he was allowed to do as he pleased as long as he didn’t try to escape. We watched him today – Young Master Qingchen was very well-behaved, just reading books and playing the zither daily. So we didn’t pay much attention. At that time every day, Young Master Qingchen would sit on the slope outside the pavilion to read.”

Ye Li stood up. “Show me.”

These people’s lives were now in Ye Li’s hands, so naturally, they wouldn’t defy her. Moreover, if Ye Li hadn’t suddenly appeared with her forces, given Dong Fangyou’s anger at the time, they might have met the same fate as those first unfortunate victims. So in a way, Princess Ding had saved their lives. Besides, from any perspective, pledging loyalty to Prince Ding’s manor offered better prospects than continuing to follow the now-crippled Cangmang Mountain.

Ye Li smiled as she looked at Dong Fangyou, who glared back unflinchingly, her gaze seemingly poisonous. Ye Li frowned slightly and said calmly, “Miss Dong Fang, I’ll have to trouble you to wait here a while longer.”

Dong Fangyou glared at her. “I want to go look for Young Master Qingchen.”

Ye Li frowned. “My brother wouldn’t want to see you. Haven’t you hurt him enough?” Dong Fangyou raged, “I never hurt Young Master Qingchen, I just… I just…” Ye Li waved her hand. “I don’t want to hear what you ‘just’ did. Just tell me – will you stay here quietly?”

Dong Fangyou glared at her provocatively. “What if I refuse? You’ll have to tie me up.”

A smile curved Ye Li’s lips. “If that’s the case…” Her hand moved swiftly and cleanly, delivering a precise chop to Dong Fangyou’s neck. Dong Fangyou’s eyes closed as she collapsed to the ground. “Wei Lin.”

Wei Lin gazed at Ye Li admiringly and nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I guarantee she won’t cause any trouble.” Prince Ding’s manor had plenty of methods and medicines to seal internal energy, ensuring that even when Dong Fangyou woke up, she would be too weak to move a muscle.

After dealing with Dong Fangyou, the group followed their guides to where Xu Qingchen had disappeared. It was indeed the most scenic spot in the valley, with a smooth stone on the ground that was noticeably cleaner than other rocks around – regularly wiped clean or sat upon. Ye Li sat on the stone and looked around while asking, “Where is the book my brother was reading that day?”

The people exchanged glances before finally answering, “It seems… it disappeared along with Young Master Qingchen.” They had been so frantic about Young Master Qingchen’s disappearance that they hadn’t paid attention to an unremarkable book. Now that they thought about it, Young Master Qingchen had indeed brought a book out with him, but they hadn’t found it nearby afterward, indicating he had taken it with him when he left.

Zhuo Jing spoke softly beside Ye Li, “It seems Young Master Qingchen wasn’t taken by force but left of his own accord?” If he had been coerced, how could he have been so careful to take the book with him? And if he had been carried away unconsciously, it was even more unlikely – surely his kidnapper hadn’t suddenly fallen in love with the ancient text and decided to take it too?

Ye Li pondered for a long while before finally pointing at the cliff face before them. “Look up there.” Then she pointed at the lake nearby. “And down there.” Several black-clad guards immediately moved to the cliff face and began climbing. Two guards who were strong swimmers smoothly slid into the water, disappearing silently beneath the surface.

“Your Highness, Young Master Qingchen surely wouldn’t have…” The former guards thought Ye Li suspected he had fallen into the lake and hurried to dissuade her. If Young Master Qingchen had truly fallen in, his body would have surfaced after these two days.

Ye Li waved her hand to silence them.

Shortly after, the guards who had climbed the cliff returned. “Your Highness, there are traces of someone up there, but… Young Master Qingchen couldn’t have climbed up.” Taking someone without martial arts up such a high cliff would require considerable time and effort. The chance of being spotted from below would be too high. Moreover, there were no marks left on the rock face or cliff. Unless the person’s lightfoot skills were so advanced they could carry Young Master Qingchen up the cliff without any support and still have the energy to fly further. But such power would be beyond even His Highness’s abilities.

Ye Li sighed slightly; she hadn’t held much hope anyway. Dismissing the guards, she silently stared at the gently rippling lake surface.

After a long while, the guards who had gone underwater finally surfaced. They reported excitedly, “Your Highness, there’s a deep cave at the bottom of the lake. We suspect it might lead outside.”

Wei Lin frowned. “Even so, how could Young Master Qingchen have gotten out?” Looking at the two guards’ condition, they had barely made it back before running out of air. Young Master Qingchen’s physique couldn’t possibly allow him to hold his breath longer than Prince Ding’s manor’s guards, not to mention… did Young Master Qingchen even know how to swim?

Ye Li’s brow smoothed slightly. “My brother certainly didn’t leave on his own.”

“Your Highness means someone took Young Master Qingchen?” Zhuo Jing asked. One of the guards still in the lake held up a jade pendant. “Your Highness, we found this at the bottom of the lake.”

Wei Lin stepped forward to take it – indeed, it was the jade pendant Xu Qingchen usually wore. The silk cord wasn’t broken, yet the pendant was found in the lake, clearly deliberately left there. Holding the pendant, Ye Li thought for a moment before asking, “Could you swim through?”

“This humble one was inadequate… we swam quite far but still couldn’t sense an exit, and… this is in the mountains, even if there is an exit, it might not be…” the guard apologized.

Ye Li waved her hand. “How could this be your fault? You may rise. Wei Lin, have people secretly investigate all locations within five li of here, and record every pond, river, and lake. Zhuo Jing, see if any of our people are from coastal regions and can stay underwater for long periods – have them try from here again.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” they answered in unison.

They had hoped to find news of Xu Qingchen, but it turned out to be false hope. At least they had confirmed some information about him. Though Ye Li worried about his safety, she had to return to the city first.

Meanwhile, in Nanjing, Dong Fangyou’s sudden disappearance had caused turbulent undercurrents, with King Li’s manor’s people searching everywhere. Ye Li walked freely through the streets with the disguised Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin, while Dong Fangyou had been transported to the Chu manor in the city. Ye Li didn’t plan to use this piece yet – startling the snake from the grass wouldn’t be wise. After Mo Jingli left Nanjing, Dong Fangyou and Cangmang Mountain would be far more useful.

Dong Fangyou had been transported back to the Chu manor in a box. Mo Jingli, frantically searching for her, naturally wouldn’t imagine she had been unknowingly transported back to Nanjing like cargo in a box. Whether the carriers had forgotten or not, when Ye Li returned to the Chu manor, Dong Fangyou was still locked in the box, unreleased.

Opening the lid, they found Dong Fangyou already awake. Unfortunately, with her pressure points sealed and under the influence of the medicine, her mobility was barely better than a one-year-old child’s. So even though she had been awake, she could only curl up helplessly in the box waiting for someone to let her out. In all her life, apart from her unrequited love for Xu Qingchen and being forced to marry Mo Jingli, Dong Fangyou had never suffered any grievance, let alone being treated like this. So when the box opened, Wei Lin immediately felt her arrow-like glare.

Wei Lin shrugged, carelessly picking up Dong Fangyou with one hand and throwing her into a nearby chair. Dong Fangyou glared hatefully at the person in the main seat but was startled when she saw the elegant young man sitting there. “It’s you?!”

Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded. “Miss Dong Fang, I apologize for the inconvenience.”

It was Chu Junwei’s appearance but Ye Li’s voice. Dong Fangyou’s face immediately turned ugly. She gritted her teeth, “Ye Li, it was you! You dare…” The Young Master Chu she had taken a liking to at the chrysanthemum banquet had been Ye Li in disguise. This was more humiliating than anything else. But she had no time to dwell on Ye Li’s deception now, anxiously asking, “Where is Young Master Qingchen?”

Ye Li shook her head helplessly. Dong Fangyou’s feelings for Xu Qingchen could truly be called deep and sincere, but unfortunately, she had used the wrong methods, and Xu Qingchen genuinely had no feelings for her. A mutual romance was never one person’s matter – if Dong Fangyou had been content to quietly pine for Xu Qingchen without bothering anyone, Ye Li naturally wouldn’t have mocked her feelings. But when someone had already firmly refused, to still persist and even use various schemes was simply too forceful.

“My brother’s matter will be handled by Prince Ding’s manor. Miss Dong Fang, perhaps you should think about yourself instead,” Ye Li said calmly.

“I want to see Young Master Qingchen!” Dong Fangyou screamed.

Ye Li frowned. “We haven’t found my brother yet.”

“I want to see Young Master Qingchen!” Dong Fangyou seemed not to hear Ye Li’s words, continuing to scream and shout. Ye Li sighed helplessly, “There’s nothing to discuss. Please go rest, Miss Dong Fang.”

“Ye Li! I want to see Young Master Qingchen!” Dong Fangyou glared at Ye Li as if she were a cruel mother-in-law separating lovers. Ye Li looked at her with furrowed brows and asked softly, “Miss Dong Fang, these days, have you thought about Lady Dong?” Dong Fangyou trembled slightly, her face suddenly turning pale.

Ye Li waved her hand, having people take her away.

Perhaps because Ye Li had suddenly mentioned Dong Hui, Dong Fangyou was led away in a daze.

“Your Highness, who would have thought that one trip would bring back such a remarkable person?” At the doorway, Yao Ji stood smiling at Ye Li. Ye Li raised an eyebrow, looking at Yao Ji who had come personally. “Why are you here?”

Yao Ji smiled. “King Li is searching the whole city – I knew something big must have happened. I didn’t expect it would be the King’s Consort who had disappeared.” Ye Li was curious. “Mo Jingli hasn’t spread this news?”

Yao Ji covered her mouth and laughed. “Mo Jingli probably assumed Dong Fangyou had run away with Young Master Qingchen. How could he spread such face-losing news? He probably never imagined that the Regent King’s Consort he’s searching everywhere for would be here in the Chu manor, not far from King Li’s manor. How is it? Any news of Young Master Qingchen?”

Ye Li frowned slightly and shook her head. Yao Ji sighed softly. “Your Highness needn’t worry. Young Master Qingchen is blessed by heaven – he’ll be fine. Oh right, I came here on important business.”

Ye Li smiled at her. Yao Ji waved the invitation in her hand and said with a smile, “King Li is going to war, but he’s short on military funds, so he plans to host a banquet for the city’s powerful and wealthy merchants to borrow money?”

Ye Li was stunned for a moment before finally saying, “So, Mo Jingli plans to borrow money from me to attack the Mo family army?”

Yao Ji smiled. “Well, who made the Chu family such a prominent family of Great Chu?”