The three moved to the study. Though Princess Anxi was puzzled by Ye Li’s presence, she trusted Xu Qingchen enough not to question it further. After all, this delicate young woman had traveled thousands of miles with someone to reach Nanzhao, successfully deceived her, and even personally rescued Xu Qingchen – no ordinary person. Princess Anxi’s gaze at Ye Li now held additional layers of complexity, which Ye Li noticed and could only respond with an internal bitter smile. She secretly glared at Xu Qingchen, giving him a look that clearly said “You’ll explain this to me later.” Xu Qingchen merely smiled faintly without speaking.
Once seated in the study, Princess Anxi quickly set aside personal matters, her demeanor becoming serious and focused. Xu Qingchen asked, “Did you get the military tally?” Princess Anxi shook her head somewhat shamefully, “I’m sorry, Qingchen. The location we previously discovered was a decoy – the tally wasn’t there at all.” Xu Qingchen frowned slightly, “By all rights… Shu Manlin shouldn’t have known we were looking for the tally, and no outsiders should have known its true location. Why would she hide it so secretly, and set it up like a trap specifically meant for us?” Princess Anxi shook her head, “Only a few people on our side knew, and I can guarantee they’re all trustworthy.”
Xu Qingchen shook his head, “We naturally trust your people. But this time… Anxi, haven’t you noticed something strange? These past six months, whenever we’ve come close to catching Shu Manlin in a fatal mistake, she’s always managed to escape one step ahead.”
Princess Anxi said irritably, “It’s all because of Father King! He always favors Shu Manlin without reason! Saying she’s the Southern Frontier’s Holy Maiden and couldn’t possibly do such things, claiming you’re trying to sow discord between Nanzhao’s ruler and subjects. The most absurd time was when he called it all a misunderstanding! Father King has become more and more muddled these years.”
Xu Qingchen asked thoughtfully, “Is the King of Nanzhao becoming senile?”
Princess Anxi started, turning to look at him, “What do you mean?”
Xu Qingchen said calmly, “Originally we all thought the King of Nanzhao was biased and favored Shu Manlin, but this time… That day after I was captured, they immediately drugged me unconscious. But I remember losing consciousness around late afternoon and waking up in the stone chamber around the second quarter of the hour of the monkey. You had people watching the Holy Maiden’s Palace that day, so they must have returned through the palace. But… at that time, the King of Nanzhao was usually resting in his chambers, and even if he wasn’t there, the guards at the secret passage entrances weren’t just for show. Anxi, after you entered the palace later, did you hear any rumors about this?”
Princess Anxi lowered her head in thought for a moment before shaking it, “No. When I reported your disappearance to Father King, he even appeared very worried and offered to send people to help me search. Though I refused.” Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, “The mighty King of Nanzhao – would he not know about events happening in his chambers? Especially when he always has people guarding that secret passage?”
Princess Anxi remained stunned for a long while. When she finally raised her head to look at Xu Qingchen, her gaze still held disbelief and hesitation, “You’re saying Father King wasn’t deceived by Shu Manlin at all – he’s favoring her and helping her? Why… I’m Father King’s daughter, Nanzhao’s Crown Princess, and I’ve never done anything to dishonor my position.”
“Perhaps it’s precisely because the Princess has lived up too well to her position?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow and said softly.
Princess Anxi’s sharp gaze swept toward her, “What does Miss Chu mean?”
Ye Li blinked, looking at Princess Anxi, “There’s a saying from the Central Plains – I wonder if the Princess has heard it?” Princess Anxi silently watched her, and Ye Li continued gravely, “Achievement overshadowing the ruler. You and the King of Nanzhao are naturally father and daughter, but… though you call him Father King, in my view it should be King Father. In the royal family, one is the ruler first and, the father second. And you’re the same – subject first, daughter second. In my days in the Nanzhao capital, I’ve heard much about your reputation. The people of Nanzhao praise you as a wise and intelligent Crown Princess. Even an outsider from the Central Plains like me has this impression, not to mention the Southern Frontier people who have benefited from your grace.”
Princess Anxi’s face paled, and she spoke tremulously, “You’re saying Father King fears me? So he supports Shu Manlin to oppose me and suppress me?”
Ye Li sighed softly, looking at Princess Anxi with some pity, “Princess must have read some Central Plains history books. We need not look far back – just consider recent events. Though you’re in the Southern Frontier, surely you understand something of the Dingguo Prince Manor’s situation?” Princess Anxi’s pale, trembling lips quivered as she looked beseechingly toward Xu Qingchen. Xu Qingchen sighed softly, “Anxi… I once warned you about going too far.” Princess Anxi bit her lip and lowered her head silently. Going too far… he had told her this when they first met four years ago, but she hadn’t truly taken it to heart. Because she had genuinely worked for Nanzhao’s good, she could tell anyone with a clear conscience that she never had selfish motives. She thought if she worked hard to ease Father King’s burdens, he would be happy. She thought if she made Nanzhao strong and prosperous, with the people living in peace and contentment, her sister Xiria wouldn’t need to make a political marriage. Instead, Xiria had fled to Da Chu to marry a man as a concubine under an assumed name, while Father King had long been secretly planning how to check her power. So what had all her years of effort… all these things she’d done… amounted to?
Seeing Princess Anxi’s deeply shaken state, Ye Li and Xu Qingchen could only watch her in silence. This kind of blow couldn’t be resolved with a few casual words of comfort – Princess Anxi would have to work through it herself.
A heavy atmosphere settled over the study. Princess Anxi sat in her chair with head bowed, and though her exterior showed little, her white-knuckled grip on the armrests revealed her inner turmoil. Ye Li inwardly admired her – at least Princess Anxi was someone who knew how to control herself. This was rare, especially among women. After a long while, Princess Anxi raised her head and broke the study’s silence, “If I give up everything I have now, would Father King…”
“Anxi…” Xu Qingchen frowned, shaking his head at her, “I don’t know how the King of Nanzhao would react, but Shu Manlin… Anxi, Shu Manlin hates you, do you understand? She won’t let you go, and… she will drag Nanzhao into hell – is that what you want to see?” Anxi looked at him uncomprehendingly, “I know she hates me – at worst I can go to the Central Plains, to Xiling or North Rong. But you’re saying…”
“What do you think she wants the military tally for? To mobilize the capital’s garrison to attack your Princess Manor? I’ve spoken with her several times – her ambition is indeed great, but… she doesn’t have the power to match her ambition,” Xu Qingchen said.
Princess Anxi’s expression grew grave, and she looked hesitantly at Xu Qingchen, “You mean… she wants to…”
Xu Qingchen said, “Ask Liuyun what she’s been doing at the border between Nanzhao and Da Chu.”
Princess Anxi turned to Ye Li, who said solemnly, “On our way to the Southern Frontier, we accidentally discovered an artificially created Snake Valley not far from Suixue Pass, and hidden behind it was an enormous weapons forge. They were manufacturing weapons typically used by Da Chu soldiers. However, I found some other things there as well. Furthermore, the forge was controlled by Lejiang, the chief of the Luoyi tribe.”
“An artificial Snake Valley? Manufacturing Da Chu weapons? What is she trying to do?” Princess Anxi exclaimed in shock and anger. The Southern Frontier people generally liked snakes, but that didn’t mean they wanted their land overrun with venomous serpents. That’s why when Mo Xiuyao burned down Snake Valley years ago, it didn’t arouse much hatred among the Southern Frontier people. Who would have thought that not even ten years later, another Snake Valley would appear? As for manufacturing weapons for another country within Nanzhao’s borders, that crossed Princess Anxi’s bottom line. Who knew if these weapons might one day be used against the people of Nanzhao? In Princess Anxi’s view, this was tantamount to treason and collusion with the enemy.
“Does Father King know all this? Is he being deceived by Shu Manlin, pretending ignorance, or has he approved her plans?”
Xu Qingchen said, “Isn’t it obvious? King Li assists the Southern Frontier’s Holy Maiden in obtaining Nanzhao, and in return, Shu Manlin naturally must assist King Li in obtaining Da Chu.”
“Foolish!” Princess Anxi berated. Helping King Li obtain Da Chu – easy to say, but what price would it demand? Setting aside what losses Nanzhao would suffer if they failed, even if they succeeded, what benefit would it bring to Nanzhao? By then, a severely weakened Nanzhao would inevitably become dependent on Mo Jingli, just like the Southern Frontier hundreds of years ago. “I must enter the palace and question Father King!” Princess Anxi declared.
“Anxi.” Xu Qingchen looked at her disapprovingly. Princess Anxi turned back to look at them both, saying softly, “Don’t try to dissuade me. Qingchen… I don’t know your purpose in coming to Nanzhao, but if not for you these past six months, I would have long since fallen to Shu Manlin’s schemes. So, I thank you. You’re outsiders, and this is still Nanzhao’s capital. It may not be difficult for you to withdraw safely, but if Father King has truly decided to turn against us, you won’t be able to hold out long. Leave Nanzhao quickly – I’ll do what I must.” Xu Qingchen said, “Is walking into a trap what you should do as Crown Princess of the Southern Frontier?”
Princess Anxi smiled bitterly, “The title of Crown Princess was bestowed by Father King – if he’s determined to side with Shu Manlin, not even ten crown princesses would matter. I must speak with Father King.”
Seeing Princess Anxi’s determined expression, they both knew they couldn’t dissuade her. Xu Qingchen said softly, “Anxi, take care.”
Anxi smiled carelessly, “Don’t worry, I’m still Father King’s only daughter now – he won’t kill me.”
Watching Princess Anxi’s figure disappear through the doorway without a backward glance, Ye Li sighed and asked Xu Qingchen, “Big Brother, weren’t you moved at all? Princess Anxi is the most exceptional woman I’ve ever met.” Xu Qingchen’s expression remained calm as he glanced at her, “What nonsense – Princess Anxi and I are friends.” Ye Li blinked, “Then why didn’t you let me tell Princess Anxi the truth earlier? Doesn’t that show you understand in your heart?” Xu Qingchen looked at her irritably, “You’re using your time to ponder such things? Why create attachments over something impossible from the start?”
Ye Li nodded, “I understand now – Princess Anxi is a proud woman. Once she knows you have a fiancée, she definitely won’t have any other thoughts about you. But Big Brother, you haven’t been using this method to ward off admirers all these years, have you? Let me be clear – this time was my fault first, but don’t think you can use me as a shield again in the future.” Xu Qingchen lifted his hand and tossed over a document. Ye Li caught it and looked at the writing – it was intelligence from Tianyi Pavilion about recent events in the Nanzhao capital. Her heart sank, “Big Brother, will Princess Anxi be alright?”
Xu Qingchen shook his head, “Even tigers don’t eat their cubs. Princess Xiria is already considered dead, so Anxi truly is the King of Nanzhao’s only daughter now. If anything happened to Anxi, Nanzhao could only be inherited by collateral royal branches, and given the King of Nanzhao’s not particularly high prestige, he might well be deposed for having no heir.”
Ye Li raised her eyebrows in surprise, “There’s such a rule?”
“The Southern Frontier is different from our Central Plains – daughters can inherit the throne, but there’s no concept of adoption. If there are no offspring, the Southern Frontier people will believe it’s because the King of Nanzhao isn’t blessed by the divine, and thus has no power to protect his people, so abdication becomes natural.” Ye Li nodded, “It’s good there’s no danger. Other matters can be planned for later.”
“Miss.” Dark Two appeared at the door.
“What is it?”
“Tianyi Pavilion just sent word – Master Liang broke under questioning, and the Sick Scholar is taking him to where the treasure is hidden. Young Master Han just rushed over there too.” Dark Two said gravely.
“Damn it, why did he go stick his nose in it? Why is everything happening at once?” Ye Li cursed softly while raising her head to command, “You and Dark Three prepare – we’re going there immediately.”
“Yes.” Dark Two quickly vanished from the doorway. Ye Li turned back to Xu Qingchen, “Big Brother, I have an urgent business – I must go. If you need anything, just tell the secret guards. Since Princess Anxi spoke so, shouldn’t you leave Nanzhao soon?” Xu Qingchen shook his head, “I still have some things to clarify. I’ll stay here for now. Be careful yourself.” Ye Li nodded, “You be careful too.”
Ye Li rode hard with Dark Two and Dark Three, following the markers left by Tianyi Pavilion and the secret guards. Fortunately, the Southern Frontier wasn’t particularly vast, and the area around the capital naturally wouldn’t be too large. After riding for over two hours, they finally found the location mentioned in Tianyi Pavilion’s message. At the foot of the mountain, they found Han Mingxi’s markers. “Miss, it’s here. They went up the mountain.” Ye Li nodded, turning back to command, “Split up.” Dark Two objected, “No, it’s too dangerous for Miss to go alone.” Ye Li conceded, “Dark Three will come with me, Dark Two follow secretly.”
“Yes.”
Following Han Mingxi’s markers up the mountain with Dark Three, they found the Southern Frontier’s mountains were more humid than the North’s and filled with various poisonous insects and plants. Fortunately, these posed no challenge to the two of them. As they advanced toward the marked direction, “Miss, look ahead.” Dark Three gripped his weapon, watching the front vigilantly. Several men in Tianyi Pavilion clothing lay sprawled on the small hillside ahead, their wound blood long congealed – dead for some time. Ye Li frowned, listening to the surroundings before pointing in another direction, “That way.” Dark Three took the lead, and they occasionally encountered more Tianyi Pavilion corpses along the way. Dark Three said softly, “None of our people.” Ye Li’s delicate brows furrowed deeply as she continued forward without stopping.
After another half hour’s walk, they finally heard faint sounds of clashing weapons and conversation ahead. The two exchanged glances and carefully crept forward. At the entrance of a mountain cave, the Sick Scholar looked down at someone sitting on the ground, smiling smugly and speaking with sinister amusement: “Han Mingxi, did you think I wouldn’t dare touch you because I fear your brother? Your Tianyi Pavilion has opposed me all along this road – keeping you alive until now was already courteous of me, wasn’t it?” Han Mingxi sat awkwardly on the ground, his usually elegant scholar’s fan tossed aside in the dust. He coughed lightly twice and said, “If so, why don’t you kill me?”
“Haha, no need to rush. You’ve worked so hard running around for Chu Jun Wei’s sake – I should let you see him one last time before you die, shouldn’t I? Don’t worry, I’ll send him to accompany you when the time comes.” The Sick Scholar sneered, “That Chu boy has some nerve – he must never have moved in jianghu circles to not know my reputation. Han Mingxi, don’t you know either? When have I ever shared my possessions with others? He dared to demand payment from me, even presuming to want the Falling Sky Flower. Heh heh… *cough cough*… Now the Falling Sky Flower is right here – I want to see what matters more to him: you, a friend he’s known for mere days, or a priceless treasure.”
“How boring…” Han Mingxi muttered disdainfully. The Sick Scholar was very pleased with himself, sneering, “Enjoy what time you have left. You’d better pray Chu Jun Wei truly values you enough to get here within an hour, or else I’ll have to miss this good show and just return your corpse to him.”
Ye Li quietly watched the scene from afar, lowering her eyes in thought. Soon Dark Three returned to her side and whispered, “No ambush around the perimeter.”
Ye Li nodded and stood up to walk out. Dark Three tried to grab her but was too late. Seeing her make the hidden hand signal from behind, he could only hide back. He exchanged glances with Dark Two concealed on the other side, then fixed their gaze intently on the grassland outside the cave.
Seeing Ye Li approach casually with hands behind her back, the Sick Scholar’s eyes flickered, “So you came after all.”
Ye Li walked forward naturally, her gaze sweeping over Han Mingxi before slowly settling on the Sick Scholar as she smiled, “Third Master, burning bridges isn’t a good habit.” The Sick Scholar narrowed his eyes slightly, snorting with a vicious smile, “Burning bridges? Blame your greed.” Ye Li sighed helplessly, tapping her folded fan against her palm, “These days… people truly lack old virtues. Never mind, I’ll just count this as my bad luck. Tell me, what do you want? Whatever it is, how about releasing Han Mingxi first? I know you don’t fear Han Mingyue, but I think… Ling Tiehan probably wouldn’t like you provoking Tianyi Pavilion.”
“You… such nerve, trying to threaten me with Big Brother.”
Ye Li waved her fan, smiling, “No, it just happens that I have a brother who’s a close friend of Pavilion Master Ling. Even more coincidentally, I told him before coming here. If anything happens to us here, he’ll naturally help report our deaths back home, and won’t forget to inform Young Master Mingyue and Pavilion Master Ling in passing. What do you think? When it comes to enemies, better to have one less than one more, right?”
The Sick Scholar looked at Han Mingxi on the ground, then at Ye Li, “Fine. Han Mingxi can go, you stay.”
Ye Li nodded, “No problem.”
Han Mingxi remained sitting on the ground without moving. Ye Li frowned and asked, “What’s wrong? Badly injured?”
Han Mingxi snorted, frowning, the fabric on his left leg stained with a dark patch, clearly severely wounded. Ye Li stepped forward concernedly, “Mingxi, are you alright?” Han Mingxi raised his head, shaking it, “I’m fine… Jun Wei, don’t worry about me, just go.” Ye Li shook her head, smiling, “You got involved with the Sick Scholar because of me – how could I leave you behind? Mingxi, I was wrong to deceive you before. You should call me by my real name – Jun Wei… I’m not used to it myself.”
Han Mingxi’s face showed a flash of something strange as he nodded, “I understand.”
Ye Li smiled, “Let me help you up…”
Han Mingxi nodded, raising his hand toward Ye Li’s outstretched one.
“No!” The change happened in an instant – Han Mingxi’s hand about to grasp Ye Li’s suddenly transformed into a hawk-like claw striking at her. Simultaneously, Ye Li crouched and leaned back, the hand holding her fan flashing with brilliant silver light. Almost at the same moment, a figure shot like lightning from the cave and pounced on Ye Li. Ye Li frowned as her dagger flew.
“Cough cough…” The person who had thrown himself on Ye Li had a face identical to Han Mingxi opposite them, though now looking particularly disheveled. A trace of blood trickled from his lip corner, “Jun Wei… Jun Wei, are you alright?” Ye Li pulled the person off her angrily, “I’m fine, but you’re the idiot who’s not!” The person opposite had landed a palm strike squarely on his back. Ye Li raised her head, her gaze sweeping like a blade over that person, “Young Master Mingyue, are you satisfied now?”
Han Mingxi… Han Mingyue had a dagger in his shoulder, and his dark red clothes were stained with wetness. He stared at the person Ye Li supported, his eyes full of angry light, “Han Mingxi, you fool, what are you doing? Who said you could come out?”
Han Mingxi leaned weakly against Ye Li, whose already not-tall frame seemed somewhat strained supporting his long form. Han Mingxi likewise stared at the man opposite who looked almost identical to himself, smiling provocatively, “I told you before, with your terrible acting skills trying to impersonate me, you could never fool Jun Wei. Also… you call me a fool? Are you any less foolish?”
“Impudence! Throwing your life away for someone you’ve barely known for days? Do you know who she is?” Han Mingyue said coldly.
Han Mingxi started, then said through gritted teeth, “Whoever they are, they’re my friend! Even if we haven’t known each other long, they’re better than you – at least Jun Wei would come to save me. But you… if I died fighting, who besides me would care whether you lived or died!” Hearing his brother’s angry shout, Han Mingyue faltered, looking at the two people before him with a complex expression. He quickly recovered, raising an eyebrow slightly at Ye Li, “Sister-in-law, please release my brother first.”
Han Mingxi’s body stiffened as he looked down at Ye Li in disbelief as if trying to see what about her could make Han Mingyue call her sister-in-law. After a while, he managed a strained laugh, “Big Brother, did that knife wound muddle your brain? Don’t go claiming random relations – I don’t have another brother.” Han Mingyue sneered, pointing at Ye Li, “Han Mingxi, open your eyes wide and look clearly – is the person standing before you a man? Or have you been wandering outside so long you can’t tell men from women?”
Ye Li helped Han Mingxi sit down to one side, then slowly pulled away, looking at him apologetically, “Brother Han, I’m sorry I deceived you.”
Han Mingxi stared at her for a long while before reluctantly twisting his mouth, “Fine, I know you’re a woman now. Given that we’ve been through life and death together, you should at least tell me which sister-in-law you are, right? I don’t want to hear it from that bastard!” Ye Li glanced back at the Sick Scholar who was staring at her with hatred and Han Mingyue who stood woodenly lost in thought, then said softly, “My name is Ye Li.”
“Ye Li… Xu Qingchen is your big brother… right, Xu Qingchen is your big brother. You’re Third Miss Ye, you’re—!” Han Mingxi stared at her fixedly, his expression as if he’d swallowed a fly. He had met Third Miss Ye… the problem was how did this handsome youth resemble that cunning yet affecting elegance noble lady at all?! He had sworn to stay far away from that woman, yet these days he’d been constantly hovering around her, “You deceived me!” Han Mingxi accused. Ye Li looked apologetic, “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry is enough? I want compensation. I want another ten percent of Xunya Pavilion!”
Ye Li nodded readily, “No problem.”
Han Mingxi narrowed his eyes, continuing to make demands, “At least four bottles of new perfume every year.”
Ye Li hesitated slightly but still nodded, “Alright.”
Han Mingxi tilted his head, studying her for a while as if assessing whether her words could be trusted. After a good while, he finally raised his head proudly, “In that case, this young master will grudgingly forgive your deception. And acknowledge that you, Ye Li, are Han Mingxi’s friend.”
Ye Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, saying helplessly, “Thank you, Brother Han, for being so magnanimous.”
Han Mingxi still snorted in dissatisfaction, looking disdainfully at Han Mingyue, “See that? And you dare say you’re good at making money – if the Han family relied on you, a whole group would starve to death.”
Han Mingyue’s face darkened as he glared at Han Mingxi, “Enough nonsense. If you’re done talking, get out of the way.”
Han Mingxi rolled his eyes at him, “Are you stupid? This woman is my friend, my future business partner. Try touching her, see what happens?”
“Han Mingxi!” Han Mingyue shouted sternly.
“I know my name,” Han Mingxi said lazily, leaning against the hillside and picking at his ear.
“Young Master Han… have you finished your reunion? If we don’t act soon, it’ll be too late once the Dingguo Prince Manor’s people arrive,” the Sick Scholar’s voice rose eerily from behind them.