West陵Emperor's relocation of the capital

ince the Crown Prince still has matters to attend to, let's not make things difficult for them. We can all meet again later," Fu Zhao helplessly stepped forward to salvage the situation; they had all...315. The Western Capital Move

Hearing Xu Qingchen's words, the Southern Duke and his son were also shocked. In a situation where Ding王府and Greater Chu had already severed ties for so many years, there was still a hidden army within Greater Chu that remained concealed until now even as Greater Chu was embroiled in chaos throughout its territory. This could not help but make them marvel at the depth of resources possessed by Ding王府. However, both were people who knew their limits; since Xu Qingchen did not elaborate further, they also didn't ask.

The Southern Duke looked towards the fluttering banners outside the pass and asked, "How does Mr. Qingchen intend to deal with the Northern Rong army and the Western Capital army outside the pass"

Xu Qingchen said calmly, "The Northern Rong are solely focused on invading Greater Chu's territory from the south and will not confront us head-on. As for the Western Capital forces, they only serve as a show of force, following behind the Northern Rong troops. In that case... we'll take both armies down."

The Southern Duke looked at Xu Qingchen and asked, "Does Mr. Qingchen have this confidence"

Xu Qingchen smiled slightly and replied, "Leading an army is the Southern Duke's responsibility; how can I question whether or not I am confident To be honest, planning a few strategies still has merit, but commanding troops and arranging formations are not my strengths." The Southern Duke laughed and said, "Mr. Qingchen is being too modest." Based on Xu Qingchen’s previous plans, he certainly wasn't entirely ignorant of military affairs, though compared to Mr. Qingchen's literary talent for governing the world, this was less conspicuous.

"This isn’t humility; I will rely on you and General Lu to handle this battle," said Xu Qingchen seriously.

Knowing that he had entrusted the Flying Crane Pass and these Mohist soldiers to him, the Southern Duke's heart warmed as well. He replied with a serious face, "Rest assured, Mr. Qingchen; I will not slack off in the slightest."

"That’s excellent," Xu Qingchen nodded and smiled. "Let us let the Northern Rong see if the Mohist army is still as formidable after years of no battle."

His casual words stirred up a spirit of chivalry within the Southern Duke's heart. Although he had fought many battles in his earlier life, he never imagined leading the Mohist army against both Northern Rong and Western Capital.

This day, outside the Western Capital City walls, there was a crowd thronging about; the atmosphere was solemn. The black-clad Mohist soldiers had replaced the original guards of the Western Capital on the city ramparts. This marked that this Western Capital City had now completely belonged to the Mohists. Outside the city gate, dragon-patterned yellow banners fluttered in the wind. Various carriages lined up along the official road outside the imperial city, waiting for departure. Today was when the Emperor of the Western Capital officially left the Imperial City en route to Ancheng; many nobles and government officials were accompanying him.

As for ordinary citizens who followed the emperor's departure, although there were some, they were not numerous. For common folk, loyalty to the nation was something quite distant from them; moreover, it wasn’t that the Western Capital City was forcefully taken by the Mohists but rather given up by the Emperor himself. Therefore, those willing to follow the Western Capital Emperor naturally became fewer in number. The Mohist army had a good reputation; rather than abandoning their generations' homes for an uncertain destination with the emperor, they preferred to live peacefully under Ding王府's rule.

Thus, among the crowds outside the city that were packed tightly together, those who came to see off or out of curiosity outnumbered those actually accompanying him. This naturally made the Western Capital Emperor feel somewhat melancholic, but considering that commoners are most numerous in this world, he obviously did not regard these ordinary citizens highly.

"Ding Wang, the Duchess has arrived."

With the emperor leaving, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li naturally could not fail to come see him off. Fortunately, after a few days of rest, Ye Li had recovered considerably; however, Xu Qingbo was still lying in bed unable to move.

Moiu Yao circled his arm around Ye Li's waist, protecting her with no concern for the gazes of those around them. But Ye Li noticed somewhat surprisedly that many high officials and nobles looked at them not with their usual servile respect but rather a deep fear in their eyes; upon closer observation, she realized these fearful looks weren't directed towards her but rather the person beside her. She couldn’t help but look up curiously at Mo Xiuyao.

Due to Ye Li's pregnancy, and perhaps also because Mo Xiuyao vaguely sensed that Ye Li didn’t much enjoy his large-scale slaughters—or maybe it was simply due to Mo Xiuyao’s own unwillingness for Ye Li to know about this side of him—nobody had told her what happened during the days she was unconscious after she woke up. Thus, Ye Li naturally didn't understand why these people were so afraid.

"Your Majesty, may Your Majesty have a safe journey," Mo Xiuyao bowed deeply and smiled loudly to the emperor, something extremely rare for him to do.

The Western Emperor was momentarily taken aback, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the honor. He quickly returned her greetings and said, "I extend my congratulations to King Ding and his Consort for their new son." Ye Li nodded and smiled faintly, "Thank you Your Majesty, take care of yourself."

Although he felt bitter about having to smile at someone who had taken over most of his territory and the imperial city, he was glad that he would soon be leaving this place and escaping from Mo Xiuyao, the God of Death. This made him truly glad as he said, "Thank you Consort, I shall take my leave now."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly, "No need to see you off."

The imperial dragon carriage was parked in the middle of a nearby official road with bodyguards and eunuchs surrounding it. Behind the dragon carriage were carriages for the palace concubines, princesses, and members of the royal family. Watching as the Western Emperor was helped up into his carriage by others, the rest followed suit and prepared to leave.

After the imperial carriage started moving, Mo Xiuyao waved at the crowd behind him, "Alright everyone, you may all go now." He then turned around and entered the city with Ye Li’s help. The crowd was silent as they watched their lord turn back so quickly even before the Western Emperor had left far.

However, there were no objections from the generals of the Mo army; none of them had any interest in showing respect to an old master in front of a new one either. After a short moment, everyone dispersed.

"Consort Ding… I would like to see Consort Ding…" As Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were about to enter the city, they heard someone calling out urgently behind them. Ye Li turned around, seeing Lady Bai rushing towards her in a panic. Unfortunately, all of their guards had been replaced by Qilins after the assassination attempt; even though she was not happy about this change, Ye Li knew that it would likely have scared many people and thus did not object.

The guards of the Ding王府 stopped Lady Bai when she called out Consort Ding’s name. She was still several steps away from Ye Li when Mo Xiuyao was about to escort her into the city. Out of frustration, Lady Bai shouted louder, "Consort… I need to speak with Consort…"

Everyone present remained silent; they all knew that the Bai family’s heir had been killed by King Ding on the same day she had arrived in their territory. Many were wondering when King Ding would make his move against the Bai family.

Ye Li frowned slightly and said, "Please bring Lady Bai to the inn." Her guards responded immediately and carried Lady Bai away from everyone’s sight.

The Western Emperor had left, leaving behind an empty imperial palace. The Western Palace was smaller than the Great Chu Imperial Palace or the old imperial city in Southern Great Chu, but it was still a palace nonetheless. Mo Xiuyao clearly did not have any plans to move into West Ling, so what would become of this palace Usually, old palaces were either used as new dynasty’s palaces or temporary ones, or simply left to decay and ruin over time. However, none of these options suited King Ding’s王府行事風格。最後，墨修堯想了想後決定，前半部分廢棄那些皇帝專用的東西，作為西陵皇城未來的最高主事衙門。後半部分也就是後宮，則暫時封閉，以後再做打算。

Since they were going to leave West Ling soon, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li had no plans of moving into the palace. After seeing off the Western Emperor, they returned to their temporary inn. The first thing Ye Li did upon returning was to visit Xu Qingbai who was still recuperating.

Although Xu Qingbai’s injury was not life-threatening, it was quite serious. By sitting up with a high pillow for several days, he could only speak to them from his bed. When Ye Li arrived, Lady Xu was feeding Xu Qingbai medicine, making him feel slightly uncomfortable. He was old enough and did not need his mother to feed him; seeing Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao enter the room made his eyes light up as if they were saviors. Seeing her son’s expression, Lady Xu sighed lightly, "No matter who comes in, you finish your medicine first!"

Xu Qingbai helplessly said, "Mother, please give me the bowl, I’ll drink it myself." He could swallow a whole bowl at once, but drinking slowly was too bitter. Seeing this, Lady Xu quipped with a smile, “Do you know how bitter medicine is Then why don’t you take good care of yourself and stop reading those documents in the middle of the night”

This made Ye Li feel slightly guilty; if they hadn’t needed to leave West Ling so urgently, Fourth Brother wouldn’t have had such a difficult time recovering.

Finally, Lady Xu couldn’t bear watching her son’s beautiful face contorted in pain any longer and handed him the medicine pills. Xu Qingbai quickly accepted them and gulped down more than half of the bowl, making his eyes water. Lady Xu threw a candied plum into his mouth before taking back the empty bowl.

Feeling embarrassed to be seen by his cousin and her husband in such a state, Young Master Xu Four smiled at them and asked, "Has the Western Emperor left"

Ye Li nodded as she sat beside the bed, observing Xu Qingbai’s face which looked better than yesterday. She said, “We just saw him off, Fourth Brother. Why are you so eager to look at those documents again You need to rest properly; if anything happens, there is still Mo Xiuyao and Feng San here for you.” Xu Qingbai laughed and replied, "I’ve been lying in bed with nothing to do for so long that I’m bored. Just looking casually." Glancing over at Mo Xiuyao who had seated himself on a nearby stool, he asked, “When are you planning to leave” With the Great Chu battlefield in disarray, it was an opportune moment to conquer West Ling. However, with its vast territory, taking down West Ling easily this time might have been partly due to luck. If they truly wanted to take control of all of West Ling, it would likely take several years at least. By then, if the Northern Rong and Lei Zhenting managed to establish themselves in Great Chu, that would be counterproductive. After all, no matter how vast, West Ling’s land could not compare with the richness and fertility of Great Chu.

Mo Xiuyao said seriously, "In half a month. Alight is pregnant; we need to travel slowly, so we can't stay long.

Xu Qingbai nodded and said, "Half a month should be enough. By then, I will probably be able to get out of bed." Mo Xiuyao said, "I have already sent a message to Shen Yang. He should arrive before we leave."

Xu Qingbai was surprised and shook his head with a smile, saying, “It’s not necessary for him to come, Miss Shen still has to take care of Liye.”

Ye Li pressed Xu Qingbai down, frowned, and said, "Why is it unnecessary I’m just pregnant, I don’t have any injuries. Giving birth doesn’t require a midwife but a doctor; besides, could there be no doctors in the city of Li If you’re not well taken care of and leave behind some ailments, Auntie Xi would surely feel very sad." Xu Qingbai wanted to say something again when Ye Li glared at him firmly, "No objections! Mr. Shen has also said that he’s been confined in Li City for a few years now, so it’ll be good for him to go out and see the world. Besides, Xi Ling is still new territory under our control; as they say, even powerful dragons cannot suppress local snakes. It would make us more at ease if we had a doctor with excellent medical skills here."

Xu Qingbai knew that he couldn’t persuade Ye Li otherwise and could only smile helplessly to show his agreement.

Mo Xiuyao continued, "The other 300,000 troops will be stationed in Xi Ling. Zhang Qilan is the commander. Zhang Qilan has a straightforward personality but isn’t stubborn; I believe there won’t be any problems with you two working together—one civilian and one military official. How do you feel about this" Xu Qingbai naturally had no objections. Although Mo Family Army had taken over such vast territories in Xi Ling, he didn’t think everything would be peaceful from now on. Zhang Qilan was a veteran of the Mo Family Army and experienced in leading troops; having him lead 300,000 soldiers left behind made Xu Qingbai feel much more at ease.

Ye Li thought about Xu Doctor’s situation and asked hastily, "Is Auntie Xi coming back with us"

Xu Qingbai sighed bitterly and shook his head, saying, “Mother knows that I’m staying in Xi Ling, so she might plan to live here for some time.” In fact, Xu Doctor’s original words were “Your big brother is beyond my control; your younger brother is even smaller than you. I won’t return to the Xu Family until I see both of you married and have children!” Now, Xu Doctor only required her daughter-in-law to be decently born with a good background and cheerful mood.

Seeing Xu Qingbai’s helpless expression, Ye Li could imagine what Xu Doctor had said. After pondering for a moment, she also agreed with a smile: "Since that is the case, Auntie Xi must be worried about Fourth Brother. It won’t be an issue if she stays in Xi Ling for some time; we can send someone to meet her when she misses us." Mo Xiuyao had no objections either and nodded, saying, “That’s wonderful then. Half a month later, I will return to Li City with Ahli. Everything here is entrusted to you.”

Xu Qingbai hesitated for a moment before bringing up his concern: "I don’t have much experience in this area; I might…"

Mo Xiuyao frowned and immediately understood Xu Qingbai’s worries. Xu Qingbai was only around twenty-four years old, yet he would now be responsible for one-third of the territory under Xi Ling—truly a high-ranking official. It wouldn’t be surprising if it took some time to gain everyone’s respect. He believed in Xu Qingbai’s ability but recognized that it required time to demonstrate itself. After they left the imperial city, Xu Qingbai wouldn’t have an easy time either. Previously, he had only considered this matter from a capability standpoint and also due to the lack of manpower in Dingwang Mansion, forgetting to consider Xu Qingbai’s age.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows slightly and said with a smile, "I actually have an idea, but I don’t know what Fourth Brother thinks about it."

Xu Qingbai smiled at Ye Li, saying, “Liye always has good ideas. Please tell me quickly.”

Ye Li said, "Fourth Brother might want to try inviting Mr. Xiu Ting from Bian City over here. Mr. Xiu Ting’s disciples are scattered throughout Xi Ling; if he could come out of retirement and assist Fourth Brother, the affairs in Xi Ling would likely proceed more smoothly." Although Mr. Xiu Ting had already expressed his intention to submit to Dingwang Mansion, scholars—especially those with extraordinary accomplishments—often have peculiar personalities. If Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao asked him directly, he would certainly come; however, he might still harbor certain reservations or underestimate Xu Qingbai, which wouldn’t be beneficial for Xu Qingbai.

Xu Qingbai, as a descendant of the Xu Family, naturally knew about renowned scholars in the world. Moreover, Mr. Xiu Ting was someone his grandfather and father highly revered. After some thought, he nodded with a smile: "Liye truly doesn’t disappoint Fourth Brother; I know what to do now." Ye Li smiled faintly: "We’re really imposing on Fourth Brother. In this case, I won’t disturb Fourth Brother’s rest anymore. You should take good care of yourself in these days."

Mo Xiuyao helped Ye Li up and turned around to leave. Before leaving, he added, “I’ll send Feng Huiting over later; he can help you with the issues concerning wealthy merchants in this region.”

Xu Qingbai was surprised and smiled gratefully: "Thank you, Your Highness."

After watching them leave, Xu Qingbai thought for a moment before asking someone to bring pen and ink to write a sincere invitation letter to send to Bian City. He also pondered whether he could personally visit Bian City; unfortunately, his current injury prevented him from doing so, and when Mo Xiuyao and the others left, he would be even busier.

After leaving Xu Qingbai’s residence, Ye Li turned to smile at Mo Xiuyao: "Xiuyao, thank you."

Mo Xiuyao was surprised and looked down at Ye Li with gentle eyes. “Thank me for what”

Ye Li said, "For doing this for Fourth Brother." Whether it was bringing Shen Yang to Xi Ling or Feng Huiting, these moves were not originally in Mo Xiuyao’s plan. Especially Feng Huiting; he was currently busy integrating the assets of Dingwang Mansion and commercial activities in Northwest China. Mo Xiuyao lowered his head, touching Ye Li's forehead with his own gently: "Xu Qingbai is your fourth brother and also saved you and our child. I should be nice to him."

Ye Lü smiled and said, "You have always been good to them. I know." Although Mo Xiuyao would go to great lengths to squeeze his eldest brother, it was only limited to him alone. To the other cousins, he had indeed been quite nice. For example, this time before attacking Xiling, Mo Xiuyao had already considered leaving Xu Qingbai in Xiling, which could be seen as laying a path for Xu Qingbai’s future. Xu Qingbai was still too young and seldom participated in matters inside Ding王府 core. However, if he could handle matters in Xiling well in the future, his prospects would not be inferior to anyone else within the core heart of Ding王府.

"If A-Li likes them, I naturally have to treat them well," Mo Xiuyao said with a smile and lightly bit her pink lips. Ye Lü glared at him helplessly and said, "Then can you be nicer to your eldest brother as well" She really did not want to get stuck in the middle between them and become cannon fodder. Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly, "Well… How could A-Li treat me like this It’s so hard on a husband!"

Ye Lü rolled her eyes and said, "What is that kind of hardship" Must you always butt heads with your eldest brother

"Well… Who let him be more handsome than me. Look… He can’t even find himself a wife right now. Isn’t that evidence" Mo Xiuyao brushed against the faintly fragrant strands of her hair and said lazily.

“…” So, you’re jealous because your eldest brother is better looking than you

"Your Excellency, My Lady…" After leaving Xu Qingbai’s courtyard, Ye Lü remembered that there was another woman, Bai Lady, who had been brought back and requested to see her. Thus, Mo Xiuyao could only accompany Ye Lü with a full heart of resentment as they went to meet her. As soon as they stepped into the flower parlor, Bai Lady’s body immediately stiffened. Her face turned pale as she looked at Mo Xiuyao supporting Ye Lü in and even forgot to pay their respects.

Ye Lü raised an eyebrow but did not care too much about Bai Lady's rudeness and smiled faintly, "Bai Lady, is there anything you want to say by seeing me"

"I… I…" Bai Lady saw Mo Xiuyao as stiff as if frozen with his limbs rigid. She also seemed to hear the countless screams from that day and her daughter’s miserable cries when she was dragged away, making her face even more difficult to look at while trembling uncontrollably.

"Bai Lady" Ye Lü frowned and asked, "Is there something wrong with you "

Bai Lady jumped in fright but quickly recovered. She hurriedly said, "I… I’m fine, thank My Lady for your concern. I really am not…"

Ye Lü remained silent as Bai Lady did not look well at all.

"Bai Lady came to see me. Is there anything you want to say"

Bai Lady’s face was pale, and she secretly thought it bitter that the Prince of Ding王府 was right in front of her. She could not even bring herself to speak about ordinary greetings.

Seeing this, Ye Lü looked sideways at Mo Xiuyao. However, his expression was calm and mild, clearly in good spirits and should not have been frightening people off.

"Xiuyao" After thinking for a moment, Ye Lü decided to quickly dismiss Bai Lady, "It seems that Bai Lady wants to speak privately with me. Why don’t you go back first" Mo Xiuyao held Ye Lü around the waist and said, "Of course not. If there’s something to say, just say it. Since she doesn’t want to talk, then let her leave."

Bai Lady trembled as she hurriedly nodded, "Your Excellency is right! My lady, I was momentarily confused and disturbed your peace. I… I will take my leave!" She did not wait for Ye Lü to speak and stumbled out of the room. Ye Lü looked at Mo Xiuyao in confusion, “What’s going on”

Mo Xiuyao shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows"

"I went out for dinner and came back late, sorry.ng while before he lifted his head and looked at Ye Li, saying, "The Duchess surely knows my identity well by now. I want to know… what do they think of me!"Ye Li looked at him with some pity and said...