Feng Qing works

Lord Gongzi's Fate Takes Another Turn

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smiling bitterly and saying softly, "I am a defeated general; what’s there to be good or bad about me"Ye Li raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Victory and defeat are common in warfare. This is n...371. The Young Master's Fate Takes Another Turn

Upon hearing Ye Li's words, Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin both turned their heads to glance at the magnificent pavilion not far away. Even without considering inner strength, they could still hear Helian Zhen’s laughter clearly just like Ye Li did. Wei Lin frowned slightly and whispered, "Young Master, shall we..." With a smile, Ye Li waved her hand and carefully picked up the poem she had just written to let it dry in the wind. She looked no different from any other wealthy young master in the garden.

Although Ye Li was dressed in white with an elegant and charming appearance that made many maiden's hearts race, the two guards by her side were clearly not the kind of people who could be considered harmless, which deterred many people who had originally intended to approach them from doing so.

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin looked at the expressions of the surrounding crowd and couldn’t help but admire their own princess's meticulous planning. Zhuo Jing’s handsome face was marked by a three-inch-long scar that made him look fierce, his cold expression making people feel fearful just from one glance. While Wei Lin relied on his perfect looks, his gray hair and dark blue eyes made even those in Li City accustomed to various races shudder at the sight of him. In Nanjing, this was certainly no different. At least he would be able to scare those sheltered noble ladies who were used to pampered lives.

Although Wei Lin and Zhuo Jing had previously questioned whether such an appearance might attract too much attention, Ye Li simply smiled lightly and said, "It’s precisely because spies wouldn’t attract so much attention that someone as conspicuous as these two guards cannot be a spy." Even if Mo Jinglei racked his brains, he would never have imagined that Ye Li would disguise herself as a man to boldly appear before him. Indeed, the unique and high-profile appearance of these two bodyguards, coupled with the nobleman Chu Junwei’s elegant and aloof demeanor, made those who saw them not only feel no surprise but also naturally believe this was the standard behavior of an aristocratic young master. They often praised the Chu family as one of the most prestigious families in Chu Dynasty due to their long history.

"Young Master, your poem is very good." Just when Ye Li put down her scroll and prepared to leave, a familiar female voice came from behind her. When she turned around, she saw Dongfang You dressed in white standing不遠處盯著自己看。葉璃深知隻怕是自己的長臉惹的禍，也不在意，反正她也要找機會接近東方幽。現在東方幽願意自己過來自然是最好。淡淡一笑拱手道：“楚君唯見過攝政王妃。”

Hearing the words 'Regent Princess Consort', Dongfang You couldn't help but frown slightly and nodded. "Chu Junwei Are you a young master from the Chu family in Yunzhou Is Lord Wei of the Chu family, Chu Weiyun, well"

Ye Li showed some confusion on her face as she smiled at Dongfang You. "So Princess Consort knows Young Master Weiyun However... although I haven't been in contact with my elder brothers in recent years, I still remember that Wei is the fourth son and his third brother's name is Wei Feng." Ye Li didn’t take offense to Dongfang You’s probing questions since Ding王府既然要辦楚君唯這個人，肯定會有準備。彆說楚君唯的身份，即使他的父母生平都是早就安排好了的。楚家到底有些什麼人，葉璃自然也是記得清清楚楚的。

Dongfang You was also unconcerned and said calmly, "Perhaps I made a mistake. I once had the chance to meet Young Master Wei of Chu four years ago."

Ye Li inwardly laughed at Dongfang You's statement which lacked substance. Who didn’t know that Dongfang You had just left Cangmang Mountain this year How could she have met Chu Weiyun several years ago Moreover, how old was Dongfang You back then Ye Li naturally wouldn't refute her words and said with a polite smile, "What does Princess Consort wish to discuss"

Dongfang You remained silent as she didn’t know why she had spoken up. It was only when she passed by Chu Junwei earlier that the faint smile on his face reminded her of another man who seemed to always wear white. That's why she couldn't help but speak. After a moment’s silence, Dongfang You said, "Young Master Chu resides in Yunzhou and is newly arrived in Nanjing. If there are any difficulties, feel free to send someone to the Regent Prince's residence."

Ye Li was slightly surprised and replied with a smile, "Princess Consort is being too kind, thank you Princess Consort. If we do encounter any problems, I will certainly come to seek your help."

Dongfang You stared at her blankly before saying softly, "If he were like you…" Realizing what she was implying halfway through, Dongfang You didn't continue with her sentence. Ye Li pretended not to hear and said politely with a smile, "Princess Consort, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

Dongfang You nodded and replied, "I apologize for disturbing you. I will be going now."

"Take care Princess Consort," Ye Li bowed as she watched Dongfang You walk away. Zhuo Jing looked at her with a puzzled expression and said, "Young Master, this Dongfang You seems… quite abnormal."

“She’s not just abnormal,” Wei Lin commented. “The way she stared at Young Master made my skin crawl. Fifth Young Master was right; it's truly unfortunate that First Young Master has attracted such a woman.” Even they felt a shiver down their spines when witnessing Dongfang You looking at the Princess Consort with eyes full of longing, yet the Princess Consort remained composed. What if she were looking at Qingchen instead Wei Lin couldn’t help but shudder at the thought; he hoped Qingchen hadn't encountered such a version of Dongfang You.

Ye Li sighed and said sadly, "One thought leads to enlightenment, another to darkness..."

Zhuo Jing asked, “Young Master means this Dongfang You has become possessed by the demon of obsession due to her love for First Young Master”

Closing her fan in hand, Ye Li replied, "In any case, we need to find Big Brother as soon as possible. With the way she's acting now, it seems like she can't hold back anymore. Keep a tight watch on her."

"Understood," Zhuo Jing answered.

Regent Prince's Manor

In the study, Dongfang You was emotionless as she looked at Mo Jinglei who was full of self-importance and speaking endlessly. However, her mind had already wandered elsewhere. Mo Jinglei paused, glancing at Dongfang You whose eyes were distant with displeasure.

Now, Mo Jinglei's impression of Dongfang You had plummeted to the lowest possible level. If he could, he would wish for her immediate death right now. This woman wielded power that made people envy and covet but did nothing herself; instead, she threw herself into a man who barely acknowledged her existence. She used all means necessary and became insane, cruel, and ruthless. It wasn't just that Mo Jinglei didn’t want to clash with Dongfang You, he really wanted to tell her that the more she clung desperately to him as a man, the more Xu Qingchen would despise her.

"I've already decided to ally with Western Ling and Northern Rong. Where did you hide Young Master Qingchen Hand him over now; I need him," Mo Jinglei suppressed his anger and said in a low voice. Back then, he dared to arrest Xu Qingchen not for her sake but because Xu Qingchen was the third most important person after Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li at Ding Manor. With Xu Qingchen, many things would become much easier.

Dongfang You’s eyes flashed as she said unhappily, "I've already told you, I don't know."

Mo Jinglei sneered coldly and asked, “Do you think I’m an idiot Dongfang You, right now I'm only being polite to you; this is Jiangnan, my territory. Do you really believe that if you keep silent, I can’t find him” Seeing Mo Jinglei's reaction, Dongfang You no longer held back and said coldly, "Then let me warn you: touch a single hair on him and don't blame me for not being kind to you."

Mo Jinglei now fully understood Dongfang You’s character. Taking a deep breath, he mocked her and said, “Perhaps I’m mistaken. A few years ago, I met Young Master Chu Four only once.”

Inwardly amused, Ye Li thought that what Dongfang You was saying didn't make any sense at all. Who didn’t know that Dongfang You had just left Cangmang Mountain this year How could she have possibly met Xu Weiyun a few years ago Furthermore, how old would Dongfang You be back then Still, Ye Li wouldn’t expose her lie and said with a warm smile, "What do you wish to convey, Princess Consort"

Dongfang You remained silent; she didn't know why she spoke up in the first place. Just now, when passing by, something made her think of another man who always wore white robes. That’s why she couldn’t help but say something. After a brief silence, Dongfang You said, "Young Master Chu resides in Yunzhou and is newly arrived in Nanjing. If there are any difficulties, feel free to send someone to the Regent Prince's residence."

Ye Li was slightly surprised and replied with a smile, "Princess Consort is being too kind, thank you Princess Consort. If we do encounter any problems, I will certainly come to seek your help."

Dongfang You nodded and replied, "I apologize for disturbing you. I will be going now."

"Take care Princess Consort," Ye Li bowed as she watched Dongfang You walk away. Zhuo Jing looked at her with a puzzled expression and said, "Young Master, this Dongfang You seems… quite abnormal."

Ye Li sighed and said sadly, "One thought leads to enlightenment, another to darkness..."

Zhuo Jing asked, “Young Master means this Dongfang You has become possessed by the demon of obsession due to her love for First Young Master”

"Understood," Zhuo Jing answered.

Regent Prince's Manor

In the study, Dongfang You looked emotionless at Mo Jinglei who was full of self-importance and speaking endlessly. However, her mind had already wandered elsewhere. Mo Jinglei paused, glancing at Dongfang You whose eyes were distant with displeasure.

Dongfang You’s eyes flashed with displeasure as she said, "I have already told you that I do not know."

Mos Jingli sneered and asked, "Do you think I am a fool Oriental Yu, if it weren't for your status, I would deal with you immediately. Jiangnan is my domain; don’t you think I can find him without your help" Seeing Dongfang You’s nonchalance, he retorted coldly, “You warn me not to harm him Do you really think that I will spare him if it means the success of our alliance”

Dongfang You shot back, "Then, Lord Prince Regent, you better be careful. If anything happens to him because of your actions, don’t say I didn't warn you."

Mos Jingli sneered, inhaling deeply with a sense of mockery as he said, “Even if you refuse to give me Qingchen, what do you plan on doing Keeping him locked up forever Do you think the people from Ding Manor are all dead and can’t find him”

Dongfang You remained silent for a moment before looking at Mo Jingli with arrogance, "Stop wasting your energy. As long as I don't want to reveal his whereabouts, no one will ever be able to find him."

Mos Jingli couldn’t contain himself anymore and glared fiercely at Dongfang You for a long time before coldly spitting out, “Oriental Yu, you may keep Qingchen locked up with you until the end of your life. But don't expect Qingchen to share his death with yours.”

With that, he turned around and slammed the door behind him.

Mos Jingli quickly walked out of the study, his anger visible in his back. His trusted aides exchanged worried looks and one of them cautiously asked, "Your Excellency, how should we proceed with Princess Consort"

Mojing Li paused for a moment and said firmly, "Don't pay any attention to her! If she wants to leave the palace in the future, let her go. I want to see how long she can endure this!" The person behind him nodded and said, "Your Excellency is wise; it's only a matter of time before she gives up on her obsession with Qingchen. We are right behind them, like mantises waiting for cicadas while orioles wait for mantises."

Although he did not have any feelings towards the Eastern Palace Princess, she was still his lawfully wedded empress consort. The sight of his subordinates openly discussing her obsession with Qingchen made Mojing Li's face turn even more gloomy. He let out a cold snort and left.

Mojing Li was busy dealing with the alliance between Xiling and Beirong, so he had little time to deal with the Eastern Palace Princess; he only sent people to keep an eye on her. In court, however, Mojing Li's sudden announcement of this explosive news caused a huge commotion. Even those ministers who were originally fond of the Prince Regent’s family and who supported Mojing Li could not help but look at him with pity as if he was crazy.

Mojing Li had just announced the alliance between Xiling, Beirong, and Chu when a minister stepped forward solemnly and said, "Your Excellency, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

Mojing Li immediately glared at him. He had been dealing with the Empress Dowager's faction for so long that he knew very well who was supporting her if he didn’t know already; in which case he would have lived a wasted life all these years. Before his brother’s death, the Empress Dowager and Mojing Li were on bad terms, and many of her supporters had been eliminated by him. In such circumstances, only the Prince Regent's family could still stand up for her in court. As such, he naturally viewed everyone related to the Empress Dowager as belonging to Mo Xi Yao’s faction and wished to exterminate them. He coldly asked, "Why is it unacceptable"

The minister who stepped forward sternly replied, "Xiling and Beirong are tearing our territory apart and killing our people. As the Prince Regent of Chu, how can you possibly ally with them What’s the difference between that and recognizing a traitor as your father"

"How dare you!" Mojing Li was so angry his face turned black.

“Your Excellency is absolutely correct. Please reconsider this decision,” everyone said in unison.

Mojing Li looked and saw that over eighty percent of the kneeling ministers did not agree with him, while those who remained on their feet also looked disapprovingly at him. He knew from the start that his decision to ally with Xiling and Beirong would cause such a backlash, but when he actually saw how many people were against it, he could not help but fly into a rage. His expression grew cold as he stared down at the kneeling ministers and asked, "Are Xiling and Beirong our enemies Are we to believe that the Prince Regent’s family isn’t Is Mo Xi Yao's territory not part of Chu I want to know which one you are loyal to—Chu or the Prince Regent’s family"

Such a scathing remark made many veteran ministers shudder. They had served two, and sometimes even three dynasties; if they were not devoted to the royal family, they would have sided with the Prince Regent's family long ago. Now, however, because of their opposition to Mojing Li’s decision, they were being accused of disloyalty. How could they feel anything but dejection Besides, forming an alliance with Xiling and Beirong was a disastrous decision from the very start.

“We have no such intention, Your Excellency. But it is impossible to form an alliance with Xiling and Beirong! Please reconsider!” The ministers said in unison.

Mojing Li waved his sleeve irritably and said, "I’ve already made my decision—no more talk about it." He then glanced at the little emperor who was sitting on the dragon throne, whose eyes were filling with tears because of the sudden change in the atmosphere. A shadow flashed across Mojing Li’s eyes as he walked towards him and asked, “What do you think of my decision”

The little emperor Mo Shuyun was always terrified of this uncle who wielded such power over him. Under Mojing Li's gaze, however, he started crying loudly. Mojing Li rolled his eyes at the sight and roared, "Why are you crying You’re the emperor! What kind of example do you set by acting like a child in front of our ministers" The little emperor was so scared that he choked on his words; tears streaming down his face, he stammered, "Uncle… Uncle is right…"

Mojing Li snorted and looked at the minister who said, “Did you hear him He agreed with me. Do you wish to defy both my orders and the emperor’s” The ministers could not speak up; after all, the little emperor was only eight or nine years old and had been terrified of Mojing Li for two years. Even though the Empress Dowager had tried to educate him, he still did not understand what was going on. How could they blame him What were they supposed to say— that the little emperor was too young to make decisions That his decision wouldn’t count anyway A few elderly ministers sighed inwardly at how isolated and helpless this young ruler was; meanwhile, some power-hungry minister was trying to seize control of the country.

"Reigning Minister Lyi, what is your aim" The empress dowager walked out from behind the throne and glared at her son.

Mojing Li’s expression darkened when he saw her. "The harem should not interfere in politics," he said coolly. “What are you doing here” Mo Shuyun, seeing his grandmother burst into tears after she had just stopped crying, started wailing loudly and sobbing, "Grandmother… I’m afraid…" The Empress Dowager looked at Mojing Li’s cold gaze and felt dizzy. She only had this one son left, but how could she not hope for a harmonious relationship with him But when her second son died, she quarreled with Mojing Li so fiercely that their relationship became increasingly strained over the years. She was higher up in status than even the Empress Dowager’s mother and was unwilling to be treated as inferior by someone whom she had raised from childhood. After Mojing Li got help from Cangmang Mountain, he started targeting her people everywhere, making relations between them worse.

But this time, the empress dowager did not come out of the throne room with the intention to argue with him. She could not understand what was going through his mind; she had once been intent on taking down the Prince Regent’s family, but even when their influence was weakest, she never dared to challenge them outright.

She saw how her first emperor tried in vain for half of a lifetime to defeat the Prince Regent’s family. She saw Mo Liufang's brilliance and talent. She watched as her eldest son sacrificed Chu’s interests to suppress Mo Xi Yao's troops, and she witnessed Mo Xi Yao rise from a disabled prince to become the head of the Prince Regent’s family again. In some way, she sensed that it was not possible for anyone but them to take down the Prince Regent’s family. More importantly, if they were defeated by the combined forces this time, would Xiling and Beirong stop invading Chu Of course not; without Mo Xi Yao's troops as a deterrent, these two countries would only become bolder in their expansionism. She might not even have enough time to live her life peacefully.

But Mojing Li did not know what she was thinking. He only saw that his mother had been opposing him since the day he was born and even sided with Mo Xi Yao's family to restrain him. Now seeing her trying to stop him again, he said coldly, “Mother should go back to your quarters sooner so you can rest. I have my ministers here to deal with these matters.”

Overcome by emotion, the empress dowager fainted. Seeing this, Mojing Li ordered, "Her Majesty is ill; send her back and call a physician for her. If she continues to interfere in political affairs, I will hold you responsible."

The ministers were crushed seeing their hopes fade as Empress Dowager was carried out of the throne room. Standing high above them, Mojing Li said, "Mo Xi Yao is an enemy with hundreds of thousands of troops stationed at the northeast and northwest borders, who has betrayed Chu already and is the biggest traitor in this era. I am allying with Xiling and Beirong to eliminate him for the sake of the country. Anyone who opposes me will be treated as a traitor." With that, he left.

In Nanjing City, people were talking about Mojing Li’s alliance with foreign countries to fight against Mo Xi Yao's troops. Some elderly citizens openly cried and said that Chu was doomed.

Although Mo Xi Yao’s troops had nothing to do with Chu anymore, many old people still saw them as part of the country. Many hoped that the Prince Regent’s family would save Chu once more. Even if they did not care about these things, the Prince Regent’s family protected Chu for hundreds of years and never harmed it even when forced out by the royal court. How could the reignining minister be so ruthless Surely this was what Heaven intended.

People in Nanjing City also cursed Mojing Li loudly. Although he tried to stop them, with both internal and external difficulties already pressing him down, trying to suppress public speech would cause more problems for him. So instead of doing anything, he issued a decree that the troops were being prepared for war.

In a quiet tea house, Ye Li smiled as she sat in her room drinking tea. Even though they closed the door, people’s conversations still came into the room. The ministers outside must have been arguing fiercely. This was not unique to this tea house; all over Nanjing City, people were angrily discussing Mojing Li's decisions.

"Sir," said Yao Ji with a smile at Ye Li, who seemed calm and relaxed. "What do you think of these discussions"

Ye Li smiled slightly. "This won't affect his decision."

Yao Ji thought for a moment. "Prince Regent Lyi is obsessed with avenging the Prince Regent’s family; if he was truly wise, he would know that allying with Xiling and Beirong is not in his best interest. He will be despised by future generations no matter what happens." But Mojing Li was too intent on defeating Mo Xi Yao to consider anything else.

"The Mu Yang family has also received an order from Prince Regent Lyi to join the army," said Yao Ji softly.

Ye Li nodded. She did not find this surprising; Chu did not have many generals, and most of them were either with Mo Xi Yao or in the Prince Regent’s family. Even if they did not care about these things, the Prince Regent's family had protected Chu for hundreds of years without doing anything to harm it. How could the reigning minister act so ruthlessly Surely this was what Heaven intended.

Similarly, ordinary people in Nanjing City also cursed Mojing Li loudly. Although he wanted to stop them, with both internal and external difficulties already pressing him down, trying to suppress public speech would cause more problems for him. So instead of doing anything, he issued a decree that the troops were being prepared for war.

"Sir," said Yao Ji with a smile at Ye Li, who seemed calm and relaxed. "What do you think of these discussions"

Ye Li smiled slightly. "This won't affect his decision."

"The Mu Yang family has also received an order from Prince Regent Lyi to join the army," said Yao Ji softly.

"Since Mojing Li has already decided, then I should give him a gift." Ye Li smiled and took out a list from her sleeve, placing it in front of Yao Ji and Qin Feng. Yao Ji looked at it and asked doubtfully, "Sir, is this...

Ye Li said sternly, "All of the people above must be killed."

The tone in Ye Li's voice was neither happy nor angry; it was as calm and still as a sea with no waves, but it made one feel the danger lurking beneath the surface. The names on this list were all extremely important figures in the army of the Great Chu Dynasty. Perhaps they might not hold high ranks or power, but without them, there would be a significant impact on the military. However, what puzzled Yao Ji was that the names of Mu Yang and the Duke of Mu Yang were missing from the list.

Ye Li glanced at her with a faint smile, "There's no need to feel strange about this. This time, Mu Yang and his son will definitely become the commanders of the Chu army; if something happens to them, it would be questionable whether the Chu army can even set out or not. Mo Jingli has already gotten involved in this mess, so there's no turning back now. These people are not important figures and can easily be eliminated. My elder brother is still in Eastern You's hands, we don't want to attract too much attention."

Qin Feng put away the list and nodded, "Sir, you can rest assured."

Ye Li nodded and asked, "Is there any news about Ye Ying Does she know about the list Mo Jingli received from Eastern You"

A moment of hesitation, Yao Ji said solemnly, "She knows, but she doesn't want to tell us." Ye Li was a little surprised and after pondering for a moment, nodded, "I understand her. She's afraid that I might go back on my word and not reveal the whereabouts of that child to her." Yao Ji asked, "Then should we think of ways..."

Ye Li shook his head, "There’s no need. Ye Ying is a person who has never accomplished anything significant in life. However, once she makes up her mind for something important, it's almost impossible to get any real information from her mouth. Therefore, instead of wasting time verifying after she tells us, why not let her reveal the truth willingly"

A frown appeared on Yao Ji’s face, "But what if something happens in Li City and the Prince Regent's residence..."

"Eastern You said they are unimportant figures. Therefore, it should not be someone close to Xiuyao. Mo Jingli would not rush into using them even if he wanted to. My father-in-law and my uncle on mother’s side must also be investigating," Ye Li said seriously.

Yao Ji thought that both the Prince Regent and Hongyu were extraordinary individuals, it was likely difficult for Eastern You's people to scheme against them; otherwise, how could they not have known about the calamity at Cangmang Mountain

Hearing Ye Li’s words, Yao Ji no longer paid attention to this matter and looked at Ye Li with a question: "After Duke Mu Yang sets off for battle, what should Yao Ji do Please instruct me, sir." Ye Li looked deeply at her and sighed softly, "Yao Ji, you really don't need to push yourself so hard."

Smiling, Yao Ji said, "I understand your intentions. Since I’ve already made a decision, of course, I won’t harm anything that benefits you or the Prince Regent’s household." Ye Li played with his fan carelessly and thought for a moment before saying, "If so… on the day Chu sets out to war, you should go along with him."

Yao Ji frowned, "But Duke Mu Yang probably won’t agree. Besides long-term military commanders stationed at border posts, it's usually not allowed to bring family members along when marching and waging wars. Moreover, I’m not like the Prince Regent’s wife who can command thousands of soldiers with military prowess; there's no way for me to convince Mu Yang."

Ye Li smiled, "As long as Yao Ji is willing, we’ll find a way."

A moment of surprise, Yao Ji said with a faint smile, "I understand now. Thank you, sir."

"Sir, Wei Lin requests to see you," Wei Lin whispered from outside the door.

Yao Ji and Qin Feng stood up; Qin Feng said, "Sir, I will take my leave."

Ye Li nodded, "In this period of time, stay with Yao Ji. As I previously mentioned, you can make decisions regarding Duke Mu Yang's residence."

Qin Feng bowed and thanked, "Thank you for your favor, sir."

Ye Li softly said, "Excess is as bad as deficiency; you should understand my meaning."

Qin Feng silently nodded before turning around with Yao Ji.

Wei Lin entered and immediately reported in a deep voice, "Sir, Eastern You has left the residence." Ye Li's expression changed slightly, suddenly standing up but quickly sitting back down again. He asked seriously, "Is she alone"

Wei Lin shook his head, "She only took two guards with her; they are all from Cangmang Mountain."

Ye Li lowered his head in thought and then said, "Eastern You’s martial arts skills are extraordinary, don't get too close to avoid being discovered." Wei Lin nodded, "Sir can be at ease. With our abilities, as long as we find out roughly where they are, it should not be difficult for us to locate the Gentle Dust公子."

Ye Li waved his hand, "From the situation with Eastern You in the past few days, she probably hasn't seen my brother yet; he shouldn’t be in any danger."

Wei Lin nodded. That Eastern You was infatuated to a madness with Gentle Dust公子, it seemed that she would not easily hurt him.

Ye Li thought for a moment and asked, "Have we clarified the power of Cangmang Mountain in Jiangnan"

"After the destruction of Cangmang Mountain, there have been significant changes to their influence in Jiangnan. However, they left behind plenty of traces. We can trace them back like finding a needle in a haystack and uncover about eight or nine-tenths of it. Sir, shall we act now"

Ye Li shook his head, "No, wait until Mo Jingli leaves."

Wei Lin blinked and hesitated, "Does sir mean that this time Mo Jingli will personally lead the troops" Ye Li sighed helplessly, "Xiuyao is playing too big a game this time; it’s likely not just Mo Jingli but even Lei Zhenting will go in person."

"This..." While Mo Jingli was indeed no great matter, Lei Zhenting was quite troublesome. Although he had fought against the Prince Regent's household several times and seemingly gained nothing from it, apart from one instance of underestimating due to the incident with his wife, each other time was a result of circumstances forcing him into action; Lei Zhenting’s capabilities far exceeded what Mo Jingli or Ye Liye could imagine.

Ye Li shook her head and said with a faint smile, "It's nothing. Since he made this choice... all I can do is try to relieve his burden."

"Lady Prince Regent, if the Prince Regent really..." Wei Lin couldn't help but ask.

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "Tying the hair together as bedmates, companions in hell...,

Wei Lin remained silent. In their eyes, those who were close to the prince and princess always saw the prince's infatuation and attachment towards his wife, yet the princess seemed indifferent about it all. Wei Lin finally understood now that Princess actually felt just as deeply for the Prince as he did for her. She simply didn’t like talking about such matters unlike the Prince. That was why she went to great lengths to do whatever the Prince wanted without ever opposing him…

Wei Lin thought it unnecessary to ask further questions and respectfully addressed Ye Li, “Princess, please give us your instructions.”

Ye Li stood up with a faint smile on her face. "Let's observe for now. Once Mo Jingli leaves, this Chu Capital will change."

In the outskirts of Nanjing City, Eastern You was slowly walking along in ordinary girl’s clothes. Two young men wearing coarse clothing were following closely behind her. They appeared to be a common brother and sister returning from the capital city.

When they reached an intersection, Eastern You stopped and flashed a hint of killing intent on her beautiful face as she said indifferently, "Deal with those pesky flies."

"Yes, young master," the two men responded respectfully. They turned around and disappeared down another road. Eastern You stood by the roadside for a while before she finally smiled faintly and turned to walk down another path in an opposite direction.

On the quiet path, one of the ordinary-looking men neatly cleaned up the bloody mess and returned to his usual demeanor as a commoner. He glanced at the bodies scattered on the ground with a shake of his head before turning around to leave.

A few moments later, two black-clothed men appeared beside the corpses. They looked down at the still bleeding bodies on the ground and kicked them lightly, one man sighing helplessly, "We lost them."

The other man said, “If we have lost track of them, it doesn’t mean others did as well.” Since they couldn't follow too closely, there wouldn’t only be a single group following. The black-clothed man sighed and said, "Let's go back and report to Young Master. Those people from the Vast Wilderness are indeed quite capable."

“No need,” came a faint voice behind them. A graceful young nobleman in white clothes approached with two black-clad men following him. The two quickly went forward and greeted, "Young Master."

Ye Li smiled indifferently, “Don't worry about it. If those people from the Vast Wilderness had no ability to sneak someone away from Ding Prince's Manor without being detected, how could they have managed that feat Let’s go.”

"Young Master knows where Qingchen is"

“You'll know once we get there,” Ye Li replied indifferently.

The place where Eastern You hid people was indeed hard to find. Even though Ye Li seemed to know the route, they still spent half a day winding their way through the mountains near the capital city before stopping at what appeared to be an unremarkable hunter's cottage in the depths of the forest.

Zhuo Jing frowned and said, “This doesn’t look like a place suitable for keeping Qingchen.” Although there were few people here, occasional hunters and herbalists still went through the area. Given how easily noticeable Qingchen was, if he lived in such a place, news would surely have spread long ago. The Vast Wilderness wouldn't be able to eliminate everyone who entered the mountains; otherwise it would attract more attention.

Ye Li pointed at the cottage with a smile and asked, “Do you see anything unusual about that small house”

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin both looked over. After some time, they still couldn’t find any abnormalities. Ye Li smiled faintly as she said, "Judging by its appearance, this cottage has probably stood here for decades. But look at the chimney..."

When they focused their attention on it, they finally understood what was going on. Wei Lin pointed out, “The chimney doesn’t seem to have ever been used.” Ye Li nodded with a smile, "Even if this cottage is only occasionally occupied by hunters, it would be unlikely that the cooking stove has never been used unless... there's something more here."

Zhuo Jing asked, "But how do we investigate without alarming anyone There might be someone inside."

Ye Li pondered and said, “We haven't confirmed whether Brother is here yet. Acting rashly would indeed not be a good idea. But to avoid alerting anyone...” The cottage was simply too small for any investigation that wouldn’t disturb the people inside.

Afther some thought, Ye Li decided to wait and see first. Meanwhile, she wondered what secret this cottage held Was it a hidden passage or even an underground palace There had to be somewhere suitable for hiding someone; Ye Li believed with Eastern You’s feelings towards Xu Qingchen, she wouldn’t simply hide her in a cave.

After waiting for some time, the door of the small house finally opened from inside. Soon after, Eastern You came out looking very displeased. Even though they were far away, Ye Li could feel how unhappy Eastern You was. The people who followed behind her looked as if they would be struck dumb with fear. A bad feeling suddenly rose in Ye Li’s heart.

Eastern You punched a middle-aged man who had started to speak out of panic. Before the man managed to say anything, he spat out blood and collapsed dead on the spot. Clearly something very angry happened. Since Eastern You was facing them, Ye Li could see her lips moving from far away and guessed what she said, "A bunch of useless people! Can't even keep an ordinary person under control; what do I need you for"

Ye Li’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Brother had already escaped Why hadn’t he contacted them

The subordinates obviously tried to explain something, but all except the two men accompanying Eastern You kneeled on the ground. Eastern You was clearly still angry and asked coldly, "When did he disappear"

Ye Li couldn’t see their response, so she looked down and thought for a moment before asking, “Do we have a chance of capturing Eastern You now”

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin exchanged glances and replied softly, "Our people are nearby; it shouldn't be difficult. But Eastern You’s lightness kung fu is quite good, so if she realizes she can’t win, she might try to escape at all costs. It would be hard not to harm her."

Ye Li smiled faintly, “She isn’t our anything, who cares about no harm done As long as she doesn't die.”

"We understand," the two said in unison.

Outside the hunter’s cottage in the forest, Eastern You angrily ordered, "Still haven’t found him If you don't find Qingchen within three days, beware of your lives!"

"The search for Qingchen doesn't need to be handled by Miss Dongfang's people. Why not first chat with Princess Li" A voice carrying a faint smile came from the nearby slope. Feng lowered his head for a moment and then understood that ten years ago, Xue Chengliang was just an attendant at Prince Jingshi’s side. Su Zuidie might not remember him, so he said, “Ten years ago,...