Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 358 - 357. Deceiving people is not for money

357. Tricking People Doesn’t Cost a Thing

Tan Jizhi’s efficiency was extremely high; in just a few days, he had covertly established connections with numerous influential figures in Changqing City. Every day, Ye Li reviewed the reports brought back by Prince Ding’s Mansion’s informants in Changqing City and couldn’t help but sigh. It’s no wonder that over the years, Tan Jizhi managed to keep Mo Jingli, Mo Jingqi, and Shu Manlin, the Saint Lady of the Southern Border, completely befuddled. His skills and methods are certainly not insignificant. It’s just a pity that time wasn’t on his side. With Shu Manlin and Mo Jingqi dying one after the other, and he himself being suspected by Mo Jingli and cast aside as a pawn, all his schemes and calculations could only end in failure and ruin.

While aware of Ye Li’s abilities, Mo Xiuyao had always been deeply concerned for her safety. Therefore, before leaving, he not only left Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, and Lin Han—who usually accompanied Ye Li—but also transferred He Su, who was originally stationed to defend the Capital of Great Chu. Ye Li hadn’t misjudged back then; compared to Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and Wei Lin, He Su was more suited to leading troops in battle. In a mere decade, He Su, through his own capabilities, had secured a prominent position among the generals of Great Chu. He had even capitalized on Mo Jingli’s southward relocation of the capital to greatly expand his forces, which was why He Su was able to lead 200,000 troops to the rescue when the Capital of Great Chu was besieged. Over these ten years, He Su had risen to his current position purely on his own merit. It was believed that with another ten years, he would undoubtedly become another Zhang Qilan or Lv Jinxian.

With these four individuals around, all highly skilled in both martial arts and strategy, Mo Xiuyao felt somewhat more at ease regarding Ye Li’s safety.

「In the study.」

He Su stood before the desk, respectfully awaiting Ye Li’s orders. "Princess Consort."

Ye Li observed him for a long moment before smiling. "He Su, you are already a Grand General commanding thousands. Now that you’ve returned to my side, do you have anything to say?"

He Su bowed respectfully to Ye Li and said earnestly, "All of this subordinate’s achievements today are thanks to the Princess Consort. It’s just that, although I was originally the Princess Consort’s guard, I haven’t had the chance to serve Your Highness directly like my brothers. It was a dereliction of duty. To be able to follow the Princess Consort again and reunite with my three brothers is truly this subordinate’s good fortune."

Although He Su’s accomplishments over the years could be described as astonishing—rising from an ordinary commoner to a military commander in just ten years—these changes were insignificant compared to the monumental transformations Prince Ding’s Mansion had undergone during the same period. Naturally, He Su, now reassigned by Mo Xiuyao to Ye Li’s side, harbored no ill feelings. After all, as former shadow guards of Princess Consort Ding, they understood her capabilities and her place in the Prince’s heart far better than others. Being able to serve by the Princess Consort’s side was indeed a blessing others couldn’t obtain even if they begged.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "That’s good. The Prince reassigned you to my side because I genuinely need someone capable of leading troops right now, not to strip you of your military authority. When I initially sent you to the army, it proved that I believed you were suited for it, and you haven’t disappointed me over these years. After this matter is resolved, you will return to leading your troops. I hope you understand."

Ye Li didn’t think that everyone should unconditionally obey and pledge allegiance to her with no regrets. As the saying goes, a good bird chooses its tree to nest in. To transfer a perfectly good Grand General to act as a guard was already a waste of talent; to expect him to have no complaints would be far too presumptuous. Even if He Su himself didn’t feel wronged, I should still explain it clearly to him, lest any misunderstanding cause unhappiness for everyone.

"This subordinate understands. Thank you, Princess Consort." He Su was genuinely grateful to Ye Li from the bottom of his heart. He was originally a shadow guard of Prince Ding’s Mansion. If it weren’t for the Princess Consort, even the most trusted guard could never have become a general. Moreover, he had realized that the Princess Consort’s initial assessment was indeed correct; he truly preferred fighting on the battlefield to being a bodyguard.

Ye Li nodded. "Take my token and find Queen Helan. She will find a way to place you within the Northern Territory’s army. Will you know how to proceed then?"

He Su pondered for only a moment before understanding Ye Li’s intentions. He frowned slightly. "Princess Consort, are you planning to incite the Central Plains soldiers within the Northern Territory army to defect?"

Ye Li nodded with a smile. "Correct. And we have at most one and a half months. So, your task is indeed somewhat difficult. Do you have any problems?"

He Su thought for a while before replying, "The Northern Territory army has only occupied these regions of Great Chu for two years, yet they have conscripted heavily, causing widespread suffering among the populace. This subordinate believes that the mid-to-lower-ranking officers among these Central Plains troops will not hold much loyalty towards the Northern Territory. Coupled with the reputation of Prince Ding’s Mansion, it shouldn’t be difficult to persuade them."

Seeing him say this, Ye Li nodded in satisfaction. She picked up a dossier from the side. "This is a list of Northern Territory generals who did not go on campaign with Ren Qining, along with their backgrounds. Take it and decide how to proceed. Among them are a few genuinely capable individuals. You can tell them that as long as they pledge allegiance to Prince Ding’s Mansion, I will not hold their past actions of following Ren Qining to attack the Capital of Great Chu against them. Their military ranks and positions will remain unchanged. If they render meritorious service, Prince Ding’s Mansion will not be stingy with rewards."

He Su was delighted. It would be a joke to say these Central Plains troops were die-hard loyalists to Ren Qining. However, their greatest fear was being held accountable by the Mo Family Army for having followed Ren Qining in the attack on Great Chu. Now, with Princess Consort Ding’s personal promise, their worries were naturally alleviated. After all, compared to Ren Qining, anyone would consider Prince Ding’s Mansion a more reliable choice.

Putting away the dossier, He Su said respectfully, "This subordinate understands. This subordinate will take his leave."

"Go. I will send Lin Han and Qilin to assist you covertly. If necessary, you may use extreme measures. After all... we are pressed for time."

"Yes."

In Changqing City, life on the surface seemed no different from usual. However, beneath the calm facade, turbulent undercurrents were surging in many hidden places... Yet, no one knew that all these changes originated from the serene and graceful woman in that seemingly ordinary courtyard within the city.

「Inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion.」

The current Prime Minister of the Northern Territory looked doubtfully at the few people before him. His gaze finally settled on the woman in white beside Tan Jizhi, his expression shifting. "Young Master Tan, who is this lady?"

Before Tan Jizhi could speak, the woman in white said calmly, "Prime Minister Yun, my humble surname is Dongfang."

"Dongfang? From Cangmang Mountain? That’s impossible!" The Prime Minister exclaimed, rising to his feet and staring at the woman in white. Tan Jizhi, who was beside him, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. He looked at the Prime Minister, who maintained a stern expression and asked, "Why is it impossible?"

The Prime Minister said, "Young Master Tan, don’t try to fool me. Cangmang Mountain has long since sided with Prince Li. How could this lady be a successor of Cangmang Mountain? Do you think that just because the Northern Territory is remote, I know nothing?"

Tan Jizhi shrugged, glancing at the woman seated opposite him. The woman in white sneered faintly. "Who said Cangmang Mountain can only have one successor? Besides... Dongfang You’s reputation in Licheng was ruined long ago. How could she still be considered a successor of Cangmang Mountain?"

"This..." Though he had always resided in Changqing City, the Prime Minister was still well-informed. He naturally understood what was meant by a ’ruined reputation.’ He furrowed his brow in thought. "Could it be... Cangmang Mountain is planning to feign one thing while doing another in secret?"

Looking at the old man before him, frowning with such a serious expression, Tan Jizhi inwardly shook his head. Fortunately, he hadn’t actually planned to collaborate with this old fellow. Otherwise... could someone who jumped to such wild conclusions from a casual remark truly be reliable?

The Prime Minister remained silent for a moment before looking at the two. "On what grounds should I believe you are a successor of Cangmang Mountain?"

The woman in white replied calmly, "The successors of Cangmang Mountain have never used so-called seals as proof. How does Prime Minister Yun wish for me to prove myself?"

"I’ve heard that the successors of Cangmang Mountain are proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, song, dance, astrology, medicine, and divination—excelling in all. I wonder if you, Miss, could cure my son?" When Tan Jizhi had returned the Prime Minister’s young son, the boy was already unconscious. Despite consulting all the famous doctors in the city, there was no improvement. Though he had suspected Tan Jizhi, subsequent investigations confirmed that his son had indeed been harmed by those Northern Territory barbarians, and the poison was said to be a rare, almost lost, secret concoction from the Beirong region.

The woman in white said calmly, "I am already aware of the poison afflicting your son. Frankly, I cannot cure it at this moment. However... Cangmang Mountain possesses a thousand-year-old blood lingzhi mushroom, which happens to be the antidote for this poison. After Young Master Tan informed me, I have already dispatched someone to retrieve it."

The Prime Minister was not easily fooled. "I have indeed heard that Cangmang Mountain treasures a thousand-year-old blood lingzhi mushroom. In that case, I shall await the lady’s potent medicine." His implication was clear: he would believe her identity, but only after seeing the thousand-year-old blood lingzhi mushroom.

The woman in white didn’t seem to mind. She nodded. "Very well. The round trip to Cangmang Mountain will take at most a month and a half. I hope Prime Minister Yun will keep his word. Otherwise, the price for deceiving Cangmang Mountain..." CRACK! The teacup she held in her slender, jade-like hand shattered into pieces. The woman in white stood up and said to Tan Jizhi, "Young Master Tan, since Prime Minister Yun does not wish to talk now, let us depart. We can resume our discussion when the blood lingzhi arrives. Young Master Tan has waited for so many years, a few more days won’t matter."

Tan Jizhi smiled. "The lady is right. After you, Miss."

The Prime Minister, noticing a hint of respect and caution in Tan Jizhi’s smile, felt his trust in the woman in white increase by a couple of notches. Considering Tan Jizhi had no reason to deceive him, and he had already contemplated collaborating with Tan Jizhi even before this Miss Dongfang appeared, whether Cangmang Mountain was involved wasn’t the most critical factor. Realizing this, the Prime Minister hurriedly said, "Young Master Tan, Miss Dongfang, please stay. We still need to discuss matters thoroughly."

The two turned back, looking at the old man before them, entirely unsurprised.

The Prime Minister sighed. "Young Master Tan, Miss Dongfang, please be seated. Let us talk properly." It wasn’t that he didn’t want to haggle further with Tan Jizhi to secure better terms; they simply couldn’t afford to wait. Ren Qining was indecisive, hesitating to take action against the people of the Northern Territory and restore the legitimate rule of the Central Plains, while the people of the Northern Territory were pressing them relentlessly. These old ministers, who had loyally served the Lin Family for generations, were naturally unwilling to share the fruits of their hard-won efforts with those barbarians. Moreover, Ren Qining was gradually growing dissatisfied with their constant obstruction. It was precisely because of this that the Prime Minister had been swayed when Tan Jizhi appeared.

Tan Jizhi was different from Ren Qining. Ren Qining was someone they had groomed since childhood, and he already controlled most of the Lin Family’s power. Tan Jizhi, however, was a complete outsider. Even if they helped him ascend the throne, he wouldn’t be able to consolidate power in the short term and would still have to rely on them, the old ministers, for support. More importantly, Tan Jizhi had no ties or debts of gratitude to the people of the Northern Territory, so he wouldn’t hesitate to act against them.

The two sat down again. Ye Li smiled faintly. "Since the Prime Minister wishes to talk, we are naturally willing to oblige. What does the Prime Minister wish to discuss?"

The Prime Minister frowned slightly, looking at them. "If we agree to support Young Master Tan’s ascension to the throne, what can Young Master Tan promise us old ministers? You must understand, even if we do nothing, we can still enjoy wealth and honor."

"Wealth and honor?" The woman in white sneered, a trace of disdain on her beautiful face. "The lands under the Northern Territory’s rule are all places where the people struggle to survive. This so-called Royal City of the Northern Territory, in terms of prosperity, doesn’t even compare to a third of the Capital of Great Chu, which has just endured the ravages of war. Such wealth and honor... does the Prime Minister truly find it satisfactory? It seems the former dynasty has been gone for so long that its nobles have forgotten their past glory, content merely to cling to a small territory for a precarious existence. If that is the case, then Young Master Tan and I have indeed come to the wrong place."

"Miss Dongfang!" Prime Minister Yun’s face flushed with anger at the woman’s merciless taunts, but he had to admit her words were not without truth. Changqing City couldn’t compare to the Capital of Great Chu, the imperial city of Xiling, or Licheng, and was even inferior to some of the larger cities in the Central Plains.

The woman in white looked at Prime Minister Yun, her tone slightly haughty as she said, "As long as Prime Minister Yun fulfills his promise, Cangmang Mountain will fully assist the Northern Territory in restoring its economy and the people’s livelihood. Furthermore, Cangmang Mountain can secretly persuade Mo Jingli and the Southern Garrison Prince to join forces against Prince Ding’s Mansion. When that time comes... dealing with Prince Ding’s Mansion will naturally not be difficult. Conquering the Capital of Great Chu will be within reach."

Hearing this, the Prime Minister couldn’t help but feel a surge of hope. He looked deeply at the woman in white, then turned to Tan Jizhi. "As far as I know, the successors of Cangmang Mountain traditionally marry the leader they support. If that is the case, in the future..."

Tan Jizhi’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly interjected, "Prime Minister, there’s no need to worry. If things truly succeed, the future queen will undoubtedly be from the Yun Clan."

"Oh?" The Prime Minister was clearly skeptical. After all, he was well aware of Cangmang Mountain’s reputation and customs.

The woman in white smiled charmingly. "Prime Minister, there’s no need for suspicion. Actually... Cangmang Mountain initially had no intention of interfering in these matters. It’s just that... the humiliation Prince Ding’s Mansion inflicted upon Cangmang Mountain in Licheng was too severe. If we don’t retaliate, we’ll let the world look down on Cangmang Mountain. Once our goal is achieved, I will return to the mountain and withdraw from worldly affairs."

"I see," the Prime Minister replied, visibly relieved, and chuckled.

The woman in white nodded and smiled. "Since both parties are satisfied with the conditions, I urge Prime Minister Yun to exert great effort. Of course, Cangmang Mountain and Young Master Tan will also provide covert assistance. Presumably, the day Prime Minister Yun rightfully becomes an imperial relative is also just around the corner?"

These words struck a chord deep within the Prime Minister’s heart. He chuckled heartily. "Thank you for your auspicious words, Miss. Seeing your conduct today, I truly believe you are the successor of Cangmang Mountain. Such a heroic woman is a rarity in this world; I dare say only the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom could rival you."

The woman in white merely offered a faint smile before she and Tan Jizhi rose to take their leave.

「Once out of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.」

Tan Jizhi’s face immediately soured. "Princess Consort, isn’t this bluff of yours a bit too grand?"

Wasn’t the woman in white, with her exquisitely beautiful and elegant face, her eyes sparkling with a smile, none other than Ye Li in disguise? The Prime Minister had just been comparing her to the Princess Consort of Ding Kingdom; how could he have imagined that the very Princess Consort he spoke of was standing right before him?

Ye Li chuckled. "What’s wrong with bluffing? As long as someone believes it, that’s all that matters. Bluffing costs nothing, so naturally, the bigger the better." Indeed, the bluffs were getting wild: the promise of a thousand-year-old blood lingzhi, Cangmang Mountain helping to restore the people’s livelihood, allying with Great Chu and Xiling to deal with Prince Ding’s Mansion, and that ethereal position of queen... Ye Li had certainly spun an extravagant tale. But the crucial part was that someone believed it.

Tan Jizhi said, "When the time comes, where are we supposed to find Cangmang Mountain’s assistance? Right now, Cangmang Mountain probably wishes they could tear you and Prince Ding to pieces, don’t they?"

Ye Li smiled. "Do you think they can wait for over a month? When that time comes... they won’t have the luxury of thinking about these things." By then, those so-called remnants of the old court would only be concerned with how to save their own skins. Ye Li had no real intention of helping Tan Jizhi ascend the throne. Even being king for a few days would be a significant event. Let the Northern Territory rise and fall with Ren Qining.

Tan Jizhi remained silent for a long while before finally sighing. "Princess Consort, your methods are truly formidable. I presume by now, Prince Ding’s Mansion’s people have already infiltrated the Northern Territory army, haven’t they? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have personally met with the Prime Minister of the Northern Territory."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Young Master. I had little choice. We must dismantle Ren Qining’s power base quickly, or there will be trouble." Even if the Northern Territory was weak, it was still a state. They had so few people here. If they couldn’t deliver a fatal blow swiftly, they would face severe consequences once Ren Qining reacted.

「Elsewhere, in a large military camp not far outside Changqing City.」 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

He Su, dressed in the uniform of a Northern Territory general, was cheerfully pouring wine for several officers. After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the large tent grew progressively more animated.

One of them gripped He Su’s arm and asked in a low voice, "Brother, was what you said last time true?"

At his words, not only He Su but everyone else also paused, their gazes fixed on He Su, clearly sharing the speaker’s thoughts.

He Su laughed heartily. "Though I am new here, I have been well looked after by all of you, my brothers. Surely, I wouldn’t try to harm you?"

"That may be so, but we are currently in the Northern Territory’s army... constantly being ordered to fight our own people. It wasn’t so bad before; Mo Jingqi wasn’t a good sort either. If he hadn’t driven out Prince Ding, why would we have ended up as soldiers for these barbarians? But now, we’re expected to fight the Mo Family Army. How can we not be afraid..."

Mentioning the Mo Family Army, the expressions of the others darkened. They had all participated in the attack on the Capital of Great Chu last year. If not for the Mo Family Army’s timely arrival, the Capital of Great Chu would probably now be under Ren’s rule.

He Su chuckled. "Isn’t that the truth? My brothers, you probably don’t know yet. Back then, the Mo Family Army fought all the way from Feihong Pass to the Capital of Great Chu to lift the siege. They decimated Beirong’s troops along the way, yet still possessed such might upon reaching the Capital of Great Chu... Now, the Mo Family Army is waiting at Zijing Pass. It’s already lenient of them not to attack, yet our King insists on provoking them. Isn’t that just courting death and sending these innocent soldiers to their doom?"

The others deeply agreed. He Su, taking in everyone’s expressions, continued, "To be honest with you, brothers, I’ve decided to forsake the darkness for the light and pledge allegiance to Prince Ding’s Mansion. We are all people of the Central Plains, after all. Why should we serve the people of the Northern Territory? Besides, Prince Ding’s Mansion is renowned for its benevolence. They will surely understand our predicament and not make things difficult for us, right?"

The others exchanged glances, then said hesitantly, "That may be true, but we have no connections. The Mo Family Army is far away within Zijing Pass. If we try to defect, I’m afraid we’ll be wiped out by the Zijing Pass garrison first."

He Su chuckled softly, producing a token from his breast. "Brothers, look at this."

Everyone stared intently. On the black jade token was an engraved character: "Ding." They were all visibly shaken. He Su smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. "This is a token from Princess Consort Ding. The Princess Consort has promised that as long as I switch sides, I will be promoted and have limitless prospects in the future." The men present were filled with both envy and admiration. To receive Princess Consort Ding’s jade token and promise was indeed no small fortune for He Su.

"Brother He, we..." The others stared at He Su, words unspoken yet hanging heavy in the air.

He Su laughed magnanimously. "Rest assured, brothers. If I have meat to eat, I certainly won’t let my brothers just drink soup. We brothers share wealth and woe alike."

"Brother He speaks truly!" the men acclaimed in unison, their gazes towards He Su growing increasingly kind and friendly.

It had been less than a month since He Su infiltrated the Northern Territory’s military camp; things shouldn’t have progressed so smoothly. However, with the overt or unwitting protection of influential figures in the Northern Territory, such as Queen Helan and the old court remnants led by Prime Minister Yun, his cover was flawless, and he navigated the military circles like a fish in water. Furthermore, with the intelligence provided by Ye Li, and the potential covert assistance from Qin Feng, Lin Han, and others, coupled with his own years of military experience, he naturally got along well with these mid-ranking officers. It wasn’t long before he had identified potential allies, those who could be won over, and those ripe for instigating defection. After a few intentional and unintentional soundings out, some couldn’t resist inviting him for drinks. He seized these opportunities to broach the subject, and indeed, it went very smoothly.

Under the cover of night, a black-clad figure stealthily slipped out of the military camp. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, looking back at the tranquil camp under the night sky, a low, amused voice sounded from behind him. "Brother Huang, where exactly are you off to?"

The man in black whirled around, his pupils constricting. A figure slowly emerged from the shadows beneath a tree—it was none other than He Su, with whom he had been drinking and conspiring just a short while ago. Seeing no escape, the man in black pulled down the cloth covering his face and forced a laugh. "He Yan, it’s so late. Why aren’t you resting yet?"

He Su chuckled. "Brother Huang isn’t resting, so how could I dare to? I’m afraid if I did, I’d wake up tomorrow morning to be beheaded for treason."

The man in black’s expression changed. He said sternly, "If that’s the case, how dare you conspire with others to commit treason? If you stop now, for the sake of our friendship, I can still let you off."

He Su looked up at the sky and smiled faintly. "Brother Huang, right now... shouldn’t it be me letting you off? Also, my name isn’t He Yan. I am He Su, a Grand General under Princess Consort Ding."

The man in black’s face grew even uglier. He glanced to the side and then darted off in another direction. But how could he be a match for He Su, who hailed from the shadow guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion? With just a few leaps and bounds, He Su closed the distance. Under the moonlight, a spray of blood arched through the air, and the man in black collapsed, lifeless. "You..."

"We each served our masters, that’s all. There’s no resentment in death..." He Su murmured with a sigh.