Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 361 - 360. The Northern Territory suffers defeat, Ren Qining dies

Chapter 361: 360. The Northern Territory suffers defeat, Ren Qining dies

360. The Defeat of the Northern Territory’s Army and the Death of Ren Qining

Having agreed to Princess Helan’s challenge, He Su was direct and unpretentious. He promptly rose and stepped into the central arena. Seeing his straightforwardness, Princess Helan was quite delighted and followed him there.

He Su saluted, saying, "Princess, let’s keep this to a light spar."

Princess Helan met his words with the sharp lash of her whip, retorting, "You people from the Central Plains sure talk a lot!" The long, flexible whip was mercilessly flung towards He Su. He Su was formerly a covert agent, the head of the four covert agents personally trained by Ye Li, and also had nearly ten years of military experience. With such refined skills, if he were struck by Princess Helan’s whip, He Su might as well have given up leading the army and retired to the fields.

He Su didn’t even draw his weapon. With a casual sidestep, he adroitly dodged Princess Helan’s seemingly fierce strike. This surprised Princess Helan. Although she didn’t arrogantly assume that she could defeat one of Ye Li’s capable generals, she certainly hadn’t expected him to evade her whip without even moving. She grunted lightly, smiling, "Quite skilled indeed. Let’s try again. I’d like to see how you evade this time!"

Princess Helan did not hold back this time. Her long whip whirled towards He Su like a flurry of venomous snakes taking flight. He Su retreated a step, using only his hands to evade Princess Helan’s whip. The two began to exchange moves in the open space of the arena. After fifty or sixty moves had been exchanged, He Su felt that he had shown the princess enough deference. He gave a light humph and, ignoring the lashing whip, deftly caught one end of it. With a slight tug, Princess Helan lost her grip on the whip, which He Su calmly collected.

Everyone present cheered unanimously. He Su gathered the whip, approached Princess Helan, and said, "Thank you for going easy on me, Princess. Your whip."

Princess Helan looked him up and down. "The generals of the Mo Family Army are indeed formidable. Helan concedes." She took back the whip without further contention and returned to Ye Li’s side to sit down.

The observing Northern Territory military officers obviously realized that He Su had been holding back. While they admired his abilities, their resolve to fight had also deepened. The youth who had initially requested a match from Ye Li was the first to stand and challenge He Su. Fighting women required caution, but against men, he had no such reservations. He Su readily accepted his challenge. The two men began to duel in the central arena.

Although people from the Northern Territory generally didn’t cultivate internal energy, their external strength and robust physiques far exceeded those of people from the Central Plains. He Su became animated and decided not to use his internal energy. Relying solely on the most common military combat skills, he matched blows with the Northern challenger. Their fierce exchange was unsurprisingly much more intense than his previous bout with Princess Helan. Everybody watched as fists and kicks flew, the surrounding crowd’s blood boiling with excitement amidst the clamor.

He Su fought five or six men from the Northern Territory consecutively without falling behind. Subsequently, Qin Feng, Lin Han, Zhuo Jing, and others also entered the arena. Each displayed martial arts skills by no means inferior to He Su’s. This earned them the awe and admiration of the Northern Territory generals. The Central Plains military officers who had surrendered to them were equally astounded. If even these relatively unknown young generals under Princess Consort Ding were so impressive, how much more imposing would the renowned, long-established commanders be? They silently congratulated themselves on their early surrender to Prince Ding’s Mansion. Against such strength, how could Ren Qining not be defeated? It must be said, however, this was a beautiful misunderstanding. Among these four, excluding He Su, their skill in leading troops was likely not much superior to that of the generals present. However, their martial arts prowess definitely ranked them among the top ten in all of Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Mo Family Army.

「Early in the morning,」

Three hundred thousand soldiers from the Northern Territory, led by their various tribal chieftains, had already begun heading north from fifty miles northeast of Changqing City. They would leave through the pass and return to their familiar lands. In the decade or so since Ren Qining first appeared in their territory, the Northern Territory had undergone immense changes. They too had once been blinded by desire and ambition, following Ren Qining in his quest to build a vast empire, to achieve eternal glory and a grand legacy, wanting all the fertile lands under heaven to become hunting grounds for the men of the Northern Territory.

But they had paid a terrible price. In just over ten years—from the initial tribal wars to the later invasion and two standoffs with the Mo Family Army—the population of the Northern Territory had decreased by sixty percent compared to a decade prior. The number of young and able-bodied men had fallen by more than eighty percent. If they persisted in their misguided path, only extermination awaited them.

So now, they were returning to their familiar lands with their remaining kinsmen, to begin anew and live peaceful lives. Perhaps in another ten years or so, the Northern Territory would once again be as populous as it had been before.

"Princess Consort Ding, we’re leaving. Thank you for everything this time. The Northern Territory will never forget the great kindness of Prince Ding’s Mansion," Princess Helan said with a sincere smile, holding the reins of her horse as she stood by the official road.

Ye Li offered a slight smile. "A safe journey to you, Princess. There are still battles ahead of us, so please forgive me for not seeing you off further."

Princess Helan laughed. "There’s no need. Your Central Plains is very interesting. When the war is over, I’ll come and find you for fun."

Ye Li smiled. "I shall await your visit."

Princess Helan mounted her horse, saluted Ye Li, and said, "I’m off. By the way, Princess Consort Ding, that Ren Qining is vengeful and ruthless. Now that I’m gone, he will certainly vent all his anger on you. You must be extremely careful."

Ye Li nodded, smiling. "I understand, Princess. Take care."

Princess Helan nodded and turned her horse, about to catch up with the main party ahead. Just then, a sharp WHOOSH cut through the air from a distance. Princess Helan whirled around to see an arrow gleaming with a cold light shooting straight towards her.

"Princess, look out!" Ye Li cried. Simultaneously, with a flick of her sleeve, a silver light shot out from her cuff, intercepting the arrow. At the same instant, Zhuo Jing and Lin Han, who were beside Ye Li, leaped up, their swords slicing through the air to strike the projectile. They managed to knock it down just before it reached Princess Helan.

Princess Helan was unharmed, but her horse was startled. It neighed and reared, about to throw her from its back. Qin Feng flew forward, plucked Princess Helan from the saddle, and casually slapped the horse’s flank. The magnificent steed immediately collapsed to the ground, though it wasn’t killed. It lay there, shaking its head restlessly.

Startled, Princess Helan, still shaken from being pulled down by Qin Feng, couldn’t help exclaiming, "What was that?!"

"You wretch, prepare to die!"

Before Ye Li could respond to Princess Helan, numerous men in black had surrounded them. Ye Li glanced at them coolly. "They are Ren Qining’s men!"

Princess Helan was instantly enraged; her hatred and fury towards Ren Qining were no less than his towards her. Initially, she had planned to set up Ren Qining once and let Prince Ding’s Mansion deal with him, thus avoiding further involvement and the needless sacrifice of Northern Territory soldiers’ lives. She never expected Ren Qining would actually dare to send assassins after her.

"You think this lady is afraid of you?!" Discarding her whip, Princess Helan drew the short knife from her belt and charged towards the assassins, her personal guards following closely.

Ye Li said to Qin Feng beside her, "Don’t let Princess Helan get hurt."

Qin Feng nodded and gestured. The guards from Prince Ding’s Mansion surged forward. The ensuing melee was every bit as fierce as a small battle.

"Ren Qining, I know you’re here! Show yourself, you coward!" Princess Helan shouted, cutting down a black-clad assassin.

A cold voice answered from nearby, "This King shall oblige you." Ren Qining leaped down from a small hillock by the roadside, his long sword, like a nimble snake, shooting straight towards Princess Helan.

He Su and Qin Feng instantly flew forward, their two long swords striking Ren Qining’s blade simultaneously, deflecting his attack and pushing him back. Behind them, Lin Han had already pulled Princess Helan to Ye Li’s side. Ren Qining glanced at He Su and Qin Feng before him, then at Lin Han and Zhuo Jing guarding Ye Li. He knew that if he didn’t deal with these people, he absolutely couldn’t touch a hair on Princess Helan’s head today. Without another word, he brandished his long sword and attacked Qin Feng.

Ren Qining’s martial arts, if not the best in the world, were certainly among the highest. Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting themselves had once affirmed that Ren Qining was undoubtedly one of the top ten martial arts experts. Although He Su’s and Qin Feng’s skills trailed Ren Qining’s, the strength of Prince Ding’s Mansion, and particularly the Qilin, lay in their intricate collaboration. In the past, even a few fledgling Qilin had managed to capture Mu Qingcang, one of the Four Great Experts. Now, with He Su and Qin Feng joining forces, Ren Qining could not easily break free.

Ren Qining fought He Su and Qin Feng for over an hour. By then, the assassins he had brought had been mostly eliminated by the guards from Prince Ding’s Mansion. Ye Li watched as Qin Feng and He Su gradually began to fall behind, and she inwardly admired Ren Qining’s impressive skills, which were far superior to Tan Jizhi’s.

"Young Master Ren, fighting like this will yield no result. Why not listen to me? How about we all stop?" Ye Li called out.

Ren Qining laughed coldly, his attacks becoming even fiercer.

Ye Li’s pretty eyes narrowed. "Young Master Ren, this Princess Consort has never been a ’gentleman.’ I’m not one to be bound by rules against ganging up." Her implication was clear: if Ren Qining insisted on fighting, she wouldn’t hesitate to use their superior numbers. Ren Qining only held a slight advantage against He Su and Qin Feng. If they truly fought desperately, Ren Qining might not escape unscathed. If Zhuo Jing and Lin Han joined in, Ren Qining’s defeat would be absolute.

A moment later, Ren Qining finally gave a cold snort and retreated, his face grim. The few remaining assassins also ceased their attacks and stood behind him. Looking at the somber-faced man opposite her, Ye Li smiled faintly and stepped forward. "Young Master Ren, I didn’t expect we’d meet again so soon after parting in Licheng."

Hearing this, Ren Qining’s expression became even more unsightly. He cast a gloomy look at Ye Li and her companions, then pointed his sword at Princess Helan. "Hand over that wretch! As for matters between me and Prince Ding’s Mansion, we will settle them on the battlefield."

Ye Li shook her head with a hint of regret. "Princess Helan is a friend of Prince Ding’s Mansion. At least until she leaves the border, Prince Ding’s Mansion will not allow anyone to harm her. If Young Master Ren insists on killing her, you can wait until she returns to the Northern Territory. By then, I won’t be able to intervene, and it will save us both the trouble, wouldn’t it?"

Ren Qining sneered repeatedly, staring at Ye Li. "So, Princess Consort Ding is determined to protect this wretch?"

Ye Li sighed with a touch of helplessness. "I have no choice, Young Master. Please understand."

"Do you think I would dare to come with only these few men?" Ren Qining said gloomily. "I will tear that wretch to shreds!"

"Enough of this, Ren!" Princess Helan could no longer bear Ren Qining’s repeated insults. She stepped forward to stand beside Ye Li, glaring at Ren Qining. "Is there anyone in this world more despicable than you? My cousin saved your life! My uncle married her to you! Yet you feigned pitiableness to deceive them and even caused my cousin’s death! You used the men of the Northern Territory to fight your wars and build your kingdom, then turned your back on them! Your heart is so malicious you even tried to bring about the extermination of the entire Northern Territory! In the words of you Central Plains people, someone like you should be called scum! Trash! An utter lowlife! The spirits of the hundreds of thousands from the Northern Territory who died unjustly because of you will not let you go! This lady curses you, in this life and the next, to be childless and die alone! A despicable creep like you still dreams of restoring your kingdom? Dream on!"

Ye Li couldn’t help covering her mouth to hide her amusement. Helan’s command of the Central Plains dialect was mediocre, but when it came to cursing, three Central Plains men combined would likely be no match for her. One only needed to look at Ren Qining’s handsome face, shifting between green, ashen, and purple, to know how magnificently she had berated him.

Ye Li coughed lightly and said to Princess Helan, "Alright, Helan, that’s enough." This was not the place for a drawn-out conflict, especially since they were all in such close proximity. It would be disastrous if Ren Qining was driven to madness and ended up hurting someone.

Princess Helan still felt she hadn’t said her fill, but out of respect for Ye Li, she reluctantly fell silent.

Seeing Ren Qining calm down, Ye Li spoke. "Young Master Ren, this Princess Consort is not qualified to interfere in the grudges between you and the Northern Territory, nor can I judge who is right or wrong. I only wish to ask you one thing: what impact would killing Princess Helan have on the current situation?"

Ren Qining was taken aback. At this point, with the Northern Territory army already departed, killing Helan would indeed have no impact on the overall situation. At most, it would allow him to vent his anger or perhaps disgrace Prince Ding’s Mansion. But if Ye Li refused to yield, what price would he have to pay to take Helan’s life? He glanced back at the handful of assassins remaining from the hundred he had brought, and his eyes dimmed.

Ye Li continued, "I know Young Master Ren still has troops in ambush. However, you should also know that this Princess Consort would not have come here with only a few guards. Honestly, Princess Helan’s life or death has little bearing on Prince Ding’s Mansion. But if Young Master Ren insists on making a move, then I will have to oblige you. Prince Ding’s Mansion promised to see the people of the Northern Territory off safely, and we will absolutely keep our word."

Ren Qining was silent for a moment, then sneered at Ye Li. "Princess Consort, by letting them go now, aren’t you afraid of nurturing a tiger that will cause future trouble? When I persuaded them back then, were they truly deceived by me? If they hadn’t harbored their own ambitions, how could they have been swayed?"

Ye Li replied calmly, "No one can guarantee eternal peace and prosperity. At this moment, at least, the Northern Territory has no ambition to contend for the Central Plains. If it weren’t for Young Master Ren, they would likely still be living by fishing and hunting in the Baishan and Heishui region, having no connection with the Central Plains. This Princess Consort cannot exterminate an entire people for a so-called future possibility, can I? If the Central Plains remains militarily strong and its people prosperous, foreign tribes will naturally not dare to show any disrespect. But if we allow ourselves to degenerate, even if we annihilated the Northern Territory today, how can Young Master Ren guarantee that a Western Region or an Eastern Region won’t emerge tomorrow?"

Ren Qining snorted lightly, knowing he couldn’t persuade Ye Li to concede. Women like her always had their minds made up and were indeed difficult to sway. Ren Qining’s gaze shot towards Princess Helan like an arrow. "You’d better not take a single step out of the Northern Territory for the rest of your life. Otherwise, this King will hunt you to the ends of the earth and ensure you don’t have an intact corpse!"

Princess Helan showed no fear, returning his threat with a cold laugh. "This lady will pray to the great gods day and night for your early death and swift reincarnation!"

Seeing Ren Qining compromise, Ye Li said no more. She instructed Qin Feng beside her, "Send men to escort Princess Helan to catch up with the main party ahead. And see the Princess out of the pass."

Qin Feng nodded silently. "This way, Princess."

Princess Helan knew Ye Li was worried Ren Qining might try some underhanded tricks again, so she made a face at Ye Li, waved, mounted a fine horse brought by a guard, and rode off with her entourage.

"Princess Consort Ding! May we meet again!"

Once Princess Helan departed, only Ye Li’s group and Ren Qining’s remaining forces confronted each other by the wide official road. Ren Qining had been seething with anger for the past two days, but after his initial outburst of rage, he had managed to regain some composure when facing Ye Li again. Looking at Ye Li’s beautiful, serene face, he sneered, "Impressive methods, Princess Consort Ding!"

Ye Li raised a hand to brush a strand of hair from her cheek and smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Young Master Ren. It was merely a fortunate coincidence."

A vein throbbed on Ren Qining’s temple, and a savage glint flashed in his eyes. To him, Ye Li’s words were clearly mocking his inability to control his subordinates, which had given her the opportunity to scheme against him.

Taking a deep breath, Ren Qining suppressed the towering rage in his heart. He glanced at the people beside Ye Li and scoffed, "They say Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding are inseparable. Why then do I not see Prince Ding in this fight? Could it be he looks down on this King and disdains to show himself?"

"Why ask what you already know, Young Master Ren? Our Prince is currently engaged in battle with the Beirong, so naturally, he is not here," Ye Li said. "Besides, although the Prince and I are husband and wife, we are ultimately two separate individuals. How could there not be times when we are apart?"

Ren Qining stared at Ye Li, his smile taking on an even more sinister cast. "I’ve long heard that the Princess Consort is also a military genius. It seems this time I won’t have the chance to witness the prowess of Great Chu’s former God of War. For this King to experience the Princess Consort’s Art of War firsthand would make this life worthwhile. However... if the Princess Consort were to suffer another loss... this King would like to see if Prince Ding still has the chance to slaughter my entire family!" As he spoke the last sentence, Ren Qining’s words became tinged with a bloody aura.

Over the past two years, the conflict between the Northern Territory tribes and the old ministers of the Central Plains had intensified, a process that began when Mo Xiuyao dispatched assassins against the Queen of Northern Jin and the princes. It could be said that the seeds of Ren Qining’s defeat today were sown back then. One might not see things clearly when they were happening, but in retrospect, even someone as ruthless and unscrupulous as Ren Qining had to feel a chill at Mo Xiuyao’s cunning and calculations.

Ye Li pursed her lips into a slight smile. "How could this Princess Consort allow Young Master to lose his entire family again? I will certainly take care of myself, and I sincerely hope Young Master will also take care."

"One would hope so," Ren Qining sneered.

"Farewell then." At this point, with true intentions laid bare, there was no longer any need for pleasantries.

"I won’t see you out," Ren Qining stated.

Watching Ye Li and her entourage depart calmly, Ren Qining stood by the side of the old road, hands clasped behind his back, lost in thought. Seeing him like this, the assassins standing behind him dared not disturb him. After a good while, an impatient subordinate general who had been waiting finally found him. Seeing Ren Qining standing there in a daze, he hurried forward to salute. "Your Majesty, the Northern Territory army and..."

"They’ve left," Ren Qining said coldly.

"Should your subordinate immediately pursue and bring them back?"

"No need." Ren Qining shook his head and turned to walk back, his voice heavy. "Let’s return. We must prepare for a major battle. In three to five days at most, Leng Huai’s forces from Zijing Pass will undoubtedly arrive."

The general following him was startled. "If that’s the case, won’t we be caught in a pincer attack by the Mo Family Army? Your Majesty, should we retreat first?"

Ren Qining looked back at him, his gaze calm. "Retreat where? Behind us is Zijing Pass. To the north, even if we break through Ye Li’s blockade, do you think the people of the Northern Territory wouldn’t turn on us at a time like this?"

The general’s expression changed. A brief moment of contemplation sent a cold sweat down his back. "Your Majesty, what should we do then?"

"What should we do?" Ren Qining walked ahead, his steps perfectly steady. But no one saw the flicker of bewilderment that crossed his face. I, too, would like to know what to do...

Beyond Zijing Pass, the land had always been vast and sparsely populated, with few decent cities. In such a place, warfare paid little heed to sophisticated Art of War or terrain. On the open plains, all troops were exposed under the broad daylight, with nowhere to hide.

However, even if Ren Qining’s army was not at its peak, it still numbered a million strong. As the saying goes, enough ants can kill an elephant. Leng Huai, who arrived later, led over 200,000 Mo Family Army soldiers. Combined with the large army that had surrendered to Ye Li, their forces totaled just over 500,000. For a time, the two armies found themselves in a surprising deadlock outside Zijing Pass.

「After a few days,」

A personally penned edict from Princess Consort Ding was issued from within the Mo Family Army. It proclaimed the innocence of the common folk and stated that the Mo Family Army, already engaged with northern barbarians, was even more reluctant to raise arms against its own people. Any soldiers under the Northern Territory’s command willing to surrender would have their past actions pardoned. If they still wished to serve, they could join the Mo Family Army. If not, they were free to lay down their arms and return to farming.

「Meanwhile,」

Rumors, from an unknown source, began to circulate that Ren Qining was not, in fact, a descendant of the former imperial dynasty. Several old ministers who had once served under Ren Qining personally came forward to testify to this. As a result, not only did dissent arise among the common soldiers, but even the generals Ren Qining trusted began to waver. In the Northern Territory’s main camp, soldiers deserted daily. Some even surrendered directly on the battlefield. No matter how severely Ren Qining punished these acts, he could not stop them, leaving him to sigh in helplessness.

「On the fifteenth of August,」

The two armies clashed again ten miles outside Changqing City. Leng Huai, who had initially been commanding forces on a separate front, now led his main army to join Ye Li and He Su. Ren Qining, who once commanded a million troops, now had less than 200,000 demoralized and disorganized soldiers behind him. Their appearance was a stark contrast to the Mo Family Army arrayed behind Ye Li—clad entirely in black, exuding a formidable aura. The two sides were worlds apart. Everyone knew that today would be the final battle.

Ren Qining, adorned in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat astride a chestnut steed. He gazed coldly at Ye Li and her commanders, an air about him of one who might lose the battle but not his dignity.

After a long silence, Ren Qining drew his sword, pointed it at Ye Li, and said solemnly, "Princess Consort Ding, my defeat today is not due to failings in warfare but because Heaven has forsaken me." Indeed, considering his military strategies and troop deployments over these days, there was little to fault. With a million soldiers, he shouldn’t have fallen so swiftly. Alas, he lacked favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support—not a single element was on his side. How could he not lose? And having lost, how could he accept it as his own failing?

Before Ye Li could speak, Leng Haoyu, who was behind her, sneered, "Heaven helps the righteous. If you do not betray Heaven, how could Heaven betray you?"

Ren Qining’s face darkened. He said no more, only, "In that case, Princess Consort Ding, shall we fight?"

To Ye Li’s right, Leng Huai spurred his horse forward and said coldly, "A defeated general is not worthy of the Princess Consort’s attention. This old man will test the skills of the King of Northern Territory!"

Ren Qining scoffed. "General Leng, you are old. Why not retire peacefully at home? This King disdains to bully the aged and weak."

Leng Huai’s face turned livid with rage. With a roar, he raised his Qingfeng sword and charged at Ren Qining. Seeing this, Ren Qining showed no courtesy, his sword lashing out in response, sword energy filling the air.

The others watched Leng Huai and Ren Qining fight, none stepping forward to assist. However, Leng Haoyu’s brows were tightly furrowed as he stared intently at the two combatants, his own long sword already drawn. Ye Li sighed softly. "General Leng is no match for Ren Qining. Second Leng, go and help him."

Although Ren Qining’s martial arts were superb, he would be overwhelmed if Qin Feng and the others attacked him simultaneously. Ye Li herself had never been fond of the tedious tradition of one-on-one duels before a main battle. However, Leng Huai harbored a deep vendetta against Ren Qining for the death of his son. Leng Huai was no longer young, and the months spent tirelessly defending Zijing Pass and the Capital of Great Chu had already taken a severe toll on his vitality. Yet he still insisted on leading troops to garrison Zijing Pass, determined to personally avenge his beloved son. Ye Li naturally could not disappoint him.

Leng Haoyu had long been worried about Leng Huai’s safety. As soon as he heard Ye Li’s words, he immediately charged forward. With a sweep of his long sword, he parried Ren Qining’s thrust aimed at Leng Huai. Ren Qining sneered, "So, one died, but there’s still a good son left." Without another word, he launched three continuous sword strikes at Leng Haoyu and Leng Huai. Leng Haoyu’s long sword danced, creating a web of steel that deflected Ren Qining’s attacks.

Beside Ye Li, Qin Feng whispered, "Princess Consort, I’m afraid Second Leng and General Leng are no match for Ren Qining." Ren Qining’s martial prowess was not merely among the top ten in the world; it could easily rank in the top five. Compared to experts like Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting, he lacked only time and experience. As for a natural prodigy like Mo Xiuyao, Ren Qining was, of course, incomparable. However, even Leng Haoyu, whose own martial arts were merely considered good, was vastly superior to a military general like Leng Huai.

Ye Li said calmly, "Don’t worry about them. Make your move. We must end this battle today."

Instantly, war drums thundered across the battlefield. Behind Ye Li, the Mo Family Army roared in unison and charged towards the opposing Northern Territory forces. These days, the Northern Territory army had seen many desertions and surrenders. The remaining soldiers were already terrified and their morale had collapsed. Seeing the Mo Family Army advancing like a black tide, they began to break and scatter in moments.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Ren Qining, Leng Huai, and Leng Haoyu gradually moved towards a less crowded area. In the end, Ren Qining, growing impatient, injured Leng Huai severely with a sword strike, sending him to the ground.

"Father!" Leng Haoyu cried, his expression changing. He immediately launched several swift sword strikes at Ren Qining. Ye Li, Qin Feng, and the others also closed in. Seeing Leng Huai grievously injured and Leng Haoyu also wounded, Qin Feng didn’t hesitate, drawing his sword and leaping into the fray. Zhuo Jing followed, joining the fight. Only then did Ye Li order someone to carry Leng Huai away for medical treatment.

After days of relentless fighting, Ren Qining began to show signs of exhaustion as he simultaneously faced Leng Haoyu, Qin Feng, and Zhuo Jing. Spotting an opening, Qin Feng mercilessly thrust his sword diagonally through Ren Qining’s chest.

Ren Qining’s face turned white, and a trickle of crimson blood escaped the corner of his lips. With a single sword movement, he forced back his three assailants, then leaped away, fleeing rapidly. Seeing him try to escape, the others immediately gave chase.

「By a quiet lakeside outside Changqing City,」

Ren Qining, dressed in his bright yellow dragon robe, sat peacefully, gazing at the small city in the distance. He had strived his entire life, resorting to all means, betraying profound kindnesses, yet all he had obtained was this trifling city and a half-finished palace.

He was so tired.

The Qilin never missed their mark. Qin Feng’s sword strike had seemed to go astray, but it merely meant death wouldn’t be instantaneous, only a slight reprieve from immediate demise. Ren Qining pressed several acupoints around the wound, but blood continued to flow unabated. He eventually gave up trying to staunch it. Casually, he thrust his sword into the ground beside him and sat by the lake, letting out a long sigh.

Soon, Ye Li and the others arrived. Seeing the figure by the lake, Ye Li raised her hand to halt her companions and approached alone. Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing exchanged a look, each taking up a strategic position, warily watching the man in the bright yellow robe.

Hearing footsteps, Ren Qining turned. Seeing Ye Li, he smiled faintly. "You’ve come. Any later, and I might not have lasted until you arrived."

Ye Li looked down. The ground beneath him was stained crimson with blood. His face was as pale as paper, devoid of the vigor he had displayed on the battlefield when he brandished his sword against his foes.

"Does the King of Northern Territory have anything to say?" Ye Li asked, her voice low.

Ren Qining waved his hand nonchalantly. "You can call me Ren Qining. It’s the name I’ve had all my life. I can’t be bothered to change it now." On the verge of death, he no longer clung to the title of King of Northern Territory, nor to the identity of Lin Yuan. Only the name Ren Qining had truly been with him his entire life; the other two were perhaps merely what he had desired.

Ye Li corrected herself, "Does Young Master Ren have anything to say?"

Ren Qining replied indifferently, "Not much. It’s just that, being near death, one doesn’t wish to die alone. It is a pity I didn’t get to duel with the Princess Consort."

Ye Li responded, "I’m afraid my humble skills are not worthy of Young Master Ren’s consideration."

With an unreadable smile, Ren Qining said, "Actually, I did seriously consider whether to risk everything to kill you. The mere thought of Mo Xiuyao’s expression upon hearing of your death brings me great joy."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "If that’s the case, Young Master Ren, why didn’t you act sooner?"

Ren Qining shook his head and sighed. "I wasn’t confident I could kill you. Besides, thinking about it now, it seems rather pointless. Mo Xiuyao’s devastation wouldn’t benefit me in any way. Although many people find my actions laughable, I always felt that you, Princess Consort, would not ridicule me."

"There’s nothing laughable about someone who strives for their beliefs, even if those beliefs seem wrong in the eyes of the world. Besides, who in this world can truly discern right from wrong?" Ye Li said placidly.

"Well said," Ren Qining said with a smile. "So, it was wrong after all?"

Ye Li lowered her gaze. "If Young Master Ren himself does not believe it was wrong, then it was not wrong."

Ren Qining leaned weakly on his sword and muttered, "Yes, if I don’t think it was wrong, then it wasn’t. If it was wrong, then what has my entire life amounted to?"

Scenes from his childhood to adulthood slowly drifted before his eyes. From a young age, he had been entrusted with heavy responsibilities as the sole heir of the Lin Family, the only hope for the restoration of the former dynasty. While other children his age were playing in their parents’ embrace, he was in the study with his tutors, learning the classics of governance. While others were playing games, he was studying strategy, political maneuvering, and the Art of War. While others slept soundly, he had to rise early for martial practice, training through the harshest winters and hottest summers. Alas, he was ultimately not a genius like Mo Xiuyao. His current predicament... it could only be called fate. But had anyone ever asked him what he truly wanted in life? Had he ever done even one thing that he himself desired?

A pair of beautiful, vibrant eyes flashed in his memory. He was just a youth then, having barely come of age, when he met a naive yet intelligent young woman, untouched by the world. She saved his life. During his convalescence, he picked wildflowers and wove a garland for her. Her beautiful face, tinged with a delicate blush, was more captivating than any peerless beauty he had ever seen.

Then he married her, and she bore him children. If he hadn’t been Lin Yuan, if he hadn’t borne those responsibilities...

"Su Yier."

Ye Li watched in silence as the blood-stained sword swept across his neck. The long sword CLANGED as it hit the ground. The man in the dragon robe slowly collapsed. "Su Yier."

Having spent some time with Princess Helan, Ye Li recalled her mentioning that her cousin, the former queen of the Northern Territory and Ren Qining’s late wife, was named Su Yier—a name meaning ’dazzling pearl’.

"Princess Consort." Leng Haoyu and the others approached. Looking at the figure on the ground, Leng Haoyu couldn’t help but sigh. "I didn’t expect that he would..."

Ye Li sighed softly. "Give him a grand burial. He was, in his own right, a formidable figure. Posthumously confer upon him the title of Prince Changqing, and let him be buried with the Queen of the Northern Territory."

Zhuo Jing hesitated before speaking. "Reporting to the Princess Consort, Princess Helan has taken the ashes of the Queen of the Northern Territory and the several princes and princesses back to the Northern Territory."

Ye Li pondered for a moment. "Then erect a cenotaph for him. Send his ashes to the Northern Territory. Let Princess Helan dispose of them as she sees fit." With that, Ye Li, feeling somewhat dispirited, turned away from the body on the ground and headed back to camp. The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. It was time to go back.

"Let Princess Helan dispose of them?" Zhuo Jing clicked his tongue. Given Queen Helan’s hatred for Ren Qining, she’d probably scatter his ashes on the road for all to trample.

「A short while later,」

Someone came to take Ren Qining’s body away. Tranquility returned to the lakeside. After a long interval, a man in blue appeared by the lake. He stared at the dark red bloodstains on the ground for a long time, then picked up the fallen sword. Tearing a strip from his blue robe, he slowly wiped the partially dried blood from the blade and sighed softly, "I truly didn’t expect you would... I had originally thought..." I always believed a battle between us was inevitable, yet we never even had a proper meeting.

Casually tossing aside the cloth, the man in blue flicked his sleeves and departed. The blood-stained blue strip fluttered in the breeze, landing on the rippling surface of the lake. It slowly became saturated, the blood diffusing faintly into the water.

「In the Mo Family Army’s main tent,」

Ye Li looked up at the man in blue standing before her, her gaze lingering for a moment on the sword in his hand before she asked, "What are your plans?"

Tan Jizhi smiled nonchalantly. "If the Princess Consort intends to keep me imprisoned, that’s fine. If not, then I wish to leave."

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. "Where will you go? To find another place and attempt to rise again?"

Tan Jizhi shook his head. "Perhaps I’ll wander around. Or... maybe go to the Western Region, or even sail overseas."

Ye Li looked at him with amusement. "What about your grand ambitions for hegemony? Do you no longer want them?"

Tan Jizhi gave a bitter smile. "With Prince Ding and the Princess Consort present, there’s no room for others to meddle in such grand designs. This humble one possesses some self-awareness. Seeing his end... there were things I didn’t understand before, but now I feel they no longer matter."

These two men, sharing similar names and identical missions and responsibilities, had such different experiences and fates. Witnessing Ren Qining’s end, Tan Jizhi, who had always believed he deeply hated him, now felt a pang of sorrow, as if grieving for his own kind. His own grand ambitions now seemed somewhat tasteless.

"The world’s tides are shaped by our generation; once in the worldly society, the years urge us on. Imperial ambitions and hegemony, discussed in laughter, are not worth a single drunken revelry in this human world," Ye Li recited softly.

Tan Jizhi was momentarily lost in thought, then smiled with a sense of release and nodded in admiration. "Princess Consort, such character, such insight... Tan Jizhi is humbled. From this day forward, there is only Tan Jizhi in this world, no longer Lin Yuan. Princess Consort, this humble one takes his leave."

Ye Li looked at him. "Do you not plan to go back and see Doctor Lin?"

Tan Jizhi shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. "It’s better not to. I imagine Father does not wish to see this unfilial son. Please take good care of him in the future, Princess Consort."

Ye Li nodded. "Very well, decide for yourself."

Tan Jizhi wasted no more words, cupping his hands in salute. "Farewell."

Ye Li replied, "Farewell."

Watching Tan Jizhi depart, Qin Feng, standing behind Ye Li, whispered, "Princess Consort, are you truly letting him go like this? If he harbors any further ambitions, he could become a problem."

Ye Li shook her head. "Tan Jizhi is an intelligent man. He knows what is impossible and will not persist. However... if he makes any restless moves, there will be no need for further questions. Kill him directly."

Qin Feng nodded. Tan Jizhi is alone and has also offended Mo Jingli. It won’t be easy for him to stir up any more trouble.

"Princess Consort, between Tan Jizhi and Ren Qining, who was truly the heir of the former dynasty?" Qin Feng asked, his curiosity piqued.

Ye Li shook her head faintly and smiled. "I don’t know. And whether one was or wasn’t, what significance does it hold?"

Qin Feng pondered for a moment, then nodded and chuckled. "The Princess Consort is right. Who truly cares who it was?" If people harbor ambitions, even if Tan Jizhi were killed, a third or fourth Lin Yuan, Wang Yuan, or Zhao Yuan would inevitably appear.