Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 372 - 371. The young master has disappeared, causing another wave of turmoil

Chapter 372: 371. The young master has disappeared, causing another wave of turmoil

371. The Young Master’s Whereabouts: The Wave Rises Again

Hearing Ye Li’s words, Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin turned their heads simultaneously to glance at the luxurious pavilion not far away. Though their internal strength surpassed Ye Li’s, they could clearly hear Helian Zhen’s laughter just as she could. Wei Lin furrowed his brow, whispering, "Young Master, should we..." Ye Li waved him off with a smile, carefully holding up her freshly penned calligraphy to let it dry in the breeze, behaving like any common wealthy young lord in the garden.

Though Ye Li’s white garments and debonair elegance caused many young maidens’ hearts to race and cheeks to flush, the two guards accompanying her certainly did not appear benign, which deterred many who originally intended to approach for a chat.

Looking at the reactions of the people around them, Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin marveled at their mistress’s strategic foresight. Zhuo Jing’s handsome face was marked by a three-inch long scar. His fierce countenance coupled with his icy demeanor made observers tremble with fear. As for Wei Lin, although a perfect handsome face was his blessing, his head of silvery-white hair along with his deep blue eyes made for an unusually striking image—something not entirely shocking in Licheng with its diverse population, yet was certainly enough to frighten any sheltered lady of a notable family in Nanjing City.

Both Wei Lin and Zhuo Jing had previously questioned whether such conspicuous attire would draw too much attention to them. Nonetheless, Ye Li had merely responded with a laugh, "It’s precisely because a spy would never attract attention this way that makes this such a high-profile approach, assuring us that they will definitely not be spies." She did not believe for a second that Mo Jingli would ever suspect that Ye Li would blatantly appear before him in men’s clothing. True enough, their unique guards, coupled with Young Master Chu’s noble air of charm, made people accept without question that it was the style of a nobleman’s son. People praised the Chu Family—known for its long history—as one of the great houses of Great Chu.

"What a beautiful poem, Young Master," a familiar female voice emerged from behind Ye Li just as she was about to put down the scroll in hand and depart. Turning around, she found Dongfang You, clad in a white dress, standing not far away, staring at her. Knowing her own handsome guise was the cause for such attention, Ye Li was not bothered; in fact, she had been looking for an opportunity to get closer to Dongfang You. Dongfang You approaching her on her own initiative was even better. Ye Li offered a faint smile, clasped her hands in a salute, and said, "Chu Junwei has the honor of meeting the Princess Consort Regent."

At hearing the title "Princess Consort Regent," Dongfang You furrowed her brows involuntarily and nodded, saying, "Chu Junwei, are you the son of the Chu Family in Yunzhou? I wonder how the Third Young Master Weiyun of the Chu Family is doing?"

Wearing a look of confusion, Ye Li smiled and responded to Dongfang You, "So, Your Highness knows Young Master Weiyun? However... Although I haven’t been keeping in touch with my elder brothers in the family these past few years, I clearly remember that Weiyun is the fourth son, and my third brother’s name is Weifeng." Ye Li was not bothered by Dongfang You’s probing. Surely, Prince Ding’s Mansion would have made careful preparations for establishing the identity of Chu Junwei? Not to mention Chu Junwei’s identity, even his parents’ life stories had been prearranged seamlessly. Ye Li clearly remembered who exactly was in the Chu Family.

Dongfang You seemed unaffected, saying coolly, "Perhaps my memory has failed me. A few years ago, I met the Fourth Young Master Chu once."

Ye Li chuckled inwardly. The face-saving excuse made by Dongfang You was laughable. Everyone knew that Dongfang You had only descended from Cangmang Mountain this year. So, how could she have encountered Chu Weiyun a few years ago? Moreover, how old was Dongfang You a few years ago? Of course, Ye Li never intended to expose her lie. With a gentle smile on his face, he asked, "May I ask what instructions Your Highness has for me?"

Dongfang You remained silent. To be honest, she wasn’t quite sure why she had spoken up. When she had passed by earlier, seeing the gentle smile on the face of this young master in white, she was inexplicably reminded of another man who seemed to be perpetually clothed in white. That’s why she had spoken without thinking. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, "Young Master Chu, you’ve always lived in Yunzhou. If you encounter any inconvenience here in Nanjing, feel free to send someone to find me at the Regent Prince’s Mansion."

Ye Li looked somewhat startled, before quickly smiling gratefully, "Your Highness is too kind, thank you. If I should indeed run into any problems, I shall certainly trouble you."

Dongfang You stood frozen, gazing at her, murmuring, "If only he were like you..." Before she could finish her sentence, however, she became suddenly aware of her slip of the tongue, so she left her words hanging in the air. Ye Li acted as if he had not heard, politely asked with a warm and gentle smile, "Your Highness, if there is nothing else, may I take my leave?"

Dongfang You nodded, saying, "I have detained you long enough. I had better depart as well."

"Safe journey, Your Highness. I shan’t see you out," bowed Ye Li. Watching Dongfang You’s receding figure, Zhuo Jing looked somewhat perplexed. "Young Master," he said, "this Dongfang You seems... a little unusual, doesn’t she?"

"How could it be normal?" Wei Lin spoke out. "The way she was staring at the Young Master earlier was utterly chilling. The Fifth Young Master is right; the Eldest Young Master really is unlucky to get entangled with such a woman." Having just witnessed how Dongfang You was looking at the Princess Consort, even they, as outsiders, couldn’t help but shudder. It was remarkable that the Princess Consort could maintain her composed demeanor. What’s more, to Dongfang You, this ’Young Master’ was just a stranger she had only met once, who merely bore some resemblance to Young Master Qingchen. If she were to face Young Master Qingchen himself... Wei Lin couldn’t help but tremble at the thought. He hoped that Young Master Qingchen had not encountered this version of Dongfang You yet.

Ye Li sighed quietly, expressing some regret, "A single thought can lead to enlightenment, or the path of demons..."

Zhuo Jing asked, "Young Master, are you saying that this Dongfang You has turned into a demon due to her unrequited love for the Eldest Young Master?"

Ye Li closed the folding fan in his hand and said, "In any case, we must find my elder brother as soon as possible. Given Dongfang You’s current state, she probably won’t be able to hold back much longer. Tell our people who are following Dongfang You to keep a very close watch on her."

"Yes," Zhuo Jing responded.

「Regent Prince’s Mansion」

Inside the study, Dongfang You watched Mo Jingli, who was talking endlessly with great enthusiasm, her expression blank. Her mind had long drifted off to an unknown place. Seeing her trance-like state, Mo Jingli paused his diatribe, a flicker of displeasure flashing across his face.

At this point, Mo Jingli’s impression of Dongfang You could not sink any lower. If possible, he wished he could eradicate her on the spot. She had the power and prestige that everyone envied, but she did nothing but obsess over a man who never spared her a second glance. Her relentless efforts had turned her frantic, cruel, and ruthless. If not for his unwillingness to clash with Dongfang You, Mo Jingli really wanted to tell her that from a man’s point of view, the more she persisted in her obsession, the more Xu Qingchen would detest her.

Mo Jingli endured his anger and said in a cold, deep voice, "I have decided to ally with Xiling and Beirong. Where have you hidden Young Master Qingchen? Hand him over to me immediately, I need him." His intention in capturing Xu Qingchen wasn’t for this woman’s lovesickness. Xu Qingchen was the third most important person in Prince Ding’s Mansion after Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li. Having him in hand would make many things more convenient.

Dongfang You’s eyes glinted, her tone annoyed. "I’ve told you before, I don’t know."

Mo Jingli scoffed, "Do you take me for a fool, Dongfang You? I’m giving you face right now. Jiangnan is my territory. Do you think I can’t find him if you don’t tell me?" Seeing Mo Jingli press the issue, Dongfang You also dropped her politeness, warning coldly, "Then let me warn you too, if you dare to hurt a hair on his head, don’t blame me for not showing you mercy."

By now, Mo Jingli had a very good understanding of Dongfang You’s temperament. Drawing a deep, scornful breath, he said, "What if you don’t hand him over? What do you plan to do? Keep him locked up for life? Do you think everyone from Prince Ding’s Mansion is already dead? Maybe they are already looking everywhere for him in Jiangnan. With the skills of the secret agents from Prince Ding’s Mansion, how much time do you think they need?"

After a long silence, Dongfang You lifted her eyes to look at Mo Jingli, declaring arrogantly, "You don’t need to waste your effort. As long as I am unwilling, no one can find him."

At last, Mo Jingli lost his patience completely. After glaring at Dongfang You menacingly for a while, he spat out cold words, "Dongfang You, you and Xu Qingchen can go die together. I only fear that Xu Qingchen wouldn’t want to die with you." With that, ignoring whatever else Dongfang You might say, he turned and stormed out, viciously slamming the study door behind him.

Mo Jingli moved quickly through Prince Li’s Mansion, his seething rage evident even from his retreating figure. The confidants trailing behind him exchanged worried glances and asked cautiously, "My Lord, what about the Princess Consort?"

Mo Jingli paused and said in a deep voice, "Don’t worry about her! Let her go out as she pleases in the future. I want to see how long she can hold back!" The person behind him nodded. "Your Highness is wise. Given her affection for Young Master Qingchen, she probably won’t be able to hold back for long. We just need to wait and be the oriole behind the mantis."

Although he didn’t have much affection for Dongfang You, she was, after all, his lawfully wedded Princess Consort. Having his subordinate openly speak of Dongfang You’s obsession with Young Master Qingchen made Mo Jingli’s expression turn even uglier. He humphed and left with a wave of his sleeve.

Mo Jingli was preoccupied with the matters of forming alliances with Xiling and Beirong and didn’t have much time to pay attention to Dongfang You, except for assigning someone to keep an eye on her. In the court, however, a bombshell was suddenly dropped by Mo Jingli, causing an uproar. Not to mention those old ministers who were already in favor of Prince Ding’s Mansion, even those who substantially supported Mo Jingli began to look at the arrogantly successful Regent Prince as if he were a madman.

Mo Jingli had just announced the news of the alliance with Xiling and Beirong, and before he could elaborate on his grand ambitions and plans, someone stood up and said solemnly, "Your Highness, this matter is absolutely unacceptable!"

Upon seeing the person before him, Mo Jingli immediately frowned. If he had not figured out who was supporting the Empress Dowager after wrestling with her party for so long, he would have lived these years in vain. Mo Jingqi had fallen out with the Empress Dowager before his death, and Mo Jingli himself had already clipped many of her wings. Under such circumstances, only Prince Ding’s Mansion could have enabled the Empress Dowager to maintain her footing both inside and outside the court. Therefore, Mo Jingli directly regarded the Empress Dowager’s people as Mo Xiuyao’s people, and naturally, he wished he could skin them alive. He stared coldly at the man in front of him and asked, "Why not?"

The minister who had stepped forward said solemnly, "Xiling and Beirong have taken our territory and killed our subjects. How can you, as the Regent Prince of Great Chu, who holds the state of Great Chu, form alliances with them? How is this different from acknowledging a thief as your father?"

"Impudent!" Mo Jingli’s face turned black with anger, and he rebuked furiously.

"What Lord Wang said is absolutely correct. Please reconsider, Your Highness," echoed the crowd.

As Mo Jingli took a closer look, he found that more than eighty percent of the kneeling ministers seconded the objection. Even the remaining twenty percent had looks of disapproval. Actually, when he initially agreed to form alliances with Xiling and Beirong, Mo Jingli knew that such a result was inevitable. However, the feeling of the whole world being against him was still infuriating when he actually saw so many people opposing him. He stared at the court ministers who were kneeling all over the hall and said coldly, "Are Xiling and Beirong the enemies of Great Chu? Isn’t Prince Ding’s Mansion? Aren’t the territories Mo Xiuyao now occupies part of Great Chu? I’d like to know, who do you pledge your allegiance to — Great Chu or Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

Such heart-piercing words made many old ministers feel a chill in their hearts. Many of them had been ministers for two, even three, reigns. If they hadn’t cared for Great Chu, they would have directly gone over to Prince Ding’s Mansion. Even if they didn’t receive much importance, at least they could live out their old age in peace. Now, simply because they opposed Prince Li’s idea, they were being labeled as unfaithful to Great Chu. How could they not feel disappointed? Moreover, Prince Li’s decision to form an alliance with Xiling and Beirong was fundamentally wrong. It would go down in history as an eternal disgrace, no matter whether it ended in victory or defeat.

"We old ministers have no such intention, but forming an alliance with Xiling and Beirong is indeed unacceptable. Please reconsider, Regent Prince!" the ministers pleaded in one voice.

Mo Jingli waved his sleeve in annoyance. "I have made up my mind; there is no need for further discussion." Saying this, Mo Jingli’s gaze fell on the young emperor, whose eyes were welling with tears due to the sudden change in atmosphere. He walked up to the young emperor and asked in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, how do you feel about my decision?"

The young emperor, Mo Suyun, was always terrified of his regent uncle. Stared down by Mo Jingli, he immediately burst into loud sobs. Mo Jingli shot him a disgusted look and bellowed angrily, "Why are you crying? You are the emperor! Is this how you should behave in front of the ministers? I’m asking you something!" The young emperor choked in fear, his tear-streaked face turning a deep shade of red as he stammered, "Uncle... sob... Uncle... is... right..."

Mo Jingli humphed softly, glancing at the prostrated crowd below. "Did you hear that? This is the Emperor’s wish. You don’t want to respect my decree; do you intend to defy the Emperor’s as well?" The ministers had nothing to say. The young emperor was only eight or nine years old and had been terrified by Mo Jingli for the past two years. No matter how much the Empress Dowager tried to educate him, it was no use; he was even more inadequate than an average child of his age. But what could they say? That the emperor was still young and ignorant? That his words didn’t count? Some of the old ministers could only sigh inwardly: the young lord was isolated, and a powerful minister usurped the state.

"Prince Li, what do you think you are doing?" The Empress Dowager emerged from behind the hall, looking coldly at her only son.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, Mo Jingli’s face hardened. He said indifferently, "The harem is not to meddle in politics. What is Mother doing here in the front court?" Seeing the Empress Dowager, the young emperor Mo Suyun, whose tears had just stopped, began to cry again, wailing, "Sob... Imperial Grandmother... I’m afraid..." Looking into Mo Jingli’s indifferent eyes, the Empress Dowager felt darkness envelop her vision. She only had Mo Jingli left now. If she could, she would be more than willing to live in harmony with her son. However, they had had such an unpleasant falling out when Mo Jingqi died. Over the past few years, the Empress Dowager had come to realize more and more clearly that in her son’s eyes, her status as Empress Mother probably couldn’t compete with that of his aunt, Grand Consort Wise Zhao. The Empress Dowager, who had been in a high position all her life, how could she tolerate being confined in the deep palace, her power seized by the son she had raised, and having to live by watching others’ expressions? After Mo Jingli gained the support of Cangmang Mountain, he had increasingly targeted the Empress Dowager’s people, and the relationship between mother and son had become even more strained.

However, when the Empress Dowager stepped out this time, it really wasn’t to argue with Mo Jingli. She genuinely didn’t understand what was going on in her son’s mind. It was true that the Empress Dowager had once set her mind on dealing with Prince Ding’s Mansion. But even when Prince Ding’s Mansion was at its weakest, she had never thought to openly confront them with an army.

She had stayed beside the late Emperor, watching him spend half his life scheming against Prince Ding’s Mansion, only to fail each time success was at hand. She had seen how talented and brilliant the Mo Liufang of yesteryear was. She had also watched her eldest son sacrifice Great Chu to suppress the Mo Family Army, and then watched Mo Xiuyao rise from a precarious, crippled prince to return Prince Ding’s Mansion to its peak. Subconsciously, the Empress Dowager had a vague feeling that Prince Ding’s Mansion was not something ordinary people could handle. Most importantly, even if the alliance of the three families really eliminated Prince Ding’s Mansion, so what? Would Xiling and Beirong then withdraw from Great Chu’s lands? Of course not. Without the Mo Family Army to deter and restrain them, they would only annex Great Chu’s territory more frantically. She feared... she wouldn’t have a single peaceful day for the rest of her life.

Mo Jingli, however, did not know what the Empress Dowager was thinking. He only saw his biological mother constantly opposing him over the years, even stooping to align with Prince Ding’s Mansion, assisting Mo Xiuyao in restraining him. Now, seeing that the Empress Dowager was trying to obstruct his plans again, he said coldly, "Mother, as a woman of the harem, you should return to the palace and rest. The affairs of the court are naturally handled by me and the ministers. Or... are you really trying to interfere in politics? I still remember my imperial brother’s deathbed command..."

"Mo Jingli, you!" The Empress Dowager immediately trembled with anger. That deathbed command left by Mo Jingqi was a taboo in her heart. Having it so blatantly brought up by Mo Jingli, with a hint of threat, the Empress Dowager couldn’t bear it anymore. Her vision went dark, and she fell backward.

Mo Jingli glanced at the Empress Dowager, who had fainted on the ground, and coldly ordered, "Mother is ill! Why aren’t you quickly taking her back for the imperial physicians to treat? If Mother is allowed to walk around again and injures herself, I will hold you all responsible!"

Watching as the Empress Dowager was helped away, the hope in the hearts of the courtiers disintegrated once again. Mo Jingli, looking down from above, said to everyone, "Mo Xiuyao, leading hundreds of thousands of the Mo Family Army, occupying the Northwest, Northeast, and the Capital of Great Chu, has long committed treason, making him the greatest traitor in the world. My alliance with Xiling and Beirong is to eradicate this traitor and restore order to the state. Anyone with objections will be charged with treason."

Having said that, he left without paying any more attention to the courtiers or the pitiful, whimpering little emperor.

These days in Nanjing City, the most discussed topic was Prince Li allying with Xiling and Beirong to fight against the Mo Family Army. Many venerable elders cried out in broad daylight, proclaiming the end of Great Chu.

Although the Mo Family Army had long severed ties with Great Chu, for many older people, it was not so easy to completely cut off all connections. Many people were still hoping that Prince Ding’s Mansion would save Great Chu. Even if not for these reasons, Prince Ding’s Mansion, which had protected Great Chu for hundreds of years, could be said to have never done anything to harm Great Chu, even after being driven out by the imperial family. The Regent Prince’s actions were inhumane, ungrateful, and unprincipled. Wasn’t such a court abandoned by the Heavens?

Similarly, the common people also cursed loudly and widely at this situation. Although Mo Jingli wanted to suppress it, he was already beset by difficulties both internally and externally, leaving him utterly overwhelmed. If he forcibly curtailed the people’s speech, it would likely lead to a rebellion. Mo Jingli, having no other choice, simply decided that out of sight was out of mind and ignored these people, focusing instead on issuing commands to prepare the army and provisions for the upcoming northern campaign.

In a quiet teahouse, Ye Li sat leisurely sipping tea in a private room. Despite the closed door, heated discussions from outside still flowed into the room, showing the intensity of the debates. This scene wasn’t unique to this establishment; the same buzz echoed in every teahouse and tavern in Nanjing City. As the court ignored the situation, the common people naturally became even more fiercely agitated. Those who scolded Mo Jingli incessantly were not in the minority.

"Young Master... what do you think of these people’s words?" Yaoji, sitting opposite him, smiled and looked at the carefree young man in white. Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "These probably won’t affect Prince Li’s decision."

Yaoji tilted her head, sighed, and said, "Isn’t Prince Li’s hatred for Prince Ding’s Mansion also an obsession? If Prince Li could really see clearly, he would know that allying with Xiling and Beirong would bring him no benefits. Regardless of the outcome with the Mo Family Army, he will inevitably be disgraced for eternity. Unfortunately, Mo Jingli is too obsessed with surpassing Mo Xiuyao. So even if there’s only a sliver of a chance, he wants to personally witness Mo Xiuyao’s defeat before him."

"Marquis Muyang and Mu Yang have both received Prince Li’s order and will be marching together," Yaoji said quietly.

Ye Li nodded, not surprised. There were only a few military commanders in Great Chu capable of leading troops into battle. Leng Huai and Marquis South had already joined Prince Ding’s Mansion. While Murong Shen hadn’t made his stance clear, his actions had already revealed his thoughts. Moreover, not only was Murong Shen an old subordinate of Mo Liufang, but he was also the father-in-law of Leng Haoyu, a confidant of Prince Ding. His connection with Prince Ding’s Mansion was undeniable. Although Marquis Muyang was quite old, he would naturally have no problems, as Leng Huai and Marquis South, who were around his age, were still active on the battlefield.

"Since Mo Jingli has decided, then... I should also send him a substantial gift." Ye Li smiled slightly, took out a list from his sleeve, and placed it in front of Yaoji and Qin Feng. Yaoji picked it up, looked at it, and asked in confusion, "Young Master, this is..."

Ye Li said solemnly, "Kill everyone on the list."

Ye Li’s voice was neither joyous nor angry, as calm as the still surface of a sea, yet it made one intuitively feel the danger of the deep ocean. The people on this list were all extremely important figures in Great Chu’s military forces. Although they might not hold high positions or significant power, their absence would undoubtedly impact the army. However, what puzzled Yaoji was that the names of Mu Yang and Marquis Muyang were not on the list.

Ye Li glanced at her and said with a light smile, "Don’t be surprised. This time, Marquis Muyang and his son will undoubtedly be the main commanders of the Army of Great Chu. If anything were to happen to them, the Army of Great Chu might not even be able to mobilize. Mo Jingli, having ensnared himself in this, can forget about extricating himself. These people are not significant or conspicuous figures; it would be convenient just to dispose of them. My elder brother is still in the hands of Dongfang You; we don’t want to draw attention."

Qin Feng put away the list and nodded. "Rest assured, Young Master."

Ye Li nodded and asked, "Any news from Ye Ying? Does she know about the list Dongfang You gave Mo Jingli?"

Yaoji hesitated for a moment, then said gravely, "She knows, but she won’t tell." Ye Li was slightly startled, pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand her meaning. She’s afraid I’ll go back on my word and not tell her the child’s whereabouts." Yaoji asked, "Then should we find a way to..."

Ye Li shook his head. "No need. Ye Ying... has never accomplished much in her life. But once she is determined about something, it’s tough to get the real information from her. Instead of wasting time verifying what she tells us, it’s better to let her willingly confess."

Yaoji frowned. "But what if something happens in Licheng and to the Prince..."

"Dongfang You said that they are not important people, so they shouldn’t be close to Xiuyao. Even if Mo Jingli wants to use them, he won’t rush. My two uncles should also be investigating," Ye Li said in a deep voice. Yaoji thought about it. Both Prince Ding and Mr. Hongyu were extraordinary individuals; it would be quite difficult for Dongfang You’s people to scheme against them. Otherwise, how could they have been unaware of the catastrophe at Cangmang Mountain?

Having heard Ye Li’s words, Yaoji no longer dwelled on this matter. Looking at Ye Li, she asked, "After Marquis Muyang deploys his troops, how should Yaoji act? Please advise me, Young Master."

Ye Li looked at her deeply, sighed lightly, and said, "Yaoji, you really don’t have to force yourself."

Yaoji smiled and nodded. "Yaoji understands the Young Master’s intentions. Since Yaoji has made a decision, she will certainly not disrupt the Young Master’s and Prince Ding’s Mansion’s affairs." Ye Li played with his folding fan indifferently, thought for a moment, and said, "If that’s the case... on the day Great Chu deploys its troops, you shall go with him."

Yaoji furrowed her brows. "I’m afraid Marquis Muyang won’t agree." Apart from generals garrisoned long-term at the border, soldiers on campaign were not allowed to bring family members. Moreover, she was not like Princess Consort Ding, a woman skilled in both literary and martial arts, capable of strategizing and commanding thousands of troops; it would be impossible for Mu Yang to take her along.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "As long as Yaoji is willing, a way will naturally be found."

Yaoji paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but smile faintly. "Yaoji understands. Thank you for the guidance, Young Master."

"Young Master, Wei Lin requests an audience," Wei Lin said in a low voice from outside the door.

Yaoji and Qin Feng stood up. Qin Feng said, "Young Master, allow me to take my leave first."

Ye Li nodded. "These days, you will accompany Yaoji. As I said before, you will handle matters concerning Marquis Muyang’s Mansion." Qin Feng nodded. "Thank you, Young Master."

Ye Li said softly, "Too much is as bad as too little. You should understand my meaning."

Qin Feng silently nodded, turned around, and left with Yaoji.

Wei Lin came in and, without even saluting, said solemnly, "Reporting to the Young Master, Dongfang You has left the mansion." Ye Li’s expression changed slightly. He quickly stood up but then resumed his seat and asked in a deep voice, "Is she alone?"

Wei Lin shook his head. "She only brought two bodyguards, both from Cangmang Mountain."

Ye Li lowered his head and thought for a while, finally saying, "Dongfang You is a skilled martial artist; we better not get too close to avoid her discovering us." Wei Lin nodded. "Young Master, rest assured. With our abilities, as long as we can determine her general location, we can always find Young Master Qingchen. It’s just that Young Master Qingchen has no strength to truss a chicken, I don’t know..."

Ye Li waved his hand. "From what we saw of Dongfang You a few days ago, she shouldn’t have seen my elder brother yet. My brother should not be in any danger."

Wei Lin nodded. Given Dongfang You’s mad infatuation with Young Master Qingchen, she surely wouldn’t harm him easily.

Ye Li thought for a while and then asked, "Have the forces of Cangmang Mountain in Jiangnan been thoroughly investigated?"

Wei Lin said, "After the destruction of Cangmang Mountain, its forces in Jiangnan have shifted, but they have left behind many traces. We can follow the clues to uncover about seventy to eighty percent of them. Young Master, do you want to act now?"

Ye Li shook his head. "No, let’s wait until Mo Jingli leaves before taking action."

Wei Lin blinked and hesitated a bit before asking, "Young Master, do you mean Mo Jingli will personally lead the expedition this time?" Ye Li sighed a bit helplessly. "Xiuyao is playing for very high stakes this time. I fear it won’t just be Mo Jingli who will go personally; even Lei Zhenting is likely to go."

"This..." Mo Jingli indeed wasn’t much of an issue, but Lei Zhenting would be quite a handful. Although Lei Zhenting had crossed swords with Prince Ding several times, he never seemed to gain any advantage. However, except for one time when he underestimated his opponent because of the Princess Consort, the other times could be said to have been forced by circumstances. Lei Zhenting’s capabilities were far beyond what Mo Jingli and Yelv Ye could compare to.

Ye Li shook his head slightly and smiled faintly. "It’s nothing. Since he has made this choice... all I can do for him is to try and alleviate as much pressure as possible."

"Princess Consort, if the Prince truly..." Wei Lin could not help but ask.

Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "Sharing bed and pillow in this life, companions in the realm of the dead in the next..."

Wei Lin remained silent. Those like them, close to the Prince and Princess Consort, always saw the Prince’s infatuation and affection for the Princess Consort, while the Princess Consort always seemed so calm and unperturbed. Wei Lin now understood that the Princess Consort’s feelings for the Prince were no less than his for her. It was just that, unlike the Prince, the Princess Consort preferred not to speak of these things. That was why she would go to such lengths; as long as it was something the Prince wanted to do, she almost never opposed it. She would just calmly do what she could, or quietly accompany the Prince by his side...

As for the remaining issues, there is really no need to ask further. He looked respectfully at Ye Li, saying, "Princess Consort, please give your instructions."

Ye Li rose and said with a faint smile, "Let’s wait and see. Once Mo Jingli leaves, the Capital of Great Chu... is bound to undergo changes."

Outside Nanjing City, Dongfang You, dressed in the plain clothes of an ordinary woman, walked slowly, followed by two young men in similar coarse attire. The three of them looked like commoner siblings returning from the capital.

Not until reaching a crossroads did Dongfang You stop. A hint of murderous intent flashed across her beautiful face as she said in an indifferent tone, "Deal with the bothersome flies behind us."

"Yes, Young Master," the two men respectfully agreed, then vanished by the roadside. Dongfang You stood by the road for a while before a faint smile touched her lips. She then turned and walked down a narrow path leading in the completely opposite direction.

On the quiet path, the man in plain clothing tidily stowed away his blood-stained soft sword, reverting to his original simple and honest appearance of an ordinary citizen. He glanced impassively at the haphazardly strewn corpses on the ground, shook his head, and turned to leave.

After a while, two men dressed in black appeared next to the corpses. They looked down at the bodies and the still-wet blood on the ground, kicked them slightly, and lamented, "We’ve lost them."

The other man replied, "Just because we lost them doesn’t necessarily mean others have as well." Since they couldn’t get too close, there was certainly more than one group following. The man in black sighed. "Let’s go back and report to the Young Master. It seems these people from Cangmang Mountain really have some skills."

"Never mind." An indifferent voice wafted from behind them. An elegant young man in white, accompanied by two men in black, approached. The two men quickly stepped forward to pay their respects. "Young Master."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Don’t worry about it. If the people of Cangmang Mountain didn’t even have this much ability, how could they have managed to snatch someone from Prince Ding’s Mansion so silently? Let’s go."

"Does the Young Master already know Young Master Qingchen’s whereabouts?"

"You’ll know once we get there," Ye Li responded indifferently.

Indeed, the place where Dongfang You hid people was hard to find. Even though Ye Li seemed to know the route, they still wandered through the mountains near the Capital for half a day. They only stopped when they reached an inconspicuous hunter’s cabin nestled in the mountains.

Zhuo Jing frowned. "This doesn’t seem like a place where Young Master Qingchen would be held." Although the mountains were sparsely populated, hunters and herb gatherers occasionally came and went. Young Master Qingchen’s appearance was too distinctive and would easily draw attention. If such an Immortal Young Master were living in a place like this, rumors would have spread long ago. The people of Cangmang Mountain couldn’t possibly silence everyone who entered the mountains; doing so would only attract more attention.

Ye Li smiled faintly and pointed at the cabin. "Do you see anything unusual about that cabin?"

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin looked over together. After a while, they found nothing abnormal. Ye Li chuckled. "Looking at the cabin’s appearance, it seems to have been here for decades. But... have you noticed the chimney..." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The two looked at the chimney carefully and finally realized. Wei Lin said, "It appears the chimney has never been used." Ye Li nodded and laughed. "Even if this cabin is only a temporary shelter for hunters, it’s impossible for the stove never to have been used, unless... there’s another world hidden inside."

"But how should we investigate? There might be people in the cabin," Zhuo Jing said.

Ye Li said pensively, "It isn’t confirmed yet whether my elder brother is here or not. It indeed isn’t appropriate to act rashly and alert them. However, if we want to avoid disturbing anyone..." Considering the cabin’s small size, inspecting it without alerting the people inside was simply impossible.

After thinking for a moment, Ye Li decided to wait. At the same time, she speculated about what secret lay beneath the cabin. Was it a secret passage, or an underground palace? There had to be a suitable place to hide someone. Ye Li believed that given Dongfang You’s feelings for Xu Qingchen, she wouldn’t just casually hide him in a cave.

After a long wait, the cabin door finally opened from the inside. Dongfang You soon emerged, her face sullen. Even from afar, the three could sense that Dongfang You’s expression was extremely unsightly. The men and women following her looked terrified. Ye Li suddenly felt a bad premonition.

Dongfang You struck a middle-aged man, who was frantically trying to speak, with her palm. Before the man could utter half a sentence, he vomited blood, collapsed, and died instantly. Clearly, something had happened that enraged her greatly. As Dongfang You was facing their direction, Ye Li could make out her words from the slight movement of her lips: "A bunch of useless trash! You can’t even watch a single person who doesn’t know martial arts. What use do I have for you?"

Ye Li was shocked. Could it be that my elder brother has escaped? If so, why hasn’t he contacted us yet?

Several of her subordinates were obviously trying hard to explain something. Except for the two men who had come with Dongfang You, everyone else knelt on the ground. Dongfang You, however, still appeared furious as she asked coldly, "When did he disappear?"

Ye Li naturally couldn’t see the subordinates’ response. After pondering for a moment, Ye Li asked, "Do we have a chance of capturing Dongfang You now?"

Zhuo Jing and Wei Lin exchanged glances, then spoke in low voices, "Our men are already nearby, so it shouldn’t be a problem. However, Dongfang You’s lightness skill seems to be very good. We’re afraid that if she knows she’s outmatched, she’ll try to escape at all costs. Capturing her without any injury will be difficult."

Ye Li grinned and said, "She’s not one of ours. Who asked you to capture her without injury? As long as she doesn’t die, it’s fine."

"We obey," the two said in unison.

Outside the hunter’s cabin in the woods, Dongfang You was still seething with rage. "What are you waiting for? Go find him! If you can’t find Young Master Qingchen in three days, be prepared to lose your lives!"

"The whereabouts of Young Master Qingchen need not trouble Miss Dongfang’s people. Perhaps Princess Consort Li would first like to have a chat with my master?" A man’s voice, tinged with a faint smile, suddenly echoed from a hillside nearby.