Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 411 - 409. When Soldiers Meet

409. Encounter of Soldiers

"Greetings, Princess Consort." A man in black knelt in the study within Feihong Pass, his voice deep.

Ye Li looked at him indifferently. "Where is the Prince?"

The man in black answered, "The Prince is leading an army of a million men and is nearing Feihong Pass. He will arrive in two days at the latest."

Ye Li nodded. "Has he ordered anything?"

The man in black took out a letter from his sleeve. "This is what the Prince ordered me to give to the Princess Consort."

Ye Li took the letter and read it quickly, nodding calmly. "I see. You may leave."

The man in black looked at Ye Li’s serene expression, a little hesitant. As a trusted bodyguard of Mo Xiuyao, he intuitively felt that something was off about the Princess Consort, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. He retreated with a respectful farewell, "Please take care, Princess Consort. I will withdraw now."

The study quickly regained its tranquility. Ye Li looked at the letter, her eyes slightly lowered, a soft smile on her lips. Xiuyao...have you ever considered... what if Feihong Pass falls?

"Princess Consort," Feng Zhiyao’s deep voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

Feng Zhiyao came in, looked at Ye Li, and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Princess Consort, the Prince... is he coming back soon?"

Ye Li nodded and smiled faintly. "Yes, he will be back in two or three days at the most."

A look of joy appeared on Feng Zhiyao’s face. Seeing that Ye Li’s expression was still indifferent, he couldn’t help asking, "Princess Consort, aren’t you excited about Xiuyao’s return?"

Ye Li looked up at him, asking leisurely, "Third Feng, can we... hold out until Xiuyao returns?"

Feng Zhiyao blinked. "What do you mean?"

Ye Li sighed. "A whole million-man army... How could Lei Zhenting not know that? Tomorrow... I fear the attack from the Xiling army will intensify."

Feng Zhiyao furrowed his brow. "Will Lei Zhenting attack the city tomorrow?"

Ye Li gave a faint smile. "If he cannot overrun Feihong Pass before the arrival of our main army, his only fate is death. If it were you, would you attack or not?"

Feng Zhiyao’s face turned grave. "What’s the Prince’s plan?"

Ye Li handed the letter to him. After reading it, Feng Zhiyao frowned. "The Prince wants the Princess Consort to leave Feihong Pass first, but it seems like..." The Princess Consort appeared to have no intention of leaving.

Feng Zhiyao persuaded, "Since the Prince has made arrangements, shouldn’t you leave first?" He had a good understanding of Mo Xiuyao’s temper. If anything happened to Princess Consort Ding, none of them would be able to bear the consequences.

Ye Li glanced at him. "Leave? And go where?"

"Back to Licheng, of course," Feng Zhiyao said. "The Prince will arrive soon. As long as you leave Feihong Pass, you’ll be safe. Even if Lei Zhenting is quick, it’s impossible for him to reach Licheng, right?"

"Third Feng, Lei Zhenting is like a cornered animal now. Do you have any idea... what will happen if he enters Feihong Pass?" Ye Li asked quietly.

Feng Zhiyao fell silent.

Ye Li continued, "He will drag all the people in the Northwest into disaster. This is not because Lei Zhenting is cruel by nature, but because he has no other choice. At this point, Lei Zhenting won’t be thinking of turning the situation around. He would want to perish together with the Mo Family Army... and likewise, buy time for Xiling."

"If that’s the case, Princess Consort, you should leave even more urgently," Feng Zhiyao said solemnly. "Rest assured, as long as I draw breath, I won’t let the Xiling army take a step into Feihong Pass. However, I implore you to leave Feihong Pass immediately."

Looking at Feng Zhiyao, Ye Li shook her head.

Feng Zhiyao’s straight eyebrows knitted together, and he anxiously countered, "Princess Consort! Please reconsider. What if something happens to you..."

"Third Feng," Ye Li looked at him, her expression serious. "I won’t leave. As long as there is a single soldier remaining, I won’t leave before them. Today, I abandoned Qilin, telling myself it was for Feihong Pass. Now... what would I be abandoning Feihong Pass and its defenders for? For the sake of my life? Third Feng, there are always things in this world... more important than one’s life."

Feng Zhiyao was silent. He wasn’t oblivious to Ye Li’s thoughts, nor did he fail to understand. In fact, if it were any other military leader planning to abandon their subordinates and their garrison in the face of an impending war, he would only feel hatred and contempt. But Ye Li was different. Not only because she is a woman, but also because she is the Mistress of Prince Ding’s Mansion, the person Prince Ding values the most. Perhaps in the eyes of the Mo Family Army soldiers, including Feng Zhiyao, Princess Consort Ding was someone they were willing to protect at the cost of their lives and blood. But they didn’t understand that Ye Li was not only Princess Consort Ding and Mo Xiuyao’s wife and lover; she was also a soldier. To die in battle, wrapped in a horse’s hide, is the fate of a soldier. To abandon their city and flee is a dishonorable act that a soldier would loathe and bear the shame of for life.

Feng Zhiyao hesitated a little, ultimately asking, "Princess Consort, are you... upset with the Prince...?" At first, he wasn’t sure, but when he fully grasped Mo Xiuyao’s plan, a vague feeling emerged. He feared that the Princess Consort would not approve of the Prince’s actions this time.

As a general of Prince Ding’s Mansion and Mo Xiuyao’s friend, Feng Zhiyao did not perceive any errors in Mo Xiuyao’s decision. However, as a member of the Feihong Pass garrison, he understood that, from the start, those soldiers stationed at Feihong Pass were meant to be sacrificed in Mo Xiuyao’s plan. It wasn’t Mo Xiuyao’s fault. As the Supreme Commander of Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Mo Family Army, his decisions were certainly correct and considerate of the entire Mansion and Army. But was it fair to the soldiers who died defending Feihong Pass? When an officer makes a military decision, they determine countless lives in an instant. So Feng Zhiyao understood that he could not be a renowned general in this life.

Ye Li was taken aback for a moment. Just when Feng Zhiyao thought she wouldn’t respond, she faintly smiled and shook her head. "No, I understand his intentions."

In her previous life, Ye Li had read countless books on strategy and was not shallow in her understanding. However, compared to Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao was a true commander. His decisions weren’t wrong. Thanks to his strategies, a war that was predicted to last for many years now seemed ready to end quickly. Then, the people of the whole Central Plains region could once again live in peace. Even counting the casualties, the number of soldiers killed at Feihong Pass, if they all died, would be far less than if the war had continued.

But some things, even if you could understand them, were hard to accept. Even if one could accept them, they might find it hard to do so when faced with them. At least, Ye Li couldn’t. When hundreds of thousands of Mo Family Army soldiers were fighting for their lives at Feihong Pass, Ye Li couldn’t abandon them and flee alone, only to emerge after the war to reap the glory and brilliance of the fallen heroes. Ultimately, deep down, Ye Li was a soldier, not a politician.

Seeing that Feng Zhiyao wanted to say something more, Ye Li gestured for him to stop. "No need to say more. Unless you plan on knocking me out and making me leave against my will. But if you really did that, I would just come back. Third Feng, if I escape from this battle, I will never find peace in my life."

Feng Zhiyao remained silent for a moment, finally sighing. "I understand. But... Princess Consort, please take care."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Of course. Someone is waiting for me to return."

Unable to persuade Ye Li, Feng Zhiyao had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw. He was acutely aware that what Ye Li feared might soon come to pass. There was no hope for Lei Zhenting to turn the tide now, even if he succeeded in invading Feihong Pass. As soon as Mo Xiuyao’s troops arrived, Lei Zhenting would be quickly wiped out. Lei Zhenting might become desperate and cause great damage within Feihong Pass. As Mo Family Army soldiers, they could not stand by and watch their land suffer immense destruction and bloodshed. Therefore, they could only choose to fight, down to their last soldier and horse, against the Xiling army. They would try to delay as much as possible, hoping that Mo Xiuyao and his army could arrive on time.

「Later, under the moonlight.」

"Princess Consort Ding doesn’t want to leave?" Under the moonlight, Han Mingyue, with his handsome and elegant presence, seemed to gain a unique tranquility from the serene glow. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Feng Zhiyao sighed, shrugged, and said, "Didn’t you predict this already?"

Han Mingyue nodded. "If Princess Consort Ding agreed to leave at this time, then she wouldn’t be Princess Consort Ding. But Xiuyao... He was really able to let go." Mo Xiuyao only sent back a letter. Was he so sure that Ye Li would follow his instructions?

Feng Zhiyao laughed bitterly. "Didn’t the Prince think that the heir was still in Feihong Pass? For the sake of the heir, even if not for herself, the Princess Consort would leave Feihong Pass."

Han Mingyue laughed. "Unfortunately, he doesn’t know that Princess Consort Ding would have sent the heir away beforehand."

"Exactly." Feng Zhiyao furrowed his brows anxiously, looking at Han Mingyue and asking, "Why aren’t you leaving?"

Han Mingyue responded with a light smile, "I’m all alone. Where would I go?"

"Tomorrow... The Princess Consort’s safety will be in your hands," Feng Zhiyao said solemnly.

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you trust me?"

Feng Zhiyao smirked, glancing at him. "If I didn’t, why would I waste my breath talking to you?"

Han Mingyue nodded solemnly. "Rest assured."

"Thank you."

「In the study.」

"Princess Consort." Qin Feng and Lin Han stood before the desk, their voices somber. Both were wounded. Qin Feng had his left shoulder bound with white cloth, and although no external injuries could be seen on Lin Han, his pale complexion indicated that he was not unscathed.

Putting her pen down, Ye Li frowned at them. "Why aren’t you resting?"

Qin Feng said solemnly, "I request to join you in the battle tomorrow, Princess Consort."

Lin Han followed. "I do too."

"Nonsense!" Ye Li scolded sternly. "If you’re injured, you should recuperate properly. Do you think you have more lives than others, or that the world won’t turn without you?"

Qin Feng and Lin Han exchanged looks. Qin Feng took a step forward and said, "We plead for your approval, Princess Consort. This is not just our request, but also that of the over one hundred Qilin brothers who have just returned."

Ye Li sneered coldly, asking, "Then what? You go to the battlefield with severe injuries and let Qilin become extinct? The order was given by me. Even if someone is to be buried as a sacrifice, it’s not your turn!"

"We dare not!" Qin Feng and Lin Han quickly knelt.

Ye Li quietly looked at the two and sighed silently after a while. "Get up. I understand your feelings... but I hope you understand too. The sacrificed Qilin soldiers wouldn’t want to see you die as a sacrifice for them. Instead, they would hope that all the survivors, including you, live well and continue their lives on their behalf."

Ye Li truly understood their feelings. The bond among the Qilin soldiers was deeper than that of the Mo Family Army and Black Cloud Cavalry. They were all elite among elites, selected from various armies. Almost all had experienced the journey from initial disagreements to gradual cooperation. They had endured hellish training together and executed many difficult tasks together. It was truly a shared experience of life and death. This time, with nearly ninety percent casualties, the survivors would not feel grateful for surviving a calamity; far from it. More of them... would only blame themselves for still being alive and feel consumed by guilt.

Ye Li had seen quite a few examples of this among soldiers who had experienced brutal wars. They hadn’t died under enemy blades or guns, but ultimately took their own lives.

"Princess Consort..." Qin Feng and Lin Han’s eyes were red. These Qilin soldiers had all been carefully selected and personally trained by them. To them, these soldiers were more like their brothers, students, and nephews. Watching so many die before their eyes, powerless to help—such pain was enough to make them doubt the meaning of their own existence.

Ye Li stood up, looked at the two seriously, and said, "Go back and tell them, as long as I am alive, I will personally bring back Lei Zhenting’s head to commemorate the fallen soldiers. But... I hope they can live well and continue the legacy of Qilin."

"We will obey!" Qin Feng and Lin Han got up and replied.

After finishing, Qin Feng hesitated for a moment and added, "But I must still request to follow you on the battlefield, Princess Consort. Not only am I a Commander of Qilin, but I am also your personal guard. As long as I am not killed in battle, I must follow and protect you."

Lin Han added, "I also have this intention. Since I am a secret guard of Prince Ding’s Mansion, my duty is to protect the Princess Consort. Please allow me."

Ye Li looked at them, torn.

Lin Han said, "Princess Consort, you can rest assured. My injury doesn’t impede me."

Qin Feng nodded. "Mine doesn’t impede me either, just some minor flesh wounds."

After a long silence in the study, Ye Li finally looked up, glanced at the two, and said, "Since you know there is a hard battle tomorrow, why don’t you go and rest!"

"Yes, we take our leave!" The two were overjoyed, promptly saluting Ye Li and left.

「The next day, before dawn.」

Indeed, the sound of Xiling’s forces advancing was heard from outside Feihong Pass. Ye Li, together with Yuan Pei and others, appeared on the city wall. As dawn was breaking, they saw the Xiling army arrayed outside the pass, a dark, oppressive mass. A pervasive murderous intent and fighting spirit filled the air even before the battle began. It was unknown what Lei Zhenting had done, but the Xiling army, whose morale should have been dampened after yesterday’s battle, was now unexpectedly intimidating and seething with killing intent.

"Lei Zhenting, Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling, requests an audience with Princess Consort Ding!" a voice called from below the city wall. This time, Lei Zhenting no longer hid behind his army but instead rode his horse to the very front, looking up at the people on the city wall. The guards who were usually with him were nowhere to be seen. It was as though Lei Zhenting no longer cared about life or death; even if the Mo Family Army on the city wall were to suddenly shoot arrows, it wouldn’t matter to him.

Ye Li was slightly startled. She stepped forward, revealing herself between two crenels of the city wall, and said calmly, "Ye Li is here. May I know why the Southern Garrison Prince wishes to see me?"

Lei Zhenting smiled faintly. "Nothing much. There are just some matters I wish to discuss with Princess Consort Ding privately. Originally, I wanted to talk to Prince Ding, but... it seems there’s no such opportunity now."

"At this point, does the Southern Garrison Prince think there is still room for negotiation?" Ye Li asked.

Lei Zhenting nonchalantly waved his hand. "I don’t really care. It’s just that there are some things that, if left unsaid, I won’t feel comfortable."

Ye Li frowned. Feng Zhiyao and the others beside her were eager to dissuade her. "Princess Consort, you don’t need to waste any more words on him."

But Ye Li knew that talking privately with Lei Zhenting would not harm the Mo Family Army. At least, it could delay things for a period. No matter how long, for the current defenders of Feihong Pass, the longer the delay, the more beneficial it would be for them.

Down by the city walls, Lei Zhenting looked at Ye Li and chuckled. "If the Princess Consort is wary, I can enter the city alone to talk with you."

"No need." Ye Li responded with a light smile, then leaped from the top of the city wall, landing gently beside the city gate below. Looking at Lei Zhenting, she said, "Southern Garrison Prince, if you have something to say, you can come over and speak."

The moment Ye Li landed, Zhuo Jing, Qin Feng, and Lin Han, who were with her, also jumped down, forming a triangular shield in front of her. On the city wall above, the Black Cloud Cavalry swiftly trained their arrows on Lei Zhenting below. Any suspicious movement, successful or not, would result in Lei Zhenting being turned into a pincushion by their arrows. With Qin Feng and the others shielding Ye Li, Lei Zhenting’s chances of landing a successful blow were practically zero.

Lei Zhenting smiled calmly and urged his horse forward.

"My lord, don’t!" The officers behind Lei Zhenting tried to stop him; it wasn’t only Prince Ding’s side that was worried.

Lei Zhenting waved his sleeve, signaling everyone to stop fussing, and rode alone towards the foot of the city wall.

Lei Zhenting stopped a few steps away from Ye Li, unbothered by the piercing gazes of Qin Feng and the others. He watched Ye Li for a long moment, then sighed with a hint of remorse. "My life could be described as one of unrestrained dominance, with few adversaries. Yet, I’ve always been defeated by those from Prince Ding’s Mansion. Over the years, I’ve pondered why and sought ways to defeat Mo Xiuyao. But now... it’s evident that I’ve failed again."

Ye Li remained silent. She knew Lei Zhenting merely wanted to speak his mind, not necessarily to hear her response.

Indeed, Lei Zhenting, paying no heed to her silence, continued, "Having reached this point... I finally understand. From the moment Xiling allied with Great Chu and Beirong, we were caught in Mo Xiuyao’s calculations. No matter how clever I believe myself to be, I could never have calculated things to this extent. I suppose... even the universally acclaimed Young Master Qingchen doesn’t possess such sophisticated schemes. Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao... his scheming is truly extraordinary. Princess Consort, do you agree?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "If you, Southern Garrison Prince, like him, were to suddenly fall from the pinnacle to the dust one day; and like him, were forced to suppress and endure all feelings and pain, yet still manage to remain composed before an enemy to whom you owe a blood debt—perhaps then, Southern Garrison Prince, you would understand why he can achieve all this." Not only Lei Zhenting, but even Ye Li herself was often astonished by Mo Xiuyao’s arrangements and schemes. If Mo Xiuyao didn’t want to reveal them, Ye Li believed he definitely had the ability to keep the entire world in the dark, even after conquering it.

"The Princess Consort’s words are very true," Lei Zhenting had to admit Ye Li was right. He was a true son of heaven. Besides the humiliation of losing an arm to Mo Liufang, he had hardly faced any setbacks in his life. Anything he wanted to do, he was always able to achieve—except for matters related to Prince Ding’s Mansion.

Lei Zhenting looked at the ever-serene Ye Li, his weathered eyes filled with a touch of admiration and surprise. Under the current circumstances, setting aside the fate of the Xiling army for a moment, it was almost certain they could breach Feihong Pass within four hours. The fate of the stationed Mo Family Army, and even Ye Li herself, could be easily foreseen. Yet, to remain so calm under such circumstances—even a man would find it nearly impossible. This woman before him undoubtedly deserved the respect and admiration of all men in the world.

"I had originally thought that you would have left Feihong Pass last night, Princess Consort," said Lei Zhenting.

Ye Li said solemnly, "I am not only the Princess Consort of Prince Ding’s Mansion but also a member of the Mo Family Army. The Mo Family Army has no soldiers who flee without a battle."

Lei Zhenting nodded and praised, "Great courage. Though I’ve said it more than once, I still want to say it: the luckiest thing in Prince Ding’s life was marrying such an outstanding Princess Consort." At this point, Lei Zhenting felt a pang of regret. Why hadn’t he taken this woman to Xiling by any means necessary back then? What he regretted even more was, why did such a woman have to become Princess Consort Ding? Could it truly be that heaven would not let Prince Ding’s Mansion be destroyed?

Ye Li gave a slight smile. "The luckiest thing in my life, too, was marrying Prince Ding."

"Does Princess Consort Ding know what I will do once Xiling’s soldiers breach the pass?" Lei Zhenting asked solemnly.

Ye Li calmly replied, "Regardless of what you intend to do, Southern Garrison Prince, you must first get past me."

Lei Zhenting couldn’t help but chuckle. "It seems the Princess Consort has guessed already. You seem to have no desire to compromise whatsoever."

Ye Li lowered her eyes. "At this juncture, is there any room for compromise between our two sides?" At this point, it was destined to be a matter of life and death.

Lei Zhenting praised, "Well said. In that case... let me see just how tenacious the Mo Family Army is! Moreover, I also want to see if Prince Ding can still scheme so calculatingly when he loses his beloved forever. I shall take my leave. Take care, Princess Consort."

Having said his piece, Lei Zhenting nodded to Ye Li, turned his horse, and returned to his army.

Ye Li nodded. "Likewise."