The First Jasmine - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Ambush in the Bamboo Grove

"The Emperor's meaning is that Princess Qi Xia shall enter the imperial harem, while Princess Ling Yun is decreed to the Prince of Li."

Ye Li cast a swift glance toward Ye Ying, who sat beside Mo Jing Li. Sure enough, Ye Ying was currently staring at Princess Ling Yun with a dark, gloomy countenance. On the Nanzhao side, Princess Qi Xia's expression was also exceedingly unsightly. Mo Jing Li's face was noticeably unpleasant as well, his brooding gaze fixed upon the aggrieved Princess Ling Yun. Ye Li looked thoughtfully at Mo Jing Qi on the principal seat, who was patently very satisfied with his own arrangements, and for a moment, she was somewhat unable to comprehend what exact designs this Emperor was playing at. Could it be purely because Princess Ling Yun had incensed him that he decreed her to the Prince of Li? Yet Princess Qi Xia had been in the capital of Chu for several months already; it was impossible for Mo Jing Qi to be unaware of the rumors circulating through the capital regarding Princess Qi Xia and Mo Jing Li.

"The Emperor could not possibly allow Jing Li to form any further connections with Nanzhao. Even without Princess Ling Yun, the Emperor would never have decreed Princess Qi Xia to him." As if discerning Ye Li's bewilderment, Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly beside her, "Nanzhao is mostly comprised of southern tribes. Though said to be a small nation with weak subjects, their folk customs are actually extremely fierce and untamed. It is merely due to the constraints of their scant population that they have difficulty becoming a major threat." Ye Li said in a low voice, "The Emperor does not wish for the Prince of Li to become entangled with Nanzhao? Yet Western Liang appears to be a modicum more powerful than Nanzhao." Mo Xiu Yao chuckled softly, "Western Liang and Great Chu share a multi-generational blood feud. Unless Mo Jing Li commits treason against his nation, Western Liang cannot grant him any benefits whatsoever. What is more, the Emperor absolutely does not wish for an imperial prince possessing Western Liang bloodlines to appear among the royal lineage."

Ye Li came to a sudden realization, casting a look of slight sympathy toward Mo Jing Li. It appeared that this birth-brother of the Emperor did not put his imperial elder brother at ease all that much either.

Mo Xiu Yao chuckled deeply, "Ah Li, your heart is a modicum too soft. Within the imperial family, there has never existed an individual devoid of ambition."

Ye Li blanked, meticulously pondering Mo Xiu Yao's words for a moment. Her gaze toward Mo Jing Li gained a few hints of deeper contemplation. Yet did Mo Jing Li's brain truly suffice to contemplate matters this complex? Or had he been playing the pig to eat the tiger all along?

Upon returning to the Prince of Ding's Manor, Ye Li could not resist letting out a long, deep sigh of relief. Spending this half-day within the palace had been more exhausting than this past entire month combined. After parting from Mo Xiu Yao, Ye Li returned to her own courtyard, where Nanny Lin and Nanny Wei immediately brought people forward to receive her. Clearly, the events that transpired in the palace this afternoon had already traveled back to the manor. The two nannies anxiously scanned Ye Li's entire body from top to bottom, only putting their hearts at rest once they were certain she was indeed absolutely safe and sound. Ye Li helplessly requested to eat a midnight snack to pack her belly full. Nanny Lin waved her hand to have someone bring up a portion of chicken porridge that had patently been prepared long ago. Ye Li looked at the chicken porridge before her, which sufficed for three people, "Nannies, although I am very hungry, I wouldn't suddenly become capable of eating this much."

Nanny Wei shot her a disgruntled glance and said, "Princess Consort, do you assume you are the only person whose belly can grow hungry?"

Ye Li blinked blankly, "Qing Luan and the others have already gone down to take their meal."

Displaying an expression of exasperation at her lack of initiative, Nanny Wei stuffed the chicken porridge along with the tray directly into her hands, saying, "The Prince has gone to the study. The Princess Consort had best deliver it over and eat together with the Prince."

"This shouldn't be necessary, right? I can just have Ah Jin take it to him."

"Princess Consort!" Nanny Lin stared at Ye Li with a solemn expression, saying, "You are the Prince's wife. In a matter like delivering a midnight snack, how can you leave it to the hands of others? Could it be that during your time at the Xu family, the Second Madame forgot to instruct you in the way of a wife?" Seeing Nanny Lin's expression, which indicated she was prepared to launch into a lengthy lecture, Ye Li tactfully lifted the porridge in a hurry and said, "Nanny, I understand. I shall deliver it to the Prince right this instant." Without even waiting for Nanny Lin's reaction, she carried the chicken porridge and vanished like a wisp of smoke. Ye Li felt she was greatly aggrieved; both nannies were highly verbose, but compared to her wet nurse, Ye Li still feared this Nanny Lin who had followed her birth mother much more. The moment Nanny Lin opened her mouth, she would definitively quote classics and invoke authority, expounding principles until one bowed their head to acknowledge their wrongs. Ordinary people could absolutely not withstand this dual verbal and spiritual assault.

Helplessly carrying the midnight snack along the corridors of the manor, the maids behind her tactfully maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far as they followed. Mo Xiu Yao still resided in the courtyard he occupied prior to the grand wedding, which was right beside Ye Li's courtyard. Consequently, before Ye Li could finish grumbling in her heart, she was already standing outside the door to Mo Xiu Yao's study. Just as she was about to knock, Mo Xiu Yao's voice drifted from within, "Is it Ah Li? Come in."

Pushing the door open to enter, Mo Xiu Yao was currently dipping his brush to write something under the candlelight. Seeing Ye Li enter, he lifted his head to cast a glance at her and inquired, "Why have you not rested yet?"

Ye Li walked over, placing the items in her hand to one side, and inquired, "Did I disturb you?"

Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, looking at the items placed upon the desk as he raised his eyebrows and smiled, "You came to deliver a midnight snack?"

For some unknown reason, a slight heat rose upon Ye Li's face. Feigning composure, she countered, "What? I cannot deliver a midnight snack to you?"

Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, laying down the brush in his hand as he smiled, "I am merely a modicum curious as to why Ah Li would take the initiative to deliver a midnight snack to me? Mm, no wonder no one thought to deliver some food to me despite me having returned for so long. Sure enough, once one marries a princess consort, others grow too lazy to worry over them." Ye Li rolled her eyes at him helplessly and said, "Are you going to eat or not?" Mo Xiu Yao nodded, "When the Princess Consort personally delivers it, what principle is there not to eat?"

The two sat down by the desk. Ye Li took two bowls to ladle a portion of porridge for each of them, handing the first bowl to Mo Xiu Yao. Although the two had taken their meals together almost every day during this period, eating a midnight snack together was indeed a first. As he ate the porridge, Mo Xiu Yao pondered for a moment and said, "If there is nothing to attend to tomorrow, how about accompanying me to see Elder Sister-in-Law?" Ye Li nodded, "It has been so long; it is indeed proper to pay respects to Elder Sister-in-Law. I hope Elder Sister-in-Law does not blame us." Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, "Elder Sister-in-Law will not care about such things."

"Do I stand in need of preparing any gifts?" Ye Li inquired.

Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, "It suffices for us to merely go and see Elder Sister-in-Law."

Recalling that elder sister-in-law whom she had not yet met, Ye Li could only sigh in her heart. For a woman to let her own life become like withered wood during her most beautiful years truly could not avoid making one sigh.

"How did you handle that palace maid from tonight?" After some thought, Ye Li inquired about the palace maid who had blocked their path in the palace that evening. Mo Xiu Yao knitted his brows, "That was not a palace maid from the palace."

"Not one?" Ye Li was surprised. Since when had the imperial palace become a location where outsiders could enter and exit at will? Could the Emperor even sleep at night? Mo Xiu Yao smiled, "She was not a palace maid registered in the palace records, but that does not signify she is not a person from the palace. Those with some capability within the palace will always possess a few unknown hidden cards in their hands."

"However, that palace maid did not appear to have anything extraordinary about her."

Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly, "Sometimes, it is precisely this kind of person who is completely devoid of anything extraordinary who acts as the ultimate trump card."

"Could it not be interrogated as to whose person she was?"

"She was a dead warrior," Mo Xiu Yao said. Ye Li came to a realization; once a dead warrior's mission failed, there was only death, so naturally nothing could be interrogated out of her.

"However, those capable of possessing that caliber of dead warrior within the palace are few. Therefore, if Ah Li must enter the palace in the future, remember to be a modicum careful."

"I understand." Ye Li nodded. She harbored no hobby of seeking death either.

The previous Princess Consort of Ding from the Wen clan did not reside within the Prince of Ding's Manor. As early as the second year following Mo Xiu Wen's passing, the Wen clan had moved to the Wuyue Nunnery outside the city to practice asceticism with her hair intact, citing the reason that surrounding scenes triggered grief. Accompanying her were Mo Xiu Wen's two side concubines. Ever since moving to the Wuyue Nunnery, the Wen clan had fundamentally never returned to the Prince of Ding's Manor, except for Mo Xiu Wen's annual death anniversary. In the preceding years, Mo Xiu Yao had also consistently remained behind closed doors due to numerous reasons, so although he respected this sister-in-law, they were not familiar.

Having obtained Mo Xiu Yao's agreement, Ye Li uprightly rose early to perform some exercises. Only after accompanying Mo Xiu Yao to eat breakfast did the two depart the doors to board a carriage, heading toward the Wuyue Nunnery outside the city.

The Wuyue Nunnery was situated upon a small hill with excellent scenery in the suburbs of the capital, and it served as the family temple of the Prince of Ding's Manor. Consequently, there were no pilgrims or tourists coming to burn incense. The journey up was exceptionally quiet and pleasant. The moment they stepped through the nunnery gates, they smelled the aroma of sandalwood curling and lingering in the air. Unaccustomed to it, Ye Li wrinkled her nose a modicum. Mo Xiu Yao turned his head to look at her, "What is it?"

Ye Li lowered her voice in slight embarrassment, "I do not believe in Buddha." If she went inside in a moment, she was uncertain whether she should bow or not. To her, it was entirely meaningless for someone who did not believe to pay respects before the Buddha, and in the eyes of others, it would likely appear a modicum impolite.

Mo Xiu Yao smiled calmly, "No wonder I have never seen Ah Li leave the capital to burn incense. Within the capital of Chu, whether they are young ladies of grand households or daughters of humble families, most love to head toward the various major temples and nunneries in the suburbs of the capital to either burn incense or request divination sticks. Some pray for everything to go smoothly, while others inquire about an ideal husband." Yet it seemed there had indeed never been any word of the Third Young Lady of the Ye family ever heading to a temple to request divination sticks or burn incense. Ye Li lowered her eyes, "Since I do not believe in gods and Buddhas, how could I have the face to request their protection? If gods and Buddhas truly possessed spirits, with so many pious men and faithful women every day, how could they possibly manage to attend to them all?" Mo Xiu Yao raised his eyebrows, looking at Ye Li as he smiled, "Therefore, Ah Li still believes in herself more?"

Ye Li lifted her head, offering a radiant smile, "If one cannot even believe in oneself, what else is there in this world that can be believed?"

Mo Xiu Yao nodded in agreement, "Just right, I do not believe either. Ah Li may act as you please."

Before long, a young nun came out from within to lead the two inside. The Wen clan was an exceedingly gentle and refined woman. Although her appearance was not remarkably outstanding, the faint serenity and peace between her brows added a unique flavor to her countenance. Even a gray monastic robe could not conceal her gentle and graceful demeanor, born of a literary family. Seeing the two enter, no ripples appeared within her tranquil eyes. Patently, her heart was already like stagnant water, or rather, like withered wood.

"Xiu Yao pays respects to Elder Sister-in-Law." Mo Xiu Yao drew Ye Li forward to speak to the Wen clan, "Elder Sister-in-Law, this is Ah Li."

Ye Li respectfully stepped forward to perform the courtesy, "Greetings to Elder Sister-in-Law."

The Wen clan's gaze rested upon Mo Xiu Yao's wheelchair and face, quickly shifting onto Ye Li's body. A trace of sorrow flashed through her tranquil eyes, and she said softly, "Dispense with the courtesy. Younger Sister-in-Law, come and sit." Ye Li expressed her thanks, walking over to sit beside the Wen clan. The Wen clan pulled her close to look at her, picking up a somewhat aged brocade box from the side to hand to her, saying, "Your sister-in-law is already considered a person outside the mortal world, and possesses no meeting gift to grant you. This was given to me by the Prince, your Elder Brother, when I first married into the Prince of Ding's Manor back then; he stated it was left behind by Mother Consort back then. Keep it."

"This..." Although this brocade box appeared aged, the worn areas were exceedingly smooth; it could be discerned that someone frequently took it out to wipe it clean. This should be a memento the Wen clan kept close to her side. The Wen clan smiled faintly and shook her head, "Accept it, I stand in no need of these things now." Ye Li no longer refused, accepting the brocade box as she said, "Many thanks, Elder Sister-in-Law."

The Wen clan looked at Ye Li, holding her hand as she said, "Your Elder Brother had only the Second Brother as his sole sibling, and I, this sister-in-law, am truly of no use. In the future, Younger Sister-in-Law and Second Brother must support one another, and live your days well." Ye Li understood that the Wen clan was referring to the upheaval that befell the Prince of Ding's Manor back then, where she did not remain to manage the manor's affairs on Mo Xiu Yao's behalf, but instead abandoned the heavily injured and crippled Mo Xiu Yao to depart the manor for monastic cultivation. Regarding this, Ye Li did not feel the Wen clan was in the wrong. At that time, she was merely a woman under twenty, and was fundamentally not a woman cultivated by a grand, prominent clan. Under the circumstances where her husband suddenly departed the world and the sole remaining bloodline of the manor was heavily injured and crippled, it was indeed very difficult for a woman who was not resilient enough to shore up the entire Prince of Ding's Manor.

"Many thanks for Elder Sister-in-Law's instructions." Ye Li nodded, casting a glance at Mo Xiu Yao as she said softly, "Since I have wedded the Prince, we shall naturally share both honor and disgrace in the future."

"Good, that way I am at ease." The Wen clan nodded with gratification.

Ye Li knitted her brows slightly, hesitating for a brief moment before speaking, "For Elder Sister-in-Law to reside here entirely alone cannot avoid being lonely. I wonder if you would return to the manor? Even if Elder Sister-in-Law practices cultivation within the manor, there would be nothing improper."

The Wen clan shook her head, "I have grown accustomed to the tranquility here; returning would conversely make me unaccustomed." Ye Li advised her repeatedly, but the Wen clan simply refused to consent, leaving her with no choice but to let the matter rest. After conversing for a while, the Wen clan kept the two to partake in the midday meal together, then stated she needed to copy scriptures, letting Mo Xiu Yao take Ye Li to stroll around.

Although the Wuyue Nunnery was merely a family temple, its area was by no means small. Ye Li pushed Mo Xiu Yao along the quiet bamboo grove behind the nunnery. Due to the Wen clan's situation, her mood was inevitably a modicum heavy.

"Ah Li, if it were you, you definitively would not become like Elder Sister-in-Law, correct?" After a long while, only then did Mo Xiu Yao's deep voice ask.

Ye Li nodded, suddenly remembering that Mo Xiu Yao could not see her movements before speaking, "I would not. I would do my utmost to make myself live a modicum better."

Mo Xiu Yao smiled calmly, "This is very good. Elder Sister-in-Law was actually not suited to be the Princess Consort of the Prince of Ding's Manor; it is our Mo family that wronged her." If Elder Brother had not wished to avoid Mo Jing Qi's suspicion, perhaps he would not have chosen the Wen clan, who was born of an ordinary literary family. Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps Elder Sister-in-Law has never felt regret." Every time she heard the Wen clan speak of her husband, Ye Li could see a faint gentleness and reminiscence rise within those tranquil eyes. Perhaps Mo Xiu Wen had chosen her for the sake of the Prince of Ding's Manor, but it was not necessarily the case that the Wen clan lacked affection for Mo Xiu Wen, or that Mo Xiu Wen lacked affection for the Wen clan.

Mo Xiu Yao smiled calmly, "The Prince of Ding's Manor has never granted her the opportunity to feel regret. Great Chu does not prohibit a woman who has lost her husband from remarrying, yet a widow of the Prince of Ding's Manor cannot remarry so easily. Lacking sufficient courage to face the gaze of the world, the Wen clan cannot even harbor the thought of letting herself regret. However, Ah Li... I permit you to regret."

"Is the Prince actually informing me that if you die, I can remarry?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows and inquired.

Mo Xiu Yao did not oppose it, nodding as he said, "Mm, that is exactly my meaning."

Ye Li gazed at the sky, rolling her eyes in a location where Mo Xiu Yao could not see. A surge of rage arising from some unknown source made her let out a cold sneer, "Then does the Prince wish to die early, or does he wish to die early?" Raising his eyebrows at her peculiar phrasing, Mo Xiu Yao smiled, "This Prince still wishes to do his utmost to die of old age in his bed."

"Is that so? That truly is not good news—"

"Get out of the way!" Before Ye Li's words could finish falling, Mo Xiu Yao suddenly turned around and pushed Ye Li away with a hard shove.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! A succession of whistling sounds tore through the air, and three diamond-shaped flying darts gleaming with an aloof, cold blue light slammed into the bamboo beside Ye Li.

"Since you have come, why not come out for a meeting?" Mo Xiu Yao lowered his eyes, staring at his hands resting upon the armrests of the wheelchair as he spoke calmly.

"Haha... Mo Xiu Yao, are you finally willing to emerge from the Prince of Ding's Manor? I had assumed you would shrink inside for a lifetime, never daring to emerge to see people." Along with a wanton burst of laughter, a tall silhouette appeared within the bamboo grove. Very quickly, a crowd of black-clothed men surged over, surrounding the three individuals in the center.

Mo Xiu Yao lifted his head to look at the newcomer, the smile at the corners of his lips as icy as snow, "Do you dare to strip the face-cloth from your countenance before speaking those words once more?"

The newcomer's laughter came to an abrupt halt, the pupils of his dull eyes constricting violently. Letting out a light grunt, he shifted his gaze toward Ye Li, who stood to one side, "This must be the Princess Consort of Ding?"

"Precisely so. I have yet to ask for Your Excellency's name," Ye Li nodded calmly.

"Good courage," the man praised, looking at Ye Li with what seemed like a touch of regret as he said, "A pity..."

"Mo Xiu Yao, to have such a woman be buried with you, you ought to harbor no regrets either, correct?" The man patently did not intend to waste words; with a wave of his hand, the surrounding black-clothed men immediately closed in.

"Take the Princess Consort away first," Mo Xiu Yao ordered calmly. Several silhouettes leaped into the crowd with extreme speed. Ah Jin held a long sword as he landed before Mo Xiu Yao, brandishing his blade alertly as he stared at the surrounding black-clothed men. Two of the hidden guards landed beside Ye Li, lifting her from her left and right sides in an attempt to escort her away. The remaining individuals had already joined in battle with the black-clothed men. Ye Li swept a glance and saw that the people Ah Jin brought numbered no more than seven or eight; if she took two for herself, only five individuals would remain. Yet the surrounding black-clothed assassins numbered at least twenty to thirty. Lacking the time to think further, Ye Li waved off the hidden guards gripping her, saying, "Remain to help."

"Princess Consort—" The hidden guards blanked, wishing to say something in disapproval. Ye Li had already bypassed them impatiently. She smoothly floored a black-clothed assassin attempting a sneak attack, saying coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting? Resolve these people first." While speaking, she executed a turn of her body, nimbly kicking away the attack of another assassin. Upon landing, her foot stepped precisely onto the assassin who had just been floored and was attempting to leap up. The assassin on the ground let out a miserable wail and instantly swooned dead away.

The two hidden guards exchanged a glance, deciding it was still best to comply with the Princess Consort's order to resolve these assassins first. Although, even as highly trained hidden guards, they had not entirely comprehended what exact moves the Princess Consort was employing, this did not obstruct them from witnessing the fact that the Princess Consort had warded off one assassin within two moves and stepped another assassin into unconsciousness. For that unlucky egg swooned dead away on the ground, it could be foreseen that if his luck was good, he would stand in need of being bedridden for three to five months; if his luck was bad, he would likely be paralyzed for life. Having succeeded in a single strike, Ye Li's heart grew immensely settled. Although she possessed a certain degree of confidence in her own skills, in reality, Ye Li had consistently been unable to gauge the depth of ancient martial arts. After all, in this era, she had never truly encountered a situation requiring her to act in earnest. If she judged by the lightness kung fu of that Master Feng Yue, it would truly be a modicum difficult to cope with. After all, for modern people, no matter how formidable you were, there was no situation where people went flying around everywhere. Fortunately, however, a lightness kung fu that allowed one to fly around like Master Feng Yue was not something every person could possess. If it was merely close-quarters combat, Ye Li felt she sufficed to cope with the majority of experts.

These assassins had patently not expected this seemingly harmless Princess Consort of Ding to actually floor a person the moment she struck out. By the time they snapped back to their senses, a second person had also collapsed to the ground under an elbow strike from Ye Li.

The domains Ye Li studied in her past life were rather diverse. She had studied martial arts, taekwondo, judo, and so forth since childhood; naturally, with many brothers and sisters in her household, her experience in brawling was equally abundant. Upon entering the military, particularly upon entering the special forces, the direction of her studies transformed from flooring an opponent to putting an opponent to death. A woman's strength was inherently inferior to a man's, so the direction Ye Li specialized in had consistently been technique and speed, focusing on how to deliver a fatal strike in a single move. When ordinary people swapped moves with her—let alone women—even few of the men in her unit dared to do so. Originally, she was still a modicum unpracticed at the very beginning, but after flooring two individuals, Ye Li gradually felt as though her past sensations were slowly returning. The fruits of her unremitting physical training over these years were also displayed; otherwise, even if Ye Li possessed greater combat experience and greater technique, it would all be for naught if her physical body could not keep pace.

"Prin... Princess Consort..." Ah Jin, who was loyally guarding the vicinity of Mo Xiu Yao, saw the scenario over there and could not avoid speaking in an astonishment that left him speechless. Was that person who executed a flying kick to send an assassin taller than him spitting blood truly the gentle and refined Princess Consort? Ah Jin recalled in a somewhat dazed manner that one evening, he seemed to have witnessed with his own eyes the Princess Consort using some unknown method to make the Prince of Chu swoon. He had consistently assumed the Princess Consort had utilized some hidden weapon; looking at it now, it was entirely possible it had been resolved through brute force, was it not?

"Ah Li!" Mo Xiu Yao's voice rang out from behind, and simultaneously, a sword swung incisively from the rear. Ye Li hastily bent her waist backward, perilously evading the directly piercing sword edge. Concurrently, a dagger that had appeared in her hand at some unknown point swiftly sliced across the wrist gripping the sword. She then clasped that hand, utilizing his standing posture to rise and twist backward. With a sharp crack of the entire arm, the person's eyes remained wide as he slumped to the ground. Ye Li lowered her head in puzzlement to take a look; at some unknown point, a small knife had been driven into the person's back, the blade entering straight into the flesh with only the hilt remaining outside. Clearly, he had been delivered a fatal blow by someone.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows, swiftly flashing past the entanglement of the assassins to arrive beside Mo Xiu Yao. Mo Xiu Yao knitted his brows, "Did I not tell you to leave first?"

While keeping guard against the surrounding assassins alongside Ah Jin, Ye Li countered, "In the event that we encounter another wave of people upon exiting, what then? Will there be any trouble on Elder Sister-in-Law's side?"

"Someone has gone to protect Elder Sister-in-Law," Mo Xiu Yao stated calmly. "There are many mechanisms within the Wuyue Nunnery; if those people had breached the nunnery first, we would have discovered it long ago."

Within this brief spell of time, more than half of the twenty-odd assassins had already collapsed. The man who had been standing to one side observing let out a cold sneer, "The hidden guards of the Prince of Ding's Manor truly match their reputation. It is merely a pity their numbers are a modicum scant!" The man suddenly vaulted into the air, the long sword in his hand swiftly piercing toward Mo Xiu Yao. Ah Jin immediately brandished his blade to step forward and intercept him. The two exchanged more than ten moves in an instant, but Ah Jin was ultimately merely a youth of some teens; with a single lapse of caution, his weapon was deflected by a strike from the man, leaving a ferocious blood-trail upon his right arm. The man paid no heed to Ah Jin; after forcing him aside with a sword strike, he immediately turned once more to pierce toward Mo Xiu Yao. Ah Jin let out a startled cry, wishing to rise to the rescue but being entangled by two assassins behind him, unable to extricate himself.

"Ah Li, get out of the way." Mo Xiu Yao pushed Ye Li away, while simultaneously sliding his wheelchair backward to retreat. Having evaded the first sword strike, an even more incisive second strike followed closely on its heels. An individual seated in a wheelchair who was unable to move naturally possessed far less flexibility than a standing individual. Mo Xiu Yao turned his head as a sword pierced into the backrest of the wheelchair. Concurrently, Mo Xiu Yao suddenly extended a hand to pinch the sword edge, his sleeve moving a modicum as a cluster of hidden weapons flew straight toward the man. The man was startled in his heart, hastily withdrawing his sword and leaping several Zhang away in a flash to evade the oncoming hidden weapons. The man let out a cold sneer, vaulting forward once more to seize the advantage. He had patently discerned that Mo Xiu Yao's greatest weakness was his inability to move; even if his capabilities were grander and his hidden weapons more numerous, there would always be a moment when they were completely exhausted. Mo Xiu Yao ceased evading as well; with a sharp swoosh, a long whip lashed out across the air, instantly drawing a distance between the two. For a time, neither was capable of besting the other.

Standing to one side, Ye Li was not anxious either, occasionally assisting to resolve an individual wishing to perform a sneak attack or assist in surrounding Mo Xiu Yao. Meanwhile, she stared at the man, studying the locations of his flaws.

Finally, when Mo Xiu Yao's long whip entangled the man's sword edge, Ye Li let out a cold sneer, plucking the gold hairpin from her head and hurling it toward the man's wrist. In the instant the man was forced to release his sword, she threw her body forward, the dagger in her hand attacking the man's vital points without a shred of mercy. Even if one scanned through all martial arts manuals, Ye Li's moves could absolutely be termed ruthless and fierce; within a mere three to five moves, the man's right arm and left shoulder had each sustained a blade wound. Ye Li let out an unsatisfied, light grunt, taking a risk to disregard the palm-wind swung by the man's right hand to drive her dagger into the man's chest. The man's face changed color, his right hand striking toward Ye Li with speed and ferocity. At this moment, it was already too late for Ye Li to retreat. Suddenly, the slender tail of a whip entangled Ye Li's waist, and she was then swiftly brought backward by a force. Ye Li seized the momentum to evade the man's right palm, landing steadily before Mo Xiu Yao.

Not far away, the man's face was ash-white, his teeth tightly clenched as blood flowed like a torrent from the wound on his chest. Just as she was being brought away by Mo Xiu Yao's long whip, Ye Li had smoothly given the dagger embedded in his chest a twist. The sharp dagger had turned nearly half a circle within his chest before being extracted; at this moment, the ferocious blood-hole on his chest could not be covered even if he clutched it with his hand.

Ye Li lowered her head to look at the dagger in her hand, knitting her brows in a modicum of dissatisfaction. Compared to her favorite three-edged military spike, this kind of dagger was simply like garbage.

"Cough, cough... What a fine Princess Consort of Ding. To think you actually hid your light under a bushel to such an extent." The man pressed down on the wound on his chest, letting out a cough before speaking in a hoarse voice.

"If people do not offend me, I do not offend them," Ye Li stared at him and said coldly.

"Today is counted as my downfall. Mo Xiu Yao, today is counted as your life being grand enough to marry such a formidable princess consort." The man cast a glance at his subordinates, of whom not many remained unresolved, knowing in his heart that this assassination was bound to end in utter failure. Even if there were still seven or eight sustaining the fight, it was absolutely impossible for his subordinates to rival the hidden guards of the Prince of Ding's Manor under equivalent numbers. "However, you may dodge once or twice, but you cannot dodge ten or eight times. Mo Xiu Yao, you understand clearly yourself how many people wish for your life, do you not? Haha... I shall await you beneath the earth!" Having spoken, the man actually abandoned Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li, shouting severely, "Abandon the mission, retreat!" Then, while the remaining black-clothed assassins were retreating one after another, he blocked the path of the hidden guards wishing to pursue, ultimately being put to death by a sword strike from an individual.

"Pursue!"

Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, "Do not pursue a desperate foe. Return first."

The hidden guards wishing to pursue immediately halted their steps, inspecting the assassins on the ground under Ah Jin's command.

Disregarding the injury to his right arm, Ah Jin tightly clutched his sword, "The Princess Consort is so formidable."

Ye Li shook her head, "Merely good fortune." That match just now appeared to be won with ease, but if she had lacked Mo Xiu Yao's assistance, even if she could have wounded that assassin, she herself would have inevitably sustained heavy injuries. Ultimately, whether it was strength or agility, both were still insufficient; on several occasions, she had clearly struck the individual, but because her strength was insufficient, it was fundamentally inadequate to inflict major damage. Furthermore, even if she discovered the opponent's flaws, she would still be unable to succeed due to her speed failing to keep pace.

"Exceedingly formidable, Ah Jin cannot defeat him," Ah Jin insisted.

Ye Li smiled, "If I could not resolve him within fifteen minutes, the one who died would have been me."

"The Princess Consort is exceedingly formidable. Can Ah Jin study martial arts from the Princess Consort?" Ah Jin was a stubborn-minded child, staring expectantly at Ye Li without letting go. If he were as formidable as the Princess Consort, there would have been no requirement for the Prince to strike out just now.

Mo Xiu Yao looked at Ye Li with a complex expression and said, "I had assumed Ah Li merely knew some self-defense skills; looking at it now, it was I who was mistaken. Ah Li always manages to grant me surprises." While Ye Li was facing the enemies just now, he had taken it all into his eyes; that kind of gaze, along with the neatness and decisiveness of her strikes, was absolutely not something an ordinary woman could achieve. Even among the hidden guards, many individuals fell short of her decisiveness and ferocity. He dared to say with certainty that even if three hidden guards struck out against her simultaneously, the ones who lost would not necessarily be Ye Li. It was merely that Mo Xiu Yao could not comprehend by any means how a wealthy young lady like Ye Li, who had been raised within the deep chambers since childhood, could possess this caliber of skills. An individual who was unaware would conversely assume this was someone who had exhausted her years on the battlefield and grown accustomed to risking her life, rather than a young lady of grand household born of a renowned clan.

Ye Li smiled calmly, not hurrying to explain on her own behalf, "As long as the Prince feels it is not a fright, then it suffices."

Mo Xiu Yao gazed at her for a long while, ultimately letting out a soft sigh as he inquired, "Ah Li, are you truly the Third Young Lady of the Ye family, the maternal granddaughter of the Xu family?"

Ye Li said, "Naturally I am."

"Then we shall wait until you wish to speak of it before speaking."

Ye Li blanked, looking at Mo Xiu Yao for a long while without speaking. Given Mo Xiu Yao's and the Prince of Ding's Manor's circumstances, to be able to speak such words indeed made her feel extremely surprised. After a long spell, only then did Ye Li say in a low voice, "Although I cannot inform you of all matters at present, I can guarantee that I am indeed Ye Li. Furthermore, I harbored no objective in marrying into the Prince of Ding's Manor."

"I believe you. We are husband and wife, are we not?" Mo Xiu Yao said softly.

"Many thanks," Ye Li said in a low voice as a warmth rose within her heart. It was not as though she had never pondered what she ought to do if her differences were discovered. Her original plan had been to first follow a master found through Mo Xiu Yao to study martial arts, and then slowly let people grow accustomed to it. In truth, this kind of method was extremely unreliable; at the very least, she was uncertain whether she could conceal it from Mo Xiu Yao, and if it aroused Mo Xiu Yao's suspicion, it would be even more troublesome. Now, it conversely saved a great deal of trouble; regardless of the circumstances, at the very least, Mo Xiu Yao was willing to believe her. No matter how much of this belief existed, it was already far better than what she had originally estimated.