The First Jasmine - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Escaping Danger, Young Master Jun Wei

When An Yi and An San flanking Mo Jing Li walked out of the room, Miss Xiao Yun also arrived outside the door at the exact same moment. A pair of pretty, exquisite eyes glared at Ye Li, who followed closely behind, almost spitting fire. "Let go of Young Master!" Behind her, An Er and An Si dropped silently from the top of the wall. "Greetings, Princess Consort."

Ye Li waved her hand to indicate there was no need for grand formalities, looking at Xiao Yun with a beaming smile as she said, "Miss Xiao Yun, thank you for your hospitality over these past few days." Xiao Yun glared at her, grinding her teeth as she said, "What do you want to do? Release the Prince and this young miss will spare your lives!" Ye Li shrank behind Mo Jing Li, putting on a frightened display. "Oh my, Miss Xiao Yun, you mustn't scare me like that; this Princess Consort possesses a rather small amount of courage. Therefore, Miss Xiao Yun, you had best put away those dangerous little trinkets of yours. What if this Princess Consort accidentally..." Ye Li raised her hand, her razor-sharp fingernail slicing a thin streak of blood across Mo Jing Li's neck. She blinked her eyes innocently at Xiao Yun and said, "Here, just like this. What if I accidentally poke a hole in the Prince's neck? Could Miss Xiao Yun patch him back up?"

"You!" Seeing Ye Li smiling sweetly while casually wiping the trace of blood from her fingertip onto Mo Jing Li's robes, Xiao Yun's pretty face flushed crimson with rage. However, she quickly regained her composure, hoisting a pure and lovely smile toward Ye Li as she said, "Miss, the Prince kindly invited you here to be a guest. If you wish to leave, you can just leave, yet you resort to holding the Prince hostage. Can this be considered the proper etiquette of a guest?" Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "I hadn't expected that Miss Xiao Yun would not only be cute but also be so thoroughly well-versed in Central Plains etiquette. However, administering muscle-weakening powder into a guest's meals every single day isn't exactly the way to treat a guest either, is it?" The specific emphasis placed on the words "Central Plains etiquette" caused Xiao Yun's expression to shift slightly, her eyes instinctively darting toward Mo Jing Li.

Ye Li had absolutely no intention of allowing her to stall for time. Looking at Xiao Yun with a cold and indifferent smile, she said, "I will have to trouble Miss Xiao Yun to prepare several fast horses. Furthermore, it is said that two of this Consort's maidservants have gone missing; trouble yourself to return them as well. Otherwise, this Consort cannot guarantee that the Prince will be returned completely intact." Xiao Yun finally put away the smile on her face, her delicate little features entirely suffused with malice. "The Prince is the Prince of Li of Great Chu. If you injure him, you can forget about escaping the consequences." Ye Li raised her eyebrows and laughed, saying, "You say that as if you didn't know this Princess Consort is the Princess Consort of Ding of Great Chu. Kidnapping this Princess Consort is something even your Prince of Li cannot escape the consequences for. If you are smart, carry out my instructions immediately. Otherwise, even if I fail to escape, I can guarantee that your Prince of Li will die a very unsightly death. An San, if anyone dares to act rashly, just greet the Prince of Li's body with your blade. No need to be polite. Whatever happens, this Consort will bear it."

An San responded enthusiastically in a resounding voice, "This subordinate obeys the command!"

Mo Jing Li let out a cold snort and said, "You don't need to threaten this Prince. Xiao Yun, have the people step back and do as she commands. This Prince will personally escort them out."

Xiao Yun wished to object with some hesitation, but looking at An San's chillingly sharp dagger pressed against Mo Jing Li's waist, she ultimately swallowed her words back down. Staring at Ye Li, she warned, "If any mishap occurs to the Prince, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will never let you off." Ye Li laughed and said, "Rest assured, I hold no interest toward your Prince. Rather, you should be careful yourself; don't let me see you again!"

An San led Mo Jing Li, whose acupoints had been sealed, while the other three guarded Ye Li's flanks as they walked out of the courtyard. Previously, the four of them had silently incapacitated a great number of guards, so as they strode out grandly at this moment, no one came forward to be an eyesore anymore. Stepping past the main gate, several horses were indeed waiting at the entrance. An Yi and An Er stepped forward to check them over before nodding toward Ye Li. Ye Li commanded, "An San will take the Prince of Li. Let us leave."

Xiao Yun, who had followed them out, hurriedly stepped forward and said, "The horses have already been given to you, why haven't you released the Prince yet?"

An San sneered, "Do you take us for fools? If we release the Prince of Li right now, wouldn't that perfectly allow you to capture us all over again?" Casually tossing the immobile Mo Jing Li onto the back of a horse, An San also flipped himself up into the saddle. Ye Li sat upon her mount and smiled at Xiao Yun, saying, "Rest assured, I guarantee that your Prince will return safely. However, if I discover anyone behind us whom I shouldn't discover, for every single detection, I will have someone plunge a blade into the Prince of Li's back."

Xiao Yun ground her teeth, but with Mo Jing Li in Ye Li's hands, she was utterly helpless. She could only say hatefully, "Rest assured, I will not have anyone pursue you. I hope the Princess Consort of Ding is as good as her word."

"Likewise."

The five horses unleashed their hooves and galloped wildly all the way, only gradually slowing down after running for more than twenty miles. An Yi glanced back at the road they had come from and said, "It seems the other party was quite trustworthy and did not dispatch anyone to pursue us." An San snorted, "If they want the Prince of Li to become riddled with holes, they are welcome to follow along." Mo Jing Li, who was forced to lie prone across the horse's back, had long since been jolted until his complexion turned as pale as dirt. The gaze he leveled at Ye Li looked as if he wished nothing more than to consume her alive. Unfortunately, no matter how sharp his gaze was, it possessed no physical effect and was selectively ignored by Ye Li.

"Princess Consort, shall we return to the Prince's Manor now? The Prince is extremely worried about your safety," An Yi inquired in a deep voice.

Ye Li shook her head and smiled, saying, "We are not returning."

The gazes of An Er, An San, and An Si all converged upon Ye Li in unison. Ye Li looked with a beaming smile at the deathly pale Mo Jing Li and laughed, saying, "It is a rare occasion that the Prince of Li went to such trouble to kidnap this Consort; we cannot simply let it go at that."

Mo Jing Li stared vigilantly at Ye Li and said, "What do you want to do?"

Ye Li smiled with gentle innocence. "I don't want to do anything. Even if I wanted to do something, I wouldn't tell you, Your Highness!" Leaning her body down, she raised her hand and delivered a hand-chop to Mo Jing Li's neck. Mo Jing Li, whose head was already dizzy and bloated, completely lost consciousness.

The four hidden guards also had no idea what Ye Li truly intended to do, so they could only look toward her together, hoping the Princess Consort would provide directions. Ye Li laughed and said, "Find a suitable place to dump the Prince of Li. We will switch horses and change locations to enjoy ourselves."

"Princess Consort, the Prince..." Although they currently followed the Princess Consort's orders implicitly, they still had to remind her that the Prince was still worrying over her safety.

Ye Li tilted her head in thought. It was already spring, and his physical condition was temporarily free of issues. "An San, while you are processing Mo Jing Li, send a message to the Prince along the way. We will return a bit later."

"Yes, Princess Consort." An San laughed. He felt that following the Princess Consort provided far too many pleasant surprises, making it vastly more interesting than the boring, conventional days of the other hidden guards.

"Do not call me Princess Consort anymore. Call me Young Master Chu."

"Yes, Young Master."

An San departed to handle Mo Jing Li and deliver the message, while An Er and An Si went to handle the horses and clear away the traces they had left along the road. An Yi followed silently behind the light-hearted Ye Li as they traveled on foot. As they walked, Ye Li did not forget to inquire about the events of the past few days. The disappearance of Qing Luan and Qing Yu caused her some worry. Qing Yu and Qing Luan had remained outside Yaohua Palace; they should have been taken away by someone at the moment the fire broke out when they wished to rush inside. Why would Mo Jing Li kidnap two maidservants? No... for Mo Jing Li to spirit so many people out of the palace without anyone being the wiser was completely impossible. Therefore, Qing Yu and Qing Luan ought to still be within the palace.

"Princess Consort?" An Yi felt immense admiration for this master whom he had not served for very long. If it weren't for the Princess Consort secretly teaching and advising the four of them on many skills over the past half year, they would not have discovered the clues she left behind so quickly to locate that hidden manor on the outskirts of the capital. "Is the Princess Consort worried about Miss Qing Luan and Miss Qing Yu? If those two young ladies are still within the palace, the Prince will surely have a way to find them. There is no need for the Princess Consort to worry."

Ye Li frowned slightly, letting out a soft sigh in her heart as she said, "If they are merely imprisoned, it would still be fine. I only fear..."

 

"If even the hidden guards of the Prince's Manor within the palace cannot locate them, then it is useless for us to be anxious here. I believe the two young ladies have heaven looking after them; nothing will happen. If the two young ladies truly are in the hands of the Prince of Li, they will deliver them up if only for the sake of the Prince of Li's safety." Ye Li nodded and said, "Let us hope so. Let's go. We still need to remain in the capital for half a month. During this time, have An San and An Si find a way to enter the palace to see if there are any clues."

An Yi was startled, hurriedly catching up as he asked, "Yes, Princess Consort... are we leaving the capital?"

"Correct."

Within a certain nameless small courtyard on the outskirts of the capital, the place was clearly completely deserted by now. The master had obviously departed in a great rush, failing to even clear away many precious antiques, calligraphy, and paintings from the rooms. Mo Xiu Yao sat within the small garden, looking at the peach tree that had clearly just been planted in the flowerbed, as well as the entire bed filled with poisonous flowers and grass. Shen Yang stood beside Mo Xiu Yao, clicking his tongue in wonder. Wanting to plant all these poisonous flowers and plants together was not something an ordinary medical practitioner could accomplish; the other party was bound to be a great master of poisons. Shen Yang even discovered several rare poisonous species in the flowerbed that he had searched everywhere for without success. Ignoring everyone else, he hurriedly and carefully excavated all the useful medicinal herbs along with their soil, preparing to take them back to plant in his own medicinal fields.

"Prince, we arrived one step too late; the people have already departed." Feng Zhi Yao emerged from the rooms, holding a book in his hands to present to Mo Xiu Yao as he said, "The Princess Consort did indeed reside here; this ought to have been left behind by her."

Mo Xiu Yao took the book and opened it. It was an ordinary collection of poems, containing a slip of paper inside. Written upon it with some substance were a few faint red characters: Safe, do not worry.

Feng Zhi Yao glanced at Mo Xiu Yao's expression and continued, "There are traces of fighting in several hidden locations throughout the courtyard, as well as the scent of blood. In addition, the charcoal ashes in the kitchen are still warm; the people shouldn't have been gone for long. In this subordinate's view, it should be that the hidden guards by the Princess Consort's side located her first." Feng Zhi Yao harbored some complaints in his heart; since those hidden guards had found the Princess Consort, why didn't they notify them so they could rescue her together and resolve everything? Now the place was deserted and they only knew a fight had occurred, but whether the Princess Consort had actually been rescued remained unknown to them. Looking at Mo Xiu Yao's increasingly gloomy expression, Feng Zhi Yao began to envy Leng Hao Yu, who had traveled far to the south.

"Where is Mo Jing Li?"

Feng Zhi Yao hesitated for a brief moment before saying, "No one has seen Mo Jing Li for the time being, but he is the Prince of Li and cannot remain unseen for an extended period. It's just that we didn't capture him on the spot nor did we find the Princess Consort, so we have no evidence to accuse him." Feng Zhi Yao had to admit that he had consistently underestimated Mo Jing Li. There wasn't a single item related to Mo Jing Li within this courtyard, and even the owner of this courtyard was an unrelated, completely oblivious ordinary merchant. What they could know right now was only that a woman had likely resided in this courtyard for an extended period, but her identity, age, and appearance were all unclear.

Shen Yang, who was squatting in the flowerbed processing the medicinal ingredients, said, "The one who originally resided here ought to have been a woman from the Southern Border."

Feng Zhi Yao raised his eyebrows. "How does Divine Physician Shen know?"

Shen Yang pointed toward the flowerbed. "Aside from that peach tree, this entire garden is filled with poisons, several of which are poisonous grasses unique to the Southern Border. Let alone our people of Great Chu, even among the people of the Southern Border, those who are not well-versed in poison techniques would likely not recognize them. Furthermore, there is this." Shen Yang excavated a bright, glittering little item from the soft soil beneath the peach tree and tossed it to Feng Zhi Yao. Feng Zhi Yao caught it in his hand to weigh it. "What kind of contraption is this? It seems to be an ornament used by girls."

Mo Xiu Yao swept a glance over it, saying indifferently, "That is an ornament from the hairpiece of a Southern Border woman, and it should be something only unmarried women of the Southern Border nobility can use. There ought to be an imprint behind the sapphire; that is the clan crest of a major Southern Border clan. Dispatch people to investigate it later." Feng Zhi Yao turned over the sapphire ornament, searching for a long time before finally locating a tiny, somewhat blurry imprint in a hidden corner. If it weren't for Mo Xiu Yao's reminder, he would have likely dismissed it as a flaw on the ornament or simply failed to notice it entirely. "A clan crest? The Southern Border people like to engrave their clan crests onto ornaments?"

Shen Yang shook his head and said, "In the Southern Border, a clan crest represents their identity and glory. Not only on ornaments, but they also like to print their clan crests upon their clothing. In the Southern Border, the majority of ordinary people recognize the crests of these major clans, and commoners will automatically yield the way upon seeing them."

"Ah Li wouldn't bury a useless item here," Mo Xiu Yao said indifferently. "It appears Ah Li has already departed."

Feng Zhi Yao nodded, stowing the gemstone ornament away as he said, "Very well, I will dispatch people to investigate."

"Prince." A guard entered, presenting a letter in his hands as he said, "This was discovered outside the door just now."

Mo Xiu Yao took it and spread the letter open to read, his sharp brows gradually knitting together. "Prince?"

Mo Xiu Yao refolded the letter, tucked it back into his sleeve pocket, and raised his head to say to Feng Zhi Yao, "Return to the capital."

"Then the Princess Consort..."

"It was delivered by the hidden guards by Ah Li's side; Ah Li has already escaped danger. As for Mo Jing Li... dispatch someone to the edge of the woods five miles to the west to locate Mo Jing Li and bring him back to the capital. Remember, this Prince wants him back at the Prince of Li's Manor safe and sound. Do not alarm anyone." Feng Zhi Yao nodded. "Has the Princess Consort already returned?"

Mo Xiu Yao cast a glance at him and said, "The Princess Consort of Ding has gone missing; all affairs beneath the command of the Ding Prince's Manor are to halt, focusing all strength on searching for the Princess Consort's whereabouts."

Feng Zhi Yao was startled, clearly discerning that Mo Xiu Yao's mood remained rather unpleasant. Very wisely swallowing the question in his heart, he said, "Yes, I shall go immediately." Speaking of which, An San and the others had grown a great deal after following the Princess Consort for this half year, becoming almost entirely devoid of shadow or trace. While complaining, Feng Zhi Yao swiftly departed to instruct the people to work. The Prince was in a poor mood; it was better not to provoke him. However, the low atmospheric pressure of these past days was finally about to pass, right?

On the grand streets of the capital, a young man clad in white strolled along holding a folding fan. The youth possessed a face like flawless jade and eyes like shooting stars. Although he appeared slightly immature, it was believed that given time, he would surely become an elegant and refined young gentleman who would not lose to any handsome man in the capital. Behind the youth followed two straight-statured guards. The passing crowds couldn't help but steal a few extra glances, murmuring in their hearts wondering whose family's young master had brought guards out to play.

An San stood on the grand street feeling somewhat ill at ease, watching the young master ahead who was currently browsing the roadside sundries stalls with an air of complete leisure. He nudged An Si beside him with his elbow without leaving a trace. "Say, what exactly does the Young Master want to do?" An Si stole a glance at him, saying calmly, "Didn't the Master already say so? We are waiting for the Boss's news."

"Even if we are waiting for news, there's no need to stroll down the grand street so brazenly, is there?" If they were discovered by the people from the Manor, and it was remembered that their master had refused to return to the Manor after escaping danger, An San could almost imagine what the Prince's expression would look like. The Princess Consort would be fine, but they, as hidden guards, would definitely suffer immense misfortune.

The corner of An Si's mouth twitched slightly as he swept a glance over the white-clad young master ahead. "With that appearance, if you hadn't known beforehand, would you recognize the Princess Consort standing right in front of you?" Their master's skill at disguising herself as a man was by no means comparable to the level of those young ladies who sneaked out of their homes to play, which could be seen through at a single glance. From height to physique, from eyebrows to eyes, and even down to the spoken voice, tone, and walking posture, everything had undergone a complete transformation. Most importantly, even an expert at disguise standing before her wouldn't be able to tell, because she didn't utilize any tools of disguise or human skin masks. Right now, if anyone dared to point at the young master ahead and say this was a woman, they would absolutely be spat upon by the entire street. This was precisely the reason why the Princess Consort dared to walk brazenly through the streets of the capital.

An San nodded in agreement; very few people in the capital recognized the Princess Consort, so if she could still be recognized in this state, it would simply defy all reason. It was just that as a hidden guard, standing so righteously beneath the bright blue sky always made him somewhat unaccustomed. An Si yanked the still-dazed An San along. "Keep moving. As long as you don't wear a look of guilt like a thief, the hidden guards from the Manor won't recognize us either. Don't forget what the Master said." An San nodded, catching up along with An Si to the white-clad master who had already drifted far ahead. The Princess Consort had said that she did not require hidden guards who only knew how to protect from the shadows; instead, she needed individuals who could stand by her side to assist or even fight shoulder-to-shoulder when required, as well as accomplish various missions.

After finishing her stroll down the street, Ye Li returned in a pleasant mood to the Heaven-grade room of the inn where she was temporarily staying in the capital. An Yi and An Er were already waiting in the room.

An Yi extracted a letter and said, "A letter from Master Xu to the Master. He requests that the Master must meet him at Jingling Temple outside the city tomorrow. Tomorrow, Master Xu, Madam Xu, and several young masters of the Xu family will travel to Jingling Temple to pray for blessings for the Princess Consort." Ye Li nodded, beginning to feel somewhat distressed over how to explain to her Second Uncle tomorrow her behavior of making them worry by not returning to the Manor for so long, as well as her subsequent plans. Rubbing the space between her brows, she looked toward An Er. "Is there news of Qing Luan and Qing Yu?" An Er nodded and said, "Last night, the Prince already dispatched people to bring Qing Luan and Qing Yu back to the Manor, but..." An Er looked at Ye Li and frowned, saying, "They appear to have lost their memories, completely failing to remember what exactly transpired at that time. The hidden guards seem to have located them within the Cold Palace."

"Memory loss?" Ye Li frowned. "What did the Prince say?"

"The Prince had them recuperate within the Manor, and no one is permitted to contact them without authorization. He also dispatched Divine Physician Shen to diagnose and treat them. The Prince's Manor is heavily guarded; although this subordinate is familiar with the terrain, I didn't dare to approach too closely. Therefore, the detailed circumstances have not been pried out." An Er said with some shame.

"You have done very well." How the defenses of the Ding Prince's Manor were, Ye Li knew perfectly well in her heart; for An Er to infiltrate and emerge safely without alarming anyone was already considerably excellent. Ye Li frowned slightly. Mo Xiu Yao isolating Qing Yu and Qing Luan appeared to be to let them recuperate in peace, but it wasn't without the intention of suspecting them. Over this past year of interaction, compared to Qing Xia who was originally by Old Madam Ye's side and the younger, more volatile Qing Shuang, she usually relied on Qing Luan and Qing Yu a bit more. Out of trust for her uncles and maternal grandfather, Ye Li had never considered the possibility that Qing Luan and Qing Yu would betray her. Remaining silent for a brief moment, Ye Li decided temporarily not to interfere in this matter. She was about to leave the capital soon and originally hadn't intended to bring those maids along, and Mo Xiu Yao wouldn't carelessly dispose of the people by her side either. Then let Mo Xiu Yao see whether they could truly be trusted.

Following the morning court session the next day, Censor Xu did indeed lead his wife and several sons and nephews out of the city toward Jingling Temple to offer incense. At this time, it didn't attract too much attention from the people; after all, the Xu family's doting affection for their niece and maternal niece was witnessed by all high and low within the capital. Originally, Censor Xu hadn't hesitated to square off against the Minister's Manor and the Prince of Li just to stand up for his niece. Afterward, when the Princess Consort of Ding married, several young masters of the Xu family turned out in full force to escort their cousin. Now that the Princess Consort of Ding had inexplicably gone missing in the great fire with her life or death unknown, the Xu family going to the temple to offer incense and pray for blessings for the Princess Consort of Ding was simply all too normal. Meanwhile, individuals like the Emperor or the Prince of Li, who might have otherwise paid attention to this, had already been made dizzy and bloated by the waves stirred up by the Princess Consort of Ding's disappearance over these past days, so they naturally didn't possess that much leisure to care whether their officials were resting at home or burning incense at a temple after stepping down from court.

As Ye Li's close friend from her maiden days and the future Second Young Mistress of the Xu family, Qin Zheng also followed along with Madam Xu. She was truly fraught with immense worry for her missing friend. Upon entering Jingling Temple, she accompanied Madam Xu to worship every single large and small Buddha statue and Bodhisattva within the temple. Madam Xu found this gentle and lovely future daughter-in-law increasingly to her satisfaction. After finishing the worship, Madam Xu went to the guest rooms to rest. Qin Zheng dismissed the maids and chanted sutras to pray alone within the quiet Buddhist hall, only to be startled by a clear, refined voice beside her ear. "Miss Qin."

Qin Zheng was startled in her heart. Turning her head, she saw a handsome youth clad in moon-white cloth robes standing beside her at some unknown point. Qin Zheng knit her brows slightly, only feeling that the youth smiling faintly at her before her eyes possessed a somewhat bizarre, familiar look, yet she was absolutely certain she did not recognize this youth. "May I ask who you are, Young Master? How come you are here?" Qin Zheng stood up, staring vigilantly at the youth before her eyes while taking a few steps back without leaving a trace. Ye Li saw this and smiled faintly in her heart, merely pretending not to know. Flicking her robes, she knelt upon the cushion before the Buddha statue, mimicking Qin Zheng's previous posture to pray. Turning her head to glance at Qin Zheng who was watching her, she laughed and said, "Coming here is naturally for the sake of praying for blessings. Miss Qin, there is no need to be nervous. This storyteller is an old acquaintance of the Second Young Master of the Xu family; trouble you to inform the Second Young Master of the Xu family that this storyteller's surname is Chu, Chu Jun Wei." Qin Zheng froze for a moment, seemingly understanding something. Composedly nodding her head, she said to Ye Li, "I understand. I will convey the words for the Young Master."

 

"Then, many thanks to Miss Qin." Ye Li smiled faintly.

Ye Li sat within the rear hall of the Buddhist temple to rest. This was a Buddhist hall in Jingling Temple that few people ever visited; its location was remote and the deities enshrined were not particularly prominent, so aside from the little novice monks who swept the area, individuals rarely came here.

"Li'er?"

Ye Li opened her eyes and stood up, only to see Xu Hong Yan and Xu Qing Ze standing at the doorway, looking at her with furrowed brows. Ye Li gave a radiant smile. "Second Uncle, Second Brother, do you not recognize me anymore?" Xu Hong Yan sized her up for a long time before shaking his head and saying, "You girl, if I had run into you outside just now, I truly wouldn't have recognized you." Xu Qing Ze's cold countenance also held a few points more warmth than usual, nodding silently to indicate that he hadn't recognized her either. Ye Li said apologetically with a smile, "I saw that Second Uncle appeared to be speaking with the Abbot, so it was inconvenient for Li'er to go over, leaving me no choice but to invite Second Uncle and Second Brother here."

The three of them sat down. Looking at her dressed in male attire, Xu Hong Yan knit his brows and scolded, "You girl, since you already escaped danger, why didn't you return to the Prince's Manor? If it weren't for the Prince dispatching someone to deliver a message saying you were fine, the letter to Yunzhou would have been sent out. Do you wish to worry your grandfather to death?"

Looking at her Second Uncle's anxious and fiery appearance, Ye Li felt immensely apologetic in her heart. Blinking her eyes, she gazed at him pitifully and said, "Second Uncle, Li'er knows her mistake. But right now, returning holds no benefit for Li'er. Since they failed once, they will naturally harbor subsequent schemes next time; it is better to be as I am right now. I am in the dark while they are in the light, to see who schemes against whom."

Xu Hong Yan glared at her and said, "Your abacus is played well, but right now rumors are circulating through the streets that the Prince of Ding brings misfortune to his wives."

Ye Li laughed and said, "That isn't anything bad either. Even if I am no longer around, Mo Xiu Yao won't be able to marry anyone else."

Xu Qing Ze sat quietly to one side listening to their conversation. Frowning, he looked at Ye Li and inquired, "Does Li'er have any other plans?" The Princess Consort of Ding could not remain in the capital disguised as a man for an extended period; if she interacted with them too much, the day would come when she would be discovered by someone. Ye Li put away the smile on her face, looking solemnly at her uncle and cousin as she said, "I prepare to go to the Southern Border."

"Nonsense!" Xu Hong Yan scolded angrily.

"Second Uncle..." Ye Li looked helplessly at Xu Hong Yan, simultaneously utilizing her gaze to signal Xu Qing Ze to speak on her behalf. Unfortunately, Xu Qing Ze likewise knit his brows, looking at her with a disapproving gaze. Xu Hong Yan waved his hand and said, "Say no more. If you are impatient with staying in the capital, go to Yunzhou. It just so happens you haven't seen your grandfather for many years either."

"Uncle, I am the Princess Consort of Ding. How could I flee simply because I am impatient with dealing with the people and matters within the capital? In that case, Mo Xiu Yao would have taken too much of a loss in marrying me." Ye Li laughed. Xu Hong Yan looked askance at her, saying indifferently, "Could it be that you still wish to go to the Southern Border to accomplish something? Are the people of the Ding Prince's Manor all useless sacks of wine and food, requiring you, a Princess Consort, to personally travel to such a distant place? Don't tell me this; go explain it to your grandfather and Eldest Uncle."

"Second Uncle..." Ye Li looked at her own attire; it truly wasn't fitting to adopt a daughter's posture to act spoiled, leaving her no choice but to gaze at her Second Uncle with an innocent expression. "Eldest Brother is also there; Second Uncle need not worry over my safety."

"Does the Prince of Ding know your intention?" Xu Hong Yan inquired.

Ye Li felt a bit guilty; she hadn't even met face-to-face with Mo Xiu Yao yet.

"What does Li'er wish to accomplish by going to the Southern Border?" Xu Qing Ze looked at Ye Li, asking a question that pierced straight to the heart of the matter.

Ye Li shot him a complaining glance, yet still answered honestly, "Right now the situation in the Southern Border is even worse than in the capital. With Eldest Brother alone in the Southern Border, I am not at ease. It just so happens that right now the capital temporarily doesn't require me to show my face either; I wish to go to the Southern Border to take a look." Xu Hong Yan frowned and said, "Your Eldest Brother acts with a sense of propriety and will naturally do what is within his capability. What assistance can you provide by going as a daughter? As for the capital, does the Prince of Ding intend to utilize the matter of your disappearance to have the Emperor and the Empress Dowager fight each other?"

"They were originally already fighting fiercely on their own, but they shouldn't have dragged the Ding Prince's Manor into it as well." Ye Li knit her brows and said, "The Ding Prince's Manor cannot forever wait to be schemed against. Uncle must also know why Eldest Brother traveled to the Southern Border. If the Southern Border becomes unstable, the entirety of Great Chu could fall into the flames of war. Since Li'er has already married into the Ding Prince's Manor, the stance of the Ding Prince's Manor is Li'er's stance. It is impossible for me to sit within my chambers like other noblewomen and pay no heed to anything; others wouldn't give me this opportunity either, would they?" Xu Hong Yan frowned and said, "By managing the affairs of the Prince's Manor well so the Prince of Ding has no worries regarding his rear, you have already fulfilled your responsibility as the Princess Consort."

"Since we are husband and wife, we ought to share trials and tribulations together. The Prince's physical condition is inconvenient, rendering him completely unable to travel far. What harm is there if I perform the matters he cannot do on his behalf?" Ye Li said firmly. Occasionally recalling Mo Xiu Yao's words, Ye Li felt a faint sense of unease in her heart. In the event that the Southern Border situation spun out of control or even developed into the scenario they anticipated, Mo Xiu Yao would bound to disregard his physical condition to personally lead troops out to war. Ye Li simply didn't dare to imagine that given Mo Xiu Yao's physical state, if he truly went out to war, whether he would still possess his life to return. Furthermore, there was Xu Qing Chen; Young Master Qing Chen's talent and wisdom were peerless, yes. However, even though the Xu family was a century-old great clan, in terms of protection they absolutely could not be compared to the imperial family and princely manors where experts were as numerous as clouds. Yet Ye Li knew with absolute clarity that Xu Qing Chen was, true to the letter, a weak scholar who understood no martial arts whatsoever.

Ye Li looked seriously at Xu Hong Yan and said, "Second Uncle, Li'er knows what she is doing and will absolutely not expose herself to danger."

Looking at his resolute niece, Xu Hong Yan let out a helpless sigh. "Li'er, you are a daughter. You do not need to take every responsibility onto your own shoulders. Whether it is your Eldest Brother or the Prince of Ding, their matters are not your responsibility." Ye Li smiled faintly. "I know. If Li'er understood nothing and was capable of nothing, I would naturally remain within a safe place with a clear conscience to be protected by others. However, since I can provide some assistance, why must Eldest Brother go expose himself to danger entirely alone? Don't believe I don't know; Second Brother, Third Brother, as well as Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother also wish to go to the Southern Border to assist Eldest Brother, it is merely that none of them can extricate themselves from their duties. Right now, I can precisely borrow the cover of my disappearance to depart to assist Eldest Brother, which can also allow Grandfather and Uncle to set their hearts at rest."

Xu Hong Yan glared at her testily. "Set our hearts at rest? How could we possibly set our hearts at rest?"

Ye Li blinked. "Second Uncle, you must at least admit that I am a bit more formidable than Third Brother. You have already set your heart at rest for Third Brother to go to the military camps, so why can't you set your heart at rest for Li'er?"

"He is a man; whichever way he bumps or gets injured amounts to nothing. Can you be compared to him?" Xu Hong Yan said, yet Ye Li discerned a trace of wavering. Hurriedly intensifying her persuasion, she said, "I am not traveling alone either; the hidden guards by my side will all follow me. Second Uncle..."

Xu Hong Yan was helpless, leaving him no choice but to say, "One way or another you have already married out; go ask the Prince of Ding. If the Prince of Ding disagrees, it is useless no matter what you say to me."

"Many thanks, Uncle." Ye Li was overjoyed; in her view, convincing her uncle was vastly more difficult than convincing Mo Xiu Yao.

Xu Hong Yan looked at her countenance filled with joy and let out a helpless sigh. For a daughter to be too fragile wouldn't do—just like his little sister, Li'er's mother. To be too strong and intelligent wouldn't do either—just like this niece. He only hoped the Prince of Ding could suppress her, keeping her obediently within the capital or having her return to Yunzhou.