The First Jasmine - Chapter 88

Chapter 88: War Suddenly Erupts

"Young Master Han... Have you finished reminiscing? If you don't make a move now, it'll be too late once the people from the Prince Ding's Estate arrive," the Sick Scholar's voice rang out sinisterly from behind.

Han Mingyue gave a light snort, casually pulling out the dagger embedded in his shoulder and tossing it aside. The wound on his shoulder made him involuntarily furrow his brows, and he gazed calmly at Han Mingxi. "Mingxi, stand aside; don't force me to take action." Han Mingxi gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet to block in front of Ye Li. "If you want to touch her, you'll have to get past me first." Without any further chatter, Han Mingyue reached out and lunged toward Han Mingxi's shoulder. Having just taken a palm strike, even though Han Mingyue had managed to pull back his internal energy in the nick of time, Han Mingxi had still suffered not-insignificant internal injuries. At this moment, his left arm could not be raised at all, let alone the fact that he was never a match for Han Mingyue in the first place. Standing behind Han Mingxi, Ye Li yanked the person blocking her path aside and shoved him back, while still finding the time to intercept Han Mingyue's attack. Ye Li's internal energy was lacking, but she was exceptionally skilled in close-quarters combat. Every single move she made lacked any fancy embellishments, and the silver dagger in her every flash brought along a moderately sized trace of blood. Such a step-by-step lethal fighting style caused Han Mingyue to furrow his brows in irritation, forcing him to continuously execute several palm strikes and retreat a few zhang backward. "I haven't seen you in nearly a year, yet I never expected Sister-in-law's martial arts to have progressed at such an astonishing speed." If one were to say that Ye Li subduing him a year ago relied entirely on taking him by surprise, this time the two of them were relying on genuine martial prowess.

Ye Li frowned slightly and stated, "I can hardly afford to bear this title of 'Sister-in-law.' Young Master Han, I was doing business with your Tianyi Pavilion under clear, public terms, yet you turn around and sell me out to someone else. Is this your way of doing business? Could it be that the Tianyi Pavilion makes its fortune by swindling its clients?" Han Mingyue's expression remained as sincere and helpless as ever. "The Princess Consort is as witty as always. In this world... there are always many matters that fill one with helplessness; even when one wishes not to do them, one must. Isn't that right?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow and smiled, "If Mo Xiunyao were standing right here right now, were you planning to call this a misunderstanding once more?" Han Mingyue merely smiled without a word, while the Sick Scholar sneered, "If Mo Xiunyao were here, he'd simply accompany you to your death!"

Ye Li glanced back at the restless Sick Scholar and said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Third Pavilion Master, I advise you not to act rashly. If anything goes wrong, I'm afraid it won't be easy for me to give Pavilion Master Ling an explanation." With an annoyed, cold laugh, the Sick Scholar took a step forward as if wanting to say something. With a swift whoosh, two feathered arrows—one right after the other—grazed past him, embedding themselves in the ground less than a foot away. The Sick Scholar's face turned alternately pale and ashen as he heard Ye Li chuckle, "I told the Third Pavilion Master earlier: I have never been one for taking risks."

Witnessing the Sick Scholar's unsightly expression, Han Mingyue gave a low chuckle. "Sister-in-law, there's no need to try and scare us. My men have already lured the dark guards away. Rushing over in such a hurry as you did, you have at most two or three people with you." Ye Li smiled faintly. "Even so, there are three of us. But Young Master Mingyue, what about you?"

Sitting on the ground, Han Mingxi declared in a clear voice, "Not three. Four." Evidently, he had firmly resolved to stand on the opposite side of his own elder brother.

Ignoring his younger brother, Han Mingyue stared at Ye Li with a smile. "Back in the capital, the Princess Consort already made this humble one look at her in a new light, but today's performance is even more astonishing. The dignified Princess Consort of Prince Ding actually disguising herself as a man to venture into the Southern Frontier alone. I suppose yesterday's commotion in the imperial palace was also the Princess Consort's handiwork?" Ye Li calmly replied, "Since Young Master Mingyue was able to set up such a trap here today, you must have been in Nanzhao for quite some time. Why bother asking a question to which you already know the answer?" Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "It was merely a coincidence. Had I known beforehand that the Princess Consort was here, this humble one would have prepared exhaustively and avoided resorting to such a risky maneuver." Ye Li raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Then, does Young Master Mingyue believe you can kill me today?"

Han Mingyue shook his head and laughed out loud. "The Princess Consort misunderstands. Having the Princess Consort of Prince Ding in our hands opens up so many possibilities; if we were to simply kill her just like that, wouldn't it be far too disappointing?"

"Han Mingyue!" the Sick Scholar cried out with dissatisfaction. The sole reason he had cooperated with Han Mingyue's plan was to kill Mo Xiunyao's wife; what on earth was Han Mingyue playing at now? Fixing his sinister, icy gaze on the handsome man before him, the Sick Scholar silently vowed that if Han Mingyue dared to utilize him while reneging on his promise, he would make him understand why no one in the jianghu dared to provoke the Sick Scholar! Gazing at the Sick Scholar, Han Mingyue smiled indifferently. "Third Pavilion Master, the Princess Consort of Prince Ding truly cannot be killed just yet. Although the Third Pavilion Master is a native of Xiling, you must have caught wind of the turbulent storms shaking the capital of Great Chu over the past half year. If we were to kill the Princess Consort of Prince Ding right now, neither you nor I would likely escape the relentless manhunt of the Prince Ding's Estate."

The Sick Scholar sneered, "You're afraid? I certainly am not." When it came to killing people, who was more adept than the King of Hell's Pavilion?

Han Mingyue lowered his head with a helpless, bitter smile. "I am actually somewhat afraid. Third Pavilion Master, I will take the Princess Consort of Prince Ding away with me today, and whatever assistance the Third Pavilion Master might require in the future, Han Mingyue shall grant without exception. Besides... the one you hold a grudge against is Mo Xiunyao, not his wife. Killing her would at most cause Mo Xiunyao to lose face; it would hardly scratch his skin." Displeased, Ye Li stared at the so-called Young Master Mingyue and sneered, "When discussing the ownership of others, shouldn't Young Master Mingyue first confirm whether you truly hold the proprietary rights? Third Pavilion Master, it's best not to do business with businessmen. Look at me right now—not only did I lose money, but I was also sold out."

Han Mingyue smiled faintly. "My apologies, Princess Consort, but the one who took your money was Han Mingxi. He didn't hand a single copper coin back to the Tianyi Pavilion, so this escapade can at best be chalked up to him utilizing the Tianyi Pavilion's influence to take on a private job. As for whether I hold proprietary rights..." Han Mingyue raised a hand, and a crisp whistle pierced the air. In broad daylight, a flame blossomed high up in the midair. Inclining her head, Ye Li clearly heard the sound of a large troop surging toward them from all directions. "Does the Princess Consort still have anything to say?"

Ye Li bit her lip into a smile, raised her hand, and flashed a couple of hand gestures toward the sky. "It seems I have no choice but to surrender?"

"The Princess Consort is a clever person." Observing Ye Li's rather peculiar hand gestures—though he couldn't decipher their meaning—Han Mingyue distinctly noticed that the two predatory gazes previously locked onto him had vanished, presumably signaling a retreat. "Every time we meet, the Princess Consort's courage and daring never fail to shock this humble one."

Ye Li smiled, "Actually, you should be far more shocked by my good fortune."

Han Mingyue's handsome eyes darkened as he stared at her vigilantly. The men of the Tianyi Pavilion gradually tightened their encirclement around the perimeter. After staring at Ye Li for a long moment, Han Mingyue slowly began to relax. Surrounded by such a massive force, Ye Li wouldn't be able to fly out even if she grew wings. Furthermore, given his own intelligence network and the Sick Scholar's intelligence reports, how could Han Mingyue not know? Neither Ye Li's lightness skill nor her internal energy were exceptionally formidable. Ye Li looked around, her demeanor composed without a shred of panic. "Sister-in-law, Xiunyao and I are friends; you wouldn't want this humble one to be discourteous, would you? Will you walk with me of your own accord, or..." Han Mingyue looked at Ye Li and smiled warmly.

With her delicate brows slightly furrowed, Ye Li shook her head. "Actually, you could completely forget the fact that you and Mo Xiunyao are friends. The more you bring it up, the more annoyed I get with you."

Han Mingyue smiled. "No matter how annoyed you are with me, it cannot alter the truth that Xiunyao and I were once friends and brothers."

"As you said yourself, were once." Ye Li couldn't help rolling her eyes at him. Did this man named Han Mingyue have something wrong with his brain? While waxing nostalgic about past affections, he spared no effort in destroying whatever scraps of camaraderie remained between them. He constantly yammered on about his friendship with Mo Xiunyao, yet whenever he struck, he never once showed any mercy. Well... he had shown mercy last time, but Mo Xiunyao had shown mercy as well, hadn't he? "Young Master Han, you aren't here making things difficult for me today just for the sake of certain someone, are you?"

Han Mingyue's expression shifted slightly. "He told you?!"

"Did he need to tell me? I was right there, weren't I? However... Mo Xiunyao made a promise to me afterward; would you like to hear it?"

Han Mingyue's handsome, refined expression grew somewhat stiff as he said with a faint smile, "I'm all ears."

"I'm not particularly accustomed to repaying grievances with virtue, and I suspect Mo Xiunyao isn't either. Therefore, last time was the one and only exception."

Han Mingyue forced a smile. "It seems Xiunyao truly holds Sister-in-law in high regard. Then... with Sister-in-law in our hands, I trust he will still show us some mercy."

Ye Li smiled. "Let's hope so. Since Young Master Mingyue has already laid his cards on the table, how about you take a look at my bargaining chips as well?" Taken aback, Han Mingyue asked, "What do you mean?" Lifting her delicate brows, Ye Li raised a hand and blew a sharp, piercing whistle. Not far away, in the sky over the outer perimeter of the Tianyi Pavilion's forces, an ink-black flower of smoke burst forth. Following that, similar ink-black flames ascended into the sky from even further distances. Then, the rhythmic thundering of hooves echoed from afar, drawing closer by the second. Tilting his head, Han Mingyue's expression shifted dramatically as he uttered in disbelief: "The Black Cloud Riders... How could the Black Cloud Riders be in the Southern Frontier!"

Hearing the three words "Black Cloud Riders," not only Han Mingyue, but even the Sick Scholar and the members of the Tianyi Pavilion standing nearby could not conceal their looks of absolute horror. As everyone well knew, the Black Cloud Riders were the most elite fighting force of the Prince Ding's Estate. The Mo Army swept across battlefields with invincible might, and the Black Cloud Riders were the vanguard spearhead of this army, shattering formations and charging enemy lines with unfailing success. If one were truly surrounded by such an army, let alone the Tianyi Pavilion subordinates he had hastily rallied in the Southern Frontier, even if the entire Tianyi Pavilion and the King of Hell's Pavilion pooled their strength together, they wouldn't stand a single shred of a chance of winning. Equally astonished was Ye Li herself; she had only mobilized the dark guards scattered across the Southern Frontier, and the Black Cloud Riders were certainly not among them. In fact, she had had no inkling whatsoever that the Black Cloud Riders even existed within the Southern Frontier.

With a vicious grit of his teeth, Han Mingyue lunged toward Ye Li in a blur of motion. Once trapped within the encirclement of the Black Cloud Riders, escaping would be completely impossible. Their only recourse at this point was to capture Ye Li first and negotiate a way out. However, was Ye Li someone who could be captured so easily? The moment the two exchanged blows, a seam was slashed open across the fabric of Han Mingyue's chest, though he fortunately dodged fast enough to avoid breaking his skin. In an ordinary martial arts spar, as time dragged on, Ye Li's inferior internal energy would inevitably lead to her defeat; but in a life-or-death battle to the finish, the battle instincts honed on actual battlefields and the thousand-times-refined enemy-subduing techniques possessed by Ye Li proved vastly more useful. Furthermore, Ye Li had no intention of dragging out a contest to determine a victor with him; it was all decided within the span of a dozen-odd moves. The black-clad horsemen galloping over on fine steeds had already arrived on the scene, engaging the men of the Tianyi Pavilion in combat.

The Tianyi Pavilion was an intelligence organization, not a mercenary group, nor was it a martial arts escort agency. Even if its subordinates knew some martial arts, their proficiency couldn't possibly be exceptionally high. While martial arts experts certainly existed among them, they were undoubtedly a minority. Compared to these iron-willed Black Cloud Riders returning from life-and-death brushes on the battlefield exuding overwhelming murderous intent, the Tianyi Pavilion members were outmatched in momentum right from the start. Moreover, the Black Cloud Riders had always been strictly disciplined; while still mounted on their horses, they had already locked onto their respective targets with tacit coordination, harvesting enemy lives with effortless precision.

Two Black Cloud Riders leaped down from their saddles, flying through the air to pounce directly upon Han Mingyue from both left and right. Seeing this, Ye Li slashed her dagger in a fierce, dazzling arc to parry Han Mingyue's moves, rapidly retreating backward as she did so. Yet when Han Mingyue attempted to press the attack, he was already firmly entangled by the two Black Cloud Riders, leaving him utterly unable to break away. The Sick Scholar, who had been watching the battle from the side, was also not spared. The members of the Black Cloud Riders clearly recognized the Sick Scholar's identity and refused to give him any opportunity to approach. Long whips and heavy spears lunged toward him in unison. Dark Two and Dark Three landed beside Ye Li, and Ye Li asked with a hint of curiosity:

"How did the Black Cloud Riders end up here?"

Dark Two replied in a deep voice, "Your Highness... ah, Princess Consort, something has happened. The original dark guards were transferred away by Young Master Qingchen, and this detachment of Black Cloud Riders was originally training near Yongzhou, dispatched specifically to rendezvous with and escort the Princess Consort."

"What happened?" Able to prompt the Black Cloud Riders stationed in Yongzhou to gallop hundreds of miles to escort her, a jolt of shock went through Ye Li as she demanded, "Mo Jingli?!" Dark Two nodded and said, "Three days ago, the garrison forces of Lingzhou suddenly launched an attack on Yongzhou, and simultaneously, the Suixue Pass was assaulted by Nanzhao troops. The Black Cloud Riders learned that the Princess Consort was in the Southern Frontier, which is why they rode through the night to come escort the Princess Consort and Young Master Qingchen away."

Ye Li's expression sank. "Absurd! Since the Nanzhao troops are attacking Suixue Pass, why aren't the Black Cloud Riders helping General Murong guard the border?"

Dark Two gave a bitter smile. "The Black Cloud Riders' march south for training was conducted in absolute secrecy. It was not reported to the Emperor beforehand. Once the Black Cloud Riders show themselves at Suixue Pass, I'm afraid an imperial decree demanding accountability will arrive at the Prince Ding's Estate immediately." In truth, the Emperor utterly detested any training conducted by the Black Cloud Riders or the Mo Army, wishing nothing more than to corral them in a pen somewhere and let them rot until they became utterly useless.

"Understood. End this swiftly!" Her clear, sharp gaze swept over Han Mingyue, who was still locked in combat, a trace of icy chill flashing through Ye Li's eyes. Dark Four had never sent a message back, which proved that Han Mingyue had never returned to Jiangnan; instead, he had come straight to the Southern Frontier from Xiling. Back in the capital, Han Mingyue had been single-mindedly eager to bury the hatchet with Mo Xiunyao, and Ye Li believed his intentions at that time were genuine. Yet the moment he arrived in the Southern Frontier, he had unhesitatingly attempted to kidnap her to use as leverage against Mo Xiunyao... What on earth was he actually here in Nanzhao to do?

A well-trained army was entirely different from a band of jianghu ruffians; thus, the Black Cloud Riders sweeping across the entire battlefield took a mere half-quarter of an hour. The Sick Scholar fled in an utterly disheveled state, but a Black Cloud Rider neatly whipped out a bow and arrow from his back, drew the bowstring, aimed, and released—

The long arrow tore through the air with the force of a thunderbolt, shooting straight toward the Sick Scholar's back. Suddenly, a dark shadow leaped up, its sword sweeping across to deflect the feathered arrow. With two sharp clangs of impact, sparks flew in all directions. A tall, upright man clad in deep blue civilian clothes, radiating an imposing and stern aura, stood gripping his sword. He laughed aloud in a clear voice, "The peerless archery of the Black Cloud Riders truly lives up to its reputation." Behind him, the Sick Scholar collapsed listlessly to the ground, his complexion as pale as paper as he murmured, "Big Brother..."

Every single member of the Black Cloud Riders raised their bows in unison, dozens of arrows locking onto the blue-robed man simultaneously.

Raising a hand, Ye Li commanded, "Hold your fire. Let Pavilion Master Ling leave."

The blue-robed man was none other than Ling Tiehan, the Pavilion Master of the King of Hell's Pavilion. Lifting an eyebrow to appraise Ye Li, Ling Tiehan cupped his fists and said, "Princess Consort of Prince Ding, my third brother was ignorant and committed an offense; I beg your forgiveness." Ye Li nodded with a faint smile, "My eldest brother regards Pavilion Master Ling as a close friend, so Pavilion Master Ling need not stand on ceremony. However, the Third Pavilion Master's temper..." Sighing deeply, Ling Tiehan glanced back at the Sick Scholar on the ground and said, "My third brother has suffered a checkered fate and possesses a perverse temperament. This humble one will undoubtedly discipline him more strictly. This is the King of Hell's Token; in the future, if the Princess Consort has any matters, simply present this token and send someone to the King of Hell's Pavilion to find me. As long as this King of Hell's Token remains in your hands, my third brother will never make a move against the Princess Consort again." Ye Li reached out to catch the black basalt iron medallion tossed over by Ling Tiehan, tucked it away carefully, and said, "Many thanks, Pavilion Master." Bending down to haul up the Sick Scholar, Ling Tiehan stated, "In that case, farewell."

"I won't see you off."

Watching Ling Tiehan depart into the distance, Ye Li turned her gaze back to Han Mingyue, who was reduced to fighting a desperate, losing battle under the encirclement of several Black Cloud Riders. The Black Cloud Riders harbored no notion of outnumbering the enemy as an unfair dishonor; as long as they could knock down their opponent, even if a hundred men ganged up on one, they wouldn't feel a shred of guilt. They were soldiers, not chivalrous heroes of the jianghu.

"Jun... Junwei." Bearing his severe injuries, Han Mingxi—who had been watching them in silence—walked up to Ye Li. Glancing at Han Mingyue, who was still embroiled in combat, Ye Li sighed helplessly in her heart.

"I beg of you, spare my elder brother." Gazing at her, Han Mingxi's eyes were filled with bitterness. Although he now knew her true identity, he genuinely wanted to make friends with her. Yet he also knew that once these pleading words left his lips, any possibility of remaining friends with her in the future would likely be gone. "I need Young Master Mingyue to provide some intelligence," Ye Li frowned and said. Truthfully, she had no desire to keep Han Mingyue alive. Han Mingyue left her with an exceptionally poor impression; had she not been on her guard against him right from the start and secretly made arrangements the moment she sensed something was amiss, she might genuinely have fallen into Han Mingyue's trap this time. But... looking at Han Mingxi's withered, pale face brought on by his heavy injuries, the words of refusal simply refused to come out.

"He won't say a word. Anything you want to know, I can tell you." Being blood brothers who had grown up together, Han Mingxi understood his elder brother inside and out. Whatever his brother refused to say, no force on earth could extract even half a syllable from him.

"Han Mingxi! Shut your mouth!" Mid-fight, Han Mingyue shouted in distraction, instantly earning a fresh wound upon his shoulder.

Watching the accumulation of wounds on Han Mingyue's body and hearing him berate his younger brother once more, Han Mingxi finally snapped into explosive fury. "You shut your mouth! If you want to die, don't drag the subordinates of the Tianyi Pavilion down to die with you! Look at this entire field of people, damn it—every single one of them is like this because of you. The foundation of the Tianyi Pavilion is in Great Chu, and the Han family is also in Great Chu. Has your brain been caught in a doorframe for you to go provoking Mo Xiunyao? Is that woman more important than your parents and ancestors?! Fine, so you want to seek death, is that it? Well, this lord doesn't want to live anymore either; I'll die right here with you!" Stunned by his suddenly explosive younger brother's scolding, Han Mingyue paused for a split second, allowing a Black Cloud Rider to seize the opportunity and kick him behind the knee. Three blades immediately rested against his neck. Lowering his head to look at the gleaming, cold-flashing blades pressed to his throat, Han Mingyue raised his head, gazed at Ye Li, and offered a helpless, bitter smile. "It seems I've lost again this time. Kill me or beat me as you please. Also... Han Mingxi, your brain is fried; don't make it sound like we're about to commit a joint lovers' suicide."

Remembering the words he had just roared out in a fit of fiery rage, coupled with the ambiguous, hovering gazes of the idle Black Cloud Riders nearby, Han Mingxi felt his handsome face turn pitch black. His dignity for this lifetime was completely squandered today.

Ye Li glanced at the dark-faced Han Mingxi, her eyes shifting as she stated, "Brother Han, you may take Young Master Mingyue with you."

With a surge of joy, Han Mingxi looked at Ye Li with an expression full of gratitude, while even Han Mingyue wore a look of utter astonishment. Wearing a smile that wasn't quite a smile, Ye Li glanced at Han Mingyue and said indifferently, "However, there are conditions." Not expecting Ye Li to be so easy to negotiate with, Han Mingxi cared not a whit about any conditions; he wasn't a money-obsessed lunatic like Han Mingyue, so being able to snatch his elder brother's life back from the jaws of death was already a supreme, miraculous surprise. Leisurely retrieving a small porcelain vial from her tunic, Ye Li handed it to Han Mingxi and instructed, "Drink it down." Han Mingxi raised an eyebrow and downed the contents in a single upward tilt without a moment's hesitation. Han Mingyue wanted to stop him, but it was far too late; all he could do was watch as Han Mingxi smacked his lips and remarked in disgust, "This tastes truly awful." With a smile, Ye Li explained, "This is a poison personally formulated by the contemporary divine physician, Master Shen, and its ingredients are classified. As for its effects... if the antidote is not taken once every month, one's meridians will rupture and one will die a paralyzed death throughout the entire body. Precisely because the taste is so foul that it's difficult for anyone to ingest it by accident, its practical utility is somewhat limited. However... there are always those who swallow it willingly, aren't there?"

With a cheeky grin, Han Mingxi said, "I know Junwei wouldn't take my life."

Raising an eyebrow, Ye Li warned, "Keep a tight leash on your esteemed brother. I will send someone to deliver the antidote to you once every month. The moment I discover him leaving your line of sight or engaging in any untoward activities, I will make him watch with his own eyes as you bleed all over and suffer a death worse than agony." Nodding with a solemn expression, Han Mingxi smiled and said, "Understood. Big Brother... for the sake of your only younger brother's precious life, you'll be a good boy. Right?" Batting his soul-stealing eyes, he looked pleadingly at Han Mingyue. With a dark expression, Han Mingyue glared at Ye Li. "How do I know if you'll trick me? How do I know if you'll deliver the antidote on time?" Ye Li stated plainly, "Han Mingxi is my friend."

Han Mingyue sneered, "A friend? Is this how you treat your friends?"

Ye Li smiled coolly. "If you could treat your own brother like that, why shouldn't I treat my friend like this? If you hadn't done that, I naturally wouldn't have done this, and consequently Han Mingxi wouldn't suffer any harm whatsoever. Doesn't that mean... I didn't do anything at all?" Narrowing his eyes, Han Mingyue asked, "And what if I find someone to formulate an antidote?"

"Ah, I'm told this poison was formulated by Master Shen using a unique medicinal herb harvested from a certain small island in the Eastern Sea. The Central Plains possesses no flora even remotely resembling it. If Young Master Han possesses boundless magical powers and manages to locate the herbs and brew an antidote within a single month, then I'll simply chalk it up to bad luck on my part. Besides, the Black Cloud Riders happen to have tens of thousands of troops; detaching a few hundred men to hunt someone down without a single day of rest probably shouldn't be too difficult, oh. Coincidentally, I also happen to hold a King of Hell's Token in my hand; I wonder if Pavilion Master Ling would be willing to hunt down someone reported to be his friend yet utilizing his brother for ulterior motives, all for the sake of this token. To be even more unfortunate... the Prince Ding's Estate has money to burn, wouldn't you agree, Young Master Han?"

Snorting softly, Han Mingyue fell silent and said no more. Not caring in the least, Han Mingxi shoved aside the blades resting against Han Mingyue's throat and smiled at Ye Li, "Rest assured, Junwei, I guarantee Big Brother will never come wreck your plans again. Whatever you want to know, I'll have someone deliver it to you shortly. Therefore..." Smiling, Ye Li replied, "If you can genuinely keep a close watch on your esteemed brother, I can let today's matter slide. However... if there is a next time, Brother Han, your pleading won't work every single time."

"I understand." Nodding solemnly, Han Mingxi struck the acupuncture points on Han Mingyue's body to seal away his internal energy, waved goodbye to Ye Li, and hauled the man away.

"This subordinate and others pay respects to the Princess Consort." The members of the Black Cloud Riders saluted in unison.

Ye Li nodded. "Rise, all of you. What is going on with you lot?" Gazing at the rugged, formidable black-clad cavalry before her, Ye Li sighed inwardly in praise. As expected of Great Chu's most elite military force; this aura alone was something ordinary soldiers could never hope to rival. Furthermore, during the clash just moments earlier, the Black Cloud Riders had traveled a long distance yet suffered zero casualties, which was ample testament to the terrifying battle prowess of this unit. The robust, hardened man who led the vanguard stepped forward and reported, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, three days ago, the garrison forces of Lingzhou suddenly launched an attack on Yongzhou. Simultaneously, the Nanzhao forces also commenced an assault on Suixue Pass. General Murong is garrisoned at Suixue Pass, and the Nanzhao forces attacked the fortress for a full day and night without gaining so much as an inch of ground. However... the Lingzhou garrison is sweeping forward like a hot knife through butter, and I believe they will reach Suixue Pass in no more than ten days, at which point General Murong will undoubtedly find himself caught in a pincer attack from front and back..."

"Does the capital know about this?"

The man nodded. "An urgent courier has already been dispatched to the capital at a gallop. By tomorrow at the latest, the news will reach the capital. However, for reinforcements to arrive will require at least half a month; I'm afraid... Suixue Pass cannot hold out for that long. Just moments ago, Young Master Qingchen also dispatched a message instructing this subordinate to inform the Princess Consort that the Crown Princess of Nanzhao has been placed under house arrest by the King of Nanzhao, who has issued a decree bestowing upon the Southern Frontier Saintess the title of Protector Saintess and granting her participation in Nanzhao's state affairs. Young Master Xu requests that the Princess Consort leave Nanzhao as soon as possible. Young Master Xu says... we have all been played for fools by the King of Nanzhao."

With a heavy expression, Ye Li nodded and asked, "Where did Big Brother go?"

The man answered, "Young Master Xu took the dark guards, saying he had some matters to attend to. Once finished, he will also leave the Southern Frontier." Frowning, Ye Li pondered for a brief moment before ordering, "Dispatch a team to locate Big Brother and escort him safely out of Nanzhao as soon as possible. If he refuses... knock him out and carry him away first! The rest of you, accompany me to Suixue Pass at utmost speed."

"Yes, Princess Consort!"

The Black Cloud Riders swiftly split into two squads; one detachment of about twenty men left under the command of a single leader, while the remaining several dozen stayed behind to await orders. Ye Li asked, "What military forces are stationed near Suixue Pass?" Looking somewhat surprised, the leading man answered respectfully, "A few months ago, His Highness did indeed successively deploy some personnel near Yongzhou and Lingzhou. However, the Emperor maintains an extremely stringent defense against the Prince Ding's Estate; mobilizing troops on a large scale is utterly impossible. Moreover, the majority of the Mo Army still shoulders the task of deterring Northern Rong. Therefore, the only forces capable of playing an effective role near Yongzhou are two thousand Black Cloud Riders, alongside the twenty thousand garrison troops under the command of Wu Chengliang, the Prefectural Commander of Yongzhou in Jiangbei. The moment hostilities broke out, this subordinate immediately transmitted a message to Commander Wu. Barring any unexpected accidents, he should arrive at Suixue Pass by tomorrow afternoon."

Furrowing her brow in deep thought for a moment, Ye Li shook her head and declared, "Incorrect! Order him to lead his troops to reinforce the Yongzhou garrison and block Prince Li's main army. Suixue Pass is garrisoned by eighty thousand troops; as long as General Murong does not sally forth from the city to fight a desperate battle to the death with the enemy, defending the fortress for half a month is an absolute certainty! Once Prince Li's main army reaches Yonglin City and converges with Nanzhao to form a pincer encirclement, throwing in an extra twenty thousand troops won't make a shred of difference anymore!"

The leading man was likewise startled and quickly stated, "This subordinate will immediately dispatch men on fast couriers to notify Commander Wu. Spurring their horses without rest, they will definitely catch up before his troops cross the river tomorrow." With that, he hurriedly turned away to instruct his men to deliver the message. Massaging the bridge between her nose, Ye Li felt an underlying sense of ominous foreboding gnawing at her heart. "Pass down the order: we won't return to the city; we are hitting the road directly and rushing to Suixue Pass at top speed."

"Understood."

Seemingly out of nowhere, the fires of war had abruptly erupted, plunging Ye Li into a somewhat surreal, dreamlike trance. Raising her head to gaze at the sky, which had somehow clouded over with overcast gloom, her heart grew increasingly heavy.

Suixue Pass

Upon the sturdy, ancient, mottled city walls, the garrison soldiers gripped their blades and spears tightly in grim readiness, traces of exhaustion staining every single one of their youthful faces. Today alone, they had beaten back three successive assaults by the Nanzhao forces and stood perpetually prepared to greet the next wave of attacks. At forty years of age, Murong Shen bore a resolute, unyielding expression carved across his sharply angled face. Clasping his spear as he paced along the battlement, his dark, blade-like brows were locked tightly together. From the very day he had been dispatched to garrison Suixue Pass, he had known that peace would likely never grace this border fortress, yet he had never imagined that the genuine peril would stem not merely from the perpetually restless Southern Frontier, but even more so from the internal heart of Great Chu itself—from Prince Li, the Emperor's own biological younger brother. This inevitably brought to mind an anonymous letter he had received right as he was departing from the capital. It contained only four simple characters: "Beware of Lingzhou." Could this have been what it meant all along? The opposing party had long since been aware of Prince Li's treasonous intentions; it was only a pity... he had failed to accord it sufficient gravity. Or perhaps the circumstances simply hadn't permitted him to take it seriously—the Emperor required him to guard the border, yet out of lingering wariness born from his past service under the former Prince Ding, the Emperor was unwilling to grant him adequate military authority. Local officials also kept him fettered at every turn. And now, even though he knew full well that once Prince Li captured Yongzhou and completed the pincer encirclement, Suixue Pass would find itself caught between a front and rear assault with no path of retreat remaining, he still had nowhere to run. For standing directly before Suixue Pass were upwards of one hundred thousand non-Han tribesmen of the Southern Frontier; once they breached Suixue Pass, they would sweep across the entire southern region of Great Chu like a flood of pestilence. He only hoped... the reinforcements could arrive in time...

"Father." A crisp voice drifted from behind, and Murong Shen turned his head. Clad in a vibrant crimson martial outfit and gripping a precious sword, Murong婷 (Murong Ting) walked up onto the ramparts. Murong Shen's expression darkened as he barked sternly, "What are you doing here? Get back down immediately."

"Father!" Murong Ting stated with unyielding firmness, "Your daughter will defend the city alongside Father."

"Absurd! I told you to leave Suixue Pass immediately; why haven't you left yet?" Murong Shen cherished his only daughter as dearly as his own life. With Suixue Pass now in mortal peril, he had no choice but to stay and face it, yet he was adamant that his only daughter must leave first. Stubbornly biting her lower lip, Murong Ting replied, "Ting'er is not oblivious to the current situation. If I were to leave Suixue Pass now, and heaven forbid fall into Prince Li's hands to be used as leverage against Father, your daughter would only have death left as her sole release." Seeing Murong Shen open his mouth as if to speak, Murong Ting cut him off and continued, "If Father tells me to return to the capital under escort, that is even more out of the question. With Nanzhao forces on the verge of attacking the city right now, this is precisely the moment when manpower is needed most. Yet Ting'er, as the daughter of the garrison commander of Suixue Pass, would be fleeing with all available usable hands. If I were to do such a thing, Ting'er would be utterly unworthy of being a daughter of the Murong family."

Struck utterly speechless by his daughter's barrage of words, Murong Shen could only sigh after a long moment. "Suixue Pass is extremely dangerous right now."

Murong Ting declared proudly, "Which of Father's past campaigns out in the field wasn't dangerous? Since Father is determined to hold Suixue Pass, as the daughter of a military general, Ting'er naturally cannot turn back either." Knowing his daughter's stubborn temperament all too well, and recognizing that the journey back to the capital indeed held no safety guarantees at present, Murong Shen could only heave a sigh. "Very well, but exercise caution in all things."

"Thank you, Father..." Seeing that Murong Shen was no longer insisting, Murong Ting was overjoyed. "Ting'er will absolutely not shame Father's name!"