The First Jasmine - Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Treason

By the banks of the Yunlan River, compared to Yonglin City where the two opposing armies remained locked in a standoff, Ye Li and her entourage appeared excessively leisurely. As soon as they cleared Yonglin City, Feng Zhiyao had taken the Black Cloud Cavalry and galloped off to goodness knows where, leaving Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao to prepare for their return to the capital alongside their accompanying guards and the newly arrived Shen Yang. Poor miraculous doctor Shen possessed not even the strength to truss a chicken, yet within less than ten days, he had galloped at breakneck speed all the way from the Chu capital to Yongzhou, only to be told before he could even catch his breath that they were immediately heading back to the capital. Pointing at Mo Xiuyao, Shen Yang panted as his finger trembled, not forgetting to vent indignantly: "In my past life, I must have owed you people surnamed Mo!" Ever since he administered the Phoenix Grass to a certain prince who refused to follow medical advice, the miraculous doctor Shen's temper had grown more explosive by the day.

"Mr. Shen." The group had set up camp along the banks of the Yunlan River. Mo Xiuyao had taken Yun Ting and the others out hunting, leaving Ye Li with the time to seek out Shen Yang for a conversation. Holding a medical canon thick enough to crush a person to death, Shen Yang was seated by the river, his brows deeply furrowed as he carefully read and deliberated over the text. Hearing Ye Li's footsteps, he turned his head for a look and made to stand up to offer a greeting, but Ye Li quickly waved her hand and said, "There are no outsiders here, Mr. Shen need not stand on ceremony." Shen Yang didn't exchange empty polite pleasantries either, sitting right back down while setting the medical canon aside with a smile. "The Princess's decisive action in holding Yonglin this time filled the entire ranks of the Black Cloud Cavalry with wholehearted admiration. This old man is also profoundly impressed; the Princess is truly a peerless heroine of our time." Ye Li shook her head and smiled helplessly. "Why must Mr. Shen resort to such polite formalities? What peerless heroine of our time—it was merely forced by circumstances. Does the Mr. Shen know what brings me here?"

Shen Yang gazed at Ye Li for a long while before finally letting out a long, heavy sigh. "Bringing back that pernicious Phoenix Grass—this old man truly does not know whether it was right or wrong after all."

Ye Li shook her head and said softly, "Taking the Phoenix Grass was the Prince's own decision. Mr. Shen already informed the Prince of the gains, losses, and consequences; regardless of what happens, it was the Prince's choice. Furthermore, since it has already become a reality, dwelling on responsibility, right, and wrong at this point can no longer remedy the situation. Ye Li merely wishes to know: what is the state of the Prince's body right now? Is there any method to resolve this?" Shen Yang looked at Ye Li, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes as he spoke with a serious expression. "Over the past six months, this old man has carefully studied the Phoenix Grass and consulted numerous ancient medical treatises. The Phoenix Grass was originally not exclusive to the Eastern Sea; it was known as Phoenix Tail, and in ancient times, it also grew in our Central Plains. Ancient texts record that this medicinal herb possesses an extremely fierce nature and is highly toxic. Yet at the same time, it serves as the nemesis to most poisons in the world, and even has the effect of cleansing the meridians and washing the marrow, which is why it is hailed as a miraculous medicine. However, for reasons unknown, the Phoenix Grass subsequently vanished from the Central Plains without a trace, leaving almost no records in currently passed-down medical arts. The cold poison contracted by the Prince happens to be the most yin and frigid poison in existence. Although Phoenix Tail can act in opposition to it, it is insufficient to neutralize its toxicity. As a result, the two distinct poisons of fire and cold exist simultaneously within the Prince's body, and at present, they can only be said to have reached a temporary equilibrium. Yet this equilibrium is extremely perilous and could collapse at any moment; when that time comes, even the Blazing Fire Lotus seed will be of no avail."

Ye Li nodded. "Mr. Shen previously mentioned that the two poisons would undergo a transformation within the Prince's body."

Shen Yang replied, "Indeed. If the cold poison and the Phoenix Tail could counteract and cancel each other out, other methods could still be devised. But right now, the two streams of toxicity within the Prince's body are each acting on their own accord—the cold grows increasingly frigid, while the heat grows increasingly scorching. If an ordinary person were to mistakenly ingest the Blazing Fire Lotus seed, it would burn their internal organs to ashes within moments; if the Blazing Fire Lotus seed were to interact with the Phoenix Tail on top of that, I fear... before the cold poison is even resolved, the Prince would first perish from the fire poison."

Ye Li's delicate brows furrowed deeply. "Mr. Shen, would the Bilan Grass be of any use to the Prince?"

Shen Yang was startled, then fell into deep, concentrated thought. After a long while, he finally said, "Both Bilan Grass and Phoenix Grass are miraculous medicines that have long since been lost to the world. Legend has it that they can restore flesh to bones and bring the dead back to life, and extending one's years to live to a ripe old age is effortless as well. However... whether it can resolve the poison in the Prince's body is something I truly cannot guarantee. After all, Bilan Grass has been extinct for an even longer period than Phoenix Grass, and I have only ever heard my predecessors casually mention it in passing." Ye Li nodded and said, "I understand. Still, having an extra glimmer of hope is always for the best." Shen Yang asked curiously, "Could it be that the Princess knows where Bilan Grass can be found?" Ye Li nodded slightly. "I will find a way to retrieve it as soon as possible, but... please do not mention this matter to the Prince, Mr. Shen." To extract the Bilan Grass from the hands of the Sick Scholar, one absolutely could not use people from the Prince's estate. Given the Sick Scholar's deep-seated hatred for Mo Xiuyao, he would likely rather destroy the Bilan Grass himself without using it than ever let the Ding Prince's Estate obtain it. "How long can the Prince's body sustain itself?"

Shen Yang lowered his gaze and said in a heavy tone, "Provided no unexpected accidents occur, there will be no major issues within a year or half. Moreover, the marrow-cleansing and meridian-washing effects of the Phoenix Grass are not false rumors; the Prince's physical condition is indeed much better than before. However... during every full moon, the intersection of cold and fire is bound to bring agony worse than death. In the seasons of autumn and winter, the fire poison scorches the body; in spring and winter, the cold poison assails the heart. Whether it is the cold poison or the fire poison, the suffering is destined to be ten times more excruciating than when the cold poison flared up previously." Ye Li recalled the scene she witnessed upon stepping into the room that day, unable to imagine just how intense the pain must have been to reduce a man like Mo Xiuyao to such a battered state.

"As for pain-relieving medicine...?"

Shen Yang shook his head with a sorrowful expression. "Pain relievers are completely ineffective; furthermore... I fear that from now on, any pain-relieving medication or even sedatives will be entirely useless to the Prince."

A faint chill gripped Ye Li's heart. This meant that even if Mo Xiuyao were to be injured in the future, he could not utilize pain relievers or anesthetics of any kind.

"A-Li..." Ye Li turned her head back to see the white-robed man walking toward her with a smile. Lowering her gaze to conceal the sorrow in her eyes, she stepped forward to meet him. Mo Xiuyao glanced at Shen Yang, who had already picked up his medical canon and prepared to resume reading, then lowered his head to smile at Ye Li. "What was A-Li discussing with Mr. Shen?" Ye Li smiled. "I was consulting Mr. Shen on some matters regarding medicinal herbs. Since we saw quite a few strange herbs during our trip to Southern Zhao, I wanted to ask what uses they might have." Mo Xiuyao smiled gently. "A-Li has diverse interests; are you interested in medicine as well?" Ye Li shook her head. "I have no particular talent for medicine, but some baseline knowledge of herbs is indeed essential." Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li's hand and led her toward the camp while smiling. "I know, I heard that you even requested those guards of yours to memorize the herbal canons and follow the doctors to learn plant identification." Ye Li smiled. "They are merely common herbs after all; aren't there times when one cannot carry medicine on their person?"

"What A-Li says is true. Perhaps we can have the Black Cloud Cavalry learn from them as well," Mo Xiuyao mused thoughtfully.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "The Black Cloud Cavalry are different; they only need a designated number of medical personnel accompanying them or have doctors integrated directly into their ranks."

Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze to look at Ye Li. "Does A-Li have some special plan that you'd rather not share with me?"

Ye Li shook her head. "No, it's just that it's still only in its formative stages. Once I accomplish it, perhaps I can give you a surprise."

Mo Xiuyao offered a faint, gentle smile. "Then I shall await A-Li's surprise. Let's go partake in our meal, and afterward we can go watch a good show together."

The show spoken of by Mo Xiuyao was indeed a fine spectacle. The military forces concealed within the borders of Yongzhou and Yongzhou (note: original text repetition) numbered more than thirty thousand troops. Ye Li finally understood what Feng Zhiyao had been doing with his two Black Cloud Cavalry divisions. Overnight, multiple bandit strongholds scattered across Yongzhou and Yongzhou were dismantled, and countless individuals disguised as bandits and brigands yet clearly displaying rigorous military training were cut down by the Black Cloud Cavalry, with the survivors fleeing in a panic toward the border between Yongzhou and Xiling. Meanwhile, Mo Xiuyao led Ye Li and the others to wait right at the border. When a group of jubilant, shattered remnants of troops laid eyes on those grim, awe-inspiring elite cavalrymen, despair inevitably bloomed in their eyes.

The various officials of Yongzhou knelt on the ground with complexions as ashen as dirt, trembling as they gazed upon the pair of peerlessly matched companions sitting side by side before them. The man was gentle and refined, the woman delicate and graceful; yet looking at them sent a terror deeper than flesh-eating fiends coursing through the onlookers' hearts. Two days prior, they had been summoned to the Prince of Ding's presence by a single token, but the Prince had said nothing at all—he merely brought them along with him. Wherever the Prince went, they went too. They had watched with their own eyes as stronghold after stronghold, whether overt or covert, was crushed and eradicated by the Black Cloud Cavalry. Some twenty-odd thousand men before and after seemed as utterly worthless as ants in the eyes of the Black Cloud Cavalry. The fleeing remnant troops before them were merely the final few fish that had slipped through the net, yet they had still been intercepted by the Prince of Ding on this small hillside less than five li away from the border.

Mo Xiuyao looked calmly at the Prefect of Yongzhou who knelt closest to him, asking indifferently, "My lord, do you know why the Prefect of Yongzhou died?"

The Prefect of Yongzhou turned pale, trembling as he stammered, "Treason... treasonous rebellion!" The Prefect of Yongzhou had been slain by the secret guards of the Ding Prince's Estate even amidst the protection of Prince Li's myriad troops; this matter had spread across the entire realm long before today, tightening the taut strings inside the minds of many officials. Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Treasonous rebellion? Quite right, that is indeed a capital crime. Then... does my lord know what crime communicating with the enemy and committing treason entails?"

"This... Your Highness! Your Highness... this humble subject would never dare, this humble subject is utterly loyal to Great Chu..."

"What a magnificent display of utter loyalty!" Mo Xiuyao let out a cold laugh. "Utter loyalty? Then where did these tens of thousands of men within your borders in Yongzhou come from? Why did General Wu Chenglang and the twenty thousand garrison troops of Yongzhou die?"

"This humble subject... this humble subject truly does not know..." the Prefect of Yongzhou wailed. "This humble subject is wronged, I beg the Prince to discern the truth..."

Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, "Whether you are wronged or not is not something this Prince cares to manage; you can go explain it to the Emperor yourselves. The reason I had you brought here today is simply to let you witness the Black Cloud Cavalry paying tribute to the departed souls of the Yongzhou garrison and General Wu. Although civil and military officials belong to different administrative branches, you are at least considered former colleagues. Let everyone present here send them off on their final journey." Feng Zhiyao, standing behind Mo Xiuyao, waved his hand. "Execute them!"

A hail of ten thousand arrows flew simultaneously, and the Xiling remnants trapped in the center fell to the ground dead within moments. Smelling the pungent stench of blood thick in the air, the kneeling officials began vomiting one after another in a chaotic scramble. Acting as though he saw nothing, Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li to her feet, turned back, and gave his instructions: "Send the various lords back to their respective prefectures. As for these Xiling dogs, toss them beyond the border—don't soil the soil of my Great Chu."

"Understood."

Mo Xiuyao nodded with satisfaction, turning back to smile gently at Ye Li. "A-Li, it's time for us to return to the capital."

Ye Li nodded lightly, following Mo Xiuyao as they left. As for the policy of not executing prisoners... it seemed unnecessary to mention it further...

Although they had received the Emperor's urgent imperial decree summoning them back to the capital, Mo Xiuyao clearly paid it no heed. Instead, he sent Feng Zhiyao away with the Black Cloud Cavalry while he himself took Ye Li and her entourage on a leisurely, unhurried journey northward. It took them close to ten days to reach Guangling City. Returning to Guangling City for the second time without any specific objective, Ye Li appeared much more relaxed. However, when Mo Xiuyao led her to stand before the entrance of the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Pavilion, she looked back at the man beside her with a trace of surprise.

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​Mo Xiuyao smiled without a word.

In broad daylight, the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Pavilion was not yet open for business. However, there were still people welcoming guests at the entrance. Looking at the young man standing by the doorway with a solemn expression, Mo Xiuyao said indifferently, "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion truly lives up to its reputation for well-informed intelligence. It seems Han Mingyue hasn't wasted his efforts over these past years." The young man's smile grew somewhat stiff. "Thank you for the undeserved praise, Your Highness. My superior has ordered this humble subordinate here to respectfully welcome the arrival of the Prince and Princess. Please, step inside, Your Two Highnesses."

Entering the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Pavilion, the young man led the two directly into the back courtyard, arriving at the same pavilion where Ye Li had met Han Mingxi last time. Han Mingxi and Han Ming月 (Han Mingyue) sat facing one another. Upon seeing Ye Li, a fleeting look of trance flickered in Han Mingxi's eyes before he recovered and threw her an arched-brow smile. Han Mingyue put down his tea cup, stood up, and walked out to welcome them, his smile cultured and refined. "Xiuyao, long time no see; you are indeed well..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Mo Xiuyao directly lashed out with a fierce palm strike that swept toward the handsome, refined man with the overwhelming momentum of a collapsing mountain and churning sea. Han Mingyue's voice cut off abruptly, and he rolled over in a somewhat ungraceful manner to evade Mo Xiuyao's palm. However, the ferocious force of the gale still constricted his breath, causing him to cough a few times as he offered a wry smile. "Xiuyao, is this how you treat me after such a long separation?" Mo Xiuyao let out a cold snort, closing the distance as his palm strikes flowed continuously one after another. Every single strike was solid, carrying absolute seriousness without a hint of jest. Han Mingyue had no choice but to收起 (put away) his smile and cautiously respond. The two began exchanging blows back and forth within the garden.

While the battle raged fiercely over there, Han Mingxi stood up and walked over to Ye Li's side, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "Junwei, long time no see—did you come here to see me? If you came to see me, you should have come alone, why did you have to bring him along?"

Ye Li raised a finger to point at the white-robed man in the garden, indicating that it was he who had wanted to come.

Han Mingxi glanced sideways at him, the smile on his face ultimately turning somewhat strained. "Junwei..."

Ye Li said calmly, "Rest assured, the Prince has no intention of killing him." If he truly wanted Han Mingyue's life, Mo Xiuyao wouldn't need to personally intervene. No matter how formidable the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was, could it block the iron hooves of the Black Cloud Cavalry or the secret guards of the Ding Prince's Estate? Han Mingxi smiled bitterly. "Yet the Prince of Ding has no intention of showing mercy either." At twenty-some years of age, in Feng Zhiyao's eyes, none of the experts who could match Mo Xiuyao were his peers. One could easily imagine the gap between him and Han Mingyue. As the two spoke, Han Mingyue had already been batted back down to the ground by a single palm strike, landing not far in front of them and coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood. With Ye Li's discernment, she could tell at a glance that two of his ribs had broken. Han Mingxi hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, but Han Mingyue raised a hand to stop him, looking up at the leisurely approaching Mo Xiuyao to ask, "Xiuyao, has your anger abated?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow indifferently. "Do you know why this Prince isn't killing you this time?"

Han Mingyue raised an eyebrow, gazing at Mo Xiuyao. Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "Since A-Li promised Han Mingxi to spare you, I am letting you off this once. But you had best remember: this Prince's patience also has its limits. If you ever make a move against A-Li again... feel free to test just what extent this Prince is capable of reaching!" Clutching his chest, Han Mingyue broke into a fit of violent coughing, looking helplessly at Mo Xiuyao. "Xiuyao, in your eyes... is Ye Li really more important than the friendship we've shared since childhood?" Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, a mocking curve touching his lips. "When have you ever felt that the friendship we shared since childhood was important in your eyes?" Han Mingyue was left speechless; indeed, it was he who had betrayed their bond first. But... "In my eyes, you are forever my best friend," Han Mingyue stated heavily.

Mo Xiuyao let out a cold snort. "Since you've uttered the word 'friend,' I give you my word... if you cross paths with me again next time, I will not kill you."

Han Mingyue was stunned, yet his expression shifted drastically amidst the curiosity and incomprehension of Han Mingxi and Ye Li. "Xiuyao! No! This has nothing to do with her, all of these matters were my own idea!" Hearing those words, Han Mingxi's expression instantly darkened into pitch black; with a displeased snort, he swallowed back the words of intercession he had been about to offer. Since the Prince of Ding had no intention of killing him anyway, let him toss and turn until he ran out of breath and couldn't run around stirring up trouble anymore! Mo Xiuyao had no interest in whose idea it was, turning instead to tell Han Mingxi, "If you want him to live well, keep a tight leash on him." Han Mingxi wore a stinking expression on his handsome face as he replied coldly, "No need to trouble Your Highness!" Mo Xiuyao took Ye Li's hand and turned to leave, whereupon Han Mingyue called out from the ground, "Xiuyao, you deliberately detoured to Guangling—surely you didn't come just to beat me up, did you?"

Mo Xiuyao paused his steps, glanced back at him, and said, "I'm here to tell you one thing by the way. If you don't know how to play the game of political strategy, stick to earning your money; don't lift a rock only to drop it on your own toes and end up regretting it." Watching the two figures depart without looking back, Han Mingyue couldn't help frowning as he pondered Mo Xiuyao's words. Not knowing how to play political strategy... he indeed had no interest in political strategy and had never involved himself in it, except for... His expression changing abruptly, Han Mingyue turned to Han Mingxi and commanded, "Quickly! Have someone investigate what happened in Xiling!"

Han Mingxi felt the veins on his forehead throb violently. Who said Mingyue公子 (Young Master Mingyue) was exceptionally smart? This was already far more foolish than a donkey, wasn't it? Ordinary people wouldn't turn back until they crashed into the southern wall, but this guy had smashed his head open and bleeding yet still refused to turn back! "Investigate my foot! Why should I, a dignified citizen of Great Chu, care about the life and death of Xiling? Someone come, bring me the finest Soft Tendon Powder! Whoever dares give him the antidote, I'll strip their skin off! Truly I've witnessed what they call a beauty bringing disaster to a state; I refuse to believe that besides that vicious woman there are no other women left in this world! I'll go ruin her face tomorrow, and once nobody wants her anymore, I'll buy her back to be your serving maid!" Having vented his spleen, too lazy to care that his eldest brother was still blocking the ground unable to move, Han Mingxi flicked his sleeves and stormed off angrily.

"Han Mingxi, you stay right there for me!" Han Mingyue shouted sternly.

The body of Han Mingxi, who was storming outward, paused. He turned back, grinding his teeth as he glared at the older brother who shared seven points of similarity with him. In his heart, he resented that calamity of a woman to the bone; since childhood, he had worshipped this older brother, but his brother's taste in women was truly something he couldn't bring himself to praise. Seeing Han Mingxi glaring at him with a cold face and angry eyes, a flicker of guilt crossed the depths of Han Mingyue's eyes as his voice softened. "Mingxi, stop acting out. Big Brother promises he won't do anything else. Mo Xiuyao broke two of my ribs, come over and help me up." Han Mingxi froze; looking at Han Mingyue's pale complexion, his heart ultimately softened as he stepped forward to support his older brother.

"You! Han Mingyue!" A moment later, Han Mingxi's voice was filled with fury and resentment. Yet his entire body was as immobilized as if it had been pinned by acupuncture points, his handsome face twisting as he glared at the pale-faced man clutching his chest before him. Han Mingyue looked at his younger brother with eyes full of guilt. "Sorry, Mingxi." Seeing him turn to leave, Han Mingxi cried out in despair, "Han Mingyue, you idiot, I've been poisoned! Do you really want Ye Li to kill me?" Han Mingyue turned back to look at him with a smile, shaking his head. "What a foolish child. Mingxi, since you fancy yourself sharper at judging people than I am, how could you not see that Ye Li would never kill you, nor did she ever poison you?" Han Mingxi said coldly, "So all these days you were just testing whether there was poison in my body, and now that you've confirmed it, you're leaving again?"

"Rest assured, I will not make a move against your friends again. Mo Xiuyao... I cannot afford to provoke him either." Han Mingyue looked warmly at his younger brother, pondering for a moment before offering a final warning: "Mingxi, stay far away from Ye Li; she is not someone you can afford to provoke." Han Mingxi's expression stiffened as he retorted with disdain, "Do you even have the qualification to say that to me?" Han Mingyue shook his head helplessly. "Do you think you are smarter than me? Mingxi, I could contend with anyone in the world, but I never once thought of contending with Xiuyao, you know?" Han Mingxi scoffed. "Indeed. You know how to choose your opponents, yet unfortunately you don't know how to choose a woman. Did that woman ever spare you a single glance except to use you? Even if Junwei doesn't like me, at least she would come to save me, would feel guilty for me, and would show restraint for my sake because of you. Over all these years, what have you gained?" The smile on Han Mingyue's face gradually turned into bitterness and helplessness, until he finally had to admit that every word his younger brother spoke was entirely true. He could only turn and walk away in silence.

After a long while, the young man who had acted as their guide earlier appeared in the courtyard. "Second Young Master, the Young Master has departed."

Han Mingxi, who had just had his acupoints unsealed, was filled with restless irritation. "Let him go if he's gone; when has he ever regarded us as anything important?"

The young man lowered his head. "The Young Master said he will never return. All the silver notes in the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Pavilion and the money banks are left to the Second Young Master. As for the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion... it will no longer take orders from the Second Young Master henceforth."

"He planned this long ago! If the Prince of Ding hadn't come by today, was he planning to slip away without a sound? Han Mingyue, you're utterly ruthless!" Han Mingxi gritted his teeth. The young man lowered his head in silence, while Han Mingxi let out a cold snort. "Wretch, you just wait for me!"

Inside the finest inn in Guangling City, Ye Li and her entourage had booked the best courtyard in the establishment for a temporary stay.

"Xiuyao, today you..." Watching the man reading a book with lowered head beside her, Ye Li's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she asked with some hesitation.

Mo Xiuyao put down his book and smiled. "Is A-Li wondering why I made a special trip to seek out Han Mingyue?"

Ye Li nodded. If it were merely to beat him up and vent some frustration, it would have been far too convoluted an endeavor. Mo Xiuyao said calmly, "If my calculations are correct, Han Mingyue will be heading to Xiling very soon."

"Heading to Xiling?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Indeed. Rather than letting him slip away in silence, it is better for this Prince to see him off a stage of the journey. Although the Han family does not rank at the very top in Great Chu, they are at least among the top ten. If he takes all of their assets and influence with him to Xiling, it will hardly be a good thing." A flash crossed Ye Li's eyes. "Are you saying Han Mingyue intends to..." The word 'treason' remained unspoken, but Mo Xiuyao nodded faintly. "I understand Han Mingyue's character. In his eyes, country and realm mean nothing at all. Transitioning from a citizen of Great Chu to a citizen of Xiling or Northern Rong makes virtually no difference to him."

"Since that is the case, why not cut weeds by the roots and eradicate the trouble?" Ye Li asked, puzzled. Even if Mo Xiuyao genuinely valued his friendship with Han Mingyue, he would never place it above the rivers and mountains of Great Chu. Mo Xiuyao smiled lightly. "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has branches spanning all four nations; once Han Mingyue is killed, the resulting troubles will be manifold. Since he wants to leave, let him leave. As I said, he is unsuited for the arts of political strategy. And since he is openly committing treason, there is no longer any necessity for the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to continue existing within the borders of Great Chu." The primary reason for making this special detour to Guangling was precisely to sweep away and eliminate the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Southern Great Chu, particularly Guangling City, was the headquarters of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion; how could it be so easy for Han Mingyue to evacuate personnel right under his nose?

"Han Mingxi..." Ye Li asked with a frown.

Mo Xiuyao replied, "Had we used a different approach, Han Mingxi might indeed have had the possibility of following Han Mingyue. However, he won't be leaving today. If Han Mingxi is truly smart, he will come find me."

Ye Li looked at him. "You deliberately provoked Han Mingyue so he would act ahead of schedule, thereby driving a wedge between the brothers?"

Without denying it, Mo Xiuyao rubbed the space between his brows with a trace of fatigue. "It is a good thing that Han Mingxi is staying behind. If both of them left... the entire Han family would face execution of the nine familial exterminations." The Han family didn't consist solely of Han Mingyue and his brother; in any large aristocratic family with main branches, secondary branches, collateral lines, and ancestral clans, it was impossible to uproot and take every single person with them. Once collective punishment was invoked, the ensuing scope of implication would be horrifying to behold.

"Will Han Mingyue truly defect to the Xiling imperial court?"

"He is no ordinary commoner. The Han family possesses vast wealth and a deep foundation, and the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's web reaches even further. The moment he arrives in Xiling, whether it is the Xiling Emperor or the Southern Town King, they will undoubtedly vie to rope him in. And regardless of whether he chooses to be utilized by them, in the eyes of the imperial court, he has already committed treason." The eyes of the imperial court could never tolerate a grain of sand; the moment Han Mingyue set foot in Xiling, it constituted betrayal. Even if he hadn't committed treason, the imperial court would prefer to mistakenly execute him rather than let a potential threat slip by.

Ye Li sighed silently; regarding a person like Han Mingyue, she could never truly figure him out. "Han Mingyue... was he doing all this for a woman?"

Mo Xiuyao was startled, raising his eyes to gaze at Ye Li for a long moment before finally nodding. "Indeed, it was genuinely for a woman."

Ye Li furrowed her brows, harboring a lingering sense that this woman's identity was particularly unusual, and hesitated over whether she should continue the topic. Mo Xiuyao looked at her quietly, his smile serene and warm. "A-Li, you may ask whatever you wish to know."

"This woman... is she someone you know?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded, and just as he was about to speak, Shadow Three reported from outside the door, "Your Highness, Princess. Young Master Han requests an audience."

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow slightly, casting an apologetic look at Ye Li before saying, "Have him enter."