The First Jasmine - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Consultations at the Xu Estate

Ye Li recounted the matter concerning Qingyu and Qingluan to Mo Xiuyao, who immediately turned around and gave orders for it to be thoroughly investigated. Regardless of who the person masquerading as Mo Xiuyao might be, that woman was absolutely not Su Zuiedie. The fact that someone attempted to use this incident to sow discord between the two of them—and even between the Ding Prince's Estate and the Xu family—showed that this individual possessed an intimate understanding of both the Ding Prince's Estate and Mo Xiuyao himself. As for being impersonated, Mo Xiuyao was not worried in the least. The subordinates of the Ding Prince's Estate had always recognized orders rather than faces; although the Prince and Princess were exceptions to that rule, everyone knew that the Prince of Ding never casually issued commands to his subordinates across hierarchical ranks. Furthermore, if those secret guards could not even distinguish the true identity of their own Prince, they might as well pack up and quit.

On the second day after returning to the capital, Ye Li personally went to the Xu estate to visit her maternal uncles and aunt. Although the events in Yonglin City were generally unknown to the common populace, they certainly could not be kept hidden from the palace and those noble households possessing their own intelligence channels. Moreover, now that Mo Xiuyao's health had recovered, he naturally needed to shoulder his responsibilities as the Prince of Ding, meaning Ye Li no longer needed to maintain an intentional low profile as the Princess of Ding.

The moment she stepped into the Xu estate, Xu Qingyan swept out like a gust of wind, latching onto Ye Li to chatter incessantly. This brought a twitch of bulging veins to the temples of Xu Hongyan, who emerged directly behind him. "Qingyan!"

Xu Qingyan's face stiffened. He squeezed his eyes shut in a silent plea for help toward Ye Li before turning back to offer Xu Hongyan an ingratiating smile. "Second Uncle, I just saw Eldest Sister... I mean, Eldest Sister-in-law... Elder Sister Lili return and was so happy..."

Xu Qingze gazed at him indifferently without speaking, while Xu Qingbo cast a sidelong, irritated glance at him and remarked, "We are all happy that Lili has returned, but look at your disgraceful behavior. Good thing this isn't in Yunzhou; if Grandfather and Father saw you like this, they would definitely punish you." Xu Qingyan shrank his neck slightly and made a face at his fourth elder brother.

The sight of her family filled Ye Li's heart with a wave of warmth, and she smiled gently. "Second Uncle, Second Brother, Fourth Brother, you shouldn't blame Fifth Brother. Lili has been away for a long time and is very happy to see you all too."

Xu Hongyan looked Ye Li over from head to toe before nodding in satisfaction. "It seems you haven't suffered any hardships out there these past few days; your complexion is actually much better than when you were in the capital." Madam Xu had already hurried forward to pull Ye Li close, showering her with affectionate concern—pitying her for the hardships of traveling alone and fretting that she had grown too thin and needed proper nourishment. Knowing they had important matters to discuss, Madam Xu only exchanged a few words with Ye Li before turning to instruct the kitchen to prepare midday meals, leaving the space free for her husband and sons.

Once they entered the study and sat down, Xu Qingyan began squirming about restlessly before they could even exchange words, gazing eagerly at Ye Li. "Elder Sister Lili, did you really go to garrison Yonglin?" Ye Li raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Even you know about that? It seems news from the border passes travels quite swiftly indeed." Xu Qingyan waved a hand dismissively. "Elder Sister Lili, you don't know—some information is indeed a secret while outside, but once it gets transmitted back to the capital, it ceases to be a secret. Quite a few people already know about this matter. Just a few days ago, someone tried to probe me indirectly about your whereabouts. Hmph! Do they take this young master for a gullible child?" Xu Qingze nodded, looking at Ye Li as he said, "Xiao Wu is right. There aren't many intelligence channels capable of reaching as far as Fragmented Snow Pass, but secrets are hard to keep hidden within this capital."

Ye Li waved a hand. "Let it be, then. I discussed this matter with the Prince beforehand. It was never a secret that the Princess of Ding could mobilize the Black Cloud Cavalry. My going to Yonglin placed me right on the battlefield, where many things were impossible to completely conceal anyway; it doesn't matter if people found out." Xu Hongyan frowned. "The Prince's meaning is..." Gazing at the clear-featured niece before him who bore a faint resemblance to his younger sister, Xu Hongyan felt uncertain whether his interpretation hit the mark. After all, although past Princes of Ding had generally been indifferent to female charms and treated their princesses with deep respect regardless of background, the only princess who had ever truly wielded military authority over the Ding Prince's Estate was Princess Qingyun from a century ago. If the Prince of Ding intended for Lili to... While he was pleased by the Prince's regard and trust in his niece, Xu Hongyan also felt a measure of worry over that very regard. Once she grasped military power within the Ding Prince's Estate, Lili would no longer be just a simple princess. The complex troubles she would face in the future were likely beyond what he, as a maternal uncle, could assist with.

Ye Li met Xu Hongyan's gaze and said solemnly, "Lili understands Uncle's worries, but... from the day of our grand wedding, Lili was already bound together with the Ding Prince's Estate. If certain matters cannot be avoided, it is better to face them head-on. Two people are always better than one."

Xu Hongyan could not help sighing. Although he had turned a blind eye to the Emperor's political maneuvers in the imperial court these past few days, it didn't mean he hadn't seen through them. Ever since Prince Li raised the banner of rebellion, the Emperor had continuously promoted the Liu, Wang, and Yun families. One could even say he was unashamedly utilizing the pretext of eradicating Prince Li's faction to suppress court officials who had previously been close to the Ding Prince's Estate. Over the years, the Emperor had planted quite a few of his own people in the court, both openly and covertly; now, the Wang and Yun families had suddenly risen to replace the former Ye family, and even showed signs of surpassing the Hua family. What was worse was that, through some unknown means, the Liu, Wang, and Yun families had secretly formed an alliance. Originally, the three separate factions had not stood out conspicuously, but now, in the blink of an eye, the Emperor's faction held absolute dominance. If anyone claimed these imperial maneuvers were purely meant to deal with Prince Li, even Xu Qingyan would refuse to believe it. Xu Hongyan saw it clearly: the Emperor never truly cared about that younger brother of his; his true target had always been the Ding Prince's Estate.

Xu Qingze maintained his usual cold detachment, yet the gaze he directed toward Ye Li carried a gentle warmth. "If Lili has this capability, proceeding accordingly is fine."

Xu Hongyan nodded helplessly, looking at Ye Li with affectionate pity. "The letter your Eldest Maternal Uncle sent some days ago also mentioned it. Since you were able to appear in Yongzhou leading troops, he likely guessed the Prince's intent. You must simply exercise extreme caution from now on. Apart from your Third Brother, everyone in our family is a scholar, so I'm afraid we won't be able to offer much help." Xu Hongyan was not a military officer, but that did not mean he failed to understand military commanders. Generals differed from civil officials; particularly renowned generals who roamed battlefields cared nothing for your status or background. If you failed to command their respect, they wouldn't buy your account even if you were the Emperor's daughter. Ye Li nodded and smiled faintly. "Second Uncle, rest assured. This time in Yongzhou, the Prince assigned me a rather decent captain under General Murong's command, along with the commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry who garrisoned Yonglin together with us. Since they are all familiar faces, there's no need to worry too much. As for other matters, we can address them later; there is no need to rush." Xu Hongyan's brow finally relaxed slightly as he nodded. "The Prince is thoughtful after all."

Xu Qingyan chuckled. "If we had known Elder Sister Lili could command the Mo family army, why did Third Brother run off to the military camp himself? Wouldn't it have been simpler to just follow Elder Sister Lili directly?"

Xu Hongyan glared at him. "Nonsense. If that brat Qingfeng is useless in the army, wouldn't he just be dragging Lili down? If he has real talent of his own, what difference does it make where he is?" Xu Qingyan blinked. "I just figured having Third Brother around means at least it's our own flesh and blood, so Elder Sister Lili could feel more at ease." Ye Li smiled. "It's far too early to speak of such things. Right now, I can't manage matters of the Mo family army anyway. Besides, given Third Brother's temperament, if he knew he entered the Mo family army because of me, he'd probably run as far away as possible and insist on making a name for himself entirely on his own before considering it count." Remembering his son's stubborn disposition, Xu Hongyan could not help smiling, though he looked thoroughly satisfied. He earnestly exhorted Ye Li, "Though the Prince trusts you, you must remember to keep public and private matters strictly separated in many affairs. Whether it pertains to the imperial family or anything else, what rulers abhor most is an overly powerful consort clan. Does Lili understand?"

A warm feeling blossomed in Ye Li's chest. She nodded and said, "Lili understands. Thank you, Uncle, for your instruction."

Seeing that Ye Li had taken his words to heart, Xu Hongyan nodded in gratified relief and sighed softly. Lili was truly different from his clever yet frail younger sister; although Lili did not bear the surname Xu, he still felt the distinct pride and gratification of a father watching his own daughter grow. He believed that if Father were to see Lili like this, he would likewise be immensely overjoyed.

Ye Li then recounted her journey to Nanzhao and the details regarding Xu Qing尘 (Xu Qingchen) in full. Xu Hongyan frowned in disapproval. "Placing oneself in such peril—Qingchen was far too adventurous." Xu Qingbo, however, showed not the slightest concern for his eldest brother's safety, laughing as he said, "Second Uncle, you can rest easy. When has Big Brother ever done anything without absolute certainty? As Lili said, even if she hadn't gone to the Southern Frontier, Big Brother would have had full confidence in getting himself out safely." Xu Qingyan nodded repeatedly. "Fourth Brother is right! Elder Sister Lili, is that Saintess of the Southern Frontier very beautiful? Why did she capture Big Brother without harming him? She didn't even resort to interrogation—could it be she's taken a fancy to him?" Truth be told, Xu Qingyan had inadvertently hit upon the truth to a certain extent. Ye Li blinked and shook her head with mild regret. "I didn't get to see the Saintess of the Southern Frontier, but she probably isn't bad-looking."

Xu Qingbo raised an eyebrow. "I actually suspect that Princess Anxi harbors romantic intentions toward Big Brother. Second Brother, what do you say?"

Xu Qingze set down his teacup and replied calmly, "Neither is possible. Big Brother only regards Princess Anxi as a friend."

Xu Qingyan hid behind Xu Qingbo, baring his teeth at his second elder brother and muttering under his breath, "So utterly devoid of romantic sentiment—I truly don't know how Elder Sister Qin manages to tolerate you." Instead, Xu Qingbo turned his curious gaze to Ye Li. "When Lili lied to Princess Anxi that you were Big Brother's fiancée, what did Big Brother say?" Hearing this, Xu Qingyan's eyes instantly lit up as he stared intently at Ye Li. Ye Li felt a stifled sense of annoyance. She should have known better than to trust her eldest brother; he hadn't written a single letter to inform the uncles about this matter, leaving her to accidentally expose the truth herself. Stealing a cautious glance at Second Uncle, she murmured softly, "Big Brother didn't say anything. Furthermore... Big Brother even used me to block romantic pursuits."

Xu Hongyan shook his head helplessly and admonished, "Your status is different now; while investigating your eldest brother's whereabouts was certainly important, you must still maintain some regard for your reputation."

"Lili understands." With Xu Hongyan refraining from further reprimands, Ye Li breathed an internal sigh of relief and chimed in with a bright smile, "Right, I haven't congratulated Second Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother on placing on the imperial examination roll yet."

Xu Hongyan shook his head and cast an irritated glare at Xu Qingyan. Although the start of spring had brought a succession of unfortunate events, the triennial imperial examinations had proceeded as usual. Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been unusual—after all, no one expected the sons cultivated by the Xu family to fail the imperial exams—but having three young masters of the Xu family land on the honors roll simultaneously inevitably drew sidelong glances. Xu Qingyan aggrievedly curled his lips. "I just wrote casually... who knew this year's exam questions would be so simple..." Under the collective gaze of everyone in the room, Xu Qingyan finally couldn't sustain his act and lowered his head guiltily. How could he possibly admit that after being provoked by a certain noble scion with a few snide remarks, he had acted out of pique and given it his absolute all?

Ye Li smiled. "So this time... Second Brother placed as the Third Scholar (Tanhua) of the Grade A roll, Fifth Brother placed fourth, and Fourth Brother nineteenth?"

Xu Qingyan stole a glance at Xu Qingbo and drooped his head even more guiltily. He naturally knew that his fourth brother's literary talent was definitely superior to his own, and his second brother could easily leave the top scorer (Zhuangyuan) and second place finisher (Bangyan) trailing miles behind. However, both of them had intentionally concealed their true abilities, whereas he had truly exerted his utmost effort and still only managed a fourth-place finish. Observing Xu Qingyan's guilty expression, Ye Li consoled him, "Second Uncle, this is nothing. If Fifth Brother had truly failed to rank at all, that probably would have aroused suspicion." Xu Hongyan frowned. "He shouldn't have participated in the imperial exams this year in the first place." Speaking of this, Xu Hongyan felt helpless in his heart; Qingyan was only fourteen, while Qingbo was barely sixteen or seventeen. As young men—even as young men of the Xu family—who among them didn't wish to make a name for themselves across the realm and achieve great accomplishments? Among the Xu youths, whether it was the steady Xu Qingze or the flamboyant, unfettered Xu Qingyan, if they weren't born into the Xu family, they would undoubtedly possess the talent of top scorers and enjoy limitless, soaring futures. Yet born into the Xu family, they could only harbor empty ambitions, enjoying the illusory fame of the Xu family while being utterly unable to act on it. All of this... was the burden of the Xu family's overwhelming prestige. Xu Hongyan would never forget the heavy, apologetic look his father had given him the day he resigned from office and left the capital with his eldest brother. He too had once harbored a chest full of aspirations to aid the world and govern the state, but unfortunately, the imperial court had no use for their ambitions; the imperial court only needed him to remain in the seemingly prestigious yet utterly powerless position of an imperial censor to display the imperial grace to the world.

"Since Second Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother all placed on the honors roll, will they be staying in the capital for official appointments?" Ye Li asked. Xu Qingze and Xu Qingbo were easier to account for; Xu Qingze was already twenty, with a steady disposition. Although Xu Qingbo was a bit younger, he was arguably the most socially adept and smooth-handed of the Xu youths. As for Xu Qingyan, not only was he young, but his temperament remained as flamboyant and unruly as an overgrown child. Xu Hongyan shook his head. "Your second and fourth brothers will stay. I have already submitted a memorial to the Emperor: since Qingyan is still young, and moreover because Father is advanced in years, he is to return to Yunzhou to attend to Father."

"Will the Emperor agree?" In Mo Jingqi's eyes, keeping Xu Qingyan was likely far more useful than keeping Xu Qingbo.

Xu Hongyan replied with a calm smile, "Xiao Wu is the youngest in the Xu family, and filial piety comes above all else. The Emperor cannot refuse."

Since her second uncle was confident, Ye Li pressed no further, turning her concern instead to the official positions assigned to Xu Qingze and Xu Qingbo. As the Third Scholar, Xu Qingze was assigned to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler. Xu Qingbo, as a presented scholar (Jinshi), entered the Ministry of Rites as a candidate for appointment. Both were leisurely positions devoid of real power. Compared to the top scorers, runner-ups, and fellow Jinshi of their cohort, their official ranks were the highest, but likewise, their actual authority was the absolute least. Particularly in Xu Qingbo's case, while he drew a salary as a probationary bureau secretary in the Ministry of Rites, it was merely an empty candidate position, and goodness knew which year he would actually be appointed to a substantive post. Most importantly, Xu Qingze and Xu Qingbo's personalities were completely unsuited for the positions they currently held; swapping them would make far more sense. "Second Brother's post must remain in the capital, but if possible, it would be best for Fourth Brother to be posted to an outer province."

Xu Qingbo appeared young and mild-mannered on the surface, but in reality, he possessed deep thoughts and considerable social dexterity—a textbook example of playing the pig to eat the tiger. Were it not for his ties to the Xu family, even had he come from an ordinary household, he would likely have risen to high ministerial office by the age of thirty-five or thirty-six. In truth, Xu Qingbo was the most suited among the Xu clan for an official political career.

Xu Hongyan shook his head. "How could the Emperor be willing to let him take an outer provincial post?"

Ye Li furrowed her brow in thought. "Not necessarily; because Fourth Brother is still young, the Emperor might feel more at ease. Only... I'm afraid Fourth Brother will have to endure some hardship."

Xu Qingbo smiled indifferently. "The places the Emperor would be willing to let me go are likely just those poor, remote, and desolate backwaters. Still, that's better than idling away one's days in the capital while being constrained and controlled at every turn." Xu Hongyan looked at Xu Qingbo and realized he was genuinely tempted by Ye Li's suggestion. Indeed, if given the choice, he would also prefer an outer provincial posting; even serving as a minor county magistrate would beat wasting time in the capital listening to that bunch of civil officials drone on with idle chatter. After pondering for a moment, Xu Hongyan nodded. "Very well. The Emperor is currently occupied with other matters; he should agree to this minor concession." Xu Qingbo nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you, Second Uncle." Xu Hongyan waved a hand to indicate he need say no more.

After accompanying her uncles and aunt for the midday meal, Ye Li prepared to return to the estate. As she was leaving, Xu Hongyan instructed her in a deep voice, "Lili, you must be careful of the people in the palace from now on."

Ye Li paused, looking at her uncle in surprise, but Xu Hongyan merely waved his hand and said nothing more. With no other choice, Ye Li paid her respects to her aunt and uncle and turned back toward her own residence.

Upon returning to the estate, the visiting cards and banquet invitation letters from various aristocratic households in the capital had already piled up into two thick stacks. Ye Li flipped through them, picked out a few important ones to reply to, and found herself feeling a slight headache—realizing she perhaps needed one or several versatile, all-around assistants. None of the maidens around her fit the bill; Qingsha and Qingshuang possessed limited skills, while Qingluan and Qingyu, though each talented in their own domains, had nothing to do with administrative duties. Han Mingxi would make a fine candidate, but his personality was far too flashy and eye-catching. Having reviewed every available person at her disposal, she ultimately summoned Shadow Two and Shadow Three, dumping a massive pile of pending memorials and case files onto them. Shadow Three pulled a long, mournful face as he realized their duties had evolved from secret guards who did nothing except shadow their master, to personal bodyguards for the young master, then to all-around bodyguards for the eldest young miss, then all-around bodyguards for the Princess of Ding, and now finally transformed into accountants and general stewards for the Ding Prince's Estate. The authority vested in him made Shadow Three's heart palpitate and left him wanting to cry without tears. "Your Highness... I can't read these..."

"Go learn." Ye Li's brush flew across the files in her hands as she reviewed them without even lifting her head.

Shadow Three pulled a long face. "Your Highness, we are secret guards."

Ye Li calmly raised her head, cast a sidelong glance at him, and said, "I have no need for secret guards. From now on, Qin Feng will follow me."

"He's the commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry," Shadow Three grumbled resentfully. Even if the Princess needed someone to help crunch numbers, she should have found Chief Steward Mo or Mama Sun, or at the very least made Qin Feng do the accounting. Why make him do women's work while letting Qin Feng steal his post? Ye Li nodded in satisfaction. "Precisely because he is the commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry, he can moonlight as a personal guard whenever he assists me with work. As for you... you can also moonlight as my assistants."

"Assistants?" Shadow Three wore a blank expression, while Shadow Two maintained a wooden stare. What on earth was an assistant? It didn't sound majestic in the slightest compared to being a secret guard.

Ye Li beamed with a winning smile at her two obediently utilized subordinates. "It means people who assist me in handling all matters."

"All matters?"

"That's right, all matters I need you to help me process." Shadow Two and Shadow Three were clever enough, fiercely loyal, and possessed martial arts skills that were more than adequate. Shadow Two was steady while Shadow Three was nimble, and having remained by her side for so long without the stiff formality of others, they were quite literally born auxiliary talents. Realizing she could liberate herself from tedious trivia to pursue other tasks she previously lacked time for, Ye Li felt her spirits soar. "Go find Steward Mo first and master what you need to learn within half a month. Otherwise... the foot of Black Cloud Peak will be your final destination for the next three months. I've recently thought up quite a few new things." Imagining their master's gentle smile and recalling the month spent rolling around and tumbling through that forest the previous year, the two guards shivered simultaneously. They turned around and bolted away with crisp, decisive efficiency. Listening to the sound of her two subordinates sprinting off into the distance, Ye Li couldn't help letting out a soft laugh and shaking her head.

"Your Highness, Young Master Yunting and Young Master Qin Feng request an audience," Qingluan announced as she stepped inside.

"Show them in." Yunting's family also resided near the capital; after leaving Yongzhou, they had parted ways, with Yunting heading directly north for home. His arrival at the Ding Prince's Estate alongside Qin Feng caught Ye Li by surprise. A short while later, the two men entered the study side by side. "Your subordinates Yunting and Qin Feng pay respects to the Princess." Ye Li smiled. "Rise. Yunting, is your family settled?" Yunting laughed heartily. "Thanks to the Princess's concern, everything at home is well." Ye Li nodded with satisfaction and turned to Qin Feng, who reported respectfully, "The tasks the Princess assigned have all been prepared by this subordinate, awaiting the Princess's personal inspection." Ye Li glanced at the dwindling stack of ledgers on her desk and nodded. "The day is still early; let's go check them out right now. Yunting, someone will escort you to the military camp shortly. Furthermore, the Prince recommended several military treatises; read them all within three months. Three months from now, as long as you pass the assessment, you may officially become a member of the Mo family army. Understood?"

Yunting's eyes brightened as he answered in a ringing voice, "Yunting understands, I guarantee I will finish reading them within three months."

Ye Li smiled faintly and nodded in satisfaction. Filled with joyous anticipation, Yunting's elation at the prospect of entering the Mo family army made him forget to ask just how many books there were, how thick they might be, or what exactly he would be required to do in the military camp over those three months—an omission that would lead to his utter misery for the next three months.

Having changed into men's clothing, Ye Li set out from the estate with a lingering sense of eager anticipation, accompanied by Qin Feng. Along the way, they crossed paths with Shadow Three—who had just collected a massive pile of expired ledgers from Chief Steward Mo—gazing at Qin Feng with a gaze full of aggrieved resentment, leaving the newly appointed head of secret guards who had only recently started following Ye Li feeling completely bewildered and chilled down his spine.

Once the two of them had ridden out of the capital, Qin Feng looked at the youth before him—who, despite lacking a bit in height, still cut a dashing, elegant, and refined figure—and felt a deep sense of admiration. He finally understood why, whenever the Princess left the capital, not only could various intelligence networks fail to find her, but even the secret guards of the Ding Prince's Estate could never track her whereabouts. This kind of disguise technique was far more brilliant than what the martial arts underworld called facade alterations. If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, even if the Princess were standing right before him, he would likely only mistake her for a vaguely familiar passerby and let her go.

Catching Qin Feng's strange gaze, Ye Li smiled. "No need to be so surprised; it's just a bit of disguise technique."

Qin Feng shook his head. "The Princess's disguise technique is not something just anyone can pull off." So-called disguise wasn't merely about changing one's facial features. True tracking experts didn't necessarily look at faces and clothing when observing people; instead, a person's habitual movements, posture, back profile, and various other nuances made it very easy to discover clues. Yet as he walked behind the Princess the entire way, he hadn't found a single instance where the Princess's movements in men's attire mirrored her movements in women's attire. Even when wearing men's clothing, the Princess's walking posture, facial expressions, and gaze completely lacked the slightest trace of femininity—she looked every bit like a dashing, handsome young gentleman of fourteen or fifteen. Qin Feng did not know why a young lady of a prominent noble family would understand such skills, but since the Prince trusted the Princess, and having witnessed the Princess's capabilities firsthand in Yonglin City, he naturally obeyed the Princess's commands without question.

Qin Feng followed Ye Li at a gallop all the way to the foot of Black Cloud Peak. He had accompanied the Prince to this location once before, but in the span of a single year, the place had undergone considerable changes. At a short, moderate distance from the foot of what had once been a somewhat isolated and barren mountain, two manors now stood, while midway up the mountain slope, a small manor had been built upon the foundations of the original stronghold. Peasants down below were busy laboring in the fields, making it look indistinguishable from any ordinary village outside the capital.

Abandoning their horses, the two climbed the mountain, bypassed the stronghold halfway up, and reached the edge of the cliff behind the rear peak. Qin Feng peered down; the drop wasn't terribly deep. "Princess, are we going down?"

Ye Li smiled good-humoredly at him. "I hear your Black Cloud Cavalry martial arts are all quite decent; don't be afraid to die—jump down and see."

Qin Feng frowned with a hint of skepticism as he stared down the cliff. With his martial arts skills, descending from here might not be easy, but it shouldn't pose a fatal risk unless there were hidden mechanisms or traps below. Warned by Ye Li, Qin Feng did not rashly execute a light-body leap downward. Instead, using a wall-climbing technique, he pressed himself closely against the cliff face and slowly slid down. However, almost all footholds along the cliff had been smoothed away. Fortunately, he carried a dagger and managed to drive it into a rock fissure just in time to keep himself from slipping. He finally spotted a protruding ledge, but before he could place his foot on it, he noticed that the seemingly solid stone slab had arrowhead tips glinting with a freezing, cold light facing outward. Qin Feng had no doubt that the slightest touch would turn him into a human beehive.

Griping his dagger in frustration, he carefully navigated past one danger after another as he inched his way down the cliff face. At the bottom lay a pool of crystal-clear water. Floating upon the surface were emerald lotus leaves and a few newly sprouted flower buds, but the various cold, metallic glints protruding from the water's edge clearly existed solely to mock him. Qin Feng drew a breath and executed a light-body leap across the surface of the water, not daring to let his feet touch even a single drop of it.

"Three steps left and back."

Ye Li's voice rang out nearby, laced with a hint of amusement. Qin Feng, just about to land, hurriedly shifted three paces to his left before touching down, turning his head to look at the Princess who had evidently been waiting there for some time. Ye Li cast an amused, knowing look at him, picked up a pebble from the ground, and tossed it toward the spot where he had almost landed. Whoosh, whoosh—! Following a fierce, blinding barrage of arrows from all directions, Qin Feng stared blankly at the arrow-filled ground he had just missed, breaking out in a cold sweat.