The First Jasmine - Chapter 129
Chapter 129 - Xiling Deploys Troops (1)
In the study, the silence was so profound that even the drop of a pin could be heard. Ye Li gazed silently at the middle-aged man sitting before her; her beautiful face remained calm and completely devoid of expression, yet this could not conceal the tempestuous waves surging within her heart at the words she had just heard. Mo Xiuwen had died young due to illness, and many could guess that there must be some hidden secrets behind it unknown to outsiders. Yet, not even Ye Li had ever imagined that Mo Xiuwen's death would be connected to the person in the palace. Back then, when Mo Xiuwen died of illness and the Mo Army suffered heavy setbacks, the current Emperor had only been on the throne for a mere three years; to strike against the Prince of Ding's Mansion with such haste...
"What else does Her Ladyship wish to know?" Mu Qingcang looked at Ye Li with an expression that was half-smile, yet no smile, carrying a noticeable trace of schadenfreude.
Ye Li said indifferently, "Everything."
Mu Qingcang started, staring at Ye Li as he asked, "Everything? Has Her Ladyship thought this through clearly? You must understand that the secrets contained herein are enough to affect the entirety of Great Chu, and perhaps even the entire world."
Ye Li sneered coldly. "Although this Princess never met the previous Prince of Ding, he was nevertheless my husband's elder brother, and therefore also this Princess's elder brother. Moreover... you have fallen into this Princess's hands. Do you believe that if I refuse to listen, others will assume I do not already know this secret?"
Mu Qingcang fell silent for a moment before sighing softly. "The Prince of Ding is truly blessed. Since Her Ladyship insists, I will tell you everything. Consider it repayment to Her Ladyship for fulfilling my final wish."
Ye Li and Mu Qingcang sat in the study for an entire morning; no one knew exactly what they discussed. When they finally emerged, both wore solemn expressions. Mu Qingcang was escorted away by two shadow guards; just before leaving, he suddenly turned back to look at Ye Li and smiled, "I can see that Her Ladyship is a decisive person. How about I offer you another piece of intelligence free of charge?" Ye Li replied indifferently, "I am all ears."
"Xiling has decided to deploy troops against Great Chu on the fifteenth of August. What does Her Ladyship plan to do?" With that, without even glancing at Ye Li's reaction, Mu Qingcang shed his previous gloomy exhaustion and strode away roaring with mad laughter.
The smile on Ye Li's lips gradually faded. Staring up at the sky above the courtyard for a long while, she turned on her heel and strode back inside with a sweep of her sleeve. "Notify Feng San and Sun Yan to come see me in the study immediately!"
Feng Zhiyao and Sun Yan arrived very quickly; the two felt as though they had arrived at almost the exact same moment. Upon entering the study, they saw Ye Li and Zhuojing sitting behind the desk flipping through thick bundles of case files. Feng Zhiyao took a casual glance and noted they were the confessions of the recently captured assassins and various intelligence gathered by the shadow guards. Raising an eyebrow, Feng Zhiyao smiled, "Your Ladyship, what has happened?" Ye Li looked up at him and said, "Something has indeed happened."
Feng Zhiyao started. His previously relaxed posture, leaning against the side, slowly straightened as he looked at Ye Li with a solemn expression. Sun Yan also put on a stern face, ready to listen intently. Picking up a case file, Ye Li said, "Just now, Mu Qingcang informed me that Xiling plans to launch military action against Great Chu on the fifteenth of August." Astonishment flashed across Feng Zhiyao's face as his dark eyebrows knitted slightly. "Is this information reliable? We haven't received any news regarding this." Ye Li shook her head. "I do not know. Mu Qingcang shouldn't have lied, but the authenticity of this intelligence itself needs verification. However..." Ye Li paused, looking up at the two men before her, and asked, "What is today's date?" Sun Yan replied, "The seventh of August."
Feng Zhiyao's expression shifted drastically as he stood up and said, "If this news is false, then so be it, but if it is true..." If it were true, although the military strength in the northwest could not be considered hollow, many critical positions had been monopolized by Mo Jingqi's cronies over the years, leaving the Mo Army constrained at every turn. If Xiling launched a sudden assault, they would surely be caught completely off guard. As they were currently in the capital, it was entirely impossible for them to rush to the border for support within seven or eight days. Feng Zhiyao muttered thoughtfully, "The Prince left the capital over twenty days ago. Going by the travel speed of the marriage envoy procession, he should have already entered Northern Rong territory by now. Never mind the heavy responsibility of escorting the bride that ties the Prince down; even if he dropped everything to rush back at top speed, it would still take at least half a month for him to reach the Xiling border and take command. Furthermore, it is currently impossible for the Prince to receive this news immediately." An ominous feeling suddenly surged in Feng Zhiyao's heart; it seemed this entire affair was a conspiracy specifically targeted at Great Chu. "Your Ladyship..."
Ye Li furrowed her brow and said, "What are your thoughts? Speak openly."
With a grave expression, Sun Yan said, "Whether it is true or false, we must make preparations early. If it is false, then no harm done, but if it is true..."
Feng Zhiyao's face was solemn as he frowned. "This subordinate believes this news is highly likely to be true, yet the shadow guards completely failed to intercept it."
Ye Li said indifferently, "You forget, there is one person who can be considered a supreme master of intelligence. And right now, he is in Xiling."
"Han Mingyue!" Feng Zhiyao exclaimed in shock.
Ye Li nodded slightly. "Although the Heaven One Pavilion's influence in Great Chu has been newly reorganized by Han Mingxi, do not forget that Han Mingyue is the true master of the Heaven One Pavilion. Furthermore, the Heaven One Pavilion spans across all nations; it is only their operations in Great Chu that have suffered. Additionally, Han Mingyue was once a close friend of the Prince. Among all the people in the world who understand the Prince of Ding's Mansion the best, even if he isn't the absolute first, he undoubtedly ranks in the top three." Feng Zhiyao nodded firmly. "This subordinate will immediately dispatch men to investigate!" Sun Yan asked, "Your Ladyship, what should we do now?" Ye Li lowered her eyes in thought for a moment before instructing, "Immediately dispatch riders to notify the Prince. In addition... send word to the Mo Army forces stationed near the Xiling border to prepare for immediate reinforcement of the frontier passes." Looking somewhat troubled, Sun Yan said, "Over the years, the garrisons of the Mo Army have been repeatedly forced to shrink and relocate. Currently, the nearest Mo Army garrison is at least five or six days' march from the Xiling frontier passes. Factoring in the time needed to deliver our message, I fear..." Raising a hand, Ye Li said, "Whether they can arrive in time or not, if they cannot reach the passes, then they must block the advance route of the Xiling army." Sun Yan nodded. "This subordinate understands, and will immediately send word to the Mo Army. Please rest assured, Your Ladyship; as long as the Mo Army has a single soldier left standing, the men of Xiling shall not dream of crossing our defensive lines." Ye Li nodded and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, General Sun. I shall head to the palace to see the Emperor."
"Your Ladyship, I fear that is ill-advised," Feng Zhiyao frowned. Since capturing Mu Qingcang, although no one had stated it explicitly, they all had a clear idea in their hearts regarding exactly who had been trying to bathe the Prince of Ding's Mansion in blood.
Ye Li smiled faintly, "There is nothing ill-advised about it. Even if the man in the palace dared to risk universal condemnation by acting against me, he might not possess the capability to make me stay." Recalling that unfathomably mysterious force of guards, Feng Zhiyao felt slightly reassured and said, "As long as Your Ladyship knows what you are doing." Ye Li stood up, setting down the case file in her hand. "Go on and attend to your tasks. Also, ensure the estate remains on high alert."
"Understood."
The Imperial Palace
In the Imperial Study, Mo Jingqi waved off the Marquis of Muyang, who had rushed in hastily seeking an audience. Staring at the memorial before him with a gloomy, unsettled face, the expression in his eyes shifted unpredictably. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Princess of Ding requests an audience," the eunuch outside the door announced. Mo Jingqi frowned. "The Princess of Ding? Why has she come?" Thinking back to the dawn of a few days ago, and the white-robed woman standing gracefully upon the blood-soaked steps outside the Prince of Ding's Mansion, a wave of melancholy that felt akin to both loss and remorse constantly welled up in Mo Jingqi's heart. He had personally bestowed this woman upon Mo Xiunyao for the very purpose of humiliating him. Yet now, this woman had become another pillar of the Prince of Ding's Mansion and Mo Xiunyao's greatest asset—while simultaneously becoming a target he had no choice but to eliminate. Given Ye Li's intelligence, since she had already paid a visit to the Marquis of Muyang's Estate, Mo Jingqi did not believe she had failed to deduce the truth of the matter. So why would she dare enter the palace now?
"Send her in."
Moments later, the heavy doors were pushed open once more, and Ye Li entered, adorned in the formal silver-white ceremonial dress of the Princess of Ding, which was embroidered with a subtle, dark silver luan-phoenix motif. This was practically the very first time Ye Li had worn the official ceremonial attire of the Princess of Ding. Breaking from the delicate, graceful aura she usually exuded, the silver-white hue imparted upon her a cold, unapproachable aloofness akin to ice and snow. Walking to the center of the hall, Ye Li curtsied gracefully and said, "Ye Li greets Your Majesty."
Mo Jingqi evaluated Ye Li closely, speaking only after a long pause, "Come to think of it, I have never once heard the Princess of Ding use the proper self-address."
Pressing her lips into a faint smile, Ye Li said, "Ye Li is simply Ye Li." She was, of course, well aware that before the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager, all titled noblewomen were meant to refer to themselves as chenqie ("this subject-concubine"), but she particularly loathed that form of address. Previously, neither the Emperor, Empress, nor Empress Dowager had ever brought it up, and naturally, no one else dared pick fault with her over such a trivial matter, allowing it to slide by unnoticed. She certainly hadn't expected Mo Jingqi to bring it up today just to find something to talk about.
Mo Jingqi's eyes flickered slightly, and he soon smiled. "A fine 'Ye Li is simply Ye Li.' Could it be that in her heart, the Princess of Ding does not consider herself a subject of Great Chu?"
Ye Li raised her head, meeting Mo Jingqi's gaze without the slightest evasion, and said measuredly, "The Prince of Ding's Mansion has guarded Great Chu for generations, devoting ourselves fully until death. As the Princess of Ding, how could Ye Li dare harbor such treasonous thoughts?"
Looking at her with amusement, Mo Jingqi smiled, "Oh? Is Her Ladyship saying that the Prince of Ding's Mansion would absolutely never harbor thoughts of disloyalty?"
Meeting Mo Jingqi's probing gaze, Ye Li sneered inwardly, yet spoke with unwavering firmness, "The Prince of Ding's Mansion would absolutely never commit acts that betray Great Chu."
Hearing this, Mo Jingqi remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Very well, I shall trust the words of the Princess of Ding. Is there a specific matter that brings the Princess to the palace today?"
Ye Li nodded. "There is indeed a matter of extreme importance to report to Your Majesty."
Mo Jingqi nodded. "The Princess of Ding may speak freely."
Ye Li spoke softly, "Ye Li has just received intelligence that Xiling plans to deploy troops against Great Chu on the fifteenth of August. I implore Your Majesty to make early preparations."
Mo Jingqi started, taking a long while before letting out a laugh. Looking at Ye Li, he said, "Is this news from the Princess of Ding not a bit too abrupt? As far as I am aware, Xiling's primary current objective is Northern Rong, not Great Chu. From whom did Her Ladyship hear this news?"
Ye Li pursed her lips, frowning slightly as she said, "I hope Your Majesty can deploy troops for reinforcement as quickly as possible, just in case."
"I cannot possibly mobilize troops based on a few casual words from Her Ladyship, unless Her Ladyship can prove the authenticity of this intelligence."
Frowning, Ye Li stated indifferently, "Mu Qingcang."
"What?"