The First Jasmine - Chapter 143
Chapter 143 - Reunited After a Long Separation
Upon returning to Jiangxia City, Ye Li waved her hand, ordering her subordinates to escort the Prince of Zhennan and his party away, while she personally led the Heir of the Southern Marquess to meet the Southern Marquess, who had been waiting in anxious anticipation. Seeing his son return covered in injuries, the Southern Marquess was both overjoyed and heartbroken; he pulled his son close, looking him up and down while continuously asking where he had been wounded. The Heir of the Southern Marquess had likely never imagined that he would have the chance to see his parents and family again in this lifetime, and his eyes reddened as well. Breaking free from the Southern Marquess's hold, he fell to his knees on the ground and whispered, "Your son has brought shame upon Father."
The Southern Marquess pulled him up at once, tears streaming down his aged face as he said, "Silly child, it is enough that you are back! Why speak of such things? It is enough that you are back..." Once the initial joy passed, the Southern Marquess finally remembered that Ye Li and the others were still present. He hurriedly wiped away his tears, took his son by the hand, and said, "That you were able to return safely this time is all thanks to the Princess Consort. Quick, express your gratitude to the Princess Consort for saving your life." The Heir of the Southern Marquess stepped forward, bowed low, and said, "Thank you, Princess Consort, for saving my life." Ye Li pressed her lips together and smiled faintly. "Brother-in-law, there is no need for such formality. We are family, so why speak like strangers? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? The Western Ling people did not inflict any lasting harm on you, did they?" The Southern Marquess and his son exchanged a glance, and the Heir shook his head with a smile. "They are all minor injuries. Thank you... Third Sister, for your concern. If you have any commands in the future, please do not hesitate to speak. The Southern Marquess Manor will spare no effort to assist you." Ye Li offered her thanks with a smile, knowing full well in her heart that even if the Southern Marquess Manor could not become an active helper to the Prince Ding's Manor in the future, it would certainly never become its enemy.
This time around, Lei Tengfeng remarkably abstained from pulling any further underhanded tricks. Five days later, at the exact same time and place, fifty thousand piculs of grain and provisions, along with five million taels of silver, were delivered directly into Ye Li's hands. Keeping her word, Ye Li released the Prince of Zhennan. Only after returning to the safety of the Western Ling camp did the Prince of Zhennan turn back to cast a deep, lingering look at Ye Li, saying, "I was far too arrogant; this round goes to the Princess Consort. Princess Consort, our day will come." Ye Li let out a sweet, radiant smile. "Your Highness must be joking. What skill or merit do I possess to claim victory over Your Highness? It was merely good fortune." The Prince of Zhennan's expression darkened slightly, and he turned to leave. Neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat—as a mere woman, the Consort of Prince Ding had effortlessly won a massive trove of grain and silver from Western Ling without displaying the slightest trace of pride on her face. She was indeed no ordinary woman with whom others could compare.
Ye Li watched as the Prince of Zhennan's figure vanished into the Western Ling army, then turned around and said to Feng Zhiyao beside her, "Pass down the order: the entire army is to be on high alert."
"?" Feng Zhiyao raised his eyebrows in confusion. Ye Li said nonchalantly, "Having suffered such a huge loss, how could the Prince of Zhennan refrain from retaliating?"
"Reporting to the Princess Consort! Xinyang has been reclaimed by our troops!" A soldier rushed forward with a face brimming with joy.
Ye Li was taken aback and asked, "What did you say?" The soldier raised his head and announced loudly, "News just arrived from the front lines! The Prince led an army of a hundred thousand down from the north, defeated the Western Ling Northern Route Army, and reclaimed Xinyang last night!"
"Xiurao is back?!"
"The Prince is back!"
Ye Li and Feng Zhiyao looked at each other, both seeing wild joy mirrored in the other's eyes. Ye Li composed her thoughts and declared in a clear voice, "Return to the city!"
Merely a moment after returning to the city, news arrived from outside that the Western Ling army was retreating. Everyone ascended the city gate tower and indeed saw the various divisions of the Western Ling army marching away into the distance. Yun Ting felt a surge of heroic passion and hurriedly requested an assignment from Ye Li. "Princess Consort, this general requests permission to lead men to pursue the Western Ling army!" General Yuan Pei stepped forward and cautioned, "You must not. Princess Consort, although the Western Ling army is retreating, they are not defeated, nor is their formation in disarray in the slightest. They are likely concerned about Xinyang and fear we might launch a pincer attack from both front and rear. If we rashly pursue them now, I am afraid we will instead fall into a Western Ling trap." Ye Li nodded and said, "General Yuan Pei speaks rightly. Let them go. Pass down the order: the entire army is to remain on high alert and await the Prince's return."
"Understood!" Mo Xiurao seemed to have become the pillar of faith for the entire Mo Family Army—or rather, every generation's Prince Ding was the faith of the Mo Family Army. Upon hearing that he was about to return, joyful, confident smiles blossomed on everyone's faces. Ye Li had not expected Mo Xiurao to return to Great Chu so silently, bypassing the blockade of the Western Ling Northern Route Army with lightning speed to recapture Xinyang City. However, with this turn of events, the disadvantage Great Chu had suffered over time was instantly alleviated by a great margin. Ye Li, whose heart had been strung tight all these days, finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Although she knew that Mo Xiurao had arrived in Xinyang, it was only several days later that she actually saw him. Xinyang had been slaughtered by Western Ling to the point of becoming practically an empty city; even with the Prince of Zhennan keeping his troops somewhat in check, the surrounding common folk could not escape the ravages of the Western Ling army. Upon arriving in Xinyang, Mo Xiurao was busy without pause, only finding enough time to send a letter to Ye Li asking her to temporarily hand over the military affairs in her hands to Lu Jinxian and Yuan Pei before traveling to Xinyang to meet him. The affairs in Ye Li's hands were likewise piled high like mountains, and by the time she finished handing off her duties with Lu Jinxian and Yuan Pei and rushed to Xinyang, several days had already passed.
"Ah Li..."
Hearing this deep, low call, Ye Li's eyes unconsciously reddened. Separated for several months, she had not felt it on ordinary days, but it was only at this moment, hearing that deep, pleasant voice, that she suddenly realized how intensely she had missed him. Disregarding all else, she threw herself into the embrace that was already open and waiting for her. Fortunately, the people nearby had long since tactfully withdrawn, unwilling to disturb the Prince and Princess Consort's long-awaited reunion; otherwise, once Ye Li came back to her senses, she would have realized that her usual calm, elegant image had completely vanished.
"Ah Li... Ah Li..." Mo Xiurao held her tightly in his arms, softly calling her name over and over again, as if wanting to rub her into his very bones. Ye Li raised her head to gaze up at the man's handsome yet weathered and somewhat gaunt face, whispering softly, "Xiurao..." Mo Xiurao's eyes darkened. He reached out to gently touch the delicate, fair face of the woman in his arms, lowered his head, and kissed those delicate, rosy lips with fierce passion. "Ah Li..." Ye Li involuntarily raised her hands, softly wrapping her arms around his shoulders, opening her lips slightly to intertwine with his tongue. Sensing her initiative, the dark gleam in Mo Xiurao's eyes intensified. Holding her firmly in his arms, he gave her a deep, lingering kiss, then bent down, lifted her up horizontally in a princess carry, and strode toward the inner room.
Inside the room, clothes lay scattered across the floor. Behind layers of bed curtains upon the spacious couch, two overlapping figures held each other in a tight, desperate embrace...
"Ah Li..." Ye Li opened her eyes, and what met her view was Mo Xiurao's handsome, elegant smile alongside the warm, tender affection brimming in the depths of his eyes. The events from earlier flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie, causing a fresh blush to stain her newly awakened face. Looking down to see her smooth, fair shoulders covered in subtle, intimate red marks, she bit the corner of her lower lip and glared at Mo Xiurao. Mo Xiurao let out a low chuckle, lowered his head to inhale the gentle fragrance between her hair, and whispered softly, "Not having seen you for several months, I missed Ah Li dearly." Looking into his eyes full of tenderness, Ye Li's heart softened. She asked softly, "Was everything well on the trip to Beirong?" Mo Xiurao looked at her, lowered his head to press a kiss on her, and said, "Nothing major happened; just some minor matters that delayed the itinerary. It has been hard on Ah Li during this time."
Just as Ye Li was about to get up and tell him about the events that had occurred during this period, Mo Xiurao seemed to discern her intention. He raised a hand to press her back down, saying, "There is no rush to speak of these things just yet. Ah Li should rest a while longer first."
Ye Li cast him a somewhat puzzled look and said, "I am not tired." As a rule, she did not have the habit of sleeping during the day. Moreover, the Western Ling army had been quite peaceful over these past few days, so the tasks she had to handle were mostly effortless paperwork. Mo Xiurao raised an eyebrow and wore a rather peculiar smile. "Not tired? In that case... let us go another round." Having said that, without waiting for Ye Li to react, he leaned in and covered Ye Li's body once more. Lowering his head, his slightly cool lips lingered upon Ye Li's jade-like skin, while a large hand began to explore the voluptuous, delicate body beneath him without the slightest restraint.
"Mo Xiurao! You..." Ye Li was startled for a moment, and once she snapped back to her senses, she let out a low, angry shout. Before her scolding could leave her mouth, it was blocked right at her lips. "Mm... you bastard..."
"Ah Li... Ah Li... I missed you so much..."
Ye Li let out a soft sigh in her heart, and was quickly swept by the man into a brand new crest of waves.
Inside the study, clad in white robes, Mo Xiurao stepped into the room. The crowd that had been waiting inside the study for a long time hurriedly stepped forward to bow in greeting. Feng Zhiyao raised his eyebrows and smiled meaningfully at Mo Xiurao. Mo Xiurao swept a calm glance over him, and Feng Zhiyao tactfully covered his mouth with his folding fan, indicating he would not blabber. Mo Xiurao walked over to a couch on one side and sat down, saying, "It has been hard on the Marquess and everyone during this period." The Southern Marquess hurriedly stood up and said, "The Prince overstates it. We were deeply ashamed over the fall of Xinyang. Had the Prince not reclaimed Xinyang in a timely manner, we would truly have had no face to meet the common folk of Great Chu. The commander's seal of the army is right here; please inspect it, Your Highness." With his son back safe and sound, the Southern Marquess had swept away his former sickly appearance over these past few days, his health improving greatly as well. Retrieving the army's tally and seal from his sleeve, he presented it back to Mo Xiurao with both hands.
Mo Xiurao did not decline, casually taking the commander's seal and setting it aside. In truth, this seal bestowed by the Emperor held no significance whatsoever to the Mo Family Army; however, the Southern Marquess's action was intended to signal to everyone that all military matters would henceforth be led by Prince Ding, so Mo Xiurao naturally would not brush aside the Southern Marquess's good intentions. Although he had been far away in Beirong earlier and had been continuously marching without rest afterward, he was crystal clear about the events that had unfolded in the Chu Capital, Xinyang, and Jiangxia. Naturally, he also understood why the consistently neutral Southern Marquess held such an attitude at this moment.
"This humble subject was incompetent, resulting in the fall of Xinyang and the slaughter of its common folk. I ask the Prince to bestow punishment upon me." Leng Qingyu stepped forward and fell to his knees on the ground to plead guilty. He still appeared gaunt and pale, but his spirits were considerably better than the despondent state he had been in days prior.
Mo Xiurao looked at him with a slight frown, and only after a long moment did he say calmly, "General Leng is a commander-in-chief personally appointed by the Emperor; this Prince has no authority to punish you. When we return, I will send men to escort you back to the capital so you may personally plead guilty before the Emperor." Leng Qingyu lowered his eyes and remained silent, nor did anyone else in the study speak. Prince Ding possessed the authority to command and discipline all military forces and generals across the world; let alone a mere young general like Leng Qingyu, even if it were famous veteran generals, no one would dare say a word of objection if Prince Ding chose to punish them. For Prince Ding to put it this way was simply treating Leng Qingyu as an outsider. Given the Emperor's temperament, Leng Qingyu would certainly have no easy days ahead upon returning to the capital.
Leng Qingyu bit his lip, finally saying with firm resolve, "This subject begs the Prince to take me in! Leng Qingyu is willing to serve as a mere foot soldier at the front of your steed, so long as I can repel the Western Ling forces and wash away this humiliation. After returning to the capital, Leng Qingyu is willing to pay with his life to atone for his crime!"
Mo Xiurao gazed at him indifferently, and only after a long pause did he say casually, "Since that is the case, this Prince shall grant your wish."