Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 100. The Start of Special Training

100. The Start of Special Training

"Princess Consort..."

Qin Feng gazed at the elegant lady before him, who wore an affable smile. He felt a chill run down his scalp. Standing still, he dared not move an inch. He certainly did not wish to use his body to ascertain whether or not there were hidden mechanical traps in every inch of the ground around him. Upon glancing back at the placid and seemingly harmless lake again, he solemnly swore that he hadn’t simply imagined the lake surface being studded with sharp arrowheads earlier. If a person were to foolishly rely on their fleet-footed lightness skills and jump directly down, they would probably end up resembling a large porcupine.

Ye Li laughed. "Don’t worry, it is merely a joke. It is not always set up like this."

Qin Feng kept silent. He believed that it would usually be even more dangerous than it was now.

Ye Li turned around and pointed to the endless forest behind her, asking with amusement, "Have you been here before?"

Qin Feng glanced and hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "The vicinity of the Capital City is not suitable for military training; the Black Cloud Cavalry usually trains hundreds of miles away from the city." The Black Cloud Cavalry were, after all, horsemen, so their training usually took place in wide-open fields and deserts. In a forest, the cavalry could hardly deploy their full power.

Ye Li smiled. "When will the people I requested arrive?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment. "They should arrive in about two hours." Even as he spoke, he wasn’t entirely confident. The Princess Consort had provided only a heap of overly simple maps, each of which varied slightly from the other. Although the Black Cloud Cavalry were skilled trackers, Qin Feng found it challenging to decipher the map, which resembled some sort of complex riddle. He wasn’t sure if those fellows from the Black Cloud Cavalry would even be able to find the place. As for the Princess Consort’s rules, like being discovered by local villagers meaning disqualification, Qin Feng had not given that a moment’s thought. The soldiers of the Black Cloud Cavalry, even new recruits, would hardly be detected by ordinary villagers if they didn’t want to be.

"How many can come?"

"I selected fifty elite soldiers each from the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Mo Family Army. Even if not all can make it, at least seventy to eighty should arrive without issue," Qin Feng pondered for a moment, then said, "Princess Consort..." Qin Feng hesitated once again, but felt that it would be better to ask about the issues that had been plaguing him for some time.

He was a Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Although he only commanded two thousand men, he felt responsible for these elite soldiers. If the Princess Consort isn’t satisfied with the current shadow guards, she should just have their commander train them harder and select better ones. While calling up fifty elite soldiers won’t significantly impact the Black Cloud Cavalry’s combat power, what are they supposed to do here? As shadow guards, seventy or eighty men are clearly too many, and besides, Prince Ding’s Mansion already has its own. Poor communication could easily lead to conflicts between the shadow guards and the Black Cloud Cavalry. Furthermore, if they were to be used on the battlefield, seventy or eighty men, no matter how elite, would obviously not make a significant impact. After all, individuals fighting against thousands of troops is basically a suicide mission.

"You’re overthinking this." Ye Li laughed helplessly at Qin Feng’s hesitant expression. "You need not worry about these matters. I’ve also transferred thirty people from among the shadow guards, so it’s now a race to see who arrives first. Shall we place a wager?"

Qin Feng remembered overhearing Darky Three mention the Princess Consort’s formidable gambling skills in Yonglin earlier and after giving it some thought, he firmly declared, "The Black Cloud Cavalry." Without a shadow of a doubt, among the three groups, the Black Cloud Cavalry surpassed the others in both combat power and mobility. Perhaps the Black Cloud Cavalry’s martial skills were not as good as some specific individuals among the shadow guards, but it was important to know that apart from the personal shadow guards trained for the Prince and Princess Consort, not every other shadow guard was a martial arts expert. In contrast, every member of the Black Cloud Cavalry had undergone rigorous training and was accustomed to fighting as a unified force.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "I believe the shadow guards will arrive first, followed by the Black Cloud Cavalry, but the Mo Family Army will have the most people arriving."

"That’s not possible!" Qin Feng flatly denied this. His intention was not to discredit the Mo Family Army; however, he could not deny his conviction that the Black Cloud Cavalry was indeed superior to the Mo Family Army. At least in a fifty-versus-fifty scenario, the Mo Family Army would surely be defeated by the Black Cloud Cavalry.

"We shall wait and see."

Ye Li deactivated most of the traps in the lake and underneath the cliffs. The design of these mechanical traps and pitfalls never ceased to impress her, and she vowed not to underestimate the wisdom of the ancient people. Initially, she was contemplating whether she needed to prepare some unconventional items to protect this valley in advance, but now it seemed unnecessary. If all the traps in the valley were activated without prior knowledge, even she wasn’t sure she could escape unscathed. The provisional buildings in the valley, previously used for temporary shelter, had all been removed and replaced with a ring of neat wooden houses. To prevent the intrusion of snakes, rodents, ants, and wild beasts from the forest, the outer perimeter was fortified with walls and planted with snake-repelling vegetation. These establishments had taken nearly ten months to erect and were completed only a month ago. This endeavor had drained the silver Han Mingyue had sent and the dowry Ye Li had brought. However, a subsequent trip to the Clear Wind and Bright Moon Tower had earned back a considerable sum. Seeing all that she had accomplished, Ye Li felt only satisfaction, devoid of any regret over the spent money.

An hour later, a figure in black garb made a somewhat disheveled landing from the cliff above. Qin Feng recognized him as one of the shadow guards. He scoffed inwardly. If the Princess Consort hadn’t removed the mechanisms beforehand, that fellow would have long been shot through. However, he also understood that if the Princess Consort hadn’t warned him in advance, he wouldn’t have fared much better than that fellow.

"Subordinate Dark Seventeen, at your service, Young Master."

Ye Li nodded and motioned for him to rest aside. Shortly after, another figure emerged, still a shadow guard. Then came the Black Cloud Cavalry, followed by the Mo Family Army. Qin Feng quickly observed the difference: the shadow guards and the Black Cloud Cavalry mostly acted and arrived alone, while the Mo Family Army’s soldiers, however, arrived in groups. Thus, each time they arrived, it was in groups of four or five. Despite not having the agility of the shadow guards or the Black Cloud Cavalry, the Mo Family Army soldiers indeed had the most people arriving. Two hours later, Ye Li clapped her hands to signal everyone to rise.

"At your service, Young Master."

Ye Li nodded, surveyed the sixty-three people present—twenty-eight from the Mo Family Army, twenty from the Black Cloud Cavalry, and fifteen shadow guards. "Break up the ranks. I want to see you all standing next to someone you don’t know and isn’t from the same group."

Even though they did not understand Ye Li’s intentions, they still complied. Soon they had repositioned themselves. Ye Li nodded her approval and pointed to the wooden houses behind her. "From today, for the next three months, you will stay here. Those who pass the final test can stay. The rest will return to their original places. Now, let me introduce you to your... instructors!"

Ye Li clapped her hands, and eight men—tall, short, young, and old—walked up and bowed in unison. "At your command, Young Master."

Qin Feng, standing next to Ye Li, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the eight men. There was no doubting their strong aura and skill level, which clearly indicated they were masters among masters. Ye Li seemed satisfied, smiled, and said, "In addition to completing the daily training I arrange for you, these men will provide you with personal guidance. Of course, if any of you can directly defeat any one of them, you could skip this challenge. So, who wants to give it a try?"

This proposition surely carried a taunting tone, especially for the soldiers, who were known for their spirited nature through the ages. Almost instantly, one of them lunged towards the most robust-looking among the eight. Others too picked their targets. After a series of thuds and cracks, the challengers all lay defeated on the ground.

One of the youngest among them dusted off his hands and scornfully said to Ye Li, "Young Master, don’t you think the people you picked are a bit weak?"

Ye Li calmly responded, "They’re not the top martial artists, nor do I need them to be."

The young man raised an eyebrow in confusion. "If we don’t need martial arts masters, then why are we here?"

Ye Li countered with a smile, "Can you teach someone to be a martial arts expert in three months?" The young man was rendered speechless. Even he, who was praised for his exceptional talent in martial arts from a young age, had to train for many years to be as skilled as he was then.

"Although we don’t understand the purpose of you ordering us here, as long as the Prince commanded us to obey the Young Master, we should simply obey the Young Master’s instructions," said an older man.

Ye Li nodded and smiled. "I didn’t expect Prince Ding to have such hidden talents under his command. You all needn’t worry too much, though. I only need some of your time in these two months to provide a few tips to these men. So, does anyone else want to challenge?"

Naturally, after witnessing the embarrassing defeat of the previous challengers, the rest shied away from the challenge. Ye Li, quite satisfied, smiled. "Well then... let’s start with some running. Did you see the open field outside the courtyard? I’ve had snake-repelling grass planted there for your safety, and you won’t be bothered by wild animals in broad daylight. Just jog around the courtyard."

So, you’re implying there will be wild beasts at night? Everyone exchanged bewildered looks. Qin Feng decided to speak up. "Young Master, how much should we run?"

Ye Li offered a brilliant smile. "Until you collapse."

Consequently, a group of puzzled elites was pulled out to run, despite having no idea of its significance. But they were, to a certain degree, from the military, and obedience was ingrained in them. Thus, with the eight masters leading the way, the group formed a line and started running around the courtyard, leaving only Qin Feng behind.

Ye Li, evidently in a good mood, waved to him with a bright smile. "Take a look. This is what your next seven days will look like. I’ll make adjustments if necessary."

Qin Feng looked down at the document in his hand. The elegant handwriting was clear, but the combined instructions made no sense. Every morning and night there was archery, combat, and running—these he could understand—but what did these double bars and push-ups mean? To Qin Feng, it seemed that everything written on the paper, aside from archery and combat, was useless.

Ye Li smiled and said, "Don’t worry if you don’t understand. I’ll have Darky Two and Darky Three teach you when they’re free. I originally planned to have Darky Two lead these men. But when I think about it, you, as a Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry, must be more experienced. So... make sure to make up for your own training in your free time."

Looking at the innocent smile on the handsome young man’s face, Qin Feng, for some mysterious reason, felt a chill run down his spine. His intuition told him that the next few months were going to be tough. Then, both of them leaped onto the rooftop, which offered a perfect view of the courtyard outside. Ye Li sat down on the rooftop, shaking her head while watching the men panting heavily from their run. "Are these the elites of your Black Cloud Cavalry? Have they spent so much time on horseback that they can’t even outrun the shadow guards?"

Qin Feng gritted his teeth. Weren’t at least fifteen of those twenty shadow guards skilled in martial arts?

"Whoever dares use lightness skills will have to fly to the top of the cliff and jump down twenty times without rest!" Ye Li said, smiling brightly, her attention focused on a few shadow guards trying to take shortcuts. Those shadow guards who were silently pleased watching their companions’ distress suddenly felt their legs go weak and almost fell to the floor.

Whether they understood or not, when Qin Feng left with Ye Li in the evening, he couldn’t help looking back with pity at the elite soldiers of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion who were lying outside the wall, unable to get up. Hearing the wolf howls and unknown beastly roars from the distant forest, Qin Feng couldn’t help but wonder if it was a sign of Heaven’s displeasure that the Princess Consort had found such a secluded, wild place so close to the Capital City.

"Princess Consort, should I... stay back to take care of them?" Qin Feng asked. Those elites didn’t look like they could maintain order, and if they started fighting, it would surely be troublesome.

Ye Li laughed and said, "Don’t worry, they can’t run away. Anyone who leaves without permission will be treated as a deserter!"

Am I worried about them deserting?

"I don’t have time to watch them every day. Let them fight and fuss in the beginning. As long as no lives are lost, it’s okay. In seven days, Darky Two and Darky Three will take turns to teach them."

After a moment of silence, Qin Feng asked, "I don’t understand, Princess Consort. What do you intend to use them for?"

"There are many things they can do, such as assassination, intelligence gathering, protection, search, infiltration, ambush, rescue, and interrogation. Whether it’s land warfare, naval warfare, field warfare, or street warfare, there is nothing they can’t learn."

Qin Feng felt his head buzz; even the soldiers of the Black Cloud Cavalry couldn’t possibly know so much. "Aren’t assassinations and intelligence gathering supposed to be done by shadow guards? Why train extra people? Is the Princess Consort dissatisfied with the shadow guards?" he asked.

Ye Li looked at his troubled face and smiled. "It is indeed good for everyone to stick to their own roles, but I prefer a team that can do anything."

Qin Feng thought for a while and said, "If we can really achieve what you’ve suggested, our combat effectiveness can indeed change dramatically."

Ye Li shook her head and said, "The so-called elite is just a minority. Just like the Black Cloud Cavalry, the skills they learn aren’t something most soldiers can master. Moreover, we don’t need that many people; it only wastes resources. You should remember that everyone I asked you to select can read and write. This already excludes most soldiers."

Qin Feng nodded; even among the Black Cloud Cavalry, only about half of the soldiers knew how to read or write. He somewhat understood Ye Li’s intentions now. Was the Princess Consort trying to cultivate a group of individuals skilled in both literary and martial arts? It was just that he couldn’t yet grasp the purpose of cultivating so many talented people.

"Oh, by the way, Qin Feng." As they were about to reach the city gate, Ye Li reined in her horse and looked at Qin Feng. "As you are a Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry, you should know a certain rule, right?"

"What rule?"

"Confidentiality. Anything you’ve seen today or will experience over the next three months cannot be revealed without my permission," she reminded him.

Qin Feng swallowed hard. "Does that include Prince Ding?"

"It includes Prince Ding."

"...Understood, Princess Consort."

By the time they returned to Prince Ding’s Mansion, night had fallen. A little shocked by the day’s events, Qin Feng went to seek advice from Darky Two and Darky Three as soon as he reached his quarters. In her room, Ye Li found Mo Xiuyao engrossed in a book. He glanced up as she stepped in. "Out of town?"

Ye Li nodded. After bathing, she came out to find a hot meal ready on the table. Casually combing her hair, she dismissed her attendants Qingxia and Qingshuang and looked at Mo Xiuyao. "Had a lot of free time today? You’re not bustling about in your study. Weren’t you summoned by His Majesty in the morning?" After their return from the Southern Border, both of them had been outrageously busy. The Emperor summoned Mo Xiuyao to the palace for discussions almost daily, without skipping a single day, even though Mo Xiuyao hadn’t formally resumed court attendance.

"There’s nothing really happening; it’s just that His Majesty has recently developed a penchant for consulting courtiers on affairs," Mo Xiuyao said lightly, guiding Ye Li to the table for a meal. As she gazed at the spread of her favorite dishes, Ye Li gave him a grateful smile. Though she wasn’t particularly hungry, it felt nice to come home to a meal someone had prepared especially for her.

"His Majesty plans to delegate the entire matter of the marriage-alliance with Beirong to me," Mo Xiuyao said once she had nearly finished eating.

"To you?" Ye Li frowned, confused as she finished her soup and had the dishes cleared away. "What do you mean, ’to you’?"

Mo Xiuyao chuckled lightly. "Meaning, I am responsible for everything: from welcoming Beirong’s delegation for the marriage-alliance, determining the candidate for the alliance, and arranging the dowry, to accompanying her on the journey."

Hearing Mo Xiuyao’s words, Ye Li was lost for words. "You’re to greet Beirong’s delegation and decide on the candidate for the alliance?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled back at her. "Deciding the candidate for the alliance is your job, actually. So, these coming days, you likely won’t have time to leave the city."

Ye Li could only weakly wave her hand. One hardly needed to imagine what kind of situation would arise once this news spread. Which of the noble families in the Capital City would be willing to marry their daughters off to that barbaric land of Beirong? Tomorrow, the threshold of Prince Ding’s Mansion would likely be worn down by people coming to plead their cases. The worst part was, she couldn’t avoid making a choice, yet whoever she chose would certainly incite resentment. So, was the Emperor’s intention to create more enemies for the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion?

"I don’t need to go out of the city every day since there are people watching things. But what’s your view on the matter of the marriage alliance?"

Mo Xiuyao reflected. "His Majesty is outwardly and subtly hinting that Eldest Miss Hua is the most suitable candidate, but the Empress Dowager inclines towards Commandery Princess Ronghua. However, the Empress Dowager has no real say in matters nowadays. Then there’s the Third Miss from the Liu Family and Duchess Shuncheng. But none of them are conspicuous enough, and I doubt the Beirong people will agree."

Ye Li furrowed her brows. "So, the final choice will likely fall between Tianxiang and Commandery Princess Ronghua? If His Majesty favors Tianxiang, then why doesn’t he issue the decree himself?"

Mo Xiuyao smiled. "He’s in a bit of a bind at the moment; naturally, he hopes we carry out the unpleasant duties. I am aware you’re friends with Miss Hua, so you can eliminate her from the options. We could then choose from among the princesses of the imperial family."

It’s human nature to have biases; Ye Li was good friends with Hua Tianxiang and naturally didn’t want her to be chosen for the marriage alliance. Regarding the matter of choosing the candidate for the marriage alliance being placed in her hands, Ye Li couldn’t help but feel exasperated and troubled. Any decision would carry guilt. She’d rather face life and death on the battlefield; it was much simpler than tackling these issues.

Seeing Ye Li frowning, Mo Xiuyao simply shook his head lightly and said calmly, "They’re part of the imperial family and are supported by the people. Whether it’s about marriage alliances or dying on the battlefield, it’s their destiny. Ah-Li, there’s no need for you to feel remorseful."

Ye Li shook her head and replied helplessly, "All these imperial princesses and noble daughters are pampered, having grown up in seclusion. Marrying into Beirong... who knows how much suffering they will endure? If it were a marriage alliance genuinely desired by both countries, that would be one thing. But this kind... it’s clearly meant to be a temporary measure. Both countries know full well that the princess in such an alliance is merely a useless sacrifice. War won’t break out immediately if an alliance isn’t formed, nor will an alliance prevent war. It’s just that neither side is fully prepared yet."

Ye Li wasn’t an indecisive person, but deep down, she despised this kind of pointless sacrifice.

Knowing that she was in a bad mood, Mo Xiuyao didn’t discuss the topic further. He chuckled. "What were you doing outside the city today? You borrowed eight elite soldiers from me, and you’re also mobilizing people from the Black Cloud Cavalry and the Mo Family Army’s shadow guards. What are you planning to do? Won’t Ah-Li tell me?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I’m still in the experimentation phase; let’s see what progress can be made in the next few months. I’ll let you know once there are results. If it doesn’t work, I’ll return your people."

Mo Xiuyao thought for a moment. "Ah-Li, are you trying to train a group of people for something? Those shadow guards beside you are very well-trained. The commander of the shadow guards asked me yesterday if he could request you to train his subordinates. I heard that in Yonglin, the two with you managed to overpower the shadow guards beside me?"

"It was just a surprise attack," Ye Li laughed.

"To ambush them successfully is no simple feat." Mo Xiuyao continued, "Being shadow guards, they are inherently accustomed to operating from the shadows and maintaining constant vigilance. For such individuals to be ambushed by two people simply proves that those two are indeed stronger."

Ye Li said with a sideways smile, "When these new recruits are ready, I can assign a few to you as bodyguards."

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "I shall await with keen anticipation. If Ah-Li indeed trains a group of experts, these men should serve as your guards."

"That would be such a waste." Ye Li shook her head and smiled. "You’ll know their worth when the time comes. Just don’t fight me for them. I hope they can operate openly in the army."

Mo Xiuyao was somewhat surprised and raised an eyebrow. "I thought Ah-Li hoped they would remain a secret force."

Ye Li smiled softly. "Of course, their operations should remain hidden, but what needs to be concealed are their numbers, bases, true abilities, and detailed identities—not their achievements or their existence. If things turn out as I plan, their existence will eventually be known; it’s virtually impossible to hide them forever. What I hope for is that they will be rewarded for their merits and promoted based on ability, just like ordinary soldiers."

The Black Cloud Cavalry was one thing, being a regular army, but the life of a shadow guard was drastically different. Essentially, all shadow guards could only be shadow guards for their entire lives. They had no public identity, no promotions, no honor, no friends, and couldn’t even marry and have children. When most of them grew too old to serve as shadow guards, although Prince Ding’s Mansion would provide for them, they were already quite old, and the better part of their lives was considered ruined. The fact that there had been no traitors among the shadow guards serving the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion only reflected the immense importance ancient people placed on loyalty and righteousness.

Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment and said, "Ah-Li, from the beginning, you never treated those few by your side as mere shadow guards. Darky One went to the military; with his talent, which was outstanding even among shadow guards, his rise was only a matter of time. Darky Four went to Xiling on business, and you’ve taught Darky Two and Darky Three by your side to handle some public-facing matters."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Whether in terms of ability or intellect, they are far superior to most people. But they spend most of their lives lurking in the shadows. I think it’s such a waste of talent. Besides... the human heart is a difficult thing to fathom. Perhaps one day they might suddenly no longer wish to hide in the darkness. If such a day truly comes, the consequences would likely be more severe than having no shadow guards at all. So, if they have the ability and are willing to serve me, I naturally cannot mistreat them. Of course... if anyone intends to betray me, I will not show mercy!"

Mo Xiuyao looked thoughtful. "What Ah-Li says does make sense. However... Ah-Li, you might not know that many large families have their own hidden forces. Especially personal shadow guards, who know too many of their master’s secrets, are controlled very strictly. In some families, shadow guards who know too much are ultimately silenced."

Ye Li responded, "Then, is it not possible... to grant shadow guards similar military ranks or other grades, with equally clear rewards and punishments? After a certain number of years of service, they could be transferred to the Black Cloud Cavalry or the Mo Family Army."

Mo Xiuyao looked amused and said, "How do you envision it, Ah-Li?"

Ye Li continued, "If my training this time is successful, these individuals should serve until they are thirty-five. After thirty-five, they would not be permitted to leave but would be transferred laterally into the Mo Family Army at the same rank. Of course, if they have other abilities or interests, they could also be considered for civil posts or other positions. This is just an idea for now. Since the people haven’t even been fully trained yet, there’s still plenty of time to consider this issue."

Mo Xiuyao raised his eyebrows. "I understand. Ah-Li, are you trying to pave the way for their futures?"

Ye Li nodded, looking seriously at Mo Xiuyao. "I once heard a saying: ’Soldiers have already shed blood for their country; they should not be made to shed tears as well.’ And those retired or wounded veterans often live difficult lives. However, I can’t manage that much right now, so at the very least, I must ensure the people under my command are well taken care of." It was because she herself had once been a soldier, and in her previous life, the treatment was naturally much better than what people received now. In ancient times, being a soldier wasn’t a glorious profession. ’Good men don’t become soldiers, just as good iron isn’t used for nails.’ Many joined the army simply out of desperation.

"Although I don’t know why Ah-Li has these thoughts, I will consider them seriously," Mo Xiuyao said softly, looking at the thoughtful woman.