Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 122. Before Setting Off
122. Before Departure
The controversy over the marital alliance gradually faded, under a tacit agreement to forget by the imperial palace, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, and Beirong’s embassy. The Capital City remained as bustling and busy as ever. A new title, ’the shrewish Princess Consort Ding,’ had emerged. Though noblewomen often spoke of it with a hint of contempt and mockery in their private discussions, who could deny that beneath these sentiments lay more envy and jealousy? Ye Li, meanwhile, turned a deaf ear to external affairs. She focused on managing the daily matters of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and, when she had free time, would secretly leave the city to check on the people undergoing training. In the blink of an eye, the day for the Princess Friendship’s departure arrived.
The day before departure, the soon-to-be-separated husband and wife found no time to be alone. The secret study in Prince Ding’s Mansion was unusually packed. When Mo Xiuyao entered the study with Ye Li, everyone froze momentarily before hastily rising to pay their respects. Mo Xiuyao waved his hand. "We can skip the formalities, Ah-Li," he said. "You know most of these individuals, and you should meet the remaining few." Ye Li calmly sat beside Mo Xiuyao and nodded with a smile. Looking around, she recognized Chief Steward Mo, Third Feng, Leng Haoyu, and several others. However, a few faces were unfamiliar. She glanced questioningly at Mo Xiuyao.
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "This is General Zhang Qilan," he introduced. "He commands the Mo Family Army troops stationed near the capital. This is Sun Yan, he is the Commander of the Black Cloud Cavalry. Mo Hua." After introducing the two middle-aged men, both of whom possessed an impressive aura, Mo Xiuyao softly called another name. A man in grey attire dropped from the ceiling beams, bowing respectfully. "Prince, Princess Consort," he greeted. Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li and chuckled. "This is Mo Hua, the Commander of the covert operatives." Ye Li nodded and smiled at the three men. They were the trusted confidants who held the true power within the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Particularly Mo Hua; Ye Li had been in Prince Ding’s Mansion for over a year and naturally knew that those with the surname Mo were Mo Xiuyao’s most trusted people. Their families had served the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion for generations, even when Mo Lanyun was still alive.
Zhang Qilan and Sun Yan quickly rose. "Greetings, Princess Consort," they said.
Ye Li smiled warmly. "We are all on the same side. Generals, there’s no need for such courtesy."
Feng Zhiyao and Leng Haoyu exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise and affirmation in the other’s eyes.
After everyone had retaken their seats, Mo Hua once again vanished into the study’s shadows. Ye Li glanced towards a shadowed corner of the room and smiled faintly. She could sense Mo Hua’s subtle dissatisfaction, or perhaps his skepticism towards her, but this was not an issue to be addressed at present.
"Your Highness, the journey to Beirong is long; it will take several months. Is it truly safe for you to travel there alone?" Zhang Qilan, being a soldier, was blunt and straightforward, speaking his mind.
The others nodded in agreement, even though they knew the decision was irreversible. Sun Yan suggested, "Your Highness, perhaps you could request His Majesty to authorize the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry to escort the Princess and yourself to Beirong?" Those present unanimously concurred. The deep-seated enmity between Beirong and the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion meant they couldn’t bear the thought of the Prince traveling to Beirong alone. Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "His Majesty will not agree. And it’s not just His Majesty; Beirong wouldn’t agree either." He added, "If we dispatch the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry to escort the bridal party, they likely wouldn’t even be allowed to cross the Beirong border. Beirong’s hostility towards the Mo Family Army is no less than ours towards them."
Leng Haoyu chuckled. "Gentlemen, there’s no need to worry excessively. I doubt the Beirong people would have the audacity to directly harm the Prince. The Mo Family Army and Black Cloud Cavalry certainly cannot accompany him, but no one can object to him bringing a few covert operatives." As for how many, that would be their own decision.
The discussion in the study paused, and all eyes turned to Mo Xiuyao. For years, though the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion had maintained a low profile, it was Prince Ding who, despite his illness and infirmity, had single-handedly revived the nearly collapsed mansion. They trusted that since the Prince had promised the Emperor he would go to Beirong, he must already have a plan. Mo Xiuyao held Ye Li’s hand and said with a gentle smile, "Since I am going to Beirong, I naturally have foolproof plans. The real concern now is what happens in the Capital City after I leave." At this, everyone was taken aback. Feng Zhiyao frowned. "Prince," he asked, "do you suspect someone will move against Prince Ding’s Mansion after your departure?"
Mo Xiuyao replied calmly, "They have waited a long time for this opportunity—for me to be far from the Capital City. It would be surprising if our opponents didn’t make a move. After I leave the capital, everyone is to obey the Princess Consort’s orders."
Everyone present was stunned and involuntarily turned to look at the composed woman sitting beside Mo Xiuyao. Although the Princess Consort’s performance over the past year had deeply impressed them, the thought of a sixteen-year-old girl taking full command of the entire Prince Ding’s Mansion still raised doubts about her capabilities. Sun Yan frowned. "Prince, you mean..." Before Mo Xiuyao could reply, he turned to Ye Li with a smile. "Ah-Li, do you still have the jade pendant I gave you a few days ago?" Ye Li paused, then remembered what Mo Xiuyao was referring to. She retrieved a jade pendant from her sleeve pocket and presented it on her open palm. A collective gasp went through the room as everyone saw the exquisite piece of suet-white jade. The pendant was not typically worn by women, so Ye Li usually kept it stored away rather than wearing it. It was carved with a lifelike image of Yazi the monster.
Yazi, the second son of the Dragon, depicted with a dragon’s head and a jackal’s body, was known to be fierce, brave, skilled in combat, and bloodthirsty. This, however, was the true military token of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Neither the Mo Family Army nor the Black Cloud Cavalry had a universal military token. All forces were exclusively under the command of the Prince, with one exception: a Princess Consort holding the Yazi jade pendant possessed authority equal to that of the Prince himself. This was why it was commonly believed that the Princess Consort could also command the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry. In reality, only one or two past Princess Consorts had ever wielded such power, as the others had never possessed this specific jade pendant.
"Prince... but the Princess Consort is too young. Perhaps..." General Zhang Qilan voiced his concern. Although the others remained silent, their expressions clearly showed the same apprehension. The Princess Consort indeed possessed extraordinary talents; with a few more years to hone her skills, she might well be able to stand on her own. However, she was currently only sixteen and had been in charge of the mansion for barely a year. The situation was hardly reassuring.
Feng Zhiyao smiled, rose, and bowed to Ye Li. "Feng Zhiyao will obey the Prince’s orders and heed the commands of the Princess Consort."
Leng Haoyu raised an eyebrow slightly, then also stood. "I shall obey the commands of the Princess Consort."
"Third Feng, Second Leng, you two..." General Zhang Qilan looked worriedly at the two young men, thinking them oblivious to the gravity of the situation. Feng Zhiyao, leisurely fanning himself, chuckled. "General Zhang, you worry too much. The Princess Consort’s talents in both civil and military strategy are extraordinary. This year in Yonglin City, with merely twenty to thirty thousand troops, she held off Prince Li’s army of over one hundred thousand. She annihilated tens of thousands of enemy soldiers and even completely wiped out two of Prince Li’s flanking armies. Who dares say the Princess Consort does not understand the Art of War?"
Startled, Zhang Qilan recalled hearing about the Princess Consort’s defense of Yonglin City. He had dismissed it as mere rumor, considering Murong Shen was also in Yongzhou and, moreover, the Princess Consort was a woman. There were no historical precedents of women leading on the battlefield. He had assumed the Princess Consort ordered the Black Cloud Cavalry to assist in defending the city only because she and the cavalry happened to be in Yonglin. But hearing it directly from Feng Zhiyao was entirely different. Feng Zhiyao had overseen the mansion’s covert operatives and intelligence network for years; he would not make baseless claims.
The generals who led troops looked at Ye Li with a new, probing curiosity in their eyes. They usually spent their time in military camps and had little interaction with Ye Li, so naturally, they knew less about her than Feng Zhiyao or Leng Haoyu. Hearing Feng Zhiyao’s account, they began to feel that perhaps their doubts about the Prince’s decision had been too presumptuous.
Ye Li carefully put the jade pendant away and smiled at the generals. "I am young and still lack experience. I hope for your guidance in the future." Though her words were, as always, calm and composed, the generals keenly sensed an almost palpable aura of sharpness and killing intent emanating from her. No one could exude such a powerful presence without having truly experienced the battlefield. Yet, this young Princess Consort could conceal this formidable aura so completely that, unless she deliberately revealed it, others would not perceive even a trace, as if the woman before them was truly as harmless as she appeared. A shiver went through the generals. They lowered their heads and declared in unison, "We obey the commands of the Princess Consort."
Mo Xiuyao glanced at everyone with satisfaction and nodded. "Very well. After I leave the Capital City, all matters concerning the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion will be decided by the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort’s word is my word. Is that understood?"
"Understood!" they chorused.
The confidential discussion in the study continued late into the night. After everyone had departed, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li walked out hand-in-hand, only to see a crescent moon hanging in the sky. Looking at the handsome man beside her, Ye Li felt a pang in her heart, a reluctant feeling quietly spreading within her.
"Ah-Li, what is it?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly.
Ye Li shook her head, pushing aside the somber mood, and smiled. "I’m still a little uneasy about you going to Beirong. I’ve selected a few people for you to take with you."
Mo Xiuyao smiled, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "What kind of people could put Ah-Li’s mind at ease? Do they possess some extraordinary talent unknown to me?"
Ye Li sighed softly. "If I could, I wouldn’t send them with you, as their training and assessment are not yet complete. However, His Majesty will certainly not allow you to take many people from Prince Ding’s Mansion this time, and your personal retinue is limited. It’s better if you take them." Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Since Ah-Li has such confidence, then I too am eager to see the results of your efforts over this past month."
Ye Li smiled faintly and clapped her hands lightly twice. Mo Xiuyao, intently scanning their surroundings, suddenly sharpened his gaze and called out, "Covert operatives, on alert!"
A few faint sounds rustled through the darkness, then silence returned. Moments later, several figures dropped from the trees, the walls, and the eaves, quickly forming a line. "Awaiting Young Master’s instructions," they said in low, steady voices.
Ye Li raised an eyebrow in pleasant surprise and smiled. "They recognize me. It seems Lin Han and the others have taught them well. What do you think, Prince?"
Mo Xiuyao shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "It seems my covert operatives truly need retraining." These individuals did not appear to possess profound martial skills. Yet, they had managed to infiltrate the heavily guarded Prince Ding’s Mansion without a sound and subdue opponents outnumbering them two to one—a truly astonishing feat. Perhaps the covert operatives of Prince Ding’s Mansion have grown too complacent over the years. Ye Li chuckled. "Prince, no need to be disheartened. They were able to enter undetected primarily because they had prior knowledge of the mansion’s security arrangements. Your guards made no significant errors." Mo Xiuyao said, "Ah-Li, you don’t need to console me. I won’t blame them. Where are the guards from the courtyard?"
A moment later, a dozen covert operatives and courtyard guards walked in, looking disheveled and thoroughly ashamed. The covert operatives, in particular, were too mortified to lift their heads. They prided themselves on being the most formidable guards of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, yet they had been caught completely unawares right under their noses. If the Prince and Princess Consort had suffered any mishap due to this, they could not have atoned for their failure even with ten thousand deaths.
Mo Xiuyao looked curiously at the eight men standing ramrod straight before him. They seemed entirely different from the soldiers of the Mo Family Army, the Black Cloud Cavalry, or his own covert operatives. Yet, he knew they had indeed been selected from these three units. Their near-complete transformation in less than two months was remarkable. His beloved consort was truly skilled at training people. "Ah-Li," he said, "they aren’t just skilled at ambushes, are they?" Ye Li replied with a touch of pride, "Of course not. In unarmed combat, without relying on any internal energy, each of them can easily take on fifteen elite soldiers. They are proficient with various combat weapons and adept at individual combat, group assaults, night battles, aquatic combat, assassination, infiltration, and night raids. As for what else they can do, let them tell the Prince themselves."
The soldiers, standing in a line, began to report one by one. The first said, "Reporting to the Prince, I was originally with the Mo Family Army. I specialize in assassination and infiltration. I also speak the languages of Beirong and Nanzhao."
The next said, "I was originally with the Black Cloud Cavalry. I am skilled in archery and combat."
Another reported, "I was originally a covert operative. I am skilled in disguise, lightness techniques, and toxicology..."
The reports continued.
After listening to their reports, even Mo Xiuyao couldn’t help but marvel, "Ah-Li, you are truly remarkable. Are you really giving these men to me?"
Ye Li glanced at him, feigning displeasure. "Otherwise? Did you think I brought them out just to make you envious?" Then, ignoring Mo Xiuyao’s reaction, she addressed the men in the courtyard. "You are the most outstanding among the first cohort of trainees and have nearly completed your initial training ahead of schedule. You were originally slated for another month to learn more skills and then undergo assessment. However, you now need to undertake a mission prematurely. For that, I apologize."
The lead soldier replied, "It is our honor to serve the Prince and Princess Consort. Please give us our orders, Princess Consort." Ye Li nodded. "Very well. From today, you are the Prince’s personal bodyguards until he returns from Beirong. Therefore, your first mission is protection. Your objective: I want to see the Prince return to the Capital City unharmed. Can you do it?"
"We obey and swear to complete the mission!" they declared in unison.
Ye Li smiled. "Excellent. This is not just a mission; it is also your assessment. Since this is your first assignment, I will send Lin Han with you. He will be not only your leader but also your assessor. Gentlemen, I wish you a smooth journey."
"Thank you, Young Master!" they replied.
