Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 125: Waiting for you to get into the jar

Chapter 125: Lying in Wait

Late at night, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion was quiet. In the study, Ye Li, leaning against a lamp, looked back at Feng Zhiyao, who was sitting not far away. "Third Feng, are you sure it’s tonight?"

Feng Zhiyao leisurely waved his folding fan. His laughter was as warm as a spring breeze, yet his words sent chills down one’s spine. "Princess Consort, rest assured. The Capital City isn’t that large. If they don’t make a move tonight, they’ll lose their chance. Tonight, the blood of our enemies is bound to paint Prince Ding’s Mansion red. Heh... It’s a mesmerizing hue. The Capital City hasn’t been this lively for many years." He added, "After so many days of continuous disturbances, if the secret guards of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion still can’t find them, then the whole world will consider the King of Ding Kingdom’s secret guards useless."

Ye Li nodded. "That would be best. Let’s cordially await their arrival."

Mo Hua regarded Ye Li’s calm and composed expression with a complex look in his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Should the Princess Consort and Lord Xu move to a safer place first? Among those coming tonight, there are quite a few top masters. In case of any accidents..."

Ye Li turned her head to look at Xu Hongyan, who was calmly sipping tea on the side, and slightly furrowed her brows in worry. She understood her uncle’s character well. If she didn’t leave, he definitely wouldn’t. But it’s impossible for me to leave now...

Xu Hongyan, noticing her predicament, set down his teacup and said, "Just do what you need to do. I’ll stay here for a while and have a couple of cups of tea."

Understanding her uncle’s intentions, Ye Li nodded slightly and smiled. "In that case, Li’er will accompany Uncle for a couple of games."

Xu Hongyan nodded, looking contentedly at his niece’s calm demeanor in the face of adversity. With her position came responsibilities. Since she had married into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion and become Princess Consort Ding, Ye Li’s fate was inextricably tied to that of Prince Ding. Thus, she was destined to never lead a peaceful life. Given this, both Xu Hongyan and the Xu Family hoped Ye Li would be as strong as possible. If she ended up like her mother, no matter how talented, it would all be in vain if she couldn’t survive in this world.

Until midnight, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion remained silent. Ye Li and Xu Hongyan had already played three games of chess—one win, one loss, and the current game appeared to be heading for a draw. The match was so intense that both Feng Zhiyao and Chief Steward Mo couldn’t help but lean in closer to watch. Feng Zhiyao even occasionally chimed in with suggestions. Ye Li turned around and smiled at him, saying, "Third Young Master Feng, a true gentleman remains silent while observing a game."

Feng Zhiyao touched his nose. "This Young Master is only trying to help you."

Ye Li silently rolled her eyes. You’re just disrupting my train of thought, she mused.

A faint noise echoed from the distance, causing Ye Li to pause, the chess piece still in her hand. Feng Zhiyao and the others’ expressions shifted subtly. Although Xu Hongyan hadn’t heard any commotion, he clearly noticed the change in those around him. He chuckled softly and put down his chess piece. "Let’s stop here for today. Li’er’s chess skills have improved greatly over this past year."

Ye Li, with a smile, placed her piece on the board. "It’s no matter. There’s still time to finish this game. Mo Hua, go and take a look."

Mo Hua nodded silently, turned, and exited the room.

By the time their game concluded, the sounds of fighting from outside had drawn noticeably closer. Ye Li signaled for Qingluan, who was waiting nearby, to clear the chessboard. She then rose, walked to the window, and opened it to look outside. The courtyard remained peacefully bathed in the soft moonlight, though fires now flickered in many areas beyond it. Ye Li sighed softly. "Tell them to be careful not to damage this hundred-year-old Prince Ding’s Mansion."

Chief Steward Mo said reverently, "Princess Consort, rest assured. I have already instructed them."

Ye Li nodded and sat by the window, leaning against the window lattice, a faint smile playing on her lips. "That’s good. Let’s see who exactly has come tonight." Let’s see just how many people in this Great Chu, in this world, want to obliterate the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion.

The sounds of fighting outside the courtyard grew closer and more intense. Xu Hongyan stood by the window, gazing at the distant fires, and sighed. "It seems His Majesty truly intends to sit by and watch."

Ye Li gently shook her head and whispered, "Uncle, His Majesty doesn’t intend to merely sit by; he wants to fish in troubled waters. Can you guess how many of these people are from the Palace?" The Capital City is only so large. Over the past ten-odd days, various factions have continuously provoked the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, resulting in losses of no fewer than a hundred men. How many could still be lurking in the Capital City? If there weren’t influential figures providing convenience from behind the scenes, how could so many experts infiltrate the Capital City so easily? If it were truly that simple, the emperors of all nations would likely be unable to sleep soundly.

Xu Hongyan was startled, then let out a long sigh. "Why would His Majesty go to such lengths..."

When the first assassin leaped over the main courtyard’s wall, Ye Li rose and walked outside. The maidservants by her side quickly followed, but Ye Li waved them away. "You all stay inside."

Qingluan said, "We usually can’t help much. Now that we are in the mansion, the Princess Consort prevents us from accompanying her, and we all feel useless. Qingshuang and Qingxia don’t know martial arts, so they should stay in the room. Qingyu and I should follow the Princess Consort."

Seeing her insistence, Ye Li furrowed her brows slightly but, without saying more, turned and stepped out of the study.

In the courtyard, Zhuo Jing and Feng Zhiyao came forward to meet her. Seeing Ye Li emerge, Feng Zhiyao said, "Several groups have gone towards the ancestral hall, likely for the Cloud-Plucking Sword enshrined there. Others are headed towards the main residence, though a few went towards the library tower."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Regardless of their reasons for coming, ensure none of them leave here alive."

"Understood!" Feng Zhiyao laughed heartily, bowed to Ye Li, and then soared out of the courtyard. His red attire, amidst the bloody scene, seemed to carry a chilling, sanguine scent.

Gradually, the sounds of fighting seemed to converge outside the main residence. The guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion appeared to be struggling to hold their ground. Ye Li stood under the eaves; though she couldn’t see the situation outside, she could hear the clashes and smell the thick scent of blood carried on the night wind.

Suddenly, several dark figures breached the courtyard’s perimeter, leaping in. They almost immediately spotted Ye Li standing under the eaves in her white gown. The dark figures, as if by consensus, lunged at Ye Li, their lightning speed indicating they were not ordinary assassins but top-tier experts. Ye Li remained motionless, as if the murderous intent surging towards her was non-existent. Just as the figures were about to reach her, Zhuo Jing, standing beside her, moved. He raised his hand, and a glint of cold light shot from his sleeve, aimed at the foremost attacker. Simultaneously, from the shadows, several powerful arrows whistled through the air. A neat row of fletched arrows embedded themselves into the ground, forming a stark line between the two groups—a clear warning to the intruders to halt.

The leading black-clad man skidded to a halt, glancing at the line of arrows on the ground before looking at his own arms. The sleeve of his left arm had been slit open by a long gash.

"The guards of King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, truly as renowned as they are said to be," the man in black said in a deep voice.

Ye Li pressed her lips into a faint smile. "You flatter me, sir."

The man in black narrowed his sharp eyes slightly, a cold light flashing in his gaze. "Princess Consort Ding?"

Ye Li nodded, replying with a gentle smile, "Indeed. And how should I address you, sir?"

The man in black snorted. "You don’t need to know who I am, only that I am here to take your life."

Undeterred by his threatening words, Ye Li raised an eyebrow and retorted with a light laugh, "Oh? I, too, am curious to know just how many people wish to take my life. Since you’ve come, sir, you might as well be left behind." With a wave of her hand, a stream of red light, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, shot into the night sky. It bloomed into a gigantic red flower, its eerie, bewitching crimson light instantly spreading across the entire sky above the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, invoking a sense of foreboding in all who looked up.

The man in black, ever vigilant, did not look at the sky, instead focusing warily on his surroundings. It seemed something had subtly shifted in the darkness. He strained his ears, trying to listen more closely, but with the sounds of fighting raging outside, even someone with his profound internal strength could discern little.

Atop the wall, Feng Zhiyao, his red robes dancing, sent an assassin flying with a strike. He glanced appreciatively at the sky and quipped, "Princess Consort, what kind of flower is that? It’s quite beautiful. This Young Master intends to have a new robe embroidered with it."

Ye Li’s lips twitched slightly. She responded calmly, "That is a red spider lily, also called the Equinox Flower. It is the only scenery on the road to hell, also known as the Flower of Death."

Feng Zhiyao’s body stiffened, and he almost fell off the wall. He chuckled awkwardly, "The Princess Consort has quite a sense of humor."

"Third Feng, are you here to play?" questioned Mo Hua, who had somehow appeared atop the wall, looking down at the people in the courtyard with a cold stare.

"Hmph! These brazen miscreants dare to infiltrate the main courtyard of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion? They must truly be tired of living!" declared Zhang Qilan. Clad in battle armor and gripping his long spear, he stood at a corner of the roof. His naturally imposing figure, honed by a lifetime on the battlefield, exuded a formidable killing aura. Standing there, he gave off an air of being ready to sweep away all opposition.

The leading black-clad man quickly realized he was now surrounded by the experts of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. Ordinarily, he should have immediately lunged forward to take Princess Consort Ding hostage to secure an escape. But seeing Princess Consort Ding standing so calmly under the eaves with only two maidservants and one man, he suddenly hesitated. Is moving forward truly the right decision? Could it be another trap?

"Princess Consort Ding, you are truly calculating! Your forbearance these many days was merely to lure us into this trap?" the black-clad man said, staring intently at Ye Li.

Ye Li laughed brightly. "A minor trick. Compared to all of you, who were busy scheming even before the Prince left the Capital City, and then, as soon as the Prince departed, came one after another to bully a weak woman like me, I believe I’ve been sufficiently magnanimous. These past few days, you all must have had your fun. Now... why don’t you witness the methods of my King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion?"

Beyond the wall, the guards of Prince Ding’s Mansion, who had seemed on the verge of collapse, suddenly fought with renewed valor. Countless more figures emerged from the darkness to join the fray, and the situation outside seemed to reverse in an instant. No more assassins attempted to leap over the high wall into the main courtyard; instead, many tried to flee. However, the escape routes were now blocked by the elite hidden guards of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. With this two-pronged attack, the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion became even more tumultuous.

Realizing they were trapped, the black-clad men in the courtyard began to panic. Several, without thinking, raised their weapons and charged towards Ye Li’s direction. Zhuo Jing and Qingluan calmly moved to intercept them.

On the high wall, Feng Zhiyao frowned as he observed the courtyard. Seeing no need for his intervention there, he turned his attention back to the battle outside. He watched as a few figures moved with incredible speed, leaving behind a trail of black-clad corpses, and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Princess Consort, what brilliant methods! If the Mo Family Army all possessed such skill, why would we worry about not pacifying the realm and quelling unrest?"

Mo Hua, standing beside him, followed his gaze. His expression changed slightly, and he remained silent.

Ye Li silently watched as several of the attacking black-clad men fell under a hail of arrows. She then turned her gaze to the remaining few. The leading black-clad man chuckled darkly. "Good. Truly worthy of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, truly worthy of the Black Cloud Cavalry. However... does the Princess Consort believe this is the extent of our preparations?"

Ye Li strolled out from under the eaves, calmly regarding the black-clad man. "No matter what preparations you’ve made, I have no intention of letting any of you leave here alive today. Sir, you must be the true leader of Night Assassination, correct?"

The black-clad man paused, then laughed. "It seems my men have told the Princess Consort everything. Excellent tactics! In that case... let our skills decide the outcome!" With that, he suddenly launched himself towards Ye Li, even managing to evade two feathered arrows shot from the shadows. Zhuo Jing frowned and raised a hand, signaling a halt to the archery.

Ye Li calmly faced the man’s ferocious assault. She sidestepped a slash, and a silver glint flashed from beneath her sleeve as a dagger struck out, aiming for the black-clad man’s sword-wielding wrist. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. The broadsword in his hand spun, deflecting Ye Li’s attack. Ye Li let out a soft "hmph." Her dagger parried the broadsword; then, releasing her grip for an instant, she swiftly switched the dagger to her other hand and thrust it towards the black-clad man’s left ribs.

Ye Li’s dagger had been custom-made by a master craftsman Mo Xiuyao had found, forged from refined cold iron according to her own design. It was not only unique in style but also sharp enough to cut through iron as if it were mud. The impact against the broadsword sent sparks flying. The dagger, however, was not only unharmed but even left a slight nick on the sword, its own blade remaining flawless and radiating a cold light.

Swiftly evading Ye Li’s strike, the black-clad man’s gaze, fixed on Ye Li, grew even more dangerous. Initially, he hadn’t taken this Princess Consort Ding too seriously, as her internal energy couldn’t even be considered at an expert level, merely passable. However, this brief exchange, where the Princess Consort relied purely on technique without internal energy, had nearly caused him to suffer a loss. If this woman also possessed profound internal energy, the black-clad man couldn’t imagine being her opponent.

Ye Li had no intention of fighting him to the death. Knowing when to quit while ahead, she swiftly retreated to a safe distance. She calmly regarded the black-clad man and chuckled. "The leader of Night Assassination... is merely this. Take him down."

"Yes." Zhuo Jing nodded, and gestured into the darkness.

Several figures silently appeared in the courtyard and engaged the black-clad man in combat. Their martial arts style bore some resemblance to Ye Li’s. Strictly speaking, none of them were a match for the black-clad man individually, but their strikes were so ruthless, precise, and swift that it was astounding. Any blow—be it a slash, a palm strike, or a punch—that landed on the black-clad man would undoubtedly cause considerable harm. Their teamwork was seamless, further aided by skilled archers hidden in the shadows. In less than a quarter of an hour, they had captured all the assassins in the courtyard, while only two of their own had sustained injuries that weren’t serious.

The leader of Night Assassination had his acupoints sealed and was then bound with ropes in a peculiar manner. Ye Li walked over, smiling faintly. "I’ve heard that the true identity of Night Assassination’s leader is highly mysterious, unknown even to the supposedly omniscient Tianyi Pavilion. It seems that today, this Princess Consort can unveil this mystery?"

Zhuo Jing reached out and removed the black-clad man’s face covering, revealing the resolute face of a man in his forties. Ye Li calmly regarded the stranger before her. Feng Zhiyao, who had been watching intently from the wall, genuinely tumbled down this time. He stared at the man, exclaiming in shock, "Mu Qingcang!"