Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 131. Secret Military Power Struggle

131. Subtle Power Play

Mo Jingqi looked at the servile ministers before him with satisfaction, nodding his head in approval. His gaze then turned to Ye Li, who stood aside. After a moment’s hesitation, he frowned and said, "Commander Leng and the Heir of Marquis South should be praised for their willingness to lead the troops into battle; I am greatly pleased. However, since Prince Ding is currently not in the Capital City and cannot lead the troops himself, it’s impossible to mobilize the hundreds of thousands of troops under the command of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. What are your thoughts, Princess Consort?"

Ye Li raised her delicate eyebrow slightly. Looking up at Mo Jingqi, she said lightly, "Your Majesty, I am merely a woman. What opinion could I possibly have?"

"Princess Consort Ding, you underestimate your own influence!" the young man standing behind Mo Jingqi stared ominously at Ye Li and said. "Who does not know that as the Madam of House of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, you too have the right to command the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry? Now that the Xiling army is invading our territory, do you and the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion intend to just watch and do nothing?"

A cold laugh echoed in Ye Li’s heart. What a heavy accusation! Glancing at the man, Ye Li was about to speak when State Duke Hua suddenly stepped forward. Staring at the young man, he exclaimed sternly, "How audacious! Who are you to try and sow discord between His Majesty and Prince Ding’s Mansion?!" Old State Duke Hua had dominated battlefields for decades. Despite his advanced age, he was still vigorous and formidable. How could a young man possibly withstand the immense aura he intentionally released at that moment? The young man stiffened, his expression freezing for a moment, before he bowed to State Duke Hua and said, "This student, Tan Jizhi, greets State Duke Hua."

State Duke Hua gave a dissatisfied snort and looked at Mo Jingqi. Mo Jingqi smiled and said, "Old State Duke, please don’t be angry. Jizhi is a very talented young man. I am planning to grant him the position of Attendant in the Imperial Study so he can serve the country."

State Duke Hua bowed to Mo Jingqi, stroking his snow-white beard, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, this old subject truly does not understand your words. If Young Master Tan is so talented, why doesn’t he participate in the imperial examinations? If he achieved the title of Top Scholar or a similar high rank, then no one could say anything if Your Majesty were to appoint him to an important position. The role of Attendant in the Imperial Study is a crucial one before the throne. Appointing someone completely unknown to such a post, I fear, will make it difficult to convince the public."

Mo Jingqi and the young man were somewhat embarrassed. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to go through the proper channels, but the path of the imperial examination was not that easy to walk. Especially this year’s examination; not only was the chief examiner Elder Su, renowned as the most upright and incorruptible man in Great Chu, but even among the five sons of the Xu Family, three who had participated in recent years had failed. Tan Jizhi had studied scheming and power plays extensively, but when it came to the imperial examinations, he truly lacked confidence. Even if he did pass, unless he became the Top Scholar, Second Place Scholar (Bangyan), or Third Place Scholar (Tanhua), he would most likely be assigned to a post outside the capital. Even if not posted externally, at best he would be a minor official of the sixth or seventh rank, making it impossible to be appointed to such an important position as Attendant in the Imperial Study. Normally, no one would meddle if the Emperor wanted to promote one of his confidants. However, Tan Jizhi’s mistake was to provoke discord between the Emperor and Prince Ding’s Mansion in front of all the ministers at this critical time. This naturally made Old State Duke Hua, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the country, find him extremely displeasing and thus entirely unwilling to consider saving him any face.

Mo Jingqi coughed lightly and said, "Old State Duke, let’s discuss this matter later. The most pressing issue now is dispatching troops. Prince Ding is absent, and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Mo Family Army cannot be mobilized. What should be done?"

Old State Duke Hua didn’t actually want to put the Emperor in an untenable position, so he cooperated, saying, "Prince Ding will surely rush back as soon as he receives the news. Before that, why doesn’t Your Majesty first mobilize troops from other areas to provide support?"

Mo Jingqi shook his head and sighed, "Old State Duke, you also know that the south is currently in a standoff with Prince Li, and the Nanzhao people are watching menacingly outside Broken Snow Pass. From where can we possibly spare any troops right now?"

State Duke Hua’s expression changed slightly; his snow-white eyebrows twitched, and he said no more. He was not unaware of the Emperor’s thoughts. However, to use Prince Ding’s absence as an opportunity to make things difficult for Princess Consort Ding, even disregarding the safety of the border, was truly not the action of a competent emperor.

Marquis Muyang stepped forward and said, "Since Princess Consort Ding can mobilize the Mo Family Army and the Black Cloud Cavalry, I implore Princess Consort Ding to prioritize the overall situation and order the Mo Family Army to be mobilized immediately to rush to the border for reinforcements."

Ye Li raised her head, her calm gaze sweeping over Marquis Muyang as she said softly, "Does Marquis Muyang mean to request that I lead the army on an expedition in place of the Prince?"

Marquis Muyang choked. Since ancient times, even if there had been one or two female generals, never had a woman acted as the chief commander leading an army to war. Besides, the Princess Consort of the King of Ding Kingdom was merely in her teens; even if she did nothing now, no one could fault her. On the contrary, if they truly let Princess Consort Ding lead the army into battle, Great Chu and they, its military commanders, would completely lose face. With an awkward laugh, Marquis Muyang avoided Ye Li’s eyes and said, "That was not this marquis’s intention. I merely ask that the Princess Consort prioritize matters of state."

Prime Minister Liu, at the side, stroked his grizzled beard and chuckled, "The Marquis is correct. We ask the Princess Consort, for the sake of the common people and soldiers at the border, to temporarily transfer the military authority over the Mo Family Army to the commanding general. Once Prince Ding returns, it will naturally be returned intact."

The mockery in Ye Li’s eyes was unconcealed. Returned intact when Prince Ding returns? Did they take her for a fool?

Her clear eyes flickered slightly. Ye Li raised her head and smiled faintly, saying, "Prime Minister, your words are too much for me to bear. Let’s not even discuss whether I can mobilize the Mo Family Army. Just tell me... does Prime Minister Liu truly believe that with a single word from me, the military authority over the Mo Family Army can be transferred to anyone at all? I’m afraid that even if the Prince himself were present, this would be impossible."

Mo Jingqi’s expression darkened slightly. He frowned and said, "Then does the Princess Consort have any good ideas? Are we to allow Xiling’s army to rampage at the border and even invade the territory of our Great Chu?"

How Ye Li wished she could slap to death that man on the dragon throne who was spouting such high-sounding words at her! So, if she didn’t agree, it meant she was allowing Xiling’s army to rampage through Great Chu? She finally understood why Mo Jingqi had shown no signs of urgency these past few days. It turned out he was scheming to seize authority over the Mo Family Army while Mo Xiuyao was away. It wasn’t that he wasn’t anxious; rather, in his eyes, the Xiling army still at the border was less pressing than the military authority of Prince Ding’s Mansion, which seemed within his reach. But what Ye Li couldn’t understand was where Mo Jingqi got the confidence to believe that as long as he obtained the military authority of Prince Ding’s Mansion, he could immediately control it at will and even command the troops to drive out Xiling? Had he not considered that a single misstep could even incite a mutiny?

Ye Li lowered her head and said, "I am but a woman and truly have no good ideas to offer Your Majesty for consideration. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

State Duke Hua frowned deeply and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, since the military authority of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion is currently undecided, please quickly summon Prince Ding back to the Capital City... no, send him directly to the border to command the troops. Furthermore, Your Majesty, this old subject remembers that Great Chu has over a million soldiers. Apart from the Mo Family Army and the troops in the south engaged in a standoff with Prince Li, we can at least dispatch one hundred thousand troops first to reinforce the border. Please, Your Majesty, dispatch a contingent of troops as an advance force."

Although Mo Jingqi felt somewhat unwilling, he found it difficult to refute State Duke Hua’s words. As he hesitated, Marquis South, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Old State Duke speaks reasonably. Please dispatch troops to reinforce the border first. Xiling’s army has captured two cities in a single day. In at most ten days, they will reach Xinyang, the major northwestern stronghold and granary of Great Chu. If Xinyang City falls..."

Mo Jingqi’s expression changed. He glanced at Ye Li, then clenched his teeth and ordered, "Transmit Our decree! Appoint Leng Qingyu as Chief General and the Heir of Marquis South as second-in-command. They are to lead an army of one hundred fifty thousand and depart this very day!"

"This general receives the order!" Leng Qingyu and the Heir of Marquis South declared in unison, bowing.

Mo Jingqi was clearly in a foul mood. With a somber expression, he waved his hand, dismissing everyone.

Upon leaving the Imperial Study, Ye Li accompanied Old State Duke Hua on foot out of the palace. Along the way, Old State Duke Hua had nothing to say, merely sighing repeatedly. Only when they reached the palace gate did he stop, look at Ye Li, and say, "It’s unfortunate that Prince Ding happens to be away from the Capital City at such a time. This must be difficult for you, Princess Consort."

Ye Li pressed her lips into a faint smile and said, "You worry too much, Old State Duke. These are merely matters within my duty."

Old State Duke Hua shook his head, saying, "His Majesty has acted too frivolously this time. Ultimately, he was raised by women; compared to the Late Emperor, His Majesty is far inferior."

Ye Li understood Old State Duke Hua’s meaning. When the Late Emperor ascended the throne, Xiling Kingdom and Great Chu were embroiled in years of continuous warfare. At that time, Prince Ding, Mo Liufang, was not only outstanding in civil governance but also possessed brilliant military achievements. He could be described as the foremost figure in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion since Mo Lanyun. Despite Mo Liufang’s great renown, the Late Emperor was able to endure, treating him with utmost respect and courtesy, until the Late Emperor’s own power was consolidated and Mo Liufang relinquished his authority and returned governance. Only then did the Late Emperor begin to fully exert his capabilities. Although he couldn’t be called an enlightened sage-ruler, he was a capable sovereign who preserved the dynasty’s achievements. The relationship between him and the Regent Prince, in particular, became a celebrated tale of ruler and minister. But the current Mo Jingqi revealed his hostility towards Prince Ding’s Mansion far too early. Even when Prince Ding had already become a cripple and retired to the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, Mo Jingqi relentlessly continued to suppress him at every turn and constantly reined in the Mo Family Army. If he were truly a prodigy with grand strategies and world-ordering abilities, it might have been acceptable. Yet, his capabilities were fundamentally insufficient to suppress the Mo Family Army. Even if Mo Xiuyao willingly handed the Mo Family Army over to him, the question remained: could he truly command them? With his narrow-mindedness, could he treat the Mo Family Army well?

"State Duke, please be careful with your words," Ye Li said with a soft laugh.

State Duke Hua waved his hand, signaling Ye Li not to see him off further, and turned towards his carriage. After watching State Duke Hua board his carriage, Ye Li turned around to see the Heir of Marquis South standing not far away, looking at her with a smile. Ye Li sighed helplessly in her heart. Regarding this eldest brother-in-law, she had only met him a few times and shared a meal at the Ye Mansion; it could be said they were completely unacquainted. Now that the Ye Family had declined, Ye Zhen’s life in Marquis South’s Mansion was still relatively comfortable, which showed that the people of Marquis South’s Mansion were quite adept at conducting themselves and managing affairs. On account of this, Ye Li also treated him with a degree of courtesy.

"Greetings, Princess Consort."

Ye Li nodded and offered a slight smile. "Heir, you are too polite. Is there something you need?"

The Heir of Marquis South smiled and said, "It’s nothing important. Zhen’er misses you greatly, Princess Consort. If you have some leisure time, perhaps you could visit our mansion for a short while."

Hearing this, Ye Li raised her eyebrows in some surprise. Anyone with discerning eyes could likely perceive the Emperor’s current attitude towards Prince Ding’s Mansion. Yet, at a time like this, he, as the heir, was still inviting her to visit their mansion... Ye Li’s eyes flickered slightly as she smiled and replied, "It is Eldest Sister’s good fortune to have met you, Heir. I hope you will continue to take good care of her."

The Heir of Marquis South laughed generously and said, "Since Zhen’er has married into Marquis South’s Mansion, I naturally regard her as family. Princess Consort, please rest assured."

Ye Li nodded and said, "Tomorrow, you will be departing for the border, Heir. I wish you a safe journey."

"Thank you, Princess Consort," said the Heir of Marquis South. "I shall take my leave."

"Take care," Ye Li said.

Watching him walk into the distance, Ye Li glanced back at the towering palace gates behind her, frowned, and then turned to leave.

「The next day」

Leng Qingyu and the Heir of Marquis South hastily led their troops away. Standing on the city wall to see them off, Ye Li watched the distant army, her delicate brows still tightly furrowed, not relaxing in the slightest. Xiling’s Southern Garrison Prince was known as Xiling’s God of War. Having controlled Xiling Kingdom’s military for decades, even Mo Xiuyao might not dare claim certain victory against him. Could Leng Qingyu and the Heir of Marquis South truly succeed with a mere one hundred thousand soldiers?

"Princess Consort, what is wrong?" Zhuo Jing, who was by Ye Li’s side, asked, observing her expression.

Ye Li shook her head. Great Chu didn’t only have Mo Xiuyao as a general. If they had to rely on Mo Xiuyao for everything, then nothing would ever get done.

"Third Sister... Princess Consort..." Ye Zhen’s voice came from behind her. Ye Li turned to see Ye Zhen standing beside the Consort of the Heir, looking at her with a pleasantly surprised expression. It had been a long time since they last met. Compared to the radiant glow she had last time, Ye Zhen now appeared much paler and more haggard. Even her eyes were red-rimmed, presumably from worry because her husband had gone to war.

The Consort of the Heir was also a lady from a scholarly family and appeared very gentle, kind, and virtuous. Upon seeing Ye Li, she also came forward gracefully to offer her salutations and then very politely excused herself, leaving Ye Zhen to speak with Ye Li alone.

The two sisters had never been particularly close, meeting only a few times a year. For a moment, they faced each other without words.

After a long silence, Ye Zhen finally whispered, "Princess Consort, have you been back to the Ye family home to visit?"

Ye Li shook her head. Now that the Ye Family’s fortunes had declined, Old Madam Ye evidently blamed Ye Li for everything. Every time they met, Old Madam Ye would do her utmost to verbally attack and belittle her. It was the first time in all these years that Ye Li had discovered Old Madam Ye could be so unafraid of power and status. And although Minister Ye said nothing, his expression faintly revealed his dissatisfaction with this daughter of his who was a princess consort. Ye Li was not someone who enjoyed seeking out discomfort for herself, so apart from when it was necessary, she couldn’t be bothered to return.

Ye Zhen said in a low voice, "Father is planning to return to our ancestral home after some time."

Ye Li nodded. "Returning is also good. If Rong’er is taught well, and with the family’s remaining assets, Father and Grandmother can still live out their later years in peace." In the current circumstances, the Ye Family had already withdrawn from the political arena; staying far away from the Capital City was the most correct choice. Otherwise, if they were once again embroiled in those schemes and power struggles, it was unlikely the matter could be resolved merely by resigning from office.

Ye Zhen’s finely shaped willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly. Looking at Ye Li, she asked, "Third Sister, do you truly hate Father that much? Can you really not help him?"

Ye Li shook her head and said softly, "Eldest Sister, it is precisely because I *don’t* hate Father that I say it’s right for him to return now. Nothing is more important than life itself."

A trace of confusion and incomprehension appeared in Ye Zhen’s eyes, but more so, disbelief. Gazing at Ye Li, she sighed resentfully and said, "Second Sister is dead, and Fourth Sister’s fate is unknown. As for Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister... it’s better not to speak of them. How did we sisters end up like this..."

"Eldest Sister, Marquis South’s Mansion is, after all, a decent family, and the Consort of the Heir is also an intelligent woman; she won’t make things too difficult for you. Just focus on living your own life well," Ye Li said in a serious tone.

Ye Zhen paused. By the time she came to her senses, Ye Li had already walked far away. A hint of sorrow and unwillingness flickered in the depths of her eyes as she murmured softly, "Without children, without a strong family background, how am I supposed to live a good life? Third Sister, not everyone is blessed with fortune like yours."