Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 161. Substitute Player

161. Changing the General

"If this Consort had the audacity to burn Xinyang, I am certainly not afraid to kill a few more useless officials!"

Upon hearing her words, all the officials welcoming her were startled. They turned surprised eyes towards the figure before them: a lady clad in light green, beautiful but frosty. Her palpable killing intent sent a visceral chill through them, and any initial traces of contempt vanished immediately. The color drained from Sun Xingzhi’s face, only to be replaced by a heated flush. They had not yet received any news about Xinyang; they had hastily arranged their reception for Ye Li as soon as they received her message. Hearing Ye Li state she had burned Xinyang, Sun Xingzhi, though shocked, was determined not to lose face before the officials and merchants of Hongzhou City. As a high-ranking official appointed by the court to oversee the Northwest, he was, after all, the highest-ranking official there.

His expression shifting slightly, Sun Xingzhi retorted, "Princess Consort Ding! Xinyang is the largest city in our Northwest. You set it on fire without even consulting me. Do you have any regard for the court and His Majesty?"

Ye Li laughed lightly. "Consultation? This Consort did hope to find someone to discuss matters with. However... I wonder where Lord Sun was at the time?"

"Er..." Sun Xingzhi shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around. He quickly recomposed himself and stated defiantly, "As the Governor of the Northwest, I naturally couldn’t remain in Xinyang at all times."

Ye Li sneered. "But this Consort heard that Lord Sun left Xinyang the day before the city fell. Is Lord Sun aware of how many civilians were massacred when Xinyang was breached?"

"This..." Before he could respond, Ye Li interjected, "Scarcely one in ten citizens of Xinyang City survived. The casualties numbered upwards of a hundred thousand. Lord Sun, as a parental figure to the people of the Northwest, you should share in their suffering. They died. Why are you still alive?" Her words made Sun Xingzhi’s face turn deathly pale. Noticing the icy killing intent emanating from the Mo Family Army soldiers accompanying Ye Li, he dared not say anything further. Qi Anrong quickly stepped forward. "Princess Consort, please calm your anger. Perhaps you would like to enter the city first and rest a while..." Ye Li shot him an indifferent glance, successfully silencing him, before proceeding towards the city gates. Zhuo Jing, who was following Ye Li, stopped in front of Qi Anrong. With an icy expression, he said, "Everyone should attend to their respective duties. I’m afraid the Princess Consort has no time for a welcome banquet." With that, ignoring Qi Anrong’s expression, he turned and followed Ye Li into the city.

Qi Anrong stood dumbfounded and looked helplessly at Sun Xingzhi. "Lord Sun, this..."

Sun Xingzhi snorted. "The Northwest still belongs to His Majesty!" With a flick of his sleeve, he too strode into the city.

Upon entering, the state of Hongzhou City incensed the Mo Family Army officers. While the city wasn’t exactly celebrating, its defenses were lax, and its soldiers and officers showed no signs of vigilance. No one would think this city and its army were on the brink of facing a powerful enemy. The faces of the officers following Ye Li grew increasingly dark. It was sheer luck that Hongzhou had not yet been invaded by Xiling. Before they even had a chance to enter the Governor’s Mansion, Ye Li coldly ordered, "Bring the defense commander of Hongzhou City to me."

"As you command, Your Highness."

Upon entering the Governor’s Mansion, crowds of maidservants and servants rushed to greet her. Several lavishly dressed ladies, accompanied by young girls adorned with expensive jewelry, led the group to welcome her. "We respectfully welcome Your Highness, Princess Consort..." Ye Li casually swept her gaze over them. From the luxurious attire of the leading woman, she deduced that these were the families of Sun Xingzhi and Qi Anrong. Sun Xingzhi’s governor’s mansion had originally been in Xinyang; since fleeing to Hongzhou with his wife and children, they had been temporarily residing in the Governor’s Mansion here. With a look of annoyance at the bejeweled women, Ye Li waved her hand dismissively. "Take them away!" Then, she bypassed the stunned group of women and headed straight for the main hall.

The efficiency of the Mo Family Army was undeniable. By the time Ye Li and her entourage reached the main hall of the Governor’s Mansion, the defense commander of Hongzhou City had already been brought to the entrance. Ye Li glanced at him and noted that this man had not been among those who welcomed her at the city gates. She entered the hall and took a seat behind the main desk, while Sun Xingzhi and Qi Anrong followed her in. Seeing Ye Li seated so authoritatively, Sun Xingzhi frowned slightly. "Princess Consort, a guest should defer to the host! How can you act in such a manner?" Ye Li’s brows furrowed tightly; she was growing quite annoyed with this reckless Sun Xingzhi. Does he really think that because he’s one of Mo Jing’s men, I wouldn’t dare to do anything to him?

"Lord Sun, if you have nothing urgent, please step aside for now. This Consort will speak with you after I’ve dealt with these matters."

Sun Xingzhi retorted indignantly, "Princess Consort, a mere woman such as yourself should be content managing the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion for His Highness the Prince. What right do you have to preside over official matters and even arrest General Wang?"

"What right?" Ye Li smiled coldly. "The right of being the current Supreme Commander of the Mo Family Army in the Northwest."

Sun Xingzhi’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you joking? How can the supreme commander of the Mo Family Army be a mere woman? Even if you are Princess Consort Ding... you have no right to dictate affairs in Hongzhou City!" Ye Li couldn’t be bothered to argue with him further. She signaled Qin Feng with her eyes. Qin Feng understood and gestured; two guards immediately seized Sun Xingzhi, one on each side, and forced him into a nearby chair. Sun Xingzhi, a mere scholar, was no match for the two young, strong guards, and despite his struggles, he was completely restrained. Glaring angrily at Ye Li, he watched as she casually sipped her tea and said lightly, "Lord Sun, if you insist on disrupting my duties, don’t blame this Consort for disrespecting an important court minister." Sun Xingzhi gritted his teeth. "I will definitely impeach the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion to His Majesty!"

"As you wish." Given the current situation, what difference would an impeachment make? Ye Li turned her gaze to the military officer who was also being restrained. "General Wang? Wang Duo, the defense commander of Hongzhou? What is your relationship with Wang Zhaorong of the Imperial Palace?"

After struggling fruitlessly for a few moments, Wang Duo raised his head to glare at Ye Li and said, "Wang Zhaorong is my paternal cousin. What is the meaning of this, Princess Consort? Release me at once! Don’t forget, I am the defense commander of Hongzhou City."

Ye Li casually flipped through the dossiers on the desk, then tossed one down into the hall. It landed right in front of Wang Duo. "From this moment on, you are no longer the defense commander of Hongzhou. See for yourself."

Wang Duo did not pick up the dossier. Instead, he fumed, "What do you mean by this, Princess Consort? My official post was personally bestowed by His Majesty and the court. Do you think you can dismiss me with a single word?"

Ye Li, smiling, took out a jade pendant, flourished it in her hand, and asked with a smile, "Then does this have the authority to dismiss you? By the last decree of the Great Ancestor Emperor, in times of war and crisis, the holder of the Yazi Jade Pendant from the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion can command all generals of Great Chu below the rank of Grand General. Or is it that General Wang is not a general of Great Chu?"

"This..." Of course, Wang Duo knew of this decree left by the Great Ancestor Emperor. Although the current generals loyal to the Emperor might not truly respect it, they could at most feign compliance and definitely could not openly defy it until the Emperor explicitly rescinded the decree.

Ye Li put the jade pendant away and said to Feng Zhiyao, "Third Feng, the defense of Hongzhou is now your responsibility."

Feng Zhiyao glanced আম్యూసింగ్లీ at the somewhat stunned Wang Duo and nodded. "Yes, Commander. I will immediately reorganize Hongzhou’s defenses." With that, he gestured to a few officers and turned to leave.

Only after Feng Zhiyao and his men had departed did Ye Li turn her attention back to Wang Duo and the others, her smile bright and charming. "Alright, now, if General Wang or Lord Sun have anything further to say, please speak freely."

Indignant, Wang Duo retorted, "The soldiers of Hongzhou will not obey a general who doesn’t even hold an official rank from the court!" He was referring to Feng Zhiyao. Although Feng Zhiyao was widely recognized as Mo Xiuyao’s right-hand man in the Mo Family Army, he was indeed the only general in their ranks without a formal court-appointed position.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Whether or not he can command the soldiers is Third Feng’s concern, not something General Wang needs to worry about."

Wang Duo huffed but said nothing more.

Ye Li turned to Sun Xingzhi, who was still seated to the side, and asked with a smile, "Does Lord Sun have anything to say?"

Sun Xingzhi sneered. "With the Princess Consort being so imposing, how would a lowly official like myself dare to speak?"

Ye Li pressed her lips into a smile. "If you dare not speak, then there’s no need. Lord Sun, please continue to reside peacefully in Hongzhou. When the war is over, this Consort will arrange for your escort back to the capital. If, unfortunately... Hongzhou falls, this Consort will also give Lord Sun the opportunity to share its fate."

Hearing this, Sun Xingzhi’s face contorted, and he bit out through gritted teeth, "Many thanks, Princess Consort!"

After Sun Xingzhi and Wang Duo had been escorted out, only Qi Anrong remained in the hall, looking nervously at the woman seated above him. With a sycophantic smile, he began, "Princess Consort..."

Ye Li looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Lord Qi, you seem to be enjoying your position as Governor of Hongzhou quite comfortably. This Consort, and perhaps even His Highness the Prince, would be quite envious."

"Not at all, not at all..." Qi Anrong replied with an obsequious laugh.

Ye Li idly flipped through a dossier in her hand. "Six years in office, a fortune of a million. One wife, twelve concubines, four sons, and six daughters... No wonder this Consort has heard the saying, ’Three years as an honest prefect, a hundred thousand taels of silver.’ Lord Qi, you must be earning more than that in a single year, are you not?"

"Princess Consort... I, this humble official..." Qi Anrong repeatedly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Ye Li casually tossed the dossier aside and smiled. "Lord Qi, there’s no need to be nervous. This Consort has no interest in your wealth, wives, or children."

Hearing this, Qi Anrong’s eyes lit up with hope. He looked eagerly at Ye Li.

She lowered her gaze and said indifferently, "The war with Xiling is imminent. Hongzhou City..."

Qi Anrong, quick on the uptake, immediately interjected, "It is this humble official’s duty to assist the Princess Consort in resisting the Xiling marauders! Please, Princess Consort, issue your commands."

Ye Li looked up, raising an eyebrow with a smile. "This won’t inconvenience Lord Qi, will it?"

Qi Anrong forced a smile. "How could it? As long as Hongzhou remains safe, it benefits everyone, does it not? Please, Princess Consort, feel free to give your orders."

Ye Li nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. Lord Qi, if you cooperate with me, I will not make things difficult for you. Just ensure Hongzhou City is well-managed, and I will handle the rest."

"This humble official understands. I will not disappoint the Princess Consort."

"Excellent. Lord Qi, you may leave for now."

After Qi Anrong left, Zhuo Jing watched his retreating figure with disdain. "Princess Consort, are we really letting Qi Anrong off so easily?"

Ye Li’s smile was cool. "Let him off? That depends on whether he knows what’s good for him. We’ve only just arrived in Hongzhou; we can’t afford to offend everyone at once, can we?"

"This subordinate understands."