Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 185. News

185. Message

Not far from Ruyang City lay an inconspicuous small town, the first market town they had seen since leaving the imperial mausoleum. It comprised no more than a hundred families, yet every two days, villagers from nearby settlements gathered here to barter their goods, making the place seem rather lively. As they entered the town, the marketplace was bustling. Tan Jizhi had changed his attire, and the trio—looking like an ordinary grandfather with a young couple—drew little attention.

They stepped into a shabby inn and were quickly guided to a secluded back courtyard, clearly a location Tan Jizhi had prepared in advance. Unlike the decrepit and plain front of the inn, the back courtyard was neat and tranquil, a scenery far beyond what one would expect in a small Northwestern town. As soon as they entered the courtyard gate, a woman greeted them, "Jizhi, you’re finally back." The woman striding towards them wore a striking blue silk dress and, seemingly unconcerned by the presence of strangers, flung herself into Tan Jizhi’s arms, cooing, "Jizhi, you’re finally back. I was so worried something might have happened to you." Tan Jizhi appeared to indulge the young woman. A warm smile touched his usually stern face as he replied softly, "See? I’m fine. Sorry to have worried you."

The blue-clad woman drew back from his embrace and only then noticed Ye Li and Doctor Lin standing nearby. Her gaze, laced with jealousy and contempt, fixed mainly on Ye Li. Pointing at Ye Li, she demanded, "Who is this woman?!"

Ye Li’s lips twitched. Is she blind? Can she not see I’m heavily pregnant? Is her jealousy really this intense?

Tan Jizhi quickly pulled her back, comforting her softly, "Lin’er, she is still useful and cannot be harmed. You know I only have eyes for you."

However, the blue-clad woman was not satisfied. Disgruntled, she glared at Tan Jizhi. "You still haven’t told me who she is."

Tan Jizhi gave a helpless, bitter smile. "She is Princess Consort Ding... So, please, don’t harm her."

A glint flashed in the blue-clad woman’s eyes as she leaned against Tan Jizhi, studying Ye Li. "Princess Consort Ding? Wasn’t she reported dead? What’s she doing here?"

Tan Jizhi replied softly, "It was an accidental encounter. Have your people watch her closely."

The blue-clad woman smiled radiantly. "Don’t worry. When have I ever botched anything you’ve asked me to do?"

Tan Jizhi nodded and, turning to Ye Li, said, "Princess Consort Ding, we’ll be staying here for a couple of days. If you need anything, tell Lin’er. She’ll arrange it for you."

Ye Li had no objections, but the blue-clad woman grew displeased. Glaring at Tan Jizhi, she snapped, "What do you mean by that? I’m not her maidservant!"

And so, Tan Jizhi had to coax her with another round of sweet nothings until she finally relented with a humph. "Alright, I’ll ’take good care’ of her."

Ye Li paid no mind to the couple’s public display of affection. She merely lowered her gaze with a faint smile, her thoughts already racing. She was certain she had never met this woman called Lin’er, yet... her voice sounded somewhat familiar... Involuntarily, she glanced at the blue-clad woman. The woman appeared to be in her early twenties and was exceptionally beautiful, with a peculiar, bewitching charm in her features. However, her gaze towards Tan Jizhi seemed full of adoration. And her voice... She spoke the Central Plains dialect fluently, but Ye Li, having undergone specialized auditory training, could still detect slight peculiarities in her pronunciation in certain places. Ye Li had only encountered one person who spoke like that: Princess Anxi of Nanzhao. Looking at the blue-clad woman before her, Ye Li’s expression remained unchanged. Lin’er... Lin’er... The Saintess of the Southern Border—Shu Manlin.

It seemed their previous conjectures were somewhat mistaken. They had assumed Shu Manlin was colluding with Mo Jingli, but now it appeared Mo Jingli was merely a pawn and a shield. The true puppet master was this seemingly gentle young man before her, Tan Jizhi. Realizing this, Ye Li’s assessment of Tan Jizhi reached a new level. A figure who could operate silently and obscurely, yet manage to play two nations in the palm of his hand. Compared to the sometimes mad, sometimes impulsive Mo Jingqi and the brainless Mo Jingli, this man before her was the one truly to be guarded against.

"What has Your Highness lost in thought?" Tan Jizhi, having finally finished his exchange with the blue-clad woman, turned to Ye Li with a probing question.

Ye Li glanced at him coolly. How could I be lost in thought in a place like this? "Nothing. I was just moved by the affection between Lord Tan and Miss Lin." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The blue-clad woman, leaning against Tan Jizhi, giggled. "Is Your Highness perhaps missing Prince Ding?"

Ye Li smiled without refuting, saying pensively, "Having been away from home for so long, it’s not just the Prince I miss; I’m also very concerned about my family. Before my... incident, I hadn’t received any news from my elder brother. Does Lord Tan happen to have any information?"

"Elder brother?" Tan Jizhi paused, then quickly reacted. "Is Your Highness referring to Eldest Young Master Xu, Xu Qingchen?"

Ye Li nodded, clearly seeing the blue-clad woman’s expression stiffen and a flash of resentment and unwillingness in her eyes. A slight smile touched Ye Li’s lips. It seems the woman before me is indeed Shu Manlin, the Saintess of the Southern Border. That day in the secret chamber of the Nanzhao palace, although I couldn’t see Shu Manlin’s true face, I heard her speaking with Elder Brother. The possessiveness and obsession in her voice for Elder Brother, that almost fanatical certainty of obtaining him, seemed entirely different from this woman who appears so devoted to Tan Jizhi. Are they all masters of acting?

Ye Li was settled into a room in the deepest part of the courtyard, and Tan Jizhi did not appear again. Instead, the beautiful blue-clad woman would visit from time to time, ostensibly to ’care’ for her, but mostly to utter provocative and mocking remarks. Each time, Ye Li would respond with calm composure and a smile, which only made the woman grit her teeth in frustration. Ye Li wasn’t particularly bothered by this. Tan Jizhi had forbidden his men from speaking or interacting with her, and after a while, Ye Li had even begun to worry about becoming depressed. Having someone to verbally spar with wasn’t so bad. She was, however, curious: was this woman, who seemed to be Shu Manlin, targeting her because of Tan Jizhi or because of Xu Qingchen?

"You certainly have a lot of endurance," Doctor Lin remarked, finishing taking her pulse and packing his medical kit.

Leaning back in her chair, Ye Li sipped the freshly stewed tonic and said with a smile, "It’s not about endurance, Master. Don’t you think this is far more comfortable than our days in the imperial mausoleum or that small village?" Whatever tonics or medicinal herbs she needed were provided, and there were people to attend to her requests at any time. This was how a pregnant woman ought to be treated, not dragged along by complete strangers to scale mountains and delve into valleys, excavating graves and tombs.

Doctor Lin gazed at her with a complex expression. "Aren’t you worried he’ll use you to threaten Prince Ding?"

Ye Li shrugged. "Now that I’m in his hands, what use is worrying? He won’t harm me before the child is born, will he? But Master, Tan Jizhi knows the danger yet insists on staying in our Prince’s territory... that doesn’t bode well."

Doctor Lin’s expression changed slightly. He naturally knew why Tan Jizhi hadn’t left yet. Tan Jizhi had indeed tried to contact him over the past two days, but... A bitter smile touched Doctor Lin’s aged face. "If I say I truly don’t know, would you believe me?"

Ye Li nodded. "I believe you." Just from the message on that piece of silk, one could tell what an unpredictable and mischievous person the Great Founding Emperor was. It would be entirely in character for him to ensure no one knew his true whereabouts or those of the treasure. "Unfortunately, Tan Jizhi doesn’t believe it."

Doctor Lin sighed dejectedly. Looking at Ye Li, he asked, "You’re not worried at all. Is it because you’re confident you can escape from here? What is it?"

Ye Li looked at him with a hint of regret. "If it were before, a place like this truly couldn’t hold me. But now... Master, for a woman seven months pregnant to escape a tiger’s den alone, your disciple lacks that ability. Actually, there’s no need to worry about these things. If Tan Jizhi is clever, he should understand what advantages he can gain with the leverage he possesses. And Mo Xiuyao..." Thinking of Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li’s gaze softened considerably. "Even if it means paying a price... I believe he wouldn’t mind. As long as Lord Tan doesn’t act like a lion opening its maw too wide, fantasizing about utterly impossible conditions. Lord Tan, don’t you think so?"

Tan Jizhi entered from outside with a somber face, the beautiful Saintess of the Southern Border, Shu Manlin, naturally by his side. Seeing Ye Li relaxed in a comfortable, cushioned chair, Tan Jizhi offered a faint smile. "It is said that those who understand the times are wise. Your Highness truly makes me see you in a new light."

Ye Li nodded, accepting his compliment with a smile. "A desperate fight where both sides perish is the resort of a reckless fool. Besides, in my current condition, I can’t even manage mutual destruction."

Tan Jizhi sneered. "Your Highness is too modest. By the way, I have some good news that should please you. Today... soldiers from the Mo Family Army suddenly appeared in this town. What does Your Highness think is going on?"

Ye Li remained composed, feigning ignorance of Tan Jizhi’s scrutinizing gaze. She smiled faintly. "Shouldn’t that question be directed to Lord Tan? If Lord Tan insists on suspecting I’ve done something, I can’t help it, can I? I am but fish on the chopping block..."

Tan Jizhi snorted. "It’s good that Your Highness understands her situation. You had best... not gamble with the young heir’s life. If any accident were to occur, not only Prince Ding but I, too, would be deeply regretful."

Ye Li raised her teacup towards Tan Jizhi, smiling. "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Tan. Since Lord Tan has said so, I have a suggestion: it would be best to leave the Northwest as soon as possible. Now that you’ve attracted the Prince’s attention, the Mo Family Army might be manageable, but the secret guards are not so easily dealt with by Lord Tan. If this also draws Qilin... Lord Tan, I truly hesitate to say whether this venture of yours will end in profit or loss."

Tan Jizhi’s eyes twitched slightly. In his years following Mo Jingqi, he had naturally clashed with the secret guards many times and knew well how formidable they were. As for Qilin... although he had no direct experience with them, Qilin’s fame had spread widely in the past six months, forcing Tan Jizhi to be cautious at every turn. Glancing at Doctor Lin seated nearby, an unwilling expression crossed Tan Jizhi’s face. Shu Manlin clearly disagreed, rising to say, "Jizhi, don’t forget the purpose of our journey. If we return just like this..."

The Imperial Jade Seal, symbol of the Mandate of Heaven. The founding treasure, rumored to be countless riches accumulated by the Great Founding Emperor over years of conquest. After establishing the dynasty, he supposedly hid these treasures in a secret location. There were also legendary military manuals; the Great Founding Emperor was a master strategist, yet not a single treatise of his Art of War was passed down to later generations. It was said that all these... were hidden by the Great Founding Emperor, waiting for his descendants to find them. With these in hand, what great undertaking could not be achieved?

Tan Jizhi gritted his teeth and waved his hand. "Men, take Doctor Lin away!"

Two men appeared at the door, and on command, entered to seize Doctor Lin and begin dragging him out.

Ye Li frowned. "Lord Tan, if you take Doctor Lin away, what about me?"

Tan Jizhi looked at her, his expression indifferent. "Princess Consort Ding, rest assured. Lin’er and I also have some medical knowledge. Once we leave the Northwest, I will certainly find another renowned physician to attend to Your Highness."

"He is your father!" Ye Li stated gravely, looking at Doctor Lin’s impassive face.

Shu Manlin snorted. "What kind of father is he? He merely raised Jizhi, that’s all. Jizhi is of former imperial lineage; that man is just a servant of the imperial family. Jizhi shows him some respect out of gratitude for raising him, but does he really think he’s someone important to Jizhi? Take him away!"

Watching Doctor Lin being led away, Ye Li closed her eyes wearily for a moment. Then, fixing her gaze on Tan Jizhi, she said gravely, "You will regret this."

Tan Jizhi scoffed dismissively. "Your Highness, rest well. We set out early tomorrow morning." With that, he put his arm around Shu Manlin’s waist and turned to leave. Shu Manlin glanced back, giving Ye Li a provocative look. Ye Li merely spared her a glance, in no mood to bother with the tiresome woman.

Late that night, a swift horse galloped towards the outskirts of Ruyang City, instantly alerting the soldiers guarding the walls. The rider below seemed prepared, casually tossing an object upwards. A soldier on the wall caught it, inspected it repeatedly, then waved his hand. "Quick, let them pass!"

Moments later, the city gate opened a crack. The rider, wasting no time, urged his horse through the opening and galloped swiftly into the city.

Within the city, at the Qilin encampment, Qin Feng, roused from his sleep, wore a somber expression. He strode quickly into the study and asked Mo Hua, who was waiting, "What’s happened to bring you here so late?"

Mo Hua’s expression was somewhat peculiar. He remained silent for a moment before taking a folded piece of paper from his robes and handing it over. "A secret guard just delivered this. Take a look."

Qin Feng frowned. The paper in his hand was an ordinary prescription; neither the paper nor the handwriting seemed amiss. He looked up. "What’s wrong with this prescription?"

Mo Hua explained, "This was sent by an informant under Tianyi Pavilion. A few days ago, two men and one woman, who is several months pregnant, arrived in a small town and checked into an inn. That inn is currently under Tianyi Pavilion’s surveillance. Yesterday, someone from the inn went to fetch medicine. This is a prescription to prevent miscarriage. However, the dosage for two of the herbs was clearly too high. The presiding physician, exercising caution, examined the prescription carefully. He discovered some strange characters on it, but they were completely unable to decipher them."

Qin Feng’s heart leaped. He looked at Mo Hua with excitement, but Mo Hua remained silent. After a moment of silence between them, Qin Feng snatched the prescription and held it to the candlelight, examining it slowly. Gradually, two faint lines of characters appeared on the seemingly blank prescription. Though blurry, they didn’t prevent Qin Feng from recognizing the familiar and distinctive handwriting. He couldn’t help but exclaim excitedly, "Quick! We must see the Prince! There’s news of the Princess Consort!"