Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 225 - 224. The Heir Becomes a Tomb Raider

224. The Heir Becomes a Grave Thief

Inside the Licheng post station, a servant, unusually panicked, knocked on the Southern Garrison Prince’s door. "My lord, something terrible has happened!"

Before long, the door opened from the inside, revealing the Southern Garrison Prince standing at the doorway, his expression grim as he stared at the flustered servant. In a cold voice, he asked, "What has happened?"

The servant, panting heavily, stuttered, "The heir... the heir is in trouble! The heir has been captured by the people of Prince Ding’s Mansion!"

The Southern Garrison Prince’s heart sank. His subordinates wouldn’t spread baseless rumors, yet he hadn’t heard of any military movements in or near Licheng in the past two days. How could Tengfeng have...

The Southern Garrison Prince ordered sternly, "What else? Tell me everything!"

The servant hastily replied, "All the men who went out with the heir have lost contact! We heard that early this morning, Princess Consort Ding personally escorted a group of people back to the mansion. Our men reported seeing the Lord Heir, the Crown Prince of Beirong, the Seventh Prince, and Prince Li of East Chu."

The Southern Garrison Prince’s eyebrows knitted together. "Why has Prince Ding’s Mansion captured so many people? What are they planning?" As for the suggestion that Prince Ding’s Mansion wanted to go to war with various states, the Southern Garrison Prince firmly disbelieved it. No matter how formidable the Mo Family Army was, they could not withstand a simultaneous attack from the allied forces of three states. While he was pondering the purpose behind Prince Ding’s Mansion’s actions, a servant delivered an invitation. "My lord, Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding invite you to their mansion for a discussion."

The Southern Garrison Prince took the invitation and said indifferently, "I understand. You may leave."

After dismissing the messenger, an attendant standing by cautiously asked, "My lord, shall we go?"

Looking at the elegant and impressive invitation in his hand, the Southern Garrison Prince scoffed, "Tengfeng is in their hands. How could I not go?"

In Prince Ding’s Mansion, Han Mingxi was complaining to Ye Li about his ordeal from the previous day. Ye Li, suppressing a smile as she watched his indignant display, said, "Mingxi, it was all a misunderstanding. Can’t I apologize to you on their behalf?"

Han Mingxi glanced sideways at Mo Xiuyao, who was calmly sipping tea to one side, and grumbled, "Misunderstanding? Nonsense! Someone clearly set me up!" Knowing the Qilin’s men were going to arrest people and still telling him he could make a fortune there—that was clearly ill-intentioned. He was an idiot to believe Mo Xiuyao would show him a path to riches. Mo Xiuyao only ever exploited him, didn’t he?

Ye Li chuckled. "Mingxi, this matter truly was a misunderstanding. The Qilin affair was a decision I made on the spur of the moment; even the Prince didn’t know about it."

Han Mingxi knew Ye Li wouldn’t lie to him about such a trivial thing, so he could only huff and resign himself to his misfortune.

Mo Xiuyao put down his teacup, raised an eyebrow at Han Mingxi, and said, "Even so, didn’t you gain quite a lot? What’s there to complain about?" The men Lei Tengfeng and the others had sent in had essentially triggered most of the traps and mechanisms in the Imperial Mausoleum for them. Consequently, the members of Prince Ding’s Mansion who entered later faced almost no obstacles. Han Mingxi naturally reaped considerable benefits from this. Thinking about the various treasures, antiques, gold, and silver jewelry that had just been brought back home, the anger in his heart subsided considerably. He glared warily at Mo Xiuyao and said, "Those things are all mine. Don’t even think about touching them!"

Mo Xiuyao remained noncommittal. If he truly wanted those things, would he have any trouble getting his hands on Han Mingxi’s meager collection? There was absolutely no need to argue with Han Mingxi in front of Ah-Li.

Xu Qingchen, who had been watching the drama unfold from the side, spoke only after their argument concluded. "Li’er, what are your plans for those people you captured?" These were all influential figures from various states, and for that very reason, handling them was problematic; they could neither be treated leniently nor harshly.

Ye Li laughed. "What are your thoughts, Big Brother?"

Xu Qingchen casually toyed with the exquisite jade pendant at his waist, musing for a moment before speaking. "I don’t think Li’er has any specific intentions for them. Ultimately, we’ll probably have to release them. The crucial part is how we release them... and how much benefit we can derive from it."

Ye Li laughed. "As long as you have a plan, Big Brother. We don’t expect much benefit this time; we only plan to send these people out of the Northwest all at once. They’ve caused enough trouble in the Northwest for long enough."

A look of understanding flashed across Xu Qingchen’s face. This time, they had created such a significant disturbance primarily to make those powers wary of the Northwest, deterring them from acting rashly. Nodding, he said, "I understand. I’ll inform Father and Second Uncle later."

Ye Li nodded. "Then, the negotiations with the various states will be entrusted to you, Big Brother, and Uncle."

"Princess Consort, the Southern Garrison Prince has arrived!" a guard reported from the doorway.

Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged a look, both smiling. Mo Xiuyao stood up and said, "He arrived quickly. Ah-Li, let’s go out and meet the Southern Garrison Prince. It’s best if I speak with him personally."

Ye Li agreed. Although the Southern Garrison Prince merely held the title of a prince, he was different from the others; he could directly impact Xiling, as the entire state was under his control. Such a person was naturally more difficult to deal with than the Crown Prince of Beirong or Prince Li of Great Chu.

When they arrived at the main hall, it was empty, but the sounds of fighting could be heard from outside. Stepping out of the hall, they saw two figures in the courtyard, rising and falling in a relentless, entangled combat. It was the Southern Garrison Prince and Ling Tiehan exchanging blows, attracting a crowd of onlookers. Ling Tiehan never went easy on an opponent, especially not because they were missing an arm; to him, a missing arm was a sign of incompetence. Therefore, his palm strikes were as relentless and overwhelming as a landslide. Leaning against Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li watched the two fight intensely and whispered, "If you were to fight Ling Tiehan, would you be confident of winning?"

Mo Xiuyao watched the battle intently for a long moment before replying gravely, "No. Ling Tiehan lacks nothing in terms of aptitude, comprehension, or diligence; he has trained tirelessly for years. If not for these past ten years of injury and illness, I might have been able to narrowly defeat him. But now... I’m afraid I’m slightly inferior." Mo Xiuyao’s talent was indeed rare in this world, but even the greatest talent could not withstand ten years of debilitation. In fact, maintaining his martial arts at their current level had cost Mo Xiuyao an immeasurable amount of sweat and effort.

Mo Xiuyao sighed softly as he watched the two combatants. "Currently, Ling Tiehan can be said to be the undisputed number one master in the world..."

"You mean..." Ye Li was momentarily stunned.

Mo Xiuyao continued, "The Southern Garrison Prince is no match for Ling Tiehan, and Mu Qingcang even less so." Mo Xiuyao also acknowledged his own inferiority to Ling Tiehan, who truly deserved the title of the world’s foremost master. Indeed, under Ling Tiehan’s ruthless attacks, and with the Southern Garrison Prince clearly not in top form, the latter soon began to show signs of faltering. However, Ling Tiehan apparently had no intention of stopping when appropriate and continued his relentless barrage. Ye Li couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for the Southern Garrison Prince. Her intention in inviting him to Prince Ding’s Mansion today was absolutely not to let Ling Tiehan teach him a lesson; she just wanted matters to conclude sooner. Everything was merely a coincidence...

"Does Ling Tiehan always fight so fiercely?" Ye Li frowned, her thoughts turning to the previously agreed-upon martial arts contest between Mo Xiuyao and Ling Tiehan, which made her a little worried.

Mo Xiuyao grinned, pulling her into his embrace, completely ignoring the sidelong glances from the spectators. He whispered, "Ling Tiehan isn’t a fool. If he truly fought me to the death, even if I ended up worse off, he wouldn’t escape unscathed." The gap between them was not yet so great that Ling Tiehan could completely suppress him. If they both fought at their peak, the outcome would be uncertain; a fight to the death between them would only result in mutual destruction. "What’s more," Mo Xiuyao continued, "don’t think their fight looks so fierce. Ling Tiehan isn’t using his full strength, and Lei Zhenting is also holding back."

Ye Li pointed at the Southern Garrison Prince, whose movements had clearly slowed after taking a palm strike, and asked, "Are you implying that Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting have some private enmity?"

Mo Xiuyao just chuckled without answering. Would Ling Tiehan, who had supposedly lost interest in Lei Zhenting’s martial arts, rush over to fight him the moment he heard Lei Zhenting had arrived at Prince Ding’s Mansion if there wasn’t a private grudge? Having watched enough of the show, and thinking that they couldn’t let a guest of Prince Ding’s Mansion be beaten to death on their premises, Mo Xiuyao finally laughed aloud. "Southern Garrison Prince, Pavilion Master Ling, the sparring has gone on long enough. How about you both take a rest?"

Ling Tiehan glanced their way, then leaped back, landing atop a wall from where he looked down imperiously at the Southern Garrison Prince. In contrast to Ling Tiehan’s casual grace, the Southern Garrison Prince looked uncharacteristically disheveled. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he pressed a hand to his chest, which ached from Ling Tiehan’s earlier palm strike, his face grim with pain. He turned to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, who were watching from the side, and said in a stern voice, "Prince Ding, Princess Consort Ding, what is the meaning of this?"

Ye Li stepped forward, a faint smile on her lips. "Southern Garrison Prince, please forgive us. Pavilion Master Ling has been staying as a guest in the mansion these past few days. Please overlook any discourtesy." Then, turning to Ling Tiehan, she added, "Pavilion Master Ling, won’t you come down for a cup of tea?"

Ling Tiehan performed a fist and palm salute to Ye Li and laughed heartily. "I was just passing by and saw the Southern Garrison Prince arrive. I couldn’t resist a brief spar. Please forgive me, Princess Consort. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."

Ye Li nodded with a smile. "Safe travels, Pavilion Master Ling."

Ling Tiehan nodded to Mo Xiuyao and swiftly departed the front courtyard.

Once the Southern Garrison Prince was seated in the main hall, Ye Li noted his rather pale complexion and asked, "Prince, would you like me to summon a physician?"

The Southern Garrison Prince snorted softly, wiping the blood from his lips. "Thank you, Princess Consort, but it’s just a minor injury."

Ye Li nodded; the injury indeed didn’t seem severe. Although she didn’t know why Ling Tiehan had suddenly chosen to engage the Southern Garrison Prince so forcefully, she wasn’t opposed to the outcome. An injured Southern Garrison Prince clearly suited their interests better than an uninjured one.

After a maid served tea and withdrew, the Southern Garrison Prince looked at Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li and asked bluntly, "I hear my son is a guest in your mansion. May I ask you to bring him out so we can meet?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, his snow-white hair making his smile seem even colder and more devoid of emotion as he asked, "A guest? Ah-Li, did you invite the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince to our mansion as a guest?"

Ye Li shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I left the city the day before yesterday to inspect the Qilin encampment and only returned this morning. How could I have invited the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince to be a guest?"

Hearing this, the Southern Garrison Prince’s heart grew cold. He now understood why Lei Tengfeng, despite having so many men with him, had fallen silently into the hands of Princess Consort Ding. The Qilin... Princess Consort Ding’s most formidable force, yet no one had ever truly seen them. All that was known of them was their unbroken record of glorious victories.

The Southern Garrison Prince frowned slightly, produced the invitation he had received, and asked, "Then, what is the meaning of this invitation from you and the Princess Consort? For what purpose have you invited me to your mansion?"

Mo Xiuyao, lounging against an armrest, smiled faintly. "It’s nothing important. The Princess Consort and I will be touring various parts of the Northwest in a few days and will not be in Licheng. We wished to inform you, Prince, to avoid any appearance of discourtesy."

The Southern Garrison Prince lowered his gaze, considered for a moment, then smiled. "I see. Actually, my son and I have been away from Xiling for nearly two months. Due to pressing matters at home, I had intended to bid you farewell earlier. However... since my son did not return after going out yesterday, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you and the Princess Consort further regarding his whereabouts."

Mo Xiuyao readily assented. "Rest assured, Southern Garrison Prince. As long as the Lord Heir is still within the borders of my Northwest, even if he’s hidden himself in a hole in the ground, I can find him for you."

The Southern Garrison Prince’s heart grew heavier. After all this talk, Mo Xiuyao, while seeming to agree, had actually promised nothing. It was an open secret that Mo Xiuyao had captured his son, but as long as Mo Xiuyao didn’t admit it, no one could do anything. Moreover, his promise to find him could mean ten days or half a month, or it could mean three to five years. Prince Ding’s Mansion could afford to wait, but Xiling and the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion could not. Although Tengfeng was not his only son, he was the only one with outstanding abilities. He absolutely could not let Tengfeng be ruined at Mo Xiuyao’s hands.

Raising his head, the Southern Garrison Prince said gravely, "My son is ignorant. If he has offended you, Prince Ding, or the Princess Consort in any way, I apologize on his behalf. I hope Prince Ding will show magnanimity." This was, in effect, an admission of weakness.

Mo Xiuyao’s eyes glinted, and he chuckled. "You’re being too serious, Prince. I seem to recall... Ah-Li, when you left the city yesterday, you encountered some people of unknown origin acting suspiciously in the Northwest, so you had them detained. Is that right, Ah-Li?"

Ye Li smiled gracefully and nodded. "Indeed, quite a few people were apprehended yesterday. Zhuo Jing?"

Zhuo Jing thought for a moment, then nodded. "There was indeed someone who claimed to be the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince. However, as I am not acquainted with the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince, and since the Heir should be staying properly at the post station, why would he be near Hongzhou? Your subordinate assumed he must be an imposter and ordered him to be locked up with the others." His candid words, delivered with Zhuo Jing’s stern, upright, and handsome face, sounded utterly righteous, as if it were the absolute truth.

Everyone present was a master of theatrics. Mo Xiuyao sat up straighter and gently chided, "How could you make assumptions about something as important as the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince? Go and investigate at once! Quick now, and report back quickly."

Zhuo Jing assented and immediately withdrew to investigate. Once Zhuo Jing’s figure disappeared from the doorway, Mo Xiuyao picked up his tea, took a sip, and then smiled at the Southern Garrison Prince. "Don’t worry, Prince. Zhuo Jing is Ah-Li’s man, and he is usually very reliable in his duties. This must have been a momentary oversight. I’m sure he’ll clarify the whole matter soon."

The Southern Garrison Prince could see through Mo Xiuyao’s act, but with his son in their hands, he had no choice but to go along with whatever they said. He managed a faint smile. "In that case, I’ll trouble you, Prince Ding."

Zhuo Jing was indeed quick to go and return, reappearing at the hall entrance in no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Stepping into the hall, Zhuo Jing bowed to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao and said in apology, "Your subordinate has been derelict in his duty. Please forgive me, Princess Consort and Prince. I just went to the cells to investigate. That person... is indeed the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince."

Mo Xiuyao arched an eyebrow. "Since that’s the case, why haven’t you brought the Heir out yet?"

Zhuo Jing said with some difficulty, "Well..."

"Speak freely," Ye Li said.

Zhuo Jing continued, "After those people were captured, they were handed over to Third Young Master Feng. Third Young Master Feng said he despises those who rob tombs and desecrate graves more than anything. He also said that according to the law, robbing tombs and desecrating graves is punishable by a hundred strokes of the cane and exile to the borderlands. Robbing an imperial mausoleum is a capital offense. A prince who breaks the law is subject to the same punishment as a commoner. Therefore... Third Young Master Feng refuses to hand the culprit over to your subordinate. Your subordinate has failed in his task. Please forgive me, Princess Consort."

Looking at the Southern Garrison Prince, whose face had turned a shade of green, Ye Li said with an apologetic smile, "Third Feng was appointed by the Prince to participate in drafting the laws for Licheng and the Northwest. As they say, ’a new official is eager to make his mark,’ so he might be a bit inflexible. Please understand, Prince." Turning to Zhuo Jing, she instructed, "Have Third Feng come here."

Before Ye Li could finish speaking, Feng Zhiyao’s voice sounded from outside the door. "No need to send for me. Your subordinate, Feng Zhiyao, requests an audience with the Prince and Princess Consort."

Third Young Master Feng, still dressed in his customary red, entered with the elegant demeanor of a young nobleman from a prestigious family.

Ye Li asked, "Third Feng, is the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince in your custody?"

Feng Zhiyao arched an eyebrow, leisurely waving the folding fan in his hand as he smiled. "Reporting to the Princess Consort, I have no heir in my custody, only tomb raiders. I came precisely to report this matter to the Prince and Princess Consort. In my opinion, these individuals who audaciously robbed an imperial mausoleum—their crime warrants death. I propose they be publicly executed and their crimes proclaimed to the world!"

The Southern Garrison Prince’s expression was extremely unsightly. If the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince were truly executed for a crime like tomb raiding, the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion and Xiling would become laughingstocks known throughout the land. Yet, Feng Zhiyao’s words were so righteous and high-sounding that they were impossible to refute. After all, tomb raiding was indeed a crime in both Xiling and Great Chu. But to put it bluntly, such charges were typically aimed at common folk and professional tomb raiders. If royalty dug up the tombs of a previous dynasty, who could control them? But now, with Lei Tengfeng in Mo Xiuyao’s hands, this charge left them with no recourse.

Feng Zhiyao continued with impassioned conviction, "Our Northwest has only recently been established, and its legal code is not yet complete. We should handle this severely to serve as a warning to others. Furthermore, robbing tombs and desecrating graves, disturbing the spirits of the dead, is a heinous crime that disregards human ethics. Although it is an imperial mausoleum of a former dynasty, if we do not deal with this severely, it will create an impression to the world that our Northwest lacks humanity and righteousness. I implore the Prince to reconsider."

The Southern Garrison Prince sighed inwardly, understanding that today, he had no choice but to concede. He stood up, bowed to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, and said, "My son acted willfully and recklessly, committing such a monstrous crime. I implore Prince Ding and the Princess Consort for their leniency. Xiling and the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion are willing to do everything in our power to compensate Prince Ding’s Mansion and the Northwest for the losses incurred."

Hearing this, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao exchanged a glance, a knowing smile shared between them. His willingness to concede was indeed a positive development.