Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 236 - 235.Flower of Abyss Underworld

235. Flower of Abyss Underworld

Coming to Nanzhao Royal City this time with a mindset for leisure, Mo Xiuyao and his group happened to be the earliest to arrive among all the international visitors for the wedding. However, there wasn’t much to do in Nanzhao Royal City other than interacting with people of different tribes. Observing that Princess Anxi’s wedding day was still a few days away, Mo Xiuyao dragged Ye Li to visit other places in Nanzhao.

Because Mo Xiuyao intended to ditch the bothersome people and travel only with Ye Li, they left the inn and the city before dawn. With Mo Xiuyao’s martial arts and cultivation, no one could detect him when he wanted to avoid them. Thus, when the others in the inn discovered that the Prince and Princess Consort were missing the next morning, they only found a note on the table that read, "We will be back in a few days, don’t worry." They then realized that the Prince had taken the Princess Consort on a trip. Unable to find the couple, the others had no choice but to stay in the city and wait, confident that with the skills of the Prince and Princess Consort, no one in the Southern Border could trouble them.

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, having left Nanzhao Royal City, had no specific plans and simply wandered around. They would stay and enjoy any beautiful scenery they came across, relishing a leisurely time they had not experienced in years.

One day, they caught two wild horses in a forest and impulsively decided to have a horse race. The newly caught wild horses were not very obedient. The one Ye Li rode bolted wildly through the forest. Mo Xiuyao, being more skilled in horsemanship, followed on his own mount. When the wild horse had finally run its fill and began to obey Ye Li’s commands to slow down, Mo Xiuyao caught up, his fierce eyes glaring at Ye Li’s horse as if he wished to tear it to pieces.

The wild horse, though untamed, possessed some intelligence. Sensing Mo Xiuyao’s murderous aura, it immediately grew restless, pawing the ground, yet dared not run wildly any longer. Ye Li dismounted and laughed. "Don’t be angry. This horse isn’t fully tamed yet. If it were so obedient right away, it would be less of a spirited steed." Mo Xiuyao knew that most fine steeds were inherently stubborn; however, Ah-Li’s safety was far more important than any prized horse. If he hadn’t been worried about accidentally hurting Ah-Li, he would have struck down the wildly bolting horse with his sword from behind.

Seeing Mo Xiuyao’s gloomy expression as he stared at the wild horse, Ye Li couldn’t help but chuckle. She pulled Mo Xiuyao away, preventing him from further intimidating the poor creature, which looked anxious to bolt yet too scared to actually flee. Looking around, she saw lush trees and grasslands. The ground was dotted with small wildflowers—pink, light blue, white, and pale yellow. The view stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling an enormous green carpet strewn with fresh blossoms.

"This is so beautiful! Xiuyao, where are we?" Whether in the Northwest or the Capital of Great Chu, Ye Li had never witnessed such fresh and natural beauty. Mo Xiuyao surveyed their surroundings and frowned slightly. "That spirited horse ran wildly for nearly four hours. Combined with our earlier wanderings, we are probably five or six hundred li away from Nanzhao Royal City. This place... we should be near the Sacred Land of the Southern Border."

"Oh?" Ye Li was surprised. The Sacred Land of the Southern Border was a mysterious place, even to many inhabitants of the Southern Border. However, considering Prince Ding’s Mansion had long intended to pacify the Southern Border, it wasn’t too surprising that they would have gathered information about it.

Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li along, saying, "Since we’re here, let’s go take a look."

Ye Li frowned. "Isn’t it inappropriate to trespass into the Sacred Land of the Southern Border? If the people of Nanzhao found out that Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding had trespassed, it would not only reflect poorly on us, but Princess Anxi would also lose face."

Mo Xiuyao replied casually, "It’s not trespassing if we aren’t discovered. Besides, I promised Shen Yang I’d bring him back some Flowers of Abyss Underworld."

Ye Li felt very grateful towards Shen Yang. Not only because he had forsaken his fame as a Divine Doctor to stay at Prince Ding’s Mansion, spending over a decade tirelessly working on Mo Xiuyao’s poison, but also because Mo Xiaobao had been quite frail at birth. That Mo Xiaobao had grown into the lively, energetic child he was today was largely thanks to Shen Yang’s care. Hearing that Shen Yang wanted something, Ye Li was naturally eager to help, not to mention her own curiosity about the so-called Sacred Land of the Southern Border.

Mo Xiuyao, it seemed, had the makings of a special forces soldier; his sense of direction was so impeccable that even Ye Li couldn’t help but feel envious. Holding Ye Li’s hand, he navigated through the mountain forest without hesitation, reaching the outskirts of the Sacred Land of the Southern Border in less than four hours. They agilely evaded the outer guards and quickly approached the entrance to the Sacred Land. Perhaps because it had remained unbreached by outsiders for hundreds of years, the guards within the Sacred Land were not particularly vigilant, allowing the pair to sneak inside with only a little effort.

Upon entering, they were immediately confronted by a vast sea of blood-red flowers. The pure, unadulterated crimson seemed to dye the entire valley a vivid red, creating an eerie and bloodthirsty atmosphere.

"This is...?" Ye Li frowned, observing the flaming red expanse.

Mo Xiuyao, his expression calm, stated solemnly, "This is the Flower of Abyss Underworld."

Ye Li sighed softly. "I once heard that the Flower of Abyss Underworld was a sacred treasure of the Southern Border, and I even considered bringing some back to see if it could help you. I’m glad I didn’t waste my time on *this*."

"Hmm?" Mo Xiuyao was puzzled. "Ah-Li, you recognize this flower?"

Ye Li replied, "How can such a massive expanse of flowers be a rare sacred treasure? I do know this flower by another name: the red spider lily, or the flower from the other shore." It’s also called Cluster Amaryllis. If the Bilo flower hadn’t diverted my attention back then, I might have actually ventured into the Sacred Land of the Southern Border searching for the Flower of Abyss Underworld. If I had found out then that the so-called Flower of Abyss Underworld was just this common red spider lily, I truly would have wanted to cry.

"The red spider lily. That’s a Buddhist name, one of the four celestial flowers," Mo Xiuyao remarked. Ye Li sat casually beside him. Once her eyes adjusted to the overwhelming sea of crimson, it actually looked quite beautiful. She chuckled softly. "Indeed, it’s a Buddhist term. Legend says the red spider lily grows along the banks of the River of Oblivion, the only scenery on the road to hell."

Mo Xiuyao, who wasn’t well-versed in Buddhist scriptures, asked, puzzled, "Why is it also called ’the flower of the other shore’?"

Ye Li recited softly, "Flowers bloom, no leaves are seen; leaves sprout, no flowers remain. The flower of the other shore, blooming for a thousand years, falling for a thousand years, its flowers and leaves destined never to meet. Love is not bound by cause and effect; fate preordains life and death..."

Mo Xiuyao frowned as he listened, stating solemnly, "I don’t like such sayings."

Ye Li pursed her lips, looked at him, and smiled faintly. "I don’t like them either. This flower does possess some detoxifying properties, but it is also toxic. However, it’s not particularly rare. These days, apart from this place, it’s unlikely anyone cultivates it on such a large scale. Even in Jiangnan, while not plentiful, one could find a fair amount with careful searching. Should we pick some from here for Mr. Shen?"

Mo Xiuyao glanced at the vast crimson expanse below. "Since we’re here, let’s take a few. We can have more collected from Jiangnan later to see if there’s any difference."

Ye Li nodded indifferently. With so many in this part of the Sacred Land of the Southern Border, even if they picked an entire sackful, it was unlikely anyone would notice.

After collecting a few red spider lilies and storing them safely, the two continued deeper into the area. Strangely, the further they went, the fewer guards they seemed to encounter.

As they ventured further, the pervasive red flowers gradually thinned out. Another type of flower came into view: magnificent, globe-shaped blossoms in vibrant hues of red, pink, white, blue, and yellow. They were dazzlingly beautiful, so captivating they could make one forget all worries upon seeing them. Ye Li’s expression, however, tensed as she stared intently at this new sea of flowers. Mo Xiuyao leaned in and asked softly, "Ah-Li, what’s wrong?"

Ye Li looked up, glanced at the red spider lilies they had collected earlier, then pointed to the floral expanse before them. "Xiuyao, I think we made a mistake. *That* should be the Flower of Abyss Underworld."

Mo Xiuyao was taken aback. "What makes you say that?"

Ye Li said in a low voice, "I hope I’m mistaken. It would be fine if the Nanzhao people are cultivating these flowers merely for their beauty. But if they have other uses..."

Mo Xiuyao asked, "Is there something wrong with this flower?"

Ye Li whispered, "It appears exceedingly beautiful, but if used for nefarious purposes, the consequences would be unbearable for anyone. This flower can be processed into one of the most potent painkillers."

Mo Xiuyao was puzzled. "Isn’t that a good thing?" The painkillers currently used in various lands were mostly anesthetics. Not only was its formula complex, but the medicinal ingredients were also uncommon. On the battlefield, typically only high-ranking officers had access to it. Ordinary soldiers could only endure the pain; those who could not bear it often died in agony.

Ye Li shook her head. "Because it’s highly addictive, and extremely difficult to break free from once one is dependent. Long-term use leads to physical debilitation, and withdrawal causes excruciating pain, enough to drive someone mad. It could be considered the ultimate drug for controlling puppets, far more effective than any poison. If this substance were to spread, it wouldn’t be surprising if it destroyed an entire nation."

Mo Xiuyao stared thoughtfully at the sea of flowers before them. After a long moment, he looked up at Ye Li and smiled faintly. "Although I don’t know how Ah-Li knows all this, I always trust you. Let’s go take a look inside."

Watching the white-haired man hold her hand and lead her forward, Ye Li’s heart skipped a beat. She had always been relatively unguarded around Mo Xiuyao. If at first it was to test him, later it simply became a habit. She had grown accustomed to Mo Xiuyao’s seemingly boundless tolerance. She had revealed knowledge of many things she shouldn’t have known, yet Mo Xiuyao never questioned her, sometimes even helping her cover for it. Perhaps... she was beginning to understand what had been making Mo Xiuyao uneasy all this time.

Rounding a bend in the valley, their vision was still filled with a seemingly endless ocean of flowers. After walking for a considerable time, they finally spotted a magnificent palace at the far end of the valley.

"Someone’s here!" Mo Xiuyao swiftly pulled Ye Li into his embrace and ducked behind a pile of rocks. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the sound of an approaching conversation reached them. The voice was all too familiar to both Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li: "Have you prepared what I asked for?"

A cold, indifferent male voice drifted from not far away. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li exchanged a glance, then looked towards the man approaching them. He was accompanied by several women in Southern Border attire—it was Mo Jingli. Standing beside Mo Jingli was the charming and beautiful Princess Qixia of the Southern Border. Mo Jingli had evidently treated her very well over the years; although Princess Qixia was several years older than Ye Ying, she still appeared youthful, enchanting, and radiant.

Opposite them stood an old woman, appearing to be in her fifties, leaning on a grotesque serpent-headed staff. Looking at Mo Jingli, she chuckled. "His Highness Prince Li can rest assured. All the healers of our Sacred Land have researched this for many years and have finally developed the miraculous medicine Your Highness desired. I guarantee its effects will surpass your expectations."

Mo Jingli replied coldly, "Is that so? Then I shall look forward to it. I hope the Elder will not disappoint me."

The Elder smiled confidently. "Naturally. Since this is a collaboration, both parties must be satisfied. As long as Prince Li upholds his end of the bargain, that’s all that matters. Men, bring in the test subjects!"

Shortly after, several men in a wretched state were dragged forward. From Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li’s vantage point, their features weren’t entirely clear, but they could discern that one of them, by his build and appearance, seemed to be from the Central Plains. His eyes were dull and unfocused, his face sallow and gaunt, and he appeared utterly devoid of strength. His expression was vacant, and with saliva dribbling from the corner of his mouth, he looked more like someone born an imbecile.

The Elder laughed. "Prince Li, what do you think? To ensure the medicine’s efficacy, we specially selected some of your Great Chu people as test subjects."

Mo Jingli carefully observed the test subjects and, seemingly quite satisfied, asked, "Good. How long have these people been given the drug?"

The Elder chuckled. "Less than a month."

Mo Jingli was even more pleased. "Excellent. I agree to what you’ve proposed."

The Elder, even more delighted, laughed. "Prince Li is indeed decisive. The Saintess will surely be very grateful to Your Highness."

Mo Jingli hmphed lightly. "It’s merely a matter of mutual benefit. Give me the drug; I need to hurry to Nanzhao Royal City."

The Elder did not delay, taking out two porcelain vials and handing them to Mo Jingli. "This is a three-month supply, more than enough for Prince Li’s purposes. This medicine is extremely difficult to concoct. Our valley’s healers have only managed to produce this much after all this time."

Mo Jingli accepted them. "Thank you, Elder. This prince will take his leave."

The Elder smiled. "I’ll have someone escort Prince Li out of the valley."

After Mo Jingli and Princess Qixia had departed, a woman accompanying the Elder asked, "Elder, who does Prince Li intend to use this medicine on?"

The Elder sneered. "Who else could it be? These Central Plains people are always exceedingly cruel, not even sparing their own blood relatives. I don’t know what deep-seated hatred exists between Prince Li and that Emperor of Great Chu, for him to torment his own elder brother in such a manner. You girls must not get too involved with people from the Central Plains. One day, they might harm you, and you’ll have nowhere to turn to cry."

The young women giggled. "We’re not afraid of those Central Plains people! We’ll set poisonous snakes on them, or, like Prince Li, give them some Forgetfulness Powder and see if they don’t become obedient then!"

The Elder, while admonishing them with a smile, led the group into the palace.

Outside the palace gates, the voices gradually faded. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, still concealed behind the rocks, turned their gaze towards the beautiful sea of flowers. Ye Li murmured, "Forgetfulness Powder? Mo Jingli intends to use it on Mo Jingqi?"

Ye Li sighed softly. "Mo Jingli’s scheme is truly vicious. If Mo Jingqi genuinely falls for it, his life will be utterly ruined. Look at those men from before; just a month ago, they were all perfectly normal, healthy individuals."

"What are your thoughts, Ah-Li?" Mo Xiuyao asked softly. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Ye Li gazed at the majestic palace before them and whispered, "Let’s go in and take a look."

Mo Xiuyao nodded, then, holding Ye Li, he tapped his feet lightly and leaped onto the palace roof. They landed without making the slightest sound, not even alerting the guards outside the hall. As they settled silently, Ye Li frowned, puzzled. "The Sacred Land of the Southern Border should be a heavily guarded place. Why have the patrols been so lax on our way here?"

Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment. "The experts from this place have probably all gone out by now."

A thought struck Ye Li. "Are you suggesting... Nanzhao Royal City?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "If the secret of this so-called Sacred Land of the Southern Border is indeed this Flower of Abyss Underworld, then whether or not there are experts guarding it isn’t that crucial. I suspect that even if someone did manage to break into the valley, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to identify the true Flower of Abyss Underworld. After all, the Flower of Abyss Underworld is a legendary sacred treasure of the Southern Border. No one would imagine that a sacred treasure could be something growing abundantly everywhere. And even if a few stalks were taken, it wouldn’t significantly impact the Sacred Land of the Southern Border."

"It seems Shu Manlin and Tan Jizhi have significant plans for Nanzhao Royal City. We should head back soon, to avoid worrying Big Brother and the others," Ye Li whispered, leaning against Mo Xiuyao after a group of patrolling guards had passed.

Hearing his beloved wife show such concern for Xu Qingchen, Mo Xiuyao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy, even though he knew their bond was purely that of siblings. He grumbled, "Young Master Qingchen is matchless in intellect; what’s there for him to worry about?"

Ye Li pinched him lightly and said with a sigh of resignation, "When did Big Brother ever provoke you? Don’t think I’m unaware that you deliberately misled him into thinking he was interested in men."

Mo Xiuyao huffed and muttered under his breath, "I was just speaking the truth, and still, Ah-Li, you blame me. You’re clearly biased..."

When a man decides to be childish, there’s truly no limit to his unreasonableness; Mo Xiuyao had demonstrated this to her countless times over the years. Ye Li rolled her eyes and chose to ignore him, cautiously proceeding forward.

"Which distinguished guest has arrived? Since you are here, why not show yourself?!" a sudden, aged voice boomed from within the palace.

Blast! Ye Li thought, but she didn’t move a muscle, even slowing her breathing considerably. Mo Xiuyao silently moved to her side and shook his head slightly. Ye Li raised an eyebrow. They had hidden themselves very well along the way. Logically, even if the person was inside the main hall, and no matter how keen their senses, they shouldn’t have been able to detect them.

Silence filled the main hall for a moment before the aged voice sounded again, now tinged with anger, "You have trespassed into our Sacred Land of the Southern Border! Are you still not going to show yourself? Must this old one personally come and invite you out?"

From the opposite rooftop, a figure leaped down, landing gracefully, and laughed heartily. "I am Lei Tengfeng of Xiling. Please forgive my impertinence in disturbing you, Senior."

The person inside the hall sneered. "So, it’s the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince. I was wondering who would be so audacious as to trespass into our Sacred Land of the Southern Border."

Lei Tengfeng chuckled. "I had no alternative but to intrude. Senior, please forgive me. I have come with a request and sincerely hope Senior will grant me an audience."

It had been several years, and Lei Tengfeng appeared much more mature and composed than he was five years prior. His polite words somewhat mollified the anger of the person in the hall.

"The Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince actually has a request for this old one? That is truly a rare occurrence. Come in. Let this old one hear what it is..."

Lei Tengfeng smiled. "It is, of course, a matter of mutual benefit. This junior would never dare to let Senior incur a loss."

Ye Li leaned against Mo Xiuyao, discreetly pointing towards the main hall across the courtyard and then at Lei Tengfeng. Mo Xiuyao nodded. After watching Lei Tengfeng enter the hall, he released Ye Li and, with another light tap of his feet, landed as silently as a swan goose upon the roof of that very main hall.