Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 243 - 242. Martial Arts Conference
242. The Martial Arts Conference
In the end, Mo Xiuyao managed to persuade Xu Qingchen to stay in Nanzhao to deal with the follow-up matters. Satisfied, he took Ye Li away from Nanzhao to enjoy some unbridled travel.
Unlike Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao had no feelings of guilt or worry about leaving Xu Qingchen in Nanzhao. In fact, Mo Xiuyao still held to his consistent belief that Young Master Qingchen has been too modest and reserved. In other words, he was not giving his full effort to his work.
Young Master Qingchen made a name for himself at a young age and was once seen as a great talent by many scholars. Unfortunately, since he resigned from his position and started wandering around, the name Young Master Qingchen has appeared more in folk tales and rumors of the worldly society. It is likely that in the eyes of the world, Young Master Qingchen’s charismatic demeanor surpasses his strategic capabilities. However, Mo Xiuyao knew that Xu Qingchen’s abilities were far beyond that. At least half of Princess Anxi’s achievements today could be attributed to Xu Qingchen. And in the previous few years, the southwestern region of Great Chu was stuck between Xiling and Nanzhao, subjected to threats from both sides. Yet, it has managed to maintain its current situation, thanks to Xu Qingchen’s diplomatic efforts.
Perhaps learning from the lesson of those who had drawn too much attention, the recent generations of the Xu Family preferred to keep a low profile. The development in the Northwest in the past few years was largely due to the Xu Family, but people would only praise Prince Ding and the Princess Consort for their wise leadership, rarely mentioning the Xu Family, indicating the success of the Xu Family’s strategy. This made Mo Xiuyao quite helpless. Showing restraint inevitably limits one’s abilities. If only these people could dedicate themselves fully to their work, he would have more time to play with Ah-Li.
In the inn, Xu Qingchen sat alone behind a desk, resting with his eyes closed. The words Mo Xiuyao had said before leaving echoed in his ears, "Brother Qingchen, I cannot guarantee wealth and prosperity for the Xu Family for ages to come, but as long as I’m alive, and Mo Yuchen is alive, I assure you peace for the Xu Family."
Mo Xiuyao rarely called Mo Xiaobao by his full name, usually calling him Mo Xiaobao. This led some uninformed people to believe that the Young Heir of Prince Ding’s Mansion’s actual name was Mo Xiaobao. Therefore, Mo Xiuyao’s use of the formal name highlighted the sincerity and determination in his words. The Xu Family did not distrust Mo Xiuyao, but they did not trust royal power. The price the Xu Family had paid for this was enormous. While they did not face complete extermination, with rivers of blood, generations of Xu Family members were suppressed, and countless descendants died unfulfilled and in despair. Even his grandfather, a world-renowned great scholar of his time, had he ever truly known a day of freedom? Such slow torment was sometimes more agonizing than a swift execution.
"Young Master Qingchen." Outside the door, Qin Feng’s voice was low.
"What’s the matter?" Xu Qingchen opened his eyes, his gaze calm and entirely free of sleepiness.
Qin Feng replied, "Prime Minister Liu of Great Chu and Noble Consort Liu request an audience."
Xu Qingchen pondered for a moment, then said indifferently, "Let them in."
In a short while, Prime Minister Liu, accompanied by Noble Consort Liu dressed in white, stepped in. Seeing the man in white sitting behind the desk, not even bothering to move, Prime Minister Liu’s cloudy old eyes flashed with a hint of envy and annoyance. He couldn’t help but feel envious of Xu Qingchen. Young Master Qingchen had earned his fame at an early age and held great power before he was even thirty. Although Young Master Qingchen did not have a specific title or position in the Northwest, those who were astute certainly knew his status among the civil officials there was second only to his father, Xu Hong Yu. Reflecting on his own struggle for power on the political stage at that age, using all sorts of underhanded methods to climb, Prime Minister Liu couldn’t help feeling jealousy and resentment towards the distinguished and impeccably refined man before him.
Like her father, Noble Consort Liu also disliked Xu Qingchen. Not only because he was Ye Li’s cousin, but also because his presence always made her feel a sense of inadequacy. It wasn’t that Xu Qingchen was more handsome than her; no matter how dashing Xu Qingchen was, as a man, his features could never be more exquisite or beautiful than Noble Consort Liu, who was renowned as the unparalleled beauty of the Capital of Great Chu. Rather, it was the natural aura Xu Qingchen exuded, one that made people feel as if all their inner darkness and impurity were laid bare before him.
"What brings Prime Minister Liu here?" Xu Qingchen frowned, looking at the two people staring at him without speaking, and finally asked.
Prime Minister Liu snapped back to reality and said, "I heard that Prince Ding and the Princess Consort left Nanzhao Royal City this morning?"
Xu Qingchen nodded but did not speak. Prime Minister Liu’s white eyebrows furrowed. "Then, what are Prince Ding’s and the Princess Consort’s views on Princess Anxi’s succession?"
Word had spread in the palace this morning that the King of Nanzhao had been found. However, the king was severely injured and deeply traumatized by the rebel forces, rendering him incapable of handling state affairs. Soon, Princess Anxi was set to ascend the throne as the Eldest Princess, becoming the new Queen of Nanzhao. This news was not favorable for Great Chu, as Princess Anxi had always been on good terms with Xu Qingchen and also had a good relationship with Princess Consort Ding. If she ascended the throne, it would only be detrimental to Great Chu.
Xu Qingchen replied with a nonchalant smile, "The Prince has already entrusted me with full authority to handle this matter."
Prime Minister Liu’s expression changed slightly. "Does Young Master Qingchen’s decision represent that of Prince Ding?" Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Liu inwardly lamented. He had thoroughly offended the Xu Family when the Emperor acted against them. Now that Prince Ding had entrusted this matter to Xu Qingchen, even if Xu Qingchen weren’t friends with Princess Anxi, he would certainly not side with them.
Xu Qingchen smiled faintly. "Since the King of Nanzhao is unable to govern, it is only right and natural for Princess Anxi, as the Eldest Princess, to ascend the throne. Would the Prince object to this even if he were here? Prime Minister Liu, we should simply await the auspicious day of Princess Anxi’s ascension."
Prime Minister Liu’s face turned pale, then ashen. He desperately did not want Princess Anxi to ascend the throne! Xu Qingchen paid no heed to Prime Minister Liu’s expression.
He lowered his gaze, taking a light sip of the clear tea in his cup, concealing the fleeting disdain in his eyes. For a mere Prime Minister to think he could influence the succession of the Nanzhao throne, he truly overestimated himself. "I have some matters to attend to, so I won’t accompany Prime Minister Liu any longer." This was clearly a dismissal. Prime Minister Liu’s expression shifted, but he ultimately just huffed and stormed off with a flick of his sleeves.
Just as Prime Minister Liu was seen off, someone from outside came to announce that the Heir of Southern Garrison Prince sought an audience. Xu Qingchen furrowed his brows and said, "Close the doors and turn away all visitors. I am not seeing anyone today."
The guard retreated to relay the order. Qin Feng, who had been sitting to one side, asked with some curiosity, "Eldest Young Master, is it really alright to refuse everyone?"
Xu Qingchen laughed. "What’s the issue? Ultimately, they’ll just rehash the same things. Once Princess Anxi ascends the throne, they’ll naturally have nothing more to say." Even if all the various parties present, backed by their envoys, did not wish for Princess Anxi—who was known for her good relations with the Northwest—to ascend the throne, these people, at most, numbered a few hundred. Could they possibly have the power to forcibly prevent it? Picking up his brush, Xu Qingchen wrote a few lines, calmly folded the paper, placed it in an envelope, and handed it to Qin Feng. "Please trouble someone to deliver this to Princess Anxi."
Qin Feng accepted the letter without further questions and immediately turned to leave.
One hour later, Xu Qingchen’s note lay open on Princess Anxi’s desk. The elegant and refined handwriting carried a subtly concealed edge and killing intent: "Hesitation at a critical moment invites chaos. The way of a ruler: those who follow shall prosper, those who resist shall perish!"
Staring at the note for a long time, Princess Anxi finally asked, "Where is Shu Manlin?"
A guard beside her replied, "Reporting to the Princess, she is locked in the dungeon."
Princess Anxi was silent for a moment, then said, "Send her on her way. And those tribal leaders who helped Shu Manlin, send them on their way as well."
"Yes, Princess."
Regardless of the bloody power struggles and covert battles unfolding in Nanzhao Royal City, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao were enjoying a rare period of relaxation and freedom they hadn’t experienced in years. They brought no guards, having left Qin Feng, Zhuo Jing, Third Feng, and the others in Nanzhao to assist Xu Qingchen. Riding a wild horse Mo Xiuyao had just tamed, they carried some luggage and departed Nanzhao Royal City, heading northwest. To avoid being disturbed along the way, Mo Xiuyao had even dyed his white hair, which he had grown accustomed to over several years, back to black. Dressed in the ordinary attire of people from the worldly society, the two of them truly resembled a pair of celestial companions journeying through the mortal realm.
Just when everyone assumed Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding were rushing back to the Northwest, Mo Xiuyao leisurely led Ye Li across the northwestern border of Nanzhao and into the territory of Xiling.
Originally, several hundred years ago, Xiling and Great Chu were one entity. So, even after a few centuries, the languages, customs, and general conditions of the people in the two nations hadn’t diverged too greatly. Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li, with slight disguises, easily blended in at the Xiling border, arousing no suspicion along their journey.
Both were pivotal figures whose actions could affect the entire Northwest. In their usual lives, wherever they went, they were surrounded by attendants, never having a moment of true freedom. This time, without a single guard, they traveled light, enjoying the mountains and waters. Even without deliberately seeking out famous mountains, great rivers, or sacred paradises, they felt an immense sense of liberation and joy. Looking at Ye Li’s relaxed brow each day and the faint, easy smile on her face, Mo Xiuyao felt an even deeper sense of guilt.
Over these years, Ah-Li’s pressure was no less than anyone else’s in the Northwest, perhaps even more. All this was because of him. If she hadn’t married him, with Ah-Li’s capabilities, any kind of life would have been easily within her reach. Yet, solely because he was mired in the Northwest, dealing with endless political affairs and facing what seemed like a world of enemies, her life had become constrained. This was definitely not the life he wanted to give Ah-Li. He wanted Ah-Li to be the most honored and happiest woman in the world, able to do whatever she wanted, go wherever she pleased, at any time.
"What are you thinking about?" Sitting in a corner of the inn, Ye Li looked up and gently asked Mo Xiuyao, who was staring blankly at her.
Mo Xiuyao blinked, gazing at Ye Li, and said softly, "Ah-Li, do you like this kind of life?"
Ye Li raised an eyebrow and nodded. "It’s not bad." Seeing the guilt in Mo Xiuyao’s expression, Ye Li smiled faintly. "It’s certainly nice to have time to come out and enjoy the scenery. But if you wanted me to be like my elder brother, traveling the nations year-round, admiring the beauty of the land, I couldn’t bear that either."
What Ye Li said was true. She wasn’t a romantic scholar like Xu Qingchen, who found solace in mountains and rivers. For her, sightseeing was a way to relax, not a way of life. Life, she felt, should be a bit more grounded and relatable to ordinary people. Essentially, Ye Li considered herself a rather pragmatic person.
Even if she were to roam the world, Ye Li felt that was something for one’s forties or fifties. Fundamentally, being a special forces operative was still a proactive and striving profession, so when young, one should do things appropriate for youth. Otherwise, what would one do in old age? Sit around staring blankly at each other?
"I thought Ah-Li preferred a leisurely life. These past few years of constant busyness surely weren’t what Ah-Li desired?" Mo Xiuyao asked.
Ye Li pondered for a moment, then said, "We’ve discussed this before. I thought you understood my meaning. I’m not particularly fond of power struggles; a peaceful life is naturally best. But in this world... unless I retreat to live as a hermit in the mountains, it’s not always easy to have things your way, is it? Besides, I’m not alone. Even if it weren’t you, I would still have a husband and children. If my husband wasn’t Prince Ding and my son wasn’t the Heir of Prince Ding, would he still have the security and peace he has now? He might be looked down upon due to a lack of status, or be bullied, and I couldn’t always protect him. Furthermore, compared to being confined to the harem, living in luxury but without freedom, I much prefer to walk freely and openly outside. If you want something, you naturally have to give something in return. Compared to the freedom and spontaneity I have now, a little busyness isn’t unacceptable, is it?"
Mo Xiuyao looked at Ye Li seriously and said, "No matter what Ah-Li thinks, I wish Ah-Li didn’t have to worry about anything. Whatever Ah-Li wants, I wish the best in the world could be instantly presented to her. But... I can’t achieve that."
Ye Li helplessly cupped Mo Xiuyao’s face, seeing the earnestness, apology, helplessness, and a hint of grievance in his handsome eyes. She couldn’t help but smile. "Are you saying you want to build a cage of gold and jewels to lock me in? Then I’d eat dragon liver and phoenix marrow, wear clothes of gold and silver thread, and even use celestial dew for mouthwash? Xiuyao, that’s not what I want. What I want is that no matter where you want to go, no matter how high you aspire to climb, you and I can walk side by side. Do you understand?"
"Is there more?" Mo Xiuyao looked at her eagerly, as if hoping she would make more requests. Ah-Li’s requests were incredibly difficult for many, but for Mo Xiuyao, they seemed too simple. He wanted to give Ah-Li the best, everything she desired. Even if he didn’t have it now, he would obtain it, even seize it, for her in the future.
Ye Li tilted her head, looking at him. After a moment, she smiled and said, "And also... if there’s a second woman on this journey, don’t blame me for kicking you out."
"There will never be a second Ah-Li in this world," Mo Xiuyao sighed softly. There was only one Ah-Li, so there could never be a second woman on their path through life.
After soothing the sulking Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li added some of his favorite green vegetables to his bowl, signaling him to eat. The main hall of the inn was hardly a suitable place for heartfelt confessions. Fortunately, the inn wasn’t very busy at this time. With only a few people in the hall, and the two of them seated in a corner, no one noticed their interaction. They ate and chatted idly, discussing their upcoming journey. Suddenly, a large group of people entered the inn, each carrying weapons. From their attire alone, it was clear they were not ordinary folk. The innkeeper hurriedly and attentively went to greet them, and the hall instantly became lively.
Ye Li frowned and said softly, "Why are there so many people from the worldly society here?" This was just an obscure small town in Xiling; it was usually rare to see even a few people from the worldly society, let alone such a large group arriving together.
Mo Xiuyao pondered, observing the group for a good while before saying, "Speaking of which... it seems this year is the Martial Arts Conference, held every nine years."
"The Martial Arts Conference? Are they selecting the martial arts alliance leader?" The first thing that came to Ye Li’s mind when she heard "Martial Arts Conference" was the competition for the position of martial arts alliance leader.
Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "Ah-Li, you’ve never been much interested in the affairs of the worldly society. Where did you hear about such things? A martial arts alliance leader? In the worldly society, all the various schools and sects are autonomous. Who would obey whom? Even if someone were the top martial artist in the world, not everyone would acknowledge them. If that top martial artist were a lone wanderer, forget commanding the powerful factions; they probably couldn’t even order around a few minor schools. The concept of a martial arts alliance leader is just something dreamed up in storybooks."
"I remember now! The Prince seemed to have attended the Martial Arts Conference eighteen years ago. So, this so-called conference is just a competition for ranking among people in the worldly society?" Ye Li quickly recalled that Mo Xiuyao had received the title of one of the Four Great Experts at the Martial Arts Conference eighteen years ago, when he was only fourteen. Now, Mo Xiuyao, just past thirty, was about to experience his third Martial Arts Conference. Of course, he hadn’t participated in the second one due to certain reasons.
"Is this session being held in Xiling? Xiuyao, are you going?" Ye Li asked with a smile. "You didn’t participate last time. Maybe this time you can win the title of the world’s top martial artist to take back."
Mo Xiuyao shook his head and smiled. "If Ah-Li is interested, we can go take a look. But as for being the top martial artist, let’s forget it." Being the top martial artist meant that countless people would endlessly come to challenge and try to defeat you. Mo Xiuyao didn’t think he had the time to deal with that constant stream of martial arts experts. He’d rather spend that time teasing Mo Xiaobao with Ah-Li.
Ye Li said with a smile, "Speaking of which, Prince, it seems you and Pavilion Master Ling still have an unfulfilled duel. Do you think we’ll run into Pavilion Master Ling this time?"
Mo Xiuyao frowned. What Ah-Li said could very well happen. Now that he was healthy and had free time, if he ran into Ling Tiehan, he wouldn’t be able to escape. Although he too wanted to exchange blows with an expert like Ling Tiehan, however...
"Ling Tiehan might not have the time to bother with me," Mo Xiuyao said with a laugh.
Ye Li was puzzled. Could there be a better opponent in the world for Mo Xiuyao?
Mo Xiuyao laughed. "A better opponent might not necessarily exist, but... between an opponent and a nemesis, Ah-Li, who do you think Ling Tiehan would choose first?"
"A nemesis?" Ye Li frowned. She mentally reviewed the renowned experts in the worldly society she could recall but was still confused. "Does Ling Tiehan have a grudge against Lei Zhenting?"
Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "Hasn’t Ah-Li realized? Ling Tiehan and Lei Zhenting are both top experts from Xiling and theoretically should have a closer relationship. However, in all these years, Ling Tiehan would rather travel to Great Chu to find experts to spar with, yet he has never once sparred with Lei Zhenting?"
Ye Li raised her eyebrows. "Isn’t it because Lei Zhenting has a special status?"
"No, it’s because if they were to fight, it would absolutely be to the death. Ling Tiehan won’t make a move unless he’s confident he can kill Lei Zhenting," Mo Xiuyao said calmly.
