Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 320 - 319. Ownership of the Capital of Great Chu

319. The Ownership of the Capital of Great Chu

Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li returned to Licheng with their retinue. As Ye Li was pregnant, their journey was slow and unhurried, devoid of any urgency, even though the Mo Family Army left behind in the Northwest had already engaged in war with Xiling and Beirong.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Mo Jingli, who was in a standoff with the Southern Garrison Prince, also received news from Licheng. In the palace, lavishly refurbished from the original Prince Li’s Mansion, Mo Jingli’s face darkened as he read the petition just presented to him. Although the current Palace of Great Chu was an expansion of the original Prince Li’s Mansion, its renovation had begun when Mo Jingli and Mo Jingqi had their falling out. Thus, the progress over the years was not insignificant. The hasty relocation of Great Chu’s court south of the Yunlan River was surprisingly orderly. The small court of Great Chu, primarily maintained by Mo Jingli, managed to endure. However, the court now situated in Jiangnan could hardly be called "Great" anymore; "Nanchu" (Southern Chu) seemed a more fitting name.

In the grand hall, the young emperor, a timid and ignorant child of six or seven, sat on the throne. Beside him, on a chair almost as resplendent as the throne itself, sat Mo Jingli, the now all-powerful Regent Prince. Seeing Mo Jingli’s displeased expression, the ministers below dared not speak. Indeed, the Jiangnan region was now entirely under Prince Li’s control; living under another’s roof, they naturally had to be subservient. Besides, the truly principled civil and military officials had preferred death to abandoning the capital, choosing to remain in the crumbling Capital of Great Chu. How could one expect those who remained to have the courage to stand up to Prince Li?

Currently, although the Grand Empress Dowager still wielded some power, her influence had gradually waned since the capital’s relocation. The Empress Dowager was hardly braver than the young emperor. Everyone secretly understood that it wouldn’t be long before the young emperor would abdicate, and Great Chu would have a new emperor.

Mo Jingli, looking down from his high seat, swept his gaze over the crowd below and sneered, "Do you want to know what this says?"

The officials were startled, exchanging furtive glances. His words are rather strange, they thought.

Mo Jingli paid them no mind, flicking the petition in his hand lightly. "After capturing Xiling’s imperial city, Mo Xiuyao renamed it Anping City. Now, Mo Xiuyao has left Xiling and returned to the Northwest."

Hearing this, the ministers present had varied expressions, exchanging opinions with their close colleagues through glances. An impatient Mo Jingli said, "If you have something to say, speak directly!"

After a moment, a minister stepped forward, bowed, and reported, "Your Highness, Prince Ding is returning to the Northwest. Does this signify that... the Mo Family Army might send troops to rescue the Capital of Great Chu? If so..."

Mo Jingli chuckled dismissively, regarding him with a smile that was not quite a smile. "So what if that’s the case? Are you still hoping to return to the Capital of Great Chu? Never mind that Lei Zhenting blocks the other side. Even if the Capital of Great Chu were recaptured, what use would it be? Surrounded by Beirong, the Northern Territory, and Xiling, wouldn’t it be an isolated city? Furthermore... do you believe the Capital of Great Chu, if retaken by Mo Xiuyao, would belong to the imperial family or to Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

"This... Your Highness is far-sighted. This minister was mistaken." The minister’s face changed slightly, and he sullenly retreated into the ranks.

Mo Jingli looked at the crowd indifferently. "You need not be too disappointed. Even if Mo Xiuyao intends to reinforce the Capital of Great Chu, I’m afraid it’s too late. Currently, hundreds of thousands of Beirong cavalry and 200,000 Xiling troops are still stationed outside Feihong Pass."

"Your Highness, then the Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling..."

Mo Jingli said contemptuously, "Xiling’s troops are not adept at naval warfare; the Yunlan River is a natural chasm to them. Order the generals along the river to guard it well for this Prince. One day, this Prince will make Lei Zhenting pay!"

Everyone instantly understood. Prince Li planned to entrench himself in a corner of Jiangnan, using the natural barrier of the Yunlan River to control the region’s abundance, with no intention of marching north to reclaim lost territories in the near future. A wave of disappointment washed over them, followed by confusion. They hadn’t wanted war in the Capital of Great Chu, so they had followed Prince Li, escorting the Emperor to relocate the capital to Jiangnan, consoling themselves with the thought of a future resurgence. But now... Perhaps this is how life will be from now on?

Seeing no further matters to discuss, Mo Jingli dismissed the officials. Soon, besides the attending eunuchs, only the young emperor Mo Suyun remained in the grand hall. Mo Suyun was terrified of his imperial uncle, who always seemed to stare at him with a frightening gaze. With no one else around, he could only shrink his small frame further into the dragon throne.

Mo Jingli’s gaze darkened, and his eyes on the child on the dragon throne grew increasingly gloomy. If my son were still alive, he would be this child’s age. But Mo Jingqi... I don’t know where he took my son, yet I have to meticulously care for Mo Jingqi’s son! The sight of the timid child became increasingly irksome. Mo Jingli abruptly yanked Mo Suyun from the dragon throne and dragged him towards the inner palace, heedless of whether a seven-year-old child could keep up with an adult’s pace. Mo Suyun stumbled along, practically dragged by Mo Jingli. The palace attendants and eunuchs along the way all saw the young emperor’s pathetic state, but in this palace, the Regent Prince’s word was law. Who would dare to offer a word of counsel?

Mo Jingli dragged Mo Suyun straight to the Empress Dowager’s palace. The Empress Dowager, Ms. Li, was conversing with the Grand Empress Dowager. She was first startled by Mo Jingli’s sudden entrance, then, upon seeing her son’s wretched state, tears immediately streamed down her face. "My son..."

"Get lost!" Mo Jingli snapped impatiently. If he held any respect for his former sister-in-law, Empress Hua, then in Mo Jingli’s eyes, this Empress Dowager Li was worth less than dirt. As expected, Ms. Li trembled with fear, frozen on the spot, daring not to move. She could only gaze helplessly at her pale-faced son. The Grand Empress Dowager, seated to the side, secretly shook her head and sighed. While she disliked an Empress Dowager who was too overbearing, Ms. Li was far too weak. They say a mother finds strength for her child, but Ms. Li couldn’t muster much courage even for her own son.

"Li’er, what do you think you’re doing?" the Grand Empress Dowager chided unhappily, her gaze fixed on Mo Jingli’s sullen face.

Mo Jingli carelessly tossed Mo Suyun to the floor beside them, not caring if he was injured, and sneered coldly, "What am I doing? Mother, you tell me, where on earth did Mo Jingqi take my son?!"

The Grand Empress Dowager remained silent. If she had been somewhat unclear before, enough time had passed for her to understand. She had never imagined that both her sons would be so ruthless towards their own blood brother. She shook her head. "I don’t know. You know my relationship with your imperial elder brother was not as harmonious as outsiders perceived. If he did such a thing, why would he tell me?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

These past few months, Mo Jingli had come to question her every few days. The Grand Empress Dowager vaguely understood now; it was likely that the child Ye Ying had borne was the only child Mo Jingli would ever have in this lifetime.

"You should ask Ms. Liu about this. Weren’t you the one who insisted on protecting her back then?" the Grand Empress Dowager said coolly, a hint of mockery in her voice. Her own son, when his mother was about to be forced to be buried alive with the late emperor, didn’t try to save her, but instead protected an outsider. Every time the Grand Empress Dowager thought of this, she felt a suffocating tightness in her chest.

"That vile woman, Noble Consort Liu!" Mo Jingli cursed bitterly. Outsiders believed Noble Consort Liu had burned to death in that great fire, but those in the know understood what had truly happened. To escape, Noble Consort Liu had not hesitated to harm her own biological daughter—truly vicious. But Mo Jingli had searched all over the country, inside and out, yet found no trace of Noble Consort Liu. In a rage, Mo Jingli had thrown the entire Liu family, young and old, into prison, but months of interrogation yielded no information.

The Grand Empress Dowager gave a soft sigh, looking at Mo Jingli. "I heard that after Prince Ding captured the Xiling imperial city, he already set off back to Licheng?"

Mo Jingli scoffed coldly. "Mother, your news travels fast. However... this doesn’t concern you. The inner palace... must not interfere in state affairs!"

"You!" The Grand Empress Dowager’s face darkened, a breath caught in her chest, unable to escape, her complexion flushing red then turning pale. Her finger, pointing at Mo Jingli, trembled uncontrollably, yet she couldn’t utter a word. Ms. Li, regaining her composure, rushed forward to help soothe the Grand Empress Dowager, as she was accustomed to serving her. After a long while, the Grand Empress Dowager finally calmed down, only to find Mo Jingli had already stormed off with a flick of his sleeves.

"Grand Empress Dowager..." Ms. Li called out timidly, offering ginseng tea.

The Grand Empress Dowager swept the ornaments from the table to the floor, weeping with unrestrained tears. "What sins did I commit in a past life to give birth to these two wretched sons..."

Mo Jingli, already stepping out of the palace gates, heard the sounds of weeping from within. A cold, disdainful smile touched his lips. The so-called maternal bond has long since been worn away by these years. In my heart, my own mother is not even as important as my aunt, Grand Consort Wise Zhao, who raised me. Therefore, after the move south, Mo Jingli unhesitatingly also conferred the title of Grand Empress Dowager upon Grand Consort Wise Zhao. This also caused a rift between the original Grand Empress Dowager and her paternal cousin whom she had supported her entire life. Their relationship was no longer as close as before.

Strolling along the winding corridors of the palace, Mo Jingli momentarily pushed aside thoughts of his son, reflecting instead on the matters discussed in the grand hall. Recalling the flicker of hope in the ministers’ eyes, and how it gradually dimmed, his smile turned colder. Were they still holding onto their expectations for Mo Xiuyao? How foolish! He controlled the rich lands of Jiangnan; why should he contend with those people? All he needed to do was guard the strategic Yunlan River, properly manage this region of Jiangnan, enrich its people, and strengthen its army. Let Mo Xiuyao go fight it out with Beirong, the Northern Territory, and those barbarians from Xiling. Even if Mo Xiuyao could outcompete one or two, could he possibly triumph over all three? When both sides were exhausted and battered, he would seize the opportunity to reclaim the rivers and mountains... Who would dare say he, Mo Jingli, was not a ruler of restoration?

At this moment, Leng Haoyu, who had retreated to the Capital of Great Chu after the fall of Zijing Pass and was planning to take his old father back to the Northwest (incidentally to see his own dear son), found his face falling instantly upon receiving a letter personally delivered by Wei Lin. He looked helplessly at Wei Lin. "Little Wei, couldn’t you have come two days later? Your young master was all set to leave for the Northwest."

Wei Lin looked at him with a smile. "Young Master Qingchen’s meaning is that even if you, Second Young Master Leng, reached the gates of Feihong Pass, you would likely have to turn right back around."

Leng Haoyu huffed lightly, though he knew Wei Lin spoke the truth. He waved the letter in his hand. "Why did Young Master Qingchen have you personally deliver this? Isn’t that a waste of your talents?" Although Wei Lin was nominally Princess Consort Ding’s personal attendant, everyone in Prince Ding’s Mansion knew that the Princess Consort had never treated him, Zhuo Jing, and Lin Han as mere guards. Moreover, their capabilities far exceeded those of ordinary guards. If they were sent out on assignments, their status would likely not be much lower than Leng Haoyu’s. Thus, even Mo Xiuyao’s old confidants like Third Feng and Leng Haoyu always treated Wei Lin and the others as equals.

Wei Lin said earnestly, "Young Master Qingchen’s intention is for this subordinate to join Second Young Master Leng and assist General Leng in defending the Capital of Great Chu."

Seated to the side, Leng Huai was taken aback. Since Leng Haoyu had brought him back to the Capital of Great Chu and he had witnessed its current state, Leng Huai had become disheartened. Yet, despite this, he didn’t want to abandon the Capital of Great Chu and flee west, becoming a deserter. However, this son, whom he had never paid much attention to, displayed unprecedented sharpness and skill, giving Leng Huai no room for choice. He hadn’t expected this sudden turn of events just before their departure. While pleased, he still worried about what would happen if Leng Haoyu became trapped and unable to escape. As a subject and general of Great Chu, his death was of little consequence, but he had never thought of having his son die with him.

"Master Wei, will His Highness Prince Ding send reinforcements?" Leng Huai asked.

Wei Lin frowned slightly. "When this subordinate left the Northwest, the Prince was still in Xiling and had not yet returned. Furthermore, outside Feihong Pass, hundreds of thousands of Beirong and Xiling troops are watching covetously. However, years ago, the Princess Consort arranged a hidden force within Great Chu. General Murong Shen has also received a letter from Young Master Qingchen and will temporarily abandon his confrontation with Lei Zhenting to lead his forces further north. Young Master Qingchen hopes that the Capital of Great Chu can hold out for at least three months."

"Three months..." Leng Huai frowned. It wasn’t that he was unaware of the Mo Family Army’s current difficulties, but life within the Capital of Great Chu was also harsh. Mo Jingli had taken most of the forces when he went south. The forces remaining in the Capital of Great Chu consisted of remnants defeated on the Beirong and Northern Territory fronts, along with some troops left to defend the city—mostly old subordinates of State Duke Hua—totaling no more than 200,000 men. The morale of the soldiers defeated on the front lines was extremely low. Compounded by the enemy army now at the city gates, the morale of the entire army and the city’s populace had plummeted. Let alone three months, Leng Huai worried if they could even hold out for one.

"Three months is no problem! If we cannot hold the Capital of Great Chu for these three months, on the day the city falls, this old man will die to apologize to the world!" An elderly yet resonant voice came from outside the door. Everyone turned to see the white-haired State Duke Hua. Although already in his seventies, State Duke Hua wore battle armor and a war robe, his stride like a dragon and gait like a tiger, still possessing a hint of the imposing and heroic spirit from his years commanding on the battlefield.

Everyone quickly rose. "Old State Duke, Eldest Princess." Accompanying State Duke Hua was the equally white-haired Eldest Princess Fuxi, supported by Eldest Princess Zhaoyang. Behind them followed a boy and a girl, both around twelve or thirteen years old. The girl kept her head slightly bowed, yet it couldn’t conceal the scar on half her face. They were Princess Zhenning and Prince Mo Xiaoyun, children of Noble Consort Liu. Mo Jingli had taken many princes, princesses, and imperial relatives with him, but for some reason, this pair of siblings had remained behind with Eldest Princess Fuxi.

State Duke Hua looked at Leng Huai, then sized up Leng Haoyu for a moment before asking, "Will Prince Ding truly send troops to rescue the Capital of Great Chu?"

Leng Haoyu’s expression sobered slightly, a hint of his usual roguish smile reappearing on his lips. "Old State Duke, aren’t you making things difficult for this junior? This junior has always been in Great Chu and has rarely even been to the Northwest. How could I know the Prince’s intentions? Moreover, the Prince is still far away in Xiling. Assisting in the city’s defense is Young Master Qingchen’s idea." So, what Prince Ding truly intends, no one can say for sure right now. Although Young Master Qingchen’s word is final in the Northwest, he is, after all, not Prince Ding himself, is he? So, he couldn’t make any promises to State Duke Hua on Prince Ding’s behalf.

State Duke Hua grunted lightly and glanced at Leng Huai with an unreadable smile. "Among your sons, this old man finds this one to be more capable." State Duke Hua had always paid attention to Prince Ding’s Mansion. And Leng Haoyu had always been close to Feng Zhiyao, who grew up with Mo Xiuyao, so State Duke Hua was naturally not unfamiliar with him. He just hadn’t expected this one to also be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had previously thought that the Leng family of generals had produced a son who loved business. Looking now at his performance at Zijing Pass, this Leng Haoyu, who had always appeared like a dandy, was actually deeply hidden and more formidable than Leng Qingyu, who was always lauded.

Leng Huai could only manage an awkward smile, assuming the Old State Duke was teasing him for not understanding his own son. However, he wasn’t displeased that this son born of a concubine was more capable than his carefully cultivated legitimate eldest son. Since Leng Haoyu could surpass his elder brother despite being completely overlooked, it proved his own ability. They were both his sons, so Leng Huai naturally harbored no resentment.

State Duke Hua squinted at Leng Haoyu, who appeared lazily relaxed, and said coolly, "Young Leng, don’t beat around the bush with this old man. This old man doesn’t believe you don’t have some idea of what Prince Ding’s Mansion intends."

Leng Haoyu’s eyes darted, and he sat up, smiling. "Old State Duke, you can’t say that. Let’s not even discuss Prince Ding’s Mansion’s intentions for now. Let’s just say, even if the Prince returns early and is willing to send troops to help, the Beirong army separating the Northwest and Great Chu numbers over a million. Whether they can arrive in time is a major question. Besides... this junior will speak bluntly, Old State Duke: even if the Capital of Great Chu is successfully defended, whose will it be considered?"

State Duke Hua stared at Leng Haoyu. "Is this Prince Ding’s intention, or Eldest Young Master Xu’s?"

Leng Haoyu, unfazed by the pressure State Duke Hua deliberately exuded, rubbed his nose and chuckled. "I was just asking casually. The Old State Duke knows that I, Leng Haoyu, am a businessman. Logically speaking... whether the Capital of Great Chu stands or falls originally has nothing to do with our Prince Ding’s Mansion, does it? Why should Prince Ding’s Mansion risk turmoil in its own rear to reinforce the Capital of Great Chu, even to the point of confronting the armies of Beirong and the Northern Territory?"

State Duke Hua fell silent. He naturally understood Leng Haoyu’s meaning. The Mo Family Army had no obligation to sacrifice so many soldiers’ lives to repel a powerful enemy for Great Chu, to defend the Capital of Great Chu for Great Chu. Especially now that the entire imperial family of Great Chu had abandoned the Capital of Great Chu and fled south in panic, on what grounds should the Mo Family Army help their enemies reclaim the city?

"Second Young Master Leng," Mo Xiaoyun, who had been standing behind the Eldest Princess, suddenly spoke. "Second Young Master Leng, the Great Chu imperial family’s incompetence led to the loss of most of our territory. Now, they have abandoned countless commoners to secure a corner in the south, truly having no face to meet the people of Great Chu again. As long as the Mo Family Army can save the people of the Capital of Great Chu from being massacred by the barbarians, then in the future... the Capital of Great Chu will naturally belong to Prince Ding’s Mansion."

At these words, everyone present was stunned. Their gazes couldn’t help but fall on this boy of only twelve or thirteen. Truth be told, despite having a mother like Noble Consort Liu, Mo Xiaoyun was indeed the most presentable among Mo Jingqi’s surviving sons. After all, the Liu family’s years of cultivation had not been in vain. Originally, Mo Jingqi had probably intended to pass the throne to Mo Xiaoyun, but unfortunately, his mother ruined it for him. For a boy of his age to say such words now was truly commendable.

Leng Haoyu looked at Mo Xiaoyun, raising an eyebrow. "Prince Qin... can you make that decision?"

Mo Xiaoyun said seriously, "Before the Emperor moved south, he had already enfeoffed this Prince as Prince Changxing. This Prince can naturally make the decision."

The Capital of Great Chu was anciently called Changxing. Now that the capital had been relocated, the name "Capital of Great Chu" naturally couldn’t be used anymore for this place. However, to show that the imperial family had not abandoned its people, a prince had to be left to preside over this place. Thus, Mo Jingli had renamed the former Crown Prince, Prince Qin Mo Xiaoyun, as Prince Changxing, signifying that this place was Mo Xiaoyun’s fiefdom. Although nominally still belonging to Great Chu, under the current circumstances, if Mo Xiaoyun agreed, the Southern Chu court indeed had no grounds to object.

Leng Haoyu looked at Mo Xiaoyun with interest. "This is the Capital of Great Chu. Are you truly willing to let it go?"

Mo Xiaoyun said with a calm expression, "Is there any use in being unwilling? Without the Mo Family Army’s support, the Capital of Great Chu will fall sooner or later. At that time, never mind being Prince Changxing, I probably won’t even be able to keep my life. Prince Ding is benevolent; this Prince believes Prince Ding will not harm my sister and me."

"Old State Duke, what do you say?" Leng Haoyu asked.

State Duke Hua snorted lightly. "Since Prince Changxing has agreed, what more is there for this old man to say? Second Young Master Leng truly knows how to do business. The Leng family can be considered to have a successor."

Leng Haoyu touched his nose, somewhat abashed. "Old State Duke, you praise me too much."

State Duke Hua stood up. "Since it’s come to this... within three months, be it Beirong or the Northern Territory, this old man will absolutely not let those barbarians from beyond the borders take a single step into the city!"

Leng Haoyu smiled. "Then we’ll be relying on you, Old State Duke."

After seeing State Duke Hua’s party off, Leng Haoyu rubbed his chin, silently pondering whether he should write a letter to hurry Young Master Qingchen and see if troops could be dispatched sooner. Holding out for three months is truly no easy task. A single misstep, and he might just lose his little life.

Leng Huai, standing beside him, watched his son’s contemplative expression and also remained silent. Compared to the imminent and almost foreseeable bitter struggle, the ultimate ownership of the Capital of Great Chu seemed to be a less important matter.