Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 329 - 328. Queen Helan

328. Queen Helan 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Licheng in the Northwest, merely six or seven years ago, was just a rather unremarkable city in the Northwest of Great Chu. However, because Prince Ding’s Mansion was located here, it developed into a critical juncture connecting the Western Region countries and the Central Plains trade routes within just a few years. Furthermore, it became one of the most prosperous cities among the surrounding countries. Now, it formed a direct line with the original Xiling imperial capital in the far west and Changxing, the capital of Great Chu, in the east. Thus, the east-west trade route that Prince Ding’s Mansion had painstakingly established over several years had truly come to fruition. And Licheng, therefore, had inevitably become a transfer and diversion point between the two, its prosperity even surpassing that of the cities to its west.

It was only mid-June, yet the number of people coming to Licheng from elsewhere had increased significantly. Among them were not only wealthy merchants, prominent families, and cultured elites from all regions, but also the rulers and imperial family members of various countries. For a time, Licheng could be said to be teeming with dignitaries. Ordinarily, even though Mr. Qingyun was renowned worldwide, if it were merely to celebrate his birthday, not so many people would have come. However, when one considered that Mr. Qingyun was the maternal grandfather of Princess Consort Ding and that the sons of the Xu Family held extremely important positions in Prince Ding’s Mansion, everything appeared quite different. Not to mention the two recent major events in Prince Ding’s life: the conquest of two capital cities and the birth of his heir. In essence, anyone who could make it would not miss this grand occasion.

In Prince Ding’s Mansion within the city, Mr. Qingyun and Su Zhe were sitting under a shady tree, playing chess. No matter how noisy and chaotic it was outside, the sounds wouldn’t reach them. Pondering the chess game before him, Su Zhe laughed and said, "Licheng is now truly a gathering place for talents. Mr. Qingyun, you are very fortunate."

Mr. Qingyun shook his head casually. "What’s the point of celebrating a birthday? It’s less enjoyable than a simple family dinner. Of all the people in this city, how many are truly here to wish an old man like me a happy birthday?"

Su Zhe thought for a moment. Mr. Qingyun’s words were blunt, but they were indeed the truth. He smiled and said, "At the very least, it’s an expression of filial piety from your children and grandchildren. Mr. Qingyun, please don’t discourage them like that."

Mr. Qingyun laughed. "Would I really be so inconsiderate? Although we old men are frail, we can still appreciate a few good performances."

Hearing this, Su Zhe also smiled and shook his head repeatedly. He leisurely placed a chess piece and laughed. "If you say that, those who rushed all the way here will feel quite embarrassed."

"Greetings, Mr. Qingyun." A young servant in green attire respectfully said from the entrance.

Mr. Qingyun looked up and asked, "What is it?"

The young servant respectfully reported, "Fourth Young Master Xu has returned and is waiting outside to pay his respects to you, Sir. Also, a Mr. Xiuting requests an audience."

Su Zhe and Mr. Qingyun shared a glance. Mr. Qingyun quickly said, "Please invite Mr. Xiuting and Qingbai in."

After the young servant was dismissed, Su Zhe laughed. "Chen Xiufu actually came too! I heard he was assisting Fourth Young Master in Xiling. It seems he has genuinely aligned himself with Prince Ding’s Mansion now."

"With Qingbai gaining his sincere support, his tasks will surely be accomplished with greater ease," Mr. Qingyun chuckled.

While they were talking, Mr. Xiuting and Xu Qingbai had already walked in, one after the other. Xu Qingbai went to Mr. Qingyun and respectfully knelt. "Grandson pays his respects to Grandfather. I haven’t been able to serve at your knee for a long time. Please forgive me, Grandfather."

Mr. Qingyun immediately reached out to help him up, looking him over from head to toe with a nod and a smile. "Good child, you look quite spirited. It seems your time in Xiling went well?"

Xu Qingbai smiled. "It was all thanks to Mr. Xiuting’s assistance that I wasn’t overwhelmed."

Beside him, Mr. Xiuting also quickly stepped forward to offer his respects. "Junior Chen Xiufu greets Mr. Qingyun and Mr.Elder Su." When Mr. Xiuting had traveled through the Capital of Great Chu years ago, he had met Su Zhe. Although many years had passed, he still remembered his general appearance.

Mr. Qingyun smiled. "Xiuting, there’s no need for such formalities. It’s rare for you to visit Licheng. If our hospitality is lacking in any way, I hope you won’t take offense."

Mr. Xiuting quickly replied that he wouldn’t dare. Su Zhe invited Mr. Xiuting to sit for a long talk. The three of them were among the most distinguished scholars of their time, so their conversation naturally flowed with great rapport. Seeing them conversing so happily, Xu Qingbai excused himself to go see Xu Hong Yu.

Meanwhile, the large study in Prince Ding’s Mansion was also a hive of activity. Even Ye Li, who was usually spared such tasks, had been drafted into the study to help. With less than ten days remaining before Mr. Qingyun’s birthday, many distinguished guests invited to the banquet had already arrived successively. This banquet could truly be described as an unprecedentedly grand occasion. In less than a month, Licheng’s population had swelled by more than thirty percent. Among them, in addition to the guests invited by Prince Ding’s Mansion, were merchants from various countries who had heard the news, as well as many scholars and travelers who had come on their own to partake in the grand event. Naturally, all the inns in Licheng, large and small, were filled to capacity, not to mention that many latecomers couldn’t even find lodging.

With such a sudden influx of people, countless problems arose concerning provisions, accommodation, transport, and public order. Even greater were the issues of maintaining a balance among the powerful figures from various nations, managing the relationships between these individuals, and their relations with Prince Ding’s Mansion. Determining what agreements could be reached and what benefits each party could obtain required meticulous consideration. It was no wonder they were so busy they felt overwhelmed.

When Xu Qingbai walked in, he saw his father, his two elder brothers, Mo Xiuyao, and Ye Li seated around a large, long table. In front of each of them were towering stacks of thick petitions. Not to mention, in the outer room, even more petitions were piled before Zhuo Jing and the others, who were conducting initial reviews and categorizations. Remembering his own hectic first few months in Xiling, where he often hadn’t even had time to eat, he couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed he wasn’t the only one exhausted in Xiling; his father and elder brothers remaining in Licheng were clearly no less busy.

"Prince, Father, Big Brother, Second Brother, Ah-Li. I’m back," Xu Qingbai said with a smile.

Seeing him enter, Mo Xiuyao, who had been sitting beside Ye Li, suddenly had a glint in his eyes that sent a chill down Xu Qingbai’s spine. He heard Mo Xiuyao say warmly, "Qingbai is back. It must have been a tiring journey. Come, sit down."

Receiving such courtesy from Mo Xiuyao, Xu Qingbai felt somewhat flattered yet wary. He glanced at Mo Xiuyao and offered a faint smile. "You are too kind, Prince. I am quite alright."

At this, Mo Xiuyao’s smile broadened. "If you’re not tired... come, these are yours now." With a casual wave of his hand, Mo Xiuyao gestured Xu Qingbai into a nearby chair, effectively pushing him down. It wasn’t painful, but Xu Qingbai couldn’t easily stand up again. Then, Xu Qingbai watched as Mo Xiuyao shamelessly moved the entire stack of petitions from before Ye Li to him, saying with an affable smile, "We’ll trouble you with these. Ah-Li, the doctor said you shouldn’t strain your eyes too much after childbirth. Let Qingbai take care of these."

Xu Qingbai stared blankly at the mountain of petitions before him. Only when he met his eldest brother’s teasing gaze did he realize he had walked right into becoming free labor.

"Was everything okay in Xiling, Fourth Brother?" Xu Qingze, ever the more considerate one, finally asked, saving Xu Qingbai from feeling that his family had become utterly heartless in the less than a year he’d been away.

Flipping through the petitions before him, Xu Qingbai replied, "It’s alright; things are more or less back on track."

Ye Li glanced at her now empty table, then took a document from Mo Xiuyao’s pile and smiled. "Fourth Brother, you’re being modest. Xiling has been much more stable these past few months. That proves your governance is very effective."

Xu Qingbai shook his head, grinning. "Effective governance is hardly the term. There were quite a few disturbances last month, so General Zhang had to remain to garrison the area. I’ll have to rush back as soon as Grandfather’s birthday celebration is over."

Xu Hong Yu calmly said, "Governing a region doesn’t yield results in a short time. There’s no need to be hasty."

Xu Qingbai nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Father. This son understands." Indeed, he was somewhat impatient, a trait perhaps of his youth. Not yet twenty-five, he was already a chief official governing a territory, and naturally, many subordinates were not convinced of his authority. However, he also understood, just as his father had said, that governing a place took time—three to five years at least—before any significant results could be seen. Thinking this, his initially restless mood gradually calmed.

With an additional person, the work naturally progressed faster. In less than two hours, the official documents on the table had been processed. Ordinarily, Mo Xiuyao, Xu Qingchen, or Xu Hong Yu—any one or two of them—could have completed these tasks. However, things were different recently. Each of them had numerous other matters to attend to, leaving them with little time for these petitions.

After finishing their tasks, everyone let out a sigh of relief. The powerful figures from various nations, those who liked to put on airs, would be arriving around this time. If these documents weren’t processed now, they would have to be set aside until after the birthday banquet. However, delaying important official business for the sake of a banquet was ultimately undesirable. Once the work was done and refreshments had been served, the family finally had a moment to sit and chat.

"Second Brother, have Aunt, Mr. Shen, and Wuyou returned?" Ye Li asked, frowning slightly as she consumed the nourishing tonic specially prepared for her. Last year, when Shen Yang went to Xiling, he had taken Mo Wuyou with him. After all, Mo Wuyou was officially learning medicine from Shen Yang and couldn’t remain indefinitely in a small place like Licheng. Even with talent, one wouldn’t make much progress by merely reading books without practical experience.

Xu Qingbai’s hand paused as he was pouring tea. "They have all returned. Mother was a bit tired from the journey, so she went back to the residence to rest first. Mr. Shen mentioned having some new ideas he wanted to discuss with Doctor Lin, so he took Wuyou along with him."

Hearing this, Ye Li raised a delicate eyebrow and glanced at Xu Qingchen, who sat opposite, his smile serene and his demeanor as elegant as ever.

Xu Qingbai, on the other hand, seemed a bit uneasy and changed the subject. "Why haven’t we seen Second Uncle?"

Xu Qingchen responded, "Second Uncle went to Beirong but should return with Beirong’s envoys." Xu Qingbai, who was stationed far away in Xiling, was not familiar with affairs in Licheng and gave a curious, questioning look. Xu Qingchen then briefly recounted the events that had transpired in Licheng over the past few months. After listening, Xu Qingbai couldn’t help but sigh, remarking that his time in Xiling had been comparatively peaceful.

"So, after this year of fighting, we should be able to have a period of stability, right?" Xu Qingbai asked.

Xu Qingchen lightly chuckled. "Who knows? But apart from their standoff with Beirong, the Mo Family Army should enjoy some stability for a while. What are your plans, Prince?" This past year, the Mo Family Army had showcased its might to all surrounding factions with an almost unbroken string of victories. In the short term, it was unlikely anyone would dare to provoke them again. However, one also had to guard against the possibility of these factions uniting against the Mo Family Army.

Leaning back in his chair with a somewhat languid air, Mo Xiuyao said, "Rest and recuperate. This Prince isn’t in a hurry. As long as they don’t want to fight, we’ll rest. Besides... the Mo Family Army’s forces are still somewhat lacking compared to Beirong and Xiling. This is a good opportunity to build up our strength." In any case, he had no desire to become emperor, nor was he in a rush to seize territory, much less worry about competing with anyone for the throne. But any territory he swallowed, no one could make him spit it back out. Thus, compared to the rulers of the neighboring states, the current Mo Xiuyao was actually the most at ease. The King of Beirong was aging, and the brothers Yelv Ye and Yelv Hong had been locked in overt and covert struggles for over a decade, with no clear end in sight. Ren Qining of the Northern Territory appeared to have consolidated power, but the conflict between the people of the Northern Territory and those from the Central Plains was bound to erupt sooner or later. Lei Zhenting and the Xiling Emperor had practically torn off all pretenses. Lei Zhenting, who originally held the upper hand, had suffered a great loss of vitality due to Mo Xiuyao’s bloody purge and was now evenly matched with the Xiling Emperor. Whoever won in the end would depend on whose methods were superior. As for Mo Jingli, who was based in Jiangnan, and Princess Anxi of Nanzhao, Mo Xiuyao didn’t currently consider them significant threats.

"What if they still want to fight?" Xu Qingchen asked.

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow. "If they want to fight, then fight we shall. Would this Prince be afraid of them?"

Hearing this, Xu Qingchen couldn’t help but smile. Indeed, had the Mo Family Army ever been afraid of fighting a war?

"Your Highnesses, King of Northern Territory has arrived." Qin Feng entered and reported from the doorway.

"Hmm?" Mo Xiuyao was somewhat surprised. Considering both the distance and the relationship between their factions, Ren Qining shouldn’t have been the first to arrive. Even he had assumed the first to arrive would be either Lei Zhenting or envoys from the Xiling Emperor. After a moment’s surprise, Mo Xiuyao pulled Ye Li to her feet and smiled. "Regardless of whether his claim is legitimate or not, he is, after all, the ruler of a nation. Ah-Li, you should accompany me to welcome him personally." Since they were coming in the name of celebrating a birthday, they would naturally have to visit Mr. Qingyun at Prince Ding’s Mansion. It would indeed be a bit impolite if Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, the hosts of the mansion, did not personally come out to greet them.

Ye Li looked at Mo Xiuyao with a faint smile. "Perhaps Big Brother and I should go. Are you sure the King of Northern Territory won’t draw his sword and try to kill you on sight?" It would be too much to expect someone to greet the murderer of his entire family—wives, concubines, and children—with a smile. Ye Li could already imagine Ren Qining’s expression if Mo Xiuyao were to personally greet him.

Mo Xiuyao chuckled dismissively. "How could that happen? His coming here means he can definitely endure it. Besides, even if he draws his sword, would this Prince be afraid? While killing a King of Northern Territory isn’t ideal, if he makes the first move, this Prince will have no psychological qualms."

Ye Li couldn’t argue him down and could only let him drag her along, full of enthusiasm, to greet Ren Qining. That’s right, full of enthusiasm. Even those around them could distinctly feel that Prince Ding was approaching the matter of greeting the King of Northern Territory with a high degree of fervor.

「At the entrance of Prince Ding’s Mansion」

Two rows of guards in black attire stood rigidly outside, solemnly guarding the main gates of the mansion. They also studiously ignored the infuriating scene unfolding before them, as if they saw nothing at all. Having just arrived, Ren Qining, clad in the distinctive royal attire of the Northern Territory, stared fixedly at the handsome, white-clad, white-haired man standing by the main entrance with an amiable smile. Although Ren Qining had the typical appearance of a man from the Central Plains, he wore the nomadic attire of the Northern Territory without any awkwardness; rather, it highlighted a rugged and bold aura that his Central Plains clothing lacked.

However, this bold, kingly aura vanished the instant he saw Mo Xiuyao’s smiling face, his own expression twisting into a distorted and ferocious one. No matter how ambitious a person might be, or how willing to sacrifice everything for the realm, when facing the murderer of one’s own wife and children, their self-control would never be as good as imagined—especially when that murderer was smiling at them with such delight. But Mo Xiuyao didn’t care what Ren Qining thought. In fact, the more displeased Ren Qining was, the happier Mo Xiuyao became. So, observing Ren Qining’s expression, Mo Xiuyao merely raised an eyebrow and asked with feigned confusion, "King of Northern Territory, what seems to be the matter? After not seeing you for a year or two, your temperament seems to have changed quite a bit. Or is it that my Prince Ding’s Mansion has been lacking in its hospitality?"

Ren Qining clenched his teeth, suppressing his fury, and said in a low voice, "Prince Ding jests. This King is merely a little tired from the long journey."

"Ah, so that’s it." Mo Xiuyao smiled. "It was this Prince’s oversight. In that case... why doesn’t the King of Northern Territory proceed to the official guesthouse to rest first? Tonight, this Prince will host a welcoming banquet for the King of Northern Jin."

"That won’t be necessary," Ren Qining stated. "This King would prefer to pay respects to Mr. Qingyun first, to fulfill the proper etiquette."

"King of Northern Territory, please don’t worry about it. My maternal grandfather is an understanding man." Understand what? That people from the Northern Territory lack manners?

"Prince Ding, is this the famous Princess Consort Ding?" Seeing Ren Qining’s face turning increasingly gloomy, a beautiful woman dressed in striking clothes standing next to him asked. It seemed only then that Mo Xiuyao noticed the two women standing beside Ren Qining, both of whom were of uncommon beauty. One, dressed in blue, looked delicate and gentle, obviously a Central Plains woman. The one who had spoken, a strikingly beautiful woman, did not possess the jade-like fairness typical of Central Plains women but had a healthy, wheat-colored complexion. Though her features were stunning and she carried herself with a proud air, she did not seem unduly arrogant or spoiled.

Ye Li stepped forward and said with a smile, "Famous is too strong a word, but I am indeed Ye Li. And you are...?"

Ren Qining said, "This is my queen, Queen Helan, and this is Consort Yun."

Ye Li smirked inwardly. Ren Qining had acted swiftly, having already acquired both a wife and a concubine in just a few months. Nevertheless, he couldn’t resist bringing his concubine along when he was out with his wife, suggesting that the conflict between the Northern Territory locals and the Central Plains people must be pretty severe. Without glancing at the woman in blue, Ye Li offered a friendly smile to the vibrant Queen Helan. "Queen Helan, your arrival in Licheng brings great honor to Prince Ding’s Mansion. King of Northern Territory, Queen, please come in."

Queen Helan glanced at Ye Li and laughed. "Although I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, I know you’re complimenting me. Princess Consort Ding, I really like you."

Ye Li’s lips curved into a smile. "Thank you for your high regard, Queen. Please, come in."

Queen Helan didn’t stand on ceremony and moved forward to take Ye Li’s hand. Mo Xiuyao, standing nearby, frowned slightly and reached out to block Helan’s hand. Queen Helan’s charming eyes glinted, and she aimed a palm strike at Mo Xiuyao.

A slender, delicate hand darted out from the side, intercepting and gripping her wrist. Ye Li, still smiling, looked at her. "Queen Helan, our Prince has always been disinclined to spar with women. Perhaps I can entertain you instead?"

Queen Helan’s eyes lit up. "Excellent!" She twisted free from Ye Li’s grasp, drew a vibrant, multi-colored long whip from her waist, and grinned at Ye Li. "Back in the Northern Territory, I heard that the Princess Consort of Prince Ding’s Mansion is exceptionally skilled. I’ve been itching for a match with you! Here I come!" With that, she raised her arm and swung the whip towards Ye Li. Ye Li smiled faintly, her figure shifting with light agility. She smoothly drew a longsword from the scabbard of Qin Feng, who stood nearby. With a flash of sword light, the two were engaged in combat.

"Helan!" Ren Qining exclaimed, his face darkening. Queen Helan’s sudden action had clearly taken him by surprise.

Mo Xiuyao, however, was unconcerned. He calmly watched the two women spar and chuckled, "King of Northern Territory, please don’t mind. It’s merely a casual spar. Ah-Li knows her limits and won’t injure Queen Helan." Mo Xiuyao’s words were certainly not aimed at mocking Ren Qining. Everyone present could see that although Queen Helan’s martial arts were commendable, she was clearly no match for Ye Li, who had been honed on the battlefield.

Ren Qining’s face was grim. "The Queen has been impertinent. Thank you, Prince Ding, for not taking offense."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly and shifted his gaze towards the two slender figures still near the entrance.

The woman in blue standing beside Ren Qining was the consort he had been compelled to take at the same time he married Queen Helan. She was the daughter of one of Ren Qining’s trusted confidants and was naturally far more favored than Queen Helan, who came from a noble family of the Northern Territory. Yet today, at the entrance of Prince Ding’s Mansion, both Prince Ding and Princess Consort Ding had seemingly ignored her in unison. This left Consort Yun, who was already somewhat arrogant due to the favor she received, feeling rather humiliated.

Now, seeing Princess Consort Ding and Queen Helan capture everyone’s attention, Consort Yun felt even more displeased. She couldn’t help but whisper, "Wasn’t it said that Princess Consort Ding comes from a scholarly family? Why isn’t she inviting the guests in rather than fighting at the door?"

She thought she had spoken softly, but who among those present was not a highly skilled martial arts expert? Mo Xiuyao’s gaze swept over her, a touch of coldness flashing in his eyes. Just as her words fell, the sparring Ye Li and Queen Helan separated, each retreating to their original positions.

Ye Li smiled and said, "Queen Helan, you are very skilled. How about we spar together sometime?"

Queen Helan laughed. "Excellent! Princess Consort Ding, you truly are formidable. This Queen admires you! I’ve made a friend in you!"

Ye Li laughed. "I am honored to have the Queen as a friend. King of Northern Territory, Queen Helan, please come in."

Ren Qining studied Ye Li intently, then offered a faint smile. "Thank you, Princess Consort. It has been some time, yet your vibrant spirit remains as impressive as ever."

Ye Li smiled elegantly. "You flatter me too much, King of Northern Territory."