Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 60. Attacked in the Bamboo Forest

60. Assault in the Bamboo Grove

"So, His Majesty’s idea is for Princess Qixia to enter the palace, and Princess Ling Yun to be designated to Prince Li."

Ye Li glanced swiftly at Ye Ying, who was sitting next to Mo Jingli—sure enough, her face was dark and she was glaring at Princess Ling Yun. On the Nanzhao Kingdom’s side, Princess Qixia also looked very upset. Mo Jingli’s countenance was undoubtedly terrible too; he was broodingly staring at the aggrieved-looking Princess Ling Yun. Ye Li looked thoughtfully at the Emperor in the great hall, who was clearly very satisfied with his arrangements. For a moment, she couldn’t understand what His Majesty actually intended. Was it simply because Princess Ling Yun had annoyed him, so he assigned her to Prince Li? However, Princess Qixia had been in the Capital of Great Chu for several months now, and the Emperor was likely aware of the rumors about her and Mo Jingli.

"His Majesty wouldn’t want Jing Li to have any further contact with Nanzhao. Even if Princess Ling Yun were not involved, His Majesty would never designate Princess Qixia for him," Mo Xiuyao explained calmly, seemingly understanding Ye Li’s confusion. "Nanzhao consists mostly of barbarians. They may appear to have a small and weak population, but their people are actually very fierce. They simply can’t become a major power due to their limited numbers."

Ye Li murmured quietly, "His Majesty doesn’t want Prince Li to establish a relationship with Nanzhao? But it seems that Xiling is even more powerful than Nanzhao."

Mo Xiuyao chuckled softly. "Xiling is Great Chu’s sworn enemy. Unless Mo Jingli betrays his country, Xiling cannot offer him any benefits. Besides... His Majesty absolutely does not want any princes with Xiling blood among the imperial heirs."

Ye Li suddenly understood and glanced sympathetically at Mo Jingli. It seems that even the Emperor’s own younger brother isn’t entirely trusted by his imperial older brother.

Mo Xiuyao softly chuckled, "Ah-Li, you are too kind-hearted. In the royal family, no one is without ambitions."

Ye Li was taken aback. After pondering Mo Xiuyao’s words, she looked at Mo Jingli with a much more thoughtful gaze. But... does Mo Jingli really have the intellect for such complex matters? Or has he been feigning incompetence all this time?

Upon returning to the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, Ye Li couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh of relief. The half-day she spent in the palace was more tiring than the entire past month combined. After bidding farewell to Mo Xiuyao, Ye Li returned to her courtyard, where Nanny Lin and Nanny Wei immediately rushed over with other servants. Evidently, news of what had happened in the palace that afternoon had already reached the mansion. The two nannies scanned Ye Li from head to toe, only relaxing after confirming she was indeed unharmed. Ye Li, trying to be patient, requested a late-night snack to fill her stomach. Nanny Lin waved her hand, and someone brought in a portion of chicken congee clearly large enough for three, which had obviously been prepared well in advance. Ye Li looked at the congee. "Nanny, although I’m hungry, I haven’t suddenly become *that* capable of eating."

Nanny Wei shot her an unsatisfied look. "Princess Consort, do you think you’re the only one who gets hungry?"

Ye Li blinked in confusion. Hadn’t Qingluan and the others already gone for their meal?

Nanny Wei, with a look of exasperation, impatiently shoved the tray of congee into her hands. "The Prince is in the study. You should go and eat with him."

"That...isn’t necessary. I can just send someone to bring it to Ah-Jin."

"Princess Consort!" Nanny Lin stared at Ye Li with a stern face. "You are the Prince’s wife. How can you delegate a task like delivering a late-night snack to others? Did Second Madam forget to teach you the ways of a wife when you were at the Xu Family?"

Seeing Nanny Lin’s expression, which clearly indicated an impending lecture, Ye Li quickly picked up the congee. "Nanny, I understand. I’ll take it to the Prince right now." Without waiting for Nanny Lin to react, she grabbed the chicken congee and dashed out.

Ye Li felt quite aggrieved. Both nannies were prone to nagging, but compared to her wet nurse, Ye Li was more intimidated by Nanny Lin, who had served her mother. Once Nanny Lin started speaking, she would invariably cite classics and draw on various sources, lecturing until you bowed your head and admitted your mistake. An ordinary person definitely couldn’t endure such a dual assault of words and spirit.

Reluctantly holding the late-night snack, Ye Li walked through the corridors of the mansion. The maids following behind her wisely maintained an appropriate distance. Mo Xiuyao still lived in the courtyard he had occupied before their wedding, which was next to Ye Li’s. Thus, Ye Li found herself standing outside Mo Xiuyao’s study before she had even finished her mental complaints. Just as she was about to knock, Mo Xiuyao’s voice came from inside, "Is that Ah-Li? Come in."

Upon entering, Ye Li saw Mo Xiuyao writing something by candlelight. Catching sight of her, he looked up and asked, "Why aren’t you resting yet?"

Ye Li walked over, set down the things in her hand, and asked, "Am I disturbing you?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head and glanced at the items on the table, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "Did you come to deliver a late-night snack?"

For some reason, Ye Li’s face grew slightly warm. She retorted, feigning nonchalance, "What? Can’t I bring you a late-night snack?"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head, set down his brush, and grinned. "I was just curious why Ah-Li would voluntarily bring me a late-night snack. Hmm... no wonder no one thought to bring me anything to eat even though I’ve been back for so long. Indeed, once one marries a Princess Consort, others tend to slack off."

Ye Li rolled her eyes at him in exasperation. "Are you going to eat it or not?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded. "Since the Princess Consort personally delivered it, how could I possibly refuse?"

The two of them sat down at the table. Ye Li ladled congee into two bowls, offering one to Mo Xiuyao first. Although they had been dining together almost every day recently, this was their first time sharing a late-night snack. While eating the congee, Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment, then said, "If you’re free tomorrow, why don’t you accompany me to visit Elder Sister-in-law?"

Ye Li nodded. "It’s been so long; we really should pay her a visit. I hope Elder Sister-in-law won’t be offended."

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Elder Sister-in-law won’t mind such things."

"Do I need to prepare anything?" Ye Li asked.

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "We’re just going to see Elder Sister-in-law."

Thinking about this sister-in-law she had yet to meet, Ye Li couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It was truly lamentable for a woman to let her life wither away during her prime.

"What did you do with that palace maid tonight?" After a moment of thought, Ye Li asked about the palace maid who had blocked their way in the palace earlier that evening.

Mo Xiuyao frowned. "She wasn’t a palace maid."

"Not a palace maid?" Ye Li was surprised. When did the imperial palace become a place outsiders could freely enter and exit? Can the Emperor even sleep soundly at night?

Mo Xiuyao chuckled. "She’s not a palace maid registered in the records, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t someone from the palace. Some influential people in the palace always have a few undisclosed assets."

"However, that palace maid didn’t seem to have anything special about her."

Mo Xiuyao said lightly, "Sometimes, it’s precisely such unremarkable people who are the real trump cards."

"You couldn’t find out whose person she was?"

"She was a suicide soldier," Mo Xiuyao stated. Ye Li understood. When suicide soldiers fail their mission, death is their only outcome, so naturally, no information can be extracted from them.

"However, it’s not common to find such suicide soldiers within the palace. So, Ah-Li... if you absolutely must enter the palace in the future, remember to be cautious."

"I understand." Ye Li nodded; she did not harbor a death wish.

The former Princess Consort Ding, Ms. Wen, did not reside at the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. In the second year following Mo Xiuwen’s death, citing that the familiar surroundings brought too much sorrow, she had moved to Wuyue Nunnery on the outskirts of the city to practice as a lay nun. Mo Xiuwen’s two concubines accompanied her. Ever since moving to Wuyue Nunnery, Ms. Wen had never returned to the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, except for the annual death anniversary of Mo Xiuwen. In previous years, Mo Xiuyao had also been a recluse for various reasons, so while he respected this sister-in-law, he was not very familiar with her.

With Mo Xiuyao’s approval, Ye Li now openly rose early to exercise before having breakfast with him. Afterward, they departed together in a carriage for Wuyue Nunnery on the outskirts of the city.

Wuyue Nunnery was situated on a beautifully scenic small hill on the outskirts of the Capital City. It was also the family temple of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, so there were no pilgrims coming to offer incense or tourists. The journey up was quite peaceful and pleasant. Upon entering the nunnery gates, they immediately smelled the lingering scent of sandalwood in the air. Ye Li, unaccustomed to it, wrinkled her nose slightly. Mo Xiuyao turned his head to look at her. "What’s wrong?"

Ye Li said somewhat embarrassingly in a low voice, "I don’t believe in Buddhism." If she went in later, she wouldn’t know whether to pay respects or not. For a non-believer like her, bowing before Buddha seemed meaningless, and others would likely find it impolite.

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "No wonder I’ve never seen Ah-Li leave the Capital of Great Chu to offer incense." In the Capital of Great Chu, whether they were young ladies from prominent families or modest girls from ordinary households, many enjoyed visiting the various temples and nunneries in and around the city to offer incense or seek divination. Some prayed for everything to go smoothly, while others inquired about their ideal husbands. However, it seemed he had indeed never heard of the Third Miss of the Ye Family going to a temple to pray or seek fortune.

Ye Li lowered her gaze. "Since I don’t believe in gods or Buddha, how could I brazenly ask for their blessings? If gods and Buddha are truly efficacious, with so many devout men and women praying daily, how could they possibly attend to everyone?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Li with a smile. "So, Ah-Li trusts herself more?"

Ye Li looked up, a radiant smile gracing her lips. "If one cannot even trust oneself, what else in this world is there to trust?"

Mo Xiuyao nodded in agreement. "As it happens, I don’t believe either. Ah-Li, feel free to act as you see fit."

Before long, a young nun emerged and led them inside. Ms. Wen was an exceedingly gentle woman. Though not strikingly beautiful, the serene tranquility in her features lent a unique charm to her appearance. Even her gray monastic robe could not conceal the gentle and graceful aura of someone hailing from a scholarly family. When she saw them enter, her calm eyes showed no ripple of emotion. Clearly, her heart was like still water, or perhaps, it had withered completely.

"Xiuyao pays his respects to Elder Sister-in-law," Mo Xiuyao said, guiding Ye Li forward. "Elder Sister-in-law, this is Ah-Li."

Ye Li respectfully stepped forward to offer her salutations. "Greetings, Elder Sister-in-law."

Ms. Wen’s gaze fell on Mo Xiuyao’s wheelchair and his face, then quickly shifted to Ye Li. A flicker of sorrow crossed her calm eyes as she said softly, "No need for formalities. Younger Sister-in-law, please come and sit."

Ye Li expressed her thanks, walked to Ms. Wen’s side, and sat down. Ms. Wen looked her over, then picked up a somewhat old brocade box from nearby and handed it to her. "As one who has renounced worldly affairs, I have no grand meeting gift for you. This... your elder brother gave it to me when I first married into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. He said it was left by our mother consort. Please, take it."

"This..." Although the brocade box looked old, it was worn very smooth, a clear sign it was frequently handled and polished. This must be a cherished memento for Ms. Wen.

Ms. Wen smiled faintly and shook her head. "Please accept it. I have no use for such things now."

Ye Li no longer declined, accepting the brocade box. "Thank you, Elder Sister-in-law."

Ms. Wen looked at Ye Li, holding her hand, and said, "Your elder brother only had Second Brother, Xiuyao, as his sibling. And I, as his sister-in-law... have truly been of little use. In the future, you and Second Brother must support each other and live well."

Ye Li understood what Ms. Wen was implying—the past upheaval in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, her inability to stay and manage its affairs for Mo Xiuyao, and her departure to the nunnery, leaving a severely injured and disabled Mo Xiuyao behind. Regarding this, Ye Li didn’t feel Ms. Wen was at fault. At the time, she was just a woman under twenty, not even one trained by the great aristocratic families. With her husband’s sudden death and the sole remaining blood relative of the mansion grievously injured and crippled, it would indeed be difficult for a woman not strong enough to support the entire King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Sister-in-law," Ye Li nodded. She glanced at Mo Xiuyao and said softly, "Since I am married to the Prince, we will naturally share weal and woe together."

"Good, I can rest easy now." Ms. Wen nodded in gratification.

Ye Li frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Elder Sister-in-law, living here all alone must be rather lonely. Would you consider returning to the mansion? Even if you wish to continue your spiritual cultivation within the mansion, it would be perfectly fine."

Ms. Wen shook her head. "I am used to the tranquility here. Returning would only make me uncomfortable." Despite Ye Li’s numerous persuasions, Ms. Wen steadfastly refused, and Ye Li eventually had to give up. They chatted for a while longer, after which Ms. Wen invited them to stay for a vegetarian lunch. Afterward, she excused herself to transcribe sutras, asking Mo Xiuyao to show Ye Li around.

Although Wuyue Nunnery was merely a family temple, its grounds were quite extensive. Ye Li pushed Mo Xiuyao’s wheelchair along a quiet path in the bamboo grove behind the nunnery, her mood inevitably a little heavy because of Ms. Wen.

"Ah-Li, if it were you, you wouldn’t be like Elder Sister-in-law, would you?" Mo Xiuyao asked in a deep voice after a long silence.

Ye Li nodded, then, quickly realizing Mo Xiuyao couldn’t see her, said, "No. I would try my best to live a better life."

Mo Xiuyao smiled faintly. "That’s good. Elder Sister-in-law... she wasn’t actually suited to be the Princess Consort of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion. It’s our Mo Family that has wronged her." If his elder brother hadn’t chosen Ms. Wen, who came from an ordinary scholarly family, perhaps to avoid Mo Jingqi’s suspicions, things might have been different.

Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps Elder Sister-in-law doesn’t regret it." Every time Ye Li heard Ms. Wen speak of her husband, she could see a gentle tenderness and nostalgia surface in those calm eyes. Maybe Mo Xiuwen chose her for the sake of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, but it wasn’t necessarily true that there were no feelings between Ms. Wen and Mo Xiuwen, or between Mo Xiuwen and Ms. Wen.

Mo Xiuyao smiled gently. "The King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion never gave her a chance to regret." Although Great Chu did not forbid widows from remarrying, it was not so easy for a widow of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion to do so. Without the courage to face the world’s judgment, Ms. Wen couldn’t even entertain the thought of regret. "But... Ah-Li, I permit you to regret."

"Is the Prince suggesting that I could remarry if you were to die?" Ye Li asked, arching an eyebrow. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Mo Xiuyao didn’t object, nodding. "Mm, that’s precisely what I mean."

Ye Li looked up at the sky, rolling her eyes where Mo Xiuyao couldn’t see. A surge of inexplicable anger made her sneer, "So... Prince, are you eager to die young, or very eager to die young?"

Mo Xiuyao raised an eyebrow at her peculiar phrasing and chuckled. "This Prince would still prefer to live to a ripe old age and die peacefully."

"Is that so? That’s really not good news..."

"Get out of the way!" Before Ye Li could finish her words, Mo Xiuyao suddenly spun around and pushed her aside.

"SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!" A series of whistling sounds tore through the air as three diamond-shaped darts, glinting with a sinister blue light, embedded themselves in the bamboo beside Ye Li.

"Since you’re here, why not show yourselves?" Mo Xiuyao said coolly, his gaze fixed on the hand resting on the armrest of his wheelchair.

"Haha... Mo Xiuyao, you finally dare to come out of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion? I thought you’d shrink inside for the rest of your life, too afraid to show your face!" A burst of unrestrained laughter erupted as a tall figure emerged from the bamboo grove. Soon, a group of black-clad individuals surrounded them, trapping the three in their midst.

Mo Xiuyao lifted his head to look at the newcomer, the smile on his lips as cold as ice. "Would you dare to remove your mask and say that again?"

The newcomer’s laughter died abruptly, his dark eyes narrowing sharply. He snorted and shifted his gaze to Ye Li, who was standing to one side. "This... is the Princess Consort Ding?"

"Indeed. And you are...?" Ye Li nodded calmly.

"Impressive courage," the man praised, then looked at Ye Li with apparent regret. "Such a pity..."

"Mo Xiuyao, to have such a woman accompany you in death, you should have no regrets, should you?" The man clearly had no intention of wasting words. With a wave of his hand, the grim-faced men in black immediately closed in.

"Take the Princess Consort away first," Mo Xiuyao ordered calmly. Several figures darted into the fray. Ah-Jin, longsword in hand, landed before Mo Xiuyao, vigilantly eyeing the surrounding men in black. Two shadow guards flanked Ye Li, preparing to escort her away. The others had already clashed with the black-clad assassins.

Ye Li quickly assessed the situation: Ah-Jin had brought only seven or eight men. With two assigned to her, only five remained to fight. Yet, there were at least twenty or thirty assassins surrounding them.

Not daring to delay, Ye Li shook off the shadow guards holding her. "Stay and help!"

"Princess Consort..." one of the shadow guards began, hesitating, clearly about to object.

But Ye Li had already impatiently moved past him. She deftly incapacitated an assassin attempting a sneak attack, saying coldly, "What’s there to discuss? Deal with these people first!" As she spoke, she whirled around, neatly kicking away another assassin’s attack. She landed precisely on the first assassin she had downed, who was just trying to scramble up. The man on the ground let out a wretched howl and promptly fainted.

The two shadow guards exchanged a look and decided to first obey the Princess Consort’s command and deal with the assassins. Though, as highly trained shadow guards, they hadn’t quite grasped what techniques the Princess Consort was using, it didn’t stop them from witnessing her block one assassin and incapacitate another in two moves. That unlucky fellow on the ground who had fainted would likely be bedridden for three to five months if he was lucky; if unlucky, he might be paralyzed for life.

Ye Li’s successful strike greatly boosted her confidence. Although she had a certain degree of faith in her abilities, she had always been unsure about the depth of ancient martial arts. After all, in this era, she had never truly encountered a situation requiring her to go all out. Judging by the lightness skill of someone like that ’romantic young master’ type she’d heard of, they would be truly difficult to deal with. After all, even the most formidable modern person wouldn’t be flying around. Fortunately, not everyone possessed such ethereal lightness skills. If it was just close combat, Ye Li felt confident she could handle most experts.

These assassins had clearly not expected this seemingly harmless Princess Consort Ding to incapacitate a man so swiftly. By the time they recovered their wits, a second man had already fallen to Ye Li’s elbow strike.

Ye Li had learned a wide variety of skills in her previous life: martial arts, taekwondo, judo, and more. She also had ample fighting experience from brawling with her many siblings. After joining the military, especially the special forces, her training shifted from merely subduing opponents to lethally dispatching them. Since women are generally not as strong as men, Ye Li had specialized in technique and speed, focusing on how to deliver a fatal blow in a single move. Ordinary individuals, let alone women, even most men in her unit, wouldn’t dare spar with her. Initially, she felt a bit rusty, but after felling two opponents, she gradually felt her old instincts returning. The fruits of her years of relentless physical training were also evident; otherwise, no matter how much combat experience or skill she possessed, it would be useless if her body couldn’t keep up.

"P-Princess Consort..." Ah-Jin, faithfully protecting Mo Xiuyao nearby, was so astonished by the scene unfolding that he was momentarily speechless. Was that graceful and gentle Princess Consort really the same person who had just sent an assassin taller than him flying with a kick, making him cough up blood? Ah-Jin vaguely recalled a night when he seemed to have witnessed the Princess Consort render Prince Li unconscious by some unknown means. He had always assumed she used some sort of hidden weapon. Looking at her now, could it be that she had simply used brute force?

"Ah-Li!" Mo Xiuyao’s voice sounded from behind her. Simultaneously, a sword swept fiercely towards her back. Ye Li quickly bent backward, narrowly avoiding the blade aimed at her chest. At the same time, a dagger, appearing as if from nowhere in her hand, flashed across the swordsman’s wrist. She then gripped his hand, using his stance to pull herself up and twist his arm backward. With a distinct CRACK, the man collapsed, his eyes wide. Ye Li looked down in confusion. A small knife was embedded in the man’s back, its blade sunk deep, leaving only the hilt visible. Clearly, he had been fatally stabbed by someone else.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow and quickly darted through the assassins’ entanglement to Mo Xiuyao’s side. Mo Xiuyao frowned. "Didn’t I tell you to leave first?"

Ye Li, while staying vigilant against the surrounding assassins alongside Ah-Jin, retorted, "What if I run into another group after going out? And will Elder Sister-in-law be alright?"

"Someone has gone to protect Elder Sister-in-law," Mo Xiuyao said calmly. "Wuyue Nunnery is full of traps. If those men had tried to break into the nunnery first, we would have known long ago."

In that short while, more than half of the twenty-odd assassins had fallen. The man who had been observing from the side sneered, "The shadow guards of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion are indeed as formidable as the rumors say. It’s just a pity there are too few of you!" The man suddenly leaped up, his longsword thrusting rapidly towards Mo Xiuyao. Ah-Jin immediately moved forward with his sword to intercept. They exchanged more than ten blows in an instant, but Ah-Jin, still just a youth in his teens, was caught off guard by a sword strike from the man, leaving a vicious, bloody gash on his right arm. The man ignored Ah-Jin; after forcing him back with a sword thrust, he immediately turned and attacked Mo Xiuyao again. Ah-Jin cried out in alarm, trying to get up to help, but he was entangled by two assassins from behind and couldn’t break free.

"Ah-Li, move!" Mo Xiuyao pushed Ye Li aside and simultaneously wheeled his chair backward, evading the first sword thrust. An even fiercer second strike followed immediately. A person confined to a wheelchair was naturally far less agile than someone standing. Mo Xiuyao twisted his head; the sword stabbed into the back of his wheelchair. At the same instant, Mo Xiuyao suddenly shot out a hand and grabbed the blade. With a flick of his sleeve, a volley of hidden projectiles flew towards the man. Startled, the man hastily retracted his sword and leaped back several zhang to dodge the incoming projectiles.

The man sneered and lunged forward again. He had clearly identified Mo Xiuyao’s greatest weakness: his immobility. No matter how great Mo Xiuyao’s skills or how many hidden weapons he had, they would eventually run out.

Mo Xiuyao no longer dodged. With a sharp SWISH, a long whip lashed out, instantly creating distance between them. For a moment, they were locked in a stalemate, neither able to best the other.

Ye Li stood calmly to the side, occasionally taking out an assassin who tried to ambush or surround Mo Xiuyao, all the while intently studying the lead attacker’s weaknesses.

Finally, as Mo Xiuyao’s whip ensnared the man’s sword, Ye Li sneered. She plucked the golden hairpin from her hair and flung it at the man’s wrist. The instant the man was forced to drop his sword, she closed the distance, her dagger striking mercilessly at his vital points. Even by the standards of any martial arts manual, Ye Li’s moves were utterly ruthless; in just three to five exchanges, the man’s right arm and left shoulder were both slashed.

Dissatisfied, Ye Li snorted softly. Taking a desperate risk, she ignored the palm strike coming from the man’s right hand and plunged her dagger into his chest. The man’s expression changed drastically as his right palm struck out fiercely and swiftly towards Ye Li. It was too late for her to retreat. Suddenly, the slender tip of a whip coiled around Ye Li’s waist, and a strong force pulled her rapidly backward. Evading the man’s right palm, Ye Li landed steadily in front of Mo Xiuyao.

Not far off, the man’s face was ashen. He clutched his chest, gritting his teeth as blood gushed from the wound. Just as Mo Xiuyao’s whip had pulled Ye Li away, she had viciously twisted the dagger embedded in his chest. The sharp blade turned nearly half a circle before being extracted, leaving a horrific, bleeding cavity that he couldn’t staunch even by pressing his hand against it.

Ye Li glanced down at the dagger in her hand, her brow furrowing in dissatisfaction. Compared to her favorite tri-edged military spike, this dagger was practically garbage.

"COUGH, COUGH... Well done, Princess Consort Ding. Who would have thought you were so deceptively skilled," the man rasped, clutching his chest wound and coughing.

"If you don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke you," Ye Li replied coldly.

"Today, I concede defeat. Mo Xiuyao, you’re fortunate to have married such a formidable Princess Consort. This assassination has clearly failed." Glancing at his few remaining subordinates, the man knew success was impossible. Even if seven or eight were still fighting, his men were no match for the shadow guards of the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion in equal numbers. "However, you can escape once or twice, but not ten or eight times! Mo Xiuyao, you yourself know how many people want you dead, don’t you? HAHA... I’ll be waiting for you in hell!"

With that, the man turned from Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li and roared, "Abort mission! Retreat!" As his remaining black-clad assassins fell back, he blocked the path of the pursuing shadow guards and was ultimately slain by a single sword stroke.

"Chase them!"

Mo Xiuyao shook his head. "Don’t pursue a desperate foe. Let’s head back first."

The shadow guards who were about to give chase immediately halted. Under Ah-Jin’s direction, they began to inspect the fallen assassins.

Ignoring the injury on his right arm, Ah-Jin gripped his sword tightly. "Princess Consort... you were amazing."

Ye Li shook her head. "It was just a fluke." It might have seemed like an easy victory, but without Mo Xiuyao’s assistance, even if she had managed to injure that assassin, she herself would likely have been severely wounded. Ultimately, her strength and agility were still insufficient. There were several instances where she had clearly struck the man, but due to lack of force, the blows weren’t damaging enough. And even when she identified an opponent’s vulnerability, her speed often wasn’t enough to exploit it successfully.

"You were amazing. Ah-Jin couldn’t have beaten him," Ah-Jin insisted.

Ye Li laughed. "If I couldn’t take him down in a quarter of an hour, I’d be the one dead."

"The Princess Consort is very skilled. Can Ah-Jin learn martial arts from you?" Ah-Jin, a persistent child, stared at Ye Li with hopeful eyes. If he were as capable as the Princess Consort, the Prince wouldn’t have needed to intervene just now.

Mo Xiuyao regarded Ye Li with a complicated expression. "I thought Ah-Li only knew some basic self-defense. It seems I was mistaken. Ah-Li, you always manage to surprise me." He had seen her in action: her clean, decisive moves were far beyond what an ordinary woman could achieve. Many of his own shadow guards lacked her resolve and ruthlessness. He was certain that if three shadow guards attacked her simultaneously, Ye Li wouldn’t necessarily be the loser. Yet, Mo Xiuyao couldn’t comprehend how Ye Li, a Miss Noble raised in the sheltered confines of her home since childhood, possessed such skills. To an uninformed observer, she would seem more like a battle-hardened soldier accustomed to life-and-death situations than a gently-bred lady from a distinguished family.

Ye Li offered a faint smile, not rushing to explain. "As long as the Prince doesn’t find it a *fright* instead of a surprise."

Mo Xiuyao stared at her for a long time before finally sighing and asking, "Ah-Li, are you truly the Third Miss of the Ye Family, the maternal granddaughter of the Xu Family?"

Ye Li replied, "Of course."

"Then... when you’re ready to tell me, you can."

Ye Li stared at Mo Xiuyao for a long while without speaking. Given his and the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion’s current predicament, his willingness to say such a thing was truly unexpected for her.

After a long pause, Ye Li said softly, "Although I cannot tell you everything right now, I can guarantee that I am indeed Ye Li. Furthermore, I had no ulterior motives in marrying into the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion."

"I believe you. We’re husband and wife, aren’t we?" Mo Xiuyao said softly.

"Thank you," Ye Li responded softly, a warmth spreading through her heart. She had often wondered what she would do if her peculiarities were discovered. Her original plan was to learn martial arts from a master Mo Xiuyao would find for her, then gradually let people get used to her abilities. But that approach felt extremely unreliable; she wasn’t sure she could deceive Mo Xiuyao, and arousing his suspicion would be even more problematic. Now, things were much simpler. Regardless of the extent of his trust, the fact that Mo Xiuyao was willing to believe her was far better than she had initially anticipated.